Dragon Moon Z! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, DBZ and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This story is a multi-genre story. C&C are welcome.
Special Note: This story is part of the SMST/TRT series, and is inspired by Team Four Star's Abridged Parody series.
Part 11: "The Dead Zone Saga" (I)
It was the same dream the Moon Princess known as "Sailor Moon" has had for the past few weeks…
"…Ranma, I'm so proud of you," Sailor Moon said, as she smiled at her husband. Ranma smiled back…
ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!
"Ah!" Sailor Moon screamed, as she began to collapse to the ground, while seeing her husband Ranma go limp.
"Ranma…NOOOOOOOOOOOO-!"
"Ah!" Usagi screamed, as she bolted up into a sitting position in her bed. She quickly looked around to see that she was still resting at the Capsule Corp infirmary. She was placed there mainly for observation, due to the psychological trauma of what happened when she and the so-called Z Fighters had fought the Saiyans. Usagi was also in the infirmary after having her tail surgically removed, so that she wouldn't have to worry about going giant ape again…
"Ow," Usagi said, as she felt the small of her back. She could feel the bandages and stitches. Unfortunately, according to Bulma, there was always a chance for her monkey tail to grow back, particularly because of her regenerative powers.
"Me-aw?" said Tho-Ohki, as he hops on Usagi's bed. He then placed his paw on Usagi's hand.
"Me-aw?"
"I'm sorry, little one," Usagi said, as she takes her pet into her laps, before she began to scratched Tho-Ohki's chin. "I know I shouldn't neglect you, but…"
"Me-aw."
"Yeah, I miss Ranma, too," Usagi said. "I KNOW that all we need to do is to restore the Dragonballs to bring him back, but-"
"Me-aw."
"Yeah. I know," Usagi said with a sigh. She was thinking about what to do next, especially if Ranma could not be brought back to life. She had tried to bring back Ranma using her magical Phoenix Tattoo, but had been stopped by the ghost of Ranma himself. He had told her that it would have been unfair for him to be the only one brought back to life; he also pointed out the fact that being in the Other World gave him a chance to train under King Kai, just as Goku and Usagi had done. Usagi had countered this by saying that she could join him via astral projection, with Ranma stating that somebody had to stay behind to look after their son Goku and his family. It took much on Ranma's part to convince Usagi to stay put, and wait until the Dragonballs are restored, before attempting to bring Ranma and the rest of the Z Fighters back to life…
"Damn you, Ranma," Usagi said softly, as she sheds a tear. "Damn you…"
Just then, Bulma enters Usagi's infirmary room. She, liked Usagi, missed Ranma terribly, and had cried out her tears alone. In many ways, Bulma had many regrets where Ranma was concerned, such as not pursuing him romantically before Usagi did…
"Bunny, are you okay?" Bulma asked, as she comforted her friend.
"No, I'm not," Usagi replied. "But I'll manage."
"I know," Bulma said, as she tried to prevent herself from crying herself. "I know…"
As Bulma continued to comfort a distraught Usagi, her mind goes back to when her friend and the other Z Warriors were together, before half of them died by the hands of the Saiyan invaders…back when she was confident that they could beat back a powerful foe…
FLASHBACK!
A week after the death…
"Okay, Usagi!" Ranma said with a cocky smile. "Show me what you got!"
"Okay!" Usagi replied, as she and Ranma stood in the middle of a desert wasteland. "Here goes nothing…!"
FWOOSH!
Potent energy whirled around the Moon Princess, as she "hulks out"…
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Hulkusagi screamed, as she increased her power significantly.
"Not bad," Ranma said with an examiner's eye. "You definitely increased your power-levels…"
"Thanks," Hulkusagi said, as she powered down. "With all this training, Hulkusagi hopes to be tough enough to defeat Saiyans."
"Well, that's the problem."
"Oh?"
"Sure, you're stronger, but you have to work on your speed training," Ranma said with an examiner's eyes. "Otherwise, you might as well be regular Usagi, and just sit back and watch the REAL fighters deal with the crisis."
"Why you!" said the Gammazon, as she rounded on her husband. "Hulkusagi SMASH!"
"Wait!" Ranma said defensively. "I'm just kidding!"
"Then, why you tease Hulkusagi?" Hulkusagi asked.
"I was just testing your control capabilities," Ranma said. "And, well…"
"Drat," Hulkusagi said. "You test Hulkusagi. Hulkusagi failed…"
"It's not a problem, hon," Ranma said. "We still got time to train before those Saiyans arrive."
