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 IV -- Madness in the Heart
Episode 28 -- Gathering of the Dark Soldiers!! The Sad Tale Is Revealed!!
Vegeta stirred. Pain wracked his body that would drive a lesser man mad, but it was nothing the Saiyajin no Ouji couldn't endure. He had felt far worse and was more concerned with his surroundings. Even though he was only barely conscious, the Saiyajin could feel a soft, cool fabric beneath him and another laying across his prone body. He felt clean and small restrictions of his movement--the little he dared to move--lead Vegeta to believe someone had bandaged his wounds. With blurred vision, all he could see was a white tiled ceiling, and his sense of smell told him little more. Though ordinarily very acute--as all Saiyajin's were--he was only faintly aware of another person in the room, wherever he was. A woman, or so it seemed, with a scent the prince thought he should know very well.
There was an electronic-sounding click and Vegeta clearly heard a man's voice rise in volume. "At approximately 2:14 a.m. last night, an eerie yellow light filled the sky just south of the Central Plains region. As of yet, it remains unidentified and scientists from around the world are--"
*click*
"--an see behind me that a special research team has gathered here at ground zero. While they have found nothing conclusive yet, there is reportedly a low, but harmless level of thermal radiation left over from the flash. Let's head over to Sam Hudson, who is meeting with an expert in ther--"
*click*
"--epeat, there is nothing to worry about! By a joint decision, the Satan City Militia Committee and the Central City Army Chiefs have found this unusual occurrence to be non-military in origin. There is no evidence suggesting this is the work of an armed organization and an thorough investi--"
*click*
"--lieve that secret testing by the Red Ribbon Incorporated, recently established by Sinclair Red, is responsible for last night's surprise occurrence. When asked for her opinion on the matters concerning Capsule Corporation's newest rival, President Bulma Briefs had this to sa--"
There was one last click. After a moment of silence, a female voice began to murmur just beyond Vegeta's hearing. While he couldn't make out the words, the woman's tone struck a chord in the prince's memory. [It can't be!!!] his mind shouted while he struggled to rise. Footsteps hurried towards him and Vegeta felt a pair of small, weak hands fighting to hold him down.
"Oh no you don't!" the woman said aloud. The Saiyajin's eyes flew open, but his sight refused to return. Vegeta could only make out a blur of green-ish blue before his waning strength failed him. Collapsing on the bed in a restless fit of sleep, the warrior was silent once more. Bulma checked to make sure the medicine was strong enough to keep the man sedated, then crossed the room. With one worried look back, she turned off the lights walked out. "Stubborn man...what happened to you...?"
"We're bound to find out eventually," came the reply. Bulma almost jumped out of her skin as her mate--the Vegeta of this time--appeared right in front of her. She had learned over the years that he could be as quiet as need be, and the warrior delighted in catching her off guard. "That flash last night was no weapon. It was a ki; a very strong one at that." Vegeta crossed his arms, a single bead of sweat sliding down the side of his face, and the woman realized that he was far more disturbed than was apparent. "I...I could sense no limit to it."
Bulma brushed the bangs from her eyes, tucking them behind an ear in weariness. "So much for peace and quiet..."
~~~~~
Goku suddenly appeared in the middle of Muten Roshi's ponderously slow airship. Kuririn was preparing some new bandages for Trunks while Juuhachi-gou kept their impromptu patient calm. The short man looked up in surprise at his best friend's appearance and smiled. "Thank Kami-sama you're here, Goku!" Kuririn said, rushing up. "I hope you have good news!"
The taller man shook his head gravely. " 'Fraid not," Goku replied. "But I'll save the serious stuff for later. That Trunks over there?"
"Hai, he's pretty banged up," Kuririn responded, leading the Saiyajin over to the wounded one that lay on the ship's floor. "Tell me you have some Senzu!"
Goku smirked, holding up a small bag. He quickly knelt at the lavender-haired teen's side and held out one of the tiny beans. "C'mon Trunks, take this," he urged. The youth shuddered from pain, but managed to chew the bean and swallow it down. A sigh escaped his lips as power and health flowed back into his body, and Trunks' eyes fluttered open. The ice blue orbs scanned the area, taking in the faces of the ex-monk, the jinzouningen woman, and the smiling Saiyajin. Trunks' expression of gratitude shifted to rage.
"KAKAROTTO!!!" he screamed, launching at the taller man. The teen started powering up as his hands wrapped around Goku's neck in a death grip, their struggle throwing the airship off balance.
"Khgk! T-t-Trunks!" Goku choked out, slowly forcing the younger man's clawing hands away. Kuririn and Juuhachi-gou immediately jumped on and tried to pull Trunks away. Surprisingly, the teen eventually eased and allowed himself to be pulled away.
Trunks inspected Goku's face closely, seeing no sign of his enemy's very obvious scar. The man before him had calm, friendly eyes that were totally unlike the seething fury and greed beneath the surface of Kakarotto's. In fact, everything about this person's manner contradicted the mad Saiyajin's bloodlust and psychosis. "You're not...you're not Kakarotto..." the teen said in wonder.
