Last time, on Dragon Ball HPA! Goku and Vegeta's fight exploded until Babidi got involved and took control of Vegeta, encouraging him to fight for the sake of reviving Majin Buu. Unfortunately, Vegeta had his own plans and instead picked a grudge match with Goku. This chain events allowed Majin Buu to awaken and kill no less than four students at Hope's Peak Academy. Peko Pekoyama, Sonia Nevermind, Gundham Tanaka and Kotomi Ikuta all lost their lives in the initial arrival of Majin Buu. Now, Gohan stands resolutely in the air, backed by the power of Super Saiyan 2, claiming he will defeat Majin Buu. Can he do it? The story continues now!


EPISODE 9: Saiyan Sacrifices


Munakata finally made his way to Korin's tower, much to the surprise of the cat and Yajirobe. "Mr. Korin, sir," Munakata said to the correct individual. "Please, help Yukizome. She needs a Senzu Bean."

"Ooh boy," Korin said, looking at the damage. "Yeah, she looks pretty roughed up. Set her down gently."

Munakata did precisely that. Yajirobe fetched a Senzu Bean and Munakata gently got it into her mouth. However, since she was unconscious, getting it down her throat would prove difficult.

"You might have to try a little harder," Korin said.

Munakata gasped. Yukizome's life was on the line here, but in order to do that, he'd have to… He swallowed. Yukizome, I'm really sorry about this. It…it's just like if I had to perform CPR. Please forgive me.

Munakata made lip contact juuuust as Sakakura was arriving behind him. "Munakata!"

The sudden shock made Munakata actually drive his tongue further into Yukizome's mouth than he intended, but it got the job done, dropping the bean past her uvula.

"S-Sakakura, th-this isn't what it looks like," Munakata said, bolting to his feet. "Sh-she's hurt really badly and her jaw was a little broken so I had to—"

Yukizome's coughing cut Munakata off as she sprang to her feet. "Phew! Thought I was actually gonna bite it for real for a second there." She pecked Munakata's cheek. "Thanks, Kyosuke."

Munakata blushed hard. "W-wait, wh-what are you—"

"What do you mean?" Yukizome pouted. "You called me by my first name, didn't you?" She hugged his arm. "That means we're officially dating now." She made happy noises and snuggled his sleeve.

"This isn't the time for you two to be playing house," Sakakura said. "I don't know if you noticed the huge energy that spiked up a little while ago, plus, in case you also didn't notice, Goku feels like he's down for the count. And that means there's no one to stop Vegeta's rampage."

"Vegeta…" Yukizome recalled how she got so roughed up in the first place. And after all the trouble she went through to try and get Vegeta's help.

At this point, Krillin was speeding towards them and stopped short. "Huh? You're that guy Vegeta fought in the tournament. What are you doing here?"

Sakakura quickly filled Krillin in.

"Vegeta did what?!" Krillin shouted.

"We're just as much in shock as you are," Munakata said.

"I can't believe this." He gasped. "Oh no! I left 18 back there!"

Yukizome gazed over Krillin's shoulder. "Hmm, no, 18's banged up, but she's on her way here too. I think she's with someone. So it seems like she got a rescue. They don't seem very strong though."

"Must be one of Vegeta's students then," Krillin said. He clenched his fists. "This whole thing's a mess."

"What do we do now?" Yukizome asked.

"We should do what befits ultimates," Munakata said. "Sakakura, I want you to get in contact with Headmaster Kirigiri and start sheltering the Ultimates."

Sakakura nodded.

"I'll contact the overseas branch and start leading an emergency effort to get as many people underground as possible. And…" Munakata looked at Yukizome. "Ch…Ch…Yukizome…"

Yukizome looked disappointed. She was so happy for a second there.

"Go back to the world martial arts tournament. If Goku's down for the count and Vegeta's turned hostile, someone needs to step up and lead the people."

"But…"

"You're good at winning people's hearts," Munakata told her. "That's your secret talent. Your charismatic." He reached into his coat pocket and took out a spare mask for Chisa. "Who better to tell everyone things will be okay than Femme Fury?"

Yukizome choked up. She knew what Munakata was asking of her. "You're cruel, Kyosuke. But…" she took the mask. "I'll do it. People need our help."

She put the mask on and made for the ledge. "Oh, in case I don't make it." She turned around and grabbed Munakata's cheeks, going full tongue in his mouth.

"Ch-Chisa…"

She giggled. "You called me by my first name again. If…if this doesn't go well…"

"I mean if it doesn't go well, we can just bring you back with the Dragon Balls," Krillin said, removing all tension from the situation.

Yukizome turned her head towards Krillin slowly, embarrassment growing, like her head was a broken gear in a clock. "Wh-what do you mean, bring me back?"

"Oh, yeah, I guess you guys are new at this. See, when people die against world ending threats, we gather these things called Dragon Balls and wish them back to life. I mean, you guys likely haven't died before so suffice to say we—"

Krillin was cut off by Yukizome decking him in the face, unable to deal with the sheer embarrassment. If what Krillin said was true, even if she died, Kyosuke would remember the kiss and they'd have to have an awkward talk about it.

By the time the group could register the fact that Yukizome had punched Krillin she was already taking off back to the martial arts tournament at top speed, almost ramming into Piccolo if he hadn't gotten out of the way in time.

"Well, that's something you don't see every day," Piccolo stated, sweating a little.


As Yukizome put some distance between her embarrassment and her physical location, she sped back towards the setting of the World Martial Arts tournament at top speed. However, before she even got halfway, she ran into someone…unexpected.

Both figures stopped dead cold in the air. The other one frowned at Yukizome. "I see you're back to wearing that ridiculous mask again." He pointed a finger at her. "Why can't you take pride in the warrior you are."

"Sensei, you have a lot of nerve," Yukizome glared. "Give me one good reason I don't try to fight you myself, even though I know it can get me killed." She pouted. "Hmph, though, looks like Goku did a pretty bang up job on you already." It took her a second to realize the problem with that statement. "Wait! How did Goku lose?"

"Hmph, I clocked him unconscious while his guard was down. In case you haven't noticed, Majin Buu has been released. And I'm going to stop him."

For the second time today, Vegeta got slapped across the face by someone weaker than him.

"Unbelievable," Yukizome said, grinding her teeth. "You kill innocent people! You force Goku to fight you and now you act like you can be some big hero? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I don't expect you to understand, woman! I didn't fly this way to get in your way. Clearly you have no intention of stopping Majin Buu!"

"Gohan is still over there and there are things I can still do before I have to get my hands dirty fighting Buu. And in case you haven't noticed, your little stunt show has gotten more than just the people at the stadium killed! Gohan's group was six people and now I only sense two living power levels, plus one headed this way! Those were your students, Vegeta. Oh, but like you care about any of that anymore! All that matters is your stupid Saiyan pride, isn't that right? Number one all others suck but me, that's what you really are inside isn't it? Training us must've just been a welcome distraction to know that you'll always be number two to Goku because you can't beat him without sucker punching him!"

Vegeta had had enough of this woman shooting her mouth off and insulting him. He raised an arm and aimed his palm at Yukizome's face, intending to blast her to smithereens. While his goal was clear, he was far from back to normal. "I should've killed you at the stadium when I had the chance."

