A bit of a shorter chapter this time. Between work and the Frieza fight, it's just not getting written at the same pace. I used to be a week ahead. I am not anymore.

thewittywhy: Vegeta's personality for most of Z is "I like to cause problems on purpose." And honestly, I had not considered Chichi's reaction before this. oh dear
SIGohan is definitely getting some smaller stakes plot as soon as the arc is over

frankieu: Thank

Shadowj6480: Yeah I've been referencing the show a fair bit for this fight (hence me finding that excellent quote) and yeah, tail extended. It's at least anime canon. Though I assume it's just a second form thing since he like, never uses it again.
And I adore Dende, and while I know he'd be brought back to life I still don't really want to kill him, sooooo probably not gonna

xXSelenaXx: I think Super Sayain is a pretty fair baseline. Where she goes after that is the real question. Kekekeke.
Gohan was pretty beaten by Frieza in canon, Though it was by a different set up, the results were the same.
And thanks lol

kirosyamcha: And more you shall recieve

By the time I got my wits back enough to float back up to fighting level, Krillin had made his way back from however he got away from Frieza.

"You mind explaining why you kept the Namek brat's powers hidden from me?" Vegeta asked Vegeta-ly.

"Well, first of all, you are a danger to anyone with a pulse," I off-handedly remarked, "secondly, we didn't technically know."

Technically, because I did but wasn't supposed to, ext ext. It's kinda annoying having to remember what people do and don't know.

"If we knew he could heal people, don't you think we'd have had him heal Goku?" Krillin asked, oh that would have been a good plan.

But no, actually, wish more important. We wouldn't have had time for both.

Nappa was suddenly back up to par and floating next to us.

"I'm back!"

"Oh, you left?" Vegeta mocked. Nappa ignored him. Vegeta scowled.

"So, how'd you ditch Frieza?" Nappa asked, nodding his head to Krillin.

"Oh that, well he was gaining on me, so I flew into some crevasses to lose him, but he kept cutting me off at every pass-"

"He didn't just blow it up?" Nappa cut in.

"I thought the same thing but no! So then I used the Solar Flare to blind him. I tried my Destructo Disk, but I only managed to get rid of that, horn. I can never get my aim right with that thing… anyway, I didn't want to risk being there when the flare ran out, so now I'm here."

"I will mount your head where my horn used to be!"

And now Frieza was here.

With a significantly shorter tail and one less Krillin impaling horn.

"Look at him, he's flustered. I think we might actually have a chance to beat him," Vegeta smirked.

"Would have had a better chance of someone didn't goad him into transforming," I muttered.

Vegeta didn't even bother with a response.

On his signal, the four of us sent a barrage of Ki blasts.

Of course, when the smoke cleared there seemed to be nothing gained from it.

If anything, Frieza was annoyed by the futile attempt.

"Well, that worked," I muttered.

"Oh, do you have any better plans?" Vegeta asked, his voice filled with contempt.

"…stall out 'til Dad gets here?"

"Is that your plan for everything?"

"Oh I'm sorry, does the, what, thirty-year-old? Warmonger often ask for battle advice from the resident five-year-old? 'Cause that would explain a lot."

Nappa snickered, "hey if you're trying to avoid getting killed by Frieza by getting killed by Vegeta, you're doin a great job."

I rolled my eyes. Well, first thing, gotta deal with Frieza.

Caution to the wind, I darted forward.

"Hey! Wait!" Krillin called after me.

Ignoring him, I tried to kick the tyrant, which he grabbed.

I twisted, firing a ki blast to distract him enough to let go.

It was only when Frieza flicked Krillin away with his tail did I notice he had followed me.

Frieza used my distraction to wrap what remains of his tail around my neck, which was apparently still able to extend, just not as far, apparently choosing strangulation.

I struggled, my hands unable to claw underneath.

I condensed my energy, but instead of smothering and hiding it like when I suppress my energy, I forced it through my arm, up to my hand, and out a single finger-

And shot a hole clean through Frieza's shoulder.

Frieza recoiled, surprised enough that his tail loosened, enough that I could get my hand underneath, but not enough to let go.

"Why you- precocious little thing- your death I shall make painful."

Wasn't he already doing that?

He pointed one of his fingers at me-

Only to get kicked clean out of the way. I fell to the ground, now free, coughing and exhausted.

I looked up to see a white cape fluttering with utmost dramatics.

Despite anything else, I smiled, almost laughing at the sight.

Piccolo offered me a hand, which I took.

"Well? What do you call that one?" He asked.

And I drew a blank. He meant the attack? I don't, I'm terrible at naming things. Do I even have to-

But then the idea came, and it was too stupid to not use it.

I chuckled, "Spirit Gun."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow-less brow, "I missed the joke."

"It's nothing, just from a show I watched once."

"Ah, stealing names now?"

