Chapter Nineteen

Her Fortune Reading


The next morning, Videl had school. She realized her phone's battery was dead and she had forgotten to charge it, so as she got ready for the day, she plugged her smartphone into the extra fast charger. She went out for a run after eating a cereal bar, got home after half an hour and hopped in the shower. Once she got out and finished getting ready, putting on a baggy white shirt with purple sleeves and cargo shorts as well as her favorite green combat boots, the girl finally went over to her night table and picked up her phone, pressing and holding the button on the side to turn it on. It was at seventy-two percent, which would be more than enough for the day. Besides, she could always use her external charger, but Videl doubted she would need it.

And then her eyes widened at all the unread messages and missed calls. Thirty-seven texts and seventeen calls.

"What the…?"

She trailed off as she scrolled down her notifications. Half of them were asking her if she was okay, the other half was her friends freaking out about the revelation that Gohan was the Golden Fighter.

"Oh shit."

Gohan had transformed in public? She had no idea. And now his cover was blown and going back to school was going to be extremely complicated. Videl bit her lip as she read the numerous texts she had gotten, wondering if Gohan would even go back to school at all now that his identity was compromised.

Well, at least Gohan wouldn't be dealing with the aftermath of his reckless action for the time being. He was out somewhere off-planet, and nobody had any idea as to when he would be coming back. She frowned as she picked up her backpack and headed for the dining room for a more sustaining breakfast. When would Gohan be coming back, for that matter?

She found Buu and her father in the dining room. Buu wasn't eating sweets this time but a real breakfast. Countless plates of pancakes, waffles, eggs and bacon, French toasts and all kinds of delicious breakfast food were disposed all over the table. Buu seemed to enjoy himself a lot, and there was enough on the table for Videl to help herself. At least, she hoped.

"Good morning," she greeted as she walked into the dining room. "Um, do you mind if I eat with you, Buu?" she asked the pink creature. Better be safe than sorry.

"Oh, hiya Videl!" Buu greeted her back with a huge grin. "Yeah, of course, there's plenty for you too ━ Satan got the cook to make more anyway. I love pancakes and maple syrup! I never had that before!"

She chuckled at his childlike nature. The formerly evil monster was actually quite fun to be around. He was exactly like she had foreseen in her dreams.

As she sat down and helped herself a bit of everything for breakfast, Videl wondered how things would have turned out had she never had those visions. How her father would have gotten involved and befriended Buu while the others would have been trying to kill him. Well, she supposed that it would remain a mystery, because thanks to her visions, the future was changed. They took a shortcut and saved the universe a lot more easily, and for that, the girl was grateful, even if it was the result of a revenge plan against her.

It was worrying, and Videl intended to keep her guard up. The magician who had put those visions of her distorted future into her head may try to hurt her in another way now that Shin had fixed her dreams. The girl had to assume that the vengeful person was keeping tabs on her to make sure their plan was going well, so they had to know that they had failed.

Then again, maybe if they saw what happened with Babidi and Buu, and more importantly, that Gohan was the Delivery Boy from the Cell Games, they might have reservations about trying to hurt her again. Even if that was a very plausible possibility, Videl wasn't going to let her guard down until she found out who was responsible for making her believe that getting together with Gohan would be her doom.

She hoped he and Shin wouldn't be gone for long. For one thing, she obviously wanted to see Gohan and clear things up with him, and for another, Shin had promised her he would help them find the culprit behind her distorted visions. Without his magic, they had no chance of finding who was out to get her.

Videl put her fork down as a thought occurred to her. Something from her dreams was coming back to her. Fortuneteller Baba. She was a witch with a magical crystal ball that could answer any question. Maybe she would be able to solve her problem? The fortuneteller may have the power to show her who had tried to ruin her life.

She finished eating, and once her appetite was satisfied, Videl pushed her chair back and stood, announcing that she would be going to school.

"What's school?" Buu asked innocently through a mouthful of bacon.

"It's a place where kids go to learn about all kinds of things," Videl replied with a smile.

"Learning? That sounds boring. Why do you have to go?"

"Because I get to see my friends there," Videl said. "And learning can be fun, too."

"Oh, okay," Buu commented with a shrug. "When will you be back?"

Videl felt her heart melt at the innocent yet meaningful question. Was Buu going to miss her? That was just adorable.

"In the afternoon. In the meantime, Papa, you could bring Buu to Capsule Corp. so Buu can have some fun with Vegeta."

"Oh! Yes! Vegeta! Let's go after breakfast!" Buu exclaimed, perking up and clapping his hands in excitement.

"Capsule Corp, heh?" Mr. Satan said, stroking his unshaved chin. "It's on the opposite side of the country, though. Getting there would take hours."

"That's okay, I'm really fast!" Buu offered happily. "I can fly us there!"

Mr. Satan chuckled nervously at the idea of flying with Buu instead of in the safety of an aircraft. "Alright. Then we'll go after breakfast. Have a nice day at school, Sweetpea," he added for his daughter, who nodded and bid her goodbye.

