I'm a huge fan of Dragon Ball and I'm crazy about psychology and everything related to it. So I decided to delve into the structure of this animated world and the psyche of characters, and describe what we do not see on the screen. I use its potential and set a new rhythm. I confront what anime often leaves in the realm of guesswork - how it was, how it could be, how it would be if.

I write my story following the original language version and its expression, which is significantly different from dubbing. I mainly use anime translation by 'Mirai Group', sometimes manga translation by 'Bird Studio' and very rare Funimation dub.

Although I am Polish, I decided to do it not in my native language. I used google translator and my knowledge from seven years ago ;p But I did my best and I hope it can be understood.
Enjoy ;)

Kosisi
Crazy Fan of Dragon Ball

A GRAVE MISTAKE

He wasn't the Strongest Under the Heaven, but he was one of the happiest man on Earth. Training with Muten Roshi, participation in Tenkaichi Budokai, clash with RR Army, trip around the world and amazing people he met on his way. Bulma, Yamcha, Ulong, Puar, Master, Lunch, Kuririn. After so many years, they were still with him and supported him. Understood like no one else. They were like family to him. All this made that for Goku, winning was no longer the most important thing. On the contrary, for some reason he was glad that there was still someone stronger in the world than he was.

This tournament was a huge and hard lesson in humility for both of its finalists. Fighting not only with the opponent, but also with yourself. Tenshinhan felt it the most. The meeting with Goku and the duel with him made Tenshinhan realize a lot. It was thanks to Goku that he made his first step on the path of light. But even though he fought fairly, Tenshinhan did not feel comfortable as a winner. He won only by a stroke of luck. If Goku hadn't hit a passing car as they were both falling, then maybe he would have been the winner.

- Son Goku... If you'd like half the prize money? - Tenshinhan walked to the boy who was dressing up and handed him the envelope - You do have right to it, you know. I only won by dumb luck. If we're talking about strength...I lost...

- Naw. I don't understand how to use money anyhow - Goku replied cheerfully, tying the dogi that Kuririn gave him. His just ripped apart.

- But...

- Luck is a part of one's strength, you know - Muten Roshi laughed friendly, coming up to the boys - Besides which, Goku learned a lot by fighting a warrior like you.

- Yup! Sure did! - the boy confirmed the Master's words with a smile. It was a really exciting and educational fight.

- What are you waiting for? - Bulma asked as she was walking towards them with the others. On the lead was Yamcha on crutches. He stopped in front of a staring at the ground Tenshinhan and looked at him hard.

- Congratulations on winning the title - he finally spoke and his face softening. Surprised and remorseful Tenshinhan apologized to Yamcha for how he treated him in the fight - Don't worry about it. Better this than death - replied Yamcha calmly - I'm counting on a rematch - he punched his opponent's chest and smiled. Cheered up Tenshinhan smiled back.

- By the way, what are the two of you planning to do form now on? - Muten Roshi asked - If you'd like, won't you come back with me? We'd welcome you with open arms.

- Yes! It's perfect! - shouted from behind his back blonde Lunch and her cheeks covered with blushes - I fallen in love with your savagery!

Everyone, including Tenshinhan, stared at her in amazement. The man lowered his head and truly grateful thanked for the offer, explaining that even though they have betrayed, he and Chaozu were the Crane Master's disciples and they can't simply stroll nonchalantly to the other site.

- Damn! - cursed Lunch - Can we at least be pen pals?

The friends were really surprised. They would never expect such behavior from a tough and aggressive, Blonde Lunch. There was complete consternation at her words which Muten Roshi decide to interrupted.

- How about if we all go out to dinner? Goku, you and Tenshinhan need to eat your fill and replenish strength.

Everybody were hungry and wanted to eat a lot, so they nodded. And since Goku did not want to accept half of the prize, Tenshinhan offered to pay for the meal.

- You don't know how much someone here can eat - Kuririn laughed, pointing at Goku. They knew something about it.

- Goku, this fight was amazing - Yamcha spoke as they start walking.

