Tests of Love
Part Three
By Maria Cline
Sunlight entered the window as Goku opened his eyes. As usual he sat up and stretched in his bonds. "Another day, another test." He said to himself as he turned to his side and fell out of bed. Instead of falling on his face, he fell on his side. "That's better." He flipped onto his back and did his usual sit-ups.
Princess China came in and instead of the usual soup and water on a tray, she had in her hands a sandwich and water.
"For me?" Goku asked as China put down the tray on the table and helped him up.
She nodded.
"Oh... I thought I was going to be fed soup and water during my tests."
China shook her head.
"Well... they always say that diversity is the sign of life." Goku said as he grinned, "Thanks."
China nodded again and gently hand fed him the sandwich. Goku swallowed the sandwich in a single gulp and like the soup, it made him full. Despite the rush of him eating, the taste of the sandwich was rich and delicious. "That was great. You know, you are almost as good as my wife, Chi Chi." He closed his eyes. "Yeah, Chi Chi, I don't know how she does it sometimes, but she can cook enough for me, Goten, and Gohan and that's a lot. But yet, she can make each bite delicious until the last bite. I've eaten at a lot of places, some of them are made by gods themselves but... there's nothing like Chi Chi's cooking. Yours must come closest." Goku confided as China looked away. "Princess China? You okay?"
China swallowed her urge to cry and nodded.
"Oh... well... I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Goku said as he hopped up. "I'm sorry."
China put her hand on Goku's mouth and shook her head. She took the flask of water and let him drank out of it. Goku gulped down the water quickly. He could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. Of course, she couldn't talk to him but he knew that she didn't want to show him what's wrong. Instead, he asked, "So... what's next? Another test?"
She nodded and pointed out the door.
"Okay. Later, Princess." Goku said as he hopped out the door. China sighed as she turned away from the door and removed her mask. She wiped her face and put it back on more determined than ever.
*****
"Are you ready for your next test, Goku?" Queen Mozerella asked.
"You bet!" Goku eagerly said. "What's the test?"
"For this next one, you will need to use your body so we'll modify the wrap. However, you will not be able to fly, blast Ki, and teleport." Mozerella explained, "This will also last a few days with occasional breaks."
"Okay." Goku nodded. "I'm ready."
"Good. Chedda, prepare Goku for his next test." Mozerella ordered.
Chedda bowed sharply and dragged Goku to the side room. "Yes, my queen." Chedda quickly closed the door.
*****
"I have to wear this?!" Goku screamed as he looked down at his clothes. His arms and legs were wrapped individually with wraps like actual clothes and over the wraps was a blue and white dress with white stockings and dress shoes. "This is a dress!"
"It's part of the test." Chedda explained as she put a scarf over Goku's head similar to that back when he was dressed as a girl the first time. "There."
"Oh man." Goku moaned as he felt his head. While he was ecstatic about the fact that he could move both his hands and feet, he didn't like being dressed up like a girl. It was one of those things that he feels so humiliated about.
"It will be over with the test." Chedda insisted.
"Okay... let's go." Goku said as he and Chedda walked out of the room. Goku bowed deeply and asked, "What's my next test?"
China went up to Goku and led him away.
*****
"I can't believe it." Bulma exclaimed as she was giving Trunks, Bra, and Vegita some breakfast. "Goku is tied up hand and foot and is forced to prove his love of Chi Chi?"
"Yeah." Trunks said, "It was weird. Gohan and Piccolo told us all about it."
"I think that's foolish!" Vegita boomed, "If I was in Kakarot's place, I would just blow away all those Amazons and take my wife back by force! Not go through some silly tests."
"You would." Bulma muttered, "But Goku's a man of his word, he always keeps his promises. I think it's sweet."
"Mommy, Daddy, can I be an Amazon when I grow up?" Bra asked.
"Maybe later." Bulma said, "Anyway, Trunks, any idea on what tests Goku will do?"
"Nope. Gohan and Goten had no idea."
"Hmmm... maybe I can go for a visit to see Goku. It's been a while and he rarely visits us." Bulma figured as she grinned evilly.
