Misguided Soul

Summary: After 7 years of peace: Goku and Vega are living happily in the wilderness raising Tarble and his younger brothers Bardock and Goten together. Chichi has been married to Yamcha for five whole years and are expecting their first kid. As for Gohan and Xena, well things just got a little more interesting…

Chapter 7: Let the Games Begin!

The announcer was ecstatic to see Goku, and Krillin coming through the archway that lead through to the preliminary arena. He hadn't seen the two of them since Goku and Piccolo had flown off after a strange alien woman. He was even more ecstatic to see that the strange alien woman was standing beside him and also competing.

"You think you two can stay in the ring this time?" He laughed.

"We'll try." Vega teased and leaned into Goku casually. "You never know what sort of riff raff these events bring after all."

"Maybe in the old days. I'm telling you these games have been nothing but capital B boring since you lot have left us."

Gohan smiled at the interaction glad to see someone was finally appreciating his father. The announcer knew who really defeated Cell and knew that Mr. Satan was nothing but hot air. He glanced down at Videl who luckily was busy elsewhere. Videl may not have the respect for her father that he had originally thought, but the man was still her father so it was best to tread lightly there.

While the rules were laid out for the fighters Goku concentrated at looking around at the other fighters. Most of them were the usual muscle heads who had been trying out for this competition since he'd been a kid. Beside him Vega leaned an arm against his shoulder and let out a short pithy laugh.

"What a bunch of clowns. They haven't got a clue on how out of their element they are."

"We'll just have to be careful not to hurt anyone." Goku pat his wife's hand. The junior division was lead away to get ready for their fights and a punching machine was set front and center to ready the prelims.

"Punching machine? Huh, that's new." Krillin said with a frown.

"And complicated." Xena murmured with a narrowing look. Her family would have to hold back a great deal of power to not simply obliterate the machine. Her point was proven when Android Eighteen was the first of the group to step up and hit over a 700 on a light snapping punch. Mr. Satan had only scored a 137 and it caused mouths to drop. When she was allowed to try again the staff stared wide eyed as one by one the Z fighters took their punches.

"203...197...186…199...210?!" Wide eyed the rosterman eyed the machanism and shook his head. Xena frowned knowing exactly where this was going. "The sensor must be malfunctioning! Fetch the other machine."

"It''s not broken." Zee spoke up catching the attention. "The readings are accurate. Mr, Satan held back too much of his power. I guess he was unaware that some of his colleagues were partaking today."

"Slick." Gohan murmured to her making her smirk.

"Are you saying that Mister Satan could have scored higher?"

"I'm saying that the hero of the universe and a man who could defeat cell would obliterate that machine into pieces… Shall I prove it?" Zee held out her arms and there were calls for her to do just that. Instead of personally showing Zee nodded to her mother.

"Mom, Go to town."

"Finally!" Vega cracked her knuckles chuckling.

"I'd move if I were you." Goku suggested to the members and the staff backed away just as Vega threw out her fist. The machine flew across the grass and smashed into the brick wall in a pile of smoke.

"Now you can go fetch the other machine." Zee lounged against Gohan tipping down the bill of her baseball cap. "Wake me when it's ready."

"Now you've done it." Gohan grumbled. "We're gonna miss the Junior Martial Arts Tournament because of this."

"We will miss a good portion of it, but we'll catch the ending, and that's the most important part. Goten, Tarble, and Bardock won't be fighting each other til close to the end. I got a look at the roster before we headed in. They're on opposite brackets, with Bardock in the middle. He'll fight Goten in the Semi Final match, and whoever wins between those two will go against Tarble in the final match."

"Oh, well if you're sure that we'll get there in time…"

"Trust me, Gohan. I'm a genius remember?"

"Right… Genius." Gohan rolled his eyes but let out a laugh as he did so.

Who in the hell were these people? Videl stared wide eyed looking at Gohan and Zee's family. The whole lot of them were superhuman, and Videl didn't care what Zee said, there was no way her father had held that much power back. Her eyes stayed on Goku and Vega who were cuddled in close, Goku's arm around her shoulder as he grinned like an idiot and she stood tough and cocky after her impressive display.

