Immortal7: No, I really don't look for Tien to play a big part in this fic. And Yamucha is just too old. Sure, the Ultimate Kai could rejuvenate him and restore his powers. But since Puar's death he's been pretty depressed and all. To tell the truth, I've never much liked Yamucha's character that much. The reason why is summed up when Buu was threatening everyone at Kame's Lookout. Kirillin attacked Buu to give everyone some small amount of time to get away. Yamucha just sort of stood there looking stupid. Sure, Kirillin didn't stand a chance, but at least he tried. I like Tien, but with the number of characters I'm already juggling….
Absolute gratitude to all of you that have been reviewing!
On with the story!
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"What in the hell happened here?" Tien looked around the stadium in disbelief. "I step out to get a slurpee at the 7-11 and you get attacked!"
"Yeah, that guy that Goku and Vegeta went off to fight sent some of his goons after us. No biggie." Kirillin said.
"No Biggie?" Tien looked at the shorter man. "They could have destroyed the new stadium! I helped design it you know!"
Kirillin looked around the stadium; he really hadn't taken in the whole thing before. It's true; it really is a work of art. The huge statue of Hercule facing the huge statue of Goku was truly inspired. The two greatest fighters of the tournament. "I thought you didn't like Hercule?" Kirillin said.
"Well, I don't particularly. But people still believe that the big ham saved the Earth from Cell, so I couldn't put Goku's statue up there without Hercule." Tien sighed. "I'm going to go and see what I can do to help repair the arena and grounds so we can get the tournament going again. In the meantime, try not to attract any more super villains, okay?
Kirillin smirked. "I'll try not to." About that time a monk was passing by Kirillin and he realized he was still holding the helmet of the leader of the zombies that attacked him. Kirillin got the monk's attention.
"Here, take this and treat it with respect. It probably belongs in a museum. I suspect it belonged to a great warrior once." Kirillin said.
"I will take care of it right away sir." The Monk said and removed his gi top and wrapped the helmet within it and carried it away.
Kirillin looked up at the tote board.
| Preliminaries | Quarter Finals |
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Jarhead |
Bandit |
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Bandit |
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Charlene |
Charlene |
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Grathor |
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Sir Crusher |
Sir Crusher |
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Python Man |
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Lady Paine |
Mr. Marvel |
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Mr. Marvel |
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Kuntar |
Kuntar (Too Ill To Continue) |
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Pure Poison |
Disqualified |
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Kirillin |
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Big Frank |
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Shoulin Warrior |
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Fighting Dame |
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Crazy Legs MacDuffy |
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Mystery Man |
"I guess that means I'm up next." Kirillin said as he entered the waiting area and spied the man calling himself 'Big Frank' off in the corner by himself.
"All we can do now is wait until they get things repaired. The stadium already seems to be full again." Kirillin said as he looked out at the crowed. Kirillin then took a second to look at the clothing he was wearing. His gi was pretty banged up and dirty, with large rips in several places. He needed to change, but the only other set of clothes he brought was one of the three sets of Saiyan Armor that Bura manufactured for him before they left. "I guess that is appropriate under the circumstances." He thought to himself as he went to find a place to expand the armor from its capsule and change.
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"Whew! I'm glad that's over!" Bulma said. "Those guys were nasty!"
"And you Gerald!" Chi-Chi said with her 'I'm getting out my frying pan!' voice. "I don't know whether I should be proud of you for standing up to those creatures, or mad at you for almost getting yourself killed! I've only known you for a couple of hours! At least let a person get acquainted before you get killed!"
"I'm sorry." Gerald said averting his gaze to his shoes. "I guess I bit off more than I could chew."
Yambia sweat-dropped, then sighed. "Like father, like son."
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"Alright Supreme Kai, if you don't tell us what the hell is going on back on Earth we will teleport there ourselves!" Vegeta demanded angrily.
"No, that will not be necessary. Kirillin, 16, and Yambia have handled the problem quite nicely. Although I will admit it was a bit touch and go there for a few minutes. But the danger is passed now." The Supreme Kai said.
"What exactly happened?" Goku asked.
"Cordell raised some dead warriors and sent them to the Martial Arts Tournament to kill Kirillin." The Supreme Kai said.
"Kirillin? Why would Cordell target such a weak warrior?" Vegeta asked.
The Supreme Kai sighted. "Well, I wanted this to be a surprise, but as near as I can tell, the Ultimate Kai has changed Kirillin into a Saiyan and granted him fantastic powers. That was the strong ki you felt from Earth earlier."
"I thought that ki was familiar somehow." Goku smiled.
"Another new Saiyan?" Vegeta thought. "If they keep this up I might actually have a Kingdom soon." Vegeta smirked.
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"So, where do you brats think you're going?" the stranger asked.
Roger tried his plan; he accelerated the bubble just before getting to whomever it was that Jessica felt. But the being simply accelerated with them and hovered outside of the bubble. He wore regal clothes, albeit tattered and torn and looking quite battle worn. His hair swept up in a familiar candle flame pattern and his chin was adorned with a goatee.
