Yo! Son Goku and friends! Cell Saga (Chapter 14)
Krillin
May 7th. The Iconic day of The World Martial Arts Tournament has finally come. A full year since Cell was unleashed upon the world to search for the 7 magic Dragon Balls.
The wind was still at the top of the mountain. The sun hadn't even risen fully yet, only cascading lights on the horizon as two silhouettes went at it. Krillin smirked with a killer glare at the two martial artists as a monk offered him tea.
"Thank you. Slurrr~"
"You have taken on your master's roll very well."
"Have I?" Krillin questioned with a smug smile, sitting down a bit lopsided on a rock nearby a gong, it's bronze surface glittery in golden shimmers at the sun's light.
The monk nodded as he sheathed his hands in his cloth, standing next to Krillin.
"You know. It was a lot easier last time."
"And why is that?" The monk asked as he swept the step beneath him and sat on it.
Wsht! Fsh!
"The girls already knew how to use Ki. I had to teach these two from the ground up, a lot harder to set the correct expectations."
"Is it?" The monk asked as he drained a sip from his own bamboo cup.
"Yeah, both for myself, and for them."
Wsht! FshFshFsh!
"I can see why Roshi was so hesitant to teach us the Ki portion. The martial arts is easy enough but Ki…"
Wsht!
"-Can be really volatile."
The pair of bald mentors sat on the steps of a dojo at the mountaintop, taking slow and steady drains of the tea as the pair squared off. They went at it until the sun finally started to climb into the air, shining the morning light upon the two and casting away their dark forms.
"Good work, you two."
Lapis flashed a dumb smile and a thumbs up as sweat drained down his body. The woman on the other end looked just like him, only blonde, same height and everything.
"You did good, sis."
"Oh please, I did better than that."
"I mean you're Kinda getting the hang of this thing."
"Who mastered flight first?"
"Uhh~"
Krillin smiled as he hopped down the steps and marched into the fray, the mountaintop's edge looming over the seaside. The trio gazed out into the ocean water, not blue, but orange. Birds cawed in the distance.
"I'm impressed with both of your improvements. You have a full day off if you want to take it."
The sister just turned on a dime and gazed into the sea with arms crossed as the wind hit.
"That tournament is today, isn't it?"
"Yeah. The Tenkaichi Budokai."
"... I think I'm going to enter."
"Whoa~" Lapis hollered. "You think one year under your belt is enough to get you the title?"
"I don't see why not. I learned how to fly, and do this-"
BYUUuuuuu~Bomm!
An explosion rocked the sky, smokescreens cast over the water.
"Why wouldn't I test my skills?" She questioned with a cocky smirk.
"If you're entering, then I'm entering too!"
"I knew you'd say that." She answered with a shaking of the head and aversion of her gaze.
"What say you, amigo?"
"Nah, not this year. Maybe next time."
"You're not even coming to watch us?"
"Oh no, I go every time, haven't missed one since I entered The 21st."
"So you're coming?"
Krillin nodded as he stood at the edge of the cliff.
"Alright. I'm getting excited!" Lapis shouted with conviction as he stood parallel with his sister and Krillin at the cliff overhang.
Vinnie
Vinnie was all alone in his pad, looking up at the ceiling with a smile on his face as his back laid against the leopard print sheets.
"You know, maybe things are starting to look up." He thought to himself as the low BPM music brought out the chill vibes. He breathed in deeply and stood up only to hear another knock at the door.
"..? Who could that be?" The man thought to himself as he cleared the velvet flooring in no time and yawned at the early morning visitor. "I never get visitors anyway but this early..?"
Cree~
"No way." The words escaped him unintentionally.
"It's been a long time, Vinnie."
"What are you doing here?"
"I just came by to tell you one thing."
"Sure..?"
"I'm going to be competing in The Budokai today. If you have some free time I'd like you to tune in."
"That's… not what I expected."
"Thank you, Vinnie."
"What?"
Va-Vsh!
And just like that, Cell vanished, a whisper on the wind.
Piccolo
"Hello again, young Piccolo. What brings you here?"
The Demon just grinned like a bastard.
"You gonna watch the tournament?"
"Hmm. I can do so from up here. No reason for me to leave The Lookout."
"That so? No other reason?"
"..."
A sharp pang of tension shot through the otherwise beautiful spring breeze high in the sky. Popo looked on with a bit of worry written all over him.
"You are tied to me Old Man, I remember as much from The 23rd. The older you get, the older I get. Strange thing is, I don't look it, but I certainly feel it."
"Heh. You were always wiser than your years."
"Wiser huh? Are you sure it's not just because I'm still you?"
Fwuuuuuu~
"Every night that passes I remember more and more of my previous life."
Piccolo forwent any smiles or jokes, staring back at him with a solemn disposition.
"..."
"I know now that I was a reincarnation. I made it easier to swallow by lying to myself. If I was the son then my life wouldn't be tied to yours."
Popo swallowed harshly as he skated the outskirts of their conversation.
"If you go, aren't I going to die?"
"..."
"You're on death's door, Old Man. When the Saiyans came you died with me. I'm not gonna get punked out by your withering away while I'm in my prime, I want some answers."
"Heh-Heh-Heh."
"Why are you laughing!?"
"You are quite right, I have been very selfish as of late."
"..."
"But Piccolo, I have a project I need to finish. Worry not, I do not think I will die in the next~"
"You got four years, that's my estimate."
"I was thinking more like seven-Heh-Heh. But perhaps that is too generous an estimate."
"This isn't a social call, all I want to know is if this life I share with you has to go when you go. That's all. I'm not dying for you, I know that damn well, Mongrel."
"It does not."
"How?"
"Fusion."
"Fusion?"
"In ancient Namekian magics, there is such a phenomenon known as fusion, where two consenting bodies merge and become one. I actually know how to perform this technique because I used it when I banished you from my body."
"We... Were a fusion?"
"No. I had never fused with anyone, but I had known how to perform the fusion, all I did was perform it in reverse. I knew another tale long ago but Namekians have a few things up their sleeves."
"..?"