"What's a sweetpea? It sounds yummy!" she heard Buu ask as she exited the dining room. She giggled to herself. Buu's childlike innocence was adorable.

She got to school on her jetcopter. As expected, the hallways were buzzing, and Videl caught Gohan's name and "The Golden Fighter" in the same sentence everywhere she went. It was fortunate that the young warrior was away, all things considered. With any luck, the gossip around him would die down and people would move on by the time Gohan came back.

Still, seeing his empty seat next to Sharpner's gave her a pang in the chest. How long would he be gone? Did he really have to leave so promptly? Could it really not wait? She didn't even get to say goodbye…

"Oh, my God, Videl!" Erasa rushed to her and pulled her off her chair to give her a big hug. "You're okay! I'm so relieved!"

Videl winced in guilt. With everything that had been happening since she left the tournament with Gohan, she had completely forgotten that her friends, who had seen her get trashed in the ring, would be worried sick about her.

"I called your dad and he said you were okay but that you didn't come back after going to clean up. What happened?" Erasa said as the girls got to their seats.

"So much. I wouldn't know where to begin." Or what she should say and what she should keep to herself, for that matter.

"And Gohan! O.M.G., can you believe it? He's the Golden Fighter! He transformed all of a sudden and looked ready to jump on the ring and tear that Spopovitch guy apart!"

"I kinda wish he got to do it, before that other dude stopped Spopovitch," Sharpner gritted out, anger flashing in his brown eyes as he got to his seat next to his girlfriend. He gave her a peck on the cheek and Erasa smiled at him.

Videl thought back to the moment she found Gohan, Piccolo, Shin and Kibito, and the bloodied state of Spopovitch as he cut a deal with them to save his ass. She smirked.

"Gohan promised me he was going to avenge me," she told her friends. "And I saw them later. Spopovitch had seen better days."

Sharpner and Erasa perked up.

"For real? Man, no wonder Gohan is so good at sports," Sharpner said with a chuckle. "He's a freaking superhero! He was even able to beat up Spopovitch, who was even stronger than Videl."

"I wonder if he's stronger than Mr. Satan," Erasa mused.

"Mr. Satan is still the world champion," Ruler chipped in, getting to his seat in the row below theirs. "And he killed Cell. Even as strong as Gohan is, it's unlikely he's stronger than Videl's dad."

"But I've been thinking," Sharpner said with a frown, crossing his arms. "Remember the fighters at the Cell Games? Some of them had the ability to transform like Gohan, changing their hair color to golden and their eyes to teal. And there was even a kid there, remember? And he was our age."

Erasa gasped, raised her hand to her mouth. "You don't think… Gohan was at the Cell Games?" she exclaimed in shock, getting looks from their peers, who widened their eyes at the very plausible conclusion.

A murmur of speculations rose about their super-powered classmate. Videl cursed in her head. Damn it. Sharpner always chose the worst times to be cunning.

"Shhh!" she berated her friends sternly. "Don't go shouting that kind of thing! Gohan just wanted to feel normal."

"Wait, you knew?" Sharpner whispered in shock, his eyes wide.

"Of course I knew. You think I'd marry a guy without knowing who he really was?"

"Wait, what?" Ruler blubbered, his eyes bulging out and his jaw hanging. "What the heck are you talking about? You're marrying Gohan? You guys haven't even been talking since last week!"

Videl cursed under her breath. She forgot about Ruler. He had no idea that she'd seen the future, unlike Sharpner and Erasa.

"It's a long story, but in short, I saw the future, in which I'm married to Gohan," she explained in a low voice. "And I learned a lot about him from those visions."

"Wait, you're psychic? And you're gonna marry Gohan? But wait, there's no such thing as psychics!" Ruler objected.

"I'm not. But there is such a thing as psychics, and even magicians and wizards. And I think someone with that kind of power gave me those visions, but some of the things I foresaw weren't true. It's a long story, but I encountered someone who was able to fix my visions."

Her three friends blinked at her explanation. Videl chuckled uneasily. At that moment, the bell rang, and the teacher entered the classroom, telling the students to settle down. The girl was grateful for the good timing.

The English teacher glanced at Gohan's empty seat, looking nervous. Videl surmised that she saw the broadcast of the tournament and knew that Gohan was the Golden Fighter like everyone else. Who else had made the connection between Gohan and the boy from the Cell Games? As clueless as people could be, it seemed unlikely that Sharpner was the only one who put two and two together.

"Before I call the roll, I have an announcement to make," Miss Tungo said, clearing her throat into her fist. "Gohan's mother called the school and said he wouldn't be coming back to class until further notice."

A murmur of chatter rose around the rows, and the teacher had some trouble restoring the quiet.

"Settle down, settle down," she said loudly to get her voice heard above the chatter. "Quiet!"

