Welcome back!
To recap, last time we took a look at a glimpse of life imprisoned in the Gemini Cult Sanctum for Nappa and the captive Saiyans. Kannon and Propel discussed her struggle with Grenada, and how Kannon's resistance to Vulcane's plan may prove dangerous. Propel awoke from her brainwashed state with her transformation thanks to Kannon's tough love. Raditz finds and faces Tien with his newly healed body, leaving Krillin mortally wounded and Launch wondering what to do. Vegeta had a startling truth revealed to him about the destruction of his home Planet and his parents' death via the Gemini and their leader Vulcane, and had a shocking transformation of his own at the height of the Solstice.
Please stay tuned to find out how the following events unfold!
The bright sky, with its beaming sun, had gained a strange aura of colors as Chi-Chi strung the rope from her pack around her waist to the circumference of the tower. She had made good time, scaling a good quarter of the tower and a little more, but she decided it would be better not to overwork herself all in one day. She looked at her chipped fingernails that now had no remaining nail polish and shrugged. Oh well, it's not as if there's anyone here to impress.
She reached for her canteen and drank a few small gulps of water and sighed, closing her eyes. I know I'm going to make it... I just need to rest... Goku made it in three days, and I don't see why I can't do the same. Chi-Chi screwed the cap back on the water and attached it back to her belt and fished out the bread Bora had given her. She nibbled on the corner of the tasty sweet bread and stared at the planets that weighed heavy in the sky, noticing how at the center the sun was lowering down to the horizon. Chi-Chi tilted her head at the strange sight, but didn't question it too much.
She had seen some pretty strange things in her time; besides, it was so pretty how the sky was lit up violet and orange. Her eyes softened and she sighed as she thought of her husband. I hope Goku is doing alright... and my poor Gohan... I guess perhaps I should have more faith in him, he is after all his father's son... And Goku always seems to somehow achieve the impossible... Chi-Chi frowned, wrapping the bread back up and putting it back in her pocket. She placed her pounding head against the still warm stone and rested. Maybe if I can get stronger, we won't have to worry anymore... Wouldn't that be the day?
The neverending trek of gray stone became almost dizzying in Goku's eyes as he ran, panting heavily. Even though his ki had begun to build back up, his legs and thighs still ached from the non-stop exercise. He knew though, that no matter how tired he got or how badly his muscles hurt at the end of the day, when he woke up in the morning they somehow didn't hurt anymore and would normally grow a few centimeters by the day as long as he kept going. He could see something far in the distance, and even though he was exhausted, he kept going in determination to make it to his destination, then there he would finally rest. He soon found his destination at the steps of the Snake's open jaw.
He wasn't sure if the thing was alive or not, but maybe if he could beat it, it could give him some kind of shortcut out of this place. He was starting to lose his enthusiasm and felt uncharacteristically angry with the frustration that came with each hard thud of his feet on the cement path.
I just want to go back home, back to my family and help everyone! I really hope that this King Kai is really strong. Maybe the snake is King Kai and if all I have to do is fight him, I can get out of here sooner!
Goku slowed his pace as he approached the thing cautiously, tip-toeing near the gaping mouth. It seemed to be made out of stone, frozen in place. He walked to the mouth of the snake and cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled.
"Hey, King Kai, it's Goku! I'm here to do some training! You awake?" His voice echoed in the hollow mouth for a while and he stepped back and cocked his head, his hands on his hips.
"I know! You're probably hungry, is that why your mouth is open?" He chuckled, winking. He knew that it probably wasn't, but he had picked up on the way Bulma had always yelled at him when he took her really seriously and screamed that she was being sarcastic. He wasn't stupid; he tried to use sarcasm, but lots of people just assumed he really was that dense. Goku frowned then walked over to the side of the path and started shoveling yellow clouds into his mouth, not even enjoying the flavor anymore after eating it so many times already today. He just stuffed it down knowing it would help to quell the hunger pains he got every few hours.
"You're a hungry boy, aren't you?" A voice cooed, and he turned quickly to see where it came from. A green-skinned woman stood at the edge of the Snake's mouth, twirling a fluffy white feather boa around her neck and fluttering her lashes at him from over her large scarlet colored eyes. Goku stood, brushing the remaining fluff from his clothes before raising one eyebrow quizzically.
"...Are you King Kai?" He was a bit disappointed, seeing how tiny and thin she was, he didn't think she would be much of a fight. The girl scoffed and extended one long fingered green hand towards him.
"Hehe... No, silly boy. My name is Princess Snake. Pleased to meet you," she said in a soft voice. Goku took her white-gloved hand and pumped it up and down in a familiar handshake he usually shared with his friends. Her body jostled up and down and she gasped, a lock of orange curly hair falling over her brow. He released her hand and she rubbed it, grumbling.
"I'm Goku! Do you know how to wake up the snake?" He said, pointing to the concrete carving. She looked at him funny and looked back at the mouth of the snake, then smirked.
"Oh, it's just a carving, cutie! Follow me, I'll show you around. This is the entrance to my kingdom," she tittered and pulled him by the blue obi around his waist. Goku scratched the back of his head and followed her, looking all around the cavern warily.
"Are you hungry, Goku, dear?" She said, noticing how he kept licking his lips and gulping.
"Oh, yeah! Do you have some real food? I'm tired of eating those clouds!" He said excitedly, completely forgetting his naughty visions of Chi-Chi as his belly growled loudly.
"We certainly do, my cooks will make whatever you want. We'll have a nice feast won't we, Goku?" She giggled and tugged him towards the growing light inside of the snake's pink belly.
"Here, let's go faster so you can rest your back, miss princess!" He said joyfully, then grinned and picked her up and ran towards the light, not noticing how she huffed in disbelief and slapped at his arm around her as she was bouncing around in the excited man's arms like luggage.
What the hell is this idiot saying is wrong with my back!? Oh well, he's such a fool... He should be easy to trick...She smirked, crossing her arms. Goku seemed not to notice, he only ran faster towards the grassy opening where he could see the castle in the distance.
At least he's handsome... She mused, eyeing him closely.
Hey, maybe this place isn't so bad! Goku thought. I'll eat real quick, but then I have to get going!