"Humph. No want to train now. Hulkusagi sulk…"
And, with that, the gamma-powered magical girl leaps into the air, taking a many-league step in the process.
Ranma chuckled. Leave it to Usagi to take offense at something she needs to learn to avoid…
Meanwhile, in a place that was far from prying eyes, a tiny, troll-like man appears.
"This is where I will build my father's empire," said the tiny man, as he raised his staff of power. "Rise up, and become the center of the new world…!"
The oceans bubbled, as an artificial island rises from the depths of the water.
"Perfect!" said the tiny man. "Now, for the next plan of attack…"
The tiny man turned towards his three, shadowy minions.
"Minions! We will now retrieve the sacred Dragonballs, so that I may be granted my wish. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Lord Garlic!" yelled the minions in unison.
"Excellent! Now, let's go get some balls!"
The next day…
"Well, I'm glad you all are here," Chi-Chi said, as the distraught wife of Goku was being comforted by her father the Ox King.
"What happened, Chi-Chi?" Usagi said gently.
"I…I don't know, it happened so fast…"
"Ox?" Ranma asked.
"Well, it was Gohan's birthday, so he was home for us to celebrate it," Ox King said. "I had come home with some of the presents when this cloaked figure attacked me. I…I tried to defend Chi-Chi and Gohan, but was…overcome by the attacker."
"Chi-Chi?" Usagi asked gently.
"He…he took Gohan, and his hat," Chi-Chi said.
"You mean that four-star Dragonball?" Ranma said with a frown.
"Yes."
"Why would you ever keep that Dragonball as a hat ornament?"
"It was Goku's idea," Ox King said. "He believed that the four-star Dragonball contained the spirit of his grandfather, Gohan."
"Ranma and I understand that, but, at the same time, it sets Gohan as a target," Usagi said.
"But don't worry, Chi-Chi," Ranma said. "We'll get Gohan back-"
BEEP! BEEP!
"Hmmm?" Usagi said, as Ranma turned to his wrist communicator.
"Bulma, what's up?" Ranma asked.
"Guys, I was able to use my Dragonball Radar to track down Gohan's location," Bulma said, over the communications line. "But check this out: it's where the other six Dragonballs are at the moment- hold on!"
"What is it, Bulma?" Usagi asked.
"Guys, the Dragonballs have been activated."
"Alright," Ranma said. "Feed the coordinates to my wrist communicator, and get Krillin and the others, and let them know to come prepared for anything."
"Ranma?" Chi-Chi asked. "Will Gohan be okay?"
"We'll make sure of it, Chi-Chi," Usagi said.
"And whoever kidnapped him will pay for it," Ranma said angrily.
"Just bring him back," Ox King said, as he comforted his daughter. "That's all we ask…"
A short time later…
"Amazing," Bulma said, as she piloted Tho-Ohki over the middle of the ocean. "The power levels I'm detecting are immense."
"Who do you think created THAT city?" Krillin asked.
"Not sure, but the architecture looks pre-colonial period."
"You mean before Earth established a colony here."
"Looks like it," Bulma said. "It's too bad Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu couldn't make it on short notice. Heck, I would have settled for Master Roshi for this rescue."
"Well, at least we have Ranma and Usagi on point, considering that Goku isn't here with us," Krillin said. "I just hope that Piccolo got the message in time."
"…And that is impossible to know if he's even interested in rescuing the son of his sworn enemy," Bulma said with a sigh.
"Then why are we entrusting Piccolo with training Gohan in the place?" Krillin asked.
"Because, my dear friend, Piccolo wants a chance at proving he's a better fighter than Goku," Bulma said. "Gohan is simply a means to an end."
"And the end is…?"
"To defeat Goku, that's what…"
Pause.
"Alright, we're over the drop site," Bulma said. "I'll monitor you guys' actions from here."
"How come YOU are going to get involved?" Krillin asked, as he rotated his shoulders.
"Do I look like the fighting type?"
"No, you look like the yelling type," Krillin said with a grin.
"GET OUT, KRILLIN!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Krillin said in a mock salute. He then turned to Tho-Oki.
"Take care, little guy!"
"Me-aw!" Tho-Ohki replied happily.
And, with that, Krillin leapt out of Tho-Ohki, and drops into enemy territory…
Tbc.