Babidi's eyes narrowed. "A reward for you two fine gentlemen," he said thoughtfully. "Now, what should it be?"

"The power of FIRE!" said Yamu enthusiastically. "They'll call me Flaming Yamu! Master of FIRE!"

Dabura shook his head. "I'm already master of fire."

"Oh." Yamu sighed. "How about... I know! I become Yamu, King of the Demon Realm!"

"No! I'm already King of the Demon Realm!"

"Well... how about you give me a cool cape?"

Dabura pointed an accusing claw at Yamu. "I think you're doing this on purpose."

"I've got a good one," said Pui-Pui helpfully. "What if you gave him one of those humorous thankyou cards? Like, the front says 'To My Good Friend', and then inside it tricks you because it says 'Who Is Ugly And Not At All My Good Friend!' Those make me laugh."

"I'm sure they do," said Babidi, stroking his chin tendril. "But that's not exactly what I had in mind."

"Oh," said Dabura, catching on. "You're going to do something evil."

"That's right."

"Like..." Pui-Pui paled. "One of those greeting cards that has a picture of a naked woman on the front, but when you open it up, it's actually a naked man?"

"Pui-Pui, remember that part of our training where I told you to shut up?"

"I see where this is going," said Pui-Pui. "And I'm already twelve steps ahead of you. Silent Pui-Pui, that's me."

"You've trained him well, Dabura," said Babidi, nodding appreciatively. "He's truly mastered the art of silence!"

"Yes, now if only I could do the same for you."

"What's that?"

Dabura cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't say anything. It was just the wind whispering through the rocks."

"It sounded like you were being insubordinate, Dabura."

"Funny how whispering rocks sound insubordinate, isn't it."

Babidi's eyes narrowed. "I'll take your word for it. Very well, Spopovich, I have your reward for you."

"Is it the sweet, enriching taste of brains?" Spopovich clutched his hands together eagerly. "Say it's so!"

"Pui-Pui, where the hell did you find these guys?"

Pui-Pui shook his head mutely, and put two fingers over his head.

"Two words," said Yamu helpfully.

"No, quit it! We haven't got time for your idiot antics! Henchmen! They always have to be so sassy and full of eccentric character traits!" Babidi focused his wrinkled, lemony-fresh gaze on Spopovich, and then extended two boney hands in front of him. Streams of rainbow light began to flicker around his eyes and his tiny mouth opened in a hideous grin.

"This is a good thing, right?" said Spopovich uncertainly.

"Pappara-PA!"

The dark magic filled Spopovich's entire body, coursing through his muscles, pulsing through his tendons, wrapping around his ligaments and stretching his body until he could hear his skin straining as though it might give away from the force of the energy swelling up inside him. His eyes bulged, his bones creaked, his lungs tried to scream but were suffocated by his ribs and muscles as they grew and expanded.

"Cool," said Yamu. "You're turning him into Giant Spopovich. He'll be super strong now!"

"This is terrible," whispered Kaioshin.

Goku's face was twitching with horror. "What is this?! Gohan, cover your eyes! Vegeta, don't look!"

"Shut up, Kakarotto! I'm not afraid!"

"Then stop hiding behind my shoulder," growled Piccolo.

Spopovich staggered forwards, trying to move on his rapidly expanding legs, and then froze as his throat was clenched by the swelling of his neck. He retched, his purple tongue stretching obscenely out of the corner of his mouth, his eyes now twice their normal size as they struggled to escape from his skull, his tiny hands flailing at the ends of arms far too large for the body--

"Oh," said Yamu, realisation dawning. "This is a bad thing, isn't it?"

Spopovich exploded. Dabura was quick to deflect the flying Spopovich parts with his cape, lifting it up to shield his face. Thanks to the tireless work of Johnny, who also doubled as a tailor, the cape was left stain free. Pui-Pui, on the other hand, looked silently disgusted as he began to scrape pieces of Spopovich out of his exoskeleton.

