I'm back! Glad to see you guys are hopping back on the story. Things are about to get crazy as the tale proper begins! Prepare for shenanigans, battles, and laughs all around! Look out world, 'cause Milla's coming to town!
*EHEM!*
In any case, there aren't really any reviews to read, so we can get on into the action! I don't own Dragon Ball in any form. If that were the case, GT would be a lot better and Gohan would've been protagonist after the Cell saga. Anywho, on with the show!
September 1st, Age 749, Mt. Pazao
Mt. Pazao was beautiful this time of year. The bees were buzzing, the birds were singing, and fish could be found throughout the various lakes and rivers. Not many individuals lived close to the mountain, seeing as it was a heavily wooded area. A few deer leapt through the forest as they approached one of the many lakes of the mountain. A faun came to a stop as it decided to take a sip of the water.
Beneath the surface, however, a huge pair of eyes caught sight of its next prey. The faun's mother hopped over as if to tell her to move along. Before either could blink, a massive fish came soaring out of the water. The mother pushed her child out of the way, becoming caught in the beast's maw. The fish wiggled around as it tried to pull its catch back into the water.
The faun cried out for its mother, but it could only watch helplessly as things played out. The beast nearly succeeded in its task, till a huge red rod smacked it atop the head. A shadow soon grabbed onto its head before pulling it back into the water, leaving the pair behind. The herd watched on as the water rippled due to the battle below. The water soon became still as the shadowy figure emerged, a black tail wagging behind it.
Meanwhile, on a nearby path, a young girl could be found driving up the mountain. She had blue hair in a braided ponytail with a red ribbon and blue eyes. She wore a very short pink dress with her name on it with blue sneakers and purple socks. She also wore white sneakers with a strange logo on it. The girl looked down at her bag for a brief second, taking note of the largest object in it.
It was an orange, slightly translucent orb that bore five red stars within it. She had found this bit of treasure in a cave a few miles away, and it was only the first of a set. She began dreaming of what she'd obtain once these strange orbs were in her possession. She pushed some of her hair out of her face as she decided on a lifetime supply of strawberries. It wasn't that unbelievable, right?
World peace, infinite resources, and even power seemed to slip her mind as she gave into her cravings. She imagined the taste of all those strawberries in her mouth. She closed her eyes for half a second. She opened her eyes in order to make the turn, only to widen them at a large object in the middle of the road. Said object seemed to be a huge fish, though it looked as if it was being carried by something.
She slammed the breaks in order to avoid a collision, praying and hoping she would make it on time. She failed miserably, slamming into the fish and sending it flying. She popped her head out the window in order to get a better look, paling at the sight before her. A little girl in what she assumed were pink pajamas laid in front of the huge bass, heavily breathing. The teen held her hands over her mouth as she looked to her car.
"Bulma what have you done!?" shouted the driver to herself. To her surprise, and gratitude, the little girl's eyes opened moments after she uttered the question. The child hopped up from her spot on the ground and stared at the vehicle. The child growled as she approached the vehicle, popping her knuckles before rolling her shoulders. Bulma was surprised for what had to be the third time today as the child picked up her car from the side, lifting it above her head.
"No monster is gonna take my food!" shouted the little girl. She began shaking it rapidly back and forth, almost making the teen within lose her breakfast. She banged it a couple of times on the ground, making huge dents in the metal. She then pulled out a poll as she proceeded to whack the vehicle with it. Bulma exited the vehicle with a frightened look on her face, shocking the mysterious attacker.
"Stop!" shouted the teen. She soon found herself being pushed away from her vehicle by the little girl's pole.
"Stay back! The monster will eat you again if you get too close!" Bulma deadpanned as she looked at the girl.
"It's not a monster!" The child looked to her in confusion, tilting her head. "It's not even alive!" She looked to the vehicle as she put a finger on her chin.
"Did I kill it? I'm sorry if I killed your pet." The teen groaned as she facepalmed.
"No! It was never alive to begin with! It's a car!" The little girl looked at the vehicle, then looked at Bulma. She repeated the action several times before sending a set of sparkling eyes the stranger's way.
"That's so cool! I've never seen a car before!" She gasped in realization, quickly entering a respectful bow. "Oops! Sorry I broke it."
If Bulma wasn't confused before, then she definitely was now. Who didn't know what a car was? She looked the little girl over, noting a few details she missed when she crashed into her. She noticed that what she thought were pajamas was actually a pink outfit with a white sash. The little girl must've been lost or something to have long, unkept hair reaching all the way to her lower back.
Bulma suddenly noticed something move from behind the girl's hair. Her eyes widened as a black tail made itself visible.
"You have a tail!?" The little girl looked back at her appendage with no surprise before returning her gaze to the stranger before her.
"Yeah. I've had it all my life. Grandpa always told me little girls have tails until they get older. That's when they pop off and never grow back." Bulma shook her head as she spread her arms out.
"No they don't! I can guarantee you little girls aren't supposed to have tails at all." The child glared at Bulma with a childish anger.
"How do you know? What makes you an expa… experi… smarty butt about girls?" The teen gave her an incredulous look as she gestured to herself.
"Because I'm a girl, and I've never had a tail in my life!" There was awkward silence as the child looked her up and down. Bulma began to wonder if this strange kid was trying to pick out a lie in what she said. The starry eyes returned as the little girl beamed at her.
"I've never met another girl before! Wanna come back to my hut and eat the fish I caught?" Bulma paused for a moment, unable to compute what was being said. Never met another girl before? Was… was this kid joking?
'That tears it. I must be in some kind of coma after the crash.' She sighed as she looked to the kid before her. 'Maybe if I play along, I'll be able to get out of here and be back on my way.' The little girl waited for an answer as she crossed her arms. Did all girls act like this?
Bulma laughed hysterically as she gave up on trying to reason with logic. "Why not? I won't be going anywhere for a while anyway." She walked over to the destroyed vehicle and tapped a knob on the top. The car turned into a capsule, making the little girl shriek as she hopped back.
"Magic! You're a fairy!" Bulma rolled her eyes at the accusation. She may have given up on logic, but she was not about to lose her sanity. She put her open hand on her hip as she displayed the capsule in hand.
