Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or Dragon Ball GT. This is a work of fiction; any resemblance of actual persons is of pure coincidence.
Acronyms
FF= fan fiction -or- fanfic
AN= author's note
QAN= quick author's note
Dragon Ball Reborn
Background: After deciding to stay in the past with Bardock, he and Ryanna start a new life on Earth. With knowledge of the past, and friends in the future, Ryanna makes careful steps on making sure everything goes right for Goku and the rest of the Saiyan children. Unfortunately, the change in the time caused a much bigger and more concerning problem than anyone could have ever anticipated.
AGE CHANGE!
Radditz/Bulma/Yamcha-24 years old
Goku- 18 years old
Krillen-19 years old
Mirai- 8 years old (physically 18)
As the story progresses I will state the age change so things don't get confusing.
Chapter24: Terms and Conditions
Bulma was in a losing argument. No matter how much she begged and pleaded with Radditz he wouldn't see to reason. She'd nagged, pushed and whimpered but nothing, not a single thing would convince him to back out of the deal. Radditz was determined to go up against the prince of Saiyans.
"Why does he want you to go to Vegeta with him anyway?"
"Because he knows he could never convince my mother and father to go. Nappa has failed to do a wiser job and he wants someone with actual brains rather than brawn. He feels I'm a better candidate."
"What if you lose, Radditz?" Bulma pouted. "Is that it, is it over?"
"I'm sorry Bulma, as much as I like you, and as much as I want to see where our relationship will go I cannot allow Vegeta to just make this decision. My sister is too young, and I will protect her."
Bulma let out a sigh of aggravation. "Oh I've had it! This isn't fair! Fine! Leave! I don't care anymore!" She took off crying.
Radditz watched her leave, his stomach suddenly feeling queasy about this entire thing. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his hair. After an hour alone everyone gathered in the livingroom for the terms and conditions of the fight.
Ryanna stood front and center eying Vegeta who had his arm cradled over Mirai's shoulder protectively. "I was unable to convince either of you out of this, so to keep both sides equal I've come up with some terms and conditions for this duel. Instead of merely going all out and possibly destroying part of the world we're going to keep this fight toned down by entering you both into the World Martial Arts Tournament."
Mirai opened her mouth to retort but Vegeta's grip on her shoulder stopped her. Vegeta instead, spoke for her. "Why under these conditions?"
"Because it seems we're split in votes. Half of us believe Mirai should remain here while the other half believes Mirai should be given a choice to go. So this will be the fair fight."
She wlaked out of the room a moment and came back with a chart. "We'll have Chiaotsu rig the preliminaries so none of you have to fight each other. Once we hit the final eight it's all up to the fights to decide who will battle who." She set the chart down and circled the empty slot.
"Two of the humans will enter as well to make the lots even. After that we leave it up to chance. Knowing my friends I have a feeling we'll be looking at Tien and Yamcha to even the score."
"It sounds complicated." Bulma frowned as she eyed the chart, "but it seems you've got this all thought out."
"Yes I have, I also happen to have," she holds up a serum. "The antidote to my little accident. Whatever the circumstance is it will be Mirai's overall decision whether to drink it or not, this fight is merely to determine whether Mirai and Radditz will be staying here on Earth, or going to Planet Vegeta." She eyed the room. "Now then any questions?"
"Yeah, why aren't you entering the tournament as well?"
"Because I'm indifferent, although I want Mirai to stay here and live a human life from beginning to end. I also feel she should be able to make her own decisions." Ryanna folded her arms. "Hence why I said the vote came to a stale mate."
So it was decided. Bardock, Radditz, and Goku were on the Earth side, whilst Piccolo, Vegeta, and Mirai were on the free choice side. For the next few weeks each player trained to their limits. Vegeta not wanting his mate to be uncomfortable in her new form trained her himself making sure she was using it to all its advantages.
"Are you sure about this Vegeta? Mom's never let me inside the gravity room at home before. She says I wasn't ready."
"That was then this is now Mirai. You will show those brothers of yours that you're a true saiyan warrior, not to be pushed around." Vegeta fiddled with the controls. "We'll start you off on an easy ten times normal gravity, then work our way up from there. By the end of the week I expect you to be able to take 100 times normal gravity."
Mirai choked on her saliva her body shaking with not only fear, but anticipation. The human inside her was petrified, but the saiyan in her longed for the challenge. The gravity switched on and she immediately felt the tugging weight on her body. She struggled to remain on her feet and used her energy to try and boost herself up again.
"Good, good, now then run around allow your body to get used to the weight"
Vegeta pushed and pulled at her limitations. Mirai was his pupil and he found himself enjoying the chance to mold her into his ideal fighter. She didn't complain, she didn't fail, instead she pushed herself to meet his expectations and even succeeded them. Their training had begun on Monday, and by Wednesday she was mastering the 100 times gravity as if it were a walk in the park.
