[A/N - *whispers* Dobn't look now, but since I'm concentrating on plot, the eps will get a bit longer. Sorry for the inconvinience!]
*************Episode 33************
**A New Challenge: Dance Lessons**
Zucina punched the black bag so hard, it swayed ready to fall out of its pole. 'Damn him damn him damn him damn him DAMN HIM!!!!!' She finally completely destroyed the punching bag.
Many of the other third class Sayins in the training hall gawked at her. Zucina, still well known to them, had been training almost non-stop for over a week, and showed no signs of letting up. And the look of hatred in her eyes was so intense, none dared question as to why.
She panted, ignoring the remains of the bag. 'Why!? WHY can't I be stronger!?! I've beaten him before!! I've trained just as much - no - HARDER then him!! WHY!?!?' She fell to her knees, overrun with exhaustion. 'Its . . . its just not fair!!' She stared at her hands, so raw from punching they nearly bled. "Oh, Goddess," she said aloud, "please don't let me get left in the dust!"
"Well, get outta the chalk powder, then," replied a voice from behind her.
Zucina gasped, but made sure to keep her face away. "Still not talkin' ta me," Bardock asked sadly. As if to reply, Zucina got up and made to leave. "Aw, c'mon Zuni-chan! Don't stay mad at me!" She paused and just stood still, refusing to look at him. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't hate him. Somehow, she just didn't have it in her heart.
Bardock walked around, trying to think of something. "Hey! This is where we met, ne? Look, they still haven't fixed the light." He pointed upwards indicating the florescent light above him. "Remember? You sliced my face open?"
Zucina's face hardened. Of course she remembered! How could she possibly forget?! She touched the back of her neck, the bottom of her short hair. She had beaten him in that battle, but he still made his mark on her.
Bardock sensed this was a bad topic choice, so he decided to get to the point. "Zucina, I have a favor to ask. I need help with-"
"ME!?!? HELP!?!? WHY!?!? YOU'RE THE BETTER WARRIOR!!!"
*anime sweatdrop* Bardock smiled nervously. "Well, at least I got you talkin' ta me!"
Zucina face vaulted. "This is NOT talking, you bloody bastard! You took away everything that is precious to me!! My dignity, my honor, my mentor, my place as number-one fighter in our age group." Zucina tried to search for words to express her outrage. "I mean - you - you took it all!! ALL!! You - you just stripped me of everything!! COLE doesn't even respect me anymore!!!"
"Who said?"
"HOW CAN HE!?!?!"
"You're his student. And his friend." Bardock stood tall and looked down on Zucina. "And I thought you were MY friend too! That's why I saved you. You mean too much to me."
"Better to die with honor then live with disgrace!"
"Not for me."
"I AM NOT YOU!!!"
"EXACTLY!!" Bardock grabbed her shoulders. "Some Sayins pick things up faster, Zucina! That's the way we are made. We don't choose what we are born to." He sighed and stared deeply into her eyes. "Trust me, if I could, I'd give you all of my talent right now, just to make you feel better about yourself. Don't your realize how much you're worth?"
Zucina had no idea how to reply to this, so she just looked down. They remained for several minutes, neither moving. At long last, Zucina asked, "So, what's the favor?"
Bardock's face brightened. "Ya mean ya forgive me?"
Zucina growled. "Just tell me the blasted favor already!"
-Flashback-*
Olivia blushed furiously. "He said 'Yes!' He said 'Yes!' I'm so happy!" Bardock blushed as she danced around. "Its only a trip to a carnival!"
"But this is the Double Nuevo Lunar Festival!! Its special!! It only comes once every eight zurals!! I'll bet we'll win all of the games, all of the contests-"
"Contests," Bardock asked curiously. "I love contests!"
Olivia took his hands. "Promise we'll even enter the dance contest together!"
"D-dance contest," he stammered nervously. "Wh-wh-what d-dance c-contest!?"
"The one at the festival, silly," she laughed, tweaking his nose playfully. "You're so good at everything! I'll bet you're a great dancer, too!"
Bardock gulped. "Ano . . . I've never-" But before he finished, Olivia was off, skipping home. "Oooooo, I'm so happy!! I have to find something gorgeous to wear!!"
