Hello everyone! First off, let me say that I SINCERELY apologize for disappearing after the last chapter, with the holidays and some very heavy stuff happening in my personal life that needed my attention. But now I'm back, and I hope I didn't lose everyone from the last chapter, because here things start to pick up when Gine decides to make good on a promise she made with Kakarot on going to a fateful Martial Arts Tournament.

Based on MasakoX's What If series "What if Gine went with Goku to Earth?", but a retcon with some changes of my own on how I think the story would have went down had Goku's mother escaped planet Vegeta with him.

DISCLAIMER: The following is a fan-based work of fiction. Dragonball Minus, Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball Super, and Dragonball GT are all owned by FUNimation, Toei Animation, and Akira Toriyama.

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CHAPTER 5: THE 22nd TENKAICHI BUDOKAI

"Master Roshi told me to rely on my own strength, so I've been making my way around without the Nimbus to get ready for the next tournament. Running on foot across land and swimming across the sea."

Gohan was taken aback by how Kakarot had been able to pull off such feats just to prepare for a competition, but also not surprised as well, given his abilities.

"That's amazing my boy! You'll get stronger much faster that way, and pushing yourself with such handicaps is a good way to challenge your strength as a martial artist. Quite the Turtle Hermit way indeed."

He did have to inwardly chuckle at how literal Kakarot had taken his former master's philosophy on training as actual instructions. But he guessed for a Saiyan, it's probably the only way he'd get stronger anyway.

"Thanks Grandpa! I'm so glad I got to learn such ways to live by from Roshi, if there is no real challenge then it is not worthwhile!" Kakarot beamed happily.

Gine sat across the table and took another sip of her tea, she smiled genuinely.

"Me too son, I'm really glad you've taken these things to heart." She said, but she was somewhat distracted.

Kakarot had come back after another year of travelling. He had grown a couple inches taller and was more muscularly defined, on the brink of his growth spirt.

He told them all about his adventures of how he fought pirates at the bottom of the ocean, defeated the last remnants of the Red Ribbon Army, trained with a talking cat named Korin, meeting his master's sister who was a witch or fortuneteller of the like, saving villages from demons, and foiling con artists.

During all this, Kakarot took his mother's advice and brought Chi-chi along on his escapades. She was still sour about them not getting married, but from the way he described their time together on this trip they had grown closer. Trotting the globe doing something they actually enjoyed doing: fighting. Kakarot even said they made a date out of it once, since it was the most romantic thing he could think of when pried by Chi-chi. Through it all, he had grown to like her since she was a capable fighter unlike Bulma or another girl in their group named Launch, not to mention they were all older than him too.

Gine couldn't fathom why Kakarot could stand to be around someone as volatile like Chi-chi, for even she had a temper than rivalled some of the more ill-mannered female Saiyan warriors she once knew. But from how fond Kakarot described the way Chi-chi fought and how she saved his tail from being lost again to the Pilaf gang, there was a real bond growing between them.

But Gine focused on one story that Kakarot shared.

That they had used the dragonballs to wish his friend Upa's father back to life after he was murdered by the cruel Mercenary Tao. Gine was so proud of him for using the dragonballs for something so noble. But her heart stopped when she realized that he said he used the dragonballs to resurrect someone.

So it IS possible. Something that had plagued her mind and heart ever since they learned the truth of the dragonballs. A hope she never dared to entertain unless she knew for sure... Could she really-

"You ready to go to the tournament, Mom?" Kakarot interrupted.

Gine was shaken out of her fateful train of thought before she could finish it. Kakarot was starring at her expectantly.

"What? Tournament?" She asked, feeling a little guilty that she wasn't paying attention.

"Yeah, the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. You said you'll come along next time and it'll be in a few days, so I hope you're ready to since I'm supposed to swim all the way there as part of my training. You could fly or take the Nimbus though."

Gine thought for only a second or two.

"I'm not going."

"What?" Kakarot couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I said I'm not going." Gine stated flatly.

"But...you promised!" Kakarot objected almost bewildered.

