Yo! Son Goku and friends! Bibidi Saga (Chapter 9)
Beerus & I
Splish.
"Lord Beerus. You have visitors."
"Visitors? What visitors? If I have to play nice with Belmod again you can forget it."
SPLASHH!
The neon stream shot into the pond water like an arrow, causing The Cat God to raise a brow and munch on the grapevine curiously. Beerus laid on the air as per usual of his sassy self. Soon enough, Lord Beerus floated to his feet, arms behind his back, and walked over to the pond.
"Hello?" He questioned in that annoyed tone.
Sklashh!
"Khuuuuu~" The Blue Imp sputtered out, all skin and bones.
"Oh my goodness." I relayed, positively ecstatic at the revelation. "Emperor Pilaf. Big fan."
"..?" He looked at me like he had just woken up.
Pilaf was out of it. He was, as Lord Beerus would say, off the goop.
"Are you Beerus?" His voice teetered, his eyes glazed over, his speech slurred and his consciousness clearly coming and going as it pleased.
"Why yes." The Cat God smiled wickedly. "I am."
"I'm… here to take over your plahneht."
"Are you now?"
"I'll have you know~ I was the leader of a great… empire."
"That's quite the accomplishment." Lord Beerus replied as he tugged at The Emperor's soggy sleeve and forced him onto the land.
"I'm going… to become the most powerful ruler… in the entire world.
The smile on Lord Beerus' face only grew wider.
"Don't get too cocky."
Raditz
The Saiyan inhaled deeply through his nose as he gazed out into the sandy streets of Amenbo Island. Icarus craned her neck over and nuzzled Raditz' frizzy mane of hair. He responded in kind with a few scratches under her maw as the late night faded, the beaming orange dawn casting away the shadows of the previous day. The empty penthouse he and his creature occupied was a dull grey, only left to be illuminated and coloured by the natural lighting. The Saiyan slid open the glass door and stepped out onto the thin balcony, the tiny walkway bending slightly at the behest of Icarus' large frame.
The pair watched the sun climb into the sky as popping sounds echoed out in the distance. The two shot a glance at each other before:
"Tchuu~Tchuu." Raditz clicked his tongue, hopping over the railing and sailing off to see what the noise was.
As he attempted to flee the coop, an overweight woman called out to him, smoking a cigarette on her porch on the bottom floor.
"Raditz!"
"What!?"
"Can you go check what that noise is!? I hardly got any beauty sleep!"
"I'm working on it, damn!"
Fyuuuuuuuu!
The Saiyan's massive locks flailed wildly under the pressure of the air currents, snapping over and over again. He flew over tree after tree, monkeys swinging from branch to branch as he went, startled by his speed. Animals departed the treetops in favour of making sure not to piss off the two clear apex predators of the sky. Green leaves swayed and shifted in response to the kicking gales ushered in by the two of them. Soon enough, the echoes grew louder and more vibrant.
"Is that a gun!? Are these Earthlings hunting out here!? You need a license on Amenbo!" The Saiyan remarked as he breached the forest and came across a ravine. Opposite his end was another forested region, connected by a sturdy oaken bridge. Raditz touched base on the creaky wood as another shot rang out, reverberating along the air. "You hear that, girl?" He smirked, scratching the epic horn on her nose as she landed just behind him, soft winds cascading outwards as the water far below pulsed and pushed into the rock.
The Saiyan cleared the bridge in a leap and parted the trees with a wave of Kiai, happening upon a party of some sort. Not of the good times and vibes variety but of the accomplishing an objective variety.
"Hey!" Raditz yelled out.
The men in combat gear didn't bat an eye, only readying their weapons as a giant sabretooth salivated at the opportunity.
"I said-"
Ratatatatatatatatatat~BOOMM! Cha-Chicc. BOOMM! Sklatt!
"Reurrrrrgh~" The big orange cat growled as it splattered with red mist.
Fsht! Werrrrrn~
"You got a license for that?" Raditz questioned plainly as he bent the nose of one of the safari men's shotguns.
"What the hell!?"
"Gyoww~" The orange beast limped away behind the brush as Icarus touched down, flapping her giant wings in an attempt to intimidate.
"It's getting away!"
"We gotta deal with this one first!"
"Fire!"
It worked.
"Garoouh!"
FWOFFFFFF~ Ratatatatatatatatatat~ KOWW! KOWW! BLAMM! Ratatatatatata~
"I'm not looking to fight you damn Earthlings! If I were to even try at all I'd turn you into paste!" The Saiyan shouted, clearing the air with an epic call out, a shockwave reverberating across the grass due to his voice alone, the dirt cracked and shook under his weight as he did it.
"..."
The gunfire stopped, as did the flames petering out of Icarus' charry mouth.
