FMG: Chapter 11

Demon on the Horizon

AN: Finally found the Mirai Shock site again, although I haven't found the message board. -_-' Any who, it's at http://hometown.aol.com/juuhachigouda, It's one of the best (and well thought out) Mirai stories I've ever found, so if you have time (it's a long series) go check it out. I'm also putting it in my bio, so if you need the link again, you don't have to go digging through my chapters. ^_^ There are the standard apologies for slow updating, yada yada…

Standing on the rim of the Lookout were four figures. The first three were listening to the fourth that was looking out over the side and speaking. One of the listeners interrupted with and exclamation of surprise, "Hey! There's another ki down there! It feels like… Dabura? I thought he was dead…"

The other three leaned forward peering with more interest at the ground, although only Dende could actually see anything. "The reason it feels like Dabura is because it is Dabura Gohan. Presumably he was resurrected, or the kaios reincarnated him."

"Oh."

"Who's this Dabura person? Another god?" Caduta wondered as he leaned even farther over the rim, straining his eyes downward.

"Something like that. I forget what his full title is but it amounts to something like Overlord of the Otherworld, at least the sinister half of it."

Reaching over Pingo absently grabbed the back of Caduta's shirt as he started to topple over the edge. "What's this other world you guy's keep talking about? A different planet?" he asked as he hauled Caduta backwards.

"Not an other world, The Otherworld, sort of an astral plane. The Otherworld is the spiritual side of the universe, the exclusive domain of magic and spirit. Mostly the dead, oni, and the celestial hierarchy of the gods populate it. As with Earth and the rest of the more mundane universe there are different areas with various cultures, species and people inhabiting and ruling over them."

Caduta turned his head and looked at Dende in awe, "Wow, you know a lot about this stuff."

"Thanks," Dende replied with a grin before turning to watch below, "although it's kind of my job. Hello… That was odd." Dende frowned downwards.

"What?" Pingo asked anxiously.

"Dabura's ki just disappeared along with Mer-whosit's," Gohan informed Pingo. Turning to Dende, "Well? What's going on?"

"Dabura took one look at Piccolo, turned beet red and ran for it."

"Um. What did Piccolo do to him?"

"Nothing that I can see, he just smiled. For granted, that's frightening enough. You know his I'm-just-bideing-my-time-until-you-drop-your-guard-and-least-expect-it-then-I'll-kidnap-you-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and-torture-you-in-such-a-way-that-even-King-Kaiou-will-hear-your-screams-for-mercy smile? That's the one he used."

"Huh. I'd run if I saw that smile too, but I wouldn't think that Dabura would be affected."

"Maybe Piccolo got an upgrade."

"What now? As in what are they doing?"

"Intimidation and extortion. Looks like they've got the texts and are getting ready to come back here."

Everyone sighed and leaned back from the edge, glad the fighting was over. "Do you think Piccolo-san is going to stop trying to kill her now?"

Dende shook his head sadly as Pingo answered, "Somehow I doubt it, after all, from what you were able to tell us it's been one thing after another down there. He just hasn't been able to get a handle on what's been going on long enough to get around to killing her."

"He's probably right Gohan. Piccolo is a bit, ah, determined."

"Maybe you could convince him she's ok?"

"I could try I guess. Do their ki's suddenly feel funny to you?"

Sudden yells that were sharply cut off by the sound of objects hitting a wall at high speed echoed across the grounds from the entry hall of the Kami's Palace. The four exchanged wide-eyed looks then began running for the hall.

Describing the actual process by which Vlam uses her fire portals would be extremely uninformative except to a mystical engineer. The visual effects of the portal opening on the outside are easily described. The journey through the flame however is not. It is a wall of flame covering the sight of the outside world, then a flame-covered out-of-control roller-coaster moving at four hundred miles an hour with no inertial compensators through an area that is just far enough outside of this world to move in the narrow passages between molecules, but still close enough to create an impressive splat if it hits anything. For an adrenaline junkie, it's the ride of a lifetime; for almost anyone else, it is a source of nightmares.

