Vigilante Angel: Chapter the Thirty-fifth
Disclaimer: Dragonball Z does not have my name written on it. Therefore it does not belong to me. I don't see your name written on it, either, so it must not belong to you, either. However, I do see Akira Toriyama and what looks like FUNimation associated with this name, so I am forced to assume that Dragonball Z belongs to them. Fiddlesticks.
Disclaimer Two: The wonderful Disclaimer Two lives in the Castle of Chapter the Twenty-seventh at the end of the yellow brick road. Follow this if you wish to know what this disclaimer has to say, and please pay heed to its wise words, I tell you. They're very important. Well, off you go, then!
A/n: Well, I'm back again! Aren't you all so happy?
Aline: I know I'm not.
SP: Oh, please, spare me your usual sarcasm, muse. (Exasperated)
Aline: I will not.
SP: (Sighs) Fine. Do so at your own peril. (Turns away) And now, my dear readers, it's time to—
Aline: (Cuts authoress off) We don't want to hear any of your usual author's notes rubbish. Just get on with the story already.
SP: (Simply blinks for a long while, then continues as if uninterrupted) It's time to (Ignores Aline's attempt to stop the conversation once again) start thinking up some ideas to help me along the way with this story, for I'm rapidly coming to the point were I'm fresh out.
Aline: Aren't you already at that point, Panthie? (Falsely sweet)
SP: (Ignores) I have one idea, but I don't even know if it's going to be in the story. It depends on whether or not I get positive feedback on the idea, and if I don't, THEN I'm out of ideas, okay, muse?
Aline: Yeah, yeah, fine. Do want you want.
SP: (Glares) -/Turns back to readers-/ So there you have it. Now we can sit back and enjoy the story, as Aline so ardently desired to do so five minutes ago.
Aline: And that's FIVE minutes ago. FIVE WHOLE BORING MINUTES of boring authoress chatter.
SP: If it was so boring, then why did you even attempt to listen to it?
Aline: Because I want to see what happens in the story.
SP: Don't you already know what's going to happen?
Aline: No, SP, because you always hoard it so zealously until you post it, forcing me to read it at the same time as do the readers.
SP: …Oh yeah. (Smiles brilliantly)
Aline: Yeah. Now let's go already!
SP: Oh, fine. (Sighs) On with the story, and enjoy. (Says this with a demure air)
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Previously, on Vigilante Angel—
Oh, yes, Gohan's earlier boredom was coming back to haunt the members of the WMAT, Z-senshi members included…
None were safe in the new hour of doom that had just befallen the World Martial Arts Tournament…
Except the ones that were to carry out the destinies of the doomed.
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The next day, the second rest day, the former champion and just-now-noted liar Hercule Satan woke up feeling...odd. It wasn't anything in his internal systems, unlike he'd pretended it was with his stomach at the Cell Games. No, he felt...lighter, as if he'd just lost some serious weight. But he didn't have any weight to lose... Did he?
The former champ got up and padded, in only his sunflower boxers, to the bathroom. When he got there, silence reigned for a few seconds. Then the shriek of a male banshee rang out and rent the air to pieces...
Hercule Satan's new haircut and clean-shaven face would surely be the talk of the town.
:-:-:-:
The next day, the second rest day, Vegeta was tense and wary. Of course, he was almost always tense, but never wary. But the Saiyan Prince had reason to be both that morning, for a certain threesome had tried to prank him again...
Unbeknownst to our favorite Saiyan Prince, there were some very curious rockets following him around...
And these rockets were filled with a certain red tomato sauce. Ya know, the one that goes on hot dogs? That one. Yeah (SP waggles eyebrows mischievously).
:-:-:-:
As for Chichi, well, she suspected nothing out of the ordinary in relation to the Demon Trio. After all, the boys knew what would happen to them if they pranked her, so she had no reason to worry, unlike Bulma.
So why was it that she had dozens upon dozens of Tupperware in her cabinets instead of her trusty Teflon frying pans? And filled with pickled radishes, no less?
Chichi absolutely HATED pickled radishes.
(SP: I made this one up, so this fault of Chichi's belongs to me. Nya!)