"Calm down, girl. Sit."
The Dragon responded in kind, sitting on her hind legs and sharpening her firm brow at the armed men in khaki colours.
"All I wanted to know is if you fools had a license. Is that so hard to comprehend?"
"..."
"You think we won't just pop you, weirdo?"
"Yeah. Go back and finish your hair commercial." Another member of the team remarked as he snuffed out a cigarette onto the dirt and stood face to face with The Saiyan.
"Oooo~"
"So I'm assuming you bitches don't have one then?"
"Ooooo~"
"No. And we've taken care of bigger critters than you and your backup here so I don't think we're too worried about the prospect."
"You should be."
WHAMM! Fshunt!
Almost as if skipping steps, Raditz' boot was already field goaling the man in front of him to a nearby tree top. The man's head bonked onto the bark and he subsequently fell unconscious in the bushes nearby.
"I'm glad you boys don't want to follow Earthing rules, cause that just benefits me."
"..."
"Now do you want to talk, or do you want to die?"
A man nearest the bridge shot a glance at it.
"I kind of like the animals around here more than the people. So I'd like to know if you boys have been following the law or not. I don't want for things to get messy."
"Maaan fuck this shit! I can't believe we keep getting ganked by these freaks!" One of the men shouted as he threw his piece on the ground.
"What do you mean?" The Saiyan posited, smiling as wide as could be as Icarus shuddered and shook out her wings.
"We got our shit stolen by some god damn kid! We were supposed to capture this 'dragon' or something but he got in our way. Kid was grabbing our bullets and shit After we fired em'! Money's good but I'm not dying for Musuka, fuck that." He replied, raising his hands in the air.
"..."
"Funny too, that dragon was about the same shade as that one behind you."
"Who's Musuka?"
"I ain't tellin' you."
"I don't think that's such a wise idea." Raditz replied.
"Bruh it's either you kill me, or he does once he figures I've ratted him out. No winning with that guy. I should have never got involved."
"Hmmm."
The Saiyan looked out into the brush, the green grass and shimmering leaves shining brightly in the morning light. The soft leaves teetered under the pressure of the wind and Raditz faceplamed, pulling at his tired eyes.
"Scram."
"Excuse me?" One of the other men rapidly blinked as a result.
"You heard me. I'm feeling nice today. Just get the hell out and don't come back. If I see you fools out here ever again I'll show you what I'm capable of."
"Done deal." One of the men replied, picking up an automatic weapon from the ground only for Raditz to snatch it up and send it skyward. "But my-"
Bvyui-BOMM!
"What the hell!?" He shouted as the rifle exploded into nothing more than pink energy and dusty smoke.
"It would be wise for you to take me seriously."
The man on the end just nodded plainly and walked off, waving goodbye to the rest of the crew.
"You heard the man. I'm not trying to die by laser blast. No sir."
"Damn!"
The rest of the men turned tail and hoofed it, picking up their unconscious member as they marched into the brush.
"Cuuuu~"
"I know, girl. Doesn't that just piss you off? Guns always rubbed me the wrong way. Why not just fade them with your hands?"
"Garuuu~"
"Oh. That's not what you were talking about?"
Icarus shook her head.
"You're hungry?"
The Dragon agreed with the postulation, nodding her head slowly.
"Hah-Hah! Bastard. Yeah, let's go get some breakfast." The Saiyan remarked as he scratched at her chin once more.
Musuka
A man with a deep blue navy suit and matching fedora walked the dusty roads of a backwater town, a circus cart pulled behind him by two trusty steeds and a few other men, armed to the teeth, as discrete as one could be with the amount of firepower they had on offer. The man wore deep black shades, hiding his eyes from the sun and other individuals. Red and white lined the covers on top of the wagon behind him. He took steady puffs, taking it in slowly and breathing it out just the same.
The atmosphere was a mix of killer hot sweat and dry air, forcing the man in the suit to take off his hat and fan himself with it.
"Phyeewnn~ Phuuuu~" The man toked on his cigar, knocking the ash off with his thumb as they walked along the tilled fields aplenty in the dusty village. The rural townsfolk gawked at the garish colours, large wagon, and equally large horses. Alongside the main carriage was a gigantic panda bear with a magnum the size of a man's head.
"Uhhh..? Dear?" A rather honest looking woman, stains of hard work clear to see on her sweaty face.
"What is it?" The man answered, standing up from planting seeds in the spring dirt, hay piece sticking out of his mouth.
"Does that panda have a gun?"
"Well I'll be."
"Don't make me use it, old timer." The Panda barked, placing his large paw over the equally sized leather holster pocketing the piece.
"You walk in here and talk to my husband like that!?" She shouted as the caravan marched into the centre of town.