Here ends the story of Goku, at least for now. We will return to Goku once he leaves Princess Snake's castle. I have chosen to exclude these scenes in the new edition because I feel like they don't quite fit here. From this point on, Goku's story will mirror the anime filler. If anyone is interested in seeing how I recycle these scenes, please stay tuned and subscribe so you don't miss it! Alright, back to the story!
"This place is horrible!" Gohan wailed, crawling into a hole with his tail tucked between his legs. Every day he got chased by the same big monster anytime he went out to look for food, or even just to use the potty the big orange dinosaur was there - licking its chops, ready to eat him! Mr. Piccolo hadn't even come back in days, he just left him there all alone in this wasteland! Gohan whimpered and rubbed his eyes, curling up into a little ball and sobbing.
"I want to go back home to my mommy!" He wailed, sniffling as his stomach growled noisily and echoed in the dark cave.
"I'm hungry, and cold, and tired!" He blatted, taking his furry tail in his hand and sucking on it in the way his mother always scolded him for, saying that he shouldn't put that filthy thing in his mouth. When his tail wasn't being pulled or yanked like Uncle Raditz had done, it felt nice to pet it and lick it, as long as he didn't do it too hard.
But he wasn't mad at his Uncle Raditz for it; once they left Kame Island, he carried him in his arms normally and apologized for having to grab his tail like that, as he explained he wanted to prove a point to his daddy, but his daddy wouldn't listen!
Uncle Raditz said to make things fair he could hurt his tail too, and Gohan munched down on the big squirmy thing, watching as Uncle Raditz shot straight up and howled. Somehow, laughing at him made him forget that he was crying.
Gohan laughed at the memory; it was so funny how Uncle Raditz reacted by falling down and sucking on his tail too! He'd never met someone else with a tail, and when he asked Uncle Raditz why he sucked his tail, he said, 'Don't worry about it boy, don't you dare tell a soul you saw that or I'll bite you back just like you did me!'
Gohan wiped a tear from his eye and smiled. He hoped that his Uncle Raditz and his daddy were OK. He didn't like seeing them fight, but he had tried to be tough for his uncle and behaved like a 'soldier' or whatever that meant as Raditz tied his tail around his hands. He said that this would make him really weak and fall asleep, but once he woke up he would be ten times stronger! Gohan asked him how he knew such a neat trick, and he told him somebody did it to him once to hurt him, but they didn't know that it was making him stronger all along. Gohan nibbled on a flea that was biting his tail and ate it, licking the brown fur and sighing. His belly rumbled again.
I hope that Uncle Raditz will come back and be friends with my daddy! He eats a lot of food just like us. Before he tied my tail up, he took me to that nice farm and we ate a whole bunch of stuff! Gohan licked his lips, thinking about the farmer's fresh tomatoes and cucumbers they munched down. He'd tried to copy his Uncle Raditz by gnawing on the corn really fast like a chipmunk!
He giggled again, itching his rear. I can't wait to go home and be with my family... I'm going to get really strong for Mr. Piccolo so he can train me, then I can show my mommy how tough I am! Gohan closed his eyes and rested, thinking fondly of the future and having everyone be together as a family, and if Mr. Piccolo and Uncle Raditz behaved then maybe they could come home with them too once everything was back to normal.
The reflection in the mirror was not her, it couldn't be. Kannon frowned as she looked at her scuffed face, the swollen purple eyelid, her puffy lower lip where she had bitten it. She was covered in all types of marks, and she couldn't stand to look at them. She sat still as the black haired Propel dabbed her cheek with foundation carefully, methodically covering the marks with makeup. Propel was a lovely girl, transformed or not, but she was the only one who normally wore makeup. Kannon had no idea how to put the crap on. It was nearing time for the Saiyans to be fed, and in her shameful vanity she had tried to put it on to cover her bruises and it had turned her face bright orange. Propel caught her before she went out the door and brought her back to fix it with the correct color.
Kannon felt a warmth in her heart as her long-time friend had finally returned to her. She had practically raised Propel, and as the girl became a woman they had formed a bond with one another. That was quickly broken as the need to sire offspring became more prevalent than the Gemini's training, and her good friend had returned one night with fuschia hair after being with Grenada for the first time. She could very well understand why, given Propel's transformation was triggered by crying. When in her base form, she was less aware, more docile and easy to manipulate, sure... but Propel wasn't a fool. Kannon knew that Vulcane had been slowly twisting her mind and making her into a slave.
A little girl played with the makeup next to them, swirling blush on her cheeks as another child giggled; blowing powder off the other's face. Propel's children watched as she added the finishing touches, brushing on some powder to set the makeup with.
"Are we done? I'm not tryin' to look like no supermodel, I just wanna look more decent so that big oaf down there doesn't notice my bruises." Kannon complained, blinking one eye with the sticky mascara on it awkwardly.
"Wait just a minute... Let me find a brown pencil so I can fill in your birthmark. I don't think you should cover it up, it's so pretty!"
Kannon grumbled, allowing her to poke her where a small beauty mark was below the corner of her mouth.
"There.. Now, let's pinch your cheeks to give you a little blush!" She said with a soft giggle much like her transformed self, yet vastly more intelligent.
"N-No! That's good enough! I don't want him to think I'm blushing for him!" Kannon said and jumped up nervously away from Propel's pinching fingers. Her cheeks flushed brightly even through the makeup at the thought of Nappa noticing such a thing. Kannon attempted to regain her dignity, smoothing out her plain red T-shirt and green camo pants, then brushing powder off her black combat boots as she grumbled to herself.
Propel stood and perfected Kannon's blonde curls with a twirling finger. They had already re-curled her naturally curly hair to a more even pattern earlier and buzzed the back of her hair into a crew cut once they realized there was no saving it after she cut it with the switchblade. Kannon preferred the shorter cut though, and admired herself in the mirror for a quick second. She also tied a bandana around her neck to hide the horrible looking hickeys and bite marks Grenada left that no amount of makeup could conceal.
The change in her appearance did help a small bit, but Kannon couldn't help but feel an icy shiver down her spine when she heard Grenada's whimpering voice when he had returned earlier, injured worse than she had left him. She felt an odd satisfaction knowing he'd been injured so badly in the groin; seeing him hobble around bowlegged with an ice pack had softened the blow a little and she had to snicker spitefully at his pain.
