Thoughts
Computer Speech/Robotic Speech
"Speech"
Disclaimer: DC and the Dragonball Franchise belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.
Chapter 67: Steam I
May 18th
Age 763 (2013), Mount Paozu
Gohan's tears flowed like the river that ran through Mount Paozu. He squeezed his mother's arms, wailing against her chest as she consoled him. Piccolo would've admonished him for such a weak display, but the Demi-Saiyan didn't care. He cried and cried until his eyes were red and puffy, and snot bubbled in his nostrils. His tear ducts never ran dry, and neither did his mother's.
Wonder Woman's tears splashed onto Gohan's forehead as she gently caressed it. Her baby boy had grown so much; it was unbelievable. She planted big wet kisses atop her son's head and lifted the boy into the air to get a better view of him. His black hair was long, wild, and unruly. It stopped just short of his feet, and considering his diminutive stature, Gohan's hair appeared to account for half his weight.
His outfit was a miniature replica of Piccolo's, minus the white cape. Bulma's words to Diana were indeed true; Ma Junior and her son had grown close during her absence. If Diana had been present, Goku would've never died, and Gohan wouldn't have required Piccolo's tutelage, but alas, Thmeyscira had fallen into ruin. Diana smiled sadly at her son and placed him on the floor to wipe her tears. She wiped them on her arm, and when she looked up, Yamcha was standing at the entrance to the kitchen, weeping.
"Diana…. it's so…. good…to see you," The Lone Wolf said, sobbing. He'd heard the good news over the phone but seeing Wonder Woman in the flesh evoked deep emotions.
He lingered around the edge of the kitchen, apprehensive about stepping inside it, but Diana grabbed his hand and yanked him into the room. Yamcha stumbled forward past Gohan, and Wonder Woman gave him a quick hug while the former bandit tried to maintain his composure. Bulma grabbed some paper towels from a countertop in the kitchen and passed them to Yamcha, though her own eyes needed them as well. There wasn't a dry eye in the kitchen by the time everyone sat down to talk. There were enough seats at the kitchen table for everyone, but Diana sat her son on her lap.
"This is all so surreal," Krillin said, encapsulating the thoughts of everyone present. Yamcha had just been resurrected a few weeks ago, and now Wonder Woman had returned.
"I should've come home sooner; honestly, I'm so sorry, everyone," Diana glanced down at Gohan. Her face was tense and filled with regret, but her son didn't care about any of that. The Demi-Saiyan was just happy to have his mother home.
"It's okay, mom; you're here now, and that's what matters," Gohan smiled reassuringly. The way his lips curved was identical to his father's, and it nearly summoned a fresh batch of tears from Diana.
"I...I don't want to ruin this moment, Diana, but we're all curious to know what exactly happened to you. Goku, Gohan, Bulma, Krillin, Kami, Superman, Piccolo, Batman, me, and practically anyone who knew you tried to find you, but none of us could locate you. What happened?" Yamcha inquired. He sat on Diana's right and scooted his chair closer to her in anticipation of her story.
Wonder Woman's eyes danced around the room before they finally settled on her son once more. She sighed regrettably before speaking. "In the letter I left behind to my family, I explained the strange dreams, no, nightmares, that I had been having. Ominous and foreboding visions about Themyscira kept haunting me in my sleep, and one night I finally had enough. I decided to go investigate the situation, but in my haste, I acted brashly. At that point, I was still in exile from Themyscira, so I had no right to even venture there in the first place, but my gut told me to go anyway."
"We've all done stupid things for the people we love; no one at this table can deny that," Bulma said. Her head turned to Yamcha when she spoke the words, but the Lone Wolf's eyes were focused elsewhere.
"In hindsight, I shouldn't have gone alone, or at the very least, I should've brought backup, but I prioritized Themyscira's laws about outsiders over my friends and family. I won't ever do that again," Diana balled her fist in anger. "I quietly wished my family farewell, and then I took off. I didn't think that I would be gone for long, but I was wrong, completely wrong. The scene when I arrived at Themsycira was horrendous. I will never forget that night." A chill went down Diana's spine, and she shuddered. There was so much to say, but Diana swallowed her words. She refused to describe the gruesome bloodshed she'd witnessed in front of her son
Bulma sensed her unease. "Maybe we should wait until J'onn gets here," the Capsule Corp heiress suggested.
"Whose J'onn?" Diana questioned. "You called him earlier, but I don't know anyone by that name."
