"...Boy, this place is really strange..."
"Yeah, these mushrooms are so big, they may as well be trees...!"
Bubblegum pink and tangerine orange fungi as tall as conifers decorate the surroundings of our traveling quartet as they continue driving along in search of the final Dragon Ball. A few hours have passed since the great fire of Frypan Mountain was finally extinguished, thanks to the infamous Kamehameha Wave perfectly executed by its inventor, Muten Rōshi. Inspired when he sees the grandson of one of his old students already showing promise in performing his attack, not to mention the good chemistry between him and his granddaughter, the Kame Sen'nin invites Goku to come live and train at his home as soon as the grand gemstone search is over...
Getting back to real time, while the two tweens are mesmerized by the odd flora, Bulma is more pressed with finding another local populace to refuel at.
"Isn't there supposed to be a town around here, Oolong?"
The pig replies from the driver's seat,
"I dunno. I've never been in this neck o' the woods before."
(...Beep...beep)
"Aoh no. We're just abou' on empty, guys."
"Oh great! We should've filled up at that last town!"
"We were going to, but some dumb bunny insisted we were almost there...!"
Knowing that Oolong is talking about her, Bulma clonks him on the noggin from her spot in the backseats with Goku.
"Hey, don't blame me!"
"Dyh-watch it! I'm tryin' to drive!"
"You're not trying hard enough!...Gah!"
Suddenly, the hovercar starts to jerk around in a near-uncontrolled manner.
"Hey, what're you doing?! Keep your eyes on the road!"
The pig grumbles as he straightens the wheel,
"Great, jus' what I need, a backseat driver..."
"At least I know how to drive!"
"Yeah? You're driving me crazy!"
"Look out!"
The arguing pair's focus is quickly forced back on the road as Oolong barely avoids crashing into the tall fungi.
Despite the tension on the left side of the car, Goku thought the maneuvers were entertaining.
"Haha, that was fun!"
"Fun?! I could'a been killed!"
Melita just lets out a sigh, slumping into her seat beside Oolong as she thinks to herself with a helpless smile,
Aaand we're back to the usual...
Panning a couple yards back, we zero in on the desert duo as they continue to follow their targets in their own hovercar.
The bandit with the long mullet of hair scoffs in amusement over the echoes his ears catch.
"Ha. Hear that? What a bunch of clowns, huh? They're gonna lead us to that last Dragon Ball."
"Yeah."
...Yet despite the underlying goal, this doesn't stop Yamcha's smile from softening wistfully when he hears Bulma again.
"Hah~, what a pretty voice..."
Puar looks at him in confusion, and he feels his face heat up in embarrassment as he clumsily attempts to correct that last remark.
"U-Uh, did I say pretty voice?! I-yuh meant to say she has a pretty face! No, no, I mean she has a pretty-No, I didn't mean to say pretty at all! Hyh!...I dunno what I meant, hurh..."
Sensing that their friend is on the verge of shutting down mentally, the little cat creature grabs a canteen of water.
"Here. I think you need to cool off, Yamcha."
Said young man takes it and guzzles down several mouthfuls of H2O to calm himself down.
"Haaah...That hit the spot. Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
...
A little while later, our two hovercars finally arrive in a small city located in the western region of the Diablo Desert, a place known as Fungus Town. The dominant architecture is a mix of hoi-poi capsule homes and buildings reflecting Moorish and Moroccan-inspired architecture, with a splash of Indo-Islamic. Similar can be said about the local fashion, the majority of the men and women wearing articles of clothing made for arid climates, including the chadah cloak, kufiya headscarves, taqiyah skull caps, hijab head coverings, and thawb robes.
"Civilization, at last!...See? I was right all along, Oolong."
"'See?' Mah-neh-na-ne-ne-nyah!"
As two of our quartet banter, they fail to notice that the locals of this populace were looking their way with surprise...and fear? Goku's simple hello to one lady is met with a scream and her running down the street, which only adds to the confusion.
"What, the...Golly..."
Oolong brushes it off as he parks by a pump at the local gas station.
"Eh, that's the way it happens sometimes, kid."
Bulma scoffs,
"Maybe for you it does."
"Who asked you?!"
Melita glances around at the frightened faces as they cautiously continue their business, she forming a new frown of suspicion and concern.
These people...They seem more scared than the ones in Aru Village when Oolong was making trouble...
The owner of the gas station - a bespectacled man in creamy tan robes with a moss green overcoat and off-white turban - comes out to greet them.
"Hello there, can I help you-rh!?"
He cuts himself off when his eyes land on the group, widening them considerably as a drip of nervous sweat trickles down his brow.
The honey-blond watches his movements, noticing that his vision is primarily focused on Bulma.
Hm...He stopped talking as soon as he spotted Bulma. Is that the problem?
...But, why are these people so scared of her?
Goku catches onto the odd behaviour as well when the bluenette leaves the vehicle, watching the nameless man's nervous twitching increase the closer his friend stood to them.
Huh? Strange...
"Hey Bulma."
"Hm?"
"These people all seem scared of ya for some reason."
The bluenette simply smiles and waves it off with an innocent reason, not sensing the tension in the air.
"It's not everyday they get to see a beautiful stranger~, ha. I'm going shopping. (Glance) Do you wanna come, Melita?"
Feeling compelled to follow and keep her friend safe, as well as discover more clues to this new mystery, the honey-blond nods and hops out of the vehicle, setting the long strap of her gym bag over her right shoulder.
"Sure. Be right back, guys."
Melita's POV
Something's definitely wrong here if these people think Bulma's worth getting jittery over.
Not that she can't be a little scary when she's angry, but still...
I'm now walking with my friend as we search for a place or two to shop at. My guess is that Bulma's biggest goal is to finally replace her bunny costume with something more modest and practical, and I definitely don't blame her...
"I wonder if they sell hoi-pois in this town..."
"Well there are plenty of capsule homes, so these people must be familiar with them...Hm?"
We pass an old man and a middle-aged woman, who immediately bug off when they see Bulma.
"Weird..."
"Oh wow...So Goku was right: these people are scared of me...Creepy. It's like they've never seen pretty girls before..."
"There hasta be some kind of explanation...Oh."
We then comes across a shop that sells hoi-poi capsules, though here, they're called dynocaps.
Both names are used by everyone, but it can vary from town to town, or so I've heard.
"Ah. Here we go, capsules...Huh. I haven't seen the name 'dynocap' for a while. I'm surprised it's still being used."
"Is the term that old?"
"Heha, well let's just say it's been around since my dad put the first versions out on the market...Anyway..."
Bulma and I head inside to meet with the shop owner, a man in dark brown and tan robes with a black hat.
Like the others, he immediately gets nervous when he sees my friend.
"Hello there."
