Last time on Dragon Ball HPA! When Yamu and Spopovich attempted to suck Gohan's energy and give it to their master, Babidi, Akane jumped in to save him, causing Supreme Kai Shin's plans to go awry. However, thanks to thinking things out with Goku and the others, the plan was not completely lost. With most of the fighters leaving the tournament, only 4 fighters remain at the 25th World Martial Arts tournament: Goku, Vegeta, Videl and the mysterious Femme Fatale.
Meanwhile, our heroes have infiltrated Babidi's domain after a close encounter with the mighty Dabura. Now, Peko Pekoyama faces off against the likes of Puipui. Has Vegeta's training prepared the students of Hope's Peak Academy for otherworldly threats? Find out now on this exciting chapter of Dragon Ball HPA!
EPISODE 7: The Deadlier of the Species
Pui Pui began his assault with a furious slew of punches. Peko dodged this way and that way in order to avoid taking a hit. Pui Pui laughed.
"Hahahaha! What's the matter? So overwhelmed by my power and speed that all you can do is dodge me?! Is that it?"
He was met with Peko speeding past him, colored blood dripping from his cheek and as he turned around, her blade was held down and at her side. "No," she simply replied.
She turned around and held her blade down at one side, other arm loose at her side. A statement any competent swordsman would recognize as the infamous "Hell's Greeting". One that said "I'm so much better than you that I don't even need to properly defend myself to beat you."
"Graaaaah!" Pui Pui growled. "Take this!" he fired energy blast after energy blast after energy blast at Peko, but she dodged each one swiftly, moving like a blur back and forth. As Pui Pui fired a beam more than a blast, Peko ran up the wall of the battlefield and along the ceiling. She got directly on the center of the ceiling, turned her blade and pushed against the ceiling. Then, with all her might, sprang towards the floor.
SHING!
Pui Pui's right arm went flying off at the elbow, causing him to gawk and stumble backwards before screaming in pain, blood going everywhere. With both hands on the handle of her blade, Peko tilted the blade in an upside-down slanted posture. Then, with ferocious speed, she sprang forth, swinging with both hands, as she sliced repeatedly into Pui Pui's torso, covering him with wounds before ending her strikes by thrusting once with her blade, impaling him against the wall through the upper torso with an energy spike emitting from the tip of her sword.
"Unreal," Shin said, eyes wide with shock.
Babidi was beside himself with irritation. "What is that blasted idiot doing? He hasn't landed a single blow upon the girl and he's losing badly." After taking a moment to compose himself, he realized getting upset wouldn't solve anything. Magic, though, probably would. "No matter. I'll just give Pui Pui a home field advantage."
In the next instant, the battlefield changed and Peko's whole body suddenly felt heavier as she took a knee. Even Akane, Kotomi and Gundham were affected by this sudden increase in weight.
"What…manner of sorcery is this?" Gundham blurted out.
"Oh god…I feel like I'm gonna crap out my own spine," Kotomi said, holding her stomach, doubling over.
"It's Babidi's magic. He's transported us to Pui Pui's home planet. This is why I said we shouldn't be overconfident."
"Supreme Kai," Gohan said, calmly, glancing towards Shin. "Relax. I have faith in Peko." He looked back at her with a confident stare. "You should too."
Shin blinked, unable to believe his ears. What the hell was Gohan saying or even thinking?
No time to dwell on it though. Pui Pui felt better as the thicker gravity and natural air of his home planet sped up recovery of his injuries by a significant margin and also raised morale.
"What's the matter, human?" He mocked, using his good arm. "Not used to ten times your planet's gravity?"
Peko gave no response.
Pui Pui laughed. "Fool. Let me show you that I don't need two arms to vanquish you, woman!" He charged up a large energy blast and fired it at Peko.
"Peko!" Shin shouted in alarm.
However, the energy blast did not hit Peko. She simply rose halfway to her feet and sliced the oversized energy ball in half with her blade, causing the two halves to veer off course and explode behind her. A gust blew at her braids, accenting how cool she looked as she held her blade across her body towards her right.
"Is that it?" Peko asked. "Pathetic."
Pui Pui growled and fired more energy blasts at Peko, but she either dodged or sliced through them all, grunting only once or twice to put in the extra effort to move like butter through 10 times Earth's gravity. And with every attacked dodged or reflected she drew closer and closer to Pui Pui.
With both hands on her blade, Peko swung down as she took a mighty leap in the air. Pui Pui dodged back instinctively as she resulting shockwave tore through the ground. He barely had enough time to sidestep the large trail of energy that moved past him. However, when he looked back towards to Peko she was gone. And when he looked around for her, he found her crouched down by his right knee. She had her sword sheathed and the tip aimed out behind her on her right hip. And with no arm on that side of his body, he had no way to stop what happened next.
Peko moved so fast Shin wasn't really sure what happened for a moment. However, one thing was clear. The moment after she stopped moving at such high speeds, she was behind Pui Pui and swinging out her sword at her left side. Then, she moved past him back towards her friends.
Pui Pui could only gawk at her, not understanding why she was acting like this fight was already over. But he felt…something. That something was his body literally splitting in half from skull to groin as Peko slowly sheathed her sword behind her back, letting it drop into the sheathe with an audible "click".
"Incredible," Shin gasped in awe.
"Target silenced," Peko stated. "We should move on."
"I had no idea this planet housed such amazing fighters," Shin stated.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Gundham cackled, arms folded. "You are dealing with the best and most talented warriors among the institution known only as Hope's Peak Academy, Kai." He held his arms up like knives, elbows bent. "To compare us to such insignificant weaklings is an insult not only to our training, but to our capabilities."
"Huh," Gohan remarked. "That one I actually understood."
Following that comment, the center circle in the floor descended, allowing further progression into Babidi's domain.
"Well then, let's not keep our dastardly host waiting," Gundham smirked. "Shall we?" He floated up and then descended down, letting his scarf billow upward. Akane jumped down the hole, passing Gundham down on the way. Kotomi followed then Peko, leaving Gohan and Shin to bring up the rear.
"What's wrong, Supreme Kai?" Gohan asked.
"It's just…I knew the people of this planet were strong, but…"
Gohan smiled. "Like Gundham said, we're all special in our own way. It'd be nice if we could stop Buu without having to get my dad involved."
"I'd say that's wishful thinking, but we'll see." Shin approached the hole and then floated down. Gohan matched his pace.
Shin and Gohan landed, joining the other students. Kotomi tapped her knuckles together. "So, who wants dibs on the next guy? Cause I'm all fired up!" She exclaimed.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Unless there is a small jump in power between that Pui Pui individual and the next opponent, you would be ill suited to go next."
Kotomi rubbed the back of her head, laughing, eyes in the shape of upside-down Us. "Yeah, you might be right about that."
"Still, it's good that you came," Gohan said. "If things get dicey, you're a really good tag out."
"Or I can soften a guy up or two," Kotomi smirked. "I know my limitations."
"Then I wanna go!" Akane exclaimed. "My body's bristling with goose bumps! I got all this energy and nothing to use it on!"
"Why are you all so excited about this? Aren't you the least bit concerned about any of this? The fighters under Babidi's command are some of the most powerful fighters in the universe!"
"Nah, not really," Kotomi said, cleaning her left ear with her pinky nail. "I mean, that Dabura guy is what, Babidi's strongest fighter? Gohan could probably handle him and worst case scenario, we've got Goku, who's supposed to be even stronger."