"Piccolo, when the time is right, there is only one way."
"One way, what?"
"If you do not wish to pass on with me to The Shinsekai, we Must fuse."
"..."
"..."
Popo looked on as the two Namekians contemplated at the edge of The Lookout, right in the middle of the trees.
"A bit disheartening is it not? Having to spend the rest of your time with me permanently?" Kami laughed a bit at the proposition.
"We've been one this whole time, only living separate lives, I don't see how this is any different."
"So you want to live that bad, huh?"
"... I've come to the realisation… yeah. There are a couple other things I'd like to do but~"
Fwuuuuu~
The wind howled at the top of The Lookout. Kami smiled genuinely.
"They've passed me up. You don't always get to do what you want in this life. I've accepted it."
"Agreed."
The two green men stared into each other's eyes for a long time.
"I have grown very attached to this life too, Piccolo. I have lived for so long, but I guess it is because you boys have made it so exciting in the last 20 years. Most of my existence has been just living up here in the palace and watching the clouds go by. I really enjoyed having you up here in The Lookout when you all trained for the Saiyans. What a cruel way to go, just when I started having fun."
Piccolo would never admit it, but he could feel it, his passive Telepathy caught stray thoughts of regret, sorrow, and happiness all the same. He was empathetic towards the old Guardian.
"Piccolo?"
"..?"
"Could you be a dear and go tell Korin that it will be his turn when I finish The Room of Spirit and Time?"
Piccolo nodded solemnly.
"Piccolo?"
Fwuuuuuuu~
"We will fuse upon completion of the room, deal?"
Piccolo said nothing back, only staring before dropping below the clouds, his white cape wavering wildly.
"Kami~" Popo called out from behind him.
"Worry not, Mr. Popo. I know Korin will take good care of this place."
"I just. I have a hard time listening when you talk about your mortality like that."
"Heh-Heh. Sorry. But when you get as old as I am, you are foolish to try and ignore it. Age comes for everyone."
Korin stared out at the morning streams glittering off the clouds before he felt something.
"..?" His whiskers twitched and he turned to see: "Piccolo? What are you doing here?"
"Kami told me that you had better be ready. He's abandoning the post after he completes the room."
"..."
"That is all."
"Hmm."
Piccolo's cape cut harshly as he turned around and blasted off into the aether, leaving the white cat to contemplate and lick his hands.
Yamcha
"Are you gonna compete this year?"
Yamcha looked up groggily at the ceiling as Bulma handed him a drink.
"I don't know."
Trunks was over in the corner of the loft, gabbing up a storm of nonsense while he played with action figures.
"Well you don't have much time, it's today."
"I guess."
"I guess, huh?"
"It would be nice to win one of these times."
"It's not about winning, Yamcha. It's about putting in your best effort."
"I don't know. I just really find it hard to keep up the motivation when I don't win anything."
Chu~
"Whatever the decision is, I'd like to know, because Trunks and I are going, with or without you."
Yamcha looked up at Trunks as he stood up and shouted.
"We're going to the tournament!? Yhess!" He shouted in a way only little kids really can, bringing his fists in and jumping up and down. "Are you coming, dad?"
Yamcha smiled and met the glimmer in his eyes.
"Yeah. I am."
Tien
The cold winds hit Launch and Tien hard as they stood on the icy plateau. Launch almost fell over from the slick climate. Tien ruffled through his bag and got out some of his training gear, putting on his boots as he conversed with her, some their conversation stolen by the wind.
"Are you sure?" Tien asked plainly as they held hands through the pelting ice.
"Yeah. It's not tha same. I don't wanna adopt."
"..." Tien stayed quiet, putting on his clothes. "You didn't have to come with me you, know."
"But I want to. This is youa' life. You want to be strong and prove to the world that you matta'. How am I gonna miss that!?"
"I don't… heh~"
Fwuuuuuu~
"I don't know, I feel like you're getting the short end of the stick time and time again. I just, I feel bad."
"Tien, stop talking like that. If you ever made me dissatisfied, I'd leave you in a heartbeat, it is what it is."
"Wow."
"I love you, Sweetheart. If it means I have to give up a life of crime and bein' a motha' so what? That's what love is."
Tien finally finished wrapping around his white and blue tunic, wrapping the red sash around his waist.
"But, I never had to give up what I wanted. That's what I mean. I feel like you deserve better than that."
"Yes, you did."
"Did what?"
They got face to face, gazing into each other's glossy eyes and rosy cheeks. Partially due to the cold, partially due to their infatuation.
"You neva' want to stop training, but you stop wheneva' I tell you. I know how much that means to you, it's less time you get to practice your art."
"But that's a choice. I feel like, I'm not-"
"Youa' good enough for me. Now if you really want to make it up to me, youa' gonna shut up, and win this damn tournament, or else I'm gonna be really mad." Launch coerced with a cocky smile, grabbing his big hands.
"..."
Fwuuuuuu~
"Ha-Ha. Fine. I'm gonna make this three, just for you." Tien replied, bopping his love on her bright red nose.
Sapa
An empty temple echoed under the soft sounds of patters of feet here and there, door closes, and the words of two men sitting in meditation. The pair sat in front of a gigantic Buddha statue, golden and stoic with its arms tucked in prayer. The whole top half of the temple was made up of archways that slowly let the light in. Morning was coming, but it wasn't quite there yet.
"You don't wish to succeed us, my son?" The King asked plainly as he sat opposite his eldest, both in criss-cross meditation.
"I… don't feel I am a good fit, father. I believe Peruka and Chapu are much more suited to the position."
"But we have always given it to our best. Chapu is going to be the first to attend city schooling from our clan. I don't want him to have that weight on him. He should focus on his studies."
"I am the best in skill only, I am not the wisest, nor am I the purest. I feel my sister Peruka should lead the temple when your reign is over. I know in my heart that Calameite had some good in him, but I still let my temptations get the better of me. Rulers with those qualities only serve to doom the kingdoms they hold."
King Chappa nodded and averted his gaze to the ground.
"Thank you for your consideration, and thank you for taking me on this meditation."
