Chapter 18: The War of Namek, and a Dhampir's Tragedy

After breakfast with Ryo, and returning to their own Conton City, Pearl checked her purple gi to make sure she was ready, tying her belt tightly and stretching out a little. "Alright then," she said, "I guess Ryo's a pretty good guy after all." "I guess," Kenshiro said, "Still don't know about him sleeping with the Boss though." "Can't be helped," Barit said. "Well, I'm going to the Time Nest, I think I can take on just about anyone right now," Pearl said. She gave Kenshiro a peck on his cheek and ran to the Time Nest. Once she arrived she saw the Elder Kai, who led her into the Time Vault. The Supreme Kai of Time looked perkier than normal as she said, "Okay, it's time to go to work!" "There has been another change in history," Elder Kai said, "Frieza, the Galactic Emperor… of all people Towa is lending him her aid. With Turles and Slug still around… we're in a real stew, aren't we?"

"Plus Trunks is still searching long and hard for Mira," the Supreme Kai of Time added, "They may not have a lot of style, but Trunks and Soon sure can get the job done." She then got a serious look on her face as she told Pearl, "With those two away for the time being, Mira will have his sights set on you." Pearl swallowed a little, even with the Pure Majin form, she wasn't sure if she could take on Mira himself…yet. "But you have to stay focused!" Elder Kai then said, "Frieza is a dangerous opponent! An unbelievably dangerous opponent!" Pearl nodded and said, "I know, but I think I might be able to do this." "Listen to me," Elder Kai told her, "You're still new to this. Don't do anything rash out there, and come home safe!" "I will, Elder Kai-sama," Pearl said. The Supreme Kai of Time giggled and told Elder Kai, "If you're worried, you should just say so." "Oh be quiet!" Elder Ki yelled at her, then returned his attention to Pearl, "Well, good luck out there!" "Thank you," Pearl said as she took the Scroll and in a flash of light was gone.

AGE: 762

Nail, the strongest of all the Namekians, born of one of the strongest lines of warriors Namek had ever known, stood in front of Frieza, the tyrant who had slaughtered his brethren. Suddenly, Frieza's red eyes glowed, and an evil purple aura blasted around him, making Nail move back a step. The warrior knew he didn't stand a chance against such evil, but he nonetheless was determined to do his duty, and give the Earthlings time to summon Porunga. Then, a bright light appeared in front of him, and a strange dark grey creature stepped out of the light. Pearl gave the Real Nail a nod and said, "You won't face him alone, Nail-san." Frieza however laughed at the newcomer, "I'm really surprised anyone is actually foolish enough to challenge me. You are utterly uneducated as to your place in the Universe. Soon you will be more than happy to teach me how to use the Dragon Balls." Nail and Pearl stood their ground as Elder Kai spoke to Pearl through her scouter.

"Frieza hasn't realized it quite yet, but Nail is just stalling for time! Dende is on his way to tell Gohan the password for the Namekian Dragon Balls. But he won't even last a second against a powered-up Frieza! So help Nail in buying time for Dende! And do be careful," Elder Kai said. Frieza launched forward and kicked Nail hard in his stomach, driving the wind from his lungs. Pearl quickly kicked Frieza away and blasted him with several ki balls. Pearl charged at Frieza and punched him in his face before kicking him back again. I just have to buy time… I can't save Nail-san… I have… to let Frieza win… Frieza crashed into Pearl head first, and she was sent tumbling to the ground. Nail quickly unleashed his full power and blasted Frieza with a Full Powered Energy Wave, but Frieza was unharmed from the attack. Nail angrily charged at Frieza, throwing punches and kicks as hard as he could, but Frieza didn't even bother to block his attacks.

Frieza grabbed one of Nail's hands, and tore it right off, to his shock, and then slapped him in his face with his own arm before kicking his knee hard enough to break it. Frieza whacked him back with his tail, and Pearl flew back into the fray with a Galick Gun that sent Frieza into the ocean. Pearl helped up Nail and healed his injured knee with Majin Magic as best she could. "Thank you, are you, an ally of the Earthlings?" "Yes, I am," Pearl told Nail as he used Namekian Regeneration to replace his severed arm. "Let's go!" he yelled as Nail and Pearl flew at Frieza again. Frieza dodged or blocked all their strikes, and with each hit that didn't go through Pearl's guilt grew. She had to hold back, she couldn't kill Frieza, it would alter the Timeline too much. Frieza disappeared and reappeared behind them and swiped them into a mountain with his right hand, and then blasted Pearl with three Death Beams. "Momentarily, you'll wish you had started talking sooner," Frieza said as he pummeled Nail, driving him deeper and deeper into the mountain.

