A cool breeze whipped through the crisp white fabric fluttering behind him as Piccolo did his early morning meditation for the day, levitating above the large fountain beneath him. He was able to tune into Kami's thoughts regardless of his will now. When he attempted to focus, and Kami wasn't at rest, the old Namekian's thoughts would at times mingle with his. Currently, Piccolo was having difficulty concentrating from all the telepathic chatter the old man was having, whether it was with King Kai, King Yemma, himself, and even this new voice, Annin. It was hard to meditate when the old chatterbox was going, you would have never known that much was going on in Kami's head by the way he stood there motionless by the garden, exchanging pleasantries with Calliope. Mr. Popo was at work cleaning the garden, taking away the dead greenery and making it easier for the autumn perennials to sprout forth. Gohan sat at the edge of The Lookout with an empty stare, simply watching the clouds pass by him with a wide gaze.
With this undertaking, comes great risk. You must know this, Kami. I cannot simply turn the furnace of eight divisions off on a whim, lest the demons from the underworld escape onto this plane. The feminine voice responded sternly back to Kami, in a respectful yet serious way.
You are the only one who can control the cauldrons. Annin, I am concerned that Guardian Obœ will not survive much longer if she cannot be freed from the core of the planet. Before, I was capable of speaking with her. But now, I cannot reach her. Kami pleaded softly, sending his worried feelings with the message. Piccolo smirked, lowering a bit in the air as he slowly lost focus and gave up on his meditating.
The guardian, you say? Annin responded.
Yes, and with her death, my sister Calliope here would also die. It is only in dire need that I would ask this of you, Annin. I promise, this is only a one time occurrence, and it is urgent! Piccolo heard a loud slurping sound come from the woman, and screwed up his brow in confusion.
Hmmm… Let me think about it while I finish my noodles. She said, and Kami sounded hopeful. I must make another call. Please stay on the line, Annin. Piccolo chuckled to himself as Kami 'dialed' King Yemma. His concentration waned when he felt another touching his mental walls. Calliope was looking for his presence, it seemed. The Namekian sighed and attempted to push the mental prodding away.
Meditate, Meditate… he mentally said the mantra, but it was no use now.
Please come down a moment. I would like to discuss something in person. She said softly into his mental passageways, the astral fingers of her intrusion making Piccolo lose focus, and drop from his levitation.
A large splash was heard, to which Gohan turned and gasped. Calliope was relieved of that much, standing up to see what the commotion was. She had no time to comprehend what had happened as Piccolo shot up from the fountain, then appeared before them so quickly she stumbled backwards in surprise.
"Mister Piccolo, you fell!" Gohan shouted, running up to cling to his dripping pant leg.
"I am fine, boy. Don't fret over me." Piccolo snapped, kicking his leg. Gohan tumbled backwards in a stunned somersault, then sat up and laughed as if he'd enjoyed it.
"Piccolo, am I to assume you enjoyed a swim in the fountain?" Calliope chuckled, and he huffed, ignoring the water dripping down his face as he gave her a warning glare. Calliope knelt to speak with Gohan, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Stay here and assist Mr. Popo, little one." She said gently, and the boy nodded, running off to go help with the garden.
Piccolo met her stare that seemed to imply he complied and came along with her as they walked towards the temple. Piccolo followed behind her in silence, looking back a moment to see where Gohan was, listening to the djinni explain the simple method of how to use a garden rake. Piccolo growled to himself, turning his face in disgust.
"You've noticed something is off with the child, haven't you?" Calliope said softly as she sat down on a marble ledge, and patted the area beside her for him to take a seat.
"I have." Piccolo responded, taking his place and understanding that this conversation was regarding Gohan's change since he'd awoken.
"I worry, has he always been so quiet? He lacks... thoughts." She said, placing her hands on her thighs that had a softer form to them than his. It was unnatural, no matter the intellect of a person, there should be some deeper thoughts going on within them at all times. It seemed Gohan was only using a partial amount of his intelligence, reverting to childish ignorance.
Piccolo looked down at her dainty hands as they made fists and took a deep breath.
"No. He is an intelligent child, though he carries a naïvety that comes with his age. Gohan is not himself." He said with a frown, recalling how he instructed him to sit at the edge of the Lookout yesterday to get used to the heights, and the boy had sat there for hours, staring off at the clouds. He'd done the same today.
"Gohan is a bright child, stubborn, forgiving, and noble. He is more mature than his age. Not this...empty shell. The boy was growing stronger, and learning how to survive on his own in the wilderness. Before I became possessed by Vulcane, I wished to train him myself. Now… It would be futile." Piccolo said, shaking his head morosely.
"What of the boy in the darkness?" Calliope said, tilting her head. They'd all been witness to the goings on in the darkness, capable of watching it with Korin through the fountain after he stirred the water with his staff.
"The Gohan in the darkness grows stronger by the day with Kakarot's assistance. He has more of himself within his smallest digit, than the Gohan here has in his entire being." Piccolo stated, feeling puzzled. Calliope moved closer and placed her hands on his where they were gripping his thighs tightly.
"You are as troubled as I. Piccolo…" She said gently, stroking his strained knuckles, easing his grip on himself.
"I admit I am… what's to become of him? How can he linger on this way, how shall I return this empty shell to his mother, who knows her child best?" He said, and took her fingers in his, noticing her delicate bone structure and being careful not to crush her fingers.
