Wow, people are actually interested in this story, huh? I mean, I'm definitely invested in it, I wrote it, but it still warms my cold dead heart.
...That might end up on a pike because of how long it took to crank this one out. Almost an entire year since the first chapter, yikes. I don't have much of an excuse other than life kicking my ass and poor time management. Hell, I graduated in the time gap between this chapter and the first, I've had time to get through two quarters.
However! Chapter two is here now! All I can promise is that I will definitely do my best to prevent another wait like that from happening again.
Well then, Onwards!
~{K}~
Chapter 2: The Shortest Training Arc in Shonen History
"Son Goku had a weird day" could be noted as one of the biggest understatements of all time. Goku in question didn't really remember much of said day before he drank Korin's Super-Duper Water, but after, things were a lot simpler.
He found Piccolo, right before the jerk killed Tien, and clobbered the crap out of him. It was down to the wire, sure, but he'd done it! He'd won!
Then, he'd met God, who looked a lot like Piccolo, only he wasn't. Not-Piccolo told Goku that his name was really Kami, brought back Shenron and everybody else, then said that Piccolo would come back in three years. So here Goku was, a few days into training up on Kami's place! Springing up suddenly, he was surprised to hear a sort of squawk to his left.
The source of the noise, a small, brown-skinned boy, was currently turning his head away, arms that were thrown up in a panicked block. Did he think he was gonna block anything like that? That's silly, even Oolong could get past that!
After a few seconds, the boy looked back at Goku, his arms slowly dropping to his sides after he apparently figured out he wasn't gonna get hurt. He raised a hand, weakly waving.
"Yo…"
~{K}~
Well, glad I can mark "Failing my first real social interaction in a new world almost immediately" down on my nonexistent bucket-list.
On the bright side, my brain wasn't burning itself to cinders due to lack of oxygen and what I assumed was some sort of physical or mental breakdown anymore. Plus, I'd only been caught during the tail end of what was an almost hour-long session of crying my eyes out and coming to terms with the fact that I'd most likely never see anything I loved ever again. I'd just sort of finished calming down, really. So when I eventually had time to myself, I sorta figured this feeling'd be making a comeback.
Repression, kids. It'll be a healthy coping mechanism until it isn't anymore.
Speaking of breakdowns and things wearing thin, I finally noticed that moving wasn't like the morning after some gym-day from hell. I'm gonna chalk it up to one either the God or the Genie doing some weird magic crap and shrug it off. Instead, I should try to salvage talking to the boy that was so much more in mybubblethanI'mcooolwithwoah—!.
"Hi!" He chirped out, a hand sticking itself further in front of my face, "I'm Goku! Who're you?"
Eventually, after I got enough distance that I could stand up straight again, I shook the offered hand. I felt some parts woefully inadequate, while the rest of me hoped I didn't fuck up another finger as a kid. This was the monkey-boy that had scrapped with giant animals before he'd gotten serious training. Despite not expecting to replicate putting my hand inside a vice so soon, I put on a friendly face.
"Ch-Charlie. S'a pleasure..."
I didn't take any notice of the fact that I was slurring my words around the end (I swore I kicked that), because the moment he let go, I swear that I heard my hand creak. Until I could feel more than my hand throbbing, I kept shaking it out.
"Are you another one of Kami's assistants? Like that Popo guy?" Goku asked, a curious glint in his eyes. Honestly, it reminded me of my nephew and how he'd get before I had to sit through an hour-long interrogation. So, not wanting to get sucked into that again, I did my best to look away.
"Uhhh…" I forced out, eyes flitting around as I tried to not flounder my words. It wasn't even that hard, I just had to say no! That wasn't too hard, the word wouldn't fall apart, I wouldn't have to justify my answer to anyone, it was fine. Just take the plunge, Charlie, you can do it.
"Nope."
There, that wasn't so hard! "No" your way through this, brain! You did it all the time to get me out of social nightmares. You may still be recovering, but this lethal weapon of yours will steer you (and by extension, me) to victo—!
"Oh. So then how'd you get up here?"
Wait, this he's a kid. Saying no doesn't work on those.
Dammit.