To top it all off Vlam has just woken up, after a few hundred years in a rock, and has acquired the energy boost of the souls of a super genius and a super sayian. Non-calibrated is the least you can say for that ride. It was an impressive exit, I'll grant you that. Sending a goddess and a super namek squeaking between the world-stuff and only lighting their clothing on fire is amazing. At least the brakes worked. After all, they were only going one hundred miles an hour when they exited instead of four. That the dent they made in the wall was only three inches deep is a testament to the superior reinforced building materials used after the Garlic Jr. incident. All in all it was a successful trip.

Dashing into the hall Gohan arrived first at the scene then stopped dead staring. Dende slid around the corner and ran into Gohan nearly knocking him over. Then Mr. Popo arrived from the opposite end of the hall where he had been readying snacks for all of the expected visitors. Finally Pingo and Caduta sauntered in, not going so fast because Pingo had realized what the thuds were and knew that it would take a few minutes for them to get their heart rates back to normal.

Groaning Piccolo sat up from where he had landed after slamming into the wall and blinked, attempting to focus his eyes. Seeing Gohan staring at him he considered nodding, but then decided not to for fear of his head falling off. Trying to remember exactly why he was sitting on the floor, he had a horrifying memory of flames and Vlam next to him screaming. There was a faint whap from beside and behind him as an awkward hand slapped onto his shoulder pad. Vlam pulled herself upright and wobbled next to him trying to rub out the chunks of plaster stuck into her hair with her free hand. Piccolo attempted a snarl, and then settled for a fierce comment and a glare, "What the hell happened? Were you trying to kill us?"

Vlam looked blankly at Piccolo for a few moments, trying to place who he was, remembering she shook her head and winced. "No, I think… I think I overpowered it. Fun though. The landing was a bit rough, but I've had worse. I think."

Dende coughed slightly to catch their attention and moved closer, "You two look a bit worse for wear, how about we go sit down in the tearoom and let you catch your breath."

Vlam smiled dazedly at him, "That would be very nice, thank you Dende-sama." She then attempted to stand. Wobbling she managed it after falling and being shoved off Piccolo twice. The third time Dende quickly grabbed her arm and supported her.

Piccolo snorted and managed to stand up on the first try. Standing very close to the wall he attempted to focus his eyes in a glare at Dende, then gave it up as a lost cause. "Fine. Let's go then." Gohan offered an arm to support him, Piccolo growled but accepted, as gracefully as was possible under the circumstances.

Mister Popo smiled and turned down the hall leading the way. Behind him came Dende with his arm wrapped around the waist of a still wobbling Vlam. Close behind them came a stiff looking Piccolo frowning and leaning on Gohan who was fighting to keep his smile to himself. Trailing to the rear were Pingo and Caduta who were grinning at each other and quietly staggering around and tripping in a mocking parody of the two who were theoretically the cause of all their troubles.

They entered the same room Vlam and Dende had eaten in before, this time cushions were placed around a low circular table. Dende helped Vlam to a seat on the far side of the room, close enough to the wall that she could lean back upon it if necessary, and then gracefully seated himself next to her. Gohan who was now staggering under the strain of supporting and guiding his sensei but not seeming to dropped Piccolo onto the cushion next to Vlam. Gratefully he seated himself on the other side of his glowering teacher. Caduta and Pingo shuffled reluctantly into the room then brightened when they saw that neither had to sit next to the hostile green-man or the goddess. Caduta snagged the seat next to Dende in the hopes that he would be able to learn more about the Otherworld and the spirits that inhabited it. Pingo rolled his eyes and hoped to himself that Caduta wouldn't impose on Dende's hospitality. With an affable nod he seated himself next to Gohan as Mr. Popo bustled about the table putting out tea and light snacks for everyone, and a full sized (for a human) meal for Gohan.