- Oh, yes - Tenshinhan confirmed Yamcha's words in appreciation - I haven't met such a fierce opponent. I thought you were going to give up at least twice. You surprised me. You really like to fight, do you?

- Like? Fighting is his life - Kuririn laughed - It's as if he was born for this.

Eagerly commenting the tournament, the techniques were used and the final fight, a few minutes later they entered the restaurant a few blocks from the arena. Goku barely crossed the threshold, he realized he had left his Nyoibo pole and his grandfather's Dragon Ball in the tournament building. He wanted to come back for them but Kuririn stopped him.

- You must be exhausted. Let me go get them for you.

- No... - Goku wanted to deny it, but his empty stomach growled. Kuririn laughed and, without waiting, ran out. Goku followed him screaming "thank you" and the others joined him. They stood on the street and watched the silhouette of Kuririn disappearing in the light of the setting sun.

- Kuririn! - Goku shouted, feeling that he must do it. Everyone looked at him, Kuririn stopped and turned.

- What is it?

Goku wondered for a moment what made him call his friend, but he didn't know. Kuririn and the others waited in tension for his answer.

- I forgot what I wanted to say - Goku replied ashamed rubbing the back of his head. Everyone started laughing. Including Kuririn. He waved, assuring him that he would be back soon and ran on. Friends went inside, but Goku stayed a moment longer and watched Kuririn until he disappeared.

When he entered the restaurant and took his seat, the dishes were already appearing on the table. Seeing them, he began to drool, and the wonderful smells made his stomach was rumbling like an endless thunders. Only now did he really feel how hungry he was. The waiters placed a juicy slice of beef and a plate of local soup in front of each. Muten Roshi also asked for a plate for the absent Kuririn. Even though they were all very hungry, no one dared to start a diner without a friend. Even Goku. Instead, he kept looking at the restaurant door uncertainty.

- Let's eating - the Master finally decided, when most of them showed their impatience and desire to satisfy a really big hunger once again. After these words, everyone began to eat greedily. Everyone except Goku.

- You are not hungry, Goku? - asked the Sea Turtle, chewing on a bite of his meat.

- I'll eat when Kuririn returns - boy replied, staring at the empty chair next to him. Eating, friends encouraged him to change his mind and start eating with them. But Goku stubbornly stayed in his resolution. The feeling of anxiety, wasn't leaving him. Tenshinhan noticed it. He stopped eating and looked at the Goku closely.

- What is going on Son Go...

But his words didn't reach the boy. Goku felt something. Something very bad. His body trembled. Time stopped and the room suddenly darkened. He heard a weak voice calling his name. Without a word, he got up, knocking over his chair and ran out of the restaurant. He ran to the tournament place as fast as his legs would allow him. It was from there he felt this bad aura. And the accompanying anxiety, turned into fear.

He passed the gate, stairs, bushes and ran into the hall. What he saw chilled his blood in his veins.

- Kuririn! - he shouted as he saw his friend - Kuririn, what happened? - he ran to him. Kuririn lay motionless. Goku grabbed his shoulders and shook him trying to wake him up but his head was hanging at an unnatural angle and his eyes were wide open. Goku understood - Kuririn... someone killed him.

In that moment friends who were following Goku, as soon as he left the restaurant, ran into the hall.

- What happened, Goku?! - Yamcha asked worriedly, limping on crutches assisted by Bulma. Goku gritted his teeth, staring at his friend's empty eyes.

- Kuririn... Someone killed him - he repeated in shock. He barely could talk. Everyone froze in shock. Then, the lying nearby speaker spoke with difficulty. At Tenshinhan's request, he told what had actually happened.

- It was a monster...He flew here ... he took some strange ball with stars and ... list of tournament participants ... Mr. Kuririn tried to stop him, but the striker was stronger... - he recited weakly.

Goku felt he was losing control more and more. Gripping his friend's inert neck tighter and tighter he hardly holding back tears of rage. He didn't believe what had happened. He didn't believe it had happened because of him. If he hadn't forgotten the ball, if he had stopped Kuririn... his friend would be alive.

