Elmo fire gif

Yeah… posting this a week early because I finished this Super early and was not sitting on this for another week lol. It took a ton of self control not to post it earlier lol

This chapter was basically the center point of the Buu Saga for me. the rest of the arc was centered around getting to this point. This was also the reason I established The Rules so thoroughly

Anyway, warnings for mild gore, though DBZ itself is worse imo

arkon3321: i get your point, though I do think he'd focus more on the Sayain side, early in the fic I did establish that he was interested in the existence of half Sayains.

MiharuTousaka: Yeah, the chapter felt short to me too. Though this one's a longer one to make up for it, though that's mostly because I was determined to get my cliffhanger that I've been planning

ArguableReader: I mean I get it but using the Wrath of the Dragon movie for that always bugged me, especially when I was a kid. Also I tend to headcanon that Ki can reinforce objects that they have on them, hence why they have any clothes after a fight lol

theblur1234: That's one interpretaion. A good one though. Though even by going by that standar, SIGohan would then have other mental blocks due to her former life

Qinlongfei: I do get your stance here and I don't entirely disagree. I think a more satisfying conclusion for that in my mind would be if he were to stand and fight despite still being relatively weaker
And I have been planning of getting into GT as well, however in time frame similar to where it'd have taken place in GT's canon, primarily due to a story element I'll be adding in Super's timeline, that'd I'd be able to expand on more with the extra time skip
That being said, even if I did want to combine story elements of the two, I wouldn't really be able to plan ahead since I've had to postpone my GT rewatch to watch Super for practical fic purposes. I have unfortunately been getting through Super slower than I'd have hoped
And you know, sometimes it's just really fun to goad on the person you're arguing with, y'know? But yeah I got it lol. It's definitely a contributing factor to Vegeta's recklessness a couple chapters back
And yeah, one of my favorite things in later DBZ and some of what I've seen from Super is just the casualness of the side characters because like, yeah super alien hyper destrution could kill us, but so could this 7 year old so whatevs

I woke up and was immediately confused by the unfamiliar room.

It took a few minutes to gather how I got here and honestly a lot of it was pretty hazy. Though from the look of the room I probably could have figured out I was at the Lookout regardless. Very few places have the same kind of just slightly uncanny tiling in just about every room.

I rubbed the remaining sleep from my eyes as I forced myself up. My limbs still felt a bit heavy but other than that, I was pretty much feeling normal.

I do not think I love the effect of The Ultimate being cut off early. Not passing out completely was a plus, but that was just weird. Even when I don't pass out and manage to stay conscious for a few minutes after using The Ultimate, it wasn't like that. Just normal drowsy.

Well, it's not like I was planning on making a habit out of it anyway.

I wandered through the halls until I recognized a path to get out.

Once everyone had gotten their fill of making sure I was ok, I wandered towards Piccolo to get an update on what was going on.

Apparently, in the several hours I was out, Babidi and Buu were out killing people by the cities. For the funzies of course. The standard affair.

Also he wanted to kill me specifically, for escaping. And they know this specifically because Babidi transmitted an image of me to everyone. As in everyone on the planet.

Well, me with messier hair, a fairly tight sleeveless shirt, and visibly upset, but still. Definitely gonna lean in on hoping for this Earth's short-term memory for this one.

Still. The solution was pretty obvious.

"Guess I should probably take care of him then," I place my hands on my hips as I gazed in the gauge direction.

Piccolo frowned, "you're sure you're back up to full strength?" He asked.

I blinked, "I mean, yeah? Mostly at least, no less than any other time I'm first waking up."

Still, Piccolo didn't seem convinced, "I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to use The Ultimate so soon."

"What? Why?"

"The side effects were different this time. If something went wrong you'd be too far away for any immediate help."

"Yeah, but that was just because it was cut off early. That's never happened before, it's probably fine. And it's not like that's something that'll be recreated."

Piccolo frowned.

"Ok, well, ok. There is one thing I kinda wanna see if it'll happen first, then if not I'll go get rid of Buu."

"What thing?" Piccolo asked with suspicion.

"Just a thing. A curiosity thing. It might not happen anyway. Or something might go wrong, in that case, I'll just get rid of him."

"And if your, thing, does happen?"

"Then he'll be harmless, more or less. No issue. Though I don't think it can actually happen if Babidi's still around…"

I paused in thought, until my eyes landed on the three younger Namekians.

