Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty – The Season of Dragon Ramen

Written by: Feraligreater328

Overseen by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning

Chapter 10: Dragon Ramen

A/N: This has been a journey to write. Not because of any particular difficulty in coming up with the story, but just because of…everything else. I have more side stories I want to do, but I think it might be a better idea to put those off for a while. Just so I can focus on Dynasty going forward. :

In the Son Family kitchen…

Chi-Chi wiped sweat from her brow using a towel that she kept hanging over her shoulder. The hustle and bustle of the kitchen was sweaty work, especially when she had so many people to cook for. But, this sort of pressure never bothered her. Chi-Chi stirred the broth, a soy base with garlic, green onion, and several other aromatics mixed in. In the pan next to that, she had all of the Tastuenoki mushrooms frying alongside several dozen strips of salted, cured pork belly and a few ears of corn. The noodles each boiled in their own individual basket, one portion for each of the many guests.

She also had oba gyoza and a heaping wok of fried rice sizzling and steaming on the range next to her.

Chi-Chi stepped back and cracked her neck, watching everything cook. She reached beneath the scarf wrapped around her head and scratched her left horn. "Okay. Everything is looking good. Need to start whipping the egg to pour over the rice…"

Chi-Chi opened the over and reached in with her ladle, making sure the beef roasts within were staying nice and moist. "Everything is looking great~"

Out in the den…

The Son Family Household was lively and raucous as everyone gathered within engaged in conversation or horsed around with one another. Piccolo and Blonde Launch politely listened as Gine described the rigors of being a kindergarten teacher. Goku and Raditz both talked about something, furtively whispering back and forth. Goku looked at his brother sympathetically and placed a hand on his slumping shoulder. On the floor, Chiaotzu busily played around with the kids, engaging in several wrestling matches at once as Goten, Chika, and Ranch all piled into him. Finally, Gohan sat between Tien and the Ox-King, pouring over a book on geography that he was learning in school. In spite of neither having a formal education, Tien and the Ox-King both kept up in conversation, enthralled by Gohan's genuine enthusiasm.

It was a regular family scene. Everyone content with each other's company and just living their lives in relative peace.

Peeking out from behind the kitchen doorway, Chi-Chi had a warm smile on her face. Her heart was nothing but love for this family that she was allowed to be a part of. Taking a deep breath, Chi-Chi stepped out and called to the entire room. "Okay, y'all! Dinner time!"

In the kitchen…

Too accommodate for the extra mouths, an additional table and chairs were dragged out of the shed. Chi-Chi watched everyone sit down and admire her spread. Goku was, surprisingly enough, behaving and waiting until given permission (most likely because Gine was sat right next to him, but progress was progress). Chi-Chi nodded. "Okay, everyone! This is the first time the season of Dragon Ramen has occurred in a while! I've made everyone one bowl to enjoy, so please take the time to savor it!"

Everyone cheered. Chi-Chi led the group in a blessing and then they all sat down and enjoyed a sumptuous banquet together as a family. The food somehow went even quicker than Chi-Chi expected, with even Piccolo greedily reaching for more.

Though, she suspected he was just being polite.

Once the table was cleared and everyone had eaten their fill, chairs started to scrape, and folks began to say their goodbyes. Then Chi-Chi stood. "Before you all go, I have something that I want to share."

Everyone froze. All eyes were on Chi-Chi. Chika smiled a warm, little smile. Chi-Chi stammered. "S-Some of you are already aware of wh-what I'm about to tell you. B-But, some of you aren't. And all of you, a-as well as other who aren't here, are…my family."

Everyone smiled at that. Chi-Chi reached up to the scarf around her head and gripped it tight. "S-So…I…I wanted you all to know that…that I…am…"

Chi-Chi pulled the scarf from her head and revealed her horns for everyone present to see. They glimmered in the low light, and Chi-Chi immediately began to avoid eye contact. "…I am part demon. On my mother's side."

A thick silence fell over the room. Several people present were well aware of Chi-Chi's heritage, but there were also several who weren't. Namely, the entire Raditz household. Raditz's eyes went wide. "Whoa…"

Blonde Launch gasped. "Wh-What the…?"

Chi-Chi's face erupted in a bright red blush. "I'm sorry if this comes as a shock. But…I'm tired of hiding myself from the people I love. Bit by bit, I'm going to tell everyone else, so I would appreciate if you'd keep this quiet until I let them know myself, but-"

Ranch leapt up into her aunt's arms. "AUNT CHI-CHI! ARE THOSE REAL?! THAT'S SO COOL!"

Without waiting to ask, Ranch reached up and grabbed Chi-Chi's right horn, giving it a tug. Chi-Chi winced but gave a small smile. "Y-Yeah. They're real Ranch. Very, very real~"

Blonde Launch rushed forward. "R-Ranch! Don't just jump on someone and grab parts of 'em! That's rude! Maybe even insensitive!"

Soon enough, everyone was moving in on Chi-Chi to ask her more. Or, to congratulate her on being brave. Standing back from the crowd, Ox-King smiled. "My little girl…"

Looking at the relieved, joyful look on Chi-Chi's face brought tears to old Ushio's eyes. He reached under his glasses and wiped them away with his thumb. Then hey looked over at his granddaughter. "Hey, Chika-"

Ox-King flinched in shock. Standing behind little Chika's chair was the ethereal form of Gyuhime. Chika the First stared at her daughter with a relieved, wide smile on her lips. Tears sparkling in her eyes. She looked over at her husband and smiled.

Ox-King blinked, and then she was gone. Little Chika looked up at him. "You called me, Grandpa Ox?"

Ox-King's face sagged, but then he adopted a warm, grandfatherly smile. "Aw, I was just wonderin' if you were gonna show off yours too, hon?"

Chika's face lit up. "OH MY GOSH, YOU'RE RIGHT!"

She leaped up out of her chair and ran into the crowd of her family. "EVERYONE, LOOK! I HAVE HORNS TOO~!"

Chi-Chi and the Season of Dragon Ramen. End.