/*
Disclaimer: DBZ isn't mine, Gohan is, well in my dreams he is at any rate.
Anything between /* and */ is just me budding in, so is anything after // up until the next hard return.
For those of you that realised, I'm trying to learn to program in C++ as a hobby, that's the origin of the commentary codes.
*/
/*
Advertising:
Trusting - By Exarikun
Just returning the favour.
*/
/*
Response to reviews:
To edward-tivrusky-5:
I'm still thinking about the tournament and the Buu saga, I'm thinking of doing my own versions of both, to make them fit in with the story. As far as the bells are concerned, read this chapter, there are some bells in it, as well as the possibility for more bells.
To Nemi:
I can imagine how you must have felt, I once read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings in sixteen hours straight, not to much of a problem except I started at four in the afternoon, not much sleep that night. I also once spend sixty hours playing Star Trek Voyager Elite Force in three days, only four hours sleep each night.
To Lady Queen:
Yes I hate rewrites, but sometimes they're needed, nothing but the best for my readers after all.
To Nagini:
On your suggestions, possibly, on the MORE MORE MORE!: here it is.
To Byron:
No villains yet in this chapter, but I'll consider Barney for the upcoming ones. As for the introduction I want to keep giving Videl small shocks for a while. * Evil Grin *.
To Kodra:
There is some awkward paragraphing going on yes, but it has a purpose. From your comment I take it you didn't notice, and perhaps I should have mentioned this before. I try not to change in mid-conversation to often, however sometimes I have no choice. This story is told from two points of view, Gohan's and Videl's, every time I switch over I change the paragraph. Sometimes for whatever reason this happens in the middle of conversation. I try not to but it can't be helped in places. You'll only ever see the thoughts of the person whose point of view I'm using, and perhaps some indication of what the others seem to be thinking given by their words, tone or expression. But never do two people think in the same paragraph, and the only two people whose thoughts we get at all are Gohan and Videl.
Thanks for the compliment on my Caliber.
To Nodles:
Don't be too hard on yourself, I'll live. Sorry about your fic being erased by a Virus, keep writing though, you might try keeping a back up on a floppy disk if you're worried about more virus trouble.
Don't worry about me quitting, I have no intentions of doing that.
*/
Life Is Strange
Saga: Truth
Chapter 7: Surprising Friends
The next morning Videl found that the delayed shock she'd been expecting didn't come. Things had just become facts in her life. Much like seven years ago her dad becoming famous because of the Cell-games had just been a fact. She hadn't liked it but she'd known she had to accept it as such.
In a similar way, though her likes and dislikes seemed to be more removed she was now just taking the truth about the Cell-games and all the other things she'd discovered last night for facts. Gohan it seemed was the same person regardless of what she knew. He hadn't been any different last night than a week ago. He was just Gohan, but she was slowly beginning to understand what being just Gohan meant a bit better.
She picked up the phone by the side of her bed. She pushed the buttons, forming a phone number and soon heard the phone at the other hand ringing.
"Bulma Brief." The business like introduction came from the other side.
"Hi Bulma, this is Videl."
"Oh hey Videl how are you?"
"I'm fine just wanted to thank you again for inviting me to the party last night, and I wanted to ask if you needed any help cleaning things up."
"No I'm fine. I had the whole thing catered."
"How do you get a party with four Saiyans catered for, I've seen what they eat."
"Oh it's simple, you call a couple of catering companies and tell them you need dinner and snacks for six hundred people catered as a buffet. At first they're shocked and think you're crazy, then you tell them you own Capsule Corporation, and they suddenly don't think anything odd anymore."
"I see, money talks."
"Oh yeah, I think it's even more persuasive than Vegeta, and that's saying a lot, he's been known to attempt to kill people in line in front of him when I sent him shopping. Of course he didn't really kill them, he knows I won't stand for that, but he did injure a few, in the end I had to make him get some senzu beans for them."
I really am getting used to the craziest things. Videl thought. I'm listening to a mix of shopping and attempted murder and it doesn't even phase me.
"Say Bulma." She asked. "When did you get used to all this, I'm just beginning to notice in myself that things don't seem to have any effect on me anymore."
"I can't say actually." Bulma replied. "I met Goku when I was about eighteen, since then I guess things have gotten ever weirder and I've grown used to it step by step. You could say that meeting Oolong was really the first step."
"Oolong?"
"He's a friend, more or less, but we didn't invite him yesterday, we wanted to limit the list to people who at least appear more or less human, he's a pig and a shape-shifter."
"Shape-shifter?"
"Yeah, I know two people, or rather creatures that can change their shape, Oolong is one and Puar is the other. It comes in handy sometimes. Puar and Yamcha go way back, and Oolong sort of joined us along the way."
"I see."
"Well if you don't mind I have to go now, I have two Saiyans to feed."
"Of course I don't mind. Bye Bulma."
"Bye Videl, thanks for calling."
Damn. Her line's busy. Gohan thought as he tried to call Videl. Hmm, maybe I should call Sharpner and Erasa, see if we could go to the movies together. Double date as it were. But I really should clear it with Videl before hand I don't know how she feels about Sharpner and Erasa knowing about us just yet.
He tried her number again and this time she answered immediately. Setting up her private line so it didn't go through Jeffrey had definitely been a good idea.
"Videl Satan." Her introduction sounded so nice, even if it was just to the point.
"Hey Videl, guess who?"
"Gohan." Her voice became very enthusiastic. "So why are you calling, did you have something in mind for today?"
"Well I was thinking it might be nice to give Sharpner and Erasa a call, see if the four of us could go the movies later. And then maybe dinner?"
"Sounds nice, you're obviously thinking double date here."
"Yeah, I thought it might be a nice way to let them know."
"So what's playing at the movies?"
"I think it's something called "When The Aliens Came" about some alien attack on earth with a love story on the side or something. Sounds like something we might get Erasa to come to without it being a total chick-flick."
"Hmm. You might be right on that. Good tactical thinking young warrior."
"Why thank you great general Videl."
Gohan smiled as Videl giggled into the phone.
"Shall I come, over there so we can call them together?" He asked.
"Yeah but take your time, I still have to get dressed and even then it's going to take a while before we can call them, they're not exactly morning people."
"Okay, I'll see you in about thirty minutes."
"See you then."
It's as if I'm turning into a girl. Videl thought as she entered the shower contemplating what clothes she should wear. I wouldn't give what to wear a second thought a few weeks ago, just the usual shorts and T-shirt, but now I'm trying to impress Gohan. Damn him for awakening my feminine side.
About 20 minutes, and considerations around at least five possible out fits later she left the shower and headed for her closet. She'd finally decided on a pair of blue jeans and a green T-shirt and proceeded to dress accordingly.
Just as she finished getting dressed and combing her hair a knock on the balcony door signalled the arrival of Gohan.
After all. She thought to herself. Who else do I know that knocks on my balcony door, considering it's the only normal way onto my balcony.
"It's open." She called.
He came in, transforming into himself, and greeted her with a small kiss on the lips and the words "Hi Videl, you look nice."
"Hey Gohan." She responded returning the token of affection.
"So can we call Sharpner and Erasa that, or is it still to early?"
"I guess we could call them now, keep them on their toes."
"Will you do the honours?"
"Why not."
She dialled Erasa's number and was soon greeted by Erasa's voice on the line.
"Hey this is Erasa."
"Hey Videl here."
"Oh, hey girl what's happening?"
"Well I was wondering if you and Sharpner would like to go to the movies with me and Gohan tonight."
"I'll have to ask Sharpner, hang on a minute."
Videl heard some muttering in the background and then Erasa's voice returned to the line.
"Sure we'll come. What movie are we going to see?"
"Gohan picked, it's called "When The Aliens Came". It's mostly action but with some love in the sideline. So it should be nice for all of us."
"Okay, what time does it start?"