"Heh...no, I'm not." Goku rubbed his neck and grinned, albeit very confused.
"But why would you think that, Trunks!?" Kuririn demanded.
In his embarrassment, the young man's eyes skirted away from the faces of the people around him. It was bad enough that he had attacked the wrong man, but Trunks hadn't a clue as to what was going on. The Son Goku he knew had become a crazed beast, but this one had a kind smile the other was incapable of. Even the short noseless man and the young--extremely beautiful--blond seemed to be familiar with him. Trunks blushed and fidgeted a bit. "Sumimasen, I should explain--not that I really understand what's going on. Things have gotten confusing..."
"You're telling me," Kuririn interjected.
"Goten!" Trunks exclaimed. The youth gripped Goku by the shoulders in near hysterics. "We have to find Goten! He's even more beat up than me! If we don't get him some help..."
"Hai, just put your hand on my shoulder." Goku knew the teen didn't mean the Goten of this time, but he didn't worry about the details. The warrior put two fingers to his forehead, drawing on Trunks' anxiety to narrow his search. After a moment, his eyebrows went up in shock, almost not believing what he found. "We're going, Kuririn. Meet us at Bulma's place." With that, the two disappeared.
~~~~~
Goten bolted upright and instantly regretted it, his body screaming at him in agony. The half-Saiyajin fell back onto the bed, glad for the voluminous blankets of fur wrapped around him.
The kind villagers came to check on him regularly and one young bear-girl in particular seemed to have a crush on him, much to Goten's chagrin. He had awoken--a mere hours after his collapse--to find the girl fawning over him. As much as the odd medicine she was giving him helped immensely, Goten was terribly embarrassed to find her applying the salve to a burn on his bare stomach. While he had dealt with the situation quite well, the looks and winks she had been giving the youth since was beginning to worry him.
Goten looked towards the door as the cottage's owner stepped inside. It was the bear-man Kumato, the one who had found him lying near-dead in the woods. Kumato brushed the white flakes off his shoulders and removed his heavy clothes, wet with snow. Hanging them on a peg near the roaring fire, the bear-man gave Goten a toothy grin. "How ya feelin', Snow Boy?" he asked, using the name the villagers had given the youth. He winked knowingly. "Seems ma little sister has taken a shinin' to ya."
The half-Saiyajin teen shrugged as best he could. "Well, I've been better. I really should thank you again," Goten replied.
"Don't ya worry 'bout that," Kumato said, waving him off. "We don't get many visitors round these parts, so we're happy to have some. Even if ya _are_ hurt," he added with a laugh. The bear-man's mirth was cut short when a pair of people suddenly appeared right in the middle of his home. One was a teenager with light purple hair, who hurried over to the now grinning Snow Boy. The other was a tall man with wild black hair that could have been the Snow Boy's brother.
"Shinpai shinai," said Wild Hair. He had a kind smile and helped the startled Kumato into chair. "He's a friend of ours an' we need to take him back. Thanks for watchin' out for 'em." The tall man's voice drowned out whatever Purple Hair and Snow Boy were discussing. This went on for many minutes and Kumato couldn't get a word in edge-wise. Finally, Purple Hair gave Snow Boy something to eat and after a moment, the latter jumped up in perfect health. The raven-haired teen looked at Wild Hair solemnly, then the tallest man turned to face the two youths. "You guys ready to go?" They each nodded in turn and placed their hands on Wild Hair's shoulders. He smiled at Kumato again and waved. "Bai bai!" Then disappeared.
~~~~~
Bulma found herself once again heading towards the infirmary room where Yugure Vegeta--as this world's Saiyajin no Ouji had taken to calling him--lay recuperating. After the first time he had regained consciousness, the blue-haired woman found herself worrying about him all the more. It was strange, that she should care more for this other-worldly version of her mate than her own. Maybe it wasn't quite that, but Yugure Vegeta seemed to open up to her in a way that Vegeta hadn't for eleven years. Not since Trunks' conception had Bulma seen such longing in the prince's eyes. Yugure Vegeta never spoke to her, but the sadness in those obsidian orbs told of a lost love that broke the woman's heart.
So once again, the Briefs woman was making her way down Capsule Corps warm, sunlight hallways with the express purpose of checking in on him again. Just as Bulma reached for the door handle, she heard angry voices coming from inside the room and a cold feeling ran through her. She practically ran through the door in her haste, immediately running into something large and orange so that she bounced almost back out into the hall. But before she hit the floor, hands wrapped around her waist and set the shaky woman back on her feet.
"Gomen," Goku said with a bashful grin. "I guess I shoulda let you know we here, ne?"
"Son-kun? What's going on?"
The tall Saiyajin scratched the back of his head. "To be honest...I don't know! They haven't really told me anything," he replied with a laugh.
Just behind him, two young men--one with black hair that stuck out at all angles and the other with long, straight lavender locks--were at Yugure Vegeta's bedside. They spoke quickly to him in hushed tones so that Bulma could only recognize certain names; his own, Kakarotto, Goku. The prince was chewing on something, then abruptly sat up in bed and glared at Goku, but the two youths kept him calm. Bulma could see his eyes sweeping the room, darting back and forth as he contemplated whatever they were telling him. They rested upon her and Bulma felt uneasy under his steady gaze. Yugure Vegeta's stare softened and though he faced the teens, his eyes still held hers when he nodded in understanding. The prince climbed out of bed, prudently wrapping the bed sheets around his waist.
