X Chapter 17 X

Warning: Language, Violence

A/N: 666 views lmao

The sky was a dark burgundy... Lightning flashed and stabbed through the clouds, illuminating the craggy landscape...

Ginge shuffled along the blood soaked stones. The wind was bitter cold, yet at the same time: The air was oppressively hot. For countless hours that seemed like months, she had roamed. Her throat was parched. The one pond she came across was no use to her; its water smelled of sulfur, and tasted of salt. The more she drank, the thirstier she became. Screams of terror and pain rolled across the land and into her ears. But the closer she came, the farther they seemed to be. The only consolation the girl had was that she asked for this.

Earlier...

King Yemma was quite surprised to see a saiyan before him and his massive desk. He thought that the whole race had been obliterated along with their planet. His voice boomed through the room. "Ginge! You're a saiyan?! Let me have a look at you…" Ginge had just died, and was utterly confused and terrified of this giant, red ogre shouting at her. He peered at her over his great book of names and gaped. "Kai's blood! You still have your body!" She held out her hands and looked them over. What's so special about that? His big fingers frantically turned the pages of his book, searching for her.

"Aha! Found you! Hmm... You grew up on Planet Vegeta... Never killed, never robbed. Wow! You sacrificed yourself for the sake of your family?" She hesitantly nodded. Yemma leaned back in his chair. "Wow... I never thought I would see the day a saiyan walked in here with their body." The great king picked up his stamp and slammed it on her documents; Heaven. "You're good to go, Ginge. Proceed through the door on the left to get to heaven." His words had prodded Ginge to think. "So... it's unusual for saiyans to keep their bodies here?"

Yemma mused at her from behind his desk. "Well, yes. Historically, your people have been responsible for the suffering of a countless number of races. Only those who have good hearts and have performed a great feat of selflessness are permitted to retain their bodies in otherworld." Ginge looked at the floor, then back at Yemma. "And what happens to those who don't have good hearts?" The great king sighed and shook his head. "They go below... They go to hell."

With a face of conviction, Ginge said "I want to be with my people. Can you send me below?" Yemma's jaw dropped. "Send you below?! Do you even know what you're asking?! Hell is a terrible place! You don't want to go!" The brave girl pleaded with him. "Please! I want to see my parents again!" Yemma pinched the bridge of his nose. "Once I stamp 'hell' on your forms, there's nothing I can do to get you out. And there's no guarantee that you'll even find your parents; hell is a big place!" Ginge was undeterred. "I understand. But I'm sure that this is what I want."

The giant ogre raised his stamp over her papers, giving her one last warning. "There's one more thing you should know, Ginge. If you fail to find your parents within 48 hours, you will never get the chance again... Hell is not a permanent home. All souls eventually get cleansed and reincarnated. And with someone like you, with little evil in your heart: It won't take long for you to cease existing." The determined look on her face didn't change. Hesitating, Yemma curtly nodded. His stamp slammed on her papers, and she fell through the floor; into hell.

The present...

Ginge collapsed on the ground. The weight of the air was getting to her. Holy shit... I knew it would be bad. But not this bad! Her bare hands were touching the stones. They began to burn her, causing her to leap to her feet. I can't even rest... The sensation of liquid dropping on her head made her look up. A cool drizzle of blood was beginning to fall from the sky. Her armor became soaked in it. The sensation was morbidly pleasurable to her in contrast to the heat of the stones. She stood, basking in it.

Not long after, the frigid wind picked up again. Being soaked made it ten times worse. Her body began to shiver uncontrollably. She wanted to scream, but knew no one would help her. So this is what our people have been going through? All this time... I can't imagine bearing this for another second, let alone years... After trudging along for a while more, the girl noticed something odd happening to herself. Her body was slowly becoming ethereal. She remembered what Yemma had told her. I don't have much time…

Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and pulled into a bear hug. The assailant let out a feminine shriek of joy. Ginge thought she was under attack and fought free, easily overpowering the mystery woman. She backflipped away and stood ready to face her attacker. The woman's familiar face made her hesitate. "Veeda?" It was obvious that this woman was a saiyan, given that she was wearing saiyan armor and sported the trademark wild hair and tail. Yet, she was clearly too old to be Veeda. "My name's Gine. I've heard so much about you!" Ginge relaxed a little, though stayed on her guard. Heard about me? How?!