"A-Ahm, h-hello."
"I'd like to get some capsules please."
"O-O-Oh yes, just one second. Let me get my catalogues."
He scrambles to get the books, setting them atop the display cabinets so Bulma can flip through them.
"Hm...Not too wide of a selection, but just enough...Do you have any XB-7s?"
"A'yes, right here."
"Alright. (Point) I'll take two of those there, and three XB-7s please."
The man quickly grabs the hoi-pois, presenting them on a platter.
"Ah-h, here."
"Thanks. Oh! And if you wouldn't mind numbering them and putting them in a case?"
"Oh yes, right away!"
Bulma slips off her backpack to grab out her wallet.
"I guess that's all I'll be needing today. So, how much?"
"Dh! Oh no, no, there's no charge, of course!"
We're surprised, but my friend decides to honour this man's generosity, grabbing the capsules before leading me back outside. I wave the man goodbye over my shoulder, and he nervously waves back...
"Teehee, talk about a bargain! I made it out like a bandit! These are some expensive hoi-pois, and I managed to get them all for free. Nothing like being a babe, I always say."
I watch more people flinch and run away as we walk down the road, before muttering uncertainly,
"I, don't think that's what's going on, Bulma...I feel alot of nervous energy here, and not the good kind either."
"Huh? Whaddo you mean?"
"It feels similar to what happened back at Aru Village. Someone or something's got a bad hold over these people. (Glance) I'm, almost wondering if maybe it has something to do with your clothes."
"My clothes?...Oh, that reminds me: I gotta get a new outfit to replace this stupid bunny suit."
We quickly find a clothing shop called Dressmakers, and meet with a man in a light blue robe and off-white turban who owns the shop. Working around his nervous demeanor, Bulma quickly finds a new outfit for herself. She's now wearing an off-white strapless jumpsuit with a dark red sash around her waist matching the sandals on her feet, a cropped indigo blue vest with gold trim, and gold-coloured armlets matching her choker and ponytail band.
"Hm...This isn't exactly my style, but it's comfortable...I guess it'll have to do."
I give her a smile and compliment,
"I think you look great! You look ready for the desert."
"Heheh, thanks, Melita, and I suppose this is better than that dumb bunny girl outfit I was wearing."
She looks at herself in the full-length mirror, spotting an accessory that really doesn't belong.
"Whoa, I almost forgot about these."
The bunny ears come off, and she places them on the shopkeeper's head as a joke.
"Haha, that's a good look for you!"
"...What? You mean you're not a member of the Rabbit Mob, young lady?"
"Hm? 'Rabbit Mob'? What's that?"
That was apparently the wrong thing to say, and the next thing I know, I'm watching the man angrily shoo Bulma out of the shop!
"Get out of here! And stay out! How dare you play such a dirty trick!"
Aha! So it was Bulma's outfit that was scaring them...
But, who are these 'Rabbits'?
Since I wasn't kicked out (not yet, at least), I decide to try and ask the owner of this place what was going on.
"...Excuse me, sir?"
"Hm?"
He turns around, giving me a surprised expression when he realizes I'm still here. I offer him a gentle, apologetic smile and say,
"Please forgive my friend. We only arrived in this town today, so we honestly don't know what the rhythm is...Perhaps, you could be kind enough to explain to me what's got you and the townsfolk so scared?"
I place a finger over my lips and add in a whisper,
"And don't worry. I have good ears if you need to be quiet."
"A-Ahm...Hah, well, you see..."
...
...
"What?!...You're all being terrorized by a guy who can magic people into carrots?!"
The man shushes me and whispers in a haste,
"Yes yes, but please keep your voice down, little one! I'm already taking a risk telling you all of this!...Hah, his name is Monster Carrot, and he runs a gang known as the Rabbit Mob that's been haunting our fair city for a long time."
Letting out another sigh, the man walks over to run his fingers over a roll of fabric as he sadly muses,
"Before they came, our little city was a peaceful place. Now, no one can even walk outside their homes without fear gripping them down to the bone."
"And it's because of, this Monster Carrot's powers, right?"
"That and his men are quite the sharp shooters. Always carrying those machine guns on their hips, threatening to use them on those who don't follow their rules. Thankfully not on the children, but their kicks can be just as painful..."
How awful...
I walk over and place a comforting hand on the man's arm.
"Have you tried going to another town for help?"
"Some of our men attempted to do such a handful of times, but the Rabbit Mob is too quick. If they weren't wounded by a stray shot before reaching the edge of town, Monster Carrot would've caught up to them easily and-mh! Poof, they were doomed! Just more snacks for that brute of a bunny."
A gasp escapes me as I cover my mouth in horror.
"Y-You mean, he...eats, the carrots?...!"
"Mm, (nod) a terrible fate if there ever was one. Most folks around here will agree that living in fear is better than being subjected to that dreaded magic touch."
Oh my kami...
The man offers me a sad smile as he searches for something hiding in one of the racks.
"But a sweet little girl like yourself shouldn't be forced to worry about total strangers. This is a problem only we can solve, and right now, our best solution is to live our lives as quietly as possible, and do as the Rabbit Mob says...Now, here."
He hands me an outfit similar to Bulma's, except this jumpsuit has cap sleeves, and is more of a seashell white than off-white. The sash is a pretty sky blue, matching the sandals, and the cropped vest is a dark green with light pink trimming. I'm also given copper-colored armlets, and a matching choker and ponytail band.
"...Uh..."
"Please, go and change into this."
"Okay."
I do as he asks, and come out in my new outfit after tucking my regular clothes away into my bag.
I also decide to do a plain low braid instead of a high ponytail like Bulma did...
"Just as I thought, you are a vision in these clothes. A pretty desert flower found only in an oasis. Heh, I likely would have said something like that to your companion, had I known she wasn't a Rabbit."
I smile sheepishly and reply with a giggle,
"Thank you...but, I can't keep this. I don't have enough money to pay with."
"Oh don't worry about that. It's on my house."
"What? But, sir..."
He gently leads me to the door and chides,
"Consider it a gift for being such a kind soul willing to listen to a troubled man's woes."
"U-Uhm, well, if you're sure..."
"Now hurry back to your friends, and please, heed my advice: get as far away from this city as you possibly can."
With that, the door closes, leaving me all by myself to grapple this new information as I start my walk back to the gas station.
...These poor people. They have it way worse than Aru Village.
I can't even imagine the grief for the families who had someone-ulp, eaten...
I know the man said we're better off leaving while we can...but, it doesn't feel right.
"If anyone has anything to learn, it's you two Cro-Magnon morons! Grown men in rabbit ears, ha!"
I look up as I get close to my destination, and see Bulma talking to a pair of men in black trench coats and...rabbit ears?!
Uh oh...!
"Can you believe these two idiots?"