"I did?" She said just as bewildered.

"Yeah you did! You said you didn't want to fight but you'd come to watch instead."

"No I did-" She tried to say, but then thought about it. Gohan was about to confirm for her when she let out a sheepish "Oh."

She did indeed remember, but only vaguely. It was almost three years ago, and she mostly said it to please him. But now a promise she didn't mean to make had come back to haunt her.

"Yeah, you definitely did!" Kakarot reminded her. "You said you'll come to the tournament only to watch, but I would really like you to come along Mom!"

Gine considered it for a moment, but still felt resolute. She hadn't meant to mislead her son for something she wasn't serious about. But something in her made her ashamed and not wanting to look her son in the eye if she followed through on this.

"You promised." Kakarot reminded her one last time, his eyes wide and pleading.

Gine's resolution faltered. Who was she to break a promise to her own child? Sure the prospect of stepping out of the safe confines of the mountains into the crowded world terrified her, but she would do anything for her little boy, especially to cheer him on.

She let out a long sigh. "Okay, I'll go."

Kakarot jumped and cheered. "YAY!" While Kakarot celebrated and hugged her in many thanks, she tried to suppress the anxiety that was beginning to bubble up.

"I'll go with you too!" Gohan said, wrapping his arms around both of them. "It would be nice to see the big city and tournament again, as well as catch up with Roshi!"

"Yeah, it really will!" Kakarot chirped, getting even more excited and laughing with Grandpa Gohan. Gine let them bask in the anticipation while she left herself to resignation.

"Go get your things packed boy, we'll leave in the morning." Gohan instructed.

"You betchya, Grandpa!" Kakarot said, then ran enthusiastically to the room he was sleeping in. Gohan and Gine were left alone in the dining room.

"I hope it doesn't make you feel too uncomfortable." Gohan said, reading Gine's mind and trying to ease her worry.

"It does." She said simply. She really didn't want to go.

"That's the thing about your boy, there's no procrastination or going back with him." Gohan said.

"Very true, and I can't bring myself to break a promise." Gine admitted.

Gohan nodded. "An honorable thing to do my dear. I'll be there if it's any consolation, and it isn't as terrifying as you may think it to be."

"I know, it's just..." Gine tried to say, but couldn't find any words to fit her feelings.

"You haven't stepped out that often since helping Kakarot out with that girl." Gohan finished for her. Gine hated to admit it, but she was afraid of being around other people, so she nodded.

"Maybe it's time to step out a little further." Gohan encouraged. "As enlightening and fulfilling as the hermit life can be, our world has much to offer. Not to mention to see what's out there in order to fully appreciate why I like it here better."

Gine looked at him for a long moment. She never really thought of that idea, and it did make sense. How could she know what she liked most of this cozy place if she was missing out on other sights of Earth? Since this place was an unknown paradise to her once. The Info Dump on planet Vegeta never did justice to how peaceful this planet was, who knew what else was out there. And if Kakarot's experiences were anything to go by, untold wonders.

Besides, there are going to be some powerful new fighters at the tournament this year that could prove a challenge to Kakarot as they did before, so this silly tournament won't be too boring at all. And she could learn something from it too...

"I guess you are right." She said to herself more than to him, but Gohan smiled at how she came to this conclusion too.

"I'm glad you see it that way." He said as he got up and stretched. "I'll be turning in for the night."

"Okay" Gine nodded nervously, but Gohan walked up to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It will be fine my dear, you have nothing to worry about. Afterall we are only rooting for your boy." Gohan said gently to her.

Gine looked back at him, tensed then exhaled some of her stress. She trusted him. He saved them. If what he says is true...

"I believe you." She said, squeezing his hand on her shoulder.

Gohan smiled brightly, then retreated to his room while Gine prepared to get ready for bed herself.

"Could be fun." She said to herself.

Two days later, they made it to Papaya Island. Kakarot swam the whole way while his mother flew over him and Gohan rode the Nimbus, stopping only to ask for directions from a very astonished crew of an oil tanker.