Yukizome gasped. If Vegeta wanted to kill her, there was very little she could do to stop it.

"Dad!"

Unexpected help arrived in the form of Trunks, in Super Saiyan, tackling Vegeta at top speed. "Don't do it! Please don't hurt her!"

Goten then got between Vegeta and Yukizome, as if that would even help, not that the young boy knew that or cared.

Trunks was crying, gripping Vegeta's top. "Dad, please…please no more of this. Mom fainted and everyone's worried. They're calling you things that I don't…I don't…" Trunks sobbed against his father's chest.

It amazed Yukizome how the tears of Vegeta's son could affect him in ways her little speech couldn't. Vegeta reached up an arm…and pat Trunks on the back.

"Trunks," he said. "I'm sorry." He then embraced his son. "I haven't held you like this since you were a baby." He sighed. "Your mother was right. All those years ago when I first started teaching at Hope's Peak, I only cared about you growing up fast enough so I could train with you. Even now, I think that was the only way I could see myself as a proper father, the father of a Super Saiyan."

Trunks hiccupped. "Dad?"

"Chisa," Vegeta said, looking at her. "I don't know what your plans were back at the tournament, but I want you to take Kakarot's brat and Trunks and bring them to the lookout."

"Vegeta?"

"Don't make me ask again, woman!" Vegeta snapped. "My target is Buu."

"You're insane," Yukizome stated.

"No," Vegeta said, pushing Trunks away. "I'm a warrior."

"Dad?"

"Trunks, go with Chisa," Vegeta said, floating past Chisa towards where Gohan was very much holding his own against Buu.

"Dad!"

Chisa grabbed Trunks' shoulder, pulling him back. She shook her head.

"Chisa," Vegeta said.

"Hmm?"

"Everything you said about me. It was true," Vegeta said, staring at the far away ground. "But…" he lifted his head, sensing the fight ahead. "That changes now." He clenched his fists.

Chisa smiled. "It's never too late to atone."

"Tell me something, you think I'll see that clown, Kakarot in the other world?"

"I don't know much about life after death, and I'm in no hurry to find out," Chisa said. "So I can't say for certain. But…you and Goku are very different people. I don't think your afterlives will be the same."

"Hmph, so be it," Vegeta remarked.

"Afterlife? No! Dad!" Trunks tried to rush for his father, but he couldn't escape Chisa's grip. "No! Lemme go! I don't want him to die! Dad! Dad!" Trunks shouted, reaching for him.

Vegeta smirked. "You've always been a loud one, Trunks. Be a good boy and go with Chisa."

"No!" Trunks sobbed. "I don't wanna go! I wanna be with you, dad!"

"TRUNKS!" Vegeta shouted his name loudly. "Under no circumstances are you to get anywhere close to the fight going on ahead! You would die almost instantaneously! You're not strong enough." Vegeta opened one hand and stared at it. "And likely, I might not be either. But…" Vegeta stared straight ahead. "I'm not going to let that stop me."

Chisa smiled. "Come on, boys!" She said and grabbed them both by the arms, turning to fly off.

"NO! Dad!" Trunks shouted.

She gave one last look at Vegeta and they made eye contact as Vegeta stood there, arms folded, brooding.

"Goodbye, sensei," Chisa said and then took off at top speed.

Vegeta sighed and then powered up. "Really," he said, "What an annoying woman." He then tore off to fight Majin Buu.


Facing down Buu's full might, Gohan was more than thankful he had been given training by Vegeta for the last month. Not only was he able to maintain Super Saiyan 2, but he also didn't take a one way ticket into the stratosphere and past Mars thanks to a burst ball summoned by Buu. Instead, he managed to roll off the damn thing and let it explode in the air beyond the moon.

Gohan powered up again and darted towards Buu, kicking him in the face. His brutal tenacity helped him pummel Buu with his fists and feet like unprocessed taffy. Then, with a powerful Masenko, Gohan paid Buu back for the energy ball he'd blasted in his face. Buu went flying back with a scream into a mountain as rubble collapsed on top of him.

Gohan panted. If this keeps up…I might not be able to maintain this level of energy. I used up too much fighting Dabura and trying to keep Majin Buu from awakening. I can't believe I was so careless!

Shin looked in the direction of where Gohan had buried Buu, feebly hoping that that would've done the job.

It did not.

"Me eat you uuuup! Me eat you uuuup! Me eat you uuup!" Buu sang as he danced his way towards Gohan. He seemed barely the worse for wear

No choice, Gohan thought. He turned his body and let out a vicious Kamehameha, twice as powerful as the one he'd unleashed on Dabura. The blast tore through Buu, but didn't blow him back very far. Instead, the attack nearly blasted apart Buu's entire torso and sent the pudgy, pink creature flipping back slowly on his head, on his butt—if he anatomically had one—and then onto his now non-existent stomach.

"BUUUUU! NO!" Babidi wailed.

"You're next!" Gohan roared, darting towards Babidi at high speeds, but stopped when he sensed Buu's energy. "What? That's impossible!"

But it wasn't. Buu slowly got to his feet and looked at the hole in his stomach before getting really mad and regenerating his torso. And then, Buu opened his eyes and glared at Gohan, speaking with a deep, angry voice completely the opposite of what he'd been using until now. "Buu…Big Mad. Buu. Big. Mad. BUU! BIIIIG MAAAAAAAAAD!" Buu began unleashing a torrent of energy from around his body that began expanding rapidly outward.

Babidi fled, running away like a panicking villager at the sight of a tornado.

Gohan stood his ground. He wasn't going to let Buu's attack intimidate him. Instead, he adjusted his posture and thought about using another Kamehameha.

With the amount of time he had to charge one up however, Gohan's attack was swallowed up by the rapidly expanding energy released by Majin Buu. Gohan was thrown back far across the battlefield, banging his shoulder, back, and then rolling on his right arm and straining his shoulder. He was bleeding from head to toe, rips throughout his clothes were visible. Gohan looked like packaged Swiss cheese with the way his ripped clothing exposed bleeding skin.

As blood dripped from his mouth, Gohan powered up once more and made to zoom at Buu, but the monster had a new surprise for the young hero. He began unleashing blasts of pink energy from his mouth as if he were coughing.

"Oh come on!" Gohan shouted, dodging one. "Seriously?" He asked, dodging another, looking back at the explosion.

He screamed as he flew towards Buu, dodging the attacks, taken off guard at the last second when Buu unleashed not a cough, but a barf of a laser blast right in Gohan's face, launching him backwards and causing considerable damage. If he hadn't been rusty with his fighting skills, he might've been able to dodge that one.

His right arm sagged as he leaned over on his knees. He could barely feel it. It wasn't broken or damaged, but Gohan's body was so limp and tired, he could barely stand.

Some hero I am, Gohan thought. I came all this way, got my friends killed, couldn't keep Buu contained, and now…I can't even beat him. Clenching his fist, Gohan used that anger to give himself a sub-par second wind. Roaring ferociously, Gohan began beating down Buu one more time, denting whatever constituted as Buu's outer layer. Skin? Tissue? Platex? Whatever it was, it was denting under the force of Gohan's blows with interest as Buu was knocked back.