Videl looked over to Gohan and was about to repeat the question when he answered it of his own accord.
"It starts at seven, so we should be there no later than six forty-five. But if we want to go to dinner before hand, we should probably meet at a restaurant at, say, five thirty."
Videl nodded and repeated the message into the horn.
"Okay." Came Erasa's reply. "We'll meet you at five thirty, what restaurant." Videl looked to Gohan and on the other end she could hear Erasa and Sharpner muttering again. After some discussion on both ends of the conversation, a restaurant was agreed upon. And the conversation came to a close.
Videl and Gohan had a rather busy day together. Not long after they'd set up the appointment with Erasa and Sharpner, Videl's watch had beeped and much of the rest of their day was spend fighting criminals. It had been quiet for a couple of days and the crooks of Satan city seemed to be back with a vengeance.
Even though she now knew she was no match for Gohan or Sayaman, in whatever form he appeared, Videl insisted on doing her bit in the battle and so they dispensed with the criminals together.
Finally Videl went home for a shower around five o'clock and Gohan flew around town for a while, waiting to pick her up again at twenty past. He made a brief stop at a flower shop, buying some roses for Videl and then made his way back to her house.
The balcony door was open as he approached and inside the sight of Videl brushing her hair greeted him.
"Hi, these are for you." He said handing her the roses.
He noticed a faint blush on her cheeks and smiled, Videl was definitely changing at least in some ways, for the most part she was still the same Videl and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Thanks." She mumbled.
"Shall I fly you to our date milady." He asked, with a fake air of old fashion chivalry in his voice.
"You may." She answered.
He lifted her into his arms and walked onto the balcony, closing the door behind them before taking off towards the restaurant.
When they arrived at the restaurant Gohan circled for a while. There was something he had to ask Videl before landing.
"Videl?"
"What is it Gohan? Why aren't we landing?"
"There something I need to talk to you about real quick."
"Well what is it?"
"I don't want to tell Sharpner and Erasa about me being Sayaman, not yet anyway. So I'd like to ask you to keep what you know hidden, at least for the time being."
"No problem Gohan, just try to find someplace to transform where they won't see you."
Gohan nodded and set down in an alley. He looked both ways and shielded himself from view behind Videl, before transforming.
"Let's go." He said offering Videl his arm.
She took his arm with a smile and the two of them walked towards the restaurant.
Videl looked around as they left the alley and walked onto the square in front of the restaurant. It took a while, but she spotted Sharpner and Erasa and steered Gohan over to them. After a brief exchange of hellos the three of them entered the restaurant.
Inside they were guided to their table, and a waiter came to give them the menus and ask what they wanted to drink. A few moments were spend on deciding what they wanted to eat. And soon the waiter returned with their drinks, and they were ready to order. After they'd placed their orders and the waiter left and the conversation really got started.
"So tell me." Erasa asked Videl. "You're here with Gohan, are you two...?"
"Yes we're together." Videl said, smiling at the look of shock that passed over Erasa and Sharpner's faces.
"Well congratulations," Erasa said, still looking stunned, "but I must say it's a bit of a surprise. You've always been so distant toward boys."
"Yeah congratulations." Sharpner seconded her. "We've got a little surprise of our own for you two, but that will come later."
"Hmm." Videl said. "You're making me awfully curious."
"Well we'll tell you later." Erasa said. "Let's go powder our noses now."
Videl looked at her friend strangely, but realised it was an opportunity to talk to Erasa alone, and maybe find out what all the secretive stuff was about, so she nodded and followed her friend.
Sharpner leaned closer to Gohan when the girls had left.
"So how did you and Videl get together?" He whispered.
Gohan could feel himself blush and scratched the back of his head. "That's a rather personal question Sharpner." He whispered back.
"Common man you can tell me. What do you think Erasa is questioning Videl about in the ladies room?"
"Well." Gohan said, trying desperately to remain diplomatic. "I suppose we just found that we liked each other more than we'd previously realised."
"In other words you kissed her." Sharpner said.
Gohan felt his blush deepen and just scratched the back of his head again.
"The same thing happened between me and Erasa." Sharpner continued. "All of a sudden we just found ourselves kissing each other."
Gohan nodded slightly during his scratching efforts.
A similar conversation was happening at the same time in the ladies room where Videl stood watching as Erasa touched up her make up. Despite the fact that she was paying more attention to her clothes, Videl's feminine side had not yet gotten to the point where she wore make up.
"So tell me." Erasa said while applying some eye shadow. "How did you and Gohan get together?"
"I don't know if I should tell you." Videl said.
"Come on girl, if you can't tell me who can you tell?"
"Nobody I guess."
"Exactly and do you really want to just keep it to yourself for the rest of your life?"
"I guess not."
"So tell me."
"You're not going to drop this unless I do are you."
"Nope I'm not."
"Oh very well then. I guess it all just happened. Gohan invited me to spar on the first Sunday of the holidays. Well we had quite a spar, it was like the one we had in front of you and Sharpner at the house, only longer, neither of us gave the other any ground.
So after a few hours of this we needed to rest, well I certainly did anyway, so we sat down on a rock. Then I guess I sort of leaned over toward Gohan, and he leaned over toward me, and the next minute our lips were pressed against each other and we were kissing like there was no tomorrow."
"Sounds like a weird way to start a romance, fighting each other."
"Well I guess it isn't exactly the most common way to get started, but it worked for us. But now it's your turn, spill it. What are you and Sharpner hiding?"
"Sorry Videl, I can't tell you. I promised Sharpner I wouldn't, besides you'll find out soon enough."
"Come on girl. I just told you about me and Gohan."
"No, I gave Sharpner my word."
"Ah well, let's go back out there so you can tell us then."
Gohan, having been raised by his mother to be a proper gentleman got up of his chair and helped Videl sit down, pushing her toward the table.
She smiled up at him, but at the same time he could tell from the look on her face that she was almost embarrassed about it, she was a strong girl and apparently had problems being helped like this.
He glanced over to Sharpner who was helping Erasa like-wise. The two of them had hatched the plan for this little politeness offensive while the girls were in the powder room. They exchanged a smile before sitting back down themselves.
As Gohan sat down he could sense Videl's Ki behind him, and when he turned around he noticed that she'd gotten up and was now in position to push him toward the table. He smiled and put his head in the back of his neck, allowing her to give him a small kiss as she pushed him forward.
"All right." He said when their lips parted. "The point is taken miss independence, no more chair pushing."
Videl could feel the self satisfied smile on her face as she sat back down. Part of her had really enjoyed Gohan's actions. Not so much the push itself as the attention, but she didn't feel like letting her feminine side run away with her completely yet.
She looked around the table to see that Sharpner and Erasa were both giggling at the scene that had just played out in front of them.
She was just about to ask those two what they wanted to tell her and Gohan, when the waiter came back bringing their dinner.
They all started eating after that. But after a few bites Videl couldn't contain her curiosity anymore.
"So you guys." She said. "What did you want to tell us?"
She looked at Sharpner and Erasa who exchanged a glance. Sharpner nodded. And finally Erasa spoke up.
"We're engaged, we're getting married."
Videl could feel her mouth hanging open with shock, but found herself unable to close it. Even Gohan looked shocked and had stopped eating. Something truly rare for a Saiyan.
"When?" Videl finally managed to choke out.
"We haven't decided yet." Erasa said, looking rather amused at the reaction.
"If you guys hurry we could have a double wedding." Sharpner kidded.
Videl laughed at this and saw Gohan do the same thing. Sharpner's remark had managed to get them over the shock.
"I'm not sure I'd want a double wedding." She said.
When did I start thinking about marrying? She wondered, yet the remark had come so naturally.
"Well, we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it." Gohan said.
Hmm. Videl thought. Apparently he doesn't rank the idea in the realm of the impossible either.
