4/2018: Greetings, all! I'm back with the continuation of Unmei! This is my story with the same characters as they would be in Dragonball Super. Please offer feedback as usual. I hope this pleases. I do not own Dragonball/Z/Super. This applies to my story in its entirety.

**Also, I will be shifting from referring to "life force/energy" as ki instead of chi. I made the decision to use chi when I began Unmei because I wanted to use verbiage from the English translation of the original manga. Although these two words mean essentially the same thing, just in two different languages, I'm choosing to use ki since this is a Japanese property.

Prologue: A Long Journey Ahead

Not long after Piccolo's parting words soothed and also stirred her, Hatsuko carefully planted her feet onto the cold ramp of her newly built spaceship. She slowly ascended and her insides churned uncomfortably. The ship's style and functions were signature Capsule Corp designs – a giant "CAPSULE CORP" logo across the entrance of a spherical structure, a minimal palette of black and white and suction-cup legs for support. Hatsuko had assisted in the creation of the ship and knew it as well as anyone could hope to before their first voyage into space. Bulma had granted Hatsuko's request for a monitor to be put in the ship for communication purposes should she encounter any issues.

Hatsuko entered the control area and sighed heavily. She felt relieved yet anxious to be leaving after so long. Her strength had increased significantly since the last time she had been to her mother's home planet called Seiga. She wanted desperately to show her grandmother the level of genki technique she was capable of now. Her thoughts stalled briefly on an image of Piccolo kneeling above her paralyzed body consumed in a bright blue aura. Her heart fluttered.

I must master that technique…even if it kills me this time.

After a few passing hours, the sun rose to its highest position in the sky. A few puffy white clouds were present but otherwise, a perfectly clear and bright atmosphere smiled down on Gohan and Videl as they exchanged vows. A small crowd watched in silent jubilance. A palpable sense of love and happiness hung in the air like a perfume from a garden of flowers. Applause sounded as the couple embraced.

Immediately following their witness to the ceremony, the wedding party traveled to Bulma's house. Capsule Corp was the default destination for any and all gatherings because of its expansive yard and abundance of food. Bulma and her parents had decorated minimally but had gone above and beyond with the catering. There was an endless buffet, a sushi stand, a wok station, and a beverage cart all complete with a full wait and cook staff.

"You can never have enough food when Saiyans are involved, am I right, Chi-Chi?" Bulma asked before taking a sip of her wine.

Chi-Chi nodded and laughed. She seemed relaxed for a change. Because her first son was headed down a path of success in his personal and professional life, Chi-Chi felt as if all her strict years of parenting had paid off. She took a swig of saké and responded to Bulma's comment with a wink.

Underneath the shade of an umbrella, Gohan and Videl were talking with Piccolo and Dende. The two Namekians had just arrived from a stop at the Look Out after the ceremony. Gohan smiled and shook their hands with gratitude.

"I'm so happy you both could make it today," he said sincerely. "Dende, are you sure it's alright for you to be away from your post for so long?"

Dende winked and smiled at Gohan. "I am the one who makes those types of decisions, aren't I?" he said playfully. Even Piccolo laughed at Dende's remark.

"Gohan, Videl, I have something for you," Piccolo began. He reached beneath the thick collar of his cape and lifted the rope that Hatsuko gave him over his head with care. The sea glass caught a ray of sun and shone brightly for a moment. Videl's eyes widened when she saw it.

"Before Hatsuko departed this morning, she told me this was her gift to both of you. It meant a great deal to her and was the only thing she felt was an appropriate gift to give – a symbol of love, or something of that nature…" Piccolo's voice trailed off and his nose flushed.

Gohan and Videl both extended their hands to receive the gift from Piccolo. They admired the sea glass with expressions of awe and surprise. Videl looked as if she was about to tear. Gohan closed Videl's hand around the piece of glass and smiled at his former mentor with gratitude.

"Thank you, Piccolo. And if we don't see Hatsuko first when she gets back, be sure to thank her for us too. She really proved herself during that battle and if you two can bond together in such a unique way, she's just as important to us as you are. You're both family," he said, his voice thick. He and Videl bowed in thanks.

Piccolo was almost paralyzed by Gohan's kind words. He lifted the corner of his mouth slightly and bowed in return, although less so since he was so much taller.

Did you hear that? You're family.

Piccolo was unsure if his thought would reach its destination, but he thought it all the same.

Hatsuko's eyelids fluttered open, her concentration interrupted from a deep meditation. Her heart was beating erratically. She scanned the interior of her ship for any signs of life. She had just felt a presence clearly as if it were standing just before her.

Did I fall asleep? That felt like a dream…

She shook her head and tingles ran up and down the length of her upper spine as her nerves began to wake. She stood up and made her way over to the vast window near the control panel. The void of space flew past her so quickly that it appeared as a milky blur. She sighed heavily and thought of the party that she was surely missing. Perhaps it had already ended…

A digital neon green number flashed below her on the dashboard – the number of Earth days until her arrival on Seiga. Presently, the number was 4. Hatsuko traced the number with her right index finger and let her eyes close again. Her grandmother's face flashed inside her mind's eye and her chest tightened. She was unsure of what to say when the time came to face Sugiko again.

Maybe I won't say anything. Instead, I should speak her language and just attack her.

Kiku?

Hatsuko's eyes shot open in alarm. Her brow sprouted a few beads of perspiration.

…Meza? She thought in response.

It's me, yes. I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you. Kaio-shin just informed me that you were on your way to Seiga. I wanted to see how you were doing.

Hatsuko's eyes grew slick. She smiled while also trembling slightly. Her energy was unstable from the anxiety she was feeling about her trip. She was relieved to hear such a familiar and comforting voice however.

No, not at all, I'm alright, I suppose…Just nervous. How are you?

I'm just fine, Kiku. I've been training with another Kaio-shin in the afterlife. I feel I've reached a new level of awareness. Hopefully, it's the truth and not my ego talking.

Hatsuko grinned broadly and allowed warm tears to spill from her eyes.

I can't imagine you any faster than you already are. It's a bit frightening! She thought happily. She could almost feel Meza's laughter.

I wish you the best of luck on your journey…be safe out there. And, Kiku, know you're not alone.

Thank you…Father. Hatsuko bowed her head with respect for Meza's kind gesture. Hearing you say these things means more than you know.