Just need to preface this story with the fact that I've committed two sins. For one, the lunar new year starts on a new moon, not a full moon, but this is dragon ball, and it's all about the full moon. Also, the performers are always wearing lion costumes, not dragons. But again...this is dragon ball, so please forgive me for taking liberties. It was consciously done but only out of love for my source.
With that said, I hope you enjoy! And Happy New Year!
Goku peeked out at the crowd, excitement bubbling through him. He had never seen so many people in one place! With so many colorful stalls to see and games to try, not to mention the food wafting through the air, he was only sorry he hadn't ever attended one of these things sooner!
"I guess this is all pretty new to a country bumpkin like you, huh?" Krillin teased, coming up beside him to peek at the crowds but before he could even take a look, an arm locked around his chest and a fist came down to give him a noogie.
"H-Hey! Cut it out!"
"Looks like Goku isn't the only one distracted," Yamcha laughed, letting the younger man go. "Besides, it's a festival! They're meant to be fun."
Krillin rubbed his head with a pout. "Too bad we can't enjoy it until after the performance."
"Relax. The real fun doesn't begin until night time anyways!"
"But that does make it difficult for Goku to pick out this year's Moon Princess," Tien pointed out from where he and Chiaotzu rested against the far wall. "Even with the preselected list of qualified candidates the Master has given us."
His companion snickered beside him. "Qualified for what?"
"Chiaotzu!"
"But it's true!" the young boy pouted. "He's not here with us now because he wanted to check out girls!"
Tien blushed, unable to deny this. "Be that as it may, I'm sure our Master still made sure that they could perform the part should Goku pick them."
Huh?
Hearing his name Goku dropped the curtain and looked back towards the others. "Who's doing what now?"
His friends all sighed.
"You need to pick the moon princess," Tien repeated for what must have been the eleventh time that morning.
"Oh, right."
Goku shrugged and went back to staring out at the festival, prompting all his friends to share a look of concern.
Would it really be alright? Their friend was great when he was motivated but if something didn't interest him, it was better off left to someone else. Still, Master Roshi had refused to choose for him, stating that since Goku would be stuck with whoever he chose the entire night, it was best left up to him.
Secretly Krillin thought it was a last ditch effort on their master's part to get Goku to notice girls and he'd placed bets among the others on whether he would succeed.
Yamcha had too and he wasn't about to do a week's work of laundry duty because his friend was too oblivious to see what the fairer sex had to offer.
He leaned over Goku's shoulder, taking a peek to see what had caught his attention, before noticing several hot looking chicks making their way around the stalls.
"Oh, I see what's got you distracted," Yamcha grinned, elbowing the dark, spiky haired man. "You were checking out all the babes!"
But Goku didn't know what he was talking about. "Babes? I don't see any babies."
"Don't think I don't see what you're doing," Krillin laughed, speaking to Yamcha. He dropped into a nearby seat and kicked up his feet. "But it won't work."
Yamcha shrugged, unbothered. "You never know."
He took the seat beside Krillin as the younger man snickered.
Yamcha could try all he wanted, but he knew he had this bet in the bag! A whole week of no chores. He couldn't wait! But even a week of no chores couldn't stop Krillin from feeling a bit envious of his friend.
"Man! Why'd Master Roshi choose you to pick the Princess anyways?" He sighed, addressing Goku. This performance would be a disaster. "You don't even like girls, do ya buddy?" He paused, expecting a response, but got nothing. "Buddy?" He turned towards his friend. "Goku?"
But Goku wasn't there.
"Goku?" Yamcha called, glancing around now too.
Tien got to his feet as Krillin ran to the toilet.
"He's not here!" He cried, walking out with his hands on his head. "Oh man! Master Roshi's gonna kill us! We're not supposed to leave the building until after the performance! We gotta find him!"
o0o
"That'll be three fifty please."
"Sure!" Goku fished out some coins and handed them over before stuffing all but one of his apples down his shirt and wandering off to check out the stalls.
"Wait, sir! You forgot your change!"
He took a bite of the apple and smiled as the juices hit his taste buds. Man apples were the best! And this one was especially crisp.
"Gokuuuuu! Where are you?!"
Uh oh.
Goku looked over his shoulder, spotting his friends searching for him through the crowd. Too bad. He wasn't ready to go back just yet. What was the point of coming to a festival if he didn't even get to enjoy it?