"I see what you mean," Yugure Vegeta said at last. His tone was calm and confident, but still lacked a certain something of the arrogance that this world's Vegeta entertained--though to a lesser degree since the Buu fiasco. "He really is just that foolish Son Goku. But does this mean that Kakarotto is still out there?" he thought aloud.
"I'm not sure, Papa," replied the lavender-haired teen. He turned slightly and Bulma realized that it was the older, future version of Trunks. But it didn't make sense! In his time, Vegeta died!
The other youth shook his head, leaning against a wall, and Bulma could see that he looked almost exactly like Goku. "We certainly didn't beat him... And it's probably a safe bet that we're in this place cause of him too," he said, very serious. "I bet he came with us."
"Excuse me?" Bulma cut in. "Would you mind explaining just what's going on here!?"
"Anou, Bulma," Goku said. "I got this feeling that... Maybe we should get everyone t'gether before we talk about anythin'."
However impatient the Briefs woman was during the wait, the power of reason won over and she was forced to agree. The appearance of the three badly injured Yugure Senshi was an ill omen and, like the incident with the Jinzouningen so many years ago, group council was the wisest course of action.
Goku had decided to go pick up Tenshinhan and Chaozu, but Kuririn and Juuhachi-gou had been flying in since the early afternoon and were the first to show up. Vegeta came inside from his training--with young Trunks and Goten, who was sleeping over, in tow--a bit perturbed at the interruption. Then came Yamucha whom, after the Cell Game, had decided to give up martial arts and was accepted back onto the Taitans as an assistant coach. The team was frightened they might be losing him again, but he managed to leave claiming a family emergency--which wasn't far from the truth, for his fellow Z Senshi had long been the family he lost as a youth. Gohan arrived next, with Videl trailing behind, and was distressed that he couldn't find Piccolo on his way up from his stay in Satan City. The young half-Saiyajin man had been spending "quality" time with his girlfriend (conveniently at the same time her father was away with a friend).
At last, Goku returned with the other two warriors, and introductions were made. Many were shocked to learn that Yugure Vegeta had been taking care of his Trunks and Goten alone and for so long; perhaps even more shocked that they didn't turn out with his disagreeable attitude. Their younger counterparts where constantly asking questions, amazed at meeting their older selves. However, it was Goku that announced why they had gathered and he gravely suggested the get started. The Saiyajin man didn't say it, but the whole "Kakarotto" business on Roshi's airship had disturbed him greatly. "C'mon guys, let's get this over with," he said.
All eyes instantly turned to Yugure Vegeta and he sighed heavily. "It really is quite simple when you get right down to it," he began. "In our time...there was a creature named Nagareboshi. At least, that's what we called It. We fought it many, many times over the years and It killed almost all of the native warriors on Chikyuu. In time, the only ones left were myself, the two boys--" he indicated Yugure Goten and Yugure Trunks with a wave of his hand "--and Kakarotto...or rather, Son Goku."
Goku shook his head, the motion accompanied by the murmurs of his friends and allies, none of them recognizing the name either. "We've had some pretty rough times here too, but nothing like that."
"Then that is the point at which our two worlds diverge," Yugure Vegeta said, nodding his head slowly. "Each time Goku confronted Nagareboshi, I saw a piece of him crack...fall away. The persona of Son Goku gradually died with each battle."
"But there was more to it than that," said Yugure Goten, taking up the narration. "Even after Nagareboshi was beaten, things didn't pick up. Tousan took up a student, a girl named Paresu. But she was possessed by some kinda evil spirit. It said it wanted to 'disrupt' the universe. Tousan beat it, drove it out of her, but was pushed too hard. He...h--" The youth's voice choked up and his head fell.
Yugure Trunks placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "We think it pushed him over the edge. In our world, Goku-san lost everything to Nagareboshi, everything that mattered to him. It seems his sanity finally broke and now he acts like an animal....a Saiyajin..." The entire assemblage was still, silently brooding over the news.
"No," Yugure Goten said at last. "When we were fighting him before, he spoke to me. Tousan was talking to me in my head... He said the this Kakarotto person took over...and he couldn't fight back..."
"So...Kakarotto is actually another personality?" Bulma wondered. "Son-kun's Saiyajin mind was suppressed, and the stress on him from this Nagareboshi and that evil spirit released him. But how...?"
"When I was a baby," Goku explained, "I hit my head on a rock. My grandfather use'ta say I was violent and mean until I that accident. Maybe that's what caused Kakarotto to go away." The warrior shook his head, suddenly frightened. "Does this mean it can happen to me, if I'm pushed too hard?"
"There's no way to know for sure," Bulma replied.
"We've been through some really bad situations, tousan," said Gohan. "But you've always seemed in control. Even against Cell and Buu, you've been calm and rational. It sounds to me that the you in their time didn't have that kind of stability, ne?" he added, turning to Yugure Vegeta.
