'I'm seeing some activity near where Goku blew himself up.' North Kai said. 'It looks like Majin Buu survived.'

'No way!' Krillin exclaimed. 'There's no way anything could survive a direct hit from something like that!'

'Majin Buu has the power to create life to repair its own body,' the voice of Kaio-Shin said. 'It took a while but still…'

'So is that monster still injured?' Videl asked. 'If it's significantly weakened maybe we could…'

'It is rapidly recovering now.' North Kai interjected. 'By the time you get there it will be completely recovered already.'

'We also have some bad news from this side.' Dende said. 'Bulma and the others got attacked, we assume by monsters sent by Dabura. The monsters didn't have ki and came through portals from a different dimension. They were defeated but Goten and Erasa got trapped in there and those monsters managed to steal two Dragon Balls.'

'That's strange.' Kaio-Shin said. 'Could you describe the monsters?'

'They were red.' Lazuli said quickly. 'Orange eyes, varying numbers of limbs and eyes, and they could breathe fire that absorbed ki.'

'That's indeed demonic.' Kaio-Shin said. 'A troubling development. Why would Dabura be after the Dragon Balls? He shouldn't even know about them.'

'We don't have an answer for that.' Dende said. 'But in between the threats of both Dabura and Majin Buu...'

'And we don't even have Goku anymore to help us.' Krillin added.

'Is father there already?' Gohan asked. 'I'd like to talk to him.'

'No he isn't.' Piccolo said.

'I'm sorry Gohan.' Dende said empathetically. 'Your father's body couldn't be saved this time. Normally when someone dies there's a body, or at least fragments, to save and send to the afterlife. Then if Enma, who judges the souls of those who died, agrees with it the soul can live on in the afterlife in that body. But your father annihilated his entire body, there was no body left for him to inhabit in the afterlife.'

'So what does that mean?' Videl asked confused. 'Doesn't your body always stop functioning when you die anyway?'

'Normally when you die your body is no longer able to sustain itself in this world, but by bringing that body to the afterlife it can be restored to a state in which it can function in that world.' Dende explained. 'However, there simply isn't a trace of Goku's body left to bring to the afterlife. What it practically means is that Goku's soul will be judged again, but he will not be able to use a body ever again. He won't be able to join Piccolo and the others to communicate with us either.'

'I'm so sorry Gohan.' Krillin said empathetically.

Videl didn't know what to say. What could you say to someone who just lost his father? What would Erasa do? Erasa would probably force Gohan into a hug he really didn't want. Erasa always hugged pretty much everybody she at least somewhat liked. Videl didn't really feel comfortable doing that. She was fine hugging Erasa but she wasn't as close with Gohan. Videl was still rambling her thoughts when Gohan spoke up.

'So if Majin Buu's still there, what can you tell us about it?' Gohan asked. 'Does it have a weakness of some sort?'

'The only weakness I can come up with is its intelligence.' Kaio-Shin said. 'It can frequently let down its guard or act carelessly as it is focused on destruction and killing. But actually destroying Majin Buu is almost impossible. It doesn't need to be intelligent or careful if it is almost literally immortal.'

'Well, regardless… my father always taught me to never give up.' Gohan said determined. 'We can't just give up! If we can't beat it by force, we need to find a different way. Do you think there's any chance of Majin Buu listening to reason now that Bobbidy's influence is gone?'

'No.' Kaio-Shin said harshly. 'Majin Buu does not listen to reason. Majin Buu does not have a conscience, it was not made that way. All it wants is destruction.'

'But it tolerated Bobbidy's presence.' Krillin brought up. 'How did that work?'

'Back in the days it used Bibbidy because Bibbidy could travel between the dimensions thanks to its Kaio-Shin and MaKaio-Shin traits. With Bibbidy's assistance it gained access to the world of the Kaio-Shin. My guess is Buu only tolerates Bobbidy because it has a use for him.'

'I just thought of something.' Videl said. 'Can't we get Kaio-Shin and Piccolo to come back here to help out? Gohan's dad came here even though he was dead, can't they do the same? With Kaio-Shin we might even be able to get Erasa and Goten back, and the Dragon Balls! You said maybe Kaio-Shin could go to the Demon Realm right?'

'I'm afraid it's not that simple.' Kaio-Shin replied. 'Dead bodies returning to the living world is against nature. We have to go through quite a lot of work to actually pull it off, and even then it only lasts for a day. We're talking weeks of preparation here. The only reason we went through all that trouble for Goku was because we needed him at the Tournament to draw out Spopovitch and Yamu.'