I should be thanking whoever did that, because he fucking deserved it!
"Auntie Kannon looks pretty, mama!" A little girl cooed, tugging on Propel's pant leg.
"Yes, she does, doesn't she, Implode? Now come on, let's get dinner ready for those hungry monkeys and your daddies!" She said in a teasing voice, tickling Implode's back and ushering the other children, Mace, Caine, Bazuka, Shuri and Sashi out of the room.
Kannon followed behind them, yet her smile was forlorn as she watched the happy children follow their mother, thinking of her own daughter. Kannon never saw nor heard of her daughter again after leaving her somewhere where Vulcane would never think to look for the girl, who was the very fusion of two worlds that could never exist in Vulcane's Utopia.
With a hiss of pain, Vegeta opened his eyes. They unstuck from being encrusted together as he stared at the strange sight of the three celestial bodies in the sky once again, now so close that only the width of three Earth Suns was between them. He lifted one arm with a seething groan, feeling the raw, exposed flesh of his pectorals where the outer skin had fallen away thanks to the crazed Gemini that had burned him.
He grit his teeth through the pain and stood, grabbing his discarded armor off the ground. Vegeta waded into the ocean, scrubbing the sand from himself and allowing the salt to clean his wounds, washing away the blackened flakes of skin. The skin fell away easily and crumbled in his hands. Vegeta stepped out of the water and pulled his armor over himself to conceal the wound and keep any more skin from falling off. He lifted into the air with every intent on returning to the blue-haired woman's home for proper treatment of his wounds, and to address the strange nagging feeling he had that something wasn't right there...
He almost wished he had dragged the foolish woman along with him; he couldn't let her out of his sight for one minute, and if she had come along then she could have witnessed him almost achieving Super Saiyan status, as he was destined to do.
Then she could see how a real warrior fights... Of course, it's not as if I would want her to know all those embarrassing things that happened to me... The woman would surely pity me for that. No, she will never hear an inkling of any of those pathetic memories. It's none of her business. Vegeta hardened his features and scoffed to himself as the dome of the large white building came into his vision. He sighed with a small amount of relief, landing on the roof and scaling down it with ease to get to the doorway.
Thank the gods they at least know how to treat a wound on this mudball planet; not quite as efficient as a regeneration tank, but I suppose I could always demand the woman learn how to make one... She's smart enough.
…
Bunny Briefs twiddled the handle of a soup spoon nervously as her husband sat across the table from Yamcha with twin cups of tea on the table. Neither touched the chamomile tea she had made in the hope of calming the tension radiating between the two.
Dr. Briefs took a sip at last from his tea, twining his mustache thoughtfully between two fingers as Yamcha hung his head in shame and looked to him with the large puppy dog eyes that had always seemed to win over Bulma in the past, but that wouldn't work on her father.
He felt no pity for the boy who had let his life go off track and dragged his daughter down with him. The empty bottle of Valium pills sat on the table between them, staring Yamcha in the face guiltily as Dr. Briefs folded his hands over one another on the table.
"...So, repeat the story to me once again, my boy, now, how did you end up naked, holding a stuffed bear to your privates when my wife walked in the door?" He said evenly, not showing his anger even though it was there brimming under the surface. The kitchen light reflected on his bulky glasses and made it hard for Yamcha to read his eyes as his own darted back and forth nervously.
"W-Well, Bulma was cold, and it was uncomfortable lying in bed in my jeans, so I took them off to get more comfortable. That's all, I swear! I promise, I wouldn't do that to Bulma! Even if I did, she's my girlfriend and-"
"Ah, ah, slow your roll there. I understand that you and my daughter have a history... My issue with your story is that you have yet to explain why the last three pills in the bottle are gone. One pill should have been more than enough to calm Bulma down without knocking her out... "
Yamcha nodded, wringing his fingers nervously, bouncing one leg under the table. "...Okay...Well, Bulma had another panic attack shortly after the first one, so I gave her two more. She fell asleep watching a movie with me, and my back hurt really bad lying in that position, so I figured, why not take one? Heh heh... I realize now that I shouldn't have taken Bulma's meds, but it was just one little pill and..."
"Those are her prescriptions, Yamcha! You can't just dole out pills as if you're a doctor! You took advantage of my daughter, and I won't have a lecher in my home! It may be different in your own home, but you are under my roof, and I won't allow that kind of perverted, sick behavior!" Dr. Briefs's voice rose uncharacteristically loud for his small stature and boomed, sending Scratch scurrying off his shoulder and running behind Bunny's leg as she stared with widened eyes.
He stood up from his chair and pounded a fist hard on the table, sending the tea splashing, and a spike of fear down Yamcha's spine. "Now, get out of my sight. Don't come back to our house again. Unless Bulma herself asks for you, you will not be going into her bedroom or be here past dinner time." He said sternly, and Yamcha nodded earnestly, standing up and backing away. Bunny flocked to Dr. Briefs's side and rubbed his shoulders, then sat him back down at the table to calm his nerves.
Yamcha left, looking over his shoulder sadly. "Goodbye..." He said lowly as he went out the door. He hung his head and closed the door behind him, finally allowing the sobs to escape. He put his face in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably. He felt horrible for what he did to Bulma, or, what they thought he had done to her. He didn't think it so bad at the time but maybe in hindsight that wasn't exactly the right thing to do...
"Oh, spare me from your childish blubbering... Gods, what kind of man lowers himself to such a pitiful state?" A voice sneered before him, and Yamcha looked up quickly only to be frozen in place by the sight of the battle worn, bloodied and burnt Saiyan. The Saiyan that lacked in stature but made up for it with his presence that demanded respect.
Yamcha wiped his eyes and swallowed down his sobs, looking away. "It's got nothing to do with you, Vegeta... Why are you even here? They let you in the house but not me? It doesn't make sense." He said, crossing his arms and eyeing Vegeta up and down suspiciously.
"...You can blow up half of East City, nearly pulverize my house, blow up where I work and now you're, what, 'The royal guest?' Give me a fucking break!" He suddenly spat, raising his voice, and forgetting his tears with his pent-up anger. Why did this alien freak get to live there if he couldn't?
