Dragon Ball Yugure Z
A Dragon Ball Z fanfiction
by Son Goharotto (son_goharotto@hotmail.com)
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. DBYZ has been revised in its entirety. While some episodes have merely been ridden of typos, others have been rewritten completely. I'll be starting from the beginning at one episode a day so new readers can join in, undaunted by DBYZ's length, and old readers can review past events. All this is leading up to the new Episode 37, from which I'll try to keep a normal updating pace instead of letting this be forgotten as it once was.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I mgiht wish it not to be, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama-sama and many others who (unfortunately) aren't me. 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 (usually in Japanese), graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
NOTES: A liberal amount of Japanese vocabulary is sprinkled throughout, though nothing extremely important is ever said in another language that isn't translated. Mostly just basic Otaku Japanese. I've compiled a list of phrases I use on my homepage here: www.enpitsudo-dojo.com/libjapanese.html.
"dialogue"
""layered voice"" (Fusion, for example)
{alien language}
[thoughts, telepathy, memories]
_stressed words_
*sounds*
~scene change~
Volume I -- The Nagareboshi Saga
Episode 07 -- Ghosts From The Past!! Goku's Trial of Courage!!
Suddenly, Goku found himself in the Diablo Desert. Wind whipped around the columns of the mushroom-like rock outcroppings as the sun beat down upon the barren sand unmercilessly. Goku raised a hand to shield his eyes from the harsh desert sun and surveyed the surrounding landscape, seeing nothing beyond the roiling haze of heat.
"Oi, Goku-san."
Goku spun to face the voice. Beaneath a rock formation sat Yamucha, his eyes wandering the desertscape. The Saiyajin wanted to run forwards and embrace his long dead comrade, but took only hesitant steps until he was in the shade. "What's going on..?"
"I guess I'm still kinda attached to this wasteland. A simpler time, ya know?"
"..."
Yamucha stood and dusted off his pants, at last turning to face his long-time friend. "I think the real question is, what are you doing here? I haven't seen any of the others since I got here," he said with a wave of his hand. Goku got the impression he didn't mean 'here' as in 'the desert.'
"I... I need help..."
"_My_ help?" Yamucha snorted. "Why would the great Super Saiyajin need little ol' me?" Seeing the look on Goku's face, "Er...sorry. Didn't mean it that way."
Goku nodded dumbly, his throat tight. He had realized his problem only recently and still hesitated to admit it. Facing reality was too hard, too painful. But he had to, it was the only way. "Ever since... Gohan... died," he choked out, "I've... I've lost myself."
"Yeah..." Yamucha said, staring out at the desert. "You're not the only one." That last bit sounded a touch sarcastic.
Bolder for effort he'd already made, Goku continued. "I need to remember who I am. I need to beat...It... Nagareboshi...."
"You mean you want revenge?" said a new, and yet still familiar voice.
Goku spun again, finding himself face to face with his old sensei, Kame-sen'nin Muten Roshi. They were outside the Kame House on the turtle hermit's island. "Jiichan!"
Kame-sen'nin stood boldly, looking for all the world like the venerable old master he rarely was. "Revenge is a dirty thing, Goku. You don't take revenge, it takes you."
"But, I can't just let it get away with...killing Gohan..."
"I may be a foolish old man, but this fool still remember something you seem to have forgotten." He walked from the house to the small beach, Goku falling in step behind him. "Fighting isn't about revenge. It's about protecting. You lost sight of that and that's why you lost to Nagareboshi."
The two stopped at the edge of the beach. A gentle sea breeze tousled the Saiyajin's hair as the tide lapped at their feet. The caw of seagulls filled Goku's ears and surf smelled nostalgically salty. The raven-haired man was silent. What could be possibly say in response?
"No man is perfect, Goku. Contrary to even your own experiences, you can't always do it by yourself. You had friends, allies. What made you forget it all? The shock of a single failure? I thought you were made of sterner stuff."
"I am! I am..." Goku took a deep breath, trying to fight back the rage that was building against himself. "If I wasn't sure I wanted to fight Nagareboshi, I wouldn't have come here now."
"Trying again now...doesn't really make up for not trying harder back then," said a voice behind Goku.
The Saiyajin swallowed hard, the voice--high-pitched and a little nasal--brough back a flood of memories. Turning around, the tall man tried not to cry. "K-Kuririn...I..."
The short, bald man waved him off. "Nah, don't apologize. I can't really blame you. I'm not a shining icon of courage in battle myself, ne?"