Ocari was the tallest of the three, the only one who, while not looking like an adult, was certainly looking like an older teenager. His current outfit reminded me of Nail's without the scarf.

Dende was a good foot shorter, dressed in the robes of a guardian, though he does often dress down to closer to what he used to wear as well, and looking like a younger teen.

And then the target of my attention, shorter than Dende by only a couple inches, and dressed in the most casual- but still distinctly Nemkian outfit of the three, Cargo.

"One sec," I said to Piccolo, before jogging off in their direction.

"Hey so, quick question," I said, my hands partially clasped with my index fingers pointed at Cargo, "do you think, you could get me in and out really quick, like, five seconds should be more than enough."

"In and out of where?" He asked with a frown.

"Where ever Buu is. I have an idea, and just need a couple seconds to try it out."

"An idea? What- I mean…five seconds…?" He glanced down and to the side, "yeah I think I can do that."

"Cool, cool. Whether or not it'll work it should at least help."

"Did, you want to go now or-"

"I mean, I got no reason to delay. If you wanted some time though-"

"No- that's fine- just," Cargo placed his fingers to his forehead, "Buu's energy is really weird, but I think I got it."

He held out a hand, and I was already charging up ki in my left palm as I took it with my right.

A moment later we were about a dozen feet from Buu, and more importantly Babidi.

Babidi blinked as he recognized me, a wicked grin overtaking his face, "ah, come to turn yourself in I see…wel-"

He didn't get to finish as I fired a beam at him. Wide and powerful enough that I was sure there'd be nothing to recover if he had some way of doing so.

An instant later we were back on the Lookout before Buu could even react.

"THAT was your idea?!"

"Well, yeah. Without Babidi calling the shots Buu's bound to react differently."

He took a step back and rested his hands on his knees, "I am, never, getting that close to an enemy again."

"That's fair," I said, "uh, seriously though, thanks."

He nodded and wandered off with the declaration of needing to sit down.

And so I took my place back next to Piccolo. The questions I'm his eyes went unasked, except, "now what?"

"Now we wait."

"We, wait?"

"Yeah. I mean, there's no guarantee things will happen like they were supposed to, there've definitely been a bunch of changes, but I'm kinda curious."

It's not like we won't have to use the dragon ball either way anyway.

"What were we supposed to be doing right now?"

"Supposed to- what were-" my eyes gazed around until they landed on the temple, where I knew the time chamber hid within.

"Oh. Right. Huh. Ok so, you know how Goku was supposed to die after the Cell Games?"

"You've mentioned it."

"Right so, after he died he learned a fusion technique, and Goten and Trunks were supposed to be learning it. It's supposed to be a super preside thing and I wouldn't really know how to recreate it."

"I see. So it's just a lost technique now?"

"Yeah, probably. I know there's another way to use fusion. With the Kai's earrings, or maybe just the Supreme Kai's earrings, not completely sure."

Also, that was permanent so, less than ideal. Even though I know for some reason it wasn't permanent for Goku and Vegeta. And, I think a couple characters used them in Super? So, like, was that like a Super retcon? That'd be convenient, if it wasn't permanent. Though I probably shouldn't bank on Super retcons.

"I'm not sure on the specifics," I settled on.

Piccolo nodded, not pushing for the partial information I had.

And then we waited.

Piccolo looked distressed as Buu killed off a couple more cities.

And then confused when he healed a kid's eyesight. Supposedly to scare him, but Buu didn't harm the child after that.

The confusion continued when Buu healed a puppy. And then kept the puppy when it similarly wasn't scared of him.

More time passed as Buu did nothing but build a house.

And then, Piccolo froze.

"This cannot be what you were waiting for."

"Hm? What?" I asked even as a grin grew on my face.

"…this cannot be it."

"Whyever is that, Piccolo?" I asked with all too innocent a voice.

Piccolo only glared over the edge.

"Mr. Satan, Mr. Satan, Mr-" I began the chant only to be cut off by a mildly annoyed glare.

Eventually he sighed, "I hope you're certain about this. I may not care for the man, but I don't want him dead either."

I hummed. There was no guarantee of course, but assuming nothing went wrong, there was no reason this should change.

That being said, I'm not sure what it was that derailed things in canon either.

But for a good while, things seemed to go well. Time passed and for a moment it seemed like things would go on without another big fight.

And then Piccolo stiffened.

He didn't respond for a few moments to update me on the situation.