:-:-:-:
The people at Wave Automatic ZTV had no idea how, when, where, why, or who, but it was suddenly snowing, and in the middle of June. It didn't appear as though it was snowing anywhere else, either, which was equally as strange. But what was more pressing to them was that it was quickly becoming apparent that they were becoming snowbound.
Upon the top of the Wave Automatic ZTV skyscraper office building, a snowmaker was busily clacking away, making snow at speeds unimaginable for such a tiny little machine such as it was. It was set to go off as soon it made about fifty kilotriscals (SP: kilotriscals are mine. Thanks!) of snow, and upon turning off, would harmlessly self-destruct. The snow would then melt after a period of five hours, during which there would be mass panic and major revenge for leaving out important details of the Cell Games in the video showing at the World Martial Arts Tournament of Kapaca Island (SP: Kapaca Island also belongs to me. I don't remember the island it originally was held on. Ha! I have a whole island, I have a whole island... Wanna come over?).
However, the snowmaker was only up to 3.7 kilotriscals at the moment. It was not done yet by any means.
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After drinking his usual water supply for the day, Piccolo was set to go. He had his cape on and everything, his purple gi and his carrot shoes. He had his turban on with the purple stone in its center glittering brightly. Yes, Piccolo was ready to spend the day with his comrades and his friends.
The Z-senshi. Yes, they had indeed become more than just people, humans, he had to work with to get rid of a common enemy. Like when Radditz had come….
At this point, Piccolo's black eyes narrowed. What was that? That color?
Piccolo moved to inspect the fuchsia color that had suddenly appeared in his line of vision. With his movement, the bright pink color disappeared, vanished so rapidly that Piccolo blinked, then slowly moved back to his original position.
It was then that he discovered that his arm was the one that was fuchsia. Yes, his arm. His flesh pads, which were normally light pink, were now a light green instead. Piccolo created a mirror with ki (SP: No, not ki magic, just ki. Don't ask what the difference is. It just is. Trust me, 'k?) and looked into it, only to confirm that all of his skin was that horribly vibrant pink, and that all of his flesh pads/muscles were colored light green.
Piccolo had just been had. An amazing feat, for Piccolo never got tricked, ever, except for this one time. Good there that there were undetectable cameras around, the very same ones used to record prize-winning pictures of a prank played only two days earlier, on the first rest day.
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Videl rolled over in her bed and settled back into her comfy pillows. Her hair hung into her face, so she moved again to get rid of it. She had to strain somewhat against the sheets of her bed to do so, but once her left pigtail was successfully flung back over her shoulder, it didn't matter anymore, although it should have been considered strange.
It was only when Videl reached out to twirl her hair in an absent-minded way as she used to when she was a child, and still did when she dreamed of her mother, that she first latched onto the fact that something was wrong. Your hair was supposed to lie flat on the pillow that you were sleeping on thanks to gravity, correct? Then why was hers standing on edge?
This problem brought Videl awake, if not fully. Had she been fully alert, she would have known better than to sit up, but as it was, she merely fell out of her bed, through the thin velvet of the canopy fixed on the four posters of her bed, and landed on the floor of her room with an ungraceful and painful thump onto her stomach. It was through this process of falling that Videl finally greeted good morning to Reality. She didn't quite say it happily, or with the appropriate words, but Reality forgave her, especially with the situation It found her in.
Videl gaped as she finally got her breath back and looked up at her surroundings.
Eah, gaped isn't really the sufficient word. Let's find a better way to describe it. Any suggestions? (Listens intently as shouts from muses are heard) Eh, what's that? (Points to a muse) Her jaw dropped to the floor? Yes, that's a good one. Any others? You! (Point to another muse) What was yours? (Listens to muse) Ah! An excellent idea? Let's use that one! (Cheers can be heard)
All right, instead of gaping, Videl's eyes bulged and almost popped from their sockets. And it was no wonder why. Videl's room after all had literally been turned upside-down, with the bed on the ceiling and the floor bare of anything except white, which was the paint color on the actual ceiling. The mirror was also on the ceiling, as were the dresser, the vanity, the desk, her computer on the desk, and various other belongings. It was only her that was on the floor, no, ceiling, only her that had succumbed to gravity, only her that seemed to be following the rules.
