Preparation for the Final Battle

Right after Kakarot and Piccolo leave Krillin, Tien and the renewed Yamcha arrive at Capsule Corp, immediately entering the building. Krillin suddenly says, "Everyone split up, keep an eye out for Bulma, Chichi and the Dragon Balls." They all agree without saying a word and split up to search the building. Krillin searches upstairs while Tien searches the back, but it doesn't take long for Yamcha to yell, "Hey guys, Bulma and Chichi are over here." Yamcha lays eyes on Bulma who is supporting Chichi's head with a lap pillow.

She looks up to see Yamcha and her eyes light up and she suddenly says, "Y-yamcha, you're okay!" Yamcha smiles back at her and immediately comes to her side and crouches down to see how they're doing. He says, "Me? Are you two ok? Did Kakarot or Piccolo do any–?" Before he could finish Bulma interjected, "We're fine, Chichi only has a bruise at the back of her neck, but what about you. When we saw you last… you were… your arm." Bulma had an immensely worried expression while worrying over Yamcha's former injuries. Yamcha looked surprised, "How'd you find out, how did you see all that?" Bulma briefly explained that after they left Chichi got worried.

Chichi was talking about flying after them but she managed to dissuade her by saying they will check out what's going on with one of her home made drones. Bulma reasoned that they would be safer this way since they don't know what's going on. From there Bulma explained that they saw and heard everything about Kakarot, including the fight. Realizing what went on Yamcha said, "Krillin and Tien got to me and gave me a Senzu Bean, I'm fine. Did Kakarot and Piccolo do anything else?"

Bulma then scowled, ignored the question and asked, "Why didn't you tell me about any of this beforehand?" Yamcha looked a bit nervous as he scratched the back of his head, "I know, I'm sorry but I didn't think you needed to get involved. As things were going I thought I'd be the first one to encounter him, not Chichi of all people." Bulma's expressions softened and said, "I understand I can be a handful sometimes but please trust me with some of the important stuff, I don't want to be a burden to anyone." Yamcha frowned deeply before saying, "Alright, I promise." Bulma kisses Yamcha's forehead and they smile at each other just as Krillin comes around the corner, stopping and then scratching the back of his head, "Oh uh, sorry, am I interrupting something."

Bulma frowned and said, "No." Yamcha blushes for a second before saying, "They're fine, it seems Kakarot just knocked Chichi out is all." This is when Tien comes around the corner holding a bag while saying, "I don't understand, the Dragon Balls are here, Bulma did they get the rader?" Bulma nodded and said, "Yes, but Kakarot didn't want them yet." Krillin repeated the word, "Yet?" Bulma then began to explain, "I think Kakarot wanted to challenge you all." Yamcha questioned, "Challenge us? Like, for the balls? What for?"

Bulma said back, "I-I don't know it sounded like he wanted to fight for them. Anyway, he said he wanted you to take the balls and select a place for their fight. He said he'd come for the balls and expected you to have already decided when he got to you. H-he was really strange." Tien asked, "What do you mean by that?" Bulma hesitantly explained, "Besides the bruise he gave Chichi, he didn't hurt her and I heard them arguing when Piccolo grabbed me." Yamcha suddenly blurted out, "P-piccolo!" Krillin suddenly asked, "How did Piccolo look… l-like was he injured?" Bulma shook her head and said with some irritation in her voice, "No, he certainly had enough energy to shake me around for back talking him." Yamcha looked relieved when Krillin suddenly said, "D-damn it all!" Tien suddenly asked, "What's wrong Krillin?"

Krillin immediately answered, "I know how he beat us to Yamcha and how he managed to recover. He played us!" Back with Piccolo and Kakarot they were flying towards the first ball when Piccolo said, "Hold up, we need to stop here for a minute." They stopped at a small desert that was found in the middle of a large patch of grasslands, it looked very unnatural. Kakarot wasn't sure but followed anyway, there they found someone who looked exactly like Piccolo but gravely injured. Both Piccolo's smiled as the healthy one put a hand on him. The weakened Piccolo suddenly was absorbed into the healthy one and Kakarot could feel Piccolo's power increasing greatly.