His father nodded again, met by a deep bow from Sapa.
"It is time for me to take my leave, I have a spot in The Top 4 to attend."
"Good luck my son." King Chappa said as he motioned for an embrace.
"Thank you."
The pair hugged it out as the sun started to rise. Sapa departed from the embrace promptly and walked along the thin briged with gallant strides, his reflection shimmering beautifully in the water.
Gohan
"Are you coming again?"
"Yes."
"Yahoo!" Goku yelled out like a kid. "Thanks, Hon."
Chi-Chi couldn't hold back her laughs as Gohan walked into the kitchen with his little brother.
"Goten wants to go."
Goten just nodded his little child head yes.
"Are you coming, Gohan? You didn't get to go last time."
Gohan sat on it for a little bit before he responded.
"Yeah, I guess I got nothing else to do. Can Icarus come?"
"Always! I love Icarus." Goku responded quickly.
"Ehh~" Chi-Chi grimaced a bit. "Just~ keep him away from Goten. That dragon gets excited very easily. He could really hurt him."
"No worries, mom. Icarus would never hurt anyone."
"Okay…" Chi-Chi agreed reluctantly.
There was a bit of pause as Chi-Chi sized Gohan up.
"..? Mom?"
"I hate this."
"Hate what?"
"You're getting so big on me." She remarked, judging the distance with a flat hand. "You're taller than I am now."
"I am?"
"When did that happen?" She let out in a sigh.
"They all gotta grow up sometime."
Goku smiled brightly as Chi-Chi let out another sigh.
"Don't remind me."
"We're gonna take The Nimbus, son. Is that fine with you?"
"Yeah, I'll ride on Icarus to Papaya Island. Don't wait up for me, I have something to do before I go."
"Okay, love ya, son." Goku said as he waved off his eldest and picked up his youngest, opening the door and calling out into the morning rays. "Nimbus!"
VyuuuuuuUUUUU~ Vwerrrt!
The father, mother, and brother left Gohan behind as he closed the door. Gohan covered his eyes from the sun and squinted. Gohan waited for a while, going back inside to grab something. He exited the capsule home with a whistle and blew it fiercely.
No sound.
Not for him anyway.
Gohan stood patiently with a bright smile on his face before a giant purple dragon tore across the sky.
"Icarus! Hey girl!" The eldest son yelled as she descended with grace from the aether. Her large wings blotted out the sun for only a moment as she landed on the path. Her stoic and fierce-looking demeanor shifted on a dime as her puppy dog eyes returned and she nuzzled her head against Gohan's.
Pat-Pat.
"You sure have gotten big. I remember when you were a lot smaller." Gohan said as he laughed out and jumped on her back. "We're going to the tournament today."
Fwofff~ Fwoff~ FWOFF! ZOOOOOOOOoooooooo~
"Hahahahaha~" Gohan giggled as the wind blasted his hair back wildly.
Raditz
"We're all good to go, where's Raditz?"
Just as Mic asked, a shiny skycar pulled into view, a giant purple dragon flying next to it. The man himself put in park on the outside of the tournament venue, picking up the keys and swirling them around his finger as he waltzed in.
"Speak of the devil! Lookin' snazzy! Uhh~"
Raditz just had a goofy laugh at the comment.
"I thought I might get that response. I wanted to look the part, if I dress to impress then maybe people won't want to fuck with me."
"Good idea. But that's not really what I was-"
"Oh her? She's extra security."
"Rugh!" Icarus snapped. She looked far more dangerous and much less prey-like. Her big orb-like eyes had sharpened into narrow hunter's eyes.
Raditz stood side by side with Mic as he led him in. People already started to gather outside, purchasing last minute tickets and waiting for registration.
"I also didn't want to look out of place, seeing as I'm going to be standing next to you the whole time."
"Aww, shucks. You didn't have to go out of your way for me. But uhh~ I feel like I'm gonna be the one looking out of place." Mic fought back with a bright smile as he fixed his shades.
"Hah-Hah-Hah!" Raditz responded with a pair of aviators of his own.
"Okay. Now I'm impressed. How much was this? This is a nice suit."
"Going away present, Bulma wanted to give me one last thing after I went and got my apartment. There's good pay here, and I want to pay it back in full."
"It's good pay because we want you to do your job. Way more rambunctious tournament goers than I would like."
"I know, that's why I wanted to pick up this beauty, ain't that right, girl?"
Icarus answered with a head nod as the pair walked out into the stadium. Raditz eyed the tournament hall, then the money lockers, then the stands, then the ring.
"Are we good?"
Raditz took a long look at the grass, really examining it.
"Oh is it not regulation?" Mic joked, chuckling a bit.
"..."
"You're serious?"
"No. I just… I don't know." The Saiyan responded promptly before The Director barked at them from behind.
Raditz shrugged it off and walked back into the tournament hall as more and more people pulled up outside. Icarus had a look about her like she heard something loud, flying high into the air and then rocketing out of the facility.
FOOSHH!
"Uhh, Raditz?"
"..?"
"Your second in command just left."
"Nah, she's probably going to fetch my nephew." Raditz remarked as he fixed his cuffs. "She'll be back."
Raditz exhaled a held breath until he saw a familiar face.
"Heya!" Krillin shouted from across the hall.
"What's up, One Arm!" Raditz greeted with a similar wave of the hand.
"Damn, I thought I was gonna be the only one that got away without a nickname."
"Nah, took me longer to think of something good."
"One Arm? That's what you call good?"
"What do you mean? Sounds just like the rest."
Krillin couldn't help but smirk as he shook his head.
"That's because they're all on-the-nose descriptions."
"Hey, 4 for 5 isn't on the nose."
"Yeah, it is. It's debatably the most on the nose one!" Krillin fought back with some laughter.
"They would only know that if they were in on it."
"Bruh."
"You never miss one of these, huh?"
"Nope. Never. And I don't intend to. Haven't fought a match since I lost to Piccolo at The 23rd, and I don't really feel the need anymore to be honest."
"Then you're just here to watch the boys?"
