Chapter 3
As the applause died down from the crowd, Goku and Pikkon mounted the stage, preparing for their battle. Pikkon held little hope for victory in this bout. He had come to realize early after their first two matches that Goku was the better fighter, even minus his strength. During their first match, Goku had managed to "defeat" him even though it was painfully obvious that Pikkon was by far the stronger. And ever since Goku attained his Super Saiyan 2 status, Pikkon has had no chance to over power him. It was a difficult reality to live in, considering that Pikkon had no equal when he was alive. His stint in Other World wasn't what he had expected it to be. In fact, Pikkon could barely defeat Krillin now. It was quickly becoming apparent that he was no longer a universe class fighter, but had instead been pushed to the bottom of the barrel. It was a reality that, considering what he had been through during his life, was being taken extremely well.
"Hey, Pikkon. Good luck," Goku called from across the stage, smirking slightly.
"Yes, Goku. To you as well," Pikkon responded, showing no sign of emotion at all on his face. He knew what was coming, and would face it with honor.
*Slam!*
Goku and Pikkon both stood still, waiting for the other to make the first attack. Neither was willing to make a crucial error that would cost the match. Goku knew that even though he was immeasurably stronger than Pikkon, a stupid mistake would easily be enough to cause a loss. As they stanced, the crowed watched on with unrest. It was obvious that, while waiting for the other person to make the first attack was a good technique, it didn't make a good show. Eventually, Goku realized Pikkon wasn't backing down.
"Might as well start things off," he thought to himself. He launched himself towards Pikkon, making sure he had an energy level easily able to deal with his green skinned adversary. When he reached Pikkon, Goku swung himself around and tried to land a kick to Pikkon's head. Pikkon put one arm up to block it, then twisted his hand so that he could grapple onto it. When he did that, he tried to slam Goku into the concrete floor, but Goku threw his hands in front of him and rebounded back into the air, swinging his closed fists onto Pikkon's head, forcing the white turbaned man back to avoid it. Pikkon brought his knee up to try and connect it with Goku's stomach, but Goku pushed it back down with his hands, then spun around and flipped backwards to his side of the arena. Pikkon look on at Goku, knowing he was just being played with. Goku wasn't even winded, and hadn't transformed yet either. Pikkon ran flat out at Goku, and in turn the saiyan started running to meet his
opponent. When they met, both disappeared, then reappeared in the air, locked in a hand brace trying to force the other one back to the ground. Goku was steadily smiling throughout the whole affair while Pikkon was gritting his teeth in effort. Pikkon used Goku's cockiness to his advantage and let go of the brace, then grabbed him by the throat, throwing him to the ground. Because they were only 15 feet up, Goku had a short way to the ground. Just before he would have hit the grassy area, he disappeared. He suddenly reappeared behind Pikkon and gave him a swift punch to the back of the neck. Pikkon went spiraling down onto the ground, landing on all fours.
Goku hadn't even had to waste much energy to defeat Pikkon, another slap in the face to the once proud man.
"Good match, Pikkon. I nearly had to transform there for a few seconds, that last attack was a real finisher," Goku complimented him.
"Yes, Goku. It was. Now I must leave. My training sessions with Yazza and Cortet begin shortly in hell," Pikkon retorted quickly. He didn't want to stay and face the shame that he felt every time he looked into Goku's face. As he flew towards the entrance to the great stadium, he frowned to himself. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take being a second class citizen where he had once stood supreme. And now that Goku and his friends were guardians of the galaxy, Goku's popularity had risen greatly. It now nearly succeeded the Grand Kai's.
Pikkon had been shamed in the tournament, but even then, his mind still tortured him. Replaying glorious parts of his past when he was alive. He was hailed on his home world has a hero, a legend almost. After saving his planet from incoming meteors and after defeating the intergalactic planet broker known as Fridge, he had tried to lead a modest life. But that hadn't stopped reporters from visiting his house constantly. He still entered tournaments and basked in the glory that 1st place always held for him. He had never even had to use his full power then, rarely even having to remove his training equipment. He grew old, winning all of the tournament challenge placed before him.
And then he had died. And for a while, a long while, he was still the most powerful fighter ever. Only he wasn't. In Other World, while he was training to receive a lesson from the Grand Kai, Goku and his friends were defeating Bebi, Super Android 17 and Shenron. Goku, a mortal, had done something no other had ever done. In the billions of years in the galaxy, no other man had ever defeated a God. Except for Goku. And he had to rub it in even further by defeating Porunga. Another God. Goku surpassed him at every turn. And was even able to defeat him during Goku's first Other World tournament although it was obvious Goku's power wasn't greater! Not only was Goku his superior in ki level, but also in fighting tactics. Yet another humiliation.
