The Kakarrotto Saga
Chapter 1: Training halted! Who are these people?
By claudius
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I do not own any of these properties. "Tenchi Muyo" (created by Masaki Kajishima and Yosuke Kuroda) is owned by AIC. "The New Mutants" (created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod), Magneto (by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby), Psylocke (by Alan Moore and Alan Davis), and Luna (by John Byrne), are owned by Marvel Comics. "Dragon Ball" (by Akira Toriyama) is owned by Bird Studios.
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Being a fan of anime (which no doubt inspired my Tenchi/New Mutants fanfiction X-Over THE PRINCE AND THE SORCERESS), I thought of adding more crossovers of the New Mutants and other anime stories (it helps when you have a dimensional teleporter in the team).
However, my need to present these X-Overs before my interest waned surpassed the patience in eventually processing stories in a chronological order, which would take a long time. So I thought of doing this. Since these X-Overs were broken up into different storylines attached to one running plot, I thought of releasing the first chapter of each story simultaneously (only the concluding storylines will be postponed for a certain chronological intention).
My design is a series of different individual stories. This would begin with one introduction storyline, leading to three stories that will all eventually lead to a climatic storyline, and finally a falling action. Story A (which I have now finished) is the introductory storyline that will present the major assortment of characters. Their adventures would be continued in Story B, and following that, Story C. Story BC will be a subplot to these two stories, with different characters and story revelations that will prove important later. Both casts will finally be brought together in a climatic storyline, Story D, followed by a conclusion (Story E). The story you are now reading is Story C, which has been simultaneously released with Story B. This means that future chapters will come to fill the gap between B and C.
This is a map to help weaken the confusion you readers might be having. Please note that as yet some of these stories are as yet untitled:
Tenchi the New Mutant (Chapters 1-5: Story A)
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/-------------------------------------------------------\
Mutants in Gunsmoke (Story B) Rescue from Limbo (Story BC)
The Kakarrotto Saga (Story C)
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Twilight (Story D)
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Tenchi the New Mutant (Chapters 6-etc.: Story E)
I know this experiment would wreck the surprise and mystery for readers. After all, reading story C would imply that story B had to end well for the characters. However, I hope not to give too much away. Besides, the reader would have already guessed by reading Story A that I mean to be faithful to the canons these X-overs come from. No matter how bad the situation the characters are in, they will have to fulfill their destinies. For the reader, the surprise will be in how they survive.
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I've come to the point of my story where it might be confusing for those unfamiliar of New Mutants lore (and my own) to understand the constant dual naming. Here is a list of the New Mutants that have code-names:
Dani Moonstar (Mirage) Amara Aquilla (Magma)
Sam Guthrie (Cannonball) Illyana Rasputin (Magik)
Xian/Shan Coy Manh (Karma) Doug Ramsey (Cypher)
Roberto DaCosta (Sunspot) Tenchi Masaki (Light-Ken)
Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane)
Also Betsy Braddock (Psylocke)
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Tenchi Masaki visited the School for Gifted Youngsters to see his friends the New Mutants. He then was initiated into their membership, taking on the name Light-Ken. Unfortunately, a teleportation trip courtesy of his friend Magik went wrong, sending the entire team, their friend Psylocke, their headmaster Magneto, and his granddaughter Luna, through worlds and times beyond their comprehension.
Their first trip in the planet Gunsmoke nearly was deadly thanks to the intervention of outlaws and murderers, one an inconspicuous outlaw named Vash the Stampede. What new place will they end up next?
Meanwhile, sensing Tenchi's disappearance, his alien friends and relatives strive to search for him in the dimension of Limbo.
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Gohan stood quietly. The sound of his position was clear, for none was around him beside the wind that blew along the rocky canyons. The boy was erect, on top of a tower of rock that stood center in the ravine.
Still, looking alone was no guarantee of being alone.
Gohan twitched his head, a face on guard. He leapt into the air. The tower exploded beneath him. Round one was made. Hovering in the sky, the boy saw a ball of energy come toward him. His mind quickly examined this attack's objective: Diversion or aggression? Throwing his arm at the projectile, Gohan fired a blast of energy at it. Then he quickly turned and fired at the opposite direction. His first target- an orb of energy- exploded. This was the same case for the projectile he fired his second blast at. Unfortunately, in those seconds, Gohan realized he was only blasting stray orbs. The attacks were lacking in danger. That meant...
With speed, the boy turned extreme left. It was fortunate, for diving above him was his opponent.
"Gotcha!" cried Gohan. Ready for him, the boy released a surge of energy at him. The demonic-looking antagonist batted the shot like a baseball player. Using the time given to him, the boy threw a fist, only to see it shielded by the opponent's green hand.
Another fist- equally blocked.
Then a kick- also defended. This grim-masked opponent, skin of emerald hue, garbed in purple, had now neutralized all of Gohan's attacks.
Gohan realized now he was spending too much time on the enemy facing him. There was another. He ducked to avoid an energy beam from behind. It would have appeared that this sneak attack would harm the opponent at face, but the green one avoided it quickly. By a weird perspective, this demon was met by another who looked just like him. The two got closer together, resolved to find the boy below them. They were blind to the descending child's secret flight into a higher plane than them. Now was the time, thought Gohan. He aimed for the release of a larger stream of energy. He smiled, believing that this surprise maneuver would end this session. Victory was now his...
A fist rammed behind the boy's head. Off guard, Gohan was unable to roll away from the impact. He took the full blow and started to fall. Luckily, the hand that punched also grabbed the boy by his sash, keeping him afloat.
"Watch out for those surprise attacks, kiddo," squeaked the supporter.