With a mighty kick, Gohan sent Buu flying into some rubble where the pink blob bounced off it and Gohan then jammed his fist into Buu's stomach, launching him into the air. Before Buu could come sailing back down, Gohan was already charging one more Kamehameha. If this didn't finish it, Gohan knew he was going to be in for it.

"KAAAAAA! MEEEEE! HAAAAAAA! MEEEEEEE!"

Gohan charged up as much energy as he could, clenching his entire body, aiming straight up, the pressure of his ki blast about to slam back into him.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Gohan fired the attack straight up and upon it colliding with Buu, who tried to push it back, Gohan poured even more energy into the attack, causing it to sail straight up above and into the air like a beacon.


Trunks and Goten stopped their struggling as Chisa slowed her speed and they all saw the beam flying high into the air.

"Whoaaaaaa! That's so big!" Goten exclaimed.

"Yeah, and that's just from this far away!" Trunks exclaimed.

"Did my big brother do that?" Goten asked.

"It's gotta be your brother or your dad. Nobody else knows that technique and could make it that impressive," Trunks commented.

"My brother's awesome!" Goten exclaimed.

Yukizome smiled and then continued flying away. She believed the situation was under control.


With his muscles screaming in pain from the attack, Gohan dropped to his knees, fingers pulsing, not unlike the time his father clashed with Vegeta's Galick Gun. He gazed up at the sky. No sign of Buu. Was he vaporized?

Shin, who could barely remain conscious from the beating he took, gazed up at the sky. "Buu…destroyed?"

"NOOOOOOOO! MY PRECIOUS BUUUUUU!" Babidi shrieked.

Gohan got up. He laughed. "Ha ahaha! I did it! I did it Supreme Kai! I killed Majin Buu!"

Shin smiled softly. It seemed Gohan had really done it. Buu was no more. The Ultimate Hero had lived up to his—

SLAM!

Buu's gloved hand smacked Gohan across the face and sent him flying.

"No…" Shin's eyes filled with despair.

Babidi gasped at the state of Buu. The monster was in the middle of regenerating, looking like chewed bubble gum and had so far only managed to regenerate one arm, missing the entire bottom half of his body.

But, he was back to his Buuish self in no time.

As Gohan pushed himself off the rocks he'd fallen on, he stared at the now regenerated Buu, blowing Steam out of his body continuously.

"That attack…" Gohan said, lumbering forward. "Was all I had…how can he…" he shambled along the ground, "Still be standing."

Babidi watched as Buu peeled off part of his own body. And then he beat Gohan in the face with it like a whip. Multiple times.

The first strike knocked Gohan out of Super Saiyan 2, the second strike knocked him out of Super Saiyan. The third, fourth, fifth and subsequent strikes just kept hammering Gohan's exhausted body until Buu wrapped the half-Saiyan up in his goop and then punted him away across the horizon.

"Buu make you—" Buu was about to use his food beam on Gohan, but that's when a massive explosion took his attention away from Gohan who fell hundreds of miles away, smashing his ribs on multiple trees and falling unconscious on the ground.

Babidi could barely believe his eyes. His ship in ruins. "WHO DESTROYED MY SPACESHIP?!" The potato headed wizard shrieked.

The culprit announced himself almost immediately. "Sorry, it was a bit messy, but it was the fastest way to get it done," Vegeta chuckled.

"Vegeta! How dare you! I didn't give you such an order!" Babidi shouted, clenching his fists.

Vegeta only smirked like an asshole as if to say "Nope. You didn't. Sucks, doesn't it?" However, his jovial behavior quickly subsided when Buu flew back to Babidi's side. "I assume that ugly pink blob is Majin Buu."

"He say oogly?" Buu looked at Babidi. "What mean that? Oogly?"

"He means your face would frighten small children, now be quiet," Babidi snapped.

Buu looked calm at first, but then seemed to register the insult and glared at Vegeta by opening his eyes. After emitting enough steam to boil tea, Buu shouted. "Majin Buu mad! Pow! Pow! Pow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Vegeta chuckled. "What a strange creature."

Babidi growled. Vegeta had disobeyed him for the last time. "Get him!" He shouted at Buu. "Show him what happens to those who dare to disobey me!"

Before Buu began his assault on Vegeta, the Saiyan prince looked around at the carnage. Sonia with a broken neck. Gundham crushed. Kotomi mangled. Peko splattered.

My students… Vegeta thought. He couldn't sense Gohan anywhere. He powered himself up. This was his error. He allowed his students to come to harm, the elite…no…he wasn't thinking of them like that anymore. He had been their teacher, their guide and he had failed them, attacked them even. If even Gohan with all of the progress he had made with him could not defeat Majin Buu, Vegeta was not going to let the monster stand for one second longer.

With a massive energy blast, he blew Babidi away, blowing off his arm and blasting away an eye in the process.

Vegeta's ki flared. "HEY! YOU WALKING GUM DROP!" Vegeta shouted. "THIS ENDS NOW!"

Vegeta flew forward and slammed Buu over the back of the head, causing the creature to lose its balance and fall towards the ground. Vegeta then began charging his energy, planning to let it all out in one cataclysmic explosion. No fanfare. No smarm or snark. Gohan had softened Buu up and Vegeta would finish the job.

I recognize you for your Saiyan blood, Gohan. My students…I'm so sorry. Trunks. Bulma. I hope that…one day…you will forgive me.

With a furious yell, Vegeta let out a mighty scream, unleashing all of his energy, burning away his life force, a step even Gohan had dared not take. But Vegeta didn't care. It didn't matter. As long as Buu was slain, the Earth was safe and what remained of his students and his family could live on, that was the only thing that mattered.

And then, there was a bright, golden kaboom that was felt around the continent and seen for hundreds of miles.


Minutes turned to hours. Akane was pacing back and forth, feeling powerless, useless and all around worthless.

Piccolo approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Stop. You're not going to help anyone by just pacing around." He removed his heavy mantle and turban. "If you need something to do, how about some light sparring. It'll help you burn off all that pent up aggression."

Akane pulled away from Piccolo and then sat on the edge of the lookout. "I don't want to fight and I don't want to eat!" she shouted. "My stomach hurts and I feel lightheaded." She gazed down at the clouds. "I just want Gohan to be okay."

"Hey, come on, Akane. Gohan's one of the toughest guys among us. He'll be fine."

"Its been hours!" Akane shouted, stamping her foot and standing up. "He could be hurt, or worse! I can't sense him! I can't sense Vegeta! I can't sense Goku either! I feel so useless!"

"How do you think I feel?" Hajimea asked. "I can't even fly like you guys can. I'm basically dead weight and way outside my comfort zone. At least you got to beat up a bad guy today." He clenched his fist. "All I did was run away."

"Man, I know how you feel," Krillin said, hands behind his head, trying to lighten the mood. "Reminds me of when Gohan and I were on Namek."

Akane looked over her shoulder. "What's Namek?" she asked.

"Huh? You knew that Gohan killed Cell I swore he told you everything," Krillin said.

Akane shook her head. She gazed down at her feet in agony. "I…I didn't get to know Gohan and the others as well as I should have. People die around me. A lot, actually. I was…it's harder to lose someone the more you know them. I'm not used to…having friends, people I can count on. It's just easier to think about fighting, getting stronger and eating and not have to worry about anything else."

"Well, if you wanna hear a pretty good Gohan story, take a seat and I'll tell you."

