I wrote this months ago and then got stuck at the end of it. I really
could not decide where to go next, but now, am ready to move past this
point. Here is part twelve at long last.
Chapter 12:
-------------
Last time:
"Gohan, there is a serious reason for this. The way you will react, when she is in any perceived danger will be . . ."
-------------
"Danger?" Interrupted Gohan. "I certainly don't like the sound of that."
"Exactly. You can find yourself unconsciously protective of her. It is instinctual; you may find yourself at her side for any number of things. But they will be related to the threat, and her ability to respond to it. So normal humans unarmed or without firearms might just get your attention, but more might have explosive results. Not to mention if you find yourself in a serious situation for you, as unlikely as that might be, you may invent a third level of Super Saiyan to protect your woman." He said knowingly with a hint of wonderment at the strength of the boy, nearly a man, before him. (A/N Put in Ssj3 for Luna's Meow)
This left Gohan lost in thought as the walked slowly. He thought about his new relationship and other things, the changes in his life, his instinctual responses, and all that was beyond his control. Vegeta continued to suggest different ways to augment and hasten Videl's progress.
-=-=-=-=-=
As Gohan and Vegeta reached the large domed (and recently renovated) Gravity Room they had agreed that there needed to be some additional help given to Videl's training.
"I guess I will talk to Piccolo with her later or at least tomorrow."
"Do it today. Better to get her used to it for her beating at your mother's hands tomorrow."
"She can keep up fairly well. It is just that Mom has been training an innate Super Saiyan in secret for some time now."
"Your brat too eh?" Said Vegeta with an extra twist of his smirk, giving away his pride.
"They grow up so fast, I just hope they get a better life than we have had. I hope and will do all I can to make it that way."
Vegeta leaned in close to give Gohan some real advice. "That is the hope of every parent, or surrogate parent. Now that you are on the path to having your own family loosen the burden of your brother, we will all pick up the slack. You cannot keep it all to yourself, not then, and certainly not now." Vegeta very rarely spoke like this, when his words carried greatest weight. As he spoke evenly and with conviction he knew that such a thing would be picked up by two women a few hundred feet away.
One of them took the words with great pride and hope, she thought of her husband as being the man she always knew him to be, and that the others rarely saw. The other heard them as if they were spoken to her. She was the one who really needed to help Gohan past his last hurdle of guilt, and therefore assure their future. She took this as her charge. She took it with confidence that even the one most apathetic outwardly of this new family of hers would support so well, how could she afford to fail. And most of all she thanked the subtlety of her connection to Gohan that the weight was not lost to even it. For how rarely did Vegeta speak thusly?
As Videl pondered Gohan, her concern and that of his father's greatest rival overwhelmed the teen. Even now they worried for him. 'Did they all? How could this be a burden to me? It is my penance that I give with no remorse or concern. What can I do?' Thought Gohan.
"What would you have me do? Ignore my brother?" Asked Gohan, confused.
"Certainly not. Just do not fight the natural shift in your preoccupation. It should shift to your woman, do not let that make you guilty, it is natural, embrace it." Said Vegeta in the same tone as before as he continued on. After a second Gohan followed. 'It is natural, it is life, it is love.' Concluded Vegeta silently. .:: And you! Don't you have something better to do than eavesdrop. ::. He admonished telepathically, though the words were formed they carried a clearer meaning, especially to the woman who could always hear his true voice.
As Gohan continued the walk to the GR he was bewildered with the advice he had just received. 'Will I really start to ignore Goten, have I already? What will happen to him? I have responsibilities.'
.:: Don't you ask that last question buddy! I am not going to be considered a detriment to your substitute father complex. I understand that he is important to you. I have only known the kid for a day and he is growing to be important to me too. Trust me. ::.
.:: Completely. ::. He thought in their growing ritual.
.:: Then stop worrying and get to training your brother. You are so caught up in worrying about him; you are actually ignoring the poor boy. ::.
With that Gohan laughed. It was a soothing and heartening laugh.
.:: You might just be exactly what we both needed. ::. Said Gohan as he still lightly laughed aloud.
