Disclaimer: All rights to the name "Dragonball Z" belong solely to Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation. I neither own this franchise nor do I profit from the writing of this story.
Author's Note: Really sorry for not updating but I was really stuck for a moment. I have read most of the reviews and suggestions thrown at me and now I think I can work on a course of action. As much as I want to have romance in this story, I believe that it will hinder it too much, plus the pairing is generally frowned upon as well. Anyway, aside from that, enjoy.
Like Master Roshi and Mercenary Tao before her, Chi-Chi was astounded by the utter void that was presented to her when she entered the chamber. Not only that, but she felt heavy and hard of breath. Already doubt was forming in her mind. She was going to be in here for an entire year and her only company being a former cat thing that she hardly knew to begin with.
In fact, so heavy was her doubt that she even contemplated in giving up and just going home. Surely these warriors did not need her as she was constantly reminded (at least by the Mercenary) that she was less than useless.
Then, at that moment, she recalled back to the time of Goku's death, of how utterly struck with sorrow she was at his loss. Then, she remembered the terrible news that Bulma had brought to her, that her only son had died fighting against those androids. The pain that she had suffered was indescribable. She nearly died right then and there at the news.
She wished she did not have to see his body when it was recovered. Even though Bulma did her best to clean it up, she could see that her son's body had been dismembered horribly and that he had suffered a lonely and painful death.
The broken man before her, the one that she carried in her womb for nine months, the one that she nursed and fed, who eventually grew up to be a strong, kind warrior, was killed cruelly without a second thought and she powerless to protect him.
It wasn't fair! She was the mother! Weren't parents the ones who were supposed to protect their children no matter what? Yet she failed him in that regard. Failed her only son who was now dead and away from her life forever and ever.
Her thoughts of sorrow suddenly turned into utter fury at the thought of those androids, the ones who had the audacity to take the life of her most precious child. She wanted nothing more than to tear them apart and unleash her fury upon them.
It was clear now. She would not back down. She would push herself and be made strong; strong enough to take vengeance upon the ones who had taken everything away from her.
Korin's eyebrow went up a bit as he felt an intense aura of rage and sorrow coming from the woman behind him when it had been one of doubt and fear just a minute ago. He was worried that this woman perhaps did not have what it took to train with them but after the change of her aura he suddenly felt from her an iron resolve. He knew then that she was serious.
"I can feel your unwavering resolve as of right now, but know this. As soon as we start there will be no turning back. If you wish to leave, then do so at this moment." warned Korin.
Chi-Chi grinned as she heard this. Typical of a man to underestimate a woman. But she had made up her mind and knew that there was no turning back now.
"As if Cat-man. Let's get started already I don't want to waste anymore time than I have to." replied Chi-Chi tartly.
Korin was impressed by her resolve and determination and only prayed that it would hold out the year. Even so, once brought up to shape she would make a fine warrior.
"Very well, come with me and we shall commence." said Korin as they began their training.
It was difficult at first. Chi-Chi was so out of practice that even the bare basics were tiring to her.
But with a nearly limitless amount of sensu beans she was hardly given time to rest. What would normally take weeks for muscles to condition themselves took seconds as she fed her worn out body with sensu, giving her strength to continue and push herself more and more.
Korin himself did not train. He chose to wait until Chi-Chi was nearly at the same level of power as he was. This would make their training the more beneficial as sparring with an opponent of equal power was the best way to go.
And she improved very quickly. In only a month she had bridged the gap of power between herself and Korin and was doing most of her training at 30 times gravity. Knowing that it was time to take her seriously, Korin himself trained and pushed himself and relished in being able to go all out...something that he had not been able to do for nearly a millenia.
And progress did come quickly. A month later found them training at 50 times gravity and the month after that was at 80 times gravity. By the end of the fourth month, they were training at 100 times gravity.
Chi-Chi pushed herself relentlessly, the thought of her powerlessness as she watched her husband die and whither before her and her son killed and dismembered by the androids. Her own weakness that made her son go out into danger to his death.
But no more. She would have her vengeance, no matter what.
In all, after an entire day in the outside world, it was now time up as the rest of the warriors awaited the emergence of Korin and Chi-Chi from outside.