"It's a long story, but do you remember that alien invasion I briefly told you about?" Bulma asked, and Wonder Woman quickly nodded. "He was one of the heroes who helped stop the invasion. I didn't meet him until after we returned from Namek, but he's an incredible telepath. He'll be able to show us your memories once he arrives."
"But Bulma, I don't want Gohan to see the – "
"- Speak of the devil; J'onn's here," Krillin interrupted as he felt the Martian's Ki presence outside Diana's home. J'onn knocked on the door, and Bulma rushed to answer it. The Martian had to lean down under the door's frame to greet her. Bulma grabbed his spindly hand, shook it, and invited J'onn inside. The Flash trudged behind him, smiling with a wide-eyed expression, but Vegeta, who was the last to enter the house, was anything but amiable.
"This is Kakarot's home? How pathetic," Vegeta sneered as he inspected his new surroundings. Bulma led their group into a tiny living room that was barely large enough for the four of them.
The prince was about to rattle off another insult, but Bulma paused and suddenly whipped her head around. She ordered the Saiyan to zip it and pointed to her cell phone; the Saiyan knew all too well what that gesture meant. "I swear to you, one day soon, when this bomb is out of my head, you will pay for your insolence, woman."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, shut up," Bulma rolled her eyes and escorted the guests into the kitchen while continuing to argue. Wonder Woman's head turned around as soon as she heard Bulma's bickering grow near. It didn't take Diana long to figure out who Vegeta was; her blue eyes narrowed in on him instantly.
"Impossible!" The prince shouted as he stood in the doorway. He extended a hand and pointed an accusing finger at Diana. "You're the massive power level I felt on my way here?" He couldn't believe it. Her energy signature had hit him like a tsunami during his flight across the Pacific Ocean. Kakarot's wife was even more powerful than he was, at least before he'd ascended to a Super Saiyan.
Diana snarled and leaped out of her chair, placing her son on the ground behind her. "You're the monster responsible for countless deaths. You were culpable in Manhattan's destruction, and you nearly killed my husband too!"
Vegeta cackled. "I should've killed Kakarot when I had the chance and your stupid brat too, but fate had other things planned. However, I do plan to rectify that mistake."
"What. Did. You. Say?" Diana ground her teeth. The audacity of this cretin was maddening. He entered her home and dared to threaten her family? Wonder Woman cracked her knuckles and rotated her wrists. Today out of all days, she hadn't intended to fight, but Vegeta was practically asking for it. The Saiyan was aware of the gap between their power but still decided to provoke her.
Diana's patience wasn't as thin as her mother's, but when it came to family, even she had her limits. But thankfully, J'onn intervened before things got too far out of hand. The Martian blocked Vegeta and Diana's paths, and before the Saiyan or the Amazon realized what was happening, the prince was on the floor, out cold.
"My sincerest apologies, I didn't anticipate Vegeta acting so brazen, but I should have; I'm sorry," J'onn inclined his head and bowed before the queen. Diana was taken aback by the gesture, but like the graceful monarch she was, she quickly composed herself.
"There's no need to apologize. You didn't do anything. In fact, I should be the one asking for pardons. I nearly let my anger get the best of me." Diana mentally scolded herself. This wasn't the example she wanted to set for her son. He'd moved in front of her and was now grinning at her. The Demi-Saiyan seemed to approve of her actions, but she knew she should've taken a more peaceful route. Violence wasn't the solution to every problem.
"Thank you, J'onn, for finally shutting Vegeta the hell up!" The Flash abruptly said. Everyone's eyes centered on him. "You have no idea how irritating and annoying he is. Traveling all the way from the Hall of Justice to here while dealing with his nonstop blathering was torture."
Bulma sighed. "Well, that's Vegeta for you," She sank her forehead into her palm and tried to disappear from the world. The Saiyan was a constant source of embarrassment, and the only thing worse than his attitude was his pride.
"You're a saint, Bulma; I don't know how you deal with him." The Flash peeled Vegeta off the floor and hoisted him onto his shoulder. The Saiyan didn't stir or move at all; he was still unconscious. J'onn had yet to release the prince from his hold.
"What did you do to him?" Diana asked the Martian. Based on what Bulma had told her, Vegeta was a mighty warrior in his own right. What J'onn had accomplished was no small feat.
"I used my telepathy to shut down his mind," The Martian answered as if it were the simplest task in the world. Wonder Woman was shocked but withheld her astonishment.
"How long will he remain that way?" Diana's eyes fluttered to Vegeta. He looked harmless now, but if conscious, the Saiyan was a walking hazard.
