looks sheepishly All right, so it's been three weeks. But I was busy and well, school comes first (unfortunately). These next couple of weeks are also going to be busy, but then I get two weeks off for Pentecost and Christ's Ascension (living in a very Catholic part of Germany is really wonderful…even though I'm not Catholic…). Now, theoretically that means I could write more. But I have to go on vacation, so I don't know what my access of computer or internet will be like. So you might have to excuse me if it takes a long time for me to post.
Another thing to mention: The stuff in italics about six pages down in MS Word is when the Cell Games footage starts. I basically took the copy of the German Manga I have and described the pictures and translated the dialogue. Most of this was done late at night. So please excuse any mistakes/weird things. It's hard to translate, since there are expressions that don't exist in English and I was too tired to think of corresponding English ones. Therefore try to be lenient during those parts.
And now onto the chapter.
Chapter 2
Videl hurriedly looked around, before reaching down and picking up the phone and flicking the video screen on. It was best to call the work number, she decided. She definitely didn't want to seem presumptuous.
She waited as the phone rang, until it was picked up by an older man with a mop of lilac hair and a cat over his shoulder. "Yes?" He said, looking up?
Videl blinked. Apparently instead of getting Bulma Briefs, she had gotten her father, Dr. Briefs. "Oh-hello," she blurted out, trying to scramble for the right words to ask him to build the radar for her. In her mind, she had gone over the scenario and was confident in her abilities. However, speaking to one of the most famous and richest men on the planet was different in real life.
"Hello."
He seemed pleasant enough as he greeted her, playing with his cat. Videl tried to formulate a sentence that could bring over the fact that even though she was fourteen years old, she held authority. And her father's credit card.
"Um…" Dang it, that wasn't the way to start, she berated herself. "Dr Briefs, my name is Videl Satan and I am calling to ask you a favor. But first- have you ever heard of the dragon balls?"
Dr Briefs continued paying with his cat, showing no recognition of her name, though she had hardly expected it, knowing what his daughter had said. "Dragon? You want to know about my dragons? Well, they're doing quite fine, you know. My grandson had quite a fun time playing with one of the smaller-"
"No," Videl clenched her teeth. She hated being misunderstood. "Dragon balls."
"Balls for a dragon? Well, I don't know where you could get them, but they'd have to be very sturdy- I know that my dragons, well, Cini- he just destroyed one of his balls, you know, he got too rough playing with it. So I suggest getting one out of heavy-duty plastic-"
Videl smiled forced. "You know what, Dr Briefs? Thank you for your time, I really must be going now, sorry I disturbed you." And hung up. Very quickly.
She screamed a bit, letting off steam, knowing that none of the servants would approach her at the moment. Videl had three screams- the 'help me, I'm in trouble' which she rarely used, the 'I'm so mad at blank' and the 'this is so unfair'. The first one would send the servants running, but the other two would not. And since she was using the 'this is so unfair' scream, she knew she wouldn't be disturbed.
After all, even her father had learned to differentiate her screams and that was a feat indeed.
Videl sighed as Erasa popped in the video and waited for the television to come on. So far Erasa had managed to refrain from asking about the dragon balls, but Videl wasn't sure how long that was going to last. Erasa might be her best friend, but she could talk an ear off.
And of course, as the movie Dreaming Blue (about a teenaged girl who had dreams about a prince from outer space named Blue who was bonded to her) started, showing the dark background of space, Erasa turned to her and gave her a look.
Videl knew this look very well. It was the Erasa-tell-me-what-I-want-to-know-now-or-else Look. But even then Videl tried to play innocent. "What?" She kept an innocent smile on, shrugging her shoulders at the girl. But Erasa just stared on. Apparently she wasn't as innocent looking as she used to be.
"You know perfectly well what I want to know, Videl, so tell me this instant about your search for a scientist."
