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DRAGON BALL Z:
- THE SAGA CONTINUES -
Chapter 6: "Take Flight, Ryota!"
Ryota yawned as he opened his weary eyes and stretched his arms up to the ceiling above him. He pulled the covers of his bed back and climbed out. He walked over to his dresser and pulled open the top drawer, removing his fighting gi. He slipped it on quickly and tied the belt around his waist, making sure it was nice and tight so his gi wouldn't fall off during battle. He opened his door, running out into the hallway and jumping backwards onto the railing of the stairwell, sliding down to the bottom. He then ran into the kitchen and took his seat at the table. Vegeta was already there, reading his morning newspaper as always, and Bulma and Bulla were preparing breakfast. Bulma sat Bulla down at the table and handed the two children their breakfast. Ryota immediately began slurpping up the food in the bowl by sticking his face right into it.
"One of these days I'm going have to teach you how to properly eat from a bowl." Bulma remarked as Ryota finished gulping down his food and let the last few drops of milk drip onto his tongue.
"What's there to learn, mommy? You see a bowl of food in front of you, you eat it. Nothing more, nothing less." Ryota explained.
"Well, you might not have been raised in a barn, but you sure act like it." Bulma laughed as she took Ryota's bowl. Ryota rubbed his stomach and burped.
"Ewwww! Say excuse me, you pig!" Bulla scolded him. Ryota laughed and blew a lock of his hair out his face, only to have it fall back down again.
"Your brother just needs to learn some manners, that's all. He's got the basics down, but he's a little rough around the edges. In more ways than one." Vegeta chuckled.
"It's bad enough having one boy in the house, but now I have to put with another one!" Bulla complained.
"Yeah, I love you too, sis." Trunks yawned as he walked into the kitchen.
"My complaint is still valid!" Bulla said as she stuck here tongue out at her brother.
Vegeta and Ryota traded blows in the Anti-Gravity Chamber as he attempted to provoke him. Ever since the fight wih Trunks and Goten, Vegeta was wondering why Ryota yelled 'Saiyan Rage' as he blasted them with a huge energy beam. Was it just a spur of the moment thing, or could the boy be holding in his true power? Vegeta figured he had to know the truth. So he decided to ask the expert on hidden powers. But first, he'd have to finish his fight with Ryota.
Vegeta clenched his fist and gathered all of his power into it, then released it as Ryota charged at him, effectively making him drop to the ground.
"Are you alright, Ryota? Can you still stand?" Vegeta asked the boy. Ryota placed his hands on the ground, then forced himself up. He was still a little dazed from the punch so he stumbled around as he walked.
"Boy, daddy, you sure are strong!" Ryota said before he flopped over again. "But, let's take a break."
"Agreed. Besides, there's someone we should be paying a visit to." Vegeta told him.
"Not another opponent, I hope." Ryota groggily replied.
"No, no. Just a friend. Come on Ryota, we'll fly there." Vegeta instructed. Ryota stood up, but then promptly flopped over to the ground.
"On second thought, perhaps it's best if I carry you there." Vegeta said as he scooped the boy up into his arms and walked out of the chamber.
By the time they had reached their destination, Ryota had made a quick recovery and was eager to train again. Vegeta landed on the doorstep of the house and rang the doorbell. After a couple minutes, the door opened and Gohan was standing in the doorway.
"Hey, Vegeta. What's up?" he asked.
"Good. Damnit! I mean, not much." Vegeta corrected himself.
"Well, hey there, little Ryota. Haven't seen you in a while." Gohan greeted the boy.
"Hi, !" Ryota happily greeted him back. Vegeta glanced behind Gohan and saw at stack of papers at his desk.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interuppt your work." Vegeta apologized.
"That's okay. Come on in. You guys are actually in perfect timing! Pan's really bored today and could use another kid to play with!" he offered. Ryota shrugged and climbed down from Vegeta's arms and went up the stairs to Pan's room.
"Hi, Pan!" Ryota cheerfully said as he extended his hand to her. Pan instead ran up and hugged him. Ryota was taken aback by this, nobody hugged him like that expect his parents.