Vegeta simply blinked, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes. "...And your point, is?" He asked cooly, smoothing out one bloody glove over the back of his hand as if bored.
"My-my point!? Stay away from my girlfriend! Bulma is mine!" Yamcha growled, balling his hands into fists, his eyes growing bloodshot from holding back his tears; all the pain and humiliation, and now to top it off this asshole was taking everything he had taken for granted. Once he walked in that door, he would be treated like a king.
Vegeta's eyes widened a small amount and one eyebrow raised. " 'Girl-friend'...? You mean…Bulma is your mate?" He shuddered audibly, his shoulders narrowed in disgust at the idea of this filthy vagrant touching the woman's body.
Yamcha grinned, slicking back his hair with one hand. "Well, heh heh, I guess mate is the better term for it; she's not actually my girlfriend, Fancy's my real- Oops!" Yamcha put his hand over his mouth and his eyes widened at the slip-up. Vegeta stepped forward, smelling the heavy scent of putrid perspiration, shame and fear coming off the scruffy scar-face. As Yamcha's words met his ears, thoughts started to roll about in his mind. Vegeta frowned, thinking about the woman's nonsensical ramblings from before, that night in the kitchen when Bulma shared that sweet, watery pink fruit with him, then surprised him by becoming aroused just from being licked...
'He didn't even have the decency to wait until I was gone to start shoving his tongue down her throat!'
"Hn.." Vegeta felt the tiny hairs prickling on the back of his neck, his hackles raising. Saiyans may not have been familiar with marriage, they only took mates, but when one took a mate, it was for life. No other women.
"So, you have betrayed her trust, then." He said lowly, coming closer. Vegeta took a shallow breath and recognized that sweet, spicy smell that the woman had made for him like before, but it wasn't quite as sweet. He could discern the slightest changes in her scent, and when he smelled the sharp coppery scent of her blood mingled with his putrid arousal, he thrust his hand forward and slammed Yamcha's throat tightly to the door.
Yamcha yelped and struggled beneath his iron-hard grip, kicking his feet out and gulping as his face quickly became red and sweaty. The hand wrapped around his throat was like a vice constricting and collapsing his airway until he could only gurgle in pain.
"I should fucking kill you right now, you lowly cur... You don't deserve to live.." Vegeta snarled, baring his teeth and shoving him harder into the door. Yamcha's lips began to turn blue, his eyes bulging out.
"Yes, die now, you pathetic excuse for a male... How dare you disrespect her honor...!" He seethed in a hateful whisper, watching with satisfaction as his eyes began to roll back into his head, seconds away from death.
Vegeta's concentration on killing Yamcha was broken as he heard a familiar voice from behind the door and dropped him immediately; he backed away and clenched his fist as she opened the door.
Yamcha fell to his knees, hacking and gasping for breath as color returned to his face. Vegeta's control suddenly snapped as his eyes met with the azure oceans that were hers. "B-Bulma..." He rasped, in a near whisper.
"Vegeta! Oh, you're home!"
Before he could even protest, she threw herself onto him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek and crying her relief into his ear. He stood frozen in place, his tail stiff and pointing straight to the ground as she embraced him. Home? My home is here, with her? Vegeta thought, his eyes wide as he tried to recall the last time he had a home, long, long ago. Those days had become somewhat of a blur now, but the images of his new home were clear and vibrant in his mind. I am… at home. With her.
"I'm so glad you're ok! Where were you!? Why didn't you tell me you were going somewhere, Vegeta? Did the armor work okay?" She grasped at his chest and pulled at the tattered fabric of his bodysuit, gasping when she saw the injured flesh beneath.
He made a tiny grunt of pain as the small motion moved around the wound, earning her coveted sympathy. Bulma immediately forgot about her tiff with him previously, her focus now laser pointed on instinctively caring for the saiyan. She did so blindly, without hesitation. It was as if her heart had won over her highly scientific mind, and she had seen the small, hurting boy inside of the bloodied shell of a man before her, who had used scathing words to steer her away. But Bulma knew better. She'd felt it in his kiss, his desperation. Vegeta needed only her healing touch and her guidance, then he could become who he was truly meant to be.
"Aw, we're getting you taken care of right away, Vegeta! Come on, let's go!" Bulma pulled him back into the house quickly, not before Vegeta could look at Yamcha on the ground and give him a smug smile. The door slammed behind them. Yamcha jumped up, pounding on the door.
"You fucking prick! Bulma! Open the door! Hey, unlock the door guys! I forgot my coat!" Yamcha whined as he jiggled the locked door handle, jumping with surprise when the home defense bots came out of the bushes and shined red warning lights on him.
"Intruder alert. Intruder alert." Their red lasers honed in on him, and Yamcha took off running while the robots began blasting burn holes in the seat of his pants, causing him to jump with every laser shot and yelp his way out of the yard.
Previously…
"You have to eat, Nappa." She said, viciously. He turned back to her, his eyes widening.
"You know my name? How?"
Kannon grunted back. "Course I do, idiot. Now just eat already, I don't wanna stare at your hideous face any longer."
…
"There, those Saiyans will be happy today! I found that old beach dog the kids were playing with dead in front of the house! I bet they're sick of sea birds!" Propel said happily, tapping a soup spoon on the edge of the pot.
"Oh, sure. I bet they'll love that," Kannon grimaced, watching as Propel turned, and went about stirring the beef stew for the rest of the family, something she had more than enough ingredients for, but chose instead to give the Saiyans a slop not even fit for the dog it was made from.
"I think it died from some kind of nasty worm infestation, I don't want the children getting sick with parasites." She huffed, taking a spoon and testing the beef broth. "Mmm! That's yummy!"
Kannon rolled her eyes. "Sure, because that's exactly what they need, fuckin' worms!" She said, exasperated. Propel shrugged slightly, only continuing to hum a happy tune and stir the stew.
Implode looked up from where she was clinging to Propel's apron, and tilted her head of scarlet curls curiously at her mother. "Mommy, why can't the monkeys eat food like us? Isn't doggy bad for their bellies?" She asked, frowning. She felt sad that her dog friend had been treated this way and made into a stew to be eaten instead of given proper burial.