But Goku wasn't content with being the savior of his home planet, Earth. He also had to save the universe in the company of his old friends. He had to save the planets New Namek, Vereem, Morve, Lackova, and Toriyama-guchi. He was the first fighter in centuries to have the gift of life returned to him, not only once, but three times. And two of those times were granted by the Supreme and Grand Kai themselves. He had the Gods in his hands. The bastard knew it too. One day, Pikkon would show him what it meant to be the ultimate fighter. One day he would show all that he was supreme. One day they would all know him again, and they would chant his name even harder then all those centuries before. One day...
-------------------------
Goku zanzokened behind Gohan, then threw his weight to his left foot and pivoted around, trying to deliver a roundhouse to Gohan's neck. The younger saiyan had seen this attack before, however, and leaped into the air, firing a barrage of ki attacks down at his father. Goku rolled out of the way of the first one and leaped away from the second. The third caught him in the stomach, forcing him to the ground. A cloud of dust and smoke flew into the air of the arena, shrouding everyone from sight. Including Goku. He took the momentary blindness of Gohan to his advantage.
"Hmmm... Gohan's gotten stronger then I would have thought. I didn't expect him to be able to counter my attacks like that. We've been into the match for almost twenty minutes now and I haven't been able to land a single blow so far. Maybe I should stop toying with him? Probably, I don't want an accidental ring-out."
Goku used Shunkiado to appear in front of Gohan, and surrounded himself in a yellow aura. With the quick boost of strength, he delivered an uppercut Gohan across the chest then threw a small ki blast from his finger. It traveled quickly since there was little energy in it, snapping Gohan's head back and making him scream in suprise more then pain. Goku appeared behind Gohan's back and grabbed his arms around his waist. The crowd erupted in cheers, watching the two Saiyans struggle with each other in mid-air. Some cheered for Gohan, some for Goku. Most for the peanut guy across the stadium.
"Come on, Gohan!" Goku said, whispering into his son's ear. "Is that all? Don't tell me that your power is this easy to defeat. We haven't even been going half an hour!"
"Don't... worry... Dad," Gohan squeezed out. He was busy trying to summon the strength to break his fathers hold on him. He ignited his own aura, "I've been holding back too!" Once he said that, his entire body flashed, and his head snapped back connecting with Goku's. His father stumbled back, holding his head. Gohan turned around and threw several punches into Goku's stomach, making the mighty saiyan gasp for air as his own blood gurgled out of his mouth. Goku grabbed his son's wrists and held them still, then put up his knee to stop Gohan's leg from impaling his stomach. He wrapped his leg around Gohan's and let go of his wrists, flipping him upside down. Goku untangled his leg and punched Gohan's stomach, sending him careening to the stadium's grass floor. Gohan felt himself drop out of super saiyan 3, the strain finally being to much on his body. At feeling his muscles shrink, his eyes snapped open. He was down to super saiyan 2, a power he didn't want to have right
now. He saw the ground coming up on him, and he cried out in suprise. He was about to use Shunkiado to appear in the ring, but his father flew in behind him and delivered another quick punch to his son, sending him falling faster and dazing him. He hit the ground with a sickening thud, and lost consciousness, the crowd erupting in cheers.
-------------------------
Gohan awoke up around 30 seconds later to his mother's face leaning over him, a look of worry in her face. When he opened his eyes, she broke into an ecstatic smile and wrapped him up in her arms.
"Oh, my Gohan! My baby! Are you okay? Goku! Next time you knock my son out I'm going to... Oh my baby!" She cried, holding Gohan tight enough to squeeze their air from his lungs, despite him being more powerful then 99.9% of every living being in the entire universe. "Gohan-y, let's go home. You need to lie down, your father can be to rough sometimes. I swear he's like a little boy!"
Then they heard Goku over by the refreshment bar, talking to a waitress.
"Or you can have this one, it's called a Saucer Flat," the orange waitress told Goku, handing him a glass of some violet drink.
"Awesome! And it's purple too! I bet it's grape flavored!"
Gohan smiled to himself. Then Goku turned around; the glass still in his hand, noticing that Gohan had woken up.
