Greetings and salutations. It's me again. Thank you to all the reviewers of Slayer's Knight. There is more coming. I'm glad people like the team up.
This is the continuation of Phoenix Rising, as promised. Pleas review, I beg of you. I'd say review or I won't post anymore, but I'd be lying (hahahahaha).
See chapter two for disclaimers.
Thank you for the reviews so far. I'm glad everyone's enjoying the show. If you think Faith's little light show last time was a shock, wait til you see what comes next.
"Huh? What is it King Kai?" The Guardian of the North Quadrant of the Universe's face was tight, like he was concentrating on something.
"It's Faith, Piccolo's student."
"Oh, that Slayer you wanted to train. What's up?" King Kai stared at the mighty Saiyan.
"She's just gone Super Saiyan." He said, a grim look on her face.
"What? No way. H-how is that possible?" Goku's eyes went wide.
"I don't know Goku. I really don't know."
Piccolo was wondering the same thing as he watched the golden energy race around his student. There was a look on her face that was a mixture of horror and anger. The energy pouring of her body was intense. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped.
Then he appeared.
He caught her as she fell to the ground, holding her gently, like a baby. He was a Saiyan, the tail and armour gave it away. But it's when he looked up that Piccolo got the biggest shock. Besides the various scars on his face, he looked exactly like Goku.
He stood, and carried Faith over to Piccolo. He placed the Slayer gently into the Namek warrior's arms.
"Keep her safe, Namek." He said, gently. "She's got a destiny, like her brother, but she's not ready. Don't tell her about what happened tonight, and don't tell her about me." He turned away. "Train her. Prepare her, for on her shoulders rests the fate of her world." And then he disappeared.
Piccolo stared at the space where the Saiyan had stood. What was that about?
"Piccolo, what happened?" King Kai's voice screamed in his brain.
"I don't know." He admitted, taking the girl inside and laying her on the bed. "Any idea who that was?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"The Saiyan that appeared, the one that looked like Goku." King Kai scratched his head.
"Piccolo, have you got a screw loose? There was no one else." Piccolo walked back outside.
"He was here, I saw him." The Namek said. "He had scars on his face, but other than that he looked just like Goku. He spoke like he knew what was about to happen, he told me to prepare her."
"Piccolo, there wasn't…""I know what I saw!" He yelled. "I saw him, I know it."
Back on Faith's earth, Melody was having nightmares of her own.
Faith was standing on a large field. She was dressed in some kind of gi, but like nothing Melody had seen. She was in a fighting stance, and in front of her was a big pink…something. Faith had that feral grin on her face Melody had seen before.
"Come on, puss wad, let's see how you deal with me." She said. Light glowed around her.
"Ooh." The pink blob thing said. "Pretty glowing lady. Buu like that."
"Like this, ugly." She brought two fingers up to her forehead. "This for Gohan, and Vegeta and everyone else you killed. SPECIAL BEAM CANNON FIRE!" Her fingers faced forward as a bright beam of energy shot forward, a second beam cork screwing around the first. Melody watched, amazed. When had Faith learned this, she thought, as the beam hit the blob. Melody watched as the smoke cleared.
The pink thing stood there, not a scratch. "No." Faith whispered. The pink thing stared at her.
"Glowing lady tried to hurt Buu. Buu no like lady anymore. Buu make lady pay!"
A beam shot out of the things mouth, hitting Faith hard.
"NO!"
Melody sat up. She was in her room, in her father's house. She had been here for a month at least, and it was already feeling like home. She reached to the bedside table and picked up Faith's locket. She had to warn her. Somehow.
Faith stirred, then opened her eyes. "Melody!"
"Welcome back." Piccolo said. "Mind telling me what that was about?" Faith shuddered.
"A dream, but not a dream. It was too real." She got up. "We gonna train or what?" Piccolo shook his head. What had happened in this dream that had caused her reaction? Who was that Saiyan? Why did he appear right when he needed her?
"Yeah, yeah. Come on. This is where the fun really begins."
He sat in the darkness. It was all he knew since coming here. Except her. He could see her no matter what. The Namek was trying to get her speed upped. Good. She was going to need it.