Videl sighed, shrugged and leaned back into the pillows that covered her bed. She watched the movie in silence for a few minutes, making a face as the villain in the story (a purple 'thing' with horns on his head and armor, named Freezer) plotted about how he was going to destroy Prince Blue's planet. Videl frowned over the characters- who in the world would name a space tyrant after a household appliance?
But she turned to Erasa. "Well…I got Bulma Brief's phone number."
"The Bulma Briefs? The Capsule Corporation President? Oh my Dende…you definitely have some luck there. I mean, she could definitely make something. I've even heard rumors that she's made some spaceships, but I don't know for sure. Really Videl, that's fantastic!"
There were two people in the world Erasa admired above all others. One happened to be Rage, a brilliant pop-singer who was supposedly a hacking genius. The other happened to be Bulma Briefs. Erasa found it wonderful that a woman with so much class and style could be a brilliant scientist and so famous. Videl was almost positive that Erasa was harboring a secret ambition to be jut like the famous blue-haired genius.
"Erasa." Videl interrupted Erasa's ranting on how lucky she was.
"-to take me to meet her. What?" She turned to Videl.
"She couldn't help me." Videl let the ball drop, waiting to hear what her friend would say. Erasa stared at her dumbfounded.
"She couldn't help you?"
"No. I talked to Dr. Briefs, but he didn't seem to have any idea of what I was talking about- he started going on about his dragons for heaven's sake. And I didn't feel right calling the home phone number, you know, it just didn't seem right." Videl sat up, cradling her pillow in her lap.
"My father's the Savior of the World and World Champion and all that, but even he isn't on the same level as the Briefs. He's been trying to get accepted into the Briefs' social circles for years and he hasn't even really met them before. The only reason we have the number is because my father's agent wanted the Briefs and Capsule Corps to endorse something and use my father for advertisement- but they wouldn't. Therefore I can't just call up and say 'my name's Videl Satan, daughter of the World Champion and I need you to make something for me'. They don't seem like the kind of people who would go for such a thing."
Erasa regarded her for a second and then spoke. "My suggestion is to actually show an interest in the work that they do and then ask them. Or- I don't know. My aunt met them once. She dated a friend of theirs, Killer- Kriller- something like that. I don't know. But in any case she said that they were very nice people and she liked them. Then again, Aunt Marron's always been a bit odd… But why not just call them up and ask them for a tour. Say you're interested in what they do and stuff. And you are, to an extent, right?"
Videl shrugged, mulling over Erasa's words. The Briefs did seem nice. And though Videl had met Erasa's aunt Marron once and found her terribly flightly, she wasn't a bad or mean person. She was just…different. Really different.
She shook her head then, clearing her thoughts and thinking over Erasa's question. "I guess. There's nothing wrong with science. And creating Capsules must be interesting. But I don't know if I'm so into it that I could survive an entire day just talking about it with the Briefs. I just don't know what to do."
Erasa shrugged and leaned back into her pillows. "Well, why not this sit for a bit and try to concentrate on something else. Like…didn't you want to figure something out about those mysterious gold warriors at the Cell Games?"
Videl nodded her head, slowly grinning. "You're right, Erasa. Let's stop this ridiculous movie and watch the Cell Games." Perfect. She might as well do something else productive for the moment, since the movie was turning to be down right horrible- with a planet called Vegetable, Prince Blue being called so, only because he wore blue, the entire graphics, which were awful and the main actress, Bra Boxers, who wore things no self-respecting woman would wear, and even the plot was awful.
And she loved the Cell Games videos. The only problem was that the only un-edited copy that originated from the Cell Games was in her father's possession. And that he guarded with his life. He had it locked up in an iron box with a padlock, chains around it, wrapped up in several cloths, locked in an even bigger box and then had hid it in a trap door underneath the floor of his study, where the alarm system went off immediately if it was not disabled by his voice, saying the correct sentence.
In other words, getting her hands on it would be quite a feat.