That was a big bummer. Videl could read Gohan's disappointment from his face after he lit up for a second at the possibility of Piccolo coming back.

'What about Goku's grandfather?' Krillin asked. 'I remember he also came back for a day.'

'Uhmmm, well, we owed Baba a favour.' North Kai said hesitantly. 'She got me my old car, and she always gives these boxes of delicious chocolate to Enma.'

'Hmm, speaking of which…' Piccolo started. 'Where is your car? You had it the last time I was dead.'

'Got blown up with the old planet.' North Kai replied irritated. 'Took me a long time to modify that car too before it worked in this gravity.'

'North Kai, you accepted bribes to send people back for a day?' Kaio-Shin said sharply, as a teacher who caught his student cheating.

'Well uhmm, it wasn't me who sent him back. It was Enma, and it wasn't even for a day. It was like ten hours tops. All I did was not tell you. The guy just wanted to see his grandson again and he always told the best jokes, unlike this green guy over here.'

Videl had completely lost track of the interdimensional conversation. Just as she was about to speak up Dende interjected.

'North Kai, is it just me or does Majin Buu look smaller than before?'

'Well duh, Majin Buu is still recovering right?' Videl spoke up, when Korin bonked her on the head again.

'A bit more respectful. You're talking to God.'

Videl wondered why Dende apparently needed Korin to stand up for him.

'If you want to see, place your hand on my shoulder.' Dende said, completely indifferent to Videl's rudeness or Korin's rebuke.

Videl and Gohan both quickly flew to Dende.

'Uhmm, you're wearing robes.' Videl said. 'Do you need to undress?'

'No, just place your hand on top of the robe.'

Videl placed her right hand on the robe covering Dende's left shoulder and Gohan placed his left hand on the robe covering Dende's right shoulder. As soon as Videl made contact with Dende's robes a new image popped up in her head.

Videl saw a grotesque creature floating in the sky. She could see it was far away but for some reason she could also see it in great detail as if it was close. The creature was about two metres tall, pink, fat, with a weird flexible limb on its head, round holes on the sides of its head instead of ears, and no nose. It wore baggy white pants, a purple cape, and a black top that was too small for it. The top and cape were also torn.

'Is that pink monster Majin Buu?' Videl asked.

'Yes.' Kaio-Shin said. 'That is undoubtedly Majin Buu. And you're right Dende, it does look smaller than before.'

'So is it still recovering?' Gohan asked.

The pink monster looked like it was complete, it didn't look like it was still growing. The monster also looked furious which made it look all the more frightening.

'I don't think so.' Kaio-Shin said. 'Majin Buu doesn't recover like that.'

'Maybe it took permanent damage from Goku's last attack.' Korin theorised.

'It would be a first.' Kaio-Shin replied. 'As far as I know Majin Buu never took lasting damage before, it always fully recovered anything it took. But then again, we've never hit it quite as hard as that before either.'

Majin Buu moved again rapidly as if enraged. It was suddenly surrounded by some kind of ki and shot powerful energy beams into the sky. It didn't even seem aware it was doing that. Soon after Videl sensed the energy. It felt unlike anything Videl had felt before, it was somehow incomplete.

'It seems to be in pain or something.' Gohan said. 'Or is that just its natural behaviour?'

'I don't know.' Kaio-Shin said. 'Majin Buu has always been an eccentric and unpredictable creature. It loves destroying everything.'

'What's up with its energy?' Videl asked. 'It feels so weird, as if I can't sense a part of it.'

'You can only sense its half from this world.' Kaio-Shin explained. 'Its other half is demonic. Demonic lifeforms don't have ki.'

Majin Buu continued its tantrum and shot energy blasts everywhere. Several blasts fell towards the ground causing massive explosions, others flew off into the sky. The explosions were immensely powerful, they would have easily destroyed the entire stadium at the World Martial Arts Tournament.

'Wow that monster is powerful.' Videl said quietly and terrified.

'Fortunately nobody lives out there.' Krillin said.

'Is there nothing we can do to stop it before it destroys the entire planet?' Lazuli asked.

'You're right, we must stop it somehow.' Gohan said determined. 'I'll go there and do my best to stop it.'

Gohan was about to fly off when Videl stopped him. It was an instinct, a gut feeling that told her Gohan had no chance to fight this monster, and that it would be a terrible mistake to go after it now.

'Gohan wait!'

Gohan froze.

'Are you sure you can beat a monster like that?' Videl asked worryingly.

'No, but… I can't just let it destroy the planet! I have to at least try!'

