Dragon Ball: Makafushigi Adventure

By Reid M. Haynes

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball and all characters within are the property of Akira Toriyama, TOEI ANIMATION, and various other companies. I am using them without permission, and I am making no money off of them.

Legend:
( ) Denotes thoughts.

Tale 11: The Heart's Battleground, Part 2

*****

"HAAAA!!!!!"

The incredible rush of crystal fire poured from Goku's outstretched grasp, burning out like an active volcano. Shooting through the atmosphere, it moved through the space separating it from the target, soaring over the grassy plains in a matter of seconds. In no time at all, the godlike fury had crossed the abyss towards the man, who only stared at it in surprise.

Vegeta's shock didn't last, for before the beam had connected, he had started his counter. He raised his hands, channeled his energy into them…

"FINAL FLASH!!!" …and just as the laser was within his fingertips, he let loose with his signature move, running its saffron wave outwards. It rammed straight against the Turtle-taught attack, forcing it away from Vegeta with an earth-quaking force. It pushed and shoved with all the power the prince could muster, meeting it blast for blast in a final struggle for supremacy.

A struggle that Vegeta would win.

For by applying just a little bit more energy, he was able to push the blue-white bolt backward. He found the enemy's force to be strong and formidable, well designed for combat. But it was no equal for the newly found rage that he had welled up within.

"RAGH!!!" With a sudden shock of power, Vegeta increased his beam's intensity ten fold, disintegrating Goku's attack into harmless vapor. It tore through it's bulk, eating through the flame like it starved for blood. And indeed it would get blood, for it was soon within his opponent's area.

Then it broke through, sending a cataclysmic explosion into the world. Rippling with cosmic rings, the orb of destruction completely masked the target inside its volume.

Soon it started to clear, and Vegeta squinted his eyes to look beyond the fading detonation. And then he smiled, and his eyes lit up with a manic glee. Then he chuckled, folded his arms, and finally launched into full laughter.

Goku was on his knees, struggling to stay up, and his gi was soiled and torn…

*****

Goku did his best to get to his feet, pushing with all of his remaining strength. He shoved against the ground, straining his arms into steel. In the end, though, it wasn't enough, because the fallen hero soon fell onto his face, beaten and battered and the loser of the fight.

He shivered in pain, and craned his head up at the victor. Vegeta was walking slowly to where he lie, snickering with victory. With clenched fists he moved, swaggering like a drunk sailor, ready to end everything.

(So, this is my destiny…) Goku closed his eyes. (I…was supposed to lose.) It was the only thing that made sense. One of them would fall on this battle. And by the smirk on his enemy's face, it was to be him.

"You should never have walked out of your house, Kakarrot," Vegeta said as he neared the thrashed body. "Now, you'll taste the might of a Saiyan prince."

Goku looked wearily at the man, who stood tall over him. He blinked wearily, his vision starting to fade. Then he let out a small smile.

(Goodbye, Bulma,) he said sadly, his eyes watering over with tears. "I hope Vegeta…takes good care of you…)

Vegeta raised his hand, and formed it into a blade. "Our rivalry has come to a close…" He bend his arm back… "…NOW!!!" Then he swung, straight for the forehead.

Goku closed his eyes.

"Vegeta!" And a voice broke through his haze, keeping him from falling into unconsciousness. He peeked through one eye, and found Bulma, standing about three meters from hum. She was standing firm, arms spread and her mouth set, with eyes glittering with fierce, protective fury.

Vegeta was not impressed by this display of emotion. "Do not interfere, woman!" he demanded, looking over his shoulder at Bulma. "This battle is mine, and I intend to finish it!"

"The hell you will!" she screamed back, curling her fists. "Goku is one of my oldest friends! If you touch him, I'll never forgive you!"

Vegeta looked startled at this outburst, but quickly formed his face into a scowl again. "You have no say in this matter!" he snarled, flaring up with anger. "This is a battle between fellow Saiyan. Why do you even bother to oppose?!"

"Because I…" Bulma started, then suddenly stopped, her voice catching in her throat. "Because…I…"

"Because you what?" Vegeta bit out, interrupting her. "Love him?"

The woman was stunned by this accusation. Her eyes were widening, and her lips quivered in fear. Her face was hit with a light blush, and her hands were wringing loosely at her sides.

But then Bulma grit her teeth, clenched her fists, and finally spoke up.

"Y-yes!" she said, trying her best to keep her voice from wavering." Yes I do!" Two tears rolled down her cheeks, poured from her hardened irises.

"No!" Vegeta suddenly screamed out, gesticulating wildly with his arms. "He's nothing! A weak little third class! You can't!" He swished his arm back into position, ready to axe Goku in half. "I'll show you just how pathetic he truly is!"

As Vegeta's arm began his deadly descent, Bulma's face burst into shock. She stared on as the prince prepared to end the life of the one she now knew she loved.

Then she screamed out in despair.

"Gokuuu!"

*****

Vegeta's brain was boiling with an insane fire, consuming him from the inside. His eyes were glowing with frenzy; his teeth ground together, and his entire body shook like mad.

(This is impossible!) he reasoned desperately. (No one could possibility choose that idiot over me!)