"...Well, if we fed them what we ate, they'd get too strong and try to escape." Propel responded sweetly and patted her on her head. Propel lifted the lid and pinched her nose as she peeked in. Seeing that it was coming to a roaring boil, she switched off the burner.
"All done. Don't worry, Implode! Puppy is going to a nice place." She soothed the girl as Kannon furrowed her brow, shifting anxiously in place as she waited for Propel to say she could take the pot already. Propel nodded to her, and Kannon took the pot with the pot holders, turning around to go downstairs. Once Propel wasn't looking, Kannon took a deep breath, and golden light suddenly lit up the pot, radiating outwards with a sparkle before fading away. Her shoulders shook, and she sighed; it had been such a long time since she had used her magic.
She stood before the door, staring at it as if it were contaminated. Holding the stew pot, Kannon quivered, the lid rattling as she re-lived the pain; staring at the floor, the black smears on the flaking gray paint where he had... had burned her...
"Kannon? Are you ok?" Propel asked, pausing her stirring to look at her curiously. She set her spoon down then walked over and opened the door, giving Kannon a small nod of encouragement.
"Thanks." She mumbled, and made her way down the stairs.
She heard the low murmurs of excitement as she came to the end of the stairs, meeting eyes with all of the shadows that shifted in the cages. She wore her cannon blaster today strapped across her chest, and protruding from her shoulder was the wide barrel that was incredibly deadly. A pulley hung over her shoulder that she pulled in order to release the cannonballs, and with a click of a switch the fuses were lit by a spark at the base of the barrel. It was a powerful weapon, and right now she needed that small security it provided her.
She set the pot down and took a hose from off the floor and turned it on, walking around the room to fill the deep basins in their cages for drinking and bathing. The Saiyans either cupped the fresh water and drank eagerly from it or began using it to wash their faces and hands. She came towards Nappa on the table and glared at him, seeing how he stared at the ceiling as if she weren't even there. Kannon lifted the hose and sprayed a small amount of water at him.
"Hey, you, are ya thirsty or what?" She said, watching as he rolled his eyes to her in a way that seemed to say he obviously was. Kannon felt her breath hitch in her chest and walked to the side of the table, switching off the Ki draining device before she began unstrapping him from the bench. Kannon pulled the chest bar back with a loud squeak, seeing how he took a deep inhale when it was released and regained his breath. Vulcane made no effort to make more suitable room for him in the cages; there was bound to be a vacancy any time soon. Kannon watched as he sat up with less straining this time, observing how his stomach wound had already begun to heal, besides some areas that were deeper than others.
"I see you're healing, that's good..." She said with a small smile. Nappa grunted, looking away from her again and staring at the ground. Kannon's features went limp and her eyes widened as she realized he must have heard... everything.
Nappa turned back and moved his hand, then sighed in annoyance when he remembered that he was cuffed to the table. His tail snaked out from behind his back and he took the hose and put it to his mouth to Kannon's surprise, downing the water eagerly to take numerous gulps, then pulled the nozzle out with a relieved sigh, staring down as the water washed over his body. He aimed the nozzle at his stomach wound and allowed it to wash away the dried blood, which ran down his sculpted abdomen in rivers.
Kannon felt her cheeks growing hot and turned away quickly, gulping. She heard a gruff chuckle from behind her and yelped when she felt a cool jet of water splash across her back. She whipped around quickly and snatched the hose.
"Hey! Watch it, you!"
She pulled on the hose but his tail had a firm grip on it, and after a moment of her struggling to pull it away, Nappa let go and she fell onto her rear. The hose flew out of her hands and let the water spray around the room wildly, completely drenching her and the protesting Saiyans who complained and shook off the water like dogs.
"Stop! Stop it!" Kannon yelled, feeling surprised when the water stopped abruptly and Nappa sat looking at her smugly, his tail wrapped around the hose snugly.
"Oh, uh... thanks! Hehe!" She said sheepishly and walked over to turn off the water spout.
Kannon took a moment to get herself back together, squeezing some water out of her shirt. She picked up the stew pot and heard the ridiculous thumping of tails and panting as she brought it over and spooned it out. She had to shake her head and smile; Saiyans were funny sometimes, even if they weren't trying. She finished filling the bowls and turned to Nappa, then narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips.
"Wait just a minute... Nappa, if you could use your tail this entire time... why did you let me feed you with a fucking spoon?!" Kannon suddenly accused, glaring at him, her mascara running down her cheeks. He stiffened in his spot, opening his mouth and closing it wordlessly.
"I- I uhhh... well, you insisted!" He shouted back just as accusingly, his eyes widening as she took the spoon and smacked him on the nose with it. He flinched back, scrunching up his face. Nappa tried to rub his nose with his shoulder, before giving up and using his tail to rub it. A dazed look came over him and his eyes watered, then he sneezed enormously and a bright ray of golden light blasted out his mouth and made a clean hole in the floor. Kannon froze in place, staring at him, then the hole with widened eyes, as he turned to her and looked with an expression as if he were just as surprised at what he did as her.
"Uh.. oops..?" He muttered, and grinned sheepishly, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. Kannon couldn't hold it back anymore, she giggled and started to laugh so hard her stomach began to hurt, and it made it even harder to stop laughing when Nappa and the other saiyans all joined in until there was so much laughing in the room that Kannon suddenly stiffened and put one finger to her mouth for them all to be quiet.
They ceased their laughter, looking to the ceiling in anticipation of being caught by Vulcane. A moment later Kannon sighed and turned back to Nappa, shaking her head. "You goof! Control your power, you could have blasted my head off!" She scolded, going to whack him with the spoon again, then thinking she better not.
Nappa's eyes widened and he frowned. "...Sorry..." He grunted and lowered his gaze regretfully.
"Here. You do know how to use a spoon, right?" She teased, watching as he lifted the lid easily and wrapped his tail around the spoon.
"Course I do, idiot." He murmured and began scooping up the stew into his mouth. He looked at her with a puzzled expression as he chewed, finding that for once, the food actually tasted… good?
"Did you... make this?" He asked between eager bites of food. Kannon nodded shyly, sitting on the stool beside the bench and watching as he ate. "It's good." He said quickly and filled his mouth with more of the hearty beef stew that didn't taste like dog at all. Kannon smirked, proud that after all this time her alteration magic still worked. She simply needed a subject of equal value to the subject the magic was performed on, in order to alter it successfully. Seeing as there was just as much Beef stew as there was Dog stew, she'd simply transformed it into a copy of Propel's Beef stew instead.