He mentally noted, "By far he's the most impressive guy here. No wonder he caused so much trouble for Chichi and her friends." Granted, Kakarot realized that he wasn't at full strength but it was impressive nonetheless. Piccolo and Kakarot continued their search. Meanwhile with Krillin, "He used the Multi form technique in the middle of our fight." Tien suddenly blurted out, "What!?" Krillin fully explained, "It was when his Ki dropped by half, he threw out a Multi-form after knocking us back and kept us busy with his double, he went over to Yamcha to join Kakarot, we were duped." Suddenly a feminine voice chimed in, "So he's with Piccolo." Everyone looks near Bulma and sees that Chichi is the one who spoke.

Krillin hesitantly said, "Y-yeah." Bulma suddenly said, "Chichi, you're awake!" Chichi sits up and is quick to check on Bulma saying, "Are you alright Bulma, I heard you scream and then… he knocked me out." Bulma then said while looking at her with a nervous smile, "Y-yeah, I got grabbed by Piccolo but they didn't do anything, well Piccolo shook me up but I didn't get hurt." Yamcha then asked, "How's that bruise?" Chichi let out a sigh of relief as a gentle but sad smile appeared on her face as she touched the bruise on the back of her neck, "He was probably protecting me with it."

Yamcha gave her a confused frown and said, "Chichi, getting knocked out isn't generally how you protect someone." Chichi smiled and said, "On the road I saw Piccolo, we assumed it was a hallucination but he mentioned how he was eavesdropping on us. Kakarot saw that I didn't take to seeing him well so I think he was just sparing me from having a second episode." Yamcha just nodded and said, "I guess that makes sense." Krillin then added, "If he was eavesdropping he probably had some sort of plan set in motion." Yamcha then remembered something and yelled out, "Wait, Chiaotzu, damn it! I completely forgot about him!" Yamcha then looked at Tien and asked, "Is the little guy okay?"

Tien had a surprised look before changing it into a smile, he said, "He's fine, we got him away from Piccolo and got him a Senzu bean, he's hanging out at the Lookout now." Chichi then said with worry in her voice, "Did something happen to Chiatozu?" Yamcha immediately explained, "Long story short, we had a plan to protect the major cities, Chiatozu had South City but then he saw you and Kakarot and came to West City to tell me you two were traveling together. I sent him to go get Tien and Krillin but then Piccolo ambushed him." Krillin added, "Piccolo must have realized whatever plan he had cooking wouldn't work if all of us found out about the situation."

Tien then added, "He drew us away from West City with Chiaotzu, that's probably why he didn't kill him when he had the chance." Yamcha looked a bit guilty as he admitted, "I'm ashamed to say it Tien but I was forced to decide over getting to Bulma or Chiaotzu when everything went down. I'm glad you two made it in time." Tien gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, "It's alright, things were a lot more complicated around that time, I'm just glad I got to Chiatozu when I did." Yamcha let out a sigh of relief and said, "I'm glad, I don't know what I would have done if Chiaotzu got killed again."

Tien looked uncomfortable with this line of thought when Krillin said, "Well, we better decide where we'll be fighting Kakarot, we don't know when he'll decide to fight us for the balls." This brought the conversation back on topic, Krillin started, "It needs to be somewhere unpopulated." Tien added, "We should find a place that gives us a good line of sight on him, a lot of space. A frontal assault won't work so we'll need to take advantage of our numbers." Yamcha then said, "We can't underestimate him, I only lasted a few minutes in a straight fight, we'll have to use every trick we have." Krillin then said, "We'll use the trick that worked last time." Chichi got curious and asked, "What happened last time?"

Tien explained, "We didn't really mention it but we got a warning from some aliens who were attacked by the Saiyan a while back. They said one was coming here and that their tail is their weakness, it's the entire reason we beat the first one that came here." Krillin added, "If it wasn't for them we wouldn't have won or even known the alien was coming." Tien added his own input, "I would have preferred it if we could have beaten him head on but too much was at stake." Chichi frowned, adding this as further proof of what Kakarot said, however she had a horrible feeling about something she said, "I-I think he doesn't plan on leaving the planet alive." Tien asked, "What makes you think that?"

Chichi elaborated, "He… offered me his spaceship, I refused but I don't know why he offered me his way off the earth." Yamcha guessed, "Maybe he has reinforcements on the way?" Chichi shook her head dismissing the possibility saying, "He wouldn't answer me when I asked him, he… didn't want to tell me for some reason." Bulma thought about it and added, "He mentioned something about this being his last battle as a warrior." Chichi's face turned pale as she said back, "That's… not like him. He's always been the proud type, what's with this talk about this being his last battle?" A chill ran through the air but Krillin got everyone back on topic, "Well we can't do much with that but we should get to decide where we'll fight."