"Seems that way."
"But how did you three, or four, get here?" Tenshinhan asked.
Yugure Trunks leaned back in his chair and shrugged. "The last I can remember, we were fighting Kakarotto. He got mad that we weren't as weak as he thought we were, and tried to bring out all his power. But I don't know for sure how we ended up in your world... After that, it's all a blank." His father and best friend each nodded in agreement.
Bulma leaned her elbows on the table, folding her hands in front of her face. They could see from the look in her eyes that the woman's brain was working this information over. "Maybe the release of that much power at once created some kind of rift in the space/time continuum." This went right over the heads of everyone else present and she looked up, seeing their confusion. "In other words, I'm not sure how to get them back...yet."
Vegeta snorted, unfolding and re-folding his arms. "So there's an evil Kakarotto running around out there with more power than ours. Hn! Sounds like the opportunity for a fight I've wanted for a long time." Yugure Vegeta regarded his counterpart strangely, aware that the younger prince was underestimating his opponent, but almost admiring him because he knew what it was like to feel that way.
"So it's a safe bet that the giant flash last night was caused by Kakarotto when he tore a hole in this space/time thingy," Yamucha said, more than a bit frightened by this revelation. "Which is also why you three were found so beat up; because Kakarotto had just kicked you around."
Goku reached into his pocket and pulled out the tattered strip of purple cloth. "We know that he's already gone to work here. I'm sorry, Gohan..." His older son's face contorted in anger and sadness, the man's whole body shaking as he struggled not to explode. Videl quickly embraced Gohan, trying to comfort the half-Saiyajin in his pain. Again, everyone was silent. "Are there dragon balls in your time?" Goku finally asked.
Yugure Vegeta shook his head. "I would assume not. By my understanding, they become useless when the Namek- seijin is killed. And he was, by Nagareboshi."
"Then Kakarotto wouldn't know it's not like that here no more." Goku saw the expression of confusion on Yugure Vegeta's face and explained. "You remember the Namek boy, Dende? A while ago, he came to Chikyuu and now he's the new Kami, so now the dragon balls ain't connected to Piccolo."
"I see what you're saying... Kakarotto wouldn't know that, because that hasn't happened in our world."
"It makes sense," Yamucha agreed. "Piccolo-san was the first to die 'cause it would disable the dragon balls. But we still have them, which gives us the advantage," he said hopefully.
"If he killed Piccolo-san for strategic purposes, then he's most likely still roaming around," Tenshinhan put in. "We probably haven't noticed him yet because he's looking for the right time to attack..."
"Kakarotto was surprised when just Trunks, Goten and I put up such a hard fight for him," Yugure Vegeta said. "With so many more of us against him now, he'll be wary. I expect he'll strike at us individually, probably the strongest fir--" But he cut off. Everyone--everyone that could sense ki, that is--quickly turned to face the northwest. Each warrior's face was painted with shock and horror.
Kakarotto had struck again.
~~~~~
The man in question laughed aloud, pulling his arm from some would-be hero's stomach. The afro-haired man fell in a growing pool of his own blood and convulsed, a fist-sized hole ripped right through his torso. Kakarotto took joy in the agony of the self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Champion". And so died Mister Satan, with an act of bravery whose magnitude he could not comprehend.
The mad Saiyajin looked up at the afro-haired man's companion, a blubbery pink creature with an unexpected power. Apparently the Z Senshi of this time had caught wind of Kakarotto's existence and had hidden their powers, but this strange thing had a strength--very much like Nagareboshi's second form--that called out like a beacon. The rotund warrior boiled over with rage at the man's death, to the point that steam literally rose out of his head. Kakarotto laughed, amused by the odd being's power. It was huge, but still nothing compared to the Super Saiyajin.
[This might be fun!] Kakarotto thought optimistically. While the pink creature continued to power up--futilely--thirteen new ki signatures arose far behind him. Most were weak and would normally be beyond the mad Saiyajin's notice, but some were strong. Very strong. And very familiar. [Or maybe not...] "Let's make this fast, you disgusting beast!" he roared.
The pink warrior--who, unbeknownst to Kakarotto, was called Majin Buu--charged at his friend's killer. Buu wound up for a punch that would have split a mountain in two, but Kakarotto's leg lanced out faster than the black sorcerer's creation could dodge. The blow to Buu's face would have instantly broken a human's--or even a Saiyajin's--neck, but mattered little to the warrior's puddy-like body. The Super Saiyajin rained punches down on Buu's body that were faster than lightning, and nearly tore him apart with the effort. Stunned, the creature couldn't defend against the ki blast that destroyed his head.
"Feh! So much for that," Kakarotto mumbled. Before Buu could regenerate and attack anew, the Saiyajin picked him up by the leg and tossed the carcass into the air. Another blast vaporized Buu's body completely and the insane warrior claimed his third victim. He turned to the south, noticing that the others were quickly closing in. "Another time perhaps," he said with a mocking tip of his head. Suppressing his ki, Kakarotto slipped away and left the Z Senshi to find his latest handiwork.