"Gohan, that was a good fight you put up today. But you still have some things to learn about how to control your power in the level beyond the level beyond Super Saiyan*," Goku instructed him.
"Right, Dad."
"Oh, Goku. You're not taking my Gohan anywhere! You've bruised him up enough for one day! I'm taking him home so that he can rest."
"You're right Chi-chi. A wise man once said, the stronger you get, the stronger you stink. Isn't that right, Gohan!"
Gohan blushed.
-------------------------
Pikkon was slowly making his way across Hell. He was thinking of the earlier tournament, replaying it over and over in his head. Over the years that Goku had been in Other World, Pikkon had felt pushed aside. His anger and frustration slowly built up over the years, making his heart blacker with each passing day. The power and respect he had once wielded had all been snatched away the day that Goku first defeated him in Other World. It seemed as it immediately afterwards, everyone stopped cheering for him. They stopped loving him. Now they cheered for Goku. They loved him. They loved his sons and his wife and his friends. They didn't love Pikkon anymore. Why should they? Only the strong deserve it. And Pikkon wasn't strong, not anymore. Now he was weak, pushed aside by Goku. But Goku had a weakness to. Pikkon wasn't sure what it was yet, but he had one. Everyone did.
"When I find that Saiyan's, that damned Saiyan's, weakness, he shall suffer. Him and his friends. Even Piccolo. He is only pretending to be my friend. He's telling Goku about me, telling him my secrets. I won't let him do it... When I get strong enough I'm going to kill him. All of the "Z Warriors."
"Is that so?" A voice murmured from the shadows. Pikkon twisted around and cursed himself, he must have been talking aloud and not to himself.
"Who are you? Step out from under the cliff! Now! And tell me your name!"
A green, wrinkled figure stepped into the light. He reminded Pikkon of someone, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The gi though, that was very recognizable. It was purple with blue armbands and brown "booties." A white circle with a kanji symbol protruded in the center of the man's shirt. His antennae bounced in the wind, reminding Pikkon of someone. But still, he couldn't quite place it.
"My name is..." he started. He looked around, as if making sure no one was close enough to over hear the two of them talking. "My name is Piccolo. Piccolo Diamao."
*The level beyond the level beyond Super Saiyan is Goku's way of saying Super Saiyan 3.
As the applause died down from the crowd, Goku and Pikkon mounted the stage, preparing for their battle. Pikkon held little hope for victory in this bout. He had come to realize early after their first two matches that Goku was the better fighter, even minus his strength. During their first match, Goku had managed to "defeat" him even though it was painfully obvious that Pikkon was by far the stronger. And ever since Goku attained his Super Saiyan 2 status, Pikkon has had no chance to over power him. It was a difficult reality to live in, considering that Pikkon had no equal when he was alive. His stint in Other World wasn't what he had expected it to be. In fact, Pikkon could barely defeat Krillin now. It was quickly becoming apparent that he was no longer a universe class fighter, but had instead been pushed to the bottom of the barrel. It was a reality that, considering what he had been through during his life, was being taken extremely well.
"Hey, Pikkon. Good luck," Goku called from across the stage, smirking slightly.
"Yes, Goku. To you as well," Pikkon responded, showing no sign of emotion at all on his face. He knew what was coming, and would face it with honor.
*Slam!*
Goku and Pikkon both stood still, waiting for the other to make the first attack. Neither was willing to make a crucial error that would cost the match. Goku knew that even though he was immeasurably stronger than Pikkon, a stupid mistake would easily be enough to cause a loss. As they stanced, the crowed watched on with unrest. It was obvious that, while waiting for the other person to make the first attack was a good technique, it didn't make a good show. Eventually, Goku realized Pikkon wasn't backing down.
"Might as well start things off," he thought to himself. He launched himself towards Pikkon, making sure he had an energy level easily able to deal with his green skinned adversary. When he reached Pikkon, Goku swung himself around and tried to land a kick to Pikkon's head. Pikkon put one arm up to block it, then twisted his hand so that he could grapple onto it. When he did that, he tried to slam Goku into the concrete floor, but Goku threw his hands in front of him and rebounded back into the air, swinging his closed fists onto Pikkon's head, forcing the white turbaned man back to avoid it. Pikkon brought his knee up to try and connect it with Goku's stomach, but Goku pushed it back down with his hands, then spun around and flipped backwards to his side of the arena. Pikkon look on at Goku, knowing he was just being played with. Goku wasn't even winded, and hadn't transformed yet either. Pikkon ran flat out at Goku, and in turn the saiyan started running to meet his
opponent. When they met, both disappeared, then reappeared in the air, locked in a hand brace trying to force the other one back to the ground. Goku was steadily smiling throughout the whole affair while Pikkon was gritting his teeth in effort. Pikkon used Goku's cockiness to his advantage and let go of the brace, then grabbed him by the throat, throwing him to the ground. Because they were only 15 feet up, Goku had a short way to the ground. Just before he would have hit the grassy area, he disappeared. He suddenly reappeared behind Pikkon and gave him a swift punch to the back of the neck. Pikkon went spiraling down onto the ground, landing on all fours.