"Well, don't expect it all the time, I'm really not the cooking type'a gal... " She said with a small shrug and tilted her chin back. Nappa looked at her curiously, and licked his lips."What's that on your face? That black stuff?" He said, pointing to his eye with his tail, referring to her runny mascara.
"Oh! Oh no, the water must have melted it!" She cried, covering her face in embarrassment.
"Why would you need to wear such a thing? You're not..." He started, then stopped himself, taking another bite.
Kannon's heart fluttered and she pulled her hands away, blinking. "Not... what?"
Nappa gulped and looked at her from his peripheral vision with one dark brown eye. "Well, you're certainly not deformed..."
Kannon's shoulders slumped and she felt embarrassed for hoping he was going to compliment her. "Oh, yeah... no, I'm not deformed or nothin'..."
Nappa set the empty pot to the side and looked at her closely, furrowing his brows. Kannon's spine stiffened as his eyes traveled over her, then his tail lifted hesitantly and hovered before her face. She watched it, swallowing nervously. Kannon gasped when she felt the soft fur touch her cheek, then wipe across her face and scrub it quickly. She was startled, so she just closed her eyes and allowed it until it stopped and rested on her chin. Kannon opened her eyes to see his expression had hardened as the tip of the tail paused. Nappa concentrated as he wiped the makeup away from her beauty mark, and visibly swallowed as if in pain.
Kannon reached out with a trembling hand and touched his tail gently, moving her fingertips over the fur, petting it carefully. Their eyes met and she held the soft fur to her face and suddenly felt long buried emotions welling up inside of her as his eyes penetrated hers, but could not possibly see deep enough into her to know what she was truly thinking.
"Nappa... how I've..." She choked back her words, instead wiping her tears with the soft fur. Nappa swallowed and pulled her to him by wrapping his tail around one leg of her chair.
"How did you know my name? Please, tell me... what is your name?" He urged softly, not minding when she took his tail again and cradled it gently to her cheek.
"I can't tell you." Kannon shook her head vigorously, hiding her face from him. He felt the air trapped in his lungs escape.
"Please look at me... you're... beautiful.." He said softly, and she raised her tear-stained face so that he could look at her. Even though scars marred her cheeks, and the passage of time had done its work, same as to him, those emerald eyes still sparkled with their shared knowledge. Something deep within their depths told him everything. His eyes softened on her and his hand jerked against the restraints.
"Let me free... please, just take off one shackle... I promise, I won't hurt you." He said softly, clenching one fist. Kannon shook her head and refused.
"Pinch–I mean, come on, you... please!" He growled, becoming impatient.
Kannon gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as the first word slipped from his mouth. Nappa growled and strained against the restraints, flexing his forearms until the shackles broke and he looked at his own hands with surprise.
Kannon flew out of her chair, backing away until her back hit the prison bars and a female Saiyan hissed inside. Nappa got to his feet quickly and snarled at the girl who'd hissed. "Hey, don't you dare touch her!" Kannon scrambled away from the bars, blinded by her tears. She was caught by him, falling into his chest and sobbing.
Nappa sighed and looked down at her. Brushing one heavy hand over her golden hair, he smiled. "I like what you've done with your hair."
Kannon looked up and suddenly chuckled through her tears. "What happened to yours?" She blurted out, then her eyes widened and she covered her mouth as if she had exposed a horrible secret.
Nappa's back stiffened and he hesitated to answer; recalling how being flayed for his mistakes on Planet Neptune had done away with his hair. Instead, he chuckled again, playfully entertaining her charades. "Oh, and how would you know that I had hair?"
"Uhh... I dunno, stop askin' me so many stupid questions!" She spat, pulling away and crossing her arms over her chest.
Nappa smiled and knelt down on one knee so that he was more at her level. He lifted one finger and poked her chin where the beauty mark was and grinned.
"I once knew a girl with a mark like this, but she was far prettier than you, and was much less trouble!" He teased, and she slapped his hand away.
"Oh really, is that what you prefer? Dumb bimbos with big tits?!" She accused, stomping her combat boot stubbornly.
"No, I like you just fine. No matter what you look like, you're still my Pinchie." He said, and with a gentle pinch on her cheek, he watched with awe as Kannon's hair changed to soft, dark blue curls. Her large, crimson eyes with pink centers opened up to look at him. She had been locked away in a cage all those years, trapped...
"Nappa!" She cried out, and crushed herself to him, pelting his face with kisses, sobbing tears of joy. He embraced her and fell to both knees, clutching her to his body closely.
"Kannon, all these years I thought you were dead... what happened?" He whispered with reverence as he stroked the back of her head.
She wrapped her arms around his thick neck and sighed where her now much fuller cheek rested on his chest.
"We survived... a few of us... Emperor Vulcane came and found us. They said if we didn't come with them, they would take us by force… Like me." She whispered, and he gripped her tighter, arching his neck down to nuzzle his nose in her hair.
"I never got the chance to thank you for trying to protect us... While you fought the Dyjod Trio, I managed to slip away and hide..." Nappa stroked one hand over her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Since that day, I've only been loyal to you Kannon, even though I thought you were dead, I... I've hated Frieza since that day that he ordered the purge. I only stayed to protect the boys."
"The- the boys, are they...?" She looked up to him with a shimmer of tears in her eyes, and he smiled softly.
"Yeah. They're alive. They should be."
Kannon lowered her eyes and curled her fingers around his smooth head. "I've waited for you for a very long time, but... Grenada…he tried to–" Her voice quivered.
Nappa's eyes darkened, and he put one finger over her plump red lips to shush her. "I know. It wasn't your fault... I'll take care of him." He said with a soft growl, lifting her up onto his lap and sniffing her neck, his eyes darkened over her shoulder.
"He's going to pay for what he's done... I have a plan. But you'll have to help me."
He did not care anymore. Whether or not he survived, whether he won, Raditz no longer cared. It was always his safety net: not caring. To go through life, apathetically watching it crumble all down around him. His life was always in the control of others. But when did he get to choose? When did Raditz get to live his own life?
