Raditz walked.

And walked.

And walked.

No longer motivated.

No longer excited.

Just him and the long road ahead.

A year had passed, with Raditz having walked around a quarter of the length of the entire Snake Way, unbenownst to him.

That's when he looked behind him and saw a vehicle of some kind driving towards him!

'What the hell is this doing here?' Raditz squinted in confusion.

"Hey there!" the blue-skinned driver called from the vehicle.

Raditz said nothing as he sidestepped the vehicle which upon closer inspection, appeared to be a cleanup truck.

The vehicle stopped, and the blue guy peered down at Raditz.

"Lemme guess - You headed to King Kai?"

"King Kai?" Raditz questioned.

"Haha, oh, how stupid of me to suggest that! He's a million miles away! I wonder if that other guy got there yet…" he pondered openly.

"Are you seriously suggesting this road is a million… "miles" long?" Raditz asked awkwardly as he was actually unfamiliar with that form of measurement.

"Well, of course it is! It's the longest road in the whole universe! Man, I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes, travelling along on foot like that! If you like, I can give you a lift to wherever it is you're headed along here!" The blue guy offered.

"There's something I don't understand. Are you actually cleaning this whole road?" Raditz gestured to his cleanup truck.

"Yep. King Yemma likes to have this road looking as clean as can be. And here's your guy!" He pointed to himself. "Oh, suppose I should mention…" he began, "Don't go falling off here. Trust me - it's not a fun time. Almost got stuck for good down in Hell! And I only just made it out after over a decade!"

Raditz blinked. 'That's right… didn't Kakarot fall off here at some point? How did that happen?!'

He nodded once to the man. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Okay, great. So, how's about it? You wanna hitch a ride, or…?" The blue guy offered again.

"…No. I'll walk," Raditz responded sternly.

"Alright, if you say so. Well, be seeing you then!" The blue guy revved up the truck and began to drive off, the sweeping rotors now in motion.

Raditz regarded the truck until it couldn't be seen, and scowled, piecing together the strange story of his brother's time in the afterlife.

'From King Yemma's office, onto Snake Way… then the buffoon managed to fall off the damned path somehow, then he miraculously got out of Hell… then got out of the drawer… tch. This is ridiculous. I cannot believe I am related to that idiot.'

Raditz did a lot more thinking these days.

It was practically his only pastime besides walking aimlessly and slowly.

Without a reason, does one walk on with large strides?

The answer for Raditz was no.

But walk, he still did.

That was something at least.

Besides, what Saiyan warrior gives up completely? Not he.

Never he.

He just felt like it from time to time, that's all.

Another couple weeks passed… or so he estimated.

He was fiddling with his gauntlets and wiping dust off of them, and letting his hands air for a bit.

He was so focused on this task that he almost missed the gigantic castle to his right completely.

The wind picked up.

Wait… there was no wind on Snake Wa-

Raditz was suddenly sucked through the maws of a huge snake that appeared from thin air, to inside the castle, clenching his teeth as he travelled rapidly through a long red corridor.

'Dammit!' He had dropped the gauntlets.

As soon as he realised this, he was dumped through a trapdoor onto the floor.

A pristinely polished floor?

Raditz leapt to his feet, fists at the ready, for any other surprises he might be subject to.

A clang resounded.

Raditz turned to his left to see a woman with green skin and a snake-pattern qipao dress, the one who made the sound.

"Inform the Princess - another visitor just dropped in to see her!"

"What? What the heck are you talking about?" Raditz barked.

The lady merely smiled at him.

Meanwhile another lady stepped into a room with a curtained seating area. The Princess sat sipping green tea.

"Excuse me, Princess, but another visitor has arrived," the lady spoke.

"…Another, so soon?" She gazed curiously at her attendant.

"Yes ma'am," the lady replied, waiting in anticipation.

"Hm… let's hope he's not as difficult as the last. It took me forever to untangle myself…" she spoke as she walked to her window to sneak a peek at her new guest.

