" You see that one right there? That one's called the big dipper,and right there is the little dipper. I know it's a bit dorky,but that's what they're called."
The wilderness,the exact place she didn't want to be. Sure it has some good qualities to it,but none that outweigh the bad. The mosquito bites she can already feel making their way up her legs. This constant feeling of being watched by critters lurking in the shadows. The thought of a mere piece of folded fabric being used as shelter for the night. Her worst nightmare coming to life,and the worst part about it all? Her companions seem to have a different opinion of the situation. She had half expected Bulma to be against the idea. Didn't she have enough camping to last the rest of her lifetime? She sure thought so,and yet again she was proven to be wrong on this day.
But if all of the bad this unwanted experience has taught her anything on this night it's this. There is always a silver lining at the end of the tunnel,and Lazuli can't help but enjoy every second of it, and what better way to experience it than with someone who would appreciate it fully. Lying down on the grass in a clearing just staring up at the stars along with Gohan pointing out each and every single one of them out while he looks on in awe. A clear sky without a cloud in sight. Perfect conditions to go stargazing.
" And this one is called The North Star."
" Why is it called that?"
Good question,and for the first time she is left without any answer for him. Why was it called The North Star again? Something about the spin axis of the northern hemisphere right? She couldn't remember. In the end it doesn't really matter.
" I honestly don't have the faintest of ideas. I think it's supposed to do with the northern hemisphere or something."
Glancing out of the corner of her eye as she sees Gohan accepting this answer with the slightest of nods smiling over at his awestruck face turning her attention back towards the stars above slowly Lazuli inches her way over to nudge him with her shoulder earning his attention.
" But what I do remember about it is this. If you ever get lost somewhere you want to always find this star. It's the only star that doesn't move,and always points to the north. It's used like some kind of compass by campers and adventurers."
" Wow! Really?"
Yep this was definitely worth it. Just seeing Gohan's smiling face is worth all of the bug bites in the world. Worth having to spend the night in a tent. Worth having the perving eyes of every night critter out watching her every move allowing no privacy whatsoever. Yep definitely worth it.
" Lazuli?"
" Hmm?"
" How do you know all of this? You don't seem like much of a camper."
She was kinda hoping he would never ask her that question. A rather embarrassing story to tell,but for some reason she didn't think Gohan would make fun of her for it. Now if it was Lapis on the other hand it would be a totally different story.
" Well….let's just say i adventured off too far from the hut one day,and might have gotten myself lost."
Instantly feeling his eyes on her, keeping her eyes focused on the stars above reaching back, Lazuli tucks her hands underneath her head as she attempts to suppress the small blush breaking across her face. What a day that had been. What had caused her to adventure so far away from the hut,she couldn't remember. Something to do with Lapis making some rude comment about an outfit? She couldn't remember. What she could remember was feeling scared for the first time in her life when she found herself in unknown terrain. Not that she would ever say that outloud. Especially to Gohan. Nope it would be best if he thinks she has always been a total badass from day one.
" Really? I can't imagine that. It must have been scary. I would have been scared. There was this one time, I got separated from my daddy in the mountains. That was really scary then some tiger stole my hat before daddy got it back for me."
Note to self. Ask Bulma if Goku has any sort of brain damage, I mean honestly!? How do you not watch your only child when you're adventuring out in the mountains? Furthermore why the hell did he bring him out to the mountains? Hasn't he ever heard of a park or playground before?
Yet again now she thinks about it, she shouldn't really be surprised. The secluded little hut, Goku calls his home wasn't what she would call kid friendly. No neighbors anywhere in sight leaving only himself and Chi Chi for Gohan to interact with. No parks or really anywhere beside a riverbank for a young man to explore with his expanding curiosity. Why oh why Goku and Chi Chi decided to live out in the mountains was still beyond her.
It's gotta be brain damage. I mean no cities? No children for his son to grow up with? What was Goku possibly thinking? Not to mention no shopping malls? No thank you!
" Oh? I bet that must have been really scary for you,and because you told me about your experience, I suppose I can tell you about mine. There's really nothing much to it. From what I remember, I was really mad at Lapis about something. I remember stomping out of the hut muttering about all the things I was gonna do to him,and the next thing I know, I'm lost out in the woods. I might have freaked out a little."