So it was that they both stepped out with their newfound powers.
Korin himself seemed to have bulked a bit but in general still looked the same. The most amazing change came from Chi-Chi.
Her face, which was lined with wrinkles from stress and sorrow, were now gone and replaced by a taut, young face with fierce determination. Her body, which had sagged due to her lack of activity, was now even more fit than when she had entered the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament all those years ago. She looked nearly twenty years younger and would have been seen as much had it not been for her eyes, which held years of sorrow and anger.
"It seems that this woman survived after all. Let's see if she's that luck still rings true in battle where it failed her weakling of son." sneered Tao.
chi-Chi had never liked Tao and had restrained herself from doing anything rash due to the difference in their powers and abilities but now, she was not going to take it.
In a flash, she zipped across the stunned crowd of warriors and grabbed the Mercenary's neck and slammed him against a nearby wall, creating a crater from the impact.
"You listen to me you heartless bastard. You make another comment like that about me or my son again I'll personally make sure to take you to hell myself." said Chi-Chi angrily.
Though she was literally killing him right now, he still stared hard into her eyes, not betryaing neither fear nor discomfort. As a mercenary, he knew better than to cower.
"Chi-Chi, that's enough. We need him, evil as he still is." commanded Korin.
"Hmph!"snorted Chi-Chi as she threw Tao down into the ground and walked off.
"Dang it, though she's now hotter than ever she's now so strong that she can kill us. Looks like I can't get a touchy feely anymore, at least, without dying in the process." thought Roshi before he turned to Mercenary Tao, who was still on the ground.
"Make sure not to get her angry again Tao. When she says shes gonna kill ya, she will." said Master Roshi as he was utterly stunned at how much Chi-Chi had improved. Though he could say with confidence that he was a wee bit stronger he was not willing to test her on it.
Mr. Satan, on his part, was conflicted. While he was glad that she grew stronger, he was somewhat peeved that she paid no attention to him. Something had happened in the chamber and he was going to ask her.
Yet, before he could do so, he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. It was Mr. Popo.
"Come young one. It is our turn now." said Mr. Popo.
Mr. Satan made to protest but decided against it. The woman that had stepped into this chamber the day before and the woman that emerged today were not the same. Still, he would leave her be considering that her mood was not the best at the moment.
Hercule could not believe his eyes. Were they really going to train in here? As with Chi-chi and the others before him, he was absolutely flabbergasted at the white void before him.
"We will get started right now. I ask that you are ready. If not, then you can leave and Mr. Popo will train alone." said Mr. Popo.
Did he want to leave? He sure as hell could not figure out how Chi-Chi was able to stand being stuck in here, especially with Korin who seemed uptight and serious all the time. Maybe he was getting in over his head when he signed up for this deal. It was not like he particularly cared about saving the world, all he wanted to do was live his life with his wife and daughter, Videl.
Videl.
How he remembered the day of her birth, a time when he and his wife were at their happiest. His wife always been by his side, unwavering support for him even when he did not deserve it. And she had given him a gift, a daughter in which was the product of their love.
Yet it was a bittersweet gift. The complications of the delivery had taken the life out of his wife. Then she would die, leaving him alone in utter sorrow. But he would not sink into the depth of despair. Videl was still there for him to take care of.
Then, his mind was flooded with images of his dying daughter in his arms, her broken body before him before. How she had reached her arm out to him, smiling her last as she tried to say those three words...
Before she was shot through the heart and her life taken away at that very instant as her life blood spilt all over his arms. How he remembered cradling her to him, desperately wishing that she would just wake up and that all of this was a terrible nightmare. How those androids had cruelly mocked him and his daughter.
Powerless.
He could not even hurt them. They withstood his best blow and threw him aside as if he was nothing more than a annoying fly. His anger at not being able to protect his only daughter, his anger at the injustice of it all, that they mocked the gift given to him by his wife, the gift whose cost was so great that it took her life to pay for it.
That was why he was here.
"Are you ready sir or must Mr. Popo train alone?" asked Mr. Popo.