He supposed it was too late now for all that as he glared into the eyes of his opponent, then smiled as if to say, 'Thank you. I'm ready to go. I've got nothing to live for, no future, no family, nothing... I was supposed to die.'
Tien's third eye delved into the mind of his opponent, easily able to see deeply into him. He saw the despair in Raditz's gaze, the darkness in him. He could feel the savage energy coursing through his enemy, writhing through his blood unfettered with a willingness to spill itself on the dry earth below, quenching it with his own loss of life.
Tien flinched back and his third eye closed as if stung, and he didn't dare to open it long enough to gaze back into the pit of Raditz's mind again. This magic ability was something no mortal man should contain; it was playing god to peer into your enemy's mind, a cheap trick that Tien had sworn against using.
Tien had no memory of his origins, nor did he care to find out. Master Shen had been his caretaker, and then his mentor Mercenary Tao was when he later joined the Crane School for Martial Arts. Tien hadn't desired to find out where he came from, because with the discovery of the power from his third eye, he realized that it was capable of only bewitching and harming others. That was enough to make him more than hesitant to know what kind of people use their powers for such a thing. In the past he had used it to con others for his own benefit and he wasn't proud of that had since abandoned the use of the eye.
But now, as he felt the pull of every liter of blood in his body towards the tide, in direct response to the planet's strange appearance once every year, he was barely hanging onto control of his power. Ever since that night with Launch, his power felt so full within him it was near to bursting.
The tempter's voice that whispered to him to go back to her had sunk its claws into his mind unrelentingly; from some deep, primal part awoken somewhere in his memory, he knew that being with her gave him an incredible amount of power, and that is why he had to stay away. No matter how much he cared for her, he couldn't bear to see Launch in that way, to use her for his relief and suck energy from her like a viper. It felt wrong.
He wished there was some way to stop it, but he had known all along deep down that they were the same. He had never been so drawn to a woman in his life; for all those years he avoided her. He hated that he was lusting for something he should not have - no, would not allow himself to have, but kami, he did want her all to himself. We can find a way. We can get through this. I promise, I would never hurt her...
Tien looked at Launch from above, where she was barely a speck far below on the ground and felt his stomach turning. Raditz saw this and growled at him; released from their standoff, he surged at Tien, feeling that hot surge of rage rushing through his veins and awakening his primal blood. He roared with anger, hitting Tien with a furious blow to the jaw. The other man flew backward a few yards, stopping himself in the air to right himself and spit blood from his mouth.
"She's never going to be yours. You're an animal, a beast. You have no empathy, no inkling of love in you. Launch needs someone who truly cares for her. I care about her, I've known her for years and I've always wanted to tell her that." He said, his voice bordering on the guttural tone it took on before as he looked down and smiled.
"That's what I always wanted to say. Just that, I would do anything for you, Launch. I would try to be the man you wanted, if you would have me." He allowed his words to be heard in Launch's mind as he spoke; Tien wanted to say what he needed to before the end of this battle, because he couldn't be sure of the outcome. He only knew that he would fight for her if he could.
Launch stared up and stifled a cry, her hands to her mouth as she heard the words and sobbed.
" ...Raditz, you and I are two very different people. That is where I fail to see how you could be right for her. Could you even touch her without tearing her apart?" Tien whispered, pulling back from her thoughts before she could hear. He watched as the Saiyan's eyes grew large and for that split second, fearful.
"I could! I won't do that to her, I can't hurt her!" He suddenly spat, squeezing his eyes shut of all the memories, how many women he had desecrated in such a way... He'd lost count. It was a sordid blur of intoxication; there was no nice way to say it, Raditz hadn't loved those women, he hadn't cared to give them the tenderness he had given Launch. No, for after all, he may as well have raped them if they weren't so willing.
"I wouldn't! I didn't hurt her!" He cried out, clenching his fists and allowing his aura to burst free, the heat whipping around him and lifting his wild mane from his back. He screamed, tossing his head back as ruby light encased him and electricity seemed to be drawn to him as his true power emerged. The tendrils of lightning wrapped around him and clashed, as the sky darkened and with a crackling, rain began to fall.
Tien's bones felt cold and brittle in his body as he watched the transformation, seeing the sheer muscle that this man now bore. Raditz lowered his face and glared at him with his obsidian eyes lit with electric light, and in them, he saw that absolute power, the capability of destruction so evident in that glare. Tien tensed as his eye sensed the whirling aura inside that was as black and foreboding as the storm clouds above.
Tien squeezed his fists into balls until his knuckles turned white and pushed his ki violently to the surface, allowing the golden light to overtake him. He closed his eyes and summoned his true power from within. He would need it for this fight; Tien knew that one of them, if not both, would barely survive.
Raditz watched with widened eyes as Tien's stature began to increase in height, and the golden light around him pulsed wildly, unstable. Two more arms burst from his back with a grunt, and Tien's body grew in bulk until he was as large as Raditz, his slick muscles striped with veins full of the molten golden energy. Tien opened his eyes and laughed in a darkened voice, distorted and demonic.
"You see, I also have a secret, Raditz. I'm no better than you. Every night since the planets arrived, I have been nothing but a savage. I feel that strange pull from the red planet down to my very being; I know I am something... something unnatural." His guttural voice curled up with a pitiful sob, and he pulled his four arms together and covered his face, concealing the cries.
Raditz drew forward, hovering towards him with deadened eyes that felt no sympathy. "Use your power then, to fight." He said darkly and locked eyes with Tien again. Tien shook his head, blinking away the tears and focused on his opponent.
An empty void appeared where he had been, and Raditz looked sharply side to side, growling when Tien came from below and was directly before him in an instant. He felt nothing but those four powerful arms hitting his body; they swung like windmills and hit him solidly with each blow. He gasped for his breath as he tensed his arms and attempted to grasp them, but the intensity and speed of them were unbelievable.
Raditz managed to jump back and gathered his ki into his hands quickly and hit him back with a barrage of small yet deadly ki blasts. Tien took the shots with little show of difficulty, watching as they flew and became absorbed into his skin. Raditz looked on, his brows tensing as the gargantuan form of Tien chuckled, bringing the four arms around himself. Glowing balls of golden ki sparkled in his fists as Raditz retreated backward, holding his forearms before him. He grit his teeth as Tien threw one earth shaking cannon blast at a time, dodging each just nearly and panting with the feeling of the heat phasing past his body.
