Race For the Dragon Balls
Part 4
Notice: I do not own any of the characters!
Frieza looked around and smiled sinisterly. "I live again!" he shouted triumphantly.
"WE live again, dear brother."
Frieza spun around to see his older brother Cooler standing behind him, his purple face and deep voice emotionless. The white alien frowned a bit. "Of course, big brother." There was evidence of ice in his voice as he said "big brother."
Happosai grinned. He now had TWO demons at his control to exact his revenge on Ranma. "Well, my boys," he said to get their attention. "Ready to publicly humiliated and pummel my unworthy heir Ranma Saotome?"
"Hold it right there!"
The three looked to see Ryoga and Tarou emerge from the forest and look in shock at Frieza and Cooler. Tarou then glared at Happosai. "What are you up to now, old lech? Summoning more demons to protect you from me? Fat chance! They don't look so tough to me." With that, he tossed the small bag holding the Dragon Ball to Ryoga. "Hold this!" Then, he pulled out a gourd, uncorked it, and poured the cold water within it over himself.
Cooler and Frieza watched as Tarou changed into his cursed form. The minotaur growled at them, but Frieza yawned and said, "Unimpressed." With that, he pointed at Tarou and shot a red beam from his finger.
The beam hit Tarou dead in the center of his chest. Before the monster could even howl in pain, he exploded from the power of the beam. Ryoga hung his mouth open in shock as he watched his partner die so quickly and easily.
Happosai, on the other hand, jumped up and down with delight. "WOW! One shot and he pops like a balloon! Excellent work, lad. Now, go beat Ranma!"
Cooler glared at the old man. "We do not take orders, fool. We give them. Now die!" Cooler then shot lasers from his eyes and killed the perverted old master in one clean shot. "That is my thanks for restoring me to life."
Frieza chuckled. "Now, we can exact our revenge on the Super Saiyan, and with the two of us against him, he will have no chance of winning this time!"
Ryoga couldn't move. He was frozen in shock by these two monsters. They killed Happosai and Tarou without any effort! What chance do I have against them?!
"FRIEZA!"
Everyone looked to see Vegeta, Ranma, and Akane fly in and land in front of the three. Frieza sneered. "Well, well. It's been a while, Vegeta. And I see you brought some friends with you."
Cooler glared again. He had heard of Vegeta from his brother. The Saiyan Prince had once served Frieza until he betrayed him for his own ambitions. "Death to all Saiyans!" he shouted as he fired his eye lasers at the Saiyan.
Vegeta easily blocked the attack with his hand, then looked at Ranma. "Stay back," he commanded. "This is personal."
Ryoga rushed over to Ranma and Akane. "Is this guy nuts?! Those two killed Tarou and Happosai with one hit each! How can he possibly defeat them?"
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Piccolo increased his speed as he flew towards Gohan's house. He had sensed the ki of both Frieza and Cooler, and though he was thankful it wasn't Cell who came back, several chills ran down his spine as memories of his past battles with both monsters. He had barely survived both encounters, and it was Goku who defeated them in the end.
But Goku's dead now, the Namek thought. That leaves Gohan as Earth's main defender. I think Vegeta can handle both Frieza and Cooler, but I'd better not take any chances.
Suddenly, something orange and black zoomed past him in the other direction. He stopped for a moment before he made the connection. "Gohan!" Quickly, he flew after the young half-Saiyan and caught up with him.
Gohan looked at his old teacher briefly. "You felt them, too?"
Piccolo nodded. "Vegeta and Ranma have gone to face them, but we should get there should Vegeta screw up again."
"How do you know about Ranma?"
"The same way as we found out about Frieza and Cooler being resurrected. Your father contacted us telepathically. Vegeta thought I should get you in case Cell came back instead of either of those two freaks."
********************************************************************************
Cologne shivered as she felt the power of two evils nearby. What has that fool Happy done now? The old Amazon looked at Shampoo, who was gazing happily at the two Dragon Balls in her hands. They only needed five more to summon the Eternal Dragon and then they would be able to wish Ranma for themselves.
Aiya! Shampoo thought happily. Only five more to go, then Shampoo finally marry Ranma!
"Take care, child," Cologne said, snapping the young Amazon from her daydreams. "I sense evil close at hand. We had best move on." They were about to leave, but then Mousse and Kuno appeared in front of them.