"You can bet that I'm ready. Let's get this started already!" roared Hercule as he found reason to train now and that nothing was going to get in the way of his vengeance upon the androids.
So yet another day passed. All the while, it took all of Master Roshi's strength to prevent the Mercenary from attempting to kill Chi-Chi after the previous day's debacle and also to prevent him from flying off into the blue to confront the androids, who were strangely quiet at the moment.
Still, it soon came time for Hercule and Mr. Popo to emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. As usual, most of the warriors were present as they felt the two heightened power levels emerge.
Mr Popo, though infinitely stronger, still looked EXACTLY the same.
"I feel so bad for you Mr. Popo. It seems that no matter what you do you can't get rid of that belly of yours." said Korin.
"It is not so bad. is fine with the way he looks. I am now strong and that is all that matters." replied Mr. Popo.
"Let's hope the other fatso over there loses a bit of weight himself." said Korin.
"What did you say!" roared Yajirobe from far off.
"Nothing, nothing." replied Korin in a sing song voice.
Hercule for himself came out looking pretty buff. While he was already a muscular man to begin with, his body had a bit more definition and his muscles, which looked inflated and soft before, now were iron hard. His face, just like Chi-Chi's before him, was set in a serious gaze. He was all buisness right now.
"Well tubby, it seems that you are the last one. Make sure you don't eat all the food in there." mocked Korin.
"I swear, when I get out of there I'm gonna pound you so hard Korin that you'll regret making fun of me!" said Yajirobe.
"Sticks and stones, Yajirobe, sticks and stones!" replied Korin as he loved poking Yajirobe's buttons.
So Yajirobe soon entered into the Hyperbolice Time Chamber. Unlike the other two, he was not so fazed by the white void around him. In fact, he was rather relived.
"Good, some peace and quiet for once." thought Yajirobe before he set his face in hard.
"I know I'm not the bravest person here and damn Korin for making me do this but I might as well do this right. The last thing I want is to fall completely behind the others and be made fun of." thought Yajirobe as he gave himself the motivation to train and soon started.
On Kami's lookout, Mr. Satan went in search for Chi-Chi and soon found her at the edge of the Lookout. She seemed to be deep in thought though he now understood her reasoning.
"You have not talked to me at all since you emerged from the chamber yesterday. But considering the time I spent in there with Mr. Popo, it has been nearly over a year." said Hercule.
"What of it?" asked Chi-chi tartly.
"It seems that our priorities have changed haven't they? I guess it means that we are not meant to be then." said Hercule.
Chi-Chi turned over to him and stared at him hard. Hercule almost thought that she was going to admonish him before he saw her eyes soften a bit.
"When I was in that room, there were times when I could think nothing but my Goku and Gohan. I have shared so many happy memories of them and the times were together and how those Androids have ripped that away from me. I'm sure you know the pain involved in seeing your only child die as you are helpless, unable to do anything. I'm sorry Hercule but I don't feel the same way anymore. I feel like I would be betraying Goku and Gohan by continuing. My only desire know is to kill those androids and perhaps live the rest of my life content in the memory of my departed husband and son." said Chi-Chi sadly with her head hung down.
Mr. Satan heard all this yet he was surprised to find himself not being disappointed. He knew how she felt. His wife was the only woman he had ever loved besides his own daughter. To give his life to another woman just felt so...wrong.
He soon stepped forward and put his hands on Chi-Chi's shoulders. She raised her head to meet Mr. Satan's eyes as he spoke.
"I understand how you feel. As soon as I stepped into that room, I thought I was crazy to join this suicide group. But, like you, I thought nothing but my wife and Videl. I-I still hate myself for not being strong enough to protect her, that she died in my arms while I was powerless to do anything about it. While I am glad that I was able to make friends with someone who is able to relate with me, that year in the room has also showed me that we are not meant to be as well. Perhaps Korin knew this. That last thing I wanted was to be involved in a relationship where we are both co-dependent on each other to survive. I don't want that. I want to kill these androids and, like you, live on my own content in the memory of my loving wife and daughter." replied Hercule sadly.
"Then that is that though I still wouldn't mind a heart to heart every once in a while." said Chi-Chi as she smiled.