She turns to Oolong and Goku with a huff and says to them,
"Come on, you guys. Let's find Melita and get out of here."
(Ka-tk)
"Oooh, a feisty one, eh?"
The one with the paler skin tone suddenly raises his gun, a mean smirk all the while.
"What's the big hurry, toots? The party's just starting, heheh. Mm, yes, maybe...?"
I change my walk into a run, worried for my friends.
"Guys!"
They turn my way, and I stop by Goku as he's munching on a sandwich.
"Huh? Oh, hey Meli. New clothes?"
"Ha-hh, yeah...What's going on?"
Oolong nervously stutters as he turns his attention back on the man's weapon,
"U-U-Uhm, I think the-er, a-answer's pretty obvious, sprite."
That's what I was afraid of...
"Ooh, what have we here; another pretty young lady?"
The mobster with the darker skin tone says to his partner,
"It's always the girls from outta town that look the cutest, 'm I right?"
"Agreed. Say, little girl, would you be able to convince your friend here to be good and stand down? Do it well and we'll give you a reward~. Hm, yes, maybe...?"
...I dunno if it was their voices or the way they spoke, but either way, both of these goons were putting me on edge. A whimper escapes me, and I hide behind Goku with a shiver of disgust.
"Hm? Hey, what's wrong?"
"I-I dunno. Something...Something about their voices. They're scaring me."
What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be this scared of these jerks. Why am I?
...Wait. Turtle did say that certain tones and pitches can sometimes cause a Nereid to become fearful. Maybe that's it.
Whatever the case, my fear must've triggered something in Goku, and he sends a stern glare at the two men.
"Hey!"
"Hm?"
"I dunno what your problem is, but you two need to leave. You're scaring my friend."
Goku...
Hearing him sound so protective of me helped smother down most of this weird fear in my gut.
On the other hand, the two men were amused by his act of chivalry.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"And what if we decide to stick around, kid, hm? What're you going to do about it?"
Goku finishes his sandwich with one big bite, and exhales a satisfied sigh before retorting with a confident smirk,
"I'll tell ya, but you're not gonna like it...I'll just kick your butts straight outta this town."
I feel his tail nudge me towards Bulma's direction, and I hurry to her side, she hugging me close to comfort me.
"Oh Meli..."
"B-Bulma..."
Meanwhile, the Rabbit Mobsters swallow back the feeling of falling into stitches over the idea of someone smaller than them even attempting to pick a fight.
"Ooh my, I hope he doesn't hurt us too bad...!"
"Teh-ha! What a jokester."
The joke is gonna be on them in a second. Go get 'em, Goku!
Goku's POV
I can't really explain for absolute certain what inspired this, weird anger I'm feeling...but seeing Melita so scared of these guys, even if it was just the way they sound...I didn't like it one bit. If there's one thing I can't stand besides having my tail yanked, or having an empty stomach, it's when someone I care about is feeling threatened or frightened.
And if takin' these goons down will make Meli smile again, so be it!
I speed forward to the taller man in black, and kick his hands up so he's firing his gun into the air instead of me. I then sock my fist into his gut, and jump into the air to land a kick to the side of his jaw for good measure. I land on my feet with a back-flip, while he face-plants into the ground hard.
That'll teach 'im not to scare girls...
I hear Bulma emit a satisfied chuckle and say,
"One down, one to go."
The other guy becomes mad, and prepares to fire his gun at me. I jump right over him, grab out Nyoibō mid-flip, and then thrust it against his lower spine when I'm on the ground again. He lets out a couple yelps before face-planting into the dirt too...
Well that was almos' too easy. Guess they were all bark and no bite.
I turn to grin at my friends as I march back to the car.
"Woohoo! It's been way too long since I had a real fight!...I don't think these guys are gonna hurt anyone now, Bulma."
"You're right, thanks to you!"
I stop by her and Meli, offering a gentler smile to the latter's nervous one.
"...Hey. You okay?"
"M-Mhm. Nice work."
"Sure, and don't worry. I'll protect you from anyone who tries to scare you."
"You're sweet..."
We all get back into the car just one of the brutes rises to his knees, growling over the fact that he lost to someone smaller than him.
"Unnh, owww...N-Now you've done it! Y-You've, insulted the Rabbit Mob, a-and you're gonna pay big time, kid!"
Bulma jeers for all of us,
"No, he didn't insult the Rabbit Mob. He just beat them up!"
A couple chuckles and giggles escape our lips...but then the guy pulls out some kind of device - which I'd learn later is called a walkie talkie - to call someone.
"B-Boss, this is Rabbit One. Sorry to trouble you, but we need you come to town, pronto! We got ourselves a troublemaker down here."
Their boss?...What, they can't fight their own battles, so they have t' call their leader?
Talk about lame...
The townsfolk don't have the same opinion I do, becoming even more jumpy than before and running back to their homes as fast as they possibly can. One man passes our car and says to us,
"A curse on you! Thanks to you, the boss is coming!"
I could hear doors slamming and locks locking, telling me that whoever this boss guy is, they must be powerful. Well, more powerful than these two lack-wits at least...
"I got a nose for trouble, guys, and this place stinks! I tell ya, somethin' bad is about to happen; I knew we shouldn't have stopped here. I wanted to keep going!"
"Oolong, you did not! We came here for gas, remember?"
"Fine! We got our gas, so let's go!"
Melita speaks up from beside Oolong and says to us,
"Uhm, a-actually, I'd like to stay and help these people...but we need to be super careful from here on."
We all look at her in confusion:
"Hm?"
"How come?"
"Is there somethin' you know and we don't, Meli?"
"(Nod) I spoke to the owner of that clothes shop after Bulma got kicked out, and...what he told me was kind-of disturbing. Apparently, the leader of the Rabbit Mob, has the power to-(gulp), magic people into carrots."
"...Come again?"
"Magic, people into carrots?"
I hum with a perplexed expression,
"That doesn't sound very scary..."
"It is when the poor people who got turned into them are eaten right afterwards!"
...Ooo-kay, when you put it like that, it does sound a bit scary.
"I know it sounds really unbelievable, but I saw no signs that the man was lying as he spoke. He seemed genuinely afraid and sad...which makes me wanna save this little city even more. (Glare) It's not right that someone is abusing magic to bully people to the point where they can't leave their homes without feeling like death could be around the next corner."
I nod in agreement,
"You're right. It wouldn't be fair to just take off if we can do something."
Oolong, as usual, isn't feeling as heroic:
"I dunno, guys. I say we get outta here while the gettin's good."
But Bulma supports our decision, sending a glare at the two guys I just took down.
"Hmph! Well I'm not gonna let a couple of goons in rabbit ears scare me away, even if their leader does have magic powers."
