Not mine, no money. Hey, there, and welcome to Dream's Curse. Let us hope our warriors will live through their training.
***
Dream's Curse
We made it back to the Capsule Corp and found everyone still there. Gohan, Videl, Goten, and Chibi Trunks were sitting around and waiting for us to return.
"Uh...Hi," Bra said nervously.
"Is this Bra?" Trunks asked.
"Yeah," Mirai Trunks answered him, "My little sister."
"Sister?!" Goten yelped, "Then who's he?" He pointed at Mirai Gohan.
"That would be Mirai Gohan," I answered.
"Where's Mirai Goten?" Gohan asked. I looked at my feet and knew the others were as well.
"My future self is dead?" Goten's eyes widened in surprise.
"Cut down at the age of 5," I said as tears stung my eyes, "The little kid was protecting Bra."
"Bra doesn't look like she needs protection from a 5 year old," Bulma said as she looked at her future daughter.
"I made her that age, just as I changed my own age," I explained, "She's 10 years older."
"You made her 13 when she was only 3?!" Videl's eyes bugged out.
"Yeah," Bra said and looked at her, "Who is she?"
"That's Videl," I told her, "She's one of the kids Gohan and I go to school with."
"So where are all the reporters?" Mirai Gohan joked, "I'd expect them to still be here even after 7 years." He laughed at this but when he saw my face, Gohan's, Trunks', and Videl's he immediately asked, "What happened?"
"Well..." Videl began, "My dad told the world that he was the one to defeat Cell. And everyone still thinks that." Mirai Bra and Gohan's eyes bugged out at this new information.
"I think we had better begin training, my friends," I said as we settled down, "I am in great need of training as well as Videl and Bra. Hey! I know, Videl, how about I twist your genes and make you a Saiyan!"
"You...would do that?" Videl asked, "For me?"
"Yeah. It's a cinch. But it depends on which gene you want me to twist," I said slowly, "I need to make one of your parents be someone else. It isn't hard, but sometimes it's a little...rough to know that you have a different birth parent."
"My dad," she said flatly, "Definitely my dad." I nodded and said, "Hey, Vegeta? Want to be a daddy?" I laughed behind my fingers, "I'm kidding, Vegeta." His face was a little weird looking. I figured he didn't know what to say.
"Angel, if you just need a blood sample I have plenty of both Goku and Vegeta," Bulma said, "And even a bit of Nappa's."
"No, I don't but thanks for the offer, Bulma," I said, "All I really need is the species and personality trait. I chose peaceful."
"That would explain it a great deal," Trunks joked half-way.
"Okay," Videl said, "I want strength."
"Good choice," I said as I typed in the information, "Saiyan...strength...Videl...Okay, ready? You'll feel a little weird."
"Ready," She set her jaw and waited as I pressed the little green button on my watch. I observed for the first time the outer appearances of the change.
At first, it appeared nothing was happening. Which was understandable, since it had seemed that way during the first few minutes of my own transformation.
The bright flash of light hurt my sensitive eyes for a few moments, but they soon got used to it. The light exploded with renewed brightness with each passing moment, pulsating with power as it made her stronger from her extreme training she had already gone through.
Her brown tail grew slowly and snaked behind her. She grew a little more muscle tone. But otherwise she was unchanged. Her eyes remained their glowing bright blue, showing that she had gotten them from her mother. Her hair remained straight, also a sign that her mother had had straight black hair. It was slightly spiked but not as heavily as either Gohan, Goten, or Vegeta. It made her look a tiny bit like Trunks.
"Her power level is significant," Vegeta smirked, speaking for the first time we had gotten back.
"Wow," was all Gohan could say. Mirai Gohan was not easily impressed and many could see why.
"I think we've found the women's side of the Z fighters," I said with a grin, "Let the training begin!"
***
Mirai Trunks was a ruthless and a quite good teacher. If I didn't get it right the first time, he'd use the attack, low powered, of course, on me. It took several days to learn the basics, but soon I was sparring with Videl and Bra.
"So, Angel, have you come up with any new beams yet?" Bra smirked, "Trunks said that you were working on one."
"Ooh! I told him not to tell, I wanted it to be a surprise!" I shouted. Videl watched us from afar. Whoever won this spar would be fighting her.
"Let's see it, Angel!" Videl shouted.
"Yeah, come on!" Bra laughed.
"Oh, fine," I said, "This isn't going to hurt one bit." I powered up the ki, which was my trademark color of green. It was about the size of a grapefruit.