He shifted his vision to her friend. She had just woke for the second time that night, of the same dream. She was recounting the dream to her father. He listened, his face set. Melody could not warn Faith, but he could. All he had to do was wait.
Faith collapsed on the bed, exhausted. She had spent the entire day racing after Piccolo through the various gravity zones. "You need to improve your speed. Your too slow." What had resulted was the most intense race she had ever experienced. It had been exhilarating.
She closed her eyes. Just for a minute, she thought. She wanted to have one more run before she turned in.
She opened her eyes in a black place.
"Welcome to the prison of my own design." She whirled around. "My black deeds, the lives I destroyed. All forming this cell."
"You're a Saiyan." The warrior nodded, his heavily scarred face sad.
"Yes. I was one of the mightiest. I was given extra gifts of foresight, the ability to see what was to happen. But for all of that, I was unable to save my planet from destruction.." He focused on her. "But I can save your's."
"Why?" She asked. "Why do you want to?"
"To make up for past mistakes. I have a message from your friend Melody." Faith looked relieved.
"She's alive." She murmured. "Then it hasn't happened yet. But it will. And I have to be there."
"You will be." He said. "But you have another challenge to take care of first. She had a dream of her own. One concerning you." He looked at her. "There is something coming, something she knows only as Buu. She saw you taking on this creature, and your destruction at its hand, yet you have to face it. Only that will prepare you for what is to come."
"So what am I going to do, rely on the Dragon Balls? Sorry, the frequent dyer miles are Buffy's club." The Saiyan chuckled.
"No, I wouldn't expect you to. You believe that you deserve whatever you get. What I'm saying, is that, when the time comes, you must let your emotions out. Don't bottle them up. You may be surprised at what you can do." He turned away. "We're done."
"Wait!" Faith's eyes flew open. She was back in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. She sat up and thought about what he said. Let her emotions out? What did that mean? She got out and walked outside. No sign of Piccolo. Good, she didn't feel like sparring at the moment. She started running. Just a short run, an hour at most. Then, back to bed for some real sleep.
It had been one year. At least, for them it had been. For everyone else, it had only been a day. When they got outside, Dende and Mr. Popo were waiting for them. They weren't alone.
"Wow, Vegeta. You weren't kidding." The teenager standing next to Vegeta said. Faith suddenly found herself wishing she had a change of clothes. Here was the cutest guy she had ever seen and here she was in slightly shredded battle armour.
"What did you expect? Did you think me and the cue ball had overreacted?" The last Saiyan prince asked. The teen looked embarrassed. Breathe girl, Faith thought.
"Well, when you put it that way…" He laughed. God, he was adorable. He walked over to her. "Hey, I'm Gohan. Congratulations." He stuck his hand out. Faith shook it.
"Faith." She said, trying hard not to hyperventilate. "What do you mean, congratulations?" Gohan grinned at her, looking side ways at Piccolo.
"You survived a year training with Piccolo. I know how hard that is, believe me." He burst into laughter. Piccolo grunted.
"Very funny, Gohan. Her training's not over yet." He turned to Dende. "You sure you can do this?" The young guardian nodded.
"Gotta learn some time." He said. He held his hand out towards Faith. "Take my hand." She complied sceptically. "Now hold on." He concentrated, and they disappeared. Gohan stared at the place where they had been.
"W-where'd they go?" He asked.
"Snake Way." Piccolo said. "This was the whole point of this. King Kai wanted to put her through his training."
"King Kai? Wow. Hey, wait a minute. That means…" Piccolo nodded. Vegeta stared at the spot where they had been.
"Kakarot."
They appeared in front of a large stone snakehead. "Whoa." She said. "Where are we?"
"The beginning of Snake Way." Dende said. "It took a lot of talking, but I managed to convince Great King Yama to let you through." She climbed up on the snake.
"Whoa." She said for the second time. "That's a long road. Where's it go?" She looked down at the young guardian.
"At the end of the road, you'll find the home of King Kai. He wants to train you, personally."
"Really? Is he powerful?"
"His training allowed Goku to conquer Vegeta when he first came to earth, intent on destruction." Faith's eye's lit up. If he could help someone grow that powerful…
"When do I leave?" She asked eagerly.
"Whenever your ready." Dende said. "Just remember, don't leave the road, for any reason." Faith nodded.