"But for now." Gohan continued. "Let's finish dinner and then we have a movie to go to."
When they finished dining they had some time left before they had to be at the cinema. So Gohan and Videl questioned Sharpner and Erasa some. From the story they gathered that Sharpner had proposed out of the blue. He'd been out shopping with Erasa when they came to a jewellery store. He'd asked Erasa her ring-size and then gone, coming back out a moment later with a diamond engagement ring, in the right size, dropping to one knee and asking the question.
At the cinema Gohan got the tickets, which he'd booked in advance, and they went quickly inside. Gohan being a Saiyan got a large bucket of popcorn, as well as a drink. But he limited himself to a more or less normal amount.
Soon after Gohan had purchased his refreshments a voice could be heard through the speaker-system, warning that the movie would start in ten minutes and they took their seats near the back of the theatre.
They chatted for a few more minutes before the lights went out and the credits started to role.
Waves and Rocks productions presents.
A Satan City Films Production
Directed by John Luney
When the Aliens Came.
More writing filled the screen as an introduction.
About twelve years ago, the world was glued to the TV as reports of aliens landing on earth and fighting a Special Forces unit filled their screens. Now we are proud to bring you a re-enactment of what happened then.
Videl looked over at Gohan when she'd finished reading this. He'd been there, he'd told her. So why go to this movie. The look on his face soon made it all clear to her. He hadn't known. His expression was one of complete and utter shock.
"You didn't know." She whispered, though it was painfully obvious.
"No." He whispered back. "But I hope they did a decent job of it, or Vegeta will blow up the Earth the moment he hears about it."
They returned their attention to the screen.
Two spherical space pods were crashing in the out-skirts of a city. Out of one stepped a man looking not to unlike Vegeta. The other alien however definitely wasn't Nappa. For that matter the other alien wasn't even a man, it was a woman, she was slightly taller than 'Vegeta' and had long flowing red hair.
"Ah Nappa." 'Vegeta' said. "We've finally arrived at this pitiful excuse for a planet."
"Yes prince Vegeta." 'Nappa' replied. "Now we can have some fun."
"Yes my sweet."
Gohan choked audibly.
"We will have a lot of fun destroying these weaklings so we can sell their planet. But first let us see if there are any strong warriors we will have to deal with first."
Gohan turned to Videl and whispered. "In case you're wondering Nappa was actually a seven foot tall bold guy."
'Vegeta' meanwhile had pulled out something that looked more like a dragon radar than a scouter and was studying it.
"Hnn. It appears that some of the weaklings on this planet aren't quite as weak anymore." He stated. "I'm detecting six rather large power levels that way." He pointed in a random direction."
"What should we do with these pitiful weaklings my prince." 'Nappa' said looking around.
"Dispose of them as you please." 'Vegeta' stated. "They are of no concern to us."
'Nappa' Took to the air and fired a bolt of energy destroying a few blocks of housing.
"Now that you've had your fun my sweet shall we go?" Vegeta said.
"That doesn't sound like Vegeta to me." Videl whispered. "I know I don't know him that well, but it definitely doesn't sound like him."
"Believe me it doesn't." Gohan whispered in reply, but again the screen demanded their attention.
'Nappa' and 'Vegeta' were now flying of in the direction that was being indicated by the 'scouter'.
The scene changed to show the two aliens landing in the dessert. Where they were immediately confronted by all six of the Earth's elite fighters.
Gohan winced as the camera showed each of them in turn. 'Chaozu' was way to tall and he was standing on the ground, something the little emperor rarely did, 'Tien's' third eye seemed to be missing at first glance but in the follow up shot appeared to have been moved to the back of his head. 'Piccolo' was probably one of the best portrayed. Though his antennae were pointing to the sides rather than in front of him.
'Krillin' was too tall, and had three dots on his head instead of six, forming a triangle on his forehead. But other than that he looked more or less like himself.
When they came to 'Yamcha' Gohan couldn't help a grin from forming on his face. They'd got the scars right, but somehow Yamcha had ended up with blue hair, like Bulma's.
The laughter that was about to break out died in his mouth as the camera moved to 'him'.
It seemed that the filmmakers had been lead by the fact that his clothes had been a lot like Piccolo's, so they'd made him a Namek. Like Piccolo he had antennae that were sticking out to the sides, but what shocked him most was the fact they'd left his hair, but made it green.
"I look like Dende with hair." He whispered to Videl.
"Yes you do." She giggled.
"Come on Videl. This isn't funny. It would be if it wasn't me, but now it's not."
"Oh please Gohan. Don't take it so seriously."
Gohan had to admit she had a point it was only a movie after all. He sighed and continued to watch.
On screen one crazy thing happened after another. First the Saiyans and the Earth special forces just stood there staring at each other and then 'Nappa' and 'Yamcha' began to flirt with each other.
After a while 'Vegeta' summoned the Saibamen by blowing on a whistle, rather than growing them, and the fight between the Earth's forces and the Saibamen began. Just like it had happened in real life, 'Yamcha' was attacked kamikaze style, but in the movie 'Nappa' pulled of the Saibamen. She then lightly kissed 'Yamcha' and the two of them faced 'Vegeta'.
Who was finally killed by a bolt of energy shot of by the two of them together. The rest of the movie went on about 'Yamcha' and 'Nappa' settling down together and raising a family. And also about the prejudices they faced, being a human alien couple.
When Gohan walked out of the cinema next to Videl he was in a state of numbness. It really was laughable. He thought to himself. But if Vegeta ever saw it the world would probably end.
Nah, Vegeta would have Bulma screaming at him for eternity if he did that. But it wouldn't be pretty. That was for sure.
"Are you okay Gohan?" Erasa asked.
Gohan looked up from his contemplations and nodded. "I'll be fine. I'm just a bit shocked."
"Why?" Sharpner joined the conversation. "I thought it was a rather good movie."
"Let's see, they got everybody's looks wrong, the turned Nappa into a woman, and me into a Namek. What's there to be shocked about?" Gohan remarked absent mindedly no realising what he'd just told Sharpner and Erasa until it was too late.
He looked over to the other three to see a look of shock on Videl's face while the two blonds both looked puzzled.
"What do you mean by that?" Sharpner finally asked.
"Ah well, I might as well tell you guys, you'd figure it out sooner or later anyway. I was there. I was the little boy, that's what I meant when I said they turned me into a Namek, that's what those green guys are called, though they never have hair."
"What were you doing there?" Erasa asked.
"Well, I'm a bit ashamed to admit that for the most part I was being scared stiff. Perhaps not wholly inexcusable for a six year old, facing some of the toughest aliens there are, but it's the only time in my life that happened. The actual fight lasted a lot longer than the one in the movie. And I did join in for a bit in the end, but mostly I just couldn't move for fear."
"But what would you being doing there in the first place as a six year old?" Sharpner asked.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. Not now anyway. Perhaps in time you will know, but telling someone you're not telling them anything is better than lying, or even worse than lying, twisting the truth."
"Why is twisting the truth worse than lying?" Videl wanted to know.
"Because when you twist the truth the changes can be so subtle the peoples whole worlds are turned upside down when they find out the real truth."
Videl nodded at Gohan's remark, he hadn't said it in so many words, but the look in his eyes told her everything. Everything she'd already known, he was talking about her. About what her father had done after the Cell-games. That had been twisting the truth, Hercule had been there, and Cell had been defeated, but not by Hercule.
They walked along in silence. Erasa and Sharpner lived next door to each other and not to far out of the city centre so Videl and Gohan dropped them off at their houses before he changed into to Sayaman and scooped her into his arms, flying her home.
As they made their way to her balcony Videl thought about something Gohan had said some time ago.
"Gohan." She said as they landed.
"Hmm." He replied.
"You said some time ago that you might teach me how to fly, would you?"
"I suppose. My little brother has been asking me to teach him as well. So once I get you up to speed on how to use your Ki, I could teach you both at the same time."