"For as long as I want him to," It was the truth but only half of it. Vegeta's mental shields strengthened each time J'onn pried into his mind. The Saiyan's incredible ability to evolve extended beyond the physical and included all aspects of his being. In due time Vegeta would be able to push back against J'onn's mental incursions, but for now, the prince was powerless.
"That's an amazing ability. I'm envious of you," Diana admitted. J'onn's telepathy would've served her well during the fight for Themyscira's throne.
"Don't be; there are numerous downsides to this power as well," J'onn said vaguely. His expression became downcast, but he switched subjects before Wonder Woman could ask him what was wrong. "I haven't formally introduced myself; I'm J'onn J'onzz, but to the public, I'm better known as the Martian Manhunter."
J'onn offered Diana his hand, and the queen took it. The texture of his palm felt odd in her grasp. She'd never shaken an alien's hand before, well, knowingly, at least. The Martian's hand was easily twice the size of her own. Donna would've been gaping like a fish if she were here now. Diana squeezed J'onn's hand and smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Dragonball DC
When Superman, Batman, and Piccolo arrived at the Son family residence, refreshments were being served. Wonder Woman had a tray filled with snacks in one hand and a tray filled with drinks in the other. She balanced them carefully and attended to all her guests, feeding them one by one. The Martian Manhunter claimed he had no appetite, but Diana still urged him to eat, refusing to take no for an answer. J'onn eventually acquiesced to her demands, he was a guest under her roof after all, and if the Martian was anything, it was courteous.
The Flash and Gohan had no problem wolfing down the food Diana brought them. Barry Allen had been so nervous introducing himself to Wonder Woman, but his anxiety dissipated in the presence of food. He ate without a care in the world, and so did the Demi-Saiyan beside him. They devoured multiple bags of chips before Bulma even took her first nibble.
Yamcha and Krillin ate rapidly, but their manners remained intact, unlike Gohan and Barry, who were seated on the opposite end of the couch. Vegeta would've enjoyed the food, but he was still dozing, utterly unaware of the events transpiring around him. Everyone was eating and fraternizing festively when Batman suddenly appeared in the middle of the living room. Gohan, Yamcha, and Krillin sensed him but didn't immediately alert any of their companions.
"Some things never change," the dark knight said as he stood behind Diana. The Amazon's hospitality was the stuff of legend. She never allowed any of her guests to leave with an empty stomach, even if they had eaten prior to their arrival. It was no surprise that Diana's first act in her home after a year-long absence involved feeding her visitors.
The startled queen dropped the trays in her hand but managed to snatch them out of the air before they hit the ground. Her eyebrow twitched in irritation, but not at Bruce.
"I should've expected that," Diana chuckled. Bruce never wasted an opportunity to test his espionage skills. In his mind, he could get the drop on anyone, save for Ki users, and Diana had regularly been one of his prime targets. "You haven't changed either." Diana placed her trays on a nearby table and pulled Batman into a hug. It caught the dark knight off guard, but he didn't resist.
"How did you get in here?" Bulma asked once Bruce and Diana separated. The answer was obvious, but she still wanted to hear the details from the horse's mouth.
"I walked in through the front door," Batman deadpanned. The Flash couldn't help but laugh, which earned him a glare from Bulma.
"What? It was funny," Barry defended himself. He rubbed crumbs off his lips. Gohan had chortled too, but Bulma had conveniently ignored her Godson.
"Where's Superman? Bulma said you two were together in the Batcave when she was on the phone," Diana scanned the room and saw no sign of the Kryptonian.
"He wanted to ring the doorbell; I didn't have time for that," Bruce said curtly. He had a key to the Son family residence. Why would he stick around and wait for someone to open the door?
"Some of us don't believe in breaking and entering, Batman," Superman grumbled as he finally stepped into the living room. Bruce had left the front door wide open, so he'd had no choice but to follow him. Piccolo had joined him soon after.
"It's incredible how much bigger this room is," Ma Junior drawled. He quickened his pace and walked past Clark to inspect the parlor. It was thrice the size of the living room by the front door. This room was far more spacious, decorated, and furnished. It featured two sofas, two sectionals, and four recliner chairs.
"Mr. Piccolo!" Gohan's eyes lit up the moment they spotted the Namekian. He waved cheerfully at his sensei, and though Ma Junior didn't reciprocate the action, he was happy to see the boy. Gohan would've offered Piccolo the seat to his right, but that was already occupied by his mother.
"Piccolo," Wonder Woman said as she sauntered toward the Namekian. Her intent was difficult for him to read. Their past interactions had often involved violence and numerous threats. Ma Junior expected the worst or another tongue lashing at least but received the opposite. "I don't agree with your methods at all, but your training helped my son survive tribulations in my absence, so for that, you have my thanks."
