The Return of a Friend
There was a shimmer in the air, like a mirage, but this was real. The unknown object solidified in the dry air of the desert. This was something that hasn't been seen since before the Cell Games. The already quiet desert became silent as this new and unknown thing descended from the sky. The shining object touched down on the earth in a cloud of dust.
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Training in the Gravity Room of the Capsule Corp. Vegeta sensed another; strangely familiar and powerful energy appear out of nowhere.
"What!" he said and stopped cold. He stared off in the direction of the ki.
"Dad? What's wrong?" Trunks asked when his father had stopped. He had never done that before. "Dad!" Vegeta turned his eyes to his son.
"Didn't you sense that?" Trunks was puzzled. "That energy?"
"Well, kinda."
"I'm going to find out who that is."
"Me too?!" Trunks asked eagerly. Vegeta almost seemed to hesitate.
"Fine." He said at last. "Let's go."
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At the Orange Star High School, the English teacher droned on and on about essays and such and Gohan was furiously writing notes down in his notebook. That is until he sensed the power. He dropped his pencil and gasped.
It can't be… he thought.
"Gohan!" Erasa said for the third time.
"Wha?"
"Are you okay?"
"Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class Gohan and Erasa?" The teacher asked.
"Uh, may I be excused? It's an emergency." Gohan said. The teacher noted the urgency in his voice and glanced at the clock.
"It's almost time to leave anyway. Go ahead."
"Thank you." Gohan said relieved. He grabbed his bag and all but ran out of the room. Unfortunately (for him) Videl followed him.
"Gohan! Where are you going?" Gohan stopped.
"Uh…Well…" he said and glanced at Videl. Judging by her face (Gohan was never too good at reading expressions. Especially if it was a female!) she wouldn't take kindly to a lie. And Videl seemed to be able to smell a lie. He cleared his throat. "Well, a person with a good-size ki just appeared out of nowhere!"
"Do you think that whoever it is is going to cause trouble." She inquired. Gohan shook his head.
"I don't think so." He said. "The power signature is oddly familiar."
"I'm going with you." Videl said in a tone that said she wouldn't take no for an answer. Gohan sighed.
"Let's go." He said.
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At Mr. Popo's place, high above the Earth, Piccolo was relaxing outside when the power had appeared.
"Well, what do you know…" he said and flew off.
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Bulma was repairing a busted piece of training equipment when Vegeta and Trunks went marching to the front door.
"And where are you guys going?" she asked.
"We're going to find someone who just appeared out of thin air!" Trunks told her excitedly.
"Is that so?" Bulma looked at Vegeta.
"Basically." He grunted.
"I don't want Trunks going anywhere dangerous Vegeta." Bulma said sternly.
"I can take him on alone and easily win," Vegeta growled, "Without transforming." Trunks looked from one parent to another. Bulma shrugged.
"Well then I guess he could go." She said reluctantly and Vegeta turned to leave. "Don't you dare get into unnecessary fights Vegeta!" Vegeta just glanced back at her and continued out.
"Bye Mom!" Trunks said and dashed out after his father.
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"Hey! I need to stop at home!" Gohan said to Videl as they were flying to meet this unknown person. That ki still bothered Gohan, like he should recognize it from somewhere. "I'd better tell my mom what we're doing." Videl nodded. It was on the way anyways. They landed and Gohan went inside and Videl hung out outside.
"Hey Mom?" Gohan called into the house.
"Here Gohan! You're home early." Gohan followed the sound of his mother's voice into the kitchen where she was cleaning the dishes.
"Hi Gohan!" Goten called. He was beside Chi-Chi on a chair, helping with the dishes. Or that's what it looked like. His already unruly hair was covered in soap bubbles, not to mention his face and gi.
"Mom, a fighter just appeared not to long ago." Chi-Chi stopped working and looked over at Gohan and Goten jumped down from the chair. "He's strong." Gohan continued, "And I don't recognize him. But what's stranger is that one second there was nothing, and the next, he was there!"
"And I suppose you want to go find out who this unknown person is?" Chi-Chi asked.
"I have to Mom!" Gohan pleaded and Chi-Chi sighed.
"I guess you do at that. Okay, go." Gohan grinned, relieved.
"Thanks Mom!"
"But be back in time for dinner!" she said as Gohan turned.
"Okay, I will Mom!"
"I wanna go!" Goten declared. He attached himself to Gohan's legs, nearly tripping him.
"I don't think so Squirt." Gohan chuckled. "I think Mom needs you here." He looked doubtfully at the pool of water and soap on the floor. There seemed to be more water on the floor than in the sink! He tried to gently pry Goten from his legs but it seemed that Goten was there permanently. That kid was strong!
"Are you guys going to be in any danger?" Chi-Chi asked.
"No, that I'm sure of." Gohan gave up struggling against Goten and looked at his mom. "Vegeta and Trunks are already on the way."
"Trunks!" Goten cried. "I wanna go!" he pleaded, "Mom can I go? PLEASE!" Chi-Chi thought for a bit.
"Well, if Bulma is allowing Trunks to go than I suppose its okay." She said finally.
"Thanks Mom!" Goten squealed with glee and leaped from Gohan's legs to give his mom a hug.
"We gotta go! Bye Mom, love you!" Gohan gave his mom a kiss on the forehead, at last free from the clutches of his little brother. He ran out of the room with a wave. Goten gave her one last squeeze and dashed out after Gohan.
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Off on Kame Island, Krillin was napping, having fallen asleep watching TV with 18 on the couch. When the ki appeared, he was totally oblivious to it until 18 shook him awake.
"Hu? What?" he mumbled and rubbed his eyes. "I wasn't sleeping!"
"Do you recognize that ki?" she asked him.
"What?" he asked and extended his senses. Then he found what he sought, "Hmmm. That's strange. That person wasn't there before I…fell asleep."
"Honto*." 18 said sarcastically. "But do you recognize it?"
"It seems kind of familiar…" he said and 18 got up from the couch. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to find out who that is."
"Do you think that's wise?" 18 just looked at him and walked to the door. Krillin scrambled off the couch and followed her.
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Gohan, Goten and Videl where flying, top-speed, to that ki. They met up with Vegeta and Trunks, then later, ran into Piccolo. Gohan scanned the area, looking for anything peculiar.
"There." He said pointing. He had seen a glint of sunlight off some metal in the desert. They flew towards it. As they came closer, they saw someone. That very familiar someone turned around, looked up at the incoming Z-Fighters and grinned and waved.
"It is! I can't believe it!" Gohan cried. Piccolo, and even Vegeta smiled. Goten, Trunks, and Videl were just plain confused.
*Honto: really