While waiting for Popo to finish placing the tea things on the table Dende waved slightly at Gohan to attract his attention. Raising his eyebrows Gohan looked at Dende inquiringly. Dende shot a glance sideways at Piccolo and Vlam. Vlam was concentrating on attempting to hold her cup still for Mr. Popo to pour tea; Piccolo appeared to be concentrating on glaring at her and trying to figure out what evil things she was planning on doing with her tea. Gohan nearly groaned out loud, realizing it had been a supreme mistake hoping that his sensei had decided against killing Vlam. Dende rolled his eyes as Gohan turned to him with a pleading expression, then shrugged.

I suppose we should have planned this better Gohan, but there's nothing we can do about it now without it being too obvious. Dende told Gohan telepathically. Gohan grimaced and nodded in response, not trusting his telepathic control to keep from revealing his side of the conversation to Piccolo.

"I'd like to know something," Vlam said suddenly, startling everyone and turning to Piccolo, "Dende-sama said that you were related to the one I knew as Green Brother, but that the line of descent was complicated. Could you explain please?"

Piccolo blinked as everyone looked at him, then glared at Dende who examined the ceiling quite closely in an attempt to avoid Piccolo's gaze. "I'm not sure who you're talking about, and I see no reason why I should trace my family tree for you, " he said sharply turning his glare to Vlam.

Vlam gave a half shrug and without breaking eye contact continued her line of questioning, "I remember an apprentice and heir to Old King Kami, the one who was Kami-sama in my time, and he was of the same species as you and Dende-sama." She gave Piccolo a slight smile, "You look very much like him, even your mind feels like his. If he is still alive I would like to see him again, catch up on old acquaintances," she slowed and frowned, "and ask for explanations for his behavior."

Piccolo's eyes widened as suddenly things connected, vague memories of her frowning and fighting him and even vaguer, hazy with the past, laughter as she dove headfirst off a railing making a goofy face at him as she waved goodbye. He glanced at Dende who nodded solemnly. Piccolo hissed his breath in and gritted his teeth. "The one you speak of is dead. He was… half my father. As for his behavior, no true explanation can be given, unless you can speak with the previous Kami."

"Half of your father?" Vlam's brow furrowed as she tried to understand. Pingo and Caduta looked confused in the background and Gohan seemed to be beginning to understand judging by the awed look on his face. "How can he…?"

"More appropriately, Piccolo's father was half of your, ah, Green Brother. One half became the Kami of Earth. The other half, well um…" Dende trailed off desperately trying to think of a delicate way to put it.

"Quit waffling you young fool, if you're going to tell her my life story tell it right," Piccolo snarled at Dende then turned to Vlam who was looking shocked, "My father was the incarnation of all of the evil thoughts and emotions that resided in the Kami's apprentice. The former Kami insisted that the thoughts of his heir should be pure. Unfortunately there was a soul link between the two bodies, when one died so did the other. Eventually my father spat me up before he croaked and the link, and the evil inclinations were passed onto me. End of story. Next topic."

Everyone sat there for a moment, feeling either embarrassed or very confused. Gohan and Dende exchanged worried looks and fidgeted, trying to think up a topic that wasn't littered with landmines to fill the silence. "AH! Got it!" Gohan exclaimed happily, blushing at the looks his out burst had caused. "Vlam where did Mergulho go? …Uh Vlam?"

"Hmm?" Vlam's gaze turned from where ever it was looking and she blinked at Gohan as she tried to rewind in her mind what she had heard but not listened to. "Oh, Mergulho… I got him sent back to the prison in Otherworld, it's where he belongs, hasn't adapted at all to earth for thousands of years, he'd screw everything up…" she said rather absently, still thinking on what ever train of thought Piccolo's explanation had started. Her eyes unfocused and she started frowning at the wall again. Everyone blinked at her, and waited to see if she would come back to reality any time soon.

Shrugging and realizing she wouldn't explain anymore unless she was prompted to do so Dende asked, "Why was Dabura there Vlam? What did you need him for?"