Gohan gave a sad smile. Although he asked Kuririn to help in training, he did not expect him to be here today.
Flying to Gohan and Kuririn were the two Namekians (actually, make that double versions of one Namekian, Piccolo). The doubles simultaneously folded their arms, their facial expressions cold and still.
"Looks like Gohan gave you two a hard time," joked Kuririn.
"I don't know what you are implying," quipped the Piccolo at right.
"I was just playing with the boy right now," said the left Piccolo. Despite the stoic mask, both Namekian were pleased with the boy's performance.
By now, Gohan had recovered from Kuririn's blow (save for a headache) and was now hovering with them on his own.
"Thanks for your help, Kuririn," said Gohan.
"Anytime," squeaked Kuririn. "I don't know why Goku decided to train separately. That's not like him at all."
Gohan sighed. His friend could only guess at what he had experienced in the past months. Before that time- in the second year after training began- everything was going great in the kid's view. It was when his training was mentored not only by the great fighter Piccolo, but also by his father, the even greater fighter named Son Goku. In a course they had done in the past and (most of them) were now practicing in the present, they trained together for the future confrontation against Dr. Gero and his Androids. The training was intense, long, and busy, but it was an enjoyable thing for Gohan to fight with these two masters. He originally thought his dad felt the same way, working with his son to get stronger.
Unfortunately, time changed those perceptions. As the deadline that promised the Androids' appearance got closer, Goku started to act more serious. His interest in bettering himself became more frequent. To Gohan, that wasn't a problem at first. He knew of a prediction about his father that was really upsetting. Son Goku was supposed to die of a heart disease before the Androids came. Now, considering that appearance was seven months away, news like that would bother anybody; how would you feel if you learned that you were going to die soon? Gohan himself wouldn't be too happy being in that position. He would have good reason to be serious.
However, this explanation got narrow as time went on. Gohan saw an obsession growing in his father's power crave. There were the physical changes: Goku started eating less (said it made him lazy). The emotional changes followed with more extremity: Goku became more focused on his own self then anyone else. It was his power that truly mattered. This meant that he had no patience on anything else, especially his son. Gohan witnessed the training days show a change in his father's words to him. Positive remarks like "That's m' boy," and "You've done more 'n enough," changed into insults like "You're too slow!" and "Cantcha do anythin' right?" The boy had become a burden in his father's eyes.
Despite this, the son kept on a good resolve. This did not save him from the worst yet to come: Three weeks ago, Goku dropped the bomb on Gohan: he didn't want to train him anymore. Dad stated his reasons: Gohan was too slow, too stupid and weak, with no promise whatsoever that he could even become a competent fighter. In short, he was a lost cause. Dad laid his words thick and real. No softening of the truth due to sympathy. Just the real truth.
And it was the truth. The father's decision broke the son's heart. Gohan didn't cry afterwards, but the hurt was real enough to make that reaction possible. There was nothing in the verdict the boy could contradict. After all, his father was the greatest fighter ever (not to mention the kindest). Not like this wimp he knew as himself. One who was wet behind the ears, one who was never born to fight, one who always needed rescuing (letting others die). How could he be anything but a hindrance?
Gohan never got to hear any further confirmation from his father. Rather, he saw it. Shortly afterwards, his dad vanished. Obviously, Goku couldn't stand him anymore. Soon after, Piccolo found the tattered remains of an orange Gi and dark-blue clothing a few miles away. Those were his father's. According to the Namekian's words, there was no sign of blood nor burn marks to justify a losing battle. From the look of his cruel face, Piccolo wasn't sure that there was even a battle!
Piccolo said little about that matter after that, moving on. Everyday, the Namekian kept coming like he usually did, training himself and Gohan. The boy liked that, but he felt it strange that he should even be worth Piccolo's attention; his father stated that he and Piccolo were going to train away from Gohan. One of the father's last words was, "Piccolo also knows how pointless training you really is."
With the same heaviness of heart, Gohan expected that to happen. It did not. The proceeding day saw Piccolo coming as usual, demanding that Gohan come for training. The boy gave the Namekian all of his father's reasons to give up on him. He just shrugged them all with no interest. "You are my partner." Piccolo cruelly bellowed. "Do you have a problem with that!?" That was all the pressure it took to throw Gohan into compliance. Still, there was no regret the boy felt about obeying his mentor's wish. Nor was there any reason for the boy to give up. He had to protect his family and friends from the Androids; training and fighting was the only way he knew how to promise that protection.
"Ready for another round?" smiled Gohan, hiding away his worries.
Piccolo had by now merged back into one person. Rubbing his wrists, which made his muscles expand, the Namekian was about to agree when his senses amplified. His face stern with eyes perceptive, Piccolo darted into the air, searching for the problem.
"I just felt a strong Ki!"
Kuririn and Gohan became sensitive to it as well. It started big, than it shrank into a smaller, but still noticeable influence. Could be a group.
Without saying anything, Piccolo created a turban and cape. Fully garbed, the Namekian zoomed away, his companions closely following.
===
Half a minute before, there was nothing to be seen in a region jaggedly assorted with rocks, boulders, cliffs and canyons.
Half a minute later, a stepping disc ripped through the air. Eight people fell from it, with an inch distance to the ground.
At least the stepping disc was not in the sky this time, thought Tenchi. Looking around him, the boy saw Magneto (with Luna), Warlock, Doug, Shan, Rahne, and Roberto regain their footing.
"Are we back home?" asked Rahne, switching to lupine. No one knew. They were inside some rocky ravine, with no trees. However, it was pleasing to see one sun instead of two. Before celebrations could be made though, Magneto killed the moment.
