Chapter XV: Everything Changes
Piccolo did not like what he perceived below. Hercule was a very unwise being if he thought he could buy time. Unwise, but it certainly was brave. The pink creature still wandered about in the unharmed parts of the city, and had yet to attack. One day had almost passed, and then Gohan would be ready.
He walked back to the main building, where everyone was still together. Chichi had calmed down and gotten over the shock of Goku's disappearance, and Bulma was playing with her son. Krillin, 18, and Marron were off to the side having a quiet little discussion. Waiting wasn't easy for anyone.
Krilling put his daughter down as he saw Piccolo walking towards them, "Any news?"
"Buu hasn't attacked again since his first assault on the city. Unfortunately, Hercule has decided to take matters into his own hands, and he is hunting Buu."
"What!? That oaf is going to get himself killed." Krillin crossed his arms and frowned, "I wish Videl hadn't gone in there so she could slap some sense into him."
"Nothing we can do about that now." Bulma said, "I don't think that stubborn man would have listened to her anyway. So thickheaded."
"He isn't as bad as he seems. He believes he can buy some time, knowing we will eventually step in."
Marron pulled on Krillin's leg, "Daddy, is Hercule the ass you talk about?"
Everyone gasped at the language the child had used. 18 stormed forward and placed her hands on her hips, "Marron! Where did you learn such language?"
"But that's what daddy says all the time." She said innocently.
18's eye twitched as she glared at her husband. Krillin held his hands up in defense, "I slipped when I saw him on the television! Oh, come on 18, it was an honest mistake."
"You think teaching our daughter such language is an honest mistake!?" 18's hand came around and smacked Krillin hard in the back of the head. She then picked up Marron and walked over to Bulma and Chichi, complaining that her husband was too insensitive.
Piccolo stared down on his friend, "I take it that you made a pretty large error there."
"Oh," Krillin snorted, "What gave that away?" He sat down cross legged and stared up, "I think I've been around Goku too much in my life. Some of him seems to have rubbed off on me."
"Pity it wasn't strength." The Namekian jibed.
"You're such a comedian. Why don't you go start a night club?" Krillin pouted.
* * *
Gohan yawned as he woke up from another restless night of sleep. Only a month or so remained of his time in this place. He couldn't sleep; always thinking about the upcoming battle he would have to fight. Gohan truly hated fighting, but like his father, he always rose to the occasion when there was need.
He glanced over to his left and noticed Videl wasn't there. After so many months together, they had started to share a bed together, but nothing more than that. She said she enjoyed the warmth. I don't understand why women want to be warm so much. Even my mom always complains she's cold. For once, he almost wished one of his parents were here to keep him in line.
Pulling on his battered black outfit, Gohan glanced around. His heightened senses could smell something cooking. He walked out of the room and saw Videl busy with preparing their breakfast. He smiled, "I thought I was supposed to cook today."
"I know you haven't been sleeping well. I thought you'd enjoy the extra hour."
"Thanks." He sat down at the small table, "Do you want to train today?"
Shaking her head, Videl said, "No. I think I'll just watch." She set down a large bowl of rice and joined him on the opposing side of the table.
"Videl, why are you pushing me away? It feels like the opposite of when we first came here."
She cast her eyes down, "We have to leave soon. I know you've improved a great deal, but you really do need more time. I don't want to return and find out we're short changed." And all this time with you would have meant nothing.
"I understand." Gohan decided to change the subject, as neither of them needed to dwell on thoughts of Buu, "Let's eat."
* * *
Hercule's Hovercopter set down on the roof of his mansion. He had flown all over the city, but hadn't seen or heard of Majin Buu since the attack. The creature had vanished. Hercule didn't mind that, as he had started to kick himself for ever thinking of going after that thing.
He decided that a snack would calm him down. Entering the main building, Hercule walked to the kitchen. None of his servants were here, so he could enjoy a bit of peace and quiet as he ate. The best part of being the Martial Arts Champion of the world was that he could afford anything he wanted. And so, Hercule wondered what he would have.
Now in the hall connecting to the main kitchen, Hercule began to hear sounds. Chomping, slurping, and biting. His temper rose, There is someone in my home!? Well, they're gonna get it for breaking and entering the house of the greatest fighter this world has ever seen.
Creeping to the door, Hercule readied himself for the attack. With a heave, he knocked the door off its hinges and charged in. He cried out, "You're going to get it now you . . . miserable . . . little . . . oh." His entire body trembled in fear as he stared at the unthinkable.
Majin Buu, in his kitchen, enjoying his food. Buu looked up and stared, "Who you?"
