OPENING THEME:
Episode 25:
A SECOND CHANCE: FAIR IS FAIR
Piccolo shook with the realisation that there was no possibility of escape. He caught sight of the saiyans' vengeful frowns and knew what he had to do. In a bizarre display, his body split off into several versions of himself. Each one mimicked the other and the saiyans immediately broke off chasing after their own handful. The clones dashed to and fro and in their absence, after images were growing by the second. Soon, the sky was filled with Piccolos but the saiyans were determined and fought through the swarm of confusion.
Deciding that he had enough, a male warrior fired a powerful blast at his weakened set of clones. He was shocked to see that his attack reduced several of them to smoke. It was in that moment that he had a revelation and he called out to the other two.
"Hey, morons, just end this sucker once and for all already! They're just his copies - but we're bound to get the real one," he explained with a proud smirk.
"What do you mean, Hendo?" the female warrior asked as she dodged an incoming fist.
"The copies are just stalling to protect the bastard," he explained. He pounced forward and pushed the woman aside with a powerful shove and added in an aggressive undertone, "So get out of the way if you don't want to get hurt."
"Hey, give her a break, won't you!" called out the other male saiyan as he was successfully swinging punches left and right, "She's doing the best she can out here, considering she just had a baby."
"That's no excuse in my book!"
The man eyed the other venomously but when he recognized familiar red streaks sparking off from his comrade's golden aura, he lurched back in fear. A red beam of light whipped overhead as he barely dodged the blow and he looked on mesmerized at the scene before him.
In one swift wave of the arm, the warrior controlled the red beam that sliced through every single one of the copies. A scattering of green rained down to the earth as smoke billowed in the aftermath.
"Looks like the idiot was too weak to avoid that attack. Victory was just too easy," Hendo commended himself.
"Looks like you don't give a damn about your own - you almost got me on my head!" the male warrior shot back, tightening his muscles as he drew closer.
"It's not my fault you're so weak!"
"Now, now boys - play fair!" the female saiyan cooed. Her plea was the only thing that stopped the man from attacking the other but remained in a battle ready stance, expecting to strike the second another insult was thrown his way.
Smiling with satisfaction, Hendo folded his arms in such a manner to declare his boosted ego. Hoisting his head towards the sky, he was about to share his feelings of euphoria but he was interrupted by a shocking sight. He made out a dazzling star against the purple sky, far away in the distance behind his colleagues.
"Damn it," he growled, now getting the gist of what just happened.
"What's up?" the other male asked.
"We've just been had, you fools," the saiyan remarked as he burst off in tremendous speed, leaving behind a bend of golden light in his trail. The others spun around to follow suit.
"Damn, he's fast - and you would think he would be out of energy with that show back there," the female warrior said.
Piccolo sensed the fast approaching saiyan on his way but he was not expecting to be visited so soon. He was forced to a stop by the sudden appearance of the warrior and it sent him into a wave of panic. A vicious kick to the stomach sent him hurling downward but he was immediately met with an aggressive uppercut. Soon, he was caught up in a swirl of blows and he yelled out in agony.
"You damn Namekian, you shouldn't have interfered!" yelled the man as he continued his rampage. With an aura surge, he threw a final punch that sent Piccolo back and into a waiting boot. The speed emphasized the force at which he hit and he yelled out as the female warrior edged her foot into his side. He was sent to one side and connected to the waiting clasped hands of the third saiyan, who with one swift release knocked him on the head and sent him zooming towards the earth. Huge chunks of dirt were uprooted and a massive storm of debris ensued.
Before the dust settled, Piccolo was already back on his feet but just in time for the three saiyans to settle in one after the other.
The man who had dealt Piccolo the most blows drew closer, intentionally taking his time. Piccolo grimaced with each step taken and when the saiyan finally came face to face with him, he looked on with sheer dread.
Hendo raised his hand and a ball of light grew as his clenched fist opened gradually.
'He's far weaker than before for some reason - but there's still no way that I can fend off all three of them at once,' thought Piccolo. Trembling in pretense, he decided upon a tactic that he desperately needed to work.
"Please, you don't have to do this."
"And you didn't have to cut off our tails!" snapped the female warrior but her voice trailed off in a high-pitched shriek, "Now my husband will be pissed you ruined this body of perfection! And I haven't even been to Planet Durdon in a while. He might not even recognize me now!"
"Yu-Natto, must you always be so insane! Now is not the time," yelled the other male saiyan.
"But..."
"Both of you, shut up!" yelled Hendo. His countenance intensified as the blast continued to grow, the winds swirling about them.
"Come on, think for a second," Piccolo continued, his eyes never leaving the blast, "Think about your saiyan pride. I thought you were always one to seek out a fair fight."