Shin was left dumbstruck at Kotomi's words.
"I don't care who it is!" Akane said, grinning like a madwoman. "I want a fight!"
Shin looked at Gohan, silently pleading with him to be the voice of reason.
Gohan folded his arms and thought about it. "Yeah, I mean. That guy from earlier…Pui Pui, right? He seemed only about as strong as Vegeta when he first arrived on Earth. I beat Cell who was leagues stronger than even Freeza and I'm tougher now than I was back then thanks to Hope's Peak Academy."
"The devil's spit is his most potent weapon. Barring that, a truly competent fighter like the New Hero would be able to outmatch him in a war of attrition," Gundham noted.
Shin couldn't believe his pointy ears.
"Perhaps the next battle may yet convince you of our ability to handle the situation," Peko stated. "You fought Akane yourself, did you not? And she is not even the strongest amongst us here. Unless you were holding back significantly so as not to kill her, surely you understand that we are all capable of holding our own here?"
It's true, I was holding back against Akane and was victorious, Shin thought. But I deliberately restrained myself to a set degree I predetermined for the tournament. I have no idea if I could've seriously injured Akane if I held back less. He then realized that Akane might've been holding back somewhat for similar reasons. Have I yet to see the full depths of her power? He looked towards Gohan. And if so, what does that make Gohan, who's leagues above her level?
Gohan noticed Shin looking at him and gave him a friendly smile.
Akane roared. "HEY! WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? BRING ME SOMEONE TO FIGHT!"
After a few seconds of waiting, the door finally opened, revealing a disgusting green monster of hideous proportions. He snorted and growled as he stepped into the room.
His visage made even Gohan flinch and Kotomi hid behind him, gazing at the beast from only over Gohan's shoulder. Peko, Gundham and Akane remained unfazed.
Gundham found the beast's appearance to be most amusing. "What an interesting specimen of otherworldly growth. If the Reckless One had not already called her shot, I would do battle in interest of the creature's species."
Shin gasped. "What? Oh no!"
The beast drooled, moving its arms around to and fro as it approached the group. The strange alien beast towered over the 5' 7" Akane.
"Wow, he sure is an ugly one," Gohan remarked.
Gundham folded his arms. "Do not speak ill of a creature of unknown origin. For all we know there may be markings on the creature's body that speak of its fertility to females of its kind."
Shin stared at Gundham. "Are you some kind of expert?"
"Gundham's title at Hope's Peak Academy is the Ultimate Animal Breeder," Peko stated. "So basics even among creatures from space that are inhuman are second nature to him."
"Heck yeah," Akane said. "Bring it on, big guy. My gut's telling me this is gonna be a really fun fight."
The creature laughed. "Yummy, who do I eat first?"
"So the creature is sapient enough to speak. Akane Owari! I will watch from the sidelines for now, but if the being becomes too much for you, I'm more than happy to take your place."
"Yeah, yeah," Akane said nonchalantly. "Wait your turn."
"Would you all stop acting like this is just another match at the tournament?" Shin asked incredulously. "I know this monster. His name is Yakon."
"You know this creature, Kai?" Gundham asked him.
"That's right. He's one of the most feared creatures in the universe and he is extremely strong."
Akane's ki flared. "Just keep talking my language."
"Stop being reckless!" Shin shouted straining his neck. "I'm not even sure Goku could defeat such a beast on his own."
"Cease your prattling!" Gundham shouted. "The mighty Goku, felled by a mere reptile? Absurd! Akane Owari! Bring this monster to its knees!"
"You don't have to tell me twice," Akane said and began to power up. It was go time. "Let's go!"
Yakon made the first move and struck forward at Akane, but she leapt into the air. Yakon followed, showing surprising quickness for a monster so large. Akane dodged his midair strikes with relatively ease, but the tail strike came out just a bit too quickly, striking her in the gut.
"Ah! Akane!" Gohan called out in alarm.
Akane flowed with the strike though and tucked into a reverse somersault as she planted her feet on the wall and threw herself back at Babidi's monster, decking Yakon in the face, following up with a high kick and then a punch straight to Yakon's gut. However, the monster had one last trick up his sleeve. His claw extended from his wrist and flew towards Akane's shoulder. However, while she hadn't seen the attack coming, she evaded the strike before the claw had even released from Yakon's wrist and quietly retreated from the ground.
Her instincts? Shin recognized the sharp, brief spike in Akane's power as she took Goku's trademark fighting stance.
"That's…dad's…did she memorize it just from seeing it once?"
"It's amazing how much energy the reckless one puts into her training, in more ways than one. If only she applied that level of skill to etiquette," Gundham stated, referring to a multitude of areas Akane was decisively…lacking.
Yakon was a bit surprised. "How…how did you dodge my claw?"
Akane spat on the ground. "Why don't you try hitting me again and find out?"
Yakon and Akane rushed each other. Akane ducked under Yakon's oncoming wrist claw and then swept his strangely shaped legs. Then she let loose a giant, blue energy bullet with both hands, nailing the beast in the stomach, but all it did was knock him back.
Down below, Babidi grew a bit frantic. "Aaaaaaah! That fool girl! If she's not careful, the slightest shock will wake up Majin Buu and I only have only so much energy to give thanks to those imbeciles Spopovich and Yamu." The single strike Yakon inflicted on Akane didn't even amount to 300 kili and Buu required several magnitudes more than that. 3,000 kili would barely be a snack.
"What do you plan to do, Master Babidi?" Dabura asked.
Babidi chuckled most connivingly. Then, using magic, projected his voice into the room. "Yakon, listen to me. You're doing well, my marvelous monster. I'm proud of you, do you know that? With your help, Majin Buu will be resurrected sooner than expected. I have a treat for you that will help you finish off these intruders quickly. How would you like to visit your favorite planet, the planet of darkness? Would you like that, my pet?"
Gundham cackled. "Planet of darkness? What an intriguing name. Do it!"
"Have you gone mad?" Shin asked Gundham. "Do you even know what you are asking?"
"Silence, Kai! This is a battle for the strong and sturdy, not the feeble and afraid. Whilst you cower at the mere mention of the name Majinn Buu, I, Gundham Tanaka, Supreme Overlord of Ice, relish the challenge and wish to see what comes next!"
Shin quaked in his boots. Gohan smiled at him. "Just relax, Supreme Kai. We've got this."
Shin still felt uneasy.
"If it's anything like the last planet, gravity might change. Stay on your guard, Akane."
Akane nodded as the surroundings of the world changed. Everything started to get dark.
Kotomi screamed like the teenage girl she was. "I can't see a thing! Someone give me their shoulder!"
"Akane! Are you all right?" Peko called for her.
"I-I'm fine! You guys are all still there? I can't see anything!"
"We're fine!" Gohan called. "You just focus on the fight."
"We won't be for much longer if this keeps up," Shin stated.
"BAHAHAHA! So the planet of darkness was no mere title! A planet on the edge of the universe far from any sunlight! A pitch black, blanket of ebony where no sight is possible! How delightfully interesting!"
"That's…remarkably accurate, minus the interesting part," Shin said.
"Yeah, Gundham kind of embraced the weirdness that is ki culture," Kotomi stated, gripping Gohan's arm for safety. She looked up towards the direction of his face even though she couldn't see it. "For the record, this is just because you're the toughest guy here and not cause I like you personally or anything."
"It's fine, Kotomi. I won't tell President Murasame," Gohan said politely.