That last shout did the trick, and the students finally shut their mouths and focused on their teacher, who sighed in frustration.

"Now," she continued. "I know most if not all of you can guess why Gohan wouldn't want to come back to school. Yes, indeed, it was quite shocking to see him transform like that at the tournament. But I would like to remind you that he is a beloved part of our student body, that he has been nothing but kind and helpful and good to everyone without distinction. Moreover, he's even helped the police fight crime! When he comes back, if he ever comes back, be sure to remember who Gohan really is. The Golden Fighter isn't what defines him. He's a kind-hearted boy and an excellent student. Frankly, I've never had the privilege to meet anyone quite like him. If more people were like Gohan, the world would be a much better place."

Videl swept her gaze around the class and smiled, seeing that everyone seemed to agree, nodding their heads with serious looks on their faces and whispering between each other.

"He's always helped me when I had trouble with schoolwork," someone said.

"He offered to help me carry boxes of paper and I didn't even ask him," someone else recalled.

"He's really funny too, in a dorky kind of way," another classmate chimed in.

"And he's always so nice to everyone. It makes me want to be better, being around him," someone else commented.

"Yeah, it's like his mere presence is comforting."

Videl felt her heart glow as her classmates continued remembering just how amazing of a person Gohan was. Miss Tungo was right. Gohan wasn't defined by his abilities. He was the best kind of person there was, and everybody had noticed.

Maybe things wouldn't be so bad when he came back. Hopefully, he would be returning very, very soon. Videl was missing him already.

Miss Tungo let them keep going for a minute or so and then demanded silence again.

"I'm glad you all agree," she said once the class settled down. "Now, on with today's lecture. Open your books on page thirty-four."

The sound of rustling pages rose as everyone followed the order, and Videl did the same. Miss Tungo started the lesson, but Videl couldn't focus. As interesting as the novel they had been working on was, the girl just couldn't get her mind to settle down.

She couldn't stop thinking about Gohan, wondering where he was and what he was doing. Piccolo said that Shin probably wanted Gohan to train and get stronger than Buu, and Videl tried to imagine what kind of training Gohan would have to go through. Would it be life-threatening? Was Gohan safe? Was he lonely, out there in a foreign world with Shin and Kibito as his only company? Was he making progress? If so, when would he be done with his training? How long was it going to take him to surpass Buu? How far behind had he been, for that matter?

She had so many questions and nobody could answer them. Videl wished for a way to communicate with Shin even if he was in another realm.

She remembered her plan to try and find Fortuneteller Baba. That elder witch was her best chance to learn anything about what was going on, whether it be about what Gohan was up to, or who was responsible for her visions.

The school day ended, and it was one of those rare times where the police didn't interrupt her classes to ask for her help to fight crime. Videl wasn't sure whether it was a good or a bad thing ━ as much as she always itched for a fight, her head was just not into it today, and getting distracted while dealing with armed criminals could be very dangerous.

Her friends asked her if she wanted to hang out after school, but Videl declined. They had been trying to get her attention all day, but Videl had isolated herself during the breaks because she knew they would ask her what happened after the tournament. And the girl wasn't sure what she should be telling them. So, until she had the answer, Videl decided that dodging the questions would be the best course of action.

She got in her jetcopter and took flight to the West, wondering how things went with Buu and her dad at Capsule Corp. Were Vegeta and Buu still going at it? Would they even fight in Capsule Corp. or did they go in some deserted wasteland to avoid destroying the place?

Like her father had said, the trip to West City was a long one. Satan City was on the East of the continent, so it was basically on the other side of it. It would take her hours to get there, but Videl didn't have any other option. At least on the way back, Buu would be taking her and her father home, which shouldn't take very long.

Videl turned on the turbo mode and put some music on. Her mind was still on Gohan and Fortuneteller Baba, but thankfully she didn't need to focus too much when piloting her jetcopter.

It took her three hours, which was shorter than she had predicted. Videl landed her jetcopter in a deserted alley near the giant dome that was Capsule Corp. Once she was out and her vehicle was safely put away in a capsule, the girl walked to the front gate and rang the bell.

A professional voice answered her. Videl introduced herself, adding that she was Gohan's friend. The gates buzzed open immediately and Videl stepped cautiously into the front yard. The decoration was a lot less extravagant and show-off-y than on her own front yard, and Videl appreciated the modest but modern decoration. The grass was clean-cut, pebbles were making the pathway to the front door, and a fountain on the side was giving the place a peaceful air despite the bustling city on the other side of the gates.

The door was opened before she could ring the bell, and none other than Bulma welcomed her into her home.

"Hi! You must be Videl!" the world-renowned scientist and genius inventor exclaimed, a glint of excitement in her aqua eyes. "I've heard so much about you."

Videl fought down a grimace, turning it into a polite smile instead. "Um, hello. It's an honor to meet you, Doctor Bulma."