"It seems I've got a rat in a trap," the deep voice echoed, as Tien split into four and grinned as he surrounded the Saiyan. Raditz tensed, looking around quickly as the forms approached him. He used his tail to hit the one behind him as he darted around and kneed one in the back. They were temporarily distracted as he came closer to the remaining two and hit them with a ki blast from each hand.
Tien's forms floated together, making a wall and all laughed in harmony. Raditz darted away and flew on his side and screamed as he threw a ki ball into their lined up forms, hitting each in turn and flying behind to send his fists barreling into the backs of the center forms. They disappeared in his hands, and he righted himself and kicked out at both remaining, gasping as they both dissipated and searching the dark sky for Tien.
"You're quick, I'll admit.." The voice said, and Raditz met eyes with Tien above him and snarled. Blood trickled from the side of Tien's face as Raditz looked on. He brought his two glowing hands together and pointed his index fingers, grunting as the power began to make an orange glow around him with the sheer energy. "But you aren't too bright."
He finished, and with that he brought his hands to his center and glared down at Raditz from between a diamond-shaped opening in his hands and screamed out,
"Tri Beam...Haaa!"
Raditz stared up at the glowing light above him and felt his hairs standing on end from the sheer electricity. Darkness covered the sky and fell over him, rocketing him down to the ground so quickly he was lost, feeling the dark energy racing beneath his flesh like snakes and tearing at his skin, until all was darkness and his form was lost as the ground opened up below him and he fell.
Launch fell backward from the impact of the blast and cried out, feeling her cranium hit the ground roughly. She sat up and shook her head of blonde hair, growling. "Tien! That's not fair!' She snarled, getting to her feet and running towards the dark opening.
"Raditz! Are you ok?! Raditz!" She got to the edge and stared down, her breath hitching as her other half inside screamed in her thoughts, screaming for Raditz. Launch shook her head, watching as the freakish form that once was Tien lowered down to appreciate his work, his arms crossed. Launch aimed her gun and pelted him with bullets, knowing they wouldn't be enough to harm him but she just felt so, so angry!
Tien looked at her with an expression of hurt as the bullets bounced off his chest.
"You better not have killed him, or you can forget about ever seeing me again! In fact, I don't wanna see ya! EVER!" She screamed, her entire body shaking with her rage.
"Come on Launch, it's not safe here..." Master Roshi pulled her back by her shoulders and Chiaotzu clung desperately to her leg.
"Tien's not himself anymore!" He cried out, and clutched to her thigh. She reached down and rubbed his head gently, before returning her eyes to the battle.
Tien narrowed his eyes at her and smiled as if he didn't believe her. He turned his attention back onto the ground and watched the darkness for signs of life.
There was nothing, only the susurration of the heavy summer rain crashing through the foliage of the forest; creating a dense hush in the tension. Then, light. There was a white light that formed into a small ball, crackling with electricity, then increased in size and with a hoarse bellow, Raditz reared his arm back and threw the Ki ball with all the strength he could summon; the dark cavern lit with brilliant ruby light as it was illuminated with hissing energy, until at last he let it rocket through the air.
"BEGONE!"
The massive gathering of energy rocketed up towards Tien's cocky smile that still had not budged. Raditz surged forth and followed the blast, watching as Tien tensed at the last minute and went to dodge, but not before being hit dead center and knocked back. He followed his descent in rage; gripping him by the neck Raditz sunk his fist into Tien's face as hard as he could. Releasing him and allowing himself to be taken by the wind, he savagely beat Tien's body back and forth until it was convulsing with every blow. Tien spit out blood and saliva as Raditz kneed him hard in the stomach and his chest; he pounded with the hardest of blows he could summon, blinded by his animosity. His eyes were glazed over with his sheer intent to kill as they crashed down to the ground and he landed atop him, getting to his knees and panting as the rain washed away the oozing blood from his torn flesh. Droplets flew on the air as he continued to beat him, knocking his head sideways until Tien's eyes rolled back in his skull and he was silent.
Raditz panted; attempting to regain his vision, he rested on his hands, watching Tien for signs of life on his face, swollen with welts and leaking blood from his eyes and nose in rivers.
"There, it's done, Shinhan..." He sighed, and with a shudder, he got to his feet shakedly, turning to look towards the tiny figures in the distance and questioning now where he should go.
"No... it's not." A hoarse whisper behind him was followed with a sharp stabbing sensation through his center, as Tien lifted his finger to shoot the dodon ray through the soft flesh of Raditz's chest wound. The Saiyan gasped, falling to his knees and clutching his chest where a clean hole had reformed, not nearly as large as the first but disabling him with the intense feeling of blood surging forth in a dark trickle.
"You...rotten piece of fucking shit..." Raditz growled, turning his face to eye the broken man on the ground who only laughed at his pain; slowly moving to sit up, Tien grinned and looked to Launch, and held one hand out and hissed with pleasure as golden tendrils of light danced on the air. Raditz looked to her in agonized terror as she fell to her knees and clutched her chest as he drew power from her.
"No! Launch!"
"Ahh.. kami... oh, she feels good..." Tien moaned as if in arousal; making a fist and clutching the golden tendrils, he looked down at himself and sunk the masses into his center. It absorbed into him and the golden light spread. Raditz observed in horror as his wounds became healed, the swelling dissipated and Tien seemed wholly unharmed.
"Launch!" He heard the collective cry for her safety as she fell to the ground as if boneless, and Master Roshi and Chiaotzu hovered over her worriedly.
"How could you...! How could you claim to care for her if you could do such a cruel thing! You will regret the day you harmed her, Tien Shinhan, I swear it. You will be damned to hell for all eternity!" Raditz spat venomously with seething spite and stood before him, looking to the sky. He raised one hand and grinned as a white circle of ki formed there and rose slowly into the air, up until it filled the empty gap between the planets and illuminated the earth with artificial moonlight.
Raditz locked his eyes onto the light, allowing them to be enchanted by the moon's glow, his irises alighting crimson red.