"It's not magic silly. It's a Hoi-Poi Capsule: one of my father's inventions." The little girl wasn't entirely convinced, but she didn't care as she walked down the path. Bulma didn't like the idea of being left behind, so she quickly followed along. The little girl looked back at her with a huge grin.
"My name's Milla. What's yours?" The teen smiled calmly as she nodded her head.
"I'm Bulma." After a while, they reached Milla's hut. Bulma was still surprised a little girl could lift an abnormally large fish, let alone carry it all the way back home. The heiress watched as her host propped the fish up on a huge fire pit, quickly igniting the kindle underneath. She was grabbed by the hand and pulled along towards the house.
"Welcome to my house! We don't usually get visitors around here." Bulma said nothing as she looked around the room. She could tell that the child tried to make it look presentable, but it was still a little messy looking. She looked down at Milla as she straightened up one of the cushioned seats.
"I guess you clean up this place for your grandpa right?" Milla's ears twitched as she continued to look at the seat in front of her. "It's really sweet of you to do something like that for him." The tailed girl shook her head as she turned around, a sad look on her face. This was not something Bulma was expecting.
"Grandpa's… not around anymore." The heiress's eyes widened at that statement, quickly bringing her hands up to her mouth. This girl was living out here by herself? She quickly regained her composure as she lowered her arms.
"I'm sorry. I didn't…" Milla shook her head in response.
"It's alright. He died a long time ago fighting this big scary monster. I'm used to being alone by now." Bulma couldn't help but shake her head in response. This was not something a little girl should go through.
She couldn't bear to imagine life without her parents, yet this kid was already living such a life. She moved to question her further, only to stop in her tracks as an object caught her eye. Her eyes widened as she noticed a very familiar orange sphere resting on a podium, much like an altar. "Bulma?" The child went unacknowledged as the teen quickly approached the orb.
"A dragon ball!" shouted Bulma. She couldn't believe her eyes, yet there rested the four starred member of the set. She picked it up in order to examine it, only to be slapped by Milla's pole. She cried out in pain as the ball soared through the air. The monkey girl quickly caught it, bringing it into a protective hold behind her.
"No touch!" Bulma growled slightly as she looked to the child before her. She could tell that she valued the Dragon Ball greatly. Whether she knew of its true value or not eluded the heiress, but she wasn't prepared to give up. She decided to try and play her cards as she politely smiled.
"It's a very pretty orb. Can I please have it?" Milla's eyes narrowed as her anger grew in strength.
"No! It's not yours!" Bulma's brow twitched as she tried to keep her cool.
"Pretty please? I'll let you have some strawberries and chocolate." The teen smirked as she looked to the kid. No child, especially a girl, could resist fruit and candy. To her surprise, however, Milla shook her head defiantly.
"No means no!" The bluenette growled as her smile dropped. This kid was really starting to test her patience. She held her elbow in her hand as she gestured to the dragon ball.
"Do you even know what that is? What it's value is? It can't just be left to sit and collect dust. If you can't understand that then you shouldn't have it!" The monkey girl wrapped her tail around the orb as she balled her fists in front of her.
"It's all I have left of my grandpa!" These very words shut Bulma up. "I won't let anyone take his memory away!" The heiress remained silent as she stared off with the monkey girl. Neither dared to make a move in this situation, unsure of what to do.
Bulma finally sighed as she sat down on the sofa, plopping her head in her lap. She had to breathe in order to calm her nerves down. This wasn't who she was. She wasn't some burglar who barged in and stole from people, let alone children. She'll admit that she's a little selfish, but she wasn't heartless.
"I'm sorry. Really, I am. It's just… I've been looking for that orb for a while now." Milla finally calmed down as she gave her rude guest a confused frown.
"Do you know what it is?" Bulma had no intentions to answer that question. She couldn't let the kid know about the Dragon Balls. She looked away in an attempt to think of an excuse. Milla, not understanding this, walked over to where the bluenette was looking.
Bulma made no move from here as the monkey girl looked her in the eye. "Grandpa always told me that the orb was special, but he would never tell me why. Could you please tell me? I have to know." The heiress looked away once again, a burning feeling welling up inside her.
She then came upon a sight that she never thought would be turned on her. It seemed that Milla learned the secret art of puppy eyes a long time ago, and Bulma couldn't deny that they were very effective. She sighed as she rolled her eyes.
'What are you doing Bulma?' She reached into her bag as she quickly pulled out the two Dragon Balls she found in the previous months of her travels. "It's one of a set of orbs I've been looking for." Milla slowly grabbed her grandfather's dragon ball before setting it down next to the two others. They did indeed look similar, save for the number of orange stars that floated within each of them.
"What are they?" Bulma looked over the three, almost tempted to run off with her prize. She took a deep breath, however, and controlled this insane mindset she found herself in. She was already in hot water as she was, so she might as well go all in.
"They're known as the Dragon Balls." Milla gave her an incredulous look as she cried out in disgust. This resulted in her being hit on top of her head by her guest. "NOT LIKE THAT!" The monkey girl rubbed the top of her head in response to the pain.
Bulma cleared her throat as she regained her composure. "These are the two, four, and five star Dragon Balls, respectively. There are seven of them in total. If you can gather the entire set together, the mighty dragon Shenron will appear and grant you any wish." Milla had only one thing going through her head when she heard the news.
Wishing orbs that summoned a mighty dragon. It was like the genies from the stories Grandpa would always tell her before bed, only much bigger and a lizard. If this was true, then there might be a chance to fix everything. She could have everything back to the way it was before. Her smile grew as she looked to her guest.
"Bulma? Could I please borrow your Dragon Balls? Just for a little bit?" Bulma's remorseful face turned to anger as she got defensive. She knew this would happen if she told the stupid kid in her dream about the Dragon Balls.
"Why would I give them to you!? I've been looking for these things for months on end!" Milla rubbed her arm as she looked away. One could immediately tell that she was uncomfortable with this part of the conversation.
"When Grandpa Gohan died a few years ago, he was protecting me after I disobeyed one of his rules. He specifically told me never to go out during the full moon, or a monster would come and attack me. If it wasn't for me, he'd still be here." For what had to be the fourth time today, Bulma was speechless. She had no idea how hard the girl had it this hard.