"This is not our Earth."
"How are you certain?" asked Roberto.
The headmaster was strongly erect, his cape flowing in the wind. His arms showed contrast to this coldness, softly holding his granddaughter within their protection. "In the past, I rearranged the magnetic fields of our world. They remain that way still. I feel a completely different aura here."
Tenchi scratched his hairy chin in astonishment. "Can he really do that?" he spoke aloud to Doug.
"He isn't the Master of Magnetism for nothing," Doug confirmed, then asking a question himself. "So are we in another planet?"
Warlock made the next answer: "SELF- requires- SUFFICIENT- data- IN- confirmation."
Tenchi tried to find an answer from someone else he knew. He failed in locating her within the party. "Where's Illyana!" he shouted with the realization.
"They're near here!" growled Wolfsbane, her wolfen transformation giving her a rapport. "Tis ev'ryone else, an' Dani too!"
"Great," sighed Tenchi. "We're lost separately, now we will be lost together."
"Now is not the time to argue," demanded Magneto. "Now we should rejoin the others and hope Magik can get us back."
Tenchi held it. He could easily complain about his own interests; His quiet vacation to the School for Gifted Youngsters was interrupted when he and his team, the New Mutants, were kidnapped by some madwoman, followed by a teleportation accident by Illyana that sent them into a different world. To get out of that world of plants, outlaws and psychopaths, they relied on Illyana's powers, bringing a repeat in the outcome.
But Tenchi was not one to worry about himself while others were in the same situation. Illyana's teleportation through dimensions had separated the team. To his upheaval, Dani, Amara, Sam, and Betsy were in absence. The teleporter was also missing. Her individuality gave Tenchi special thought. It was an irony that he would consider her with pleasantry despite her mistakes. He couldn't help it. After what happened, he thought her being as the most wonderful.
His thoughts were dented by the growl of Wolfsbane. "Somethin's comin' this way!"
"Good or bad?" asked Tenchi, grabbing his sword.
Out came a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"Um, I guess Bad!" shouted Doug.
===
It was probably a good thing that dinosaur came when it did, Kuririn thought. It was presumed among the group that they would be detected by that man-wolf (it couldn't be a wolf-man; those guys needed a full moon to be furry). Luckily, the dinosaur took that role. Gohan asked that they should help those kids, but it soon appeared that was no problem. Sure, the beast stomped menacingly at its victims, but then it surprisingly backed away. One boy took out a sword and jumped on the beast; he and the man-wolf threw their weapons onto its skin. Another turned into black energy, and grabbed the dinosaur's leg, tackling it (both sword boy and the wolf- in its case, eventually- removed themselves). As this happened, the man in purple, who had a babe in his arms, flew into the air with arms stretched. Though no energy was seen from his gesture, detected levels increased. A weird-looking robot, covered in black and gold, stretched a long arm on the dinosaur's head. In seconds, a black shroud grew on the beast, covering it with armor like the creature. It was now as black and gold as the machine was, though the gold suddenly started fading away. It appeared to be draining away from the dinosaur and into the robot. In seconds, the transformed beast just stood there like a statue.
A sweat developed on Kuririn's head. "Who are these people?"
"Could they be the Androids?" asked Gohan, a question that made his bald friend even more worried.
"No." answered Piccolo. He reserved his actions, allowing his ears to get the information. He couldn't find a word to understand.
"A-are you sure of that?" asked Kuririn sincerely.
Piccolo did not turn for his answer. "Since the androids are artificial," he explained, "they would not be honing any energy level. These persons, however, are emitting Ki's."
"And look, Kuririn!" Gohan added. "One of them is protecting a child. The Androids would never do that."
Kuririn calmed down. Still, these beings were something.
At that moment, the man-wolf looked at their direction.
===
The mutants gathered around the statuesque foundation that once lived. With help from Magneto's energy field, Karma's possession, Light-Ken's blade, Wolfsbane's claws, and Sunspot's strength, the beast was vulnerable to Warlock's transmode virus. Encased within his techno-organic friend, Doug would have yelled at Warlock for implementing this move if he wasn't so freaked out at the monstrosity that no longer lived.
"Uh…I could be just paranoid," cried Doug, "but…what the hell is a Tyrannosaurus Rex doing here?!"
"Aren't they supposed to be extinct?" asked Roberto.
Standing nearby, Tenchi got a bad feeling about this. Could Illyana have sent them to the prehistoric age?
For future safety, Magneto handed Luna over to Shan. He was now free to lead the discovery. His thoughts shared with everyone in coincidental questioning to where Illyana may have sent them. However, the Headmaster had alternatives. This whole place resembled the Savage Land, an underground domain he once lived in his Earth. To his disappointment, Magneto could not feel any similar magnetic waves that could verify proof of their location being that. Concentrating, he made a search around the environment by the airwaves. He spotted anomalies.
"We are being watched!" cried Magneto. This startled the gang except for Wolfsbane, who growled in agreement. "Aye, I sense it too."
Magneto threw his arm at a cliff in the distance. Two persons came flying out of it.
===
"What's happening?!" cried Kuririn at his sudden loss of control. Gohan too was in the dark about their sudden thrust into the air, as though an invisible puppeteer had pulled strings on them.
"A battle!" cried Piccolo. He was the only one unaffected by the pull. At first taking a reserved position on this event, he recognized the time to retaliate. Perched on the cliff, he pointed directly to his forehead. Energy crackled from this gesture. He then threw this arm like a whip. A whip cracks when its thrust is suddenly restrained. When Piccolo's arm stopped suddenly, his pointed finger cracked a beam of energy that swam with a swirling spiral toward the group below. The contact registered a huge blinding explosion. The blast freed Gohan and Kuririn, so they joined Piccolo as he leapt off his perch. They all landed at the wake of the smoke.