.:: We will talk more about this later. ::. Videl ended the conversation with that conveniently as they arrived in the GR from their respective changing rooms.
"There you are." Said Trunks, as the boys ran to greet them. "What took you so long?"
"The new girl." Said Vegeta with a chuckle.
"My new big sister?" Asked Goten beaming. "Isn't she great?"
Trunks sneered and asked. "Why does Goten get a big brother and sister?" His regret poorly hid beneath mock indignation.
"Yeah Mister Uncle Prince Vegeta?" Asked Goten, nearly lost in his misused titles of respect that he had picked up somewhere. Though it was hardly a mystery where. "Why don't you get Trunks some brothers or sisters?"
"That is the last thing I need. More weak kids running about." Said Vegeta throwing a challenging glance to his boy.
"Weak?" Bellowed Trunks, his inherited pride pushed to the limit. "Try this." He roared as he powered to max and rushed his father.
Gohan just marveled at the sight of Super Saiyan Trunks, while Goten spoke. "Pretty cool huh? I guess they are just gonna fight themselves huh?"
"Well when in Rome. . ." Said Gohan as he lowered himself into a stance.
Goten looked at him quizzically looking lower than usual as Gohan was in his fighting stance his weight balanced on his back foot ready to spring forward into action.
"In Rome? I thought this was West City? Some people still call it the Western Capital; at least that is what Mom says. Did you know that the average rainfall here is 39.533 mm? And."
"Goten!" Yelled Gohan before the boy could read off anymore Chi-Chi hammered home facts. Gohan may have helped to teach the boy, but her presence was still there, as was her educational pressure.
"Yeah?" Asked Goten simply.
"Are we training now?"
"Yeah, but since you asked about Rome, and we have not learned about Rome yet but I do know about West city. Did you know. . . " Started the boy, which his older brother interrupted with a yell and an attack.
And so the next hour was spent with the boys training and the women torturing the girl. They had tea, accompanied with all sorts of questions that Videl felt were absolutely inappropriate, but even more chilling was the fact that, as they were not answered, that they were bound to be repeated later. And if that was not enough to stomach it was followed by the trip to buy the entire contraceptive section of the private employee drugstore. Fortunately Videl had convinced the Women that they needed to share in the fun of the explanations with the pair later on.
And so after enduring more than Videl was prepared for, it was time for her lesson. Chi-Chi's concern over the late hour was quelled when dinner was announced to be pizza. And so the women found their way to the gravity room.
-=-==--=-=-=-
When the girls entered into the separated training area for alternate gravities from that of the main larger training room they saw that it was prepared to receive them. Bulma explained as they went through the side door of the GR that since someone had set the room for internal voice commands that they were expected.
"Usually the boys, especially my boys, like to make a setting and stick with it to the bitter end." Said Bulma clearly familiar with the idiosyncrasies that her husband and son shared.
"The bitter end?" Asked Videl cautiously.
"Till the automatic safeties kick in. And since I designed them with Vegeta's specs believe me that it is indeed the minimum safeties. I used to worry about Trunks but he is so stubborn, and plus the regeneration tank improvements lately. Speaking of, Chi-Chi, I got them down to overnight so if you ever have an accident. Videl you too, if you can spare a night to sleep in that foul smelling goop I can heal nearly any injury overnight. I have the patents and will have some older models in hospitals soon." Said Bulma displaying her business savvy, even with stolen alien technology. As if reading the thoughts of the narrator she added. "And Chi-Chi if you have any second thoughts about stealing it from the Saiyans, Vegeta gave me permission formally to use them. To pay for more food of course."
"That would hardly be my complaint." Grumbled Chi-Chi under her breath.
After that and a quick explanation of the processes and wisdom of gravity training the younger two began to train while Bulma took a seat in the corner to watch. And as Videl and Chi-Chi indicated they were ready Bulma ordered the gravity doubled.
Under two g's the pull was certainly noticeable but not overbearing.
"This is pretty good." Said Videl, impressed. "What are they using?"
"Looks like about 300." Said Bulma absently. "This is not too much for normal humans in contrast. But us girls with Saiyan men are much tougher than that." She said with a knowing wink to Videl.