Videl nodded, it made sense. Well part of it anyway.
"So how do I use my Ki?" She inquired.
"Let's leave that for tomorrow okay. I know how Piccolo taught me how to use mine, but I don't think you'd like that strategy."
"Why what did he do?"
"He threw me as hard as he could at a mountain."
"What happened?"
"I blew up the mountain, but I don't think you have that level of strength yet, so it would be somewhat painful."
"So how else can you teach me?"
"To be honest I haven't a clue yet. I'll have to give it some thought tonight. Just come to my place tomorrow morning and hopefully I'll have a plan on how to teach you by then."
"Okay. I'll be there. Have a good flight home." She gave him a small kiss on the lips.
"I'll be careful don't worry. See you in the morning." He replied, yelling the last sentence over his shoulder as he took off.
How am I going to teach her? Gohan thought as he headed for the Son home. Flying is going to be the easy part. She's got a decent Ki already because she uses it without knowing, but teaching her to control it...
He sighed. All to soon he reached home. It wasn't too late yet so Goten was there when he landed.
"Hey big brother." He chirped. "How was your date?"
"Fine Goten."
"So what are we going to do tomorrow?"
"Well I'm going to teach Videl to use her Ki. And then I was thinking I'd teach you and her both how to fly. But I'm not sure if I can get her to that point tomorrow. So that may take a while longer."
"Yippee. I'm gonna fly, I'm gonna fly."
//I really can't imagine Goten hearing this and not saying that line."
The next morning Videl got up early and after a quick shower and breakfast routine, she ran out the door, got out her copter and started to push her jets to the limit racing to the Son home.
When she got there Gohan was waiting for her outside.
"Hey Gohan." She said as she got out of her copter. "So what are the odds I'll be flying home today without the need for the jet-copter?"
"I'm not sure about that. But I don't think so, you shouldn't try flying long distance without a guide right away. Even if you do learn today, and I'm not positive on that. It takes a while to figure out how to control your energy."
"But you have found a way of teaching me right?"
"Well I have an idea. So we'll just see if it works."
"Okay."
"Let's get to the training field first."
Videl nodded and followed him.
"Okay." Gohan said as they reached the field. "Just sit down so that you're comfortable."
Videl nodded and sat down.
"Good, now just relax."
I hope this works. He thought. Because if this doesn't I'm temporarily out of ideas.
He watched Videl until he was sure she was relaxed.
"Hold your hands like this." He instructed her, showing her his own hands, the palms slightly curved, while he held them about ten inches apart.
She held her hands in the right position.
"Good." He said again. "Now watch me. I'm going to show you the first step of controlling your Ki."
Very slowly he brought out a little bit of his Ki.
// Same sort of ball he forms in the series.
"Now that's the first step. What you have to do to reach that is to find yourself I suppose. Just find a feeling in side of you, probably in the pit of your stomach, that feels like it's you, your strength and your character, and then bring that out.
Videl focused. She found the feeling Gohan had mentioned as if her essence was just sitting there inside of her.
She concentrated on it and could feel it moving slowly through her body at her command, finally it slowly pushed out of her hands, forming a ball similar to the one Gohan had made. It took a lot of effort though, and soon she pulled her hands apart, letting the energy slide back into her.
"Wow, that was great." Gohan said. "I really didn't think you'd do so well so quickly."
"So I'm still capable of surprising you." She asked teasingly.
"Yeah, your really doing great. Now, before you learn to fly I think it would be best if you learn to fire Ki-blasts."
"Ki-blasts?"
"It's when you use your Ki-as a beam or blast to attack, it's what I did the other day when I blew up that mountain. Though you won't be blowing up mountains any time soon."
"Why not?"
"Well you might just make it actually, in a couple of days, if you could learn one of the more complex attacks. They allow you to concentrate your Ki so you can do way more damage than you could with a normal blast, but, and you'll notice this soon enough, once you learn to use your Ki, you can sense other peoples, so I can sense yours and it's not big enough yet. It'll get stronger though. It's just like your muscles, when you use it, work out as it were, it gets stronger."
"So how long until I'm at the level you're on now?" Videl wondered out loud.
"From what I know." Gohan said. "You'll never get here, even the strongest human fighters can't even keep up with me before I go Super, let alone after that, but if there's one thing I've learned when it comes to strength it's never say never, so you just might at some point, but Dende help me, I have no idea how or why you could reach it."
Videl nodded, she'd felt like she had to ask, but she'd expected this answer. After all Gohan did have an advantage over her being half alien.
"So how do I, I don't know, what verb do you use, make, fire, a Ki-blast."
"I'd say fire." Gohan said. "And to do so you just force out your Ki through one or both hands. I'd start with one hand if I were you. Now the difference with what you did before is that you really shoot it away, and you do it as fast as possible. A basic blast will just go in a straight line from your hand, so that's how you aim it, just move your hand."
Videl nodded again. She reached inside herself, feeling her Ki, and this time brought it out through her right hand only. She pointed her hand at a rock, and felt a rush of savage joy when she saw her Ki shoot out, cracking the aforementioned rock.
"So," she asked, "if that's a basic blast, what are those more complex techniques you mentioned?"
"There are to many to mention right now, but to name a few, there's the Kamehameha, that's master Roshi's special attack, he taught my dad and Krillin. Then there's the special beam cannon, that's Piccolo's move. And finally for me the Masenko will always be in the top three, but that's because it's my attack, I developed it myself."
"Why did you?"
"Well my dad didn't train me, Piccolo did, but he didn't really teach me his own special attacks, he and my dad were enemies, I suppose he did want me to be strong, so I could help defend the Earth. But at that point he still wanted to take over the world, so he didn't want to give the other side the advantage of me knowing his special attack."
"So when are you going to teach me those?"
"Not yet, they can take a while to learn and you now have enough control to learn how to fly first."
"Okay, let's get Goten out here then and start flying school."
Gohan was surprised when Videl managed to hover after only about an hour. Goten was zooming around in no time of course, but Saiyans were a lot better at using their Ki than humans, it just came naturally to them.
When evening fell she could already fly, albeit it somewhat shakily. Also her Ki was still relatively low so she tired quickly, but Gohan could sense that it had already risen since that morning.
Naturally she came again the next day, and he decided to make things a bit more difficult on her, using the materialisation he'd learned from Piccolo to give her weighted down training clothes. Also next to his own training he sparred with her, which really made her Ki rise.
Two weeks later Gohan looked at Videl with pride as she flew around firing Ki-blasts at various rocks. He was training her, and it was definitely paying of. She had really become a lot stronger, she'd probably be as strong as he'd been when he'd first gone to Namek soon.
He put a hand over his pocket and felt the small box there.
Is it still to early? He wondered. Or should I just go for it.
He looked at her as she made another pass, a few more rocks suffered. This whole area had been made into a training ground with the Dragon Balls long ago, all the damage done would automatically be restored in a few days.
Making up his mind he shot up into the air. Blocking Videl's path. She came to a stop, just hovering in front of him.
He lowered himself onto one knee in the air and took the box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal the ring he'd selected.
"Videl Satan, will you marry me?"
/*
How will Videl answer this question? Should Gohan have listened to his fears about this being to soon, find out next time on Life is Strange.
God I did it again, another evil cliff-hanger. Especially evil since I'm not sure what she's going to say yet. So be nice and review and tell me what you want her to say. I'll go with my own idea in the end anyway, but review anyway.
I'm not too evil actually I thought about letting the only bells in this chapter be Sharpner and Erasa, but I was afraid that Lady Queen might have figured out that really horrible thing to do to me by now.
I'll try to keep writing as fast as I can, but I've been slowing down a bit, you have to have the inspiration before you can write. Now all of you go review like good little readers and I'll get to work on the next chapter, and Videl's answer.