I smile a bit at her courage, then watch as the bigger guy helps his skinny friend to his feet.
"Uuu-uuh..."
"You alright, big buddy?"
"Nyh, this kid...!"
"Don't worry. The boss is comin', and he'll do his 'special thing' ta these intruders."
Special thing? Is that what they call his magic?
Bulma wonders the same, calling them out on their remark.
"Hey, whaddo you mean by 'special thing'?"
"Just a little trick our boss does to entertain."
"So stick around and enjoy the show. Don't worry, he's not going to turn you into a, carrot or anything."
Meli whispers to us as they laugh,
"They just confirmed my info without realizing it. What dummies."
I would've laughed if I wasn't busy internally cringing over the thought of that certain vegetable. I mean, don't get me wrong: I don't hate carrots, but they're not my favourite vegetable either. I'll only eat them if they're mixed with something else...
"Come on, you guys, let's just leave! I feel bad fer these people too, but not bad enough ta risk my neck over somethin' this bizarre!"
The rest of us give Oolong a look that says 'We're not leaving, so drop it', making him sigh into the steering wheel...
(Awooooo-ga)
"Huh?"
That's when a white car shaped like a rabbit of all things comes rolling our way down the street. The two goons call it down, telling me that their boss is here...Once it's in park, the leader comes out, revealing himself as...
Give up?...A big white rabbit guy dressed in a funny-looking outfit.
That's the leader of the Rabbit Mob?!...Actually, now that I think about it, this kind'a makes sense.
"Whoa. Looks like the circus has come t' town..."
I nod at Oolong's words, and we watch those goons rush over to their leader.
"Boss, help us!"
"Shut off the waterworks, ya mugs! Just point me out the sap who thinks he's tough enough ta take on the mighty Rabbits."
They immediately point at me:
"That's him, over there!"
Bulma and Oolong are definitely more underwhelmed now that they see the leader, and I don't blame them.
"Haha! You mean that old furball's their leader?!"
"Yeah, look at 'im! He looks like a reject from an Easter parade."
Those two goons definitely heard the commentary based on the new glares they send our way.
"We heard that, pig!"
"Oh yeah, and what're you going to do abou' it, wiggle yur nose and tickle me?"
"Awfully big words for a bacon bit, mm, yes..."
"Heheh, good one!"
I frown at the comeback, not just because they're making fun of my friend but also because it was kind-of dumb.
If name-callin's their biggest strength, no wonder I beat 'em so easily.
...Their leader, though...
I ask Meli in a whisper with regards to the rabbit guy,
"What's your take on this weirdo?"
"Hmm...His ki is definitely stronger than his two lackeys, but it's nothing to really brag about, so that tells me Monster Carrot's biggest strength is definitely this magic touch he has...If we have to fight him, we need to avoid touching his hands at all cost. Other than that, taking him down shouldn't be too difficult."
"Gotchya."
Sounds like a job for Nyoibō...
Wait, ke-hf! Did, she say his name is 'Monster Carrot'?
I guess I must've snorted out loud too, for Meli gives me a half-smile and quietly giggles,
"Yeah, I think his name's kind-of silly too, but the shopkeeper's gravely tone kept me from laughing."
"I get that..."
The leader then calls his goons out on the fact that they had to summon him here.
"You call yourselves Rabbits and yet you allow two kids, a dame and a pig to put the kibosh on ya?!"
"We're not worthy; we're not worthy!"
"Quit grovelin'!...Watch this."
The big bunny hops high into the air, and lands right in front of our car without breaking a sweat.
Hm...He's pretty nimble, so if we fight, I'll need to be just as quick.
He then holds a hand out to Bulma, much to her surprise.
"Let's shake hands, babay~."
"Huh?"
Oolong and Meli each mutter,
"I wouldn't trust it, Bulma..."
"Don't risk it...!"
But Bulma doesn't heed their warnings, slapping Monster Carrot's hand away with her own.
Oh crap!
"Ha! As if a babe like me would shake hands with a rodent!"
She sticks her tongue out at him, but he laughs out,
"Too late, chickie. We touched!"
"...Mm?"
(POOF)
And before we knew it, she actually gets turned into a carrot!
"Gayh!"
"Bulma!"
"He really does have a magic touch!"
The vegetable who's our friend is caught by the rabbit man, and he gives us a mean little grin.
"Wanna bite, maybe~?"
His goons laugh at his joke, and Melita tearfully pleads,
"Goku, we have to save Bulma!"
"Don't worry! I'm on it...You bully!"
I hop out of the car, sending my sharpest glare at the one responsible for messing with my friends.
"You change her back right now!"
Carrot just chuckles at me and jeers,
"Sure, kid. If ya wanna end up like your friend, come and get me. Bu'chya gotta like vegetables, 'cause if you touch me, you're gonna be one!"
I growl at him as I try to come up with a game plan.
Okay, gotta stay calm. Like Meli said, his only trump card is his magic touch, so if I avoid his hands, I should be fine.
I grab out Nyoibō and make the first move, attempting to whack him hard on his head.
He leaps backwards in a dodge, landing several feet away, which prompts me to charge forward...
"Stop! Don't forget about your friend here."
I screech to a halt halfway, and he warns me with another annoying laugh,
"Kid, you take one more step and I'll have this delicious carrot for my lunch!"
Dammit. Now what?
"You'll do no such thing!"
Huh?
I look to my left, spotting Meli standing a few yards away with her hands on her hips and a determined glare on her face.
What is she doing?!
Oolong wonders the same thing, calling,
"What're you doin', sprite?! Are you crazy; get back here!"
"I will not!...I won't let this brute or his cronies scare me, not when I can do something to fight back."
She then positions herself so her hands are cupped into a circle in the middle of her chest.
What is she...?
"I was kind-of hoping to practice this move some more, but I guess now's as good a time as any to see if it actually works in battle."
"Oh? And just what move is that, little girl?"
She smirks at the big boss and replies,
"You're gonna regret askin' that."
Melita sucks in a long, big breath, and I swear it almost sounds like a long note gradually getting louder, and higher...
Then, it happens.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...!"
She lets out a huge, drawn-out screech that's so powerful, it creates a wave of energy which travels across the dirt to hit Monster Carrot and his goons! I had to cover my ears from loud she sounds, but I can still watch the spectacle with a gaping mouth.
Whoooa...!
The trio cries out as they go flying into the wall of the nearest building, and because her attack is so high-pitched, a good chunk of the windows around us either shatter into pieces, or get really big hairline cracks. I think even some of the bricks were threatening to crumble, but thankfully for the people hiding behind them, nothing happened...
It's soon over as quickly as it began, leaving me to stare at my friend with a new interest, while she fights to get her breath back and makes some personal observations about her performance.