"Y-you're Vegeta's father?" Gohan stammered.
This took the man by surprise. "You know my son? How?"
As if on cue, every one with a tail unwrapped them and waved them towards the man so he could see.
"You're Saiyans? Living Saiyans? How is that possible?" King Vegeta was astounded.
"It's a long story sir." Goten said in awe of the man in front of them.
"Come, follow me." King Vegeta demanded.
Roger hesitated, waiting for orders from Piccolo. Piccolo looked down at Jessica.
"I believe this is meant to be." Jessica said. "We should follow him."
"Go then Roger." Piccolo ordered.
King Vegeta eyed the four Saiyans. "You take orders from a Namek, and a girl?"
"We are traveling to save all that exists. We do what is necessary to get that job done." Trunks scowled at the once great king. "Grandfather."
Again King Vegeta was surprised. He looked back hard at the man in front of him and knew instantly that it was true.
"You are Vegeta's brat?" King Vegeta said.
"I am Prince Vegeta's son!" Trunks scowled right back.
"I may have to teach you some manners while you are here boy. Follow me." The King ordered again.
King Vegeta flew up four levels and flew towards the wall of the shaft. The wall opened up and allowed them all in. After three minutes of travel, the group came to a large river, which flowed out into a gigantic cavern. At the far end of the cavern was a huge castle. King Vegeta landed on the walkway leading up to the main entrance to the castle. Roger landed the bubble behind King Vegeta.
"You can release the bubble here. The air is breathable, if not a little foul." King Vegeta smirked.
Roger looked over to Piccolo who nodded his head. Roger released the bubble and everyone walked around freely.
"Whew! That feels good! He's right about the air though, I've been around septic tanks that smelled better than this!" Goten said.
"What did you expect in Hell?" Piccolo said. "C'mon, King Vegeta is going into the castle."
King Vegeta set a very brisk pace. The others had to really walk to keep up. Jessica finally just flew along behind him to keep up. Her legs were much shorter than the rest of the teams.
The Castle, a large and forbidding edifice was reasonably well appointed on the inside. Numerous paintings and tapestries hung from the walls. The theme was, of course, mostly of battle, death, and destruction. Finally they approached a huge double door with what looked to be an engraving of some long ago battle. There were two dead Saiyans guarding the doors. As the king approached, the guards smartly opened the doors for the party to pass. As Goten approached the door one of the guards jaw dropped.
"B-Bardock? Is that you?" The Guards stammered. "It's me Totempo! Don't you remember?"
"I'm sorry. I'm not Bardock. I'm Bardock's Grandson. Son of Kakkarot. My name is Goten." Goten said.
"Bardock's Grandson! The resemblance is uncanny! I.." Totempo started excitedly.
"Mind your place third class!" King Vegeta bellowed making Jessica wince.
Totempo immediately snapped to attention. "Yes your majesty! Forgive me."
"Humph! The King walked in and towards the opposite end of the chamber. "Follow me!"
Gotem passed by Totempo and whispered. "We'll talk later!" as they made their way towards the Throne Room.
Once they got inside, the doors closed and when Goten looked back the engraving on this side of the door depicted Bardock making his last stand against Frieza on that fateful day so long ago.
King Vegeta noticed that Goten had stopped and was openly staring at the relief. Gohan had also stopped when he noticed.
"It is my torment." King Vegeta said. "To sit in my throne and see how I failed my people. Look to the right, look inside Frieza's ship."
Everyone's eyes looked to Frieza's ship and saw King Vegeta's body face down on the floor of the ship. Looking a little more to the right a room in the great ship was revealed, and sitting on a bunk was a small Saiyan child.
"Failures compounded by failures." King Vegeta said. "My only son given over to that monster. By me! I couldn't protect my people; I couldn't protect my own son. This is the torment I deserve."
King Vegeta flew up and settled into his throne. "So, I can only imagine that some extra-ordinary circumstances has brought four Saiyans, one Namek, and one.. What are you brat?"
"Human" Jessica said.
"One human child, all living, this deep into hell. Before I decide what to do with you all, I would hear this tale."
Piccolo decided that he'd had enough of the arrogance. "We will tell you the tale, but before we do, and before you decide what to do with us, be warned that we are not like anyone you've ever encountered before. Your grandson and the rest of the Saiyans here have defeated creatures vastly more powerful than Frieza ever dreamed of being. Kakkarot himself defeated Frieza years ago, and your own grandson killed Frieza a little while after that. I myself have attained powers that you cannot come close to equaling. Do not seek to intimidate us.
King Vegeta slowly stood up and clenched his fists and yelled to go Super Saiyan.
"You were saying Namek?" King Vegeta seemed very confident.
"Show him people." Piccolo smirked.
The four Saiyans spread out to give each other room and powered up. Gohan, Goten, and Trunks stayed at Super Saiyan Four while Roger went Mystic Super Saiyan Three. Piccolo powered up to his max.
"Is that the best you can do grandfather?" Trunks gave a smirk that his father would have been proud of.