Feeling his eyes still on her paying a quick glance out of the corner of her eye only to find her assumption to be correct from the way Gohan stares at her with interest giving his undivided attention to her story feeling her face warming up Lazuli turns her head slightly to hide her blushing face from him.
" Okay, I was freaking out a lot, but to my defense, I was your age at the time. I was all alone out in the middle of nowhere,and…."
Before she can get another word in edgewise instantly Lazuli is silenced as her eyes go wide when she feels a small hand grasping her own causing her to look over, finding Gohan giving her a reassuring smile.
" It's okay, Lazuli. I will always be with you that way you'll never be alone ever again."
And with that her face heats up drastically causing Lazuli to shift her eyes to look anywhere but at Gohan causing him to look at her in confusion. To be young and so sweet like he is. If only he knew how much those words mean to her. The nicest words anyone has ever said to her. Words she will always remember as her lips curl up into a bright smile before she turns back towards him while not bothering to hide her blushing cheeks from him.
" Thanks, I really appreciate that."
Seeing him returning the favor from the way his cheeks start to blush from her praise grinning over at his expression giving his hand a squeeze Lazuli retracts her hand and puts it back behind her head as she returns her attention back to staring up at the stars.
" Hey Lazuli?"
" Yeah?"
" What happened to the moon? In my science text book it says there's supposed to be a giant moon in the sky but I've never seen it before. Does it only come out sometimes?"
He certainly is full of good questions on this night,and every single one of them has left her reeling trying to figure out answers. And he is right as she looks up into the sky above Lazuli can't see the moon anywhere in sight. In fact now that she thinks about it, she couldn't recall a single time herself that she had looked up to see a full moon in the sky.
" Huh? Now that you mention it, I don't see it anywhere. Kinda odd really. I mean it would be pretty hard to miss,and to answer your other question no it's not seasonal or anything like that. It is supposed to be visible every night."
Nodding his head in agreement mimicking Lazuli by the way he tucks his arms behind the back of his head as he silently survey's the sky above suddenly Lazuli sitting upright causes Gohan to snap his attention towards her finding nothing but a grin across her face.
" But I think I see it but I'm not sure. Here close your eyes. I'll tell you when to open them."
Mentally shrugging, doing as she asked by closing his eyes, Gohan misses the brief smile that comes across Lazuli's face as she raises her right hand up,and channels her energy into making a special energy ball. A bright white energy ball with no traces of the usual blue color it takes anywhere in sight. An energy ball with a flick of her wrist,she sends floating up into the air,and off into the distance before she channels her energy once again to have the energy ball remain floating in the sky high above.
Ah the great outdoors. Nothing quite like it.
Man he loves it out here. The fresh smell of pine everywhere in sight. The countless trees spreading as far as the eye can see. Nothing but the stars shining down brightly on this cool spring night. Yep everything is as perfect as can be. Especially with the good company he has surrounded himself with. Sure Lazuli might not be much of a fan of the outdoors like he is but with a little time he knows he can shift her opinion on the matter. Even if he has to use her silent love for everything Gohan to use against her.
But as amusing as that might prove to be that will have to come later. Right now he has a task to achieve and who better to help him than an actual adventurer. Well sort of anyways. The beauty that is Bulma Briefs. Sure she is quite beautiful to the unforeseen eye but nobody or anything will ever hold a candle to the sensational Miss Piiza in his eyes. Nope she is simply perfect but if anyone was to ask Miss Briefs would be his second choice.
How could you not like her? Brains to go with the beauty. The personality to go with that beautiful face of hers. Not to mention the giant bank account at her disposal. As for what makes her attractive to him? It's not just her looks. Not just her personality. No, what really makes her attractive is her sense of adventure. To begin her first journey to collect The Dragon Balls at the young age of sixteen. To face the dangers this crazy world threw at her without batting an eye including encountering The Red Ribbon Army on numerous occasions. That alone just proves to him just how much of a badass the youngest daughter of the Briefs family truly is.
Speaking of badass even now Lapis can't help but think of her as this while he silently follows Bulma through the woods as they look for usable firewood. Something he didn't even think even existed. Doesn't all wood burn the same? Apparently it doesn't and she had let him know right away when he voiced this opinion.
