Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super, and related video games, are copyrighted Toei Animation & Akira Toriyama. They are the property of their respective owners. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All characters appearing in Marvel Comics are copyrighted by Marvel Entertainment and the Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holders.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Special thanks to my creative consultant Gaara King of the Sand without whom this story would not be possible.
The Marvelous Dragon Balls – Chapter One Goku's Visitors
Earth Age 749 Summer
Outside of Goku's Home near the foot of Mount Paozu, Japan, afternoon
Calhi (Caal-Hee) daughter of the mighty Ox King was lost. For her month-long quest to lift the fire curse afflicting her kingdom, she had left home against the wishes of her father. He tried to stop her but in the end, he conceded to her wishes. She was too much like her deceased mother headstrong and determined he said before letting her go. Rumor had it her mother was an alien princess of a species called Kereal or Kree, her father was unsure which pronunciation was correct.
Calhi surveyed her surroundings with caution. This place did not appear to be dangerous but she had learned already during her travels that appearances could be deceiving. After a considerable time spent wandering alone in the dense forest, Calhi was surprised when she stumbled across a boy about her age who was sitting on a large flat rock by a stream not far from a small house. He wore a strange loose-fitting orange one-piece blue outfit and was dipping his tail (?) into the water.
"Hi," He said when he spotted her.
"Hi," Calhi said. Who was this boy? Why was wearing such a strange garment? Why was he dipping his tail into the water? Why was he out here alone in the middle of nowhere? Why for that matter did he have a tail?
"Got one," The boy said excitedly.
To Calhi's horror, he pulled his tail out of the water to reveal an enormous fish! Its jaws were clamped onto the tip of his tail. He had actually used his tail as a fishing line! Calhi was beyond appalled.
"How could you do such a thing to yourself!? Doesn't it hurt?" Calhi asked.
"What do you mean?" The boy said. He was thoroughly confused by her reaction to his tail bait trick.
"Using your tail as a fishing line, what else. Using a part of your anatomy in such a way is appalling." Calhi said.
"You talk funny." The boy said with a giggle. "What's an 'anatomy'?"
"I don't talk funny!" Calhi said angered by his flippant attitude. "Anatomy is part of your body." Calhi pointed at one of her legs. "Are you stupid, or something? Did someone drop you on your head when you were a baby?"
"Umm, yeah, my grandpa did, I think," Goku said.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Calhi said feeling embarrassed by her outburst after his admission.
"Want to come back to my place? I'm going to fry up this delicious fish here." The boy said licking his lips.
"Sure," Calhi said. She was kind of stuck here so she had nothing better to do besides she was hungry.
"You're a kid like me, huh?" The boy said while he dragged the huge fish back to his small house, impressive.
"Yeah, we're both kids," Calhi said.
"You're spiky hat looks like a pineapple." The boy giggled.
"It does not. My hat is for defense it can fire a laser beam." Calhi said. "I'm Calhi by the way. What is your name?"
"I'm Goku." The boy said.
"You mentioned your grandpa earlier, where is he? Is he around here somewhere?" Calhi asked.
"Kind of," Goku said. He led Calhi into his house and after he put the fish down he showed her the Four Star Dragon Ball.
"You're grandpa is a ball?" Calhi said confused.
"Uh huh," Goku said nodding vigorously.
"Right," Calhi sighed. Just her luck she finally meets someone in this vast forest and a cute boy no less but he is mentally deranged.
"His spirit is in there I think. The ball talks to me sometimes." Goku said.
"How long have you been alone out here talking to this ball, Goku?" Calhi asked.
"I don't know," Goku said with a shrug. "A long time I guess."
"That explains a lot," Calhi muttered to herself.
"Huh?" Goku said.
"Never mind," Calhi said.
"You're a boy like me, huh?" Goku asked.
Rage blazed in Calhi's eyes. "I'm not a boy!" She snapped at Goku. Due to her tomboy nature, many subjects of the kingdom looked down on her for being "unladylike". It was a sore spot with the young princess.
"Not a boy? What are you then?" Goku said.