*****
Goku's jaw slackened as he gaze up at a group of huge buildings in front of him. They were all dark and filled with spider webs. "Whoa... what's this place?"
"This is one of our old warehouses." Chedda explained, "Your task is to clean this place from top to bottom. That includes washing the windows, sweeping the floors, throwing away the garbage, and getting rid of the spiders."
"And cleaning one of these warehouses is my test?"
"Part of it." Chedda answered, "You have to clean all of these warehouses. And you can't complete the next test until you do this one."
"All of them?" Goku repeated as he looked at the group of buildings. Without his flying power, it would take him weeks to get the buildings cleaned. Goku took a deep breath and asked, "Where's my cleaning supplies?"
*****
It was hectic as Piccolo and Ubuu were fighting over the Lookout. Ubuu agreed to train with the Namekian despite his green appearance. The reincarnated demon was fast and strong. Piccolo's green blood rushed as he punched back. The boy was very strong but he was nowhere as strong as Majin Buu. **No wonder Goku wanted to train this boy so much.** Piccolo thought. **This kid had more power potential than Gohan. He could be the next main defender.**
Suddenly, Dende yelled out, "Piccolo! Telephone! It's Bulma."
Piccolo sighed as he put up his hands. "Time out." He flew down and answered the phone. "Yeah?"
"Hey, Piccolo, this is Bulma. Is it possible for me to see Goku?"
"You want to go and visit Goku?" Piccolo asked wide-eyed. Bulma called him in the Lookout. She had installed a private communications line between the Lookout and Capsule Corps for security reasons. How she managed to do such a task is beyond him.
"Yeah. I know that you can only bring one person at a time but I want to see Goku." Bulma said, "Can I go after Goten?"
"I'll see what I can do." Piccolo promised, "If I can do it, I'll get you."
"Great." Bulma sighed in relief, "Bye, Piccolo, thanks."
"Don't mention it." Piccolo said as he hung up. "Ubuu, I have to go and prepare someone to visit Goku. I would offer to let you come but the Amazons tend to be territorial."
"Do not worry, Master Piccolo, I am patient. I can wait till next time to see Master Goku." Ubuu said, "Just send my respects to Master Goku."
Piccolo smiled slightly at the boy. Ubuu was far kinder and respectable than Majin Buu. Perhaps, there's hope for the universe after all. "Sure, kid. Just keep on practicing."
*****
Goku grunted as he was swinging his broom at a cobweb. "Oh man, this would be a lot easier if I can fly." He muttered as he cleaned off the cobweb off of his broom.
In the corner, China watched silently as she sat on a chair. She watched him with curiosity and amusement in her unseen eyes. Chedda sat beside her. "Princess, I know that you wanted to stay here but it will be days before he was finished. Why don't we go and have some fun?"
China whispered in Chedda's ear.
"I know that you'd rather stay here but this is dull. But, you are the princess and I'll stay here too."
*whisper whisper*
"I'll stay, Princess, it's my duty to watch him and you." Chedda insisted.
*whisper whisper*
"I trust you not to remove your mask but rules are rules."
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Goku asked as he came up to the two.
"Nothing important, Goku." Chedda said, "What are you going to do?"
Goku held up his broom and said, "I'm going to sweep now that I got all the cobwebs down."
China shook her head quickly.
"Why not?" Goku asked curiously.
China pointed up to one of the dusty shelves and then to the floor. She did a few sweeping movements, pointed to the shelves again, then some more sweeping movements.
Goku frowned and then figured out the hand movements. "I get it. If I sweep then dust those shelves, I'll have to sweep again. Right?"
China did a thumbs up sign.
"Thanks, Princess!" Goku bowed and ran off to dust the shelves.
*****
"This is so huge." Bulma muttered as she and Goten looked around wide-eyed. Bulma had seen many things and had been to many places. She had even met the current Kami as a child.
"Yeah. Gohan's right, it does look like something out of a movie." Goten commented, "Wow."
"I'm pleased to see that you are both impressed." Queen Mozerella said from her throne. "I'm Queen Mozerella of the Amazons."