Thinking fast, he spotted some boxes piled up alongside a wall and ran up them, dropping down onto a stall's canopy just as his friends ran by.
Heh. That's what they get for not lookin' up.
He took another bite of his apple, munching happily away, and examined the going ons all around him. Particularly the one stall where he could hear the sizzling of meat. He sniffed the air and groaned. Maybe he shouldn't have spent all his money in one place.
Oh well.
Goku finished his apple and pulled out a second as he spotted a hooded figure wandering down the market alone. What were they doing? Were they some kind of thief? He studied them closer but though the stranger tended to linger, they kept their hands to themselves content just to look.
Huh. Weird.
A squeal caught his attention next and his gaze drifted to two children running down the street. He took a bite of his apple, watching as the two clacked wooden swords back and forth, but neither seemed to notice the large man in their path until they were barreling right into him only to be knocked back in the dirt.
"HEY! Watch where ur goin' ya little brats!"
The large man raised a fist and Goku jumped to his feet but before he could leap to the kids' defense, the hooded stranger was there, looking pint size in comparison. He didn't need to worry though, because they were clearly strong. With only one arm they blocked the man's blow, and then wound it around to yank the giant towards them before striking him right in the gut.
Goku whistled as the large man buckled, but when the stranger finished him off with a swift chop to his neck, their hood fell back leaving him more than impressed, he was downright astounded! His brows jumped to his hairline as his jaw dropped to his stomach.
"Woah…"
The hooded stranger was a girl?
And not just any girl. This girl looked as delicate as his Grandpa's favorite tea set. With her pale skin and dark shiny hair…but her eyes, her eyes were a different story. They held a fierceness that sent a shiver down his spine but then those sharp eyes quickly morphed into kind ones, as she warned the children to watch where they were going before patting them on their heads and offering them each a small coin.
He couldn't take his eyes off her.
And then she waved to the children as they scampered off, flashing a glimpse of her muscles, and Goku's heart shot into overdrive.
He leaned forward, hoping to get a better look and…
…and too late did he remember he was balancing precariously on top of a canopy.
"Nonononono…"
He helicoptered his arms to keep from falling, but gravity was stronger and he went crashing to the ground.
Or he would have if not for the slender but strong arms that caught him before he could hit the pavement.
"Careful," the pretty stranger murmured, placing him back on his feet with no effort at all.
Goku felt like he was gonna spontaneously combust.
She wasn't just strong. She was really strong!
He jerked back, his spine going ramrod straight, and put his hand in the air, intending to wave, but his brain must have short circuited because all he could do was stammer, "H-Hi!"
"Hello," The girl giggled, her eyes sparkling in a way that made his heart flutter. Was she a witch? Is that why he felt like he was under some sort of spell?
He swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh. "I'm Son Goku!"
"And I'm M—Chi-Chi. Just Chi-Chi," she said a bit anxiously. "It's nice to meet you."
Goku grinned, relaxing a little. "Same here. Thanks for the save. You sure are strong."
"Oh! T-Thank you. I know it's not very ladylike bu—"
"Ladylike?"
"Well you know," Chi-Chi blushed, looking away and muttering so low he almost couldn't catch what she said next. "Girls aren't supposed to have muscles."
Goku laughed, unable to help himself. "That's silly, everyone needs muscles."
How else would they walk or, more importantly, eat?
"Want an apple?" He fished one out of his shirt and offered it to her.
Chi-Chi hesitated but accepted it with a shy smile that made his own widen in a way he didn't quite understand. Goku didn't know what she was doing to him but he didn't mind it one bit.
He pulled out another apple for himself and polished it off in three bites before adding, "This is my first time at a festival. Are they always this big?"
"Really?" She gasped. "It's my first time too!"
"Yeah? Ya wanna check it out together then?"
Chi-Chi turned a pretty shade of pink. "I'd love to."
Goku felt like he was probably a little pink too…well, probably more red than pink if the heat from his cheeks were any indication. He certainly felt hot under the collar and his face was hurting from smiling so much! But that was okay, he didn't mind a little pain—especially when it came from someone as sweet as her.
"Hey Chi-Chi, ya think you'll be around for the show tonight?"
"Yes! I'm looking forward to it," she said excitedly, her eyes shining bright. "I've always wanted to see it just once and I hear this year's performers are extremely skilled!"
Goku rubbed a finger under his nose and laughed. "Heh, that's for sure."