" Firewood? Hello? Not to be that guy but look all around you. We've got enough firewood surrounding us to warm up an entire village."
" Don't be stupid, Lapis. I'm not blind you know. I can see we're surrounded by trees. Sure we could use some of the wood around us but it won't do any good. Trust me, I know from experience maple wood is the way to go to sustain a campfire."
" Uh huh?"
" Oh just shut up and keep walking."
I can see now why Lazuli likes her so much. They're practically twins.
Now that's a scary thought. Two Lazulis in his life. Having to deal with two alpha females in his life. Two unique women who have no problem voicing their opinions on matters. Especially when it comes to his little friend who so happens to be spending some quality alone time with his twin sister. He might not understand it now but when he gets older he expects a thank you basket from the young saiyan. Maybe even more? Who knows? With the way things are going he might just end up with a giant sack full of money curtiosity of The Briefs.
Nah! The sooner he takes Lazuli off my hands the better.
Oh he really hopes she doesn't get wind of that. The mere thought of the consequences alone makes him shiver slightly. Not out of fear. No,he is far stronger than her,and she knows it. No,but what she'll end up doing to him in retaliation.
" Huh?"
" What?"
" You're exactly like her."
Looking Lapis's way to send him an annoyed look as she sees nothing but an innocent smile across his face resisting the urge to roll her eyes turning to look anywhere but at him instantly Bulma's eyes light up causing Lapis to look in the same direction before he slowly brings his right hand up to scratch his head.
" Ummm, I'm not a genius or anything but I thought you said we were looking for firewood."
" Well duh. That's a maple tree. Maple wood comes from maple trees. What? You just thought we would come across a few logs out here or something? This isn't a manga, Lapis!"
" Okay then? How do you suggest we…."
" Are you kidding me right now? Do your light show thing or something."
" My light show thing?"
" Yeah you know? Blast it,chop it down with your hands,kick it,I don't know just cut it down. Come on!? Don't just stand there? Chop,chop!"
Yep exactly like Lazuli.
There was no mistaking it. The sum what bossy attitude,the way she carries herself with so much confidence,hell they even sound the same on a couple of occasions. He could imagine Lazuli saying almost the same exact thing to him. Well more in an irritated voice but still the same in his book.
" Okay it's official. You're exactly like my sister."
" Oh? Is there a problem with that?"
There was no right answer for this one. He knew this and she does as well. Whatever he might say would just get back to Lazuli somehow. Instead of answering deciding to keep his mouth shut for the time being Lapis simply shrugs his shoulder causing an annoyed look to come across Bulma's face before with a clap of her hands, she points towards the maple tree.
" See?"
" Oh shut it,and start chopping!"
Sending her a mock salute ascending up into the sky towards the top of the tree taking a quick peek down to make sure Bulma is out of the line of fire letting out a chuckle shaking his head rearing back just as Lapis is about to slice the top of the tree away this sudden brightness coming from up above draws his attention. A sight he hasn't witnessed for quite some time. The sight of a full moon hovering high above causing his hand to fall down to his side as his eyes remain locked on the moon.
" Huh? So that's what the moon looks like? A little overrated if you ask me."
Coming out from her hiding place behind another nearby tree deciding to see what is taking him so long craning her neck to look up as she sees Lapis just floating up in the air while his eyes are trained on the sky above following his eyesight instantly an irritation she had been feeling evaporates as her eyes widen.
No!? It can't be!
This wasn't good. Not good at all. To everyone else, they might see this rare sight as a beautiful sight to see,but she knows the truth,and the truth is an ugly one. This moon hovering high above in the sky right now shouldn't exist. No,she and the Z Fighters had destroyed it on the night of the transformation.
Crap,crap,crap! Why didn't we get rid of his tail!? Why oh why didn't I think of this sooner!?
" Lapis!? We need to get back to camp now!"
Yep,this is going to be one of her best ideas yet. She can feel it deep down inside. Just the thought of the smile it is going to bring to Gohan's face makes her grin,and speaking of young saiyan's taking a moment to eyeball her latest work with a hint of satisfaction in her eyes turning her sights towards him with a grin leaning over Lazuli whispers into Gohan's ear.