"I'm giving up." The man behind her was close to wetting his pants. "That woman would turn me inside out." He admitted rushing for the exit with several others behind him.

"I told you we should have just taken out the competition before any of this had started. This is all just a big waste of time." Radditz complained to his brother and had Vega nodding her head in agreement.

"The first couple of opponents would have been easily taken down and the rest would have fled with their tails between their legs." Vega agreed and reached out hand to sooth her former lover's tense shoulders.

"Ah let them have their moments. These guys came for a good fight and to have some fun just like us. Speaking of which we better go to the arena and check out the junior division the boys will be fighting soon."

"Another waste of time. Those kids will be lucky if they last ten seconds. I'd have had Boxer compete but the age limit is five years, but even my tiny brat would have wiped the floor with their competition."

"Bulma would never have allowed it anyway." Goku pointed out as they headed for the exit. He paused when he saw Videl and offered a smile. "Hello there. You're name's Videl right?"

"Huh?" Videl's eyes blinked in surprise when she found herself being talked to. Gohan and Zee wandered over with them Gohan immediately taking a protective step beside her.

"Introduce us already." Goku nudged Gohan with a sly grin.

"Oh, right… Videl this is my dad Goku, and his wife Vega."

"His…" Videl's eyes narrowed a bit in confusion and then she remembered. "Oh that's right, you're Zee's mom and now you're Gohan's step-mom, right?"

"I'm hardly his mother." Vega wrinkled her nose. "We tread lightly around that particular distinction. His real mother doesn't care for it."

"Right," Gohan laughed not at all put off by the distinction. "Anyway this is Videl she's a friend from school."

Krillin let out a sinister chuckle that had eyes turning to him. "Come on Gohan, don't you mean girlfriend?"

"Stop that!" Gohan flushed and let out a chuckle. He didn't notice Zee's eyes harden and look away, but Vega did. She cleared her throat and stretched out "accidentally" knocking Krillin upside the head.

"We better get going, we don't want to miss your little brothers big performance. Should be entertaining." Goku waved. "Nice meeting you."

The video that played before the Junior competition began left most of the audience enthralled. A reenactment of the events that led to Cell's defeat should have been entertaining, but to Tarble he scowled at the corny dialogue, the stupid effects, and the insulting and unrealistic way they'd displayed his parents and sister had gotten his back up and ready to punch something.

"What was that about?" Goten frowned with a raised brow as the big blimp that had displayed the movie sailed away. "None of that was true so why did they show it?"

"Because people are stupid enough to believe that Mr. Satan really did save everyone. No one else but that clown knows who really beat Cell and they're determined to keep it that way. Bunch of phonies… today they'll see. Our parents are gonna punch the stuffing out of that fake!" Tarble's hands clenched and Goten and Bardock looked at each other then nodded smiling.

"Yeah, and we'll show everyone how strong we are as their kids!"

"I expect to see both of you in the end." He turned and eyed his brothers. Raising a fist the three brother's bumped fists grinning with the patented "Son" smile.

Goku watched the Junior competition with a mix of Pride and nostalgia. Seeing his boys fight on the big arena brought him back to his own Tournament days. He'd come in second twice, and then the third… well he'd left right in the middle of the event in hot pursuit of Vega who'd crash landed center stage.

Best day of my life, he thought eying his wife with a grin, was when she had come barrelling into his life. "Great Kids, aren't they?"

"Poor little munchkins don't stand a prayer." Vega agreed. "I see Chichi's got her cheerleader going." She noticed with a smirk. Goten was currently taking on a 14 year old Ikosa and had Chichi shouting and cheering to back him up, while a big red headed woman snarled in response ordering the teenager to beat the "hoo-ha" out of the little runt.

"Yeah but you like to do your cheering on the inside don'tcha honey?" He tapped his temple. "You're quiet and observant on the outside but inside you're twice as loud as she is rooting for our kids."