"Th-thanks," Kotomi stuttered, thankful that no one could see her blush.
"So, no light no sight?" Akane asked. "Good!" Tensing her body, she let out a loud, proud shout. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" White ki billowed around Akane like a bonfire. She clenched her fists tightly and shut her eyes. "If I can't see you then I'll just rely on my instincts. My gut's never wrong!" she shouted. "Bring it on!"
Akane charged at Yakon, causing the beast to gasp. "Th-there's no way she can see where I am! Her eyes are closed!"
But Akane knew exactly where Yakon was and struck him right in his frog-lipped face, knocking him back. Akane then crouched low and spun towards Yakon, tripping him by delivering several low-sweeping kicks as she then rose from her crouched position with a powerful uppercut, launching the beast away.
Yakon quickly retreated into the shadows, far and away from Akane, hoping she wouldn't be able to sense him from such a distance.
Silence fell upon the planet of darkness as Yakon then pounced from seemingly out of nowhere.
"Surprise!" He exclaimed with his croaking voice. However, Akane spun quickly, evaded backwards and then swung down at Yakon's arm, but didn't inflict much damage as the beast then grabbed her around her waist.
"Gotcha!"
Akane groaned in pain as Yakon grabbed her firmly.
Babidi cheered from his ship's lowest stage. "That's it! Yakon! You've got it!"
"Down the hatch!" Yakon exclaimed, proceeding to try and put Akane directly into his mouth.
"Oh no!" Shin exclaimed, terrified.
"Akane!" Gohan shouted in alarm.
Akane continued to struggle and kick her legs as Yakon brought her closer and closer to his mouth. He licked his lips and went to bite her in half.
"Fool! A demon's weakest point is its eyes! Why flail pointlessly when you can strike its weak point for massive damage?" Gundham shouted.
Akane stopped struggling. "Huh? Oh yeah." She fired an energy blast directly into Yakon's left eye.
He promptly dropped her to nurse the irritation in his eye. Akane gave him no quarter and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him back. She then followed up with a flurry of punches to Yakon's poor stomach, hitting him relentlessly like he was just a punching bag.
However, after the twelfth or so blow, Yakon became numb to the strikes and went to slice Akane with his retractable wrist claw. Akane immediately bent backwards like she was in a game of limbo, evading the attack. She then did a hand stand, just barely evading the reach of the other strike. She then parted her legs and evaded the claw thrust that would've pierced at least one leg without the acrobatic maneuver.
Yakon sweated, surprised. "How? How can she predict my moves?"
"That's Akane's instinct for you," Gohan said, feeling reassured. "Once her life gets in danger, she's able to do all sorts of crazy stuff."
"No, the energy output for her so-called Instinct of Battle is far too low. She has yet to use her final form."
"Wait, so she's not at full strength?" Shin asked Gohan.
"Take a sense for yourself, Supreme Kai," Gohan stated.
Shin did so and gasped. Indeed, Akane's power did seem remarkably low compared to the tail end of their fight in the tournament. "Why isn't Akane taking this fight seriously?"
"I don't think she's doing it on purpose," Peko said, as Akane evaded Yakon's attacks. "Akane has yet to truly master her instincts in battle. She's an effective acrobat and a skilled warrior, but Yakon has yet to truly push her into a corner."
"Indeed, she might be able to knock the beast around, but she's not doing any real damage," Gundham said.
"You noticed it too, huh?" Gohan asked him.
"If I could not sense that, I would be unworthy to possess my demonic third eye," Gundham said.
"Wait, but you only have two eyes," Gohan said, given he actually knew someone with a literal third eye.
Akane started to sweat. Adrenaline could only carry her so far and having to rely solely on her instincts for a prolonged duration was a lot more stressful than she anticipated. It was at that moment that Yakon struck her with a powerful slap that sent her careening through several rock formations.
"Akane!" Gohan shouted.
"Meal time!" Yakon sped towards Akane and though he missed with his sharp claw, he intercepted her incoming downward kick and grabbed her leg before smashing her against the stone floor.
"Yes! That's it, Yakon! Inflict damage for Majinn Buu!" Babidi shouted.
Akane tried to hit Yakon in the eyes with another energy blast, but he covered his eyes with his arm this time and then hurled her at the ceiling. He wasn't falling for that one twice.
Akane gained aerial momentum and felt her feet stick into the roof of the cave they were fighting in and then somersaulted backwards and landed far and away from her friends.
"It's no good," Gohan said. "Akane can knock the big guy back, but her blows aren't doing any real lasting damage, but one blow from him sends her flying."
"Now do you see why I was so worried?" Shin asked. "This is why we need Goku!"
"No, let Akane fight a little more," Gohan said. "If worst comes to worst, Gundham can take her place."
"But—"
"Akane might get a little roughed up, but she knows her limits better than anyone," Gohan stated.
Taking aim at Yakon, Akane took a stance and charged some ki. "Kaaaameeeehaaa…"
Yakon charged towards her and Akane was forced to abandon charging her Kamehameha. Yakon could still see her and he was very very fast. Since she could only rely on instinct, she couldn't reasonably predict where he'd strike from.
If only I could just tap into my instincts whenever I wanted, Akane thought. But…
She narrowly dodged a claw strike, her clothes getting torn. That was when she felt a numb pain by her left hip. She'd been nicked. She was bleeding from a six inch long gash along the left side of her torso. Not deep, thankfully. It barely hurt, but it was a sign that she was getting sloppy.
Gotta calm down, Akane thought. She leapt back and away from another sweeping strike from Yakon as his tail suddenly slammed into her, knocking her away and sending her through a stalagmite.
By the time she caught a sense of Yakon again, he was coming down from above. He smells, she noted and jumped out of the way.
Yakon's tail whipped its way back and forth. Akane leapt over it multiple times like it was a game of high speed jump rope.
He smells really bad, actually.
Yakon turned around and thrust both claws at Akane. She did multiple backwards flips to avoid him.
Won't help me, he's so fast. She ducked under a claw strike from Yakon, putting her palms to the ground. Yakon tried to step on her, but she kangaroo kicked at him. Unfortunately, her attack was blocked by his thick arm, but she used the impact to tilt her ab muscles, lift her body and springboard for a stalactite, kicking it down and trying to put as much distance between her and Yakon as possible.
Yakon laughed. "I like fighting with you, but I'm getting hungry. I want to eat you."
Yeah, I'm a bit hungry too, Akane thought. Argh! Focus.
"What's wrong? Can't keep up? You're breathing awfully heavy my caramel-colored morsel."
Yeah…I am breathing kind of heavy, aren't I? Is that why I can't get calm? I usually don't burn this much adrenaline this quickly, but then again…I've never been in this situation, have I? Relying solely on my instincts. Akane's breathing started to slow.
"What is Yakon doing? Why is he just standing there? Go after the girl and finish her!" Babidi complained.
This guy…is really strong, Akane thought. Am I…scared?
Yakon seemed to understand Babidi's will even without hearing it and trampled towards Akane. She dodged perfectly this time as he broke the stalagmite behind her.
"Akane!" Gohan shouted for her.
I can't be scared, Akane told herself, but it was more of an order than a denial of her emotions.
Yakon began to pursue her, but Akane didn't not run. She simply stood up straight and took a deep breath.