-End of Flashback-
"I didn't want to hurt her feelin's, so I never said nothin'. Fasha said I should ask you, since you had all that fancy shmancy beauty school trainin'."
"You're going with Olivia," asked Zucina, eyes in shadow. Bardock couldn't help but notice the hint of disenchantment in her tone. "Zuni-chan? Something wrong?"
She turned away, wiped her eyes, and turned back with her usual bright face. "Nothing wrong! So, you want to learn how to dance? You're in luck; dancing just so happens to be my specialty!"
"Sugoi!"
"Let's start now. And since you're a trained fighter, you should be fairly good."
[Hours later]
"Bardock, you suck!"
Bardock blushed as Zucina massaged her feet. "At least I got through SOME of it without steppin' on your feet!"
"SOME isn't going to win you any dance contests! May be I should bring some music next time to dance to. You may do better with that."
"You mean you ain't givin' up?"
"I never give up!"
Bardock snapped his fingers. "I know what'll help me! Competition! I always work when I know someone better then me is fighting, so why not dancing? Why don't you enter the contest?"
"I have no partner."
"Well, do you have anyone in mind?"
She turned scarlet. "No," she half lied.
"Yes you do! Don't lie! I can tell!"
"I do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
===========================================================
[Commercial Break]
* - I've been wondering how to do flashbacks! Can you believe in over 30 episodes, this is my first flashback?
===========================================================
Cole entered the training hall to find his two pupils in their "dos" and "don'ts" war. A sweatdrop grazed his head. "Well, at least they're talking to each other again."
Bardock and Zucina turned in unison. "Cole!"
Cole grinned. "Hey Spiky! Hi Zuni-chan! Been looking for you!"
Zucina looked down and unraveled her tail as a sign of shame. Cole put his hand on her head. "Don't sweat, Zuni-chan. You can make up for the battle by learning a lesson from your mistake."
"Speaking of learning," mentioned Bardock, "what was that you did back on Amazonia?"
"You mean apologizing to the empress and King Vegeta for your blatant disrespect for the princess?"
Bardock sneered. He wished Cole would go a day without mentioning that! "No! I mean that earthquake!"
"Oh that! Hard to explain."
"Well, try!"
Cole considered them for a minute. "Follow me," he said, getting up and taking to the air. The two looked at each other, shrugged, and followed.
The three Sayins landed in Vine Falls, at the base of the water. "Why do we always train here," asked Bardock.
"This is where my father trained me," Cole answered, searching around for something. "I also met Erutan here. OY," he yelled. "ERUTAN-SAMA!! CAN YOU COME OUT NOW!?! I WANT YOU TO MEET MY FIRENDS!!"
Bardock and Zucina again looked at each other, this time worried for Cole's sense of reality. "Uh, Cole-kun," asked Zucina. "Your friend lives in a part of the forest?"
"He IS the forest." Cole snorted. "Probably taking care of something somewhere else."
"Cole-kun?"
"Yes, Zuni-chan?"
"Have you gone mad?"
"Years ago. Why?"
"I'm serious!"
Cole laughed. "You worry too much. No, I'm perfectly sane. My friend is an Elemental."
"A what?"
"Kind of like a god."
For a third time, Bardock and Zucina looked at each other. "He's gone absolutely bonkers," commented Zucina.
"I'll explain." Cole sat on a rock and explained as much as he knew about Elementals (which, for a mortal, was quite a lot). His father had come into contact with Erutan, Elemental of Earth (as in soil), while much of the forests of Vegetasei were being cut down. They both worked together to save Vine Forest, and preserve its beauty. "Since then, this wise old Elemental has always been there to help me when I'm in the most desperate need. I respect him too much to misuse his power, and he respects me enough to always be there."
Zucina jumped at the sound of her scouter beeping. She put it on and answered. "Hello? Oh, hi Aspa! Enjoying freedom? Sure, I'll meet you in ten minutes." She took it off. "I have to go. Can you hold off our introduction to Erutan for a later time? I'd really like the pleasure of meeting him."
"No problem, Zuni-chan. Ja ne!"
"Ja ne, guys!" She smiled (Bardock blushed), and took off, disappearing in the distance.
