Disclaimer: Once there was this show all the little boys watched and all
that it was about was these guys fighting and wanting to show each other
their 'ultimate power'. Boring! Do you think that I would have thought of
that? No way.
Future's Changed:
In a distant galaxy, on a dead world, three people appeared.
"Where are we?" asked the youngest in awe, a slim yet well-muscled man in a tattered black bodysuit.
"This is the world I grew up on. What you see is what Majin Buu did to it seventy-five million years ago before Bibbidi was killed," the shortest one answered, his plume of white hair waving as he turned to survey the dusty rubble that surrounded them under an ancient star's light.
"Why are we here?" the tallest one glowered, sharp fangs and nails gleaming against emerald skin as he stood in a cross-armed stance.
"Gohan needs to train to fight Buu, specifically with that," Shin pointed toward a clearing in the ruins. There, in the center, was a sword set in a stone.
"A- a sword?" Gohan questioned, unbelieving.
"What could that metal toothpick do to that monster? It would be like poking mud with a stick, it'll just fill in," the Namek snorted.
"It is, of course, not just any sword," the Supreme Kai explained with a wry smile, "and not just any warrior can wield it. It was made to absorb Ki. In the right hands, it can defeat Majin Buu."
"And you think I can do it?" the young demi-saiyan approached the stone.
"I have every confidence in you, Gohan. Pull it out." The two watched as the slim figure hesitantly put a bare hand on the hilt of the sword and tested it slightly. When it neither shocked him or disintegrated, he grasped it with both hands and pulled. At first it didn't move and he raised his ki. Then slowly it moved with a slight shirring noise as it reluctantly withdrew from the stone until the long, shining blade was clear.
"This... This is great!" Gohan exclaimed, swishing the sword through the air on some trial swings. A loud rumble punctuated his movements causing him to stop and rub his head in the famous Son fashion, "Um,.. is there anything to eat around here, Shin?"
Piccolo rolled his eyes but the Supreme Kai merely nodded, "Ah yes, my young friend, I must remember you are Saiyan after all." Then Shin turned and raised his hands. Shortly, a building appeared in front of them and he led them in. It was elegant yet simple, comfortable yet grand. In the dining area, there were dishes set on the table filled with food- some familiar, some exotic, and pitchers of clear, cold water.
Gohan remembered his manners enough to ask about a wash room before eating. Sixty seconds later, he was back and ready to dig in, which he did to his companion's amusement. It didn't take long for him to clear the table with (very) little help. "Wow, was that ever good! Thanks, Supreme Kai." He stood and moved to pick up the sword, "Well, I'd better get back to practicing."
"Gohan, wait," Shin walked over to him, "Take some time to refresh yourself. I have some things I need to check up on."
"um... Okay," the teen agreed and he walked back to the washroom. Now he noticed the large bath and some clean clothes folded nearby. Looking in the mirror, he had to admit he was pretty grody. As he disrobed and settled into the warm water, he recalled the few times he'd been this dirty; on Namek, after Cell (shudder), after that camping trip with Goten and Trunks. (Double shudder- although he supposed his hair did look better short, he'd had to cut it after the flaming marsh-mellow incident.)
After his bath, Gohan discovered that the clothes were in the same style that the Supreme Kai wore and fit him perfectly. Gohan admired himself in the mirror, *His mother would probably like the outfit. Would Videl?* he wondered. *One thing for sure, if anyone else from school saw him in it, he'd have a worse nick-name than 'mountain boy'. Too bad,* he thought as he fingered the fine fabric, *it does look good.* He took up the sword and headed outside, passing a meditating Piccolo on the way. Once under the starry sky, he swung it from hand to hand, finally settling for a two- handed grip like Mirai Trunks had shown him years before. He swiveled and charged, attacking invisible enemies. After a while, a flicker of movement alerted him to a rock flying by. He turned and smashed it away.
"Trying to catch me off guard, Piccolo?"
"Just thought you could use a real moving target. Forgive if I prefer not to stuck by that thing," the Namek answered, levitating some more rocks Gohan's way.
"Heh-heh, I see your point. Alright, give me a work out!" Gohan answered, crouching down into a fighting stance. He practiced for hours among a shifting landscape of boulders, making debris of the ones that Piccolo threw at him with the encouragement of the Supreme Kai.