"This is my fault. I showed him the hot spring, if I hadn't brought him up there, then he would've never fell…I don't know why I was ever entrusted with looking after the boy, I am no guardian–"
"Shh. This is not entirely your doing. Do not weigh the child's fate on your own shoulders–perhaps you played a role, but there are other forces at hand, higher powers we cannot comprehend." Calliope sighed, tightening her fingers around his larger hands, caressing the smooth, veiny backs of them with her thumbs. Piccolo grasped her hands tightly back, and pulled her to him to prove his point; baring his teeth to her in a feral grin. "Do I seem to you like a caretaker of small children? If I weren't a man of my word, then perhaps I would have never returned to find him in the wilderness, and he would've been spared of it!" Piccolo growled, and Calliope moved her face close to his, and stared directly into his dark eyes; showing him she was unafraid of his anger.
"These are things long past, of which we have no control of. He is lost to the cruel whimsy of the darkness."
"No, he will not be lost. I made a promise to Son Goku, one I haven't forgotten. Soon, they will attain all the dragon balls and come back. I am sure of it." Piccolo said back sternly to her, holding his gaze steady.
"I have faith." Calliope said and smiled, then brushed the side of her nose against his, closing her eyes. Piccolo stiffened, immobile like marble as the strange woman brushed her cheek against his in an odd motion that made his eyelids lower, relaxed. She turned her face away and he looked at her curiously. "What was that?" Piccolo questioned sharply, feigning irritation. Calliope chuckled, and played coyly with her antenna with one finger shyly, as if it were a lock of hair. "Well, had you not been wearing a turban you would have felt it better…" She began, her cheeks darkening. Piccolo's eyes widened and he sensed that the woman was up to something.
"Felt what ?" He questioned suspiciously, and Calliope sighed, dropping her hand into her lap. "It's… nothing you would understand." She said, and crossed her arms. Piccolo sat there silently with her for a long moment, then removed his turban to reveal his antennas so she could do it again. She glanced back at him and smiled, then got up and started walking away quickly. Piccolo made a strangled sound of confusion and stormed after her, grumbling.
"Tell me what it was , Calliope!" He growled, and she responded with a playful giggle.
"Too late! You missed your chance!" Calliope teased as she ran away and hid around a corner, Piccolo giving chase. Kami quieted his mind at last and chuckled softly to himself as with their connection, he too shared thoughts with Piccolo. Currently the young man's thoughts were all focused on the female Namekian. Piccolo had found her, grabbed her, but wasn't quite sure what to do with her now that he caught her. He squeezed her arms tight to her body and bared his fangs at her, but his threat did not hold the same weight as before as Calliope moved her face closer to his, and their antenne touched. Kami quieted the shared thoughts in his mind easily to give them privacy by simply focusing on something else, walking over to the garden where Mr. Popo and the boy were. Gohan was currently digging in the dirt like a dog, spraying dirt all over the pristine white marble that the garden trowels were made of. The djinni looked to Kami with a helpless gaze, and the elder frowned, placing his hand on Gohan's shoulder. What he felt from the child made his hand fly back as if burned, his eyes wide with his surprise.
"We must take him to Korin, quickly before all is lost to the child, and he thinks nothing!" He said in a soft, haunted voice, and Mr. Popo nodded quickly.
Piccolo opened his eyes to see Calliope's golden eyes gazing back at him as their antennae disentangled. What had happened when they touched antennas had surprised the both of them with the pleasant feelings that came from it; neither of them had experienced anything like it before. His hands softened his grip on her arms, and instead stroked them to soothe the ache.
"We must be going now as well." He said softly, and Calliope fell against him, embracing him. She curled her face into his throat and sighed deeply, her body shuddering with feeling. What they had done was more than a simple touch, with the connection of their antennae they shared a part of their minds in turn, something that they would have to mull over now that the deed had been done.
"What does it mean?" Calliope asked, and Piccolo pulled her back, looking around to be sure they were alone.
"We may have to investigate this anomaly further, if you wish to. For now, I have a feeling we should return to the others." He said softly, and the delicate creature in his arms hesitated for a long moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I'd like that very much." She said with a coy smile, then turned in his arms and flew away. Piccolo grinned, and followed after; now knowing that how she presented herself was genuine. Both of them shared a similar birth. A non-traditional birth, both being made up of the malice expelled from their former body in the form of an egg, spat onto an unfamiliar planet. The only difference was that Calliope had waited all of the ages of the Earth to awaken, and in that time, she had shared much with her creator, so her knowledge of the Namekians and other worlds was expansive.
Piccolo was fascinated by seeing just a glimpse into her mind, and she as well. He came to realize that he was not so different from her because of his sex. It turned out that a man and woman did not think at all the opposite. This comforting thought made him less hesitant to give chase after her, as he realized with the breaking of their mental barriers, that there was a potential for her to be a friend of his. A companion, one that he wouldn't mind spending his time learning more about.
The boy in the darkness, Gohan's alter ego, had in fact experienced the very opposite symptoms. Today, he was very aware of this shifting of consciousness as he flew beside his mother and Kakarot. Not only that, but his father seemed to have lost any glimpses of his happy-go-lucky Goku-like demeanor, and had instead returned to his typical self, but was not himself without at least a little of Goku. Gohan wondered just how much of this world was incorporated with the other, seeing as now they were making the long journey to North City, and so far from what he saw of the landscape, though in ruins now, there had once been a great city where West City would have been. However, even though the boy contemplated quietly on what could have been, was eager to go back to the 'real' world, where everyone was alive and the world was still thriving. Seeing the desolation before them made him feel even more sad, and he yearned for home.
A pinging from the radar distracted him from his musing, and Gohan looked to see what Chi-Chi had found from where she rode in Kakarot's arms. His mother wasn't able to fly, at least not yet. Kakarot had attempted to convince her to give it a try, but the stubborn woman insisted that there were more important things at hand than her learning how to fly at the moment. Maybe some other time, once they returned home.