"How… how long ago did this happen?" She wasn't sure how old Milla was, but she could tell the child wasn't old enough to be feeling like this. The monkey girl looked her in the eye with a sigh.
"It happened a year ago, after my twelfth birthday." The heiress's eyes widened in response to that last detail. This kid was only three years younger than her, and she wasn't even half her height. That was not something she was expecting. She shook her head as she realized that she was thinking off topic.
Milla took a deep breath as she regained her composure. "I want to use the Dragon Balls to revive him, or at least let him know how sorry I am. Please?" Bulma thought over this for a moment. She had quickly come to realize that she was not dreaming.
She may have been a genius, but even she couldn't come up with this kind of stuff. A girl with a tail was one thing, but this kind of backstory wasn't anything she'd come up with in her own head. If she was honest with herself, it made her own wish seem petty and selfish. She knew, however, that the world was no place for a little girl to run off on her own. There were many weirdos and creeps that would take advantage of that.
She sighed as she shook her head. She couldn't believe what she was about to suggest, but it wouldn't sit well with her if something bad happened to Milla because of this. She looked to the young monkey girl with a soft smile.
"How about instead, we look for the rest together?" This surprised the monkey girl greatly. She sent the heiress a large smile.
"Really!?" shouted Milla. Bulma nodded in response, a small smile on her own face. "All right! We'll start first thing tomorrow. I'm so excited!"
Milla ran around the room, literally bouncing off the walls. She suddenly came to a halt as she sniffed the air. Her eyes widened as she grabbed her staff. "I FORGOT ABOUT THE FISH!" Bulma couldn't help the sweat falling down her forehead as the child ran out the door.
It didn't take much longer after that for supper to be on the table. It wasn't what she was used to, but Bulma did end up enjoying the meal. She was rather annoyed, however, that she had to teach Milla how to properly use the utensils at her disposal. It would seem that her grandfather hadn't taught her proper manners before he passed. It was this thought that caused her slightly cheery mood to become downcast once more.
"Hey Milla? I know you said you were raised by your grandfather, but I was wondering…" She looked towards the little girl, only to deadpan at the fact that she was already fast asleep. Bulma realized what time it was and decided to get some sleep. She carried Milla into the hut, preparing to get a full night's sleep.
CRASH!
Bulma gasped as she was startled awake by the large noise. She was still slightly tired, not having the energy to open her eyes. She couldn't help but feel that the dream from last night was so vivid and life like. She actually believed that she found some magical wishing orbs that would grant her any wish, only to give up when some kid told her their tragic backstory. She stretched as she heard more banging and shoving around the area.
She slowly opened her eyes, ready to tear her father a new one for being so loud with one of his inventions. The first thing that came to view was a black monkey tail, swinging back and forth as its owner rummaged through the contents of the room. She looked around the room, recognizing the old hut from her dreams. She yawned as she laid back down, knowing that she was safe and sound in… Wait a minute.
The heiress suddenly shot up as she took in the scene before her. Milla was currently going through the room like a dog digging for its lost toy, leaving behind a similar mess. She quickly looked towards a mirror while the girl continued her search. Everything actually happened. She gave the dragon balls away to a girl with a monkey's tail.
'WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING!?' cried Bulma in her head. 'Those Dragon Balls were my one way ticket to a lifetime supply of strawberries!' She began to panic as she tried to think of a way out of this mess. Before she could come up with anything, her host cried out in excitement, her tail straightening as it pointed to the ceiling.
"I found it!" shouted Milla. Bulma leaned in a little closer, curious as to what the child had been searching for. She held up a blue cloth as she turned around, unaware of the heiress's awakening. She lowered her find, smiling as she caught sight of her friend. "Good morning Bulma!"
"G…good morning Milla. What's with the blue blanket?" She gained part of her answer when the monkey girl wrapped the fabric around her head.
"Grandpa gave this to me back when he was still alive. He said he found me holding tightly to it. He tried to put it somewhere else, but it was just meant to be a headband. I know it!" As Milla kept going on and on about the garment, Bulma looked at her.
Now she remembered why she decided to help the girl. She just couldn't say no to the excited little girl, not after everything she was told. Milla was so joyful, considering everything she went through. It made Bulma happy to see the child smile. She got up and walked outside, Milla quick to follow her.
She pulled out another capsule, her car still banged up from Milla's attack the other day. Said monkey girl gasped at the sight of the device, clapping in excitement. "More magic!" Bulma chuckled then pressed the top of the capsule, throwing it to the ground soon after. The child stood in awe as she watched the small pod turn into a moped.
"Get on Milla!" shouted Bulma. She mounted her vehicle in preparation for takeoff. She furrowed her brow, however, when she felt no pressure at her back. "Milla?" She turned around, finding the monkey girl looking over her home.
"This will be the first time I left home like this. I've never left Mt. Pazao in my life, at least the bits I can remember." Bulma sighed as she sent the girl an understanding frown. While she was eager to do some exploring by herself, she too was anxious about leaving home by herself. She placed her hands on her lap as she sent the young girl a soft smile.
"Just think about all the stories you'll get to tell him once we make the wish. You'll make all sorts of friends you can introduce him to, and you'll come out stronger for it all." Milla sighed as she placed her hand on the wall of the hut. She closed her eyes, as if saying one last goodbye to the place. She suddenly smiled as she leapt on the vehicle, landing right behind her new friend.
"Let's get going!" Given the okay, Bulma took off at breathtaking speed. Milla was frightened at first, never having gone so fast before. She soon shook it off, however, and felt the breeze flow through her hair. She opened her eyes as she watched the world fly past her.
Trees became like a blurry wall alongside them, rivers were small breaks in said wall, and any animal was just a small blip in the scenery. She looked to the road ahead, noting a clearing in the area. Once they broke through the scene, they were met with a mostly open terrain. She marveled at the various forms of flora that passed her by, including a field of flowers. She couldn't help but cheer as the wind picked up speed.
