Chapter 9: Threnody

It was that by this time, those who dared oppose Buu were laid broken unto the Earth. Vegeta the Saiyan and Piccolo among them; of the warriors who willingly let up their lives to protect their homestead, had no power now. Even the mighty Gohan, strongest of all, had been easily swatted aside by the demon's wrath. But still there was one, Goku, of the highest order of his people who yet offered up his last gasp.

And it was then that swiftly Goku released his energy to Buu. Until the last second, the Majin took no notice of this impending threat before ever so casually putting out his own hand in mirrored technique. To himself, he did not take care to face his opponent yet. For he, and all around knew of who held the greater might on this day.

Sooner it was, then, that the kid Buu gazed again upon his old master. No longer did he hold bondage to the wizard. Enthralled though he once was, Buu was free now in spirit and in mind. Capably he could destroy this pest again; and send it along its rightful path. Yet as he rose his hand, even as his other remained in dogged contention with the Saiyan behind, his mind faltered. Seeds of doubt crept into Buu and he knew not how to easily take down his master without harming her.

For in Babidi's far hand was that little witch who had quietly accompanied Majin Buu before. She lay under his spell, Buu saw this. With it, a fury came to his eyes once again; a crazed, wild glint of his insanity and he desired Babidi's life now once again. And it was in this blind rage that Goku became a second thought and Buu himself sprung away, blinded with his thoughts.

To this, Babidi caught on and prepared his other hand, the previously noticed ball. And in his cackles, he let up, giving off the only device that had previously held Buu in check. But Buu was wise to this scheme and he dodged it gracefully, letting the lure fall and roll away far beyond Babidi's reach.

Majin Buu then had his way with Babidi. And he hit the wizard, this way and that through rock and crater. Baba, entranced and quiet, fell from Babidi's grip and out of the surrounding danger. And after some time, Buu saw this and stopped, pushing Babidi back. He was ready to say goodbye.

But with Babidi was still confidence, even in his impending disaster. He still had his chance, "Buu… don't you know what you're doing? I'm your master! You follow me! Now, settle down… a-and I'll give you all the chocolate you can eat! I promise it!"

"Shiiaaaaaaah!" Buu screamed, in unknowable tongue. Still he took away, with teeth bared and readied his final message for Babidi. This talk heeded no meaning to him.

Behind this all was still Goku, whom had been left awry by previous luck. And he had not taken this time without proper action. Even now, he had gotten his own final Kamehameha prepared. And into he poured all his power, all his spirit, and all his will to overthrow the Majin. And as he shot it, the last moment gave way to Buu's awareness and the demon turned and fired off again in this beam struggle.

This time in was not as before, and Buu ended it quickly. Try as he might, Goku's full power, even with his lifeforce was not enough. And Buu silenced him, finally, with but a pulse of annoyance; so that there was no body left, save for Babidi and Buu. And Babidi's mental collection was lessening at this with every passing moment.

"Buu, Buu… let's talk! You and I we can rule the universe together! Just you and me! We will-"

Buu would not give into this talk, and Babidi knew it now. The wizard fell back and in desperation took to his brain as to what, if anything could be done to strike at Buu's heart. In this, he remembered the striking image of Buu crying. But why, why had he wept? He grappled this issue, and over and over again he asked this question. Then he saw it. And a broken smile came to Babidi's lips, for he knew what Buu's weakness was.

The wizard, once again, returned in full stature to Buu, who had no words for this. But Babidi yet had news to speak.

"Oho, Buu. I'm so impressed. You took out all those other fighters without even trying!" He cackled, in unbridled enthusiasm, "But I wonder if you could have done such a deed had you not been tainted with the impurity of that disgusting human!"

Buu growled and shook at this, but Babidi knew he was no longer in any danger. He laughed again and continued:

"Oh yes, my Buu. It seems you haven't changed after all! Still needing the help of others; you're such a baby! And you know what this baby needs? He needs his bottle!"

Thus Buu, in rage renewed, shot again at Babidi. And he howled and roared as he went. His emotions flared and memories of the past surged before his waking eyes and he saw many things; of cake, of Goku, of… his other half, Uub.

Then the demon stopped from his reckless pursuit. Curiously a new idea dawned upon him and he halted suddenly because of it. And he grappled himself, and let off discourse in pain and sweat and blood. Suddenly, before him and Babidi, by way of wretched mutilation was Uub once again. And the demon sunk to his knees to the level of his human half.

Uub was awake, if confused. He knew naught where he was, nor why he was so unexpectedly back. And then his eyes set on Buu's. The two sat, kneeled, facing one another and so entranced by this were they that no thought was given to Babidi's sneaking away in their peripheral. It did not, however, matter.

Moments passed, and neither moved. Perhaps it was that they were communicating without words, but such things were in no certainty. But to Uub's previous indignation and misunderstanding, this gave way to a proper bond. No words were after all needed. So Buu broke from this spell and suddenly noticed his quarry's escape. On that most worrisome of accounts, he began his pursuit again.

"Wait!" Uub, behind, spoke out, "Tell me… please… who are you?"

Buu turned back, quickly; and he spoke softly, "Me Buu…" and he paused, with unfamiliarity running through his body; it was almost in vanity, or maybe even humility that he finally gave it away , "You… you Buu too."

With that, almost in embarrassment, Buu shot at Babidi, who at this time had come unto his own and regained his stratagem. Just in time, Buu roared into range and Babidi used all his skill, in faith and misery, to unlatch his gate stream.

That ball of before, strangely spiked and colored now opened in a brilliant flash of light. Babidi saw this and thought to himself, in arrogance that he was indeed the best there ever was. And Buu knew of what it was that had sprung up before him and his heart took to fear as he stuttered back. But no use were his screams, his struggles, as the magic's snare had worked it's goal. He, in vain, took his nails to the ground and held firmly, but his strength was, without Uub, too little. And so it was that finally Majin Buu was sucked into his ball and taken at long last from the world again.

The winds now picked up, brushing against the unmoving bodies of the Z fighters, and even of Goku's crumpled figure behind. Babidi was mostly alone, surrounded by robust beings, who were just sleeping after all. They would wake soon and he would not hold for their justice's punishment. But surely, none would miss Majin Buu. None would care, nor understand what he had done.

And Babidi laughed again to himself, as he thought all had gone to plan. He tucked Buu's ball into the fold of his clothes and took once again to the air. And he left that place, to its cold and bitterness. For his leaving was in his victory, not theirs.

But Uub below stood. He walked to Goku and the others and noticed their battered bodies, felled by his own power, and in his sight there only detachment. He no longer felt anything, anything at all for these beings, even Goku. If this was temporary, the work of his strange other half, he did not know. But to one thing, he was most assured; it had no name, but he knew of it in instinct. Only as some vague driving force. For his eyes sparked fiercely and fiery with the thought of it.

It was a glint of terror and of malice. It was that of which he saw before him, strewn about. But at this, Uub settled down still, knowing to himself that he was all right. For he knew it was also a glint, a light of innocence and power. And it was his, and no others. Because, Uub had gained everything he could possibly desire from his other half. New jealously ran through his veins, and arrogance flowed with it. So much that he questioned this grave sight about him: What now was the point to pursue that creature? What would he gain from any of it? To release that which had done this all, and brought ruin about the land?

So it was finally that Uub slumped down onto the rocks about him. He smiled to himself as he went, his lids now closing in weariness; for in this, he knew there was none.

And to that, Uub was content.

THE END