Chapter 11
Age 1000
Scene: Demon Realm
Atop a large spire surrounded by darkness, three figures are gathered around a staff, watching the Time Patrol's battle with Dabura and Fin. As Dabura is slain, the demon holding the staff collapses, dropping to her hands and knees.
Towa: Damn it…brother! How could you have fallen to mere children?!
Mechikabura: So…your plan has failed, has it, Towa? What a shame. And just as I was beginning to think your pitiful life might serve the Demon Realm a purpose.
Towa: I apologize for my outburst, Lord Mechikabura. But my plan is still in motion. Even if he perished, that Majin tore the seam between our realm and theirs.
Mechikabura: And what good does that do? So long as I am chained here, I am bound to this decaying realm.
Towa: Not for long. For outside of this realm exists one thing capable of breaking your chains - the Dragon Balls.
Demigra: Ha! Spare us your delusional fantasies. Dabura was the greatest swordsman this realm ever saw, and the Time Patrol killed him with bed-wetters. You don't stand a chance.
Mechikabura: Bold words, Demigra. I do hope you can back them up.
Demigra: What?!
Mechikabura: If Towa cannot fight the Time Patrol, then you will. Keep them occupied as Towa gathers the Dragon Balls. Whoever can bring me the Dragon Balls or the head of the Time Patrol shall be my successor. Unless, of course, you have a better idea?
Demigra: …I welcome the challenge, my lord. Just don't blame me if Towa ruins everything.
Towa: I'm not as careless as you imply, Demigra. Mira! To me!
Mira: You have more combat data for me to collect?
Towa: Not quite. We're going to an age where the Time Patrol has no history to protect…
Age 890
Scene: Hero Stadium
A full grown Goku, clad in his blue gi, clashes with Vegeta, equally aged and wearing his training suit. Goku kicks Vegeta in the side of his stomach, but Vegeta answers with two kicks directly to his. Goku goes flying, and Vegeta follows to smash him into the ground. However, Goku hits him with a sudden shockwave from his fist, sending Vegeta barrelling through the air instead. He attempts to retaliate with a barrage of energy blasts, but Goku just Instant Transmissions behind him, grabbing him and throwing him to the ground below. As Vegeta crashes into the ground, Vegeta Jr. winces. 7000 damage. From the other side of the battlefield, Goku Jr. chuckles.
Announcer: Goku Jr. just isn't letting up! In a single attack, he's dealt a massive blow to his opponent! What is the secret to his proficiency?
From the perspective of the audience, Goku and Vegeta are engaged in an intense game of DBH for the title of champion. However, to the young Saiyans, well acquainted with Capsule Corp technology, this battle is just as real as any other.
Goku moves in for another blow, this time with the power of a Berserker, but gambling with such low defense doesn't pay off. Vegeta finally performs his counter rush, turning Goku's would-be attack right back at him. With this, confidence returns to Vegeta's eyes.
Vegeta: Nice try, Goku, but now it's my turn. Go ahead and use whatever pathetic CAAs you have, because I'm still going to crush you with mine!
Goku: I'm not done yet, Vegeta!
Vegeta realizes his oversight. Goku still has one attacker left, one excluded from the previous co-op attacks. With a powerful Ki Blast, Vegeta is stunned, vulnerable and unable to fight back. Goku, not one to waste an opportunity, sets his sights on the stunned Vegeta, his sole CAA, Dragon Fist, aimed directly at him. With the boost to damage taken from being stunned taking effect, Goku lands a decisive blow, dealing just enough damage to seal the victory.
Announcer: What power! What speed! In just two turns, Goku Jr. has won the first annual Tournament of Heroes!
Goku and Vegeta regain consciousness in the real world, stepping away from their machines and towards each other. The two stop as their paths intertwine, offering nothing to the other but a firm handshake of camaraderie.
Goku: No hard feelings, right?
Vegeta: Of course not. You're just giving me a reason to train harder.
Goku: Isn't that what you said last time? You're 2-0 now.