"You think you know me so well don't you? Just so happens that internal dialogue is also going for Goten."

"Really?"

"Of course." She politely applauded after watching Goten knocked his opponent out with a quick thrust of his fist. "He is a Saiyan after all." She applauded again when Chichi in turn knocked out the raging mother. It was the first time Vega found herself respecting the woman who had once been her romantic rival.

The Junior Championship matches were going by breezily what with Goten, Bardock, and Tarble knocking away their opponents with little effort at all. The semi-finals came up, and Tarble was the first to fight taking on a kid twice his size. He reached out a hand stopping him mid punch and lifted him up off the ground sending him flying out of the ring and onto his butt in the grass. The kid looked stunned and the crowd went wild.

Goten and Bardock beat fists together laughing.

"Alright it's our turn now Bardock."

"Remember Goten, don't go easy on me just cuz I'm smaller than you. I want a good fight. Only the best of us are gonna go against Tarble!" Bardock insisted and had Goten nodding his head in agreement. They rush out and met Tarble at the stairs. The announcer held out a hand stopping Tarble from leaving and he brought the three of them out to center stage.

"Before we get the next match underway I want to introduce you all to the top three competitors. Fun little fact these three are brothers and the youngest competitors to have ever made it this far into Junior Competition."

The crowd wailed with cheers and whistles. Goku stared down proudly at his son's and didn't know how he could possibly wipe the grin off his face.

"Tarble the eldest has advanced to the finals, and now his two younger brothers are about to compete to see which one will take him on for the championship. Will it be Goten? Or Bardock?"

Back in the preliminary arena Videl's ears picked up and she gasped and tugged on Gohan's gi. "It's the semi finals. We're missing your brother's match, Gohan!"

"What? Oh man," He narrowed his eyes at Xena who was scowling at the men still calibrating the machine. "What now, Genius?"

She growled and grit her teeth stepping out of line and running to the front. "If you want something done right you do it yourself. Move slow poke!" She shoved the man out of the way and started calibrating it herself. Within a few seconds she nodded to the guy to hit it and get an accurate reading and dusted off her hands. "There, now then." She stepped in front of the line and gave her wrist a snap the reading going to 227.

"Hey that's not fair! He calibrated it to his own use!" One fighter said and got a cheer of agreements.

"Oh really? Wanna hold out your hand and test that theory?" She cracked her knuckles and the man let out a Tch sound and raised a palm up. With the same quick snap the man let out a cry of pain and fell to the floor as the appendage broke and swelled up. "Oops, I guess I didn't hold enough power back. Sorry." She smirked down at the man and the crowd instantly dispersed and ran for the hills but for Videl, Gohan and three others. "Come on guys, get your readings and let's blow this place."

Videl got hers, eyes widening when she scored a 180 which was higher than her father and the majority of other competitors. "Wow. Zee was right, My dad did hold back." She looked and watched Gohan score and even 200. When the last of them were done Gohan and Videl rushed to the stands to watch the boys fight. Zee lingered watching the staff calculate the lineup and she snatched it up quickly and smirked. "Thanks," She handed it back to him and walked to the arena casually and whistling. Once she heard the sounds of fists flying and beating skin and bone she rose up to the sky and stood at the very top of the arena to watch the show.

Tarble won, Xena knew that would happen. With Bardock and Goten using all their energy to take each other out Tarble was a shoe in coming in fresh from a breezy bout. Bardock pouted having come in third place, and Goten sulked having lost to his older brother.

"We should have had a three on one, it would have been a whole lot more fair!" Goten complained as they stood on the sidelines waiting for Mr. Satan to come out for the expedition match.

"Tell you what…" Tarble eyed his brothers. "We'll have a real match once this is all over. Out in wide open country. Mom and Dad can judge who wins."

"Really?" Goten and Bardock stood up tall. "Will we win a prize if we beat you?" Goten asked.

"Sure… If you win you guys can each pick three of my toys to keep. But if I win you all have to do my chores for a week. Deal?" Tarble smirked.