Calhi rolled her eyes towards heaven. Was he for real? "Duh, I'm a girl." She said.
"A girl?" Goku repeated in confusion.
"Please tell me you know the difference between boys and girls?" Calhi said when a dumbfounded Goku failed to reply. Calhi could not help but laugh, "Really?" After composing herself, Calhi proceeded to take off her blue & red shorts. She then told Goku to do the same. When they were both naked she indicated their genitals. "See, you have an outty I have an inny." Her father would have been horrified but Calhi felt she must educate this poor boy by any means necessary to correct his woeful ignorance. She highly doubted he would understand anything short of a visual demonstration. However, she was glad no one else was around to witness this demonstration.
"Oh, I get it," Goku said after what felt like an eternity to Calhi. He reached out to touch her private parts. She slapped his hand away and then quickly pulled her shorts back up.
"Keep your hands to yourself. I never said you could touch me down there." Calhi admonished Goku.
"Ouch, okay, can we eat now?" Goku pleaded putting back on his clothing after rubbing his injured hand. "I'm very hungry."
"Sure," Calhi said feeling her stomach growl.
Goku and Calhi spent their first of several nights together enjoying Goku's catch. Despite the fish's size, there was barely enough for them both such was the appetite of Goku. Over the intervening week, the two slowly got to know each other better. Goku taught Calhi what he knew of surviving in the forest while Calhi taught Goku what she knew of the outside world including stories of her recent travels. As much as she would rather stay with Goku there was something about his wide-eyed innocence and full-of-wonder personality she found appealing, Calhi knew she would have to leave soon. The cure she was looking for obviously was not here and her kingdom was counting on her.
A peaceful night
"I like being here with you but I miss my home and the people there, especially my father, a great deal," Calhi said while the pair lay outside stargazing.
"I know what you mean. I miss my Grandpa Gohan a lot. His spirit being in the Dragon Ball isn't the same, not like him being here." Goku said. He then added. "I'm sure glad you came."
"Why?" Calhi asked.
"Because you're so smart. You've taught me a lot. But most of all because I'm not lonely anymore since you came." Goku said.
Calhi reached out and gently grasped Goku's hand in her own. "Thanks, Goku," She said. "I've enjoyed your company too."
Something clicked in Calhi's head. "Wait, you're grandpa was Gohan?" She said excitedly getting to her feet.
"Yup, that is his name," Goku confirmed following her lead and getting to his feet.
"My father the Ox-King trained with Gohan when he was about our age under Master Roshi. Why did you never mention his name until now? I've been here more than a week." Calhi asked.
"You never asked," Goku said with a shrug.
"Wow, what a coincidence," Calhi said marveling at fate. "I think our meeting was meant to be. Maybe you can help me lift the fire curse from my kingdom."
"If you want, sure, I'll help," Goku said smiling.
"Thank you so much, Goku! With both of us searching for a cure I know we'll succeed." Calhi hugged Goku and the pair danced around happily until Calhi became embarrassed. Blushing she parted. "Thanks again Goku, I really appreciate your help."
The next day, late morning
"Put it down slowly," Calhi said while Goku pointed his power pole at the intruder who had tried the steal the Four Star Dragon Ball which contained the spirit of Goku's grandpa (at least according to Goku, Calhi would say if asked).
Bulma Briefs raised her hands into the air. She gazed in puzzlement at her two strange assailants; a blonde girl with brown eyes in a strange outfit complete with a cape and a monkey boy (?) in a blue martial art gi. "Ah, sorry, is this your Dragon Ball? I didn't mean to take it without giving you something in return." Bulma said. She slowly reached into her satchel.
"Oh no, you don't," Calhi said. "Keep your hands where we can see them, sister."
Bulma quickly put her hands back up. "Okay, okay, don't hurt me." She said. "I'm sorry I came inside uninvited while you two were away. I just really need it, okay? I have a bet with a loudmouth guy from my school an American named Tony Stark, maybe you've heard of him? Thinks he is God's gift to women. He claims the Dragon Ball legend is a farce based on myth. I want to prove him wrong. Hey, what's the deal with your tail?" She asked about Goku's out-of-the-ordinary appendage.