"Angel's Kiss!" I hissed as I tossed it. It hit her and bounced back to me several times. I smirked when she said, "What kind of attack is that?! It didn't do anything!"
"On the contrary, it did something that will shock and amaze you," I smirked triumphantly, "It drained your energy. You are now about as strong as a normal human unless I shoot you again with it."
"What?! No!" Bra felt herself all over and discovered this to be true.
"Here, I'll give it back as long as you say you lost," I smirked as she growled at me.
"Fine. I give up," she glowered at me, "Trunks said that it was a good attack. He was right."
"Sure is," I grinned as I powered up to give it back, "Angel's Kiss!"
"Thanks, Angel," Bra smiled sweetly, "Your turn, Videl."
Many weeks passed. Trunks continued training me with each day.
"Okay, Angel," Trunks said to me, "I think you're ready."
"Ready? For what?"
"To transform," he smiled at my surprised face.
"But I've only been training for a month!" I said.
"You get strong pretty fast, Angel, stronger than anyone I've ever met," he said, "After only a month of training, you can fight me at normal level and win." This was true, but still, I was shocked that I would be the first female Super Saiyan.
He began the training immediately, going over and over every detail.
"Now it is time for your first power up," He smirked in a way that made him look like his dad, "Don't be ashamed if you don't get it the first time. No one else has ever gotten there on their first try. It took me about 20 times before I got there."
I nodded and began the power up. My body began to glow white. Then green. My shoulder length black hair fluttered in the high winds my ki let off. I let off a growl of pain, my own ki flames were burning.
"It burns, Trunks," I said in a pain filled voice. He stood off to the side and nodded.
"It's supposed to, you're not used to it yet," he said it calmly, "Forget about the burning, concentrate." I nodded and closed my eyes. A flicker of golden light.
Slowly, I was doing it. I was going Super Saiyan, a level once thought impossible until Goku reached it to destroy Frieza.
My power slowly grew. My hair was glowing brightly and shifting awkwardly between black and gold. My eyes were open and watching everything. They shifted between my blues and the shocking aqua green.
With a shout, it was complete. The whistling of my energy shifted my golden spikes slightly, my aqua eyes taking in everything. My laughter filled the air as Trunks fainted dead away. I felt everyone come running and saw the gaping mouths of all my friends.
I had done it. I was a Super Saiyan.
"So, what do you guys think of me as a blond?" I asked casually, as though it were no big deal.
Their gaping mouths and wide eyes told me they were as shocked as I was that I had gotten so far along in such a short period of time.
I was full of pride, but not for long. In just three short months, we'd be at the World Martial Arts Tournament and all of it would happen...
The months passed quickly. I trained and trained, harder and faster than ever before. I had decided not to use the Room of Spirit and Time, which Dende happily agreed to. I was getting stronger all the time. And now I was at Super Saiyan Level 2.
Videl and Bra were Super Saiyans now as well.
And it was only a day away.
"Hey, Angel, what you doing?" Trunks asked. I hadn't been able to go to sleep. I was outside and sat under a tree, watching the stars in the sky.
"They're different than my world," I whispered softly, "They're even more beautiful with each time I look at them."
"What are?" Trunks asked. He stood off behind me and stared at me. I looked back at him and looked him directly in the eyes.
"The stars," I answered, "They are so different. Like me." I looked back at the stars in the sky. Trunks walked up beside me and sat down. He had a blanket in his hands.
It was cold, I noticed now.
"Want to share my blanket?" He asked.
"Sure." I smiled at him. He brought the blanket around his shoulders. I leaned against him and felt his start of surprise. My eyes slid closed and I fell fast asleep.
Trunks didn't move or speak, afraid to wake her up. He brought the blanket to wrap around her shoulders and leaned into her a little before going to sleep himself.
***
I woke up feeling stiff. My eyes shot open and I felt the arm that wrapped around my waist. Trunks had leaned against me all through the night and had his arm wrapped tightly around my waist. I knew it was out of protection. It wasn't the suggestive thing it would have been with my boyfriend from my own dimension. Of course, he was dead.
I shook Trunks gently to wake him and his eyes opened slowly. He must have remembered where he was, because at that moment, he turned to look at me.
"Could you let go of me, Trunks?" I whispered. I did not like that sort of thing even if it was out of protection.
His arm came back to his side in a flash and his face was redder than a tomato.