" Okay you can open your eyes now."
Opening his eyes as he finds a grinning Lazuli staring back at him motioning to look up, turning his eyes away towards the sky, suddenly the widest smile comes across Gohan's face when he sees it. The full moon. A sight he has never gotten to witness before. A sight which is so beautiful to look at. At least to him anyways. This sight for some odd reason he can't help but stare at intently as though it is calling to him.
Smiling brightly at the full moon that shines down upon them with nothing but satisfaction across her face, turning away from this beautiful sight towards Gohan to gauge his reaction as she looks closely at his face to see his eyes glazed over the smile across Lazuli's face drops slightly.
" Gohan?"
Receiving no response scooting her way closer over towards him just as she reaches out to touch his shoulder, Lazuli is shocked when Gohan snaps up to his feet and watches in confusion as his tail uncurls from his waist,and extends outward. A sight she has never seen before,and if she thought that was bizarre nothing could prepare her for what she watches transpire before her every eyes making her leap back a couple of feet.
It was like watching a transformation from a horror movie right before her eyes. The way his body slowly grows to the point he towers over her,the way his features change from a small boy to some kind of large furry animal as his clothes are ripped away,and within just a minute she learns just what animal it is as she cranes her neck to look up finding the most bizarre sight she has ever seen before.
Oh you've got to be kidding me?
Where there was once a small young boy now stood a gigantic ape. This large primate who without any warning rears its head back and lets out a mighty roar causing Lazuli to cover her ears as critters of every kind flee into the forests nearby in hopes of getting away from this sudden danger. A sight Bulma and Lapis run into as they run out of the treeline,and immediately stop as a look of horror comes across one of their faces while the other looks up with interest.
" Huh? You don't see that everyday."
She is too late. Her worst nightmare has come to life. Little Gohan following in his father's footsteps transforming into the very thing that had given many so many nightmares for countless nights. The great ape. That is what they liked to call it. This destructible force capable of leveling small towns and cities within seconds. A force in which doesn't care about who or what they hurt in their wake. Including its loved ones. Goku learned this first hand. So much so that Bulma is left speechless just staring up at this great ape with a paling face as her mind is left reeling back to that very night of destruction.
Snapping out of his daze waving his hand in front of Bulma's face only to receive no reaction from her, deciding to take a more practical approach reaching out as he pinches Bulma on the arm causing her to jump up in shock,and snap her head to glare coldly at him with a shrug, Lapis nods his head towards the giant ape towering over them.
" Have anything you would like to share with the rest of the class?"
Opening her mouth only to close it immediately when the ape lets out another mighty roar causing her to shield her eyes the moment she snaps her head back up instantly Bulma's eyes widen when she sees the gigantic creature march away from them causing the ground underneath them to shake. This shaking causing Lazuli to immediately take to the sky as she watches the towering ape with nothing but shock riddled across her face.
" Quick, you have to stop him!"
Letting out a sigh following in his twin sister's example by taking to the sky with a blink of an eye, Lapis charges forward to float right beside the ape's side causing the gigantic creature to look over towards him out of the corner of it's eye.
" Hey little buddy? Would you mind…."
Before he has a chance to finish to the shock of Lazuli and Bulma suddenly with a flick of it's wrist, the ape bats Lapis out of the air sending him barreling into a nearby forest like a guided missile causing a dirt cloud to erupt into the air.
Woah! He swatted him like he was a fly!
On any other day she would have found this quite amusing. Any day her twin brother could be knocked down a peg is a good day in her book,but not today. Not with what is taking place right now. How could have this happened to little Gohan? Well not so little anymore but how,and why?
That's it. The moment, I see Goku, I'm kicking his ass for passing down these stupid genes!
" Lazuli!?"
Snapping out of her thoughts quickly glancing down as she sees Bulma trying to gain her attention while keeping the ape in her line of sight,Lazuli descends down from the sky slightly to hear what the older woman has to say.
" You have to cut off his tail! It's the only way he'll change back!"
This tail? His adorable little tail? It kinda makes sense to her. From what she recalls no ordinary earthling has a tail,and yet again Gohan is anything but ordinary. Still though if she knew his tail would cause so much trouble,she would have cut it off personally already. Even if she will miss the little thing.