Shampoo blinked at Mousse, whom she almost didn't recognize due to the change of clothes he had and the absence of his glasses. Another noticeable was that he was glaring at her. She frowned. "What blind Mousse want now? Shampoo busy."
Mousse kicked a small rock up and caught it with his hand before tossing it at Shampoo. She dodged easily, and then faced him once more as he said, "I was blind in more ways than one, Shampoo, but no more. It is you who are blind if you think Ranma wants to marry you, and if you and Cologne think I'll let you carry out your quest for the Dragon Balls."
Cologne was annoyed at Mousse's statement, yet she was amazed at the sudden change in the Amazon male. Indeed, the changes were for the better, and most interesting.
Mousse bowed towards her and spoke in their native Chinese language. {Honored elder, I wish to challenge your great-granddaughter Shampoo to a fight, not to win her hand, but to release Ranma Saotome from his unwanted engagement to her.}
Cologne raised a wrinkled eyebrow. {And if I say that you cannot?}
{Then I will expel myself from the tribe and fight her anyway, as an outsider. As I said before, I am doing this for my friend Ranma.}
Shampoo listened to the conversation, and was not happy. She had worked too long and hard to get Ranma for her husband and she was not about to let Mousse interfere anymore. Unbeknownst to her, her anger and greed blinded her sense that Mousse was no longer the same weakling she had known for so long. "I accept challenge, Mousse! You come between Shampoo and airen for last time. I kill Mousse!"
Cologne watched as Shampoo charged at Mousse, and sighed heavily while she picked up the two Balls that had been dropped. She still has a lot to learn.
Kuno stepped back and watched as Shampoo failed miserably to connect her fists and feet to Mousse's body and face, though he was merely standing still. So, this was how it appeared when Happosai, Ryoga Hibiki, and myself did battle with Ranma over a year ago. Mousse has ascended so much that his movements to avoid Lady Shampoo's attacks are unnoticeable to the human eye.
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Frieza looked at Ranma and Akane, then back at Vegeta. "Tell me, Vegeta, since when do you make friends with such lowly species?"
Vegeta snorted. "I could care less if anything happened to them, or anyone else here on Earth." He was trying to sound like his usual self; uncaring, rude, and cold to the bone. Yet he silently prayed that Frieza or Cooler wouldn't try to attack his friends. Even though they could be restored with the Dragon Balls, he wanted to avoid that option at any cost.
Frieza then laughed. "Really? Then you won't mind if I blow up this whole planet after we kill you and your Super Saiyan ally, Goku?"
Cooler, however, didn't share Frieza's merciful attitude. "You're much too kind, brother. I made that mistake once by letting that Saiyan brat escape to this mudball and he grew up to kill us. That shall not happen again!" He then raised his hand and fired a finger blast in Akane's direction.
Ranma saw his and quickly pushed Akane out of the way before he took the hit through his heart. His body did not explode, but blood was gushing from his wound as he fell backwards.
Akane screamed in horror as she watched her fiancée hit the ground with a sickening thud. Her mind recalled the many times she told him to go off and die, which she would regret saying later, but never apologized to him. Now, seeing him lying face up with wide eyes staring into the sky, she wished she had been more kind and supportive to him from the very beginning.
Vegeta's eyes widened at the sight of Ranma dying before him. He recalled the week they had spent together training him in the Room of Spirit and Time, becoming somewhat friends. In truth, the Saiyan had seen the boy as a second son to him. Trunks, he thought. It's just like when we thought Cell was dead, and he came back and shot Trunks in the chest!
"RANMA!" Akane ran to Ranma and carefully lifted his head to her chest. "Ranma, please don't die! I need you, I love you!"
"Ranma's voice was barely audible, but Akane could hear his last words clear as day: "I... love... you... too... Akane... even... in... death..." He then closed his eyes and said no more. Akane sobbed as she hugged him closer to her.
Ryoga couldn't believe what he had seen and heard. He had been terribly wrong about Ranma. He did love Akane, and she him. There just had been too many misunderstandings between them. Akane, I'm so sorry.
Frieza looked as a small tear escaped Vegeta's eye. He then laughed aloud. "It seems you did care about that one, Vegeta. But don't be sad, for you may get to join him... in the afterlife!"