Akane sat down in front of Krillin, hands around her knees.

"So, back then Vegeta was a real piece of work. You see—"

Krillin was interrupted by an energy signature arriving on the lookout. Everyone felt it, sans Hajime who couldn't sense energy yet.

Everyone went dashing towards the source and found a roughed up Goku standing on the lookout.

"I'm either hallucinating or that's Goku standing there!" Krillin exclaimed. "Goku, is that really you?"

All Goku said was, "Hi."

"He's real!" Krillin exclaimed. "He talks and everything!"

Akane was never more elated. Sure, Goku was already dead and it was hard to kill a guy that was already dead, but still, it was enough to have hope blossom in her heart like everyone else's. It was only then she noticed Krillin crying.

"Hey, what's the big deal? Why are you so sad? I thought you'd be happy to see me," Goku said with a smile, blood dribbling down his chin.

"I'm not sad, you oaf! I'm just so happy that I could cry!" Krillin exclaimed. "You're alive!" He shouted, running towards Goku. "You're alive!"

"Well, I'm about as alive as a dead guy can be," Goku said.

Wait, what? I thought that halo was just some kind of accessory thing, Hajime thought.

"Look at ya," Krillin said to Goku. "You look like you've been through a meat grinder. How about we get those injuries taken care of?"

"Ah, a Senzu Bean huh?"

"Actually, 18 and Miss Yukizome just used up the last two. We're fresh out," Hajime said.

"Sorry, Goku," 18 said. "Vegeta did a number on me."

"It's all right, I can heal him," Dende said.

"You can?" Akane asked, surprised.

Dende nodded. "I am the guardian of the Earth after all. Take a seat, Goku."

Goku sat down. "I really appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it," Dende said, light emitting from his hands. "I'm honored to be able to help."

"Wow, rest in peace modern medicine," Hajime said, watching as Goku healed up in mere seconds.

With little information to go on, Piccolo, Krillin and Akane did their best to bring Goku up to speed.

That was when a new presence arrived on the lookout.

"Huh? Yukizome!" Krillin exclaimed. "I thought you were heading for the tournament."

"Well, I was," she said as she put down the two boys she'd been carrying. "But then I ran into Vegeta and these two on the way here."

"Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad!" Goten shouted, bolting to Goku at full speed, leaping into his arms.

"Hey, come on, Goten. It's okay," Goku said, hugging him and then patting him on the head. "Don't cry."

"You ran into Vegeta?" Akane sounded pissed.

"He seemed like he'd gotten his head on straight. He…" Yukizome didn't know how to break the news.

"He's dead, isn't he?" Akane asked.

Everyone looked at her.

"I haven't been able to sense Vegeta for a while! And worse, I sense Buu! He's been flying around for the past hour! Vegeta killed him just like he killed my friends!" Akane shouted.

"Gohan too, probably," Piccolo said.

"NO! Not Gohan! There's no way Gohan's dead! He promised!" Akane sounded agitated and extremely tense at the mere idea.

"Akane, we haven't been able to sense Gohan for almost as long as Vegeta."

"Stop it! Gohan's not dead!" Akane shouted, stomping her foot. "There's no way! Not after the promise he made me! My gut's even telling me that Gohan's not dead! So stop saying that!"

Piccolo thought it best to drop the subject. An irrational Akane was the last thing anybody needed right now.

"I'm just playing drop off like a mom at daycare," Yukizome said, floating off the lookout's floor. "I gotta get back to everyone."

"Are you nuts?" Krillin asked. "Akane just said she could sense Buu and Vegeta bit the dust! You're crazy!"

"Kyosuke gave me an assignment and I'm going to carry it out. Besides, I want to size this monster up for myself," she said.

Goku looked at Yukizome. "But I thought you said you hate fighting."

"I do, but…I at least want to measure up what we're up against. Maybe…maybe something else can be done," Yukizome said.

Akane gasped. "Hey! Maybe if we get rid of Babidi we might be able to do something!"

Yukizome looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Buu acts like a giant child," Akane explained. "He's tough, but he's not very smart, even dumber than me from how he acts. If Babidi hadn't interfered when Sonia was talking to him, we might've convinced him to not hurt anyone."

Yukizome put her thumb and forefinger to her chin.

"We should still have a backup plan just in case. And I wouldn't bet on being able to convince this Buu character of anything. Plus, there's no guarantee we could keep him under control for long given how terrified the Supreme Kai was of him."

"I agree with Piccolo, but it's still worth trying." He looked at Yukizome. "If you think you can pull it off, go for it. If not, leave the fighting to us."

Yukizome nodded and then flew across the lookout and then down and away from it, legs together, arms fanned out loke some kind of superhero.

"I don't see what the big deal is," Krillin said. "We got our fighting solution right here." He slapped Goku on the shoulder. "Come on. Goku's back to full strength. Go down there and show him the old Kamehameha."

"Hey, yeah! Goku hasn't taken Buu on yet!" Akane exclaimed.

"Sorry, guys, but I can't," Goku said. "I can't beat him alone."

"Huh? But why not?" Krillin asked.

"He's simply too powerful an opponent," Goku replied.

"E-Even for you," Krillin stuttered.

"Look, when Vegeta and I were fighting, the two of us were evenly matched," Goku pointed out. "He gave everything he had, even his life, and he still couldn't beat that thing. So what chance…do I have against him?"

"If you can't, what hope do we have?" Krillin asked with slumped shoulders.

"There's gotta be a way! If Gohan was standing right here, he'd think up a way!" Akane shouted, trying to pep everyone up.

"Guh, if only Vegeta or Gohan were here, we could've done a fusion," Goku said.

"Fusion?" Akane asked, confused.

Hajime had no idea what was going on, but he tried to follow along.

Dende gasped. "Fusion? You mean a merger?"

"Yeah! That's it, Dende!" Goku said, standing up.

"Oh, I've heard of such a skill back on Namek," Dende stated. "A man from Metamor once told me about it. Their people are quiet proficient at the technique."

"Seriously, what's Namek?" Akane asked. 18 put a finger to her lips and encouraged Akane to just listen.

Goku explained to the others how fusion worked. Piccolo then explained how he came to fuse with another Namekian named Nail. Goku explained how that was different from what he was talking about.

And then he dropped the most disappointing factoid.

"Even if Gohan or Vegeta were still around, it still wouldn't work. I'd need a week to show them what to do, plus I've never actually fused with anyone and never taught them how to do it. And believe it or not, I've never been able to do it in other world. No one around me is similar enough to be compatible."

It was Mr. Popo who eventually suggested an alternative. "The young one's sleeping. They're about the same size. Could they do a fusion?"

"Is that possible?" Krillin asked.

Goku smiled. "Yeah! Thank you, Mr. Popo! You know, that just might work!"

Similar size and…Ah! "Hey! Goku! This fusion thing'll help defeat Majin Buu, right?" Akane asked.

"Yeah, it should, why?"

"Then…I'm gonna practice too!" Akane said, punching her fist into her open hand. "My partner should be here really soon!"

"Uh, partner?" Krillin asked.

"Yeah! Me and Videl! We're like best friends!" Akane shouted. "Whoo! Thinking about it is starting to get me pumped up!"

