~ Back at the Brief's House ~

Goku looked up as the sky grew dark. "It isn't nighttime yet..." He thought out loud.

Piccolo opened his eyes. "It couldn't be-"

Gohan looked up at the sound of lightning in the distance. "Did- did someone summon Shenron?!"

Everyone turned to look at Bulma.

"Don't look at me!" Bulma waved her arms about, in a vain attempt to ward their gazes away. "I put the dragon radar away after Son-kun found the 4-star-ball!"

Goku grinned. "Yeah! I got lucky! I only had to find three of them to get my Granadpa's old ball back!"

Piccolo twitches. "Is nobody else uneasy about this? The fact is that someone is using Shenron right now!"

Goku stood up. "It's fine, it's fine! I'll just pop in and check on the-" his body started glowing.

"Dad?!" Gohan exclaimed. Then his own body began glowing.

In fact, everyone had begun to shine with a golden light. Then there was a loud 'pop' noise, and a large degree of smoke.

Piccolo covered his mouth with his arm, coughing. "Is everyone alright?!" He called out. He himself felt fine. A little light headed, but fine.

"What was that?!" came a childish voice he remembered almost poignantly.

"Gohan?!" Piccolo gasped.

"Yes, I'm alright!" came the voice again. "Just a little dizzy..."

The smoke began to clear. Piccolo almost wished it hadn't.

Standing where Gohan had been a moment before was... well... Gohan. But not the Gohan Piccolo had seen a moment before. It was the Gohan he had seen standing beside him, almost 20 years ago, when Piccolo had died saving his life.

"My clothes don't seem to fit right all of a sudden..." Gohan said, rubbing his blinded eyes.

Piccolo looked quickly around the garden. Every last one of them had been reduced drastically in age. He stared, in utter disbelief, as their situation began to sink in for everyone.

"THIS IS ALL WRONG!" cried little Bulma from across the room. She clung to her dress, which no longer fit, holding it close to her body. She tried to walk, but tripped and fell on her face because she couldn't keep her balance in the high heals she no longer fit properly into. She tried to hold back tears as she picked herself back up, but they streamed down her face regardless. She kicked the high heals off angrily and hid her little face in her even smaller hands as she let the sobs out.

Vegeta was sitting, completely covered in his shirt alone, glaring in shock at his now small hands as if they had betrayed him. He eventually hovered upward, taking his shirt with him, and landed barefoot and pants-less a few feet away from the chair. He then ripped a hole in the back of his shirt for his newly regrown tail to pop out, and wrapped it snugly around him as a belt, all the while maintaining a look of disgruntlement.

Goku tried to Instant Transmission. However, he couldn't seem to focus properly any longer. "Sorry guys, but I can't sense anyone near the Dragonba-" he fell forward, getting tangled in his oversized cloths. "AH! My balance is all screwy!" He exclaimed. "And I'm hungry..."

ChiChi was elated at looking so young again. She simply tied her sash about her tighter, discarding pieces of clothing and shoes she no longer needed, and waded over to help Goku. She pulled him out of his gi, then fished out his undershirt and forced it over his head. It was large enough that it covered him nicely. Goku promptly fell over again. Chichi giggled, and helped him up.

Gohan went to check on her, lost his own balance, and fell forward, shooting him out of his oversized pants and shoes, leaving him in just his oversized shirt. He got up, wobbled on his feet, and realized his tail had grown back. Gohan yelped in surprise, grabbing it carefully and touching it to verify that it was real.

Piccolo looked down at himself, checking himself over for abnormalities. Nothing had really changed. His muscles seemed a bit smaller, perhaps, but that could just be his imagination. He was virtually untouched. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.

Piccolo opened his eyes. The sky cleared. He saw what looked like a shooting star pass overhead. The Dragonballs had been used. Shenron was gone for a year. Piccolo felt sick. He knew - his gut told him - that the Dragonballs were the cause of all this. And now it would be a year before they could be used to fix it.

Bulma sniffed. "When I said I wanted to look younger, this isn't what I had in mind..!"

ChiChi smiled. "It could be worse."