Vegeta: Savor those two points, Goku. They're the last I'll let you score on me!
Though both Saiyans are filled with enough fighting spirit for a rematch, the award ceremony continues, far longer than either of them would have liked. Eventually, the two are finally allowed to leave the stadium, where their conversation resumes.
Goku: Don't beat yourself up, Vegeta. If that fight went on just one round longer, you would've stomped me.
Vegeta: I'm not so insecure as to worry about what-ifs. If anything, you're the one who needs to be easier on yourself. You still can't go Super Saiyan 3, can you?
Goku: No, I'm still a few levels short…
Vegeta: Not in the game, you dolt! You know all this training hasn't been for fun, right?
Goku: Right, how could I forget? Our bodies need to be in peak condition for the Supreme Kai to use as human shields.
Vegeta: It's not about the Supreme Kai, Goku. Whatever Dabura planned to do would have affected all of time, including right now. If someone else showed up at this very moment, would we really be able to protect this place?
The more Goku ponders his answer, the darker the sky seems to turn. Goku is almost lost in thought, but Vegeta snaps him out of it by the time the sky is nearly pitch-black, save for the sudden eruption of a pillar of light in the distance.
Goku: You and your big fat…come on!
Scene: Dende's Lookout
Shenron: THAT WISH IS BEYOND MY POWER.
Towa: Don't try and deceive me, you stupid dragon! Don't you know who I am?
Shenron: ACTUALLY, I DO NOT. IT'S BEEN OVER A CENTURY SINCE I'VE GRANTED THE WISH OF AN EARTHLING.
Towa: Then allow me to burn it into your memory - Towa, the last name you will ever know!
Towa charges a blast from her scepter, and with a flash of light, Shenron is killed, the sky returning to normal as the now defunct Dragon Balls drop to the ground like rocks. Furious, she turns to a brainwashed Dende.
Towa: Namekian! You will create me a new set of Dragon Balls. And this time, they will be strong enough to release Lord Mechikabura! Do you understand?
Dende nods before retrieving Shenron's mold from deep within the lookout. A sudden blast causes it to nearly shatter, but Towa deflects it.
Towa: You…!
Vegeta: Acquainted, are we? Then let me introduce you to a world of pain!
Towa: Mira! Take care of them!
Mira: You want me to fight children?
Towa: You want me to turn you into scrap metal?
Reluctantly, Mira readies himself, throwing two balls of ki at the two Saiyans. The two struggle to break through, but Goku succeeds first, continuing to rush towards Mira. Mira simply grabs Goku and throws him at Vegeta before throwing another ki blast at the two. Goku successfully dodges, flying back up only for Mira to grab his leg. Vegeta throws a Kienzan straight at Mira's wrist, and Goku continues his ascent, launching a Kamehameha right at Towa and the Dragon Balls. But the young Saiyan is a second too late, as the Dragon Balls, now embedded with dark energy, shoot straight up. They spin around for a moment before forcefully flying away in seven directions, each one opening a rift in spacetime.
Towa: What the-?! Mira! Split up! Don't let them get away!
Mira nods and flies into the nearest rift, Towa flying into a different one.
Vegeta: Damn it! Come on Goku, we gotta split up and follow them!
Goku: Stop, Vegeta! You can't go alone, you're gonna get yourself killed!
Vegeta: Shut up! Do you think I'm some kind of weakling? Don't you go getting a big head just because you won a stupid card game! Worry about yourself!
Before Goku can launch a rebuttal, Vegeta flies off into a rift to pursue Towa. Goku stands indignantly for a moment before coming to his senses.
Goku: Well, if Vegeta's that confident…
Reluctantly, Goku takes off into a rift as well, choosing to pursue Mira instead.
Narrator: Once more, the Demon Realm has threatened Goku and Vegeta's peaceful existence! Separated but stronger than ever, what new perils await our Heroes? And are they up to the challenge? Find out next time on Neo Dragon Ball Heroes!