Nail crashed through the other side and was sent face first into the ground below. Frieza walked up to him from behind and said, "This will be your final warning! Now be sensible and tell me how to use the Dragon Balls!" Nail looked back at Frieza and focused every ounce of ki power he had left into his Mystic Flash as an answer. But alas, it was useless, Frieza stood there unharmed as he then jumped up and slammed his feet into Nail's back, stomping on him like a rug before kicking him over. "Do you really want to die?" Frieza asked. Pearl had no choice but to hide and not interfere, she knew that she had bought the time needed. "Forgive me, Nail-san," Pearl said as a tear ran down her face. Nail weakly laughed in Frieza's face, "E-even if… I did tell you… It's still too late…" "What!?" Frieza yelled as he grabbed Nail's throat. Nail smiled at his killer's frustration, "S-soon… Dende… Dende will reunite… with the E-Earthlings… H-He'll tell them the password you want to obtain so badly. "WH-Whaat!? Y-You woooorms! This was nothing but a diversion!?" a royally pissed off Frieza yelled as he tossed Nail down. Frieza then flew off screaming at the top of his lungs, "DAAAAAAAMMMMNNNN YYYOOOOOUUUUU!"

Pearl saw Frieza was gone and quickly went to Nail, putting his head on her lap. She stretched out her arm and cupped some water into her hand and gave it to Nail to drink. "Nail-san… I… I can't heal you. But… I promise, your sacrifice wasn't in vain. Just…hold on, there is another Namekian Warrior coming, you can help him…make Frieza pay, for everything," Pearl told the dying warrior. "Thank…you…" Nail said as Elder Kai spoke to Pearl. "All right! You've tied up that end nicely! Now to find Turles and Slug…" "H-Hold on a minute!" The Supreme Kai of Time exclaimed, "Turles and Slug… are right by the Dragon Balls!" Elder Kai practically screamed, "WH-What did you say!? They've already gone off to steal them!? Y-You'll never make it in time! Wh-What can we do now!?" "I've gotta go now, Nail-san. Thank you, for all you've done," Pearl said as she gently laid Nail's head on the ground and flew off in the direction she sensed Turles and Slugs' ki. "We can't do anything! Just come back for now!" The Supreme Kai of Time ordered. "Understood!" Pearl said and pulled out her Scroll.

"TH-There's no time for dawdling! This is an emergency!" Elder Kai yelled. "Exactly!" the Supreme Kai of Time yelled back, "So just keep quiet and let me think!" Pearl quickly activated the Scroll and was sent back to the Time Vault. "Welcome back!" The Supreme Kai of Time greeted. "Th-There's little enough time as it is! Why would you call our agent back here!?" Elder Kai asked. The Supreme Kai of Time just smirked and handed Pearl a Scroll, "Okay, here you go! Now off to work again." "H-Huuuuh!?" Pearl and Elder Kai both said as Pearl took the Scroll. "Use your heads people!" the Supreme Kai of Time said, "It's simple! All we need to do is go back in time a little bit more, right?" "Oh… that was even a possibility?! Feels like cheating to me…" Elder Kai said. "I'm not to sure myself," Pearl admitted. "Stop being silly, gramps," the Supreme Kai of Time told the Elder Kai, "You know defending history is our solemn duty. We'll do whatever we have to do!" Pearl thought about Nail and said, "R-RIGHT!"

The Supreme Kai of Time turned back to Pearl and said, "So, anyway, good luck out there! We'll be waiting for you here!" "Right," Pearl said, and in a flash of light she returned to Namek.

AGE: 762

Gohan stood over an unconscious Krillin protectively, wondering who could have hurt him. But then he saw a face he didn't expect, the enemy…looked just like his Dad! "How I've longed for this moment," the Goku Lookalike said, "In but a very short time, the Dragon Balls will grant me eternal life. If I eat enough fruit from the Tree of Might, even Frieza and Mira with all their power won't be able to stop me. I will utterly destroy Kakarot, and the entire universe will kneel before me!" That was when a large muscular Namekian with a scarred face flew beside the Goku Lookalike and said, "The Dragon Balls belong to me, Turles." The Goku Lookalike, Turles, crossed his arms and said to the Namekian, "Our goals are the same, then." The Namekian continued, "The Universe is mine to rule… And there's no place for you in it." That was when a flash of light appeared beside young Gohan, and out stepped a dark grey skinned stranger.

