I received an anonymous review in which the person complained that when Videl said that she would keep training in order to become as strong as Krillen that it was impossible. I am not arguing against this point, what I am going to say though is what one person says and what one person is capable of are two different things. Sure she could say that but does that necessarily mean that it is going to happen over the following months? This story is coming to a close soon with the advent of the Spring Fling which story time wise is only in a week or two. Don't make such rash assumptions. Whew, now that I've gotten that off my chest...
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ.
P.S. Sorry for the delay, started a new job and been trying to sort things out.
...
"What about this one?"
"No."
"This one?"
"No."
"This one looks cute."
"No."
"You didn't even look at this one."
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does."
"No it doesn't, I can just wear one of my old dresses."
"As if I would ever let my friend go about wearing an old dress to a formal occasion. Anyways let's try that store over there!"
"Do we have to?"
"Yes, now come on."
Videl regretted ever agreeing with Erasa before school had finished that day.
...
"I'm home," said Videl as she stepped through the front door. She was surprised that she hadn't been ambushed by all of the maids upon her arrival. For a moment she simply stood there stunned until a single figure walked into view.
"Oh Miss Videl," said Jane, the head maid for the Satan Manor, "I didn't know we were to be expecting you back today."
"Spur of the moment decision," said Videl as she walked into the centre of the room where Jane stood. "Where is everyone else?"
"Master Satan sent them all on an extended leave after you left, we believe since there was only going to be him on his own for a while he just wanted some peace and quiet, although I had my suspicions the next day when young Master Gohan came around to speak with your father. In your two month absence he has come here twice, even three times a week," said Jane going over all the things which had recently occurred.
"Do you know what they were doing?" asked Videl returning to her old crime busting ways.
Jane shook her head. "When I first discussed it with the rest of the girls, we all thought he had come over here to ask your father for his permission to be your boyfriend." Videl's jaw dropped as Jane continued. "Since he had come second in the last major tournament, we all thought the young master would have been a suitable man which filled your father's requirements. But since he kept coming day after day we figured it had to be something else. Only a week ago did your father announce that he would be holding a father daughter fight."
"So nothing overly strange happened?" asked Videl.
"The first couple of times he came around he brought a set of complicated tools as if he were doing a bit of high tech construction. Also the young masters time here would vary greatly," explained Jane. "Some days he would stay only for a few minutes while other days he would be here from dawn to dusk and then some. A few of the girls assumed that your father might have asked the young master for training, but I checked the training room constantly as if expecting to see something amazing. Instead, I simply found Hercule trying to refine his form against a much younger opponent."
"So Gohan was helping him prepare for this oncoming fight," stated Videl.
"It would seem that way, he even took him into the wilderness for a week in order to do some secret training," responded Jane.
"Fair enough, anyway I better go see dad," said Videl before turning to walk towards the training room. She heard Jane bid her farewell but paid it no heed. She now knew that her father had been the one to make the announcement but the mastermind behind it all had been Gohan. The fact that he had been training her father behind her back tore at her ever so slightly, but she realised that he had done this to help her. Before she had even met Gohan, Videl had thought that she was capable of going toe to toe with her father and at least give the audience a good show. With her impulsive fighting nature she would probably have ended up challenging Hercule anyway to show that she was no longer living in her father's shadow. This way however, she wouldn't absolutely wipe the floor with him and it would still be a challenge. If it was going to be an even fight before, the coming fight would be incredible to watch.
Before Videl realised it, she had reached the training room and stepped through the door. She was met with the familiar view of a tiled room with all types of machinery used to help tone the body. There was also the familiar stench of sweat, no matter how much the maids tried to clean up the area, it still ended up smelling the same way. Also Videl noticed something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on but ignored it as she spotter her father.
Hercule was standing in the centre of a fighting ring, fighting an imaginary opponent with his patent style. Although Videl was now able to make out several differences from his usual style which would go unnoticed to most, she had Eighteen to thank for that. His left hand was raised slightly higher and to the left a touch, ensuring that the head was well protected from any hooks or kicks. His balance had also shifted slightly to being more on the balls of his feet effectively making him slightly more nimble. Also Videl noticed the physical differences with her father. Instead of seeing the bulging muscles she was accustomed to, they looked like they had shrunk slightly but in doing so had become more tone. Finally, much to Videl's utter horror, the trademark afro had vanished. The once foot tall hair had shrunk to being only a few inches in length. Sure it still had the shape of an afro but in a much smaller form.
"Hey dad," said Videl as she walked over towards Hercule, the air around her pressing down as if she was back on top of the platform where Korin resided.
Hercule stopped his fighting and turned to face his daughter. "Sweet pea, it's so good to see you," he said as he jumped from the ring, landing with a loud thud before grabbing a towel and wiping the torrent of sweat pouring off his brow. "I would give you a hug but I'm a bit dirty at the moment."
"That's alright," said Videl brushing it off. "Anyway, let's get down to business. Have you been preparing for this oncoming fight?"
"Once I learnt that you had gone training for an extended period of time I believed that I had to do my best to still be a protective father," explained Hercule. "The fight itself was your friend Gohan's idea."
"Figures," whispered Videl so that Hercule couldn't hear before speaking up. "I hope you don't plan on holding back," said Videl.
"The only thing I'm scared of more than hurting m daughter is disappointing her," said Hercule. "I know that you are going to give it your all and I'm going to do the same."
"Thanks dad," said Videl with a smile before changing the topic. "Is it just me or does it feel different in here for some reason?"
"Once again you have your friend to blame," said Hercule as he beckoned for Videl to follow him to the side of the room. When they reached the wall, Hercule pointed at a small panel which read at '3.5xg.' "I'm not actually sure what it means but it changes the density of the room, it's steadily been going up every time I come in here and switches itself off when I'm not in here so the maids have no problem cleaning. Gohan installed it after he dropped me off in the wilderness for a week."
"Where did he drop you off?" asked Videl curious.
"I have no real idea but he gave me a strict training regime and when I got back he had put that thing in the wall."
"I'll have to ask him later," said Videl. "Anyway, I'll let you get back to your training." Videl turned to walk away before stopping and spinning around. "I like your hair by the way."
Hercule gave a knowing smile before tapping his hair with his forefinger. "Less wind resistance," he said with a laugh before he jumped back in the ring. Not wanting to know what she would soon come up against, Videl left Hercule alone and made a mental note not to step into the training room when Hercule was in there. It didn't make much difference, but Videl didn't want to know what sort of attacks Hercule would unleash on her in twelve days. That also meant however, that Hercule wouldn't know what she was capable of, and that fact caused a cunning smile to spread across her lips.
...
The plot thickens as both parties prepare to face one another. Please review.