"Sure, why not."

I grinned, he seemed, different somehow, but still Piccolo.

"So that's him? Frieza? King Kai thinks he's unbeatable. Doesn't seem too tough," Piccolo tilted his head over to the tyrant who had long since recovered. Apparently really polite too since he just let us speak uninterrupted. I hadn't quite noticed since I've been cutting off my Ki sense to avoid being completely overwhelmed by Frieza, but Piccolo does seem much stronger than before.

"We'll find out."

"Yeah, we will. And who are you? Just another weak Namekian?" Vegeta butted in.

Piccolo didn't humor him with a response.

"Wait I recognize you, you're the one we defeated so easily on Earth. Don't tell me these fools wasted their wishes bring you here."

"As I recall, you didn't do much of anything on Earth," Piccolo side eyed Nappa and he responded to Vegeta, but otherwise said nothing to him.

"After we beat Frieza, I'll be glad to take you on," he never once looked at Vegeta as he spoke, instead looking straight ahead at Frieza.

"I guess some people just aren't satisfied dying only once, are they?" Vegeta asked, and Piccolo just returned to, "if I ignore him maybe he'll shut up" mode.

"Well well well. I am legitimately surprised I missed one of you. I suggest you go about your business. No need for the complete genocide of your race here, though I'd be more than willing if you insist."

"You lot stay out of this. I'll take care of this by myself."

I frowned at Piccolo's borderline arrogance, but it's not like I have the energy to argue. I'd need a few minutes of rest to really do anything.

Regardless, he landed on the ground, a larger island than before, across from Frieza.

"I'm, I'm not sure he can do this by himself! I mean, even if he's stronger, he can't be that much stronger, right?" Krillin asked, almost, or probably certainly, afraid.

"He's determined to win or die. This'll be a great show, guess I'll just kick back and watch," Vegeta smirked, arrogance in his voice as if he hasn't been cowering in the air while everyone else fought.

"If he wants to fight alone, that's his choice. Can't say it's a good one but, not like there's much we've been able to do," Nappa scratched the back of his head.

I just sighed. I'll jump in if anything happens, no way I'm gonna let him die again, for multiple reasons, but for now, I guess I can let him have this.

Probably shouldn't have used all my energy in that shot though. It was recovering quickly enough, but I'll have to be careful with that one.

It'd recover faster if I could land and rest, but if Frieza decided to blow up another island that'd just waste more energy at best. At worst it might distract Piccolo.

In an instant, the two were fighting, movements too fast to see properly. Certainly not from this distance. They flashed from location to location, shockwaves strong enough to blow us back and bright enough to blind.

Eventually, Piccolo landed a hit that sent Frieza flying.

"He-he-hey! He's winning!" Krillin cheered, and as long as Frieza doesn't pull out his third form, we'd be fine. 'Course it could never be that easy.

Vegeta scoffed at Krillin's optimism.

Regardless, for now, the scrap continued, once again too fast to really follow, until it was Piccolo in the dust, Frieza scattering a volley of blasts to beat him down.

I wasn't too worried. Scatter shots like that were always weaker than normal blows or beams.

Was slightly more concerned when he didn't get up for a few seconds.

"Well, who's next? Or should I just pick one of you by random?" Frieza chuckled.

The dust cleared and Piccolo stood up almost nonchalantly.

Still, Frieza was back to his arrogance and Piccolo was starting to look frustrated, that was never a good-

Vegeta shot off.

The.

Absolute.

Coward.

He flew off and left the rest of us.

First, he goads Frieza into his second form, then he does absolutely nothing to fight him, and now he just runs away.

I could feel my eyebrow twitching.

It wasn't even a good escape plan. He at least should have waited until Piccolo and Frieza were fighting again. He's a coward and an idiot.

I was glad when Frieza vanished from sight only to cut him off.

Anyone else I would have pitied the terror on his face. The fact that it was probably the trauma of being under Frieza's rule for so long. But considering this was entirely his fault to begin with? My sympathies can only go so far.

Vegeta's subsequent attempts to fly off were just as quickly blocked until Frieza finally just punched him and deposited him, crashing into an island below us.

Serves him right.

"Pardon me for the intrusion, I had to take care of something," Frieza commented as he returned.

Piccolo didn't respond.

"…" this fact obviously annoyed Frieza, "time to wipe that smug look off your face!"

The fight assumably began again, would be nice if I could see it rather than just sense it through Ki that was drowning if I focused on it for too long.

Krillin didn't seem to be having any such issue. His eyes followed the movement just fine.

Eventually, they both disappeared under the water and whatever little I could see before disappeared.

Frieza re-emerged. Smug. That-where-?

"Oh don't look so scared. Your green friend is just fine," Frieza taunted.

Piccolo re-emerged, finally, only to get shot out of the air by a Ki blast from Frieza. He crashed into the same island as Vegeta.