"Cole-san, how do you know when you're in love?"
The question came as such a shock, and at such a random moment, Cole fell off his rock. "Nan-da?!"
Bardock put his hand on Cole's and stared at Cole very seriously. "Listen, I've been having these strong feeling-"
"Stop having them." Bardock realized his actions too late, as Cole went into an exaggerated "I-Like-You-Only-As-A-Friend" speech. "I DON'T MEAN YOU BAKAYARO!!!!"
"And why not," demanded Cole in mock outrage. But he laughed and said, "I know, I'm only messin'! So, who are you crushing on?"
"A girl," Bardock growled.
"Do I know her?"
"Yeah."
"Pretty?"
"Yes."
"Always around?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Close your eyes. Think about the person you like. Is it a girl? JUST KIDDING!!!" he added at the look of murder on Bardock's face. "Party pooper! Seriously, think about her. Now, get her out of your mind."
"I . . . Gomen, Cole. I can't."
Cole shook his head. "Boy, you've got it bad!"
"What?"
"Love! Why do you ask?"
Bardock looked away, slightly ashamed. Cole wasn't his father, but he was close enough. "Olivia asked me out to the Festival next month-"
Cole groaned. "Oh man! Bardock, you can do WAY better!!"
"That's just it, Cole! I don't love her. At least I don't think I do."
"Then WHY are you taking her to such a special festival?"
"Because she wanted to! Besides, I don't want Nipper messin' with her. She deserves a good time fer a change."
"Your heart's gonna get you in trouble someday, Spiky. Sounds like you're more PROTECTIVE of Olivia then really loving her. What about the girl you THINK you love? Does she know?"
"No."
"Does she like you?"
Bardock lowered his head. "I don't know."
Cole looked up at the colored sky. "Time to head home. Come with me. I'll have Sprouta fix you dinner, so you don't have to endure Celipa for a while."
Bardock's face brightened at the word 'dinner.' "Arigato!"
"Come on. We can talk more on the way."
Cole and Bardock flew through the darkening sky. Bardock never realized how comfortable he felt with treating Cole like a father. He asked a rather personal question to test Cole's trust in him. "How 'bout you, Cole? You love Sprouta?"
"Yes," said Cole without hesitance.
"Why, if she hasn't given you any children?"
Cole winced. 'Touchy subject,' Bardock thought. "Gomen."
"No, its okay. You're learning." Cole paused for a minute, thinking how to explain. "Sprouta is that last thing I think about before I fall asleep and the first when I wake up. And I don't mean when she's laying next to me, I mean for real. I would gladly die for her, may that never come, and she would do the same for me. Even though I really, REALLY want to have a son, my love for my mate exceeds that."
Bardock stared at Cole blankly. To make sure the speech wasn't wasted, Cole said, "Take Tora and Fasha. They both KNOW Fasha is incapable of conceiving a child, but Tora remains by her side. That is true love."
The two landed outside of Cole's modest home on the outskirts of the forest. Cole was about to open the door, when Sprouta did it for him. Her eyes held so much sadness, that Cole's face paled. "Dearest? What in the world-?"
Sprouta rushed forward and embraced her mate. "Oh, Cole! I'm so sorry!"
Cole held her, getting more scared. "What's wrong!?"
Bardock noticed a letter in Sprouta's hand. He took it, and scanned the first two sentences. He understood. "Cole," he said delicately, "I think you oughta sit down first."
"WHAT'S WRONG," demanded Cole. Sprouta's poignant eyes gazed into his. "Cole, your uncle is dead."
Bardock stared at the paper, unable to believe the news himself. "Saladus-san," he whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hey! Bardock here!
As my dance lessons continue, things get more and more awkward between Zucina and me. Cole starts planning on ways to avenge his uncle's death. The night of the festival rolls around, and my fun-loving mentor isn't even going to join us! What's he going to do? And what about Fasha giving Zucina a make-over fer the festival?!
Next time on DragonballBC: Bright Festival Lights part 1
Fun Fact - The basic concept of the "Elementals" is based on a TMNT story by "Amanda Flowers". I do not know her personally, but I admire her work. Una, Uno, and Erutan are mine, however.