But the wheels had already begun turning. The Satan Mansion had a state-of-the-art security system, including multiple video cameras in every room. Now, Videl was smart enough to turn off the cameras when she needed to use the bathroom, get dressed or just wanted to be alone. But Hercule Satan wasn't that bright and tended to forget about them. This meant, of course, that there was footage of him everywhere. Videl didn't like to think about the videos of her father in the bathroom –she had been twelve when she had accidentally walked in on him once and was scared for life- but this meant that there was one of him standing in front of the closet in the study, deactivating the alarms.
And all she needed was a voice sample saying the correct sentence.
Uh, Videl? You there?" Erasa tapped her friend on the shoulder, causing Videl to jump.
"Erasa! But yes, I'm here and," she grinned diabolically, "I have the best idea…"
One security tape and half an hour later, Videl emerged from her father's study holding a video cassette wrapped in plastic with the warning: Warning, Do Not Touch! This is not the Cell Games footage! You do not want to see this!
Jackpot.
Erasa hugged a pillow in anticipation as Videl entered the bedroom and knelt by the VCR, inserting the tape. Grinning, she turned to Erasa and made as if she were the announcer.
"And, I now present to you- the Cell Games!"
She turned the lights down, made herself comfortable, pushed play…
And froze.
A dusty desert was shown, with a magnificent ring in the center. The wind blows. It was quiet. A figure stands in the middle of the ring.
"Only twenty minutes till the Cell Games that will decide over the fate of the world. ZTV presents live and exclusive {coverage}. As you can see, Cell stands in the middle of the ring, still for the entire time. Still Satan has not yet appeared. Oh?"
A car approaches, black, fancy and long, with the word 'Satan' written on the roof. "A car…"
"Yes, and Mister Satan climbs out of the limousine! Here he is: Mister Satan!"
He climbs confidently out of the car and strike a victory pose.
"In {his} victory pose, Mister Satan greets the world! Yes, this is how the man looks like, who will save us from the horrible fate! Bravo!"
The car takes off, and leaves Mister Satan there. He looks around and laughs as he sees Cell. He points at him and show him the defeat signal.
"And that is the clear gesture of a courageous man! Dear audience, doesn't that make our hearts beat louder? The rescue comes in the form of Mr. Satan! And Cell himself doesn't seem able to pull away from this strong man…"
Cell mumbles something…but the word 'idiot' seems to be heard.
"Only fifteen minutes till the first fight! Cell against Satan and almost I seem to find a small advantage for our champion. Let's cross our fingers!"
A close up to Mr. Satan who stands there confidently.
"Now it's only twelve minutes left and the suspense rises every second! Mister Satan is already going towards the ring! Still there is no further audience except for out television crew…"
Mr. Satan is entering the ring swathed in his cape.
"Fighting courage lights in his eyes! Eye to eye with Cell, Satan's victory is certain!"
Mr. Satan turns to the rocks face, where the news crew is hidden and motions to them. A 'huh' can be heard.
"I think, we're supposed to come down!" The voice is hesitant. A nod from Mr. Satan.
"Um…all right…uh…we…Well then! We have been invited personally by the savior of the world to come near the ring! We trust his decision!"
"That's a joke." Videl paused the video. "So far everything seems normal. You know, my father appears all confident and insults Cell and the like. I think I should fast-for-"
"No! Videl, you might miss something. Plus I think we should watch the entire thing." Erasa eyed the video closely. "Remember when we watched it, you know, live? Didn't something happen pretty soon? One of the mysterious fighters showing up or something?"
"Well…" Videl sighed. "All right. I'll turn it back on and let it play." She pressed the button.
"Isn't this a picture, dear audience? This spectacle requires utmost courage from the moderator and…uh…he has it…" The moderator moves up to the ring.
"Um…you'll allow?"
Mr. Satan gives an arrogant look. "I request it!"
The moderator climbs up and holds the mike out. "How do you feel, Mister Satan?"