"Don't leave the road, got it. 'Bye." She took of at high speeds. Dende watched her go.
"Good luck."
Faith ran down the winding road, the wind whipping past her. She had decided that it might be better to safe the energy she'd use flying in case she needed it for something important.
The trip was rather uneventful except for the giant snake tied in a knot, screaming at her to help untie her it. Faith wisely decided to leave it alone. When she got to the end, there was nothing but empty space.
"What the hell is this?" She said. She looked around, finally locating a small planet above her. "That must be it. Good thing I saved some energy." She launched up towards the planet.
Goku was looking up for any sign of Faith. He eventually saw her seeping towards him. "Look's like she got here. Hm, is it just me or…oh great, she's coming in to fast." He dived out of the way as she was about to hit. She managed to slow down enough to land properly.
"That was close." She said. "Wish I'd been told this place had more gravity than earth."
"Ten times actually." Goku held out a hand. "I'm Goku." Faith took the hand.
"So your Goku. I imagined you a little taller." She said.
"Well, he looks taller to me, but then again, so does everyone." A voice chuckled behind her. She turned around to find a small blue man in black robe. He wore sunglasses, and had a pair of antennae.
"Well, I suppose someone of your stature would have problems standing tall." She said. The short man stared a moment, then started to giggle.
"Standing…tall…" He exploded with laughter. "Hahahahahahahahaha! That's a good one. I'll have to remember that." He laughed.
"Congratulations, you just passed the first test." Goku said. Faith gave him a sideways glance.
"I did?"
"Sure. That's King Kai, and you made him laugh. That's the first test." The Saiyan rubbed his nose. "Although, that really isn't that hard. He usually does it by himself." Faith looked at the hero. What had she gotten herself into?
"Good." Zealot said, as she sidestepped the blow. Melody grinned as the practice sword changed direction, nearly catching the former Coda on the shoulder. "You're improving." She stood up straight. "That will do for now." Melody nodded. She turned and noticed, for the first time, that her father had been watching. Under his arm, he held a folder. He handed it to her.
"I think you may find this interesting." He said. Melody took it. It was a coroners report. Cause of death was labelled as an animal attack. Melody looked at the photos. They matched the ones Faith had shown her in London. Vampire bites. She nodded, and then headed towards the bathroom.
"I'll just take a shower, then do a quick patrol." She said. Her father looked at her, worried. He had been told about what she was, about the Vampire Slayer. He didn't like the idea of losing her again. "I'll be fine." She said, seeing the look he gave her. "Faith spent the entire trip here preparing me. I'm ready. As ready as I'll ever be." She noticed Zealot looking at her. "What?" The Kherabim warrior nodded toward the phone they had installed in the garage that had become their gym.
"Call her." She said. "For advice." Melody gave an exasperated look.
"I don't think she really needs to here from some rookie looking for advise on her first patrol." Melody said. Zealot gave her a stern look. "Alright, alright, I'll call her." Her father looked at the warrior. She grinned slightly.
"Another Slayer."
"Logan, can you get that?" Buffy called from the shower. Logan grimaced.
"Yeah, yeah." He said, moving from his seat in the lounge room. He picked up the phone. "Yeah, who is it?"
"Is Buffy there?" A girls voice asked.
"She's kinda busy. Can I give her a message?"
"It's kind of urgent." He noticed a slight British accent, with something else. A caution.
"I'm sorry, kid, but she's in the shower. Just give me a name an' number an' I'll get her call you back." The voice on the other end sighed in exasperation.
"Look, just tell her a friend of Faith's called, my name's Melody. I'm a potential Slayer, at least Faith seems to think so." Logan tried not to drop the phone. "There have been some vampire attacks in the area and Zealot seems to think I need her advice." Shit, Logan thought.
"Hang on a tick." He covered the mouthpiece. "Buffy! Get that cute ass of your's down here, RIGHT NOW!" He heard the shower turn off quickly. A few seconds later, Buffy ran down, dressed in nothing but a couple of towels.
"This better be good." She mumbled. Logan handed her the phone. "Yeah.
"Buffy Summers?"
"Yeah, unless someone changed the name without telling me." Buffy said. She was not happy.