"What was that?"
"Oh, uh, hey what's that over there?" He asked, pointing towards where a crowd had gathered.
They moved a little closer, slipping their way to the front of the crowd, where they could see some street performers putting on a show. There were several men flipping onto each other's shoulders and another balancing plates. There was even one who walked on his hands, impressing the crowd—including Chi-Chi—who clapped in delight.
Goku thought it looked like fun.
He hopped on his hands and then shifted his weight to one finger before bouncing and flipping around, switching from hand to hand in time with the beat. The street performers cheered, and one even reached for his hoops, teasing the crowd as he tossed them at Goku one by one by one, but Goku was ready. He kicked each hoop upward and juggled them with ease, until he finally decided he'd played long enough and flipped to his feet, catching them all on his arms with a "tada!" that made the crowd laugh as they applauded.
"Good work," said the man who'd thrown the hoops as Goku handed them back over, making him smile.
Goku was always happy to be praised but it was Chi-Chi practically tackling him as he returned to her side that put the biggest grin on his face.
"That was incredible!" She gushed, feeling true admiration. That he could do all that was something she never expected, not after his earlier bout of clumsiness. Chi-Chi's smile turned suddenly sly. "I guess your fall earlier was just a fluke."
Goku smirked, his chest puffing with pride. "You can say that again. I only fell last time cause I was distracted by a pipsqueak taking down a man four times her size."
"I am not a pipsqueak!" She growled, rounding on him. "And I'll take you down too if ya call me that again!"
"Promise?"
Goku and Chi-Chi both blushed when they realized what he had said but Goku couldn't help it. The thrill that shot through him when she growled and looked at him with those fierce eyes…it was exciting. He kept wanting to see what she'd do next.
"PRINCESS!"
Huh?
He turned to see who was shouting—and why—but as soon as he did he felt a soft pressure against his right cheek.
Goku's eyes went wide as he turned back to Chi-Chi.
"I'm sorry, I have to go now," she told him, those fierce eyes of hers filling with tears. She pulled away before he could even register what she was saying. "I'll never forget you Goku. Goodbye!"
"H-Hey wait a sec!"
But Chi-Chi was already slipping through the crowds, her smaller build allowing her easier passage than his bulkier one.
Not that Goku would let that stop him. He'd just have to go somewhere less crowded.
With a single leap, he hopped on top of the closest stall, skipping from roof to roof. It wasn't hard to keep pace with Chi-Chi this way. All he needed was a good spot to cut her off, but before he could locate one, some fussy looking people in uniforms were suddenly surrounding her.
Goku didn't like how they looked. Some of them even had weapons! He knew she was strong but she was also outnumbered, so he dropped to the ground to rush to her aid, but as soon as his feet hit the dirt he was yanked back by several sets of hands.
"Let go!" He demanded, struggling to break free, but his friends weren't about to release him.
"No way man!" Krillin shot back, smacking Goku upside the head after his friend tried to bite him. "Do you know how much trouble we'll be in if the master finds you gone? We gotta go right now!"
"It can wait! I gotta help Chi-Chi!"
"Who?"
"Oh man, is that who I think it is?" Yamcha gasped as Tien nodded beside him.
"Yes, that's the princess of Mt. Frypan."
Wait, what?
Goku paused, the fight leaving him all at once. He looked to his friends and then back at Chi-Chi. "Howdja know I chose her as tonight's princess?"
"What?! Goku, you can't choose her," Yamcha told him, making the younger man frown.
"Why not? Master Roshi said I was supposed to choose the prettiest girl." He nodded towards Chi-Chi. "So I did."
"Dude she's a real princess!" Krillin cried, shaking him roughly by his shirt. Surely his friend couldn't be serious!
"So?"
"So," Tien grunted, growing annoyed. "You were supposed to choose from one of the qualified girls from the master's list."
Yamcha clapped his friend's shoulder. "Besides man, you can't expect a princess to perform the traditional dance for the crowd."
"Her father's likely to kill you!" Krillin added. "If you can even get past her guards."
Goku looked over at the guards in question, currently taking Chi-Chi away. They didn't look like much. Her father, however, was an unknown. Chi-Chi was strong. It was likely that that strength came from him.
Yamcha sighed, noting his friend's stubborn look, and spun him around so they could return to their waiting room. "C'mon guys, we'd better head back."