King Vegeta couldn't believe the sheer power he was feeling coming from the new arrivals. It was totally unprecedented! Not even the legendary was said to be this powerful!
"Piccolo, can I go spar with King Vegeta?" Jessica smiled at the large Namek.
"Well yes Jessica. Go and have some fun." Piccolo said. What about it Vegeta, care to spar with this little brat?"
"Ah.. I guess." King Vegeta was still in shock but he put himself into a defensive posture. "Bring it on brat."
Suddenly Jessica was behind him. "By the way, my name is Jessica, not brat." Jessica said as she slapped King Vegeta through the air.
"Wha?!?!? How did she move that fast?" King Vegeta thought as he regained control of his flight. "Sh-She just slapped me! Barely put any effort into it at all! How can she be that strong?. Damned I wish I had a scouter!"
"Wouldn't do you a bit of good grandfather. They would simply explode." Trunks smirked again.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are irritatingly similar to your father?" King Vegeta smirked.
"Quite often. I have also heard that my father is irritatingly similar to you." Trunks smirked back.
King Vegeta looked shocked and he floated back and settled back onto his throne as he powered down. "Does Prince Vegeta ever talk about me."
Just once. When he and Goku had too much to drink. Trunks said.
"Goku?" King Vegeta wondered.
"You my know him as Kakkarot." Trunks answered.
"What did he say?" King Vegeta wanted to know.
"I was a small boy" Trunks began "The weekend after we defeated Buu, father and Kakkarot had one of their rare, and often frightening, bonding sessions which naturally included seeing which one was stronger. Father and Kakkarot was at a stalemate until father got mad and told Kakkarot to stop sandbagging, which was when Kakkarot went Super Saiyan Level Three and kicked father's butt."
"It's still hard to believe that a third class could attain the level of Super Saiyan! Go on." King Vegeta said.
Trunks decided to keep his particular theories regarding Super Saiyans to himself for the time being. "After the sparing session, father and Kakkarot found all the beer and wine that mother had purchased for the New Year's celebration scheduled for the next month. The annual New Years party is one of the biggest blowouts of the year at the company my grandfather started and I am currently president of. The beer and wine was meant to entertain 3,000 employees and family members.
"Wait a minute. Are you saying that you are an important person on the planet you are living on?" King Vegeta asked.
"Earth. Yes, I suppose I am." Trunks said.
That gave King Vegeta a feeling of pride. "Go on with your story then."
"Well, to make a long story short, father and Kakkarot drank most of the beer, and all of the wine between them in an insane "I'll drink you under the table!" contest. Father won and Kakkarot spent the night sleeping in a tree where father tied him." Trunks snickered at this. So did King Vegeta.
"Later that evening father came in just before I went to sleep to tell me that he had finally defeated Kakkarot at something. Just before he left, in his drunken state, his defenses came down for just a minute. He reached out and patted me on the head, pulled my covers up and turned to leave the room. I remember I called him back and asked him if he really meant it when he said he was proud of me, just before he died." Trunks said.
"He died?" King Vegeta looked up sharply.
"Yes, but he was wished back with the Dragon Balls that the Nameks created. Trunks said.
"Ah yes, I remember hearing that legend when I was young. Please go on." King Vegeta asked.
"His eyes momentarily went hard again, but then softened up. "Yes Trunks, I'm very proud of you. Nothing can change that." Father said and he sat down on the edge of my bed. He was pretty unsteady and wavered back and forth. Then he went into a long speech and I will try to remember everything he said." Trunks continued.
"When I was about your age my son, I was given over to Frieza for training by my father. For a long time I felt betrayed by my father. I realized, after a while, that he thought that what he was doing was for the good of all his people. But it still hurt. Then I heard that my father died trying to rescue me from Frieza just before the planet Vegeta was destroyed. At first I thought that it would make what had happened hurt less. For a long time I didn't know why. But as I was about to sacrifice myself to kill Buu, and I looked at you, I finally realized what it was. My father never once said he was proud of me. It would have been the one thing that would have stopped the hurt. I thought that I should not leave this plane of existence without telling you, even if it was just once. And yes, I meant every word."
Trunks finished and the room was deathly silent.
King Vegeta finally raised his eyes. "You should all get some rest now, the girl looks like she needs some sleep."
Piccolo looked down and Jessica was leaned against his leg sleeping soundly.
"Totempo!" King Vegeta bellowed.
"Yes sire!" Totempo ran into the room.
See to the needs of our guests, show them to our finest sleeping quarters, such as they are and get someone to replace you at the door. King Vegeta demanded.
Totempo smiled. "Right away sire."
Totempo escorted everyone out of the throne room. "We should eat something before you rest." Totempo said. "We don't have much, but it will be filling."
Goten smiled. "Don't worry about the food Totempo, just set up thirty or so tables and let us do the rest."
Trunks hung back so that he was the last one to exit the room and paused looking back at the King whose back was to him.
King Vegeta sensed Trunks lingering presence. "Goodnight brat."
Trunks smirked. "Goodnight grandfather." He then followed the others.
Had Trunks looked back one more time, he might have noticed the single tear flowing down the great king's face.