"Kuririn!" Goku ran forward and scooped up his small friend. The two laughed and cried at the same time, reveling in this seemingly impossible reunion. "I'm so sorry. There's no way I can make up for what I did."
"Or didn't do," the former monk joked. Kuririn shook his round, shiney head. "Look, pal, we've all been in the fighting business for a long time. You knew the risks and so did we. Heck, most of us have died at some point or another."
"This is different," the taller man replied, standing. "This isn't normal death. I can't bring you back from this."
"That's besides the point, Goku. In all the years I've known you, you've never been a quitter. If there's one thing you're good at, it's the ability to come from behind when you're in a clinch."
"But I couldn't, I didn't--"
Kuririn punched the Saiyajin in the arm playfully. "Someone's not listening. Now open those big monkey ears, all right? It's not over yet, you still have time."
"He's right, Son-san. Round two is just getting started." The new voice, strong and measured, came from Tenshinhan, who laid his hand on Goku's shoulder.
The Saiyajin was aware of another scene change, this time to the Tenkai'ichi Budokai tournament grounds where he had first fought the three-eyed warrior so many years ago. Without the hordes of cheering spectators, the arena was eerily quiet. Goku turned his head and Tenshinhan nodded, the small boyish Chaozu floating over his shoulder with a smile. "What do you mean?" the raven-haired man asked.
Tenshinhan folded his arms over a wide, barrel chest and he still retained the air of professionalism Goku remembered from his childhood memories. "Nagareboshi's dormancy will not last forever. Even now, It stirs."
Goku blanched. "H-how do you know?"
The man shook his head, ignoring the question. "What matters is that the time to fight is soon coming. Can you face your fears this time?"
"I'll try..."
"Trying isn't good enough," Chaozu said solemnly. "We all tried to stop Nagareboshi, but we all failed. Only you really ever had the power."
"And you still do," Tenshinhand added. "That power remains in your heart, Son. All you have to do is remember it."
Chaozu floated up a bit and guestured at their surroundings. "This place is deeply ingrained in your heart, Goku-san. You still love to fight, even if your hatred of Nagareboshi has blinded you to it."
"Don't run away from it," said the three-eyed man. "Embrace it like you used to. You're like us, only truly happy when you fight. It's in our blood, especially yours. It doesn't suit you to sit and hide."
Goku's legs qwavered, suddenly feeling like lead. He sat heavily on the ground, almost gasping for breath.
"See? You're feeling stifled."
The suddenly gruff voice made the Saiyajin jump and he turned, now looking up at the towering demon that was Piccolo. "You always were good at showing up when least expected," Goku said with a weak smile.
"Don't change the subject," the Namek-seijin growled. "You know, it disgusts me to see you like this. It's hard to believe you're the same man I remember."
Goku winced. "Haih, Vegeta said kinda the same thing..."
"It digusts you too, doesn't it?" Piccolo said and after a pause, Goku nodded. "You know what I think? It's not Gohan's loss that makes you hide."
"Then...what?" the man asked as he shakilly climbed to his feet again. "I can't figure this out on my own."
"Iie, you never were particularly bright. I think you're really afraid that you've become to emotionally involved in the battles. You're afraid it's no longer a test of wills or techniques. You're afraid you'll become like your enemies, growing more bitter with each battle. You're afraid you'll lose yourself."
Goku drywashed his face, deep in thought. "When I fought Furiiza...it wasn't the same kind of fight..."
Piccolo turned, his cape swirling in a flourish of white. "Right, you had to contend with your rage at Kuririn's murder. In a sense, becoming a Super Saiyajin was the worst thing that could happen to a person like you."
"I wanted to kill him. I really did."
"But you didn't, did you? That's why you're having so much trouble now. You carried that hate even though you didn't know it. And when Nagareboshi killed Gohan, the dark feelings in your heart only got worse."
"So what do I gotta do?" Goku asked with a sigh.
"Let it go," Piccolo replied simply. "Return to the way your were."
"Demo, after all this time. How can I..?"
The Namek-seijin raised one hand, pointing a talon over Goku's shoulder. The raven-haired man blinked and it seemed like the world changed again. He was now at the edge of a small patch of woods. Out in the meadow, a little away from the forest was a moderately sized home. It was dome-shaped and had a large add-on to one side. Above the door was a red diamond with a character in the middle that read '439 East District'.
A soft roar built up as a brisk wind came down from the nearby mountains and blew across the yard, stirring the trees wildly. As it settled, a robin's song could be heard in the distance, rising and falling with a joyful oscillation. For the first time in many years, Goku felt at ease. Even the sense of loss that this area aroused in him was subdued and he gave a sigh of long overdue content.