"Well, Cell is certainly a poor guy and has totally over anticipated himself! In a bit I'll knock the lights out of this computer-made misfit and save the world! I always wanted to do that!"
Mr. Satan grabs the mike. "Cell! Your cheap tricks that you wanted to prove yourself with I know from TV! Everything's just lame special effects!"
The announcer leans over as Cell does nothing and says, "He plays deaf!"
Mister Satan laughs. "No, he's just shaking."
The moderator gets courage and makes a face, saying an insult. "Cell to hell!"
Mr. Satan turns around and shows his large behind to Cell, slapping it. "Here, Cell! You can kiss me once, since you won't be touching me any other way!"
"I can't believe him!"
"Videl…"
"Right…sorry…" She pushes 'play' again.
Suddenly the announcer turns. "Huh? What is that?"
Mister Satan turns as well. "What is what, man?"
Cell turns his head, a slight sign of recognition showing in his eyes.
In the distance a small dot of light seems to be approaching. "There's something coming…"
Faintly, Cell says, "The ambitious Vegeta-"
"Stop!" Videl lunges for the remote and clicks pause. "Did you hear that? He said a name!"
Erasa yawned. "Yeah, if you can call vegetable a name…"
"No," Videl frowned. "It wasn't vegetable…it was pronounced differently. Vay-gate-ah, so to speak. But that does sound familiar, now I think of it… I just wonder where I might have heard that name before…"
Erasa shrugged. "Well…put the movie back on and maybe there will be some more clues."
Videl nodded. "Yeah, guess you're right…"
"The annoying limp pickle!"
Tap the figure lands on the ground, and the camera swivels to him, right after showing the looks of pure dumfounded ness on the moderator and Mister Satan's faces. Then a close up on the other man: wearing some sort of weird armor, with a royal blue body suit underneath and white gloves and boots. He is short in stature, with a look of pure arrogance and annoyance and built like a fighter with black hair standing up in a flame and cold black eyes.
"We've received an audience! Some bizarre guy who can apparently fly just landed!"
"Also-"
"I want to be able to do that! That's another thing to add to my list of things to do-learn how to fly!"
"Videl!"
"Sorry…"
"-A trick." Mister Satan says confidently.
"Liar."
"VIDEL!"
"All right…all right…"
The moderator speaks again. "Does he also want to take part in the Games? We'll find out right away…" He walks towards the figure. ""Good sir! What do you want? To fight or to watch?"
"Piss off! And never talk to me again!"
The other fighter glares angrily. The announcer stares speechless.
"Not very polite! And look at that hairdo…" The announcer mutters angrily, stomping back to Mister Satan.
Mister Satan shrugs. "A show-off."
The moderator consults his watch. "Only five minutes left! In five minutes the Cell Games will begin, during which the fate of the world is at stake! And as expected, Cell's only contender is Mister Satan! All hopes sit now on Satan! Let's pray that he rescues the world from the clutches of the terrible Cell!"
"Huh?" Another figure drops to the ground. Cell shows another sign of recognition. The man looks strong, tall and well built, with green and black clothing and a shock of red hair.
"Another one…" The announcer trails off.
"Just tricks, just show!" Mister Satan assures.
"Well, old scrap pile! Who managed to repair you so quickly?" Cell calls out clearly.
The figure to the side that arrived earlier, mutters, "Hm. Only Bulma and her father could have repaired him…"
"Bulma? Did you hear that?"
Erasa sighed. "Yes. Now do you want to get on watching?"
"Uh, right…"
The announcer peeks around Mister Satan. "It seems as if Cell and the Blondie are old acquaintances."
"But I'm the best!"
"Idiot."
"Videl…"
"Hm?" Cell looks again and then smirks. "There you come, finally, Son-Goku. I've waited for you."
"Look over there…" The camera man, moderator and Mr. Satan turn to see seven dots quickly approaching in the distance. And suddenly they are all there and touch down on the ground. It is a magnificent scene.