Piccolo smiled when he noticed that the blast was frozen in place. He looked up and studied the warrior before him. Clearly, he had hit a nerve and he knew he had won the battle of wits, "Allow me to fight at full strength, one on one and one by one."
Yu-Natto growled, "One by one! You think you could take us all out, huh? Well, I ought to -"
She was interrupted by a commanding hand.
"Well, well - why not," Hendo replied, returning his attention on Piccolo as he licked his lips.
"Ugh! I hate when you do that Hendo!" complained Yu-Natto from the sidelines, "You're not exactly Mr. Handsome now, are you!"
"Shut up!" he growled. Shaking in his frustration, his eyes shifted off to the direction she was in. He was determined to keep his focus directed to his opponent but it proved a challenge.
"Oh, sorry!" she apologized, lowering her head in shame and playing aorund in the dirt with her feet, "It's just that - to be honest, though - you're pretty ugly!"
Hendo looked as though he was about to blow a fuse but he calmed down as the blast in his hand disappeared suddenly. And then the other saiyans settled in behind him.
"You haven't finished off the brute as yet?" complained the dark beauty as she made her way forward. She rested a hand on Hendo's shoulder to which he looked up at the woman immediately. However, he could not disguise his red cheeks.
"Aw!" she cooed in a shrilly voice, "You've got a liking towards me!"
She connected a hefty knee into the man's lower region to which he clasped both hands around his new injury and fell backwards, "You're spoiled rotten to think you could ever have me! And no one likes a spoiled saiyan."
She turned her head towards Piccolo, "So, you want to take us on, huh!"
"It doesn't matter who comes first, all I ask is to fight a decent fight!" Piccolo coolly stated, regaining confidence.
"There was nothing decent about you snatching the Great Ruler away from us like that - he is as much of a culprit as the King."
"Enough of the chit-chat, let's fight! Who's up?"
The woman narrowed her eyes and growled in a low hum that spoke of incredible, deep-seated rage, "I'm right here, you idiot!"
"A woman? Hm. This will be a first," he smirked.
"Just like our dear King, a fool who fails to see the worth of a woman. I was chosen to be his mate but because of it, I gained some much valuable one-on-one training with him for two years now. Training I pretended I did not tolerate," she shared, wearing a wide grin, "Even in my base, you'll be nothing to me!"
The golden aura about her subsided and the long hair retreated. Now she was donning a new hairstyle, shaved all around except for the spiky tuft in the middle and two long locks at the front.
Piccolo's eyes widened and his mouth hung open as he looked on at the beauty with an intense stare, 'Mate? Doesn't that mean the same thing as wife? You mean Vegeta has got two wives?' His thoughts led him to envision Vegeta adorned with two beauties on either shoulder: Bulma and the female saiyan before him.
"So are you just going to stand there or what!" yelled the woman. Her eyes, for a brief moment, glared a blue-green and her aura was golden as it edged into the dirt beneath her creating a crack that travelled the distance between her and Piccolo.
"Now, now - calm down Berrie," Tomaro called out, shaking as he stepped forward, "You know how you are when you get like this."
"Shut up, Tomaro!" she growled.
"It's Tomaro!"
In a condescending tone, she bellowed, "Whatever, Tuh-mey-roh, tuh-mah-roh! I don't give a damn!"
She returned her attention back to Piccolo, preparing herself in a battle stance, "I don't know why you old timers are keeping watch over me! Check back with the King - he's still alive and I'll be damn if he was to get away."
"Watch your tongue, woman!" one of the males spoke up.
"Or what?" she teased, not taking her eyes off of her opponent.
"Show some damn respect for once in your entitled life, you..."
The woman was cut off by Berrie, "Entitled? Me? You don't know the half of what I've been through. What part of chosen to be the King's mate do you not understand?"
The woman held down her head in shame, but continued, "What good is it then to put on a show when we could be dealing with him? The others, I'm sure, probably have his head by now."
With a grin, Berrie replied, "This idiot before me stole the Great Ruler before we could crush him in our great ape forms. And Nasu was severely injured in that dirty surprise blast - but the Great Ruler underestimated us. Has he forgotten that we are highly trained combat warriors ready for anything?"
"I took my sister back to the castle with her children," Tomaro shared.
'What? Children?' Piccolo thought, 'Wait, so there's more of them?'
"When I came back to see a riffle of great apes falling from the sky, I came out here to assist."
'Damn! I didn't expect more would have followed me out here,' Piccolo realised. He took a peak behind Berrie and counted eight, 'It seems though that it's only one more.'
"And who said we needed your help, you coward!" she barked, "You stumble and stutter like a damn fool every chance you get."