They marched him along, discussing who to choose, because clearly their friend couldn't be trusted, all the while Goku stared at the sights around him, his mind on the girl he'd met that day.
He had really wanted to explore the festival with Chi-Chi, it was a shame their time was cut short, but if his friends thought that he was going to let it end here, then they were mistaken. He would be seeing her again tonight.
Whether his friends knew it or not.
o0o
"Oh Princess!" gasped one of the delegates her father had invited to this year's celebrations. Chi-Chi thought her name was Sue. "Your dress is simply stunning! Like the Moon Goddess herself!"
Chi-Chi smiled politely and raised an arm to show off the gown's long embroidered sleeves. "Thank you. The woman who made it for me is very skilled."
"Are you looking forward to the performance?" asked a different woman—Cara?—but before she could answer, a rather tall lady beat her to it.
"I hear they're quite talented," murmured Haru.
Sue giggled beside her. "I hear they're quite handsome!"
"And you know they've already got the bodies to perform such routines," Cara added slyly, fanning herself off.
"What I would give to be chosen as tonight's princess! They say she gets to spend the rest of the festivities with the one who chose her."
"It's tradition!" exclaimed another, a delegate from the Kingdom of Lake Woka. She sighed, adding, "If only they didn't have to dance…"
Her friend nodded and patted her hand. "I agree. Just imagining being forced to perform makes me sick."
The others all concurred that they would never before Haru finally turned to Chi-Chi and asked, "What about you princess? Do you wish to be chosen?"
All the other delegates in the room gasped.
"You know she can't!"
"She's the princess!"
"She can't put herself on display for the masses!"
"How could you even suggest such a thing?"
Chi-Chi sighed as the ladies continued their discussion, barely paying attention at all. Her mind was much more pleasantly occupied by thoughts of the cute boy from earlier with the interesting hair. She hadn't even spent that long in his company but she couldn't seem to get him out of her head!
He was so handsome, with that warm, boyish smile—she was sure he could charm even her father's most disagreeable advisor—and he had been so open and friendly. Offering food to a stranger on a whim or joining in with those acrobats for a laugh, and she knew he had to be strong to move his body so easily.
She blushed, recalling the bulge of his muscles as he performed his stunts, but quickly shoved that thought aside. It wouldn't do for a princess to be caught unaware while thinking such things…at least not in such a public space.
Still…she couldn't help but wonder if she would see him again. He had asked if she'd be attending tonight. Did that mean he would too?
Chi-Chi sighed as the lights dimmed down the length of the entire street and the people on the sidelines quieted with hushed anticipation.
The show was about to start.
Her Mama used to tell her this story often when she was young, about the young dragon warrior, and his friends, who then rises up to stop his rival turned foe. Hurt by the betrayal, he loses the will to fight and wanders the land empty and restless until one day he sees a beautiful maiden. She'd come from the moon to see what the earth has to offer, and the young dragon warrior regains his zest for life by dedicating himself to her service for the rest of his days.
Chi-Chi had always wanted to see it performed.
Each year a different martial arts school was chosen to reenact the fairytale and then the dragon warrior would choose the most beautiful girl from the crowd to represent the moon princess and perform her part of the story.
The whole thing had sounded so romantic to her when she was a child, imagining some handsome warrior picking her out of a sea of people to be his 'moon princess' for the night. To feel as if someone had wanted her for her, instead of what her father could give them.
Like in most things though, she eventually grew older and learned the truth, that the princess was predetermined.
Chi-Chi couldn't deny that it would be traumatizing for some unprepared girl to be thrust onto the stage, but the many childhood nights she spent dreaming couldn't be torn from her so easily. Not when she was finally getting to see the performance for herself. She still so badly wanted to be picked. To be a part of something, just for a moment, instead of the one always standing on the sidelines.
But that's what she got for having the Ox King for a father. Servants, advisors, instructors and guards, but never anyone she could call friend.
Her thoughts drifted back to Goku. She had hoped to call him a friend but it was unlikely that she would ever see him again.
With a sigh she brought her attention back to the foreground where the dragon warriors in all their regalia were making their way onto the street that would serve as their stage. One in particular stood out, though he wasn't the tallest or largest of the group. He moved with an ease that the others lacked, a confidence as he strutted about doing his kicks and flips, showing off for the crowd.
He must be the hero.
The one who would choose this year's princess and pledge himself as her guardian for the remainder of the festival.