I didn't come here to run. Akane breathed extremely calmly. The temperature in her body went from extremely heated to closer to a natural read. I came here…to fight. Even though there was no point, Akane's eyes still opened as a glint of silver appeared in them briefly before her eyes became normal again. Don't think, feel, she told herself. The world around her was already in darkness. All she had to do was embrace it. These were perfect fighting conditions. Like she said before. No light. No sight.
"F….eee…d…. me…eeee…"
Yakon's voice was started to get hazy. The world around Akane started to blank out and then, she did the same to her mind.
"Finally! The dumb human's given up!" Babidi cheered. "Get her, Yakon!"
Yakon drew near. Akane showed no signs of moving.
"Akane!" Gohan shouted for her in alarm.
Then everyone felt it, sans Yakon. It was like a rumble across the landscape, no a pulse. Akane's power spiked and it spiked high.
Yakon struck towards Akane, but she just…wasn't there anymore.
Before he knew what was happening, Akane had her foot firmly planted in his face and he really felt that one. Down sweeping hook, high sweeping kicking, down sweeping kick, rising uppercut. Hit after hit after hit after hit. Akane's movements were now leagues above what they were before and they were hitting just as hard.
"What? No! This isn't fair!" Babidi shrieked. "Yakon was about to win! What is going on?" He shouted at a minion. "You! Bring me my power reader! Now!"
"Y-yes, Lord Babidi!"
Akane continued to land a fierce smack down on Yakon without relent. Her fierce blows echoed throughout the cave. She was starting to hit so hard, she was breaking Yakon's bones.
"Hurry!" Babidi shouted at his minion as he hurriedly brought Babidi the power meter. Babidi held it up to Akane as she continued beating on Yakon without hesitating.
"Impossible! 2,000 kili!"
"The meter must be broken. No human could possess 2,000 kili. 300 alone would destroy the planet."
"You got him, Akane! Keep it up!" Gohan shouted.
"Unbelievable," Shin gaped, sensing the battle even if he was unable to see it. Though, battle at this point, was putting it generously.
Akane's hits landed one right after the other. Any attempt at a counterattack from Yakon was met by Akane pivoting on a dime and landing a blow just where he was the most unguarded.
Yakon, now more tenderized than a prime steak, stumbled back, feeling dazed, eyes unfocused, claws snapped like branches on an oak tree.
Akane didn't need to think about what to do next. "KA! ME! HA! ME! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Akane's energy blast tore through the cave like a comet, obliterating Yakon in its path without a care in the world.
And then, Babidi watched the meter recede rapidly, all the way down to only 80 kili and then it receded some more. "What the devil was that power?" He smashed the reader on the ground. "Grrrr! This meter is clearly broken! Bring me another!"
"Yes, my lord!" The minion shouted, scrambling.
"Master Babidi, look," Dabura said, referring to Majin Buu's capsule.
Babidi looked it over and smirked. In the end, Yakon had done something right. Majin Buu's capsule had been filled about a quarter of the way up. He snickered. "Well, Yakon may be gone but he proved useful in the end. And if that much energy could be drawn out of just that girl, then the rest of those brats must be just what we needed to fill Majin Buu up all the way!" Babidi snickered, chortled and then let out a mad cackle. Everything was going according to plan.
Meanwhile, back at the World Martial Arts Tournament, Vegeta was getting ready to square off in the ring against Femme Fury. "You know, when you said you were going to attend the World Martial Arts Tournament," he said, looking at his costumed adversary. "I didn't think you were going to do it in disguise."
"Hey, come on," Femme Fury frowned, putting her knuckles on her hips. "You think I want people going around thinking I'm some monster that beats people up for fun?"
Vegeta cracked his knuckles. "Hmph, all that power and you still don't have any pride in it."
"Hey! It's not my fault that ever since I got enrolled in the school suddenly physical exercise shot up my physical abilities like it was breathing air. Every morning I had to get a new alarm clock for like weeks."
Vegeta laughed, finding the image amusing. "Well then, why don't you show me what you've been able to accomplish on your own?" Vegeta took his trademark stance. "School's out, but class is back in session, Chisa Yukizome."
It really is her, Sakakura thought.
The redhead puffed her cheeks and bent over thrusting her fists down in indignation. "My name is Femme Fury!" She was going to keep up the charade for as long as the cameras were on her. Her reputation depended on it.
Braaaaaaaaa!
Femme Fury lifted one leg off the ground and zoomed towards Vegeta, throwing the first punch. Pulling his left hand up by his face, Vegeta caught her strike and gripped hard before delivering an underhand blow to the costumed woman's gut, causing her to wince as he slammed her at the ground and used an energy blast to blow her across the ground.
"Oooh! A dirty opening move by Vegeta! Is this over already?"
"Charging blindly? I thought I taught you better than that," Vegeta asked.
Femme Fury got up and brushed herself off.
"No breaks!" Vegeta shouted and flew straight at her. Femme Fury delicately dodged to Vegeta's left and chopped him against the throat, knocking him away and towards the edge of the arena.
"Swallow Tail!" Femme Fury swung her arms down in a V, but unlike Piccolo, Vegeta could see this attack coming. With barely fractions of a second to spare, he looked back at Goku and shouted, "Kakarot, move!"
Goku, also seeing the attack and how unfriendly it looked, grabbed Videl and moved away from the observance point for the contestant area.
"Phew, that was close," Goku said, as he and Videl looked at the sliced up tables. He pat Videl on the head. "You all right?"
"Yeah, thanks," Videl said and went back to observing the match.
Femme Fury unleashed a flurry of kicks at Vegeta's head, which effortlessly managed to duck under and then motioned to grab her upper arm and flip her over his shoulder. However, his opponent seemed to have anticipate that and grabbled her legs around Vegeta's neck and hurled him as she flipped backwards, launching him at the crowd like a cannonball.
Vegeta pulled sharply upwards and looked down at the ground below, but Femme Fury was nowhere in sight. He gasped, realizing she could now be anywhere in the sky with him.
"Looking for me?" Femme Fury called out. "HIYAH!" She kicked with intense might at Vegeta's left side, but he managed to block with his arm. A powerful thunderclap echoed across the tournament grounds.
"Whoa!" The announcer declared. "There's not a storm cloud in the sky, but I'm sure we all heard that one, right folks?"
Vegeta smirked and aimed to punch Femme Fury in the face, but she backed up and the two began engaging in classic rapid fire punches and kicks that looked like blurs to every observer, moving back and forth across the air like a Pinball having a seizure.
Hercule, hardly at all able to follow this nonsense, stared up at the two fighters in a complete, slack jawed haze. How was he supposed to comprehend any of this anymore, much less lie about it? "I'm gettin' old," he commented.
Femme Fury won out in the scuffle, gaining a height advantage and kicking down, and striking Vegeta in the left pectoral, but Vegeta quickly grappled her ankle before she could pull her foot away and pulled them both towards the ground caused by her momentum. He then hurled Femme Fury at the grass outside the arena and let fly an energy blast for good measure. However, Femme Fury gained aerial control pulled up in a looping curve and flew straight back up towards Vegeta. "Monarch Sprial!" Covering her entire body with ki, Femme Fury slammed into Vegeta's mid-section, launching him into the air as she then began to strike him from all sides at blinding speeds. The strikes were pretty light, but they still hurt, like softballs to the face of someone Hercule's caliber…if launched by a tank.
"Come on, Vegeta! Pull it together!" Bulma shouted.
"Don't lose, dad!" Trunks cheered.