Goku hadn't even had to waste much energy to defeat Pikkon, another slap in the face to the once proud man.
"Good match, Pikkon. I nearly had to transform there for a few seconds, that last attack was a real finisher," Goku complimented him.
"Yes, Goku. It was. Now I must leave. My training sessions with Yazza and Cortet begin shortly in hell," Pikkon retorted quickly. He didn't want to stay and face the shame that he felt every time he looked into Goku's face. As he flew towards the entrance to the great stadium, he frowned to himself. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take being a second class citizen where he had once stood supreme. And now that Goku and his friends were guardians of the galaxy, Goku's popularity had risen greatly. It now nearly succeeded the Grand Kai's.
Pikkon had been shamed in the tournament, but even then, his mind still tortured him. Replaying glorious parts of his past when he was alive. He was hailed on his home world has a hero, a legend almost. After saving his planet from incoming meteors and after defeating the intergalactic planet broker known as Fridge, he had tried to lead a modest life. But that hadn't stopped reporters from visiting his house constantly. He still entered tournaments and basked in the glory that 1st place always held for him. He had never even had to use his full power then, rarely even having to remove his training equipment. He grew old, winning all of the tournament challenge placed before him.
And then he had died. And for a while, a long while, he was still the most powerful fighter ever. Only he wasn't. In Other World, while he was training to receive a lesson from the Grand Kai, Goku and his friends were defeating Bebi, Super Android 17 and Shenron. Goku, a mortal, had done something no other had ever done. In the billions of years in the galaxy, no other man had ever defeated a God. Except for Goku. And he had to rub it in even further by defeating Porunga. Another God. Goku surpassed him at every turn. And was even able to defeat him during Goku's first Other World tournament although it was obvious Goku's power wasn't greater! Not only was Goku his superior in ki level, but also in fighting tactics. Yet another humiliation.
But Goku wasn't content with being the savior of his home planet, Earth. He also had to save the universe in the company of his old friends. He had to save the planets New Namek, Vereem, Morve, Lackova, and Toriyama-guchi. He was the first fighter in centuries to have the gift of life returned to him, not only once, but three times. And two of those times were granted by the Supreme and Grand Kai themselves. He had the Gods in his hands. The bastard knew it too. One day, Pikkon would show him what it meant to be the ultimate fighter. One day he would show all that he was supreme. One day they would all know him again, and they would chant his name even harder then all those centuries before. One day...
-------------------------
Goku zanzokened behind Gohan, then threw his weight to his left foot and pivoted around, trying to deliver a roundhouse to Gohan's neck. The younger saiyan had seen this attack before, however, and leaped into the air, firing a barrage of ki attacks down at his father. Goku rolled out of the way of the first one and leaped away from the second. The third caught him in the stomach, forcing him to the ground. A cloud of dust and smoke flew into the air of the arena, shrouding everyone from sight. Including Goku. He took the momentary blindness of Gohan to his advantage.
"Hmmm... Gohan's gotten stronger then I would have thought. I didn't expect him to be able to counter my attacks like that. We've been into the match for almost twenty minutes now and I haven't been able to land a single blow so far. Maybe I should stop toying with him? Probably, I don't want an accidental ring-out."
Goku used Shunkiado to appear in front of Gohan, and surrounded himself in a yellow aura. With the quick boost of strength, he delivered an uppercut Gohan across the chest then threw a small ki blast from his finger. It traveled quickly since there was little energy in it, snapping Gohan's head back and making him scream in suprise more then pain. Goku appeared behind Gohan's back and grabbed his arms around his waist. The crowd erupted in cheers, watching the two Saiyans struggle with each other in mid-air. Some cheered for Gohan, some for Goku. Most for the peanut guy across the stadium.