Yamcha suggested, "Maybe we should use Kami's Lookout?" Krillin asked, "Why Kami's, if we take the fight there then Kami might get hurt." Tien jumped in saying, "That might be the best outcome." Krillin immediately asked, "You don't mean that." Tien with his arms crossed and an uncertain expression on his face said, "We can't afford to let that other alien get resurrected. Besides with Piccolo around he's probably already told Kakarot to avoid hurting Kami since they're connected." Krillin crosses his arms in response as he carefully considers the idea.

He then says with hesitation, "I don't feel good about messing up Kami's place or trashing our old training grounds but If it's the best place for this fight…" Yamcha then said, "I think it's the best place for this fight, It's pretty open and we know the place well." Krillin finally relented and said, "Alright that's where we'll go. I'll get Master Roshi and take him there. He may be old but his experience could really help." Tien said, "I'll head there right away and tell Chiaotzu what's going on. He's probably not gonna want to stay out of it so I'll convince him to take a supporting role in the fight ahead." Yamcha then said, "Alright, I'll take you two ladies to Master Roshi's, we'll take your parents too. If worse comes to worse, West City won't be safe anymore."

Bulma said in response, "I'm not sure much of anywhere will be safe if you all can't win, but I'll help convince my parents, you know how stubborn they can be." Everyone got to getting up and going about their part in the preparations. Bulma came to Chichi's side to help her along but stopped when Chichi said something inaudible, "P...l...w…t." Her expression was hidden when Bulma asked, "What's that, Chichi?" Chichi suddenly put on a brave face and while gathering all of her courage suddenly said in a raised voice, "Please wait!" Everyone stopped in response and looked back at Chichi in confusion.

Bulma suddenly repeated Chichi's name with confusion in her voice. Chichi then said, "I-I have something I've been meaning to tell you all." Bulma's eyes lit up as she realized exactly what Chichi was about to say. Bulma grinned happily as she quickly gathered everyone and forcibly moved them close to Chichi. Yamcha suddenly says while being dragged around by Bulma, "H-hey! Wait a sec Bulma!" After a few seconds of shuffling them around Chichi now had a confused audience with Bulma standing by her side. Chichi gave them a full bow before saying, "For the longest time I've wanted to apologize for the horrible things I said to all of you when we spared Piccolo."

Chichi then said, "Long ago I told you all that you were a disgrace to the Turtle School and that Gohan would be ashamed of you. I'm sorry for everything, I'm sorry for my cruel words and hope you can forgive me." Tears streamed down her face as she said, "I'm sure Gohan would smile at how strong and caring his students and friends have become." Having finished her apology she was graced with the smiles of the Turtle/Crane School students. Yamcha came to her side and put a hand on her shoulder he said, "We appreciate the apologies but don't worry about us holding a grudge, we all knew after the fight that you weren't in the best headspace."

Tien added, "I'll be honest, given what happened today I wished we didn't let him go like that." Krillin said in response, "Regardless of today, he was useful against the first alien." Chichi suddenly looked up and repeated the word useful, "Useful? What do you mean, was Piccolo a part of the battle?" Yamcha stood by Krillin and Tien and said, "Yeah, in fact he landed the killing blow with a new technique he developed with us in mind. I'll bet he's keeping that detail from Kakarot." Tien smiled and added, "Imagine what Kakarot would think if he found out he's teaming up with his brother's actual killer."

The thought of Kakarot turning on Piccolo was cathartic but that's when Krillin interjected, "I doubt he would do anything, from what Yamcha said he cares about reviving his brother more than avenging him." Chichi added, "Kakarot is indebted to his brother, he said that it was a mistake he made which his brother took the fall for that led to him being sent here." Tien then said, "The situation with the aliens is a lot more complex than I would have thought." Krillin suddenly said, "Well regardless I have something I need to say." Krillin approached Chichi and said, "I need to apologize for what happened to your father." Chichi interjected saying, "You don't need to, I never blamed you."