Slug looked at Pearl and said, "You again? This is starting to annoy me!" Turles turned to Slug and said, "How would you feel about a temporary truce?" "So, first things first is it?" Slug replied, "Heh… I'll agree to that." Slug returned his attention to Pearl, who cracked her knuckles and neck as he said, "We'll make you regret interfering with our business!" Pearl however confidently smiled and said, "Then bring it on!" Turles and Slug smiled sinisterly as they pulled out Fruit of the Tree of Might and ate them. Their power skyrocketed, but Pearl was undaunted, it was payback time! Pearl Instant Transmissioned in front of the two and landed punches as fast as she could throw them before blasting back Turles and Slug with a Super Kamehameha Wave. An amazed Gohan flew next to Pearl and said, "You… You look pretty strange… Are you here to help us out?" Gohan asked. Pearl looked at Gohan and patted his head, "Of course I am." Slug tried to grab Pearl, but she quickly avoided his attack and hit him with Galick Gun, while Turles tried a Kill Driver attack.

Pearl pulled Gohan with her through the fiery ring before it exploded and Gohan blasted Turles with Masenko, before Pearl unleashed a volley of ki balls into Turles. Slug saw his chance and hit her with Darkness Twin Star, then laughed, "This is Fruit from the Tree of Might infused with the power of the Demon Realm! My energy keeps expanding! Now I'm completely invincible!" Pearl Instant Transmitted behind Slug and let him have it with Mystic Flash, sending the Namekian crashing into Turles. "I don't think so," Pearl said as Gohan unleashed his power with a Full Power Energy Blast Volley. Turles stood up and glared at Gohan, "You think you can beat me? Your power next to mine is like an anthill next to a mountain!" Turles kicked Gohan back, and Pearl quickly caught the half-Saiyan. "This is too dangerous for you," Pearl said.

Gohan glared back at Turles and said, "We won't lose to you! You hear me? You'll never have the Dragon Balls!" Gohan's anger gave him power, and to everyone's surprise he charged at Turles, landing dozens of punches before kicking him back. Pearl seized her chance and charged up Galick Gun, and blasted Slug right in his face with it. Turles landed a hard uppercut into Gohan's stomach then tossed him aside like trash next to Krillin. Krillin woke up and said, "Gohan." "Krillin-san! Are you okay?" Gohan asked as he helped him up. "Yeah, somehow," Krillin answered. "This fight is too dangerous. They need to leave the area immediately," Elder Kai informed Pearl. "Krillin-san, Gohan-chan, leave these two to me, just get the Namekian Dragon Balls out of here!" Pearl told them. "Huh…" Gohan couldn't believe what he heard, "Leave this to you? You want us to take the Dragon Balls? But…" Krillin put a hand on Gohan's shoulder and told him, "Gohan, we'll be in the way if we stick around. Sometimes you need to trust in others, you know?"

Gohan turned back to Pearl, she gave the young half-Saiyan a confident smile and a thumbs-up. Gohan nodded, "I understand. Thank you!" "I don't know who you are," Krillin said, "But I owe you a lot!" Gohan and Krillin grabbed the Dragon Balls and quickly flew off. "Now then," Pearl said, turning back to Slug and Turles, "Where were we?" Pearl Instant Transmissioned in front fo Slug first and landed a flurry of punches and kicks to his stomach before grabbing him from behind and pounding on his head four times, then stretching back and slamming her knees into his back. Pearl blocked Turles' Sudden Storm attack and flew to him, landing a hard knee into his groin before slamming her elbow into the back of his head and finishing with a Super Kamehameha Wave. Turles and Slug got back up slowly, then suddenly got strange looks on their faces. "Wh-What's happening? I feel a surge of pure, dark energy!" Slug said as he grabbed his head. Turles grabbed his own stomach and said, "This is Towa's doing! She must have tainted the Fruit somehow!"

With painful screams, Turles and Slug's power exploded to new heights. Pearl then saw Towa standing on a nearby mountain with Mira. Towa laughed haughtily and said, "It looks like my experiment was a success." Turles and Slug flew at Pearl with the kind of speed she didn't expect, the Majin girl was forced on the defensive, dodging and blocking their punches and kicks with all the skill she had acquired from intense training. With a desperate yell Pearl blasted ki all around her, knocking them away, and then unleashed a furious storm of ki balls at them, but Turles and Slug managed to avoid them all. I can't take them both on, not by myself! One of them, sure, but not both of them at the same time… not like this… "A-Are they…?!" Elder Kai couldn't finish. "That woman is Towa!" the Supreme Kai of Time confirmed, "And the one beside her is Mira! They're the ones behind all of this!" Turles and Slug renewed their assault on Pearl, and she flew as fast as she could to avoid them and their attacks.