Videl had never experienced Gohan so determined before. Videl didn't know what was wise. What did wisdom even mean when there was no way to win? All Videl knew was that she didn't want Gohan to leave and die all alone.

'I think Videl is right.' Kaio-Shin said. 'There's definitely something different about Majin Buu. If we can study it a bit longer maybe we can find a new weak spot.'

'But what if it blows up the planet while we're here just doing nothing?!' Gohan retaliated. 'I won't just stand here and do nothing!'

Videl grabbed Gohan's wrist.

'If you go, I'll go with you! I'm not gonna let you die out there alone. I-I don't know how much use I can be in such a fight but I'll do my best! I-I can't let such a monster destroy my friends or my planet!'

'No!' Gohan replied, doing his best to be strict and definitive. 'It's far too dangerous for you! You'll just get yourself killed!'

'And you aren't just getting yourself killed?' Videl said harshly. 'This is just as much my planet to defend as it is yours!'

Gohan seemed shocked by that reply. Videl could see that he was internally arguing with himself. Gohan turned to Krillin, who had joined them.

'What do you think I should do Krillin?'

'I think we should listen to Kaio-Shin.' Krillin said. 'He knows this monster best. Goku and Vegeta already tried fighting it without knowing that monster, and they failed. And I don't want to tell your mom we lost you, she already freaked out after what happened to Goten.'

'Alright then, I'll stay.' Gohan surrendered.

Videl then sensed another big surge of energy, but this time she wasn't in contact with Dende. It was that same incomplete ki she felt earlier, Majin Buu's ki. But there was something else about it, Videl didn't know what it was.

'It looks like Bobbidy also survived.' Dende announced.

Videl quickly grabbed Dende's shoulder again to see. Majin Buu was still there in its frenzy, sending energy blasts everywhere, but there was also another creature there. It was orange and somewhat humanoid. It was slightly smaller than Buu.

'Is the orange guy Bobbidy?' Videl asked.

'Yes he is.' Dende replied.

Videl saw Bobbidy struggling to dodge Buu's energy blasts. What was that pink monster doing?

'How did he survive Goku's attack?' Piccolo asked. 'Goku almost destroyed the planet with that blast.'

'He must have teleported himself to safety before the attack hit.' Kaio-Shin theorised. 'It is a Kaio-Shin technique he can use.'

Videl could see Bobbidy was continuingly trying to get Buu's attention to calm it down, but Buu didn't seem to notice Bobbidy's presence at all.

'What are they doing?' Videl asked.

Nobody seemed to have an answer.

'Did you see that?' Krillin exclaimed suddenly. 'Buu just shrunk a little bit!'

Videl hadn't seen it. Buu was moving so rapidly it was hard to tell what was going on. Energy flared up again around Buu in a bright pinkish-red aura. Bobbidy clearly didn't understand what was going on either, but it looked absolutely mad as it continued to try and communicate with Majin Buu. Bobbidy was then hit by one of Majin Buu's attacks and was blasted back into the sky.

'Maybe it decided it doesn't need Bobbidy anymore.' Lazuli theorised matter-of-factly.

Videl opened her eyes and looked around on the lookout. She saw Lazuli was next to her also holding Dende's shoulder, as were Gohan, Krillin, and Korin. It was getting very crowded behind Dende.

'It looks as if it's not in control of what it's doing.' Korin said.

'I agree.' Kaio-Shin said. 'I've never seen Buu like this before. It always destroyed everything, but it always seemed to enjoy watching the destruction it caused. But now it looks like it's not even aware of it.'

As Buu continued its frenzy, it suddenly started flying rapidly in a certain direction. Videl had no idea where it was going.

'Where's it going?' Gohan asked.

Nobody seemed to have an answer. Majin Buu flew so fast that Bobbidy needed to repeatedly teleport to keep up, still trying to get through to Buu.

'Why does Bobbidy keep trying?' Videl asked. 'It's not like Buu's listening.'

'Remember Bobbidy's mind is the result of hundreds of years of manipulation by Buu.' Kaio-Shin replied. 'You cannot expect him to ever give up on Buu, he is driven mad. Most likely he fully believes that Majin Buu is the only creature that can help him achieve his goals, and the only way.'

As Buu travelled across the sea it continued with its frenzy. Videl saw the remains of several fish fly into the sky and burn due to the extreme speed. Steam was rising into the air wherever one of Buu's blasts hit the water. Within a few minutes Majin Buu had reached shore again, and another minute later Majin Buu was approaching a large city. Videl recognised the city, it was West City.