Krillin said anyway, "I know but If I hadn't suggested retraining your father for the rematch with Piccolo he wouldn't have died." Back with Kakarot and Piccolo who had already collected a ball from a bird's nest. Kakarot asked while they were flying to the next ball's location, "I've been thinkin' if the balls can bring someone back then why didn't she bring her father back'." Piccolo let out a heavy sigh and said, "She probably didn't want to go to the trouble of telling you about the Dragon Balls, probably worried you would think she's crazy. Since we have time I might as well tell you he was revived."

This caught Kakarot's attention, Piccolo continued, "He was revived along with everyone who my father killed out of fear of the Mafuba. However, that old man, Master Roshi and Krillin recruited her father to fight me when I returned. They apparently retrained the old guy along with his daughter. I managed to kill him when I fought all of them in that fight so long ago." Kakarot's eyes widened in realization, it didn't make sense for Chichi to blame this Piccolo since he's just the offspring of the former Piccolo but with his memories and looks. Kakarot knew that Chichi wasn't the type of person to throw around blame like that. So this Piccolo actually killing her father made sense but it brought a big question in Kakarot's mind, "So the Dragon Balls have limits."

Piccolo immediately answered, "The Dragon can only revive a person once, so the likes of Gohan and her father are gone for good." Kakarot repeated the word "Gohan" which caused Piccolo to elaborate, "Yeah, he died in the past too. I don't know about it but I know the bald one known as Krillin knows about it." They continued to the next ball as more questions swirled inside of Kakarot's head. Back with Chichi and the others Chichi says, "It's alright it was his decision to fight against Piccolo, you don't need to apologize, It was his decision." Krillin then added with a smile, "Then the same goes to you too." After this Chichi asked, "Then I want to go with you all."

Everyone froze, unsure how to respond, Krillin was the first to say, "No offense Chichi but you're not really strong enough to help." Chichi shook her head and said, "Not to fight, I'm not even sure I'm ready to raise my fist against Kakarot just yet. I want to watch the fight and if things end the way I think they will then I want to talk to him one last time." Yamcha asked, "What for?" Chichi said back, "I want to ask him why he wouldn't answer my question from before but only after everything is settled." Bulma nervously says, "I-I don't think it's a good idea." Chichi looks at Bulma with a mildly hurt expression and says, "Not you too Bulma."

Bulma then added, "W-well the guy said he'd rather you not go there, h-he was very "persuasive"." Chichi puffed up her chest and said while giving Bulma a stubborn frown, "Well he doesn't get to decide where I go, I'll give him a mouthful when I see him." Bulma's face turns pale as she turns to Yamcha begging him, "Please Yamcha, talk some sense into her, she's as stubborn as that alien!" Chichi threw out an annoyed, "Hey!" Yamcha scratches the back of his head as Bulma nervously grabs the front of his shirt, "C-calm down Bulma, I'm sure he won't do anything to you. He might have given me a thrashing, but I get the feeling he's not the type of guy to hit a girl." Chichi suddenly interjected saying in a matter-of-fact way, "No, he's perfectly fine with fighting women. We got in a fight when we first met, remember?"

Yamcha muttered, "You're not helping Chichi." Krillin finally ended the conversation by saying, "We can't really stop you so you can come but you have to stay hidden inside the Lookout, only come out when the fight it over." Chichi nodded in agreement while Bulma slumped over in defeat. By the end of the day Kakarot and Piccolo have collected the remaining Dragon Balls. After collecting the last ball Piccolo asks what Kakarot wants to do now. Kakarot immediately said, "We'll rest until morning, I need to prepare myself for the battle to revive my brother."

Piccolo, having spent enough time with Kakarot to know he's too stubborn to argue with, agreed and asked where he would be staying. Kakarot said, "Mount Paozu, it's where my pod is located." They both go to Mount Pouz and end their day there, Kakarot stashed the remaining Dragon Balls in his pod, where he decided to sleep. In the morning Kakarot climbs out of the pod he slept in and makes his final preparations. Kakarot stretches his body out but notes that he feels a bit restless sleeping in a pod rather than a hammock or bed. Kakarot turns around and takes a fresh set of armor out, it's the same type as the one he and Raditz regularly wear.