"My names Melody. I'm a friend of Faith's." Buffy stood there, wide eyed, as Melody explained what was going down. She gave the girl a few pointers.
"One more thing." She warned. "The reason this sort of thing happens with a Slayer around usually means a new big bad. Be careful. If you need anything, call. We'll be over as soon as possible."
"Got it. Thanks, Buffy."
"Don't mention it. Give Faith a whack from me, for leaving you in the lurch like that." Melody laughed.
"Got it. Bye." Buffy said bye, then hung up.
"Well?" Logan asked, sneaking his hand towards the towel.
"She'll do fine." She said. He felt a sting on his hand, but Buffy hadn't moved. "Don't even think it. Dawn should be home soon."
"Then we'll just have ta take it upstairs." He grabbed her by the waist and picked her up. Buffy grabbed the towel, trying to stop it from falling off. At least til they got upstairs.
"Logan!" She shrieked.
Faith marched towards the house, holding Bubbles triumphantly in the air. The monkey was shrieking with delight.
"You caught him." King Kai said. "Not that I had any doubt, of course. Piccolo pushed you a little harder than I expected." He walked up to her. "Now for the next part of your training." He took in a deep breath. "GREEEEEGORYYYYY!" He yelled. Faith searched the sky. Suddenly she saw a spot of light headed directly for her.
"Oh shit!" She dived to one side, barely avoiding the ball of light. "What the hell?"
"Ta-da!" A small insect thing emerged from the ball. Faith got up angrily.
"Watch it, bug boy! You nearly took my head off!" She yelled.
"Who are you calling bug boy, girly?" The bug said. "I'm the great Gregory."
"You're a great pain in the ass." She shot at him.
"Watch your mouth, or I'll…"
"What, buzz me death? I just have one question; where do you have the room to fit such a large ego in such a small body?" Gregory glared at her. Faith glared back. Goku thought he would have to step in when King Kai burst into laughter.
"Stop, stop, no more!" He laughed, rolling on the ground. "I can't take it, it's so funny1 Hahahaha!" He got to his feet, still chuckling. "Big ego, little body. Where does she come up with this stuff?" He cleared his throat. "Gregory is your next test. You have to hit him…" He held out his hand and a large hammer appeared. "With this hammer." Faith grinned as she took the hammer. She staggered at the weight for a moment, and then caught her balance.
"I'm gonna enjoy this." She said, grinning at the small insect.
"That's if you can hit me." Gregory said.
"Watch out, Jiminy Cricket, here I come."
"What? You're comparing me to that…uhf!" Gregory grunted as the hammer came down on his head. King Kai and Goku stared in amazement.
"Gosh." Goku said. "I never thought of that."
"Ouch!" King Kai said. "That bruised his head and his ego."
"Not hard." Faith said. Gregory tried to focus on her, but kept coming up seeing double.
"No fair." He slurred. "I wasn't ready."
"I warned you." She said.
"Did not." He said.
"Did to." She countered. "I said here I come. Not my fault you were to busy trying to think of a come back." Gregory tried to stand, and fell on his face.
"Now, Gregory, there was nothing wrong with the way she did that." King Kai said. "She made it impossible for you to think clearly, and you didn't see the blow coming. You can't blame her for that." Gregory pouted. King Kai turned to the Slayer. "Now we get real serious. In the next part of your training, we will cover the ancient art of grappling."
"Cool." Faith said, dropping the hammer. "Who am I grappling with?"
"Me." Goku stepped forward. Faith licked her lips.
"Even cooler." She said. "Just one request; if we're gonna spar, don't hold back." Goku stared in surprise. "Give me everything you've got. Including this Super Saiyan thing everyone's talking." Goku was impressed.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright. Here goes." Goku spread his feet and concentrated. Faith could hear low grunts coming from him. She could feel his power level raising dramatically. The air began to shimmer. Chunks of earth began to break off and float in front of him, only to disintegrate.
"Oh…wow…" She said. This was so absolutely amazing. Suddenly Goku yelled, and golden energy exploded around him. His black hair turned a golden yellow, as did his eyebrows. His eyes also changed colour, from black to a piercing green. "Oh my…when Piccolo said you could dwarf anyone I'd met, he was really understating things, wasn't he?" Goku nodded, a grin on his face.