*/
Disclaimer: DBZ isn't mine, Gohan is, well in my dreams he is at any rate.
Anything between /* and */ is just me budding in, so is anything after // up until the next hard return.
For those of you that realised, I'm trying to learn to program in C++ as a hobby, that's the origin of the commentary codes.
*/
/*
Advertising:
Trusting - By Exarikun
Just returning the favour.
*/
/*
Response to reviews:
To edward-tivrusky-5:
I'm still thinking about the tournament and the Buu saga, I'm thinking of doing my own versions of both, to make them fit in with the story. As far as the bells are concerned, read this chapter, there are some bells in it, as well as the possibility for more bells.
To Nemi:
I can imagine how you must have felt, I once read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings in sixteen hours straight, not to much of a problem except I started at four in the afternoon, not much sleep that night. I also once spend sixty hours playing Star Trek Voyager Elite Force in three days, only four hours sleep each night.
To Lady Queen:
Yes I hate rewrites, but sometimes they're needed, nothing but the best for my readers after all.
To Nagini:
On your suggestions, possibly, on the MORE MORE MORE!: here it is.
To Byron:
No villains yet in this chapter, but I'll consider Barney for the upcoming ones. As for the introduction I want to keep giving Videl small shocks for a while. * Evil Grin *.
To Kodra:
There is some awkward paragraphing going on yes, but it has a purpose. From your comment I take it you didn't notice, and perhaps I should have mentioned this before. I try not to change in mid-conversation to often, however sometimes I have no choice. This story is told from two points of view, Gohan's and Videl's, every time I switch over I change the paragraph. Sometimes for whatever reason this happens in the middle of conversation. I try not to but it can't be helped in places. You'll only ever see the thoughts of the person whose point of view I'm using, and perhaps some indication of what the others seem to be thinking given by their words, tone or expression. But never do two people think in the same paragraph, and the only two people whose thoughts we get at all are Gohan and Videl.
Thanks for the compliment on my Caliber.
To Nodles:
Don't be too hard on yourself, I'll live. Sorry about your fic being erased by a Virus, keep writing though, you might try keeping a back up on a floppy disk if you're worried about more virus trouble.
Don't worry about me quitting, I have no intentions of doing that.
*/
Life Is Strange
Saga: Truth
Chapter 7: Surprising Friends
The next morning Videl found that the delayed shock she'd been expecting didn't come. Things had just become facts in her life. Much like seven years ago her dad becoming famous because of the Cell-games had just been a fact. She hadn't liked it but she'd known she had to accept it as such.
In a similar way, though her likes and dislikes seemed to be more removed she was now just taking the truth about the Cell-games and all the other things she'd discovered last night for facts. Gohan it seemed was the same person regardless of what she knew. He hadn't been any different last night than a week ago. He was just Gohan, but she was slowly beginning to understand what being just Gohan meant a bit better.
She picked up the phone by the side of her bed. She pushed the buttons, forming a phone number and soon heard the phone at the other hand ringing.
"Bulma Brief." The business like introduction came from the other side.
"Hi Bulma, this is Videl."
"Oh hey Videl how are you?"
"I'm fine just wanted to thank you again for inviting me to the party last night, and I wanted to ask if you needed any help cleaning things up."
"No I'm fine. I had the whole thing catered."
"How do you get a party with four Saiyans catered for, I've seen what they eat."
"Oh it's simple, you call a couple of catering companies and tell them you need dinner and snacks for six hundred people catered as a buffet. At first they're shocked and think you're crazy, then you tell them you own Capsule Corporation, and they suddenly don't think anything odd anymore."
"I see, money talks."
"Oh yeah, I think it's even more persuasive than Vegeta, and that's saying a lot, he's been known to attempt to kill people in line in front of him when I sent him shopping. Of course he didn't really kill them, he knows I won't stand for that, but he did injure a few, in the end I had to make him get some senzu beans for them."
I really am getting used to the craziest things. Videl thought. I'm listening to a mix of shopping and attempted murder and it doesn't even phase me.
"Say Bulma." She asked. "When did you get used to all this, I'm just beginning to notice in myself that things don't seem to have any effect on me anymore."
"I can't say actually." Bulma replied. "I met Goku when I was about eighteen, since then I guess things have gotten ever weirder and I've grown used to it step by step. You could say that meeting Oolong was really the first step."
"Oolong?"
"He's a friend, more or less, but we didn't invite him yesterday, we wanted to limit the list to people who at least appear more or less human, he's a pig and a shape-shifter."
"Shape-shifter?"
"Yeah, I know two people, or rather creatures that can change their shape, Oolong is one and Puar is the other. It comes in handy sometimes. Puar and Yamcha go way back, and Oolong sort of joined us along the way."
"I see."
"Well if you don't mind I have to go now, I have two Saiyans to feed."
"Of course I don't mind. Bye Bulma."
"Bye Videl, thanks for calling."
Damn. Her line's busy. Gohan thought as he tried to call Videl. Hmm, maybe I should call Sharpner and Erasa, see if we could go to the movies together. Double date as it were. But I really should clear it with Videl before hand I don't know how she feels about Sharpner and Erasa knowing about us just yet.
He tried her number again and this time she answered immediately. Setting up her private line so it didn't go through Jeffrey had definitely been a good idea.
"Videl Satan." Her introduction sounded so nice, even if it was just to the point.
"Hey Videl, guess who?"
"Gohan." Her voice became very enthusiastic. "So why are you calling, did you have something in mind for today?"
"Well I was thinking it might be nice to give Sharpner and Erasa a call, see if the four of us could go the movies later. And then maybe dinner?"
"Sounds nice, you're obviously thinking double date here."
"Yeah, I thought it might be a nice way to let them know."
"So what's playing at the movies?"
"I think it's something called "When The Aliens Came" about some alien attack on earth with a love story on the side or something. Sounds like something we might get Erasa to come to without it being a total chick-flick."
"Hmm. You might be right on that. Good tactical thinking young warrior."
"Why thank you great general Videl."
Gohan smiled as Videl giggled into the phone.
"Shall I come, over there so we can call them together?" He asked.
"Yeah but take your time, I still have to get dressed and even then it's going to take a while before we can call them, they're not exactly morning people."
"Okay, I'll see you in about thirty minutes."
"See you then."
It's as if I'm turning into a girl. Videl thought as she entered the shower contemplating what clothes she should wear. I wouldn't give what to wear a second thought a few weeks ago, just the usual shorts and T-shirt, but now I'm trying to impress Gohan. Damn him for awakening my feminine side.
About 20 minutes, and considerations around at least five possible out fits later she left the shower and headed for her closet. She'd finally decided on a pair of blue jeans and a green T-shirt and proceeded to dress accordingly.
Just as she finished getting dressed and combing her hair a knock on the balcony door signalled the arrival of Gohan.
After all. She thought to herself. Who else do I know that knocks on my balcony door, considering it's the only normal way onto my balcony.
"It's open." She called.
He came in, transforming into himself, and greeted her with a small kiss on the lips and the words "Hi Videl, you look nice."
"Hey Gohan." She responded returning the token of affection.
"So can we call Sharpner and Erasa that, or is it still to early?"
"I guess we could call them now, keep them on their toes."
"Will you do the honours?"
"Why not."
She dialled Erasa's number and was soon greeted by Erasa's voice on the line.
"Hey this is Erasa."
"Hey Videl here."
"Oh, hey girl what's happening?"
"Well I was wondering if you and Sharpner would like to go to the movies with me and Gohan tonight."
"I'll have to ask Sharpner, hang on a minute."
Videl heard some muttering in the background and then Erasa's voice returned to the line.
"Sure we'll come. What movie are we going to see?"
"Gohan picked, it's called "When The Aliens Came". It's mostly action but with some love in the sideline. So it should be nice for all of us."
"Okay, what time does it start?"