Now he was sprinting down the dirt roads into the streets of the town while she and Gohan flew above him, Kakarot clad only in the skins of a tiger killed while making landfall.

"C'mon, Mom, we have to hurry!" Kakarot shouted as if to get them to go faster. "Or else I won't be able to register!"

"Are you sure you don't want a lift with the Nimbus?" Grandpa Gohan playfully asked the obvious solution. The fact that the Nimbus and his mother flying had completely went over his head.

"No thanks!" Kakarot breathed while running as fast as he could. "No cheating!"

Gine really admired how much her son stuck to his training, but with how much he wanted to not miss this tournament he seemed to have reached an impasse.

"Right, then we have no time to lose!" Grandpa Gohan chuckled.

On the last long stretch of road lined with trees, they came across a red bricked wall and an archway with a small crowd of people. "HEY!" Kakarot called out. Up ahead an old man in a black suit and hat turned to them.

"There he is!" He called out, the rest of the group that Gine didn't recognize almost burst out cheering seeing her son. But she immediately recognized the blue haired girl as Bulma.

"HE MADE IT!" A blonde haired girl said, whom Gine thought looked awfully mean looking. Kakarot gave one last leap forward and closed the distance to the group in an instant.

"Hey everyone, long time no see!" He cheerfully greeted the group. As Gine and Gohan landed behind him, she took in the gathering of her son's friends as they started to catch-up with him.

These were people she had only heard of in his stories, fantastic recounting of all their adventures and misadventures. They way he described them made them seem like the best kind of people imaginable, but she figured that his naivety gave her the best version of them. Seeing them interact with him now like they were the best of friends somehow made them seem like as he told her. She felt so proud that her son found good comradery with these people, the company she never found amongst Saiyans in her old life.

"Have you gotten taller?" Asked a dashing young man with sun-scorched skin and flowing black hair.

"Sure have!" Kakarot answered. A short bald kid near him sulked. "But I'm older than you! This isn't right!" He complained.

"Calm down, Krillin, not by much he hasn't." The tanned man egged him.

"KAKAROT!" A shriek came out as Chi-Chi leapt out of the group and threw herself at Kakarot, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, Chi-Chi!" He hugged back, but was straining to try and get himself free from her death grip.

Chi-Chi sheepishly let go and stared longingly at him, she was clad in a blue fighting dress gi but still had her pink gloves and boots. She was fifteen now just like him, but an inch taller or so.

"Sorry, its just so good to see you again. I missed you so much." She said, swooning.

Kakarot rubbed the back of his head embarrassed. "Yeah, me too. Not since we took down Tao together."

"We? I took him down after you kept him busy." Chi-Chi objected hotly, her sweetness replaced with anger.

"But I did do all the work in weakening him." He retorted gently.

"And I saved YOUR tail, didn't I?!" She shot back, getting angrier.

Kakarot tried to calm her down, raising his hands defensively. "Yes! Yes you did. You saved the day!"

Chi-Chi's anger faded away instantly and she looked away shyly, "Aw, thank you! It wasn't anything."

"It sure was!" Kakarot said enthusiastically. "You kicked Tao's butt something fierce! I didn't know you could do energy attacks too."

"Of course I can!" Chi-chi got angry again, "How could you forget about my laser helmet?"

Gine just quietly observed them playfully retorting back and forward, bemused at why Kakarot choose to continue seeing this girl given how much of a pain she was. But she could see the fire in her eyes, Chi-Chi would've made a great Saiyan warrior.

Gine turned to the clock and saw that it was closing time. "Uh, Kakarot." She got his attention, "Aren't you going to register?"

That stopped the little argument. "Oh, right!" Kakarot turned and ran up to the registration desk, "Hello, sorry I'm late, but I'd like to register to fight in the tournament."

The clerk was looking very impatient, with this last minute entry literally taking place the moment he was supposed to close the booth, but acted civil. "Very well then, your name?"

"Son Kakarot." Her son replied.

"Ah, back to take the gold this time?" The clerk asked as he copied down the information.