"Oh, just call me Bulma," the woman waved her off. She put her hand behind Videl's shoulder and led her inside. "Come on in. Your father has been waiting for you." She shot her a smirk as they walked side by side in the hallway. "He's actually not as bad as I thought. And he's good company. Trunks took a liking to him too, and they've been hanging out while Buu and Vegeta went off god knows where to have at it."

"So they're not fighting here?"

"Are you crazy? With their blast power, they could destroy the whole city, even with the shields I've put up around the Gravity Room. Oh, it's a special room I built for Vegeta, and it's…"

"Got higher gravity than Earth to make his training more efficient," Videl finished for the scientist. She blushed at the surprised look Bulma gave her. "Um, have the others told you that I saw the future?"

"Oh, that's right. It slipped my mind for a moment." Bulma smirked at her. "Gohan's told me about it a few weeks ago, for that matter. Said something you saw was stopping you from getting close to him."

"He… He did?" Videl swallowed nervously, her face burning up some more. "Um… What else has he told you?"

Bulma gave her a knowing look but didn't answer. They got to the main living area, where Mr. Satan and Trunks were playing video games.

"Heal me! Heal me!" Trunks said frantically to her father. Then he grinned and more explosions sounded from the giant flat-screen TV. "Thanks! You're better at this than Goten."

"What do you think I did when I was your age?" Mr. Satan boasted, giving a loud laugh.

"Hey, focus! They almost got you!" Trunks berated the man. "Good thing I protected you."

"Nice job, kid. Now let's kick some more zombie butt!"

Videl snorted laughing into her hand at the endearing sight. Well, kids did always love her father. He was very charismatic and easy to get along with. It was no surprise that he and Trunks would hit it off so quickly.

"They've been at it all afternoon," Bulma said with a grin. "He's better than the babysitters I would hire for Trunks, and I don't even have to pay him. Not that money is an issue. Anyway, I'm going back to work, but I'm glad I got to meet you, Videl. It's nice to finally put a face to your name."

The girl blushed slightly at the implication. How much did Gohan tell Bulma about her? About… them? Did she know everything? Even about the… kissing?

She reached out and grabbed Bulma's arm before the older woman could walk away. "Wait," she said. "I need to talk to you about some things. Or maybe later if you're busy right now?"

Bulma smiled. "No, now is fine. I'm the boss, so I can take a break whenever I want. Let's go somewhere quieter," she added, glancing at the loud pair of gamers with a chuckle.

"Get him! Get him!" Mr. Satan told his teammate while jamming on his controller repeatedly.

"Look out! There's a zombie behind you!" Trunks exclaimed.

"On it!"

Videl laughed softly. They were adorable, but quite loud indeed. She nodded at Bulma and followed her along the hallways once again. Bulma led her to the garden in a dome-shaped glasshouse. Videl's lips parted as her head turned in every direction, taking in the beautiful greenhouse and the numerous animals roaming freely around. There were even dinosaurs! A freaking T-Rex was roaming about! A T-Rex! And saber-toothed tigers! What were predators even doing in a greenhouse? Weren't the smaller animals, the dogs and cats and bunnies and stags and birds and whatnot scared to be those predators' next meal?

Bulma settled down at a garden table under a sunshade. She pressed a button on the smooth surface and ordered herself an iced-coffee, before turning to Videl and asking her what she wanted to drink.

Snapping out of her astonishment at the place, Videl politely asked for an iced-tea and settled down on the comfortable chair across from Bulma. No sooner than her behind touched the cushion, a robot with tank-like wheels and an oval head rolled over carrying a platter on its pincer-like hands.

"Thank you," Bulma told the robot, which bowed and rolled away after excusing itself politely. The blue-haired woman turned to her then, a smile on her face as she sipped from her straw. "So, what did you want to ask me about?"

Getting over the odd robot, Videl focused on her mission. "I wanted to know if you could help me find Fortuneteller Baba."

"I know where she lives," Bulma replied. "What do you need her for?"

Videl explained her problem to the scientist, who nodded with a serious look on her face as she sipped from her straw.

"I see. So your visions were tainted, huh?" Bulma said. "Baba would be your best bet at finding who tried to push you and Gohan apart, indeed. She actually can travel to and from the other world, for that matter, so she might even be able to show you what Gohan is up to."

Bulma suddenly stood, a glint of determination in her eyes. "And you know what? I'm coming with you. It's been a while since I went on an adventure, and I miss it."

Videl blinked at the older woman. "Um, okay, sure. I mean, you're the one who knows where to go anyway."

"Besides," Bulma added with a grin. "I own the fastest aircrafts ever built. We should be back before dinner."

"Seriously? It took me three hours just to get here from Satan City."

Videl quickly finished her glass and got up to follow Bulma. "Well, if you want, I can get you a faster model," the older woman offered.

"Oh, that would be great, thank you. I've been thinking of getting an upgrade, for that matter."