Videl just shook her head and turned to her teacher to begin, where she saw a dreamy lonely look on Chi-Chi's face. "Oh I miss my Goku. I have gotten behind in my training."
=-=-=
As Gohan and Videl made their way from the large dome of Capsule Corp. that evening they felt lucky to be alive. For beyond their relatively hard workout the pair had endured a far worse onslaught afterwards. The bombardment of sexual and relationship talk for the two inexperienced teens was unbearable on it's own.
On top of that the fact that such advice came form older people, something as distressing in concept and details, for Videl could only be topped by the feelings of Gohan. Such talk from his mom, and Bulma and even Vegeta, it was too much to bear. The only way it could have been worse would have been if it included his other living parental figure, and as soon as it started he promptly thanked Dende, his predecessor and every other deity he had ever heard of for the fact that Nameks were asexual and the fact that Piccolo was one.
After such trauma the last thing Gohan wanted to do was touch Videl, and perhaps that was partially the point, but Vegeta's warning rang in his ears.
"Um, Videl, we have a stop to make, and I think I should fly us." Said Gohan even more meekly than he had been the first time he spoke to his sensei.
He spoke so quietly that it did not break through Videl's daze. Only now a good five minutes after their escape did the red begin to drain from her face. The things said, and the overt and indirect implications of the discussion had left her lost in thought. Only after Gohan shook her did she look up and notice they were at her copter.
"Videl, we have a stop to make, can I fly us?" Asked Gohan, a little more confident at the look on her face, rather similar to how he expected he looked as well.
"OK" Said Videl absentmindedly before she felt herself scooped up and taken to the air. She felt for her jet copter capsule, found it placed in its appropriate pocket and smiled. Once they were off she began to notice the subtle feelings that Mr. Vegeta had described. And as she noticed them, they increased. And as they increased, she found herself responding to them. At first it was just snuggling in his arms, following that need to be closer to him. But after only about a minute of contact she needed more. It was then she put the flight in danger when she kissed him. At least that was what she feared.
Gohan had felt it the whole way. It was what he dreaded, for his needs, his instincts he could combat, but hers, he was weak against her every whim. He would do anything he could for her, and in the pull between them, it seemed, at least instinctually, they were in perfect agreement.
So when her need to be closer pushed to that 'dangerous' kiss he was prepared. He simply sped up. In moment they were hovering a foot above their destination. He figured this was a safe place to be together for a moment, but only a moment, as his friends would break them up before anything happened. He needed to be sure before they progressed past here. And most of all here were the non-judging friends that he could trust to be objective, and most of all discreet, how often did anyone come down from the heavenly palace anyway?
-=-=-=-
Once Piccolo had had enough he graduated from the subtle 'ahem' to the more direct, yelling. "Break it up you two!" He yelled to no effect. He looked to his young friend and protégé exasperated.
The god over earth pondered the situation for a moment. Then decisively he used his powers to change his voice to that of Chi-Chi as he squealed.
"Oh MY! Grandchildren!" Came the perfectly imitated voice.
The two teens flew apart faster than could be seen. The effects of 'the talk' still very evident their eyes darted about looking for their feared pursuer. When they failed to find her they relaxed noticeably. A moment later Videl realized who was before her and where they were. A look of shock and disbelief fell on her face.
"Hi." Said Dende happily. Piccolo acknowledged her with a nod.
At that Videl was even more embarrassed, caught making out in front of more strangers, no embarrassed did not cover it. She began to look faint and Gohan steadied her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Videl, these are my friends. Dende and Piccolo." He said pointing to each as he spoke their names.
"I know. You are the God of Earth, Dende?" She asked the smaller Namek to which she received a nod and a smile. "And you, are Gohan's teacher?" She asked full of even more respect and reverence than for the god over earth. Even in shock and embarrassment her priorities were clear. He smiled a slight snarling smile in response.
"Nice to meet you Videl, we have been looking forward to it." Said Dende nicely. "Mr. Popo should be along in a minute. We have much to discuss, come let's go inside."
=-=-=
"So, this room of yours, I remember it from the stories, but not the name."
"The Room of Spirit and Time. It is quite useful. Last time our Gohan went inside he emerged the next day the strongest in the universe." Popo stated in his earnest way.
