Chapter 8: Up the Mountains of Fire Lies Gyu Mao and his Chi-Chi
(A/N: Ah, we finally reached Fire Mountain. Chi-Chi will be fun to write. I don't mention the meeting of Yamcha and Chi-Chi because it happens exactly like in canon. I happen to be a huge GoChi fan and I wanted to try to write their romance a bit better. I know that there problems with the ship and I want to try my best to fix some of them.)
We arrived at Fire Mountain (or Fry Pan Mountain for you manga purists) and we stopped to look out at the burning mountain in the distance. I knew by now Yamcha and Chi-Chi will cross paths, but I decide to let that happen.
"So here we are, Fire Mountain." I mused. "The Gyu Mao is said to kill anyone in the area of his castle, right?"
"Of course, he will! They say he's a demon!" Oolong said to us panicked.
"Bring it on. If I don't fight strong opponents, I won't get stronger." I said cracking my knuckles.
"Ace is right! If there's a problem, we'll fight." Goku said with a smile.
So, entering the place on foot after we capsulized/sent away our modes of transport, we found the place humid. Wandering through the place, I sense something coming. I unsheathed Rakurai and with a swing blocked the flying ax that would have cleaved Bulma's head.
"Goku! Ready yourself, seems we've got company." Ace said grabbing the ax.
"I've been itching for battle!" Goku said with his Power Pole in head.
"What are you all doing around there?" The Ox King said as I threw back his ax to which he caught. "You wouldn't happen to be treasure hunters, are you?"
Bulma was stammering and Oolong sadly pissed himself. Goku and I were calm.
"Technically, we would be. But we're not here for gold or money." I said with Rakurai in my grip. "But I doubt you're going to let us explain."
"No, I won't ya little thieves." Ox-King said coming down on me with his ax.
I clashed with Rakurai. Ox-King was a mountain of man with rippling muscle and he was in his prime. I did my best to dodge and clash with Goku. Bulma was cheering us on. The ax came down again, and Goku ran up his arm to kick him. It didn't work, of course.
"Goku, get the cloud! I'll hold him off!" I said to him.
"Time to get serious. Kinto'un!" Goku yelled out.
The magical yellow cloud came down and Goku circled him. I sheathed Rakurai because I knew the fight was over.
After getting dizzy from being circled on the Nimbus, Ox-King asked Goku where he got the cloud. Thankfully, Ox-King became friendly learning he got it from Master Roshi. Ox was even impressed to hear from Ace that he was offered to train under him. Ox went into his history with Gohan and how he was a student of Roshi. Bulma and Oolong were blown away the wave of new information.
"Note to self, have Ace punch Roshi upside his head." Bulma thought darkly.
She wanted revenge.
"You must be quite strong to impress my old master, Ace." Ox said with a smile. "Not bad."
Ox-King was now jovial asking if we got get Roshi to aid in ridding the fire around his castle.
"We'll do it in exchange for a certain artifact me and my hot scientist friend in the bunny outfit." Ace said smirking. "Do we have a deal?"
"Of course! I can part with one piece of treasure to see my old master again!" Ox-King said with a hearty laugh.
"Hey Bulma, you know where Roshi lived?" Goku said curiously.
"Probably near the beach we were at." Bulma responded.
"I know where he lives." Ace said casually.
Hiding behind debris, Yamcha and Pu'ar were floored to know that Ace was offered training from Roshi. Yamcha found Ace strong, but Roshi training would make him a bigger threat.
"Well while you two are at it, could you two find my daughter, Chi-Chi? I sent her out, and she hasn't returned yet." Ox-King asked kindly.
Everyone (except Goku and Ace) snickered at how the Ox's daughter could look like. That was until Ace projected her image up out of his BlackTab.
"Like I said, I collect information about legends and stuff. Mao Chi-Chi is in my archives along with you. Finding her will be easy." Ace said. "Besides it's not like a certain desert bandit and his cat friend were near her to knock her out."
"Woah, what a cutie." Oolong said. "And the battle suit ain't too shabby."
"Totally took after the mother." Bulma mused.
"Looks strong." Goku said gawking.
"Resembles her mother so much." Ace said sympathetically turning to Ox-King. "Sorry about your wife."
"It's all right. I know Mao Tanoshī is in a better place. She passed from cancer in the lungs right after Chi-Chi was born." Ox King said sadly.
Ace found this interesting and noted it in his archives right away. He even got information to fill in the blanks canon left.
"Well Goku and I are off to find Chi-Chi and get Roshi. Oolong, try not to perv on Bulma while I'm gone." Ace warned Oolong.
"Times I wonder why you couldn't be older." Bulma said to me arms crossed.
"Bulma, it'd never work out." Ace remarked opening his Kageyama capsule.