"Be ready!" shouted Piccolo. "I only threw a warning shot."
Sure enough, the smoke before the fighters passed on. Their clear look showed the man in purple standing resolute, his henchmen behind him.
===
Magneto studied his opponents. The taller opponent seemed the most powerful. "Stay behind me!" he commanded to all the students away from his view.
Unfortunately, he saw Light-Ken jump from a hiding place. The boy screamed in the air with his sword unsheathed. As one can predict from this all too open attack, the green figure neutralized this challenge. A raised arm to Light-ken's direction summoned a force of wind that threw the boy backwards.
Sunspot charged from the same place, hoping to catch the opponent unaware. In a second-long cut, the boy found his chest pounded by the green figure's foot. He dropped.
Frustrated at his students' recklessness, Magneto used his powers to protect both. He cushioned Tenchi's impact from hitting the wall behind him. His next move was to get this green person out of his students' way.
===
Already, Piccolo had taken down two of these opponents. If there was any evidence about these strangers' connection to the powers Dr. Gero promised in Trunks' story, the Namekian didn't cross it.
His flowing cape instantly turned traitor, wrapping around him like a mummy. There was no wind to cause this. Piccolo felt the cloak squeeze tighter without any outside cause. His turban also unraveled, spreading into a lengthier scarf that shrouded the demon's head. His direction was also manipulated, flying in complete reverse.
Magneto had felt the metallic linings of this person's raiment. He twisted this notice to his advantage, using it to throw the green one away. It was a drastic measure to delete one who posed the most danger to his students.
Heading toward his captive, Magneto's proud words were interrupted when the green one exploded from his cocoon in a speed that was unscheduled. The remnants of the cocoon zoomed out of sight in its uninterrupted course, but Magneto gave no heed to that. The lack of the green one's turban revealed antannaes sprouting from his head. The Headmaster realized that this person may not be human. A mutant identity was a possibility, but that didn't change his resolve to inflict punishment on one who harmed his students.
The alien flew back towards Magneto. His eyes charged with fury. "You have angered me! A reckoning must be made."
Magneto showed no fear to these words he knew (a type of Japanese). "We will see."
===
Seeing Piccolo was okay, Gohan and Kuririn faced the rest. The one in their attention was the giant robot (which in Kuririn's critique, had to be the ugliest one he had ever seen, what with those circuits bulging out of its body).
"Allow me," Kuririn asked his friend first choice. Gohan obliged.
The robot came charging with fists and a scream Kuririn could not decipher. Smiling in content victory, the bald monk pushed himself backwards from the metal fist that flew toward him. Giving himself space, his hands grabbed the robot's outstretched arm. Firmly gripped, Kuririn rotated himself, pulling the robot with him. He then let go. The robot went flying into a crashing impact.
Gohan floated beside his short friend. "Way to go, Kuririn! Now let me-"
The boy stopped speaking, his stomach being punched by Kuririn's fist. The boy did not see that coming, so he received the full pain. He keeled over to the ground, rubbing his stomach. Collecting his lost wind, Gohan looked at his friend. Kuririn wasn't happy anymore. He was staring at him with piercing eyes, shadowed under a straining brow.
Gohan got right back up. "What's the big deal, Kuririn?" he cried for answers. He saw Kuririn remain silent to his question, just standing beside the recovering robot. It was in this perspective that Gohan also saw a girl watching from a boulder, the one holding the baby. Her stares were in complete similarity to Kuririn's. The connection was too sensitive for Gohan to ignore. However, he couldn't hurt his friend, nor hurt that controller with the baby.
Kuririn stood close with the robot. He conversed with it, in a language Gohan couldn't understand. The machine shared this unknown lingo. The boy jumped into the air, ready to face the inevitable and fight his friend…after he took care of the man-wolf that fell on him.
Gohan felt unsurprised when long hairy arms imbedded with claws wrapped around the boy in a strangling position. Gohan shook himself, thrusting the wolf back onto its leaping spot. It landed on its feet, bent its legs quickly, and jumped back at Gohan with a fearsome growl, ready to tear its prey to bits.
It was then that the battle-enraged Wolfsbane discovered that her opponent was not a dwarf. He was a child. She should have known this earlier, if not for her blind fury in battle. The utterly shocking fact of her possible actions was enough to force a desisting of aggression. Frantically, she had to dodge the boy. Unfortunately, her guard was down enough for Gohan to throw his punch. Wolfsbane dropped all her senses at that, including the conscious one.
The senseless animal fell off the boy, but Gohan grabbed its tail. This success pleased the boy. At least he could defend himself in this fight. The boy then joked about having this man-wolf as a victory dinner.
His thoughts changed with the wolf. To his horror, Gohan saw that he was holding a girl a few years older than himself! His ashamed nature failed his attention to the tail he was holding. It disappeared, breaking the link.
In desperate motion, the former hunter turned rescuer. In a quick grasp, his hand now connected with the girl's hand. Gohan rubbed his forehead on this successful save. Turning his eyes upward to see where he was going, Gohan caught an all-too familiar figure floating before him.
"Hi, shit baby," was Raditz's message.
Gohan stood still, his heart vibrating with a fright that overwhelmed him. He rarely became afraid in battle, facing Freeza and the Ginyu Force with the best of spirits. But there was one person Gohan never was able to confront. Someone who kidnapped him a long time ago, before he learned how to confront danger with courage. With the figure of Raditz facing him with evil eyes, Gohan could not do anything but wince in fear. He had reverted back into that child of four.