Eventually he just barely turned, still keeping his focus on the situation.

"It was a human, someone shot Mr. Satan. Buu healed him but- something's wrong. He's not reacting to it well."

A few more moments passed.

"Buu has split in two, the one who's become friends with Mr. Satan, and another one. Something darker."

I closed my eyes. Ok, this was still salvageable. I might be able to save this still before it got worse.

"Well, I guess that's my cue," I stood up fiddling with my watch until I was back in the hero outfit. While I was at it I popped open the slot on the watch. Huh, I completely forgot about the Senzu I had in there. Welp, good to know now.

Piccolo still looked unsure.

"Hey, what's with the mistrust all of a sudden? It'll be fine." I took off my coat, handing it to him, "hold this for me? I'll be back soon."

"It'll be fine," I restated again before flying off.

I hoped to get there before anything could happen where the innocent Buu would be lost.

I didn't.

By the time I got there, I saw Buu as the form that I remembered from the show. Taller, more visibly threatening than the innocent Buu.

I sighed. Well, nothing to do about it. I didn't remember how they got the innocent Buu back, and at this point, I don't think it'd be a good idea to keep him around long enough to find out.

Oh well. That's a shame.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mr. Satan, holding what I assumed was the puppy. He was too far away to read his expression, but too close to fight here safely.

I nodded my head back in a random direction, before flying that way. I assumed he'd follow me and was not disappointed.

I stopped once I found myself over a barren landscape. There shouldn't be any people here to worry about.

I turned back to Buu. He had stopped as well.

He looked threatening, unhinged, like he could be set off to kill at a pin drop.

For the moment though, he was observing and I wasn't about to waste my time questioning it.

I tossed up a power ball without delay.

A moment later I let the familiar transformation wash over me.

…

I glanced down at my hand.

I clenched and unclenched it. Despite it feeling unfamiliar it obeyed my commands.

This isn't the most dissociative The Ultimate has been but it's certainly worse than it's been in years.

Interesting.

But for now, there is a fight to be had.

Buu was out of patience as he charged at me.

I blasted him away.

Blobs of pink scatter among the ground, all with the consistency and apparent texture of chewed gum.

A moment later it retook it's shape, forming back into Buu, who tried to charge me again.

I blasted him again.

And again he scattered and reformed. I blasted the reformation before it could finish, this time sure I'd eliminated each particle.

Still blobs of pink reformed regardless.

I blasted it again. Once again eliminating it all.

Another one reformed, this one behind me. I blasted it away.

I glanced down. There must have been chunks of Buu hidden in the rocks he's reforming from.

I blasted another Buu.

I suppose I'll have to level the place.

A shame. It's a nice area.

This time as Buu reformed I aimed my hand at the ground instead.

My gaze shifted to Buu as he reformed however.

He was looking up. And then he was smiling.

I frowned, focusing on him again. A trick? Probably. He could turn people into candy I believed.

As he flew upwards I split my attention between watching him and keeping my senses on the ground, ready to dodge an attack from either direction.

Except he flew higher than I thought practical.

I, am not proud to admit I didn't realize something was wrong until it was too late.

He was not flying up in order to attack.

He was flying up towards the power ball.

And ate it.

"What?" I asked no one, but it was too late. The fur was already fading from my arms and spots appeared in my vision.

I fell. I fell before regaining enough control to catch myself in midair.

I blinked, and for a moment it was all I could do to keep myself afloat and force air into my lungs.

In my haze, I caught a glimpse of my watch.

Bean- I had- I needed- yeah, that'll, that'll work. I just- needed to-

I fumbled it.

My hands were shaking as I was opening the compartment and the bean fell to the ground.

I panicked and chased after it, catching it while still a few dozen feet off the ground.

Good- good that's-

I saw a hand in between my arms.

One that was not mine, couldn't be. It wasn't human-colored.

Couldn't have been Buu's either though. His arms were pink. Not the crimson that I was looking at.

Also, how could an arm be angled like that? That's not how arms went.

I followed the arm to its base. Or tried to.

It ended at my stomach.

"huh?"

I wasn't quite certain that that was my voice. It sounded too small. But there was no one else here so it probably was.

The hand was gone.

There was a hole in my stomach.

There aren't supposed to be holes there.

Buu's grinning face loomed over me. He had flipped over to look at me as he'd been behind me before apparently.

His arm was coated in red.

He righted himself and liked away a stripe of it as he continued to grin.

