Chapter 73: One More Time

Thanks to Syrias for running through and checking some plot ideas for the Buu saga with me.

"All right, have you both let off some steam?" Tien addressed Launch and Raditz, equal parts stern and joking.

"Think so." Launch nodded to Raditz. "You were saying?"

"Okay. Sure I'm not going to get interrupted this time?" Nobody responded, so Raditz drew in a deep breath, preparing for the third time to tell them about the impending threat.

"All right, everybody got everything they need?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Yup!" Gohan nodded. "Don't worry, Mom, I know what those two are like."

Goku looked back at them. "Okay, guys. Chi-Chi, Goten, remember what I've taught you...it isn't too hard, once you get the hang of it." With that, the four of them took to the skies.

Bulma laughed out loud—not that Krillin's joke had been very funny (or, indeed, funny at all), but it was a joy just to see all those familiar faces. "Man, it sure is good seeing everybody again."

"You said it!" Goku and family touched down. "Heya Bulma, Krillin!"

"Goku!" Krillin warmly greeted his best friend. "Hey, there's a mini-you back there!"

"Yeah, haha!" Gohan nudged his younger brother forwards. "Say hello to everybody, Goten!"

"Uh, hi!" Goten, bedecked in an outfit reminiscent of his father's and with matching hair and smile to boot, waved awkwardly. "Uh...oh, hey, Trunks!"

Bulma's son ran up from behind her. "Why don't you to go play, all right?" she suggested. As the pair raced off, she turned to Chi-Chi. "So you did get the hang of flying!"

"Yup." Chi-Chi nodded. "Gohan was one thing, but when I saw Goten pick it up I decided to get back in the game." She flexed her right arm as she spoke, giving Bulma the chills. What does she mean, back in the game? She already trains every day, doesn't she?

"Well, uh..." Feeling slightly awkward, Bulma shoved Krillin and Eighteen forwards. "...well, Krillin was just telling me about him and Eighteen!"

"Oh yes, I remember, she came back." Chi-Chi smiled at Marron, currently sleeping in her father's arms. "I'm very happy for you two."

"Why?" Goku scratched his head, oblivious. "You guys start a babysitting service, or...?"

Krillin sighed. "Goku, this is our daughter, Marron."

"Wha—" Goku practically collapsed. "What?! Can she even—I mean, well—she's an andr—" Everyone began staring daggers at him. "Uh..." he hastily backtracked. "That is to say..."

"Hahaha!" Bulma broke the tension. "Same old Goku!"

"Don't worry about it." Eighteen smiled tersely. "But for your information, I was a human who was then converted into an android. Let's just say...everything works."

Krillin grinned. "And how...!"

"I heard that!"

"Aw, c'mon, it was a joke! A joke!" Krillin protested as Gohan dragged him and Goku away, having noticed that Bulma was trying to speak privately to Eighteen.

"You sure you made the right choice? Not even going back to say goodbye?" Bulma asked. "I mean, it was a nice gesture, sending the time machine back empty, but don't you think..."

"It would have been to painful," Eighteen said quietly. "That world has too many painful memories for me. Every second I stayed there, out of that misplaced sense of obligation, was a reminder of how far we could have fallen." She took in a deep breath, calming herself. "Besides, I sent them a message back."

"Oh? What'd you write?"

"You know what they say." Eighteen removed a copy of the picture from her pocket, something she often carried. It depicted her with Krillin and Marron, all beaming, standing on a sunny beach with Roshi goofing off in the background. "A picture's worth a thousand words."

Bulma patted the cyborg on the shoulder, understanding. "Sister, that one's a whole novel." She straightened up, smile vanishing. "Listen...I've finished those upgrades. If you want to...?"

"Sure, after the tournament." Eighteen began to walk back towards her family. "We're both okay with it, by the way; we've talked. I don't mind some physical changes if it lets me better protect my family."

"There are plenty of other fighters around, you know. Whether you choose that life or not, it's up to you."

Eighteen shook her head sadly. "No, it isn't. I have this incredible power...I know by now that new enemies can appear at any time. It'd be selfish to throw away the chance to save those I care about because...well, you know the problems, you told them to me."