The sad result was that he let go of his captive. Rahne resumed her fall. Her impact with the ground, however, was diverted with the swift catch from the Pegasus Brightwind and her rider. Mirage was relieved at arriving in the nick of time. Teleported separately, she had linked with Wolfsbane. With assistance from Psylocke, she tracked the rest of the gang down. With her horse, Mirage was going to meet up with the others when this fight happened.
The rider rubbed her 'firetop's' red hair. She too shared her friend's conflict, as she always had. These days had been rough for the two of them, perhaps more to Rahne. Mirage then looked up to see her youthful opponent. She had already hit the kid with an image of what he feared most. As usual, Dani couldn't understand what was so scary. It was just some long-haired stud muffin. Her continuing glance then saw something new: Behind the boy, a white-skinned man with purple shoulders materialized, clinging to the kid with a cold embrace.
"Great Spirits!" Mirage's cry quickly followed the chill of recognizable feeling. It didn't take a rocket scientist (or rather, a rocket scientist with a Valkyrie's sight) to know what that latter image might be. Instantly, the Native American rode her winged steed up to the boy. He was not going to be harmed while she had anything to do about it. Unfortunately, her worry broke her control, causing the boy's fear-image to disappear (though the white person remained in Mirage's view). As Mirage was about to grab him, Gohan was now thinking clearly. Seeing this new opponent, he kicked the Native American in the side. This not only separated the two, but it almost knocked Mirage off her horse. It succeeded in throwing Rahne off Brightwind.
Luckily, Gohan remembered his early empathy with the girl-wolf to grab her again. With no interruption, he gently placed her to the ground.
===
"Let's see how well you protect yourself!" screamed the battle-mad Piccolo. His fists savagely ran toward Magneto with crashing force. Magneto simply moved back, untouched by the blow. Piccolo turned with speed for the head. Magneto avoided that as well. It did not take much for the Namekian to realize that something was wrong here. This purple opponent did not appear to know much combatant training. Nor was he showing any Ki, but he was quickly dodging his attacks.
===
Having placed the girl-wolf to the ground, Gohan looked around, ready to continue his attack on Kuririn and the robot. That giant robot walked over to him, only to be stopped when the girl on the flying horse came between them both. She jumped off her steed, sitting next to the unconscious girl-wolf while yelling out some gibberish. As a result, he was lost to Mirage's plea to Cypher and Warlock: "Don't any of you DARE hurt that kid!"
What Gohan could only understand was that neither foe was approaching him to fight. They looked at him and each other with wariness. Were they scared of him? The child wanted some answers. He stood before them, his arms tense for defense, but his words showing restraint. "Who are you people?"
The answer came from the robot, speaking in the language Gohan knew. "We're the New Mutants!" The boy didn't understand the title. No information was given, as the girl and the robot still conversed in the strange language.
The robot gave its question. "Why were you watching us?"
Gohan responded. "Why did you attack my friends and me?"
The girl and the robot resumed a little more indecipherable conversation. Gohan waited for the robot to speak to him again.
"Were you planning to attack us?" said the robot.
Gohan felt a little more relieved at this. "Not at first. You started that."
More private conversing followed. Then the robot spoke again. "Do you think we can make a truce?"
A truce? Gohan wasn't really ready for something like that! However, as he really looked at these opponents, his resolve to continue fighting dropped. He decided to test their word. "Will you release my friend Kuririn from your control?"
The girl nodded. She then yelled out some words. The robot continued, "We'll certainly do that. After all, you just saved a friend of ours."
Suddenly, Kuririn jumped to their side, his face still cold and very different. This expression broke in an abrupt change. Kuririn's eyes opened wide in confusion (this was enough for Gohan to recognized his friend's return). "Where am I?" he asked in confusion. However, once he saw the enemies, added with the approaching sword boy and that dark, sparkling person, Kuririn realized the fight was still on. He started to move for defense.
"Kuririn stop!" The relieved Gohan stopped his friend's fist. "I don't think this is right anymore!"
"What are you talking about?" Kuririn bellowed.
"I think we're not enemies anymore." Gohan pleaded. His eyes met Kuririn, giving the confused fighter recognition to how much the boy resembled his best friend in peaceful simplicity. For a moment, it seemed Kuririn would surrender to his friend's wish. It was broken with a huge scream from long afar. It made Gohan instantly abandon this situation to head for that source. The girl got on her winged horse and followed.
Kuririn turned around to see the giant robot. He clenched his fists. His gleeful face promised aggression. "Ready for a rematch?"
"Uh…No?" cried the robot.
Kuririn dropped his guard, his confusion restored.
His perplexity was added when a small head protruded out of the robot's chest. This had to be some kind of attack, the monk deduced. He got ready for another defense.
This head spoke in synch to the language, "PEACE?"
The monk just keeled back.
===
Magneto and Piccolo resumed their battle. The Namekian got the time to examine his opponent. Considering no physical contact was made, Piccolo reasoned he must not be a strong fighter. However, his powers and techniques overwhelmed this weakness. Meanwhile, Magneto gathered that this alien was more a physical opponent. Thus did the Master of Magnetism fight his foe by way of throwing separate magnetic shields on both parties. Every blow the creature threw was forcibly cushioned whenever the two fields connected, causing Magneto to move away.
"Strength will not win this battle," the Headmaster responded in the opponent's own language.
By now, Piccolo had come to the conclusion that this figure's ability was not mere physical movement. A change in tactic was in mind. His antannaes charged up, a large amount of electrical energy exploding from the two tips. An unscheduled change yet occurred, as proven by the opponent's secure look. Suddenly, the energy turned traitor, flashing upon the Namekian.