Bulma led her to an office, and she grabbed a capsule box from a shelf before walking out to the hallways once again. Videl had no idea where they were, the Capsule Corp. building was like a maze, and it was even bigger than her own house with its fifty bedrooms. She followed Bulma out of the building, through a back door that led to the backyard. Bulma then threw a capsule on the grass and after the smoke cleared, a metallic red, private plane appeared.

The glass popped open and Bulma got to the passenger seat, inviting Videl to get behind the commands. "I'll give you the directions. I figure you might as well try it if I'm going to give it to you."

Now sitting next to Bulma, Videl turned her head and stared at her just as her hands wrapped around the yoke.

"Wait, you're just giving it to me?"

Bulma shrugged.

"But you know I can afford it, don't you?"

Bulma chuckled. "So can I. Besides, you're part of the gang now. Yamcha told me everything. He told me how you helped yesterday. You're the reason Buu became our ally when everyone else was ready to try and kill him, which could have turned very bad, not to mention the possible casualties. Besides, I like treating my friends with gifts," she added with a wink.

Videl felt her heart glow at the woman's generosity. "Thank you."

"Now start the engine and head South-West. Baba lives in an oasis in the middle of the desert," Bulma instructed. Videl nodded in understanding and turned the ignition. The plane lifted from the ground. "This plane is the fastest in the world," Bulma said, a cocky smirk on her lips. "We should get there in less than an hour if you push on the accelerator."

"Less than an hour? But it should be hours away!" Videl mumbled in disbelief.

Bulma grinned proudly. "I've worked on spaceships and gone to outer space. Are you really that surprised?"

Shaking her head as a chuckle escaped her lips, Videl admitted that, indeed, when she put it like that, it wasn't all that unexpected coming from the greatest mind of their time.

"To the South-West, then," Videl announced, turning on the accelerator as she piloted the plane. The sudden speed made her be pushed against her seat, and her eyes widened. Bulma typed on the keyboard and the pressure lessened. "What did you do?"

"Gravity control. It's not only useful for training," Bulma said with a smirk.

"You'll have to show me how to do that," Videl said, focusing her gaze on the fast-moving scenery around them. The plane was zipping through the sky at a speed Videl had never seen.

Actually, that wasn't true. Gohan had been faster than that, but being in control of such speeds wasn't the same. She liked it.

"Can you turn off the gravity control?" she asked Bulma. "I want to feel the speed."

"Err, okay." Bulma gave a nervous grimace, maybe not looking forward to the ride without the gravity control on, but she indulged the teenage girl nonetheless.

She grabbed on the armrests and squeaked, but Videl was grinning as she felt the rush make her heart leap in her chest. She'd always loved rollercoaster rides, and this felt just like one.

But Bulma really didn't seem to enjoy it, so Videl asked her to turn the gravity control back on after a few minutes, not wanting to make the whole trip torture to the older woman. Bulma obliged and thanked her, and Videl figured that she would have every opportunity to turn off the gravity control with this plane since Bulma was giving it to her.

They arrived in the desert in less than forty minutes. Bulma gave her the directions to Fortuneteller Baba's place, and soon enough, they saw a castle and a couple of domes on either side of it from the distance. There was also a long line of people who were waiting to get to the first dome.

Videl lowered the speed of the plane and landed it without a hitch. She was really enjoying this smooth ride. She couldn't believe Bulma was just giving it to her. The girl would be sure to show her gratitude in some way to the generous lady when the opportunity presented itself.

Bulma waved at a ghost-like creature wearing a Chinese hat. The ghost perked up, obviously recognizing Bulma, left his post to guard the line and floated toward them.

"Hello! It's been a while," Bulma greeted cheerfully. "May we see Fortuneteller Baba if she's not too busy?"

"Hello, Bulma," the ghost replied politely. "She can see you before her next customers, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

"Thanks," Bulma said. "This is Videl, by the way."

Videl bowed respectfully, feeling a little nervous in the foreign environment. "Hello."

"Pleased to meet you, Videl," the ghost replied. "I'm Fortuneteller Baba's servant. If you would follow me. Right this way."

The women walked after the floating creature. They got into the first dome, getting jealous and nasty looks from the burly-looking men who were waiting in line. Outside of the small building, a stony pathway led to the castle. The servant told them to go inside and excused himself, going back to his post.

Videl followed Bulma inside. It was a circular room with fancy decoration and carved sculptures on the walls, but other than that it was completely empty. In the middle of the room, the old witch was waiting, sitting on her floating crystal ball.

"Hello, Bulma. Who is your friend?" Baba asked, eying the unfamiliar face.

"Hello, Fortuneteller Baba. She's a friend of Gohan's," Bulma replied. "She has some questions for you."

The old woman raised an eyebrow. "I know you're a friend, but I don't usually do readings for free."

"I can get my son to fight your challengers then," Bulma said casually, a cocky smirk on her lips. "I'm sure he would love some action."