"I guess if either of us are feeling down then we can talk. Still, it would be nice to be friends but nothing more." said Hercule.
"I agree." replied chi-Chi.
"Then let's get back already. I'm sure that Korin is going to want to lecture us on something and will get cranky if we make him wait." said Hercule.
"Right behind you then!" said Chi-Chi as they both made their way over to the interior of the Lookout.
The next day saw the biggest change out amongst the warriors. It was generally exciting to see how someone would go in the Hyberbolic Time Chamber one day and come out looking and feeling completely different the next.
Even Mercenary Tao was interested in these showings, if only to assess the power of the warriors coming out.
So it was that Yajirobe was to emerge from the room from his training and at once there was one thing that they all noticed.
He was ripped.
Yajirobe was no longer the pudgy fat man with squinty eyes due to his large cheeks. In all honesty, most of the crew believed that Yajirobe would be the one to slack and come out weakest of all but imagine that his power was nearly on par with everyone else's despite not having a training partner.
His eyes were now wide open with visible schlera now viewable with dark orbs for pupils, all of which was impossible to see before since his eyes were squinted up due to his fat cheeks. His hair was long but a bit shorter than before and Yajirobe had cut it and had it set in a long pony tail.
About his body held the signs of various scars. His chest had a long scar running from one side of his newly muscled peck to the other side. He had a stab wound on his right shoulder as well. He looked like he had fought some major battles.
"Well,well,well. It seems pudgy is now Hercules all of all sudden! What happened to you though? You got more scars than both Tien and Yamcha combined." said Korin.
"I was able to master the art of Form Splitting. I had watched you guys do it so many times and I thought that I could do it as well. Finally mastered it but took me nearly six months to do so. Still, it was well worth it. I don't think I would have come this far without a sparring partner, even if it is me against myself." replied Yajirobe with a significantly deepened voice, his Adam's apple no longer concealed under layers of fat.
"Well good job then. It seems that you have come the farthest of us all since you don't look like to shy away from pain anymore." observed Korin.
"I still hate fighting and I still don't like getting hurt but I figure that the best way to stop fighting again is to just kill these things and get it over with. I miss eating donuts and they don't make them anymore cause those androids keep killing all the bakers!" whined Yajirobe now.
"Gah, you are as fit as a fiddle and yet you can still only think about food? I swear, some things never change!" exclaimed Korin.
This got Yajirobe started and both he and Korin got into a minor argument again. The rest of the crew looked on with sweat drops on their heads. Eventually, Master Roshi soon spoke up.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you fellas but what are we going to do now? We going to find these androids or are we going to train so more?" asked Master Roshi.
Korin immediately ceased his argument with Yajirobe and turned towards Master Roshi.
"We got some more training to do but first I want to see where all of you stand as far as your power is concerned. The androids have quiet lately for whatever reason and we must take advantage of that. So all of you follow me and Mr. Popo." said Korin as he turned and made off to the interior of the Lookout.
Master Roshi looked on to the others, who seemed a bit confused, before shrugging and made off towards following Mr. Popo and Korin.
They were soon led into a room inside the Lookout. The room itself was very odd looking, with an assortment of clocks and pendulums swirling about.
"I have been in here before. You had led Yamcha, Tien and the others in here to fight some sayains or something long ago." said Yajirobe.
"You're correct though you, at the time, refused to participate. In here is the Pendulum Room. From here, we are able to send your spirit to any place to any time. Understand that what you will go through is very real so I beg that you practice caution." said Mr. Popo.
Korin then turned towards the group and looked at them very seriously before continuing.
"I hope you all understand what Mr. Popo is saying. This is not the time to mess around. The trials that you are going to go through are going to be very real and very dangerous. As such, we had thought about letting all of you go at once but I figure one at a time is better as we can get a better assessment of your newfound powers." said Korin.
"Okay then, but where exactly is this thing going to take us?" asked Mr. Satan.
"You will know soon enough. Roshi!" roared Korin.
"What?" asked Roshi.
"You're lucky number one. Up you go." said Korin as he baded Master Roshi over to the platform standing before him.
"Remember what I told you. Be careful and good luck." said Korin.