Bulma turned on her. "HOW THE HELL COULD THIS BE WORSE?!"

ChiChi smiled. "At least our husbands have gotten young with us!"

Bulma was about to yell at her again when she stopped, and looked at Vegeta. She hadn't noticed. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh my god... He is so... so... CUTE!"

ChiChi nuzzled into Goku's shoulder, holding his arm. "Well, maybe, but my Goku is much cuter."

Goku tried to pull away a little. "Cut it out, ChiChi... My balance is really off right now, I can't stand with you-" he fell backward, taking ChiChi with him. "See?"

Vegeta snorted. "Fucking clown." The tip of his tail flicked in agitation.

Bulma latched onto the tip and pet it. "Oh my god, it's so soft!"

Vegeta wobbled a bit. "WOMAN! Stop that at once! Do NOT grab at my tail!" Bulma ignored him, continuing to pet it. Vegeta attempted to yank his tail away a few times, but eventually unwrapped it from his waist completely, allowing her free reign. Petting soon gave way to nuzzling, much to his dismay and her delight.

Gohan made his way over to his dad, slowly at first, then picking up speed. "Dad! You.. You are Dad, right?"

Goku grinned. "Guess so! Geeze, you got small again, Gohan! Just like when you were a kid!"

Gohan grinned back. "You aren't any better!" he sat down, clutching his tail against his chest.

Goku pointed. "Hey, you're tail is back!"

"So is yours," Gohan retorted.

Goku, patted his back, fumbling around until he finds his tail, then pulls it to his front. "Hey, you're right!" He grins wide, pulling on it gently. He winced. "Hey.. that hurts a lot more than I remember..." He squeezed it, his face contorting in pain. "Owwwwwww!"

Gohan watched. "What's wrong?!"

"My tail... I remember it being more... durable..." Goku got out through clenched teeth.

Dr Briefs and his wife came out into the garden, carrying trays of lemonade. "Bulma dear, you'll never guess what happened to your mother and I! We-" He stopped, looking at everyone. "...Or maybe you will!" He exclaimed, laughing.

Mrs Briefs came over and hugged Bulma. "You're so cute! Just as I remember!" She looked at Vegeta and pinched his cheek. "And who is this adorable young man?"

Vegeta smacked her hand away. "Unhand me!"

Mrs Briefs giggled. "My, my, as shy as ever!" She turned back to Bulma. "I'll go get you and your little friends some cloths, darling. We should still have some in your size stashed away in the attic!" She poured a few glasses of lemonade, leaving them where they could be picked up conveniently, and went inside.

Mr Briefs followed after her. "Allow me, dear! Can't have you digging through those old boxes by yourself, can we?"

Piccolo watched them leave. "Does nothing unnerve those two..?"

Goku rubbed his stomach. "I'm hungry..." he looked around, and saw the cake again. Licking his lips, he pounced on it. Vegeta body slammed him at the last minute, sending him crashing through the wall of the house. "HEY! Why'd you go and do that?!" Goku pulled himself up, rubbing his head.

Vegeta flicked his bristling tail angrily. "If I can't eat it, you sure as hell can't!"

"But we can share it!" Goku whined, his stomach rumbling.

"The Prince of All Saiyans does not share food with low class scum who can't even display the slightest bit of patience!" Vegeta flicked his tail again, almost in an authoritative manner, then wrapped it back around his waist. "There is a fucking snack bar right there. Eat from that. And curl your tail up! You look ridiculous letting it hang like a damn savage!"

Goku looked back at his tail. "It looks fine to me..."

Gohan blinked. "Is... that some sort of Saiyan thing..? Is it... rude... to let your tail hang down..?"

Vegeta glared at him. "Only children and ill-bred idiots let their tails flop about. Not only is it rude, it is a sign of aggression. Tails belong out during battle, and nowhere else."

Goku scratched his head. "So like... there is tail a-tick-kick?"

"Etiquette, yes." Gohan said, trying to wrap his own tail around his waist with great difficulty. "But it seems to go where it wants for the most part..."