"Ok, we're getting closer…just a little farther." She said, watching the two green lights pinging on the radar. It was curious how these two had gathered together, so far all the dragon balls had been widespread, but they weren't complaining about the close proximity. This just made it much easier, and meant that they would likely be going home today. Gohan grinned and looked over her shoulder, reading the exact parameters.
"The balls are 4.5 kilometers due North of here." He said, and grinned to himself. Gohan had matured beyond his years while in the darkness, gone was the baby fat on his cheeks, and his eyes even seemed sharper, less round and innocent. His mother had insisted he wear his hair in a ponytail until she could cut it but he would just take the pony tail out each time, liking the look of his spiky hair that made him look almost like a full saiyan, such as his uncle Raditz.
Kakarot nodded and picked up the pace, looking serious. He wasn't quite sure what was in store for them once he reached the location, his scouter had been shattered during his fight with Gohan, but that didn't mean he couldn't still feel the energies out in the world. With the planet being dead like it was, any little blip of energy stood out starkly against the silence. The quiet of this world was almost unsettling how the wind raked across the barren land, and howled through the hills; only the dark rumblings of thunder off in the distance indicating that the planet was still alive, in a way.
As they landed in North City, the gravity of the desolate landscape became ever more apparent. Chi-Chi rubbed the goosebumps on her naked arms, still wearing the blue and pink armour set like the one she had as a child. It was a little awkward wearing such a racy costume before her son, but Gohan hadn't seemed to mind. She even caught him staring at her bosom once and slapped him upside the head. Kakarot had laughed and said it was just his primal instincts, but Chi-Chi didn't like that one bit. She couldn't wait to get back into some decent clothing.
They walked down the cracked pavement and glanced around themselves, seeing how grass had grown from cracks in the concrete, vines climbed up what little structures stood where there once had been skyscrapers. The trees had become greatly overgrown, the branches breaking through the crumbling walls and growing around whatever obstacles were in their way. It made it seem like something from a fairy tail, like an abandoned elven ruin.
Deer, rabbits and birds turned to look at them, quietly observing the visitors before scurrying away. Gohan glanced at the deer and smirked; liking the way the creatures knew not to mess with him, feeling intimidating in his saiyan armour, his arms swinging at his sides sculpted much more than a five year old boy should have.
They made their way slowly and carefully through the broken city, having to fly or climb over some obstacles on their journey towards the glowing green pings on the radar, the pinging growing louder and more close together as they approached their destination. Chi-Chi tensed as she felt the five dragon balls in the satchel on her back begin to vibrate on a low frequency, a soft chime emanating from the balls as they sensed the last two brother crystals.
…
"Chi-Chi? Goku?" A deep voice called, followed by a loud knocking. Ox King was yet again, concerned when he came to visit his daughter's house, and nobody was home. He attempted to peer through the curtain, and saw the layer of dust on the windowsill. That was unlike Chi-Chi, who always kept the house tidy. He put one large hand to his beard, stroking it thoughtfully. He came over here three times now, with no luck. The first two times he thought perhaps he just came at a bad time, but with this now being the third time, Ox King felt like maybe his concerns were valid.
The big man knocked one more time, taking a deep breath that made his barrel chest puff up. "Chi-Chi, if you don't answer the door, I'm breaking it down!" He said with a booming voice, the door creaking as with just three knocks, the metal had indented. With the addition of his baritone voice weakening the fragile old capsule door, it simply fell backwards onto the floor with a puff of dust. He stepped back and winced guiltily as he waited for Chi-Chi's screaming to pierce his eardrums. After a few moments of silence, Ox King opened his eyes and rubbed the dirt from his black rimmed glasses.
It was unsettling how quiet it was. He was certain now, nobody was home, and hadn't been in some time. He picked up the sheet of metal that made up the door and attempted to bang out the dents with his fist before setting it back on the hinges. He bent down and walked inside the house, looking around himself anxiously.
The first thing he noticed was how the kitchen table inside was knocked over, the fruit bowl that sat on it upturned on the floor. He lifted up the fruit bowl, and four withered oranges and apples rolled out.
"This isn't good." He said in a deep whimper, rubbing his hairy knuckles nervously. Ox King turned and saw that there was a shattered teacup on the floor, along with a petrified tea bag. Chi-Chi was angry when she left, or could it have been Goku, with his fantastic strength? Ox King hummed thoughtfully. The tea had to have been made by Chi-Chi. He looked back to see the phone receiver hanging from the wall, cracked in two. Maybe that's why she never gave him a phone call to let him know what had happened. It also explained the 'Out of Service' message he got whenever he called.
Ox King backed out of the house quickly, then ran back to his battered looking Oldsmobile Hovervan. He hopped in and started the engine, which rattled to life; black smoke pouring out the exhaust. A look of determination came over his face as he slammed on the gas and took off towards Kame Island. He had neglected to see his old Master Roshi for some time, and he hoped maybe the wise old Turtle Hermit could help him find his family.
"I'm coming for you, Chi-Chi! Don't worry little Gohan, Grandpa's gonna find you and bring you home!"
" Whoo! That was some workout!" Goku exclaimed, falling back onto his rear in the grass. Surrounding him were all of his defeated opponents. Krillin, Tien and Chiaotzu all looked a bit worse for wear compared to Goku.
"Sheesh. Look at you all. What good is having special techniques if you can't even take out Goku, all three of you against him?" King Kai tutted, shaking his head.
