Epilogue – The Saiyans' Legacy
"Welcome to the 64th Tenkaichi Budokai!"
The stadium erupted in applause. Fighters from all over the globe stood around the ring, flexing their muscles and waving. The young announcer of the Budokai flashed a smile to the crowd and yelled over them. "We've got quite a set of fighters this time, folks! This is sure to be one of the most exciting tournaments in a hundred years!"
Son Gosai sat in the front row, his hands clasped together in front of his mouth. He didn't care for the senseless commentary of the announcer. He wanted to get to the action. About forty, his dark hair hung all around his face and a few inches down his neck.
"Getting impatient, Gosai?" asked Cuchita from his right side. She was thirty-five and had short, neat blue hair. Gosai gave her a slight smile.
"A little," he said.
"Makes sense," said Cuchita. "This part is pretty boring. I wish he'd just announce the first match. You know they're fighting in the first round, right?"
"Of course," said Gosai, still looking at the ring. "They were bound to fight each other eventually, so it's good that they're first. Gives the other fighters a chance to get into the higher rounds."
His grandmother leaned over and tapped him on the shoulder from his left side. "Gosai," she said. "You've trained him well, haven't you?"
Gosai turned to her and smiled. Her face was old and wrinkled, and her hair gray, but she still resembled her younger self.
"I've done the best I could, Grandma," he said, holding up his right arm pathetically. "Although I can't fight much anymore."
"Nonsense," said Pan. "That maimed arm of yours can't stop you when you really need it. You should have fought in the Budokai."
Gosai turned back to the ring with a sigh.
"The only reason he entered last time was to fight my husband," said Cuchita to Pan. "He was the only one who ever gave him a challenge."
"Yeah," said Gosai. "Yuroke was a great fighter. Even though he didn't have any Saiyan blood in him. It's too bad..."
"Yeah," said Cuchita, looking down. "And you lost your wife so many years ago. It must have been hard."
"Mmm," said Gosai. "But we get by."
Cuchita smiled at him. He smiled back. They held their gaze for a few moments.
"Now, let's bring out the contestants for the first match!" yelled the announcer, and the stadium erupted again. Gosai and Cuchita snapped their heads away from each other, looking at the ring.
"Ten years old, coming from a small town to the north, and competing in his third tournament, it's Son Goku!"
Cheers as Goku ran into the ring, looking excited. He wore a bright red gi with the sleeves cut off, and a red headband in his hair.
"Folks, it might be more appropriate to call this boy Son Goku Jr. After all, he is the great-great-great-grandson of the original Son Goku!" The crowd positively exploded with cheers as the announcer pointed at the giant statue behind Goku Jr, attached to the top of the wall on that side of the ring. It showed Goku, in the gi of the Turtle School, his hands on his hips and smiling happily. Below it was the caption, SON GOKU, HERO OF EARTH.
"And Goku's opponent, also ten years old, and from the same town, it's Vegeta Jr!"
More cheers as Vegeta Jr. ran into the ring. He wore the same gi as Goku, but had taken the shirt off. He had a tight yellow t-shirt on instead.
"What are the odds that this young man would also be the great-great-grandson of the original Vegeta!" boomed the announcer, as the crowd applauded again. "This is sure to be an action-packed fight!" Attached to the top of the opposite wall was another statue. This one depicted Vegeta, in his old Saiyan battle suit, with his arms folded across his chest, a cocky grin on his face. The caption beneath it read VEGETA, PRINCE OF SAIYANS.
Gosai squinted at Vegeta Jr. "Cuchita," he said slowly. "Did you...style his hair?"
"Well, of course!" said Cuchita defensively. "I wanted him to look just like his great-great-grandfather! Besides, Goku's hair is the same as that statue behind him!"
"Yeah," said Gosai. "But his is always like that. I didn't do anything to it." He was trying hard not to laugh.