"That could work! If we had two fusions, we'd have twice the power!" Goku exclaimed. "We'll have to let Videl know once she gets here! Where is she anyway? You don't think she's still at the tournament, do you?"

"If she is, Yukizome'll probably send her our way. If Goten and Trunks wake up before then, we could start with them at least."

"One problem," Hajime said. "Goku, you said it takes a week to teach people, right? Well…how are you gonna finish teaching them? Everyone makes it sound like you're gonna disappear soon."

Goku looked at Hajime.

"Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to get involved. I'm just…really outside of my element."

"It's fine, uh…" Goku didn't really know Hajime's name.

"Uh, s-sorry," Hajime bowed at a right angle. "I'm Hajime. Hajime Hinata. I'm a student at Hope's Peak Academy kind of like Akane here."

"You are? But I've never seen you before," Akane said.

"Oh, I'm in the reserve course, I'm not special like you," Hajime said, nervously.

"Pfft, special," Akane said, and smacked the top of his skull, ruffling his hair, leaning over grinning. "You got guts enough for you to fit right in as far as I'm concerned. You're holding out for this long in the thick of all this, you've gotta have some talent."

"No, sorry," Hajime replied. "I really don't. I…can't even fly yet."

"You can't? How'd you get up here then?" Goku asked.

"I flew, he navigated," 18 said. "He's a sturdy kid. You saw him at the tournament, remember? He fought that Sonia girl."

Goku thought about it for a minute. "Oh, right. Now I remember!" He gazed at Hajime taking his measure. "Yeah, with a little training, I'd say you'll be a-okay to survive what we're up against as long as you don't get crazy."

"Oh, uh…thank you?" Hajime wasn't sure if he should take that as a compliment or not.

"Goku. Precious time," Piccolo said.

"Oh, right, sorry. We got a little sidetracked. Piccolo, when I have to go—"

"Say no more, I'll pick up where you left off teaching Akane, Videl and the boys fusion."

"All right! When those four fuse, Buu's toast!" Krillin exclaimed.

"But many innocent people will get hurt during that time," Hajime reminded him. "There's gotta be something we can do to minimize the casualties."

"I think Yukizome, and those two guys, Munakata and Sakakura are working on that," Piccolo said. "We can leave it to them."

"Still…" Hajime said.

"Hey, Hajime, you said you don't know how to fly, right?" Krillin asked.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah. That's right," Hajime said.

"Well, I'll teach you then, plus a couple of other tricks. It'll take your mind off things. It's the least I can let you do for saving my wife," Krillin said, rubbing the back of his head, laughing.

"We can both teach him," 18 said. "It's my debt too."

"Ah, thank you," Hajime said and bowed. "S-sorry, I know I must seem like a burden right now."

"No, you're really not, Hajime," Goku said. "In fact, until the boys wake up, why don't I show you a couple things?"

"Huh? Goku, shouldn't you conserve your strength?" Krillin asked.

"I'll train too!" Akane shouted. "I can't just sit by idly like this!"

"Sure, the more the merrier," Goku said.

Piccolo and Krillin said nothing. There was clearly nothing they could do to change Goku's mind.

"The most important thing right now," Goku said, as he walked into the middle of the lookout and began stretching. "Is not to lose hope and keep morale high. Besides, training a bit will get me in a good mood too. It'll be good to review the basics for when I start teaching how to do something complicated like fusion."

"Well, I guess you've got a point there," Krillin said.

"It's all right. We can keep up the training after he goes back to being dead," 18 said with a smrik.

"Hey, come on 18. You make it sound like you want to get rid of me," Goku complained. Light chuckles from a few of the people on the lookout showed that, despite the despair all around them, the mood was slowly improving.

…It was short lived.

Not five minutes after Goku started showing Hajime the ropes, the sky got a bit dark.

"Huh? It can't be night time yet," Hajime said.

"What's going on?" Piccolo questioned.

It didn't take the gang long to realize that Shenron had been released.

"Revive people from the dead?" Akane asked. It sounded really farfetched, but then again, Gohan had said the same thing. "So, Gohan was telling the truth about that then."

"Sounds like something out of a video game," Hajime said. "Or an anime. But man," he said, smirking nervously. "the kind of cheat code you'd have to have on to gather those up in less than a day."

"This is no time for idle jokes! We've got to do something!" Piccolo shouted.

Unfortunately, Goku couldn't track Bulma's life energy.

"Wait! What about Videl's?" Akane suggested. "She's just as strong as I am! Maybe she's with Bulma!"

Goku grit his teeth in frustration. "Darn it. Everything feels really cloudy around Earth. I can't focus."

"If what you're saying is true, the people at the stadium might wake up only to get slaughtered by Majin Buu again later this week," Hajime said, thinking grimly.

"Goku's the fastest one among us and if he can't stop it, I'd say we've got to roll with the punches," 18 remarked.

"Not a whole lot else we can do it sounds like," Hajime stated.


Kotomi suddenly gasped for breath, rolling over onto her hands and knees, coughing. "Oh man, what an awful dream." She suddenly pat her face from all different angles. "Wait a sec, am I dead?" She then glanced up above her head. "Nope. No halo. What the heck is going on?" She ran out from behind the rocks she fell behind and saw the massive crater left behind by Vegeta's explosion. "Holy—"

"FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS I LAY DORMANT! WHO HAS DISTURBED MY SLUMBER!" Gundham shouted, breaking out from underneath the pile of rubble.

"Gundham! You're okay!" Kotomi exclaimed.

"PAHAHAHAHAHA! WHEN THERE IS NO MORE ROOM IN HELL, THE SUPREME OVERLORD OF ICE SHALL WALK THE EARTH ONCE MORE!" Gundham exclaimed.

Peko, suddenly finding her glasses were fixed, also sat up and then stood up. "This appears to not just be a bad dream. I believe we were killed, and somehow brought back to life."

Sonia squealed. "This is just like that episode in Magical Girl Ocean Star where Tachibana uses the Mera Mera Wand to revive her fallen comrades!"

"Oh, I've seen that show! It's so good!" Kotomi exclaimed.

The group of four were then alerted to the arrival of a stern Kibito. He floated up from the bottom of the massive crater they were all gathered around.

"Ah, the Kai's caretaker. Perhaps he can shed some light on this favor we've curried with the reaper."

"Regrettably, I am just as confused as all of you. I sense my Master not too far from here. If you all have nothing better to do, I request you accompany me."

The three girls, and Gundham, nodded, agreeing to Kibito's terms.


Goku, who had finally managed to intercept Bulma, quickly arrived on the lookout with Bulma, Videl and the gang in tow. Akane lit up the second she saw Videl. "Videl!"

"Akane!" Videl ran towards her friend and the two linked hands like they were about to start arm wrestling. "You missed out! I got a punch a dragon in the face! And I saved everyone when our aircraft's engines blew a fuse! It was so cool!"

Akane laughed, using her free arm to rub the back of her head. "That's nothing! I beat up a monster I couldn't even see cause it was so dark! And Gohan, he…" Akane's mood suddenly went from jovial to sour in an instant.

Chichi stepped towards Akane. "Hey, what was that about Gohan?" She looked at Goku with worried eyes. "Goku…where's our baby? Where's Gohan? And where's Goten? He and Trunks took off not long after everyone dispersed from the tournament. Goku, where are our boys?" Chichi looked at Goku with pleading eyes and worry only a mother could show.