"So, you gonna show me what you can do, or did I do this for nothing?"
"Alright, tough guy." Faith said. She focused, concentrating on the power within her. She pulled with everything she could, trying to draw everything she had inside outside. She noticed that there was something else, a power she couldn't touch. It had laid there, dormant, ever since…
The dream. It came crashing back. She remembered everything with heart breaking clarity. Grifter's mask, Zealot. Melody being hammered through the ground. Once again her sorrow exploded outwards, in exhilarating yet frightening display of light and power.
"Oh wow. No way." Goku said. He kept his Super Saiyan form in case Faith totally lost control. He watched as her appearance changed into that of a Super Saiyan. The wind picked up to amazing force. King Kai watched on calmly.
It's absolutely amazing, he thought. He didn't understand how it was possible that this Vampire Slayer was a Saiyan. It was impossible, but there she was, in all her transcendent glory.
"Hang on, Melody." She was whispering. "I'm coming. I'll stop him. Just hang on. Hang on." The glow flickered and failed, and Faith fell. Goku was there to catch her. There was something about this girl. He wanted to help her, in any way he could. King Kai watched. Could it be possible? He remembered Piccolo's Saiyan apparition, and suddenly it all fell into place.
"What do you mean, there's something you have to check on?" Goku said. "What about Faith?"
"You can teach her what she needs to know, you know the training." King Kai said. "I just need to confirm something, that's all. I'll be back soon." Goku sighed.
"Alright."
"Take care of her, Goku. She needs all the help she can get." And with that, he disappeared. Goku looked back to the house, where Faith slept. What was the deal? He thought. She was Saiyan, that was obvious. But how?
He appeared in front of King Yama's desk. "Is everything ready?" The North Kai asked.
"Everything is ready, King Kai." King Yama said. "I still don't understand."
"Hopefully, my friend, all will be revealed."
He sat in the darkness, focusing on Faith. It had happened again, only this time, she would remember everything. She would want an explanation, but was she ready to hear what he had to say?
"Bardok." He grinned. About time.
"So, the great King Kai has come to visit the father of his greatest student." He said sarcastically. "How can I help you?"
"I think you know why I'm here, Bardok." He said. "Is she…?"
"My daughter?" He finished. "Whatever would give you that idea?"
"You were able to cross the barrier between life and death when she needed your support." He said. "Only a promise of great importance would make that possible, and you made such a promise once, didn't you?" The once great Saiyan warrior spun to face him.
"How did you know that?" He demanded.
"Your not the only one who can see the future. The grand Kai ordered me to watch your family, that a great hero would come from your family, long before you were a mischievous twinkle in your fathers eye."
"You knew…"
"You told their mother about what was coming," King Kai continued. "and promised to keep them all safe. What you didn't know until it was to late, was that she was pregnant." He shook his head. "I stopped watching when I realised that Goku was the one I had been waiting for. Not the best idea in the world." Bardok stared at him.
"She had moved on." He said. "I had thought her safe. I did not take the vampires into account." He thought of something. "The vampire that attacked. It was corralled there by the Watchers Council." King Kai stared at him. "I traced it back to them. A way of 'preparing' their Slayers."
"This I did not know. When will you tell her?" Bardok stood firm.
"Now." King Kai nodded.
"Go to her." They both disappeared.
Goku sat outside the house, waiting for Faith to wake up. Gregory and Bubbles were running around. Goku sat back, wondering how his friends were. Although he enjoyed hanging out with King Kai, he missed Krillin and the others. He missed his family, Chi Chi and Gohan and Goten, the son he never knew. He even missed Vegeta, just a little. He grinned. Life was certainly more boring without the overbearing, over confident, egotistical prince wanting to prove himself more powerful.
Suddenly, King Kai appeared. The man beside him was a Saiyan, Goku saw that immediately. He jumped to his feet.
"It's alright Goku." King Kai said. "He's here to explain some things to Faith." The other Saiyan looked the hero of earth up and down.
"Gods." He muttered. "Has it really been that long?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Goku asked. The Saiyan grinned.
"It has been far to long. When I last saw you, you were a baby, being sent to safety, although no one else would believe me."
"What? Who are you? Answer me!" King Kai stepped to one side. He knew what Bardok wanted. He went inside. He had a feeling Faith was about to wake up.