Videl looked over to Gohan and was about to repeat the question when he answered it of his own accord.
"It starts at seven, so we should be there no later than six forty-five. But if we want to go to dinner before hand, we should probably meet at a restaurant at, say, five thirty."
Videl nodded and repeated the message into the horn.
"Okay." Came Erasa's reply. "We'll meet you at five thirty, what restaurant." Videl looked to Gohan and on the other end she could hear Erasa and Sharpner muttering again. After some discussion on both ends of the conversation, a restaurant was agreed upon. And the conversation came to a close.
Videl and Gohan had a rather busy day together. Not long after they'd set up the appointment with Erasa and Sharpner, Videl's watch had beeped and much of the rest of their day was spend fighting criminals. It had been quiet for a couple of days and the crooks of Satan city seemed to be back with a vengeance.
Even though she now knew she was no match for Gohan or Sayaman, in whatever form he appeared, Videl insisted on doing her bit in the battle and so they dispensed with the criminals together.
Finally Videl went home for a shower around five o'clock and Gohan flew around town for a while, waiting to pick her up again at twenty past. He made a brief stop at a flower shop, buying some roses for Videl and then made his way back to her house.
The balcony door was open as he approached and inside the sight of Videl brushing her hair greeted him.
"Hi, these are for you." He said handing her the roses.
He noticed a faint blush on her cheeks and smiled, Videl was definitely changing at least in some ways, for the most part she was still the same Videl and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Thanks." She mumbled.
"Shall I fly you to our date milady." He asked, with a fake air of old fashion chivalry in his voice.
"You may." She answered.
He lifted her into his arms and walked onto the balcony, closing the door behind them before taking off towards the restaurant.
When they arrived at the restaurant Gohan circled for a while. There was something he had to ask Videl before landing.
"Videl?"
"What is it Gohan? Why aren't we landing?"
"There something I need to talk to you about real quick."
"Well what is it?"
"I don't want to tell Sharpner and Erasa about me being Sayaman, not yet anyway. So I'd like to ask you to keep what you know hidden, at least for the time being."
"No problem Gohan, just try to find someplace to transform where they won't see you."
Gohan nodded and set down in an alley. He looked both ways and shielded himself from view behind Videl, before transforming.
"Let's go." He said offering Videl his arm.
She took his arm with a smile and the two of them walked towards the restaurant.
Videl looked around as they left the alley and walked onto the square in front of the restaurant. It took a while, but she spotted Sharpner and Erasa and steered Gohan over to them. After a brief exchange of hellos the three of them entered the restaurant.
Inside they were guided to their table, and a waiter came to give them the menus and ask what they wanted to drink. A few moments were spend on deciding what they wanted to eat. And soon the waiter returned with their drinks, and they were ready to order. After they'd placed their orders and the waiter left and the conversation really got started.
"So tell me." Erasa asked Videl. "You're here with Gohan, are you two...?"
"Yes we're together." Videl said, smiling at the look of shock that passed over Erasa and Sharpner's faces.
"Well congratulations," Erasa said, still looking stunned, "but I must say it's a bit of a surprise. You've always been so distant toward boys."
"Yeah congratulations." Sharpner seconded her. "We've got a little surprise of our own for you two, but that will come later."
"Hmm." Videl said. "You're making me awfully curious."
"Well we'll tell you later." Erasa said. "Let's go powder our noses now."
Videl looked at her friend strangely, but realised it was an opportunity to talk to Erasa alone, and maybe find out what all the secretive stuff was about, so she nodded and followed her friend.
Sharpner leaned closer to Gohan when the girls had left.
"So how did you and Videl get together?" He whispered.
Gohan could feel himself blush and scratched the back of his head. "That's a rather personal question Sharpner." He whispered back.
"Common man you can tell me. What do you think Erasa is questioning Videl about in the ladies room?"
"Well." Gohan said, trying desperately to remain diplomatic. "I suppose we just found that we liked each other more than we'd previously realised."
"In other words you kissed her." Sharpner said.
Gohan felt his blush deepen and just scratched the back of his head again.
"The same thing happened between me and Erasa." Sharpner continued. "All of a sudden we just found ourselves kissing each other."
Gohan nodded slightly during his scratching efforts.
A similar conversation was happening at the same time in the ladies room where Videl stood watching as Erasa touched up her make up. Despite the fact that she was paying more attention to her clothes, Videl's feminine side had not yet gotten to the point where she wore make up.
"So tell me." Erasa said while applying some eye shadow. "How did you and Gohan get together?"
"I don't know if I should tell you." Videl said.
"Come on girl, if you can't tell me who can you tell?"
"Nobody I guess."
"Exactly and do you really want to just keep it to yourself for the rest of your life?"
"I guess not."
"So tell me."
"You're not going to drop this unless I do are you."
"Nope I'm not."
"Oh very well then. I guess it all just happened. Gohan invited me to spar on the first Sunday of the holidays. Well we had quite a spar, it was like the one we had in front of you and Sharpner at the house, only longer, neither of us gave the other any ground.
So after a few hours of this we needed to rest, well I certainly did anyway, so we sat down on a rock. Then I guess I sort of leaned over toward Gohan, and he leaned over toward me, and the next minute our lips were pressed against each other and we were kissing like there was no tomorrow."
"Sounds like a weird way to start a romance, fighting each other."
"Well I guess it isn't exactly the most common way to get started, but it worked for us. But now it's your turn, spill it. What are you and Sharpner hiding?"
"Sorry Videl, I can't tell you. I promised Sharpner I wouldn't, besides you'll find out soon enough."
"Come on girl. I just told you about me and Gohan."
"No, I gave Sharpner my word."
"Ah well, let's go back out there so you can tell us then."
Gohan, having been raised by his mother to be a proper gentleman got up of his chair and helped Videl sit down, pushing her toward the table.
She smiled up at him, but at the same time he could tell from the look on her face that she was almost embarrassed about it, she was a strong girl and apparently had problems being helped like this.
He glanced over to Sharpner who was helping Erasa like-wise. The two of them had hatched the plan for this little politeness offensive while the girls were in the powder room. They exchanged a smile before sitting back down themselves.
As Gohan sat down he could sense Videl's Ki behind him, and when he turned around he noticed that she'd gotten up and was now in position to push him toward the table. He smiled and put his head in the back of his neck, allowing her to give him a small kiss as she pushed him forward.
"All right." He said when their lips parted. "The point is taken miss independence, no more chair pushing."
Videl could feel the self satisfied smile on her face as she sat back down. Part of her had really enjoyed Gohan's actions. Not so much the push itself as the attention, but she didn't feel like letting her feminine side run away with her completely yet.
She looked around the table to see that Sharpner and Erasa were both giggling at the scene that had just played out in front of them.
She was just about to ask those two what they wanted to tell her and Gohan, when the waiter came back bringing their dinner.
They all started eating after that. But after a few bites Videl couldn't contain her curiosity anymore.
"So you guys." She said. "What did you want to tell us?"
She looked at Sharpner and Erasa who exchanged a glance. Sharpner nodded. And finally Erasa spoke up.
"We're engaged, we're getting married."
Videl could feel her mouth hanging open with shock, but found herself unable to close it. Even Gohan looked shocked and had stopped eating. Something truly rare for a Saiyan.
"When?" Videl finally managed to choke out.
"We haven't decided yet." Erasa said, looking rather amused at the reaction.
"If you guys hurry we could have a double wedding." Sharpner kidded.
Videl laughed at this and saw Gohan do the same thing. Sharpner's remark had managed to get them over the shock.
"I'm not sure I'd want a double wedding." She said.
When did I start thinking about marrying? She wondered, yet the remark had come so naturally.
"Well, we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it." Gohan said.
Hmm. Videl thought. Apparently he doesn't rank the idea in the realm of the impossible either.
