DBNE: New Earth; Chapter 7
"I'm Goku Jr., and I'm here to stop you!"
"Oh. Really now?" Zenko snickered, rising off the cluttered bench and striding towards the brave youth, "Well, I'm afraid you have no idea what you're up agai-"
"What?!" a woman screeched. Sakura was rushing through the shopping center carrying more bags. "Did someone say they were going to stop my shopping spree?!"
"Well, um." Zenko stuttered.
"No one, no one gets between me and my shopping!" she hollered again, coming up alongside Zenko, "Is that what you're trying to do, punk?" Goku glared at her.
"I'm here to stop you from hurting people!" he snapped, "So leave now, or I'll have to force you out."
Sakura giggled, partially covering her mouth with her hand, "Oh. that's rich! Listen, brat, it's you who should leave." She cracked her knuckles, "Of course, beating you to a wet pulp would be fun, too."
"But," Zenko interjected, "I wanted to-"
"Hush!" Sakura snapped, "He's interfering with my fun, so I take care of him."
Zenko grumbled, but stepped back. Sakura stepped forward, arms out slightly, her aura hissing faintly around her.
"Mind if we play a bit further away, kid?" Sakura asked, "I don't want all my nice merchandise to be ruined."
"Where do you plan on going?" Goku asked, though a bit warily.
"How about right. over. there!" Sakura cackled, suddenly charging Goku and sending him flying with a swipe of her hand. The boy flipped over and sprang back on his hands, quickly regaining his balance as the Saiya- jin woman charged towards him again, lashing out with an open-palmed strike. Goku sidestepped the attack and struck back with an uppercut, though the blow only glanced Sakura; her Saiya-jin armor took the brunt of the blow. Goku followed her, attacking with a left, two quick right jabs and a strong left hook. Sakura blocked with crossed arms, counter attacking with a spinning roundhouse, catching Goku in the face.
The young warrior was sent crashing through a display window for a kitchenware store. Pots clattered and clanged as Goku fell across shelves of appliances. The store remained motionless as the dust settled and the last pot lid rattled against the tile floor, and then Goku emerged from the pile, groaning.
"Ow! She packs a mean punch." he moaned, rubbing his jaw. He shoved aside the junk lying atop him, tossed off the pan that had landed on his head, and jumped out the store window back into the mall's concourse. "Hey! I'm still here!" Goku shouted.
"Welcome back!" Sakura crowed, coming down from above, connecting her elbow to Goku's skull with an echoing crack. Goku stumbled forward, then spun around, catching Sakura in her side with a kick forcing her back as well.
"What?!" Sakura gasped, "That blow shoulda killed you!"
"Hard heads run in the family," Goku said with a shrug. He dodged around the blows Sakura threw at him, then grasped her wrist and flung her over his back. Sakura flipped in the air and landed on her feet.
"Don't suppose you need any help?" Zenko asked from his station by the mall benches; he sounded a bit hopeful.
"Don't count on it," Sakura replied with a bit of venom. Zenko sighed.
Meanwhile, Heinz and Nikka continued their approach to Sanyo city where Nikka was sure Zenko was on another destruction spree. Heinz sprinted along while Nikka flew close by.
"Damn it, we'd be going a lot faster if you could fly, too," Nikka growled, fed up with their relatively slow progress.
"Well." Heinz said, trying to catch his breath, "Maybe you should teach me how sometime. instead of complaining."
"Shut up and keep running."
Sakura and Goku threw themselves at each other again, the female warrior fighting with a fierce agitation; it annoyed her that it was taking so much effort to bring down her opponent. However, Goku was on the defense, dodging and blocking the kicks and punches Sakura struck with. Sakura reared back and struck Goku's crossed arms with a powerful kick, which sent the boy skidding backwards several meters. She stepped back and took several quick breaths.
"You're not like the other humans on this planet," Sakura growled, "How is it you're so strong?"
"Well," Goku replied, lowering his arms and settling into a combat- ready position, "My great-great-grandfather was a Saiya-jin. I've been told he was the strongest fighter in the Universe."
Sakura's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You have a Saiya-jin ancestor? Heh, no wonder you're not a complete weakling." She unwound her tail and swept it back and forth a few times. "But a you're no match for a real Saiya-jin!" Sakura sprang forward, striking with an upward scissors kick. Goku barely dodged by taking a quick back step; he retaliated with a quick jab that caught Sakura in the stomach. She hunched over, letting out a gasp of air. Goku took advantage of her momentary vulnerability by grabbing her arm and flinging her into one of the trees that had been planted along the mall's main path. The trunk of the tree broke in half, Sakura's momentum carrying her through and into the far wall.