"Hi, Ryota! I can't believe you finally came over! It took you long enough!" Pan told him. Ryota raised an eyebrow.
"What da ya mean by that?" he asked.
"Don't you remeber? A couple weeks ago, you said you'd come over to my house for a playdate, but for some reason you forgot." she explained to him.
"Oh, yeah! Now I remeber! Sorry, I've been busy training with my dad! I learned lots of new moves and I've gotten way stronger!" he exclaimed.
"Well then, how about a rematch?" Pan asked with a wink.
Ryota, ignoring it, simply said; "You're on!" And with that they ran down the stairs and into Pan's backyard. Meanwhile, back inside the living room, Gohan and Vegeta were discussing Ryota's power.
"So, you think Ryota might be holding in his true power, and that it's only coming out of him when he's angry?" Gohan asked.
"Precisely. The boy already has a power level that could rival Trunks' and he hasn't even become a Super Saiyan yet." Vegeta reflected.
"Then just imagine how much stronger he will be when he does become a Super Saiyan. He could become unstoppable! You should be thanking your lucky stars he's on our side!" Gohan told him.
"I agree completely, but what worries me is his past." Vegeta remarked.
"What past? The kid's seven!" Gohan laughed.
"True. But Broly became more unruly the older he got. And Ryota has Broly's DNA inside of him. It makes me uneasy to think that child could become a bloodthirsty killer like his predecessor." Vegeta pondered.
"Well, maybe he is different. I mean, Dad said he could see Ryota isn't anything like Broly. Maybe Ryota is gonna stay the same innocent kid he is." Gohan suggested.
"No offense, but Kakarot's always been a bit on the soft side." Vegeta said. Gohan nodded.
"Maybe, but nonetheless, it's best for you keep to an eye on him. His transformation into a Super Saiyan could be the breaking point." Gohan theorized.
Ryota fell to the ground and began rolling around after Pan knocked him down, which didn't seem to affect him much at all.
"Man, what is it gonna take to actually hurt you?" Pan demanded. "And why are you rolling around in the grass, are you a dog or something?"
"Nope. The grass just feels good. That's all." Ryota explained. Then, his face got serious.
"Pan, there's something I need you to help me with." He told her. "I can do almost anything the adults can do, but I...well...I can't fly." he admitted as he hung his head.
"You can't?" she asked. "Why not?"
"I don't know. I haven't been taught it yet, I guess." he explained. "Can you teach me?" he asked.
"That's easy, Ryota! All you need to do is focus your energy and let it flow around you, then the flying part comes easy. Start by forming some energy in your hands." she instructed.
"You mean, like this?" Ryota asked as he fired a beam of energy out of his hands, causing Pan to jump out of the way before it collided with her. It manged to hit a tree and make it explode.
"Not like that, you dummy!" she scolded him. "Just close your eyes and focus. Let the energy flow throughout your body, not just your hands!"
Ryota complied and closed his eyes. He drowned out all other thoughts and focused on letting the energy flow through him. Suddenly, he began to rise into the air, he didn't even notice it until he was fifty feet high, enough for a plane to hit him. He then let out a happy cheer and began to fly around in circles as he drifted back to the ground.
At that moment, Vegeta entered the backyard with Gohan.
"Say goodbye to Pan, Ryota. We're going now." Vegeta told him. Ryota waved goodbye to Pan and then took off into the air, leaving Vegeta and Gohan shocked at his latest feat.
"Hey! Wait for me, you little brat!" Vegeta shouted as he took off after him. Gohan then knelt down to Pan's level and smiled at her.
"There, sweetie. You don't feel bored anymore, do you?" he asked.
"Nope." ,Pan blushed, "I'm all better."
"Good, then come inside. Your mom will be home soon and she's brining back supper." he said as he walked into the house with Pan trailing behind.
DING! "Well, well, that little kid's becoming quite the warrior. Wouldn't you agree, Raditz?"
DING! "Shut up, Nappa."
(SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER)