But that's not what came out of my mouth. Instead, it was a quick, slurred out "I ran", because of course. That's the best you can do under stress, brain? I can't believe I trusted you, you're useless!
I could feel the inside of my mouth getting that extra bit dryer, while I stood there trying to process if I had actually said that.
Something told me, however, that Goku didn't seem to care too much about how I'd said it. He was back in my face again, his face practically glowing with excitement.
"Wow!" He chirped out, "So you ran all the way up here?"
"Yup," I said, shrugging. Honestly, looking back on it, running up that many stairs had been pretty rough. I'm sort of amazed I'd even done it. So yeah, I guess I could be a tiiiiny bit proud of myself.
Okay, I was extremely proud of myself. You'll never
"Wow, You ran all the way up Korin's Tower and the air? That's amazing!"
Wait, what?
I could feel my eyes bugging out of my skull as I finally looked directly at Goku, who had been apparently severely misinterpreting me the whole time.
"Oh man, there's way more strong guys up here than I thought!"
"Wait a sec—"
"I mean, that's awesome! Even if you do look sorta weak!"
"…"
I'm just gonna take the compliment and leave it at that.
"Okay!" Goku exclaimed, looking for all the world like he'd come to some grand conclusion, "You and me? We're gonna have a race up here!"
"...Huh?"
~{K}~
"Huh?" I let out again, now in the hall outside the room. Goku was off to the side, stretching and adjusting his gi. Honestly, I probably should've spoken up or something, but he'd been pretty persuasive when he'd dragged me out of the room in his excitement.
Aside from the also somber realization that I was probably going to get lapped by a 15-year-old, there's a pretty good chance I was also gonna get reminded of the extensive difference in power I had compared to anyone else in this goddamn series. I mean, sure, that's the point, and it would be much more preferable to just plain getting Genocide Blasted (and wasn't that a horrifying thought?).
"The air up here's real thin, so whoever can run the longest wins!" Goku said, still wearing that perpetual smile on his face.
"Do we have to do this? We're just gonna both get worn out up here." I pleaded, trying to do anything to get out of reliving going up those stairs.
"...I also don't know where here even is!"
"Oh cmon, it'll be fun! Krillin and I raced all the time!" He said, getting into a running stance. He looked over at me, apparently waiting for me to join him. Now I'm just gonna feel awkward if I don't do anything. Or guilty.
Or both.
So, with a very reluctant "fine", I got myself in position as well. Albeit, I was just kinda trying to mimic the kid since I didn't actually know what I was doing. Grinning at me, Goku turned to look ahead.
"Reeeaaady…."
I was gonna end up regretting this, I just knew it.
"Seeeeeeet…"
"Oh, you're both up. Good."
Upon hearing another voice from behind, I got out of the stance as quick as child-ly possible to preserve some of my dignity. Looking behind me to my savior, I got a look at a roundish man that had ridiculously black skin and all the makings of a genie costume, turban and all.
"Oh, hey there, Popo!"
Oh. That was Mr. Popo.
…
How did I forget that?!
The genie-man looked over at Goku, then turned his gaze over to me slowly. I had a feeling I was being judged. Again.
"Hello," Popo said, smiling slightly. He made a sort of beckoning motion with his hand, like dealing with pets that got a little too excited and ran a bit out of your reach, "Could you both come with me? I don't want Kami to be waiting for long."
I turned to look at Goku with a sort of questioning look in my eyes. Sure, I knew the guy wasn't evil or anything, but still, he came off as really suspicious! Plus, weird as it may have been, Popo offset me for a different reason. I could feel...something coming off him. It wasn't painful, and in no way was it pleasant, it just was.
Still deciding on if I wanted to find anything more out.
"Cmon!" Goku called out, beckoning me over as he ran off towards Popo. Speaking of, the man in question had just apparently started walking off, like we'd just follow him out! Rude, truly! If my brain and I weren't feuding we'd come up with something to verbally kick his ass!
...Did I really just think that?
Fuck, I'm going insane already. It's been a few hours.