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 IV -- Madness in the Heart
Episode 28 -- Gathering of the Dark Soldiers!! The Sad Tale Is Revealed!!
Vegeta stirred. Pain wracked his body that would drive a lesser man mad, but it was nothing the Saiyajin no Ouji couldn't endure. He had felt far worse and was more concerned with his surroundings. Even though he was only barely conscious, the Saiyajin could feel a soft, cool fabric beneath him and another laying across his prone body. He felt clean and small restrictions of his movement--the little he dared to move--lead Vegeta to believe someone had bandaged his wounds. With blurred vision, all he could see was a white tiled ceiling, and his sense of smell told him little more. Though ordinarily very acute--as all Saiyajin's were--he was only faintly aware of another person in the room, wherever he was. A woman, or so it seemed, with a scent the prince thought he should know very well.
There was an electronic-sounding click and Vegeta clearly heard a man's voice rise in volume. "At approximately 2:14 a.m. last night, an eerie yellow light filled the sky just south of the Central Plains region. As of yet, it remains unidentified and scientists from around the world are--"
*click*
"--an see behind me that a special research team has gathered here at ground zero. While they have found nothing conclusive yet, there is reportedly a low, but harmless level of thermal radiation left over from the flash. Let's head over to Sam Hudson, who is meeting with an expert in ther--"
*click*
"--epeat, there is nothing to worry about! By a joint decision, the Satan City Militia Committee and the Central City Army Chiefs have found this unusual occurrence to be non-military in origin. There is no evidence suggesting this is the work of an armed organization and an thorough investi--"
*click*
"--lieve that secret testing by the Red Ribbon Incorporated, recently established by Sinclair Red, is responsible for last night's surprise occurrence. When asked for her opinion on the matters concerning Capsule Corporation's newest rival, President Bulma Briefs had this to sa--"
There was one last click. After a moment of silence, a female voice began to murmur just beyond Vegeta's hearing. While he couldn't make out the words, the woman's tone struck a chord in the prince's memory. [It can't be!!!] his mind shouted while he struggled to rise. Footsteps hurried towards him and Vegeta felt a pair of small, weak hands fighting to hold him down.
"Oh no you don't!" the woman said aloud. The Saiyajin's eyes flew open, but his sight refused to return. Vegeta could only make out a blur of green-ish blue before his waning strength failed him. Collapsing on the bed in a restless fit of sleep, the warrior was silent once more. Bulma checked to make sure the medicine was strong enough to keep the man sedated, then crossed the room. With one worried look back, she turned off the lights walked out. "Stubborn man...what happened to you...?"
"We're bound to find out eventually," came the reply. Bulma almost jumped out of her skin as her mate--the Vegeta of this time--appeared right in front of her. She had learned over the years that he could be as quiet as need be, and the warrior delighted in catching her off guard. "That flash last night was no weapon. It was a ki; a very strong one at that." Vegeta crossed his arms, a single bead of sweat sliding down the side of his face, and the woman realized that he was far more disturbed than was apparent. "I...I could sense no limit to it."
Bulma brushed the bangs from her eyes, tucking them behind an ear in weariness. "So much for peace and quiet..."
~~~~~
Goku suddenly appeared in the middle of Muten Roshi's ponderously slow airship. Kuririn was preparing some new bandages for Trunks while Juuhachi-gou kept their impromptu patient calm. The short man looked up in surprise at his best friend's appearance and smiled. "Thank Kami-sama you're here, Goku!" Kuririn said, rushing up. "I hope you have good news!"
The taller man shook his head gravely. " 'Fraid not," Goku replied. "But I'll save the serious stuff for later. That Trunks over there?"
"Hai, he's pretty banged up," Kuririn responded, leading the Saiyajin over to the wounded one that lay on the ship's floor. "Tell me you have some Senzu!"
Goku smirked, holding up a small bag. He quickly knelt at the lavender-haired teen's side and held out one of the tiny beans. "C'mon Trunks, take this," he urged. The youth shuddered from pain, but managed to chew the bean and swallow it down. A sigh escaped his lips as power and health flowed back into his body, and Trunks' eyes fluttered open. The ice blue orbs scanned the area, taking in the faces of the ex-monk, the jinzouningen woman, and the smiling Saiyajin. Trunks' expression of gratitude shifted to rage.
"KAKAROTTO!!!" he screamed, launching at the taller man. The teen started powering up as his hands wrapped around Goku's neck in a death grip, their struggle throwing the airship off balance.
"Khgk! T-t-Trunks!" Goku choked out, slowly forcing the younger man's clawing hands away. Kuririn and Juuhachi-gou immediately jumped on and tried to pull Trunks away. Surprisingly, the teen eventually eased and allowed himself to be pulled away.
Trunks inspected Goku's face closely, seeing no sign of his enemy's very obvious scar. The man before him had calm, friendly eyes that were totally unlike the seething fury and greed beneath the surface of Kakarotto's. In fact, everything about this person's manner contradicted the mad Saiyajin's bloodlust and psychosis. "You're not...you're not Kakarotto..." the teen said in wonder.