Suddenly in mid-stride, he stopped, a look of surprise going over his face before crumpling into the dust.
"Gohan!" Rocks crashed back to earth as Piccolo stopped concen-trating and rushed to his pupil. Shin was by his side as he turned the fallen form over to find that the boy was breathing evenly, eyes shut, and a slight smile on his handsome face. "What?! He's... "
"..sleeping," the diminutive God finished for him. "How odd," he put his hand on the young Saiyan's head and gazed out towards space. "Something has happened, a wish was made," he blinked his large eyes, stood and smirked at the boy, "It will not change things on a cosmic scale, but he may be more determined when he wakes. Until then, I think he would rest more comfortably inside, don't you?" He motioned for Piccolo to take Gohan into the house. "We will speak when you return," Shin told the Namek, gazing once more at the stars.
"What's going on?" Piccolo growled when he came back out.
"You will know soon enough," the Supreme Kai answered, "Yell me, Piccolo, why did you concede to me at the tournament?"
The Namek crossed his arms and drew himself up taller, "You know why, I knew who you were," he stated defensively.
The Kai pierced him with eyes that glimmered in the starlight, "Was it because of who I am or what I am?" he suggested, "Your blood knows what your mind rationalizes: why you would not fight me and why you gave the senzu to me instead of your friend."
Piccolo listened, wide-eyed, a chill going up his spine.
"It wasn't fear of defeat," Shin continued, "any of the Saiyans have more power, and if you had given Goku the senzu, he could have taken me to Dende. Then he would have been saved pain and I still would have been healed. Again, I ask, do you know why?"
A rushing heat suffused the Namek under the gaze of the small elegant figure. He opened a mouth gone too dry to speak and shook his head.
He was finally given relief when Shin turned his head, surveying the dead world. He spoke in a low voice, almost to himself, "Our world was one of the first to develop intelligent life, to use ki and to explore the stars. As such, we were given the task to watch and guard the younger worlds. So the caste of the Kais began: a Kami to watch over each world; the four Compass Kais and the Grand Kai for each galaxy; and the Universal Quadrant Kais which were from this world. The most worthy and powerful were the ones chosen for this duty. I was the youngest of them. Then Bibbidi showed up with Majin Buu and did this to our world and countless others. I was lucky to escape and then catch the wizard in space where I could destroy him, but it was too late to save the others."
"I was alone a long time before I found Kibito and took his offer to be my servant, I shall miss him, for he kept me company while I long have searched for others to join me in my duty. Few have the intelli-gence, the wisdom, the patience and most of all, the power to do it. After all this time, I think I have found someone who qualifies."
"Gohan?" Piccolo questioned, apprehensive for his friend.
"Gohan could, but he is young yet and needs to live his life, I won't take that away from him." The Supreme Kai turned and looked at the tall Named appraisingly, "It is you whom I choose."
Piccolo stepped back, arms dangling from shock, "Wha- What? Why?"
Shin took a step closer and smiled, "Warrior, Demon Lord and Guardian- you have the strength and the experience and the heart. I choose you."
"I won't."
"You will. You made the choice already."
Piccolo stared at the grinning God for long minutes before dropping his eyes in defeat, "How?"
"Fusion," the light voice answered.
"Hell, no!" he snarled.
"It won't be permanent, at least under these circumstances," Shin removed one of his earrings, "This is Potara; if two beings of similar power share a set, they are joined together until.. um..."
"Until death do you part?" the Names quipped dryly.
"Cute, but yes," quirked Shin, shrugging his shoulders, "We would share abilities and experiences. Do not worry, it would not be forever, I have a lien on my soul: after Buu is taken care of, I am to go to the Otherworld and will leave you."
"Okay, if it's not forever," Piccolo reluctantly agreed, piercing his ear with his nail, "but I don't want to waste my time watching the universe for a million years." He inserted the golden bauble.
"Oh, it will not be so long. I think you will find the experience quite fruitful," a chiming laugh filled the air where the small Kai had been.
"WHAT!!!" a shocked bass roared across the horizon.
AN: Yes! I got this chapter done! I am so mean. I think I'll call him Kai- colo. If it was a soft drink, what flavor would it be, kiwi-grape? And what has happened to Gohan and Videl? Next stop: back to the Lookout for dancing lessons. (no, I have not forgotten about Vegita.)