"They tense this early?" The Panda chuckled, a belly laugh, pointing his thumb at the duo as they passed on by.
"That just means you've gotten even better at your job." The man with the cigar remarked, taking another hit.
"Cheh-heh-heh." The Panda growled, stomping into the village with a firm resolve.
The nearby townsfolk all shot curious glances at the carriage, and then amongst each other. The wooden wheels of the wagon wiggled and wormed their way about the path as small talks bubbled up in the community before the man in the front waved his arms and the horses stopped on a dime. The Panda walked to the front and grabbed his belt loop like a cowbear.
"Lemme'getahitathat."
"..."
"Thanks. Phweeww~ …"
The man tipped down his sunglasses and scouted the town out just as the white fog billowed in from behind.
"Phuuuu~"
The homely village square had cobblestone tiles contrasting against countryside grass and log cabins. Various shops and stalls lined the road until it met in the middle in a circular pattern that led out into three other paths. All manner of crops boxed the community in a loving embrace, several farmers other than the couple gazed townward at the commotion.
"How much you wanna bet these rats don't even have air conditioning?"
"I know you." The Panda responded as he chomped the bit. "There's nothing to bet on if we both agree. These country folk are savages."
The man in the hat pushed his shades all the way up, took a few paces back, and hopped up on the saddle of his tall stallion.
"Phweeephuphuphu~" The shining black creature shuddered, blowing out hot air.
"Is this where The Butterfly Boar resides!?" He posited to the town, wholesale, eyeing everyone who occupied the space.
Silence filled the village until a motherly woman parted the crowd holding a basket at her side, child in tow, peering up at the wagon. She was adorned in a traditional red dress, hanging down limply in the hot air and stagnant wind.
"He's got a name. What's it to you?"
"... Interesting."
"Chaw-haw!" The Panda snorted, flicking the blunt back up to its previous owner.
The man in the hat squatted over the saddle, furrowed his brow, and met the eye line of the woman in red as he caught the cigar.
"He? What's his name?"
"... What's yours?"
"..?" The man in the hat grinned wide, looking over to The Panda before they both lost it, giggling up a storm in their goonery.
"She serious?"
"It would appear so." The man in the hat remarked, making a show of it with his eyebrows as he stood to full attention atop the horse. "Look… phweeeew~ name's Musuka. Phuuuu~ I'm running a very lucrative business. Where's The Butterfly Boar? All I want is the chance for me and that beast to make some money together."
As he relayed the info, The Panda tapped him on the trousers with a stiff backhand.
"Boss. That him right there?"
A giant purple beast roamed the dusty crop fields past town squares brick and mortar design. It was huge, almost half as big as the house and certainly as big as the caravan the troupe rode in on. Muska fixed his large hat and raised his brows at the sight, taking in an equally enormous drag from the dart in his mouth.
"Phweewww~ I think…" His face swelled up red from the cigar smoke, straining to keep in the smog before he let it out in an epic cloud. "Phuuuu~ that right there happens to be who we are looking for, old chap."
"Chahaw~" The Panda let out a surfer's intonation.
"Hey! What's his name?"
"... InoShikaCho." The mother replied, putting a hand on her child's shoulder as the wagon pulled past the town square and into the rural pastures out back where the giant purple boar with antlers and majestic butterfly wings stomped on the dirt.
"InoShikaCho!"
"Knorrrt!" The Butterfly Boar's snout curled up as it shot a predatory glance at the caravan pulling out into the rough patch behind the various buildings.
"I've been made aware that you're a pretty tough cookie. And most importantly. That you can talk."
"Rrrr?"
"Now. Phweeeww~ phuuuuuu~ You've got the makings of a star InoShikaCho, can I call you Ino?"
"Rrrr~ Rih, guess."
"Great. Ino, you're out here stomping the fields but wouldn't you like to be in front of an audience making some money?"
"... I like it here."
"... Ino. That's not what I asked. Like… not even close. Not even in the same dimension. Phweeeww~"
"Think very carefully, boy." The Panda stated as he crossed his burly black arms.
"Phuuuu~ You're out here in the hot sun all day working for what, crops? They pay you in food?"
"..."
"I got a great gig for ya."
"Rhi'm staying here."
The man in the hat raised an eyebrow and took a long drag from the cigar in his mouth.
"Maybe The Boss didn't make it clear enough but."
Stompp!
The Panda marched forward, shaking the earth with each step he took.
"We're not asking."
The townsfolk gathered around as The Panda cracked his knuckles for good measure. Musuka attempted to hop off his horse but at the behest of his giant partner.
"Relax, Boss. I got this."
"What a doll." Musuka replied, stifling a laugh as he handed off the last bit of cigarette left on the dart.