"But wasn't there some sort of downside? Like a limited number of days you could use it?" Asked Videl, remembering only the gist of Gohan's life in review from a second hand source.
"Yes, but I have been thinking about if I could change that. And I think I can, it might take a while, but I have confidence." Said Dende proud of how far he had come in his duties.
"Still, I'd hate to use it, unless you are sure we could fall back on it later." Said Gohan knowingly, though obviously wary of the possibility of more threats.
"Come now, Gohan, this is important as well. Don't think we did not hear your discussion with Vegeta. He does make a good point." Scolded Piccolo.
Even if Gohan knew of the second conversation about strength, it was only enough to bring his embarrassment slightly lower than the red glow of Videl. She was mortified, THE TALK overheard by more than just the parental figures assaulting them? It was just too much. Seeing this Dende came to the rescue.
"No, no not that. We heard the start of THAT talk, but frankly to us asexual aliens it really was not very interesting, so we mostly ignored it. What Piccolo meant was, well Gohan should I tell her?"
Gohan shook his head and continued. "It was about my inherent need to protect you. And the harm I might bring to others, or Satan City or the planet in its cause. He suggested we get you strong enough to be beyond harm for crime fighting, and fast." He said in deep concentration on the issue.
"I see." Said Videl, both touched and terrified at the prospect. And then altogether excited on just how strong she might become. "What do I need to do?"
Gohan thought for a few moments as all eyes were on him. Even Piccolo yielded to him, for he might have been the best to plan for attacks and such, there was too much effect on and interaction with human life for his knowledge to give any benefit.
"For now I say we just get Videl some weighted clothes. And Dende, you work on the room. We may still use it, but if not it would be useful in the future at least. But now there is something else we must do." He said in full seriousness. Mentally preparing himself for the task ahead.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
End Notes. This is probably my longest chapter so far, a good thing after the delay. Decided to end there a while ago without the next step set in stone. For a while I almost sent them into the time room, but that would remove all of the fun. Now that we have met a good portion of the gang, time to sort out all the changes and um, pending changes. Thank you for reading. More to come.
Chapter 12:
-------------
Last time:
"Gohan, there is a serious reason for this. The way you will react, when she is in any perceived danger will be . . ."
-------------
"Danger?" Interrupted Gohan. "I certainly don't like the sound of that."
"Exactly. You can find yourself unconsciously protective of her. It is instinctual; you may find yourself at her side for any number of things. But they will be related to the threat, and her ability to respond to it. So normal humans unarmed or without firearms might just get your attention, but more might have explosive results. Not to mention if you find yourself in a serious situation for you, as unlikely as that might be, you may invent a third level of Super Saiyan to protect your woman." He said knowingly with a hint of wonderment at the strength of the boy, nearly a man, before him. (A/N Put in Ssj3 for Luna's Meow)
This left Gohan lost in thought as the walked slowly. He thought about his new relationship and other things, the changes in his life, his instinctual responses, and all that was beyond his control. Vegeta continued to suggest different ways to augment and hasten Videl's progress.
-=-=-=-=-=
As Gohan and Vegeta reached the large domed (and recently renovated) Gravity Room they had agreed that there needed to be some additional help given to Videl's training.
"I guess I will talk to Piccolo with her later or at least tomorrow."
"Do it today. Better to get her used to it for her beating at your mother's hands tomorrow."
"She can keep up fairly well. It is just that Mom has been training an innate Super Saiyan in secret for some time now."
"Your brat too eh?" Said Vegeta with an extra twist of his smirk, giving away his pride.
"They grow up so fast, I just hope they get a better life than we have had. I hope and will do all I can to make it that way."
Vegeta leaned in close to give Gohan some real advice. "That is the hope of every parent, or surrogate parent. Now that you are on the path to having your own family loosen the burden of your brother, we will all pick up the slack. You cannot keep it all to yourself, not then, and certainly not now." Vegeta very rarely spoke like this, when his words carried greatest weight. As he spoke evenly and with conviction he knew that such a thing would be picked up by two women a few hundred feet away.