"I'm Bulma Briefs of Capsule Corporation and this is Goten, Goku and Chi Chi's son." Bulma introduced.
"Hello, Queen Mozerella." Goten said as he bowed deeply.
"I understand that both of you wanted to see Goku." Queen Mozerella said as she looked at the two. "You may see him after he's done for the day with his test. The current test he's on will take several days for him to complete."
"Must be one hard test." Goten commented, "So, we get to see him tonight?"
"Well... you two can go ahead and visit him at the test site. It's not dangerous. As long as you don't help him in the test."
"Sure!" Goten exclaimed happily, "I just want to check up on him and Mom."
"Neither of you will know about Chi Chi. All you will know is that she is fine." Mozerella ordered, "Parmesian, escort Goten, Piccolo, and Bulma to the warehouses."
*****
It was a quick trip to the warehouses. Goten, Bulma, and Piccolo led by Parmesian looked up at the warehouses.
"I wonder what kind of test would Dad be doing here?" Goten wondered with a slack jaw.
"Who knows." Bulma muttered, "With Goku, anything's possible." Bulma had known Goku most of her life. She met him back when she was just a brilliant teenager looking for a boyfriend. Ever since she met him, the world seem to change around them. She and Goku had experienced many things together and Goku had surprised her time and time again. He surprised her when he showed no ability to tell men from women. He surprised her when he revealed that he was engaged to Chi Chi before he founded out what marriage means. He even surprised her when it was revealed that he was an evil alien from outer space sent to destroy Earth. "Let's ask that lady up there." Bulma suggested as she pointed up to a figure in a blue and white dress on a window ledge cleaning.
Goten and Piccolo looked up and gasped. The young Demi-Saiyan stuttered and said, "Ummm... Bulma... that's not a lady. That's Dad."
Bulma blinked for a couple of times before yelling, "WHAT?!"
The usually calm Namekian nearly fell over at the sight. "GOKU?!"
Goku looked down to see Piccolo, Goten, and Bulma standing there in shock. "Oh damn... damn.... DAMN! Bulma's going to have a field day with this." Goku moaned as he jumped off the ledge, zoomed down the rope, and landed on the ground. "Hi, guys."
"Goku." Piccolo said as he crossed his arms. "I see you're doing your... third test?"
"Yeah." Goku replied as he crossed his arms too. He glanced over to Goten who was speechless and Bulma who had her hands firmly clamped over her mouth to suppress her laughter.
"D-dad... ummmm... so... what's up?" Goten asked as he tried not to faint. He had seen many things in his life, demons, dead people coming back, the afterlife itself, and even himself as a fused being but he had never seen his father in a dress.
Goku sighed and said, "Go ahead, Bulma, laugh."
Bulma fell over with her feet straight up in the air. "NICE DRESS, GOKU!!! BWAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Her face turned deep red from laughter as she rolled on the ground.
Goten finally getting over his shock of seeing his father in a dress snickered and started laughing as well. "Do- does Mom *snicker* know about this?" Goten stuttered out before losing control of himself and fell over.
The only ones not laughing out of control were Piccolo, Parmesian, and Goku.
"What's going on?" Chedda asked Parmesian as she and Princess China came out of the warehouse.
"Chedda, Princess China, these three are here to see Goku." Parmesian explained as the laughter kept echoing throughout the air.
"Come on, guys!" Goku wailed, "It's not that funny!"
Finally, Bulma and Goten stopped their laughter and was gasping for air.
"S-sorry *snicker* Goku." Bulma apologized as she finally got up. "But... you look *gasp* so good in that dress." Her sides hurt from the laughter as she held them. "Like last time."
"L-last time?" Goten repeated as he held his side.
"Uh huh!" Bulma nodded wildly as she finally regain full control over her urge to laugh. "Oh boy! Do you remember that Goku?"
"How could I forget? You were flirting with Oolong at the time." Goku pointed out.
"OOLONG?! YOU MEAN THAT PIG?!" Goten blurred out as he fell over laughing as before.
Bulma gritted her teeth. "I didn't know he was a pig. He was a shape shifter! If you keep quiet about that... I might just not tell Vegita about the dress!"