Piccolo was at a loss. His mind scrambled for the words to say, but all he drew were blanks. "You're….welcome?" Was all he finally managed to produce.
"But I have one last thing to say," Wonder Woman looked up at the Namekian. He was easily the tallest person in the room. J'onn looked almost diminutive compared to him. "If you ever kidnap my son again, even the gods won't be able to save you. Your father's death will look like a mercy." Diana meant every word, and Piccolo took her at face value. Her tone was icy, and she was leagues beyond him in strength.
"Well, since that's out of the way," Bulma awkwardly coughed into her hand. She placed her seltzer in a cup holder and stood up. The tension in the air was thick enough to slice through. "Why don't we let J'onn bring Diana up to speed on what she's missed?"
"It seems like she's already aware of that," Batman retorted. How else could Diana have known about Gohan's kidnapping? Someone had obviously notified her of past events.
"I summarized things briefly, but a picture is worth a thousand words," Bulma shrugged. "Diana has a story to tell as well."
"I do, but I don't want Gohan to see what I went through, especially not on a day like this." Wonder Woman said sullenly. Today was her son's birthday, and it was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Her memories would most likely scar the boy forever.
"I witnessed what Gohan went through on Namek. I'm sure you faced your own trials and tribulations, but what your son went through is indescribable. If it were any other child, I'd have my doubts, but Gohan can handle it, whatever it is." Superman placed a comforting hand on Diana's shoulder. They hadn't seen each other in ages. Clark expected a hug, but Wonder Woman's reaction to seeing him was less subdued. The Kryptonian didn't view it as a slight, though, given the current circumstance.
Diana was still hesitant about sharing her memories, which was understandable, but it had to be done. Clark gave Diana a supportive head nod, and when the Amazon studied the room, the rest of her friends and family were doing the same. Wonder Woman pushed her aversions to the side.
"I'll do it," Wonder Woman gathered her courage. Her son was looking at her, practically bouncing out of his seat. He was eager to hear her tales. He'd always loved her bedtime stories, but these chronicles wouldn't be fictional, and they were no child's play. She wanted to protect Gohan's innocence, but the world had already snatched that away, and he was owed the truth.
"I'm ready."
Dragonball DC
The sensation of having your mind invaded was….odd. An invasion wasn't quite the accurate term, but Diana didn't know how else to describe it. She had willingly invited the Martian Manhunter into her mind to browse through her memories, but the process still felt highly intrusive, regardless of how decorous J'onn was. There were some memories Diana wanted to bury in the depths of her mind for all eternity, but they were brought to the surface and displayed anyway to everyone. Most of her memories from the civil war were excruciatingly painful, and the few bright spots had been swiftly blackened out by even more traumatic experiences.
Diana's friends and family sat in her living room, engrossed by the memories. The scale of death was overwhelming. Diana's own hands had cut down swaths of her sisters. It had been necessary, but the guilt still haunted Diana to this day, and that shame was tangible in her memories. Everyone viewing her memories felt it, and the despair was written all over their faces.
Gohan nearly crushed Diana's hand when he watched the grandmother he'd never known get turned into stone. She'd sat right next to her son for this very reason. He needed all the emotional support he could get. Diana had tried to keep her memories in a linear order, but events had become jumbled and mashed together. Bits and pieces were out of order in her mental timeline, but the overall picture of her experience in Themyscira was depicted. By the end of the showing, everyone was in a cold sweat, including J'onn, who was the most in need of a breather.
"That was a lot to take in," The exasperated Martian said as he finally exited Diana's mind. It had been an overwhelming experience that no amount of words could've prepared him for.
"Mommy, I'm so sorry," Gohan flung himself at his mother. He wrapped his tiny arms around her waist and apologized, soaking her burgundy bodice with his tears.
"It's okay, Gohan, nothing was your fault, don't cry," Diana cooed as she gently stroked his hair. It was much softer than it looked. When he ultimately looked up at her, his eyes were still leaking tears.
"Those people….they…they…they did such horrible things to you!" The Demi-Saiyan rubbed his eyes and suppressed a sniffle.
"How could your own people do that to you?" Superman asked in disgust. His face was screwed, and his brows were knit.
"They were intoxicated by the Apples of Discord," Bruce responded. Clark had seen the memories just like him, but the Kryptonian's incredulity was understandable.
"The fact that you overcame all of that is…..amazing," Krillin kneaded his temples, still trying to get a grip on things. Diana had literally been to hell and back.