One of them took the words with great pride and hope, she thought of her husband as being the man she always knew him to be, and that the others rarely saw. The other heard them as if they were spoken to her. She was the one who really needed to help Gohan past his last hurdle of guilt, and therefore assure their future. She took this as her charge. She took it with confidence that even the one most apathetic outwardly of this new family of hers would support so well, how could she afford to fail. And most of all she thanked the subtlety of her connection to Gohan that the weight was not lost to even it. For how rarely did Vegeta speak thusly?
As Videl pondered Gohan, her concern and that of his father's greatest rival overwhelmed the teen. Even now they worried for him. 'Did they all? How could this be a burden to me? It is my penance that I give with no remorse or concern. What can I do?' Thought Gohan.
"What would you have me do? Ignore my brother?" Asked Gohan, confused.
"Certainly not. Just do not fight the natural shift in your preoccupation. It should shift to your woman, do not let that make you guilty, it is natural, embrace it." Said Vegeta in the same tone as before as he continued on. After a second Gohan followed. 'It is natural, it is life, it is love.' Concluded Vegeta silently. .:: And you! Don't you have something better to do than eavesdrop. ::. He admonished telepathically, though the words were formed they carried a clearer meaning, especially to the woman who could always hear his true voice.
As Gohan continued the walk to the GR he was bewildered with the advice he had just received. 'Will I really start to ignore Goten, have I already? What will happen to him? I have responsibilities.'
.:: Don't you ask that last question buddy! I am not going to be considered a detriment to your substitute father complex. I understand that he is important to you. I have only known the kid for a day and he is growing to be important to me too. Trust me. ::.
.:: Completely. ::. He thought in their growing ritual.
.:: Then stop worrying and get to training your brother. You are so caught up in worrying about him; you are actually ignoring the poor boy. ::.
With that Gohan laughed. It was a soothing and heartening laugh.
.:: You might just be exactly what we both needed. ::. Said Gohan as he still lightly laughed aloud.
.:: We will talk more about this later. ::. Videl ended the conversation with that conveniently as they arrived in the GR from their respective changing rooms.
"There you are." Said Trunks, as the boys ran to greet them. "What took you so long?"
"The new girl." Said Vegeta with a chuckle.
"My new big sister?" Asked Goten beaming. "Isn't she great?"
Trunks sneered and asked. "Why does Goten get a big brother and sister?" His regret poorly hid beneath mock indignation.
"Yeah Mister Uncle Prince Vegeta?" Asked Goten, nearly lost in his misused titles of respect that he had picked up somewhere. Though it was hardly a mystery where. "Why don't you get Trunks some brothers or sisters?"
"That is the last thing I need. More weak kids running about." Said Vegeta throwing a challenging glance to his boy.
"Weak?" Bellowed Trunks, his inherited pride pushed to the limit. "Try this." He roared as he powered to max and rushed his father.
Gohan just marveled at the sight of Super Saiyan Trunks, while Goten spoke. "Pretty cool huh? I guess they are just gonna fight themselves huh?"
"Well when in Rome. . ." Said Gohan as he lowered himself into a stance.
Goten looked at him quizzically looking lower than usual as Gohan was in his fighting stance his weight balanced on his back foot ready to spring forward into action.
"In Rome? I thought this was West City? Some people still call it the Western Capital; at least that is what Mom says. Did you know that the average rainfall here is 39.533 mm? And."
"Goten!" Yelled Gohan before the boy could read off anymore Chi-Chi hammered home facts. Gohan may have helped to teach the boy, but her presence was still there, as was her educational pressure.
"Yeah?" Asked Goten simply.
"Are we training now?"
"Yeah, but since you asked about Rome, and we have not learned about Rome yet but I do know about West city. Did you know. . . " Started the boy, which his older brother interrupted with a yell and an attack.
And so the next hour was spent with the boys training and the women torturing the girl. They had tea, accompanied with all sorts of questions that Videl felt were absolutely inappropriate, but even more chilling was the fact that, as they were not answered, that they were bound to be repeated later. And if that was not enough to stomach it was followed by the trip to buy the entire contraceptive section of the private employee drugstore. Fortunately Videl had convinced the Women that they needed to share in the fun of the explanations with the pair later on.