Towa proudly boasted, "Shaving off life to unleash a new level of power. It's a new spell I was testing. And those two were my willing test subjects. How long can anyone stand against such might?" Pearl hit Turles with a Galick Gun, only for Slug to grab her and punch her in the stomach three times in a row before backhanding her into the ground. Pearl jumped up to avoid Turles' Kill Driver and barely blocked Slug's Darkness Twin Star attack. Slug laughed and said, "This feels… absolutely incredible!" "This is different from before…" Turles said, "There's more, far more power flowing into me! You'll be sorry Towa, sorry for giving me so much power!" That was when Pearl heard Trunks through her scouter, "I'm here to help!" "You'll have to get through me first," Mira said as he got in front of Trunks. "Mira!" Trunks said, "Blast it!" Pearl then sensed another ki signature and recognized it right away, "Soon-sensei!"

"I'm going to stop Turles and Slug! You take care of Mira, Soon!" Trunks said. "With pleasure," Soon replied as he and Mira clashed. Trunks flew up next to Pearl, "Sorry to keep you waiting! I'm joining in!" Trunks declared. "I got Slug, can you handle Turles?" Pearl asked. Trunks drew his sword and answered, "Sure." Trunks and Pearl charged at their chosen opponents. Pearl and Slug blocked and threw punches and kicks with all the speed they possessed, but Pearl was just slightly fast enough to kick Slug's broad jaw and then unleash a furious medley of punches on him. Turles avoided Trunks's sword, but not his kicks as the Future Half-Saiyan knocked him back and hit him with a large ki ball. Pearl sensed as Slug flew behind her for a sneak attack, and she responded with Mystic Flash. Trunks grabbed Turles and tossed him up into the air and blasted him with Heat Dome Attack. "Keep it up!" Trunks told Pearl as Turles and Slug flew in front of them, glaring daggers at them both.

The two villains focused what was left of their unnatural power into two powerful ki blasts. Pearl and Trunks did the same. The four beams met in the middle as Trunks and Pearl focused with all their might. "HAAAAAAAH!" Trunks and Pearl's beams blasted through Turles and Slug's attacks. Turles and Slug could only stare in shock as they were obliterated by the combined might of Trunks and Pearl. Elder Kai complimented the two Time Patrollers, "That was a spectacular display of power… but I don't think they're finished yet. "Okay, I'm heading back to Mira's location!" Trunks replied. "Good. Thank you!" the Supreme Kai of Time said then told Pearl, "You should go find Gohan and the others. The fight with Frieza is going to start soon."

The sky then turned black and Pearl searched for Gohan's ki. "The sky went dark. That means they used the Dragon Balls just as happened in the past," the Supreme Kai of Time said. "Well then," Elder Kai pointed out, "Frieza won't hold back much longer. Watch yourself out there!" "Got it," Pearl said as she Instant Transmitted to Gohan, Krillin, Vegeta, and Piccolo's location. Frieza had already transformed into his Final Form, and Krillin turned to Vegeta, "I-Is that Frieza's true form?! H-He's not as big as I thought he'd be… I figured he'd be more like you! Right?" Piccolo responded, "It's a good lesson on not judging a book by its cover. He's been going easy on us so far… D-Damn it… All that work to gather the Dragon Balls and make those wishes…" Frieza charged at them and kicked Piccolo back then punched Gohan in the stomach and tossed him into Krillin before punching Vegeta back and continuing his assault. "I'm sorry," Piccolo said, "But I'm not strong enough to save you all from this." Pearl stepped forward and blasted Frieza away from Vegeta, "That's what I'm here for." She then Instant Transmitted behind Frieza and hit him with Mystic Flash, yelling, "This is for Nail-san!" Frieza blasted Pearl with Death Beams and then charged at her.

Pearl blocked all of Frieza's attacks, but just barely before Frieza kicked her away. Vegeta flew back into the fray, only for Frieza to wrap his tail around him and start pounding on his stomach, "I made you a promise, remember? I said I'd make you wish for death." Pearl kicked Frieza off of Vegeta before the Saiyan Prince really was killed, and Vegeta dropped to the ground. "Goku should arrive before much longer! Do your best to hang in there until then!" Elder Kai told Pearl. Pearl saw Frieza coming and blasted him with a Super Kamehameha Wave, stopping him in his tracks and allowing her to kick him in his face. That was when Goku finally arrived. "Sorry I'm late. I'll take care of the rest," Goku said. "Kakarot…" Vegeta said. Goku went to the dying Vegeta and Vegeta said, "Listen… Frieza destroyed our home… the home of the Saiyans, Planet Vegeta… P-Please… Please defeat… Frieza… Avenge our race! P…lease…" Vegeta finally died, and Goku buried him where he lay as respectfully as he could.