Baba grumbled and got off her crystal ball. "Fine, fine. But you could afford it. You could throw me a bone from time to time."

"Tell you what, I'll pay ten thousand zeni for the reading," Bulma offered.

"T-T-Ten thousand?" Videl stammered in shock.

"You do know my price is ten million for a reading, don't you?" Baba reminded sourly.

Ten freaking million? Is she for real? Videl thought in disbelief, completely speechless at the ongoing conversation.

"And you give it for free if your customers win against all your fighters, which I could easily get done," Bulma said, rolling her eyes. "Would you rather I pay nothing and send Trunks? Heck, I could send Yamcha so he could get back at those fighters who used to be stronger than him."

"Fine, fine," the tiny witch conceded. "Ten thousand it is. Now," she turned to look at Videl. "What do you need?"

Taking a deep breath, the girl's face turned serious. "Someone gave me dreams that showed me the future, but some parts of that future were false. I want to know who did it."

"Should be easy enough," Baba replied. She turned to her crystal ball and extended her arms, chanting as she asked it to show her what Videl wanted to know.

Smoke twirled in the crystal ball for a few long moments. Videl's heart picked up as she stared into it intently, waiting to see the culprit for all of her emotional torture.

Her eyes widened. "But that's… Paige? What the hell? What did I ever do to her? Why would she do this to me?"

"You know this girl, Videl?" asked Bulma.

"She's my classmate! I can't believe it!"

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm sure you will find out soon enough when you talk to her."

Videl scowled. "Talk" was the last thing on her mind when she thought of coming face to face with Paige. She had noticed the red-haired girl taking an interest in Gohan, always trying to get him to hang out with her after school. She seemed to have given up in the past few weeks, though. It couldn't be that she did this to her because she liked Gohan, could it?

No, it didn't add up. Paige had given her those tainted dreams before Gohan even started school. Videl's brow furrowed further as she tried to understand what Paige's motives could have been to make her life miserable.

Was it jealousy? Envy? Hatred for some unknown reason? Videl had been so sure that someone was trying to get back at her for putting them away in prison, but Paige didn't fit that description at all. Why on earth would her classmate try to change her destiny?

"Anyway, we also wanted to know if you could show us what Gohan is up to. Some god took him away yesterday and we have no idea where he is," Bulma explained.

"Hmm, so he must be in another realm, probably in the other world," Baba said thoughtfully. "Well, finding him shouldn't be a problem either. Let's see…"

Once again, the crystal ball seemed filled with smoke as Baba chanted what she wanted to see.

Videl felt her heart race in her chest as the smoke started to clear. And, there he was. He was dressed like Kibito but in different colors, and he was handling a sword like a pro.

"Wow, I didn't know Gohan was so good at the sword," Bulma commented.

The image zoomed out, and the scientist gasped. "Goku! It's Goku!"

Videl gaped at the crystal ball. She recognized the man from her dreams as well as from her investigation, back when she'd just met Gohan and tried to figure out if her dreams had any truth to them.

"Well, it's not surprising," Baba said. "Like I said, Gohan is in the other world, so it was only a matter of time before Goku noticed. See, he still has his halo." She pointed at the golden ring hovering above Goku's head.

"Oh, that's right." Bulma chuckled nervously, scratching her head. "I thought he was alive again for a moment. Well, it's good that Gohan gets to see him again, even if he'll have to leave his dad eventually."

"Goku comes back to life though," Videl stated, making both Bulma and Baba turn to her in surprise. "I saw it in my visions. I don't know how or when, but the earliest I've foreseen is five years from now and Goku was alive."

Bulma grinned, tears of joy forming in the corners of her eyes. "That's awesome! Goku is coming back? For real? Oh, I hope it's soon! I miss him!"

Videl smiled, before turning back to the image in the crystal ball. Goku and Gohan were sparring, and they both had big grins on their faces, obviously enjoying themselves a lot. She was happy for Gohan. She knew how much he missed his dad, and now he had the opportunity to see him again even in death. Videl also felt a pang of envy, wishing she could have some time with her mother too.

"What happens after you die?" she asked out of the blue.

"It depends," Baba replied. "Someone like you would most likely go to heaven, though I feel that you're a fighter, so you might be allowed to keep your body like Goku and go to the planet of selfless warriors."

"The planet of selfless warriors?" Videl replied in wonder.

"When warriors who led selfless lives and/or died a selfless death, like sacrificing their lives to save their world like Goku did, they get to keep their corporal envelopes and have the choice to stay on a planet full of other warriors like them to keep training and getting stronger. They hold tournaments sometimes too, it's quite entertaining. Goku won the most recent ones, unsurprisingly."

Videl tilted her head in thought.

"Don't you fight crime daily, Videl?" Bulma asked. "If that's not leading a selfless life then I don't know what is. You'll probably end up on that warrior planet when you die."

That wasn't the reason why she asked the question, but it was nice to know what awaited her when her time came. That planet of selfless warriors sounded really fun, to tell the truth. At least dying would come with some perks.