"He's just too fast for us!" Krillin wheezed, holding his ribs.
"How can we combat a Saiyan's strength?" Tien questioned, resting his chin in his hands, and blowing on the tuft off a dandelion.
"Now, let's not be so pessimistic. Tien, don't forget what your ancestors did to Goku's." King Kai mused, making Tien snort.
"How could I forget? The sins of my ancestors will forever curse my bloodline." He said miserably, sitting up and clenching one fist. Goku couldn't help but start laughing hysterically, rolling in the grass. King Kai joined him not too long after.
"What's so amusing about any of that?" Tien spat bitterly, still looking cantankerous. Goku finally calmed his giggles, then sat up and wiped his eyes.
"Sorry, Tien. I just find it kinda funny. Our ancestors weren't anything like us. But just the idea of all that gets my blood pumping again! I bet you could beat me if you just used your powers, Tien. Come on!" Goku said eagerly, standing up and hopping from one foot to another anxiously.
"What would you even have to gain from it? All the power was taken from my evil eye. I can only use my ki now. Only the dead know what other trickery I'm capable of, and I don't even know how to use it." He said bitterly, Krillin and Chaotzu looking interested.
King Kai's antennae perked up and he looked positively devilish for a moment as he cackled into his hand.
"I think it's time to level up your training, boys!" King Kai said, and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, out of nowhere three figures were flying out of the sky. They all looked up in confusion as the three landed, and the center man shouted, raising up his sleeves.
"Batorupōzu! In formation, everyone!" The old, black haired man in a kimono shouted, and the woman and fiery haired man joined beneath his arms; their third eyes glinting as they posed themselves into battle position; the woman with one leg in the air as both hands were poised like snakes holding her chopsticks. The red haired man knelt on one knee and held his arms out to the sides as green flames flickered in his hands.
"I am Emperor Vulcane, and these are my underlings! Tianshae; venomous lady, and my prized weapon, Grenada!" He yelled, and the four warriors with haloes looked puzzled. Tien in particular, looked mortified. His mother, father and the most cruel of all the Gemini Cult had been brought from hell, to here in order to fight them.
"Why is it you've hm.. Brought us from our rest? Do you have a hmhm.. death wish?" Grenada sneered at King Kai, and the old Kai seemed to go a shade bluer as he pointed one flaming finger at him.
"N-Not me! They do! And if you don't fight them, you can go right back to hell!" He shouted at the three Gemini, whose triplicate eyes were all wide open with surprise. Vulcane then crossed his arms and laughed.
"What makes you think we're afraid to go back to hell? Maybe we'll just stay on this cozy little planet.." He mused, twirling around his long fu Manchu goatee.
"Yes, there's a nice little house and even a car. We could live here. It's so charming!" Tianshae said with a smile, appraising her surroundings eagerly.
"Are you insane?! You brought the Gemini's here?!" Krillin shouted, his face going pale.
"That's fine with me! I'll just kill them all!" Tien growled, then moved to begin charging up a massive Reikizen.
"Hey! Let me have a shot at them!" Goku said, and budged in front of Tien, loading up a Kamehameha. The three Gemini turned to look at them and began snickering.
"Go ahead and hmhm.. blow us up to bits. Mm. That's nothing compared to what we went through on earth." He sneered, crossing his arms. Grenada didn't even flinch as the blast washed them all in white, and they were obliterated. Or, at least they thought. King Kai smiled as they all observed the black spot on the grass.
"Aw man, we ruined all the fun. They're already gone." Goku said sadly, and King Kai clapped his hands, Bubbles hooting with excitement.
"Just wait a moment. They'll only be gone a minute." He grinned, looking up at the sky.
The Gemini's rematerialized and looked around themselves. Vulcane laughed, strolling along the stone walkway of an odd settlement, the yellow sky reminding them of the nimbus clouds of hell.
"Well, I'm not sure exactly what sector we ended up in, but it looks like we're back in Hell again." Tianshae mused, looking up at the sky. There was a low chuckle coming from behind them, as a massive crowd of Namekians and Saiyans walked up behind them, brandishing torches, pitchforks, and swords.
"Welcome, to your own personal hell. Here live all the victims you slaughtered in your lifetime." Rachanā said as she walked to the front, twirling a black braid around her long, sharp nails. Before the Gemini's could even protest, the angry mob fell upon them.
Chiaotzu picked at the grass and sighed as Tien and Krillin argued with King Kai about what he had done. Goku had Bubbles sitting on his shoulder and was currently looking up at the sky, happily awaiting his opponent's return. This time he needed to go much easier on them and save his final attack until the end. This is so exciting! This will definitely be a good training session. Goku thought happily. Soon, the three figures returned again as King Kai had predicted, all of them looking shell-shocked.
"So, did you learn your lesson?" He intoned slyly as the three got their footing.
"Lesson? What lesson? Ha!" Vulcane sneered, and shot a narrow beam at him from his third eye. King Kai jolted up in fear and Tien leaped in front of his master protectively.
"Hey! He's not the one you're fighting. I am." Tien said seriously, deflecting the beam away with one arm. Vulcane and Tianshae gasped as they both recognized their son.
"Tien! My son! I never thought I'd see you again!" Tianshae said, and began to run towards him, but Vulcane stopped her by grabbing her arm, tugging her back roughly.
"He is not our son." He remarked coldly, and Tien agreed, nodding. He had been raised by Master Shen and General Tao in the School of The Crane Dojo. Not once had he ever lacked for a mother or father, and he certainly didn't want to invite family of their kind into his life.