Frieza and Goku then glared at each other, and flew straight at each other, Pearl had to shield her eyes from the intensity of the explosion when they connected. Goku punched Frieza's face, only to take a kick to the stomach in return. Frieza tried to strangle Goku, only for Goku to bite his tail and make him let go before taking a Kamehameha Wave to his chest followed up with three furious kicks to his stomach. Frieza however wasn't deterred and quickly recovered with a Death Wave that knocked Goku back before slamming his elbow to his solar plexus, then kicking him away. Goku jumped up and went Kaioken Times Twenty. Goku and Frieza landed blow after blow on each other, but Frieza was still much more powerful than he, and soon sent Goku flying into a mountain. Pearl blasted Frieza back with her own Super Kamehameha Wave. Goku deactivated Kaioken and gasped, "Frieza…" he then turned to Pearl and said, "Can I ask you something? I'd like to ask… if you'd give me a little bit of time… I don't know if it'll work… But there's something I have to try…" "I'll buy you all the time you need," Pearl said.

"Oh… It's a Spirit Bomb! That's sure to take care of Frieza!" Elder Kai excitedly said. Pearl flew to Frieza and started exchanging blows with him, buying Goku time. "I thought things were hanging by a thread, but that Goku sure knows when to save the day just in time," Elder Kai said. The Supreme Kai of Time agreed, "The North Kai sure comes up with some humdingers, even if he can't use them himself!" Pearl ignored them as she focused on blocking Frieza's attacks and throwing the few she could find an opening for. No one who wasn't on their level would ever have been able to see the speed of the punches and kicks, and Pearl's arms and legs were quickly growing numb when she finally sensed the Spirit Bomb was ready. Pearl saw her chance and kicked Frieza straight up into the air, and Goku unleashed the full might of the Super Spirit Bomb on Frieza, sending him rocketing off into the distance.

Goku collapsed to his knees in exhaustion, Gohan and Krillin helped him up as Pearl watched from a distance.

All seemed well, before a purple blast of ki tore through Piccolo. A frightened Krillin could only manage to say, "N-No way…" "Piccolo-san!" Gohan yelled as he went to help his mentor. Frieza stood before them, the evil aura glowing all around him, "Fine. I'll just kill you all!" Frieza gripped his hand and Krillin was sent flying up into the sky. "S-Stop it Frieza!" Goku yelled. "GOOKUUUUUU!" Krillin screamed as he exploded! Goku couldn't believe his eyes as his childhood friend was killed, and white hot rage coursed through him. "H…How dare you…You…are going to pay for this!" Goku yelled as golden energy gathered around his body. With a mighty roar golden energy exploded everywhere, and when the light dissipated, Goku stood in the middle of a massive crater, his hair glowing bright gold, and his eyes turquoise as he glared at Frieza. "That's enough Frieza! Now I'm MMAAAAADDD!" Goku screamed as he flew at Frieza and sent him flying with a hard left hook to the head. Frieza responded by blasting pink ki balls at him, but Goku was unharmed by his attack. Pearl flew beside Goku and healed herself with a Capsule as she prepared to fight as well.

"Oh!" Elder Kai said. "Good. History is flowing on its natural course. It won't be easy for Goku, though," the Supreme Kai of Time said. Goku blasted Frieza with a Kamehameha Wave and Gohan said, "D-Dad… What's going on!?" Goku looked at Gohan and said, "G-Gohan… Take Piccolo and Bulma and go back to Earth!" Gohan however was paralyzed in awe of the sight before him. "Get out of here while I still have some control over myself! Go now!" Goku yelled. That snapped Gohan out of it, and he picked up Piccolo. "Y-Yes… Thank you, Dad… I'll be waiting… I'll be waiting for you to come back…" Gohan said as he flew off with Piccolo. Goku returned his attention to Frieza and said, "I will never forgive you for what you have done." "W-Who are you…?" Frieza asked, fear making his voice tremble. "You should know by now," Goku responded, "I am a Saiyan, from Earth… And I came here to beat you. The anger you caused me… Has awakened the legendary warrior within my heart!" Goku's Super Saiyan aura blazed around him like a beacon of hope, "I am Goku! And I am a Super Saiyan!" Goku blasted Frieza with a Super Kamehameha Wave, and Pearl blasted Frieza with her own as well. "Damn it! DAAAMMMNNN IIITTTT!" Frieza screamed as he created a massive Death Ball, "Begone!"