"Come on, Gohan!" Goku said, whispering into his son's ear. "Is that all? Don't tell me that your power is this easy to defeat. We haven't even been going half an hour!"
"Don't... worry... Dad," Gohan squeezed out. He was busy trying to summon the strength to break his fathers hold on him. He ignited his own aura, "I've been holding back too!" Once he said that, his entire body flashed, and his head snapped back connecting with Goku's. His father stumbled back, holding his head. Gohan turned around and threw several punches into Goku's stomach, making the mighty saiyan gasp for air as his own blood gurgled out of his mouth. Goku grabbed his son's wrists and held them still, then put up his knee to stop Gohan's leg from impaling his stomach. He wrapped his leg around Gohan's and let go of his wrists, flipping him upside down. Goku untangled his leg and punched Gohan's stomach, sending him careening to the stadium's grass floor. Gohan felt himself drop out of super saiyan 3, the strain finally being to much on his body. At feeling his muscles shrink, his eyes snapped open. He was down to super saiyan 2, a power he didn't want to have right
now. He saw the ground coming up on him, and he cried out in suprise. He was about to use Shunkiado to appear in the ring, but his father flew in behind him and delivered another quick punch to his son, sending him falling faster and dazing him. He hit the ground with a sickening thud, and lost consciousness, the crowd erupting in cheers.
-------------------------
Gohan awoke up around 30 seconds later to his mother's face leaning over him, a look of worry in her face. When he opened his eyes, she broke into an ecstatic smile and wrapped him up in her arms.
"Oh, my Gohan! My baby! Are you okay? Goku! Next time you knock my son out I'm going to... Oh my baby!" She cried, holding Gohan tight enough to squeeze their air from his lungs, despite him being more powerful then 99.9% of every living being in the entire universe. "Gohan-y, let's go home. You need to lie down, your father can be to rough sometimes. I swear he's like a little boy!"
Then they heard Goku over by the refreshment bar, talking to a waitress.
"Or you can have this one, it's called a Saucer Flat," the orange waitress told Goku, handing him a glass of some violet drink.
"Awesome! And it's purple too! I bet it's grape flavored!"
Gohan smiled to himself. Then Goku turned around; the glass still in his hand, noticing that Gohan had woken up.
"Gohan, that was a good fight you put up today. But you still have some things to learn about how to control your power in the level beyond the level beyond Super Saiyan*," Goku instructed him.
"Right, Dad."
"Oh, Goku. You're not taking my Gohan anywhere! You've bruised him up enough for one day! I'm taking him home so that he can rest."
"You're right Chi-chi. A wise man once said, the stronger you get, the stronger you stink. Isn't that right, Gohan!"
Gohan blushed.
-------------------------
Pikkon was slowly making his way across Hell. He was thinking of the earlier tournament, replaying it over and over in his head. Over the years that Goku had been in Other World, Pikkon had felt pushed aside. His anger and frustration slowly built up over the years, making his heart blacker with each passing day. The power and respect he had once wielded had all been snatched away the day that Goku first defeated him in Other World. It seemed as it immediately afterwards, everyone stopped cheering for him. They stopped loving him. Now they cheered for Goku. They loved him. They loved his sons and his wife and his friends. They didn't love Pikkon anymore. Why should they? Only the strong deserve it. And Pikkon wasn't strong, not anymore. Now he was weak, pushed aside by Goku. But Goku had a weakness to. Pikkon wasn't sure what it was yet, but he had one. Everyone did.
"When I find that Saiyan's, that damned Saiyan's, weakness, he shall suffer. Him and his friends. Even Piccolo. He is only pretending to be my friend. He's telling Goku about me, telling him my secrets. I won't let him do it... When I get strong enough I'm going to kill him. All of the "Z Warriors."
"Is that so?" A voice murmured from the shadows. Pikkon twisted around and cursed himself, he must have been talking aloud and not to himself.
"Who are you? Step out from under the cliff! Now! And tell me your name!"
A green, wrinkled figure stepped into the light. He reminded Pikkon of someone, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The gi though, that was very recognizable. It was purple with blue armbands and brown "booties." A white circle with a kanji symbol protruded in the center of the man's shirt. His antennae bounced in the wind, reminding Pikkon of someone. But still, he couldn't quite place it.
"My name is..." he started. He looked around, as if making sure no one was close enough to over hear the two of them talking. "My name is Piccolo. Piccolo Diamao."
*The level beyond the level beyond Super Saiyan is Goku's way of saying Super Saiyan 3.