Magneto watched as the creature spread his body out, roaring at the upsurge due to his own manipulation of electricity. With prediction of his foe's defeat, he dropped the shields around themselves.
The figure started to fall, ensuring Magneto of his victory.
That is, until the descending Piccolo flew in rebellion to his direction. He quickly threw a knee blow that hit into Magneto, his limbs stretching from the great force thrown to him. The demon then dropped an arm chop on the Headmaster's back. Magneto now descended to the rocks below. Those blows was too impressive, checked the attacked with a cough. His armored suit gave no numb effect from the attacks.
However, it was not final. As great as those blows were, they played no lasting effect to Magneto's stamina. He had experienced worse pain. A counterattack was now in his resolve. If the demon was cunning, thought Magneto, then he shall be so as well.
Piccolo flew closer to his suddenly falling foe. The figure was in his total view. He moved slightly left, exposing the Namekian to an erupting flight of boulders heading straight for him.
This levitation, however, proved sloth to make an impact on the Namekian. He turned in many directions to avoid this array of rock.
Magneto, regaining his strength, flew backwards to a small ravine. He would face him. However, he was distracted by Psylocke's voice. Let us help!
Seeing their location, Magneto frantically turned down such aid with a passion. He would not endanger his students against this opponent. He turned to the opposite direction in utter avoidance to their company.
===
Sam, Illyana, Betsy, and Amara looked on at the small dots to the battle. As Dani had flown away earlier before such a battle occurred, they had to await the battle coming to them. Illyana's powers were once again useless, and Sam wasn't as yet ready to carry that much passengers as he had earlier. Their only close definition of the battle was Betsy's mental connections and Illyana's Soulsword. The latter emitted glowing energy, a sign of whenever magic was around.
The blade glowed brighter once the Headmaster arrived with his opponent. However, Magneto did not seem to want their help. The creature that fought him was also ignorant.
"Shoot," lambasted Sam. "We have a plan t' stop that critter, but it looks like we won't have a chance."
"Then I'll bring the critter to us," Betsy promised their aid, her eyes flashing out a glowing butterfly. "I'll just screw his sense of direction."
===
Viewing people on that cliff, Piccolo ignored them. His opponent was his one priority of pursuit. This enemy was trying to lose him in these canyons, the Namekian deduced. His keen mind gave him a plan. He would take a shortcut and head him off. Bearing the lack of gravity in his being, Piccolo moved to a left direction away from his prey's center retreat. He knew these canyons well; the path before him would promise an interception.
He was aware of his direction, or rather thought he was aware of it. He had no ken about his senses being warped to the point that he unknowingly was moving to the wrong way. This error didn't approach him until he saw himself at that same cliff he believed to have passed.
It had appeared to Piccolo that some trickery had forced him into the wrong path. His intelligence targeted those cliff people as being the cause. He really had no interest in fighting them, but he would entertain their expectations.
Like a beacon of light, one of the females blazed into a fiery image that better presented their position to Piccolo. This female threw a blaze of heated energy at the Namekian. Piccolo's reaction was a smirk, and a hand drawn out in protection, drawing the onslaught away from his face. The heat was tremendous, but there was no danger to his skin this child might inflict. In the bright plasma, he saw a girl and a boy flying straight for him. Glowing in this atmosphere, the girl was brandishing a sword…and a dark Ki. The demon threw his other hand to grab the sword. Even under this onslaught, Piccolo could find mirth in how futile this weapon would be against his strong body.
This mirth instantly changed into pain. The blade destroyed his hand, plunging its agonizing touch through Piccolo's stomach. The tip resurfaced bloodily from his back.
Piccolo frantically plunged his hands at the sword. It was no use; the pain it dispelled was immense. It felt as if the blade and its prey were anathema to each other, that a simple contact would give an extreme affect. Piccolo could feel himself weaken with the agony's amplification. He believed himself invulnerable to such weaponry. Today had brought a lie to his perceptions.
The shock of pain forced a huge scream. This happened while his body was shoved backwards by this duo. This push slammed Piccolo against a wall of stone. The sword remained within him, inflicting agony that only the most powerful foes could do to the demon. However, a wounded beast was still a dangerous one. With a last gesture of quick strength, Piccolo swatted the boy and girl away, effectively breaking contact between sword and wielder.
But the sword still was impaled in him. His energy spent, Piccolo lost his rebellion with gravity. He leaned over and fell straight for the rocky ground beneath. His thoughts changed to the possible outcome of his fate, and what that might mean to Gohan.
===
Magma, seeing the demon down for the count, heated further her powers. A volcano arose from the cliff, spewing lava like a waterfall down to the grounded demon. Unfortunately, she and Psylocke saw a boy outracing the downpour.
Due to the distance, there was nothing the Roman could do to erect a barrier over the boy. The plasma fell upon him, the lava covering up his destruction.
Psylocke couldn't drop her thoughts in time to avoid the possible surge of the boy's pain, and his possible end. Thus, she was able to still feel the boy, and the miraculous surprise. "The boy's still alive!"
"How can that be?" asked Magma.
A shadow blended with theirs, Magma and Betsy turned around to see Magneto standing before them, his fists clenched powerfully. His face shared that respect.
"It was through luck I came in time to stop your mistake."
===
Ignoring the blinding lava floating above him, Gohan paid heed to his mentor's needs. This vigil continued as the lava covered both without touching.
"Piccolo!" Gohan screamed for an answer. "Get up!"