Tomaro's aura flared as his fists tightened in his rage.
"You want to challenge me?" scoffed Berrie, still not taking her eyes off of Piccolo.
"Respect your elders, little girl!" Tomaro shouted.
"That's it!" Berrie swung around with a readied blast but another saiyan intervened and sent it to one side.
"Kill the damn Namekian if you wish," the man solemnly declared, relaxing his aura and transforming to his base, "But I have had it with you lot! The King is more than likely dead by now - so many want him and he's an easy target right now. My son was born into this life and perished because of this life. I never much gave a damn about fighting or power. So I will leave you idiots behind to squabble amongst yourselves. Finally, my grandchildren and I can go live in peace." And with that, he dashed off.
Piccolo showed his confusion and contempt, finding what he just heard as a sort of a personal insult, 'Peace? A saiyan? The two somehow just don't seem to go together.'
"So, how 'bout at it?" Berrie motioned Piccolo forward, not showing any acknowledgement to the man's departure.
With a grin, Piccolo removed his turban and cape and threw them at the woman. Unprepared, she was sent back and crashed into the group of saiyans. She growled as she regained her footing, sending a death stare his way.
"You start wrong..." she said casually as she wiped off the blood from the small scar against her lip and cheek.
"And I will be the one to end things here today, little missy," Piccolo added and in complete rage, she responded by launching towards him in awesome speed.
The sound of crashing echoed throughout the ruined castle as Poompa steadfastly picked at the rubble. He had decided against using blasts as aid as he did not want to accidentally cause any more damage to the prince. One minute the prince was beside him but after the great apes made their appearance, it was only but a guess as to where he could be now.
Reaching the bottom of another mound, he was beginning to panic. Even with his incredible speed, he had not made any progress whatsoever but he was determined. Suddenly, he caught sight of bright light from beneath a section of the rubble a short distance away. He crept closer to investigate but jumped back as the light intensified. The earth shook and he nervously spied about him to see that the entire foundation seemed to be rocking to and fro. The surviving saiyans tried their best to stay on their feet as they helped the hurt from beneath the pile up. Each one of them were casting questioning glares towards Poompa the second the rubble was reduced to fine dust.
"P-Prince?" asked Poompa, tiptoeing away from the man in his awe. He ultimately tripped over some debris and fell on his bottom.
"The Prince!" the saiyans murmured as they bowed respectfully.
Vegeta studied the man momentarily before admiring his own body. He was impressed that not only was he standing but he was powerful; very powerful. In a grand spectacle, he effortlessly transformed to a super saiyan god super. The onlookers were mesmerized by his blue hair and radiant aura. He raised his palm and it directed towards Poompa, his face lit up with an evil grin.
Expecting the worst, Poompa trembled as the blast grew and he barely dodged in time. Holding onto his head for cover, Poompa could not be more surprised that he was alive and even more surprised by the sound of groaning - but he wasn't hit, was he? Taking a peak behind him, his trembling intensified upon recognising who had been hit. It was the Great Ruler.
"B-But how?" asked one of the surrounding saiyans, "Your power should still be that of the Great Ruler's - I don't understand."
"It is truly strange. Like if somehow I recovered all the energy that was stolen from me." Vegeta made his way towards the crowd of saiyans and each one fell to their knees. He drew closer to a seemingly floating figure to which a small group of angry saiyans gathered. Upon noticing who was approaching, their snarls transformed into shameful pouts and they too fell to their knees, bowing repeatedly as though begging for forgiveness.
Taking his time as he made his way up the wrecked steps of the platform, Vegeta finally came to a stop. He studied the man before him, hanging from the steel that was once in the walls, now embedded beneath either shoulder. If he couldn't sense the very last ounce of energy in him, he would have never recognised him. His father's face was drenched in his own blood and his body was patterned with deep burns and gruesome scars. Clearly, the King had been dealt an awful time while Vegeta was caught beneath the rubble.
"Hello, father," he uttered as he grabbed the King by the chin, pulling his head towards him.
He withdrew his hand abruptly and his now bloodied glove shone with an intense aura. His fingers were aimed for the King's throat and in speed too grand to follow, they were stopped as they brushed the edge of his skin.
"How 'bout I kill you now, hm?"
The King trembled, his countenance giving away his fear but his words suggested otherwise, "Go ahead, son - but remember one thing - we will meet again one day in hell."
In response, Vegeta edged his hand closer to which the King grimaced in pain. He smiled when he noticed that he had drawn fresh blood.
"Oh, father - I've been to hell and back. Unspeakable torture and sheer helplessness every damn day!" With his lips inches away from his ear, he added in hushed anger, "You won't be King in Hell, I assure you - you will be someone's underling, someone's pet."