"But I have something to ask you, mister," said Cuchita suddenly. "Vegeta is wearing the same gi as Goku. The bottom part, anyway. Have you been training him without telling me?"
Gosai cracked a smile. "He came to me. He wanted to keep being trained, even though his father...you know..."
Cuchita turned back to the ring. She felt a combination of annoyance and pride for her son. She smiled.
"Are you ready, Vegeta?" called Goku Jr. from across the ring.
"Definitely!" called Vegeta Jr. enthusiastically. "I can't wait to see how this turns out!"
"Yeah!"
"Fighters get ready!" boomed the announcer. The two boys readied themselves, getting into their stances. They waited.
"FIGHT!"
"All right!" cried Goku Jr. enthusiastically. He ran at Vegeta Jr. as fast as he could. They collided with a bang and began fighting furiously.
"Hahaha, yes!" laughed Vegeta. He always had the most fun fighting Goku, and it was exhilirating to fight in front of so many people. "Take this!"
He swept his leg forward, tripping Goku, who landed on his back. Vegeta jumped up, preparing to land on his opponent's legs. Goku shot his legs up at the last second and hit Vegeta in the chest. Vegeta sailed upward; Goku got to his feet and flew upward, following him.
"Will you look at that, folks!" cried the announcer. "Only ten years old, and they've already mastered flying! These boys certainly live up to their names!"
Vegeta righted himself in midair and blocked Goku's punch. He countered with a kick of his own, striking Goku across the face. "Ow!" yelled Goku, as he quickly flipped over and shot a large ki blast at his friend. It hit Vegeta in the face; he covered his face with his hands, and Goku rushed forward, slamming both hands down onto Vegeta's back. He crashed to the ground.
"Ooh!" yelled Cuchita from the stands. "Go Vegeta! Get back up, c'mon!"
Goku Jr. looked down at his friend, lying on the ground. He looked puzzled.
"Huh? What's taking him so long?" he said.
"Vegeta Jr. seems to be down!" yelled the announcer. The crowd was silent, staring. "Starting the count! 1! 2! 3! 4!"
"Don't do anything stupid, Goku," muttered Gosai to himself.
"Hey, Vegeta!" yelled Goku. "Get up!" He raced downward at top speed. A few feet from the ground, Vegeta flipped back onto his feet and fired a massive ki beam straight upward. Goku covered his face as he was forced upward. When the beam had dissipated, Goku floated in the air, his headband blown off and his shirt torn.
"Hey! No fair!" he cried. He raced back downward and ought furiously with Vegeta again. They exchanged punches and kicks faster than the crowd could follow. After a few moments, Vegeta kicked Goku in the chest, and he went bouncing along the ground, close to the edge of the ring. He jumped to his feet just in time to see Vegeta flying toward him, arm withdrawn.
Cuchita leapt to her feet excitedly. "Go, go, go!"
Gosai gripped the back of the seat in front of him and leaned forward. "Here it comes..."
Vegeta was only a few feet away.
"Any second now..." murmured Gosai.
Vegeta brought his fist forward. "HAAAAAA!" he yelled.
"YAAAH!" screamed Goku as he threw his arms and head back. A flash of light emanated from his body, and his hair flew upward, as though from a gust of wind, as it turned golden. Vegeta's fist crashed into his face, but did nothing. Goku stared at Vegeta, his face intense. Then, with one swift movement, he stuck out his tongue. "Nyah!"
Gosai laughed. Pan looked at him.
"Gosai, did you teach him to become a Super Saiyan?" she asked, with an amused expression.
Gosai shrugged noncommitally. "I did it in front of him once," he said. "I had a feeling he might figure it out." He was beaming.
"Cheater!" yelled Vegeta Jr. accusingly. Goku punched him in the face, and he sailed across the ring, clear to the other side. In midair, he burst into a Super Saiyan as well, turned around, and flew back toward his friend.
Gosai's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't teach him, though," he said.
