"Some picnic this turned out to be," Gohan mumbled under his breath, as locks of his black hair whipped painfully around his face. He could hardly open his eyes, the wind was blowing so hard. "Getting all our stuff destroyed in a plane crash and – OW!!" Gohan felt something dig painfully into his shoulder.
"Oh sorry daddy," Pan said apologetically. "It's just that you're flying a little fast, and it's hard to hold on. I didn't realize I was that heavy."
Gohan was about to say something, but then decided it would be better not to comment about a girl's weight. During the dating period of his and Videl's relationship, she had taught him well. It was just his luck to get a daughter so much like her mother; the jet black hair, round eyes, just the beautiful features overall, complete with stubborness.
"You don't want them to hear that," a voice poked into Gohan's mind. Telepathy. Gohan turned to look beside him to see a wicked grin spread on Piccolo's face. Or at least, that was what he thought he saw because of the strong wind blowing.
"You seem pretty bothered," Bulma said, appearing beside Gohan. She was supported by Vegeta's arms, who was flying above her. Gohan wondered how Bulma could feel so safe knowing her life was literally in Vegeta's hands. "Hope you're not too bothered about the ruined picnic trip."
"I'd think you'd be more bothered by losing your plane," Gohan said.
"Oh don't worry about it," Bulma replied waving a hand, "I'll have the people at Capsule Corporation build up another one in no time. I'm just worried you're not having fun anymore and-"
"You don't have to worry about me, Aunt Bulma," Gohan interrupted. He smirked, "I'm old now. Fun isn't in my job description."
"Nonsense! If you are old what does that make me? I'm sorry but I won't take such abuse from you, young one. But seriously, you're pretty quiet. This is so unlike you!"
"I've been thinking," Gohan replied. "That person we found in the middle of the forest."
"Why, what about him?" Bulma asked.
"He just reminded me a lot of…"
"Don't say it Gohan," she said. "It's been fourteen years now. Life moves on."
"It's not that Goken's death still bothers me," Gohan replied. "In all honesty, he's a distant memory. It's just that when we found that kid in the forest, he looked a lot like Goken. And not just on the outside, but the aura he seemed to give off … it was just familiar, that's all."
"I think you damaged something in that plane crash," Bulma said, closing the conversation. You'll be fine when you get home and rest a little."
* * *
"You're doing WHAT??" The look on Emperor Doale's face threatened to inflict death upon the royal medic.
"S…sorry sir," the medic, a tall, gray man said. He placed his hands protectively in front of his chest so as to soften any potential blows from the angry Emperor. "It's just that you have two cracked ribs as a result of the crash. And you're unfit for proper battle. Therefore I must restrict you to your quarters while we find a new general to take your place in the army for awhile."
"This is outrageous! Do you know who I am?" Doale started ranting, much to the medic's expectations. "I am Emperor Doale of the Dark Empire! I single-handedly taken this empire from my worthless parents and all you can do is sit there and tell me how I'm not fit for battle? I do not get HURT!!"
Doale's eyes opened wide, his pupils dilated, and he clutched his chest in pain. He fell to the ground gasping for air and coughing at the same time. "Ouch…" a weak sound came out of his mouth.
"Your highness, please calm down. You need rest." Doale swatted a hand at the medic. "Would your highness at least hear me out? Do you have any idea where we are getting the new general from?"
Doale looked at him with a fierce look in his eyes. "You are young, and so inexperienced. As our readings of this planet have shown, there are fierce and powerful warriors that live on this planet and we fear you may lack the experience in battle to lead us successfully to victory. Therefore we are searching for a new general with the experience of fighting these warriors that protect this planet."
"These warriors … what are they called?" Doale asked, the anger in his voice receding.
"Saiyans."
"And without our help, your Empire will end here and now." The entrance flaps of the medic's tent flew open and in the doorway stood to tall figures. One was a strange alien looking creature with pink skin, dressed in battle boots and white pants, secured to his waist by a belt with a large "M" engraved on the buckle. On top of it's head, a long pink tentacle grew out down to it's waist. Holes adorned the top of it's head and shoulders.
