Chapter Four

The gleeful voice of Bulma Brief squealed out as she thrusted the gas of her motorcycle, the speed competition between her bike and the flying Saiyan that was Raditz. Since he had healed from the fight against Roshi, Raditz seemed to have a whole new reserve of energy. Bulma's long-haired accomplice seemed to be as carefree as she could remember seeing him, the sky hissing as a cloak of purple colored flames danced around the boy's body as he tore through the air.

"Let me check where this Dragon Ball is," The Earthling said, smashing the brake of her bike as she reached into his backpack to grab her invention, the Dragon Radar from it. As she did this, Raditz came to a landing next to her. Looking down at the device, both Raditz and Bulma looked forward in unison as she spoke. "According to my brilliant baby, our next Dragon Ball should be somewhere in this village we're coming to… that should mean that," She added, glancing in her bag to test out her theory. On point, the four Dragon Balls that she had previously collected radiated a bright shimmer. This meant that another was very… very close.

"Let's check it out then," Raditz replied as the two continued their walk towards the village. Arriving at what sign pointed out to be, Aru Village, both of the teenagers were confused to find that they had stumbled into a ghost town, or so they thought.

"This doesn't make any sense," Bulma spoke as she observed the town. Entire batches of freshly baked goods and folded clothing stood abandoned on top of perfectly tended lawns. This place gave off a strange vibe but ghost town definitely wasn't that. "Nobody's here but look at the chimneys and this grass, it's like it was cut not even a week ago!"

"There's some people here somewhere," Raditz uttered, paying attention to the surroundings as well. He shot passing glares at each home that he and Bulma passed by, not oblivious to the eyes that observed them walking by in the windows of each home. He smelled fresh wood burning as well. Powering his scouter, he said, "Yeah we were right, my scouter says a couple dozen small power levels, they're just scattered like roaches in the homes."

So they were hiding? But from what was the real question.

"Quit the shenanigans, we know you're in there," Raditz said, walking up to one of the doors of a home in the village. With a strong knock, the Saiyan made sure that whoever was inside was aware of his presence as the wooden structure crashed against the hinge. Impatience got the better of him and, without warning, he rammed an entire fist through the wall.

Knocking the door down, Raditz walked into the door just as Bulma cried out from her perspective, seeing an ax chop down towards the Saiyan's head. Saiyan-enhanced reflexes immediately took over and without a second thought, Raditz moved his head to the side and shot his hand out. Had he not seen who was in front of him, they would have gotten a broken arm, but a fear-ridden cry had saved such fate. Still though, the bearded older man who had swung the axe wasn't completely out of it… he had just gotten on the wrong side of a Saiyan's temper.

"And what in the hell were you planning on doing with this?" Raditz growled through clenched jaws. Tightening the grip he had on his arm, the Saiyan felt the man wince in pain but elected to not loosen his grip til answers were given.

"I-I promise I didn't mean you any harm," The old man sobbed, feeling as his bones were subject to more pressure. If looks could kill, Raditz's would have added another body to his collection. "I-I thought that you were that terrible monster Oolong, otherwise I wouldn't have swung… please, it hurts!" He cried out, tears forming as the axe dropped from his hand, Raditz's grip loosening at this point.

"Oolong?" Raditz repeated. "Sounds like a meal." He then muttered. Why were they afraid of something with such a ridiculous name? "Who's that?"

"Oh, he's terrible… a terrible monster that's repeatedly come to our village and taken our daughters." A different man, this one a dark-haired man, cried out. "He took my sister Alexi last week! I can't just sit around and watch him get away with taking another one of our young ladies while I'm here!" He added, noticeably frustrated and tensed at the situation his town had on its chest. His cousin and sister had both been taken along with one other girl.

"The bastard's got his eyes on my eldest daughter, Pochawompa, now as part of his harem!" Another man, Sherman Priest, leader of the village and the one to lash out at the Saiyan, cried out after his fellow townsfolk. He had his daughter in his arms, not wanting to let go in the presence of strangers.

"Well, had you not missed that attack I would've had to hurt you," Raditz grumbled in a tone super dangerous to mankind and full of spite. "Then Oolong would have been the least of your worries." He made sure to add on.

"So, what brought you two along to our village?" The chief questioned, sweat dripping as he tried to change the subject matter.

"Well, my partner and I have been searching for a ball like this one," Bulma answered, intentionally leaving out details to ensure she could snag her prize without banter like the creepy turtle hermit's. Pulling out the Four-Star ball that she had gotten from Raditz days prior, she made sure to explain how they had gotten there. "Someone told us that we'd find it here."

"I've got one with six stars on it," An elderly woman cried out, revealing herself and her own Dragon Ball to the pair. Shining like a lighthouse to the dark home, she then frowned. "It isn't something I could just give away. My mother passed it down to me before her death when I was a younger woman. My son will have it when I pass on," She revealed to the bluenette, placing the orb back in its satchel.

Bulma sulked in defeat. This couldn't be how the journey ended, she looked over at Raditz then. Though, he was already looking at her and spoke before she could even think to say anything.

"What if I take it on myself to get rid of this Oolong problem?" The Saiyan asked the crowd of bystanders. His father wanted him to take care of the people of this planet… maybe one city was the start of what his father dreamed of. "I'll even make him squeal the whereabouts of every girl he's taken. Maybe then would you consider giving my friend the ball? It's eight girls for one ball… or you could find somebody else who'll do it."

"I mean, saying you'll do it is one thing but if you actually can do that, I'd gladly give you this old thing," The older woman decided. Giving in only because it would be for the better of the village. Mamma had been gone a while and if they could actually deal with her home's biggest problem, then maybe that was the reason the family had kept the ball to this moment.