[Notice Erutan's name is "nature" backwards?]
*************Episode 33************
**A New Challenge: Dance Lessons**
Zucina punched the black bag so hard, it swayed ready to fall out of its pole. 'Damn him damn him damn him damn him DAMN HIM!!!!!' She finally completely destroyed the punching bag.
Many of the other third class Sayins in the training hall gawked at her. Zucina, still well known to them, had been training almost non-stop for over a week, and showed no signs of letting up. And the look of hatred in her eyes was so intense, none dared question as to why.
She panted, ignoring the remains of the bag. 'Why!? WHY can't I be stronger!?! I've beaten him before!! I've trained just as much - no - HARDER then him!! WHY!?!?' She fell to her knees, overrun with exhaustion. 'Its . . . its just not fair!!' She stared at her hands, so raw from punching they nearly bled. "Oh, Goddess," she said aloud, "please don't let me get left in the dust!"
"Well, get outta the chalk powder, then," replied a voice from behind her.
Zucina gasped, but made sure to keep her face away. "Still not talkin' ta me," Bardock asked sadly. As if to reply, Zucina got up and made to leave. "Aw, c'mon Zuni-chan! Don't stay mad at me!" She paused and just stood still, refusing to look at him. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't hate him. Somehow, she just didn't have it in her heart.
Bardock walked around, trying to think of something. "Hey! This is where we met, ne? Look, they still haven't fixed the light." He pointed upwards indicating the florescent light above him. "Remember? You sliced my face open?"
Zucina's face hardened. Of course she remembered! How could she possibly forget?! She touched the back of her neck, the bottom of her short hair. She had beaten him in that battle, but he still made his mark on her.
Bardock sensed this was a bad topic choice, so he decided to get to the point. "Zucina, I have a favor to ask. I need help with-"
"ME!?!? HELP!?!? WHY!?!? YOU'RE THE BETTER WARRIOR!!!"
*anime sweatdrop* Bardock smiled nervously. "Well, at least I got you talkin' ta me!"
Zucina face vaulted. "This is NOT talking, you bloody bastard! You took away everything that is precious to me!! My dignity, my honor, my mentor, my place as number-one fighter in our age group." Zucina tried to search for words to express her outrage. "I mean - you - you took it all!! ALL!! You - you just stripped me of everything!! COLE doesn't even respect me anymore!!!"
"Who said?"
"HOW CAN HE!?!?!"
"You're his student. And his friend." Bardock stood tall and looked down on Zucina. "And I thought you were MY friend too! That's why I saved you. You mean too much to me."
"Better to die with honor then live with disgrace!"
"Not for me."
"I AM NOT YOU!!!"
"EXACTLY!!" Bardock grabbed her shoulders. "Some Sayins pick things up faster, Zucina! That's the way we are made. We don't choose what we are born to." He sighed and stared deeply into her eyes. "Trust me, if I could, I'd give you all of my talent right now, just to make you feel better about yourself. Don't your realize how much you're worth?"
Zucina had no idea how to reply to this, so she just looked down. They remained for several minutes, neither moving. At long last, Zucina asked, "So, what's the favor?"
Bardock's face brightened. "Ya mean ya forgive me?"
Zucina growled. "Just tell me the blasted favor already!"
-Flashback-*
Olivia blushed furiously. "He said 'Yes!' He said 'Yes!' I'm so happy!" Bardock blushed as she danced around. "Its only a trip to a carnival!"
"But this is the Double Nuevo Lunar Festival!! Its special!! It only comes once every eight zurals!! I'll bet we'll win all of the games, all of the contests-"
"Contests," Bardock asked curiously. "I love contests!"
Olivia took his hands. "Promise we'll even enter the dance contest together!"
"D-dance contest," he stammered nervously. "Wh-wh-what d-dance c-contest!?"
"The one at the festival, silly," she laughed, tweaking his nose playfully. "You're so good at everything! I'll bet you're a great dancer, too!"
Bardock gulped. "Ano . . . I've never-" But before he finished, Olivia was off, skipping home. "Oooooo, I'm so happy!! I have to find something gorgeous to wear!!"