"Lights out!" Femme Fury spun across the air, hands lit up with lightning-like white ki energy. "White Admiral!"
The first strike cold cocked Vegeta in the face and then second strike slammed him in the side of the stomach. Then, transferring power to her leg swiftly, Femme Fury swung down as Vegeta's body helplessly turned and sent Vegeta slamming towards the ground at high speeds.
"Vegeta is heading towards the ground at an alarming rate!" The announcer shouted. "This could be over!"
"Sensei!" Videl shouted.
However, just as it looked like Vegeta was in trouble, he stopped short, folded his arms and floated upright, feet together. He smirked. "Not bad," he said with a cocky grin. "You've certainly gotten a lot stronger than the last time I trained you. Guess it's time I take off the training wheels."
Goku smiled. He knew Vegeta wasn't giving it his A-game. He was really curious to see what Vegeta could really do without going Super Saiyan.
Vegeta tore off from the ground with all the force of a natural disaster as his fist connected with Femme Fury's stomach, causing her to spit up bile and Vegeta then kicked her in the back, firing a multitude of energy blasts at her back, not showing any mercy, pounding her across the face repeatedly. He was utterly surprised when Femme Fury caught one of his punches, and the one that followed as well. They smashed foreheads into each other as both then charged ki in their fists to make the other back off.
Breaking away they charged at each other again, punches and kicks flying rapidly. Vegeta took a moment to mouth off. "So, just what kind of training have you been up to lately?"
"Oh, you know, the usual, push ups, sit ups, the whole nine thousand and one miles," Femme Fury said. She charged forward with an underhand punch, but Vegeta blocked it with a well-timed placement of his forearm, fist clenched.
"Oh, isn't that just cute?" Vegeta asked.
"I'm not cute," Femme Fury said with a very uncomfortable smile. She opened her palm and blasted Vegeta away with a massive blast of energy that seemed to have been charged and released in a flash of an instant. "I'm adorably violent."
Vegeta, after halting his backwards momentum, spat to the right and then charged up his ki, flying at Femme Fury. Their forearms smashing into each other as they detonated ki blasts at point blank range. Vegeta then pulled back and unleashed a massive volley of energy bullets across the air, all of which converged on Femme Fury. There would be no dodging these. Vegeta was instructing the ki to track her movements.
Femme Fury raised her arms and clapped them together, creating a shockwave that disrupted and disintegrated Vegeta's energy bullets. "Red! Admiral!" Femme Fury flew forward at intense speeds, arms spread wide like the wings of an airplane. She then pulled up sharply and above Vegeta as she dived down, focusing all of her energy into her feet.
Hmph, predictable, Vegeta thought and motioned to get out of the way, only for Femme Fury to stop at the same altitude he did and released the energy across the air in a massive ki shockwave. "What?!"
Vegeta got hurled backwards by the shockwave and Femme Fury was already upon him delivering well-placed, harsh punches to his shoulders, chest and face.
"Oh my god! Contestant Vegeta is on the end of a real beating!"
Vegeta's giving it everything he's got right now without going Super Saiyan, Goku noted. He smirked. I kind of want a crack at this Femme Fury myself. She's good if she's pushing Vegeta into a corner.
However, pissed off at the beating he was taking, Vegeta grabbed Femme Fury's hands and began trying to crunch her hand bones by squeezing as hard as he could while powering up and smashed his forehead into hers. "You always hated fighting," he said, glaring at her as she winced. "You never took pride in the training I offered. You only came once in a while to keep up with some of the others. How is it someone like you is holding their own against me, The Prince of all Saiyans! It's not only inconceivable! It's insulting! More so than that idiot Kakarot being stronger than me!"
"Well, let's see," Femme Fury said and banged her head into Vegeta, making him loosen his grip. "I'm not pent up on adrenaline, anger and off-brand aftershave and deodorant." She kicked him in the chest, launching him back. She raised one leg, bending her knee. "I took the basics you taught me and took the opportunity to master them in my own way. You're right about one thing. I'm no warrior. I see myself as more of a guardian. I have something I want to protect. This blood sport of a tournament? I despise it. I'm only here because it was the only way I could gain your help. That's why I'm going all out. I want you to see the depth of my resolve. But you, you're only seeing me as an obstacle to have a grudge match with Son Goku."
Vegeta clenched his fist. She wasn't wrong in part about that last part. He wanted to roll this woman over so he could get to the main event, fighting Kakarot and prove that low-class Saiyan garbage could never surpass him.
"I've got news for you and it's something I learned a long time ago. If you constantly see everything as in your way towards your goal, you'll always tire yourself out. Put your energy in everything you do. Live in the moment. Life's too short to hate everything but those few moments of elation we feel when we're doing the things we love most. If you don't love yourself and your life, you'll always get left behind."
"Where'd you pluck that out of?" Vegeta asked, folding his arms and turning his head down and to the side. "A poetry book?"
"My dad taught it to me, actually," Femme Fury said and then added after a pause, "when he was in the hospital, dying of cancer."
"I don't recall caring," Vegeta said.
Femme Fury rolled her eyes. "How are you still married? Do you even love your wife and child? Or, what," Femme Fury then madae a terrible Vegeta impression, "did Mister big powerful Prince of all Saiyans," she returned to her normal voice, "have a night of hot fiery passion and get a woman pregnant and then oops, found out she was the richest woman in the entire world."
Vegeta clenched a fist and his whole body tensed up.
"I guess it's no surprise you have a bitter rivalry with that Goku, guy. I mean," Femme Fury put her knuckles on her hips. "He's everything you're not. He's a nice guy. Got a wife and kid who adore him. I mean, the only reason he'd technically not be married is that he's been dead for the last five years. But given how nice he is, I'm sure he was a good dad." She gave Vegeta scolding stare. "You're so bitter and angry, I'm surprised Mrs. Briefs lets you share the same bed as her, or spend time with your son. And, last I heard, you two weren't even married when your son was born. Real bang up job there Mr. Prince of—"
Vegeta decked Femme Fury in the face, smashing her mask and sending her flying back, revealing her face to the crowd. "Let's get…one thing…straight here." Vegeta began to flare up. "You can insult me and the woman and our relationship all you like, but nobody…NOBODY implies I'm a worse parent than that idiot, Kakarot!" Vegeta powered up beyond his maximum without Super Saiyan. "Best have your not-boyfriend call you a hospital room. You're going to need it." Vegeta slammed a fist into Femme Fury's stomach and then utterly went to town battering her with fierce blows. He then grabbed her leg and hurled her at the ground at high speeds, firing off a monstrous energy blast for good measure to ensure she'd land out of the ring.
However, Yukizome flipped around and charged a powerful blast of her own, destroying Vegeta's and flying up towards him, their knuckles smashing into each other in midair. They engaged in rapid fire punches and kicks right before the crowd's eyes, before locking fists, pushing against each other's feet, firing a volley of energy blasts at each other—each of which exploded like fireworks before the crowd, and then flew up high into the air. Vegeta took an impossible to dodge cheap shot by kicking Yukizome hard in the side of the ribs and sent her hurtling away. He then began to gather energy, a lot of energy.
Yukizome, noticing just how much energy Vegeta was gathering began to do the same. Flying straight at him was a no go, he could unleash the attack at any time and with how fearsome he'd become in the last few seconds, she wasn't sure dodging at the very last second was an option. So, the only thing to do was to match his attack with one of her own. She raised her hands above her head and began charging a big ball of energy.