Future's Changed:
In a distant galaxy, on a dead world, three people appeared.
"Where are we?" asked the youngest in awe, a slim yet well-muscled man in a tattered black bodysuit.
"This is the world I grew up on. What you see is what Majin Buu did to it seventy-five million years ago before Bibbidi was killed," the shortest one answered, his plume of white hair waving as he turned to survey the dusty rubble that surrounded them under an ancient star's light.
"Why are we here?" the tallest one glowered, sharp fangs and nails gleaming against emerald skin as he stood in a cross-armed stance.
"Gohan needs to train to fight Buu, specifically with that," Shin pointed toward a clearing in the ruins. There, in the center, was a sword set in a stone.
"A- a sword?" Gohan questioned, unbelieving.
"What could that metal toothpick do to that monster? It would be like poking mud with a stick, it'll just fill in," the Namek snorted.
"It is, of course, not just any sword," the Supreme Kai explained with a wry smile, "and not just any warrior can wield it. It was made to absorb Ki. In the right hands, it can defeat Majin Buu."
"And you think I can do it?" the young demi-saiyan approached the stone.
"I have every confidence in you, Gohan. Pull it out." The two watched as the slim figure hesitantly put a bare hand on the hilt of the sword and tested it slightly. When it neither shocked him or disintegrated, he grasped it with both hands and pulled. At first it didn't move and he raised his ki. Then slowly it moved with a slight shirring noise as it reluctantly withdrew from the stone until the long, shining blade was clear.
"This... This is great!" Gohan exclaimed, swishing the sword through the air on some trial swings. A loud rumble punctuated his movements causing him to stop and rub his head in the famous Son fashion, "Um,.. is there anything to eat around here, Shin?"
Piccolo rolled his eyes but the Supreme Kai merely nodded, "Ah yes, my young friend, I must remember you are Saiyan after all." Then Shin turned and raised his hands. Shortly, a building appeared in front of them and he led them in. It was elegant yet simple, comfortable yet grand. In the dining area, there were dishes set on the table filled with food- some familiar, some exotic, and pitchers of clear, cold water.
Gohan remembered his manners enough to ask about a wash room before eating. Sixty seconds later, he was back and ready to dig in, which he did to his companion's amusement. It didn't take long for him to clear the table with (very) little help. "Wow, was that ever good! Thanks, Supreme Kai." He stood and moved to pick up the sword, "Well, I'd better get back to practicing."
"Gohan, wait," Shin walked over to him, "Take some time to refresh yourself. I have some things I need to check up on."
"um... Okay," the teen agreed and he walked back to the washroom. Now he noticed the large bath and some clean clothes folded nearby. Looking in the mirror, he had to admit he was pretty grody. As he disrobed and settled into the warm water, he recalled the few times he'd been this dirty; on Namek, after Cell (shudder), after that camping trip with Goten and Trunks. (Double shudder- although he supposed his hair did look better short, he'd had to cut it after the flaming marsh-mellow incident.)
After his bath, Gohan discovered that the clothes were in the same style that the Supreme Kai wore and fit him perfectly. Gohan admired himself in the mirror, *His mother would probably like the outfit. Would Videl?* he wondered. *One thing for sure, if anyone else from school saw him in it, he'd have a worse nick-name than 'mountain boy'. Too bad,* he thought as he fingered the fine fabric, *it does look good.* He took up the sword and headed outside, passing a meditating Piccolo on the way. Once under the starry sky, he swung it from hand to hand, finally settling for a two- handed grip like Mirai Trunks had shown him years before. He swiveled and charged, attacking invisible enemies. After a while, a flicker of movement alerted him to a rock flying by. He turned and smashed it away.
"Trying to catch me off guard, Piccolo?"
"Just thought you could use a real moving target. Forgive if I prefer not to stuck by that thing," the Namek answered, levitating some more rocks Gohan's way.
"Heh-heh, I see your point. Alright, give me a work out!" Gohan answered, crouching down into a fighting stance. He practiced for hours among a shifting landscape of boulders, making debris of the ones that Piccolo threw at him with the encouragement of the Supreme Kai.
Suddenly in mid-stride, he stopped, a look of surprise going over his face before crumpling into the dust.