"Come on, Trunks," I laughed, "Let's hope the others aren't awake yet." He nodded and we raced back to Capsule Corp, where, thankfully, all but Bulma were still asleep. And she was in the kitchen.
"Good morning, Bulma," I said as I walked inside.
"Good morning, Trunks, Angel, you two are up early," Bulma said.
"I want to eat before the boys get here," I said and rolled my eyes towards the upstairs.
"Me too, ma'am," Trunks said with a smile.
"Well, you're in luck, because I just finished enough pancakes for two," Bulma said and handed us two plates piled high with enough pancakes to feed a Saiyan with a little extra.
"And Chi-chi has a surprise for all of you as well," Bulma said, "All of you. But I'm not allowed to spoil the surprise." Her eyes danced mischievously.
"You two are always trying to keep us on edge, aren't you?" I giggled as I poured syrup onto my pancakes and began eating. Like a Saiyan. I ate pancake after pancake faster and faster. Even Trunks was unable to keep up.
"I guess when you take the fact that I was a fast-eating human and add Saiyan blood to it, you come up with a fast-eating person," I said with a shrug.
"Faster than a normal Saiyan anyway," Trunks said after swallowing some pancakes. Soon, he too was finished.
"Should I go wake Videl and Bra?" I asked.
"I'll wake up the others," Trunks said.
"I better get Trunks, and Vegeta," Bulma said, "Vegeta normally is up by now. He probably wanted some extra sleep so he could fight 'Kakarott'. Men. So predictable."
"What do you mean by that?" Trunks asked in a truly weird way.
"Know what you mean, Bulma," I said with a laugh. I shook my head as Trunks asked, "What?!"
"Never mind, let's just wake everybody up," I said with a final giggle. I reached for the telephone and dialed Videl's number.
"Hello, this is Hercule," came the voice, "To whom am I speaking?"
"Angel. Wake Videl up and tell her to meet us here," I told him.
"Videl left for Capsule Corp about a minute ago," Hercule said.
"Okay, thanks. Bye."
"Bye." He hung up the phone and I trekked upstairs to Mirai Bra's room. She was sleeping peacefully in her bed. I smiled and gently shook her awake.
***
The plane that we were riding in wasn't very fast, but it would get us to the island without people being scared of us.
"OK, so what's this secret that Bulma told Trunks and me this morning?" I asked Chi-chi.
"Gohan and Goten already got theirs this morning, but I made one for everyone," Chi-chi said with a grin, "I made everyone a new gi. Including our four guests of other planes."
"Gi? For us? Wow, thanks, Chi-chi!" I grinned.
"What should I call my past mother?" Mirai Gohan asked me in a hushed tone.
"I heard that, Mirai Gohan," Chi-chi said, "You can call me Chi-chi."
"We do have a problem, however, between Mirais and Presents," I said, "Mirai Trunks and Gohan will be needing a nickname or something."
"Easily taken care of," Trunks said, "My name is Azure and Gohan is Viper."
"OK," I shrugged. Simple names.(Okay, to make things simpler, I'll call Mirai Trunks Azure and Mirai Gohan Viper. Well, Trunks, out loud.)
"How'd you pick out such cool names in such a short time?" Trunks asked.
"Our hair colors," Azure replied.
"Cool," said Goten.
"Well, anyway, your gi are in these capsules along with some other stuff I'd figure you'd need," Chi-chi shrugged and handed us each a Capsule with our names on them. She also had one for Goku and Piccolo.
"Well, here we are," Bulma announced. We saw a lot of different crafts similar to ours, but Bulma had reserved a space for us, which we promptly slid into.
"Okay, guys, let's see if we can find Goku," I said. Azure walked beside me and Viper sidled up beside Bra, Videl, and Gohan. Goten stayed with his mother as best he could.
"I don't know where Goku is, but there is someone we do know," Krillin pointed to Piccolo, who waited in meditation beneath a tree.
"Mr. Piccolo!" Goten exclaimed. Gohan raced up to meet his old mentor.
"Hey, Piccolo, you remember Mirai Trunks?" he asked and pointed to Azure.
"What on Earth are you doing here again?" Piccolo rumbled, annoyed.
"His world is gone, Piccolo," I said quietly, "He and his sister and Mirai Gohan are all that remain of his world and time. His name is Azure and Mirai Gohan is Viper, got it?"
"Angel, what happened to you?" Piccolo asked in a surprised tone.