"Awww... come on... I didn't mean it." Goku moaned coming close to a whine, "Look, I'm just taking a break. Can we talk?"
"Sure." Bulma fought the urge to giggle at Goku's outfit.
"Goten." Goku looked down at Goten who was still holding his stomach.
"Oolong *snicker* dress *giggle*..." Goten gasped out as China went up and grabbed his ear. "OW! Hey! That hurts!" He moaned as he rubbed his ear.
China tapped her foot and gestured wildly at the warehouse and then at Goten, Bulma, and Piccolo. She finished with a tapping on her wrist.
"What was she doing?" Goten asked a confused Bulma.
"This is Princess China. No man is allowed to look at her face and hear her voice. That's why she's wearing a mask. Don't be mad, Princess." Goku apologized, "I'll get back to my tests after they leave."
China nodded firmly and put her hands on her hips.
"Wow. He's good." Bulma commented, "Okay, so Goku... how are you? Besides the dress?"
"Okay." Goku replied. "The tests have been hard but I can do it."
"That's great. I'm sorry for laughing at you but... well... you have to admit, you do look cute in that. Especially with that scarf." Bulma explained as she fought the urge to giggle.
Goku put his hands on his scarf and shook his head. "I guess. So, what are you two doing here?"
"I'm here to see what kind of tests a group of Amazons are going to do to you." Bulma replied. "And... well... to tell you that I think it's sweet that you are doing this for Chi Chi."
"Me too." Goten agreed, "We were worried about you. I mean, you just vanished off of the face of the Earth and no one could detect you. We thought that you were abducted by some powerful enemy."
"Sorry." Goku appolgized. "But, the note told me to leave without telling anyone."
"That's cool, Goku. Princess China, can I see your face?" Bulma asked curiously as she looked at the mask. All her life, she was fascinated about how others look. Every villian that came to Earth, she couldn't help but wonder what they look like. It even got her in some trouble when the Androids first appeared.
China shook her head as she stepped back.
"Why not?" Bulma insisted as she stepped forward. "I'm a woman too." She reached up and yanked the mask off. At once, everyone except for the amazons gasped.
"How is that possible?" Goten muttered.
"I don't know." Goku replied as he stare in shock.
Bulma stared at the mask in her hand and then back up at Princess China. On her face was another silver mask identical to the one in Bulma's hand. "How?" She reached up and yanked the mask off China again to reveal another mask.
"Self replicating masks." Chedda explained, "The mask is enchanted to duplicate every time someone took off the mask without knowing the face behind it."
"So... if a stranger never saw China's face. He or she can't remove the mask completely. Only China and someone who know what she looked like under the mask could remove it. It makes complete sense." Bulma figured out. "That's incredible."
"Yeah." Goku agreed as he looked at his broom again. "I wish I can talk more but I really have to work on my test."
"We better get going too." Bulma urged, "I have to make dinner."
"Right, and I have a date in a couple of hours." Goten said as he looked at his watch.
"I still have to train Ubuu." Piccolo commented.
"Thanks for stopping bye, but can you wait for a few days till you come back?" Goku asked as he felt his dress, "I... don't want anyone else to see me in this thing."
"Sure thing, Goku." Bulma giggled again at Goku's predicament.
"And don't tell Vegita." Goku insisted, "He'll never let me down with this."
"Okay, I won't tell Vegita." Bulma promised as she put her hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. **Not directly, at least.**
*****
After a quick goodbye, the group went off and Goku went back to work. Goku worked on for over four days with no sleep and only drinking soup and water. His great Saiyan endurance helped him through. For five days straight, he polished and sweep every corner of the warehouses.
Finally, on the fifth day, Goku sat on the ground after he was done with the last warehouse. "*whew* I'm finally done." He muttered as he leaned on his mop. His face and hair was covered in dirt and his dress was torn and dirty.
"We'll see, Goku." Chedda said as she went around and inspected the buildings. After a while, she returned and said, "You did very well, Goku. This test is complete."
China looked down to see Goku asleep on the ground. The princess shook her head as she picked him up and carried him away.