As if on command, the thundering sound of a giant's footsteps shot through the home. Raditz could hear grimaces from the crowd and his muscles tensed. This had to be who the village feared… Oolong had come along for another of their women. Charging his aura, Raditz turned to the door.

"I'll deal with this," The Saiyan said with conviction, and had someone not already believed him then now they did. "I'll found out where this sick fuck's put Alexi and the rest…"

"Sherman Priest! I wonder where you've located now," A raspy voice cried out. The voice belonged to a crimson ogre in a tuxedo, and he held a bouquet of flowers in his claws. Laughing, he stomped towards the home. "I just want to grab my beautiful fourth bride and return to my den! Why make it so difficult? You should be honored. I, Oolong, choose your daughter over everyone else's."

"You're not my type and I'm not yours, but that's why they call it a blind date," Raditz stated with a scowl on his face. Flying towards his foe, the Saiyan shot towards the ogre with his usual speed.

Oolong was unprepared for the Saiyan, completely out of his league. Either that or, Raditz had heard that the man snatched young women so he had gone without holding back. Before he could even finish declaring his newfound love for Pochawompa, a knee and a left handed punch had found their way into his chest. Hit with the power of a small tsunami, the shapeshifter spat out a slobber of blood-mixed saliva in pain. Wincing, he was in for a new world of pain as Raditz carried on with unmatched relentlessness for the woman snatcher, each blow taking the wind from the Saiyan's foe before he could even recover the air it desperately needed.

"Come on, fight back," Raditz growled between punches, not once letting up. Pressing his Scouter midfight, the power reader function clocked in the beast at a power level of just six… that figured though. "Six? What the hell? I thought you'd be better than that you lady's man." He exclaimed, stopping the onslaught of punches until the shapeshifter was beaten to a pulp and forcibly reverted to its true form in a puff of smoke, a small pig in a fatigue suit.

"Why did he shrink?" Bulma asked, arriving at the battle scene just as Raditz had caught wind of just how outmatched his foe was. Checking that the sleeping pig still had a pulse she said, "Good thing you dialed it down a bit… we're going to need him awake if we wanna find out where he took the girls."

"They say he's a shapeshifter, maybe this is his true form," Raditz replied, grabbing the pig and bringing him to the home after Bulma. "Either way, regardless of his form he's pretty weak, I could've left him for you,"

Oolong's eyes slowly came to life as he regained consciousness some twenty minutes later. Realizing very quickly that his body hurt and that he was tied up, Oolong's body began to tense up. He felt like he was surrounded and looking up confirmed it, as he was now surrounded by the entirety of the villagers, along with Raditz and his friend, Bulma.

"Look at who's finally awake," Raditz sarcastically said, smiling in a menacing way at the shapeshifting foe. "Try anything fishy and I give you that asskicking I still owe you… don't cooperate and I let the villagers have their way with you. Sounds good."

"Wait, I've never even seen you here… who are you? Why am I here tied up?" Oolong questioned, panicking. "I'm a pig, I don't do well being tied up kid."

"You're tied up because I beat you and I beat you because you're a joke," Raditz jargoned. Clenching his fist as he stepped towards the pig, he said. "Now, just tell me where the girls are and you won't get hurt too badly."

"Yeah, tell him where the hell you have my daughter!" A villager spat out, frantically searching for answers.

"Even if I knew where these proposed girls were, why would I even bother with telling you that?" Oolong remarked, his sarcasm was harsher than he should have had it. Shrugging his shoulders, Raditz shot out with a quick jab to the ribs, causing the shapeshifter to wince out in pain.

"Maybe because you don't want me thinking you don't know where they are," Raditz responded as he cracked his knuckles and threw a feint to see the pig almost fall trying to flinch. "Cause then you're disposable." He added, menacingly.

Hearing the harsh reality that was the Saiyan's words, Oolong felt a lump in his throat. Realizing that maybe the Saiyan was right in that regard, he weighed his options. "Actually, you know… I just suddenly remembered exactly where I was hiding out… funny story, I left my wallet there before I came here, how about I show you guys around the place?"

That was all Raditz needed to hear. He knew that Oolong knew better than to try his patience so he untied the shapeshifter. He wouldn't even tell him that he could fly, if Oolong did try something he'd enjoy the asskicking that he could lay on him following the incident. Maybe he was a bit of a sociopath but what Saiyan wasn't?

Walking for another ten minutes, Oolong had led the group to an enormous mansion that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Now inside, the large group saw all three women relaxing inside. No harm seemed to come of them and as Oolong walked in, the trio embraced the shapeshifter in a warm hug with multiple pecks on the forehead. Blushing, the shapeshifter told them to relax.

Reunited with their daughters, who were paying their parents no mind in regards to Oolong and his credit card, each villager was now thrilled as could be. Oolong shook his head in frustration, turning to Raditz and hoping to spark a conversation.

"Hey kid, these girls are so much more trouble than I thought they'd be," He laughed, looking at an emotionless Saiyan bearing down on him with glaring daggers. "You kinda ruined my life and I heard that you two were seeing the world… let me tag along?"

"No,' Raditz quickly responded, turning to walk away.

"Come on Raditz, why not? Then you got somebody else to direct your mood swings at you softie," Bulma pitched in, hugging the Saiyan and showing off her brand new shiny Six-Star Ball. "Look at what I got, two more left!"

Growling, Raditz let in to Bulma's bullshit before turning to Oolong. He was getting annoyed at the effect she was having on him and getting her way.

"Try anything and I will make sausage from you," Raditz whispered in his ears before once again turning down the road. Smirking as he turned to Bulma, he asked, "Where to next, captain?"

Power Levels

Raditz: 84 (zenkai from roshi fight)

Bulma: 4

Oolong: 6