Her gaze drifted through the crowd, wondering if she could spot this year's chosen, when the dragon she deemed the hero suddenly took a running leap in her direction, making the crowd gasp.
Chi-Chi herself felt like her heart was racing as she placed a hand over her chest hoping to calm it. The performers all wore large head pieces but she could swear he was looking right at her…
But that was impossible…right?
Before she could decide if he was imagining things or not, the other dragon warriors were cutting him off and herding him back to the center of the street where most of the performance would play out.
Chi-Chi shook her head, deciding she must have been mistaken and focused back on the play, her gaze lingering on the lead.
It was the opening scene, so he and the other dragons were goofing off right now. Showing off their moves with progressively difficult techniques. She smiled when the lead walked on his hands and then just his fingers, recalling how Goku and the acrobat had done so earlier that day, and then he twirled fast like a tornado, yanking some banner down and wrapping it around his friends in a flourish that made the crowd laugh.
Chi-Chi clapped and giggled, utterly charmed, particularly as the friends broke free and chased the lead up and down the street. Somehow she felt like that specific reaction was a little more genuine than most.
…
"Dang nabbit!" Cursed an old man on the sidelines, crumpling his playbook as he watched the display. What did that fool think he was doing?! If he hadn't been the most talented apprentice his dojo or even the world had ever seen, he would have never given such an important position to that dummy!
"Goku, you punk," Roshi muttered, giving the boy the evil eye. "Follow the dang script already!"
Tien stepped up by his side. "Don't worry Master, I'll get him back on track."
"I'm counting on you," his Master told him, filling Tien with a sense of pride.
As the eldest apprentice at the dojo, it was often his job to keep the younger ones in line but it never failed to leave him grateful for having his Master's trust.
He pulled his mask over his face and adjusted his stance, prepared to make his entrance…unfortunately not even Tien could have predicted what a mischievous Goku would do once he got going.
…
"Oh my!" Chi-Chi gasped, her cheeks going red as the rival pulled his pants up in a hurry.
He had seemed so formidable when he first appeared from an explosion but that was before the hero exposed his heart print boxers to the crowd.
It certainly worked to drive up the tension though, because whoever was behind the fantastical dragon mask was furious. He lunged for the hero, swinging his fists like mighty hammers, but the hero was just too quick. Dodging blows left and right, evading strikes with a backflip or splits. Sometimes he even had enough time to pause and shake his shoulders in an exaggerated fashion, clearly mocking his rival with laughter.
However the rival had his pride and held his head up high.
He switched to kicks paired with grabs, determined to get his foe, but the hero was quick to change tactics too. When the rival struck the hero would stumble, and when he lunged the hero lurched. No matter how the rival moved the hero swayed back and forth, to and fro, as if he'd had too much to drink, always in reach and yet never able to be caught.
The crowd cheered, enjoying the display, but Chi-Chi watched it all with confusion. She couldn't deny that the hero was very talented but this part of the performance was supposed to be a drama. How would the hero lose the will to fight if he treated everything like a joke?
…
Across the street Master Roshi was similarly concerned. He ran a weary hand over his face, lamenting his talented student. Truly it was a crime to be so gifted.
Oh well.
Time for plan B.
He snapped his fingers, signaling the others. "Okay boys, you know the drill. Get back out there and play dead!"
"Yes sir!" cried Krillin, Yamcha and Chiaotzu as they clamored back out onto the stage.
Tien recognized their appearance for what it was. A way to get the performance back on track. He snatched up a weapon from the sidelines and struck once, twice and finally a third time, sending them all to their 'deaths' as the crowd gasped in horror, suddenly reminding them all that this scene wasn't a comedy…but a tragedy.
Goku froze and Tien, and the crowd, waited to see what he would do as the lights dimmed all around him.
They saw the change in an instance, his demeanor no longer playful, his body no longer shaking with laughter. Instead the air around him seemed to quiver as he burned with righteous anger.
Tien breathed a sigh of relief, and though the crowd couldn't see his face, he smiled. All that was left now was to finish his part.
He walked up to Yamcha and scooped him up with his foot, 'kicking' him off to one side with as dark a laugh as he could manage, earning Goku's rage.
And then he gestured.
'Come at me.'
Goku didn't need to be told twice. For the first time that evening he went on the offensive, flying at Tien with his fist raised high.
Tien raised his own and met him head on.
