Chapter 037 - Porunga's Task
Four months had passed since the group had come back from Namek. A Namekian year takes a lot shorter time than that on Earth, lasting one-hundred-and-thirty days, so naturally the Namekian Dragonballs were quickly restored. Once again a trio of wishes were able to be made...
The sky had darkened around West City and a large gathering of Namekians and humans were outside Capsule Corp. Corset stood beside her mother excited to see the Namekian Dragon again. Gohan, Chichi, Master Roshi and some more of Bulma's childhood friends were also present, some of whom Corset didn't recognise as she hadn't seen them for years. One was a pig apparently named Oolong, the other a floating blue cat named Puar. She knew her dad was around somewhere although she wasn't sure where.
Dende stepped forward and began to speak the Namekian password.
In a striking flash of light Porunga began to rise and fully emerged looking as tough as ever.
"Wow... the real Shenron is huge!" Bulma gawked in awe.
Corset smiled upon seeing him; at least she knew the Namekian Dragonballs still worked! She had no idea really how the new Great Elder had suddenly become tied to the Dragonballs but it didn't really matter, as long as they worked!
"I can't believe it's true..." Dr Brief mumbled. "... To think you could really call forth a magical dragon that grants wishes!"
"Speak your first wish!" Porunga roared loudly.
Now that she thought of it, Corset wasn't entirely sure on the wishes. She knew they had five people to wish back to life; who would be first? Plus the Namekians were meant to be moving to a new planet...
"We have a world of time," Muri spoke startling Corset; had he read her mind? "Use all three wishes for your loved ones."
"Thank you Great Elder," Gohan smiled.
"Ok then, now who first?" Bulma pondered. "... Ok. Dende, tell the Dragon to summon the souls of Son Goku and Krillin who died on Namek."
Dende began to speak Namekian; Corset listening intensely. She wondered how Dende could suddenly speak so fluently in another language and wished she could do it too!
"... I have summoned the soul of the one called Krillin..." Porunga declared. "However, I cannot summon the soul of Son Goku."
"What?" Bulma gasped.
"Why not?" Gohan asked anxious.
Why not indeed, Corset thought. Had something gone wrong?
"I cannot summon the soul of someone who is alive," Porunga answered.
Corset's jaw dropped in disbelief. Goku wasn't dead? He was alive! How? How had he survived Namek blowing up?
"... He's alive?" Gohan mumbled. "... Dad's alive!" He cried ecstatically, Chichi squealing out of joy. Corset smiled and looked at the two of them, happy their family member was indeed alive.
"Hey, hold on a minute," Bulma mumbled, "If he's alive then why hasn't he come back?"
"... Maybe his ship's broken?" Gohan suggested.
"Then ask Porunga to summon him here," Muri smiled.
"That might work..." Corset nodded.
"Alright Dende, our second wish is to bring Krillin back to life," Bulma decided.
Dende relayed the wish to Porunga once again in Namekian. The dragon's eyes flashed red.
In a sudden blur of colour, Krillin stood before the others looking incredibly confused! "Wh... What the...?"
Corset grinned and cheered alongside her mother and Gohan, the majority of the large crowd just clapping.
"I'm really alive again?" Krillin spluttered.
"Thanks to the Namekian Dragonballs," Bulma nodded. "Ok Dende, our third and final wish is to bring Son Goku here!"
"What's going on?" Krillin asked Corset whilst Dende spoke the wish.
"Goku beat Freeza," Corset answered. "Planet Namek got blown up during the fight and we thought Goku died but he didn't! Now we're wishing him here because we think his spaceship broke."
"He refuses," Porunga's loud voice cut into the conversation. Everyone seemed shocked. Corset looked up clueless; who refused to do what?
"He says he shall return by himself!"
"Dad's choosing not to come home?" Gohan asked shocked. "... Why?"
"I know why!"
Corset turned around to look at Master Roshi; was there something he'd been hiding from them all?
"He's too scared to come home to the one thing stronger than a Super Saiyan-" Master Roshi cried. "His wife!"
"WHAT?"
Corset flinched and nervously looked at Chichi; where had she gotten that sword from? This had just reinforced the idea that Chichi was a terrifying woman who Corset did not want to make angry! She felt bad for Gohan having to live with her.
"It was just a joke..." Master Roshi added quickly.
There was a sudden and violent shudder of the ground, the sounds of something big and powerful roaring through the surrounding area. Corset turned around to see what looked like one of her grandpa's custom-built spaceships take off! It vanished into the dark skies.