"Heh...no, I'm not." Goku rubbed his neck and grinned, albeit very confused.
"But why would you think that, Trunks!?" Kuririn demanded.
In his embarrassment, the young man's eyes skirted away from the faces of the people around him. It was bad enough that he had attacked the wrong man, but Trunks hadn't a clue as to what was going on. The Son Goku he knew had become a crazed beast, but this one had a kind smile the other was incapable of. Even the short noseless man and the young--extremely beautiful--blond seemed to be familiar with him. Trunks blushed and fidgeted a bit. "Sumimasen, I should explain--not that I really understand what's going on. Things have gotten confusing..."
"You're telling me," Kuririn interjected.
"Goten!" Trunks exclaimed. The youth gripped Goku by the shoulders in near hysterics. "We have to find Goten! He's even more beat up than me! If we don't get him some help..."
"Hai, just put your hand on my shoulder." Goku knew the teen didn't mean the Goten of this time, but he didn't worry about the details. The warrior put two fingers to his forehead, drawing on Trunks' anxiety to narrow his search. After a moment, his eyebrows went up in shock, almost not believing what he found. "We're going, Kuririn. Meet us at Bulma's place." With that, the two disappeared.
~~~~~
Goten bolted upright and instantly regretted it, his body screaming at him in agony. The half-Saiyajin fell back onto the bed, glad for the voluminous blankets of fur wrapped around him.
The kind villagers came to check on him regularly and one young bear-girl in particular seemed to have a crush on him, much to Goten's chagrin. He had awoken--a mere hours after his collapse--to find the girl fawning over him. As much as the odd medicine she was giving him helped immensely, Goten was terribly embarrassed to find her applying the salve to a burn on his bare stomach. While he had dealt with the situation quite well, the looks and winks she had been giving the youth since was beginning to worry him.
Goten looked towards the door as the cottage's owner stepped inside. It was the bear-man Kumato, the one who had found him lying near-dead in the woods. Kumato brushed the white flakes off his shoulders and removed his heavy clothes, wet with snow. Hanging them on a peg near the roaring fire, the bear-man gave Goten a toothy grin. "How ya feelin', Snow Boy?" he asked, using the name the villagers had given the youth. He winked knowingly. "Seems ma little sister has taken a shinin' to ya."
The half-Saiyajin teen shrugged as best he could. "Well, I've been better. I really should thank you again," Goten replied.
"Don't ya worry 'bout that," Kumato said, waving him off. "We don't get many visitors round these parts, so we're happy to have some. Even if ya _are_ hurt," he added with a laugh. The bear-man's mirth was cut short when a pair of people suddenly appeared right in the middle of his home. One was a teenager with light purple hair, who hurried over to the now grinning Snow Boy. The other was a tall man with wild black hair that could have been the Snow Boy's brother.
"Shinpai shinai," said Wild Hair. He had a kind smile and helped the startled Kumato into chair. "He's a friend of ours an' we need to take him back. Thanks for watchin' out for 'em." The tall man's voice drowned out whatever Purple Hair and Snow Boy were discussing. This went on for many minutes and Kumato couldn't get a word in edge-wise. Finally, Purple Hair gave Snow Boy something to eat and after a moment, the latter jumped up in perfect health. The raven-haired teen looked at Wild Hair solemnly, then the tallest man turned to face the two youths. "You guys ready to go?" They each nodded in turn and placed their hands on Wild Hair's shoulders. He smiled at Kumato again and waved. "Bai bai!" Then disappeared.
~~~~~
Bulma found herself once again heading towards the infirmary room where Yugure Vegeta--as this world's Saiyajin no Ouji had taken to calling him--lay recuperating. After the first time he had regained consciousness, the blue-haired woman found herself worrying about him all the more. It was strange, that she should care more for this other-worldly version of her mate than her own. Maybe it wasn't quite that, but Yugure Vegeta seemed to open up to her in a way that Vegeta hadn't for eleven years. Not since Trunks' conception had Bulma seen such longing in the prince's eyes. Yugure Vegeta never spoke to her, but the sadness in those obsidian orbs told of a lost love that broke the woman's heart.
So once again, the Briefs woman was making her way down Capsule Corps warm, sunlight hallways with the express purpose of checking in on him again. Just as Bulma reached for the door handle, she heard angry voices coming from inside the room and a cold feeling ran through her. She practically ran through the door in her haste, immediately running into something large and orange so that she bounced almost back out into the hall. But before she hit the floor, hands wrapped around her waist and set the shaky woman back on her feet.
"Gomen," Goku said with a bashful grin. "I guess I shoulda let you know we here, ne?"
"Son-kun? What's going on?"
The tall Saiyajin scratched the back of his head. "To be honest...I don't know! They haven't really told me anything," he replied with a laugh.
Just behind him, two young men--one with black hair that stuck out at all angles and the other with long, straight lavender locks--were at Yugure Vegeta's bedside. They spoke quickly to him in hushed tones so that Bulma could only recognize certain names; his own, Kakarotto, Goku. The prince was chewing on something, then abruptly sat up in bed and glared at Goku, but the two youths kept him calm. Bulma could see his eyes sweeping the room, darting back and forth as he contemplated whatever they were telling him. They rested upon her and Bulma felt uneasy under his steady gaze. Yugure Vegeta's stare softened and though he faced the teens, his eyes still held hers when he nodded in understanding. The prince climbed out of bed, prudently wrapping the bed sheets around his waist.