Think Hercule. Think, think, think! "Oh, I'm just a . . . well, I live here." Buu shrugged and grabbed a frozen chicken. Not caring how cold it was, he threw the entire bird in his mouth and chewed away at the meat and the bone. For some reason, it was the most frightening thing Hercule had ever seen.
Buu swallowed the last bit and said, "This no good. Buu want candy, and chocolate!" He turned his gaze back to Hercule, smiling as an idea formed in his small mind.
Hercule caught on, "Wait! I'm . . . I'm no chef, but I can claim to be a pretty decent cook if you give me a chance. I could, uh, make you some cake!"
"Buu like cake! Ok!"
Not wanting to upset it, Hercule ran to the nearest cabinet and grabbed a cake mix. He moved over to the sink; pickin up eggs, oil, and pans along the way. Carefully, he opened the door below the sink, and grabbed a bottle of rat poison. Heh, bottle of this stuff should do the trick.
* * *
Goku growled as he finally gave up counting stray clouds in the sky. It had ended somewhere around one thousand. He glanced over to Vegeta, who had decided to calmly wait out the remainder of the power raising. The Supreme Kai and Kabito stood next to him, their eyes having not left the Elder Kai since Vegeta had powered up.
"I still do not sense anything different. We all saw it with our own eyes; Vegeta's strengthened power. However, I can not sense the change."
"All that is important is that it is happening." The Shin said to Kabito, "Vegeta will have little trouble dealing with Buu after this." He looked over to Goku, "I wish we were able to send you with him, Goku. Your added power would be of great help."
"Yeah, but I'm unable to ever return to Earth in this state. It wouldn't bother me as much if I could at least see what was going on."
The Elder Kai picked up on their conversation. "Why didn't you just ask?" He held his hand up, and a crystalline ball materialized. It floated towards the three, and set down in the grass. An image appeared of Buu, with Hercule, eating cake.
Goku blinked, "Wow, neat trick. Huh? What's Buu doing there?"
* * *
Hercule didn't consider himself an especially bright person. Battle strategy was about all he was good for. However, when something ingests about four bottles worth of poison, you would think they'd be dead by now.
He offered the last cake he had to Buu, "I'm afraid that's all I have, Mr. Buu."
Buu accepted it, "That's okay." He threw the entire thing in his mouth.
Uh, make that five bottles of poison. I don't have any left! "Uh, Buu? Might I ask you a question?"
Buu sucked the frosting and crumbs off his pudgy gloved hands, "Okay!"
"Well, um . . . why did you kill everyone earlier?"
Buu stopped a moment, "Bibidi tell Buu to destroy . . . and . . . Babadi tell Buu to kill."
"Who are they?"
"Buu's masters."
"And where are they?"
". . . dead."
Now he was getting somewhere. Taking a risk, Hercule placed his hand on Buu's arm, "Now Buu, if they're both gone then why are you doing what they told you? It isn't right to kill people and destroy things."
"No?"
"No." Hercule shook his head, "You can find other things to do besides killing. Why . . . you could maybe become a martial artist like me! Get some friends who enjoy doing what you do."
Buu turned his head downwards, "You say Buu bad?"
Uh, oh. Tight spot here. What should I say? "You've only done some bad things. Why, the ones who told you to do them are the bad ones."
"You Buu's friend?"
The question surprised Hercule. This thing wasn't really all that bad. He just needed some guidance, that's all. He nodded, "Sure thing, Buu. I'll be your friend."
Buu stood up, "Then, Buu kill no more. Buu be good!" He embraced Hercule in a bear hug.
Hercule smiled through the discomfort, Ha! I did it! I didn't have to fight him, or kill him. All the guy needed was a friend. When Buu set him down, Hercule thought of an idea, "How about we go out and tell everyone the good news? We can explain what happened and . . ."
A shattering noise came from outside. Hercule frowned, and went to investigate. Buu followed him. As they left the kitchen, both could hear hushed voices down the hall.
"Hurry up will you!? Just grab the stuff, and lets go."
"Quiet! I'm going as fast as I can."
Hercule peered around a corner and saw two masked men loading up two bags with his possessions. He walked into sight and yelled, "What the hell do you think you are doing in my home!?" Buu followed right behind him.
The taller of the two pulled a handgun out, "Oh shit, he's here! Wait a sec . . . it's that creature!"
"What's that thing doing here with Mr. Satan?"
Hercule spat just before their feet, "Turning over a new leaf, that's what. Now I suggest you empty those sacks and run."
The first burglar had a different idea, "I'll bet if we kill them both, we can become heroes. Defeat the pink monster, and kill the traitor!" He leveled the gun at Hercule's chest, who had suddenly realized the danger. The thief grinned, "All too perfect." He pulled the trigger.