-End of Flashback-
"I didn't want to hurt her feelin's, so I never said nothin'. Fasha said I should ask you, since you had all that fancy shmancy beauty school trainin'."
"You're going with Olivia," asked Zucina, eyes in shadow. Bardock couldn't help but notice the hint of disenchantment in her tone. "Zuni-chan? Something wrong?"
She turned away, wiped her eyes, and turned back with her usual bright face. "Nothing wrong! So, you want to learn how to dance? You're in luck; dancing just so happens to be my specialty!"
"Sugoi!"
"Let's start now. And since you're a trained fighter, you should be fairly good."
[Hours later]
"Bardock, you suck!"
Bardock blushed as Zucina massaged her feet. "At least I got through SOME of it without steppin' on your feet!"
"SOME isn't going to win you any dance contests! May be I should bring some music next time to dance to. You may do better with that."
"You mean you ain't givin' up?"
"I never give up!"
Bardock snapped his fingers. "I know what'll help me! Competition! I always work when I know someone better then me is fighting, so why not dancing? Why don't you enter the contest?"
"I have no partner."
"Well, do you have anyone in mind?"
She turned scarlet. "No," she half lied.
"Yes you do! Don't lie! I can tell!"
"I do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
===========================================================
[Commercial Break]
* - I've been wondering how to do flashbacks! Can you believe in over 30 episodes, this is my first flashback?
===========================================================
Cole entered the training hall to find his two pupils in their "dos" and "don'ts" war. A sweatdrop grazed his head. "Well, at least they're talking to each other again."
Bardock and Zucina turned in unison. "Cole!"
Cole grinned. "Hey Spiky! Hi Zuni-chan! Been looking for you!"
Zucina looked down and unraveled her tail as a sign of shame. Cole put his hand on her head. "Don't sweat, Zuni-chan. You can make up for the battle by learning a lesson from your mistake."
"Speaking of learning," mentioned Bardock, "what was that you did back on Amazonia?"
"You mean apologizing to the empress and King Vegeta for your blatant disrespect for the princess?"
Bardock sneered. He wished Cole would go a day without mentioning that! "No! I mean that earthquake!"
"Oh that! Hard to explain."
"Well, try!"
Cole considered them for a minute. "Follow me," he said, getting up and taking to the air. The two looked at each other, shrugged, and followed.
The three Sayins landed in Vine Falls, at the base of the water. "Why do we always train here," asked Bardock.
"This is where my father trained me," Cole answered, searching around for something. "I also met Erutan here. OY," he yelled. "ERUTAN-SAMA!! CAN YOU COME OUT NOW!?! I WANT YOU TO MEET MY FIRENDS!!"
Bardock and Zucina again looked at each other, this time worried for Cole's sense of reality. "Uh, Cole-kun," asked Zucina. "Your friend lives in a part of the forest?"
"He IS the forest." Cole snorted. "Probably taking care of something somewhere else."
"Cole-kun?"
"Yes, Zuni-chan?"
"Have you gone mad?"
"Years ago. Why?"
"I'm serious!"
Cole laughed. "You worry too much. No, I'm perfectly sane. My friend is an Elemental."
"A what?"
"Kind of like a god."
For a third time, Bardock and Zucina looked at each other. "He's gone absolutely bonkers," commented Zucina.
"I'll explain." Cole sat on a rock and explained as much as he knew about Elementals (which, for a mortal, was quite a lot). His father had come into contact with Erutan, Elemental of Earth (as in soil), while much of the forests of Vegetasei were being cut down. They both worked together to save Vine Forest, and preserve its beauty. "Since then, this wise old Elemental has always been there to help me when I'm in the most desperate need. I respect him too much to misuse his power, and he respects me enough to always be there."
Zucina jumped at the sound of her scouter beeping. She put it on and answered. "Hello? Oh, hi Aspa! Enjoying freedom? Sure, I'll meet you in ten minutes." She took it off. "I have to go. Can you hold off our introduction to Erutan for a later time? I'd really like the pleasure of meeting him."
"No problem, Zuni-chan. Ja ne!"
"Ja ne, guys!" She smiled (Bardock blushed), and took off, disappearing in the distance.
"Cole-san, how do you know when you're in love?"