"I see what you mean," Yugure Vegeta said at last. His tone was calm and confident, but still lacked a certain something of the arrogance that this world's Vegeta entertained--though to a lesser degree since the Buu fiasco. "He really is just that foolish Son Goku. But does this mean that Kakarotto is still out there?" he thought aloud.
"I'm not sure, Papa," replied the lavender-haired teen. He turned slightly and Bulma realized that it was the older, future version of Trunks. But it didn't make sense! In his time, Vegeta died!
The other youth shook his head, leaning against a wall, and Bulma could see that he looked almost exactly like Goku. "We certainly didn't beat him... And it's probably a safe bet that we're in this place cause of him too," he said, very serious. "I bet he came with us."
"Excuse me?" Bulma cut in. "Would you mind explaining just what's going on here!?"
"Anou, Bulma," Goku said. "I got this feeling that... Maybe we should get everyone t'gether before we talk about anythin'."
However impatient the Briefs woman was during the wait, the power of reason won over and she was forced to agree. The appearance of the three badly injured Yugure Senshi was an ill omen and, like the incident with the Jinzouningen so many years ago, group council was the wisest course of action.
Goku had decided to go pick up Tenshinhan and Chaozu, but Kuririn and Juuhachi-gou had been flying in since the early afternoon and were the first to show up. Vegeta came inside from his training--with young Trunks and Goten, who was sleeping over, in tow--a bit perturbed at the interruption. Then came Yamucha whom, after the Cell Game, had decided to give up martial arts and was accepted back onto the Taitans as an assistant coach. The team was frightened they might be losing him again, but he managed to leave claiming a family emergency--which wasn't far from the truth, for his fellow Z Senshi had long been the family he lost as a youth. Gohan arrived next, with Videl trailing behind, and was distressed that he couldn't find Piccolo on his way up from his stay in Satan City. The young half-Saiyajin man had been spending "quality" time with his girlfriend (conveniently at the same time her father was away with a friend).
At last, Goku returned with the other two warriors, and introductions were made. Many were shocked to learn that Yugure Vegeta had been taking care of his Trunks and Goten alone and for so long; perhaps even more shocked that they didn't turn out with his disagreeable attitude. Their younger counterparts where constantly asking questions, amazed at meeting their older selves. However, it was Goku that announced why they had gathered and he gravely suggested the get started. The Saiyajin man didn't say it, but the whole "Kakarotto" business on Roshi's airship had disturbed him greatly. "C'mon guys, let's get this over with," he said.
All eyes instantly turned to Yugure Vegeta and he sighed heavily. "It really is quite simple when you get right down to it," he began. "In our time...there was a creature named Nagareboshi. At least, that's what we called It. We fought it many, many times over the years and It killed almost all of the native warriors on Chikyuu. In time, the only ones left were myself, the two boys--" he indicated Yugure Goten and Yugure Trunks with a wave of his hand "--and Kakarotto...or rather, Son Goku."
Goku shook his head, the motion accompanied by the murmurs of his friends and allies, none of them recognizing the name either. "We've had some pretty rough times here too, but nothing like that."
"Then that is the point at which our two worlds diverge," Yugure Vegeta said, nodding his head slowly. "Each time Goku confronted Nagareboshi, I saw a piece of him crack...fall away. The persona of Son Goku gradually died with each battle."
"But there was more to it than that," said Yugure Goten, taking up the narration. "Even after Nagareboshi was beaten, things didn't pick up. Tousan took up a student, a girl named Paresu. But she was possessed by some kinda evil spirit. It said it wanted to 'disrupt' the universe. Tousan beat it, drove it out of her, but was pushed too hard. He...h--" The youth's voice choked up and his head fell.
Yugure Trunks placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "We think it pushed him over the edge. In our world, Goku-san lost everything to Nagareboshi, everything that mattered to him. It seems his sanity finally broke and now he acts like an animal....a Saiyajin..." The entire assemblage was still, silently brooding over the news.
"No," Yugure Goten said at last. "When we were fighting him before, he spoke to me. Tousan was talking to me in my head... He said the this Kakarotto person took over...and he couldn't fight back..."
"So...Kakarotto is actually another personality?" Bulma wondered. "Son-kun's Saiyajin mind was suppressed, and the stress on him from this Nagareboshi and that evil spirit released him. But how...?"
"When I was a baby," Goku explained, "I hit my head on a rock. My grandfather use'ta say I was violent and mean until I that accident. Maybe that's what caused Kakarotto to go away." The warrior shook his head, suddenly frightened. "Does this mean it can happen to me, if I'm pushed too hard?"
"There's no way to know for sure," Bulma replied.
"We've been through some really bad situations, tousan," said Gohan. "But you've always seemed in control. Even against Cell and Buu, you've been calm and rational. It sounds to me that the you in their time didn't have that kind of stability, ne?" he added, turning to Yugure Vegeta.