"Well, maybe I was exaggerating about the just fine part."

Frieza shot a narrow beam into the land under Piccolo, causing it to explode, leaving rubble in its place, most of it flooded.

I didn't think twice before darting down. Not that it mattered, as Piccolo quickly shot out from the rubble.

"Gohan, I told you to stay out of this."

"Ok, but then you should probably crash less."

"Watch it."

He nodded off to the side and I retook my place next to Krillin.

Wait-

Where was-

I glanced around until I saw Nappa on the ground, offering a hand to Vegeta. He was completely blown off, of course.

Regardless, the fighting progressed, and this time Piccolo dodged each of Frieza's attacks without issue.

Frieza managed to grab Piccolo, who seemed entirely unconcerned.

He just smirked, and seemed to say something that really angered Frieza.

To the point where Frieza backed off and glared while Piccolo smirked.

Suddenly the Ki radiating off of Piccolo was so bright I could feel it through my attempts of blocking off my sense for a moment. And for a moment, it felt like two-

Oh. Nail. That's-

Well, that explains the slightly different feeling.

Also, Piccolo's laugh probably would have been menacing to anyone else.

From that moment, the fight was completely one-sided. For the time being.

Finally, my eyes were slowly starting to adjust to the fighting speed. Still just in blurs, but we'll enough that I could follow comfortably.

Frieza was knocked around, until he managed to get one lucky hit in with his tail, causing him to land on his hands and feet while Frieza used the opportunity to charge a blast, the energy ball it formed was bright enough that it hurt to look at and it changed the color pallet of the surrounding land.

He shot a beam at Piccolo, and Piccolo, did not move. He stood and waited as the beam approached him, taking a stance as it got near.

For a moment time seemed to slow, but then, it connected, and Piccolo deflected it back, before firing a blast of his own, hitting Frieza dead on.

All was silent. Krillin and I floated, staring at Piccolo for a moment. I grinned. I knew this was too easy, and with all likelihood, Frieza would recover, but still, I glanced over at Vegeta, who had since risen back into the air, it was nice to see a certain Prince of nothing shocked silent.

"So, just to be clear, he's not the type to hold a grudge, right?" Nappa broke the silence.

I coughed on a laugh, "depends."

And following conversation was cut by the smoke clearing to reveal Frieza, having blocked the blast, now enraged.

Well, more than he already was at least.

Frieza landed just a few feet in front of Piccolo and the two stared each other down for a few tense seconds.

Then Frieza landed a cheap punch to Piccolo's face, using the advantage to elbow, and then punch Piccolo into the ground, creating a creator in his wake.

When Frieza tried to follow up with another punch, however, Piccolo sprung into the air, only to get volleyed back into the ground by Frieza.

Once again, Frieza landed. Just outside of the crater he stood, probably taunting.

Piccolo stood up. He removed his cloak and turban.

Piccolo's Ki burned bright, and once again was strong enough to cut through my attempts to cut off my sense. Somehow, I don't think the rage I felt from him was quite Piccolo's. Or at least not all of it.

Krillin cheered, and Nappa commented on how he "might stand a chance."

Vegeta glared, but didn't refute them.

Frieza waited patiently in place.

Piccolo shot forward, apparently faster than Frieza was expecting as he took the hit and fumbled as Piccolo shot up into the sky. Frieza followed suit, but lost him. He glared, searching only to turn as Piccolo appeared behind him.

He didn't have time to react as Piccolo sent him falling to the ground, Piccolo kept the speed to match Frieza's descent, and like Pokémon's seismic toss, he grabbed onto him only to let go at the last moment to ensure he hit the ground at full force.

The art of the double-tap was not lost of Piccolo, as he then sent a scattershot of blasts down into the crater Frieza landed in, sending up a dust storm that covered the horizon, and debris flying everywhere.

No rest was allowed, however, as Frieza appeared over the cloud, miffed, but not heavily injured.

Frieza defended to the ground, Piccolo matched his speed, and Frieza seemed to be saying something as they went, and landed.

The two landed, silent and still.

"He's going to transform." It wasn't an epiphany, or stated in any sort of shock. I simply said it. If anything I was surprised it took this long for Frieza to get fed up.

The others might have said something, probably did, but I didn't really take notice.

And true to my words, an ominous visible aura formed around Frieza, and the miasma surrounding him only served to highlight the grotesque altercation of his body.

Spikes formed from his back, his shoulder blades tripling in size, and flaring out. His face stretched and elongated, looking almost certainly painful as it did.

Yeah, I'm not even gonna try to sense his energy.

Frieza stood, hunched over as his transformation completed. Honestly, this form was definitely the worst. It didn't even look convenient to be the user.

Vegeta was snapping something at someone, I don't really care. It's not like it's anything new for Vegeta.

And thus began the downfall of our fight.