"I was such a bitch to you; I'm so sorry, Diana." Bulma's apology was heartfelt, but Wonder Woman dismissed it with a hand wave. She held no ill feelings for the billionaire's earlier actions.
"You watched Themyscira get flooded, got thrown into hell, won a civil war, and then became a queen!" It was an unbelievable sequence of events, and Yamcha's description still understated what had transpired.
"Does that make me a prince?" Gohan eye's widened as he stared at his mother's glistening crown. The implications of his mother's ascendance to the throne were just now hitting him.
She'd always worn a tiara, but the new accessories on top of it made much more sense now.
"Royal successions typically work that way, so I'd say yeah," The Flash commented. "But a matriarchial island might function differently."
Gohan looked at his mother with puppy dog eyes, and she giggled. "Of course, you're a prince. Even when I wasn't the queen, you were still a prince, but now you're the heir to the throne if anything ever happens to me."
"I won't let that happen," Gohan shook his head vehemently. His mother had only just returned. Nothing would rip her from him again. "I'll become the strongest warrior in the universe and protect you from anything!" The Demi-Saiyan promised.
Superman admired the boy's spunk. "With that attitude, I'm sure you'll accomplish your goal."
"That's the proper motivation to have, but will you maintain that same level of energy during your training? That's yet to be seen," Piccolo's words brought his pupil crashing back to Earth. Gohan despondently slunk into the sofa. His master's words gave him much to think about.
"Yes, sensei," The Demi-Saiyan said listlessly.
"Good," Piccolo responded. He turned his attention back toward Diana. "Where's your sister?" The Namekian asked. He left all the emotional comments to Wonder Woman's friends. Donna could be a great tool in the inevitable fight against Frieza's forces.
"As my memories showed, I had to leave her behind in Themyscira. She had numerous crimes to atone for, and even though I'm the queen now, I can't pervert the course of justice. She'll be free to join me when she's completed her labors."
"Kami knows when that will be. The Amazons gave her a mountain of tasks to complete!" Bulma exclaimed.
"Donna looks just like Queen Hippolyta," Batman noted. Their resemblance was uncanny. Diana favored her mother too, but Donna was the spitting image of the former queen. It was like looking at Hippolyta's reflection.
"And speaking of your mother, there's no way she can be restored to life?" Krillin asked. The Dragonballs had done wonders for him and others; maybe they could do the same for Diana's mother.
"I know what you're thinking, I thought about it on more than one occasion, but I'm not willing to take that risk," Diana was reluctant to even say the words out loud. The gods were always watching, especially Hera. "Themyscira maintains a thin, fragile peace. I'm not willing to pull on that thread for selfish reasons, no matter how justified they might be. My mother's deceit was the first domino in a chain that nearly resulted in my people's destruction. She is paying for her actions now, no matter how cruel the punishment may be."
"Jeez, that's harsh. I don't wanna offend you, but the Olympians sound like real jerks. The Kai's are nowhere near that spiteful." Yamcha silently thanked Kami. King Kai could be a real taskmaster at times during training, but the jovial plump deity had always been compassionate.
"It brings into question why your people even worship the Olympians. On Mars, we had our gods, but none that were worthy of veneration behaved that way." The mental images of Hera's rampage kept replaying in J'onn's mind. She was the queen of Diana's gods but had the emotional fortitude of a child.
"Hera's a prick, but what else is new?" Bulma wasn't surprised in the slightest. She was well-versed in Greek mythology. "Hera's known for taking her anger out on everyone but her cheating bastard of a husband. But speaking of Zeus, we didn't see him once in your memories, Diana. He's your father, and that makes you a demigod. He cared enough to sleep with your mom but couldn't care less about the child he left behind?"
Diana's mouth folded into a frown. That was still an incredibly sore subject for her. Not once had her father raised his hand to do anything for her. "He's just a sperm donor as far as I'm concerned. My sister, Athena, is more kin to me than he'll ever be."
Piccolo's face became taut at the mention of the goddess of wisdom. She was an ally of sorts, and her meddling had been somewhat beneficial, but the Namekian was still wary of her. Athena's motives were unknown, and no matter how helpful the goddess appeared to be, she had to have an endgame.
"Diana, you and I have something of great importance to discuss in private later," Piccolo received a skeptical look from the Amazon, but she nodded nonetheless. She would grant him an audience.
"Ares and Eris were co-conspirators in the plot to manipulate Hera, right?" Superman's brain was churning. "What did they hope to gain? Were they ever punished for their actions?" Diana's memories hadn't shown any conclusion to their story.