Vegeta snorted, walking over to the snack table and hovering to reach a pizza. As he picked it up, he let his tail loosen from his waist a bit, allowing his small body a greater degree of balance. He landed, a whole pizza held carefully in his hands. He placed it on a chair and ripped a slice off, devouring it in that brutally quick Saiyan manner.

Bulma snickered. "Sure it isn't because you don't want anyone doing THIS!" She slipped her hand into his loosened tail loop, and gripped it firmly. Vegeta froze, his hand hovering over the pizza. Bulma giggled, and squeezed as tightly as she could.

Vegeta's eyes went wide, and he sank to one knee, panting. "GOD DAMN IT WOMAN, I TOLD YOU NOT TO FUCKING DO THAT!" He snarled.

Bulma grinned. "I knew it - your tail is a weak point because your body regressed too far back, isn't it? Isn't it?" She laughed.

Vegeta glared at her, seriously contemplating smacking that smug look off her face. He wrapped his sore tail around him tighter, patting the spot she had abused absentmindedly. He yanked loose another bit of pizza and munched on it, simultaneously calming his rage and filling his stomach.

"Guess we aren't so different, after all!" Goku said, grinning. Gohan laughed. Goku used his tail to push himself higher off the ground, and pulled a pizza off for himself. He then greedily dug into it, making noises expressing his delight.

Gohan's stomach growled loudly, as he looked up at the table. He tried flying, and to his relief, was able to (if not as easily or as well as he was used to). He got a pizza for himself and delicately cut it into pieces with a knife before eating them with as much civility as his mother had been able to hammer into him.

This is what Krillin saw when he finally got to the party.

Krillin was carting a large piñata shaped like Buu (a gift from Buu and Hercule, who came up with the idea jointly) which he had picked up from them before heading over. He damn near dropped it when he saw little Goku, covered in cheese and pepperoni, licking the pizza pan clean.

Goku put the pan down, and was about to get up for more, when he saw Krillin. Grinning, he waved. "HEY KRILLIN! You made it!"

Krillin put the piñata down carefully. "G-Goku..?! Is- is that you?!"

Goku grinned. "Yup!"

Bulma ran over, grabbing Krillin by the scruff. "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?! If you had anything to do with this, you are DEAD! Do you hear me? DEAD!"

Krillin looked down at her, not recognizing her at first. "B-Bulma?!" She responded by kicking him in the groin. Krillin doubled over, eyes scrunched shut. "Yup... thats Bulma..."

#18 came into the garden next, holding Marron's hand. She ran over to check on Krillin, a little worried at first. When Krillin stood up, she sighed.

Marron looked around. "Who are they..?"

#18 looked up, and froze. She accessed her android scanner and looked at everyone in turn. Then she did it again. Then a third time. Then she burst out laughing, holding her midsection as she doubled over.

Bulma pouted. "It isn't funny!"

"It kinda is!" Goku said, pulling down his second pizza.

"What's funny?" Videl asked, walking with Pan. She rounded the corner and stopped. "Wha-"

"We can explain!" Gohan cheeped. "Well, we really CAN'T explain, since we don't know what hap-"

"YOU'RE SO CUTE!" Videl scooped Gohan up and nuzzled him, petting his head. "Where did you come from? Where are your parents? Are you lost? Are you here for the party?"

"No- It's me! It's Gohan!" Gohan stammered.

"Gohan? Now that's funny, my husband's name is-" she stopped. Then her face turned stern. "You used the Dragonballs for THIS?!"

Gohan swallowed. "No- No we didn't use them, someone ELSE must have-"

Videl cut him off. "Who, then?" she said harshly. "You can't go to work like this! And how are we going to explain to Pan that her Papa is her size now?!"

"Papa is MY SIZE?!" Pan shouted, standing behind them.

Videl and Gohan both froze. "Uhhhhhh..." Gohan couldn't think of anything to say.

Trunks landed in front of the house, letting Bulla down from his shoulders. Bulla jumped up and down eagerly. Trunks less so. He could already imagine his parents yelling at him.

Goten landed next to him, laughing nervously. "Maybe... they won't notice?" He didn't sound convinced. Neither was Trunks.

