Dragon Ball Yugure Z by Son Goharotto
Welcome to Dragon Ball Yugure Z, my personal pet project. This is what I like to call a "multi-generational alternaverse epic." Expect a complex story spanning several volumes that are littered with cliff-hangers and titanic battles. The series is currently undergoing its second revision. Nothing major, I just felt the need to take out all that sloppy 'otaku japanese'. I disliked having to look up words after re-reading my own stories, so it should now be that much easier to follow.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I might wish it otherwise, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama, TOEI, FUNimation, et cetera ad nauseam. I'm not trying to make any money off of this and it's just a way for me to show my love of all things Dragon Ball. Well, except maybe GT. Bleah. I is teh poor, so don't sue me.
WARNINGS: As a whole, this series contains mature language, graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
"Spoken Dialogue"
"'Layered Voice, a la Fusion'"
/Foreign Language/
Thoughts, Memories, and Telepathy
Volume I – The Nagareboshi Saga
Episode 03 – Friend Or Foe! Why Are You So Angry, Vegeta?
"HAAAAA!" Goku's voice echoed around them both as he thrust his hands forwards, one inverted over the other, and fired a beam, casting a perfect blue radiance across aggressor and target alike.
Goten summoned his ki into a less magnificent blast, which was ultimately ineffective, being swallowed up by the Kamehameha. Not willing to give in, the younger warrior held his ground, his opponent's beam now only inches from his hands. Resisting Goku's onslaught, Goten was pushed back several meters and through a new construction site, digging trenches with his aching feet.
Feeling his strength waning, Goten pushed off, flipping forward over the beam, letting it pass harmlessly by. But as Goten righted himself in the air, Goku was there, fist drawn back.
Goten was caught off guard as Goku slammed his fist into the teen's face. Pushed by the force of the blow, he flew backwards only to meet Goku's knee in the small of his back. Goku whipped his leg around, heel digging into Goten's side, sending him flying off again. The Kaiou-Ken flashed once more as Goku shot forwards to met his opponent for another blow.
Goten didn't know how long he hung in the air, too dazed to note the passage of time, but he was suddenly stopped as Goku's palm slammed into his chest. He hardly felt it however, his body long since numb. Goku twisted his hand, grabbing a handful of Goten's tattered shirt so he wouldn't fall.
Goku let his battle aura fade as he set down on the ground, propping Goten against the fragmented remains of a wall that managed to continue standing. "Animal," the beaten youth accused, "Demon. W-what are you? Who are you?"
Goku looked into the young man's dark eyes. He fought with such spirit, it reminded him of Gohan. In fact...this kid looks kinda like–but Goku let that thought slide for now. Not wanting to depart as enemies, Goku put on his warmest smile. "My name's Son Goku. Nice to meet'ya." He clasped Goten's arm and hauled the teen to his feet.
Goten was crushed at his defeat, but it was tough to stay angry at a guy who looked so air-headed after winning. "Easy for you to say, you didn't lose. I'm Goten." He winced at the pain that accompanied standing.
"Sorry. I didn't wanna hurt you, but..." He shrugged sheepishly, palms up.
"Forget about it," the younger man laughed, "I guess I deserved it, acting like a dumbass."
"Hm, know what? Maybe you can help me out. Do you know where I can find a guy named Vegeta. Kinda short, asparagus-lookin' haircut, bad attitude."
"Yeah, that's Vegeta all right. You know him?"
"Yup," Goku responded, looking thoughtful for a moment, "We need to talk. Even more now, than before. Where'd you say I can find him?"
"I didn't. Usually somewhere around Capsule Corp."
"Thanks," Goku said as he flew off. "Later!" he called back.
Goten gave the older man a weary wave, then leaned back against the wall to catch his breathe. Somebody that strong, it's no wonder he know Vegeta. Can't be too many fighters like us left on Earth. But...what if he wants to fight? Goten pounded the ground impotently, too winded to follow at the moment. "Where the hell is Trunks when I need him?"
Not a minute passed when Trunks arrived, flying in at full-tilt. "Goten! What happened!"
"I got pummeled, that's what happened!" he called back, coughing up more blood. The inside of his mouth was chewed up, like he'd gargled razor blades. Goten got shakily to his feet, hand on the wall for support. "Why weren't you here earlier!" he demanded.
"I'm sorry. I sensed two big ki's flare up, but when I realized that you were one of them, it was too late! Here, eat this Senzu." Trunks offered him the bean.
Goten ate the Senzu feeling his wounds heal and his strength return. "We gotta go! Hurry!" he said, jumping up into the air.
"What's up?"
"Goku went to see your father! Vegeta could be in big trouble!" Goten rambled out, biting off the words in his haste.
"Whoa, slow down! Who's this Goku and why might he want to fight Papa?" Trunks demanded, flying up to Goten's level.