Gine saw that there was an issue of trust between them. "Ginge, you can trust me. I'm a friend." Upon hearing her name, Ginge was thoroughly freaked out. "How do you know me? I've never seen you before in my life!" Gine replied "The one who rescued you from Planet Vegeta showed me everything." Ginge knew instantly who she was talking about. Gine continued. "I told everyone who would listen about you. You're a hero to our people!"

The dead saiyan girl ignored everything Gine said after the part about the angel. That son of a bitch! I swear! If I ever get my hands on him, I'll... Her train of thought was interrupted by the sensation of Gine's eyes on her. Ginge relaxed her guard and spat on the ground. "So what happens now? Why did you seek me out?" The kind saiyan woman chortled. "I saw you and wanted to meet you. You've done much justice for our race."

Ginge thought about it for a second. "Justice, hmm... Where is everyone? Are they with you?" Gine shook her messy-haired head. "It's just me, my husband, and our old crew... You should come back with me! They'd love to meet you!" She joyfully started prancing away, beckoning for Ginge to follow. The girl with a brilliant halo inspected her ever fading form and sighed. Her feet began to march after Gine.

For several minutes, they travelled. The land changed from hot, craggy mountains, to snowy, craggy mountains. Lightning continued to flash through the clouds. When they arrived at the destination, Ginge saw the dancing light of a fire with several shadows sitting around it. They came closer, revealing the shadows to be saiyans; four males and one female. One of the males stood up as they approached. He was a messy-haired warrior wearing battle-worn armor. On his cheek, a deep scar.

Gine ran up to him and took his hand. "Bardock! This is the girl I told you about. Ginge! Come meet my husband!" The others around the fire snickered at the word 'husband'. Bardock's face got red. "Damn it, Gine…" When Ginge got close, Bardock looked her up and down. He was unimpressed by her pristine looks. Her face was like Gine's; beautiful and devoid of battle scars. "Gine... I don't know what you saw, but this girl is nothing special." She had exaggerated the part about Ginge being seen as a hero to her people.

Gine huffed at her husband. "She saved what's left of our people, Bardock!" The gruff saiyan yanked his arm from her grasp and walked back to the fire. Gine was hot in the face, almost in tears. Ginge gazed at her, becoming more and more confused by the second why she was in hell. "Gine?" The kind saiyan wiped her eyes and faced her. "Yes?" Ginge pried "You seem... different from the others... You don't belong here, do you?" Gine half-heartedly grinned. "No. I was supposed to go to heaven, but I chose to be bound to my hus-... mate. When he finally goes, so will I."

Bardock turned and briefly glared at her from his spot at the fire. He was angry with her because of her choice to remain with him. In his mind, she deserved much better than to be stuck down there with him and the other brutes. It was the apex of his punishment; knowing she would suffer for as long as he suffered, and eventually: cease to be.

Ginge grinned as a tall, blue-armored saiyan stood up from around the fire and made his way over. "Hey, squirt! How have you been?" Only coming up to his chest, she hugged the warrior. "Uncle Tora! I've been good!" His big hand ruffled up her hair. "Man, you've gotten tall. I'd say you're about as tall as your old man now!" She unburied her face from his chest and looked up at him. "Do you know where he is? I need to find him, and soon!" Tora frowned and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. I haven't seen Tabaga since that time Bardock saved you from drowning."

Both Bardock and the girl looked at one another. Both thought "So it was you…" Breaking up the staring contest, Tora turned to the others and introduced them. "Ginge, meet my team. This is Shugesh, Borgos, and Fasha. And of course, Bardock, the team captain." Shugesh and Borgos waved, while Fasha just grunted. Ginge stared at Fasha for a little longer than was natural. Something was oddly familiar about her, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Abruptly, Bardock threw a punch at Ginge. It connected with her mouth and sent her stumbling. Bardock's team looked on with confusion. Gine threw her hands in the air. "Bardock! What the hell has gotten into you?!" The scarred warrior spat on the ground. "I'm testing her metal. If she's half the golden 'wonder' child you say she is, she'll hold her own." Gine glowered at Bardock with pleading eyes, pleading him to stop this, but to no avail; he began walking away. She shifted her gaze to Tora. He stood with his arms crossed, watching Bardock approach Ginge. He was far too interested in seeing how this played out.