An hour went by as they continued on their path, slowing down as they approached a heavily wooded area. Bulma smiled as she took a quick glance back at her passenger. The monkey girl had the widest of smiles on her face, akin to a child seeing an elephant for the first time. She looked ahead in order to keep track of where they were going, only for her face to contort as she felt nature call her. She brought the car to a halt, causing Milla to sound off her disappointment.
"You wait right here Milla. I'll be right back." The monkey girl shot her a confused look, tilting her head.
"What's going on?" Bulma sighed as she shook her head. This kid was really bad at reading faces.
"I have to… talk to Mother Nature." Milla's eyes widened as she looked to her travelling companion.
"You can talk with nature!? I knew you were a fairy!" The Capsule Corp heiress groaned as she shook her head. She was already tired of this girl's cluelessness.
"I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!" She ran off into the woods, leaving the monkey girl behind. Milla sounded off her understanding as she dropped her fist into her palm. Only now did she actually understand the urgency of the situation. She sat patiently on the moped, watching a strange bird fly through the sky.
Minutes went by as the girl waited on the vehicle. She began to meet with the one thing she didn't like: boredom. She needed some kind of action, having always kept herself busy when Grandpa Gohan was around. Now, however, she didn't have much of anything she could do without leaving Bulma's bike. The monkey girl groaned as she plopped back on the seat of the vehicle.
She opened her eyes as she looked to the sky. That same strange bird seemed to fly by, heading the opposite direction this time. She squinted her eyes as she tried to focus on it, wanting something to keep her mind off her boredom. The girl soon realized, however, that something was off about the creature. It seemed to be more reptilian in appearance, and it was carrying something blue and pink in color.
Her eyes widened as she heard the cry of her travelling companion. It became very clear that the pink and blue object was Bulma! "HELP MEEEEE!" Milla hopped up from her spot as she grabbed the Power Pole. She pointed it towards the beast as it soon was directly above her.
"Power Pole extend!" At her command, the staff miraculously extended towards the target. The weapon hit its mark, tagging the wing of the massive beast. This caused the creature to drop Bulma, sending her crashing towards the ground. Milla willed her weapon to shrink back to normal before leaping off the vehicle.
Bulma screamed as she continued to plummet towards the ground, her eyes closed as she accepted the inevitable. To her surprise, however, something rammed into her and changed her trajectory. She didn't dare to open her eyes till she felt what was akin to small arms below herself. The heiress finally snuck a peek, her eyes widening as she saw Milla was what crashed into her. A girl less than half her size was currently carrying her in her grasp as she plummeted back towards the ground.
The monkey girl succeeded in landing, having to huff at the awkward placement of Bulma's weight. She placed her friend on the ground as the Power Pole rammed into a nearby tree. She smiled as she looked to her friend, the blue haired girl gaping in surprise. The monkey girl was about to say something when her ear twitched. She grabbed her pole as she looked backwards, pulling it straight from the bark.
The large beast came flying towards the duo, revealing itself as a pterosaur of some kind. It roared as it prepared to take vengeance for its wing. Milla spun her staff for a moment as she watched the creature approach, readying for attack. She gripped it with both hands before swinging it downwards, striking the dinosaur on the head. The beast crashed into the ground, losing most of its momentum.
"Listen here big bully!" The pterosaur felt its head being lifted as it soon locked eyes with the monkey girl. Terror filled its features as it stared into the most rage filled eyes it had ever seen. "Bulma is my friend and no one, NO ONE, tries to eat my friends! Do you understand!?"
The creature nodded rapidly, not wanting to be torn apart. Milla released the beast from her grip, giving it a stern frown. "Now shoo! Get!" It was happy to oblige, scrambling to its feet as it turned away from the duo.
Milla readied her staff as the creature flapped its wings. She gave it a harsh spank to the rear, sending it flying into the distance. Bulma swore she could have caught many flies during these events, her mouth still hanging wide open. The monkey girl looked to the girl, her eyes widening in response to her friend's state. She began to sniffle as the heiress continued to let her mouth hang.
The girl fell to her knees as she let her weapon fall to the ground. "I LET YOUR MOUTH BREAK!" She bawled up a storm as Bulma finally came to her senses. "YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO EAT AGAIN! I'M SORRY BULMA!" The heiress composed herself as she waved her arms in defense.
"It's okay Milla! I'm alright!" The monkey girl sniffled some more as she looked to the blue haired girl. "I was just… very surprised is all. Nothing's broken."
"Promise?" The blue haired girl couldn't help but smile as she looked the kid in the eye. It was good to know that no matter how strong she was, Milla was still a kid. She rubbed a tear from the girl's eye, silently thankful that she stopped crying.
"I promise. Everything is fine." The monkey girl sniffled once more as she embraced her travel partner. Bulma awkwardly rubbed her head, trying to soothe her. She looked around as the monkey girl finally slowed her sobbing.
She smiled brightly as she looked down at the thirteen year old. "How about we get to the bike and find a place to rest for the night. It's getting pretty late." Milla nodded as she sniffled a bit. It didn't take long for the duo to return to the nearby vehicle.
They slowly drove through the area, hoping to find a good campsite before sunset. Milla found a few spots she thought would be good, but none of them suited what Bulma had in mind. Soon, however, the duo stumbled upon a break in the tree line. The heiress smirked as she nodded her head. "This'll be perfect!"
The monkey girl sent her friend a confused look. Wouldn't it be better to sleep somewhere where the big animals would have trouble getting to them. The blue haired girl then pulled out another capsule, earning a huge grin from her companion. She pressed the top of the button as usual, sending it hurtling towards the center of the clearing. Milla's eyes widened as she watched the smoke spread out farther than she had ever seen before.
As the materials dissipated, a large dome stood before them. It was a house of sorts, bearing the Capsule Corp logo on the front. Bulma walked towards the door, her companion soon to follow. When the door was opened, Milla couldn't help but voice her amazement. The living room was larger than her grandfather's shack back at Mt. Paozu.
Connected to it was the kitchen, as well as a laundry room. There seemed to be doors leading to other rooms, but the monkey girl wasn't interested in exploring at the moment. Instead, she looked all around the main room, inspecting each and every piece of furniture. Bulma couldn't help but chuckle as her little hero watched her own reflection in the toaster. Milla turned to the blue haired girl with a large grin.