Bulla dashed into the house. Finding it empty, she ran outside to Trunks. "Where are Mama and Papa?"

Trunks smiled weakly. "In the garden... Lets... go... see them..?" He took her hand, steeling his nerves. He had to face the music some time.

As the scene in the garden came into view, Bulla's eyes and smile grew wide. Trunks became more and more ashamed.

"MY BIRTHDAY WISH CAME TRUE!" Bulla screamed loudly. "And look! Cake! It's the bestest birthday EVER!" She scampered to the cake and jumped up and down, trying to reach it.

Bulma looked at Trunks angrily. "Trunks... what. did. you. DO?!"

Bulla grinned. "Trunks showed me the Birthday Dragon! I got two whole wishes!"

Goku looked up from his second pizza. "'Birthday Dragon'?"

Goten was a little stiff, coming around the corner slowly.

ChiChi pounced. "GOTEN!" Goten instinctively went rigid. ChiChi crossed her arms. "What is the meaning of this?!"

Goten blinked. "M-mom?!" ChiChi glared. "M-mom, I swear, this wasn't my fault! It was all Trunks' idea!"

Bulma crossed her arms. "It was, was it?" She wasn't amused.

Trunks took a deep breath. "I didn't mean for this to happen! I thought she would wish for candy! Or a new playmate! Or a twin! How was I supposed to know this would happen?!"

Vegeta scarfed down the last of his second pizza. "You're DEAD, boy!"

Trunks gapped. "D-dad?!" Vegeta gave him the glare Trunks had come to know better than his own body. Trunks bit the inside of his cheek as hard as he could to stop him from laughing. Laughing at his father was not going to help him right now.

Bulla got bored trying to reach the cake, and hugged her mom. "MAMA! Now you're small! Now you don't have to do boring adult things! You can play with me all day, every day! Isn't that great!" She ran over and wrapped her arms about Vegeta's neck. He looked at her with equal mix of shock, offense, and anger. "And Papa, now you don't have to train all day! You can play with me too!"

Piccolo looked at Trunks. "What was her wish, exactly?"

Trunks looked down. "For 'everyone at home to be her are, so they could play with her'. Her second wish redacted the effect for our grandparents and the staff..."

Gohan looked at Bulla, watching her go back and forth between her parents excitedly. "But then..." he looked at Piccolo, "Why weren't you affected?"

"I WAS affected..." Piccolo said. "We all regressed to the age of 5 earth years. At 5, I was already fully grown."

Gohan blinked. "You mean, you're not much older than I am?!"

Piccolo looked at him. "I'd say there was a four year difference, give or take..."

Gohan thought a moment. "So when you-" he was going to say 'kidnapped', but he caught himself, "-started training me when you were 8 years old?!" Piccolo nodded. "That's... kind of amazing!" Piccolo shrugged.

ChiChi cleared her throat next to Goten. Goten looked down. ChiChi pointed to the ground, indicating he should kneel down. Goten hesitantly obliged. ChiChi promptly smacked him upside the head. "OW!" Goten exclaimed, rubbing. He was surprised that it still hurt, given her size.

"Don't you EVER do something this stupid again!" ChiChi screamed at him.

"Yes, ma'am." Goten said, sheepishly.

Bulma finally managed to grab Bulla by the ear. She made her sit down and looked at her. "Bulla, honey, this is not an appropriate wish to make on the Dragonballs... As soon as the Dragonballs regenerate, we're going to change us all back."

Bulla looked down. "So... you're taking my birthday wish away?"

Bulma caught her breath. "It isn't fair to the rest of us! We aren't children, darling! We're adults, and having a child's body is- is- unacceptable!"

Bulla looked back up at her. "So... how long do I get to keep my birthday wish?"

"The Dragonballs will regenerate in one y-" Bulma stopped, her face turning so pale it started to look blue. "Oh god... Oh my god... We're stuck like this for a YEAR! A YEAR!" She sank to her knees and started crying. "I'M GOING TO BE A CHILD FOR A WHOLE YEAR!"

Bulla, seeing her mother cry, started to feel like maybe she had misused her birthday wish.