There stand the two golden warriors, teal eyes cold. The taller one dressed in orange and blue, the shorter one in purple and a cape. A small, bald figure dressed similarly to the first golden warrior and there is a symbol-
"Dende! He actually has a symbol on his clothing!"
Erasa yawned and turned to her best friend. "I don't see what's so important about that-how can that help?"
Videl was already playing with the television to try and enlarge the symbol. "Martial Arts Masters all have their own symbols. If you study under a Master, you wear their symbol. Sometimes Masters even have special 'uniforms', so to speak. You know, to identify students. The uniform- that bright orange and dark blue already caught my eye- I know I've seen that before…though I don't know where. But since two of them wear the uniform, they must have studied under the same Master. And all I have to do is somehow compare that symbol to known Masters and I'll have someone to question."
"But…" Videl said, after throwing the remote back on the floor in annoyance, "I can't get the symbol clear enough. And I can't scan the symbol like it is…"
"What about having someone watch the scene and getting them to try to copy it for you?" Erasa said, squinting at the symbol.
Videl shrugged. "It might work- but they'd have to be good and any professional would ask questions."
"No, no professionals. I meant Sharpener."
Videl's eyes widened. "I-no. He'd want to know why. And after our little 'disagreement'" Erasa snorted, "I don't think he'd be willing…."
Pencil Sharpener had been a friend of the girls' for years, ever since first grade. A good athlete, what he really excelled at was art, drawing in particular. He could draw pretty much anything. But the downside was that this had started to go to his head.
And then there was the fact as he got older, he decided that art was a 'girly' pastime and preferred to spend time doing sports. He had joined Mister Satan's school and seemed to have a talent for that as well. He wasn't mean or even that stuck up- it was just that he was fourteen years old and male. Videl found him steadily becoming more trying. And it was a week ago where he had made a comment about girls and fighting that Videl had overhead.
And had immediately reprimanded him for. He still had a bruise and had been a bit cool towards her lately.
He was out of the question.
"No- that wouldn't work. I think we should just keep on watching."
Erasa rolled her eyes, but shrugged. "Whatever…"
There was a young man with shoulder length lavender hair, dressed similarly to the man who had first appeared on the scenes. There was a man who looked very green, dressed similarly to the small golden warrior. In the background stood two men- one wearing green pants, with three eyes-"
"He looks familiar too, you know. I just wonder where I've seen him."
"Great. Now would you please…?"
"Oh, right."
-and next to him was a man, with scars on his face, wearing the same color orange outfit that the two others were wearing, but without the blue undershirt. He also wore the same symbol as the bald, small man.
"Welcome," Cell says.
"Pst…there they all are," the first man mutters.
"How come they can all fly?" The announcer looks confused.
Hercule Satan keeps his same mistrusting look. "The trick seems to be in style."
The guy with the shock of red hair walks around the ring, passing the camera man. The small bald guy says something, that seems like 'ah' and then something with 'c- sixteen'.
The camera whirls to them and the red haired man smiles, saying something about a workshop and a name.
"Did he say killer?"
Videl shook her head at her friend. "I don't think so. I think it was more Cur-something. But I don't know…"
He grins, laughing. "Great!"
The older golden warrior holds out a hand. "Great that you're also here!"
"I was made to kill you! Don't forget-"
"He was made to kill that guy? What in the world?"
"Videl…are you planning on watching this or not?"
Videl sighed, shaking her head. "Fine…I'll turn it back on."
"Forget So-"
"Damn it!"
Videl yelled as the video started to spasm, static coming from the speakers, black lines running through the tape and finally a high-pitched whine.
The video had broken.
"I don't f-ing believe it! This is impossible! Why the hell did this have to happen! I hate the damn machine! I-"
And then the power went out.
Videl did what any other person in such a situation would do. She let out her 'this is so unfair' scream. Loudly. Right next to Erasa.