"We will await your return...if you survive." said Mr. Popo.
"Aw geez, these guys are giving me the creeps now." thought Roshi before he hardned his face with determination.
"No problem. Let er' rip and lets get started!" said Roshi.
"Good luck!" said Korin before he started the pendulum.
All Roshi could see at first was darkness, before he saw images of clocks and pendulums whirring about him. His stomach felt like it did a somersault as he whizzed through these figures before finally going through darkness once more.
Yet, light seemed to erupt about him and soon he was able to make the landscape out as he managed to gain his bearings.
At once he could tell that he was not on Earth. The entire planet looked weird. The sky was a tinted green, the oceans were green and strange, thin trees jetted upward around the grassplains before him.
"Where am I?" thought Master Roshi.
Yet, before he could dwell on the scenery, he suddenly felt several high power levels off into the distance. He immediately recognized them.
"There's no way! It can't be!" thought Roshi as he soon lifted himself off the ground and flew off into the direction of the powers.
After a brief flight he made his way towards the gathering of powers and before him he saw a sight he never thought he would ever see again.
Before him, he saw Gohan standing in what looked like to be some Sayain armor. He was still a child so Roshi figured that he had been sent back into the past.
He scanned a bit more and found Krillen there as well, also with the Sayain armor on. Next to them was Piccolo, who looked like he had been through hell and back by the way his clothes were all tattered.
Then, before them was Vegeta, who seemed to have been subdued and duly tortured by some white alien thing that he had never seen before. At once he flew in and made himself known.
"T-That power! It can't be! Master Roshi?" asked Krillen as Roshi landed down near the crew.
"W-What's Master Roshi doing here? Didn't you stay on Earth?" asked Gohan in confusion.
Piccolo noticed that something was amiss but decided to keep it to himself before speaking.
"Old man. Why are you here? Do you wish to die?" asked Piccolo harshly.
"Master Roshi, I don't know how you got here but you got to leave right now! Freeza has just beat Vegeta right now, he's too strong, you'll die if you stay!" exclaimed Krillen.
Master Roshi turned towards the white alien who had been pummeling Vegeta. The alien, amused that someone else had showed up, decided to stop torturing Vegeta for a while and threw him down to the ground, knowing that he was no longer a threat.
"I see that an old one has come to die today. Are you here to foolishly challenge me or did you wish to just witness my greatness before dying by my hand?" asked Freeza.
"So you're Freeza. I have heard so much about you yet when I think about it, I have never even seen you. They say you are strong but I'm here to see just how strong!" said Roshi.
"Such arrogance you possess old man. You believe you are a match for me?" asked Freeza.
"I know I am." replied Master Roshi despite the looks of utter disbelief and shock coming from Piccolo, Gohan and Krillen.
"I will put you in your place old man." said Freeza as he phased out of view.
Krillen and Gohan could not even see Freeza coming and Piccolo could barely keep up. Yet, imagine their surprise when Roshi just calmy lifted his arm and blocked a kick from the tyrant that would have sent him into a early grave had it connected with his head.
"You're pretty quick there young one. Perhaps you can give these old bones some exercise." said Master Roshi with a smile.
"Then I'll be more than happy to oblige." said Freeza with a wicked grin before both of them phased off and commenced their fight.
Freeza attempted a straight punch to Roshi's face, which Roshi promptly ducked and attempted a blow to the gut. Yet, Freeza was quick and lifted his knee up, which caught Roshi in the chin and sent him flying up.
Freeza then pursued him to take advantage but Roshi used zanzuken at the last second to phase out of sight, making Freeza kick empty air.
Before Freeza could recover, Roshi came down from the top and planted both of his feet on Freeza'a head, sending the tyrant down to earth. Freeza managed to recover and landed on the ground on all fours. Roshi flew in to take the initiative.
Freeza was about to counter attack but Roshi then did something unusual. He sent a small ki blast towards Freeza. Freeza growled at the pathetic attack and promptly swatted it aside. Yet this gave Roshi the tiny opening he needed as he dashed quickly from view to get at Freeza's flank.