"Chaos. They both wanted chaos. Ares and Strife are malicious gods. They take pleasure in seeing others hurt. It is the literal reason for their existence. It isn't the first time they've schemed against the gods, and it won't be the last. I have no clue about Ares or Eris's fate.
Their current whereabouts are a mystery to me. The gods have sparsely spoken to me since I reclaimed the throne."
"So we have another potential threat to worry about," Batman scowled. It was an ever-growing list. "They'll want their revenge, that much is sure." Villains were all the same, whether they were gods or mortals.
"Frieza's soldiers are still our top priority for now, but we should start prepping just in case Ares and his sister decide to strike," Superman said. The Justice League hadn't even reached its one-year anniversary yet, but somehow the team kept stockpiling enemies.
"I want to learn more about Frieza," Diana's ears perked up at the mention of his name. "He destroyed your people's planet, didn't he, Piccolo?" Diana asked the Namekian. Kami's evil half glowered. The Amazon's words were a painful reminder of that humiliation.
"He did, and he would've killed us all if Goku hadn't been there."
Diana blinked repeatedly. Piccolo's gratitude shone through his voice. Was this really the same man who her husband had fought during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament? Wonder Woman couldn't believe it.
"I want to see everything that transpired before and after Namek's explosion. Don't withhold anything from me." Diana fixed her gaze on J'onn, and once the Martian locked eyes with her, he nodded.
J'onn placed his hands on the side of his head and shut his eyes. "Give me a moment," The Martian requested.
Pooling the thoughts of Diana's friends and family would require delicate care and time. J'onn entered their minds if they were willing and only took the memories they consented to share. Once he had the necessary memories, he compiled them in sequential order, which was the most arduous task. The memories had to flow together in a precise manner that Diana could understand. J'onn's eyes jolted back open once the deed was done.
"Let's begin."
Those words were the only forewarning Wonder Woman received before her mind was flooded with memories. The memories began with Raditz's arrival on Earth and ended the second Diana had landed on Mount Paozu earlier in the day. The stream of memories was staggering, and Wonder Woman had to clutch her son's hand to calm her nerves. Bulma was a skilled storyteller, but her words hadn't captured a fraction of the chaos that the Earth had undergone in Diana's absence. It was a miracle that the third planet from the Sun was still spinning in one piece.
When J'onn finally finished, Diana tossed the back of her head into the cushions of her couch and tried to block out her swirling thoughts, but to no avail. The room was spinning, and everyone in it. She inhaled and exhaled repeatedly, trying to find her center. In the background, her friends and family called out to her asking if she was alright, but their words sounded muffled in her ears. It wasn't until J'onn prodded her mind once more that Diana finally snapped back to reality.
Your mind feels overloaded. I may have forced you to process too much at once. Relax, and give it some time. Things will return to normal. You aren't the first person who's experienced this sensation, Diana. Everyone present experienced it the first time I shared memories.
The last sentence of the Martian's statement came as a surprise, but his words ended up being accurate. After a minute or two, Wonder Woman's misery concluded. She opened her eyes, and the looks of concern from her friends and family slowly melted into relieved sighs. Gohan grabbed her hand and placed it on his forehead.
"The first time Mr. J'onn showed me some memories, it felt like I was having a brain freeze," The Demi-Saiyan chattered his teeth and rubbed his shoulders for warmth. Diana giggled once she figured out what her son was doing.
"I don't think those are the proper effects of a brain freeze, Gohan," She said, and her son turned beet red. Laughter broke out amongst Diana's guests, and even Piccolo cracked a rare smile. Her son was as silly as usual, and that made the revelation about his alien ancestry even more difficult to grasp.
"I'm surprised you haven't mentioned the elephant in the room, Diana," Bulma's words wrenched Wonder Woman out of her reverie. She cocked her head and stared at the billionaire heiress in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Diana asked.
"Your son and your husband are aliens. Well, if we want to be specific, Gohan's only part alien, a hybrid, but half of his genes are Saiyan. You haven't mentioned it once. When I found out, I was dumbfounded, but you're taking this much better than I did." Bulma said.
Wonder Woman stared at the woman and raised a brow. Did Bulma possess telepathy as well? Diana had just thought about that subject, and Bulma had verbalized some of her thoughts. It was an odd coincidence.
"I won't lie, I am surprised, but deep down, I guess I always suspected something. Normal people aren't just walking around with tails unless they're a Metahuman of some kind, and when I first met Goku, I'm not sure that term was even in anyone's lexicon. At one point, I theorized that Goku's origin was supernatural in nature, but I could never confirm that. I had an abundance of theories over the years, but in the end, I tossed them aside because they didn't matter. I love Goku, and I love my son regardless of their genetics, but I'm happy to finally know where they come from."