Sakura blasted out of the wall with a sudden, violent burst of energy. She hovered towards Goku, breathing a bit harshly. She reached up with her hand and wiped away the trickled of blood that was coming out of her mouth.
"Brat. You're so dead now," she snarled. Her aura became visible again, hissing and burning around her body, the force of its energy pushing her hair upwards. Goku watched with anticipation, slinking backwards a bit and preparing himself for another onslaught. Sakura snickered, her blue eyes flashing green. Opening her mouth, she let out an animalistic howl, her energy levels rising even further as her aura took on a golden shine. Her energy spiked again; her hair now changed to a golden blonde, sticking straight up into the air except for what was still tied into a ponytail. It spiked, but did not rise up. Sakura's bellows faded, her expression regained one with semblance of sanity. She chuckled softly, and sneered at her opponent.
"Feel the true power of the Saiya-jin race: the ultimate warrior!" she cackled. Goku grimaced, a bead of sweat running down his cheek. Sakura noticed his apparent fright -the way an animal senses fear-and a predatory smile spread over her lips. "Scared? You should be."
"I'm not scared," Goku replied, though a slight tremble in his voice betrayed his true feelings, "I'm excited. I didn't know you'd be such a challenge."
"What?" Sakura hissed, very annoyed at the young boy's attitude, "You think you have a chance against me? Ha! Obviously you don't even know enough about your Saiya-jin heritage to realize what you're up against!"
"No. I know what you are." Goku replied. His own aura began to hum into existence around him. He let out a battle cry, and his hair suddenly spiked upwards. His energy grew and expanded, filling the shopping center with a bright light. When it faded, he too stood as a Super Saiya-jin!
"You have to be joking!" Sakura screamed, "You're. you're not even a half-breed! How can you have enough Saiya-jin blood to transform!?"
"I don't know. I don't care," Goku said, now being his turn to sneer, "All that matters is that I'm going to kick your ass now."
Zenko was equally surprised by Goku's sudden transformation. He had assumed, like Sakura, that the boy was above average in strength at best. He picked up his scouted and set it in place on his face. He tapped the activation button and the scouter started to beep as it scanned the two opposing warriors. Over Goku, it flashed "5,500,000." For Sakura it read "5,800,000."
"Good," Zenko said, "Sakura still has the advantage in strength." He frowned, though. "But this kid's a lot stronger than I would have guessed. If he gives her too much trouble." he grinned, "I'll take care of him."
Nikka felt a mighty surge of power to the northeast, the direction they where heading. She half-closed her eyes to concentrate; she was still somewhat of a novice at sensing ki. A moment later her eyes opened wide.
"What is it?" Heinz asked. Nikka had unknowingly let out a gasp, which drew his attention.
"Huh? Oh, uh. nothing. It's just. I sensed two big powers, but neither of them are Zenko."
"Weird," Heinz muttered. A look of worry crossed his face, and he voiced his new concern. "Are they. stronger than Zenko?"
Nikka shook her head, "No. Neither of them comes close, luckily. Though if they're on his side." She didn't have to finish her thought. Heinz knew that the advantage of numbers could turn the tide of a battle.
"Keep your power suppressed," Nikka murmured, "We're getting close."
Sakura pelted Goku through the mall, breaking windows and merchandise. Goku moved fast to try and avoid the flurry of blows that was raining down upon him, but without a great deal of luck. As he dodged back from another one of Sakura's attacks he saw an opening, and kicked straight upward, catching her on the bottom of the chin, throwing her head back and knocking her into a small baked goods store. Goku hovered nearby and took a breath.
"This gal is good, definitely. And then there's still the guy. I'd better finish this fight now!"
Cupping his hands near his side, Goku began to gather energy into his palms. "Ka. me. ha. me." he spotted movement as Sakura dragged herself out of the ruins of the bakery's kitchen, "Ha!" The bright blue energy wave raced towards the Saiya-jin woman, who looked up in surprise. The explosive force of the Kamehameha destroyed the entire side of the mall, blowing dust and debris for blocks in a gritty rain. Goku continued to hover in place, golden aura flashing as he tried to see past the thick cloud of dust that was slowly settling. His face registered mild shock when he saw his opponent still standing.
Sakura had dodged the energy wave at the last moment, only to be hit by the shockwave and tossed about. Her already tattered armor was nearly torn off, though her battle vest still held on. She stood up a bit shakily; her whole body had been rattled from the explosion. Dabbing at a little blood that ebbed from a cut on her lip, she grinned at Goku.