"Hah, hah, hah...Well, the delivery's better, but the control's still all over the place...Shoot. Looks like I broke some windows..."
I rush over to give her my praise, a new grin of excitement spreading onto my face.
"That, was so, cool! You completely knocked 'em off their feet! What was that?!"
She giggles out,
"Remember when I said the most powerful ability of a Nereid is their voice? Well in this case, I wanted to create a technique that can be used for offense. I call it the Battle Bellow...I'm, still working on the name..."
"Well you were definitely beltin' it out. I pity the poor suckers who get caught in that move's path."
We laugh a little more, until Meli suddenly stops and gasps,
"Wait, this is no time to laugh! I need to hurry before they get back up!"
"Huh?...Hey!"
She suddenly takes off, stopping not too far from the wall the rabbit guy and his goons were slumped against. She then swipes up a familiar vegetable that's not suppose to be a vegetable.
Ah! Now I get it: she used that move to get Bulma outta their hands.
Of course, the second she picks up our magicked friend, the trio finally rises back to reality.
"Uu-uuh, my head..."
"Wh't, was that..."
"Aaaoh...Huh? Hey! My carrot!"
Uh oh!
Monster Carrot sends a glare towards Meli, making her flinch a bit.
"Gh!"
"Alright, you, you, whatever you are: put down the carrot nice and slow..."
I call out to her,
"Melita, run for it!"
"What?! But Goku-"
"Don't argue, just head as deep into the city as you can! Protect Bulma!"
"Okay!"
She takes off just as the trio of trouble fully rises to their feet, and I turn to ask our other friend,
"Hey Oolong, you mind going aft-Hah?!"
But when I turn around, he and our car are nowhere in sight...I growl out loud in frustration,
"Dammit Oolong, you're no pig! You're a big chicken!"
Of all the times for him to hide...
"Alright boys: keep this tyke busy while I hunt down that little carrot thief."
"Sure thing, boss!"
I whirl back around to see Monster Carrot's goons stalking my way, while he goes bouncing off to find Meli.
"I'm coming for you, little girl~!"
"Hey! You get back here, and leave Meli alone!"
(Ka-pa-pa-pa-pa-pam)
"Dh!"
I'm forced to stop my chase attempt when a small line of bullets block my path, and I turn to see those stupid goons pointing their guns at me. Yeah, true, weapons like that technically can't kill me (at least not so far), but that doesn't mean the impact of those metal bits won't hurt.
"Eoh, so sorry, pipsqueak,"
"But if you wanna fight the boss, you'll have to beat us first."
I grind my teeth at the jerks while praying for my friend's safety.
Melita...
No POV
Having witnessed the entire spectacle from behind the corner of a building, Yamcha decides to throw away any remaining grievances against the young boy with the monkey tail and lend a hand.
Damn it...I can't watch this anymore. Dragon Balls or not, I gotta help.
"Puar, come on. Those kids need our help. It's up to us to get them out of this mess, otherwise we'll never see those Dragon Balls."
Knowing that their companion is actually feeling more compassion than greed drive him this hour, the floating cat nods with a smile.
"Right!"
(POOF)
They shapeshift into a bird with pale blue and eggplant purple feathers.
"I'll go after Melita and help her play keep-away."
"Cool. Meanwhile, I'll lend Goku an extra set of hands with these two half-wits."
Puar flies fast in the direction they saw Monster Carrot hop, while Yamcha stealthily scampers across the dirt, then jumps onto the rooftop overhead the gas pumps. He waits for the right moment to strike, watching as Goku swiftly dodges every bullet shot his way by Rabbit One and Two.
(Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa...)
"Gh! Ah! Agh! Dyh!..."
Darn it, I can't get close enough to punch if they keep firin' at me!
...Hm?
Feeling eyes on his person, the boy looks up, spotting the desert bandit.
Huh?...Is that, Yamcha?
The latter makes a few silent gestures, which the former instantly translates as a plan for a counter. He sends a short nod above before getting to work, his next move being a semi-circle baseball slide around the Rabbit Mob enforcers, forcing them to turn with him as they maintain their aim.
"Hahaha, ya can't keep duckin' forever, kid!"
"Just give up! We'll have you at our mercy soon enough!"
Yamcha smirks from up high as their backs line up with his vision.
Perfect...Now!
Letting out a battle cry, the young man with the black mullet leaps downward in a surprise attack, slamming his elbow against the cheek of Rabbit One! This action distracts Rabbit Two long enough for him to get socked in the jaw by Goku's jump kick!
"Eee-yah!"
(WHAP)
"Cauh!"
Both goons go down hard, and this time, it looks like they're going to stay down...
"Hauh, finally. All that shootin' was getting annoying. (Turns around) Thanks for the help, Yamcha."
Taken aback by the easy smile of gratitude, Yamcha turns his gaze sideways and mutters,
"Uh, y-yeah, don't mention it."
"...Gokuuuu!"
"Huh?"
Both young men whirl on their heels and look up, spotting Melita and Puar flying their way. At some point during the scary game of hide and seek within the deeper city, the honey-blond called Kinto'un to help her get some altitude...However, this move grants her little protection from Monster Carrot as he continues to chase her and the shapeshifter.
"Help meeee!"
"And help me, Yamcha! That rabbit's gone screwy!"
"Come back here, thieves!"
The humanoid rabbit hops across the rooftops, practically nipping at the heels of his targets.
"(Boing) I, (boing) want, (boing) that, (boing) carroooot! Gotchya!"
Melita lets out a frightened squeak as she barely dodges a lunge from her pursuer, before tossing Carrot Bulma to her keep-away partner.
"Catch!"
Puar swoops downward and swipes up the human-turned-vegetable into their beak, changing their flight pattern to the side opposite of the water nymph.
"Ov'r hur, yu bi' rodont!"
"Dh-Why, you...!"
Goku and Yamcha continue watching the other pair work together to prevent Monster Carrot from getting his paws too close to Bulma, or themselves for that matter.
"Look at 'em go...!"
"Yeah, but they're not gonna be able to keep it up for much longer. Hey! Bring that carrot over here, and hurry!"
Heeding Yamcha's order, Melita and Puar turn course for the boys as the latter prepares to throw the literally vegged Bulma again.
"Okoy, yur to-"
(Pwap)
"Caah!"
Unfortunately, Puar neglects to watch where they're going at the last second, slamming face-first into the stem of one of the giant mushroom plants! They let out a yell as they and the carrot plummet downward, prompting Melita to dive after them.
"I'll save you, Puar!"
"But who's gonna save you, little girl?!"
"Hm!? Aayh!"
Pink irises widen as they watch Monster Carrot leap their way from the ground up.
"I've got you now!"
"Noooooo!"
Gasping, Goku pivots to Yamcha to demand in a haste,
"Toss me up!"