"Videl! You almost destroyed my hearing!"
Videl looked sheepish, but since it was pitch black, it wasn't visible. Rolling her eyes, she stumbled for the light switch and gave it a flick.
Nothing happened.
"Great. Just great. The power's gone out."
"But don't you have backup breakers?" Erasa's voice sounded to the right.
Videl sighed, noting that she couldn't even see her hand in front of her face. "Theoretically, yes. But my father had them connected to his 'World Champion Shrine' of himself, so that the lights would stay on all the time. And this causes the system to malfunction, which causes the general breakers to malfunction. So we're stuck in the dark until the repair guys come, and that usually takes a while, since when this happens, it knocks out the lights for the entire city…"
"Your father is the one who causes all the black outs?" Erasa asked incredulously.
Videl nodded and then remembered that her friend would not be able to see her. "Yes. Embarrassing, but true. Our system is connected directly to the power plant, so it causes a malfunction there. But there's no reasoning with my father…he wants that damn shrine always on. And when the power goes out, it destroys all electrical appliances that were on during the malfunction, since shorts them out. And basically that means that the damn video is also toast…"
Videl made her way over to the television and VCR and gave them both a swift quick, which made her cry out after hurting her foot on them. "Damn it, damn it! Dad's going to kill me about that tape! And I didn't even get to any of the good parts!"
"Videl, just calm down. I don't necessarily like going around your dad's back, but just eject the video, put it back where it belongs and forget about it. The way it was locked up, he'd never figure out that you had anything to do with it breaking."
Videl smirked, even though she knew Erasa couldn't see it. "Great. Now, where are you?"
"By your desk."
"Okay, bend down and in the bottom left-hand drawer, there should be a flashlight in there. That's my emergency drawer, when things like this happen."
"Okay…wait a minute-got it." Erasa turned on the flashlight, which bathed the room in a pale light.
Videl sighed. "Great. Now I have to go put that video back…"
A couple hours had passed and Videl and Erasa finally decided it was time to go to bed. As they got ready, Videl waited until Erasa was in the bathroom before sneaking out on her balcony.
She kneeled, finding the brightest star in the sky and then closed her eyes, bowing her head and prayed.
"Dear Dende,
Please help me find some way to find all the Dragon Balls. Please. All I want is my mother back… I just don't know where to begin looking. I've tried to do what I can, but I just don't know what to do now. Nothing seems to work. Please, if you can hear me, please do something…"
She finished hurriedly as Erasa came outside. "Videl? You okay?"
Videl nodded, sniffing back the tears that threatened to fall and turned to her friend. "Yeah…I'm fine. Just looking at the stars. Come," she said, walking back inside, "let's get some sleep."
Videl slept fitfully, her dreams full of her mother and her death. There were scenes of her as a young child with her mother, and scenes of her right after Medona's death. There were scenes of Medona in the hospital, scenes from the funeral, scenes from the crime scene- she had seen pictures in the newspaper- and scenes of Medona's grave.
She was waiting at home for her mother. She had promised to hurry and get home, so she and Videl could watch a movie together. But she was taking so long! Videl swung her legs impatiently, frowning at the cook who had just set a plate of food in front of her.
"When's Mama going to get home?"
The cook shrugged her shoulders, turning around and adding a bit of wine to the special chicken she was preparing for the adult Satans. "I don't know, Miss Videl."
"She promised, you know. She said she'd be home in time for us to watch a movie together. She said it wouldn't take long, going to the video store."
"I'm sure she'll be back soon." The cook answered almost lazily.
"But I want her here now. It's boring."
"You'll just have to wait."
Videl picked at her dinner, watching the clock. Minutes passed, soon half an hour, then hour. Videl had never been known for her patience and as a five year old, her patience level was extremely low.
And then the door rang.
Videl ran to answer it. "Mama! You have the video!"