Bulma frowned as she left. Still...you'd go that far? Even if it might mean losing your own humanity, something you fought so hard to find? She tried to put it out of her mind. All right, enough of this. Today's supposed to be a happy day...

"Gotcha!"

"You didn't!"

"I did!" Goten sang happily. "Did, did! You're it!"

"I hate this game," Trunks moped.

"Just 'cause you're slower—"

"You always want to play tag—"

"But I like running—"

"Let's—"

"Huh." They looked up, following the sound of another child's voice—sounding somewhat disappointed. "This is what I'm up against?" Break hovered above them, arms folded.

"Who are you?" Trunks asked, wide-eyed, as she descended to the ground.

The happy, laughing child Break had been for her parents was gone. This was the competition she was talking to. And she had a low opinion of children who spent their time on silly games—so unproductive. "I'm the one who's going to beat you." She snorted as she walked off haughtily to go rejoin Chiaotzu, who had hopefully finished sorting out her registration. Their power really isn't much... "See you in the ring, small fry."

Goten and Trunks couldn't restrain giggles as she left. "You hear the way she talked?" Trunks managed.

"I know! It's just like on TV!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament! Please, take your seats; I know you're all anticipating the main event, but all in good time. We're starting things with the junior division! Last time—the first time we'd ever had separate age groups—the junior tournament was won by Videl, Mr. Satan's daughter." The announcer adjusted his ever-present sunglasses, watching the crowd settle into the stands. "She's old enough to participate in the main competition this time, but I assure you the quality of our young fighters will be outstanding as always!"

Goku ambled around behind the ring, in the competitors' section. "Now...which way to the kitchen...?"

"Son Goku?" A gravelly voice rang out from behind him, and four black-suited men, built like brick walls crossbred with gorillas, filed into the room, surrounding him.

"Can I help you guys?" he asked innocently. "You don't look like martial artists. The stands are that way." Ki—normal human. No threat, or really good at hiding it...

"We understand your son is releasing a book today with the potential to turn everyone on the planet into a walking WMD," the largest growled.

"A what...?" Goku blinked.

"We're going to have to take that book in the interests of national security. You're gonna go get it and hand it over to us."

"Hmm...I don't think I like you." Goku shrugged. "Sorry, can't help you. But ask Gohan—he wrote it, after all."

"Don't play dumb with us." Four gun-barrels gleamed. "Close range, four on one, don't try none a' your Hong Kong shit, y'hear?" Evidently, they'd failed to grasp some fairly basic concepts from the whole Cell episode.

"C'mon, we're all adults here!" Goku snatched the gun from the man in front of him, crushing it easily in his hand. "Why don't you put the toys away?" He frowned slightly as a hail of bullets from the other three crumpled on his invulnerable skin, finally hearing the click of three empty chambers. His eyes narrowed. "You know, I'm not as stupid as I look. I know your game, and I'm not letting you hoard all the power for yourself." His arm blurred, and though he barely tapped the disarmed agent, the hulking man was sent flying clean through the rock wall behind him and onto the street outside. "Now go. I don't want to see any of you ever again."

Hastily, they complied, and Goku's cheerful demeanour returned as he wandered into the warm-up area. Gohan, Eighteen, Krillin and Videl were standing in one corner, and he approached them, waving energetically. "Heya, guys!"

"What took you?" Krillin asked.

"Don't worry about it. Anybody we should be worrying about?"

"Well, at our level you wouldn't think so, would you?" Krillin nodded to a pair of fighters across the room from them. "But those two...some weird ki coming from them, don't you think?"

"Yeah..." Goku mumbled, contemplating the ones Krillin had indicated. They were strangely pale, and completely bald, with bulged-out veins from head to toe. They wore black wrestling-style outfits, and a large, sickly aura emanated from them. One was merely toned and muscular, the other practically a giant. And finally, each had a stylised black 'M' emblazoned upon his forehead.

This last detail was why Gohan was sweating buckets.

"Quite a spectacular series of fights, wouldn't you agree, folks? Young Goten, son of a former Budokai Tenkaichi champion, has made it through to the final match, where he'll face the winner of this second semi-final." The announcer indicated the ring with a sweeping gesture. "In this bout, Trunks faces off against Break—both of these competitors have made short work of every opponent they've faced so far, demonstrating the kind of strength that makes me wonder if someone's shown these titanic tykes a sneak peek at this highly-anticipated tell-all book, also to be released today! Break, Trunks, please enter the ring."