"Ino. We'd like to be diplomatic about this. No need to tussle." The Panda smirked through the cigar smoke.
Skuff~Kwuff~
The Butterfly Boar rooted his stance deep in the dirt, kicking up dust and ready to charge.
"..." The Panda kept his paw close to the magnum like a gunslinger.
FSHUUUU~Whapp!
"Oh!"
"Easy does it!" The Panda roared as he caught Ino on incoming, lifting the giant boar into the air like it weighed nothing. Following through with the momentum, the large bear rode it all the way down into an epic belly to back throwaway suplex.
THLAMM!
"Heh-HAH-HAH! Yeah baby!" Musuka hollered. "Whoo~Wee! Tell the people!"
Ino stumbled to his feet only to be grappled by the tall antlers he possessed.
"Come on~" The Panda struggled, gripping as tight as he could, trying to corral the beast as it kicked up clouds of dirt and grass.
"Hey! Leave him alone!"
"Did I ask for your opinion, lady!?" The man in the hat laughed out.
"He's with us!"
"Yeah!"
"-I don't give a fuck!" He chortled, almost falling off his wagon in the process.
"..."
Musuka and his crew drew, the only people in the crowd not stunned still by the zero to 100 nature of the transition where the ones fighting it out on the tilled earth. The man in the hat aimed an old timey tommy gun out into the crowd before letting up and pointing it skyward.
"You mess with me~ and My Business!? You get what's coming to you! Period!"
"..."
"Oh my god… we gotta stop this guy." The crowd atwitter, hushes coming across the village like a wave.
"How?"
"Don't break his horns now, Fryer!"
"Trying not to, Boss!" The Panda shouted back through grit teeth, keeping the blunt secure in his mouth as he rampaged over The Butterfly Boar. "Whup!"
SLAMMM!
"Raghhh!" Ino's roar shook the plains as he crashed into the ground for the last time.
"There we go. Boys, tie em' up."
"Yessir." A woman hopped out the driver's seat, rope at her side.
"You're not going anywhere!" The mother from earlier shouted as she parted the sea once again, tying back her long black hair into a ponytail.
"I warned ya!"
Ratatatatatatata~FwuScuuSwuScuFwu~
"..." Steam rose from her left hand as she palmed the gunfire.
TinkTingClinggTinkTingg~
"Shit." The Panda chuckled from the belly once more, chuffing back the last embers of the cigar before stomping it out on the dirt.
"She got some sass on her."
"She do, don't she?" The Panda laughed out again as he loomed over her with his titanic frame.
Ino looked on as the woman went toe to toe with the bear. Fryer walked back, taking the hits before being absolutely blindsided by a high kick to the ear.
Swakk!
"What tha hell?"
"Hya!" She roared, slamming a step-in elbow to the gut, folding the bear over.
"Ey Boss!" He grunted out, taking a forceful kneel on the kicked up dirt..
"Yeah yeah~" Musuka scoffed, taking off his hat and fanning himself with it.
The rest of Musuka's gang put the large boar on a stretcher, the beast broken and abused, unable to struggle much more than just wiggling around in his binds.
"We got places to be, wench."
Fwuuu~
Time seemed to dilate, stretch out strangely as Musuka stepped forward. The crowd could only look on in horror as he made contact with her chest and blasted her back with a showstopping palm strike.
WHAMM! Skffffffffff~
"Tanmen!" One of the elderly villagers cried out as she hit the dirt, instantly unconscious, blood and spit spilling out of her mouth, blank eyes staring up at the white clouds.
"You done goofin' off?"
"... Ehn~" The Panda let out uneasy wheezes, trying to catch his breath from the blow. "Sorry, Boss."
"Just get your ass in the van. We're out of this dump." Musuka mused as he fanned the last of the air with his hat and placed it over his chest. "Arrivaderci." He bowed to the crowd as he twirled his carney mustache before turning around on a dime and shouting back to his crew.
"Hey!"
"..."
"Move it people! We got what we came for! Andele!"
"Sure thing, Boss!"
PaoPao
A deep inhale through the nose.
"Knnnn~"
The shaking off of the nerves.
"Haaaaa~"
An exhalation of breath.
"I'm taking that darn scarf." She declared with a righteous pointer finger.
"I welcome it."
"Pao, I'm sorry but I've basically given up at this point. You're gonna have to do this one on your own." Yulin lamented, sitting down on a nearby rock. "This guy's nuts. We came here to get stronger but all we've really been doing is chasing him around for years. He hasn't taught us a single move! Maybe I was too brazen on this whole 'learn from the best' idea because this guy clearly doesn't wanna' teach squat!"