That-

That wasn't-

That-

I fell.

…

Piccolo

Piccolo recoiled.

He was already at his wit's end to figure out a solution when he felt The Ultimate's energy fade out of nowhere, but when the rest of Gohan's energy faded?

He froze.

It was only for a moment, but it didn't go unnoticed.

"Piccolo?"

Piccolo's head sharply turned.

Krillin. It was Krillin.

Better than Chichi he supposed.

But what was he supposed to say?

"Piccolo, what happened?" He asked.

Piccolo glared at the ground and hoped his nonanswer was answer enough.

It seemed it was.

Piccolo didn't pay much mind to Krillin's reaction however, still stuck on the information himself.

He never should have let her go. He knew something was off. Something was wrong. He still let her leave. And now she was-

"-now Piccolo?"

Piccolo turned his head to Krillin. He hadn't heard what he'd said. That wasn't like him.

"What are we going to do now Piccolo?" Krillin repeated himself. He looked more serious than Piccolo was used to from him. Quite possibly the most serious he's seen him. It was-

"Piccolo. You're upset. I understand that, I- I do. But we can't bring anyone back if we're all dead. So what do we do now?"

Now. Right. Piccolo focused his mind. What do they do now? What could they do now?

They had neither Goku nor Vegeta. The next strongest was Zangya. Impressive as she might be, he didn't think she could stand against Buu.

He could teach someone else The Ultimate? Possibly. Majin Buu may know its weakness but as long as they were aware of that they'd be able to defend against it.

Gine, Clover, and Raditz were the only Sayains left with tails.

Gine was far too young.

Clover was fairly young too and had no prior training with the Great Ape. They had wanted to wait until she was at least ten.

Raditz then. Would they have time for that? Piccolo wasn't sure how much control he had over the Great Ape. He's outright denied learning before and from his initial lack of training for his tail, Piccolo wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have any reactive controlling the transformation either. He was a slow learner when it came to new techniques. Anything with Ki really. Not to mention he had a history of being wary around Piccolo. If he pushed too far then it might slow progress rather than speed it up, and they didn't have time for his normal pace of learning, even in the time chamber.

Maybe if it were Gohan teaching him- she'd be teaching from more first-hand experience, and Raditz was always more receptive to her than him or even Goku. But obviously, that wasn't-

He quickly ran through every other fighter that was there.

Krillin? No. He'd retired years ago. Even if he hadn't, Piccolo didn't think he'd have closed the gap in power.

Nappa? Even in the time chamber Piccolo could only imagine him being able to match Zangya. Perhaps if the two of them entered the time chamber together they'd be able to make more significant progress. He wasn't sure if it'd be enough but it was worth keeping in mind.

The kids? Impressive as they were, that was for their age. They wouldn't be able to close the power gap. Gohan had said Goten and Trunks were supposed to learn a fusion technique but without that, he couldn't imagine there being enough progress.

The Androids? He wasn't sure. Seventeen and Eighteen had grown some in the past seven years. Seventeen more than Eighteen, but only marginally. Sixteen hadn't at all. It was quite possible that his power was fixed. It was difficult to mark any of their progress however when he couldn't sense them.

Himself? He still considered himself to be one of the strongest. Of course, he did. But he'd hit a wall in his training that he wasn't sure how to overcome quite yet. He certainly wouldn't be able to under these circumstances.

Which one then?

Did he bet on Raditz being able to learn The Ultimate in time or did he assume Nappa and Zangya would be able to make progress in the time chamber?

He couldn't have both. He'd have to choose one. But which one was more likely to succeed? Would either of them? Which one-

Piccolo froze.

It didn't matter.

They would hardly have time to get anyone in the time chamber, let alone have enough time to train anything.

"Piccolo?"

Piccolo turned back to Krillin. He then turned back to look over the edge.

"Majin Buu is on his way here."

"What?! Why? What do we do?!"

"…"

"Piccolo."

"I don't know."

"What?"

"I don't know," he repeated, "all the plans I could come up with required time. Time that we no longer have."

The borderline calm seriousness Krillin held before quickly melted away. Krillin was panicking now and the only choice he still had to make was whether to tell anyone else or let them continue the next, one, maybe two minutes in relative peace.

But that wasn't really a choice.

It would be cruel of him not to say anything until Buu was already here.

So, he told them.

They were all confused, and scared.

One of them seemed to realize something.