"Not good enough, punk!" she laughed. Sakura leapt into the air, leaving a trail of golden light behind her. Raising her fist high, she slammed down on Goku's face, sending him crashing through the mall's tile floor. Raising her hand up again, Sakura gathered ki into her palm. "Die, you worm!" she shouted, and let loose with a storm of energy blasts the turned the ground into pebbles and again threw a thick cloud over the battlefield.
"Take it easy, Sakura!" Zenko joked, "We might wanna ask the kid if there's any other fighters on this mud ball who could give us a decent fight!"
"Feh!" Sakura spat, "If there's any tough ones, they'll come out on their own." As if on cue, Goku burst from the ground, dirtied and bloodied, and bashed Sakura across the head and sent her tumbling out of the air.
"Little bugger won't die." Zenko chuckled to himself. Meanwhile, Sakura rebounded off the floor and let loose another energy blast at her foe, who dodged it, and the blast tore another hole in the shopping mall. Goku came at her with an uppercut, but she moved backwards and counterattacked with a knee to the groin, which Goku managed to block with his own knee. Sakura and Goku separated for a moment, then flew at each other again, fists slamming together, their golden energies swirling and sending out shockwaves which decimated their surroundings, causing the walls of the mall to crumble around them.
Sakura kicked Goku in the gut and pushed off from him, hovering away. She charged energy in her fingertip, and pointed at Goku.
"Needle-Bang Ray!" A small beam of energy lanced out and struck Goku in his left shin, burning through his clothing and charring the skin underneath.
"Aggh!" Goku shouted out. He clutched at his leg for a moment, then Sakura fired again, hitting his right shoulder.
"Ha ha ha," she laughed, "Hurts, don't it? I can concentrate a lot of explosive energy on one little point," she sneered, "Like this!" Her next shot hit Goku in his right leg, causing another spasm of pain to shoot through him. Sakura's predatory grin spread across her features again, and she aimed her last attack; the final blow.
Zenko's scouter started to beep rapidly.
"What the.?"
Something blew past Sakura, its bright gold aura shoving her aside.
"Zenko~!" Nikka shouted as her fist connected with him.
"I'm Goku Jr., and I'm here to stop you!"
"Oh. Really now?" Zenko snickered, rising off the cluttered bench and striding towards the brave youth, "Well, I'm afraid you have no idea what you're up agai-"
"What?!" a woman screeched. Sakura was rushing through the shopping center carrying more bags. "Did someone say they were going to stop my shopping spree?!"
"Well, um." Zenko stuttered.
"No one, no one gets between me and my shopping!" she hollered again, coming up alongside Zenko, "Is that what you're trying to do, punk?" Goku glared at her.
"I'm here to stop you from hurting people!" he snapped, "So leave now, or I'll have to force you out."
Sakura giggled, partially covering her mouth with her hand, "Oh. that's rich! Listen, brat, it's you who should leave." She cracked her knuckles, "Of course, beating you to a wet pulp would be fun, too."
"But," Zenko interjected, "I wanted to-"
"Hush!" Sakura snapped, "He's interfering with my fun, so I take care of him."
Zenko grumbled, but stepped back. Sakura stepped forward, arms out slightly, her aura hissing faintly around her.
"Mind if we play a bit further away, kid?" Sakura asked, "I don't want all my nice merchandise to be ruined."
"Where do you plan on going?" Goku asked, though a bit warily.
"How about right. over. there!" Sakura cackled, suddenly charging Goku and sending him flying with a swipe of her hand. The boy flipped over and sprang back on his hands, quickly regaining his balance as the Saiya- jin woman charged towards him again, lashing out with an open-palmed strike. Goku sidestepped the attack and struck back with an uppercut, though the blow only glanced Sakura; her Saiya-jin armor took the brunt of the blow. Goku followed her, attacking with a left, two quick right jabs and a strong left hook. Sakura blocked with crossed arms, counter attacking with a spinning roundhouse, catching Goku in the face.
The young warrior was sent crashing through a display window for a kitchenware store. Pots clattered and clanged as Goku fell across shelves of appliances. The store remained motionless as the dust settled and the last pot lid rattled against the tile floor, and then Goku emerged from the pile, groaning.
"Ow! She packs a mean punch." he moaned, rubbing his jaw. He shoved aside the junk lying atop him, tossed off the pan that had landed on his head, and jumped out the store window back into the mall's concourse. "Hey! I'm still here!" Goku shouted.