Raditz yelled, "You had better answer me, woman, or I'll make this whole place burn!"

"Oh, my…" Princess Snake gasped as she heard his muffled yelling, "He acts so different to Goku. Yet, he's just as handsome…! He might just be worth the effort!" she decided, her red eyes fixed on the newcomer. She coiffed her orange perm and made her way to him.

Clang!

"Her Highness Princess Snake has arrived…" the lady besides Raditz declared in a shaken tone. She clearly had never met such an intimidating guest before.

There was a beat of silence, as Princess Snake gazed into his eyes.

Raditz met the Princess' gaze, and crossed his arms.

"Alright, what's your deal, woman? Let me out or face the consequences."

She frowned at him calling her "woman". "My, how straight forward you are. Well, handsome…" She adjusted her cloak. "My castle has a certain… side-effect to it. Whoever arrives at my doorstep just happens to, well, enter!" she chuckled lightheartedly.

Raditz didn't buy it, and studied both her and her attendants.

"And what do you do with those who happen to enter your castle?" Raditz entertained.

"Well, we can't just leave them here all alone now, can we? We will give you everything you desire!" the Princess explained.

Raditz lowered his eyelids. "Everything."

"Everything and anything!"

"Really."

"Why yes! Really! Please do stay a while!"

"…Is there some kind of catch you mind informing me about, or am I to assume you're a Princess with a ton of excess money to drain?" Raditz looked at her unimpressed.

She huffed. "Why, really! Some men… You really don't trust too many people, do you handsome? Are my beautiful looks not proof enough?"

"No."

The Princess was fit to explode in anger, but reigned herself in, instead pouting at him. "How about this - I'll prepare us a feast, fit for a king!"

"An enticing offer, since I haven't eaten anything in a long time. But do you honestly expect me to just eat whatever you give me?" Raditz clenched his fist at her. "Do you take me for a fool?"

"A fool? Of course not!" she held her hands up. "Besides, I said a feast for the both of us! Why would I possibly want to poison you?"

"I can think of several reasons."

"Well, Mister Hesitant…"

"It's Raditz, Snake Woman."

"…As a token of my good will, I shall prepare us this feast, and then we can get to know each other better, hm? And you'll realise I'm not… eh… trapping you here, or anything," Princess Snake told him with a glint in her red eyes.

Raditz stood still, unmoving. "You go make that food. But see if I care to eat it."

Princess Snake turned away. "Well you'll be missing out if you don't…!" She walked out of sight.

A while later, her servants were preparing the food and gossiping in the kitchen.

"So, I heard this new guy's got a huge temper."

"Yeah! I'll bet Her Highness won't be keeping him around for long!"

Princess Snake entered the kitchen. "Ladies, I think it would be best for you to make twice the amount of food as last time. Who knows how much of an appetite this Raditz has worked up! And… if he's like who I think he's like, it'll probably be futile trying to drug him to sleep."

"Understood, ma'am!" they both said.

"I'll admit it's been a very long time since such a stern and manly man appeared at my doorstep… I simply must know everything about him!" she chuckled darkly as she left.

Raditz meanwhile, was demanding for his gauntlets he had dropped while being sucked inside this place.

"Give them back, or go find them!" Raditz snapped and pointed at the attendant in front of him.

"I- I will begin searching, right away!" the lady scarpered off.

Raditz started to inspect the large space he was initially dropped into. Pristine flooring, pristine decor, pristine everything.

Raditz began to wonder what the point of all this luxurious nonsense was.

He regarded some of the attendants, who eyed him, then they quickly looked away. Some nervous, some happy. 'Okay…'

He started to pick up the scent of food. Which, frankly, almost made him lose his composure - it smelled that good.