…
Chi-Chi didn't bother wiping the tears from her cheeks, her heart too busy aching for the hero as he finished his rival turned foe. She could feel the conflict in his movements, the reluctance as he made the final blow. He stood there, as if at a loss, just staring at the bodies all around him and Chi-Chi could barely stand to watch.
The original performance hadn't been so dark but for someone who embodied so much joy, the death of his friends—and even his rival—really drove the point of the story home, making her long for a return to the earlier lightness just to ease some of the tension of the scene.
Chi-Chi prayed he chose his princess soon. She couldn't take much more of this.
They say you should be careful of what you wish for and at her age, she felt that was a lesson that she should really ought to have known by now, because as soon as that thought crossed her mind, the hero's head snapped up, his yellow glowing eyes staring directly at her.
Or so it seemed but Chi-Chi knew that couldn't be.
The moon princess was always preselected, usually someone tied to the performing school. He couldn't be looking at her. It had to be somebody else. Maybe someone disguised as a waiter? Or a girl passing by?
Chi-Chi looked to her left and then to her right, taking in all the faces around her, but as the dragon warrior slowly stalked his way closer, she realized there was no one there she didn't recognize.
A shiver rushed down her spine.
Could he be…
But before she could even finish that thought, the masked warrior was surging forward, vaulting over the rail in a single leap. He landed nearly on top of her, and though Chi-Chi tried to stand, braced for an attack, with so little room she couldn't fend off the iron like arms that enfolded her.
Not that she was sure she would want to.
She could hear the women screaming in the background and the shouts of her guards as they finally started to react, but in that brief moment, the calm before the chaos, all she could focus on was her heart fluttering and the hope she felt that all her childish dreams were actually coming true.
That she had really been chosen as this year's Moon Princess…
…and then she remembered she was an actual princess and that a masked stranger was essentially kidnapping her.
Her guards rushed up to stop him, surrounding the pair and dogpiling on top of them to the point that Chi-Chi feared she'd be crushed by their weight but the dragon warrior proved more powerful. With a single spinning kick, he knocked them all backwards and then swept her off of her feet as if she weighed nothing at all. This should have alarmed her, however the way he carefully cradled her against his chest made Chi-Chi pause. Could this be part of the play after all?
But then he burst through the roof and she realized the answer was 'no, it was not,' and that she needed to fight.
The Dragon warrior was strong but so was Chi-Chi, for despite all her desire to be otherwise, she was the Ox King's daughter and his strength had been passed down to her in turn. She struck straight at her capture's face, nearly knocking his mask right off, and spun out of his arms as the crowd gasped below, landing silently on the street with a light thud.
The warrior hadn't been appointed the lead for nothing though, and he was quick to recover. With a twisted flip he landed in front of her and then straighted, cocking his head to the side as he waited to see what she'd do next.
Well if wanted to find out so badly she'd show him!
Chi-Chi snatched up a nearby broom and broke off the brush head, spinning it out rapidly in front of her to keep him at a distance. She knew he was strong. If she let him get within arm's length, it'd spell trouble, and she wasn't interested in being taken hostage today.
She couldn't see it, but under the mask her kidnapper smiled.
…
"Princess!" The guards called, stumbling over themselves in their rush to go save her, but the Ox King saw her stance and determination and bid them to stand down.
"But your majesty!"
"I said stand down!" The Ox King ordered, his tone daring any to oppose him.
He could see the guards clearly didn't understand but the Ox King was first and foremost a warrior, and his daughter was a better fighter than any of those imbeciles could claim. It was only right to give her this chance to showcase her skill.
And if she failed…well, it had been a long time since he'd been given leeway to indulge his urges. He would have fun crushing that man's skull.
…
Goku dodged as Chi-Chi attacked, bringing her makeshift staff down with such force that the ground cracked where he'd previously stood.
Whoa! Good thing he hadn't taken that blow head on.
She came at him again and Goku jumped for the lamppost above him, using it to fling himself over her head, but if he thought this action would give him a moment to breathe, he was mistaken, because as soon as he turned to face her again, he was having to dodge, jumping from side to side to avoid her as best he could.
His friends were probably surprised he was having such trouble but he couldn't help it! How was he supposed to do more than dodge when he could barely take his eyes off her? The way her eyes burned with fury…or the taut lines of her body, stiff and unyielding. They were such a stark contrast to her dress, with its long flowy sleeves and skirts, or the way her silky hair whipped free in the wind.