Goku and Ace took off leaving a terrified Yamcha and Pu'ar.
"How the hell does he know?" Yamcha said under his breath. "And we need to find Chi-Chi now! If Ace tells him about what we did, Ox-King will skewer us!"
The bandit pair ran to find Chi-Chi unconscious, but still alive. Too bad, they didn't have the chance to make amends before Goku quickly found her. Yamcha and Pu'ar had to hide. Goku hopped off his Nimbus and awoke Chi-Chi. The girl opened her eyes staring up into Goku's black spheres to which Goku stared back. In another time and space, Goku would have completely dense to this, but here and now, he noticed a warrior's spirit in her that drew him in. He didn't realize it was attraction yet.
"You must be Chi-Chi, right?" Goku said helping her up. "I'm Son Goku."
"Yeah, thanks for help you. Some jerk knocked me out." Chi-Chi said dusting herself.
"Well whoever he was, ain't here now. Your dad us sent out to find you and help you and get Master Roshi." Goku remarked hopping on the cloud. "Hop on if the cloud will accept you."
Chi-Chi beamed trying to get on grabbing Goku's tail. Now normally, this was be his weak point. Ace thought ahead to train that weakness off Goku. At best, it sent a jolt up his body, but that's it.
"Careful, there's sensitive." Goku said helping her up. "But the cloud accepted you, that's great."
"Wait, you said us?" Chi-Chi said remembering Goku's early statement.
Coming up behind them was Ace, who was watching his little scene play out.
"Yo, Miss Mao. Name's Ace, Goku's bash brother." Ace said making a brief introduction.
Soon enough, the trio were on their way to Master Roshi's with Ace taking the lead. However, he was contemplating.
I discovered some "interesting" facts about Mao Tanoshī. She came from a line of people who were known to be stamina freaks to the inhuman degree. Apparently, her wedding night with the Ox lasted three whole days of non-stop sex. They said he was so drained, he couldn't hoard gold or rob anyone for a whole week. She was also a fierce warrior robbing and killing alongside her husband. All and all, she was terrifying. As for now, I gaze over at Chi-Chi. I groan seeing the battle bikini armor. I swear Ox-King is a lunkhead for giving her that. It shows off the curves too much. I did make a mental note to get Chi-Chi in that armor as an adult. I don't care how, but I will. Speaking of adult, I really did need to get those two some major improvement. While canon likes to play their marriage is great, it rather isn't most of the time and I'm an GoChi fan saying that. I had a plan though. One to get Goku less dense, and one for Chi-Chi to be less abrasive in the future. While I was planning this, I look back to see Chi-Chi swat Goku into the dirt and Chi-Chi crashing the Nimbus.
Ugh, he must have done "Pat Pat" again. This time, I was going to teach after that. This was the last time it was useful anyway.
"Ugh, sorry." Goku said rubbing his head.
"You could have asked." Chi-Chi said with a blush as the two were back on the Nimbus.
I could see the blossoming of love in her and I even stopped to savour the moment. Such a sweet moment. Got even better.
"Chi-Chi, you've got some strength. How about we fight someday?" Goku asked.
Real smooth, Goku. He was flirting and didn't know it.
"If you want, dear. I'll show you my moves." Chi-Chi said with a blush.
Ace would have found it adorable, but too bad he had somewhat of a dirty mind. Soon they were over ocean, and Ace was glad I installed a hover feature so he can ride over water. The air feature wasn't finished, but he was glad this was.
"All this ocean seems endless." Goku said. "Nothing but water for miles."
"Most of the planet is water." Ace remarked. "Just follow me, I know where the old man lives."
Ace revved up and blasted on ahead.
"Goku, I just love this cloud." Chi-Chi said holding him a little snug.
Goku didn't know how to react to this new feeling. Ace had told him long ago about a feeling you'd get for another person, but Goku forgot the name. Whatever it was, Goku liked the feeling.
"Thanks, Chi-Chi." Goku said warmly.
"Yo, lovebirds. Roshi's up ahead!" Ace said pointing up to Roshi's island.
Roshi was sitting in a lawn chair reading up on a book on martial arts instead of women in skimpy clothes while Turtle was taking in the sun. That's when Ace rode in on Kageyama with Goku and Chi-Chi arriving just after.
"Yo Ero-sennin, good to see you again. I'm not here about the offer yet, but I came because someone needs your help." Ace said putting down the kickstand.
Will Ace, Goku, and Chi-Chi get the help they need? What changes to canon will happen next? Is Yamcha going to be trolled by Ace forever? Maybe. Find out, next time on Dragon Ball Blackthorned!
(A/N: Had fun making this chapter, I just hope I did the GoChi a bit better. I can only hope for the best.)