And so after enduring more than Videl was prepared for, it was time for her lesson. Chi-Chi's concern over the late hour was quelled when dinner was announced to be pizza. And so the women found their way to the gravity room.
-=-==--=-=-=-
When the girls entered into the separated training area for alternate gravities from that of the main larger training room they saw that it was prepared to receive them. Bulma explained as they went through the side door of the GR that since someone had set the room for internal voice commands that they were expected.
"Usually the boys, especially my boys, like to make a setting and stick with it to the bitter end." Said Bulma clearly familiar with the idiosyncrasies that her husband and son shared.
"The bitter end?" Asked Videl cautiously.
"Till the automatic safeties kick in. And since I designed them with Vegeta's specs believe me that it is indeed the minimum safeties. I used to worry about Trunks but he is so stubborn, and plus the regeneration tank improvements lately. Speaking of, Chi-Chi, I got them down to overnight so if you ever have an accident. Videl you too, if you can spare a night to sleep in that foul smelling goop I can heal nearly any injury overnight. I have the patents and will have some older models in hospitals soon." Said Bulma displaying her business savvy, even with stolen alien technology. As if reading the thoughts of the narrator she added. "And Chi-Chi if you have any second thoughts about stealing it from the Saiyans, Vegeta gave me permission formally to use them. To pay for more food of course."
"That would hardly be my complaint." Grumbled Chi-Chi under her breath.
After that and a quick explanation of the processes and wisdom of gravity training the younger two began to train while Bulma took a seat in the corner to watch. And as Videl and Chi-Chi indicated they were ready Bulma ordered the gravity doubled.
Under two g's the pull was certainly noticeable but not overbearing.
"This is pretty good." Said Videl, impressed. "What are they using?"
"Looks like about 300." Said Bulma absently. "This is not too much for normal humans in contrast. But us girls with Saiyan men are much tougher than that." She said with a knowing wink to Videl.
Videl just shook her head and turned to her teacher to begin, where she saw a dreamy lonely look on Chi-Chi's face. "Oh I miss my Goku. I have gotten behind in my training."
=-=-=
As Gohan and Videl made their way from the large dome of Capsule Corp. that evening they felt lucky to be alive. For beyond their relatively hard workout the pair had endured a far worse onslaught afterwards. The bombardment of sexual and relationship talk for the two inexperienced teens was unbearable on it's own.
On top of that the fact that such advice came form older people, something as distressing in concept and details, for Videl could only be topped by the feelings of Gohan. Such talk from his mom, and Bulma and even Vegeta, it was too much to bear. The only way it could have been worse would have been if it included his other living parental figure, and as soon as it started he promptly thanked Dende, his predecessor and every other deity he had ever heard of for the fact that Nameks were asexual and the fact that Piccolo was one.
After such trauma the last thing Gohan wanted to do was touch Videl, and perhaps that was partially the point, but Vegeta's warning rang in his ears.
"Um, Videl, we have a stop to make, and I think I should fly us." Said Gohan even more meekly than he had been the first time he spoke to his sensei.
He spoke so quietly that it did not break through Videl's daze. Only now a good five minutes after their escape did the red begin to drain from her face. The things said, and the overt and indirect implications of the discussion had left her lost in thought. Only after Gohan shook her did she look up and notice they were at her copter.
"Videl, we have a stop to make, can I fly us?" Asked Gohan, a little more confident at the look on her face, rather similar to how he expected he looked as well.
"OK" Said Videl absentmindedly before she felt herself scooped up and taken to the air. She felt for her jet copter capsule, found it placed in its appropriate pocket and smiled. Once they were off she began to notice the subtle feelings that Mr. Vegeta had described. And as she noticed them, they increased. And as they increased, she found herself responding to them. At first it was just snuggling in his arms, following that need to be closer to him. But after only about a minute of contact she needed more. It was then she put the flight in danger when she kissed him. At least that was what she feared.
Gohan had felt it the whole way. It was what he dreaded, for his needs, his instincts he could combat, but hers, he was weak against her every whim. He would do anything he could for her, and in the pull between them, it seemed, at least instinctually, they were in perfect agreement.