Namek's calm winds blew across the blue plains and smoothed against her now full Namekian clothing. She stretched out her legs through white parachute pants and steadied her breath. Namekians gathered around, waiting patiently as the Guardian of their planet walked to the forefront of the crops. Frieza watched on from the bay area, letting his hand lay limply in the water before drawing it out and sharpening his brow at the high energy woman standing across from his brother.
"Hnn-Hnn-Hnn." The brother of The Guardian of Namek chuckled coyly into his wrist. "You've been at this for years. Cooler's not the type to hold back when he cares about something, dear. You might have to give up the ghost."
"No thank you." She remarked plainly, tying her hair into those two distinct buns.
"Your technique has certainly improved, but the moment I stepped foot on this planet your hopes for passing the test decreased to a flat zero. You forget, while you grow, so does my brother. He's not going to sit around and wait for you to surpass him." Frieza shot out with a bit of bite, sitting similarly across from Pao's sister on another rock, cradling his left leg with both arms as he did it.
"I undastand. Dat's why I welcome this charrenge so much."
"I hate to be the one to agree with Frieza here but this kind of stuff is demotivating. I was the strongest on our planet before he showed up. This duty belonged to me. It's aggravating to be treated like a child again."
"Come now, Nail." Cooler cooed. "In my opinion, treating someone like a child is about letting them win. And you haven't won in over 17 years."
"Oh-Ho!" Frieza pointed with vitriol at the three underlings, laughing at them with his tongue out like a bastard.
"Play nice, I was just joking."
"You're the one that needs to play nice. I can't believe you just did him like that."
"I expect big things out of my pupils, what can I say?" Cooler replied as he shrugged his shoulders and let a sly smirk form on his face. "Regardless, Nail, you've already become an adult. I'm just using this test as a benchmark until I'm sure you all are ready physically. I have to hold back every time, not even just for your sakes, but for this planet's."
Pao nodded with a deep earnesty, hands trembling in anticipation.
"Are you ready?'
"Of course, Pao. I'm ready to begin whenever you are."
PaoPao VS Cooler
Objective: Obtain the scarf from Cooler and pass the test!
Namekians, big and small, walked the edges of the field, eyes on Cooler and Pao as they readied their starting positions. The previously tiny Namekian, Cargo, walked to the forefront of the crowd, shaking his fists in anxious anticipation.
"I can't believe she's still at it. Even three years in Nail didn't have this level of determination."
"Easy. You're gonna break my heart."
"Ohp. Sorry, Nail."
"Hehn. It's my own shortcomings. Nothing You need to apologise for."
Cargo offered a nervous laugh before shifting his gaze back to the two staring down across each other. It felt like there was an entire world between them and not a few steps. They stood still, unmoving. The sky was a neon green, simmering white lights beaming down on the planet with a warm blanket's embrace. The wind caressed the ground below in careful claws before it kicked up and signalled the test.
Pao rocketed off the grass, stampeding forward with a palatable intent.
"Can't say she's not eager." Frieza commented with a smirk as his tail wormed around the rock.
The dirt pushed and pulled away from her feet as she dashed. Cooler remained as still as could be as she entered range 0.
Skffffff~
"He's cocky, Sis! Get~His~Ass!"
Fshu!
A swing and a miss.
"Damn!" Yulin exploded, falling backwards from her own hype.
It was less like a fight and more like a dance, Cooler's movements being so serene and perfectly executed. Pao brought the energy but The Guardian of Namek did everything he could to put it on ice.
Pa-POKK! Skwuffffff~
"Hmmm~" Frieza went right back to a frown.
"He's never done that before." Nail remarked, stepping forward as he saw the winds kick up from Cooler's palm.
THUMMM!
The wind clapped a second time, but instead of Cooler's hand, it was at the behest of Pao's sprint. The air sent out in booming shockwaves as she ran towards the older brother and faded into obscurity.
"After-Images don't wor-"
Before Cooler could finish his statement he widened his eyes. Originally, The Guardian looked skyward, where Pao's energy signal had first been detected. But now, he was staring at an After-Image. A thousand thoughts crossed his mind as the warpy lines faded overtop like vapour.
"I could have sworn that's where her energy was… There..?"
The After-Images twirled and spinned around at lightning speeds.
"What..? She's not moving from place to place. I can track those… She's..? Teleporting?"
"Gragh!" Yulin grunted, squeezing the rock in front of her like a stress pillow. "What is Pao doing!? She knows After-Images don't work on these guys! She's panicking!"
"I can't… keep up. What is she doing out there, Nail?" Cargo posited, shifting his view to the tall Namekian.
"I'm not quite sure what she's doing. That technique that she brought from Earth is practically useless to someone who can use Telepathy or sense energy. If she's relying on that as the crux of her strategy she's going back to the drawing board."