"He's right. I'm not your son. You abandoned me, and only wanted me when it was to help you do evil on Earth. You will pay for your sins, you can never be forgiven. Even then, I cannot give you my own forgiveness for all of the deaths you've caused." He said coldly, and small flecks of electricity floated around him.
"Have it your way. Let's battle then, man to man." Vulcane beckoned him with one hand, and the fight ensued. Goku looked on eagerly, and Krillin stood off to the side, gnawing at his fingernails anxiously.
"Don't be shy boys, jump on in. There is no limit to how many times you or they can die in this battle. Have fun!" King Kai giggled, and the two nodded before diving in, Chiaotzu at the rear.
The brisk breeze made Vegeta pull his blazer a little closer around his chest as he observed his surroundings with interest. They were at the outdoor gathering on campus for Bulma's graduation: some earthling construct that she had been anxiously preparing for since before he met her. He followed behind Bunny and Dr. Briefs, who were also dressed well for the occasion.
They filed through the rows of chairs until finding the ones with their name cards, Vegeta picking up his own and looking inquisitively at the English spelling of his name in cursive. He set it aside and took his place beside her parents, his ears finely attuned to the murmurs of the crowd around him.
There was a stage with a large podium flanked by two tall blue and red flags fluttering on the breeze. Surrounding the Institute of Science and Mechanical Engineering were tall maple trees, whose once green leaves had now been touched with ocher and golden hues that were mirrored on the tinted windows of the towering building. Vegeta crossed his arms and observed an elderly man coming out the front doors, along with a younger woman, who approached the podium. They began to talk about the prestige academy and how it all began, and Vegeta found himself having more difficulty listening to everything that was said than he would typically.
There was a nagging itch in his mark that begged to be scratched, the tendon there twitching. He could sense Bulma's distress and attempted to tune into her, wherever she was. It wasn't often they used their mental connection; having made it so recently, but occasionally the other's feelings could be sensed even if they weren't currently speaking. It was now that Vegeta closed his eyes and tuned into what she was thinking.
Bulma took a deep breath and ran her hands through her hair to make sure each curl was in place beneath her blue cap with a red tassel. They were standing just off to the side of the gathering behind a row of trees, all in alphabetical order. There were fifteen people that went before her, so she had a little time to attempt to calm her racing heart down.
Remember to breathe. She heard, and turned her head quickly towards the source. She saw Vegeta sitting down in the audience, smirking at her. Bulma took his advice and took a large, calming breath. Her parents sat beside Vegeta, all eagerly watching and waiting for the graduates to come up to the stage. Bulma lifted her chin up proudly and waited her turn, a smile gracing her face.
When it was her turn to accept the scroll, she smiled and looked out to the crowd at her little family smiling and clapping as they congratulated her. Where was Vegeta? A rope was placed over her shoulders to represent her high standing achievements, to which she thanked the dean gratefully.
"The honor is all ours, Miss Briefs. We are honored to have had such an intelligent, wonderful young lady grace our hallways. May you go on to be innovative and successful, as you have well deserved." He said sweetly, and Bulma nodded, before taking the stairs; each step feeling shaky as if she were walking on air. She joined the others and waited until all the graduates were standing beside her to have her photo taken, noticing now how Vegeta was standing at the back corner of the audience, arms crossed and foot tapping anxiously. He hadn't spent the previous night with Dr. Briefs cleaning the rust from the water damaged lab devices with a toothbrush for nothing. He had to admit, the old codger knew the meaning of hard work. Vegeta may have been royalty, but he understood the concept of working hard to attain all that you desire.
He'd made this agreement with him in trade for something special, which was currently tucked safely in his lapel. Waiting for her to finish just made him more anxious, and his mark flared up red with his internal anxiety. At last Bulma walked away from the group to run and hug her mother and father, which he took as his opportunity. Panchy placed a large bouquet of pink and red roses in Bulma's hands before he had the opportunity to greet her, and he paused in place, watching how Bulma accepted the roses, smiling as she sniffed the bouquet. Dr. Briefs turned to look at him, and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Go on son, she's waiting for you." He said softly, and Vegeta nodded, walking up to Bulma as she slid the heavy gown off her shoulders to reveal the blue velvet mermaid cut dress beneath. He gulped hard and braced himself, taking her robe and placing it on the back of her shoulders to conceal the low dropping back that had his heart racing.
"Vegeta? Didn't you see me up there?" She asked softly, her eyes searching his tight expression as he fiddled with his lapel once again. He nodded, then gulped as he pulled something from his breast pocket and looked away; his cheeks and ears flaring up red with his embarrassment as he presented her with a single rose. Bulma's eyes widened and she gasped in amazement, dropping the bouquet to reach for the rose. Panchy laughed and caught the bouquet, then leaned up against her husband to look on at the couple.
Bulma placed her hand over his as she leaned forward and admired the pretty blue rose, which was a deep blue shade so rich it was almost a royal purple color. The tips of the leaves shimmered with some type of crystalline substance that looked almost like crushed ice, which sparkled in the sunlight.
"Oh, it's gorgeous Vegeta! Where did you find it?" She asked in awe, her eyes sparkling up at him.
"I found it as just a white rose…This color is artificial, but permanent. It's been cryogenically preserved, so that once you return home you may place it in its suitable vase." He said softly, and placed it in her hand. Bulma smiled and looked back at her father, who nodded.
"Indigotin dye is what gives it this brilliant color, which Vegeta did himself, with just a small amount of my guidance." He provided. "And the flower was from my garden!" Panchy added with a giggle. Bulma held it close to her chest, being careful not to break the delicate gift. She felt thankful that the three of them had pitched in to make her this wonderful gift.