So when her need to be closer pushed to that 'dangerous' kiss he was prepared. He simply sped up. In moment they were hovering a foot above their destination. He figured this was a safe place to be together for a moment, but only a moment, as his friends would break them up before anything happened. He needed to be sure before they progressed past here. And most of all here were the non-judging friends that he could trust to be objective, and most of all discreet, how often did anyone come down from the heavenly palace anyway?
-=-=-=-
Once Piccolo had had enough he graduated from the subtle 'ahem' to the more direct, yelling. "Break it up you two!" He yelled to no effect. He looked to his young friend and protégé exasperated.
The god over earth pondered the situation for a moment. Then decisively he used his powers to change his voice to that of Chi-Chi as he squealed.
"Oh MY! Grandchildren!" Came the perfectly imitated voice.
The two teens flew apart faster than could be seen. The effects of 'the talk' still very evident their eyes darted about looking for their feared pursuer. When they failed to find her they relaxed noticeably. A moment later Videl realized who was before her and where they were. A look of shock and disbelief fell on her face.
"Hi." Said Dende happily. Piccolo acknowledged her with a nod.
At that Videl was even more embarrassed, caught making out in front of more strangers, no embarrassed did not cover it. She began to look faint and Gohan steadied her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Videl, these are my friends. Dende and Piccolo." He said pointing to each as he spoke their names.
"I know. You are the God of Earth, Dende?" She asked the smaller Namek to which she received a nod and a smile. "And you, are Gohan's teacher?" She asked full of even more respect and reverence than for the god over earth. Even in shock and embarrassment her priorities were clear. He smiled a slight snarling smile in response.
"Nice to meet you Videl, we have been looking forward to it." Said Dende nicely. "Mr. Popo should be along in a minute. We have much to discuss, come let's go inside."
=-=-=
"So, this room of yours, I remember it from the stories, but not the name."
"The Room of Spirit and Time. It is quite useful. Last time our Gohan went inside he emerged the next day the strongest in the universe." Popo stated in his earnest way.
"But wasn't there some sort of downside? Like a limited number of days you could use it?" Asked Videl, remembering only the gist of Gohan's life in review from a second hand source.
"Yes, but I have been thinking about if I could change that. And I think I can, it might take a while, but I have confidence." Said Dende proud of how far he had come in his duties.
"Still, I'd hate to use it, unless you are sure we could fall back on it later." Said Gohan knowingly, though obviously wary of the possibility of more threats.
"Come now, Gohan, this is important as well. Don't think we did not hear your discussion with Vegeta. He does make a good point." Scolded Piccolo.
Even if Gohan knew of the second conversation about strength, it was only enough to bring his embarrassment slightly lower than the red glow of Videl. She was mortified, THE TALK overheard by more than just the parental figures assaulting them? It was just too much. Seeing this Dende came to the rescue.
"No, no not that. We heard the start of THAT talk, but frankly to us asexual aliens it really was not very interesting, so we mostly ignored it. What Piccolo meant was, well Gohan should I tell her?"
Gohan shook his head and continued. "It was about my inherent need to protect you. And the harm I might bring to others, or Satan City or the planet in its cause. He suggested we get you strong enough to be beyond harm for crime fighting, and fast." He said in deep concentration on the issue.
"I see." Said Videl, both touched and terrified at the prospect. And then altogether excited on just how strong she might become. "What do I need to do?"
Gohan thought for a few moments as all eyes were on him. Even Piccolo yielded to him, for he might have been the best to plan for attacks and such, there was too much effect on and interaction with human life for his knowledge to give any benefit.
"For now I say we just get Videl some weighted clothes. And Dende, you work on the room. We may still use it, but if not it would be useful in the future at least. But now there is something else we must do." He said in full seriousness. Mentally preparing himself for the task ahead.
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End Notes. This is probably my longest chapter so far, a good thing after the delay. Decided to end there a while ago without the next step set in stone. For a while I almost sent them into the time room, but that would remove all of the fun. Now that we have met a good portion of the gang, time to sort out all the changes and um, pending changes. Thank you for reading. More to come.