Hajime could not look the newly arrived group in the eye. And now, neither could Akane. Even 18 folded her arms and turned her back from the others, focusing instead on her baby girl in her arms, patting her shoulder gently.

With a heavy heart, Goku spoke. "What I have to tell you isn't easy for me to say right now, but…"

All eyes were on Goku from Bulma, Chichi, Videl, The Ox King and Yamcha.

"Goten and Trunks are going to be all right, but…Gohan and Vegeta are dead."

The new arrivals gasped.

"Majin Buu, destroyed them both," Goku continued. He never looked more serious out of a fight.

"I said to stop saying that about Gohan!" Akane shouted. Her face contorted. "Gohan's not dead! He promised! He promised me he'd come back alive! He…he has to be just hiding! He got knocked out…or…or something!"

"Akane…" Videl reached for Akane's hand to try and console her, but Akane ran from her friend, covering her eyes and flew off the lookout.

"Hey, Akane!" Krillin called out for her.

"Let her go," Piccolo said. "She won't do anything foolish. If she does, I'll go after her."

After Chichi finished processing the shock, she fainted.

"No, Chichi!" The Ox King shouted.

Tears dripped from Bulma's eyes. "Vegeta…" She sobbed, shouting. "NOOOOO! Vegeta! NOOOooohohoho," she continued to cry on her feet as Yamcha grabbed her arms, trying to console her. But Bulma continued to remain uncontrollable.

Videl started crying too. She adored Gohan, probably even as much as Akane did. Her tears splashed the top of the lookout.

Hajime approached Goku. "Goku, since Videl's here, maybe we should go get Akane as soon as possible and get started on the training for her and Vide—"

Hajime was cut off by a burst of wind. Akane had already returned. She had a frightening mask of rage on her face as she stepped heavily over to the group again. "Videl…quit crying," she said.

"Wh-what?" Videl sniffed.

"I said quit crying! If you cry, it won't change anything! It won't change what Buu did to Gohan! Crying won't get you stronger! If you have time to cry, you have time to train with me!"

Videl sniffed, hiccupping. "Huh?"

"We're gonna make sure Buu pays for what he did to Gohan. We're gonna make Buu feel every bit of Gohan's pain! But I can't do it alone! I fought Buu briefly with the others! I know his power! And I need your help Videl! Please, for Gohan's sake! Train with me so we can get stronger, I'm begging you! Goku…he knows a special technique that'll make us super strong, so strong not even Buu can stop us! Please, Videl!" Akane's whole body shook as her lip quivered and she said softly, almost begging. "Please."

Videl wiped her eyes. She looked at Goku. "You really know of something that can do that for me and Akane?"

Goku nodded. "I do. Come on, I'll show you."

"Guess that cuts time with the big guy short," Krillin said. "Don't worry, Hajime. Me an 18'll show you the ropes."

Hajime bowed to Krillin. "I am entirely in your hands. Please show me what to do."

Dende approached the new arrivals. "Why don't you all follow me? You must be shocked to learn the news. Mr. Popo can make you something small. Just don't tell Goku, it'll distract him."

The others went with Mr. Popo and Dende, Ox King carrying Chichi.

Bulma made a fist. Thanks to Vegeta she was probably really strong, but nowhere near strong enough to take on Buu. She was…almost curious about this technique Goku mentioned, but…no, fighting was not her thing. Videl and Akane, thanks to Vegeta's training, she could sense that they were plenty strong. If Goku had faith in them, then her time and tested friendship with the man suggested that it would yield results.

Good luck, girls, Bulma thought and went with the others.


Down on the ground, however, Babidi was getting testy with Buu's behavior. And he was sent to get back at the meddlers he'd been dealing with until now, Vegeta in particular for blowing up his ship. So, he sent out a message to the entire world. "People of Earth! Testing! One! Two! I am the all-seeing, all-knowng, all-powerful wizard Babidi! Spawn of the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful wizard Bibidi. Now, now, no peeking. There's no sense searching for me. You're not even close. I'm using my unprecedented magical abilities to transport my words directly into you, the people. I'm so sorry to bother you like this, especially if you're having an otherwise pleasant day. I do know what it's like to be pestered while having fun!"

Babidi projected his image into the minds of his listeners. "The handsome devil you see before you is me." He projected Buu's image next. "And this is my faithful servant Majin Buu, the heavyweight champion of the universe. He may not seem like much, but he's actually quite unstoppable." He then projected the image of a city to the masses. "Now do you see this city? It looks like a lovely place, doesn't it? Well, it's citizens are about to get a sneak preview of what I might do to the rest of your planet, if my conditions aren't met." He then snickered. "The following material is of a violent nature and is quite gratuitous. Enjoy." He extended his arm to the city. "This program has been sponsored by your fellows." He then raised his arm and pointed at the city. "Let the fun begin, Majin Buu!"


Everyone broke from their training to pay attention to the city below. "Ah! He wouldn't!" Hajime exclaimed.

"Darn him!" Piccolo shouted.

Akane stood there, shaking, bracing for the worst.

Videl quivered, not knowing what to expect.

"What is he doing?" Goku asked and gasped. "No! Not the people!"

But it was too late, Buu was turning all the people of that city into candy and sucking them all up into his gullet.

"Stop it! Somebody stop him!" Akane shouted.


Elsewhere in the world, Chisa could see the horrors before her, and every student at Hope's Peak Academy could as well. And, most cruel of all, so could Akane's siblings, even the ones too young to understand.


Buu visibly chewed all the hard candy and then swallowed all of the candied people into his stomach, gone.

"This is but a small taste of what will happen if you don't surrender," Babidi stated. He then laughed. "Now then, my terms. You see, the pests that bothered me today were all apparently yammering on about a place called Hope's Peak Academy. I don't know what it is, but the sound of it makes my stomach churn and want to heave. Now, if you good people reveal to me the location of this fine place, I might let a fair bit of you live. Otherwise…" Babidi snapped his fingers. "Buu, eliminate this worthless city. But be careful. We don't want the whole planet to disappear."

"Mmmm, okay." Buu then sucked in a lot of air until his belly was swollen to 3 times its whole girth, then he let out a breath beam, swaying back and forth like a fire hose, until he was out of breath, leveling the city to naught but ruin.

"So, one last reminder. Tell me where I can find this Hope's Peak Academy or—"

"Um…excuse me? Mr. Babidi, sir?"

Babidi was surprised to hear someone communicating back to him. "You! How are you communicating back with me? I didn't even give the instructions as to how."

"Um, I don't know. I just…thought about it, I guess. Call it luck then."

"Call it whatever you want. What do you want, whelp?"

"Oh, um, I know where you can find Hope's Peak Academy. I mean, I learn there."

"Oh, you do, do you?"

"Yeah, but I'm like a thousand miles away right now, so like, it's okay if you try to destroy the building," the person talking to Babidi told him.

"Well, aren't you a strange young boy," Babidi said.


Walking across a barren landscape on his own, hoodie tied around his waist, Nagito Komaeda continued to communicate with Babidi, a devilish smile upon his face, a finger pointed to his frontal lobe. "I get that a lot," he told Babidi. "But, even if I tell you where to find Hope's Peak Academy, you won't be able to destroy it."