"I trained with Azure," I shrugged, "I'm a Super Saiyan Level 2 now."
"Oh. Strong indeed." I heard a rush of wind and knew Goku had arrived.
"Hey, everybody, remember me?" He asked with his goofy, no-care grin pasted to his face. It just made me laugh.
"Gohan! You're giant! Hey, who are all those other people? TRUNKS?!" He yelped in surprise.
"Goku, calm down," I said as I tried my very best not to laugh.
"Hey, you're Angel, aren't you?" Goku asked me, "King Kai told me about you. But why is Mirai Trunks here? And who are the others?"
"Goku, call Mirai Trunks Azure for the time being," I said, "It's his Tournament name. As for the two girls, that's Videl and Bra. Bra is Vegeta's future daughter and Videl is Hercule's daughter but I twisted her genes like I did my own, so now she's a half-Saiyan too. The other guy is Mirai Gohan, but call him Viper for now."
Goku's mouth and eyes were wide.
"Daddy!" came Goten's cry. He leaped up into Goku's arms.
"You want to be an airplane?" Goku asked and he flew Goten around in wide circles. It was a scene you just had to smile about.
"We'd better go register, Goku," I reminded him.
***
Goten, Bra, and Trunks were in the Junior Division. 18, Krillin, Vegeta, Goku, Gohan, Videl, Viper, Azure, and I were in the adult competition. I did the math and knew that some people would be left out. There was Hercule, Spopovitch, Yamu, Shin, and Kibito for sure. And the other three, Jewel, Killa, and Mighty Mask.
As soon as the drawing came up, I knew Mighty Mask and Killa were the ones who wouldn't be fighting. And I was happy for it. It meant Goten and Trunks couldn't infiltrate the adult competition. The draw came as follows:
1. 18/Jewel
2. Piccolo/Shin
3. Angel/Spopovitch
4. Gohan/Kibito
5. Goku/Vegeta
6. Videl/Krillin
7. Viper/Hercule
8. Azure/Yamu
I nearly had a panic attack when I heard I would be fighting against Spopovitch. Then I remembered, DUH! I'm a whole lot stronger than that nitwit. I was about ready to laugh my head off when I heard that 18 would be fighting Jewel first. I knew the boy didn't have a chance.
"So, what do you think, Angel?" Videl asked as we suited up in our new gi. Mine was a very stylish blue with aqua accents and black boots. My black gloves remained on my hands and I tied my new aqua bandana tightly so it wouldn't fall off in my match with Spopovitch.
"I think that I am so dead," I said.
"Why? Spopovitch is weak, my dad said so!" she said, "And if he's weak to my dad, just think how weak he is to you!"
"He is weak no longer, Videl," I said tersely, "He is being controlled by Babadi. Sent here to gather energy. If I was not here, you'd be fighting him, not me. And you would lose, miserably."
"You mean he isn't weak anymore? That he works for the guy who is going to release Buu?" she asked.
"He was taken under Babadi's spell, yes," I answered.
"So that monster that killed Goten is going to be released here by the guy who is controlling those two?" Bra asked in clarification.
"Yeah. Right on the button," I said grimly. Then my face brightened, "But let's have a little fun with this."
"All right! Now that's the attitude I want to hear!" Bra smiled broadly, "Let's show these boys that there are some new fighters in town!"
"You go that right, sister," I smirked, "One for all!"
"And all for one!" they answered me as we placed our hands together.
"We are the three Saiyan Girls and we've got more than Saiyan rage on our side," Videl said with a grin. She had heard the complete story of the Saiyans from me a long time ago.
"Let's kick some boys' butts!" Bra said happily. She had learned long ago how to act more like a 13 year old because she would be one until her next birthday, in which she'll turn 14. (DUH!) We went outside and met with Goku and Goten. We were waiting on the others.
As soon as the others joined us, I stepped back and stood between Videl and Azure. Videl stood next to Gohan. Viper walked along next to Bra. Goku and Goten walked in front of us. Trunks, Vegeta, 18, and Krillin walked behind us.
"Excuse me, Miss Videl, but how do you judge your father's competition this year?" asked a reporter as a mike was shoved in her face.
"I think he hasn't got a chance against Viper," Videl grinned, "Or me, for that matter." The reporter's eyes went wide.
"So you think your father is going to lose in the first round? How do you think you'll fare, Videl?" he asked as he regained his composure.
"I think that I have a chance of beating Krillin, but it's slim," she replied.