"What about someone like my mom?" Videl queried. "She wasn't a fighter but she was a good person. She died a few years ago."

"Then she's in heaven," Baba replied simply. "Bad people go to hell, and good people go to heaven. People who were neither good nor bad get reincarnated, though some souls in heaven ask to be reincarnated after a while."

"I'm sorry about your mom," Bulma said in sympathy, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. Videl nodded.

"Thanks. But I'm glad to know she's in heaven."

"Even if you're on the planet of selfless warriors, you get to go anywhere in the other world. You could even visit hell. Goku goes there often, he helps out the guards when the souls make trouble."

Videl felt her lips spread in a grin at what the elder witch implicated. "That means I could visit my mom whenever I wanted?"

"Indeed."

Well, that was another thing to look forward to when she died. It was comforting to know that she would get to be reunited with all of her loved ones in death.

"Can I keep watching Gohan in your crystal ball?" Videl asked with a sheepish smile.

"I see no problem with it," Baba said. "I don't have any wealthy customers today, so it's unlikely I'll need to use my crystal ball. I'll let you know if I need it, but you can stay and watch Gohan in the meantime."

"Thank you!" Videl beamed.

"Well, you're my ride, so I might as well watch too," Bulma said with a chuckle. "Is there a quiet room where we could settle in?"

Baba nodded and hopped back on her crystal ball. "Follow me," she said, before floating away and out of the circular room.

She brought them to the third dome, and they climbed down the stairs which led them to an underground level. Baba showed them a door and jumped from her crystal ball once more.

"Take good care of it," she told them over her shoulder, leaving on foot. "It's my moneymaker."

"Will do," Bulma called after the witch. "Thanks for everything, Baba."

At the foot of the stairs, the old woman glanced back at the scientist with a glint in her eyes. "Don't forget about the ten thousand."

Bulma laughed. "Sure. Do you take checks?"

"I do. We'll settle payment later."

Videl took the crystal ball and walked into the room. It was a living room with armchairs and couches set around a coffee table. It also had a fridge and a bar on the side, which was quite convenient if they got thirsty or hungry.

Videl settled on the couch and let the crystal ball float over the coffee table. Bulma soon joined her and both watched the spar between Gohan and Goku. They couldn't see much most of the time, but the fighters often jumped back to gauge one another before rushing each other again. Videl stared at the fight in awe. They were so fast that she couldn't even see them move. Only the shockwaves their collisions provoked indicated where they were.

"You've made so much progress already!" Goku praised his son with a proud grin. "At this rate, you should be strong enough in no time."

Gohan blushed in delight, and Videl felt herself melt. He was so cute. Damn, she missed him.

"I kinda don't want to, because it would mean I would have to leave you," Gohan admitted.

"Oh, don't worry, you'll see me when you die," Goku said with a laugh. "I know it's not the happiest of circumstances, but at least we'll see each other again someday. I can't wait to meet Goten, too! And to see Chichi again ━ I'll finally get to eat good food again when she joins me. Man, I miss her cooking so much. The food here is so meh!"

Gohan sat on the grass, indicating he was taking a break, and Goku sat down beside him. Videl's eyes widened as the sword Gohan had been handling dropped with a loud clang and dug into the earth, as though it weighed a ton. To think Gohan could carry it like it was nothing!

"Is that all you miss about Mom?" Gohan teased his father, making Bulma laugh next to her. Videl grinned.

"Of course not. You know I love your mom," Goku said with a chuckle. "But you've eaten here, you know what I mean."

Gohan laughed. "Yeah, I do." He scooched closer to his father and lowered his voice, raising his hand to hide his mouth as he said, "I think I'll ask Master Kaioshin if I can cook for our next meal. I don't know who's in charge of the food here, but I'm pretty sure I can do better."

Goku's eyes lit up. "That would be great! Finally, a proper meal! You have no idea how much I miss the food on Earth."

Gohan grinned. Videl felt her heart glow as she watched him interact with his father. She was so happy for him. And they got along so well. The girl wondered when Goku was supposed to be brought back to life. It would be sometime in the next five years for sure, that much she knew.

"You're going to be brought back actually," Gohan said. Goku blinked at the news. "My friend, Videl, she saw the future. That's how we knew that we could befriend Buu instead of trying to kill him. She saw in her dreams that her dad would become Buu's best friend in the future. And she also saw you alive."

Goku's eyes lit up. "Really? When?"

"No idea," Gohan said with a shrug. "She's only seen the future from the time after we get married, so that should be a few years from now."

"Whoa, it's the girl you're going to marry?"

Bulma glanced at Videl. "You never said anything about that," she commented in a teasing tone, making the already blushing girl flush even brighter.

Gohan's face had turned bright red as well. He fiddled with the grass blades between his legs, staring at his hands. "Yeah… I'm kinda in love with her already."