The Namekian lay drained, gritting his teeth at the huge weapon on his stomach. Gohan grabbed for the handle, but his hands passed through it. It was impossible. He couldn't do it, the boy panicked in his tortured mind. He can't save his friend. His thoughts turned frantic as well as depressing. Can't he do anything? Was his dad right in thinking him worthless?
The sight of outside broke through from the glowing cover of lava. It spread away from them. It was then that Gohan saw shadows come upon Piccolo's dying body. He turned around. There was the girl on the horse. She looked at him with a smile. This gave the boy hope. Maybe they can help?
===
Gohan got right back up, screaming, "You better help my friend!"
These words were not understood by Dani. Luckily she saw the visual evidence enough to know the intentions. She screamed out for the sword's owner. "Magik! Get your butt over here!"
Cannonball landed with Magik. He fell to his knees, exhausted by the strain of swerving away from a wall with his passenger. In another direction, Magneto magnetically carried Magma and Psylocke to the scene. Mirage then explained to Magneto that this battle could be stopped by peaceful means. The Headmaster decided to trust in his student, though with reluctance. He had protected the boy, but the demon may wish retribution.
Mirage then gave Magik an order to release her sword.
"Are you sure about this, chief?" asked Magik.
"Just do it!" yelled the chief, making Magik slur a small insult that no one noticed. But orders were orders. She walked past the boy, who looked with vengeful anger at the possible owner. With a sigh, Magik grasped her blade from the demon, pulling it out in a quick and forced motion.
A gust of breath lunged out of Piccolo's lips. The pain was gone. His strength was returning.
Gohan looked with sympathy at his friend's recovery. He then turned around to the ever-growing group before him. New kids approached. There was that now-human girl-wolf, looking at him with a guilty face. Kuririn also made his presence, acting his usual self.
"These kids explained things to me, Gohan," the bald fighter assuredly squeaked. "I guess you're right that the fight's over."
Everyone was now silent. It was only a matter of action that could determine that.
Gohan walked to the New Mutants. His stern face morphed into friendliness.
"Hiya! My name is Son Gohan."
Kuririn also gave his name. However, most of the gang had no clue about the meaning of these words. Cypher, Sunspot, Magneto, and Light-Ken were the major translators of this language. Of that, Roberto decided to speak for the rest of them. He walked over to Gohan, offering his hand.
Before an action was made, something landed in between of them. Something Techno-organic. Splitting into two heads, Warlock threw out two arms. "Self- DESIRES- acceptance- TO- self- AND- selffriends- AS- friends."
The two fighters, of whom Warlock's heads and hands were directed, were silent for a second. Unlike Gohan, Kuririn had seen this oddity spit out a kid. This made Kuririn think that the robot was just a suit of armor…until the suit started moving by itself. After a quick learning that the suit was an actual alien lifeform (seems like everything too weird around here had to be that), the monk flew with the kids on a flying sled that was actually made from the alien ("You get used to this," advised the kid with the sword). Despite the confusion, Kuririn now knew enough to comprehend that he/it meant well. His smile predicted his hand, which heartily touched the robot's in friendship. Gohan enthusiastically copied this.
Warlock did a weird dance that brought astonishment to the fighters.
When Piccolo started to rise from his spot, some of the New Mutants took a few steps back for a defensive position. Only Dani forced a returning step, understanding that this recovering creature would not retaliate. The demon stood grimly, gasping heavily to the green blood that trickled from his wound. His hand touched this scar, glowing in succession. Instantly, the scar vanished. His wrecked hand sprouted up new fingers. This was seen with quite a reaction (Doug, Roberto, and Illyana thought it looked cool), but the Namekian was silent.
Despite this, most of the New Mutants kept a defensive stance. This was not out of an experienced fear of being shunned (the trio they fought could be Mutants themselves); they simply couldn't understand the language. Many a bad situation had been caused by the misinterpretation of communication. Magneto knew that this barrier made some of the team feel isolated from the three fighters. Tenchi wished there was a tongue box like the one Washu made. His memories found another alternative.
"Betsy," he asked the telepath. "Is there any way you can give the rest of the team the ability to speak Japanese?"
"I may be able to," Psylocke gave her limits. "But I unfortunately lack a knowledge of the language."
Dani flicked her fingers in an idea. "Why not absorb Cypher's understanding of it, an' give it to the rest of us?"
"A sound idea," Magneto critiqued with some flaw. "But one of us is not susceptible-"
"I didn't learn English by myself," interrupted Magik. "The Prof. taught me it with no problem." She looked at Tenchi, pleased in the prospect that she would speak in his native language.
With that, Psylocke saw that she had the go-ahead. "Is that alright with you, Douglas?"
"Sure thing!" Doug shrugged off any possible misgivings.
===
Gohan, Kuririn, and Piccolo continued their analysis on the strangers. It was noted that most of this group spoke with a strange language. With the exception of two (or maybe three) people, this group of black-and-yellow costumes was made up of kids. They were older than Gohan, though not much from some of them. There were also a bunch of girls in this team, Kuririn remarked to himself, rubbing his chin. The blonde with the sword was especially good-looking. That positive feeling was not shared by Gohan. As far as he was concerned, that girl almost killed Piccolo. The boy had to keep a watchful eye on her.
The three witnessed as the purple-haired woman touched one of the blond boys' head. Only Piccolo felt a buzz on the psionic energies being flooded into the disadvantaged Mutants' minds.
Suddenly, in a scene that could be likened to a dark pattern with a small number of lights, followed by a complete flooding of incandescence, the three heard the entire group speak their language! Greetings were shouted and deciphered by the three, with names and identification.