He didn't often understand what made someone pretty but even he couldn't deny she was beautiful.
Goku wanted to shout to his friends 'See?! Who better to represent the Moon Princess but her?' but that would require looking away and that was something he just couldn't do.
Not when every move she made left him giddy, digging a deeper impression upon his already smitten heart. He had the strangest desire to be the dirt beneath her slippered feet or at least stay where he was and allow her to bring her staff down upon him with her full force.
But he hadn't completely forgotten he was in the middle of a performance, and so he continued to duck and dodge and jump and slide, doing all that he could to stay one step ahead of the fiery princess who was more skilled than many of the challengers he'd faced.
Not even Tien had pushed him so hard…although Tien's loss had been scripted and…
His thoughts were interrupted—and alarm shot through him—when her spear pierced the top of his headpiece, stabbing the dragon's mask straight through the eye. It missed him completely, only splitting his hair, but Goku wasn't willing to risk her getting closer a second time.
'Yikes! Better show her I mean no harm.'
He dropped to one knee and bowed his head as low as he could go with the giant headpiece keeping him upright, making Chi-Chi pause.
Good! Now if he could just get her to understand…
Goku turned his gaze up to the full moon and then to Chi-Chi and then back to the moon again, praying his message clear, cause if it wasn't, he wasn't sure what else he could do. He wasn't allowed to speak! But luckily for him, she seemed to understand.
He wasn't sure at first because she didn't react right away, but then her cheeks slowly turned a dark red, and she lowered her weapon before dropping it completely.
Goku smiled and stretched out his hand beckoning her forward. When her soft hand slipped into his…a thrill shot through him. He usually associated the feeling with winning a match, but he supposed, in a way, he just did.
He rose to his feet and the lights dimmed around them, as if they were the only two people in the world, and this time when Goku swept her up into his arms, she didn't resist. He leapt them up to a smaller, actual stage that sat higher than the main street and dipped her low, loving the feel of her in his arms, the way her hair was coming undone and how her eyes sparkled, as if mesmerized, as she gazed up at him.
Then the lights cut out, ending the performance.
…
"Phew!" Roshi sighed, wiping his brow, as he stepped away from the giant switch. Another minute of that and he was sure the whole performance would have been ruined! "Damn that Goku. What was he thinking choosing the actual princess of Mt. Frypan!"
He looked over at the crowd that was cheering up a storm and dusted off his hands. At least they were all happy. "Now it's time to discipline a wayward youth."
…
Chi-Chi pressed her hands to a muscular chest and pushed, putting some much needed distance between her and the stranger as they both caught their breaths.
What on earth had he been thinking, choosing her? Well there was one possible reason, though the thought hadn't crossed her mind until he'd swept her up in his arms the second time, but she wouldn't know for sure until she saw his face.
So moving carefully, she put her hands on either side of his head piece and—when he didn't stop her—lifted it off revealing a familiar set of messy locks.
"It really is you," Chi-Chi smiled, feeling her cheeks go red for the hundredth time that night. She had been hoping to see him again but she hadn't expected this.
Goku smiled back, looking just as flustered as she felt. "It's me," he murmured.
"Why'd yo—"
"Princess!" called her guards, having finally caught up with her.
They shoved Goku aside but didn't take him prisoner—having finally understood that this was all part of the performance—and herded her towards her father, who swept her up in a crushing embrace.
"Chi-Chi! What a talented daughter I have! Good work. Ya must have been scared, being chosen as the Moon Princess like that."
Chi-Chi smiled and patted her father on the back. "It's okay Papa. I wasn't scared at all. He's my friend."
"Friend?" The Ox King's brows furrowed. "Have ya even exchanged two words altogether?"
She looked over her shoulder to see Goku being lectured by an old man, and several of his friends, and smiled when she caught him sneaking a glance her way. "Mhm. We met earlier today too. He gave me an apple."
"He gave you an apple?" her father repeated, feeling bewildered. He looked to his daughter, then to the young man and back again, a slow understanding finally coming to the forefront of his mind. "Oh! I see how it is," he grinned. "Well if ya want, you can go to him."
"Really?!"
"Your majesty," the captain of the guard spoke up. "Think of the danger!"
"Think all you like," The Ox King huffed. "I think my daughter has proven she can handle herself and if not," he nodded towards the young warrior. "That man is more than capable of protecting her. Besides, it's tradition!"