"Wow. I mean, congrats!" Goku said cheerfully, giving his son a strong pat on the back. "That's awesome, son! Man, I can't believe you're already old enough for marriage."

Gohan flushed brighter. "Well, not marriage just yet… We're only in high school."

Goku shrugged. "I was barely older than you when your mom and I got married."

"They were eighteen, to be precise," Bulma added.

"I would like to be her boyfriend for a start…" Gohan mumbled in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his neck uneasily.

"Hmm, I guess I skipped that part," Goku said thoughtfully. He leaned back into his hands and looked up to the purple sky. "I've got no regret though. I had a good life, with you and your mom." Soon his lips dug into his cheeks in a broad grin. "And I'll get to be alive again soon! I can't wait! I'll get to see everyone again and meet Goten! And I wonder how Trunks turned out too."

"He's pretty different from the Trunks who came from the future," Gohan said with a chuckle. "Vegeta's influence on him shows. He's got a mischievous side to him and he always gets in trouble and drags Goten down with him, but he's a really awesome kid. It's like I have two little brothers."

"Aww, that's so sweet," Bulma commented. "Well, it makes sense. Gohan is like a son to me. By the way, about the Trunks from the future…"

"I know. Gohan's told me about him," Videl cut in with a smile.

"Has he now?" Bulma chuckled. "Well, it doesn't surprise me since he's so in looooove."

Videl flushed. "I'm trying to listen here."

Bulma snickered at her expense.

"Say, what do you say we test the blade of the sword?" Goku proposed. "I bet it's super sharp."

"Well, it's supposed to be a mystical sword and all, so yeah, the blade must be quite honed," Gohan said.

Father and son got up and Gohan picked up his sword, now without having to struggle at all despite its heavy weight. Goku unearthed a huge boulder and carried it like it was nothing over his head. Videl's eyes bulged out. She had seen Gohan carry buses and planes without breaking a sweat, but it never failed to amaze her to behold that kind of physical prowess. Sitting next to her, Bulma wasn't fazed at all by the demonstration of strength, long used to her fighter friends' extraordinary abilities.

"Ready?" Goku shot at his son, who got into position.

He threw the boulder at Gohan, who sliced it in two with the sword like it was butter.

"Nice!" Goku exclaimed. Gohan grinned.

"How about making this more interesting?" Shin's voice asked as he and Kibito joined the father and son.

The highest of god extended his arm in Goku's direction, and a gigantic black cube appeared right above the Saiyan. Goku caught it and tapped it with his finger.

"Wow, that's super hard."

"It's kat-chin, the hardest metal in the universe. If you two want to test the blade of the Z-sword, you might as well do it properly," Shin said with a smile.

"Alright!" Goku turned toward his son, still holding the enormous cube over his head.

"Bring it on!" Gohan challenged his dad, getting into position once again.

Goku threw the cube at Gohan, who swung his sword forward to slice through the hardest metal in the universe like he had done the boulder.

But the blade shattered in two. The cube skidded on the earth behind Gohan, who stared at his broken sword in shock.

Shin, Kibito and Goku had the same look on their faces as they stared at the mystical sword.

And so did Videl and Bulma, but the blue-haired genius soon snapped out of it and cursed her dead best friend.

"And now what?" she snapped angrily. "How is Gohan supposed to train without that mystical sword now?"

"Th-This… This can't be!" stammered Shin. "The Z-sword…!"

"The most powerful sword…!" Kibito blubbered, continuing his master's thought.

"Man, you shouldn't have suggested such a strong metal," Goku told the god, his hands on his hips.

"But… it's the legendary sword…"

"You're supposed to become the strongest being in the universe once you master its power…" Kibito added.

Gohan didn't seem that worried however, and he shrugged as he dropped what remained of the sword. "Well, the legend was probably exaggerated." Then he turned to the other three and grinned, raising his fists in excitement. "Still, l got a lot stronger thanks to the sword, so maybe that's what the legend meant."

"And when you go Super Saiyan, you'll be even stronger!" Shin said, getting pumped up again.

"I doubt you're stronger than Buu though," Goku observed.

"I guess I'll just have to keep training then," Gohan said. "Besides, I was already used to the sword's weight, so it wasn't that useful anymore. And you're here to help me get stronger, Dad, so I'm sure I'll surpass Buu in no time."

"That's right," a newcomer chipped in, appearing out of nowhere behind Shin and Kibito and scaring the living daylight out of the pair.

"Who's the old man?" Bulma and Goku asked at the same time, causing Bulma and Videl to share a giggle.

The women looked on in the crystal ball, wondering what this new twist would bring to the table. Surely this old man would have some role to play in Gohan's training, wouldn't he? He looked harmless in any case, and he was definitely not a bad guy, so that was a good thing at least.

"I am the Kaioshin from fifteen generations ago," he declared, causing Shin and Kibito to gasp in shock.

Well, this should be interesting.


March 31, 2021