"T-tousan?"
A Dragon Ball Z fanfiction
by Son Goharotto (son_goharotto@hotmail.com)
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. DBYZ has been revised in its entirety. While some episodes have merely been ridden of typos, others have been rewritten completely. I'll be starting from the beginning at one episode a day so new readers can join in, undaunted by DBYZ's length, and old readers can review past events. All this is leading up to the new Episode 37, from which I'll try to keep a normal updating pace instead of letting this be forgotten as it once was.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I mgiht wish it not to be, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama-sama and many others who (unfortunately) aren't me. 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 (usually in Japanese), graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
NOTES: A liberal amount of Japanese vocabulary is sprinkled throughout, though nothing extremely important is ever said in another language that isn't translated. Mostly just basic Otaku Japanese. I've compiled a list of phrases I use on my homepage here: www.enpitsudo-dojo.com/libjapanese.html.
"dialogue"
""layered voice"" (Fusion, for example)
{alien language}
[thoughts, telepathy, memories]
_stressed words_
*sounds*
~scene change~
Volume I -- The Nagareboshi Saga
Episode 07 -- Ghosts From The Past!! Goku's Trial of Courage!!
Suddenly, Goku found himself in the Diablo Desert. Wind whipped around the columns of the mushroom-like rock outcroppings as the sun beat down upon the barren sand unmercilessly. Goku raised a hand to shield his eyes from the harsh desert sun and surveyed the surrounding landscape, seeing nothing beyond the roiling haze of heat.
"Oi, Goku-san."
Goku spun to face the voice. Beaneath a rock formation sat Yamucha, his eyes wandering the desertscape. The Saiyajin wanted to run forwards and embrace his long dead comrade, but took only hesitant steps until he was in the shade. "What's going on..?"
"I guess I'm still kinda attached to this wasteland. A simpler time, ya know?"
"..."
Yamucha stood and dusted off his pants, at last turning to face his long-time friend. "I think the real question is, what are you doing here? I haven't seen any of the others since I got here," he said with a wave of his hand. Goku got the impression he didn't mean 'here' as in 'the desert.'
"I... I need help..."
"_My_ help?" Yamucha snorted. "Why would the great Super Saiyajin need little ol' me?" Seeing the look on Goku's face, "Er...sorry. Didn't mean it that way."
Goku nodded dumbly, his throat tight. He had realized his problem only recently and still hesitated to admit it. Facing reality was too hard, too painful. But he had to, it was the only way. "Ever since... Gohan... died," he choked out, "I've... I've lost myself."
"Yeah..." Yamucha said, staring out at the desert. "You're not the only one." That last bit sounded a touch sarcastic.
Bolder for effort he'd already made, Goku continued. "I need to remember who I am. I need to beat...It... Nagareboshi...."
"You mean you want revenge?" said a new, and yet still familiar voice.
Goku spun again, finding himself face to face with his old sensei, Kame-sen'nin Muten Roshi. They were outside the Kame House on the turtle hermit's island. "Jiichan!"
Kame-sen'nin stood boldly, looking for all the world like the venerable old master he rarely was. "Revenge is a dirty thing, Goku. You don't take revenge, it takes you."
"But, I can't just let it get away with...killing Gohan..."
"I may be a foolish old man, but this fool still remember something you seem to have forgotten." He walked from the house to the small beach, Goku falling in step behind him. "Fighting isn't about revenge. It's about protecting. You lost sight of that and that's why you lost to Nagareboshi."
The two stopped at the edge of the beach. A gentle sea breeze tousled the Saiyajin's hair as the tide lapped at their feet. The caw of seagulls filled Goku's ears and surf smelled nostalgically salty. The raven-haired man was silent. What could be possibly say in response?
"No man is perfect, Goku. Contrary to even your own experiences, you can't always do it by yourself. You had friends, allies. What made you forget it all? The shock of a single failure? I thought you were made of sterner stuff."
"I am! I am..." Goku took a deep breath, trying to fight back the rage that was building against himself. "If I wasn't sure I wanted to fight Nagareboshi, I wouldn't have come here now."
"Trying again now...doesn't really make up for not trying harder back then," said a voice behind Goku.
The Saiyajin swallowed hard, the voice--high-pitched and a little nasal--brough back a flood of memories. Turning around, the tall man tried not to cry. "K-Kuririn...I..."
The short, bald man waved him off. "Nah, don't apologize. I can't really blame you. I'm not a shining icon of courage in battle myself, ne?"
"Kuririn!" Goku ran forward and scooped up his small friend. The two laughed and cried at the same time, reveling in this seemingly impossible reunion. "I'm so sorry. There's no way I can make up for what I did."