With new resolve, he let his arm move back onto its fated path.

(I am Vegeta, prince of all Saiyan! I am the proven strongest in the universe!)

His chop slashed through the air.

(I am the one who holds the key to destiny! I am Kakarrot's superior!!!"

It kept moving.

(I…)

And moving…

(I…)

And…it stopped.

(I…lost.)

*****

Goku opened his eyes. Vegeta's hand was inches away from his nose, glowing with a ki strong enough to crack open his skull. The aura was fading, though, slowly melting into the endless ether. And the hand…was shaking.

Vegeta's face was wrought with disbelief, seeming startled at the very hand he had brought to a halt. His eyes had cracked out of their permanent glare, and now were stretched out in a face that Goku had seldom seen. The prince of Saiyans was at a lost for words, and the martial artist had no idea what he was going to do.

But Vegeta knew he was doing. He moved his hand away from Goku, letting it fall away loosely to the side. He turned away from him, looking like he was struggling with something. Then Goku heard him sigh, an ashamed, defeated breath of air, and all of the conflict drained out of his voice.

"You win….Goku." With those three words, he charged up his ki and flew away to the sky, making a gold streak that zapped out into the distance, disguising the fighter until he had diappeared forever into the clouds.

And then Bulma was rushing towards him, running as fast as she could towards his side. She was saying something, something very loud, repeating it over and over again.

But Goku could only chuckle at the irony of the situation. "He…he called me 'Goku,' he breathed in, looking up at her lazily. "Well how about that…?"

Then his vision blacked out, and crumbled to the ground, amidst the horrified cries of Bulma.

*****

Yamcha walked down the crumbling hallways of the Capsule House toward the room on the far end. He carefully stepped over yesterday's wreckage, making his way slowly and steadily through. In his hand was a moist towelette, and in his eyes was the calm sense of peace that always came with the completion of a great trial.

It was one hour after the ordeal on the plains. Oolong had fainted dead away, while Puar had burst out crying. Trunks was calmly waiting outside; for what, he had no idea. And as for Goku, he was still unconscious, so Yamcha had to play nursemaid for him, walking aback and forth from the TV to check up on him every fifteen minutes.

But he was too mentally exhasted to complain. Yamcha let out a large breath and started using the towel on his own forehead. The end of Goku was nigh on that battlefield, and yet once again he cheated death, by the most extraordinary of circumstances. It was like some fifty-five cent romance novel that you could pick up from a gas station, except that it was all reality.

In all his journeys with both Bulma and Goku, Yamcha had never expected some crazy thing like this to happen. But in the end, he really shouldn't have been that surprised. Goku was a monument to the unpredictability of life, and chaos seemed to follow him wherever he went.

When Yamcha actually looked it over, it was obvious that Bulma had had some subtle interest in Goku, even at the time when he was dating her. But there was always something else, some obstacle that was in the way. Like him.

t the time Goku had married Chichi, Yamcha thought that it was all over. Indeed, things seemed to quiet down, as Goku had a child now, and was quite the family man. He should have known, though, that it wouldn't last. The whole mess with the Saiyans exploded, Vegeta had started living here, and Bulma had developed an interest in him.

And now this.

Yamcha arrived at Goku's quarters, and found Bulma waiting right outside the door. Large rings were under her eye, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days.

"How is he?" she asked quietly, not looking at him.

"Better," he answered, crumpling the cloth in his hand. "He should be waking up in about ten, twenty tops."

"That's good," Bulma lowered her head again, and the two settled back into uncomfortable silence. Both of them seemed like they had something to say, but were waiting for the other to go first.

For a while, the only sound that could be heard was the tick-tick-tick of the clock in the right-hand room. Then, Bulma spoke up again. "Do you.…" she began, looking at the floor. "…do you know why Goku didn't fight at full power?"

Yamcha started to lean back. "I'm not entirely sure," he said, propping himself against the wall. "But I think it was because he somehow knew that he couldn't settle things that way."

"You mean I was supposed to interfere in the fight?" Bulma asked him.

"Maybe, maybe not," he said. "All I know is that the paths we take swirl and intersect with each passing day. The future is never concrete enough that it can't change and cultivate into a whole new destiny," He smirked. "Hanging out with you guys has taught me that much."

Bulma seemed taken aback by this poetic outburst, but quickly reverted back to her original, motionless state. Yamcha took this as an end to their conversation and opened up the doorway to Goku's room.

But inside, things had changed. The bed was empty, and the sheets were on the floor. The bandages that Yamcha had wrapped around his patient were scattered all over, and the wet towel lay useless on the dresser.

Goku was nowhere in sight.

"He…he's gone!" Yamcha exclaimed, searching all over the room. "But…it was just thirteen minutes since I last…" He suddenly dashed out of the room. "Hey Bulma, Goku's flown the coop. He…"

But no one answered him, for she had left too. "What the…" he stuttered, looking at the spot where Bulma had been. "When did she…aw, hell." Yamcha gave up in exasperation, throwing the moist towel behind him. He peeked beyond the corner, where he could see the front door swinging shut.

Then a small smile melted on his face.