"But for now." Gohan continued. "Let's finish dinner and then we have a movie to go to."
When they finished dining they had some time left before they had to be at the cinema. So Gohan and Videl questioned Sharpner and Erasa some. From the story they gathered that Sharpner had proposed out of the blue. He'd been out shopping with Erasa when they came to a jewellery store. He'd asked Erasa her ring-size and then gone, coming back out a moment later with a diamond engagement ring, in the right size, dropping to one knee and asking the question.
At the cinema Gohan got the tickets, which he'd booked in advance, and they went quickly inside. Gohan being a Saiyan got a large bucket of popcorn, as well as a drink. But he limited himself to a more or less normal amount.
Soon after Gohan had purchased his refreshments a voice could be heard through the speaker-system, warning that the movie would start in ten minutes and they took their seats near the back of the theatre.
They chatted for a few more minutes before the lights went out and the credits started to role.
Waves and Rocks productions presents.
A Satan City Films Production
Directed by John Luney
When the Aliens Came.
More writing filled the screen as an introduction.
About twelve years ago, the world was glued to the TV as reports of aliens landing on earth and fighting a Special Forces unit filled their screens. Now we are proud to bring you a re-enactment of what happened then.
Videl looked over at Gohan when she'd finished reading this. He'd been there, he'd told her. So why go to this movie. The look on his face soon made it all clear to her. He hadn't known. His expression was one of complete and utter shock.
"You didn't know." She whispered, though it was painfully obvious.
"No." He whispered back. "But I hope they did a decent job of it, or Vegeta will blow up the Earth the moment he hears about it."
They returned their attention to the screen.
Two spherical space pods were crashing in the out-skirts of a city. Out of one stepped a man looking not to unlike Vegeta. The other alien however definitely wasn't Nappa. For that matter the other alien wasn't even a man, it was a woman, she was slightly taller than 'Vegeta' and had long flowing red hair.
"Ah Nappa." 'Vegeta' said. "We've finally arrived at this pitiful excuse for a planet."
"Yes prince Vegeta." 'Nappa' replied. "Now we can have some fun."
"Yes my sweet."
Gohan choked audibly.
"We will have a lot of fun destroying these weaklings so we can sell their planet. But first let us see if there are any strong warriors we will have to deal with first."
Gohan turned to Videl and whispered. "In case you're wondering Nappa was actually a seven foot tall bold guy."
'Vegeta' meanwhile had pulled out something that looked more like a dragon radar than a scouter and was studying it.
"Hnn. It appears that some of the weaklings on this planet aren't quite as weak anymore." He stated. "I'm detecting six rather large power levels that way." He pointed in a random direction."
"What should we do with these pitiful weaklings my prince." 'Nappa' said looking around.
"Dispose of them as you please." 'Vegeta' stated. "They are of no concern to us."
'Nappa' Took to the air and fired a bolt of energy destroying a few blocks of housing.
"Now that you've had your fun my sweet shall we go?" Vegeta said.
"That doesn't sound like Vegeta to me." Videl whispered. "I know I don't know him that well, but it definitely doesn't sound like him."
"Believe me it doesn't." Gohan whispered in reply, but again the screen demanded their attention.
'Nappa' and 'Vegeta' were now flying of in the direction that was being indicated by the 'scouter'.
The scene changed to show the two aliens landing in the dessert. Where they were immediately confronted by all six of the Earth's elite fighters.
Gohan winced as the camera showed each of them in turn. 'Chaozu' was way to tall and he was standing on the ground, something the little emperor rarely did, 'Tien's' third eye seemed to be missing at first glance but in the follow up shot appeared to have been moved to the back of his head. 'Piccolo' was probably one of the best portrayed. Though his antennae were pointing to the sides rather than in front of him.
'Krillin' was too tall, and had three dots on his head instead of six, forming a triangle on his forehead. But other than that he looked more or less like himself.
When they came to 'Yamcha' Gohan couldn't help a grin from forming on his face. They'd got the scars right, but somehow Yamcha had ended up with blue hair, like Bulma's.
The laughter that was about to break out died in his mouth as the camera moved to 'him'.
It seemed that the filmmakers had been lead by the fact that his clothes had been a lot like Piccolo's, so they'd made him a Namek. Like Piccolo he had antennae that were sticking out to the sides, but what shocked him most was the fact they'd left his hair, but made it green.
"I look like Dende with hair." He whispered to Videl.
"Yes you do." She giggled.
"Come on Videl. This isn't funny. It would be if it wasn't me, but now it's not."
"Oh please Gohan. Don't take it so seriously."
Gohan had to admit she had a point it was only a movie after all. He sighed and continued to watch.
On screen one crazy thing happened after another. First the Saiyans and the Earth special forces just stood there staring at each other and then 'Nappa' and 'Yamcha' began to flirt with each other.
After a while 'Vegeta' summoned the Saibamen by blowing on a whistle, rather than growing them, and the fight between the Earth's forces and the Saibamen began. Just like it had happened in real life, 'Yamcha' was attacked kamikaze style, but in the movie 'Nappa' pulled of the Saibamen. She then lightly kissed 'Yamcha' and the two of them faced 'Vegeta'.
Who was finally killed by a bolt of energy shot of by the two of them together. The rest of the movie went on about 'Yamcha' and 'Nappa' settling down together and raising a family. And also about the prejudices they faced, being a human alien couple.
When Gohan walked out of the cinema next to Videl he was in a state of numbness. It really was laughable. He thought to himself. But if Vegeta ever saw it the world would probably end.
Nah, Vegeta would have Bulma screaming at him for eternity if he did that. But it wouldn't be pretty. That was for sure.
"Are you okay Gohan?" Erasa asked.
Gohan looked up from his contemplations and nodded. "I'll be fine. I'm just a bit shocked."
"Why?" Sharpner joined the conversation. "I thought it was a rather good movie."
"Let's see, they got everybody's looks wrong, the turned Nappa into a woman, and me into a Namek. What's there to be shocked about?" Gohan remarked absent mindedly no realising what he'd just told Sharpner and Erasa until it was too late.
He looked over to the other three to see a look of shock on Videl's face while the two blonds both looked puzzled.
"What do you mean by that?" Sharpner finally asked.
"Ah well, I might as well tell you guys, you'd figure it out sooner or later anyway. I was there. I was the little boy, that's what I meant when I said they turned me into a Namek, that's what those green guys are called, though they never have hair."
"What were you doing there?" Erasa asked.
"Well, I'm a bit ashamed to admit that for the most part I was being scared stiff. Perhaps not wholly inexcusable for a six year old, facing some of the toughest aliens there are, but it's the only time in my life that happened. The actual fight lasted a lot longer than the one in the movie. And I did join in for a bit in the end, but mostly I just couldn't move for fear."
"But what would you being doing there in the first place as a six year old?" Sharpner asked.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. Not now anyway. Perhaps in time you will know, but telling someone you're not telling them anything is better than lying, or even worse than lying, twisting the truth."
"Why is twisting the truth worse than lying?" Videl wanted to know.
"Because when you twist the truth the changes can be so subtle the peoples whole worlds are turned upside down when they find out the real truth."
Videl nodded at Gohan's remark, he hadn't said it in so many words, but the look in his eyes told her everything. Everything she'd already known, he was talking about her. About what her father had done after the Cell-games. That had been twisting the truth, Hercule had been there, and Cell had been defeated, but not by Hercule.
They walked along in silence. Erasa and Sharpner lived next door to each other and not to far out of the city centre so Videl and Gohan dropped them off at their houses before he changed into to Sayaman and scooped her into his arms, flying her home.
As they made their way to her balcony Videl thought about something Gohan had said some time ago.
"Gohan." She said as they landed.
"Hmm." He replied.
"You said some time ago that you might teach me how to fly, would you?"
"I suppose. My little brother has been asking me to teach him as well. So once I get you up to speed on how to use your Ki, I could teach you both at the same time."