Magneto was more formal. "Know me as Magneto, and know further that these are my students, the New Mutants." In this world, his secret pseudonym as Professor Michael Xavier was not necessary.
Psylocke also gave her identity. "My name is Elizabeth Braddock, but you can call me Betsy."
Repetition was given from the other side. "Well, my name is Son Gohan again," said the boy, "and this is my friend Kuririn."
"We've met," Kuririn smiled in view of Warlock, Doug, Tenchi, and Roberto.
Gohan than introduced the silent demon. "This is my teacher, Piccolo."
Doug blinked in thought to that name. He would have already laughed, if not for those cold stares Piccolo showed at him for his insolence. A chuckle would be dangerous, the boy reconsidered.
Magneto was morose to this demon. Knowing that the battle was over, he decided not to continue it. It did not mean any friendliness to Piccolo, a sentiment the Namekian shared.
The New Mutants then gave their real names, shaking hands with Gohan and Kuririn. When Shan revealed Luna to them, the two made some goofy faces to the babe's delight. The language barrier having disappeared, there was no more need for upset feeling (except for Piccolo, an awkward-feeling Rahne, and the all-seeing Dani). The New Mutants asked what world this was. To their absolute relief (and some acrobatics from the team), they were back on Earth.
Then the year was given: 766. The acrobats stopped, crashed, and burned. To be truthful, Gohan and Kuririn were just as amazed that these kids were from another universe.
"Guess I blew our transportation again," Illyana sadly moaned.
"Gee, what makes you say that?" Roberto sarcastically made a sensitive question; the result was his stomach getting elbowed by the Sorceress.
With resolve, Dani accepted the possibility that they were going to be stuck here for the day, until Illyana's powers came back (although that would not promise anything).
It was thus fortunate that Kuririn knew how to tell when one was in need. He patted a lump on his shirt with a smile.
"I take it that you all want to return to your own world?" asked the monk. The question had the effect of Shan, Tenchi, Doug, Roberto, Sam, Rahne, and Dani all towering over this midget, their eyes full of searching enlightenment, mouths echoing with "How?"
Kuririn walked a few steps back at the overwhelming tide he caused. "W-well…there is a way."
Gohan stood pleasantly, infected by this valor as well. "In the meantime, you can stay at my house."
"Sure that's okay?" asked Sam.
Kuririn then repeated this form of question to Gohan.
"Sure I am." Gohan repeated, "I don't think there's any other place else, 'cept for Kamesennin's or Buruma's..."
With a sweat drop, Kuririn instantly realized that he had a point. "Your house it is!"
Gohan walked toward the group. "So how about it?" he spoke in such a winning expression that it took little argument from the Mutants to result in acceptance.
Piccolo remained silent throughout, giving cold serious stares to those he never met before. This gave the Mutants standing next to the Namekian some anxiety.
"Where do you live?" asked Tenchi.
"A long way from here."
"So how do we get there?" Doug made the next question.
"By flying!" Gohan announced rather naively.
The Mutants made looks of confusion and sounds of silence that astounded Gohan with their truth.
"You mean you can't fly?" Gohan asked, having thought that anyone with powers automatically had that ability.
"I think we're a little short of the pixie dust," Doug explained.
It was Magneto who solved this dilemma. In a posture that rivaled Piccolo in reverence, he commanded to the mutants. "I wish all your consent to what I am about to do. Do I have it?"
With exception to Dani, the team nodded and spoke their acceptance. Tenchi, suspecting what this mysterious gesture was, decided to rid himself of all misgivings. "You can go ahead."
Magneto asked Shan to hand him Luna. The Vietnamese complied.
"What you gonna do?" Kuririn asked. He got something of the answer when he felt Magneto's energy level rise. That wasn't the only thing that rose. Except for Dani and Warlock, all the mutants started to levitate. Seeing their feet no longer touching the ground caused some cheerful gasps of surprise. Tenchi grabbed Illyana's hand. They smiled at one another at the sharing of this moment that dazzled them both.
"We're flying!" Doug jubilantly shouted. He felt like singing.
"Not exactly," Magneto explained, walking effortlessly around them. "I am merely grabbing the iron fibers within your bloodstream. You are all levitating by my power."
Gohan gaped at this effect. Magneto was lifting all these kids by himself? He wondered if Piccolo could do that.
Piccolo just kept a stoic face at this. This was nothing.
With most of his students floating under his control, the now-levitating Headmaster demanded Gohan the direction to his house. Gohan's own flight began the migration, followed by Kuririn, a Warlockian rocket, Piccolo, and Mirage on Brightwind.
===
This migration had a witness from afar. This person stood in a far range from this rocky region, protected by a demotion of Ki. It was cowardly in his egotism, but useful in its discreet surveillance, thought the person of black hair that pointed at all directions. His black eyes looked with a stern and unemotional view. He disagreed with the way this skirmish turned out. A real battle would have left most of them dead, with the strong in control. Of course, he gathered, that was not surprising to these weaklings. None of them were like him, a member of a superior race with a beloved ethic of death and destruction. These past months have made him respect and endear those ideals to his very heart. It made him realize how pathetic and trivial this planet's ideals were. Vejita was a definite influence to this new understanding, as was Freeza. Too bad he didn't kill them when he had the chance. But there were always compensations…especially where that little Shit was concerned.
===============================================================
TO BE CONTINUED
NEXT TIME: Hiya! This is Gohan! I'm starting to like these New Mutants very much! I invited them to my home, which means they'll meet my mother. I hope (really hope) she likes them. What this? They're from a school? Anyway, these aren't our only visitors! Dad? Is that you?!