Then something strange hit him. New but somehow familiar. As if something wanted to wake up in him. Break out of the cage. Some heat, making his back tingle. It was so close. But for some reason it couldn't. Something was blocking him. Even so, Goku could barely control himself.

He jumped up from the ground and clenched his fists. Ignoring his friends, he allowed unbridled anger to take over his body and mind. Anger, which he hasn't felt in a long time and even forgot what it's like to feel. One, which he hid very deeply.

- Damn it! - he screamed, feeling his body tense and his hair and tail stand up - Bulma! Do you have the Dragon Radar?! - he shouted to the tearful Bulma, picking up his pole and tying it over his shoulder.

- Wait, Goku! - Muten Roshi looked at the boy. Goku ignored him, grabbed the radar from the stunned Bulma and ran out - Wait, I said! - the furious Master shouted after him - That's an order!

Goku disregarded everyone, including furiously screaming Master, ran ahead clenching his eyes, from which tears still fell. His thoughts were focused only on Kuririn. This anger. This thirst for blood, this thirst for revenge. It was terrifying and intoxicating at the same time.

He snapped out of it when he fell off a cliff he hadn't noticed. He looked at the radar, wondering which of the flashing dots was his ball. He decided to follow the quickest one, deducing that this the ball that Kuririn's killer have. He jumped over houses and trees to finally summon a Kinto for help. A faithful cloud took him on her back and shortly he caught up with the criminal.

- Got you! Hold on! Stop! - Goku screamed when he saw him. He flew to the green, winged creature and, gritting his teeth, tried not to pounce on it. But when he noticed the Dragon Ball in creature's hand, Goku was sure - It was you!

- What are you talking about? - asked the green-skinned thing in surprise.

Goku's fist trembled and the tail bristled to the limit, doubling its volume. He was seething with rage.

- Give me back my Dragon Ball and Kuririn's life! - he shouted desperately. The monster laughed at the mention of the man it had killed.

- Kuririn? Is that the fool who fought back? It was easy. He had no chance against me. One well-aimed kick was enough to silence him. So this mediocrity did die? - the monster continued to laugh - Glad to hear it - he added arrogantly.

- What did you say?! - roared enraged Goku - I'm gonna avenge him! I'm gonna slaughter you!

He wanted hurt this cruel monster so badly. Give it the most painful blow. Make it suffer. Adrenaline raged in him and Goku attacked. But monster dealt with him without any problems. Landing on a faithful cloud after a hard kick from the opponent, Goku remembered that he hadn't eaten anything after an exhausting fight with Tenshinhan.

- Quite the chatty little fellow, aren't you? - the green reptile laughed mockingly.

- Shut up! It's just the beginning! - despite his situation, furious, Goku attacked again.

Knowing that there was no chance of a direct attack, Goku decided to do it another way. He started circling the levitating opponent on his cloud, finally inflict an unexpected blow. Unfortunately, that was ineffective too. The monster grabbed him with its slimy tongue, and when Goku broke free and attacked again, monster fired a laser at him, destroying the Kinto cloud. This infuriated Goku to the limit. In amok, boy attacked again. And even when the murderer clearly overwhelmed him, lying down, trampled into the ground, barely alive Goku grabbed the monster's leg and tried to stop it from fling away. He was helpless, but he desperately had to stop it. At all cost.

- You... killed... Kuririn...

The monster, irritated by the opponent's intrusiveness, stroked a dozen or so really strong and painful blows. Only then Goku fell and didn't move. Confident, monster found the boy is dead and flew away enjoying the victory. But it was wrong. Goku was still conscious. He was lying face down in the ground. Everything hurt him. He didn't have the strength to move even a finger. But, he didn't stop thinking about his lost friend.

However, his mind darkened and his breathing slowed. With the last breath, the last thought, Goku cursed himself. It was a mistake to leave the ball at the arena. It was a mistake to let Kuririn go for it. It was a mistake not to eat when he had the opportunity. It all was a mistake. A grave mistake.

Ant time I could I used the manga translation. Unfortunately, the translation from Funimation differs from the original, so I had to let go.