Vegeta continued to gather golden colored energy out in front of him as Yukizome finished charging her attack first. "GAAAAAAATEKEEPER!" She shouted and unleashed a massive, white energy blast crackling with lightning in Vegeta's direction. It threatened to engulf him and the sky as it thundered with tremendous force.
"Sensei!" Videl called out in alarm.
"Vegeta!" Bulma shouted, worried.
"Dad!" Trunks exclaimed.
Goku said nothing, he only smiled. Vegeta knew what he was doing.
"FINAL!"
"Hmm?" Yukizome could hear Vegeta shout from the other side of her Gatekeeper attack.
"FLAAAAAAAASH!"
Vegeta's attack tore through Yukizome's lightning-like blast and consumed her whole body.
"CHISA!" Munakata, clearly concerned for Yukizome's safety, called out in a panic.
Even as Vegeta's attack engulfed her, Yukizome smiled. Hey, that's the first time you called me by my name…Kyosuke.
Vegeta's attack rocketed across the horizon and blew past Mars before it fizzled out close to Jupiter.
Yukizome, Femme Fury outfit torn to shreds was now falling out of the air, body exhausted and battered senseless.
Vegeta, out of what little respect he had for Yukizome's power, grabbed her by the wrist and prevented her from falling all the way to the ground. Then he stood on the edge of the arena and tossed her out of it, letting her fall in a disheveled mess on her back.
"Contestant Femme Fury is out of the ring!" The announcer shouted. "What a battle! Vegeta advances to the final match!"
"All right! Go, dad!" Trunks shouted.
"Yeaaaahoooooo!" Bulma cheered. "You did it!" She clapped excitedly.
"Yukizome!" Munakata ran from the stands to check on the housekeeper as she lay on the ground.
She strained herself as he put an arm under her back. She opened her eyes, smiling weakly.
"Hey…come on…Kyosuke…I heard you earlier. Call me Chisa." She coughed weakly.
"Hey! That was overdoing it!" Munakata barked at Vegeta.
"I didn't ask for your opinion," Vegeta said, putting his back to Munakata. "She pissed me off."
"It's fine, Kyosuke," Yukizome said, managing to sit up better. "Vegeta…"
"Hmm?" Vegeta looked over his shoulder.
She laughed. "You should work on your temper tantrums. You could've actually killed me."
Vegeta turned his head away from her. "Please, I know your limits. I trained you after all."
Yukizome laughed and laughed before cringing. "Ow, it hurts to laugh."
Goku came over to her. "Here, take this," he said, handing her a Senzu bean.
"Oh, a senzu bean. I've had these before." Yukizome dropped it into her mouth, chewed and swallowed. She bolted to her feet and then rubbed her back. "Ohhhh, that's so much better."
"Here, Vegeta," Goku said, handing him another one. "You take one too."
"Hmph, no thanks," Vegeta said, turning away from Goku. "I'll beat you without needing one. Enjoy your babysitting," he said, referring to Goku's upcoming match. He walked away.
Yukizome laughed. "He's in a bad mood, that's so adorable."
Goku laughed too. "Yeah, for real. What'd you do to get him so angry?"
Yukizome chuckled. "I might've stoked the flames of your rivalry by accident." She sighed. "Oh well, if he really wanted to, he could've gone Super Saiyan right at the start." She made a pouty face. "Shoot. The prize money would've been a real boon for a down payment on a nice mansion."
Goku laughed. "So, your name's Chisa, right?"
Yukizome blushed. Where'd this guy get off being so casual with her first name. She stuck her nose in the air, knuckles on her hips, trying to maintain composure. "Y-yes. My name is Chisa Yukizome. Er, wait, sorry," she did a proper curtsy to Goku to respect her elders. "Better known to this tournament as Femme Fury."
"Nice to meet you," Goku said. "I really like how strong you are. We should fight sometime."
"Hmmm, no thanks," Yukizome said, taking the wind out of Goku's sails.
"Huh? But why?" Goku sounded like a kid being told he couldn't have a toy.
"I don't…like fighting," Yukizome said, tenting her fingers, eyes closed. "I only participated today because I made a deal with Vegeta. Given his Saiyan pride, he's sure to hold up his end of the bargain."
"Don't like fighting? But you're so good at it," Goku said.
Vegeta, who had come back with a towel around his neck said, "Don't waste your breath, Kakarot, she's not going to yield."
"Well, you calmed down awfully fast," Yukizome said.
Vegeta shot her a look before addressing Goku. "Chisa Yukizome could've been my star student during my time at Hope's Peak Academy, but she chooses to be a pacifist."
"Oh, so kind of like Gohan. She doesn't like fighting," Goku said. He smiled a little. "Well, that's just fine. I mean, everyone's gotta do what's best for them, right? Fighting's our thing, Vegeta."
"I can't believe I'm sharing the same air as you right now," Vegeta said, getting a bit more than mildly irritated. Yukizome's words about Goku possibly being the better parent still stung. Goku being so openly casually and friendly with her despite the insult she was to Saiyan pride and his acceptance of her rigid pacifism, continued to piss him off.
Yukizome laughed. "Come on, Kyosuke. Let's go find our seats."
"Ah, sure." He turned to Goku. "Nice meeting you, senpai."
"Huh? Uh sure, but my name's—"
"Let it go, Kakarot. He knows what your name is," Vegeta cut Goku off, not in the mood to explain the definition of senpai. It'd probably just piss him off more.
After another commercial break, it was finally time for Goku and Videl to enter the ring. Videl…knew this was going to end badly for her. Not only was Goku a Hope's Peak Alumnus, he was on par, if not better than Vegeta. But, she wasn't going to quit just because the odds were stacked against her. Not only would Gohan be disappointed in her, but so would her dad and Vegeta.
Videl clenched her fists and stood before Goku, taking a proper martial arts stance. And then she noticed Goku's pose. "What the…what is that pose? You're unguarded from all sides."
"Unguarded, huh? We'll see."
Braaaaaaaaa!
Goku motioned to charge, but Videl was already speeding towards him and, much to everyone's surprised, landed the first blow. More, to everyone's surprise, she sent Goku flying off the arena and almost into a wall, but he quickly managed to stop short about halfway. Videl was so shocked she couldn't readily remember her follow up attack strategies. Vegeta and her both stared blank-eyed. Both Chichi and Goten were just as flabbergasted as the rest of the audience.
"Whoaaaaa!" Goku exclaimed and rubbed the back of his head. "You're a lot stronger than I thought you were." He laughed. "Guess I need to be more careful."
"You idiot! You could've lost the match."
Goku floated back to the arena, waving his hand nonchalantly at Vegeta. "Oh, come one, Vegeta. I didn't want to power up too much because I didn't want to hurt her." He got right back into his original stance. "But man, you're really tough, Videl. I can definitely see Vegeta's training rubbing off on you."
"Uh…thanks?"
"Welp, think fast," Goku said and got behind Videl faster than she could blink. He then swung his leg at her upper back and kicked her clear out of the arena. Videl went flying, but quickly managed to gain her footing before pulling up sharply into the air. Turning upside down though, she saw Goku flying straight towards her. Panicking, she dodged, but Goku kicked her higher into the air and then knocked her around a bit, taking careful measures to avoid the face, striking the shoulders, stomach and arms. He then delivered one kick to the head to send her careening into the ground. He then unleashed one powerful, but still relatively normal ki blast in her general direction.