"Who is Krillin, anyway?" asked the reporter.
"Hey, Krillin, come here!" Videl shouted. He came forward and stood next to Videl and me.
"Him?!" Asked the reporter in complete shock.
"Hey, man, size don't matter," I shouted, "Hey, Trunks!" I waited for the little boy.
"This kid packs a better punch than I used to, man," I pointed downwards, "If it weren't for his father and my friend Azure here, I wouldn't be as strong as I am today. Now scram, we've got to sign in." He nodded shakily and ran off.
"You deal with those guys better than I do," Videl said, "Come on, before they start the Junior Division." We nodded and double our speed so that we reached the main arena. Trunks, Goten, and Bra met with the other kids and we sat on the high wall overlooking the stadium. They started the Junior Division immediately.
(Okay, I've no clue about the announcer's name, so I'm just going to call him Ace, got it?)
"OK, people! Unlike the adult tournament, the junior division has no qualifying round, which means that all 37 of these young fighters will get to test their might in the ring," Ace said proudly into the mike, "Our first match of the day..." The rest of the Junior Division went by in a blur until Goten and Bra stepped into the ring for the semifinals.
"Okay. In this match we have the lovely 13-year-old Bra and the 7 year old wonder, Goten," Ace said, "These two fighters have been training together for the past five months, but neither are certain who will win this match. Whoever loses will receive 3 million zeni and whoever wins goes on to battle Trunks, whom both of them know very well. Let the match begin!" Bra and Goten dropped to fighting stances.
"Okay, Goten," Bra said sweetly, "Let's see just how hard core you can go."
"Bra you are so dead," Goten said in a rare show of toying with his opponent. They launched towards each other and punched one another in the jaw, causing their arms to link. Bra quickly recovered and swung Goten in a round house kick. He flew across the ring but quickly stopped himself. He flew back and knocked her in the jaw and they began a punch-punch kick-kick blocking combo that most eyes could not make out. Mine watched them carefully and I saw that Bra was more likely to win the match.
Though they were evenly matched, Bra's arms and legs were longer, faster, and more accurate than Goten's. He was a bit more sloppy when he became desperate.
"Goten, relax!" I shouted through cupped hands. He relaxed a little and his punches and kicks began to become more accurate and focused now that he was more relaxed and care-free.
"Their doing well for a couple of kids," Azure said as he watched them closely.
"What do you expect? They've been training specially hard over the past months," I said, "As have we."
"Greetings, Goku," said a smooth voice. I turned and almost yelped when I saw Shin and Kibito.
"Hey, your name is Shin, right?" Goku asked cheerfully.
"Yes, of course," he answered. His voice was soft but I knew him too well to know that he was masking his worry.
"My dear, is something troubling you?" Shin asked, pointing the question to me.
"Yes, but..." my voice trailed off.
"You are afraid of me," he said, "Why?"
"I'm not sure," I said hesitantly. Azure stared at me strangely.
"I will see you in our match, Piccolo," Shin said as he turned to leave, "May I speak to you alone, young lady?"
"Sure, Shin," I replied, "No problem." Azure was about to follow but I held up my arm to let him know I was all right. This was not going to be easy.
"Young lady, what is troubling you?" Shin asked, "I know that you do know what it is."
"I know what is to happen today, Supreme Kai," I replied, "And I know that you wish to stop Babadi as much as I do. I know you can read minds, so why don't you so I don't have to explain it verbally."
"You are very knowledgeable, Angel of the Dragon," Shin said as he finished, "But why did you come here?"
"I came because my world is plagued by Buu," I answered, "This time you and the others are powerless to stop him."
"Thank you, Angel," he said, "You have told me what you know. Go back to the others and do not reveal who I truly am."
"Yes, sir," I bowed and walked back to the others. Goten had lost and now Trunks had just lost. Bra was the winner.
"Well, Hercule, why don't you come on out, please?" Ace asked. I slapped my forehead in disbelief.
"They are still going to let Bra fight Hercule?" I asked with an amused tone.
"Would all the adult tournament fighters please come and wait for your turn to fight?" Ace said as Hercule came outside and walked up the stairs. I walked into the waiting area just outside the ring and everyone followed.
I looked at 18 who was simply frowning the way she normally did. I saw a small smile creep onto her lips.