"Thank you all, I love it!" She said, and threw her arms around the three of them, laughing as Vegeta squirmed to get away.
Bulma had not only graduated, she had also grown as a woman. Over the last few months she had overcome her fears with the help of her family, and Vegeta. She wouldn't give it back for anything, as she saw it now Vegeta had a permanent place in her heart, her home and was a part of her family. She hoped that one day he would welcome them the same as they had him, perhaps one day the Saiyan would be comfortable with the concept of a hug shared between beloved friends.
He stepped away from the embrace but kept his hand on the small of her back, a small smile tugging up the corner of his lips.
"Congratulations, Bulma." Vegeta said softly.
I'm proud of you, Bulma.
Yajirobe was on his hands and knees, scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush when suddenly a large, orange shoe landed in the center of his work.
"Hey! I'm cleaning here!" He growled, standing up and brandishing the toothbrush at Piccolo. He looked up in surprise once realizing just how high the Namekian towered, his beady black eyes widening. What he suspected was a female alien with skin a glittering teal shade stood beside Piccolo, holding the young boy he recognized as Gohan.
"Oh, it's you with Gohan again! You must be here to see Korin. It sure is nice to see you… hehe." He remarked slyly, lowering the toothbrush as he gave Calliope a sideways grin. "Take us to your Master." Piccolo growled, and Yajirobe huffed at him, crossing his arms.
"And why should I? You people never think to bring a welcoming gift! I know you aren't from this planet, but on Earth guests should always bring either food, or wine. Preferably sake and potato chips." He sneered, turning his nose up at the two aliens.
"You should comply because or else I'll kill you, that's why." Piccolo snarled, sending a shiver through the fat ronin that made him backpedal away, slipping on the soapy floor and sending himself flying over backwards in a comical somersault; soap flying as he kicked a bucket over and it landed on his head.
The others couldn't help but chuckle as Yajirobe steamed, wiping soap from his eyes.
"Yajirobe, don't insult our guests. Namekians don't gorge themselves like you do, so naturally they wouldn't think to bring a snack. But if you do, next time bring dried squid, that's my favorite." Korin said with a grin, strolling up to the pair.
"I'll be sure to remember." Piccolo responded, though Korin was unsure if he was being sarcastic, or serious.
"Now, how can I help you?" He asked, ignoring how Yajirobe attempted to stand, then fell on his ass again in the suds. Calliope sighed and walked over to give him a helping hand, letting Gohan down to join the short man; who gave him a warning glare.
"Why don't you play over here Gohan, help this man clean for me." She said softly, and handed Gohan a toothbrush. The little boy hesitated, staring down at the object in confusion before licking it, and making a funny face.
"Uh, you use it to scrub the cracks, kid. Jeez, you aren't much brighter than your dad was at your age…" Yajirobe commented, scratching his butt. Calliope clenched her fist and placed one hand on her hip, glaring at him.
"Gohan is an intelligent child who has been incapacitated by forces you cannot comprehend. Be patient with him, and perhaps next time I'll bring you those items you requested. Is that preferable?" She seethed, and Yajirobe nodded his head eagerly.
"Come on kiddo, you can help me get out of my punishment!" He chuckled, and Gohan squatted down on the floor to be further instructed on what to do. Calliope sighed and placed two fingers on her temple, rubbing there. By the way this boy is regressing more by the second, the outlook is not good for him at all. Soon he will have the intellect of an infant , then what?
She turned away after a moment, then went to reconvene with Piccolo. The two had been watching, as it was evident by the concerned grumble Korin was making.
"This isn't good, nope…But what can I do?" He questioned, walking farther away from Gohan to spare him from the discussion. Piccolo walked beside him, musing on this conundrum.
"We thought perhaps this had something to do with the Gohan in the darkness, who seems to be unaffected by this condition." He stated. Korin responded with a thoughtful hum, scratching his furry chin as he led them towards a back room, his wooden staff tapping in time with their steps.
"That could very well be why he's like this. You know, I haven't experimented all that much with the darkness. All I know is that people go in, and they don't always come out. Only a few can make it through the trials, and even fewer can actually drink the ultra divine water. If they go in, and they take too long to continue their mission.. well…" He pondered, leading the pair up to the two tall water jugs.
"Well what?!" Calliope asked sharply, apprehending the cat, who seemed to be treating this with a flippant attitude. She lifted him off the floor by his furry chest, growling.
"Tell me everything you know, or else all this soft white fur will make a pretty wig for me!" She snarled, Piccolo looking on with a startled expression that quickly turned into an approving smirk.
"Alright, fine! Lemme go!" Korin whined, and she dropped him, letting the cat shake himself off.
"Ok… Well, what we have here is a…paradox. There already is a Gohan in the darkness…which is a sub dimension of earth. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of a thing called a temporal paradox… but the theory is, simply put: You cannot exist in the same time as yourself, past or present…Thus presents our current conundrum." He said, twiddling his whiskers. Calliope and Piccolo looked at eachother, then back.
"Explain further. What happens if he and darkness Gohan exist at the same time for too long?" Piccolo asked, noticing how Calliope gripped his hand and bit her lower lip. "Well, there is no nice way to word it.." Korin began, then Calliope interrupted.
"I know…It's what I've dreaded all along. The boy will no longer advance. He will crawl backwards, and back, until.. he shall cease to exist!" She said in a choked back breath, before releasing it and sobbing into her hand. Korin looked down at the floor and sighed, his tail drooping.
"I guess you don't need me to explain then. But… This just makes their situation all the more urgent. The quicker they get out, the sooner this can all be resolved."
Piccolo frowned and placed his hand softly on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.