Still reeling from the kick, Videl barely had the chance to act, must less dodge, but she flew left, only to be caught unawares when the energy blast hit her in the back and knocked her down onto the arena.
Goku made another energy blast, palm cupped towards the sky. "Let's try that again, shall we?" He fired another blast at Videl. Videl gazed at it in a panic, not knowing what she should do. She wasn't yet familiar with energy blasts that could home in on someone. That had never come up in training.
With nothing else for it, she tried channeling ki into her leg and kicked the energy blast into the sky.
Goku then floated down to the ground, smirking. "Not bad."
Videl blinked. Is he…training me in the middle of a fight?
"You're ki control needs some work, but you have the making of a great fighter, Videl. Come on, show me what you can really do." Goku then vanished in an instant. Videl had to follow the direction of more than just her sight, barely able to jump over a sliding kick from Goku. However, he then grabbed her leg as he slid past her and hurled her at the ground over the edge of the arena with intense force.
Videl, however, the second Goku let go of her, she flew backwards and then pulled up at an angle, careful to avoid hitting any obstacles that would've counted as a ring out. Goku met her in the air and fired an energy blast directly at her. This time, she swatted it aside without even thinking about it.
"Good, your reaction time is improving," Goku said. "This next one's gonna be a little on the strong side, so don't try blocking it, okay? Instead, I want to see you counter it with your own." Goku then put distance between him and Videl. He took an iconic posture and began charging blue ki. "KAAAAAAA! MEEEEEEEE!"
Videl gasped and quickly did her best to charge a ki attack. Just…just need to focus. Her heart rate was messing with her charging rate, but Goku wasn't going to give her any quarter.
"HAAAAAA! MEEEEE!"
Videl's heart beat rapidly as she did her best to focus. She had to focus.
"HAAAAAAAAA!"
Desperately, Videl unleashed whatever ki she had stored up and fired it back at Goku's beam. Her attack got swallowed up and she got throttled back, knocked around like she was pulled under a rip current and sent hurtling over the top of the giant TV screen showing the fight off to the audience.
When she was finally able to stop herself, her entire body was sore and Goku appeared not that far from her.
"Not bad, but that could've been better. Come on, let's try it again." He got into his stance.
"W-wait a second!" Videl shouted. "Why are you teaching me stuff? This is a fight! A no holds barred, martial arts match! Stop being so nice!"
Goku look confused. "Huh? But I mean…." he put his hands up behind his shoulders, "If I used my real strength, I might really hurt you, maybe worse. Gohan would be pretty upset with me if I did that." He laughed goofily.
"So then beat me down! I can handle it! I know you're better than me! I don't need you to hand hold me! I am a warrior!"
"Man, Vegeta's really rubbed off on you," Goku said. "Listen, Videl, this is my match just as much as it is yours. If I want to spend it making you a better fighter, I'm free to do that. I mean, not like you can stop me."
"You jerk!" Videl flew off the handle and threw a punch at Goku's face. He stopped it with just a finger. Videl then threw a flurry of punches and kicks at Goku. He stopped them all with just his index finger and a neutral expression on his face.
Videl got to the point where she was out of breath. Goku was barely breaking a sweat. And here she was drenched in the stuff.
"Come on! Fight me! Throw a punch!" Videl shouted.
"Videl, what do you think martial arts is?" Goku asked her.
"It's about training to become the best, obviously. To be the strongest!" Videl shouted.
"Well, there's that, true," Goku said. "But it's more than that. It's a lifestyle. If you're constantly thinking about winning, you never think about improving. You're so focused on being the best, you never think about your mistakes."
"I-I'm still improving! That's just obvious."
"Videl, listen to me," Goku said. "You are improving, but if you throw yourself into every fight like this, you won't get very far. Your fighting style is extremely aggressive. I don't know if you picked that up from Vegeta, but you definitely didn't pick it up from Gohan."
The mere mention of Gohan's name got Videl to throw a punch. Goku blocked it with his arm and then lightly, for him, decked her in the stomach. Videl doubled back and lost altitude, Goku matching her descent until she was able to stabilize her flight.
"You should be more like your classmates. Have some fun. Live in the moment."
"You…that's so easy for you to say!" Videl shouted. "You're not the one…" she growled, tucked her head in and then raised it, yelling even louder. "You're not the one whose dad became a complete joke overnight! I have to do well in this tournament! If I don't, then what becomes of the Satan family name? Everyone in my class just embraced ki manipulation like it was breathing air." She balled her fists and cried, shaking. "And here's me…a complete joke. I can't even come up with my own attacks."
Goku put a hand on Videl's shoulder, surprising her. "Hey, look. It's gonna be all right. Do you think I won the first tournament I went into? I actually lost the first two tournaments I entered both in the finals. I always came so close and then I'd lose at the last minute. There's always going to be someone better, no matter how strong you are."
"Yeah, well that might work for you," Videl said, a tear rolling down her cheek, "But you were growing on an even playing field. I just found out that there's a whole world out there of higher level opponents. The yard stick I could measure my goals with didn't just grow a mile long, it may as well cover the whole solar system now. Gohan and Akane are out there right now saving the world. But what happens when the next guy comes along and he can just blow up the entire planet with a finger flick? If the depths of how quickly the gap can grow is this vast now, then what am I even doing? What chance do I even stand? Against you? Against Gohan? Anybody!"
Goku's words pierced through Videl's wounded pride. "All you can do is your best. No one's asking you to be like me, Videl, or Vegeta."
Videl looked up at Goku, stunned.
"I mean, when we fought Cell, your dad was as outclassed as they come, but you know, honestly, if it wasn't for him, Gohan wouldn't have beaten Cell and your dad really could've died helping out."
"My dad did…what?"
Goku explained quickly. "So there was this fighter, Android 16. He got blown to scrap by Cell, but his head was still functioning. He got your dad to throw him near Gohan so he could talk to him. Any stray energy blast from us or the Cell Juniors could've killed your dad by complete accident, but he still made the trip out there. Now, I'm not saying that's all you can do, but it's wrong to think you're worthless and not even try. So, what do you say?" Goku asked, tapping Videl lightly in the shoulder. "Want to show me what you can do now?"
Videl sniffed and rubbed her eyes with her short sleeve. "You're…" she sniffed hard. "Really different from sensei." She sniffed harder and tapped Goku's knuckles with her own. "I can see where Gohan gets his heart from."
Goku smirked.
"All right, fine. I'll give it everything I've got and don't hold back any less than you have to." Videl pulled back so she could power up. "I'm Videl Satan, The Ultimate Brawler! And this is my power."
Goku smiled and said softly. "Show me."
Videl threw a hard punch at Goku, which he blocked with his palm pushed down and then took a swing at Videl, but she flew around him so fast it was like she teleported. Then, she reared her arm back, and managed to unleash a normal energy blast right at Goku's back. It did little more than singe his shirt. Videl had even surprised herself.
"That's it! You got it! Keep that up!" Goku told her.
That was how the fight continued, Goku continuing to keep Videl on her toes, but never quite in any danger himself. Videl went from hating to…actually learning from the experience.
By the end of the fight, Videl knew she'd come leaps and bounds in just a few minutes.
"KAAAAAA! MEEEEEE!" Goku began charging his attack and aimed at Videl who was on the opposite side of the arena floor. Videl took to the air and, now more confident in her skills charged energy into her fist so intensely, it looked like she'd ignited it.