He laid it at the seat of his pod and grabbed at his shirt only to stop and recall a distant memory. "How's it feel, does it fit?" "I'm not used to this stuff, but it fits." "Sorry, I didn't have much time to practice before mother passed away. She didn't get to teach me all the basics of knitting." Kakarot pauses there for half a minute as he bathes in a feeling of nostalgia. To Kakarot It felt like it's been a lifetime since he landed on the Earth and met Chichi. Kakarot mutters to himself, "This feelin' of tranquility, it's what I first felt when I first looked at these bamboo woods. It was like a dream."

Upon reminiscing further Kakarot stopped himself saying to himself, "I can't continue like this, this tranquility ain't something I earned for myself, this isn't my home." Kakarot grabbed at his shirt again and tore it apart, shedding the familiar feeling of fabric and cloth and replacing it with the nostalgic cold and sturdy feeling of Saiyan armor. Kakarot affixed a new Scouter to his face finalizing his apparel which is when Piccolo landed next to him wearing a new Turban and Cloak. (Sorry for the late description) Piccolo was a tall and muscular green man with pointy ears and two green antennae. He looked very much like a young Kami. He wore a unique purple Gi with a V shaped collar.

Over it he wore a thick white cloak with a turtleneck and a white turban that was worn over his antennae. Piccolo said in a deep voice, "So that's your normal attire?" Kakarot mentally said, "He wears the same type of armor as his brother." Kakarot gave him a nod after which Piccolo asked, "Are we ready now?" Kakarot replied back, "Wait a moment, I need to make sure they're ready." Piccolo raised a hairless eyebrow before he was pushed back a few feet by a sudden burst of Ki. Kakarot's body was enveloped in a light purple aura which shook the surrounding bamboo trees as well as pushed the clouds above away.

In the distant Kami's Lookout, the defenders of earth were already awake and getting ready for the fight ahead. Everyone including Chichi felt Kakarot's fearsome power. Tien said in response, "So Yamcha, was his power "this" terrifying when you fought him." Yamcha replied, "No, this Ki is on a whole other level from what I experienced. I have the feeling if he really wanted to, he could have torn me to pieces with a single blow." Yamcha shuttered upon finishing the sentence. Krillin joined the conversation, "So this means he's serious, he won't be holding back on us. We need to hold nothing back; this battle will be all or nothing!" Chiaotzu nervously said, "W-what will I be doing Tien."

Tien knew that Chiaotzu wasn't feeling up to the fight but also knew he didn't want to admit that. Chiaotzu wanted to be of help to Tien and the others especially since he was used as a hostage in the previous fight he was in. Tien smiled and said, "Don't worry Chiaotzu, you'll be back up. Keep him encumbered with telekinesis and keep him moving with distant attacks." Krillin added, "The three of us will overwhelm him with our various strategies and combinations until we get an opening, then we'll grab his tail." Suddenly a bald old man appeared with a white beard and big puffy mustache wearing a black and white jacket.

He said, "I'll provide support from the rear but If all else fails then I'll use the Mafuba." Krillin immediately protested, "It won't come to that Master." Yamcha added, "He's with Piccolo so for all we know he knows about the Reverse Mafuba. It's too dangerous to use anyway, you didn't survive the last time it was used." The old Master Roshi let out a depressed sigh and said, "I'll try to avoid it but if it's the only way then I'll have no choice. We'll die anyway if we fail."

Kami appeared and said, "If all else fails then I'll ask that one of you slay me before a wish can be granted." Tien regretfully said, "I hate the idea, but I'll do it as a last resort." Everyone nodded and got into position, back with Kakarot and Piccolo, Piccolo was marveling at Kakarot's power. "I can't believe he has this much Ki, it's frightening, the earth is practically shaking." Suddenly Kakarot dropped his Ki and said, "There, they'll know we're on our way." Right then Kakarot and Piccolo flew off towards Kami's lookout ready for the final battle for Earth's Dragon Balls.

Author's Note: The arcs almost done. We might only have a couple chapters until it's finished. Luckily, I have ideas for the next couple arcs, please if you're feeling up to it, tell me how you feel about the current chapter. I love to hear what all of you have to say about what they just read.

Power Levels:

Kakarot: 4,000

Piccolo (Post Multi Form Technique): 1,150

Piccolo (Full Power): 2,300

Krillin: 2,200

Tien: 2,000

Yamcha: 1,500

Chiaotzu: 1,100

Chichi: 800

Kami: 700

Master Roshi: 650