"Welcome back!" Sakura crowed, coming down from above, connecting her elbow to Goku's skull with an echoing crack. Goku stumbled forward, then spun around, catching Sakura in her side with a kick forcing her back as well.
"What?!" Sakura gasped, "That blow shoulda killed you!"
"Hard heads run in the family," Goku said with a shrug. He dodged around the blows Sakura threw at him, then grasped her wrist and flung her over his back. Sakura flipped in the air and landed on her feet.
"Don't suppose you need any help?" Zenko asked from his station by the mall benches; he sounded a bit hopeful.
"Don't count on it," Sakura replied with a bit of venom. Zenko sighed.
Meanwhile, Heinz and Nikka continued their approach to Sanyo city where Nikka was sure Zenko was on another destruction spree. Heinz sprinted along while Nikka flew close by.
"Damn it, we'd be going a lot faster if you could fly, too," Nikka growled, fed up with their relatively slow progress.
"Well." Heinz said, trying to catch his breath, "Maybe you should teach me how sometime. instead of complaining."
"Shut up and keep running."
Sakura and Goku threw themselves at each other again, the female warrior fighting with a fierce agitation; it annoyed her that it was taking so much effort to bring down her opponent. However, Goku was on the defense, dodging and blocking the kicks and punches Sakura struck with. Sakura reared back and struck Goku's crossed arms with a powerful kick, which sent the boy skidding backwards several meters. She stepped back and took several quick breaths.
"You're not like the other humans on this planet," Sakura growled, "How is it you're so strong?"
"Well," Goku replied, lowering his arms and settling into a combat- ready position, "My great-great-grandfather was a Saiya-jin. I've been told he was the strongest fighter in the Universe."
Sakura's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You have a Saiya-jin ancestor? Heh, no wonder you're not a complete weakling." She unwound her tail and swept it back and forth a few times. "But a you're no match for a real Saiya-jin!" Sakura sprang forward, striking with an upward scissors kick. Goku barely dodged by taking a quick back step; he retaliated with a quick jab that caught Sakura in the stomach. She hunched over, letting out a gasp of air. Goku took advantage of her momentary vulnerability by grabbing her arm and flinging her into one of the trees that had been planted along the mall's main path. The trunk of the tree broke in half, Sakura's momentum carrying her through and into the far wall.
Sakura blasted out of the wall with a sudden, violent burst of energy. She hovered towards Goku, breathing a bit harshly. She reached up with her hand and wiped away the trickled of blood that was coming out of her mouth.
"Brat. You're so dead now," she snarled. Her aura became visible again, hissing and burning around her body, the force of its energy pushing her hair upwards. Goku watched with anticipation, slinking backwards a bit and preparing himself for another onslaught. Sakura snickered, her blue eyes flashing green. Opening her mouth, she let out an animalistic howl, her energy levels rising even further as her aura took on a golden shine. Her energy spiked again; her hair now changed to a golden blonde, sticking straight up into the air except for what was still tied into a ponytail. It spiked, but did not rise up. Sakura's bellows faded, her expression regained one with semblance of sanity. She chuckled softly, and sneered at her opponent.
"Feel the true power of the Saiya-jin race: the ultimate warrior!" she cackled. Goku grimaced, a bead of sweat running down his cheek. Sakura noticed his apparent fright -the way an animal senses fear-and a predatory smile spread over her lips. "Scared? You should be."
"I'm not scared," Goku replied, though a slight tremble in his voice betrayed his true feelings, "I'm excited. I didn't know you'd be such a challenge."
"What?" Sakura hissed, very annoyed at the young boy's attitude, "You think you have a chance against me? Ha! Obviously you don't even know enough about your Saiya-jin heritage to realize what you're up against!"
"No. I know what you are." Goku replied. His own aura began to hum into existence around him. He let out a battle cry, and his hair suddenly spiked upwards. His energy grew and expanded, filling the shopping center with a bright light. When it faded, he too stood as a Super Saiya-jin!
"You have to be joking!" Sakura screamed, "You're. you're not even a half-breed! How can you have enough Saiya-jin blood to transform!?"
"I don't know. I don't care," Goku said, now being his turn to sneer, "All that matters is that I'm going to kick your ass now."
Zenko was equally surprised by Goku's sudden transformation. He had assumed, like Sakura, that the boy was above average in strength at best. He picked up his scouted and set it in place on his face. He tapped the activation button and the scouter started to beep as it scanned the two opposing warriors. Over Goku, it flashed "5,500,000." For Sakura it read "5,800,000."