"You bet! I'm gonna beat Jackie Chun this time!" Kakarot beamed confidently.

"Well I wish you the best." He stamped the form. "Okay, Son Kakarot, you are all set to compete."

"Alright!" Kakarot leapt with victory.

"Kakarot." Said the elderly man with the walking stick. Gine noticed his long white beard and that he was wearing the exact same shades Gohan gave them to look at the moon with. She figured this was where he got them, and must be Master Roshi.

"You look awfully winded for someone who flies a cloud. Why weren't you using the nimbus and why are you late?" Roshi said as Kakarot finished signing in.

Kakarot looked confused by his outburst. "But Master, you said I shouldn't bring the nimbus cloud and should rely on my own strength."

Roshi looked embarrassed for moment. "Huh. That I did say."

"Wait a minute." Said the talking pig Gine assumed was Oolong. "Are you saying you swam here?"

"Yeah, part of the way. From a place called Yahhoi." Kakarot said innocently.

Everyone looked dumbstruck at her son.

"But..." Bulma stammered. "But that's on the other side of the Earth!"

Gine couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment in how her son was able to amaze everyone, but replaced it with humility remembering that humans couldn't do the same feats as she or Kakarot could, so no contest there.

It was then that she decided to speak up to stand by her son. "It's true, I flew over him the whole way as he swam."

Everyone looked at her, the shock deepening in their looks. She suddenly regretted speaking up, not wanting the attention on her.

"The scariest part is I believe you." Oolong spoke first, then stopped. "Wait, who are you?"

"Good to see you again, Gine." Chi-chi said cordially to her, but there was a coolness in her voice that Gine noticed.

"Gine?" Bulma's face contorted to something of faint recognition, then lit up once it hit her. "Hey, I remember you!"

"Oh! Everyone…" Kakarot turned and gestured towards Gine. "...This is my mom."

Not wanting to show how anxious she was, she gave a bow to them.

"It's nice to meet you all. Kakarot here has told me so much about all of you." She said politely.

"Hopefully good things! Am I right, Krillin?" The tanned young man said slyly while the bald kid, Krillin, gave him a 'shut up' look.

"Oh hush, Yamcha!" Bulma playfully slapped the tanned man, and turned toward her. "It's good to see you again, Gine. It's been a very long time."

"Indeed it has." Gine said as she shook Bulma's hand.

"Did you get your lifetime supply of strawberries?" Gohan asked.

"My what?" Bulma looked over, confused, then blushed. "Oh uh, well, that didn't-"

"I'm only kidding, Kakarot told us all about your wild adventure for the dragonballs."

"About how I was the one who saved the world?" Oolong quipped.

"Yep, that too. Still don't know why you wished for panties though." Kakarot said aloud.

Everyone laughed hard at Kakarot's innocent remark.

"It worked! Didn't it?" Oolong defended himself.

"Yeah it did, being a perv saved the world, who would've thought." Bulma said with an eyeroll.

"And besides, you got what you wished for in the end." The tall young man, Yamcha, pulled Bulma close and she blushed, feeling at ease immediately in his embrace. Gine figured Bulma's true intentions with the dragonballs were different from what Kakarot relayed, but didn't know what exactly until she saw it now. These two definitely had chemistry.

Yamcha extended his hand to Gine's and shook it, "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."

"Likewise." She said. "You must be Yamcha."

"Indeed I am, the fearsome desert bandit and friend to Kakarot!" He declared in a boosting voice, puffing his chest in a heroic pose that made him look oafish.

"But nowhere as much of a REAL friend besides me!" Piped Krillin.

"And you must be Krillin." Gine said, bending down and offering her hand that he shook. His stature was as small as Kakarot's, and he had a mischievous but kind look to him.

"That's right! Kakarot and I trained really hard together with Master Roshi for the first tournament."

"And trained hard they did." Said Roshi as he came up to them.

Gine bowed respectfully, "It's an honor to meet you, Master Roshi."

Roshi returned the bow. "The pleasure's all mine, Gine." He smiled then shook her hand. "Your son is an amazing student." He said.