"Um, I needed him because he's… Hold on one second please Dende-sama," she said holding up a finger and turning to Piccolo with a serious expression on her face. "Let me see if I have this right. The Green Brother that I knew split into two people; one was the Kami-sama of Earth and reigned from after Old King Kami's death until Dende took over. The other was your father, the complete opposite of the Kami-sama."

Piccolo gave Vlam a suspicious look, "as far as that goes, yes." what the hell is she up to?

"And your father died, passing all of his obligations to you." Piccolo snorted slightly at this obvious statement. Vlam opened her mouth to say something, and then stopped, her mouth remaining open for a few moments. Her eyes refocused on Piccolo and with careful deliberation asked, "What was your father's name?"

Piccolo raised an eye ridge slightly, "The same as mine, Piccolo Daimyo."

Vlam gave her head a shake, "Not that name, his Name, his title, the official usage."

"The Demon King, why?"

"And you were his only surviving issue at the time of his death?"

Piccolo's scowl grew deeper, "What exactly are you getting at?"

Vlam rose up on her knees, leaning closer to him, "Just answer the damn question!" she hissed into his face.

"As far as I know and can remember, yes."

"Bastard. Moron… Idiot!" Vlam muttered to herself as she flopped backwards, leaning against the wall behind her. Banging her head softly against it in time with a hissed 'stupid' to herself. Slowly she increased in volume and force, stopping when she reached a medium shout. There was a small crater in the wall and dribbles of plaster on the floor. Very slowly she turned around to glare at Piccolo. Every one stared at her buggy-eyed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"That isn't the sort of thing you just toss out in casual conversation," Piccolo snapped back at her, "What did you expect me to do? 'Oh by the way my father was evil incarnate and killed twenty five percent of the Western Capitol, isn't that just ducky?' I didn't notice you offering any tidbits about what the hell you were doing, and besides I was trying to kill you. I'm still planning on it by the way."

Vlam snarled and started towards Piccolo, her hands clenched into claws. Gulping Dende glanced between Vlam's murderous and Piccolo's pugnacious expressions. Panicking he interjected in a high pitched squeaky voice, "You haven't finished why you needed Dabura in the first place!"

Vlam glared at Piccolo for a few more seconds then turned to Dende with a smile that seemed more like a grimace. Speaking carefully through clenched teeth she hissed "I needed Dabura because he is a demon king, specifically the king of the Otherworld to which I needed to send Mergulho. In order to forcibly transmit a rogue you need the backing of a demon king. Any Demon King. If the king in question was the ruler of the domain to which the demon is home to then the demon does not have to be subdued for transport and all of it's ties to it's home can be cut." Vlam bared her teeth in an awful grin at the shocked faces of Dende, Caduta, Pingo, and Gohan. She pointedly did not look at the stunned namek beside her. "For instance the great green beanpole could have waved the hand he wasn't using to pull his head out of his ass and the damned demon would have been gone!"

Vlam tossed her hands up and flopped backwards again, hitting the wall with a thump, her temper burned out. Slowly a sad expression crept over her face. As Dende and the rest blinked in shock at Vlam, Piccolo began putting together the sentences into a coherent meaning. His face changed from mildly shocked and aggravated to a snarl. Vlam turned towards him with a tired expression as he growled out a denial, "I am not a Demon King! I am not my father!"

Vlam shook her head at him, "I'm sorry. I really am," she said as she looked at him with a doubtful and apologetic expression, "but you inherit more than you expect. Sins of the father, karma and all that crap. The mortals inherit broken china, and the gods get dusty shrines. You, well, you've got hell on Earth." Vlam sighed and patted the gaping namek on the shoulder. "Look at it this way, it can only get better from here right?"

Author: O.o, what twisty things can I do along the lines of Picc being a demon? I have a twist planned for next chapter as well, so don't worry; you're supposed to be confused. Even the characters are supposed to be confused. ^_^