Yamu stepped backwards. He was pretty damn sure this was a bad thing. Then, realising that his dream of being Flaming Yamu would never be fulfilled, he panicked and took to the skies.

"Pui-Pui!" commanded Babidi, who for some reason was untouched by the Spopovich fragments.

The tall boney henchman nodded, extended his hand, and then gripped his wrist. From his fingers fired a blast of ki that sizzled through the sky and struck Yamu directly. The unfortunate henchman screamed as he was burned from existence, leaving nothing but a faint cloud of smoke in the sky.

"I can't believe it," said Gohan, his voice shaking. "They kill... their own men!"

"What sort of filthy scoundrel would do that?" demanded Goku.

"Yes," snarled Piccolo. "What sort of low-life would fire a ki blast at his own henchman, his own friend? His own loyal companion?"

"Er, yeah," said Vegeta. "What a jerk. Shooting his friend like that. Shame on him." He coughed nervously.

"Well, Dabura," said Babidi. "I think we can say that Yamu and Spopovich just got rewarded... rewarded with PAIN! Right? Huh? PAIN!"

Dabura sighed. "Yes, Master Babidi. Rewarded with pain."

"You've got to emphasise it," demanded Babidi. "A lesson in PAIN!" He clenched a tiny little fist. "Yeah! Okay, Pui-Pui, go inside and tell them to get the party hats ready for Majin Buu's revival party."

Pui-Pui struggled not to talk, filled as he was with the beautiful lyrics and poetry that run rampant through the hearts of every Pui. Instead, he nodded and stepped back into the spaceship.

"Now," said Babidi quietly. "You know those guys hiding behind the rocks?"

"Yes." Dabura smirked. "Seven in all."

"That silly Kaioshin and his gang think we don't know they're there," said Babidi, giggling. "But guess what! We do!"

"I'd never have guessed, Master."

"I can sense that three of them have incredible power. Kaioshin and Kibito are worthless, we can't use their energy, and as for the weaklings, dispose of them."

Dabura nodded slightly. "At your request, Master."

"Give 'em a reward of PAIN!" Babidi shook his little fist, and continued ranting about PAIN as he made his way back into the spaceship.

Dabura stood solitary outside the spaceship, his back to the rocks, his arms folded across his chest. He seemingly gazed at the mountain horizon before him, his eyes closed.

"What's he waiting for?" Goku fidgeted. "I want to go chase the little guy."

Dabura's eyes opened. His fist clenched. Slowly, his cape began to hover behind him.

"I love being alive," said Kibito, unwisely.

Dabura's slitted pupils glanced back. Vegeta noticed and stepped away from the rock, his eyes widening. "He knows we're here!"

With a guttural snarl, Dabura whirled towards them, flying at an incredible speed and stopping directly in front of Kibito's startled gaze. His hand was held directly before him, palm stretched directly over Kibito's head; the others could merely stare, stunned, without the time to react. Dabura's mouth pulled back in a snarl that revealed his fangs and red ki formed in his hand. With a roar of demonic fury, Dabura unleashed a massive blast that completely engulfed Kibito, enveloping him with ki that dissolved every inch of his body.

"Kibito!" cried Gohan, but it was too late. As the cone of energy faded, it revealed that where Kibito had once crouched was nothing but empty air and wisps of smoke. Dabura chuckled.

"Kibito," said Kaioshin, his voice stunned.

"Ha!" said Goku, leaping to his feet. "That's the last mistake you'll ever make, Dabura! You see, now he's going to come back even stronger than before, and he'll fire a Super Kamehameha that will finish you off! Right, guys?"

They stared at him.

"With a zenkai powerup," said Goku enthusiastically. "He'll regenerate."

They stared at him. Goku's grin lowered, and he seemed perplexed. "Right, guys... right?"

"No, Goku. He's not coming back."

"Piccolo - are you trying to tell me he wasn't Perfect Cell?"