"Or didn't do," the former monk joked. Kuririn shook his round, shiney head. "Look, pal, we've all been in the fighting business for a long time. You knew the risks and so did we. Heck, most of us have died at some point or another."
"This is different," the taller man replied, standing. "This isn't normal death. I can't bring you back from this."
"That's besides the point, Goku. In all the years I've known you, you've never been a quitter. If there's one thing you're good at, it's the ability to come from behind when you're in a clinch."
"But I couldn't, I didn't--"
Kuririn punched the Saiyajin in the arm playfully. "Someone's not listening. Now open those big monkey ears, all right? It's not over yet, you still have time."
"He's right, Son-san. Round two is just getting started." The new voice, strong and measured, came from Tenshinhan, who laid his hand on Goku's shoulder.
The Saiyajin was aware of another scene change, this time to the Tenkai'ichi Budokai tournament grounds where he had first fought the three-eyed warrior so many years ago. Without the hordes of cheering spectators, the arena was eerily quiet. Goku turned his head and Tenshinhan nodded, the small boyish Chaozu floating over his shoulder with a smile. "What do you mean?" the raven-haired man asked.
Tenshinhan folded his arms over a wide, barrel chest and he still retained the air of professionalism Goku remembered from his childhood memories. "Nagareboshi's dormancy will not last forever. Even now, It stirs."
Goku blanched. "H-how do you know?"
The man shook his head, ignoring the question. "What matters is that the time to fight is soon coming. Can you face your fears this time?"
"I'll try..."
"Trying isn't good enough," Chaozu said solemnly. "We all tried to stop Nagareboshi, but we all failed. Only you really ever had the power."
"And you still do," Tenshinhand added. "That power remains in your heart, Son. All you have to do is remember it."
Chaozu floated up a bit and guestured at their surroundings. "This place is deeply ingrained in your heart, Goku-san. You still love to fight, even if your hatred of Nagareboshi has blinded you to it."
"Don't run away from it," said the three-eyed man. "Embrace it like you used to. You're like us, only truly happy when you fight. It's in our blood, especially yours. It doesn't suit you to sit and hide."
Goku's legs qwavered, suddenly feeling like lead. He sat heavily on the ground, almost gasping for breath.
"See? You're feeling stifled."
The suddenly gruff voice made the Saiyajin jump and he turned, now looking up at the towering demon that was Piccolo. "You always were good at showing up when least expected," Goku said with a weak smile.
"Don't change the subject," the Namek-seijin growled. "You know, it disgusts me to see you like this. It's hard to believe you're the same man I remember."
Goku winced. "Haih, Vegeta said kinda the same thing..."
"It digusts you too, doesn't it?" Piccolo said and after a pause, Goku nodded. "You know what I think? It's not Gohan's loss that makes you hide."
"Then...what?" the man asked as he shakilly climbed to his feet again. "I can't figure this out on my own."
"Iie, you never were particularly bright. I think you're really afraid that you've become to emotionally involved in the battles. You're afraid it's no longer a test of wills or techniques. You're afraid you'll become like your enemies, growing more bitter with each battle. You're afraid you'll lose yourself."
Goku drywashed his face, deep in thought. "When I fought Furiiza...it wasn't the same kind of fight..."
Piccolo turned, his cape swirling in a flourish of white. "Right, you had to contend with your rage at Kuririn's murder. In a sense, becoming a Super Saiyajin was the worst thing that could happen to a person like you."
"I wanted to kill him. I really did."
"But you didn't, did you? That's why you're having so much trouble now. You carried that hate even though you didn't know it. And when Nagareboshi killed Gohan, the dark feelings in your heart only got worse."
"So what do I gotta do?" Goku asked with a sigh.
"Let it go," Piccolo replied simply. "Return to the way your were."
"Demo, after all this time. How can I..?"
The Namek-seijin raised one hand, pointing a talon over Goku's shoulder. The raven-haired man blinked and it seemed like the world changed again. He was now at the edge of a small patch of woods. Out in the meadow, a little away from the forest was a moderately sized home. It was dome-shaped and had a large add-on to one side. Above the door was a red diamond with a character in the middle that read '439 East District'.
A soft roar built up as a brisk wind came down from the nearby mountains and blew across the yard, stirring the trees wildly. As it settled, a robin's song could be heard in the distance, rising and falling with a joyful oscillation. For the first time in many years, Goku felt at ease. Even the sense of loss that this area aroused in him was subdued and he gave a sigh of long overdue content.
"T-tousan?"