Ginge wiped her bleeding mouth on her sleeve and admired the stain. Dead or not, she was a saiyan, and the prospect of a fight made her feel aflame. Her mouth twisted into a smirk. "That was a cheap shot, Bardock." The scarred warrior stood ready and retorted "You shouldn't have gotten so comfortable." The girl in saiyan armor took a stance. Silence followed as a standoff got underway.

Faster than the lightning that flashed overhead, Ginge bolted forward to Bardock and swept his legs. The scarred warrior fell on his backside. Ginge lorded over him with her hand cocked, ready to unleash a blast. Bardock was shocked by her speed. Shugesh and Borgos taunted him. "Uh oh, Bardock. You're getting your ass kicked by a little girl!" He growled and rolled away, avoiding her blast. He got up and rebounded to her, striking at her in futility; she was too fast. After a flurry of missed kicks and punches, Ginge countered, planting her boot firmly into his diaphragm.

Bardock stumbled back, holding his chest and coughing up blood. Ginge didn't give him the time to recover. She appeared behind him and gave him a roundhouse kick that sent him skidding back to the others. When the dust settled, it was clear that Bardock was down for the count. Gine rushed to his side, doting on him, while everyone but Fasha cheered Ginge on. Tora ran up and hugged his niece. "Holy hell, squirt! Remind me not to mess with you!" Ginge smiled as her uncle continued to praise her. "Your power level must be 20,000 or higher! Shit, you might just be the legendary super saiyan!"

The girl with a golden halo laughed and said "No way. There's a saiyan way stronger than me back home. He's probably defeated Cooler by now." Hearing the news of Cooler's defeat made everyone sweat. Tora stammered two words. "C-cooler? D-d-dead?" Ginge chuckled and scratched her head. "Yeah." The tall, spiky-headed warrior pulled himself together. "And you say a saiyan defeated him? Who?!" Ginge replied "Pinach, my... friend." Fasha's head perked up at the name 'Pinach'. On her face formed a smirk. She bowed her head back down.

Bardock's eyes cracked open to Gine's relief. She tried propping him up but was gently pushed away by his calloused hand; Bardock was always independent. He staggered to his feet and wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth while Ginge and the others watched. He eyed the girl and gave her a look of approval. "I admit it. I was wrong about you." Ginge puffed her chest out as if to boast. Bardock had one more thing to say. "However, this fight isn't over." The saiyan girl with wayward hair flicked her bangs as a dismissive gesture. Her arrogance wasn't to last.

The scarred warrior clenched his fists and raised his power as far as it could go, yelling loudly. He did his best to remember and focus on his lost race, the people he couldn't protect, and the monster responsible that still breathed. His ki focused like a spear, ramming through his power ceiling and propelling him to new heights. A golden aura surrounded his body; his hair glowed like a brilliant sun. Bardock's eyes became teal-green, like mini-pools of ocean.

Ginge was left dumbstruck by Bardock's super saiyan form, as was his crew. Gine was the only one not surprised, having seen this form once before in hell. Bardock! You'd better not hurt her! Completely unfollowable to Ginge, the golden warrior dashed behind her. She looked everywhere, trying to see where he'd gone. Eventually feeling his presence behind her, she spun around and attempted to deliver a roundhouse kick to his chest, similar to the last. Bardock blocked the blow... with his finger.

The intimidated girl stumbled back, unable to make herself strike again. She shook with fear, having witnessed the legend in person. Bardock didn't pursue. Instead, he crossed his arms and scowled at her. "Now the fight's over. You have no hope of defeating me like you are." His display of power alone was enough to deter her; she was happy to take his word for it. Bardock's stern face softened, satisfied in her surrender, and taking on the look of a teacher rather than a foe. "But there's a way to change that... Your power level is already greater than mine without this form. If you were to attain it, you'd be unstoppable."