To Be Continued...
Part Three
By Maria Cline
Sunlight entered the window as Goku opened his eyes. As usual he sat up and stretched in his bonds. "Another day, another test." He said to himself as he turned to his side and fell out of bed. Instead of falling on his face, he fell on his side. "That's better." He flipped onto his back and did his usual sit-ups.
Princess China came in and instead of the usual soup and water on a tray, she had in her hands a sandwich and water.
"For me?" Goku asked as China put down the tray on the table and helped him up.
She nodded.
"Oh... I thought I was going to be fed soup and water during my tests."
China shook her head.
"Well... they always say that diversity is the sign of life." Goku said as he grinned, "Thanks."
China nodded again and gently hand fed him the sandwich. Goku swallowed the sandwich in a single gulp and like the soup, it made him full. Despite the rush of him eating, the taste of the sandwich was rich and delicious. "That was great. You know, you are almost as good as my wife, Chi Chi." He closed his eyes. "Yeah, Chi Chi, I don't know how she does it sometimes, but she can cook enough for me, Goten, and Gohan and that's a lot. But yet, she can make each bite delicious until the last bite. I've eaten at a lot of places, some of them are made by gods themselves but... there's nothing like Chi Chi's cooking. Yours must come closest." Goku confided as China looked away. "Princess China? You okay?"
China swallowed her urge to cry and nodded.
"Oh... well... I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Goku said as he hopped up. "I'm sorry."
China put her hand on Goku's mouth and shook her head. She took the flask of water and let him drank out of it. Goku gulped down the water quickly. He could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. Of course, she couldn't talk to him but he knew that she didn't want to show him what's wrong. Instead, he asked, "So... what's next? Another test?"
She nodded and pointed out the door.
"Okay. Later, Princess." Goku said as he hopped out the door. China sighed as she turned away from the door and removed her mask. She wiped her face and put it back on more determined than ever.
*****
"Are you ready for your next test, Goku?" Queen Mozerella asked.
"You bet!" Goku eagerly said. "What's the test?"
"For this next one, you will need to use your body so we'll modify the wrap. However, you will not be able to fly, blast Ki, and teleport." Mozerella explained, "This will also last a few days with occasional breaks."
"Okay." Goku nodded. "I'm ready."
"Good. Chedda, prepare Goku for his next test." Mozerella ordered.
Chedda bowed sharply and dragged Goku to the side room. "Yes, my queen." Chedda quickly closed the door.
*****
"I have to wear this?!" Goku screamed as he looked down at his clothes. His arms and legs were wrapped individually with wraps like actual clothes and over the wraps was a blue and white dress with white stockings and dress shoes. "This is a dress!"
"It's part of the test." Chedda explained as she put a scarf over Goku's head similar to that back when he was dressed as a girl the first time. "There."
"Oh man." Goku moaned as he felt his head. While he was ecstatic about the fact that he could move both his hands and feet, he didn't like being dressed up like a girl. It was one of those things that he feels so humiliated about.
"It will be over with the test." Chedda insisted.
"Okay... let's go." Goku said as he and Chedda walked out of the room. Goku bowed deeply and asked, "What's my next test?"
China went up to Goku and led him away.
*****
"I can't believe it." Bulma exclaimed as she was giving Trunks, Bra, and Vegita some breakfast. "Goku is tied up hand and foot and is forced to prove his love of Chi Chi?"
"Yeah." Trunks said, "It was weird. Gohan and Piccolo told us all about it."
"I think that's foolish!" Vegita boomed, "If I was in Kakarot's place, I would just blow away all those Amazons and take my wife back by force! Not go through some silly tests."
"You would." Bulma muttered, "But Goku's a man of his word, he always keeps his promises. I think it's sweet."
"Mommy, Daddy, can I be an Amazon when I grow up?" Bra asked.
"Maybe later." Bulma said, "Anyway, Trunks, any idea on what tests Goku will do?"
"Nope. Gohan and Goten had no idea."
"Hmmm... maybe I can go for a visit to see Goku. It's been a while and he rarely visits us." Bulma figured as she grinned evilly.