"Oh thank you Papa!" Chi-Chi cried, throwing her arms around him.
The Ox King squeezed back, torn that his little girl was growing up, but let go and shooed her on her way regardless, to where a pouting Goku was still being reprimanded.
He just couldn't understand what he did wrong. He was told to choose, so he did!
"If I told you once, I told you a thousand times! Stick to the dang script!" Master Roshi hollered.
'Now Master," Krillin cut in, bowing slightly as he did so. "Everything turned out alright in the end. The crowd loved it."
"Did I ask for your opinion?!"
"No Master…"
"That's what I thought! And another thing…"
'Thanks for tryin',' Goku mouthed to Krillin as Master Roshi continued his spiel about following directions.
Krillin shot his friend a halfhearted thumbs up but his feelings quickly turned to one of surprise as he spotted the figure coming up to their group, and he wasn't the only one.
Everyone, including Master Roshi—who drifted off mid lecture—was staring, so much so that Goku couldn't help but turn to see what they were all looking at.
"Hello," Chi-Chi smiled, giving a slight bow. "My father and I greatly admired your performance."
"Y-Yeah?" Goku grinned, feeling his heart trip over itself as it sped up. Somehow being face to face with Chi-Chi was so much easier when wearing a mask! "The crowd seemed to like it."
"Oh they did! There's talk about how this was the best we've ever had."
Krillin nudged Master Roshi.
"Hear that Master?" he grinned as the older man blushed.
It was hard to stay angry in front of a beautiful lady.
"Well that's good to hear," he laughed, rubbing the back of his bald head. "Ya know I choreographed it myself!"
"I'm sure my father would love to hear more, sir." Chi-Chi told him, though her gaze kept drifting back to Goku.
She was too polite to dismiss him outright but Roshi could tell who it was she truly wished to speak to.
"Well, I guess I'll just go have a chat with Gyumao then. It's been awhile since I've seen that troublemaker." He turned to his students. "You all are free to spend the rest of the festival as you wish."
"Even me?" Goku asked, pointing to himself.
Master Roshi gave him the evil eye but he knew the boy hadn't done any true harm. He sighed and added with a nod, "Even you."
"Alright!"
"Don't make me regret it!" Roshi snapped before ambling over to where the Ox King stood.
Tien nodded and grabbed Yamcha and Krillin by the collar. "Well you heard the Master." He ignored their protests and looked over his shoulder. "Come on, Chiaotzu."
"Coming!"
Once they were gone, only Chi-Chi and Goku remained.
"So uh…sorry about earlier," Goku blushed, scratching his cheek. "I hadn't really expected ya to fight back like that but it worked out in the end, right?"
"I suppose you could say that," Chi-Chi murmured, her own cheeks bright red.
She still couldn't believe he had chosen her as tonight's princess. When she realized the truth in the middle of their fight, she had felt all sorts of emotions, the most prominent being hope that the man beneath the mask was someone she knew. Someone named Goku.
That he had chosen her…could she hope that it meant he wanted to spend more time with her also?
"You know, it's tradition for the moon princess to stay with her guardian for the rest of the night," Chi-Chi told him, looking him boldly in the eye in such a way that Goku gulped.
"Y-Yeah? Even if the moon princess is a real one?"
Chi-Chi took a step closer.
"Goku…why did you choose me as tonight's princess?"
"Cause I was told to choose the most beautiful girl," he answered simply, as if the answer was obvious.
And maybe it was to him, but it still warmed Chi-Chi's heart, making her eyes practically sparkle as she smiled up at him. She slipped her arm around his and giggled, just as his stomach growled.
"I guess we should get you something to eat."
"Yeah?" Goku laughed, guiding her towards the food stalls. "I guess I did work up an appetite, but you had quite a few moves yourself. Where'd ya learn to fight like that?"
"Well, I am the Ox King's daughter…" she answered coyly, shooting him a look that made his heart skip.
"R-Right…uh, well…maybe after we eat, we can have another spar?"
"Why don't ya try beating me at a few stall games first."
"Sure! And then I'll beat ya in our spar too."
"Oh Goku!" Chi-Chi giggled, giving him a whack on his back that nearly knocked him off of his feet. "We'll just have to see about that!"
Goku recovered his balance and smiled. Yamcha was right. Festivals were way more fun at night.