"Burniiiiiing KNUCKLE!" Videl slammed down towards the ground, missing Goku by a lot, but it forced him to call off the Kamehameha. Videl quickly gazed up and used her newly honed ki sense to search for Goku's presence. She managed to get a read on him just as he appeared behind her and went to clothesline her across the back of the neck, but she blocked with her arm and aimed for his stomach. Goku blocked with his knee.
As the two continued to fight, Vegeta stewed. Goku was making more progress with Videl over the course of this one fight than he had in a whole month. It was infuriating. Videl was his star pupil. Goku would be gone by the end of the day, so why…why did this piss him off so much?
As Videl retreated to one side of the arena, Goku smiled at her. "Sorry about this, Videl. I know you must be really enjoying yourself, but we gotta end this. You've come a great way though. I'm proud of you."
And then, with one, decisive punch, Goku landed a really harsh blow to Videl's stomach and it discombobulated the nerves in her legs and then…still trying to gain her balance, Videl fell backwards out of the ring onto the grass.
"Contestant Videl is out of the ring! Victory goes to Son Goku!"
Goku adjusted one of his wristbands. "Get ready, Vegeta. We're next," he told him.
"Hmph," Vegeta scowled and looked the other way.
Goku got down onto the grass and offered Videl his hand. "You all right? Sorry, I didn't hurt you too badly did I?"
Videl took Goku's hand graciously. "No, I'm fine. But man, that gap. I couldn't even follow you that last time."
Goku pat her on the shoulder. "You will one day. You'll just keep getting better and better. I believe in you, Videl." Goku looked to where he thought Hercule would be standing, but he wasn't there.
"Hey, where'd dad go?" Videl wondered.
Hercule had excused himself inconspicuously to the bathroom. Not because he was scared of Goku, but because he couldn't help himself from crying so many tears of how proud he was of his baby girl growing up so fast and being so good at martial arts. He had appearances to keep up, dammit! Nobody in the audience would see a grown man cry!
"And the winner by permanent knockout is Akane Owari!" Kotomi exclaimed, lifting her friend's fist into the air. The advance group against Majin Buu had already reached Stage 3 and were celebrating Yakon's defeat.
"Gohan, you should probably take the next one," Peko said. "If not, I'm sure, Gundham, Akane and I could team up depending how strong they are."
"Hey, the Supreme Kai's gotta have some kind of strength. He beat Akane after all."
"I mean…that's…" The Supreme Kai pondered Gohan's statement. He wasn't exactly wrong, but something about the fight with Yakon still bugged him. Akane seemed as if she'd gotten exponentially stronger between when Shin went up against her and when she fought Yakon. Something didn't add up to him. Even if Akane was holding back to avoid hurting the audience, she couldn't have been holding back that much, right?
Gundham snapped the Supreme Kai from his thoughts. "I sense a foreboding presence headed this way. We'd best be on our guard."
"You sense it too, huh?" Peko asked.
"Welp, guess it's time the kid gloves came off, huh?" Kotomi asked, rhetorically.
The group readied themselves to see who would come through the door to greet them at stage three.
Steam emitted from the bottom of the door as it opened, revealing an all too familiar face with pink skin, pointed ears and a fashionable beard.
Shin gasped when he saw this. "What? Impossible!"
Everyone was immediately on their guard. Dabura had come out from the lower levels of Babidi's ship and now intended to do battle with the lot of them. He needed no introductions. The group was already quite familiar with how powerful he was after he murdered Kibito.
Dabura stepped through the door, grinning menacingly. "I must say, I'm impressed. Beating Yakon and advancing to Stage 3 is far more than what any other mortal has managed to do. Yes, it was quite unexpected indeed."
Usually the air in the room would be followed by a quip or two, but not even Gundham was in a jovial mood in the presence of the all powerful Demon King.
Dabura continued. "But now you must face me, which means, you will progress no further."
"All right, I'm down for it," Gohan said, cracking his knuckles.
"What?" Dabura asked, unable to comprehend Gohan's impudence. "No! Attack me! All of you at once!"
Gohan smiled. "Nah, these guys can't handle it. I don't want them to get hurt. It'll just be you and me. But man, this area's way too small for a proper battle. Maybe we could move to a nice spot in the mountains, or a nice beach." Gohan then thought better of that last statement. "No, then we'd get sand in our boots."
Shin continued to quake in fear.
"Bah! Silence, child!" Dabura shouted. He took a menacing stance, one arm behind, one outstretched. "You will fight me here and now!"
"Dabura, wait a second!" Babidi's voice echoed from around the room.
"The imp speaks," Gundham said, folding his arms.
"I was just thinking, it might not be such a bad idea to pick another location for the fight. You see, to revive Buu, we're going to need the space ship intact."
"Oh, really?" Akane asked and then began to power up.
"No! No! No!" Kotomi exclaimed and began to grapple with the tanned fighter from under the arms. "You don't want to wake up Buu by accident! Gundham, help me before she does something stupid!"
Gundham pulled out a biscuit from his coat pocket and flicked it in Akane's general direction. She saw the flying biscuit and nabbed it out of the air, munching on it. The consumption of food distracted her from the idea of blowing up the ship.
Babidi let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "As I was saying, any preferences, Dabura?"
"Perhaps a planet similar to this one," Dabura responded. "I don't want an unfair advantage."
Babidi laughed. "Dear me, you really want to show them, Dabura. Very well, as you wish. Here goes!"
With his magic, Babidi sent the group elsewhere in space and the group soon found themselves in the middle of a wasteland surrounded by tall rock formations with a pinkish red sky.
"Supreme Kai, keep everyone back. I don't want them getting hurt on my account," Gohan said.
"Gohan! Have you lost it?" Shin asked him.
"No, I'm pretty confident I've got this," Gohan said, massaging his wrist. "I gotta hand it to Vegeta. If he hadn't kicked my butt into shape this past month, I'd probably be a lot weaker than I am right now. If anything I feel great. I'm even stronger than when I fought Cell."
The group was blown back a bit by Gohan unleashing more power now than he often did during training sessions. "Akane. Kotomi. Gundham. Peko. Sorry you guys probably won't be able to keep up, but I don't intend on holding back. Course I do want to save as much energy as possible." He smirked. "And save the rest for Majinn Buu."
"Give him hell, Gohan! No mercy!" Akane exclaimed.
"Right," Gohan said and took a fighting stance. Dabura waited patiently, chuckling. A wind blew.
And then, Gohan pounced.
As Gohan did battle with the King of Demons, the final commercial break had ended and Goku and Vegeta were ready to face off.
Vegeta chuckled, clenching his fists. "For five years I've been waiting for this. It's so satisfying to know that when I beat you, it'll be on the very ring that you began your legacy, Kakarot!"
"Don't be so sure of yourself," Goku told him. "I haven't been idle these last five years."
"Oh believe me," Vegeta said with a smirk. "I haven't either."
The two stared each other down, striking poses identical to the ones they sported the very first time they fought.
And then, the gong sounded.
Braaaaaaaaa!
The finals of the tournament are finally here! Though things took a different turn than expected, it all comes down to this: a rematch between Goku and Vegeta. With both Saiyans promising not to use Super Saiyan for fear of hurting the crowd, which Saiyan has the power to defeat the other? And what of Gohan's fight with the demon king, Dabura? With Vegeta's rigorous training under his belt, does the half-Saiyan have what it takes to take down such a mighty foe? Find out on the next exciting chapter of Dragon Ball HPA!