There were a lot of birds seen fleeing the scene of the Satan Hotel at the piercing scream that rent the air a few moments later.
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Goku was seen hopping everywhere by everyone that day. Whenever Jared spoke, sheep sounds came out instead, so that the announcer was "baa"-ing every time he opened his mouth and used his vocal cords. Master Roshi had runes scribbled on his bald head. Marron, Eighteen, and Krillin had been left alone, but Yamcha suffered from having all of his clothes taken and being left with only a Turtle Hermit gi that he had doubted still fit him. He had put it on, though, and had discovered that he could still attract the eyes of the majority of the female population, much to Gohan's relief. That had been the point of that prank, after all.
Bulma had also been left alone, although she would find a surprise waiting for at home in the form of the robotic disobedience. Not blatant robotic disobedience, as in a revolution, but the robots would get confused and do something else, or do exactly the opposite of what Bulma wanted them to do, that kind of thing. Yes, it would be a majorly-stressed out Bulma that would be found on the day after the return from Kapaca Island, and even more so since she would be the only one who would be subjected to the robotic disobedience.
However, no blame was placed upon the demi-Saiyan Demon Trio, for they, too, sported signs of pranks. Goten was covered from head to toe in Long-lasting Baking Flour, of which was guaranteed to stick to dough and to the cutting board for up to four hours, but which was also going to stick to flesh for the same amount of time. It was really hard to get off, as well, so Goten was stuck.
Trunks looked remarkably like a peacock that day, with long blue-green feathers covering every inch of his body, including his hair and his toes. The demi-Saiyan prince evinced distress at the situation he was in, but he was secretly feeling an emotion that was quite the opposite of what he showed on the outside.
Gohan…well, Gohan was… he was… he was…
OK, OK, fine, he was…
Gohan…
Gohan was fine. He was normal, if a little too cheerful that day, but no one objected when he explained that he'd been visiting a few mini-Cells yesterday. Yes, the little blue urchins were not happy, most of their number having been obliterated for the second time in a row, and were even now rallying against him as Gohan strolled around lazily in the Living World.
Of course, the Cell Juniors did have to get past the big new super-charged and super-trained ogres that had been newly assigned to HFIL, and as there were only two of them left out of seven, they were vastly outnumbered and perhaps even out-powered. So there was nothing left for the Cell Juniors to do except to plot, get distracted by the new arrival for them to beat up, beat up the new arrival, and beat each other up for not sharing the new arrival. Yep, life was great.
So, what to do that day? There was nothing for him to do. Gohan, again, was bored, which usually equaled pranks, but those had already been done, with the necessary evidence collected too. Gohan didn't feel like hanging out with the rest of the Z-senshi that day, nor did he feel like going back to Otherworld. So he told everyone that he was going for a walk around the WMAT grounds, check everything out. Not waiting for the gang to affirm his wish, the dead demi-Saiyan strolled away edging inconspicuously past a group of giggling girls who were, er, "stalking" a certain bandit. (Clears throat) Hmm.
As Gohan started off on his walk, he put his hands into his pockets and put a mild look on his face, as if he had nothing in the world to do. Which was the truth, the guardian angel noted ironically. He had done everything that he could possibly have done that was of interest to him, except for visiting a few friends, friends such as one ex-psychic Gabrielle Fiolena O' Hara and the sword-spirit Arikeru. Arikeru wasn't to be bothered at the present moment; it was too busy scouting out a room in Gohan's mind that was full of mirrors. So Gabrielle was his only choice, although she was surrounded by her friends: the daughter of Satan, the marked airhead, and the multi-color-haired narcissist, all of whom made up the infamous Satan Gang.
Heh. "The infamous Satan Gang" sounded like a cult to the Devil when said like that. And with her psychic talent, Gabrielle had belonged right in the middle of it. Now, though, she didn't, now that she was no longer a chonoryoku-sha.
As Gohan came into hearing range of the Satan Gang, Saiyan hearing that is, it appeared to him that his friend Gabrielle was still trying to convince her friends of that. A chuckle burst its way out of his throat at that, and the demi-Saiyan shook his head pityingly. Good thing he was here to get her away from them, if only for a day.
Hey, Gab. Feel up to escaping your other friends for a day? I haven't seen or spoken to you in two days, he said telepathically to her.
Gohan! Thank Kami! Get me out of here! I can't stand these questions anymore! was the emphatic reply. I know how to sense ki now, so I'll find you. Stay right where you are!
Gohan quirked an eyebrow. Really? Then why didn't you try to find me earlier? he asked.
Didn't you know? Videl got pranked. Her room got somehow got turned upside down. I had to try and comfort her, although it was harder to do without my "present-sense".
Still not used to living without it? Gohan asked sympathetically, veering away from the subject of Videl being pranked. Gabrielle would know for certain who ripped that monkeyshine on Videl soon enough.
No…. It's getting better though. Hey, Gohan? Gabrielle's mental voice asked, a slightly wry, slightly accusing tone entering her voice.
"Yes?" Gohan said aloud, raising an eyebrow at the psychic as she came into view. His face stretched involuntarily into a Grin™ as Gabrielle stopped in front of him and placed her hands on her hips. She Looked™ at him, a smile tugging at her lips as Gohan Grinned™ charmingly at her. Then Gabrielle sighed and shook her head in defeat after a few moments as Gohan continued to Grin™ at her disarmingly.
"All right, if it wasn't you who pulled that one over Videl, then who was?" the ex-psychic finally asked, removing her hands from her hips to cross them over her chest. She raised her eyebrow and Looked™ at Gohan, settling back on her right leg as she did so. Gohan, in answer, turned and walked through the crowd, motioning with a jerk of his head for Gabrielle to follow him.
When the ex-chonoryoku-sha caught up to the demi-Saiyan, he said, as if they were still standing in the square that they had been in,
"A friend of mine." This statement was accompanied with a cheeky Grin™ and a raised eyebrow, not mentioning the teasing tone of voice Gohan said it with.
Gabrielle merely rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I know that," her tone of voice clearly saying that she was trying to be patient, "but who is this friend? Before you ask how I know that you were connected somehow to the prank, you incriminated yourself. You didn't act at all surprised to hear that Videl wasp ranked, or even ask what the prank was. So I knew that were involved, but I don't think that you did it, for some reason or other," she finished. Gabrielle raised both of her eyebrows at the sheepish Gohan, who then appeared to think carefully about his answer for a few moments.
Finally Gohan said, as the pair finally escaped from a throng of people waiting to purchase the Wave Automatic ZTV's Hypothetical Cell Games Video on DVD,
"A friend of mine from Otherworld. One of many."
Gabrielle almost face-faulted at that. That was what Gohan had kept her waiting so long for? As she turned to look at Gohan, however, she caught sight of his teasing Grin™ and nearly smacked herself for her stupidity. Instead she smacked Gohan himself, lightly, so as not to hurt herself. She should have remembered that Gohan was a whole other person than the Satan Gang members. He was far more intelligent than they, especially Erasa, was stronger even than Videl, and actually understood the meaning of the word "humor". As such, he cracked jokes, and this had been one of them.
"Ow!" Gohan cried in response to Gabrielle's slap. Pouting, he covered his shoulder where Gabrielle had hit him with his hand. She only rolled her eyes and retorted in answer,
"Oh, stop it, you big baby. Seriously, who's the guy?"
"Seriously, the 'guy' is a girl. She is a master swordswoman, and was one of my teachers in swordfighting until I mastered it. She also one of my closest dead friends. She's awesome," Gohan replied, smiling at Gabrielle's surprise. She came back quickly, though, and searching through the information that she had "acquired" from Gohan, came up with her answer.
The results of this knowledge were a look of comprehension dawning on the former psychic's (SP: Kami, it's tiring to keep calling her an ex-psychic. I'm going to have to find something else to call her besides this. (Thinks)) tanned face, and a grin spreading across the same feature. Gohan smiled wider in response, showing white teeth, and laughs were thrown out into the world from these two.
But can you guess who the prankster is, given Gohan's four clues? I think it's pretty obvious myself, but as we have not seen this character in some time, it might be a bit more of a challenge (SP: I spot a clue in here…) -/Shrugs-/ Who knows? I look forward to your guesses, even if they're all wrong (That would be a miracle…)! And yes, I know this is fruitless. But it's so fun to hold these sort of contests (Looks lost)!
Anyhow, the pair continued to walk aimlessly around, occasionally parting to make way for other groups of people, occasionally drawing closer to pass in between a group. Sometimes they stopped to look at what was for sale, to buy food, or simply to view the landscape. Sometimes it was even to people-watch that they stopped, although they never stayed long at this. During all of this, they almost never stopped talking, except when they were looking at the lovely fire-colored shesazzanine birds (SP: Mesa own these!) with their long tail feathers, beautiful plumes, and very strange kikhanj-kikhanj call.
It was truly a very cool day for the both of them, especially as they could remember ever having a day like that, a day where they could be just normal teenagers after abnormal situations on a relatively normal day. Of course, no day at the WMAT is ever normal, but being that it was a rest day, it wasn't as filled with excitement as yesterday, they day of the quarterfinals.
It was afternoon, late afternoon, when the two finally left each other to return to the lifestyles they usually lived. They each had smiles on their faces as they went, and each silently promised to him or herself that they would do this again. It wasn't certain when this would be; maybe it would be tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week, next month, next year even, but they both felt absolute certainty that it would come. And when it came, their friendship would only deepen, like it had that day.
Gabrielle, when she met her friends, was scolded for not telling them where she was going. She simply shrugged, having conveniently "forgotten" to tell them that she was leaving to meet a friend, and smiled inwardly. There was absolutely no way that she would have told them that Gohan had been waiting for her, and she wasn't about to tell them of what'd she'd done while she was away, or what had taken her so long, which was basically the same question. Nice try, Videl.
Gabrielle wasn't going to tell Sharpner that she'd just had more fun than she'd had in a long while, although Erasa noticed that she looked happier and more lively today. She wasn't about to tell Erasa that her flushed cheeks were the spawn of laughing so hard that she'd cried. No, she was not going to tell them any of those things. She hadn't told them anything about herself in a long time, and frankly she though that the Satan Gang would be surprised if she did tell them.
But that was what Gohan was for. Gohan knew almost everything about her, and he didn't care about it. Well, actually, he cared, she corrected herself, he was just more interested in who she was at the present than who she had been. At least she hoped so.
A faint feeling of reassurance washed over her as she felt this anxiety. A flicker of a smile spread over her face, and Gabrielle turned to the east, where Gohan was.
A sharp question of "What are you looking at, Brie?" brought her attention back to the three people standing in front of her. Videl had been the one who asked the question, typically enough, making Gabrielle sigh in resignation. A felling of amused sympathy, fainter than the first of reassurance, came from Gohan as he sent his regards, making Gabrielle smile again, this time tiredly. This was going be a long night, made even longer by the fact that she had already eaten dinner, thanks to her day with Gohan.
Gohan, on the other hand, was greeted enthusiastically by his little brother and Trunks. As expected, several of the members commented on the length of his absence, to which Gohan's reply was simply a shrug and,
"It's a big place around here."
It was Krillin who slyly remarked, "You weren't alone, though. We saw you earlier with a girl. She was pretty, too." The human winked at Gohan, who only Looked™ at him.
"Would you believe me if I told you she was just a friend?" he asked Krillin, a flat tone coming into his voice.
"No."
"I didn't think so," Gohan said ruefully. Krillin only snickered in answer, as did Yamcha and Vegeta. But then Goten broke into the conversation with,
"I'm hungry. Can we get some dinner?"
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A/n: Well, that's over with. There was actually a scene that I wanted to include in here, but I decided not to. Maybe I'll submit it as a one-shot. It's actually not really that important to the story, but it's a sappy moment between Gohan and Goten, and I love my kawaii Son Brothers moments (Hugs plushies of Son Brothers tightly). Yeah.
Well, I'm now about to be let out for spring break, so I shall be writing as much as I can, especially in Manhattan, New York, were I'm going to on vacation with my parents. I won't leave for a week, but I'm not making any guarantees. I am going to be majorly busy, I feel it in me very bones. (Getting prophetic—not a good sign) Yeah, right. So I will be writing but not necessarily updating, because I'll be so busy. Oops! (Shrugs airily)
Hmm… What else was I going to say? I don't remember, so I'll get on with the reviews instead. Here they come!
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More Specialized General Responses to Reviews
1) MarshmellowDragon—Is it nice in Scotland? Is it just me, or do you do a lot of traveling? (Thinks)
Yeah, those fangirls are so not cool. HE'S OURS! Grr…. Go Sarki! BRIGHT!orange paint please! I'll put in the warning siren, thanks for the idea ;) (Grins evilly) Muahaha…
The French of Switzerland, eh? I offer my deepest consolations on the loss of your teachers. If you liked them, that is. ;)
I updated!
2) New Dye—One more question than last time, how nice. (Eye twitches) Are you sure you're OK? Dye?
1) Gohan: Not bad, actually. I just want those crazy girls to stay away from me, that's all. Other than that, it's pretty cool, to be honest.
2), 3), & 5) These questions have been answered and secured. Heh!
4) … I don't know. I'm going to have to think about that one. Hmm….
I have updated as soon as humanly possible, Dye. This chap is the result. :D Hope you liked!
PS: F.Y.I., I left some of the pranks vague on purpose. That's just what I do, Dye! (Sticks tongue out at reader)
3) DBZ Chick1—(Gapes) 3 SENTENCES! YAY! (Jumps up and down in joy) THREE WHOLE SENTENCES! WAHOO!
I'll be reading!
4) Salazarfalcon—Yes, I updated! Muahaha! You like? (Tilts head in imitation of a certain authoress)
What's the fainting thing about? (Tilts head again, questioning)
"Bored" + "Gohan" PRANKS! LOL.
Of course I like Shinrai! Don't worry about the same ppl reviewing all the time. That's all the reviews for VA are, really, with a few new reviewers actually dropping by at odd times. Yeah, damn is right. Heh! It actually doesn't really take me long to reply. But I really pity those ppl who get an average of 20-30 reviews per chapter… Now that's work! Heh! I'm lazy too. :D PROCRASTINATORS, UNITE!
Rei's doing fine. Heh! He's actually settled in quite well after here. It helps that everyone (including me) fawns over him a lot. Heh! Is that a plug you just put in there, Fal-chan? BAD GIRL, BAD GIRL! There's no plugging allowed here! Unless it's for Shinrai, that is. (Glowers)
5) Tiara Shin—Get Gohan to prank who? (Blinks innocently) Yay, the judge is going to be nice. Yay! How was it this time? Not as good as last chapter, for sure. (Sadness)
The demi-Saiyan trio STRIKES! (Glomps them, grinz as they squirm and try to get away) Tee hee! Now, now boys….
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Many thanks, DBZ Chick1, MarshmellowDragon, Salazarfalcon, New Dye, Tiara Shin, miroku-has-darkness, and Night-Owl123, for all of your excellent reviews! (Bows)
So, a lot of people have seriously been pranked! But how? Gohan admits to "recruiting" a few people from Otherworld to help him, but still, how exactly were the pranks done? Were the Demon Duo involved? It doesn't seem like we'll get to know, now does it? Oh well! On the bright side, there's more fighting to get on with in the third round! Let's find out who defeats whom on the next Vigilante Angel!
Well! I'll see you next time! I expect to have over 300 reviews (Gapes at ridiculous # of reviews) by the time I next update, which is an amazing thing for me, because I have never, ever, had 300 reviews for anything, and I never thought I would. Thanks to you, my reviewers, that dream is now going to be realized! Arigato! (Bows) (Sniffs, wipes away a tear) Sigh….
D.C. was fun! Washington D.C. that is. I'll tell you about this trip later, right now I want you to review! Review! ReviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewreviewREVIEW!
Please? (Pleading)
Sinon! Thanks in advance!
TheShadowPanther and Aline, from AASN
AASN; Writing is what we do for you at AASN. Enjoy.
Updated 03.17.05
The Legacy of the Angel Is To Be Continued…
P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! Wear green, please! ;)