"An easy fight," she said as she waited patiently for the announcer to call her name. She had received a gi from Chi-chi as well. It was made of denim blue material and she wore a bandana around her neck. Red, in remembrance of her brother. She wore a plain white T-shirt beneath it. Her brown shoes did not tap the ground as most of us would have been doing.
I smiled briefly as I watched Bra punch Hercule lightly, ever so lightly. She had used her powers to weaken her punches to that of a human.
But that didn't mean her hits were weak against Hercule. He blocked each one just barely and he did so a little awkwardly. Soon, she got him in a headlock and was whispering in his ear.
His eyes widened with disbelief and I had a pretty good idea what she was saying.
Bra unhooked her arms from around his neck and kicked underneath him, making him fall to the ground with a thud that my sensitive ears picked up faintly.
Her hands wrapped around his legs as she lifted him from the ground and tossed him, effortlessly, over the side of the ring.
"Great kid," Hercule laughed, "Very strong. She actually beat me! And a girl at that!" He laughed his very hideous roaring laughter as he exited the ring. Bra strode confidently into the waiting area and approached us.
"They still think that Hercule let me win," She smirked, "Maybe we ought to get him to tell the truth, Gohan. The world deserves it more than you could imagine."
"No, please, don't," Gohan said as he put his fingers together nervously, "It'd kept all the reporters away from me."
She shrugged and said, "Where's Goten and Trunks?"
"They should be going up to join Chi-chi and Bulma in the stands," I told her, "If not, could you find them for me? If they are up there, get them down here. Tell Chi-chi it's almost time."
"Time?" Azure asked, "Time for what?"
"I shall tell you later, Azure," I said, "Have patience. It may not have been the Saiyans best trait but try and make it yours."
He nodded and looked outside.
"And now, let's get the first round of the adult tournament underway!" Ace shouted, "In this corner, we have Jewel, the thief of hearts. This is our lady's man. And in that corner we have the lovely and mysterious woman with a strange name, Number 18!"
Jewel strode with confidence up to 18 and whispered in her ear.
"Sorry, I'm married," 18 said flatly, "But I will give you all I've got."
"Or at least half of it," I joked, "Watch it, Jewel, she's pretty strong. Even though I'm stronger I can say with confidence she's way better than you."
"What?!" he growled.
"Better hurry up, weakling," Krillin said in a jeering tone, "My wife doesn't have all day, you know." Jewel's eyes widened in disbelief. He quickly composed himself and walked outside. He blew kisses to the girls that screamed his name.
"Hey, I got your number, baby!" came several cat-calls directed towards Number 18. Her face twisted in disgust.
"Don't hurt him too bad, 18!" Krillin shouted, "Remember, you get disqualified if you kill him!"
She nodded and dropped to a fighting stance.
"Okay! Let the match begin!" Ace shouted. 18 immediately launched towards Jewel and kicked him in the stomach. His eyes went wide in surprise and pain.
"Oh, she didn't kick him that hard," I smirked. Jewel was unable to continue, so 18 won the round.
"Piece of cake," 18 said as she returned. Her flat voice showed that she was not enjoying herself.
"Piccolo and Shin, would you come on out, please!" Ace shouted. "In this corner, we have the odd looking man from so long ago, Piccolo. He has fought in this tournament before and has tied for strongest in the world. And in this corner, we have a new face in the ring, let's here it for Shin!" Piccolo bowed and then snapped his gaze up quickly.
I knew what was happening, what Piccolo was realizing.
"You'll know soon," Shin answered his thoughts, "I promise, you'll know soon."
Another long pause.
"I'm sorry," Piccolo said finally, "I give up." He walked steadily from the ring, his swift and powerful walk giving no answers as to why this had happened. But I knew.
"All right, then, would Angel and Spopovitch come to the ring," Ace said. I saw the glance that Spopovitch received from the Grand Kai. But I decided to listen to how they announced me instead.
"In this corner, we have the lovely Angel, who has been training under our very own Videl for the past five months. She is a beautiful and talented young lady, as I have also heard that she fights a little better than Videl herself!" The crowd gasped at this, "And in this corner we have Spopovitch, a man who has been seen at this tournament before. Let us see if he does any better than last time! Begin!" I dropped to my fighting stance and waited for Spopovitch to make the first move. My eyes locked onto his, which were blank and lost.
I knew what he had gone through. And I knew what would become of him. I sneered at him, a low growl forming in my throat.
He lashed out with a leg that I easily caught. He punched at me again and again, but every time to no avail.