"None of your business, thief! And I've we've never heard of Tony Stark," Calhi growled. Goku nodded his head in affirmation. "Tell me, why do you want my friend's Dragon Ball so badly?" Calhi demanded while Goku kept his staff pointed at Bulma.
"You're kidding, right? You really don't know. You must have heard of the Dragon Ball Legend." Bulma said stunned.
"Humor me," Calhi said
"If you gather all seven Dragon Balls legend has it the Great Dragon Shenron will appear and grant you a wish," Bulma explained.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Calhi laughed. "If you're going to make something up at least make up something believable."
"Grandpa Gohan did tell me this ball could grant a wish if you gather the other ones like it together with it," Goku said.
"And you never thought to mention this to me until now? Dang it, you've unbelievable." Calhi said shaking her fist at her friend.
"I thought you'd laugh at me like when I couldn't tell the difference between boys and girls," Goku said.
"Wait, you couldn't tell the difference between boys and girls, seriously?" Bulma said with a chuckle of her own.
"Um, yeah," Goku said. He blushed heavily from embarrassment.
"Don't say another word, or she'll think we're stupid," Calhi said.
"Ah, okay, my lips are sealed, Calhi," Goku said pretending to zip his lips.
"Stop being silly! And don't tell her our names, dang it!" Calhi snapped.
Bulma continued to laugh. She held her sides which hurt as she did so because her laughter was so great. "You two are too much."
"Stop laughing at us!" Calhi snapped at Bulma.
"Sorry, I can't help it. You two would make a great comedy duo in the city." Bulma said her laughter continued until Calhi stomped on her foot. "Hey," Bulma cried out in pain jumping around while she grabbed her foot. "That was uncalled for."
"And making fun of us after breaking into my friend's home was called for?" Calhi fired back.
"Touché," Bulma conceded. "How about we make a deal?" She offered a moment later.
"We're listening," Calhi said folding her arms over her chest.
"If you two let me borrow your Dragon Ball and help me find the others I haven't found yet, we'll decide together what we'll wish for. That's fair, right? My main interest is proving Tony wrong, er, I mean proving the legend is true." Bulma said.
"Do you happen to know where these other Dragon Balls are?" Calhi asked. If the legend was true she could save her kingdom.
"Not exactly, but I can find them," Bulma said.
"How?" Calhi said skeptically.
"With this gadget I invented which shows me where Dragon Balls are located, generally speaking. I call it Dragon Radar." Bulma said. She pulled her Dragon Radar out of her satchel. "It's how I knew to come here. Do we have a deal, or not?"
Calhi glanced at Goku. "It won't hurt my Grandpa Gohan's spirit?" Goku said.
Bulma looked at Calhi. "Say no," Calhi who was closer to Bulma urged in a whisper.
"Of course not," Bulma assured Goku.
"Okay, I'll help you," Goku said smiling. "I'm Goku."
Bulma looked back at Calhi who said. "And you already know my name is Calhi. I'm in but the wish is ours, got it."
"Yay, sure whatever you say," Bulma exclaimed excitedly. She jumped in the air. "I know we'll have a great adventure together and end up being best friends forever!" He grabbed the pair in a group hug. Goku wore an expression of confusion on his face while Calhi wore one of mild annoyance.
'What the heck have I gotten myself into? First Goku now this Bulm character and her oddball legend. I hope I'm not wasting my time.' Calhi mentally lamented.
To Be Continued
Next – The quest for the Dragon Balls begins!
Author's Note One -
Kid Calhi's current outfit is the same (basically) as Kid Chi Chi's standard outfit (but with shorts rather than briefs). It uses the color scheme from the story cover pic.
Author's Note Two -
Bulma's motivation for locating the Dragon Balls is rooted in her bet with Teenage Tony Stark rather than obtaining a boyfriend via a wish like in canon.
Author's Note Three -
A Dragon Ball is indeed located near Fire Mountain but Calhi is ignorant of its existence, for now.