"What would you call this?" Cooler mused, trying desperately to pin down the angle. "Replacement? … She's switching places with the After-Images!"
Wsht! Whuapp!
Pao swallowed harshly.
"Gulp."
Hand on the scarf.
"Damn! So close!"
But hand on hand.
"..."
Cooler loomed over Pao, iron gripping her wrist as she tugged at the white plumy apparel.
"You know what?"
"..."
"You passed."
Cooler relinquished his grasp and Pao tugged at the white wrap for the last time, separating it from his frame.
"... I did it?"
Crashhh!
"..." Yulin's jaw just about dropped and she squeezed the nonexistent life out of the rock, crushing it between her palms.
"The idea behind this test isn't for the child to become stronger than the adult, but to use one's brain to form the necessary strategy. There have been countless times where you three have done something I didn't expect, and quite frankly got close to grabbing it. But unlike all those other times… she actually made contact with the scarf so… Well played, PaoPao. Excellent work."
Pao stood there stunned, caving and falling onto her knees as Cooler gave her a round of applause. The other Namekians responded in kind, washing over her with a cacophony of claps. She shook her head and grinned, laughing a bit as she landed on the blue grass. The wind carried the scent of beautiful flowers and Pao soaked it all in as she took deep inhales from her nostrils.
"So~ stuhpid~" She giggled out, gazing up at the green beyond and fluffy white clouds accompanying it. "Dat reary took me rike four yeahs."
"Nice! So~ when do we learn all your moves?"
"... Did you grab my scarf?"
"..." Yulin's smile turned right upside down as Frieza lost it, cackling from across the way.
Jewel
Deep in the recesses of a sweaty shadowed cavern, a man walked up to the elevated platform of a ring. Complete with white tiles, the manufactured flooring contrasted harshly with the natural formations of the black rocks surrounding. Torch flames flickered as the blonde youth made a point to bow before entering. He took off his turquoise green gi and stepped into the frey. Out of an alcove in the back behind the ring stepped out a familiar old man.
"Late again."
"Stop cappin', old man. You know I'm not late."
"I seem to recall that I told you to be here by 5 A.M."
"And I am. Think it's that old age getting to you, Master."
Shwingg!
"Disrespect me like that again and we'll see if that old age is enough to stop me."
"..." A bead of sweat rolled down Jewel's head as a sharp blade snuck out of the old man's left arm and aligned itself onto his jugular. The whirring mechanisms sounded off unnervingly before Shen drew it back and recentred his shades. "Sorry, sir."
"Sorry's not enough. Any infraction caused is going to have to be made up some other way."
"..."
"I've been wanting to expand The Crane School for a long time but now with my brother in the can and a few other unfortunate circumstances I'm a bit lost at which road to take."
"..?" Jewel stood there, raising a brow before he just shook his head and let the man speak.
"What are you doing over there!? 100 handstand pushups! Stat!"
"Yes sir! Hua!"
Fsht!
"One, two, three-"
The Other Crane School Brother watched dutifully as the young blonde man eagerly banged out every rep on the white tile.
Videl
"Videl! I told you to stop running around the track! We're trying to have class here!"
"Nope! Not gonna!"
"Erasa! You keep enabling your friend over there and I'm gonna have to fail you too!"
"Bro it's gym class~" The short blonde haired girl fought back, timing out the run with her smartphone. "Does it really matter if we're not doing what's scheduled? Videl's getting practice in. We showed up, didn't we? How are you gonna fail us?"
The long field started to smoke up from all the dust Videl sent skyward with her laps. She touched the ground and turned low with each rotation, making sure to increase her efficiency as she went along. The day was long and the gym teacher just took off his hat, wiping the sweat from a day's work.
"That's it." He claimed, readying the walkie talkie on his hip. "Hello. Yes sir. I've got a couple of students blatantly disrespecting the classroom environment."
Later in the Principal's Office.
The room was a clinical grey, and the black leather seats, while nice, were definitely par for the course. More professionalism and less freedom of expression. Videl tapped her long fingernails on the arm of the chair as the woman spoke about this that and the other. Videl didn't even let it get in one ear, too busy playing with her pigtails to notice until her father's booming voice sounded off.
"Videl?"
"What?"
"You can't just say no to class like that. You may not like it but there are rules. And just because you're stronger than the other kids doesn't excuse you from those."
"I don't really feel like talking about it right now. If he wants to fail me I'll take the F."
"For gym class, honey?" The Principal prodded, craning her neck down over the desk and wincing a bit.
"You used to be so ready to learn, Sweet Pea. What happened?"
"And you used to be home at least half the time. What a world we live in."
"..."
"..."
The Principal tugged at her tie, cringing a bit at the front row seat she didn't know she was getting today.
Piccolo
"..."