"Yeah, got some new blood in the mix."
"Oh?"
"Took on some more students last year."
"They're competing then?"
"Mmhmm."
As Krillin and Raditz hashed it out, a familiar sound sounded up above them.
vyuuuuuuuUUU-Vwerrtt!
"Raditz! Krillin!" Goku yelled as he jumped down.
"Goku be careful~" Chi-Chi cringed as her man still had Goten tucked in his arms.
Tomp!
"Good to see you here, brother. Are you going to finally win one of these damn things?"
"Huh-Hah! I'm sure gonna try!"
"Hey Goten." Krillin greeted with a wave.
Goten waved back as Goku set him on the ground. Chi-Chi pulled around with grace, parking The Nimbus next to her child as she got off.
"You're getting better at that, Chi-Chi."
"Thanks." Chi-Chi replied with a smile, stealing a kiss from Goku before the men continued their conversation.
"Are they entering The Supernatural Division?"
"Yup. They know how to shoot ki and how to fly. They're probably gonna steal the show from all the others to be honest."
The Nimbus steadily climbed into the air and vanished on the wind as they kept talking. Soon enough:
Va-Vsh!
"Piccolo!"
"Son Goku."
"Hey man."
Piccolo shot a smile and a head nod Krillin's way.
"Green Man."
"Mongrel."
The pair smirked at each other with a bit of animosity.
"You competing?"
"No. I can't compete as long as I'm with the company."
"Hmph." Piccolo responded as people finally started to pour into the stadium seating.
The four men stood stark on the ring talking up a storm as Chi-Chi pulled away with her child and found a seat. Gohan made a stunning entrance as Icarus' large frame blocked the sun once again as he descended.
"Hey!"
"Nephew!" Raditz answered with a salute.
Gohan only laughed and shot back a salute of his own.
"Wow!" Goku yelled. "Icarus is way bigger than I remember!"
"Well that's because you only saw her when she was young." Gohan replied as he hopped off Icarus' big back.
"Time really flies, huh?"
"It's only been like… a year."
Goku looked his son in the eyes and smiled.
"It's been longer than that." He responded with a whisper as he ruffled Gohan's hair.
The not-so-little boy laughed a bit before taking his father's hand off him.
"Where's mom?"
Goku just pointed diplomatically towards the stands to which Gohan rushed jubilantly.
"See ya guys! Good luck!"
"Tcheh. Only one of us is competing."
"Make that two!" Tien yelled from atop the tournament hall.
"Tien!" Goku shouted back. "Hey! I like the beard!"
"Thanks." Tien replied modestly.
Goku just smiled in response.
"Goku! I'm gonna get you back for last time!"
"I hope so!" He replied, sticking a big thumbs-up his way.
Tien smiled and met it in kind.
"Huh-Hah!"
"You registered yet?" The Three Eyed Man asked as he landed on the tile.
"Nope!"
"Let's get on that then."
Goku and Tien laughed as they entered the tournament hall.
"Do you think Sapa is gonna show back up?" Krillin asked Raditz and Piccolo.
"Yep. We made a rules change that allows previous tournament winners to hold a spot in the bracket. There's not much competition seeing as neither of you seem too keen on joining The Top 4 but if there were he would have to give his spot up or be a no-show."
"Oh okay." Krillin nodded as he lifted into the air and started to make his way towards the high box in the back. "Good to see you, Raditz!"
The Saiyan only smirked viciously as Icarus made some yelps and shouts.
"No, she's super friendly! You can pet her. She looks more scary than she is. She wouldn't hurt a fly!" Gohan had people from all around the stands comment on and try to engage with Icarus.
"Uhh, when did Icarus get this big?" Bulma asked with serious concern as she navigated through the many tournament goers to sit next to Gohan.
"Oh! I guess Icarus was just a baby when you last saw her. Yeah, she's real big."
On cue, Yamcha filed into the tournament hall, sitting on a bench and taking in some deep breaths.
"Are you entering this year?"
"Yup."
"Gonna lose in the first round again?" He taunted with a shiteating smile.
There was no response, The Wolf's face just tightened and he averted his gaze to the ground.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything." He kept to himself as he turned around and faced the crowd.
"Who is that guy in the suit?"
"Doesn't he look like Raditz from the 24th tournament?"
"I think you're onto something… that is him!"
Sapa sat on a bench behind Yamcha, doing some warm up stretches, popping his frame and performing katas. There was a long while of Raditz just standing on the grass before Mic returned and the gong sounded. The Director walked out with him and stood with stoicism next to Raditz, making them stand out as opposed to previous years.
Mic only had one word to say.
"Welcome!"
"YEAHHHHHHHHH!"
"The more I say it doesn't make it any less true. I love my job." Mic remarked away from the mic. "Welcome to The 26th Tenkaichi Budokai! I hope everyone's had a great three years! Now it's time for some tournament action!"
That got another wild wail of approval from the people.
"I think this year's turnout is even bigger than the last! This stadium is packed! Ever since the 24th we've made an effort to improve the Tenkaichi experience and it's starting to show! I bet a few of you haven't been here before! Can I get a show of hands!?"
Fwumm!
"Oh yeah~ That's good! Before we start ladies and gentlemen, we have a few announcements!"
"Ohhhhhhhhhh~"
"Yeah yeah I know, boo-hoo am I right but it's pretty important. Last time we were in this venue we had another fiasco, making four times this tournament hall was put into jeopardy. We here at The Tenkaichi Budokai want to make safety a number one priority so we've hired one of our very own previous competitors as a bodyguard to make sure no more funny business happens again! Can I get a round of applause for the 24th's finalist~ RADITSSSS!"
The Saiyan took off his shades and folded them into the chest pocket of his well crafted suit to the tournament fervor.
"Boo! We want more mayhem! That's what we come here for!"
"Quit kidding around! These people are just trying to keep us safe!"
"You're a lunatic if you think any of this is real! They partnered with Capsule Corp! It's all movie CGI bruh!"
"How do you explain all the tournaments before the 24th then!?"
"..."
"I'm waiting!"