Buu blinked as he felt and saw warm red liquid splash across his chest and face. Hercule slumped back against him, and onto the floor. Buu knelt down, his eyes wide with fear. He poked Hercule, "Friend? Friend!?"
The second thief pulled out an uzi, "Now for the other one."
Buu felt himself shuddering as he placed his hand on Hercule's chest. A light aura enveloped the body, and then stopped. Buu stood up, and began to stumble towards the door to the outer yard. Hercule sat straight up, wondering what had happened. He glanced down on his chest, "Buu, you healed me!"
The two masked men ignored Hercule, "Take this freak!" They opened fired, filling the back of Buu with holes. Hercule wasted no time in leaping up and attacking. He first drop kicked the man who had shit him. Then he gave a roundhouse to the other, grabbed him, and threw him into his partner. Both stayed on the ground, out cold.
Hercule turned to see Buu leave the house. He chased after him, "Buu, wait!"
Buu ignored the cried behind him. Puffs of smoke began to seep out of him. When Hercule showed up next to him, Buu squeaked, "Run. Get . . . away. Now!"
"Buu, it's all right! You healed me, see? I'm all right now."
Buu didn't listen. He couldn't stand the evil he felt inside him, coming out. With a howl, Buu screamed his rage and hatred to the world. The ground shook as dark purple gas spewed out of his body. Buu kept screaming until he became winded, and sat down.
Hercule was quick to his side, "Are you all right? What happened?"
"No . . ." Buu looked up to see the purple clouds begin to take shape, "Bad Buu!"
* * *
Piccolo's lower lip trembled as he felt the second Buu take form. Krillin mimicked his expression perfectly, "Just what the hell is going on down there? How can there be two of them?"
"It could have been a situation similar to what I went through." Piccolo regained his composure as he tried to make sense of everything, "There could have been two originally. One good, the other evil."
"Oh, that's reassuring."
* * *
Hercule backed away as he could see Buu's anger steam out of him. The purple Buu hung in the sky, checking its body thoroughly as a cat would clean its fur. Then it began to perform a series of kicks and punches. Buu ground himself, spreading his legs apart in anticipation.
"Buu, what's going on?"
"Get away! Bad Buu bad!"
A grin spread on the purple Buu's face as it looked down on the two weaker beings. He didn't care for the man, but his other half was another issue. The new Buu spun around to face himself, "You die now." With a burst of speed, the dark Buu slammed himself down on top of Buu.
Hercule dove behind a rock as the battle began. When he looked over, a horrifying scene greeted him. The two Buus fought at blinding speed, each one scoring a hit after the other. His fear became too much, and Hercule quickly hid himself again.
Buu reeled from a strong kick by the dark Buu. He bounced off the ground and rocketed upwards. He stopped abruptly as the purple Buu appeared above him. It sneered, "Pinky slow. Too weak for own good." With a sharp kick, he sent Buu flying. He gave chase, rounding Buu and beating on him as he flew.
Buu's glove came around and shot a ki blast at his attacker. The dark Buu dodged, flying higher. Buu placed himself back on the ground, now infuriated at the stronger adversary. He had to end this now. The small pink antennae flipped forward, "You turn into chocolate!"
The pink energy beamed lanced out at the dark Buu. It smiled, and drew in a deep breath. As the beam closed in, the Buu blew out his lungs, forcing it to change course and back at the pink Buu. He tried to run, but the beam struck him. A poof of cloud covered the area, and then vanished to reveal a Buu shaped piece of chocolate candy.
The dark Buu set down and picked up the sweet morsel. With one swallow, he devoured himself.
Then the rush came.
* * *
Everyone looked over to the edge of the Lookout as they heard Piccolo and Krillin cry out. Krillin shook his head, "No, no, no! This can't be happening. One Buu eats the other and now he's getting stronger!?"
"This is insane. I don't know if Gohan will be able to beat him now. Where is all that power coming from?" Then the Namekian blinked. He felt and saw Buu moving. It was happy. He could feel the sheer joy radiating off the creature.
Krillin retched as he felt what happened next. Buu's energy flashed outwards, and incinerated the remains of Satan City. Anyone who had initially survived was now dead. He sat down, "This can't be happening. Gohan isn't due out for another two hours!"
Piccolo blinked. His body trembled as he moved away from the edge of the Lookout.
"Piccolo?" Krillin asked, "What's wrong?"
Piccolo's answer came as a scream, "He knows we're here!"
The Majin Buu Saga concludes with Hell on Earth - Parts I & II