"Your magic house is so cool! I've never seen so much cool stuff in my life! There's no way you aren't a fairy, and you're definitely no witch." The blue haired girl frowned at these accusations. It seemed that she would have to teach this kid a few lessons.
"It's not magic Milla. The capsules, the car, and the moped are all examples of technology." The monkey girl tilted her head in confusion. She had heard of cars, bikes and some newfangled thing called planes from Grandpa Gohan. She had never heard the term technology, however.
"What's that? I've never heard of techno… technala…" Bulma sighed as she shook her head. She really shouldn't have been surprised that the hermit girl knew nothing of the modern world.
"Technology is like magic, but we know how it works. It usually applies to medicine, machines like cars, and anything that runs on electricity. The capsules are a type of technology that shrinks things to a smaller size in order to store them." Milla couldn't quite wrap her head around the heiress's words, but she got the gist of it. Magic was unknown, while technology was well known.
"I think I get it, but it all seems like magic to me. I've never had to deal with this kind of stuff until yesterday. It's still a little confusing." Bulma nodded in response. At least it was a start.
"Anyway, I think I could use a nice long bath after what just happened." Milla nodded as she rubbed her back. She could use a good creak or a wooden barrel right now. She began to walk towards the door, earning a confused look from her traveling companion. "Where are you going Milla?"
"I'm gonna find a lake or something so I can take a bath." Bulma's eyes widened as she ran over to the young girl. She was able to grab her arm before she could do anything.
"Do you know how indecent that is!? Someone could come up from behind and grab you!" The monkey girl tilted her head in thought. That did seem like a good reason to be concerned. She smiled as she rubbed the back of her head.
"I guess I never had to worry about it with Grandpa always nearby. Do you have a barrel or something I could use then?" The blue haired girl groaned as she shook her head. She pulled Milla along towards one of the doors, opening it to reveal the bathroom.
The monkey girl looked around in confusion, quickly laying eyes on the bathtub. It looked similar to a wide barrel to her, only shaped differently. It also seemed to be made of a very different material than wood. She looked up to her host, trying to find an answer to her questions. "How does that funny looking barrel get any water without a river nearby?"
"First off, it's called a tub not a barrel. Secondly, the house has its own plumbing, as well as a container for water. We can use the reserves for weeks as long as no one wastes water." Milla nodded in response, actually understanding the concept of plumbing to some extent. It was how Grandpa Gohan would sometimes get water from the creak into the barrel without dragging buckets back and forth, at least when he wasn't feeling like training.
Bulma, satisfied with this development, reached for the nob at the front of the tub. She twisted it a few times, tilting it towards the right. In response, water came out of a metal pipe above the container. Milla watched as the water began to rise, surprised at how clear it was. The liquid looked much nicer than the water that her grandfather used.
Bulma checked the water a few times, attempting to find a proper temperature. She smiled as she twisted the nob, stopping the flow of liquid. Milla tapped the water with her finger, sighing a bit at the warmth of the bath. The heiress turned to the girl, watching as the girl then dipped her tail into the liquid. She couldn't help but smile as the child's hairs stood up on the back of her head.
She sniffed the air a bit, only for her face to twist in slight disgust. She leaned closer to the girl, taking a good whiff of her. She sounded off her displeasure as she covered her nose, earning a concerned look from her partner. "Looks like you'll need to get in there first. It's like you've never used soap before."
She stood up as she straightened her back, looking Milla in the eye. "Towels are over there in the cabinet, that bar over there is the body soap, and that bottle is the shampoo and conditioner. If you need anything, let me know before you get in." She walked towards the door, only to be stopped as her guest tugged on her shirt. She turned her head to glance at the girl, taking note of the nervous look on her face.
"I… I've never used stuff like this before. The closest thing I had to any of this was a towel and some cleaning herbs. Could you… show me how to use them? It'll be just this once." Bulma sighed as she turned towards the kid, happy that she at least was honest with herself.
"Alright, but I want you to pay attention. This is important for your health, so I'll be as thorough as I can." The monkey girl nodded as she stood at the ready. Bulma slowly went over how each product worked, earning mixed reactions from her partner. Seeing as this was important knowledge, Bulma joined her in the bath in order to demonstrate further.
Bulma sat in her pajamas as she rubbed her brushed her hair with a comb. She wore a white sleeveless shirt with her family logo on it, blue pajama bottoms with a white line running down each pant leg, and pink slippers. She let her hair remain free as she put the comb away. To the heiress's surprise, it was actually easier to teach Milla how to use the bath by showing her how everything worked. She definitely learned better via example.
Milla stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a pink pair of shorts and one of Bulma's blank pink shirts as a gown. The monkey girl originally planned to sleep in her uniform, but the blue haired teen put a stop to that. It needed to be cleaned after a long time of use. The monkey girl needed a lot of convincing to part with her suit for a while but the heiress was well known for her persistence. Said child looked down as she played with the bottom of the makeshift gown.
"Are you sure it's okay if I borrow this?" questioned Milla. "I could just wear my gi for a while. It's not that dirty." Bulma shook her head, smiling at her new friend's nervousness.
"It's no problem Milla, really." reassured the older teen. "I have plenty of clothes I don't wear anymore. Besides, that outfit of yours could use a bit of TLC; tender love and care." The monkey girl sighed as she looked down, still unsure of the situation. She knew that she and Bulma were now friends, but she was being awfully generous today.
Seeing that the Saiyan's hair was still wet, the heiress stood up from her seat. "Let's dry your hair and then get to bed. We have to get back on the road tomorrow." Milla nodded as she let her friend lead her along. She soon found herself sitting in front of a mirror, watching her reflection as Bulma worked with her hair.
The heiress surprisingly found it hard to work with her friend's locks, the follicles being very resistant to force. It seemed to veer towards the same hairstyle she had before, defying all laws of logic. No amount of smoothing, combing, or blow drying would fix it. Not even hairspray could get it to stick! She contemplated using a curler to at least add some curls, but she dismissed that thought straight away.