"Welp," I muttered, following the other two to wherever the heck Kami apparently was. "Into the breach I go…"
~{K}~
As the rain finally began to clear up, Krillin smiled. He was too excited! Finally, he could show Master Roshi how much his training had paid off! It wasn't just him, too. The monk had run into Yamcha first, but soon enough Tien and Chiaotzu had shown up! They'd all exchanged greetings quickly enough, but then someone had asked the question that'd been bugging Krillin for the past few minutes:
Where was Goku?
Sure, he'd almost turned up late last time because he'd decided to swim or something halfway around the earth (Krillin still had trouble believing it), but he'd thought training with God would've helped him learn how to show up on time or something, time was almost up!
Honestly, some small part of Krillin sort have hoped Goku didn't show, he was a powerhouse three years ago, what would he be like now?
Krillin squashed that part of him flat. He was excited and allowed to be, darn it! He'd gotten stronger in these three years, too! He wouldn't make it easy for any of his rivals, Goku included!
"Krillin!" Tien called, snapping Krillin out of his thoughts. The monk looked up at the former...assassin? Assassin in training? Taopipi Jr.? It really didn't matter now, honestly. "I found Master Roshi and the others, we're heading over to greet them now!"
"Got it, let's go!" Krillin shouted. His smile stretching still, he jogged up to the rest of his rivals, walking along until finally, Krillin could hear a familiar sound, Bulma yelling at someone. Most likely, it was Master Roshi or Oolong.
'Some things never change," Krillin thought to himself, the group finally stopping behind their target.
Before Krillin or anyone else could announce their presence, someone in a hooded green and gold raincoat poked their head out from around Master Roshi, surveying the four of them for a second before seemingly perking up. The person turned back for a second, throwing out a quick "They're here!", before running around Master Roshi to stand in front of them.
As they did, Krillin took note of the fact that the hooded person's voice sounded...child-like. Had Master Roshi taken on another student? Was he throwing him into the tournament now? With all of them in it? That seemed kinda cruel, actually…
He then took note of the fact that as the assumed child skidded to a stop, his hood blew off his head. It was clearly a boy, about as old as he and Goku had been when they'd gone to their first tournament. His face was pretty plain, all things considered, rounded a little due to his age and framed by curly black hair, but nothing really drew much more attention other than his eyes. Piercing green pupils seemed to flit between the assembled group, as the kid seemed to think for a second.
As the Master Roshi and the others, which Krillin finally noted to be Lunch, Bulma, Oolong, and some other unfamiliar guy, turned to look at them, the kid finally seemed to reach a conclusion.
"Ah, got it!" He cried, pointing directly at Yamcha, "Yamcha the Bandit-guy!" Before Yamcha could even respond to the declaration, the young boy turned to Chiaotzu "Pointy-Chiaotzu!" Then, he was upon Tien in an instant "Tien-Three-Eyes!" finally, Krillin noted the kid was pointing at him. Before the monk could stop him, the kid fired off "Noseless Krillin!"
Krillin no longer felt bad about this kid being in the metaphorical grinder.
Grinning wide, the kid turned back to the only other unfamiliar person in their group, giving him finger guns.
"How'd I do? He asked, sounding pleased with himself.
"You did pretty good, actually!" The man replied, beginning to laugh a little by the end. "You did way better with than everyone else here!"
"Yeah," Bulma said, scowling at the boy. "Bloomers, of all the things to have called me…"
"I apologized!" The kid fired off, throwing his hands up in exasperation. He then seemed to take notice of the fact that there were more people and moved out of their way. Turning to the man, he said, "They're all yours, big man!"
Attention drawn to him again, Krillin focused on the now approaching man. He could've sworn he'd met this guy before, but he was drawing a blank. Tien and the others seemed shocked, but Krillin couldn't place why. They all seemed kinda focused on...his...head.
...Oh.
~{K}~
Y'know, even when you're aware that you're in a world filled with people at a superhuman level, it was still sorta surprising to see people just move fast.
As Krillin just dove/hugged at Goku, I felt it was my cue to get a move on. The time limit to register was coming up soon, so I figured it was time to stop dawdling. There was a world to save, eventually, it'd be a universe or multiverse. It all depended on what happened here: the first step all over again. No dream drop, no fragmentary passage, this was the real deal.
Welp, in for a penny, hopefully, I'm not in for a beating.