Then he sharply turned away from the direction of the kitchen. 'No. It's a trick. There's something strange about how I entered here. And she insisted I stay? Why me? Is she that lonely? And, she mentioned that whoever comes here can get whatever they desire. But I don't see anyone else that isn't some snake lady. These supposed visitors left. Other places to be, perhaps? Or…'

"Ahem…" an attendant shyly approached him, holding out the two gauntlets, that were neatly folded and stacked one atop the other.

And by the looks of them, they were cleaned too.

Raditz inspected his gauntlets, then he gave a suspicious look at the woman.

He huffed at her, turned away and put his gauntlets on. The attendant walked off awkwardly.

A dozen minutes later and the table was set. All the wonderful smelling food was spread generously across every inch of the table.

'"Fit for a king", huh?' Raditz examined the food he distrusted.

"Well, here we are! There's braised crocodile head, sautéed bear paws, mussels au gradin, roasted turkey, roasted duc-"

Raditz spoke suddenly, "Woman."

"Yes?" Princess Snake responded, feeling a little disgruntled.

"I want you to eat a piece of everything on the damned table. And if I find there's something, let's say, unwarranted, in the food, then I will blow this place to kingdom come!" Raditz slammed a hand on the table.

Princess Snake sweatdropped. 'Thank heavens I didn't request to add a sleeping agent in the food this time… I thought he might pull something like this, the paranoid fool,' she thought.

"Hmph! Well suit yourself, Raditz… I don't know how I'll manage to eat each dish myself!" She sat down, snapped her fingers, and was fed every food item on the table.

Raditz watched her very closely as she dined. It seemed the food really was safe. For her, at least.

She leaned over and beckoned him to sit. "Please, I insist. At least rest your weary legs."

"My legs are not weary, and do not tire! I am a Saiyan warrior. We are the most powerful warrior race in the universe!" Raditz retorted, ready to defend his Saiyan pride.

"My, is that so? Then please do forgive me. Most people I've met are not like you, it seems. Although, there's something familiar about you to me."

"Oh yeah? And what strikes you as familiar then, Snake Woman?" Raditz crossed his arms and remained stood.

"You remind me so much of a previous visitor of mine. He was tall, handsome, with dark, spiky hair like yours…"

"Oh not you too," Raditz groaned, putting a hand to his face. "So you met my brother Kakarot, or "Goku", as he foolishly calls himself?"

"Why yes! Goku! He's your brother? Might I say, you two act nothing alike," she chuckled.

"There are very good reasons for that. Which I won't be elaborating upon." He scowled at her, distrust clearly written on his features.

"…Sure thing. So Goku is a Saiyan like you? No wonder he was so strong. Does that level of strength influence your appetite?" Princess Snake inquired.

"Speaking of appetites, woman, I said I wasn't going to eat anything. And this isn't supposed to be some date." He visibly cringed. "I don't know what exactly it is you want from me," Raditz pointed at her.

"How about I tell you about myself and my story? Will that help?" Princess Snake gazed at him in a bored manner.

"Hmph. Go ahead."

"As you know, I am a Princess, and have been for a long time. And I am also the winner of the Otherworld Beauty Pageant! Hm, what else… I used to be wed to Yemma, though we no longer see eye-to-eye. In fact, we no longer see each other at all; he was so focused on his stupid work all the time!" she ranted. Raditz perked a brow at her sudden outburst.

"Ahem…" she calmed herself. "So anyway… I am not only a Princess, but also the Goddess of Snake Way."

"Goddess, huh?" He studied her. 'A deity!' he thought in intrigue. "You're the first I've seen. Around what I expected too."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she pouted.

"Your lavish lifestyle matches your status. That's all. Unlike some royalty I've met," Raditz explained.

"Oh, do tell! Who is this other royalty you speak of?" she rested her chin on her hand in interest.

"A prince named Vegeta. The prince of my race. We Saiyans live the life of battle. But as he proudly showed off his petty status, he was still dirt under another's boot. Frieza's boot."

"Frieza… hm, not a name I'm familiar with."