"Then that means all they have to do is leave before that can happen. The most logical thing we can do at this time is warn them." He said, and Calliope looked up hopefully.
"Can we reach them from here?" She said, and Korin nodded, pulling a heavy lid off of the water jug.
"Yes. Say whatever it is you think will help them into the water. They should be able to hear you." He said softly, and the two walked towards the jug, looking down to see a group of three walking through a dark hallway laced with vines, and spiderwebs.
"Where are they going? Are they insane!?" She exclaimed, gripping the edges of the jug. Korin chuckled softly, and placed his paw on her hand so he could peer down.
"They're going exactly where the Darkness wants them to. They will face the final trial soon! Speak what you wish to say now! It'll be any moment!" He shouted, and Piccolo nodded, moving past him.
"Son Chi-Chi! Can you hear me?"
The green light continued to blink with a warbling ping even as they ventured deep into the underwater aqueduct, until a crackle and pop was heard, then a hiss as the radar's battery finally died.
"Oh no! Not the radar!" Chi-Chi cried out and shook the device, the screen now black. "Shh! It's alright. We'll just keep on going straight ahead." Kakarot said softly, taking the dead radar out of his mate's hand then holding it to lead the way.
They had only entered North City mere minutes ago, before finding out the tunnel's entrance was where the radar was trying to lead them. Now they were trudging through the icy cold green water, where eels and water moccasins slithered past their ankles.
Chi-Chi clung to his arm and reached over to grasp Gohan's hand but he pulled it away roughly with a grunt.
"Gohan! We have to stay together! Hold my hand." Chi-Chi exclaimed, putting her hand out again to the boy.
"I can see just fine, mother." The brooding child said, turning his head to reveal his blacked out eyes, even the sclera was no longer white.
Chi-Chi screamed and fell back into Kakarot who caught her, attempting to calm the squirming woman who was causing a ruckus and splashing water everywhere.
"Didn't you see his eyes?! Oh Gohan, what's happened to you?" Chi-Chi moaned sorrowfully, Kakarot shushing her.
"What are you talking about? The boy's eyes are fine."
"They were all black! I'm telling you!" She whispered, and Kakarot shook his head.
"All saiyans have black eyes. Come on, let's keep moving." He said, and tugged her forward with him. Kakarot glanced back at Gohan and the boy turned his face back quickly, softly chuckling. Kakarot didn't like this situation one bit, the longer it took to get to their destination, the more tense it would get. Chi-Chi was already anxious and the Darkness was playing tricks on them, he was sure of it. This place was ripe with the stench he'd come to recognize as pure darkness, it was a musty, rotten odor that followed every bad event that had occurred so far.
He wished he still had his scouter so he could see better in the dark. He thought perhaps he could light the way with a ki orb or two but he really didn't want to waste his energy just to be able to see better. They would just have to move faster, that was all.
"Come on, Chi. We're getting closer. Soon we can find the dragon balls and get out of this place." He said softly, squeezing her hand. Chi-Chi nodded and attempted to get her wits about her, shaking off her fear and placing one boot before the other. That was the only way to move forward.
...
They had been walking now for some time when Chi-Chi heard a faint voice coming from somewhere up above, calling her name. She frowned and trudged on; hoping it wasn't Yajirobe bugging her again. "Son Chi-Chi! Listen up!" The deep voice shouted, and she recalled where she had heard it before; a memory coming to her about the last time she'd seen Gohan before taking off on her journey. In that last meeting, he had been snatched away from her by Piccolo. She couldn't forgive that, so she ignored him, and continued walking along.
"I have an important message for you, hear me now!" He growled, growing even more impatient. Piccolo gripped the edges of the water jug and seethed, growing enraged by the stubborn woman, who he knew could hear him and was just ignoring him. "Let me try." Calliope said, and moved him aside. "Please, Chi-Chi. You must take heed to our voices. This is about your son!" She said, and that got Chi-Chi to pause mid-step. "We do not wish to slow your progress, but we must warn you. Do not sleep tonight. Continue on towards the end until you find the source of the Darkness. Your son's life is at stake." She said urgently, and Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. "That's what I'm doing!" She huffed, then Piccolo moved to get a word in. "Listen, I have a message from Goku that you must hear. Regarding your wish on the dragon balls, you must not wish him back yet. First, you must undo all the damage that Raditz did." He explained calmly, and Chi-Chi barked a laugh, that to him did not seem promising.
"You think I'm going to just forget my husband and patch up the mess his brother left? You're dreaming, Pickle-Hoe!" She cackled, and then turned away and continued walking. Kakarot looked at her with furrowed brows, trying to comprehend just who she was talking to.
"Chi-Chi..? What was that?" He questioned, glancing back up at the ceiling and only seeing the reflection of moving water there.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just some people trying to tell me what to do… Forget about it." She grumbled, and stormed through the water. Kakarot sighed and looked down at Gohan, who seemed like he could care less about what she was doing as he walked ahead with a stern grimace.
I guess I better keep an eye on these two, He mused, and kept on walking.
...
Piccolo and Calliope stepped back from the water jug with mutual sighs of annoyance. Clearly the Son woman was still just as stubborn as Korin had warned them she would be. They would simply have to try again later and hope that she would listen the next time. For now, it was a waiting game. Piccolo walked with her through the indoor garden and they admired the koi fish fountain. Calliope sat on the edge, tracing circles in the water as Piccolo squatted down and examined the senzu bean plants growing there along with corn and some other root vegetables.