*****
Goku's jaw slackened as he gaze up at a group of huge buildings in front of him. They were all dark and filled with spider webs. "Whoa... what's this place?"
"This is one of our old warehouses." Chedda explained, "Your task is to clean this place from top to bottom. That includes washing the windows, sweeping the floors, throwing away the garbage, and getting rid of the spiders."
"And cleaning one of these warehouses is my test?"
"Part of it." Chedda answered, "You have to clean all of these warehouses. And you can't complete the next test until you do this one."
"All of them?" Goku repeated as he looked at the group of buildings. Without his flying power, it would take him weeks to get the buildings cleaned. Goku took a deep breath and asked, "Where's my cleaning supplies?"
*****
It was hectic as Piccolo and Ubuu were fighting over the Lookout. Ubuu agreed to train with the Namekian despite his green appearance. The reincarnated demon was fast and strong. Piccolo's green blood rushed as he punched back. The boy was very strong but he was nowhere as strong as Majin Buu. **No wonder Goku wanted to train this boy so much.** Piccolo thought. **This kid had more power potential than Gohan. He could be the next main defender.**
Suddenly, Dende yelled out, "Piccolo! Telephone! It's Bulma."
Piccolo sighed as he put up his hands. "Time out." He flew down and answered the phone. "Yeah?"
"Hey, Piccolo, this is Bulma. Is it possible for me to see Goku?"
"You want to go and visit Goku?" Piccolo asked wide-eyed. Bulma called him in the Lookout. She had installed a private communications line between the Lookout and Capsule Corps for security reasons. How she managed to do such a task is beyond him.
"Yeah. I know that you can only bring one person at a time but I want to see Goku." Bulma said, "Can I go after Goten?"
"I'll see what I can do." Piccolo promised, "If I can do it, I'll get you."
"Great." Bulma sighed in relief, "Bye, Piccolo, thanks."
"Don't mention it." Piccolo said as he hung up. "Ubuu, I have to go and prepare someone to visit Goku. I would offer to let you come but the Amazons tend to be territorial."
"Do not worry, Master Piccolo, I am patient. I can wait till next time to see Master Goku." Ubuu said, "Just send my respects to Master Goku."
Piccolo smiled slightly at the boy. Ubuu was far kinder and respectable than Majin Buu. Perhaps, there's hope for the universe after all. "Sure, kid. Just keep on practicing."
*****
Goku grunted as he was swinging his broom at a cobweb. "Oh man, this would be a lot easier if I can fly." He muttered as he cleaned off the cobweb off of his broom.
In the corner, China watched silently as she sat on a chair. She watched him with curiosity and amusement in her unseen eyes. Chedda sat beside her. "Princess, I know that you wanted to stay here but it will be days before he was finished. Why don't we go and have some fun?"
China whispered in Chedda's ear.
"I know that you'd rather stay here but this is dull. But, you are the princess and I'll stay here too."
*whisper whisper*
"I'll stay, Princess, it's my duty to watch him and you." Chedda insisted.
*whisper whisper*
"I trust you not to remove your mask but rules are rules."
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Goku asked as he came up to the two.
"Nothing important, Goku." Chedda said, "What are you going to do?"
Goku held up his broom and said, "I'm going to sweep now that I got all the cobwebs down."
China shook her head quickly.
"Why not?" Goku asked curiously.
China pointed up to one of the dusty shelves and then to the floor. She did a few sweeping movements, pointed to the shelves again, then some more sweeping movements.
Goku frowned and then figured out the hand movements. "I get it. If I sweep then dust those shelves, I'll have to sweep again. Right?"
China did a thumbs up sign.
"Thanks, Princess!" Goku bowed and ran off to dust the shelves.
*****
"This is so huge." Bulma muttered as she and Goten looked around wide-eyed. Bulma had seen many things and had been to many places. She had even met the current Kami as a child.
"Yeah. Gohan's right, it does look like something out of a movie." Goten commented, "Wow."
"I'm pleased to see that you are both impressed." Queen Mozerella said from her throne. "I'm Queen Mozerella of the Amazons."