"Was that your spaceship, dear?" Her nana asked her grandpa.
"... It was..." Dr Brief mumbled.
Corset had a feeling she knew who was on that ship and frowned. She wondered when he would be coming back... if he was coming back.
"I don't understand why dad wouldn't want to come home..." Gohan seemed saddened by this.
"Let him be," Piccolo interrupted. "If he says he'll come back on his own then let him. We might as well bring someone from Kaio's back to life."
Corset'd almost forgotten about the others who'd died against the Saiyans!
"Yeah, I guess we should, but which one should we bring back first?" Bulma asked.
"It feels bad that we're still leaving two to stay dead for a little longer..." Corset mumbled. "I wish we could bring them all back with a single wish!"
"Hey you guys!"
Corset blinked in surprise, startled by the sudden appearance of Kaio's voice.
"Kaio!" Gohan smiled.
"I've asked the guys which one of them should be wished back with your third wish and Yamcha was picked," Kaio relayed.
"Yamcha huh?" Bulma smiled. "Ok then Dende, our final wish is to bring Yamcha back to life."
Dende spoke the wish in Namekian and Porunga's eyes flashed red.
"There, your final wish has been granted!" Porunga roared.
Corset glanced around, surprised when she realised she couldn't see Yamcha standing amongst them. She could sense him so he definitely was alive!
"W-What?! I can't see him anywhere!" Bulma cried.
Porunga vanished in a flash of light- the Namekian Dragonballs rose up into the air. Muri stepped forwards, holding out one hand. With a loud bellow the Dragonballs suddenly turned to stone and crashed down before them. Corset wondered why he'd done it.
"... There," Muri smiled, "Now we won't have to search for them in four months' time."
"H-Hold on!" Bulma stuttered. "I can't see Yamcha anywhere. The Dragon must have short-changed us!"
Corset felt bad for both her mother and Yamcha, although she felt a little resentment towards the former bandit. As nice as he was, she didn't really like the idea that her mother had feelings for him and not her father. Yamcha wasn't her dad and she felt perhaps he was getting in the way of her mama and dad being together and them living as a happy family!
Who was she fooling? She'd never get a family like that...
"Don't worry, he didn't short-change anyone."
That was Yamcha's voice! He appeared from the back of the crowd - soaking wet!
The look on her mother's face said it all; Corset could tell she still liked Yamcha. As much as she resented her parents not being together and wished she had a normal family like all the other kids she knew, she was glad her mother had someone who made her happy. Surely that was better than being forced to be with someone who killed people?
"Well, we have another four months before the Dragonballs can be used again," Dende smiled.
"Yeah," Gohan nodded. "I hope my dad gets back before then so he can see us wish back Tenshinhan and Chaozu."
"Yeah," Corset agreed.
Another four months quickly passed. During that time, both Gohan and Corset had their sixth birthdays and grew one year older.
Goku still hadn't returned.
Porunga had once again been summoned and again a large crowd of people had turned up outside the main Capsule Corp building.
"Sorry we're late!" Gohan called as he and Chichi ran towards the others.
"What took you so long?" Krillin smiled. "Hey, your hair's even longer than before!"
"Mother made me finish my homework before we could leave," Gohan answered.
"Homework is important, especially in today's competitive world," Chichi folded her arms. "If you wanna go far in life then you have to study hard!"
"Oh, any news about your dad?" Corset asked.
Gohan shook his head.
"Ok Dende," Bulma smiled. "Everyone's here. Our first wish is to bring Chaozu back to life."
Dende looked up towards the Dragon and began to speak in Namekian.
"Your wish is granted," Porunga's eyes flashed red.
In a flash of blurry colours Chaozu suddenly stood before the crowd.
"Welcome back Chaozu," Krillin grinned.
"Whoa... I'm alive?" Chaozu blinked in disbelief.
"Our second wish is to bring Tenshinhan back to life," Bulma smiled.
Chaozu looked up at the Dragon, seemingly startled by his huge size and bulk. Dende spoke to the Dragon once again...
Tenshinhan suddenly appeared! Chaozu jumped up and hugged him, Corset clapping along with everyone else. Now everyone had been restored back to life!
"Well, everyone has been brought back," Muri stepped forwards. "The time has come for us to depart. I've located us a new planet where I believe we Namekians can live in peace."
Corset's head whizzed around in urgency. She'd forgotten the Namekians had agreed to stay temporarily. So they'd managed to find a new planet?
"On behalf of all of us, we much appreciate the hospitality and kindness you have given us," Muri bowed.