"Seems that way."
"But how did you three, or four, get here?" Tenshinhan asked.
Yugure Trunks leaned back in his chair and shrugged. "The last I can remember, we were fighting Kakarotto. He got mad that we weren't as weak as he thought we were, and tried to bring out all his power. But I don't know for sure how we ended up in your world... After that, it's all a blank." His father and best friend each nodded in agreement.
Bulma leaned her elbows on the table, folding her hands in front of her face. They could see from the look in her eyes that the woman's brain was working this information over. "Maybe the release of that much power at once created some kind of rift in the space/time continuum." This went right over the heads of everyone else present and she looked up, seeing their confusion. "In other words, I'm not sure how to get them back...yet."
Vegeta snorted, unfolding and re-folding his arms. "So there's an evil Kakarotto running around out there with more power than ours. Hn! Sounds like the opportunity for a fight I've wanted for a long time." Yugure Vegeta regarded his counterpart strangely, aware that the younger prince was underestimating his opponent, but almost admiring him because he knew what it was like to feel that way.
"So it's a safe bet that the giant flash last night was caused by Kakarotto when he tore a hole in this space/time thingy," Yamucha said, more than a bit frightened by this revelation. "Which is also why you three were found so beat up; because Kakarotto had just kicked you around."
Goku reached into his pocket and pulled out the tattered strip of purple cloth. "We know that he's already gone to work here. I'm sorry, Gohan..." His older son's face contorted in anger and sadness, the man's whole body shaking as he struggled not to explode. Videl quickly embraced Gohan, trying to comfort the half-Saiyajin in his pain. Again, everyone was silent. "Are there dragon balls in your time?" Goku finally asked.
Yugure Vegeta shook his head. "I would assume not. By my understanding, they become useless when the Namek- seijin is killed. And he was, by Nagareboshi."
"Then Kakarotto wouldn't know it's not like that here no more." Goku saw the expression of confusion on Yugure Vegeta's face and explained. "You remember the Namek boy, Dende? A while ago, he came to Chikyuu and now he's the new Kami, so now the dragon balls ain't connected to Piccolo."
"I see what you're saying... Kakarotto wouldn't know that, because that hasn't happened in our world."
"It makes sense," Yamucha agreed. "Piccolo-san was the first to die 'cause it would disable the dragon balls. But we still have them, which gives us the advantage," he said hopefully.
"If he killed Piccolo-san for strategic purposes, then he's most likely still roaming around," Tenshinhan put in. "We probably haven't noticed him yet because he's looking for the right time to attack..."
"Kakarotto was surprised when just Trunks, Goten and I put up such a hard fight for him," Yugure Vegeta said. "With so many more of us against him now, he'll be wary. I expect he'll strike at us individually, probably the strongest fir--" But he cut off. Everyone--everyone that could sense ki, that is--quickly turned to face the northwest. Each warrior's face was painted with shock and horror.
Kakarotto had struck again.
~~~~~
The man in question laughed aloud, pulling his arm from some would-be hero's stomach. The afro-haired man fell in a growing pool of his own blood and convulsed, a fist-sized hole ripped right through his torso. Kakarotto took joy in the agony of the self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Champion". And so died Mister Satan, with an act of bravery whose magnitude he could not comprehend.
The mad Saiyajin looked up at the afro-haired man's companion, a blubbery pink creature with an unexpected power. Apparently the Z Senshi of this time had caught wind of Kakarotto's existence and had hidden their powers, but this strange thing had a strength--very much like Nagareboshi's second form--that called out like a beacon. The rotund warrior boiled over with rage at the man's death, to the point that steam literally rose out of his head. Kakarotto laughed, amused by the odd being's power. It was huge, but still nothing compared to the Super Saiyajin.
[This might be fun!] Kakarotto thought optimistically. While the pink creature continued to power up--futilely--thirteen new ki signatures arose far behind him. Most were weak and would normally be beyond the mad Saiyajin's notice, but some were strong. Very strong. And very familiar. [Or maybe not...] "Let's make this fast, you disgusting beast!" he roared.
The pink warrior--who, unbeknownst to Kakarotto, was called Majin Buu--charged at his friend's killer. Buu wound up for a punch that would have split a mountain in two, but Kakarotto's leg lanced out faster than the black sorcerer's creation could dodge. The blow to Buu's face would have instantly broken a human's--or even a Saiyajin's--neck, but mattered little to the warrior's puddy-like body. The Super Saiyajin rained punches down on Buu's body that were faster than lightning, and nearly tore him apart with the effort. Stunned, the creature couldn't defend against the ki blast that destroyed his head.
"Feh! So much for that," Kakarotto mumbled. Before Buu could regenerate and attack anew, the Saiyajin picked him up by the leg and tossed the carcass into the air. Another blast vaporized Buu's body completely and the insane warrior claimed his third victim. He turned to the south, noticing that the others were quickly closing in. "Another time perhaps," he said with a mocking tip of his head. Suppressing his ki, Kakarotto slipped away and left the Z Senshi to find his latest handiwork.