"What are you going to do if I don't?" Bardok asked with a grin. He had his fathers temper. All he had to do was push.
"Just answer the question!" Goku demanded.
"Make me." Bardok dropped into a fighting stance.
"You asked for it!" Goku said, disappearing. Bardok stared a moment. He was fast, faster than he had thought. Bardok moved, landing on the roof of the house, just as Goku reached the spot he had been standing.
"You'll have to do better than that." He said. Time for one last shove. "And you were the one who beat Frieza? I find that hard to believe." Goku glared at him.
"You wanna see that, huh? All you had to do was ask. HYAH!" He exploded with energy, surrounding himself in a golden aura. Bardok grinned.
"Finally." He said. "Yes, you are as powerful as I foresaw, perhaps even more so. And you're a hero. You have truly found the long lost past of our people. Your mother would be proud."
"My…mother?" Goku said. "Who are you?"
"My name is Bardok. I am you father." Goku was so shocked he dropped his Super Saiyan form.
"My…father?" Bardok nodded, leaping down in front of him.
"Yes. I just wanted to test you. I have to say I'm impressed." He turned and headed to the house. "Oh, and don't worry about missing your family. You'll get a chance to see them again." He walked inside before Goku could say a word. What did he mean?
Faith's eye's shot open. There was a battle outside. Goku and…someone she didn't recognise. Whoever it was, they had no chance against Goku. That or they were hiding their power. She got out of bed.
"Well, well, sleeping beauty finally decided to wake up." King Kai said.
"What's going on?" Faith asked. King Kai shrugged.
"Goku's just having a family reunion, that's all." Faith looked towards the door as Goku's power jumped.
"Family reunion, huh?" Faith said. "Feels more like a full on battle." The power suddenly dropped.
"See? Nothing to worry about." King Kai shrugged. "I really wish you guys would listen to me more. There are times when I know what I'm talking about." Faith looked out the window.
"Hey, wait a minute! What's he doing here?" Faith demanded. "And what the hell did he just say to Goku to get a reaction like that?" King Kai looked out the window.
"That's Bardok, Goku's father. He was the one who made sure Goku was off planet when their home planet was destroyed by Frieza." He looked over at her. "Why, what is it?"
"I saw him once." She said. "He came into my dreams, gave me a warning about a battle to come." Something clicked, suddenly. "King Kai, I need to speak to Piccolo. It's urgent."
"Why? He asked. Bardok had begun walking towards the house. "What is it?"
"He gave me a warning from Melody, a Slayer dream. She saw me getting wiped out by some pink blobby thing, called itself Buu."
"What?" King Kai exploded suddenly. "Majin Buu, you're sure?"
"I am." Bardok said, as he entered the house. "This is what Melody described to her father. I…listened in." He shrugged. "It had to do with Faith." She looked over at him. Damn, she thought. Why didn't she see the resemblance before?
"And we will talk about that." She said to him. She turned back to King Kai. "I wanted to warn Piccolo and the others, just in case." King Kai nodded.
"Of course. I will relay the warning to Piccolo and the others." He turned to the door. "I will leave you two to talk. Do try not to kill each." He left with a chuckle.
"Hard to believe he's a trainer of heros." She muttered. She sat down at the table. "So, you gonna start talking or what?" Bardok grinned. She was more like her mother than she could ever know.
"Very well." He said. "You must keep an open mind about what I am about to tell you." Faith nodded. "What do you know about the story of my home planet's destruction?"
"Interstellar big bad decided to blow it to hell, and the entire population with it." She said simply. Bardok nodded.
"A rather succinct way of putting it." He said. "Yes, that is right. Unfortuanately for him, he missed some. Prince Vegeta, who was in the very bowels of Freaza's own ship, Nappa and my eldest, Raditz, both on missions, and Kakarot, the one known as Goku, streaking towards earth even as the planet of his birth disintergrated behind him."
"Okay I get all that, but what's that got to do with me?" She asked. Bardok grimaced.