Her head spun at the prospect. Attain it? "But how?" The scarred warrior instructed her. "It's not easy. But, it's possible for anyone. Think about everything you lost when you died. Think about the faces you'll never see again. Then, think about the thing that took them away." Ginge blinked, overwhelmed by the information Bardock was throwing at her. Hesitating, she closed her eyes and focused on the circumstances of her death. Pinach's, Iseber's, and all the children's faces came to mind. She could hear Cooler laughing as her family and home was burned away by his attack. Veins appeared on her temples and fists as her blood came to a boil.

Bardock observed her ki rising. "You're doing good. Now concentrate your power. Use your anger and pain as motivation." The girl did so, saturating and concentrating her ki with passion and rage. Even the stoic face of Bardock was rendered confounded as her hair began to flash gold. Tumultuous lightning above began to strike the ground around her. The relentless, bone chilling winds of hell were warped by her power.

With a bloodcurdling scream, her limits burst open, and the golden aura of super saiyan was hers. She stood like a mirrored copy of the scarred warrior, though one was female and the other was male. Ginge held out her hands to muse. She felt her hair, which was no longer a lop-sided mess, but instead a spiky plume that fell straight down her back. Bardock smiled. Everyone else stared with saucer-eyes. It's like you said Gine: She's a prodigy... Kid, you'd better avenge us when you get out of here!

The scarred warrior was about to congratulate her when he suddenly fell into a coughing fit. His golden aura extinguished, and his spiky hair fell back to its usual messy style. He collapsed to the icy stones below. Gine rushed to him from her spot near the others. "Bardock!" This time, he didn't push her away.

Bardock's body became noticeably transparent. Everyone aside from Ginge hurried to his side. Gine's tears began to drip onto his head when she noticed her own body was fading, realizing what was going on. "You can't leave us yet, boss! We promised to go together! All of us!" pleaded Shugesh. The scarred warrior coughed up his reply. "I know... I'm sorry. But... this is the end. My soul is slipping... I can feel it." Gine firmly buried her face into his hair, sobbing uncontrollably. Bardock's arm wrapped around her, holding his wife tight.

Ginge's own super saiyan aura faded as she watched everything unfold. Bardock caressed his wife's cheek, trying to comfort her. "Thank you. For everything... Heh. Maybe I'm only saying this because it's the end, but... " Gine couldn't look away as her husband spouted out his late vows. His normally teasing and playful crew was dead silent; their heads were hung. "I always... looked forward to coming home to you. You were the only thing that kept me going at times. When you gave me my first son, I was so happy, even though I didn't show it. I... was gone so much during his childhood... The boy probably never thinks about me... It's for the best."

Gine shook her head. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. "No! Don't talk like that! You did the best with what you had." Bardock couldn't be silenced. He had more to say, and little time to say it. "When Kakarot was born, I tried my best to come home as often as I could. I fell asleep a lot in that chair next to his pod." Gine sniffled, smiling at the memories of waking her husband, sleeping in the nursery. "I would have given anything for you three... and I did. But it just wasn't enough. I couldn't save you. And now... Now you're about to die with me... again... Why did you insist on coming here with me, Gine?! You: the meekest saiyan alive, who could have easily spent eternity up there?" He gestured to the sky. "Do you not know my torment?!"

The meekest saiyan that lived pried her husband's hand from her face and brought it close to her heart. "Bardock... On our first night, all those years ago, do you remember what I said to you?" Bardock knew what she meant, but wished that she never said it. "I told you that I loved you; that I'd go wherever you went... I meant it. I still love you. And I would still follow you anywhere... Even hell."

For the first time in decades, perhaps ever, a tear escaped from the corner of the tough saiyan's eye. It slid down his cheek and fell into the snow, melting a tiny hole. "Damn you, Gine... Damn you and your 'softness disease'... I was a warrior once! I-" His wife blurted out something that made him pause. "Our sons live on." Bardock remembered his words to her just prior to their deaths. Gradually, a smile crept across his face. It was true.

Both his and Gine's bodies were almost completely see-through now. Ginge watched from afar with tears of her own building up in her eyes. The fading wife of Bardock turned to her and said "Ginge. You and your family bear the spirit of the saiyan race now. If you can... please find my sons! Their names are Raditz and Kaka-" Still holding each other, Bardock and Gine faded out completely, leaving their imprints in the snow. They filled in almost immediately; hell took no breaks. Their final moments would haunt Ginge's dreams for many years.