Gohan gawked at his mother. His reaction to discovering his heritage had been the opposite. Raditz had killed his father and had nearly sent Piccolo to the Otherworld. On top of that, Raditz had been his uncle. Learning that his father's species were mass murdering warmongers was a tough pill for Gohan to swallow. Being a Saiyan was a harsh truth that he'd accepted, but he doubted it was something he'd ever take pride in.
"I'm part Saiyan, but I'm also part Amazon, like you, mom," Gohan emphasized. Like the Saiyans, his mother's side of the family had blood on their hands; but the Amazons were at least honorable warriors.
"But most importantly, you're my son. I love you, and nothing will ever change that," Diana wrapped an arm around her son's waist and scooted him closer before pulling him into a hug. Moments like these were so precious, and after her imprisonment in Doom's Doorway, she would never take them for granted again.
"Oh shoot, the caterers are almost here!"
Diana turned her head in the direction of the sudden shout and saw Bulma frantically typing on her cell phone. Her face was panic-stricken, and she chomped on her bottom lip to refrain from swearing. If not for Gohan's presence, the Capsule Corp heiress would've most likely been cursing like a sailor.
"I completely forgot about them. Heck, I darn near forgot about everything else, too, once Diana showed up. This was supposed to be a surprise birthday party for Gohan, but I guess the cat's out of the bag now," Bulma groaned and continued her typing. The catering service would be here any minute now, and they'd expect full payment for their services. The funds weren't a problem; she had more money than some small countries, but what she lacked were the tables to seat the food on. The delivery service in charge of the chairs, tables, and overall seating for today's event was running late.
"I kinda figured out what was going on when me and Yamcha got here," Gohan chuckled. The carnival rides had been a dead giveaway.
"Does this mean my outfit is gonna go to waste? I hope I didn't get dressed up for no reason," Krillin grumbled. His iconic orange Gi was missing today and had been replaced with a green Hawaiian shirt, white slacks, and white crocodile boots.
"Your outfit is hideous anyway," Piccolo turned his nose up in disgust at Krillin's choice of clothing.
"Since when did you become the fashion police, Piccolo? You have no room to talk. You wear the same outfit all the time!" Bulma screeched. The Namekian loved to nitpick her clothing and anyone else's who she was close to.
Piccolo never responded; Batman interrupted him before he could. "Whatever you need, Bulma, just let me know. I have several contacts here in Chikyu. We can still give Gohan the party he deserves." Bruce's billionaire playboy persona had allowed him to build a rapport with some of the world's greatest event planners.
"And if that fails, you have some of the world's greatest superheroes at your disposal. That's got to count for something, right?" Superman asked. He was unfamiliar with party planning, especially on this grand a scale, but with his superpowers, he could still be of some assistance.
"Well then, I'll put you to work, all of you," Bulma stood up. "I had a tight schedule planned, but now I'll need to shift some things around. The opening of the gifts was supposed to be saved for –"
"- Oh, crap, I totally left Gohan's gift back at the Hall of Justice," The Flash announced as he palmed his forehead. Keeping an eye on Vegeta had been his top priority; everything else had fallen to the wayside. "I can run there and back, but it'll probably take me a few minutes."
"We'll still be here when you return, Flash. I have gifts of my own that I need to give to Gohan." Diana rose to her feet and picked her son up.
"Really, mom, what type of gifts?" The Demi-Saiyan asked anxiously. His eyes were as wide as saucers.
"You'll see what they are when we go to my Invisible Plane."
"An Invisible Plane? Are you serious, mom?" Gohan asked doubtfully. His mom had to be pulling his leg. There was no way that an aircraft could be invisible. How would anyone even be able to find it, much less drive it?
"I'm very serious, Gohan; you'll see what I mean," Diana grinned and ruffled her son's hair.
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 66!
Q/A:
Tomorrow-man15: I don't have any special plans for the Earth's guardian. The Earth's guardian is already fairly powerful in his own 's not on the highest tier of power, but he's still strong enough to destroy the moon. There are already DC characters who do some of the things you mentioned. Dr. Fate will play a role in this story later on.
The Last Z Fighter: Diana could learn how to use Ki. As a byproduct of being a demigod, she has God Ki. But like Athena said back in chapter 46, Ki usage is limited to specific races and divine beings.
gotham0101: I haven't seen Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. I didn't catch it while it was in theatres, and surprisingly, it's not on any streaming platforms yet.