Sparks flew, arcing around Baba's Palace as he meditated. Baba looked on from inside her not so humble abode and could only gawk at the sight. The jagged lightning lit the torches of the arena as his long legs sat criss cross on the air. He opened his eyes and in a flourish, cold winds washed outwards and blew them all out right away.
"Tcheh."
"Is he doing it again?" A teardrop shaped pale white ghost asked Baba as it filed in behind her and her crystal ball.
"Yes." Her croaky voice answered as they gazed down at the demon. "I can't tell what lies in his future. It could go either way but for some reason the fog in my crystal ball doesn't feel like telling me. It's almost as if he alone doesn't have one. None of the other boys are so hard to read."
"Is that a problem?"
"Could be. It's not for me to determine. It's only for me to know first and I don't… and I don't like that."
"..." Piccolo closed his eyes as a pulpy vein drew to the surface of his forehead.
Zyhuuuuu~
Goku
The flowing rivers of Mount Paozu ran down the mountainside as per usual, Goku practicing katas in the morning air with deep breaths and flowing stances. He stomped on the ground as much as he tapped, switching on a dime from low and heavy hits to sharp strikes all in the same movement. His skin glowed with youth as the morning light shined down on him. Nearby birds parted, rushing for the treetops as the Saiyan practiced his moves. A few deer poked their heads out of the treeline, eyeing the man on a mission. He smirked, waving back at them during his practice. Other woodland critters came out to observe, happily watching as the father of two ran through the motions.
Goku's breath was calm. Assured. Natural. Every breath taken in the deep woods resulted in a vapour pouring out of his mouth. It wasn't cold, but an ethereal mystical mist came out in foggy breaths anyway. After a while the white orbs started to flutter away and separate from his frame. Soon enough he stopped his artistry, content to let the wind wash over him. Goku took a moment to breathe, and sat down, criss cross.
"I let it slip." He spoke to no one but himself and the audience of animals all staring at the Saiyan. "Focus up."
As Goku sat there, the pulpy aura built again, white bubbles of energy pouring out of him. This energy looked different. Yamcha's white aura didn't have the same consistency as what the man sitting on the grass displayed. Goku's was a practical one-to-one replica of what floated around in King Yemma's Forest. The wildlife wasn't so wild, instead they were all banding together, a calm but curious interest developing in them the more energy Goku amassed. Goku's mouth morphed into a smile as the woodland creatures banded together to assess the situation. He didn't open his eyes but he could feel their presence, dictated by boiling bubble-like frames.
"Hey guys. I would appreciate it if you left me alone for a bit."
A doe with a bushy white tail sniffed at the Saiyan's wacky hairdo, pulling a chuckle from the man as a result.
"Huh-Hah! I know you guys mean well but it's hard to focus with all you guys gathered around me."
Squirrels hopped on his frame, and nestled on his body like it were a tree and the nearby deer laid down around him. A burly sabretooth prowled the outside before ultimately settling into a deep purr and flopping onto the ground behind him.
"Well… alright. I guess you can come and watch."
The white orbs started to manifest in higher quantities after a while and the creatures occupying the space started to glow with more vibrancy.
Tien
Ice.
FshWashFshtFuuFwuScuFwu~
Wind.
Fwuuuuuuu~
Snow.
Crunch. Crump. Crumm.
Tien threw strike after strike in the blistering cold, nothing but his underwear on as he jabbed his hands out like a snake. The snow kipped up in miniature tornadoes and blasted against his chest. The usual white skin turned a raw red by the conditions of the climate. While his skin certainly gave the illusion that he cared, Tien clearly did not. His stoic face stood out against the cold and he practiced like a mad man as wolves howled into the night sky's glowing yellow moon. The Crane threw out one last strike, a practical vertical split, a high right leg aimed skyward. The sheer power stopped the pelting storm right in its tracks. Tien held the pose until his third eye sniped something off in the distance.
…
The air whispered, and Tien's right leg held its position as a pair of figures parted the winter winds and pelting snow. The Crane cleared his throat a single time and furrowed his brows toward their location.
"ohmyod!"
Tien's leg thrust into the snow and kicked up a fearsome gale as he locked eyes with the strangers who trudged along the frozen wasteland.
"Wow! Took us a minute t-t-to find your ass, … Damn!" A middle aged redheaded man laughed out.
"What are you talking about? Who are you?" Tien asked as he crossed his arms.
"My name is Copper."
"Silver."
The pair offered their hands and Tien passed on the shake, deliberately pushing his hand against theirs.
"What's your business? I live out here for a reason. I don't want fans or anything like that. How did you find me?"
"... Uhhh Internet."
"What?"
"Well, it doesn't say that you live specifically here but they speculated you lived out somewhere in the mountains or something."