The tournament goers all had their own agenda and Mic was content to smile and soak it all in.
"Alright folks! We still have the preliminary rounds to get through so you'll all have to bear with us as we get those underway! We love to have you all here, Thank you very much!" He shouted to a wild crowd as they bumped and jumped. Mic entered the tournament hall leaving only The Director and The Saiyan out on the field.
"Rrruff!"
"T-t-totally Ahhumm~" Raditz replied shakily.
The morning glow lowered to midday and valid fighters started pouring into the hall.
"Okay folks! We've finished with all of our prelims! Thank you very much for waiting patiently! Our first match is one for the record books! If you remember, our hero on the left side is none other than Upa! He hails from the mystical origins of The Sacred Land! He made it all the way to the finals last time but was denied by Spopovich! And~ lo and behold! Here's Spopovich standing right on the other side of the ring! Who will come out victorious this time around!? Well, enough from me, Fight!"
GONGG!
The day went on as normal until wicked clouds appeared from overhead, darkening the venue until it started its trickle into a full downpour.
"It looks like we're going to have to postpone this fight folks! I'd love to see the end of this match but uhh… it's looking a little cloudy out!" He shouted over the righteous torrent of rain. "Come on back, boys! We'll settle this later!"
Upa and a somewhat middle-aged woman in her underwear and wild lavender hair shrugged it off, walking out into the tournament hall.
After a while, everyone competing was ordering something from the concessions. Goku and friends were all sat in a cluster of three tables next to the competitors.
"Great job, Upa!" Goku congratulated with a pat on the back.
"Thank you, Goku." He answered with a sheepish laughter. "Is this your son?"
"Yeah! That's Goten and that's Gohan. Say hi, Goten."
Goten only waved at the tan man. Upa smiled anyway. After a bit of a laugh Upa plucked the feather out of his cap and handed it to the small child.
KSHHHHHHHHHHH~
"I remember when we were just kids."
"Yeah?"
"You went out of your way to gather The Dragon Balls to look for your grandpa's. And you used them to wish my father back to life anyway even though you worked so hard for them."
"Are you kidding? Bora is way more important than some stupid ball. Grandpa Gohan would do the same if he were in my situation, I'm just doing what he'd do."
"He sounds like a great man." Upa replied with a stern smile.
"He was." Goku was kind of taken out of the conversation as he looked at the straw hut with starry eyes, not really looking at the ceiling at all.
"The rain looks to be clearing up."
"You cappin', Lazuli?" Lapis fired back as he leaned deep into the chair, almost falling out of it before catching the ground with his palm.
Whumpp! Kshhhhhhhhh~
"You're cappin'." Lazuli answered as she played with the white beads around her neck.
"This doesn't change anything." Lapis chastised as he pointed at his sister from halfway to the ground.
"You think you're actually gonna beat me?"
"Uhh, who was the first student?"
"The first student isn't always the best." She sassed without looking, choosing to gaze out into the downpour instead.
"Looks like it's about to stop soon." Gohan stated as he put his hand out from the awning, letting the raindrops hit his hand one after the other.
Icarus poked her nose out into the air and did the same.
ssssss~
"You know we in the board have discussed running the tournament indoors but that just never sat right with me, I'd rather feel the air and let these fighters duke it out in the beautiful springtime! What do you think, folks!?"
The crowd provided another sizable reaction.
"Okay, our last match before it was interrupted is about to get back underway! In the left corner we have Upa! And in the right we have Ranfan! It isn't their first time in this ring and they're about to make it known in this semi-finals match! Are you ready!? Begin!"
GONGG!
The midday sun started to crawl even higher in the sky. Competitors entered and exited the ring at a breakneck pace, coming to The Supernatural Division in a flash.
"Alright folks, it's finally time for The Supernatural Division! Our first match is between two wholly new competitors! The first is ~ Cha! Cha Murasaki!"
The ninja appeared from out of nowhere with a puff of smoke, peering out into the crowd with a stone-cold demeanor.
"And the second seed is none other than Lazuli! Now this is a strange one! She's a prosecuting attorney working for West City! Not the type of job you'd assume a fighter in The Budokai to have but~ here we are!" Mic shouted with a bit of a laugh.
Lazuli glared at Cha with a sharp brow.
"I'm going to win." Lazuli declared with an ice cold delivery.
Cha didn't respond, only looking back out into the crowd.
"A ninja VS a lawyer! This is the kind of fighting The Budokai is known for! Are you guys ready!?"
The two strong-silent types stayed silent for a while. Cha nodded which in turn ushered a sharp glare from Lazuli.
"I'll take that as a yes! Let the first match of The Supernatural Division~ Begin!"
Lazuli VS Cha
Objective: I know I baby you guys a fair bit with my explanations and all that but I think it's reasonable to assume what the objective is without me having to tell you.
Cha sharpened his eyes at the woman from across the ring before zipping out of existence. Lazuli kept it cool as she lost sight of her target.
Wsst!
Krillin, Piccolo, Tien, and Goku were all up in the box at the top of the arena discussing the match, and not the match simultaneously.
"Are you the new Master Roshi, Krillin?" Tien teased with a smile.
"I don't know about all that, I just got students."
"They look like they could place in this tournament." The Three Eyed Man remarked as Lazuli sniped out Cha's attack angle, grabbing his ankle from the aether and slamming him onto the tile.
Wsht! WHAMM!
"Oh! First blood goes to the lawyer!"
"I'm really excited for all this new talent!" Goku exclaimed with glee.
"Why don't you guys ever enter anymore?"
Piccolo just shrugged at Tien's question.
"What do I have to prove? I beat Son Goku. I haven't much else a reason to compete."
"Competition is an ever evolving beast. You can't just beat Goku once and then claim you're always better than him. I beat him too."
"You beat him by falling onto the ground later than he did."
"It was a truck, actually." Krillin corrected with a pointer finger.
"Well… what about you, Krillin?"
The New Turtle Grandmaster leaned over the railing with his arm and surveyed the arena with a solemn gaze.
