Chapter 8

Puar stood gazing at the desert through his spyglass, on the look-out for any passing travelers to rob.

"Anything?" Yamcha asked.

"Nothing today, sir," the little blue cat replied. "Everything's quiet."

Just then, a large airplane soared overhead and knocked the pair off their feet.

"Never mind, sir."

Bulma landed the plane and stepped out, brushing the dust her arrival had stirred up off her shoulder. Goku landed a few feet away and instantly began sneezing. Bulma sighed and began walking in the direction her radar told her.

"So this is where you met that guy before. The one you let keep the Dragonball?" she asked.

"Yep," the boy replied. "But he was a really nice guy. He kept offering to help me across the desert."

"Well, let's hope that he's nice enough to hand over that Dragonball without a fuss." She looked down at the radar. "Hm, it looks like the ball is coming to us."

Another cloud of dust billowed up from the small scooter that was heading their way.

"Hey, I remember this part!" Goku spoke up.

The scooter came to rest and Yamcha climbed off.

Bulma's heartbeat quickened as she stared at the tall young man with the long black hair and sun-tanned skin.

He, however, took one look at Goku and rolled his eyes. "Crap, it's that crazy kid again!"

"Oh, yeah," Bulma said. "You two have definitely met."

Yamcha glanced in Bulma's direction and was immediately speechless. Maybe it was her natural beauty, or her fiery personality, or maybe it was that fact that he hadn't seen a human girl for some time. Whatever the case, Yamcha was in love.

"Hey, Mr. Hyena-dude!" Goku called for his attention. "We need that Dragonball back, please!"

"Never," Puar replied. "That treasure is the spoils of war. We claimed it fair and square! You'd have to pry it from our cold dead hands!"

"Here you go!" Yamcha sighed blissfully as he handed the crystal ball to Bulma.

"What!?" Puar screeched.

"Thanks," Bulma said as she stared into his eyes. Finally, she turned around to leave. "Well, let's go get the rest before the Red Ribbon does."

"Wait," Yamcha called after her. "You can't mean the Red Ribbon Army?"

"Yep," Goku answered. "They want these Dragonballs to get their evil wish for world domination, and we have to stop them!"

"Just the two of you? That's suicide!"

"It's not just us," Bulma answered. "We've got some buddies we need to go find next. And they're really strong, like Goku here. Show him Goku."

Goku walked over to a large boulder and lifted it with one hand, smiling.

But the rest of the group was more amazed by the sight at Goku's feet. It appeared the boulder he had lifted was hollow, and hiding underneath it was a small man in a ninja costume.

The man glared at the witnesses, annoyed at having been found so easily. "Dang it!" he muttered. Then he leapt from the desert floor and zoomed past Bulma, snatching the Dragonball from her hand.

"I've been waiting here all day," said the ninja, "carefully planning my next move and then you kids show up and ruin everything! Well, I got my Dragonball and now it's time to go!"

He laughed as he threw down a smoke bomb in an attempt to disappear. Unfortunately, in the flat desert, there was nowhere to conceal his escape, and as the smoke dissipated, he was clearly visible about twenty feet away.

"Dang it!"

"Goku, get him!" Bulma called out.

The small boy leapt at the mysterious stranger, who quickly side-stepped his assault while tossing a net over the boy. "Hahaha!"

"Who are you?" Bulma demanded.

"I am Major Purple of the Red Ribbon. Not only have you interfered in my mission to track and capture this Dragonball, but you have identified yourselves as enemies of the Red Ribbon, for that you must die!"

"But he was just running away a second ago," Puar pointed out.

"Now, you will hand over your flying vehicle!" Purple shouted.

"Goku!" Bulma shouted.

"I'm kinda stuck," he replied. "What sort of magic is this?"

"It's not magic, it's stupidity," Bulma growled as she pulled a gun from her belt and opened fire on Purple.

"The heck!?" he screamed. "What are you doing with a gun? How old are you!?"

Purple rushed Bulma again and knocked the gun from her hand with a solid chop, which also sent the girl flying.

"No!" Yamcha called as he rushed to catch her fall. Bulma looked up in the eyes of the strong man who was holding her. Yamcha blushed and dropped her on her butt.

While Bulma was trying to pick herself up, Yamcha charged Purple.

"Whoa, Ninja Screen," Purple shouted as he simply picked up a handful of sand and threw it into Yamcha's face.

"That's it!" he shouted. "Wolf Fang Fist!" Yamcha flew at Purple and let loose a flurry of strikes that sent the ninja soaring into the side of Bulma's plane, knocking him unconscious.

Bulma blushed at the display of raw power.

"Wow, you're strong too!" Goku beamed as he finally got loose from the net. "Let's fight!"

Yamcha seemed taken aback by the request.

"Wait," Bulma stopped him. "We've already got enough enemies, let's ease up on the whole 'fighting everybody we see' plan, okay?"

"Awww," Goku moaned and shuffled away.

Bulma sauntered up to Yamcha and took his hands, "Wow, you're really strong," she breathed. "Won't you please come with us and help us fight the Red Ribbon?"

Yamcha froze under the direct gaze of the young girl. "Umm," he stuttered. At last he marshaled his strength and shouted, "Yes, I will lend you my strength," but still afraid of Bulma's advances, he screamed, "I'll ride with the boy on his cloud!"

Yamcha tried to jump on Goku's cloud and immediately fell through.

Bulma stared at him. "I hope that didn't mess up his face," she muttered under her breath.

Goku laughed while Puar just rolled his eyes.

After some inappropriate suggestions and an argument or two, Yamcha and Puar joined up with Goku and Bulma. But Yamcha insisted Goku ride in the plane with them and sit between him and Bulma.

"Why are you scared of Bulma," Goku asked during the plane ride. "She may be mean but she's real weak!"

"Shut up!" both Bulma and Yamcha yelled at him.

"Hey, did we just leave that ninja guy lying in the desert?" Puar wondered out loud.

A little while later, the group was nearing a small island the radar said contained two Dragonballs.

"Oh, my god," Bulma said. "I think that's the Red Ribbon's aqua-base!"

"Why is there smoke coming out of it?" Goku asked.

Suddenly there was a huge explosion from the side. A large blue wave of energy poured into the open air, giving off a blinding flash.

"A Kamehameha!" both Goku and Yamcha screamed.

88888888888888888888888888888888888

S-Shield's notes

So Yamcha and Puar join the crew while Roshi takes a bite out of the Red Ribbon Army's base.

Thanks for reading and please review.