Vegeta turned to glare heavily at Frieza and Cooler. Ranma, I swear that you and all that these two have killed will be avenged!! With his fists clenched and teeth grit with hate and rage, he snarled, "You forget, Frieza, that Kakarrot wasn't the only one who could become a Super Saiyan! And since he is dead, you'll have to settle for me!"
Frieza and Cooler, along with Akane and Ryoga, watched in total shock as Vegeta powered up with a scream of pure rage. His muscled bulged and his hair turned gold as a match battle aura surrounded him. "PREPARE TO GO BACK TO HELL, YOU MONSTERS! AND THIS TIME, I WILL NOT WASTE ANY CHANCE TO KILL EITHER OF YOU!"
********************************************************************************
Shampoo was dumbfounded as Mousse finally began to fight her by hitting her stomach. He hit me! But Mousse would never hit me, even if I were to kill him! He proved her wrong as he continued to pummel her until her brought her to her knees. A trickle of blood ran from her nose, to her great surprise.
Mousse loomed over her, a sad expression on his face. "Please yield, Shampoo," he whispered to her. "Because I will not stop until you do. I no longer care about marrying you, but I will defeat you so that Ranma and Akane will no longer have you to interrupt them ever again."
Shampoo wiped the blood from her face and stood up. Quickly, she drew a hidden dagger and screamed, "SHAMPOO NEVER GIVE UP RANMA!" Her attack came to a screeching halt as Mousse landed a right cross to her chin. She fell back to the ground and was motionless, her dagger lying beside her.
Mousse heard Kuno applaud him, but he then suddenly felt a dying life force. Piccolo had taught him to sense people's ki energy during his training, and his eyes widened in horror as he recognized the now missing ki. "Oh no..."
Cologne felt this, too, and looked the direction Mousse was staring at. She, like him, was unable to detect Ranma's ki any longer. Ranma... how can this be?!
Kuno stopped applauding, and was now concerned. "What is wrong?"
The words stung Mousse deep inside as he spoke them. "Ranma... Ranma is dead..."
To Be Concluded...
Author's notes: The next part will be the final chapter, as SS Vegeta takes on both Frieza and Cooler in a no-holds-barred brawl to the death. This will make two fic series of mine almost done, and that means less work for me. Read and review, folks! Now, on to Digion GT!
Part 4
Notice: I do not own any of the characters!
Frieza looked around and smiled sinisterly. "I live again!" he shouted triumphantly.
"WE live again, dear brother."
Frieza spun around to see his older brother Cooler standing behind him, his purple face and deep voice emotionless. The white alien frowned a bit. "Of course, big brother." There was evidence of ice in his voice as he said "big brother."
Happosai grinned. He now had TWO demons at his control to exact his revenge on Ranma. "Well, my boys," he said to get their attention. "Ready to publicly humiliated and pummel my unworthy heir Ranma Saotome?"
"Hold it right there!"
The three looked to see Ryoga and Tarou emerge from the forest and look in shock at Frieza and Cooler. Tarou then glared at Happosai. "What are you up to now, old lech? Summoning more demons to protect you from me? Fat chance! They don't look so tough to me." With that, he tossed the small bag holding the Dragon Ball to Ryoga. "Hold this!" Then, he pulled out a gourd, uncorked it, and poured the cold water within it over himself.
Cooler and Frieza watched as Tarou changed into his cursed form. The minotaur growled at them, but Frieza yawned and said, "Unimpressed." With that, he pointed at Tarou and shot a red beam from his finger.
The beam hit Tarou dead in the center of his chest. Before the monster could even howl in pain, he exploded from the power of the beam. Ryoga hung his mouth open in shock as he watched his partner die so quickly and easily.
Happosai, on the other hand, jumped up and down with delight. "WOW! One shot and he pops like a balloon! Excellent work, lad. Now, go beat Ranma!"
Cooler glared at the old man. "We do not take orders, fool. We give them. Now die!" Cooler then shot lasers from his eyes and killed the perverted old master in one clean shot. "That is my thanks for restoring me to life."
Frieza chuckled. "Now, we can exact our revenge on the Super Saiyan, and with the two of us against him, he will have no chance of winning this time!"
Ryoga couldn't move. He was frozen in shock by these two monsters. They killed Happosai and Tarou without any effort! What chance do I have against them?!
"FRIEZA!"
Everyone looked to see Vegeta, Ranma, and Akane fly in and land in front of the three. Frieza sneered. "Well, well. It's been a while, Vegeta. And I see you brought some friends with you."