Frieza launched the Death Ball, not at Pearl or Goku, but at Namek itself! Pearl could only watch as the planet began to die around her, the ocean was consumed as volcanoes erupted everywhere, mountains and islands crumbled, and she could only watch as it all unfolded. "That monster! THAT MONSTER!" Pearl screamed at the devastation all around her. Frieza was still alive and cursed, "Tch... I didn't use enough power." "I see," Goku said, "You were afraid of being caught in the explosion. You failed." That was when another warrior arrived, "Thinking of your safety at a time like this?" "Uh oh," Pearl said when she saw who it was. Cooler smirked and said, "You always were weak." Frieza was shocked at the sight of his older brother, "I-Is that you!?" Towa's aura glowed around Cooler as he got ready to fight. Cooler pointed at Goku, and an angry Frieza glared at Goku as well. Pearl knew who to focus on.

Cooler and Frieza both flew at Goku, but Pearl intercepted Cooler with a Galick Gun, stopping him long enough for her to kick him in his solar plexus, only for Cooler to smack her in the face with his tail then kick her back from him. "Heh… I'm nothing like my little brother," Cooler told Pearl. "You're Frieza's brother?" Goku asked before blocking Frieza's punch and kicking him back. "What's going on here?! He wasn't there just a minute ago!" Elder Kai said. The Supreme Kai of Time said, "It's just like Turles and Slug… Towa and Mira must have brought him from another Timeline!" Cooler turned back to Goku and said, "I will beat you into paste for dragging our honor through the mud, Saiyan ape!" Pearl blasted Frieza away from Goku with Super Kamehameha Wave as Cooler and Goku clashed. Cooler was formidable, but Goku was still strong enough to fend him off and land a hard combo of punches and kicks on him before grabbing him by his tail and tossing him aside.

Frieza and Cooler's auras glowed around them as Frieza's muscles expanded tremendously, while Cooler grew even taller as he assumed his Fifth Form, spikes growing out of his head and back and what looked like a mask growing over his face. "Behold, this is my Full Power!" Frieza yelled. "Let us begin!" Cooler yelled. "There's not much time. Let's hurry up and finish this!" Goku told Pearl. Pearl flew straight at Cooler and flew behind him to kick him in his back, but he quickly turned and hit her with a spinning back kick, then blasted her with Death Beams. He's… so strong… I need to do it now! Pearl focused all her rage and looked for The Voice. I thought you'd never call on me again…

Steam shot all around her as she transformed into her Pure Majin Form. Purified Pearl beat its chest as it flew at Cooler and kicked him hard in his head before tossing a Vanishing Ball point blank in his face. Cooler tried blasting Death Beams, but Purified Pearl easily dodged them before punching him in his face three times, then sticking its tongue at him and laughing at Frieza's Older Brother. Cooler glared at Purified Pearl and flew at it, throwing punches and kicks and tail strikes as fast as he possibly could. Purified Pearl avoided all of his attacks easily before kicking him in his groin, then created a Teleporting Vanishing Ball in front of him. But rather than hit Cooler with the attack, Purified Pearl teleported in front of Frieza, and slammed it right into his face. Purified Pearl then summoned a Super Vanishing Ball and tossed it right at Cooler, he was immediately blown back by the power of the blast, and sent plummeting into the same lava filled crater Frieza created when he threw his Death Ball into Namek.

"No! This can't be!" Cooler screamed as he was consumed by lava. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" Pearl yelled as she returned to her normal form. The sky turned black, "W-What!?" Frieza yelled. "Th-That's!" Goku and Pearl saw Porunga in the distance and Goku realized, "I see…so King Kai used the Dragon Balls… Okay." Goku turned back to Pearl and said, "I really don't know much about you, but you really helped me out. Let me be the one to finish this though." "I understand, Goku-san. I'll be rooting for you!" Pearl replied as she pulled out her Scroll, and in a flash of light she disappeared. "Thank you," Goku said, as he got ready to finish Frieza.

AGE: 852

Trunks and Mira exchanged blows, before Turles intervened. Mira was ready to take on both of them, but then he sensed as Pearl flew up to face him as well. "I see," Mira said, "So you couldn't seal the deal." Mira vanished and Trunks yelled at Soon, "Hurry after him!" "Right!" Soon yelled as he vanished as well. Pearl saw Trunks was injured, and helped him back to the Time Vault. When they arrived Elder Kai said, "Excellent work! Even surviving a fight with Frieza is enough of a feat on its own!" "You did well!" the Supreme Kai of Time praised Pearl, who rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Still," Elder Kai said, "I was shocked when Cooler showed up." "Right," the Supreme Kai of Time agreed, "To think Towa and Mira could gain such powerful allies…" Trunks reported, "While we were tied up, they must have recruited whoever was free." "Oh! Nice work from you as well," Elder Kai congratulated Trunks. "Huh? Where's Soon?" the Supreme Kai of Time asked.