"Oh? You sound so confident," Babidi said with a smirk. "I will destroy it, thank you very much."

"I mean, you can try, but you won't succeed because, hope always wins. And I believe in the hope of Hope's Peak Academy and the Ultimates who attend it."

"Is that so? Well, Mr. Ultimate, allow me to inform you of one thing. I've already crushed five Ultimates under my heel, their bodies scattered to the wind. What makes the rest of the school so special?" Babidi asked.

"Because it's Hope's Peak Academy," Nagito responded.

"Insolent boy! How dare you!" Babidi thought to burst Nagito's heart out from inside his chest…but…no. "No, it's not worth getting angry," the wizard said, calming down. "You believe in hope so much, then I shall give you the Ultimate Despair. I will make you watch as I turn Hope's Peak Academy and all of the other students that reside within it, into dust! And then I'll laugh when you come before the ruin and weep at my feet for being so thick headed as to believe that anything could stand in the way of me and Majin Buu."

"Well," Nagito said. "We'll see. So, here's how you find Hope's Peak Academy. I'll direct you."


When she found the tournament venue empty by the time she got there, Yukizome was at a loss of where to go. And when Buu made his announcement, she was even more concerned. She had to find a large group of people and boost morale, just like Munakata wanted her to. It was just pure luck that she, Babidi and Buu had yet to cross paths.

As she flew around the area, she did spot a large group of people, a crowd packed so tightly it was like the cells of a plant under a microscope.

"Hmm? What's that?" Chisa wondered and flew down to get a better look.

"—devastating new fighting technique. Once I have mastered this new method, I will possess strength far beyond that of anyone, and then, like the mighty lion hiding in the shadows, I shall completely destroy this evil beast called Majin Buu!"

"With his loveable sidekick, ME!" Yukizome flew straight down and leaned her shoulder on Hercule's. "Hi, everyone! Remember me!"

The crowd gasped. "Hey! It's Femme Fury!"

The crowd got up into a frenzy. "Mr. Satan and Femme Fury together?"

"Talk about an awesome team up!"

"Majin Buu is toast!"

"Uhuh H-hey! Wh-what's the big idea?" Hercule shouted at Yukizome. "Just come flying around and stealin' people's thunder, is that it?"

Yukizome put an arm around the former champion so strongly it was like she was squeezing the life out of him. She gave a peace sign to the people. "Could you give us a second? We'll be right back." She slammed the front gates to the dojo.

She took the perplexed, now in pain Hercule, into a huddle. "Listen you, that Majin Buu character is an extremely tough customer and I think we both know that you don't stand a chance against him realistically. So, how about we make a little deal?" She ruffled Hercule's head despite the fact that he was old enough to be her father. "You agree to team up with me for the public's sake that we're going to take out Majin Buu together and actually be there to witness our efforts, and I don't go out there and embarrass you in front of the crowd, okie-dokie?"

"U-uh, y-yes, ma'am."

The gentleman garbed in orange went up to Miss Yukizome. "Um, excuse me, Femme Fury, right?"

"Yeah, I mean," she posed. "I've got the uniform and everything."

The gentleman handed her a clipboard. "Could you please sign this?"

"Oh an autograph," Yukizome said, giggling, signing it without thinking. "Oh, but of course."

He looked at it, nodding and then forked over 500,000 zeni.

"Uh, what's this?"

"Oh, yeah, uh about that," Hercule laughed nervously. "Since, ya know, Goku and Vegeta kinda flew off in the middle of their match and never came back and cause the tournament's been all evacuated and stuff, we uh, kinda well, uh…"

The unnamed gentleman in orange began to explain. "It's unprecedented for both finalists to simply leave the tournament and Mr. Son Goku called for a no contest, citing outside tampering with Vegeta by a third party. Ordinarily this would qualify Goku for immediate disqualification, but then he knocked Vegeta clean out of the arena and still called for it, an unprecedented move."

"And uh, the resuming time for the tournament ran its uh course but of course even by that point my sweet, sweet Videl had already disappeared by then," Hercule said.

"We'd thought to have a 3rd and 4th place match between the two remaining semi-finalists, but since no one could be found—"

"So, I, the former champion, came up with a great idea!" Hercule took the clipboard from the gentleman next to him. "This here contract," he then said much more quietly, "which you just signed," and then said normally, "was drafted by my legal team that I, Mr. Satan, the previous world martial arts champion, would graciously accept that whichever of the four finalists signed the contract first either at my dojo or at the tournament arena would be, legally bound, to be declared, the world martial arts champion. So, you know, it's all yours."

"Wh-what?" Yukizome asked, eye twitching. "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"


Somewhere in the Middle East, a man with a full head of brown hair, eyepatch over his right eye, blue eyes and a full beard and mustache, decked out in darkly colored camouflage, was talking to someone through a wireless earpiece. He was standing in front of a camping tent, chomping on a cigar.

"Your majesty, with all due respect, we're not exactly equipped to deal with blob men that turn people into candy." The man listened to who was talking to him on the other end. "No, your money's good, but I wanna make sure my men and I are gonna live to spend it. I don't do suicide runs. I win wars, sir." He smoked on his cigar more before removing it and flicking it across the sandy ground he was standing on. "All right, all right. You made your point. We'll depart in the fastest transport we can gather. Keep an eye on this Buu character's movements until we can get our own visual. Over and out." He then let go of the earpiece, turned it off and stuck it in one of his many pockets. "Welp, guess there's no choice. We'll have to use our secret weapon." He then opened the tent behind him.

Inside, a young teenage girl with black hair was dressed similarly to the brown-haired man. She was cleaning a rifle with a cloth and then inspecting the feel of the rifle as it rested on her shoulder.

"Ikusaba."

The girl sprung to her feet, saluting. "Sir!"

"We're heading out. New contract. And this time, you're going to have a big role to play," he told her.

"Yes, sir!" Ikusaba responded. She began to pack all of the weapons inside the tent into a suitcase.

Let's see how this Buu likes the taste of the Wolf of Ragnarok. Ikusaba's superior said, looking at the girl as she packed. I just hope it's enough.


Trunks and Goten did not take the news about Vegeta and Gohan well. Fortunately, Goku was able to get them under control pretty quickly.

Trunks, however, had to run his mouth off. "We sure it's okay to train with a bunch of girls."

"What was that?" Videl snapped. "How would you like a knuckle sandwich?"

Trunks recoiled, realizing that, currently not Super Saiyan, Videl could probably pummel him. She was one of his dad's best students.

"That's enough, you guys. We need to train seriously," Goku told them.

However, he'd barely gotten past the stage of explaining that fusion required power of equal level before Babidi's telepathy interrupted. With Nagito tipping Babidi off, he was more than pleased to gloat about it.

"Attention, Earthlings!" Babidi exclaimed. "Attention! So sorry to bother you once again, but I recently acquired some information I couldn't wait to pass along. A very nice young boy told me exactly how to get to Hope's Peak Academy. I will arrive very soon and when I do, I intend to demolish it."

"No! Not Hope's Peak!" Videl exclaimed. "All of our friends! Our classmates! Headmaster Kirigiri!"

"But how…who could've…why would anyone…?" Akane couldn't understand. How did Babidi learn so soon? She gasped. "No! NONONONONO! DAMN HIM!"