"Aside from me of course?" Gohan chided, causing Roshi to notice his former pupil.

"Gohan!" Roshi perked in joy.

"It's good to see you again, Master." Gohan bowed.

"I see that the years have been treating you nicely."

Roshi chuckled. "Oh, I'm still hanging in there for someone my age. Of course, the years are always kind to you."

"Oh definitely."

Gine did wonder. This old man was Gohan's master since he was a boy? Gohan looked to be older than him, so how could this guy have been his master? Either he had a very youthful vigor, or he was immortal.

"So, how've you been? It's been years since I've last seen you."

"Been doing very well, I've managed to live quite a peaceful life even with these two dropping out of the sky." Gohan said, emphasizing the last part.

Gine felt panic rising. Was he really going to tell them that they were from another planet?

Roshi leaned closer to her and whispered, "No need to worry, Gine. I already know the whole story of you and your son. And it's not one I or anyone here will be broadcasting to anyone else anytime soon."

Gine felt very grateful at that. She was told this man was a pervert, but she could tell that he was also very wise and kind.

"Thank you." She said to him.

"No worries, my dear. Now, lets meet the rest of the gan-"

"Come out of your shell at last, Roshi?" Came another voice.

They all turned to see a trio of men lead by a green robed old man standing before them. Gine sensed the calm and easy-going Roshi tense into something serious as soon as he laid eyes on him.

Gine looked him over, her Saiyan and overprotective maternal instincts assessing this new threat. Whoever he was, he was no friend to Roshi. He wore a ridiculous swan hat and pointed grey mustaches that looked more silly than intimidating. She sensed arrogance dripping from him.

A tall bald man behind him had a third eye in his forehead, and looked nothing short of cold-blooded. And the shortest of the trio, a dwarf or child, whose skin was as white as snow with red cheeks. But he looked so lifeless and still.

"Crane, amazed that you are still alive." Roshi said to him, his cheery demeanor gone and replaced with contempt.

The man Roshi called Crane chuckled evilly. "The lines on your face are just as deep, old friend."

"That was rude." Bulma remarked.

Kakarot stared Crane down from behind Roshi and Gine, sensing the bad energy coming from him and readying himself for a fight.

"Relax, I'm not here to start trouble, I hear a little whisper that your pupils did quite well last time. I guess the saying is true, "anything can happen.""

"What's it to you, huh?!" Roshi yelled impatiently.

Crane laughed maniacally, "You're out of your league, Roshi, admit it. You were blessed by my absence last time, but we both know that fighting against my team is an exercise in futility. Not even Jackie Chun could handle my boys! Do yourself a favor and go home."

The bald three-eyed man grinned threateningly behind his master, the doll-like boy stood still expressionless. Gine wondered if he actually was a doll.

Crane looked over all of them and continued his abuse, "I sympathize with your crew, I really do. Inadequacy is always such a tough pill to swallow, but it sure beats public humiliation."

Gine knew that this little man could not physically harm her or any of them, but the sheer disrespect he was showing to her son and his friends almost made her Saiyan senses tell her to kick his head clean off his shoulders.

"Thanks for the concern." Roshi interrupted. "It's nice to see some things haven't changed. Like you're still full of hot air."

Crane's façade of cool arrogance quickly gave way to anger.

"You better stay out of my way!"

"We're not turning tail for you or anyone!" Roshi countered.

The two of them stared each other off, their respective students ready behind them to back their masters up.

Crane huffed and backed off.

"You've been warned, now suffer the consequences!" He said as he turned around.

"Lets go," He called to his accomplices. "I've wasted enough time with these fools." They complied and followed after him without saying a word.

"Um, Master Roshi, who was that weirdo?" Yamcha asked.

"His name is Master Shen, but there was a time I used to call him my friend." Roshi spat bitterly.

"You never mentioned him before." Gohan said, even he looked surprised given how considerate he was of others.

"No reason to after he turned his back on me." Roshi said, still not losing sight of where Shen left. Then turned around.