Trunks hopped up onto the stage, seeing Break waiting for him, arms folded. She repressed a yawn. "Let's get this over with. Then I can get on to the interesting fight."

"You think?" Trunks grinned, eyes flashing gold. "Who says you'll even get to the finals?"

"Please. I'll beat you in one minute."

"Fighters, ready..." the announcer intoned. He raised one hand, bringing his index finger down in a sweeping motion. "...and begin!"

Break immediately ran at Trunks, beginning the match with a leaping kick. He blocked it, but the force sent him skidding back to the edge of the ring. She's strong— She was already in front of him. He threw a punch, which she dodged, countering and knocking him clear into the air.

"And Trunks is about to go out of bounds, it seems—wait!" The announcer blinked. Yes, this was going to be one of those tournaments. Trunks had halted his flight, and was soaring back towards the ring—having not touched the ground, he didn't count as out of bounds. He charged at Break, swinging for her head, but she ducked back, resting her hands on the floor and kicking up and back with both feet, catching Trunks in the stomach. He dropped into the centre of the ring, rolled uncontrollably for a second, then hastily scrambled back to his feet. Okay...let's try something else.

Break turned to face him. "Is that all you've got?"

"You ever stop boasting?" Trunks raised one hand, building yellow-orange energy around it. Break shifted her stance, preparing to receive the blast.

He fired, and she braced herself, placing one hand behind the other and blocking the incoming beam head-on. With a grunt of effort, she neutralised it, realising too late that while she'd been focusing on this, Trunks had appeared behind her, arm swinging.

The punch took her in the back of the head, causing her to fall forwards. She sprang up, straight into a kick to the chin, which flipped her onto her back. Trunks tried to follow up again, leaping towards her, but she launched a powerful two-handed kiai, knocking him upwards, then vanished, phasing into view above him. She swung an elbow down, taking him out of the air and flooring him again.

"What a battle, ladies and gentlemen! It seems Break has the advantage for now, but will it be decisive, or can Trunks recover the match?" The announcer yelled as the two young fighters paused, taking stock of each other.

Didn't expect him to be this good... Break mused. She slowly descended back to the ring.

Damn, Trunks grimaced. I can barely keep up...all right, I'll give it everything I've got! He charged up energy in both hands, grunting. Sparks of power played up and down his arms. "Are you ready for—"

Break was gone. Trunks barely had time to register this, as she immediately reappeared in front of him, ramming home a punch to his stomach. The force was enough to bring him to his knees, coughing painfully as the energy he'd been building dissipated harmlessly.

"Idiot." Break scowled. "You made me use full-strength. Sorry, but if I couldn't deflect that, people might have been really hurt." Trunks' hand clawed at her leg. "Look, you did well, but I win, okay? Give it up!"

"I...won't...lose...!" Trunks hissed, trying to drag himself up.

"Stop already!" Break, growing frustrated, kicked him away, launching him out of the ring. With no energy left to fly with, he fell to the ground, groaning.

"And, uh...we have a winner!" The announcer declared, as assistants rushed to ensure Trunks wasn't seriously hurt. "Break will continue to the final, where she'll face Goten!"

"I lost, Mom...I'm sorry."

Bulma smiled warmly down at Trunks. "Hey, no worries. You won a lot more."

"You did great." Zarbon sat next to his son. "You can't win every time. Sometimes the other person is just better, and there's nothing you can do. But there's one thing that is your choice."

"Huh?" Trunks looked up, wondering.

The Earth-loving alien ruffled his hair. "You never have to give up. That's your choice. You can always choose to try again, and do better next time."

Trunks beamed. "I will!"

"Don't worry about Break," Chiaotzu told the adult division fighters. "She does the tough act, but she's a good kid."

"Yeah, I knew she wouldn't hurt Trunks badly," Gohan said. "Hey, isn't that Hercule over there?"

Goku looked to where his son was pointing. "Huh. Yeah, it is." The former champion was warming up, shadow-boxing up and down the room. "He's stubborn, isn't he? Hey, Chiaotzu."