"Good," Zenko said, "Sakura still has the advantage in strength." He frowned, though. "But this kid's a lot stronger than I would have guessed. If he gives her too much trouble." he grinned, "I'll take care of him."
Nikka felt a mighty surge of power to the northeast, the direction they where heading. She half-closed her eyes to concentrate; she was still somewhat of a novice at sensing ki. A moment later her eyes opened wide.
"What is it?" Heinz asked. Nikka had unknowingly let out a gasp, which drew his attention.
"Huh? Oh, uh. nothing. It's just. I sensed two big powers, but neither of them are Zenko."
"Weird," Heinz muttered. A look of worry crossed his face, and he voiced his new concern. "Are they. stronger than Zenko?"
Nikka shook her head, "No. Neither of them comes close, luckily. Though if they're on his side." She didn't have to finish her thought. Heinz knew that the advantage of numbers could turn the tide of a battle.
"Keep your power suppressed," Nikka murmured, "We're getting close."
Sakura pelted Goku through the mall, breaking windows and merchandise. Goku moved fast to try and avoid the flurry of blows that was raining down upon him, but without a great deal of luck. As he dodged back from another one of Sakura's attacks he saw an opening, and kicked straight upward, catching her on the bottom of the chin, throwing her head back and knocking her into a small baked goods store. Goku hovered nearby and took a breath.
"This gal is good, definitely. And then there's still the guy. I'd better finish this fight now!"
Cupping his hands near his side, Goku began to gather energy into his palms. "Ka. me. ha. me." he spotted movement as Sakura dragged herself out of the ruins of the bakery's kitchen, "Ha!" The bright blue energy wave raced towards the Saiya-jin woman, who looked up in surprise. The explosive force of the Kamehameha destroyed the entire side of the mall, blowing dust and debris for blocks in a gritty rain. Goku continued to hover in place, golden aura flashing as he tried to see past the thick cloud of dust that was slowly settling. His face registered mild shock when he saw his opponent still standing.
Sakura had dodged the energy wave at the last moment, only to be hit by the shockwave and tossed about. Her already tattered armor was nearly torn off, though her battle vest still held on. She stood up a bit shakily; her whole body had been rattled from the explosion. Dabbing at a little blood that ebbed from a cut on her lip, she grinned at Goku.
"Not good enough, punk!" she laughed. Sakura leapt into the air, leaving a trail of golden light behind her. Raising her fist high, she slammed down on Goku's face, sending him crashing through the mall's tile floor. Raising her hand up again, Sakura gathered ki into her palm. "Die, you worm!" she shouted, and let loose with a storm of energy blasts the turned the ground into pebbles and again threw a thick cloud over the battlefield.
"Take it easy, Sakura!" Zenko joked, "We might wanna ask the kid if there's any other fighters on this mud ball who could give us a decent fight!"
"Feh!" Sakura spat, "If there's any tough ones, they'll come out on their own." As if on cue, Goku burst from the ground, dirtied and bloodied, and bashed Sakura across the head and sent her tumbling out of the air.
"Little bugger won't die." Zenko chuckled to himself. Meanwhile, Sakura rebounded off the floor and let loose another energy blast at her foe, who dodged it, and the blast tore another hole in the shopping mall. Goku came at her with an uppercut, but she moved backwards and counterattacked with a knee to the groin, which Goku managed to block with his own knee. Sakura and Goku separated for a moment, then flew at each other again, fists slamming together, their golden energies swirling and sending out shockwaves which decimated their surroundings, causing the walls of the mall to crumble around them.
Sakura kicked Goku in the gut and pushed off from him, hovering away. She charged energy in her fingertip, and pointed at Goku.
"Needle-Bang Ray!" A small beam of energy lanced out and struck Goku in his left shin, burning through his clothing and charring the skin underneath.
"Aggh!" Goku shouted out. He clutched at his leg for a moment, then Sakura fired again, hitting his right shoulder.
"Ha ha ha," she laughed, "Hurts, don't it? I can concentrate a lot of explosive energy on one little point," she sneered, "Like this!" Her next shot hit Goku in his right leg, causing another spasm of pain to shoot through him. Sakura's predatory grin spread across her features again, and she aimed her last attack; the final blow.
Zenko's scouter started to beep rapidly.
"What the.?"
Something blew past Sakura, its bright gold aura shoving her aside.
"Zenko~!" Nikka shouted as her fist connected with him.