"Right!"
Using his palms like a tiny bounce board, the desert bandit launches the shorter boy upwards, his trajectory taking him straight in the direction of his endangered friend...
"You're, miiine!"
"Nyoibō, exteeend!"
(Swoop, WHAP)
"Ga-haaaaah!"
The magical pole arm comes swinging down hard against the rabbit man's skull, their wielder casting a fierce glare at his enemy.
"Keep your paws away from Melita, ya weirdo!"
She exclaims Goku's name with a smile of relief, catching Puar and Bulma the Carrot while he grabs onto the edge of the golden yellow cloud so he doesn't fall. They safely float down to ground level just as the other half of the wayward desert dwellers rushes over.
"Hah, hah, are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine."
Puar sighs through their beak as they slump over Kinto'un,
"That was too close," while Melita takes a moment to properly thank her savior.
"Goku!"
She lunges forward and hugs him, catching him off-guard for a short instant.
"Wh-Whoa, Meli...!"
"Thank you! (Sniff) Thank you so much! Hh...I was so scared! I thought I was a carrot for suuure!"
...Wow. Never thought something so silly could actually be terrifying.
The short blackette feels a few tears drip from the honey-blond's eyes onto his shoulder, and he hugs her back with a reassuring smile.
"Aw, Melita...I would never let somethin' like that happen to you."
"(Sniffle) Y-You wouldn't?"
"No way! And not just 'cause I promised Master Rōshi I'd keep you safe...but because I want to keep you safe. You're my best friend after all."
"Goku..."
"Daaaoh, I don't believe it!"
Their little moment of peace is interrupted by Monster Carrot, he gaping at the small group like they were a new exhibit at the local zoo.
"B-But how?! No one's ever escaped my magic touch, no one!"
(POOF)
"If that's true, then you're a goner like the rest before you, bucko."
"Mm? (Turns to his right) Gu-haaaaaaah!"
Suddenly, the rodent mobster finds himself gaping in horror at the sight of...himself? To be precise, they are Puar in a Monster Carrot disguise after they snuck off Kinto'un and slinked behind the brutish bunny. A chuckle escapes Yamcha as he mentally cheers,
Good one, my friend! Now just string 'im along a bit longer...
The townsfolk - who were cautiously watching the action from inside their homes - come out from behind their doors or look out their windows to fully witness their tormentor getting a taste of his own medicine. All Monster Carrot can do is shuffle backwards from his imposter, frightened by the fifty-fifty chance they have his powers too.
"Wh-Wh-Who are you; wh-wh-where did you come from?!"
"Touch me~! All I want is a little touch, just one little touch!"
"Nooo! St-Stay back, stay back...!"
Melita giggles from atop Kinto'un as she holds Carrot Bulma to her chest,
"Not so tough now, is he?"
Yamcha grins and comments,
"He's just as spineless as his goons...Goku, now's probably the right time to finish this with Nyoibō."
Nodding, the boy with the primate tail holds out his weapon, then calls out the signature phrase to create a massive pole-arm about halfway into his leap, bringing it down against Monster Carrot's skull once again.
(WHAP)
"Gaa-haaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaoh!"
As the giant rabbit's wail of agony runs its course, Goku gestures Melita to toss her their veggie friend, catching it in his free hand before turning a stern glare back at his enemy.
"Hey! You better change her back, or else I'm gonna whack you again."
"Aaa-hh, whack me again...?!"
"Yeah, whack you again."
"...Dyoh-kay, I guess you win."
Monster Carrot claps his hands as soon as the carrot is set on the ground, reversing his magic spell...
(POOF)
And turning Bulma back into a normal human girl!
The tweens call out her name in relief, while she looks down at herself in a slight daze.
"Ooh man, I feel like a vegetable..."
"You were until Yamcha and Puar helped us."
She turns to Goku with a surprised but pleased smile.
"Uh! Yamcha? (...Looks around) Where is he?"
Noticing that the desert-dwelling duo has disappeared, the tweens reply,
"I, guess he took off already..."
"Too bad. He and Puar deserve a big thanks for helping us out."
...Of course, the pair in question didn't go far, having ducked behind the corner of a nearby building.
Noticing the dreamy smile on Bulma's face, Puar turns to their friend and comments with a half-smile,
"She likes you."
Unfortunately, the young man's mild phobia continues to get the best of him.
"Y'know, it was alot easier to be around her when she was just produce...!"
...Still...it's, kind-of nice to hear a girl might actually like me.
Now that the battle against the Rabbit Mob has finally come to a close, it's time for some last-minute cleanup. Goku hurries to tie up the troublesome trio using some twine provided by a few of the braver townsfolk, with Melita assisting him. Meanwhile, Bulma busies herself with chewing out the last member of their small group as soon as he comes out of hiding.
"So Oolong, where were you, huh? Some friend you are, running away like that!"
"I-yuh, was makin' sure no one took the car."
"Yeah right. You may as well have the word 'Coward' stamped on that big forehead of yours."
"...Boy, you were alot nicer when you were a carrot, y'know?"
"I heard that!"
Just as the bluenette prepares to strangle the humanoid pig with one hand, Melita calls them to attention.
"Guys, we're done!"
"Hm?"
They focus their eyes on the other pair, and Goku wipes his hands before grabbing out his weapon once again.
"Now to finish the job with Nyoibō."
The Rabbit Mob fears the worst:
"Gyh!"
"Ah-h!"
"Dayh, please, have mercy...!"
But, all the boy does is punt his pole-arm deep enough into the ground so it doesn't bend over, before grabbing a part of the rope to drag the bundle of trouble over.
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna hit you...'cause I've got a better plan in mind."
He turns to give his assistant a smile while telling her,
"Meli, you stay here. I'll be right back."
"Uh, okay, but be careful."
Nodding, the boy grips the weapon tight...before making the call.
"Nyoibō, extend!"
The pole-arm heeds his command, stretching to great heights while taking their wielder and his bounty with him. Cheers and whistles ring through Fungus Town as its residents watch the source of their terror fly into the heavens, and the man in charge of the gas station walks over to personally offer his thanks to their heroes/heroines.
"How can we ever repay you?"
Bulma smiles and replies with a half-joke,
"Hey, don't sweat it. This one's on my house."
Goku soon comes streaming back down, landing a few feet from where Melita would be patiently waiting.
"Hup! Hah...There we go."
"That was quick...So what exactly did you do with them, Goku?"
"I took 'em to the moon."
"...Huh?!"
Eyes dart upward to where the planetary object would be, and the boy explains his reasoning behind his stunt.
"I told them that if they make enough rabbit treats for all the kids on earth, I might let 'em come back down. It should keep them busy for a while."
"Uuuh, r-right...but, rabbit treats?"