The question came as such a shock, and at such a random moment, Cole fell off his rock. "Nan-da?!"
Bardock put his hand on Cole's and stared at Cole very seriously. "Listen, I've been having these strong feeling-"
"Stop having them." Bardock realized his actions too late, as Cole went into an exaggerated "I-Like-You-Only-As-A-Friend" speech. "I DON'T MEAN YOU BAKAYARO!!!!"
"And why not," demanded Cole in mock outrage. But he laughed and said, "I know, I'm only messin'! So, who are you crushing on?"
"A girl," Bardock growled.
"Do I know her?"
"Yeah."
"Pretty?"
"Yes."
"Always around?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Close your eyes. Think about the person you like. Is it a girl? JUST KIDDING!!!" he added at the look of murder on Bardock's face. "Party pooper! Seriously, think about her. Now, get her out of your mind."
"I . . . Gomen, Cole. I can't."
Cole shook his head. "Boy, you've got it bad!"
"What?"
"Love! Why do you ask?"
Bardock looked away, slightly ashamed. Cole wasn't his father, but he was close enough. "Olivia asked me out to the Festival next month-"
Cole groaned. "Oh man! Bardock, you can do WAY better!!"
"That's just it, Cole! I don't love her. At least I don't think I do."
"Then WHY are you taking her to such a special festival?"
"Because she wanted to! Besides, I don't want Nipper messin' with her. She deserves a good time fer a change."
"Your heart's gonna get you in trouble someday, Spiky. Sounds like you're more PROTECTIVE of Olivia then really loving her. What about the girl you THINK you love? Does she know?"
"No."
"Does she like you?"
Bardock lowered his head. "I don't know."
Cole looked up at the colored sky. "Time to head home. Come with me. I'll have Sprouta fix you dinner, so you don't have to endure Celipa for a while."
Bardock's face brightened at the word 'dinner.' "Arigato!"
"Come on. We can talk more on the way."
Cole and Bardock flew through the darkening sky. Bardock never realized how comfortable he felt with treating Cole like a father. He asked a rather personal question to test Cole's trust in him. "How 'bout you, Cole? You love Sprouta?"
"Yes," said Cole without hesitance.
"Why, if she hasn't given you any children?"
Cole winced. 'Touchy subject,' Bardock thought. "Gomen."
"No, its okay. You're learning." Cole paused for a minute, thinking how to explain. "Sprouta is that last thing I think about before I fall asleep and the first when I wake up. And I don't mean when she's laying next to me, I mean for real. I would gladly die for her, may that never come, and she would do the same for me. Even though I really, REALLY want to have a son, my love for my mate exceeds that."
Bardock stared at Cole blankly. To make sure the speech wasn't wasted, Cole said, "Take Tora and Fasha. They both KNOW Fasha is incapable of conceiving a child, but Tora remains by her side. That is true love."
The two landed outside of Cole's modest home on the outskirts of the forest. Cole was about to open the door, when Sprouta did it for him. Her eyes held so much sadness, that Cole's face paled. "Dearest? What in the world-?"
Sprouta rushed forward and embraced her mate. "Oh, Cole! I'm so sorry!"
Cole held her, getting more scared. "What's wrong!?"
Bardock noticed a letter in Sprouta's hand. He took it, and scanned the first two sentences. He understood. "Cole," he said delicately, "I think you oughta sit down first."
"WHAT'S WRONG," demanded Cole. Sprouta's poignant eyes gazed into his. "Cole, your uncle is dead."
Bardock stared at the paper, unable to believe the news himself. "Saladus-san," he whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hey! Bardock here!
As my dance lessons continue, things get more and more awkward between Zucina and me. Cole starts planning on ways to avenge his uncle's death. The night of the festival rolls around, and my fun-loving mentor isn't even going to join us! What's he going to do? And what about Fasha giving Zucina a make-over fer the festival?!
Next time on DragonballBC: Bright Festival Lights part 1
Fun Fact - The basic concept of the "Elementals" is based on a TMNT story by "Amanda Flowers". I do not know her personally, but I admire her work. Una, Uno, and Erutan are mine, however.
[Notice Erutan's name is "nature" backwards?]