"I just… I was always the weakest. I never won one of these things and I never really came all that close either. I guess I just got tired of losing."
"..."
"I'd never hold back against things that actually mattered, enemies that threatened our planet, our people, or those we loved. A tournament is just that, something that signifies that on that day, you fought a better fight than the rest. But I'd rather fight a fight that saves people rather than one that gets a trophy at the end."
"..."
"I've always been the little guy, got picked on by my masters and my peers at Orin Temple. I don't want other people who aren't as strong as I am to have to suffer the way I did. Maybe that's why I started teaching."
"..."
"That's all."
Goku smiled brightly and put his arm around Krillin. Krillin did the same.
"If you wanna run~ then run!" Lazuli shouted as she sniped out another thin line of Cha's frame, palm striking him in the face and causing a tumble onto the ring.
"Oh! Lazuli is on a tear! It would appear that Cha's hit-and-run strategy is not effective against this combatant!"
Cha hit a backhandspring off the tile to reel from his hit effectively. Lazuli dashed with fierce stomps, her pink sweatsuit unmoving.
Whstt!
Nothing but air as Lazuli missed a high left leg. Cha rounded to the outside and hyped up some ninja handsigns.
"What's he doing here folks!? Looks to me like he's gonna perform some ninjutsu!"
Krrrm~
"Whoa! The grass is moving! Don't tell meI think Cha is trying to ring her out from the inside!"
The tunnel of earth barreled her way from the outside.
"Sorry Cha, but that's not how it works! You're going to have to eliminate Lazuli by forcibly ejecting her! The Budokai isn't gonna let you skirt under the rules like that!"
FWOSMPP!
Lazuli combat rolled out of the way as the dirt and stone impacted the arena, leaving no ninja to be seen.
"Classic! An absolute classic in misdirection! He may have had to reveal himself to attend the tournament but he's no slouch when it comes to deception!"
"Okay, focus. What did Krillin say about Ki Sensing..?" Lazuli whispered to herself as she surveyed the landscape. "It's like… putting everything on pause…"
The arena, the announcer, the cheers, the everything, vanished, leaving only a veil of darkness as she closed her eyes. A small circle of white shot out around her.
"And pressing play only on what you want to see…" The circle pinged Cha behind her looking to do some arm drag takeover to throw her out of the ring.
FOOSHH!
"Whoa! A swing and a miss! But Lazuli fights back again, finding her target without breaking a sweat!"
Cha sharpened his focus, hitting a litany of handsigns and then blasting a pocket of wind her way.
FWOKK~Fwuuuu~
"No way! Lazuli just let it aside like a matador! Where'd the wind go!?"
On a technical level, the more powerful you get, ironically the more useless Ki becomes. Your Ki gets stronger and stronger, potent enough to cripple planets or destroy them if you're really out there but the fact of the matter is that once practiced, it doesn't matter, you can technically parry or evaporate all Ki attacks with enough practice and dedication, Ki Sourcing is a much better use of your Ki as actively empowering your strikes will have a much longer lasting effect on a confrontation. Only techniques like Hakai are really worth learning as they are a one-shot without a parry whereas a powerful beam isn't such a guarantee. This is why Beerus teases Lord Belmod so much as he is the most martially prowessed G.O.D. of the lot. He believes Lord Belmod spends too much time on his techniques and not enough on the martial arts themselves.
"You're really just gonna rat on me like that?"
"What? I was hyping you up, Beerus. I don't see why you would take offence to that."
"Go talk to your staff somewhere else. I'm going to take a nap."
"Ah-hem."
The wind impacted the audience, blowing their hair and items around, much to their fervor.
"YEAHHHHHH!"
Lazuli just shook her head as Cha came in close with a lightning-fast dash.
"Faster than last time…"
The ninja tore the wind around her, causing a flourish of gales before Lazuli had enough and fired a thin yellow blast right at his chest.
VYUU! Ba-BOMM!
"What an upset! It looks like Lazuli has some moves of her own!"
Cha hit a stylish display of backflips before landing on the earthy tile and dashing in a straight line one more time. Lines vanished over his frame and Lazuli struck it.
"Lazuli!" Krillin yelled from the top. "That's an After-Image! Remember your training!"
"Advice from the top row! Will our competitor take it!?"
All sorts of shapes appeared around the arena, each one of them containing Cha. Lazuli closed her eyes again, trying to use her mind to suss out the correct ninja. The world went blank just as a hand appeared from the earthy soil still piled on the ring. Lazuli grabbed the hand from below, heaved him from the tile, threw him with the weight of God, and chased him down with a double axe handle smash.
Wsst! FOOSHH! WHAKK! THMM!
"Just like that! Say it ain't so! It looks like our lawyer has found a new calling! If she can win this whole thing, maybe she won't have to stress about any new clients!"
"I'd kill for that." Lazuli remarked plainly as she stared up into the sky.
Leftover raindrops dotted the umbrellas around the arena as Lazuli stepped out and back into the tournament hall. Mic excited the crowd for the upcoming matches as The Z Fighters gabbed on from aloft.
"Guys, I'm gonna be honest, I'm kind of worried about Yamcha." Goku said plainly as he leaned over the railing, new fighters walking out to the ring as staff got out to brush off the dirt.
"Why do you say that?" Tien asked.
"Well, I figured he'd be up here with us but he wants to be down there instead. That, and, I don't know~ I feel like I haven't seen him at his best in a while."
"Believe me, I'd like to help Goku, and I'd do it in a heartbeat. But he's fighting his demons, he's not fighting something tangible like the Saiyans or Frieza. We can't just drag him out of it by saying we're there for him. He needs to do it himself." Krillin replied.
Goku just pouted up his lip as he looked past the fighters, past the mechanical gateway, and into the little bit of the tournament hall he could see from the top box.
"..."
"The best we can do for that Mongrel is to have a good time whenever we're around and not tease him too much."
Basically no one expected that response from Piccolo.
The Z Fighters were quiet after that, just letting it set in.