"...What? Don'tcha like marshmallows?"
...
...
A few hours of celebration and expressions of gratitude later, our three tweens and one teen drive out of Fungus Town for the dry expanse of Diablo Desert. Sandy roads and a thinner stretch of towering fungi plants make up their surroundings as they motor along, unaware of the bandit shadows tailing them a small distance away...
"It won't be long now, you guys."
Putting her Dragon Radar away, Bulma clasps her hands together with a wide smile as she daydreams about her goal.
Wow. I can't believe I'm so close to having my wish fulfilled! I wonder what he's going to look like...
"Hey, I've been meaning t' ask: so this big wish, there's gonna be enough for all of us, right? I was thinkin' along the lines of all the gold in the world..."
She snaps out of her daze just as Melita comments to Oolong with a frown,
"Isn't that a little too materialistic? Besides, money is what got you into trouble with those girls back in Aru."
"First of all, those three girls had spoiled personalities. Second, money makes the world go round, sprite, and if ya don't got even one zeni to your name, you're screwed."
"Maybe that's how it works in big rich cities, but if you know how to fish, hunt and grow food, surviving on little money's not too hard. (Smile) Grandpa always says that life's about working hard and enjoying the little things."
Goku chimes in from behind her in the backseats,
"That sounds like somethin' my grandpa would say too."
The humanoid pig sighs with a half-smile,
"You two are definitely country-born souls with that opinion...Anyway, gettin' back to you, Bulma?"
"Mh!...Ooh, I forgot to tell you, didn't I? A boyfriend! The world's greatest boyfriend; that's what I'll wish for!"
Oolong's eyes widen to near-comical levels at the absurdity of such a wish.
"WHAT?! A boyfriend?!"
"What's wrong?"
His next tone reflects his incredulous belief over the bluenette's ignorance.
"Y'mean to tell me that I've been riskin' my neck to help some chick waste an all-grantin' wish on a boyfriend?! What a rip off!"
"Hey! I'm not just some chick, dammit; I'm the daughter of a world-renowned genius! You should be proud to contribute to such a worthy cause!...I think that you're just jealous."
As Oolong kicks himself over first agreeing to join the other three in this quest, the boy with the monkey tail leans forward to whisper a question to his honey-blond friend.
"Uhm, Meli...what's a boyfriend?"
The latter patiently answers,
"It's a word used for a boy who's in a romantic relationship with someone."
"So like, more than friends?"
"That's right, and if it's a girl you're talking about, then it'd be girlfriend. There's other terms too, like lovers, life partners or even mates; it can vary between cultures, but in most, if you get married, a man becomes a husband, while a woman becomes a wife...Oh, and it's not exclusive to boy-girl relationships: boys can like boys as more than friends, and same with girls...buuuut that's getting into a whole other topic, so I'll stop here before it gets too confusing."
"Ah, okay. I think I get the gist...but how'do you know about this stuff?"
"Heehee, well thanks to grandpa's failed attempts to woo the ladies, Turtle's had to explain a few things here and there. On the plus side, I know what not to do when I eventually start lookin' for love."
Goku chuckles slightly at the girl's light joke, but thinks to himself,
Man, who would'a thought words shorter than friendship could be so complicated?
Panning back a few yards, the floating cat creature at the wheel of the second hovercar hums to their friend,
"Hey, Yamcha? I'm beginning to think they're lost. I can't believe the last Dragon Ball's way out here..."
"Be patient, Puar. It's out there, I know it is. I can feel it. We're close, real close!...Soon, I will wish away my fear of women forever!"
...
...
Of course, we must remind ourselves that there's a third party who also desires the power of the Dragon Balls.
Let's get a peek into their activities now, inside a large castle hideout south of our adventurers...
"Hah, haeh, hah, oh man, I'm gonna be toast if I don't get to tha' meetin', with Emperor Pilaf...!"
As Shu increases his pace up the stairs leading to the top of one tower, Mai finds herself busy keeping her cool under her lord's diminishing patience while scrambling to fix a large supercomputer...
"Mai, if you don't fix that Dragon Ball Detector by the time I count to ten..."
(Click)
Her mouth gapes fearfully when a glass container of crocodiles is lowered into the room.
"Gayh!"
"You will be joining my hungry friends here, for lunch!...One..."
Cringing, the woman whirls back around to the complex machine, tweaking with the wiring as quickly and carefully as possible.
Gyh, there's no way ten seconds will be enough time!...Unless...
She stops at the fifth second, and employs the art of distraction.
"Uhm, Emperor Pilaf, speaking of lunch, you must be getting hungry, right?"
"Hm?...Why yes, I am getting hungry...Starving, really. You know, a hamburger would be nice right now...Hold it! What number was I on, Mai?"
Smirking internally over her diversion's success, Mai pivots her head to feign an innocently-perplexed expression.
"Hm?"
"Never mind; I'll start again. One, two, three, four, five, six..."
"Haaeh!...Emperor Pilaf."
"What now?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just, sometimes when you take command like this, it's invigorating~ to be around you."
A rusty red blush appears on the diminutive emperor's face at the compliment.
"Ah-hoh-hoh, I see..."
The roaring of the crocodiles snaps him out of his daze.
"Oh, right. Now where was I?"
"Huh?"
"Hm...Okay, maybe I should start at, six..."
"I made it, sire, I made it!"
Both heads turn left, and Mai's racing heart practically cries in relief when she sees Shu rush into the room.
Phew! Perfect timing, my friend! Now just keep him distracted for a few more seconds...
"Excellent, Shu, you're right on time. Now, have you located the balls? Report!"
"Uh, well, I ordered the pizza..."
The emperor falls sideways in disbelief over the humanoid dog's incompetence...
"Sire, I fixed it!"
The men turn back to Mai after she finally tweaks around with the computer long enough to get the tracking system back online.
"The Dragon Ball Detector is working, and we're already receiving a signal on one of the balls. Attempting to isolate signal and increasing the magnification to level five. Level six, seven, eight; signal isolated at magnification level nine, sir."
...This signal will of course belong to the single gemstone these three possess already, a fact that Emperor Pilaf berates them over after they waste their time in 'locating' it.
"Fools! This is the one we already have! Hauh...That monkey boy and his friends have the Dragon Balls we want, so where is he?"
Mai replies,
"We have a spy bird tracking them. Mecha Number Seven...Hm? (Glance) There it is now, Emperor."
Peering over at the ledge of the open window to this room, we spot a robot in the shape of a large raven as they make their landing...
"Once we download the visuals from Mecha Seven, we'll know exactly where they're going."
"We better, or else it's your head, Mai!"