*****

Bulma let the door swing behind her as she trudged through the field after Goku. Her hair bristled with the movement, stinging her eyes, and the slippers flopped on her feet with each stride. Once again, she was running like mad, chasing after Goku and trying to figure out what the hell he was doing now.

But then again, this was what she pretty much did all the time. Bulma couldn't believe how much her life was connected with Goku's. Ever since she discovered him in the mountains, a chain reaction had been started, creating new stages of her life with every fallen domino. Sometimes she wondered if it would ever end, or if she even wanted it to.

Then Bulma saw a figure up ahead, and she skid to a halt. She stared out at it. There he was, standing among the willows. His hair was tousled with the early morning breeze, and his ragged gi flayed around his shoulders. His back was to her, and he appeared to be staring out at the mountains.

Bulma hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should even approach. Goku seemed so deep and contemplative, and she was afraid to disturb him. She took a few steps back…

"I'm going on a trip." …and then his voice came out at her, jolting her backwards even further. She gaped at him. How had he known she was here? How…but then she shrugged it off. Goku was always pulling weird crap like that, so it only took her a moment to calm down.

When she had done so, the meaning of Goku's words emerged into mind. She stalled for a quick second, then she came up with a response. "Where are you going to?" Bulma asked, keeping her voice as neutral as she could.

"Here, there, anywhere," he said, still keeping his back to her. "I have no place to go, and I have everywhere to go."

Bulma saw Goku's head droop down, so that she could see his bare neck. "I've finally figured out what Grandpa wanted me to do with my life," he said. "He never wanted me to stay at the pangoda alone. He wanted me to get out, learn new things, and meet wonderful friends. That Dragon Ball he left me…" he paused for a second, as if trying to convince himself of the truth he knew. "…that was for me and me alone, to lead me out of the mountains and into the world. He knew that someone would come searching for it; it was his way of guiding me and keeping his spirit with me."

For once, Bulma kept silent, letting Goku continue his speech. All that he said made perfect sense, and she was almost surprised she didn't come to that conclusion earlier. But Goku had risen his head now, so she was kept from mulling over this any further. He was slowly turning to face her, with a somewhat nervous look on his face.

He met her eyes, and said something that she would never have dreamed possible.

"Come with me."

"W-what?!" Bulma stood up rigid, frozen in Goku's stare. "What did you say?" she asked again, not daring to believe what he she had heard.

"I want you to come with me," Goku said, a small blush appearing on his face. "The way I figure it, Grandpa hoped for me to find someone who would travel with me. I did," He put his hand to the back of his head in embarrassment. "It's kinda taken me a while to realize it…"

"Half your life," she corrected him, in a mindless daze.

"Yeah," he laughed a bit, a half-smile on his face. "Anyway, it's been a long time, but with this trip to clear my mind, I've finally figured out what I want."

"W…what's that?" she stammered, holding her breath back.

"You," he told her.

"H-h-huh?" Bulma gasped. "M-me?"

"Yeah," He turned back away from her. "You see, I want to travel around the world. But I want someone to share it all with, to laugh with and get angry with." He took a breath. "I know I've made a mess of things, especially with Chichi. But I can't help believing that this is what I should do."

"Bulma, let me give you your wings back," He turned to her, his eyes wide and shining. "I want to see you free and energetic, like you've been on this trip. Let's be angels again, and travel the skies looking for adventure, like we used to." Then he closed his eyes. "Okay?" he amended, looking back into her eyes.

Bulma stared in amazement, all words sucked out of her mouth. "G-Goku…" she started, then stopped to take another breath. "I…I don't know…" she said, trying to put all her thoughts into words. "I…"

Goku stared back to the ground, a slightly disappointed look on his face. Then he turned back to the mountains, away from her. "I understand," he said quietly, looking to the icy peaks. Then he made a sharp whistle, and a small, yellowish-green cloud shot from the heavens to the ground, waiting for his next command.

Goku made a quick hop onto Kinto'un, and turned back to Bulma. "If you want to come along, I'll be waiting on top of the mountain," he said. "And if you don't…well…" For a quick second, Bulma thought she saw a flash of sadness on his face. "I'm sure you can still make up with Vegeta."

He raised his hand, and gave her a small salute. "See ya," he told her, and rushed off towards the mountains beyond.

Bulma watched the man and his cloud leave, not moving an inch. Then her racing heart caught up with her, and she put her hand to her mouth in amazement, scarcely believing what had just transpired before her gaze.

She thought she had left her questing days behind her forever, and didn't think that she could ever go back. For long nights, she had sat up, thinking about the past and what could've been, if things had been a little different. But now, she was getting that chance again, another shot at going on the adventuresome life she had always dreamed about, and she would have one more shot at showing Goku just how much he meant to her.

But was she truly ready for such a jaunt? Did she have the courage to throw everything away, her home at Capsule Corp, and her laboratory there, to jump into an air-car and chase her dreams again? Was this what she really wanted? .

Bulma's knees gave, and she slumped onto the grass, her slippers popping off her feet. She put her hands to her face, and tried to put her scrambled heart back together.

"Kami, what should I do?"