"I thought you said Goh went to beat him?" It was one of the children Gohan had met all those years ago, back when he was first training her. The girl, Chico he believed.

"I thought you said-"

"I know what I said."

The girl's eyes searched his for something. Apparently, she couldn't find whatever it was.

"Where is Goh? If that Buu thing is on his way here then where is- is- is Goh hurt somewhere? Shouldn't you go help? You're friends, aren't you? Shouldn't you be- be-"

She had run up closer to him. Getting more upset by the moment.

He didn't know what to do about that. Gohan was rarely visibly upset. And even when she was, she didn't like to talk about it. Unless she was angry or annoyed and just complaining. Usually about Vegeta or sometimes Chichi. Small things. Never something like this.

Krillin tried to calm her down, he was better at that. But she was undeterred, continuing to demand where Gohan was.

Piccolo made the mistake of glancing up, catching Chichi in his view. Unlike the girl, she seemed to realize the implications of his silence.

He didn't look at her long enough to decipher her expression.

Another of them walked up to her, to try to comfort her where he could not. Rom he thought, though he wasn't as certain on that one.

The third one, the oldest, hadn't moved. Piccolo wasn't sure he'd breathed.

Piccolo quickly turned and shoved the children behind him as he felt Buu approach.

And then there he was.

Taller than before. Thinner. Malice clear through his grin of razor teeth.

Piccolo fell into a fighting stance even as he had no clear plan. Frieza was an overwhelming force, but arrogant enough that Piccolo could still have imagined him being beatable. The same went for Cell. Cell wasn't even as overwhelming at the moment as Frieza had been.

This thing though? He had no idea. It was just malice. It had no other goals. No ego to exploit. To buy time. Even if it did, what would he be buying time for? There was no one else left.

He shook the thought. That wasn't helpful. There could always be something else even if he couldn't think of it. Even if he was missing something.

If he was going to die here it wasn't going to be without a fight.

He heard the children run back towards the temple as Buu's eyes slid across to look at everyone there.

Piccolo trained his senses on Buu, not paying attention to what anyone else was doing. He could only assume every other fighter there was preparing as he was.

However, that was also likely the reason he was caught so off guard when Chichi marched passed him.

He was caught absolutely dumbfounded as Chichi slapped Majin Buu.

It did nothing of course, and her words of rage about her husband and "son" being killed only half registered to Piccolo.

He was on the tips of his toes, already about to rush in to grab Chichi as Buu turned his eyes on her-

He never got the chance.

Because someone else already had.

"My brother is one thing, but you will not touch my sister-in-law."

Piccolo would bring lying if he said Raditz looked particularly brave. Even while standing in front of Chichi, who he'd all but tossed behind him, with his hair burning gold, he still looked about ready to bolt at a pin drop. But he didn't. He didn't do more than flinch and take a step back when Buu turned his beady eyes on him.

His hair flickered and Piccolo wondered if he practiced at all beyond his initial mastery of Super Sayain.

Probably not.

Out of the corner of his eye, Piccolo saw Ocari shoving Dende toward Cargo. He didn't dare glacé in that direction and risk catching Buu's attention.

Buu took about three steps towards Raditz before getting, well, the only word he could think of to describe it was pounced, by Zangya.

It was likely the surprise that knocked Buu off balance more than anything.

Zangya turned to Raditz, "hold this," she said, handing their child to him.

Raditz sputtered, the transformation finally flickering away, "wha-why the hell didn't you leave her over there?! What is wrong with-"

The question went unfinished as Zangya simply ran back into the fight.

"Is this it? These are your remaining champions?" Buu asked and even his voice was turned sinister.

"Oh come now. Let's not pretend as though you won your last fight fairly. I think we both know that that's simply not true," Zangya spoke, unflinching.

Things fell apart quickly after that.

…

I

I don't

I don't know how long it took me to die.

Minutes? Hours? Seconds? I couldn't say.

It sure felt like I was left there for a while. Buu having just left me for dead. Senzu Bean infuriatingly in sight, but too far to reach.

I tried. But I couldn't move.

But I- I didn't- I didn't want to die.

I didn't-

I felt cold and hurt and I just-

I just

I was just tired.

My eyes felt heavy.

And I knew I wasn't supposed to go to sleep but just resting my eyes couldn't hurt-

It-

Just for a moment.

Just-

A moment-

…

I blinked. I no longer felt cold, or like, hurt at all.