"And we've been running all across the mountainous regions of the globe."
"It's been quite the trek."
Tien scoffed at the pair as ripping winds pelted into them and forced their teeth to chatter uncontrollably. The Crane's chest was bare and Silver's eyes bulged out at the fact.
"H-How can you st-stand this shit, dude!?"
"I'm built different. Now why are you here? If you don't answer soon I'm going to have to show you the door."
"But we're outside though." Silver replied, tongue in chattering cheek.
"We h-h-heard that you're the winner of a tournament or something. Is there any way you can teach us y-your ways?"
"I suspected I was going to have crazy people banging on my doorstep sooner or later for something like this."
"Again… we're outside though."
"Look. I'm not interested in taking students right now, or really, ever, so take my advice and get lost."
"..." Copper just gave a stunned look as misty frost left his open mouth.
"Nah! I can't take no for an answer! We have our own reasons to train in martial arts!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Give us one reason why You can't! Are you a fraud or something?"
"..."
Fwuuuuuuuuuu~
The wind hit the back of Tien's bald head and he felt the cold for the first time in ages. He let out a sigh and sniffed in big as the front came in.
"Alright. You get one lesson. 10 minutes, right now, if you think you can handle it."
"Out in the cold!?" Silver barked back, eyes about to pop out of his cold frozen skull, snow piling onto his now frigid afro.
"The first lesson of martial arts is to think beyond the scope of what is obvious." The Crane relayed as he pointed to the top of his head. "You have to open your third eye. You have to be awake, clear minded. You must think outside the box and push your limits. If you spend all your time doubting yourself you're never going to see just what you really can accomplish."
"Boss, this dude kinda spittin' right now-"
"Quiet!"
"..."
Fwuuuuuuuuu~
"If you're not ready to go beyond your limits and believe in yourself you cannot progress, it is impossible, that is the first lesson. Second! Martial arts has progressed greatly since the era of Mutiato and The Turtle and Crane Hermits. If you want to be a true artist in this craft you're gonna need to learn how to harness your Ki."
"..."
"Ki-"
Voip. Vnnnnn~
The yellow orb stuck out like a sore thumb in the low blue shifted lighting of the mountains and offered a soothing warmth against the pair's freezing cheeks.
"-is the manifestation of one's life. I've now learned over my many years practicing that it's better to use your Ki near the start of a battle rather than the end, because while each person has their own pool to draw from, Ki is invariable tied to your physicality, so the more wounded you are, the harder it is to manipulate."
"You're going kind of fast, you sure you can't slow down for-"
"This is why I don't teach. I'm… not that good at slowing… down. Well. Uhh. Just know this, your martial arts is effectively useless now in the global consciousness if you cannot harness Ki. And the more tired you are, the harder it is to use and manifest."
"Okay. So what's the third step?" Copper asked as he wrapped his long coat around his frame even tighter, rubbing his hands together to fight off the scuffing and stinging snow.
"The third step is to make sure you formulate a routine. If you don't practice every week, or at least a little bit everyday bums like you aren't gonna stick the landing."
"What'd you say?"
"You heard me, bum. I'd kick your ass without even trying, you're the ones that came all the way out here to stalk me after finding out on the internet. I should beat the dog shit out of you just for that."
Silver grit his teeth and shook his head.
"I'm taking advice from this guy?" Silver commented as he turned to his superior officer, pointing his thumb at The Crane in nothing but his undies.
"Look, one of the best ways to get better is to truly feel the embrace of combat."
"But what does that-"
WHAPP! Fwompp.
Copper just wore duck lips as Tien blasted him into the ground with a lazy left hand.
"I used Ki to actively lower my striking power, that's a thing I have to do often, when I don't I accidentally put holes through walls. I've had to buy I don't know how many bedframes."
"..."
Fwuuuuuuuuuu~
"Get up, I know you got more in you."
"Damn… right." Silver answered as he wiped his bloodied and broken nose.
"Take your hits like men and maybe I'll have a little more respect for you guys." The Three Eyed Man stated aloud as he cracked his knuckles, sharp auras formulating from his forearms down to his fingertips.
Yamcha
The morning light of the city fluttered in on the sidewalk as an enormous wave of wind followed behind a man on a mission. The Wolf dashed along the pavement a mile a minute as the sun started its ascent into the sky. Yamcha ran by an embankment in the more rural parts of what was still West City. Birds flew away from the explosive speed of his fervent blur. Yamcha could only laugh as he felt the stream press up against his body like a glove.
FUUUSHH!
The gale force accompanying The Wolf shot outward to fisherman casting out their lines to the sea, pushing some of them down the hill in the process.
"What in tha sam hell?"
"I'm Gonna Win!" Yamcha's voice echoed out into the rest of the city.