"This next match is one of many! It would appear that there's some sort of martial arts renaissance among West City's police force! We have tons of WCPD here competing and attending today! The one and only in the Supernatural Division is West City's one and only DETECTIIIIVE LAPIIIIIIS!"
"Yeah! Come on, amigo!" Krillin yelled from the top of the arena with fervor.
Lapis smiled cheekily, brushing back his sleek black hair in a very modelesque fashion.
"All eyes on me, huh?" He thought. "Maybe I can find a sweet little honey during this tournament and wife her up. Don't want to look a fool though and lose to my sister, that'd be a drag." He chuckled to himself as the opposition walked along the brick road leading to the steps. "Hmm?" He raised a brow goofily. "That a mummy? They just be lettin' anyone join in the tournament, huh?"
"And in the other corner we have none other than ~ BANDAGEEZZ! This tough undead is employed with the mysterious Fortuneteller Baba! Working as a fighter in her own tournament circuit, she's decided to throw her hat in the ring! Baba is here today ladies and gentlemen, willing to give out fortunes at a discount for a limited time only!" Mic hollered with a cheery voice, the top screen of the venue panning over to show the old lady waving back at the camera atop her crystal ball.
"Whew~" Krillin whistled. "Never thought I'd see the day. Baba giving a discount?"
"That old hag is probably charging an arm and four toes instead of an arm and a leg. She'd never lower her ridiculous asking prices unless the world depended on it."
Baba's piercing gaze tuned out the crowd for Piccolo as the words left his mouth, unnerving him a bit.
"What do you want, you old witch?" He communicated through his mind.
"Eh~heh~heh~" She laughed slyly before floating up to the top box The Z Fighters occupied.
"How's it goin', Baba?"
"Hello, Goku." She greeted with wormy hands that she kept together like a supervillain.
"What are you doing here?"
"Let the second match of The Supernatural Division, Begin!"
"Just thought I'd go ahead and tell you boys."
Everyone leaned in a bit to hear the old woman's tale.
"Listen up, I'm only gonna tell you once."
Tien furrowed his brow. Krillin swallowed once. Piccolo maintained his cross armed pose. Goku blinked rapidly.
"I have foreseen terrible evils. The likes of which have never ravaged our lands since King Piccolo."
"Tcheh."
"Now I can predict possibilities, but they are just that, Predictions. They always come to pass, but this time, I feel I may have miscalculated."
"Miscalculated?" Krillin questioned. "How?"
"I not only know of one evil, but five."
"Five evils!?" Goku just about jumped as he shouted.
"And when I say five, I don't mean five people. I mean five separate instances. Each more deadly than the last. It has been a long time since I felt such a potent fortune."
"..."
"All of them have the capacity to bring calamity to not only our planet, but other planets as well. The only thing is that I thought one of our calamities was going to be caused by my student, and that didn't happen. So I'm at a bit of a loss."
"You have students?"
"That's not important!" She shouted at Krillin.
"Jeez."
"I'm here today to warn you. Today is when I feel evil might rear its head once again. And if not today, then three more years from now. And… after that..? I'm not sure."
"What? Why three years?" Tien raised a brow. "Why such a big gap?"
"I'm not privy to the exact details, Triclops. I just look into my crystal ball and feel it out, be grateful I told you boys."
"Don't get me wrong, Baba, but we're the ones protecting this planet, you should be grateful to us." Tien remarked.
"There is one fortune that I believe above all others."
"..."
The group all shot quick glances at each other before looking at the backside of the floating witch.
"Your last evil. Only one of you will be able to stop."
"..."
Piccolo and Baba locked eyes for only a moment.
"What do you-" Before Krillin could even finish asking, Baba snuck back down into the crowd below.
"What's up?" Piccolo prodded immediately through covert means.
"I've had this really bad feeling in my gut for quite a while."
"And what is it?"
"Ehh~ I know this is selfish but when I became a cop, one of the main tenets I wanted to follow was to try and reasonably do my job without the help from someone like King Kai, someone who could just do my job for me and pick out who did it so that I didn't have to. One; because his time is important and I don't want him to have to solve all my problems, and Two; what's the point in becoming a detective if I default to someone else's ideas without having to think through the problems? I'd be a pretty terrible detective after a while if I just let a God do all the work."
"..."
"I caved during the case and asked Kami but he didn't even know. My reasoning is, is that he's at least on Earth so the impact my case could have on this planet is more reasonable than yelling at King Kai to find out where all my perps are."
"Who?"
"The Draconic Mansion Murderer. To this day is still my only cold case. I have a bit of a reputation now and that one still irks me. No more records of any murders of any kind and no sightings either."
"Who's The Draconic Mansion Murderer?"
"Just read my mind. I have a strong image of him."
"..!"
Krillin raised a brow at the expression.
"You okay?"
"I know him."
"You do?"
"Yes. I saw him summon The Eternal Dragon."
"No way!" Krillin just about screamed, only covered by the screaming crowd's uproar. Goku and Tien looked on with a bit of intrigue as Krillin almost fell off the balcony. "In person!?"
"Mmhmm." Piccolo answered with solemnity, peering out into the stadium arena with crossed arms.
"What are you guys talking about?" Tien asked as he placed himself between the two of them, arms on the railing.
"The Draconic Mansion Murderer."
"Right. I remember Launch talking about that… you've seen him?"
Piccolo nodded.
"He summoned The Eternal Dragon. I didn't stay around for it other than to denote that it was summoned. There were two other men there, both old guys, the funny thing was, I couldn't get into their heads. It's not like they kept me out, but that it didn't exist."
"What do you mean?" Tien replied immediately with a raised brow.
"Those old guys didn't resist my Telepathy, there was just nothing to latch on to."
"What!?"
"I don't know either. And I didn't think whoever that bug man was, was enough of a threat. His power was below Raditz the first time he came to Earth. Besides that, the real reason I let it go was because I felt no malevolent energy from him. If he made the wish then it's safe to say that old hag was off the mark on this one and the evil is coming three years from now."
"But Piccolo, he killed a person. We have evidence and eye witnesses proving this fact."
"I've killed people, Krillin. Are you going to arrest me?"