Milla probably wouldn't take kindly to something hot squishing her hair. She instead opted to do this the old fashioned way; combing and spraying it until it complied. The saiyan was not very fond of this method, but she really didn't have a chance to voice her distraught. Bulma sighed as she pulled the last few strands into place, placing the comb on the nearby desk. She smiled as she looked over the now straightened hair of the monkey girl.
To the heiress's utter surprise, however, one of her hairs popped out of place. Before she could even blink, the saiyan's hair returned to its normal shape, sending bits of hairspray floating in the air. Bulma sighed in defeat as she dropped the can in her hand. "I give up. This defies the very laws of physics itself."
"I'm sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted Bulma. I kinda like it though. My hair's all shiny and everything." The aforementioned teen couldn't help but chuckle at her partner's words. She sure was childish when it came to moments like these.
"Well… if that's how you like it…" Milla nodded excitedly at the examination. Before she could say anymore, however, a yawn broke loose from deep within her. Bulma smiled as she rubbed the monkey girl atop her head. "Looks like it's time to hit the sack."
"You *YAWN* have a training bag?" The Capsule Corp. heiress chuckled to herself as she scooped up her friend in her arms. It was a little difficult due to the surprising weight of the monkey girl. She placed Milla down on the bed, the child already asleep from the trip through. Bulma sighed as she popped her back, quickly leaving the girl by herself.
The following day, Milla found herself once again on the back of the moped. She kept her eyes closed as she let the wind flow through her newly washed hair. She never knew hair could feel this way, especially at these speeds. It was honestly one of the best experiences in the world for her. Even her tail seemed to feel cooler under the breeze.
She relished in this feeling for a good while, only for it to be cut off as Bulma abruptly stopped the vehicle. There seemed to be a large rock in the road, blocking their path. The heiress groaned as she honked the horn of her vehicle.
"Stupid rock!" shouted Bulma. She rolled up her sleeves as she prepared to use tools to remove the obstruction. To her surprise, however, the stone seemed to shift under her insult. A head poked out of the front of the rock, revealing itself to be a living creature. It turned its reptilian head towards the duo, a tired expression on its face.
"I happen to be a turtle young lady." said the turtle. "I understand the confusion, but there's not need to shout." Bulma blinked rapidly, not expecting a response to her words
"A talking turtle?" First a girl with a tail and now a talking turtle. Sure! Why not? Said girl leapt off of her moped and landed on the turtle's back.
"Cool!" shouted Milla. "I'm Milla! What's your name?" The creature looked up at her with a soft smile.
"Just call me Turtle." answered the turtle. The girl nodded as she marveled over her new acquaintance.
"Ok Mr. Turtle. What are you doing all the way out here? Last I heard turtles live in lakes and oceans." Turtle sighed as he shook his head.
"I wound up here as a storm pulled me away from my master. I was making my way back to the ocean when I got lost. Do you by chance have any salt water?" Milla looked to Bulma with a curious look, signifying her shared question. The heiress sighed as she pulled out one of her capsules.
"You better be lucky I keep some around for emergency situations." murmured Bulma. She pressed the top of the device as usual, throwing it in front of the duo. A bucket of salt water appeared before them, bringing a smile to Turtle's face. Milla's eyes sparkled, though she had to smack her cheeks to remind herself that it wasn't magic. The monkey girl quickly grabbed the bucket, pulling it closer to the sea creature.
"Poor thing." The creature happily lapped up the liquid in a panicked manner, bringing about a saddened expression on Milla's face. She then looked towards Bulma in anticipation. The heiress got a sneaking position as she looked her in the eye.
"What?" asked Bulma. The saiyan girl gestured to the now replenished reptile.
"We have to help him get back to da ocean." replied Milla. Bulma shook her head as she placed a hand on her hip.
"We don't have time to help him. We have to keep looking for the dragon balls." The monkey girl stood before her friend as she held her hands in a pleading manner.
"Please?" Milla's eyes widened as she pursed her lips. Bulma compared the sight to a puppy in an anime. She tried to look away, but the child was too powerful. The heiress finally caved.
"Alright fine!" Milla pumped her fist in success before she ran towards the reptile. She held Turtle above her head as Bulma took off in the direction of the ocean. Unknown to either of them, a beast with a hungry grin watched over them. The trio continued on their way as they attempted to reach their destination before the day ended.
It took many hours that Bulma intended to use to acquire the next Dragon Ball, but there was nothing to be done about that. She cursed herself for forgetting that children were exceptionally good at the puppy eyes, especially girls. She should've seen it coming from a mile away. Speaking of, she soon noticed a familiar shine in the distance. She smirked as the ocean soon came into view.
She looked to her rather fast hopping companion. "Looks like we're almost there!" She looked forward once again, only to cry out in shock as a large mass stepped in her way. She came to a full stop as the figure turned towards them. Towering above the group, a large bear in armor rubbed his blade with his fingers.
"Stop right there!" commanded the beast. Bulma and Turtle were shaking in fear as the bandit glared down at them, drool running from his mouth. "Humans give me heartburn, but I happen to love turtle soup. Hand over the turtle and I won't have to get nasty." The Capsule Corp heiress slowly turned towards Milla, weighing her options.
"Milla… maybe we should just…" Imagine her surprise when Milla was nowhere to be found, along with the requested creature. She looked around frantically as she tried to locate the monkey girl, unable to find hide or hair of her.
"Hey bully!" cried a familiar voice. Bulma cringed as she slowly looked towards the origin of the cry. Her face was frozen with terror as the younger girl stood before the crook, her hands on her hips. The bear looked down at her, seemingly insulted by her very presence. "Didn't your parents tell you that it's bad to eat things that can talk?"
The crook let out a hearty laugh, seemingly amused by the question. He readied his blade as Milla continued to puff her cheeks at him. The girl couldn't help the smirk forming on her lips as the creature swung his blade downward.
"Heartburn never hurt anyone. I'll make a nice snack out of ya smart mouth!" His weapon soon reached the target, only for her to dodge to the left. He swiped at her again, only for her to dodge to the right. The beast growled as he readied an overhead attack.
He smacked his blade down hard, only to feel a hard push off his back. He dislodged his blade, quickly turning around. Milla stood before him with a confident smirk, her hands still on her hips. The bear chuckled as he readied his weapon once more. "I like your guts kid."