"It's a deal!" They said in unison and got an okay salute from Tarble.

Videl was still in a daze from watching it all unfold. The fights between Gohan's brothers had been mind boggling. How in the hell could they move that fast? They flew and punched in speeds and power that were stronger than most of the adult fighters.

Zee and Gohan MUST have trained them… or maybe their parents had. She wondered how strong Gohan really was, how her own strength matched up against his? Whatever it took she was bound determined to give him all she had. She was the Champion's daughter, she couldn't be seen as a weakling!

She glanced over and saw the group was starting to leave and she straightened.

"Hey wait, where are you guys going? Aren't you gonna watch the exhibition match between Tarble and my dad? He IS the world champion you know you could study his techniques."

"No thanks." Radditz turned. "I'd much rather stuff my face than watch that clown wave his fists at a child."

"Geez Radditz you don't have to put it like that." Gohan rubbed the back of his head. "Come on, Vega you at least want to watch Tarble don't you?"

"I already know the outcome of this fight. My son is champion and that's all that matters. I for one would like to eat before our own matches start. I won't waste anymore of my time on this foolishness!" She whirled and led the crowd, Goku sent her an apologetic bow of his head before jogging after her. Zee flew from her perch above them and landed beside Videl to put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't take it to heart. My mom and dad have always been like that." '

"Are they really that confident they can take on my father?" Videl turned her cool blue eyes on Zee and watched the smile twitch at his lips.

"Let's just say they're very proud of their abilities. Mom in particular doesn't like looking or asking for help when it comes to training. Gohan's dad is kinda the same way too but he has a gentler touch and tone than my mom."

"Zee's right." Gohan admitted touching Videl's free shoulder. "Our parents, they like to earn their own strength. Your dad has his way of fighting and our parents have their own."

"I guess that does make sense." Still Videl pondered over it. Her face stayed sober through the aftermath of the exhibition match in which Tarble beat her dad in one punch in which he went through a wall, but immediately laughed off. Once they caught up to the others she stared dumbfounded as Zee, Gohan, and their parents devoured plate after plate of food.

Gohan's family was just so… bizarre. Family, friends, all of them took this competition in confident swaggering stride. It was like they just knew they were gonna qualify, they just knew they were gonna beat out all the rest.

What was their secret? Where did they learn to possess such otherworldly strength and power?

"Whew! Oh boy I'm stuffed. Man you guys i'm so full! If I have to fight one of you first PLEASE don't punch me in the gut." Goku pleaded rubbing his belly.

"You didn't eat anything." Gohan addressed Videl. "You must be on a diet."

"Believe it or not, Gohan." Krillin replied. "Most fighters don't like to stuff themselves before a match."

"We should go check the rosters to see who's fighting who." Eighteen suggested from the back.

"Well if I'm up against Kakarott." Vega eyed her husband with a proud smirk. "The first thing I'm gonna do is punch him in the gut!"

"That makes two of us." Radditz chuckled and caused Goku to groan.

"Aww man, no mercy." Goku paused mid stretch and eyed the two competitors ahead of them. All jokes and teasing faded as all eyes met the strangers and instant wary vibes exchanged amongst the group.

The smaller of the two smiled coolly at the group and floated up to Goku, with a calm voice he spoke.

"Are you by chance, Goku?"

"Yes I am." Goku leaned in a bit trying to figure out if he'd seen this man before. "Do I know you?"

"No, but your reputation as a fighter precedes you. I actually came to this tournament in the off chance I might get to fight you. Not that I think I could win, but merely for the challenge of it." He explained with a smile that Vega thought was a little too… intense. She leaned in protectively to her mate narrowing her eyes on him.

"Goku," voice still calm the stranger stretched out his hand. "May I shake your hand?"

"Huh? Sure of course." Goku took the offered hand… after a brief moment Goku felt the buzzing of power under his palm and the friendliness fell from his face and turned to a cool collected study. The touch broke and the two strangers walked away.