Cooler glared again. He had heard of Vegeta from his brother. The Saiyan Prince had once served Frieza until he betrayed him for his own ambitions. "Death to all Saiyans!" he shouted as he fired his eye lasers at the Saiyan.
Vegeta easily blocked the attack with his hand, then looked at Ranma. "Stay back," he commanded. "This is personal."
Ryoga rushed over to Ranma and Akane. "Is this guy nuts?! Those two killed Tarou and Happosai with one hit each! How can he possibly defeat them?"
********************************************************************************
Piccolo increased his speed as he flew towards Gohan's house. He had sensed the ki of both Frieza and Cooler, and though he was thankful it wasn't Cell who came back, several chills ran down his spine as memories of his past battles with both monsters. He had barely survived both encounters, and it was Goku who defeated them in the end.
But Goku's dead now, the Namek thought. That leaves Gohan as Earth's main defender. I think Vegeta can handle both Frieza and Cooler, but I'd better not take any chances.
Suddenly, something orange and black zoomed past him in the other direction. He stopped for a moment before he made the connection. "Gohan!" Quickly, he flew after the young half-Saiyan and caught up with him.
Gohan looked at his old teacher briefly. "You felt them, too?"
Piccolo nodded. "Vegeta and Ranma have gone to face them, but we should get there should Vegeta screw up again."
"How do you know about Ranma?"
"The same way as we found out about Frieza and Cooler being resurrected. Your father contacted us telepathically. Vegeta thought I should get you in case Cell came back instead of either of those two freaks."
********************************************************************************
Cologne shivered as she felt the power of two evils nearby. What has that fool Happy done now? The old Amazon looked at Shampoo, who was gazing happily at the two Dragon Balls in her hands. They only needed five more to summon the Eternal Dragon and then they would be able to wish Ranma for themselves.
Aiya! Shampoo thought happily. Only five more to go, then Shampoo finally marry Ranma!
"Take care, child," Cologne said, snapping the young Amazon from her daydreams. "I sense evil close at hand. We had best move on." They were about to leave, but then Mousse and Kuno appeared in front of them.
Shampoo blinked at Mousse, whom she almost didn't recognize due to the change of clothes he had and the absence of his glasses. Another noticeable was that he was glaring at her. She frowned. "What blind Mousse want now? Shampoo busy."
Mousse kicked a small rock up and caught it with his hand before tossing it at Shampoo. She dodged easily, and then faced him once more as he said, "I was blind in more ways than one, Shampoo, but no more. It is you who are blind if you think Ranma wants to marry you, and if you and Cologne think I'll let you carry out your quest for the Dragon Balls."
Cologne was annoyed at Mousse's statement, yet she was amazed at the sudden change in the Amazon male. Indeed, the changes were for the better, and most interesting.
Mousse bowed towards her and spoke in their native Chinese language. {Honored elder, I wish to challenge your great-granddaughter Shampoo to a fight, not to win her hand, but to release Ranma Saotome from his unwanted engagement to her.}
Cologne raised a wrinkled eyebrow. {And if I say that you cannot?}
{Then I will expel myself from the tribe and fight her anyway, as an outsider. As I said before, I am doing this for my friend Ranma.}
Shampoo listened to the conversation, and was not happy. She had worked too long and hard to get Ranma for her husband and she was not about to let Mousse interfere anymore. Unbeknownst to her, her anger and greed blinded her sense that Mousse was no longer the same weakling she had known for so long. "I accept challenge, Mousse! You come between Shampoo and airen for last time. I kill Mousse!"
Cologne watched as Shampoo charged at Mousse, and sighed heavily while she picked up the two Balls that had been dropped. She still has a lot to learn.
Kuno stepped back and watched as Shampoo failed miserably to connect her fists and feet to Mousse's body and face, though he was merely standing still. So, this was how it appeared when Happosai, Ryoga Hibiki, and myself did battle with Ranma over a year ago. Mousse has ascended so much that his movements to avoid Lady Shampoo's attacks are unnoticeable to the human eye.
********************************************************************************
Frieza looked at Ranma and Akane, then back at Vegeta. "Tell me, Vegeta, since when do you make friends with such lowly species?"