"Yeah?"

"Use your telekinesis when we draw our numbers—make sure none of us have to fight each other until the finals, okay?" He paused. "In fact, make it anybody with ki."

"Right." That'll make a full finals bracket, Chiaotzu realised. Eight fighters with some ki here—Goku, Gohan, Eighteen, Krillin, Videl, Hercule, and...those two. He gulped instinctively at the sight of the two pale-skinned, 'M'-marked brutes.

Trunks put his hand on Goten's shoulder, giving his half-saiyan friend pause in his walk towards the ring for the final. "Hey, Goten. Be careful...this girl you're fighting, she's real strong."

Goten shrugged. "Yeah, I know. She's my cousin."

"Wha—you're related?!" Trunks groaned. "No wonder...how come you never tell me these things?!"

"You never ask."

Trunks fumed. "How am I supposed to ask if I don't know—"

"Well, I'd better go now—can't be late!" Goten waved, running off towards the ring.

"You—hey, just a minute! Remember, you're not allowed to..."

"I'll try." Goten reached the ring, climbing up onto the raised stone platform. "But, y'know, if she's beating me..."

Trunks shook his head as Goten approached the announcer. "Why do I put up with this guy...?"

"I like the new look, by the way," Launch said as they flew along.

"Hmm? Oh, thanks." Raditz had finished explaining the situation, and now they were heading to meet up with Supreme Kai, there to proceed on to Babidi's location. "You look great, too."

"Hey, is that him?" Nail asked. Indeed, Kaioshin and Kibito stood on a plateau below them. They landed near the pair.

"Raditz...were you delayed?" Kaioshin asked.

"Nothing serious."

"You brought allies..."

"I'd trust any of them with my life, don't worry. And they're amazing fighters, too."

"You don't want to see everybody else first?" Tien asked.

Raditz shook his head. "Plenty of time after we kill this wizard. It won't take 24 hours. I promised Break I'd be there, didn't I?"

"At this rate, we'll miss her fights," Launch noted.

"Well, I'll be there at some point." He sighed. "Just relax, we've got time. All right, Kaioshin, where is he?"

"In there." The universal guardian leaned around the rock he'd been taking cover behind, showing them a small metal building a few hundred yards away. "That's just the tip of the iceberg—the majority of Babidi's spaceship is beneath the ground."

"Can we just destroy it from here?" Launch raised a hand, charging up energy.

"No!" Kibito hissed. "We do not know the exact properties of Majin Buu's cocoon...damaging it could awaken the creature!"

"Right," Kaioshin agreed. "We've got to go inside, and take out Babidi and his henchmen from within."

"Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for our junior finalists, Goten and Break! They've fought their way through the competition, now let's see what happens when these two pint-sized powerhouses meet in the ring! Ready...start!"

The picture didn't get any better as they approached. A nearby village was devoid of life, corpses strewn across the ground. The ground around the ship was scorched and barren, like it had been dug up recently. Just as they neared the entrance, the door slid open upwards.

"Somebody's coming!" Raditz hissed, quickly assuming a fighting stance.

The being that emerged was tall and broad-shouldered, with bright red skin. He had large pointed ears, and small horns on his forehead. His eyes were yellow slits, and a goatee adorned his chin. He wore loose blue clothes, over which a white scalloped cape was draped, hanging down almost to his feet. A black 'M' symbol stood out on his forehead.

"D-Dabura!" Kaioshin whispered. "What's he doing here?"

"Don't tell me even the King of the demons has been enslaved by Babidi...?" Kibito muttered.

"So I'm guessing he's bad news," Launch said.

"Of course...he's the ruler of the demon world, a dark reflection of ours. Raditz might be the mightiest in this universe, but Dabura is the strongest being in his world..."

"Like I said. Bad news."

"Master," Dabura said, his voice deep and menacing. "We have guests."

"Kill the weak ones," a high-pitched, scratchy voice replied from the shadows. "We have no time for them. The stronger ones may enter the ship—their energy will help us in reviving Buu."

"As you wish." Dabura straightened up, then vanished.

"He's heading straight for us!" Nail warned.