"..."
"I killed Son Goku. Are you going to arrest me?"
"..."
"I think that much of due process is a comforting lie. A swift ass beating is what a lot of these criminals need to make sure they don't step out of line again. Three square meals a day in an iron box isn't gonna convince some Mongrel to not go strangle puppies if they're that whacked out. If The Draconic Mansion Murderer shows up today, Krillin."
Fwuuuuuuuuuu~
The wind blew softly and kicked up Piccolo's cape, amping his words.
"We give em' the death penalty."
"Ohh! What a shocking revelation! The West City Police Department is nothing to scoff at! You're safe in their hands ladies and gentlemen! Winner by way of knockout is LAAAAAPIS!"
"I guess the best we can do is stay vigilant, and keep our eyes out for anything out of the ordinary." Tien stated assuredly.
"Gohan, sweetie?" Chi-Chi asked with concern. "What are you looking at?"
"Piccolo and the others look worried." He answered back pretty immediately as he gazed up at the top box, a hand resting daintily atop Icarus' head.
"Cuuu~" Icarus let out.
"Hehhh~" She sighed deeply. "There's always gotta be something wrong with The Budokai…" Chi-Chi replied as she pet the top of Goten's head.
The rest of the event went on swimmingly, making The Z Fighters feel a bit silly for keeping their guard up so long. Now it was time for The Top 4, The bracket had seeded Yamcha in the first match, as per usual.
Yamcha hyped himself up with some breaths, fluffing his classic turtle gi top rapidly.
"Maybe it was the fit." The Wolf wondered. "Maybe I have to win repping the turtle school clothes."
Out of nowhere, lines in the sky warped into view, drawing everyone's attention just as Mic was about to announce the match.
"Huh!? Ladies and gentlemen, someone has just entered the skies above the arena!"
"You're shitting me!"
"Who could it be!?"
"This is exactly why I show up to these things!"
"You can expect something new every year!"
The two goons from the last event looked at each other, the one with the press cap fixing his hat, while the other with the long blonde hair jumped out of his seat.
"This is way better than I.W.L!"
"You got that right, Smitty!"
"Whoa~" Mic yelled as an ethereal force tugged at his microphone.
Kfwuwuwuw~Kkkllllearrrrrrrrn!
The cutting of the microphone on air squealed out all around, forcing all the tournament goers to cover their ears. They all looked skyward as a posh, yet commanding, smooth, as well as sexy voice spoke into the mic as he descended.
Cell
"It's good to be here at The Tenkaichi Budokai. Thank you all for inviting me." The man said with a cathartic release.
"Uhh~" Mic let out dumbly, fixing his glasses and looking over at Raditz and The Director.
The Director whoofed once, Raditz flying up to meet the strange figure in the air.
"Sir. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Due to the mic being so close to Raditz as he stood opposite the bug man, just about everyone in the arena could hear it.
"These plotlines." The man in the press cap articulated with jazz hands.
"They got something new every time, Smitty."
"Sure." The bug man responded with a smile. "I'll leave as soon as I finish my statement."
"I'm not asking you to finish your statement, Earthling. I'm asking you to leave, and I won't do it again."
Snapp.
A sizable reverberation of the man in the sky snapping his fingers played throughout the mic and subsequently an almost nuke-like bomb tore throughout the plains behind the arena. The tournament goers were almost all thrust out of their seats as the stadium halls shook with ferocious abandon.
KAAAAAAAA-KKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!
"Now. Back to what I was saying. I have multiple bombs of that level planted under the arena. If you don't let me finish, I will set all of them off just like that. At the snap of my fingers."
The bomb was so sizable that even though it was far enough away to not cause a direct impact, the shockwave it caused finally hit the arena and rocky debris and dirt started to trickle inwards. The crowd was in an uproar, many fleeing for their lives, and some freaks actually digging it.
"Why would I ever go to I.W.L? This shit is crazy!"
"I agree, Smitty! Woo-Hoo!"
"Did I say you could move?" The bug man's smooth voice echoed throughout the hall and forced everyone to stop in their tracks.
There was just something about the way the man spoke, he had the threat of violence of course but there was an ethereal quality to it anyway. Or so they thought. He had Telepathy now. One of many new skills.
Raditz raised his hands to strike.
"Your job here is to make sure they're safe, correct? Did you not hear me? I snap my fingers and The 26th Tenkaichi Budokai goes up in flames." He raised his arms neutrally, as if feigning giving up. "If you want that blood on your hands, be my guest."
"Don't do it!" Mic yelled from the grass. "Back down!"
"Take the advice for now." Piccolo spoke softly. "We'll look for the right opportunity to do something."
"Piccolo~" Cell shot back slyly, interjecting himself into The Green Man's line of communications.
"What!?"
"If you try anything smart either, I'll know." The bug man spoke into the mic as he stared daggers at The Namekian, all smiles nonetheless.
Piccolo raised his furrowed brow.
"How did he..?"
Cell finally finished his descent, landing on the tile of the tournament ring.
"Hello everyone! My name is Cell! It's an honour to be here!" He proclaimed as he bowed deeply to the crowd. "Now if you didn't hear me earlier, I have planted several of those bombs under this venue. If you all make any moves I don't like, I won't hesitate to blow this place to kingdom come. Unlike all you lesser beings, me, those up there~" He pointed to The Z Fighters. "~those you refer to as 'The Top 4'. We won't die. I'm here to make sure this event is Perfect. All I want is to make this show enjoyable for you all~ the fans. But if you don't want that to happen, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull the trigger~" He hyped it up, looking to snap with his left hand this time.
The crowd all jumped to their feet.
"Don't do it!"
"Holy shit, how can they keep running this thing!?"
"I want to go home!"
"Well that settles it!" Cell remarked with an epic grin, still having a stranglehold over the mic. "The show must go on! But I have a few addendums of my own." He continued, glaring at Mic and The Director with a ghoulish grin.
Mic popped his collar a single time as a beads of sweat ran down his face.
"The first order of business is to rearrange the bracket to my own design. Welcome to The Cell Games!"