"You...you didn't?" asked Cuchita in bewilderment. "But...I mean, I never...so who...?"
"You're a good friend, Goku," said Gosai approvingly.
"Aw, yeah!" yelled Goku excitedly. "Now we can really get this fight started!" He flew to the center of the ring to meet Vegeta, and they collided again. Shockwaves rippled from them, fading by the time they reached the stands. The people in the stands were jumping in their seats.
"Incredible!" yelled the announcer over the din. "S-simply incredible! In all my time at the Budokai, we've never had such an intense battle!"
Now Gosai, Cuchita and Pan were watching as intently as everyone else. Goku and Vegeta were fighting at blinding speeds. Goku kicked his opponent downward, and he crashed into the ground with an enormous impact. The stadium floor, however, remained intact; thanks to some help from Kibitoshin, Gohan had arranged to have the stadium rebuilt with materials from Planet Mutek many years before.
Vegeta jumped back up, uppercutting Goku and kicking him toward the edge of the ring. Goku landed on his hands and sprung back to his feet, firing a series of ki blasts that Vegeta dodged one by one. Goku flitted out of view. Vegeta looked around, confused, until Goku appeared above him, slamming both feet into his back. Vegeta managed to grab Goku's legs as he went downward, and swung him back into the floor. Goku skidded, but remained standing, and Vegeta landed on his stomach. He got back up, panting.
"Let's do it like this!" he breathed, throwing his hands out to the sides, as two ki balls formed in them. Goku's face lit up.
"Oh, yeah!" he said, cupping his hands at his sides.
Gosai closed his eyes, smiling and shaking his head. "Showoffs," he said.
"KA...ME...HA...ME..." said Goku as loudly as he could.
Vegeta brought his hands together. "FINAL FLASH!" he screamed.
Standing on opposite ends of the ring, the two boys fired their attacks.
"HAAAAAAAAA!"
The enormous beams shot from their hands and collided in the center. The audience gasped.
"Unbelieveable!" boomed the announcer. "How will this turn out!"
Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr. pushed with all their might. Their beams inched slowly back and forth across the center of the ring. They could feel their feet sliding backward with the effort to push their beams forward. Everyone in the crowd was standing straight up and staring with baited breath. Even the announcer seemed dumbstruck as he looked on.
"Hrrrrk!" grunted the two fighters as they poured more power into their blasts. They dug their feet into the floor to get a better stance.
Finally, they both stopped. The energy dissipated, and Goku and Vegeta stood facing each other, out of breath. They were still standing straight up.
"Wow," said Vegeta. "This is the best fight I've ever had!"
"Definitely!" said Goku. "Ready for more!"
"You bet!"
"Uh..."
Goku and Vegeta snapped their heads toward the announcer. He was turning his head from one to the other in utter confusion, his mouth hanging open. The people in the stands were muttering to themselves and pointing at the two of them.
Perplexed, Goku and Vegeta looked down. Their eyes popped as they saw that they were both standing with their feet planted firmly outside of the ring.
"Wha--!" they yelled simultaneously.
"Wh-which one of them landed outside first?" asked the announcer. Shouts of "Goku!" and "Vegeta!" came forth from the crowd. The announcer was sweating and clearing his throat. He wiped his brow.
"Well, it seems that both contestants landed outside the ring at the same time! Can they both be disqualified? Let's confer with the judges!" Two men in robes emerged and began to speak quickly with the announcer. Goku and Vegeta reverted back to their Base forms, shrugging.
After a few moments, the announcer turned back to the crowd, speaking enthusiastically into his microphone once again. "Ladies and gentlemen! Our judges have decided that both contestants will move on to the semifinals! They will have another battle at the start of the second round to determine who will take the fourth spot! Now, let's move on to the next match!"
Goku and Vegeta met Gosai, Cuchita, and Pan in the fighters' room.
"That was amazing!" cried Cuchita, hugging Vegeta tightly.