Freeza managed to deflect the ki blast but noticed that Roshi was nowhere in sight. Before Freeza could wonder for too long, he felt a strong blow from behind as Roshi aimed a flying kick at the small of Freeza'a back.
Freeza gritted his teeth in pain before turning around and lashed his tail out. Roshi, who was attempted a overhead blow to the head, was caught completely off guard and got smacked hard by the tyrant's tail. Roshi was sent skidding on the ground before he recovered and flipped back up.
Unfortunately for him, Freeza was expecting the recovered and immediately shot several small ki blasts at Roshi.
Roshi immediately knew he was in trouble as he felt the first blast smack him in the face, obscuring his vision and destroying his sun glasses. He put his arms up to block to minimize the damage done to him but was now left vulnerable as Freeza took his backside and coiled his tail around Roshi's neck.
Roshi felt the tail squeeze his throat as breathing became impossible. He used his arms to attempt to pry the tail off but in doing so, left his body open as the last three or four ki blasts shot by Freeza went through his defenses and hit him hard.
The blows knocked whatever air he had left in his body and Roshi knew that he had to get out of this grip or he would die. He felt himself getting lifted into the air as he slammed down to the ground.
Roshi felt dirt enter his mouth as he was slammed. He only had one chance to do this. He was running out of air and he knew that he wouldn't be able to withstand getting slammed again without suffocating.
As he was lifted again, Roshi charged up some ki and turned towards Freeza and shot it at his face, like a ki blast pie. Freeza roared in pain as the blast him full in the face, using his hands to cover it while he let go Roshi.
Roshi used the precious down time to get his breath back before charging in at full speed and proceeded to elbow Freeza in the gut. Freeza felt his air get knocked out before he was knocked away once more.
This time, Freeza could not recover as he flew straight into a nearby mountain, destroying it in the process.
Roshi breathed in and out hard. This fight was taking alot out of him but despite that, he was glad that he was able to get the better of this freak. He had heard Goku and others say just how powerful he was when they faced him but perhaps they were exaggerating. He trained for only one year with weighted equipment and already he was getting the better of Freeza. Those androids were as good as dead.
Before Roshi could feel too good about himself, however, he heard some chuckling before he saw Freeza emerge from the mountain, a bit bruised and dirty but otherwise fine.
"This is getting fun. It has been a long time since anyone has gotten me this dirty and bruised up." said Freeza.
"I'll make sure to get you more than just "bruised up" once I'm done with you." said Roshi though he was still out of breath while Freeza looked completely fine.
"Don't get cocky old man. What you see before you is approximately 33 percent of my total power. But since you are so tough old man perhaps you can withstand me at 50 percent of my total power. Let's see. If you can, then I'll just get stronger. If you can't then you die. Either way, you lose." said Freeza.
"There's no way he can get any stronger. I bet that he's just bluffing to get me scared. Young whipper snappers think they can frighten old men like that with empty threats. That's psychological abuse of the elderly!" thought Roshi.
Roshi then turned around and saw Freeza stand there with an evil grin on his face. Freeza's expression suddenly turned deadly and Roshi suddenly felt as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He found his entire body trembling unconsciously for whatever reason.
It was then that Roshi knew that Freeza was NOT bluffing and that he, indeed, was holding back.
Before Roshi could even think, he felt a colossal pain in his stomach as he felt like something was just pulverizing his insides. He could hardly even breath as he saw Freeza appear before him.
Roshi looked down to see that Freeza had lodged his fist up his stomach and that nearly half of the alien's arm was inside his body!
Pure, unimaginable pain erupted in Roshi's senses as yelled out in pain.
"I'm so sorry. I forgot to mention that nothing in the universe besides my father and brother can withstand me at 50 percent of my power. I just found your words so convincing, surely you could be the only other one to fight me at this level. I guess not. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted." said Freeza as he pointed his arm down towards the struggling Roshi and charged a large, purple ball of ki.
Roshi could only look up in abject terror and helplessness as he saw the ball of ki come straight at his broken body and disentegrate his entire being.
Author's Note: Well, I hope that you all enjoyed it. At this point afterwards, the story should come along a bit faster (I hope) so thank you all for your patience. Anyway, thanks for reading and hoped you enjoyed.