There was a flash of golden light, then an explosion of energy. When the dust settled, the events of the past few seconds were revealed: Dabura stood inches from them. Raditz was directly opposite him, having instantly turned Super Saiyan, and was holding Dabura about the wrist. He'd diverted the demon's arm to the side, preventing the blast Dabura had fired from that hand from hitting any of the others; instead, it had carved out a mile-long furrow into the earth. "Don't even think about it," Raditz warned.

"Tchah!" Dabura ripped his hand free of Raditz's grasp, snarling. He made as if to charge again, then swung his head around—and spat at them. Raditz instinctively flinched, dodging the projectile, and it flew past him, catching Tien on the cheek.

"Wha...?" Tien recoiled. "That's disgusting! Why would you...gah!" A grey sheen began to spread from the spot he'd been hit. "Aaaah!"

"Tien, what...?" Nail gasped. "He's turning to stone!"

It only took a few seconds for the transmutation to complete—Tien's body was completely converted into a stone statue.

"You'll pay for—hey!" Raditz growled, glancing back and forth. "He's gone...damn it, he went back inside while we were distracted!" Sighing, he powered down. "What's with that guy? Does he want to fight or not?"

"He wants to draw us into the spaceship for some reason," Kaioshin replied.

"Those turned to stone by Dabura's spit can only be returned to normal if Dabura is killed," Kibito explained.

Raditz cracked his knuckles, anger spreading across his face. "That so? Sounds like we've got some murdering to do."

"Wait, think!" Kaioshin pleaded. "This is exactly what Babidi wants! He's drawing you in!"

"Then I guess it's Babidi's lucky day." Launch strode forwards. "C'mon, guys." Raditz followed close behind.

Nail slowly turned to go. "I know we're probably walking into a trap...but I can't leave Tien like this. Do what you will."

The Supreme Kai's eye twitched. "Those...fools..."

I'm going to enjoy writing this saga, so I hope that you enjoy reading it.

Q: Heh, so Gohan's not been idle, but hasn't been martial arts crazy huh? I'm thinking, he probably has done some light training, but mainly has a new trick up his sleeve, probably some cool technique or something, I doubt he can reach SS3 since even in Otherworld it was hard for canon Goku and this version of Raditz

A: Nah, he doesn't have SSJ3.

Q: oh what a wicked technique launch has got how far can she take that spirit ken to ?

A: She was using it to its maximum to match base Raditz.

Q: Questions: How's Zarbon been faring in playing keep up with the Saiyans? Is he at least above 1st form Frieza?

A: Yes.

Q: Did anyone ever take up that fanart challenge of yours?

A: Yup, I've got a couple.

Q: And how the heck do you come up with all of this plot? I've just starting laying the formations for a fanfic that amounts to little more than one reeeeally long battle, and I'm struggling to find ways to keep things moving.

A: Sorry, can't help you much there. Things just occur to me at random times.

Q: Is goten going to have a slightly different personality to canon goten, growing up with goku?

A: He was already pretty much a mini-Goku, so...I guess there isn't much to change.

Q: Am I the only one who's really excited by just the THOUGHT of Majin Gohan, whether or not it actually happens?

...By the way, DO those M's mean anything for Gohan? Or are they just a premonition, that SOMEONE is going to get Majin-ized?

A: Mm-hmm, good question...

Q: So the countdown that Bulma did was to the Buu saga?

A: Seems that way. But what could have happened to trigger such a resonation in the timestream...?

Q: Are you seriously going to turn gohan into a majin...because that is awesome lol I'm a huge gohan fan and I want to see him kick some ass. I still can't believe you let him become so weak and everyone else so strong but that can be fixed with a majin turn.

A: Er...so weak? He's stronger than canon...anyway, I won't be specific, but Gohan will be kicking some ass in this saga.

Q: Short story today bummer. I am guessing majin raditz being the only one of the three saiyans that was evil like vegeta in canon. Maybe marjin nail/piccolo but that has been done.

When I say majin nail/piccolo done already I mean with wheelo bringing out nails dark side(piccolo)

A: Lots of theories coming up, I see.

Q: I just devoured your entire story in three days. Really excellent work! I was definitely sad when I realised there was no more for me yet.

A: I love hearing these.

Q: And in regards to Kai, where's Optimus Prime?

A: He appeared in the climax of Kai, didn't he?