"What was that all about?" Gohan wanted to know and watched Videl rub goosebumps from her arms.

"I don't know, but I don't like it. Come on you guys, let's go." Xena shoved a hand against their backs pushing them forward and the group followed example.

The announcer glanced up from the roster and smiled waving his hand up in greeting as Goku and his friends strolled in. "Oh good you're here. That means everyone's accounted for. Let's get this show on the road huh?"

Radditz glanced around at the other fighters, his fingers tapping along his biceps in impatience as they got the formalities ready. What was the big deal, he wondered. Draw a ball, get an opponent, fight. Easy. No need to be so ceremonial about the whole ordeal.

"Alright, when I call your name please come up." The Announcer looked down at the Roster again. "Mr. Killa!"

Killa, a big black man strolled up tall and confident. His hand reached in tossing balls around then lifted one up to reveal #14.

Kibito, one of the strangers who had approached them earlier, went next and drew #7.

Krillin looked at Gohan and elbowed him in the ribs chuckling. "Let's hope you and your girlfriend aren't paired up in the first match. You might have to marry her just like your dad married Chichi."

"Krillin!" Gohan hissed through his teeth and Xena's back went up and she narrowed her gaze. When Krillin's name was called she stretched out a boot and tripped him, He stumbled and careened into the box of balls causing them to fall and scatter.

"Oops," Xena smirked. "My bad."

Krillin shook off the trip and laughed off his embarrassment while the balls were collected. He reached his hand in and pulled out # 16. "I guess that puts me in the last fight. Bummer."

"Great Saiyaman!" Gohan pumped his arms and walked forward stuffing his glove in he pulled out #5.

Eighteen drew #13 which put her up against Killa, he smacked his lips and winked at her causing her to shudder and grimace.

"Shin's up next!"

"Ready." The stranger who had approached Goku before smiled and approached the box. His hand reached in and pulled out #3. Goku watched him, his stomach lurching a bit as he hoped there really was nothing threatening about these two. Then again… he thought glancing over at Spopovich and Yamu… those two weren't the only ones drawing concerns. The two bald headed fighters seemed to be tensed up about something… they looked ready to explode.

Spopovich in particular gritted his teeth and sweated just to stand and reach in for his ball. It was like something was going on his mind, making his struggle with even the smallest of gestures. He finally managed to pull out the # 10 ball and shove it at the staff member before stalking off to his companion.

Radditz was called next and he picked up the #11 ball and tossed it up for the announcer to catch.

Goku let out a whoop as his name was called and he stretched out a little to shake off the nerves and he shoved his hand in. When he pulled out #8 he eyed the board and then eyed his competitor Kibito. The two of them stared long and hard at each other before he offered a friendly smile and wave. "Good luck."

"That's for damn sure." Xena agreed. "That guy may be creepy looking and stronger than most of the fighters here but he doesn't have a chance against your dad." She murmured to Gohan who nodded.

"I think you're right, I really don't think these guys understand what they're getting into."

"Next up is Videl!"

Speaking of people who didn't know what they were getting into. Xena eyed Videl as she jogged up and grabbed #1 from the box. She seemed excited by that number and considered it a sign of good things to come.

"Zee, you're up!" Videl waved a hand in front of him and Zee caught it giving it a very gentle squeeze.

"Relax Videl, I heard him. Just taking my time." She gave a wink and strolled up. She wondered why her heart was pounding so hard all of a sudden. A strong potent feeling was coming over her and she wasn't entirely sure what it was about. Reaching in the box she let her instinct take over, fingers dancing over the balls and drawing out the one that appealed. When she saw the number her mother's smirk came strong and she turned away from the board and announcer to face Gohan flashing the number at Gohan.

"Zee is number 6! That puts him up against The Great Saiyaman."

"Uh-oh." was the group consensus.

Long chapter but I wanted to get the majority of the match ups into this chapter. I didn't want to emphasize much on the Junior competition because i wanted a real punch once the real fighting got going. Hope you all enjoyed it.

Next Chapter: First Round Worries