Nor did I recognize my surroundings at all. A quick glance down showed my back in street clothes, though slightly different from what I was wearing before.

I took a better look at my surroundings. I was on a single path, next to a line of, what I could only describe as wisps. The path lead to a large palace and was surrounded by golden clouds.

…

Oh.

I guess, oh.

Though I wasn't, quite sure, what I was supposed to-

Wait in line I guess- but the line went back further than I could see-

"Excuse me?" I turned to see a man with blue skin and short horns waving to catch my attention.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Are you, uh," he squinted at his paper, "current name Son Gohan, former name Shaylan?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess.."

"Great! If you'll just come with me, please. It seems you have level 2 priority, meaning you don't have to deal with this line!" He smiled before immediately turning and walking towards the palace.

"Uh, priority?"

"Huh? Oh right, of course. See, some souls are given priority over others see. All are based on cosmic importance or achievements. Regardless of if that is for the positive or negative. The lowest ranking is level 5. That's all of these unfortunate souls," he waved towards the line, "I do not envy them no not one bit. Then level four is for any particularly notable figures. Celebrities essentially. Then level 3, that's for those such as world leaders, or those who make great impacts to their world, or minor impacts for many worlds. Then level 2. That's for those who make great achievements or impacts for many worlds, or even universally. In your case, it was the defeat of the creature known as Cell, as he would have otherwise gone on to destroy many other planets. Fighting against Frieza and Majin Buu also would have qualified you, however. Level one is for a very select few. World Guardians is its primary purpose, though there are some exceptions. It should be noted that with the exception of level one- anyone particularly close to someone who dies at of a higher level will also qualify for that level, should they die around the same time. Saves them a lot of effort and everyone's happier and more agreeable if they aren't separated."

I, vaguely followed along.

I'd say I don't remember anything like this from the show but that'd be too obvious.

As we got closer to the palace another line began to be clear. The uh, guide I guess, labeled that one level 4.

As we got inside, there was yet another line, some of which had those who actually had bodies. He labeled that one 3.

The line that I was led to had very few people in it, though the, teller, did mention a larger group earlier.

Sometime later I was led to a, very large person who I had to crane my neck upwards to see.

"Oh good. You finally die and it's when all this mess happens. Count yourself lucky I'm far too busy at the moment." He quickly stamped a paper before handing it to the guide.

The guide looked at it and smiled.

"Right this way please. You'll be happy to know you'll be going up, though I can't say I'm surprised with your achievements along with no notable negative marks. Or at least none that would counterbalance them."

I, listened while he spoke. But not much of it really registered. My mind didn't really want to focus, on anything.

I was feeling kinda numb more than anything.

Maybe that was why I didn't notice sooner.

The area I was led to was very, green. And that's when my guide stopped.

"Here we are. I do hope you find yourself situated and at peace," he said with a bow before turning and leaving.

And then I was alone.

And I, wasn't sure what to do.

I mean. The place was nice, I guess. It was pretty. But it wasn't exactly something I could appreciate just, forever.

Eventually, I heard voices. I followed them because it was better than doing nothing.

I had, very mixed feelings when I recognized the group. It was, almost, though definitely not everyone, who was on the Lookout.

On one hand, it was awful that they'd died, obviously. That was- that was not good.

On the other, I was kinda glad I wasn't alone? It sounded awful, it felt awful to think, but I couldn't help but-

It was Bulma who noticed me first.

"Oh, hello!" There was something off about her tone that I couldn't quite place as she approached.

"Excuse me, I have a question. We're looking for someone named Gohan, you haven't happened to see him have you?"

"…what?"

"Right sorry, you probably wouldn't recognize him by name. He's a couple of inches taller than you, and has dark, shoulder-length hair. Dark eyes, sound familiar?"

I blinked at her. Not quite understanding.

I, glanced back down at my hands.

They were daintier than before, now that I was really looking at them. Uncallused.

I rolled up the sleeve of my jacket. My wrists were thinner than they'd been in years.

"Are you alright?" She asked, tilting her head at me, "oh I'm sorry. You obviously haven't seen him, but, do I know you? An odd question I'm sure but you seem familiar."

…

"No. I guess you don't."

So if you're wondering where the afterlife sytem came from there, I made it the heck up.

For two reasons, one, to justify being able to have everyone already there despite the massive line always seen in show, and two, to just pretend like there's some kind of system to streamline to process