Tora and the others clenched their fists and bowed their heads at their leader's passing. The couple's final words bounced around in Ginge's head. Find their sons? But she said they're alive! Her gaze left the ground when she heard her uncle making his way over. The look on his face was one of sorrow and dread. "It's happening to you too…" he said. She looked over herself; her shape was quite transparent and very gradually getting worse. "Yeah…" Tora placed his hand on her shoulder. "I think it's best if you don't transform into a super saiyan anymore. Bardock seemed fine until he started fighting you in that form… And it looks like you don't have much time left as it is."

Ginge stared up at him with puppy dog eyes. Tora soon figured out what she wanted from him. The tall saiyan wearing blue armor rubbed his head and looked back at the others, who were silently mourning. "Look... Ginge... I'd love to help you find Tabaga and the others, but…" He turned back to his disappointed looking niece. "The team. They need me right now."

Ginge pouted for a time before flashing a smile. Tora, relieved, returned it. "Thanks, Ginge." She giggled as he scruffed up her hair. He then turned and walked back to the others, joining them in mourning. Watching the back of his spiky-haired head as he left reminded the girl of someone else in her family: his favorite nephew, Arti. Her lip quivered, and she started to shout something, but held back. Maybe it wasn't the best time in light of what just transpired. Arti. I should have spent eternity up there, with you...

Hours passed, and Ginge hadn't found any trace of the others. She had run for miles through hellfire and brimstone, leaving the icy region behind. Now, she could see the ground clearly through her hands. Fuck... "Mom! Dad! Where are you?!" Only the cold wind answered her... The translucent girl flushed her ki and screamed. "Damn ittt!" Like a violent flame, her aura danced, ripping a donut-shaped crater in the stone at her feet. The crazy-haired girl raged on until a steely, female's voice sounded out from her side. "You there! Girl! What are you doing this far from camp?!"

Ginge paused, dropping her arms to her side. She turned to face the mystery person. It was a woman; another saiyan. The woman had waist-long, black hair that was prim by saiyan standards. Two bangs fell in front of her face, which was pristine and beautiful, lacking any battle scars. She wore white saiyan armor without shoulder pads. On the left breastplate, the symbol of the royal house of Vegeta was etched. Though it had been years since her childhood on Planet Vegeta, Ginge recognized the symbol almost immediately. She took a knee and bowed. "Queen Sadala…"

It was old tradition in the royal house for the queen to take on the name of the saiyans' former homeworld once married to the king. The queen, whose 'maiden' name was Karrotta, placed her hand over her mouth, gasping. "It's you…" Ginge raised her head, afraid that she had done something to offend the monarch. "Forgive me for not recognizing you, Queen Sadala!" Sadala clenched her fist and threw it to her side. "Don't call me that. Titles like 'queen' mean nothing in this place. And stop bowing! Stand the hell up!"

The wayward-haired girl hesitantly shuffled to her feet. "Well... what should I call you, then?" Karrotta rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Karrotta is fine." Ginge's gaze traced the former queen's form. She was already uncomfortable in the presence of royalty, let alone with calling that royalty by an improper name. "A-as you wish…" Karrotta grunted in confirmation.

"Forgive me for imposing, but you mentioned a camp? I'm looking for my parents. Can you take me there?" said Ginge. The older saiyan snapped at the girl. "Forgive you?! Are you a saiyan or not?! Show some pride!" Ginge felt like she was three inches tall. Karrotta facepalmed. "For fuck's sake… I could lead you, but it's not like you'd make it anyway." The fading saiyan mused over her transparent arms; she had thirty minutes at most.

Ginge hung her head, resigning herself to failure. Tears started welling up in her eyes. The former queen became red in the face. Did this girl have no pride? She wanted to bark colorful obscenities at the pitiful excuse for a saiyan in front of her. Yet she held her tongue. Karrotta took a calm breath and spoke. "Ginge, listen to me." The translucent girl with a halo looked up from her sorrow, looking right into Karrotta's eyes. Gine was one thing, but the queen too? Did anyone else get a visit from her savior? "There's a lot you need to know before you go back… about everything."