There was no use in pretending any longer as it was clear as day that this news terrified the King into a shaking fit. Withdrawing his hand, Vegeta prepared himself to strike. It was apparent that this was to be the final blow but it never came. Instead, seconds away from connecting to the King's neck, he paused. He relaxed his stiff hand and instead directed his palm. Returning to his base in a blink of an eye, a gentle gush of wind emanated as he guided his hand over the upperbody of the King. In finale, he brushed aside any remaining signs of dirt and he whispered, "You're a mess."
Pushing a finger against the steel rods, the King immediately fell but Vegeta eased his way down. Clutching on tightly to his arm, he beckoned to the soldiers, "Someone, fetch me plenty clean water and drying cloths immediately. Also, a collection of your best gauzes and mending apparatus would do."
The saiyans were lost in the unfolding events and it took them several seconds later before they caught on.
"Yes sire, as you wish!" they said at once. They scattered to and fro before a few were finally selected to retrieve the requested items.
Upon return, the saiyans bowed before Vegeta as they presented him with the items. A few large basins of water were lain against his feet and trays of towels and medical tools abound.
"Thank you."
The men and women looked up at one another with quizzical looks but remained in place, trying their best to steady their hands as Vegeta grabbed hold of the towels. They watched as he quietly got to work cleaning the blood off of his father's face. Cradling the man as though he were a child, he continued to gently wash his body and soon there was hardly any trace of blood left to be seen.
Selecting a pill from the assortment laid out in strategic fashion, Vegeta offered it to the King but he refused.
"You're far too weak to bear the pain," he reminded and the King allowed the pill to be fed to him.
Removing his gloves, Vegeta took up the biggest of the surgical suture. Firing off a beam from his fingertip to the tip of the needle, he got to work mending open scars. In finale, he covered any other bruises with gauzes. He helped the man to his feet but the silence was broken by gasps the second Vegeta wrapped his arms around his father.
Trekking in, Ringo was stunned by the odd expressions of his fellow comrades but when he noticed who was the center of attention, he bowed. However, his face was etched with sheer anger and his words emphasized why, "So, you side with him as well?"
Vegeta withdrew from the embrace but he still supported the weight of his father as he turned to face Ringo. Immediately, Ringo lowered his head, expecting the worst.
"It is Ringo, correct?"
He looked up in shock, "Yes, but -"
"I need you to assist my father."
Ringo obeyed but his face gave away his confusion. He took hold of the King and carried him in the same manner that Vegeta was holding him.
"Pumpka!" bellowed Vegeta.
Poompa shivered uncontrobally as he stepped forward, "It's - It's Poompa, sire!"
"Indeed it is - Poompa. Take hold of the Great Ruler. You two men will lead them on our way out."
Poompa was shaking beyond control but with a nod, he drew closer to the Great Ruler. As he was about to grab hold, the Great Ruler took the opportunity to release a blow but he was stopped by a small explosion inches away from his face. He looked on wide-eyed at Vegeta. Vegeta narrowed his eyes into an unwavering stare and the Great Ruler gulped and looked away.
"Gather the others that are still buried beneath the rubble and attend to those who are able. Those that are not take them to your residence for recovery. I will wait until those that are willing and who support me, I ask that you follow me beyond this wall of darkness, as a team, as a race."
Several bowed once more but a few stood their ground.
"With all due respect, sire," he emphasized the title with great disdain, "but I don't do well with taking orders from a dictator. Never did, never will. So I guess that after all of these years of being a slave, you will just have to kill me."
"The same applies to me," another bellowed, "as far as I can see it, I am a free man now. I will rather die as a free man."
After intense seconds of a stare-down, Vegeta nodded his head. The two men looked from one to the other, amazed that they were guaranteed their freedom without the penalty of death.
"Well, at the very least aid in assisting the fallen."
The men nodded and proceeded to where their prince directed and got to work removing the rubble. Indeed, they found survivors and they looked up at the man in admiration. Was this man really the Prince of all saiyans?
END THEME:
PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE
"Son Goku here! *Gulp* It's getting fierce out there!"
Zakura grabs hold of the diamond necklace about Berrie's neck and rips it off and throws it to one side.
"And fiercer..."
A male saiyan punches Tomaro and sends him skidding to a halt some feet away.
"And fiercest? Huh!"
Piccolo lands on top of his head after an obvious throw and is looking on with a confused expression.
"See you NEXT TIME ON DRAGONBALL SUPER: FOR ONE AND ALL: THE REASON WHY WE FIGHT"
END CREDITS: Author/Creator of the DBZ series and characters: Akira Toriyama
Author/Creator of this Story/Series; Creator of a surprisingly touching moment between father and son: Chrissi B (c) 2023