Nodding her head in understanding, making sure to not follow Lapis's example charging forward towards the ape as she sees its gigantic hand rising up to swat her instantly Lazuli changes course causing his hand to miss her completely. A miss making the ape let out a roar as it snaps around to try and hit her once again causing her to change her course while not allowing her a clear shot at the tip of his tail.
Cut off his tail, she says! Easier said than done!
There is no way she is going to be able to cut off his tail. Not the way he is trying to smack her out of the sky like a common house fly. She may be fast but her speed doesn't help her right now. Especially from the way the ape purposely protects its back from her as though knowing just what she is trying to do. So much so she is forced to avoid another backhand,and continue to circle around him with an energy ball already formed in her right palm.
This is so pointless! How am I supposed to cut off his tail if he won't let me! Wait? That's it!
Could it be really that simple? Well she thinks so. This ape deep down inside is Gohan,and not once has he not listened to her. Surely even in his state he will hear her. A realization making Lazuli quickly change tactics by shooting off straight ahead before she comes to a stop,and faces the gigantic ape with her hands coming down to rest on her hips.
" Gohan!?"
A loud shout echoing through the air earning the gigantic ape's attention to Bulma's shock as she watches Lazuli just hovering in the air with nothing but horror on her face. Just what is the android thinking!? Doesn't she know how stupid,and careless she is being right now? You can't let your guard down around that thing for even a single second. An ape who snaps its head forward and glares coldly at Lazuli while showing its teeth to her causing her to direct her own glare back at him.
" You are being a very bad boy! Stop this nonsense at once! Do you hear me, Gohan!? You are acting like Lapis!"
If anyone were to ask her what happens next,she wouldn't even know where to begin,but if she tried Bulma would start with this. How the cold look had disappeared out of the ape's eyes into nothing but realization. How gigantic ape, despite how much larger it is,despite how it towers over everything in sight, bows its head down with its eyes flickering towards Lazuli every now and then with a hint of fear,and guilt within them.
" Good now, be a good boy,and sit down for me. That's it."
A command which is obeyed causing a shockwave to be felt by everyone on the ground including Bulma as she barely stays on her feet before she looks back up,and is shocked to find the ape sitting down with its tail wagging slightly. Just how did she pull this off? It took so much effort to get Goku to calm down and this girl gets Gohan to calm down with the snap of her fingers? If she didn't know any better she would think these two are in….
Keeping her face stern despite her lips wanting to curl up into a smile slowly descending down and behind Gohan as he follows her movements closely without breaking eye contact Lazuli extends her left hand out.
" Okay, I don't know how much this will hurt,but I need to cut your tail off now."
In a sudden motion with a slash motion from her left hand instantly a mighty roar is heard echoing through the air as Gohan's tail is cut off at the base from a sharp energy blast causing Lazuli to quickly back away,and what happens next once again leaves her shocked. To watch as this towering ape slowly starts to change as its fur starts to disappear revealing nothing but human skin,as it facial features change from an ape back to the face she knows so well,as it gets smaller and smaller until nothing but a young saiyan body is seen falling to the ground only to be scooped up in mid fall by Lazuli.
" So let me see if I understand this correctly? Way back when Goku was Gohan's age,he too also had a tail,and he also transformed into what you called The Great Ape? Unlike our small friend on the other hand,his pops caused quite a bit of trouble including unintentionally killing his Grandfather?"
Taking a sip from her water bottle with a nod of her head in Lapis's direction slowly, Bulma hugs her knees back to her chest as she glances towards the sleeping Gohan in Lazuli's arms sitting directly across from her,and the roaring campfire.
" Yeah it was a night to remember. I still dream about it every now and then."
" Question? Is this just a family thing passed down from father to son or is it something else entirely?"
Feeling Bulma's eyes on her glancing away from Gohan's sleeping face for a split moment to look at her finding a questionable gaze directed back at her moving the blanket up to cover Gohan up even more Lazuli gives Bulma a pointed look.
" What I mean is should we be expecting something similar when these other saiyans arrive? If so,if you ask me it would be such a bad idea to get rid of my handiwork now wouldn't it?"