Anonymous Mastermind: The kill vs. no kill plot will be more of an ideological battle than a physical things you mentioned would be good points to raise, though.
p6lishb6kser: This version of Cell will only have one form, his perfect form. He won't need to Cell should have access to God Ki.
Maximum Rhapsody: Your questions are major spoilers, so, unfortunately, I'm going to decline to answer them.
Ppsspp: The cover picture will be updated once Frieza arrives. I commissioned some artwork a few months ago, but we haven't reached that point in the story yet. There will be a story arc that heavily involves the Green Lantern Corps later on, and Hal will play a significant role in it. Will Trunks actually kill the Cold family in this story? You'll have to wait and see.
derpmaster9000: A good cliffhanger keeps readers engaged, lol. No comment on the Harley-Vegeta thing. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I've seen Gohan's new form, but I haven't seen Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero yet, so I don't know the logistics of it. I agree that his new form could've been a bit more creative, though.
Martiz S.G: If I had to pick, I'd probably say Bruce. None of Goku's kids turned into villains, lol.
James is bored: In the past, I said that this story would exceed 100 chapters, not that it would be 100 chapters.
kaffeenator666: Kaio-ken and Divine Water are some of the things I could use to keep the human Z-fighters relevant, but I also have plans in mind that I'm not going to spoil. Yeah, Vegeta's training in space was an anime-only thing. I still haven't quite figured out where Diana stands on the current power hierarchy. I've stated that she's on the SSJ tier, but I'm still trying to decide her precise rank. Your hierarchy makes a lot of sense, and it's well thought out too.
You made some good guesses about the DC character that will travel with Trunks from the future, but none of them were correct, lol. Power Girl will appear later on in this story, but she'll be from an alternate Earth. Darkseid has Supergirl, and she's basically in stasis. Terry McGinnis will appear in this story, but that won't be until after Cell's defeat. Eobard Thawne will appear too, but that will be post-Cell as well.
Dontus -not Donut- Powerus: Goku's primary focus is learning Instant Transmission, but he could also be learning other techniques on Yadrat.
scl04: For Gohan, his life is "normal" as far as he knows. His family's lifestyle might seem hectic to the outside world, but that's all he's accustomed to. The crowd at the store was really the first time Gohan was confronted with his fame because he doesn't interact with the public. It will be interesting to explore Gohan's desire to have a "normal life" if he does indeed want to have one. At some point, Turles and Goku will interact, and his background will be explained.
In this universe, Batman doesn't have any protegees yet, and none of them have been killed, so his moral grandstanding isn't as shaky, lol. But Batman will definitely want to talk to Goku about his parenting once he returns to Earth.
North: Diana is somewhere on the SSJ tier. I'll have to decide exactly where she stands before Frieza attacks the Earth. I'm familiar with Bringer of Death; I used to read it in high school, but it's been a while since I checked it out. I do have some original Ki techniques that I'll reveal later, and Kaio-Ken will probably play an important role for the human Z-Warriors in the future. Admittedly, romance isn't one of my strengths as a writer, and that's something I need to work on. You'll see more of Goku and Diana's relationship on-screen going forward.
Vault Hunter: Yes, Vegeta is still a "villain," but he's mellowed out quite a bit. The bomb in his head is deactivated, but Bulma can reactivate it at any time, which means Vegeta has to be on his best behavior; he can't go around committing wanton violence and destruction. All Vegeta can really do is threaten people, and even if he'd decided to attack the Martian Manhunter or the Flash, J'onn could've fried his mind. Vegeta isn't in a cell because the Justice League is still deciding what to do with him; he's basically been under house arrest at Bulma's home. The Flash and the Martian Manhunter were watching him because Bulma was busy organizing Gohan's birthday.
Thunder Dragon: Goku and Diana will make up for lost time once Goku returns.
Guest: The DC characters will win a fight against DBZ characters, and if you want to be technical, they already had one victory. The DC heroes defeated Turles, but he got rescued and managed to escape. What you said about Wonder Woman was true, though. The DC characters aren't going to be too weak to help Z-Warriors, and they won't be written out of the plot, either.
Ki and idea: God Ki is a mess in DBS, and it honestly doesn't make sense. I tried to create a more logical set of rules for God Ki in this story, and it's only been touched upon briefly thus far; we haven't gone in-depth about it. But either way, God Ki won't play a significant role in this story for a while, so I'll have more time to work out the kinks. I disagree with your statement about Gohan, and he's still part human in this story. I don't understand what you were trying to say about Chi-Chi.