The other creature was clad in green spotted armor that covered it's chest, legs and arms. On it's back, it had two giant shells that seemed to cover a pair of giant, beetle like wings. It strongly resembled a beetle with a humanoid face and limbs.
Their shadows swallowed Emperor Doale, who looked back at them, repressing the fear he instinctively felt. Determined not to appear weak in front of these creatures, he cleared his throat and asked them in an authoritative tone, "Who are you? State your business here."
"My name is Majin Buu," the pink one said.
"Call me Cell," the other followed up. "I must say the technology your Empire possesses is quite impressive. Your scientists were able to tap into the nether realm and free our tortured souls. The only condition was that we help you destroy the Saiyans, something we've always wanted to do anyway."
"If they try anything against us," the medic said, "we've got it covered. We've pulled them out of the nether realm with a portal based on the T3 technology. We close the portal and they get pulled back to hell. It's the only thing keeping them here."
"And I assure you there will be no need for that," Majin Buu said, placing a hand on the young Emperor's shoulder. "We are under your command."
"First, you have to convince me that you'll be useful to me, so that I don't send you back to where you came from," Doale said, crossing his arms.
* * *
Who the hell does this guy think he is?! Majin Buu thought silently. When they had first been released from the nether realm, he had ideas of freedom. He kicked himself mentally for believing that. He was honored that someone with the power to cross dimensions was looking for him, of all people. But never did he consider what they wanted with him and that his freedom may have a price.
Cell shot Buu a look as if to say, "Don't do anything rash. You know he has the power to send us back right now and he can if he wants to. Don't to anything to convince him he doesn't need us."
"We have had encounters with the Saiyans before," Buu said, with as much forced respect he could muster into his tone. "In each of our respective encounters, we have fought, even killed some of them. If it weren't for the Dragon Balls, few of them would be alive today."
"What are these … Dragon Balls?" Doale asked.
"There are seven of these balls," Cell explained. "Each one has a number of stars within them from one to seven. When gathered and the right prayer is said, the Eternal Dragon comes forth and grants the founder of the balls three wishes. Depending if the wishes exceed that of the Eternal Dragon, the wishes may or may not be granted."
"In our cases, the warriors that we defeated were resurrected from the dead," Buu continued. "If we can prevent the warriors from reaching the Dragon Balls this time around, it won't be so easy to bring the dead ones back to life."
"The balls are scattered throughout the planet," Cell said. "All we need to do is to take one, and they won't be able to call upon the Eternal Dragon."
"We have no way of finding even one of them," Buu continued. "But there is an alternative. There are rumors of an Eight Star Dragon Ball with powers that surpass all of the other seven. It is said that this Dragon Ball is so powerful, it can even create life based on the element of fire. These creatures are called the Firebirds."
* * *
"I'm sorry dad… I let the Firebird through and now there's all this death…"
"Everyone's betrayed you, Goken. I am more than just the Firebird, I am your savior. Grant me access to your powers and combined, we will destroy those who have hurt you."
"I'd rather die here and now than be a part of your twisted soul."
"Remember Goken, blood is thicker than water…"
"Your highness, are you alright?" The medic placed a firm grasp on Doale's arm, jolting him back to reality.
"Holy shit, don't do that!!" Doale gasped, swinging at arm at the medic.
"Sorry your highness, but you seemed to have gone into some kind of shock just a second ago."
"I… I'm fine," Doale said, "just… I felt like these distant memories just … come into my head without warning. It kinda caught me by surprise."
"You seem to know something about the Firebirds," Cell said, smirking. "Otherwise you wouldn't have reacted like that."
The Firebird. Upon the mere mention of that word, I go into shock. What the hell is happening to me? What are these images of fear and death I keep getting? "I know nothing about the Firebirds. Now then," he said, changing the subject, "we will be putting you through a series of tests that determine your power level. If you are useful enough, we will keep you. But I wouldn't test my patience if I were you."