"Hey, it was nothing; it was the least I could do for you guys letting us use your Dragonballs," Bulma smiled.
"So you're leaving now?" Gohan asked.
"I'm afraid so," Muri nodded. "Dende, you know the wish."
"Y-Yes Great Elder..." Dende nodded looking a little sad. "... Gohan, Krillin, Corset... I'll miss you all a lot. I'll never forget you!"
Corset felt sad and could feel herself beginning to well up. She didn't want Dende to leave but she knew he had to.
"We'll miss you too," Gohan sniffed.
Dende turned and began to speak in Namekian, Corset wishing this didn't have to happen.
"It shall be done..." Porunga's eyes flashed red.
One by one the Namekians began to vanish before her eyes, Corset feeling a tear roll down her cheek.
"Goodbye..." Dende waved as he slowly disappeared.
It was heart-breaking. Since he'd started living in her house, Corset'd become closer friends with Dende. It had taken him a while to get used to how different life on Earth could be but she was sure he liked it. She'd shared all her toys with him just like she said she would. He'd healed her on a number of occasions during her training with Piccolo. Now he was gone...
The Namekian Dragonballs shot up high into the sky and off into space...
Almost another year passed. April of the following year was a big step in a couple of children's lives, although only one of them would take part in it, whether she wanted to or not!
"You're making me go to school?" Corset gasped horrified. "What about my training with Mr Piccolo? You said I could be taught at home!"
"I know," Bulma nodded calmly, "I think public schooling would be better for you. You get to meet lots of new kids and make lots of new friends, it'll be fun."
"What about training? I'm training with Piccolo," Corset protested. "I don't wanna go to school!"
"Look, as of late you've been making excuses about not training." Bulma's voice was now sterner. "It's the law; every child has to go to school when they're your age."
Corset pouted in annoyance. "... Gohan doesn't go to school..." She muttered quietly.
"Gohan doesn't have a school near his home," Bulma answered. "Trust me kid, you'll love school."
Corset shook her head, "No I won't..." she mumbled.
"Look there's nothing else to say about this honey, you've gotta go to school," Bulma sighed. "Just make sure that whatever you do, you don't show the other kids how strong you are!"
Corset stood outside the large gates of the building, her backpack securely in her grasp. Her stomach was trying to tie itself in knots. She wondered whether it was worth running away or flying off but knew her mother would be cross if she did run away.
The building didn't look as big as her home but there were lots of children walking around! Nervously she looked around at her surroundings; she had no idea where she was meant to be going...
So this was West City First Elementary.
"Hi, are you one of our new students?"
A brunette woman had approached her; Corset wasn't sure if she was a teacher or not.
"If you would just like to walk into the building and turn left until you reach the big set of doors; we're welcoming new students to our school in the main hall," the lady smiled.
Without a word Corset walked towards the building. She didn't really want to be here; she'd had to wake up so early this morning too! She hated school!
The welcoming assembly had been quite daunting. There were a lot of children packed into the hall; Corset suddenly felt insignificant and alone. None of these children had any fighting potential; all of their ki levels were tiny! They'd all been led to a large board and asked to find where their names were and what class they were in. Corset spotted her name written under class 1-B.
"Hey, I can see my name!" One girl smiled.
"Me too!" Another squealed. "We're in the same class!"
"I hoped we would be!" The first girl beamed.
Corset watched as the two girls walked over towards one of the members of staff, feeling sadder and more alone now. She didn't know anyone here and wished Gohan was here too.
She found her way to her own class thanks to a member of staff and took a seat beside the window. Her classroom was slowly packed with other children, all seemingly oblivious to her being there. Corset didn't mind much, she found it more interesting to look out the window at the playground. She knew really she should be outside somewhere with Piccolo training...
"Hi."
Corset turned around, surprised to see a girl standing in front of her desk. She had brown hair up in pony tails and green eyes. "What's your name?" She asked. "My name's Kana!"
"... I'm Corset," Corset mumbled.
"Eh? That's a strange name..." Kana raised an eyebrow. "I've not heard that name before! Is it foreign?"
"Um... I don't know..." Corset looked down at her desk. She'd always known her name was unusual but she wasn't sure she liked the reaction she was getting right now!
"You're shy!" Kana giggled. "It's ok though, I used to be shy too! I'm gonna sit in the seat next to yours! Hey, do you have any friends here?"
"No, I don't know anyone here..." Corset shook her head.
"Ok, we can be friends then," Kana decided. "I know a couple of people but they're in different classes. I'll show them to you!"