Back on Mt. Paos Goku and Piccolo meditated on the top of the hill near the house, their senses aware of the growing energies of their future combatants. Piccolo kept his eyes closed as he casually grunted to his sparring partner. "So who do you think has the best chance of winning, Radditz or Vegeta?"
Goku cocked an eye open to glance at him. His eye rolled up as if giving some serious thought. "Hmmm, well to tell you the truth I think Vegeta has the better chance. Radditz hasn't been training much, what with the times of peace and all. I'm surprised he managed to catch Vegeta off guard at all."
"Do you think we stand a better chance of defeating Vegeta?"
"Well, yeah but why would you want to? I mean I thought you were on Mirai's side."
"I couldn't care less of his reasonings. All I Know is that you and your friends and family are the only things standing in my way of world domination. If I were to defeat you I could reclaim my throne."
"Mom would be very disappointed in you. Out of all of us it'll be her and my father you'll have to step on to claim that throne."
Piccolo grunted and relaxed his body, opening his eyes. "Well I suppose you do have a point."
"Just give up on that. Why would you want to rule the world anyway, it doesn't sound all that much fun to me." Goku laid back staring at the sky with a smile. "I much rather live a normal life. I wanna build my own house and live amongst all the wild life, run through the forests everyday listening to the sounds of nature. Train my body for the tournaments for fun, maybe even one day see outer space and visit all the places my mother and father talked about!"
He turned his head to look at a deep thinking Piccolo. "Wouldn't you like to visit planet Namek? Meet your people."
"To be honest…" Piccolo put his chin to his knee. "I don't know." He held his heart feeling it beat faster at the mention of his home planet. "The thought, as stupid as it sounds, both excites me… and scares me."
"Wow, the Great King Piccolo scared to visit a planet. I never thought I'd see the day." Goku laughed and earned a harsh punch to the shoulder. "Ow! Okay that's it's you're gonna get it Piccolo!" Goku tackled and wrestled with the Namek then soon both fighters were locked in hand to hand combat, smiles on both their faces.
Bulma stared long and hard at the computer screen, her frown apparent. She'd been watching Radditz train for days almost nonstop. His muscles bulging, his skin sweating, and his face so determined and yet racked with pain. "Oh Radditz…"
"Is he still at it?" Yamcha dried his hair from his shower. He'd just completed his own training regiment and leaned over Bulma's shoulder to watch. "How does that guy do it?"
"Oh Yamcha I can't stand it." Bulma sobbed burying her face in her hands. "He won't even look at me anymore. this whole thing is so stupid! It's all Vegeta's fault!"
Yamcha put a comforting arm around her rubbing her shoulder. "There, there Bulma, I'm sure once this whole thing blows over he'll realize what an idiot he's been and come crawling back to you."
"I don't care, no I don't care anymore if Radditz wants to risk everything we have for his sister than he's welcomed to it but I won't wait around for him!" She turns to Yamcha grabbing his face she kissed him full and hard Yamcha turning read from head to toe, smoke coming out of his ears his muscles tightening and his hair standing on end. When the kiss ended Bulma gave a nod of approval before strutting off. Yamcha stood frozen a moment before his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
When Bulma told Ryanna of what transpired she nearly spit out her tea. "You kissed him!"
"I did and it felt really, really good!" Bulma sighed with relief as she nibbled on a cookie lounged in the chair. "I'm sorry Ryanna. I really do like your son but I will not be with a man who won't even give me a moment's notice even in his free time."
"I can understand you're upset Bulma but don't you think you're rushing your decision? What if Radditz wins? I hardly think it's fair to go off kissing another man when he's clearly and obviously still in love with you."
"That's just it Ryanna. We've been together for years, nearly 12 years to be precise and not once did he ever claim that he loved me! Oh I gave him credit for being an alien, after all Saiyans weren't raised as humans, maybe he needed more time to realize and get used to the idea of marriage and true commitment, but frankly I'm sick and tired of waiting. I want nothing more than to just move on and find a man who will accept everything and tell me he loves me."
Even as she spoke the tears became fresh in her eyes. Bulma was really on the edge of her seat. "I love Radditz, I know in my heart of hearts that I love him. However, if he won't admit that he loves me, won't even give me the decency to say that he has feelings for me, then I won't succumb to anymore neglect by staying with him and hoping for nothing!"
Ryanna came to the other side of the couch and cradled the crying Bulma to her shoulder. She sighed and closed her eyes wondering if this was the way Bulma had felt when she and Yamcha had broken up in her time. Maybe that's why she gave into Vegeta. So many years with Yamcha and no real commitment was enough to make any woman wonder if the man really loved you at all.
"Just give it some time Bulma. Wait until after the tournament before you decide to really break up with Radditz. Then after it's all over I suggest you have a long heart to heart talk with him about yours and his feelings."
"You really think that'll help?"
"If being a scientist has taught me anything it's taught me that conversation is the number one source of prime information!"
Woot, okay another chapter down and we're heading for the close. The tournament is next and after that the grand finale! Who will win? What will the circumstances come out to? Next Chapter…
Chapter 25: Round 1