"Aw, Mom! Quit it!" yelled Vegeta, squirming in her arms.
"Wonderful job, both of you!" said Pan warmly. Gosai put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Well done," he said simply. "Boys...listen to me. Kami-sama wants to see you."
Goku and Vegeta stopped what they were doing and looked at him. "What?" asked Goku in wonder.
"Kami-sama?" asked Vegeta. "Really?"
"Yes," said Gosai. "He wants to see all of us. And since it looks like you two have a break for a while, I think now would be a good time to see him."
"All right!" said Goku. "Sure, let's go now! Wow! Kami-sama! I can't believe it!"
Gosai led the way up to the lookout. Cuchita followed him, carrying Pan, and Goku and Vegeta flying on either side of her. After flying for a few minutes, they could see a tiny speck above them.
"There it is!" said Vegeta excitedly, pointing.
They reached the lookout a minute later. Dende was waiting for them. He stooped slightly, and wrinkles had begun to line his face, but he smiled warmly at Gosai as they approached.
"Welcome, Pan, Cuchita, Gosai," he said in a tired-sounding voice. "I hope you all are well."
"We're fine, Dende," said Gosai respectfully. "Boys, this is Dende, the God of Earth."
"H-hello," they said slowly, looking up at Dende. Dende greeted them as well.
"Here," he said then. "Let me show you why I have called you here. Popo, do you have them?"
Mr. Popo strode forward from the shadows, holding a red cushion on which rested seven perfectly round stones. "Here, Kami," he said.
"Wonderful!" said Dende, taking the cushion and putting it gently on the ground in front of him.
"Dende," said Gosai. "Are...are those...?"
"Yes!" said Pan, her face shining.
"These are what will soon be Earth's Dragonballs," said Dende.
"Dragonballs?" asked Vegeta. "Wait...I think I heard about those..."
"Yeah!" said Goku. "If you get them all together you can get the power to grant wishes, right?"
Dende chuckled. "Not quite," he said. "Once all seven are in the same place, you may summon the Eternal Dragon, Shenron, to grant you one wish. Just one. The last set of Dragonballs were destroyed one hundred years ago on this day. I have spent over three months preparing these ones for proper use, and now they are finally ready."
The five of them looked on as Dende stooped over the stones and said a short incantation in the Namekian language. With a brilliant flash of light, the balls glimmered orange, each with a different number of red stars inside.
"Whoa!" yelled Goku excitedly. He rushed forward to grab them, but just as he did so, there was another flash. The Dragonballs flew up into the air, and shot off in seven different directions.
"They have scattered to the ends of the Earth," said Dende, watching the last of them fade into the distance.
"But how do we find them?" asked Vegeta.
Before answering, Dende looked at Cuchita, at her neat blue hair and face so much like Bulma's. He almost expected her to pull out a Dragon Radar and begin the process all over again. She did not, however; she merely looked quizzically at Dende. Satisfied, he turned back to the boys.
"You'll just have to look," he said with a smile.
Goku and Vegeta looked at each other. "Okay!" they cried enthusiastically, and flew up into the air, chasing each other and laughing as they flew off over the horizon, to begin their hunt.
"Boys! The Budokai!" Gosai called after them. But they were gone. He shook his head.
"Dende," said Pan, "what about everything that happened back then? Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Dende watched the spot where Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr. had disappeared. "Yes," he said after a moment. "They have no way of finding the Dragonballs very easily. And it doesn't seem as though you'll need to use them as often, either. The world is generally peaceful now. The Saiyan blood in those boys is so diluted with human blood that they won't be destroying any planets any time soon. The worst I could imagine is a large city, if they put a lot of effort into it. No, I think the Universe will remain safe for quite some time."
Pan sighed happily. "I hope so," she said.
She, Cuchita and Gosai left. Dende watched them go. Then, with a light heart, knowing that the Dragonballs were now as they were meant to be, he turned and walked slowly back to his spot, watching over the Earth.
THE END