Vegeta snorted. "I could care less if anything happened to them, or anyone else here on Earth." He was trying to sound like his usual self; uncaring, rude, and cold to the bone. Yet he silently prayed that Frieza or Cooler wouldn't try to attack his friends. Even though they could be restored with the Dragon Balls, he wanted to avoid that option at any cost.
Frieza then laughed. "Really? Then you won't mind if I blow up this whole planet after we kill you and your Super Saiyan ally, Goku?"
Cooler, however, didn't share Frieza's merciful attitude. "You're much too kind, brother. I made that mistake once by letting that Saiyan brat escape to this mudball and he grew up to kill us. That shall not happen again!" He then raised his hand and fired a finger blast in Akane's direction.
Ranma saw his and quickly pushed Akane out of the way before he took the hit through his heart. His body did not explode, but blood was gushing from his wound as he fell backwards.
Akane screamed in horror as she watched her fiancée hit the ground with a sickening thud. Her mind recalled the many times she told him to go off and die, which she would regret saying later, but never apologized to him. Now, seeing him lying face up with wide eyes staring into the sky, she wished she had been more kind and supportive to him from the very beginning.
Vegeta's eyes widened at the sight of Ranma dying before him. He recalled the week they had spent together training him in the Room of Spirit and Time, becoming somewhat friends. In truth, the Saiyan had seen the boy as a second son to him. Trunks, he thought. It's just like when we thought Cell was dead, and he came back and shot Trunks in the chest!
"RANMA!" Akane ran to Ranma and carefully lifted his head to her chest. "Ranma, please don't die! I need you, I love you!"
"Ranma's voice was barely audible, but Akane could hear his last words clear as day: "I... love... you... too... Akane... even... in... death..." He then closed his eyes and said no more. Akane sobbed as she hugged him closer to her.
Ryoga couldn't believe what he had seen and heard. He had been terribly wrong about Ranma. He did love Akane, and she him. There just had been too many misunderstandings between them. Akane, I'm so sorry.
Frieza looked as a small tear escaped Vegeta's eye. He then laughed aloud. "It seems you did care about that one, Vegeta. But don't be sad, for you may get to join him... in the afterlife!"
Vegeta turned to glare heavily at Frieza and Cooler. Ranma, I swear that you and all that these two have killed will be avenged!! With his fists clenched and teeth grit with hate and rage, he snarled, "You forget, Frieza, that Kakarrot wasn't the only one who could become a Super Saiyan! And since he is dead, you'll have to settle for me!"
Frieza and Cooler, along with Akane and Ryoga, watched in total shock as Vegeta powered up with a scream of pure rage. His muscled bulged and his hair turned gold as a match battle aura surrounded him. "PREPARE TO GO BACK TO HELL, YOU MONSTERS! AND THIS TIME, I WILL NOT WASTE ANY CHANCE TO KILL EITHER OF YOU!"
********************************************************************************
Shampoo was dumbfounded as Mousse finally began to fight her by hitting her stomach. He hit me! But Mousse would never hit me, even if I were to kill him! He proved her wrong as he continued to pummel her until her brought her to her knees. A trickle of blood ran from her nose, to her great surprise.
Mousse loomed over her, a sad expression on his face. "Please yield, Shampoo," he whispered to her. "Because I will not stop until you do. I no longer care about marrying you, but I will defeat you so that Ranma and Akane will no longer have you to interrupt them ever again."
Shampoo wiped the blood from her face and stood up. Quickly, she drew a hidden dagger and screamed, "SHAMPOO NEVER GIVE UP RANMA!" Her attack came to a screeching halt as Mousse landed a right cross to her chin. She fell back to the ground and was motionless, her dagger lying beside her.
Mousse heard Kuno applaud him, but he then suddenly felt a dying life force. Piccolo had taught him to sense people's ki energy during his training, and his eyes widened in horror as he recognized the now missing ki. "Oh no..."
Cologne felt this, too, and looked the direction Mousse was staring at. She, like him, was unable to detect Ranma's ki any longer. Ranma... how can this be?!
Kuno stopped applauding, and was now concerned. "What is wrong?"
The words stung Mousse deep inside as he spoke them. "Ranma... Ranma is dead..."
To Be Concluded...
Author's notes: The next part will be the final chapter, as SS Vegeta takes on both Frieza and Cooler in a no-holds-barred brawl to the death. This will make two fic series of mine almost done, and that means less work for me. Read and review, folks! Now, on to Digion GT!