"I'm Bulma Briefs of Capsule Corporation and this is Goten, Goku and Chi Chi's son." Bulma introduced.
"Hello, Queen Mozerella." Goten said as he bowed deeply.
"I understand that both of you wanted to see Goku." Queen Mozerella said as she looked at the two. "You may see him after he's done for the day with his test. The current test he's on will take several days for him to complete."
"Must be one hard test." Goten commented, "So, we get to see him tonight?"
"Well... you two can go ahead and visit him at the test site. It's not dangerous. As long as you don't help him in the test."
"Sure!" Goten exclaimed happily, "I just want to check up on him and Mom."
"Neither of you will know about Chi Chi. All you will know is that she is fine." Mozerella ordered, "Parmesian, escort Goten, Piccolo, and Bulma to the warehouses."
*****
It was a quick trip to the warehouses. Goten, Bulma, and Piccolo led by Parmesian looked up at the warehouses.
"I wonder what kind of test would Dad be doing here?" Goten wondered with a slack jaw.
"Who knows." Bulma muttered, "With Goku, anything's possible." Bulma had known Goku most of her life. She met him back when she was just a brilliant teenager looking for a boyfriend. Ever since she met him, the world seem to change around them. She and Goku had experienced many things together and Goku had surprised her time and time again. He surprised her when he showed no ability to tell men from women. He surprised her when he revealed that he was engaged to Chi Chi before he founded out what marriage means. He even surprised her when it was revealed that he was an evil alien from outer space sent to destroy Earth. "Let's ask that lady up there." Bulma suggested as she pointed up to a figure in a blue and white dress on a window ledge cleaning.
Goten and Piccolo looked up and gasped. The young Demi-Saiyan stuttered and said, "Ummm... Bulma... that's not a lady. That's Dad."
Bulma blinked for a couple of times before yelling, "WHAT?!"
The usually calm Namekian nearly fell over at the sight. "GOKU?!"
Goku looked down to see Piccolo, Goten, and Bulma standing there in shock. "Oh damn... damn.... DAMN! Bulma's going to have a field day with this." Goku moaned as he jumped off the ledge, zoomed down the rope, and landed on the ground. "Hi, guys."
"Goku." Piccolo said as he crossed his arms. "I see you're doing your... third test?"
"Yeah." Goku replied as he crossed his arms too. He glanced over to Goten who was speechless and Bulma who had her hands firmly clamped over her mouth to suppress her laughter.
"D-dad... ummmm... so... what's up?" Goten asked as he tried not to faint. He had seen many things in his life, demons, dead people coming back, the afterlife itself, and even himself as a fused being but he had never seen his father in a dress.
Goku sighed and said, "Go ahead, Bulma, laugh."
Bulma fell over with her feet straight up in the air. "NICE DRESS, GOKU!!! BWAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Her face turned deep red from laughter as she rolled on the ground.
Goten finally getting over his shock of seeing his father in a dress snickered and started laughing as well. "Do- does Mom *snicker* know about this?" Goten stuttered out before losing control of himself and fell over.
The only ones not laughing out of control were Piccolo, Parmesian, and Goku.
"What's going on?" Chedda asked Parmesian as she and Princess China came out of the warehouse.
"Chedda, Princess China, these three are here to see Goku." Parmesian explained as the laughter kept echoing throughout the air.
"Come on, guys!" Goku wailed, "It's not that funny!"
Finally, Bulma and Goten stopped their laughter and was gasping for air.
"S-sorry *snicker* Goku." Bulma apologized as she finally got up. "But... you look *gasp* so good in that dress." Her sides hurt from the laughter as she held them. "Like last time."
"L-last time?" Goten repeated as he held his side.
"Uh huh!" Bulma nodded wildly as she finally regain full control over her urge to laugh. "Oh boy! Do you remember that Goku?"
"How could I forget? You were flirting with Oolong at the time." Goku pointed out.
"OOLONG?! YOU MEAN THAT PIG?!" Goten blurred out as he fell over laughing as before.
Bulma gritted her teeth. "I didn't know he was a pig. He was a shape shifter! If you keep quiet about that... I might just not tell Vegita about the dress!"
"Awww... come on... I didn't mean it." Goku moaned coming close to a whine, "Look, I'm just taking a break. Can we talk?"
"Sure." Bulma fought the urge to giggle at Goku's outfit.
"Goten." Goku looked down at Goten who was still holding his stomach.
"Oolong *snicker* dress *giggle*..." Goten gasped out as China went up and grabbed his ear. "OW! Hey! That hurts!" He moaned as he rubbed his ear.
China tapped her foot and gestured wildly at the warehouse and then at Goten, Bulma, and Piccolo. She finished with a tapping on her wrist.
"What was she doing?" Goten asked a confused Bulma.
"This is Princess China. No man is allowed to look at her face and hear her voice. That's why she's wearing a mask. Don't be mad, Princess." Goku apologized, "I'll get back to my tests after they leave."
China nodded firmly and put her hands on her hips.
"Wow. He's good." Bulma commented, "Okay, so Goku... how are you? Besides the dress?"
"Okay." Goku replied. "The tests have been hard but I can do it."
"That's great. I'm sorry for laughing at you but... well... you have to admit, you do look cute in that. Especially with that scarf." Bulma explained as she fought the urge to giggle.
Goku put his hands on his scarf and shook his head. "I guess. So, what are you two doing here?"
"I'm here to see what kind of tests a group of Amazons are going to do to you." Bulma replied. "And... well... to tell you that I think it's sweet that you are doing this for Chi Chi."
"Me too." Goten agreed, "We were worried about you. I mean, you just vanished off of the face of the Earth and no one could detect you. We thought that you were abducted by some powerful enemy."
"Sorry." Goku appolgized. "But, the note told me to leave without telling anyone."
"That's cool, Goku. Princess China, can I see your face?" Bulma asked curiously as she looked at the mask. All her life, she was fascinated about how others look. Every villian that came to Earth, she couldn't help but wonder what they look like. It even got her in some trouble when the Androids first appeared.
China shook her head as she stepped back.
"Why not?" Bulma insisted as she stepped forward. "I'm a woman too." She reached up and yanked the mask off. At once, everyone except for the amazons gasped.
"How is that possible?" Goten muttered.
"I don't know." Goku replied as he stare in shock.
Bulma stared at the mask in her hand and then back up at Princess China. On her face was another silver mask identical to the one in Bulma's hand. "How?" She reached up and yanked the mask off China again to reveal another mask.
"Self replicating masks." Chedda explained, "The mask is enchanted to duplicate every time someone took off the mask without knowing the face behind it."
"So... if a stranger never saw China's face. He or she can't remove the mask completely. Only China and someone who know what she looked like under the mask could remove it. It makes complete sense." Bulma figured out. "That's incredible."
"Yeah." Goku agreed as he looked at his broom again. "I wish I can talk more but I really have to work on my test."
"We better get going too." Bulma urged, "I have to make dinner."
"Right, and I have a date in a couple of hours." Goten said as he looked at his watch.
"I still have to train Ubuu." Piccolo commented.
"Thanks for stopping bye, but can you wait for a few days till you come back?" Goku asked as he felt his dress, "I... don't want anyone else to see me in this thing."
"Sure thing, Goku." Bulma giggled again at Goku's predicament.
"And don't tell Vegita." Goku insisted, "He'll never let me down with this."
"Okay, I won't tell Vegita." Bulma promised as she put her hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. **Not directly, at least.**
*****
After a quick goodbye, the group went off and Goku went back to work. Goku worked on for over four days with no sleep and only drinking soup and water. His great Saiyan endurance helped him through. For five days straight, he polished and sweep every corner of the warehouses.
Finally, on the fifth day, Goku sat on the ground after he was done with the last warehouse. "*whew* I'm finally done." He muttered as he leaned on his mop. His face and hair was covered in dirt and his dress was torn and dirty.
"We'll see, Goku." Chedda said as she went around and inspected the buildings. After a while, she returned and said, "You did very well, Goku. This test is complete."
China looked down to see Goku asleep on the ground. The princess shook her head as she picked him up and carried him away.
To Be Continued...