He suddenly performed a large slash, aiming his blade for the girl's midsection. "Too bad I gotta rip 'em out of ya!" He came to a stop as he held his blade out to the side. His eyes widened as he found that his target had disappeared once more. He looked around to locate Milla, only to notice the added weight on his weapon.
"I thought this was gonna be fun!" He looked to his sword to find a very disappointed monkey girl standing on top of it. "I've met bugs with better aim!" The beast growled as he prepared to send his opponent flying. The girl jumped off just as the bear began to spin like a top.
She watched as he continued to spin around in circles. He finally came to a stop, extremely dizzy from the move. The girl clenched her fists as she ran forward, intent on finishing the battle. She entered a flying kick, aiming for her opponent's belly. Her aim was off however, landing her attack in a very different area.
The beast howled in agony as he grabbed at his front, falling to his knees. The girl sounded off her confusion as she leapt a few feet back. Did a hit to that area really hurt him that badly? Shrugging off the question, the girl jumped up to the beast's snout. He was coming to as he opened his eyes.
He watched as the little girl reared her fist back. "I'll give you three seconds to apologize to Mr. Turtle. One… two…" The bear growled as he slowly brought his hand up to grab his opponent.
"I'll tear you apart!" He moved to snatch Milla up, his clawed fingers nearly wrapping around her. The girl sighed as she reared her fist back further.
"THREE!" The saiyan unleashed a powerful punch between the eyes of the bear. The bandit lost all control of his muscles as his hand opened wide. Milla was quick to leap off her opponent as he fell backwards. Blood flowed from the wound as he fell to the ground, creating a large thud.
The child landed feet first on the ground, a smile on her face as she held her arms out to the side. Bulma's mouth continued to hang in shock, not expecting the outcome of the bout. First her car, then a pterodactyl, and now a massive bandit. Just what was this girl made of? Before she could cry out her surprise, a nervous moan came from a nearby tree.
"Can you please get me down now!?" cried Turtle. The heiress looked up to find that the sea creature was resting on a rather large tree branch, hanging on for dear life. "I don't really like heights!" Milla sounded off her understanding as she leapt up into the tree. She quickly pulled the creature onto her back before returning to the ground once more.
"Come on Bulma! We're almost there!" The saiyan ran towards the visible beach, leaving the stunned teen behind her. The heiress suddenly shook her head before grabbing at her hair. There was no way Milla was human!
It just wasn't possible for a little girl to be capable of taking down these kinds of opponents. Whatever her grandfather was feeding her must have been the secret to untold strength, otherwise she had no idea where all this power was coming from. Not wanting to be left behind, Bulma quickly sped off after the duo. They reached the ocean with daylight to spare, much to the older teen's relief. Milla set Turtle down in the water, earning a small smile from the creature.
"Please wait here. My master would love to meet you two, especially after all the trouble you went through." Turtle took off into the ocean. Bulma waited for a bit, but then decided to get back on the moped. She turned to see Milla still sitting on the sand.
"Come on Milla." said Bulma. "We can't wait any longer." There was no response, however, irking her slightly. "What are you doing?" The saiyan swung her toes back and forth with her hands in her lap, not even bothering to look back.
"Waiting." answered Milla. The heiress continued to look in the girl's direction as she awaited her arrival. She sighed as she shook her head.
"You're not leaving that spot till he comes back aren't you?" Milla quickly nodded her head in response.
"Nope." Bulma groaned at the pop at the end of the saiyan's response. She dug through her bag, pulling out a small device that resembled a large stopwatch with a green screen. It was the Dragon Radar: an invention of her own making. She made it to help her locate the dragon balls.
She already used it to find the two and five star balls, the very same ones she showed Milla the first day they met. It was also the same device that lead her to Mt. Pazao in the first place. She powered on the device, hoping it still worked after her car took a beating. The device flickered on as it brought up the display, bringing a smile to its creator's face. The screen had four little dots on it to confirm that they had...
Wait, four? She rubbed the screen to ensure that she wasn't seeing things, only for the new dot to move closer to the cluster. "What the…" Anything else she had to say was cut off as Milla jumped to a standing position.
"Look!" The heiress looked up to find that Turtle returned with an old man on his back. He was bald, with a thick white fu manchu mustache and beard. He was wearing some sunglasses, beach clothes, and some sandals. The most peculiar thing he wore was a turtle shell on his back.
Bulma raised her brow at the appearance of this man, unsure of how to read him. He seemed to be wise, yet she had this strange feeling that she should keep an eye on him. The old man walked off Turtle's back, looking over the duo of girls.
"Alright." said the old man. "Which one of you young ladies do I have to thank for helping my turtle?" The creature in question shuffled forward as he looked over the scene. He gestured to Milla with one of his flippers, a smile on his face.
"They both helped to an extent Master Roshi." answered Turtle. "The little one named Milla didn't even offer, she just decided to help me. The older one helped too, but only after Milla gave her the puppy eyes." The old man rubbed his beard in contemplation, recognition visible on his lips.
"That name sounds so familiar. I remember a young student of mine who had a grandchild with that name." Milla's eyes shined like stars, her pupils almost morphing into the symbol themselves.
"You knew Grandpa Gohan!?" shouted Milla. The old man sounded off his surprise as he looked over the young girl. He adjusted his glasses with a toothy grin.
"You're Gohan's kid!? I haven't seen you since you were a tiny baby! I remembered the first time I came over to check on him! I was actually shocked to learn that he had any family at all!" Roshi continued to reminisce old times while Milla just listened in with starry eyes.
She wasn't able to get many details about her grandfather's adventures, so it was understandable that she'd react this way. The old man was like an unknown chapter of a book she was desperate to read. Before anything else could be mentioned, however, Bulma sounded off her disinterest.
"I believe you said you'd thank us?" questioned the heiress. "We did save your turtle after all." The old master dropped his fist into his palm, recognition hitting him.
"Ah yes! What to do about that?" He walked back and forth a bit in contemplation, seeming to question his options. He came to a stop as he looked the duo over. 'I wonder…'
A smirk came to his face as he turned to the girls. "Have you ever wanted to fly Milla?" The saiyan girl's famous grin broke out as she clenched her fists.