"But still, no reason to dwell on the past." He said, back in his cheerful mood. "The important is that Kakarot is here with all of us. So let's all meet the rest of the gang, shall we?" He said, picking up from where he left off earlier.

So they all exchanged pleasantries, the episode with Shen already forgotten and with Gine officially introduced to everyone in the gang after shaking hands with Yamcha's shape-shifting cat Puar, Roshi's talking turtle, and the other human female of the group, Launch. Over the course of their conversations she got to learn more of her son's friends as people as all the details of what he told her fell into place. The way they were friends with Kakarot, and how among almost all of them used to be people with not-so-good intentions. Now, they were a sort of tight-knit group of compadres.

They already knew about her and Kakarot's Saiyan heritage, with him having blurted about it and having them coming to accept it with seeing the way he is. Gine forgot that she never got around to telling Kakarot to never tell anyone, even his own friends, about them lest they draw unwanted attention; but they all agreed to not tell other people out of respect for the family. Bulma however was curious about Saiyan technology, and was the only one to ask Gine serious questions but Gohan thankfully answered for her when she felt too uncomfortable.

Gine was touched by how she was immediately accepted as if she were one of them already. Her son was such a good friend to all of them that they accepted him and her without question. Although she had just met them, she really started to feel at ease with them. She never would've thought something like this to be possible, as she never had anything this close with anyone back on planet Vegeta even when she was with Bardock's crew. This world truly was full of wonders.

The only exception was Chi-chi, who wasn't so warm to her as everyone else. Her father couldn't come to the tournament since he had to watch over the kingdom so it's just her. She didn't really get over having her plans of early marriage to Kakarot undone by Gine. To be fair Gine didn't like her too much either, but decided not to dwell on that and accept her relationship with her son, and how happy it seemed to make him.

"Now that we are all acquainted again..." Roshi stated, "I suggest we all go get a bite to eat before the big fight!" At the thought of food, Kakarot leapt as excited as he can be. Everyone else was excited too, even Gine since no matter how dignified she made herself to be, a Saiyan never turned down a good meal.

"They don't come any bigger than the World Martial Arts Tournament so lets get the best in town!" Roshi declared, and everyone headed off toward town, Kakarot declaring he'll eat until he burst. Knowing him he probably just might do that. None of them noticed Roshi looking sheepish as he realized he didn't have any money...

The following morning Gine was on edge. She did not get much sleep the night before with so many things taking her mind from any place of peace. She spent a good portion of the night trying to ward off Roshi from the girl's room while fighting off how much she overate at dinner (who would've thought THAT would happen, the food on this planet was SOOO good) and getting used to sleeping in a hotel. Not that she had never done before, for her time in the Frieza Forces she shared quarters with countless other warriors. But today she was not feeling good at all. She wasn't sure how, but knew there was something off about this day and it wasn't just her lack of good sleep...

Roshi disappeared as they entered the tournament grounds, said he had to go "do something." Gohan quietly confirmed to her that its to change into Jackie Chun. She immediately knew not to tell anyone.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Came an announcement over the ground's PA system.

"Welcome to the Twenty-Second World Martial Arts Tournament!" The entire place erupted into cheering. Gine winced at the sound, the sheer volume of people and noise in one place almost overwhelmed her. Not even Planet Vegeta on it's last day with everyone back home was this crowded. Nothing could've prepared her for this, and with how tired and on edge she felt, she wanted to go home now.

The announcer came on again "For all fighters participating, the preliminary matches will take place inside the main building in five minutes, so please report in soon!"

"Alright mom, this is it! I'll see you when this is over!" Kakarot said as he clasped her hand, not noticing it was trembling.

Gine snapped out of the bombardment of noise for a moment when her son hugged her. Remembering what she was here for, she let that be the force to help her through the fear of being here. She hugged him tightly before he ran off with Krillin and Yamcha.

"Good luck!" She called out before he disappeared into the crowd entering the building.

She was here for her son, and she will cheer him on no matter what.

And there we go, Gine is formally introduced to the gang and gets to step out into the world!

Next chapter: the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament!