Story: Dragon Ball Z: The Intergalactic Volleyball Tournament
Author: Master Jin Sonata
Written: November 16, 2020
Genre: Humor
Rating: T
Disclaimer: We do not own DBZ or its characters, but we do own the special tourney they are playing in though!
Author's Note: This story is a pseudo-sequel inspired by another fic we wrote titled 'Dragon Ball Z: The Intergalactic Bowling Tournament'. Reading that fic is encouraged, but not mandatory to enjoy this one!
Chapter 1
Kami's palace basked in the light of a glorious sunrise that morning. Sheep clouds trotted bleating across the sky, little birds crawled in the crowns of the palm trees and were only outdone in their riot by the bees that sat in the flower cups and hummed dirty.
After a good night's meditation, Piccolo stepped out onto the plateau in the midst of the morning riot. Satisfied, he stretched his nose into the morning sun and had to sneeze before stretching and then taking a sip of coffee from his cup. Mmm, black as tar and as cold as Freiza's heart! A coffee in the morning had to be exactly the same and no different to really whip your heart and spirit into shape. Everything else was for wimps and only for wimps.
Another sip from the cup brought Piccolo over to the palm trees. The coconuts hung big and hairy in the branches above him and would soon be shaken off by the wind. Piccolo didn't mind coconut juice, but Dende and Mr. Popo were crazy about it.
Another sip, a few more steps, and Piccolo stood on the edge of the plateau. As if casually he looked down at what the world was doing on that glorious morning. It was no longer part of his job to keep an eye on the world, but old habits, like cherished pieces of clothing, were very difficult to shed.
The world was surprisingly calm that morning, so Piccolo strolled back into the shade of the palm trees.
Oh, blessed rest.
And then this peace all came crashing to an abrupt halt.
"PICCOLOOOOooooooo!"
The cup fell to the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces.
Gotenks was already standing in front of him, legs apart, arms crossed over his chest and a 9,000 watt grin on his face that was becoming more and more like Vegetas.
"Good morning, Piccolo!" Gotenks crowed happily as he threw himself on the Namek's neck. Piccolo waved his arms helplessly to keep his balance and pride, but to no avail. What could he do to counter this energetic steamroller?
Piccolo sat down very unheroically while Gotenks hung around his neck like a wrought-iron chain of damnation and beamed at him.
"What are you doing here?" Piccolo growled and was surprised when the growl suddenly snapped. Was that even physically possible? He cleared his throat before loosening the vise called "Gotenks' Arms" from his neck.
The frosty greeting didn't bother Gotenks a bit. On the contrary, he turned to the attentive gentleman out and helped the Namek get up.
"Piccolo? Why aren't you dressed yet? Do you want to walk in that purple romper suit? You are of course welcome to do that. Or do you want to dress up first? Don't look at me like a snail when it thunders! We're running late and we mustn't lose any more time!" Gotenks says as he grabbed the tip of Piccolo's shirt and dragged the big Namek behind him.
Piccolo irritably braced himself against the ground like a stubborn donkey. Before he even took a step here, he wanted the facts on the table. Pronto!
"Just what are you talking about? You two just don't fuse for fun!" Piccolo comments, glaring at him.
" But Piccolo!" exclaimed Gotenks, genuinely indignant. "Didn't you read your SMS ?! I knew it, we should have set up a 'WhatsApp' group instead!"
Ah yes, there was something. Piccolo darkly remembered the bright green smartphone that was given to him to keep in touch with the Z-Fighters.
Bah! As if he needed this technical nonsense.
In reality, Piccolo had conveniently lost his smartphone on multiple occasions, causing Dende and Mr. Popo to search and bring it back to him time and time again.
"Battery empty," Piccolo lies at Gotenks and tore the tail of his shirt from his hand.
"But, but, but today the big 'XXIII Annual Intergalactic Volleyball Tournament'! And I signed up. Months ago!" Gotenks whined.
"WHAT?!" Picollo shouted, eye widening in annoyance.
Piccolo is then reminded of the time when he and the other Z-Fighters and villains faced off against one another in a very stupid bowling tournament a few years back.
Gotenks wiped the fine droplets of spit from his face.
"You already understood me, Piccolo. So what do you say? It'll be fun like old times!" Gotenks pleads.
"Never! Intergalactic Volleyball Tournament? I'm not taking part in any more stupid tasks. First was me being forced to learn how to drive, and then that idiotic bowling tourney. Never again!" Piccolo protested.
Gotenks pulled an insulted pout. Without further ado, he picked up the volleyball (where the hell was he hiding it, Piccolo wondered) and made the ball spin on his index finger. The ball whizzed faster and faster around its own axis until a crack in the space-time continuum opened with a screeching and crackling sound, with lots of kettledrums and trumpets. Piccolo was still staring at it, and Gotenks was already jumping right through it. Pulling the Namek behind him, who didn't even have time to protest.
What was once a beautiful, quiet morning, with chirping birds, the smell of coffee and other beautiful things that makes a morning a 'morning' were now completely irrelevant for the foreseeable future.
"Please explain to me again exactly what we are doing here?"
Piccolo ducked so as not to be killed by a cow-alien's pendulous tentacles in front of him. He and Gotenks stood in a long line of participants, all waiting to be let into the sacred halls of the Intergalactic Volleyball Court.
"We play volleyball. No ordinary game of volleyball, oh no! But 'Intergalactic Volleyball'. From all over the universe and all parallel universes, the best volleyball players gather once every 5,000 years to find out who is the best of the best," Gotenks explains
"And what does this have to do with us in particular?" Piccolo grumbled under his breath.
"Well, we are the best players that the Earth has to offer. Actually, Videl and her girlfriends should have competed, but there was something involving a scandal with Gohan and Android 18, so they couldn't come. Never mind, we're better anyway! "Gotenks beamed cheerfully at the Namekian.
Piccolo rolled his eyes in response.
Humans...he'll never understand them.
They were soon up next to register.
"Names?" asks the woman behind the desk.
Piccolo just assumed that the pile of hair and feathers was a female.
"Piccolo and Gotenks."
"Place of origin?"
"Earth."
"Noted," she says, pulling out index cards out of her fur and flipping through some notes.
"The thirty minute limit on the merger will be lifted for the duration of the tournament. If you leave the Holy Volleyball District, this will expire," she explains.
Gotenks nodded eagerly and Piccolo made a mental note.
"Doping of any kind is strictly prohibited and will be punished with immediate exclusion. Your physical well-being will be taken care of. Corresponding information about your diets has already been received. Any more questions? No? Good," she says in rapid succession before taking out a giant-sized stamp and stamped Saiyan and Namekian's foreheads.
"Blue-with-yellow-asterisk building complex. Third floor. Room number 42½. Accommodation for two, bathroom included. Just scream when you have problems. Jerseys are ready. Good luck, gentlemen," the woman says before pushing a button on her desk, immediately launching the duo toward the Holy Volleyball District behind her.
Please review, your feedback is most appreciative. More chapters are on its way!