"Yeah!" replied Milla. The old man seemed pleased by this answer as he took a few steps back. He took in a deep breath as he squatted down.
"Flying Nimbus!" At Roshi's shout, a cloud came down from the sky. It floated before the group, bringing mixed expressions of shock from the traveling duo. For Bulma, this set off so many red flags. There was no way a cloud could be living at all, let alone sentient.
To Milla, it was like something out of the fairy tales her grandfather would read to put her to sleep, or at least what she could remember of them. Noticing the attention he garnered, Master Roshi gestured to the wonder before them. "This is my nimbus. If it finds you pure of heart, it will allow you to soar through the sky upon its back. I'll Show you."
Roshi hopped on it, intending to give the girls a demonstration. To his utter surprise, however, he ended up falling through it instead. His cheeks ran red as he tried to salvage the situation. "Well, I used to be able to fly it. Wonder what I did to make it upset?"
Turtle sent his master a deadpanned look. It was clear to him what the problem was, but it wasn't his place to say. Roshi cleared his throat as his blush finally flushed out. "Anywho, give it a whirl! Not many get a chance like this!"
Milla grinned from ear to ear as she ran for the living cloud. Bulma sounded her apprehension, hoping to save the young monkey girl from hurting her pride. To everyone's surprise however, she was able to stand on the accumulation of moisture with no problem whatsoever. It did tricks for her while she was on it, seeming to purr all the while. The heiress stared in shock as she watched the saiyan pet the cloud.
"Bulma! You gotta try this!" The heiress decided to abandon logic as a grin came upon her face. She leapt forward to ride the cloud, only to fall straight through just like Roshi did. She landed face first, moaning at the feeling on her face.
She raised her head as she spat out some sand. She growled as she looked to the living vehicle. She tried to hop on it again, only to stand with her head sticking out the top. She tried many more times, Milla even getting off so the heiress could have a better time trying. Bulma finally came to a stop as she landed on her rump, watching in frustration as the cloud rubbed itself against its new master.
"Stupid cloud!" roared the genius. "Who needs you anyway!" Roshi laughed for a bit as Bulma rose to her feet.
"I suppose that means I'll have to find something else for you." said Roshi. He rubbed his chin once again in contemplation, unsure of how to handle the situation. A light shone on an object hanging from his neck. The heiress's eyes widened as she connected the dots.
"The three-star dragon ball!" Roshi sounded off his confusion as he lifted the object around his neck. Indeed it was the three star ball, resting within a clam shell necklace. The old man sounded off his confusion as he looked to the bluenette.
"This thing? It washed up on the beach of my island one day. It looked like it wasn't particularly valuable so I placed it in my old necklace." Bulma grinned from ear to ear as she reached out for the object.
"That's perfect! I'll take it!" It was almost within her grasp, until Roshi pulled the object away.
"Now hold on now! Why should I give this to you? I'm afraid I'll need a little more… convincing after that kind of reaction." Bulma cursed herself as the old man began to ponder over the item. She really needed to get her impulses under control.
On Roshi's end, he had a few thoughts run through his mind. There were many ways he could go about this situation, most moving in his favor. His face began to redden as he seemed to get an idea. Before he could enact his bribe, however, Milla grabbed his arm.
"Please Mr. Roshi?" asked Milla. The master was ready to tell the girl off, only to note the look in her eyes. "We need it to bring Grandpa back." He was taken aback by this declaration, actually stepping back a few times in shock.
"Wait, what do you mean? What's this about bringing him back?" Milla rubbed her arm as she looked away from the man.
"A big monster killed him one night after I disobeyed his biggest rule. I had no hope until Bulma arrived yesterday. The dragon balls can bring him back, so I need to have it! Please Mr. Roshi!" Milla pulled out all the stops using her puppy eyes once again.
Roshi couldn't say no to that face. It was the same one she used all those years ago to get him to sneak her some sweets when Gohan wasn't looking. Make no mistake, he wasn't some crooked old man in spite of his thought process. The big news compounded the effect, causing the old man to groan in defeat.
"Dang it! Those eyes are powerful! All right, here." He pulled the orb out of the necklace before extending it to Bulma. "If it's for a cause such as that, then I guess I'll part with it."
The heiress happily received the orb, smirking in excitement as she held it up into the light. Four down, three to go! Milla cheered in glee as she raised her arms in the air.
"Yay! That leaves... Uh..." Milla counted her fingers, then looked at Bulma. "What number comes after two again?" The heiress sounded off her disappointment as she rubbed her temples.
"Three Milla," replied Bulma. "Three more to go. I really need to get you a math book." The monkey girl seemed to miss the last comment as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Yeah! See ya later Mr. Roshi!" Milla hopped on her cloud, urging it to fly forward. Bulma quickly placed the new Dragon Ball with the others before riding off after her companion. Roshi stood still for a moment, sighing as he watched the girls disappear into the distance.
"Thwarted again!" shouted the old coot. "I must be getting old! It took one look from Milla to pull me out of my train of thought." He looked downcast as he looked to the sand. Turtle rubbed his head against the man's leg, knowing full well what was going on in his mind.
The old master shook his head as he steeled his resolve. "Shame about Gohan though. He was a good kid, and one heck of a grandfather. Come on Turtle! I've got exercise videos awaitin'."
The reptile sounded off his disappointment as he turned to the ocean once more. He allowed the old man a few minutes to think before he climbed on his back. The creature took off into the water, leaving the beach behind them. Unbeknownst to those involved, a yellow plane flew overhead. The two thugs within kept their eyes on the trail, poised to strike at any moment.
Well, here's the next chapter! I figured it would be good to add in the incidents with the bear and the pterodactyl just to show Bulma how strong Milla was. I also noticed that there was a lot of errors from where I was first starting out, so those definitely needed to change. It also felt important to show the duo actually bonding as well as Bulma's attempts to modernize the hermit girl. Whether she will succeed or not remains to be seen.
In any case, what did you think of the chapter? Did you like the changes made? How did you like Milla's discovery of the below the belt trick? Remember to read and review, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. This is Inkaliber, signing out.