"Gohan!" Rocks crashed back to earth as Piccolo stopped concen-trating and rushed to his pupil. Shin was by his side as he turned the fallen form over to find that the boy was breathing evenly, eyes shut, and a slight smile on his handsome face. "What?! He's... "
"..sleeping," the diminutive God finished for him. "How odd," he put his hand on the young Saiyan's head and gazed out towards space. "Something has happened, a wish was made," he blinked his large eyes, stood and smirked at the boy, "It will not change things on a cosmic scale, but he may be more determined when he wakes. Until then, I think he would rest more comfortably inside, don't you?" He motioned for Piccolo to take Gohan into the house. "We will speak when you return," Shin told the Namek, gazing once more at the stars.
"What's going on?" Piccolo growled when he came back out.
"You will know soon enough," the Supreme Kai answered, "Yell me, Piccolo, why did you concede to me at the tournament?"
The Namek crossed his arms and drew himself up taller, "You know why, I knew who you were," he stated defensively.
The Kai pierced him with eyes that glimmered in the starlight, "Was it because of who I am or what I am?" he suggested, "Your blood knows what your mind rationalizes: why you would not fight me and why you gave the senzu to me instead of your friend."
Piccolo listened, wide-eyed, a chill going up his spine.
"It wasn't fear of defeat," Shin continued, "any of the Saiyans have more power, and if you had given Goku the senzu, he could have taken me to Dende. Then he would have been saved pain and I still would have been healed. Again, I ask, do you know why?"
A rushing heat suffused the Namek under the gaze of the small elegant figure. He opened a mouth gone too dry to speak and shook his head.
He was finally given relief when Shin turned his head, surveying the dead world. He spoke in a low voice, almost to himself, "Our world was one of the first to develop intelligent life, to use ki and to explore the stars. As such, we were given the task to watch and guard the younger worlds. So the caste of the Kais began: a Kami to watch over each world; the four Compass Kais and the Grand Kai for each galaxy; and the Universal Quadrant Kais which were from this world. The most worthy and powerful were the ones chosen for this duty. I was the youngest of them. Then Bibbidi showed up with Majin Buu and did this to our world and countless others. I was lucky to escape and then catch the wizard in space where I could destroy him, but it was too late to save the others."
"I was alone a long time before I found Kibito and took his offer to be my servant, I shall miss him, for he kept me company while I long have searched for others to join me in my duty. Few have the intelli-gence, the wisdom, the patience and most of all, the power to do it. After all this time, I think I have found someone who qualifies."
"Gohan?" Piccolo questioned, apprehensive for his friend.
"Gohan could, but he is young yet and needs to live his life, I won't take that away from him." The Supreme Kai turned and looked at the tall Named appraisingly, "It is you whom I choose."
Piccolo stepped back, arms dangling from shock, "Wha- What? Why?"
Shin took a step closer and smiled, "Warrior, Demon Lord and Guardian- you have the strength and the experience and the heart. I choose you."
"I won't."
"You will. You made the choice already."
Piccolo stared at the grinning God for long minutes before dropping his eyes in defeat, "How?"
"Fusion," the light voice answered.
"Hell, no!" he snarled.
"It won't be permanent, at least under these circumstances," Shin removed one of his earrings, "This is Potara; if two beings of similar power share a set, they are joined together until.. um..."
"Until death do you part?" the Names quipped dryly.
"Cute, but yes," quirked Shin, shrugging his shoulders, "We would share abilities and experiences. Do not worry, it would not be forever, I have a lien on my soul: after Buu is taken care of, I am to go to the Otherworld and will leave you."
"Okay, if it's not forever," Piccolo reluctantly agreed, piercing his ear with his nail, "but I don't want to waste my time watching the universe for a million years." He inserted the golden bauble.
"Oh, it will not be so long. I think you will find the experience quite fruitful," a chiming laugh filled the air where the small Kai had been.
"WHAT!!!" a shocked bass roared across the horizon.
AN: Yes! I got this chapter done! I am so mean. I think I'll call him Kai- colo. If it was a soft drink, what flavor would it be, kiwi-grape? And what has happened to Gohan and Videl? Next stop: back to the Lookout for dancing lessons. (no, I have not forgotten about Vegita.)