He suddenly came from behind and pinned my arms and neck to the side. I couldn't get free! Not unless I powered up.
A tiny version of the device he had used on Gohan appeared in his hand. He stuck it in my arm and drained me of my energy. I grew limp in his arms. People all around saw it happen. But they didn't know what to make of it.
He grinned widely as he read the gauge. It was full. He kicked my side and I slipped over the edge of the stadium.
***
Azure was watching all of this, getting angrier by the minute.
"No!" he growled, "Angel. I'm coming. I'll help you." His anger caused him to power up and his bandana flew off his head in a flash of gold.
"No! Trunks, don't do it, Angel can take care of herself!" Bra shouted at him.
"Not any longer," He growled in a low tone, "She's been drained of her energy." He flew outside and raced to pick Angel up off the ground.
"Is she...okay?" Ace asked.
"Her energy is gone, but she is alive," Azure answered him. He kept up his Super Saiyan form so no one would recognize him.
"Spopovitch," Azure said in a low tone of voice that meant business, "Next time, it's you and me. And I'll win."
Spopovitch grinned at him as he raced into the locker rooms.
"Move aside, I'll assist her," Shin said.
"Who are you?" Azure growled.
"Trunks, that's no way to be talking to the Supreme Kai," Piccolo scolded. The shock on everyone's faces grew out with each word.
"What?! Angel said the Supreme Kai was going to be here, but I never guessed it was you!" Gohan shouted. Azure remained silent, as well as Bra and Viper.
"G-Gohan," I said in a weak voice. I had my voice back, at least.
"Listen. Go S-Super Saiyan. In fight. With Kibito..." My voice was weak and barely heard, even lower than a whisper, "I'll be fine, Kibito. Angel's Kiss." I pointed my weak ki at myself and everyone moved to stop me. But Azure stopped them all.
"Stop. She knows what she's doing," he said firmly.
"Are you certain?" Shin asked. He looked worried and I knew he was thinking I was killing myself.
"Yes. Watch," Azure answered him and smiled at me. I smiled back and continued to power the attack into my heart. The energy that remained in me enhanced and doubled again and again until finally I was up to full strength again.
"Where on Earth did you find such a good attack, Angel?" Piccolo barely breathed his shock.
"From within," I smiled at Azure, "Thank you. For telling them."
"All right, folks," Ace said, "For the fourth match, we have Kibito, also a new face, and Gohan, the son of the former champion, Goku! Let the match begin!"
"All right," Gohan said, "This is for you, Angel." He began his power up slowly. His eyes glowed their eerie aqua green. The golden ki flames licked his body as his hair slowly turned the rich golden color.
I watched as the Supreme Kai held Gohan still. Then as Spopovitch and Yamu grabbed a hold of him and drained him of his energy.
I winced as the energy disappeared completely, making Gohan almost dead.
"No!" Videl shouted and raced forward, "Gohan!" Her arms were caught by Goku and she was held there.
"You must stay back," Shin warned.
"Their killing him!" Videl shot back.
"No, they're not, Videl," I said softly with a hand on her shoulder, "Gohan will be fine. But this world is what I fear for."
"Are you sure?" Videl asked finally.
"Yes. Look at me, Videl!" I said with a gentle laugh, "I'm just fine, see! They did the same thing to me! It just makes him very, very weak, no worries."
"All right," she sighed.
"Now what happens?" Goku asked Shin.
"I follow them to see where they are taking Gohan and Angel's energy," Shin replied, "If you want to know what's going on, you must come with me. Kibito will take care of Gohan."
"I will stay with Gohan, Goku," I said, "All of you go with the Supreme Kai."
"I'll stay with you, Angel," Azure said.
"Me too." Videl. Of course.
"Okay, it's settled," I said, "The rest of you, go. If we find Bra, Goten, and Trunks, they'll come with us."
They nodded and took to the sky after the Supreme Kai.
"The Dream's Curse," I whispered softly.
"What do you mean?" Videl asked.
"This has always been a dream for me," I answered softly, "But it always has a down side to it. This is it. Letting certain events happen that need to."
"A grave responsibility," Kibito commented. He placed his hands over Gohan's chest and powered his energy into him, restoring Gohan's energy.
***
Ooh, getting a little scared here. I don't know how this is going to end, I haven't decided. So I'm going to write several different endings and choose one of them to go with. Frustrating and time-consuming, but necessary. This'll take a while. I don't know why I made this chapter so long, but hey, it's all good.