"No, Kakarotto, you idiot!" Vegeta slammed his fist into his palm. "He obviously wasn't Perfect Cell! Gohan killed him!"

"That's right," agreed Piccolo. "I don't see where you got that stupid idea from, Goku!"

"He was OBVIOUSLY Frieza," said Vegeta angrily. "And I was going to kill him myself, and now I can't, thanks to that damn Dabura!"

Dabura had already been assessing those gathered below him, and before they could retaliate, he unleashed a silver gob of spit that splashed onto Krillin's shirt.

"Hey!" complained Krillin. "That was really disgusting."

"Oh no," said Kaioshin. "Oh, this is terrible!"

"Oh, come on, it's just SPIT," said Krillin. "Oh, I get it. You were one of those kids who wouldn't share food or drink at school because you were afraid of germs, right? Hahahahaha! Oh, crap, I'm turning into a statue."

"I should have warned them," moaned Kaioshin.

"Krillin!" cried Goku. "What's happening to Krillin?"

And indeed, something was happening to Krillin. Where Dabura's spit had landed, stone was replacing fabric and flesh, creeping over his body while the noseless man could do nothing but cry in horror. Piccolo, Gohan, even Vegeta watched, horrified, as Krillin's body was encased in stone until nothing remained but one frantic eye, gazing out for help, before even that was left cold and lifeless.

"You'll pay!" roared Piccolo, leaping to his feet and charging head-on at Dabura. Dabura merely replied with another dart of spittle that hit Piccolo in the chest. The Namek gazed down, stunned, as he felt his body shifting into stone.

"Not Piccolo!" Goku shook his head. "Dabura, you bastard!" He leapt forward, trying to strike Dabura, but the red-skinned demon blocked his blows with ease. Vegeta leapt to join the attack, but Dabura swiftly dodged each punch and kick. The Lord of the Demon Realm darted aside, laughing raucously as the remaining four gazed up at him with fear and loathing.

"Lord Babidi awaits you in his spaceship!" said Dabura, drifting away from them. "I'm sure I'll meet you there." He hesitated. "Oh, damnit. And... ugh. I can't believe I'm going to say this. Okay. You're going to get a reward in PAIN."

"But that's lame!" protested Goku.

Dabura sighed. "I know. I know. Now, where was I? Evil laughter! Bwahahahaha!" Cackling, he swooped back to the spaceship and disappeared through the door.

"What happened to them?" said Gohan. Goku stepped forward and reached out for Piccolo's statue.

"Don't touch them!" snapped Kaioshin. "If you break them, there's no way to bring them back!"

"So, there IS a way to bring them back?" asked Goku hopefully.

Kaioshin looked down sadly. "Well. Dabura's spit, as you've seen, turns those it comes into contact with to stone. However, if Dabura dies, then all his victims will be brought to life again."

"Ha!" Vegeta grinned. "I'll kill him, you'll see!"

"Vegeta," said Goku kindly. "You said that about Frieza."

"So? I can be wrong once!"

"And about #18," added Gohan.

"Twice! I can be wrong twice!"

"You were wrong about Cell, too."

"Shut up! I can be wrong three times and still be right all the time! I am Vegeta!"

Kaioshin stared at them. "You're not really going to go in there, are you? Babidi is expecting us now!"

"That's what we came all the way here to do, isn't it?" Goku grinned. "Come on, it'll be fun. Let's go, Gohan!"

The two Sons leapt from the rocks and flew towards the spaceship. Kaioshin turned to Vegeta. "You're not going as well, are you? You seem to be smart, Vegeta! You surely have your self-preservation in mind!"

Vegeta glanced around him. "What? Is there some other guy here named Vegeta? I hope he's super strong, so I can get him to beat me up!"

Kaioshin shook his head. "Nevermind. Then, if we're to enter Babidi's Spaceship, we must do so together. That is the only way we can kill him and destroy Majin Buu."