Calliope looked sorrowful as she let the Koi fish tickle her fingers, thinking of her mother Obœ and how this situation and hers were both becoming more worrisome by the minute. Kami was supposed to rectify the situation by talking to Annin, who could hopefully turn off the fires on Mars and free her. It was originally thought that when Vulcane was slain, she would be able to free herself, but now that he was dead and she was sapped of her power, there was no escape unless she was able to leap through molten lava and fire, which was unthinkable given her age and fragile state.
"Don't worry, Calliope. Kami is working out the details now with the guardian of the furnace." He said softly, walking over and presenting her with two bean pods. She took them and looked up at him in question.
"What are these for?" She asked, and a small smile formed on his lips.
"Light them on fire for me, would you?" He said softly, kneeling beside her. Calliope rose one eyebrow at him then shrugged; figuring a little pyrotechnics could soothe her anger. She clenched her fist then immersed the bean pods in flames, feeling the shell peel back until all that remained were the roasted beans. Piccolo placed his hand on hers and she extinguished the fire, opening her hand. There in her hand, were 6 roasted senzu beans, now soft and more pleasant to eat. Calliope snickered as Piccolo picked one up and ate it.
"So you do eat!" She gasped, feeling giddy as if they were being naughty, eating Korin's sacred senzu beans when they didn't even require healing, or food.
"Try one. They're good." He said, and picked one up to offer it to her. Calliope blushed, opening her mouth so he could toss it in. Piccolo let out a deep chuckle as she caught it and her golden eyes lit up bright like sunshine.
"You're right! They do taste better this way!" She said in amazement, then went to eat another.
"No. Wait a moment." He said, placing his hand over hers.
"The rest of these aren't for us. They're to banish away the demons of worry. Can you feel it?" He said, looking up at her with his soft, deep onyx eyes. Calliope gulped and attempted to understand what Piccolo was trying to show her. Then she thought about it, and realized she could feel the disturbance in her aura that was making her stomach turn, and her hands grow clammy against his warm ones.
"Yes, I sense it." She answered, and he nodded, taking a bean.
"There she is." He said suddenly, and tossed a bean into the water at her reflection. Calliope turned quickly and saw how it broke the image there, making the koi fish dart away. She giggled and saw his reflection behind her, and threw a bean at it. "There's the goblin of grumpiness! Let's shoot him away too!" She said, and Piccolo growled. "Ha! That demon of vanity is back, I'll get her right in the eye!"
"Oh, shut up!" Calliope teased, tossing one at her reflection again and laughing at how the fish bobbed eagerly for the roasted beans. In this moment she no longer felt worried, though the dire situation called for it, she would never be able to act rationally if she was in the midst of a panic attack. She and Piccolo laughed and let their worries go for a moment, the white cat passing by the doorway tugging on his whiskers with a conspiring snicker.
"You really think she likes that big ugly green guy?" Yajirobe sulked, crossing his arms as he sat in the center of the floor.
"It's not any of your business, Yajirobe." Korin scolded, closing the door behind him. "Besides, you still have 2,345 tiles left to clean to make up for all the senzu beans you ate. Now get back to work." He huffed, beginning to walk away before being rudely interrupted again.
"But they're just throwing them to the fish, you saw it!" He accused, then grunted as Korin bonked him on the head.
"Be quiet! I'm going to go take a catnap. Wake me up once you hear some news, got it?" He sneered, curling up on his cat bed with his staff.
"Yes, Master Korin." Yajirobe groaned, rubbing his head, then glancing behind him. Gohan had never even let go of his toothbrush, and was still slowly scrubbing the tiles with a long string of drool coming out of his mouth. Yajirobe shuddered then walked over and wiped Gohan's spit up with his own shirt, slapping him on the cheek to wake him up.
"Hey, you. Come on, I'll give you a soda pop, kiddo. That'll wake you up." Yajirobe snickered, thinking some caffeine should do the trick. Gohan looked on with glassy eyes and slowly nodded his head.
"They're back here under my bed. You can have one, then after that it's back to work. Korin's taking a nap, and he sleeps through pretty much anything…" Yajirobe said, walking into his bedroom to fetch the drinks, thinking Gohan was following him. When he turned back he saw the boy was still in the place he left him, and snorted in disbelief.
"You might need a couple of these. You can pay me back later, alright? Two bucks a pop." He said, popping the tab and putting a straw in it for Gohan. Yajirobe watched as the boy held the drink and drank, his hands on his hips as he pondered his condition.
"You know, as much as your mother is kind of a bother, it would suck pretty bad if she went through all this for you and you went brain dead. Get it together, kid." He said, and Gohan nodded slowly. Yajirobe sighed and took a long sip of his drink before squatting back down.
"Alright, just 2,344 tiles left. That won't take us real long once the caffeine kicks in." He said, and the two got back to scrubbing.
And that concludes this chapter. I will return to the story of Tyurni and we will catch up with everyone we missed here next time! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I have dedicated it to surelysaiyangood; Whose stories inspired me to write fanfiction in the first place after reading all of her Vegebul stories, the 3 year Gap, Anyone But Him, The 7 year Gap Finding Immortal. My username is actually inspired by the cobalt blue roses that Vegeta gifts to Bulma in her story The 7 Year Gap. I just loved this so much I ran with it, lmao. The royal actually is in reference to Vegeta with his Royal Blue form, so it has a double meaning. I'm sure you're connecting the dots now to the rose he gave her after her graduation! This was my homage to that beautiful story. I encourage you all to read her stories and send her lots of love. I'm sorry for the wait with this chapter, I've just been busy and I need to get better with updating. Please don't be afraid to comment if you have anything to say, I'd love to hear from the people behind the favorites and follows that I so appreciate.