"Gone after Mira," Trunks answered, then turned to Pearl, "Those two arrived from the future and brought disaster… Mira and Towa. There seems to be no limit to their power. You aren't ready to fight them yet. You might have to one day, though, so be prepared." "I understand," Pearl said, she was through with training for the day, she was exhausted. Elder Kai told Pearl, "Anyway, you've done enough for one day. We'll call you when we need your help again." Pearl left the Time Nest and the Supreme Kai of Time followed her, "Hold up." "Yes?" Pearl asked. "Sound the trumpets! You are no longer a mere apprentice Time Patroller, but may now consider yourself one of the Time Patroller Elite! I hereby award you your Flying License," the Supreme Kai of Time said as she handed Pearl a card. "Wow! Finally!" Pearl excitedly said. "Go ahead, and fly as much as you'd like now," the Supreme Kai of Time said, "You managed to defeat Frieza after all, you've earned this award. Excellent work indeed! I think you deserve three days off as well, what do you think?" "Thank you, Supreme Kai of Time-sama," Pearl said and bowed. "Go enjoy yourself, you've earned it," the Supreme Kai of Time said. Pearl happily flew to her apartment for the first time, went to her room, and dropped down on the bed, fast asleep.

Three Hours Later

"PEARL!" "WHA!?" Pearl jumped out of bed and shot off a ki ball. Barit luckily deflected it into the door and said, "The Hell Pearl!?" "Sorry… I was just surprised is all," Pearl said, "What happened?" "Bage, someone really did a number on him, when he was found he was barely alive," Barit told her, then swallowed, "Whoever did it…ate…his right arm…and…they raped him!" "What?" Pearl couldn't wrap her head around that, Time Patrollers were vetted, anyone with a violent criminal history wasn't allowed in, so who did all that to Bage? "I'm not kidding, some robots collected evidence, whoever did it also killed several shinobi, what was left of them was scattered around him," Barit continued. "Where is he?" Pearl asked. "He's at the Hospital now, in one of the Healing Pods. The robots in charge say it will take at least two days for him to heal, physically. Mentally, they won't know until he wakes up," Barit told her. "Can you take me to him?" Pearl asked.

Barit nodded and together they went to the Hospital. The robot at the front desk directed them to the room he was in. Shurayuki and Rachel were looking at Bage as he floated in the Healing Pod, unconscious. Pearl looked inside the window of the Pod and saw that Bage's body was covered in scars that were being healed, and the stump of his right arm was wrapped up in bandages. "Who could have done something so awful?" Pearl asked. Bage wasn't the nicest guy, but he didn't deserve to be raped! And his arm… even the most advance Healing Pods couldn't heal what wasn't there, and even the most advanced prosthetics couldn't handle the more powerful uses of ki. It would be years before Bage would recover as a warrior, if he ever recovered.

Rachel looked at Bage angrily, as did Shurayuki. "I know who did this," Rachel said as she walked out of the room. "Who?" Barit asked. Rachel kept on walking out of the Hospital at a pace that had Barit, Shurayuki, and Pearl having to walk quickly to keep up. "My Father," Rachel said, like she was spitting out the most putrid filth imaginable. Pearl, Barit, and Shurayuki stopped walking at that, and Rachel at last turned to them, "Well, come on. I can show you what I know at my apartment." "Wait, should we call Kenny? And Beate?" Pearl asked. "Call him if you want, Beate should be at our apartment already," Rachel said. The four of them continued on in silence, Pearl had no idea what to think. She liked Rachel, she was a friend, even if they hadn't known each other long. And yet…to learn that her father wasn't just a vampire, but a psycho who would cripple and rape someone…

They reached Rachel's apartment to see Kenshiro and Beate were already there, both of them looking solemn. "We heard about Bage," Beate said. Rachel ignored them and headed to her room, and came out with a Capsule. "It was my Father who did it," Rachel told everyone in the living room, then activated the Capsule. The Capsule opened to reveal a massive pile of printed newspapers and copies of crime scene photos. Pearl picked one up, the headline read, 'Hellhound Slaughters Twelve.' "Hellhound?" Kenshiro asked as he picked up another one. "That's what the papers call him, that's all I know him as," Rachel told them, then sat down at hers and Beate's dining table. "Unless I missed something…this is his first crime in almost three years, that fits his modus operandi, his M.O. Whenever he attacks someone, he always eats their right arm, whether they live or die, no matter what, he always eats their right arm," Rachel told them. Shurayuki picked up some of the copies of crime scene photos and said, "I've heard of Hellhound, the Police Commissioner of Satan City actually hired me to try to track him down, seven years ago, but after a year with no leads she cancelled our contract and I had to give up."