But then she froze. It wasn't her mother, but two policemen. They looked uncomfortable. "Miss Satan? I'm Detective Oblada and this is my partner Detective Skelter. Is your father home?"
Videl looked at them suspiciously. "Yes. But you have to go so I can wait for my mother."
They both shared an 'adult' look. "Honey, it's important. Please get your father."
The scene morphed away from the detectives.
Videl was now standing in a cemetery, dressed in black. There was a newly filled in grave, covered with flowers. But the headstone was still visible. Slowly, haltingly, Videl walked up to it and traced her small fingers over the name.
Medona Lehl Fehllire Satan.
Videl closed her eyes, repeating the name in her mind. Medona Lehl Fehllire Satan. Her mother's full name.
It was her mother's grave. Her mother was gone. Permanently.
Videl fell down onto the ground, shaking with tears. It hadn't seemed real before. Even seeing her mother's body during the funeral- she hadn't believed. Her mother looked like she was sleeping. Videl had been waiting for Medona to wake up- like she had done many times before, and hug her. It wasn't the first time Medona Satan had looked dead. And she had been pale for the last year. Clammy and cold as well. She wasn't dead, just sleeping. She was in the sleep that the doctors put her in, because she wasn't feeling well, because she wasn't remembering.
She'd wake up and everything would be fine. They'd even watch that movie they had been planning on watching.
But as the coffin had been lowered into the ground, Videl had had to face reality. Her mother was dead. She wasn't coming back. She was gone.
Forever.
And Videl finally embraced the darkness that had been calling to her through all her dreaming.
She found herself in a brightly lit room that was quite elegant. It was a different style than her bedroom at home, however, and most of the furnishings looked old. Old, but comfortable. She was just about to get up, when a voice startled her.
"I need to talk to you."
Videl looked around the room. No one was there. "Uh- did someone just speak?"
The voice chuckled. "I did. I'm invisible at the moment, but I need to talk to you."
"Who are you?" Videl had learned not to trust everything at first sight and being in the presence of an invisible person wasn't going to make her feel anymore trusting.
"Um…Dende?"
"Dende! You're Dende! But-why are you invisible? Are you always that way?"
The voice answered. "No- but I don't think that you'd want to know what I really look like- it'd shock you. So I made myself invisible."
"Oh." Something about the room was making it hard for her to think, she decided. "Well…mind telling me where I am and what I'm doing here?"
"You're at my palace. And you're dreaming. It's easiest to talk to people in dreams. And um, you've been asking about the Dragon Balls and-"
"You know about the Dragon Balls!"
The voice sounded surprised. "Of course! I made them. Though I'm surprised you know of them. I thought only a small group of people knew about them-"
"You made them?"
"Yes, I did. But back to the point. You want to find them. I know your wish and I've decided that it's worthy of the Dragon. But you're going to find it impossible to find them all. Even if you had a radar, you're going to have trouble. I know there's at least one that's on the bottom of an ocean. You can't find them by yourself."
"I'm going to try." She said firmly. "And I will succeed. I have to."
"Look, Videl, I don't doubt your courage or motivation. But I'm telling you that you can't do it alone. So I'm going to do something for you."
Videl frowned. It was getting unnerving speaking to an invisible person. "What?"
"I want you to go to Bulma Briefs. Visit her and I'll do the rest. She can help you."
"But will she?"
"Look, I have to let you go- you're beginning to wake up and I sort of removed your soul from your body and if you wake up- well, it won't be a good thing. So just go and visit Bulma Briefs. Knock on her door and explain. Bye, Videl."
"Bye…"
She opened her eyes, blinking at the sun. She had forgotten to shut the blinds yesterday night, which meant the sun was streaming straight into her room, straight into her bed.
Groaning, she got up. It was early; way early, but she had a mission.
She had to go to West Capital and visit the Briefs.
Await next chapter: As soon as I get it done and have internet access.
Please read and review.
-Jennie, 12/05/04