"Look, I can't say for sure. But as for who he is, he's the one who kicked my butt!" Goten explained, punctuating his statement by thumbing himself in the chest.
The two took off at full speed, but it would still be several minutes before they returned home and Goten knew that Goku was a hell of a lot faster than either of them.
"Wouldn't I have seen him pass me?" Trunks called over the rush of the wind. "Maybe he's not going to go to Capsule Corp today!"
"I wouldn't bet on it! That guy's faster than the eye can follow! I wouldn't be surprised at all if he passed within centimeters of you and you didn't even notice!"
Trunks looked visibly shocked at this news. His face took on a worried expression, whether from doubts at his father needing help or if he could help Vegeta at all.
-----
Goku touched down in a grassy lot behind Capsule Corporation and surveyed they damage. Kami, what a mess, he thought, I shoulda been here. Unable to sense Vegeta's ki, Goku cupped his hands over his mouth and called out. "Veeegeeetaaa! Where are you!"
"I'm right here, jackass! You don't have to yell!" came the immediate response. Vegeta strode out of a shadow to stop a couple feet from Goku. Crossing his arms, Vegeta lifted his head, a scowl on his face. "What do you want, Kakarrot?"
"Hey, Vegeta. You're gettin' good at hiding your ki, I had trouble finding–"
"If that's all you have to say, leave! I don't want you here any longer than you have to be!"
"Why, that's real mean Vegeta!" Goku said with patience he didn't feel. "Anyway, that's not why I'm here. Um, I ran into this kid–"
"Oh, I know," Vegeta immediately responded, his voice laced with recognizable disdain. "You and Goten were lighting up like signal flares out there! Idiots, the both of you!"
"So you do know him... He's my son, yeah?"
"Hn! You deserve more credit than I give you, Kakarrot. How did you guess?"
"You let it slip last time. I was hardly paying attention to you, so I didn't realize what you meant when you said that you wondered where 'he got his stupidity from'." Goku paused for a breath, that quite possibly being the longest sentence he had ever uttered. "Not until I met Goten today. I never would have figured it out otherwise."
"That's not surprising," Vegeta mocked. "Well congratulations, Kakarrot. What do you want, a cookie? Now go away, I'm not handing out prizes today."
"I want my son, Vegeta."
"Yes, well, you're not getting him. You don't deserve another son."
"Whhaaaat?" Goku cried. Scowling, he stepped forward. "Listen you–"
"What are you going to do, Kakarrot?" Vegeta whirled, leveling a finger at Goku. "You failed with your first son," he declared hotly, "and your mate saw fit to entrust ME with YOUR whelp! You have no right to claim him now!"
Goku was trembling with barely suppressed rage, but he knew–deep down–that Vegeta was right. He was a failure as a father. His clenched fists dropped limply to his side and he looked away, unable to meet Vegeta's accusatory glare. But he wanted to know something first. "When was he born?" he asked meekly.
"Hours before Nagareboshi attacked your mate's home," Vegeta said, his tone softening as well.
"Why would Chi-Chi–" but he couldn't finish the sentence. The thought of his wife giving their newborn, Goku's second chance, to Vegeta of all people!
"Nagareboshi was looking for you, but found us. We all realized his potential, so Bulma convinced me to take your brat instead of her. That stupid woman died because of her mistake..." Vegeta's grimace tightened. "While Nagareboshi was distracted, I escaped–" Vegeta spat at the word "–with Trunks and Goten."
"Thanks, Vegeta --"
"Don't thank me, jackass! I didn't do it for you, I did it for my mate, the fool..." Vegeta turned away. "You should have been there!"
"...I–"
"You were hiding in that little shack of yours!" Vegeta said, again raising his voice. "Coward! Failure! Quitter! There was a time when you would settle for nothing less then victory! Now you're lucky if you can drag yourself out of bed!"
Unable to withstand anymore of Vegeta's verbal abuse, Goku flared his battle aura and shot into the sky, blasting a crater where he had just stood, leaving Vegeta swearing a blue streak. Disgusted, the Prince of the Saiyans turned and proceeded to walk to the high-gravity gym. Goten and Trunks fell out of the air shortly thereafter, their feet smashing into the pavement in their haste.
"Papa!" Trunks called, rushing up to Vegeta. "Are you okay?"
The glare Vegeta shot at his two charges was minimally less threatening than the one he used on Goku. "Get out of my way," he commanded evenly. His angered had vented itself, for now, but the solemnity of his tone was no less disturbing.
"Goku was here wasn't he?" Goten asked, but Vegeta was already walking away. "Hey, Vegeta!" he pressed.
Only half turning, Vegeta fired a ki bolt that Goten barely dodged, marking the end of that discussion. The rest of the day dragged on without event, Vegeta and Goten equally moody, though neither said anything. Eventually, all retired to bed, as usual, but Goten's dreams were muddled with confusion. How did Vegeta know Goku and why did they resent each other so?