"What's wrong, Akane?" Goten asked her.

"Nagito! It had to have been him! He was the only person with the insanity to pull something like this that even remotely knew what was going on! He probably expects someone from Hope's Peak to fight Buu and fend him off so that it won't get destroyed! I bet Babidi even told him about all the people he killed to get this far and Nagito just laughed it off like the sick freak he is!"

Videl figured Nagito had to be from Akane's class. She'd never met the guy.

"We can't let this happen!" Akane shouted.

"Akane, relax," Goku told her. "We can fix whatever damage Buu does with the Dragon Balls."

"That's easy for you to say!" Akane shouted. "You're already dead!"

Goku frowned, understanding Akane's anger, but still not agreeing with how upset she was.

"If Hope's Peak Academy falls to ruin and Babidi shows it off, the entire world will be consumed with despair!" Akane exclaimed. "It's a…a…dammit! I can't think of the word!"

"A monument, and I agree," Piccolo said. "Gohan was really proud of that school. He was telling me about it in the days leading up to the tournament. Goku, the school might not mean much to you, but it means a lot to the people of this planet."

"I understand what you're saying, but we can just fix that with the Dragon Balls, Piccolo," Goku responded calmly.

"And, in case you've forgotten, Hope's Peak Academy isn't far from West City. What if Babidi decides to blow up the whole area. He'd destroy Bulma's dragon radar. Or worse, what if he finds out that she learned how to build the radar at that school and finds the dragon balls for himself?"

That got Goku's attention. He looked at the four younglings before him and hatched an idea. "Trunks. Videl. I need you guys to help me."

"Hey," Akane said, sounding offended. "Why her and not me?"

"Well, it's just…I…"

"Goku needs someone that's more subtle and less reckless," Piccolo stated.

"No! I can be useful! I have to be!" Akane exclaimed.

"Akane, it's fine," Videl said, raising her hand, rubbing the back of Akane's hand. "I'm better suited for this because I'm not as tough and heroic as you. I promise, we'll get Buu back."

"…Okay," Akane relented.

"Good. Now then, Trunks. Go to Capsule Corp and get Bulma's Dragon Radar. Videl, go to Hope's Peak and get Bulma's old research notes by any means necessary. I'll hold off Babidi and Buu."

"You're not gonna die, right?" Akane asked.

"Nah, probably not," Goku said. "I mean, I'm already dead after all."

"Just be careful, Goku. If you underestimate Buu and you lose your body…" Piccolo warned.

"Yeah, I know. Don't worry, I'll have it under control," Goku said. "Wish me luck." Goku put two fingers to his forehead. "Oh, hey, before I go, Akane, Videl, who's the strongest person at Hope's Peak, you think?"

Piccolo answered before they could. "I heard Sakakura was heading back there. He used to be one of Vegeta's students. He's the boxer Vegeta fought in the first round."

"Oh! Yeah! Him! Let's see…" Goku focused on Sakakura's image and located his energy. "There we go." He then disappeared in an instant.

"Whoa. He just…teleported," Videl said.

"Don't just stand there gawking, move!" Piccolo shouted. "Time is of the essence."

"Right," Videl said and rushed out the door. "Come on, Trunks!"

"Right!" Trunks and Videl then leapt into the air and flew away from the lookout.


When Babidi and Buu finally saw Hope's Peak coming into view, the school still many miles in the distance off the coast of the ocean, Goku was waiting for them.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Babidi asked, floating and grinning and Goku. "I was certain you'd been disposed of by Vegeta, but it seems you're still breathing. Well thank you, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to thank you for helping me bring Majin Buu back to life."

"Vegeta and I both underestimated your monster," Goku said. "We didn't want to believe the stories were true. We never would've let you succeed if we knew he would be this powerful."

Buu laughed.

Babidi grinned even more. "So, why did you come? Did you come to tell us how powerful we are? Or…" Babidi floated a little closer, "Did you come to join our efforts?"

"Not in a million years, Babidi! I'm here to give you a warning! You came to warn us, oh that's funny." Babidi snickered and then said sarcastically. "Oh, I'm so scared." He laughed some more. "I think this is something the entire planet should here."

"I want you to listen very carefully," Goku said. "Hope's Peak Academy is off limits! The students that reside her aren't any threat to you, so leave it alone! If you don't…I'll be your opponent. And if I can't stop you, more will rise to fight you, Babidi!"

"Pfft, what mindless drivel."

"Call it what you want!" Goku shouted. "I don't remember much of my days here at this school, but I do remember one thing, hope never dies! It continues to grow and expand as long as you give it room to flourish! It will never yield to yours or Buu's despair! And so if I can't stop you, I know two more fighters full of hope that will rise up and annihilate you!"

Babidi and Buu both burst out laughing. "Send all the fighters you want. They'll never be stronger than the two of us! Sorry, but I think we'll be turning that eyesore of a school into a ruin."

"Oh well. It was worth a shot. Sorry, but if you want to destroy Hope's Peak Academy, you're going to have to go through me!" Goku shouted.

Babidi laughed. "That's a good one. Buu, you heard what he said, go through him. I suppose he wants to end up just like Vegeta. Buu belched in Babidi's face.

Babidi was having none of this and got angry with Buu and started yelling at him to fight Goku.

"Okay! Buu do it!" Buu started getting pumped up by flailing his arms with excitement.

"I don't get it," Goku said. "You're a thousand times stronger than Babidi. Why do you let him boss you around like this?"

Buu stopped.

Babidi growled. "Don't listen to him!" He then yelled at Goku. "And you better keep your trap shut if you know what's good for you! I resurrected Majin Buu so he belongs to me! Of course he's going to do what I say!"

Buu looked at Babidi. He seemed to resent that notion.

Babidi growled at Buu. "Hey, do you want to be stuck inside that ball for another million years?"

"Buu stuck back in ball, you go bye bye. He gonna make you dead," Buu said.

Babidi was frustrated for a moment, but then Buu started clapping.

"Don't worry, me make you safe. Buu no like this guy more than you," Buu said.

Goku did not like the sound of that. "Well, so much for talk."

Babidi let out a sigh of relief. He then floated backwards and began broadcasting the fight world wide. "I would like everyone to watch this. A perfect example of what happens to anyone that tries to stand in our way."


Unbeknownst to Babidi, Goku, Buu, Hercule and Yukizome, and even Nagito, another player on the stage of the world was most intrigued in the developments. She sat in front of her vanity mirror, reading a fashion magazine, her brained glued to the brain waves Babidi was putting out. She closed the fashion magazine she was reading and placed it down on the table, ruby red fake nails, laying down into the paper of the back cover.

"Puhuhu. Puhuhuhuhuhuhu," the blonde laughed. "Well now, things are starting to get interesting today. Who would've thought something as boorish as the world martial arts tournament would lead to something this exciting."

She broke out into a wide grin.

Goku and Buu are about to square off. But Babidi's boastings have brought with it some unanticipated audience members. If Goku cannot defeat Buu, will the training of Akane and Videl and Gohan and Trunks be enough to put down Buu for good? And what of Kotomi, Gundham, Peko and Sonia? How will their journey with Kibito improve their skills? Find out on the next chapter of Dragon Ball HPA!