"I'm getting to that." He said. "This bit was not know by anyone. I managed to save two more lives. My beloved wife, and our unborn child. Their capsule was supposed to land on the earth Goku knew, so that he could be trained. But Fate had other ideas." He looked directly at her. "Her capsule landed on the wrong side of the sun." Faith's jaw dropped, her eyes wide. No way. "My wife knew what was happening, he was the only one that believed me. She had been prepared for this. She removed her tail. When the baby was born..."
"No!" Faith said. Bardok stopped. "You're lying. It isn't possible."
"It is. You…"
"NO!" A beam of energy hit Bardok hard in the chest, sending him flying outside.
"Uhf. Damn, that girl knows how to hit!" He said.
"What happened?" Goku demanded.
"She didn't like the idea of being your sister." Bardok muttered.
"What?" Goku stared down at him. "I hope you tried explaining it a little more gently than that." Bardok shrugged.
"Saiyans aren't known for subtlety." He said. Goku groaned.
"Oh great." He turned towards the house. Faith was standing at the door. She looked about ready to go Super Saiyan again. "Here we go again." Bardok got to his feet, standing beside his son.
"For what it's worth, I don't like this anymore than you do." Goku grunted. Bardok stepped forward. "Faith, please listen. What I am telling you is the truth."
"No! I don't believe you!" She said. Tears were coming from her eyes. "My father died after vampire drained him dry. My mother left me at an orphanage…"
"So she could find the one that bit him." Bardok said desperately. "Faith, believe me, I wouldn't lie to you."
"She left me because she couldn't handle it." She said bitterly.
"That's not true. Your mother…" He stopped, looking just past Faith, to one side of the house. "Oh…God…" Goku followed his gaze.
"Who's that?" Faith turned around. She gasped.
"M-mommy?" The woman had raven black hair, but Goku was shocked at the colour of her eyes. They weren't black like his, or Vegeta's or any other Saiyan he had meet. They emerald green. Like a Super Saiyan.
Faith stared at the woman. She looked exactly like the woman in the picture, the one in her locket. Tears flowed freely.
"Faith." The woman whispered. Faith stared at her. It couldn't be. The woman hugged her fiercly. Faith hugged back, holding her like she would never let go. "My daughter, I'm sorry. I meant to return, but things happened. I'm sorry."
"Mommy." Faith whispered. Her mother looked over her shoulder.
"Still as subtle as a ki blast I see, Bardok." The Saiyan grinned at her.
"You expected a little thing like death to change me?" He asked. He tried to hide the tears in his own eyes. She was still as beautiful as ever. Faith pulled back a little.
"You mean…" Her mother nodded. "Oops." She said. It was all she could think of.
"'Oops'?" Bardok said. "You nearly knocked me into orbit." Faith shrugged.
"You just give me the family history, no warning, and expect me to be perfectly calm about it?" Faith said, glaring at the man she now knew was her father. Goku stared at all of them.
"I'm getting a headache." He said. The woman looked over at him.
"Oh my…" She said. "You were right, Bardok. He looks exactly like you." She walked over to him, Faith firmly glued to her side. Goku stared at her. Faith called her mother; his father seemed to know her intimately. But that would mean…
"Are you…my mother?" He asked. She grinned.
"Your smarter than your brother." She said. She looked him up and down. "Show me." Goku grinned.
"I was waiting for that." He said, exploding with golden energy. His eyes went as green as hers, and his hair stuck up more than usual. She gasped.
"I didn't think…" She grinned at Bardok. "Now he has my eyes." Faith had a good look.
"Hey yeah. Cool." Then a thought occurred to her. She remembered the dream, and the happenings of earlier that day. She pried herself from under her mother's arms. "Just need to try something." She said. She focused on images of her friends getting hurt. She felt the energy within her, but she didn't hold back. She screamed loudly as it exploded outwards in golden energy. Her hair stuck up, going from black to gold. Her eyes went green like her mother's. She stood there for a moment before speaking. "Whoa." She said. She looked around. It was like she was seeing everything for the first time. She could actually see flows of energy. "Holy shit!" She exclaimed. Goku grinned.
"Yeah, it's something." Her brother said. It registered.
"We're brother and sister. That just clicked." Faith said. Goku chuckled. "Aw, nuts. That means Gohan's my nephew. Damn." Goku stared. Their parents burst into laughter. "What?"
Next: A Wathcer and the World Martial Arts Tournament.