"Lucky you," he spat in a sarcastic tone. "He ruled over our own monarchy. We served him well, conquering planets for him, and satiating our thirst for battle and blood at the same time. But he's a total bastard. His power was unrivalled when I served under him, though I now wonder if Vegeta has succeeded in killing him off yet," Raditz elaborated.

"Goodness, what a tale…"

She suddenly chuckled, realising this Raditz might actually have a little in common with her.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, there's nothing funny, Raditz. Leave us girls, please." She waved for them to leave, and leave they did, in surprise.

"It's just, I wish I could have seen all the action. It gets rather stagnant here, I will say. I too love to assert my authority over others… conquest sounds like a lot of fun," she admitted, trying to entice Raditz into at least trusting her.

This sudden revelation made Raditz a little confused, but he also sort of expected it. 'So she's a snake in another sense of the word… Her looks truly are deceiving.'

Raditz smirked. "Oh, it is plenty of fun… I couldn't tell you how many I've slain in battle. It was glorious, especially whenever I was sent on my own - no one to tell me who to fight on the battlefield… Just me, and my opponents."

Princess Snake's mouth opened at this information. She sipped her juice.

"You truly are something else, Raditz. I admire you. Please, won't you finally take a seat? I think we see more eye-to-eye than you realise!"

Raditz looked at her for a moment, then sat down, leaning an arm over the table.

"Please, tell me more about your life," she pleaded.

"I've never met a woman so interested in my past. How about I ask you - have you ever killed before?" Raditz asked.

"Why, yes," she affirmed. "Of all the guests I have received, some have been… let's say, rather impolite. And by that, I mean, they tried to kill me."

"So you've killed out of self-defence only?" Raditz commented.

Princess Snake could see what he was planning. "Well of course! This is my home. And I certainly don't kill anyone who comes by here!"

"Hmph. So you say," Raditz regarded her warily.

"I see you're still distrusting of me. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree for now," she responded.

She gestured to the food. "Please, try some. You saw me try every one, and it will be getting cold before long!"

Raditz glared at her and the food. He picked up a turkey leg, and took one bite.

The dinner ended with every plate ravaged by the hungry Saiyan.

Princess Snake still couldn't believe her eyes, even after having bore witness to an event like this before. 'That was even double the amount I gave Goku… So that's what all Saiyans eat like.'

Raditz wiped his mouth with a neutral expression, and looked down. It was as though he was waiting for something within his system to go wrong. So far, though, he was fine.

"I'm curious, Princess, of one thing."

"And what's that?"

"Your power level and fighting ability. I challenge you to a duel. It would surely be an honour to fight a goddess such as yourself," Raditz proclaimed. He was starting to warm up to her.

"Goodness! A fight? Against a strong man like you?" She looked away for a moment, blushing. "Sure. Why not? It might be fun. Though you understand I will have to change attire for our little duel," she decided as she got up from the table and clapped her hands twice.

Two attendants approached her. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Raditz and I are going to have a friendly fight. I want you to arrange my clothing for the duel!"

The attendants' faces lit up in curiosity, and bowed. "Right away, ma'am!" They disappeared from the hall.

Princess Snake held up a finger. "Wait right there, warrior! I shan't be too long! And then, I will lead us to a suitable spot!" Princess Snake said and turned to leave.

Raditz was honestly intrigued by the green-skinned princess. Such beauty was hiding darker tendencies. He liked that.

And that food she offered was very good. Some of the best he'd ever had.

And why wouldn't it be? She was a high-standing individual after all.

She agreed to fight, too. Even better.

'I had better still be on my guard. Maybe she only agreed so she could try and weaken me in some way. Pah, it won't work, even if she is some goddess.'

[Author's note: I had only planned for this story to be one chapter. But, I decided to continue it! Also, this entire story is inspired by a storyline from the Dragon Ball game Harukanaru Densetsu, where Raditz is implied to have escaped Hell as he apparently meets Princess Snake on Snake Way. But, in this fanfic, his escape and their meeting happens a lot later.]