"You couldn't catch him either!?" Kenshiro asked as he picked up another news printout. "I don't know how, but he can…control himself for as long as he needs to in order to escape detection. Most serial killers can't do that, their driven by compulsion and their impulse control goes to shit when their close to capture, but Hellhound…for him it only grows," Rachel said, "My only guess is that he learned to be satisfied with blood substitutes, like other, law abiding, vampires." "Huh?" Shurayuki said, "He's a vampire? And your Father!? You're a dhampir!?" "Is this really the time?!" Barit asked. "I…I didn't know…" Shurayuki muttered, "I had a threesome with a vampire and an alien…I need to slow down, my sex life is getting weird…" "Back to the matter at hand," Rachel said, "Yes, he is a vampire, and he is my Father." "How do you know?" Pearl asked.

Rachel grit her teeth, "My Mom…was a teacher, at least until she decided to go clubbing one night with some friends. Hellhound was just starting at the time, his victims were all singular, and he had only killed twelve at the time. He had satisfied his blood lust, and decided to get his rocks off with someone more willing. My Mom was it." Rachel reached into her pocket and pulled out a small photo, showing her as a little girl, only five years old, with a woman with suntanned skin, brown eyes, and brunette hair. They both looked happy as they posed at the beach. It was obvious Rachel had inherited most of her physical features from the woman, aside from her blue skin, red hair, as well as the shape and color of her eyes. "The families of Hellhound…tracked down my Mom through Private Investigators, and they thought, my Mom knew where he was, that she was his accomplice. They hunted us down, no matter where Mom hid, no matter how many times she changed our names, they always found us.

"Eventually, they got tired of just hunting us," Rachel said. Tears were pouring from her eyes and Beate tried to hug her, but Rachel raised her hand. Rachel wiped her tears, and when she opened her eyes, they were filled with rage. "They killed her! When I was twelve years old, they broke into our house, and they shot her to death! They even drove a stake through her heart after she was already dead! Then they turned to me, they held me down, they beat me with wolfs bane, and shoved garlic down my throat and in my eyes, thinking that I had some kind of connection to Hellhound, that he would sense my pain and come to my rescue! If we do have some kind of connection, he didn't care. By the time they were done, I was already half-dead. My…vampire instincts took over. When they left me alone to think up a new plan… I had no choice… I was only twelve, I had no choice…they killed my Mom!"

Beate wrapped her in a hug, "Take deep breaths, babe. Shhhh… Just take it slow…" Rachel hugged her girlfriend back, and they sat like that for two minutes before Rachel calmed down enough to continue. "I had no choice…I had to drink my Mom's blood from her corpse. You can imagine the rest," Rachel said. Pearl remembered the Parallel Quest where Rachel, filled with Burter's blood, had slaughtered the Ginyu Force. Against a group of ordinary humans…Pearl could only imagine the carnage as Rachel, fueled with vengeful fury and blood wrath, avenged her Mom. "After that, the police finally came. They determined that I acted in self-defense, and since I was only twelve, they put me in a foster home, luckily the parents there were vampires, who lived off animal blood. Gordon and Ethel Impala…they taught me everything about how to live as a dhampir. If it wasn't for Hellhound…my Mom might still be alive. I tried to track him down myself, but the case went cold… That's when I came here. Mom…the last thing she told me was that she hoped I'd live a happy life, filled with people that loved me. I…tried to do that, but I guess I can't," Rachel said.

"I'll help you," Kenshiro said. "Kenny," Rachel said. "Don't try to talk me out of it. There's a monster loose, and he needs to be put down, before more innocent people suffer," Kenshiro said. "Right," Pearl agreed, "The Supreme Kai of Time gave me three days off, I'll do what I can to help you look for Hellhound." Rachel gave a small smile, "Thank you." "I'm not much good with tracking people down," Barit said, "But…if you find him, I'll help bring him down too." Pearl then thought of her family, they had left her apartment and were now staying at a Hotel in Conton City. "For now, we should keep this to ourselves," Pearl said. "Right," everyone agreed. With this said, Rachel spent the rest of the day teaching everyone everything about Hellhound that she could. Pearl, Barit, and Kenshiro went back to their apartment after she was done, and tried to sleep as best they could.

Author's Note: If you're wondering about Rachel's Father, read 'Ryo vs the Xenoverse', Chapter 21. Some spoilers in it, but it's not too bad.