Videl nodded, it made sense. Well part of it anyway.
"So how do I use my Ki?" She inquired.
"Let's leave that for tomorrow okay. I know how Piccolo taught me how to use mine, but I don't think you'd like that strategy."
"Why what did he do?"
"He threw me as hard as he could at a mountain."
"What happened?"
"I blew up the mountain, but I don't think you have that level of strength yet, so it would be somewhat painful."
"So how else can you teach me?"
"To be honest I haven't a clue yet. I'll have to give it some thought tonight. Just come to my place tomorrow morning and hopefully I'll have a plan on how to teach you by then."
"Okay. I'll be there. Have a good flight home." She gave him a small kiss on the lips.
"I'll be careful don't worry. See you in the morning." He replied, yelling the last sentence over his shoulder as he took off.
How am I going to teach her? Gohan thought as he headed for the Son home. Flying is going to be the easy part. She's got a decent Ki already because she uses it without knowing, but teaching her to control it...
He sighed. All to soon he reached home. It wasn't too late yet so Goten was there when he landed.
"Hey big brother." He chirped. "How was your date?"
"Fine Goten."
"So what are we going to do tomorrow?"
"Well I'm going to teach Videl to use her Ki. And then I was thinking I'd teach you and her both how to fly. But I'm not sure if I can get her to that point tomorrow. So that may take a while longer."
"Yippee. I'm gonna fly, I'm gonna fly."
//I really can't imagine Goten hearing this and not saying that line."
The next morning Videl got up early and after a quick shower and breakfast routine, she ran out the door, got out her copter and started to push her jets to the limit racing to the Son home.
When she got there Gohan was waiting for her outside.
"Hey Gohan." She said as she got out of her copter. "So what are the odds I'll be flying home today without the need for the jet-copter?"
"I'm not sure about that. But I don't think so, you shouldn't try flying long distance without a guide right away. Even if you do learn today, and I'm not positive on that. It takes a while to figure out how to control your energy."
"But you have found a way of teaching me right?"
"Well I have an idea. So we'll just see if it works."
"Okay."
"Let's get to the training field first."
Videl nodded and followed him.
"Okay." Gohan said as they reached the field. "Just sit down so that you're comfortable."
Videl nodded and sat down.
"Good, now just relax."
I hope this works. He thought. Because if this doesn't I'm temporarily out of ideas.
He watched Videl until he was sure she was relaxed.
"Hold your hands like this." He instructed her, showing her his own hands, the palms slightly curved, while he held them about ten inches apart.
She held her hands in the right position.
"Good." He said again. "Now watch me. I'm going to show you the first step of controlling your Ki."
Very slowly he brought out a little bit of his Ki.
// Same sort of ball he forms in the series.
"Now that's the first step. What you have to do to reach that is to find yourself I suppose. Just find a feeling in side of you, probably in the pit of your stomach, that feels like it's you, your strength and your character, and then bring that out.
Videl focused. She found the feeling Gohan had mentioned as if her essence was just sitting there inside of her.
She concentrated on it and could feel it moving slowly through her body at her command, finally it slowly pushed out of her hands, forming a ball similar to the one Gohan had made. It took a lot of effort though, and soon she pulled her hands apart, letting the energy slide back into her.
"Wow, that was great." Gohan said. "I really didn't think you'd do so well so quickly."
"So I'm still capable of surprising you." She asked teasingly.
"Yeah, your really doing great. Now, before you learn to fly I think it would be best if you learn to fire Ki-blasts."
"Ki-blasts?"
"It's when you use your Ki-as a beam or blast to attack, it's what I did the other day when I blew up that mountain. Though you won't be blowing up mountains any time soon."
"Why not?"
"Well you might just make it actually, in a couple of days, if you could learn one of the more complex attacks. They allow you to concentrate your Ki so you can do way more damage than you could with a normal blast, but, and you'll notice this soon enough, once you learn to use your Ki, you can sense other peoples, so I can sense yours and it's not big enough yet. It'll get stronger though. It's just like your muscles, when you use it, work out as it were, it gets stronger."
"So how long until I'm at the level you're on now?" Videl wondered out loud.
"From what I know." Gohan said. "You'll never get here, even the strongest human fighters can't even keep up with me before I go Super, let alone after that, but if there's one thing I've learned when it comes to strength it's never say never, so you just might at some point, but Dende help me, I have no idea how or why you could reach it."
Videl nodded, she'd felt like she had to ask, but she'd expected this answer. After all Gohan did have an advantage over her being half alien.
"So how do I, I don't know, what verb do you use, make, fire, a Ki-blast."
"I'd say fire." Gohan said. "And to do so you just force out your Ki through one or both hands. I'd start with one hand if I were you. Now the difference with what you did before is that you really shoot it away, and you do it as fast as possible. A basic blast will just go in a straight line from your hand, so that's how you aim it, just move your hand."
Videl nodded again. She reached inside herself, feeling her Ki, and this time brought it out through her right hand only. She pointed her hand at a rock, and felt a rush of savage joy when she saw her Ki shoot out, cracking the aforementioned rock.
"So," she asked, "if that's a basic blast, what are those more complex techniques you mentioned?"
"There are to many to mention right now, but to name a few, there's the Kamehameha, that's master Roshi's special attack, he taught my dad and Krillin. Then there's the special beam cannon, that's Piccolo's move. And finally for me the Masenko will always be in the top three, but that's because it's my attack, I developed it myself."
"Why did you?"
"Well my dad didn't train me, Piccolo did, but he didn't really teach me his own special attacks, he and my dad were enemies, I suppose he did want me to be strong, so I could help defend the Earth. But at that point he still wanted to take over the world, so he didn't want to give the other side the advantage of me knowing his special attack."
"So when are you going to teach me those?"
"Not yet, they can take a while to learn and you now have enough control to learn how to fly first."
"Okay, let's get Goten out here then and start flying school."
Gohan was surprised when Videl managed to hover after only about an hour. Goten was zooming around in no time of course, but Saiyans were a lot better at using their Ki than humans, it just came naturally to them.
When evening fell she could already fly, albeit it somewhat shakily. Also her Ki was still relatively low so she tired quickly, but Gohan could sense that it had already risen since that morning.
Naturally she came again the next day, and he decided to make things a bit more difficult on her, using the materialisation he'd learned from Piccolo to give her weighted down training clothes. Also next to his own training he sparred with her, which really made her Ki rise.
Two weeks later Gohan looked at Videl with pride as she flew around firing Ki-blasts at various rocks. He was training her, and it was definitely paying of. She had really become a lot stronger, she'd probably be as strong as he'd been when he'd first gone to Namek soon.
He put a hand over his pocket and felt the small box there.
Is it still to early? He wondered. Or should I just go for it.
He looked at her as she made another pass, a few more rocks suffered. This whole area had been made into a training ground with the Dragon Balls long ago, all the damage done would automatically be restored in a few days.
Making up his mind he shot up into the air. Blocking Videl's path. She came to a stop, just hovering in front of him.
He lowered himself onto one knee in the air and took the box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal the ring he'd selected.
"Videl Satan, will you marry me?"
/*
How will Videl answer this question? Should Gohan have listened to his fears about this being to soon, find out next time on Life is Strange.
God I did it again, another evil cliff-hanger. Especially evil since I'm not sure what she's going to say yet. So be nice and review and tell me what you want her to say. I'll go with my own idea in the end anyway, but review anyway.
I'm not too evil actually I thought about letting the only bells in this chapter be Sharpner and Erasa, but I was afraid that Lady Queen might have figured out that really horrible thing to do to me by now.
I'll try to keep writing as fast as I can, but I've been slowing down a bit, you have to have the inspiration before you can write. Now all of you go review like good little readers and I'll get to work on the next chapter, and Videl's answer.
*/