Melita's POV
Okay, I'll be honest: I find Bulma's true motive regarding Lord Shenron and the Dragon Balls to be rather disheartening. I mean, I guess I knew from the start that the wish she had in mind would likely be a bit impractical, but I never imagined she'd choose something so...silly.
Really, just because you can wish for a perfect partner, that doesn't mean they'll be everything you dream.
Even grandpa has admitted his own fantasies have gotten him into trouble a couple times...
"Bulma, I'm gonna ask you nicely this time: would you please, please change yur wish? I mean, really, after everything we've been through, couldn't you at least aim for somethin' worthwhile?"
Hearing Oolong attempting to be reasonable for the sake of fairness made me smile, especially considering his more questionable moments. Unfortunately, Bulma remains stubborn to her goals, and even threatens him with that gross trick she played on him.
"Remember, Oolong, just one word from me and you'll have to go to the bathroom thanks to that candy."
His response?...He hits the breaks and brings the car to a sharp stop. I steady myself so I don't slam into the dome window, and look between him and Bulma with a cringe.
Hoh boy, here we go...
"Oolong, you're making me mad...!"
"This is a protest, Bulma. I'm not movin' another inch until you change your wish to somethin' reasonable."
"Sure! I 'wish' you'd shut your face and drive!"
They growl and get in eachother's faces...which only fuels my own desire to get out of the car and put some distance between us. I ultimately stop by the stem of one of the big mushrooms, and sit on the dry ground as I think about what I want to do from this point onward.
...I'm not sure if I wanna keep going anymore.
It's been fun meeting everyone, sure...but if we're really gathering the Dragon Balls just to wish for something, so petty...
"Meli?"
I look up from my sad thoughts, and see my most sensible friend standing in front of me.
"Oh, Goku."
"You okay? Why'd ya get out of the car?"
Letting out a puff of air, I mutter a bit bitterly,
"Because I don't wanna witness another dumb argument...and...if I can be honest, I'm not sure if I want to continue this quest."
"What? Why not?...Because of Bulma's wish?"
He sits down beside me as I ask for his opinion on the matter.
"Well surely you agree it's a ridiculous wish. I mean, there's no such thing as a perfect life partner, and even if they're is, who's to say she won't get bored with the idea after a while?"
"Hm, I guess that's true...Mind you, I don't really understand what love is yet, but from what I do get, it's a feelin' that isn't judgemental, but can make you goofy at the wrong times if you're not careful."
I giggle a bit at his characterization and nod,
"Something like that, or at least that's what I've seen when grandpa lets his fantasies get the better of his common sense...Hah."
I hug my knees as I get us back on topic.
"Anyway, with all that in mind, and seeing how selfishly stubborn Bulma's acting...I dunno if I want to watch Lord Shenron's power be wasted like this."
"So, what, you're just gonna quit?"
"...Maybe..."
I hear Goku hum over my confession for a half-minute...before he stands up and offers me a hand with a smile.
"Well, if you're really thinkin' about takin' off...maybe I will too."
"What?!"
"We can use Kinto'un too. Oh! And we could head back to your home and get started on training with Master Rōshi."
"But Goku..."
He lifts me to my feet, and his eyes spark with a knowing glint as he adds,
"Of course, this is only after we talk to Bulma and see if we can't find a way to negotiate. Heh, never thought I'd be backin' up Oolong, but, here we are."
"...You're serious..."
"You bet I am."
He leads me in a slow walk back to the car, giving me a softer look all the while.
"Hey, I'll admit, I'm havin' some mixed feelings about this wish business too...but if we leave now, it'll mean we did all this hard work for squat. Plus we're talkin' about ditchin' our friends too, and while it's true Bulma's bein' selfish, wouldn't it also be kind-of crummy to leave without at least trying to talk to her?"
"I, suppose...Wow. You really thought this out, Goku. I'm impressed."
He rubs the back of his head with a modest expression.
"Heheh, thanks. I don't usually think this hard about decisions, but...I guess the idea of you leavin' motivated it."
"Me?"
"Well yeah, I...I like, bein' around you. It makes me happy."
Aww, Goku...
I smile at him and reply in kind,
"I'm happy being around you too."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm...Oh."
We're soon back in front of the car, and it looks like Bulma and Oolong have stopped arguing.
They give us confused expressions, telling me they must've realized we left during their yelling match.
"There you two are."
"Yeah, what gives? Why'd ya hop out of the car?"
I turn to Goku with a nervous expression, and he gives me a nod of encouragement.
Well, here goes nothing.
Sucking in a breath of air, I turn a firm gaze towards my other two friends, more specifically, the one with blue hair.
"Bulma, I have to be completely honest with you...I don't like your wish either."
"What?!"
"It's not only incredibly petty, but it's also a wish that won't guarantee happiness. Even if you get the perfect boyfriend, how can you be sure you won't get bored with the fantasy after some time?"
Bulma gapes at me, and Oolong snickers,
"Sprite's got a point there. The mind is fickle."
"You shut it, pig! Melita, where is this coming from?"
I don't answer that, and get straight to the point.
"I made up my mind: I won't be part of a wish that only benefits one person. If we can't agree on something that can be for all of us...then I'm going home."
"But...!"
Goku pipes up next, grabbing my hand as he says,
"And if Meli's gonna take off, so am I."
"Not you too, Goku!"
"Listen, I don't really care if I get somethin' from the Dragon Balls or not. I only agreed to come so I can keep an eye on grandpa's treasure and have an adventure away from the house for once. It's been fun meetin' new people, and the battles have been mostly entertaining..."
His expression hardens considerably, making him look more mature than I've seen thus far in our friendship.
"But if one selfish wish is gonna make a good friend feel crummy enough to think about leavin', then I want no part of it either. I'd rather head back to Kame House and get an early start on my training with Master Rōshi...So ask yourself this, Bulma: are you selfish enough to stick to your wish and allow your friends to walk away?"
...The air is silent after Goku's tiny speech, and all Bulma does is stare at us in confusion and awe. I plead through my eyes,
Please, please say you're willing to negotiate. Don't let us walk away.
...But just before anything can be said...
(Shhhooooooo-KA-BOOM)
A missile comes flying out of the sky and hits the side of the car! We were super lucky, since we only got thrown back several feet by the impact of the explosion, while the car itself...Well, let's just say it won't be driving anywhere anytime soon.
We all groan as we lift ourselves up, and Oolong mutters,
"Wha', happened?"
"We got blown up..."
I correct Goku as I point to the demolished vehicle,
"Urh, more like, the car did...Hm?"
That's when a, robot of sorts comes floating down to the ground, then hops over us to the wrecked car to search for something.
"I've come to repossess your Dragon Balls."
Dragon Balls?...Uh! I know that voice! It's one of the imp's followers!
...Agh!
I start to panic when they find my gym bag, and opens it to find five of our collected Dragon Balls!
No, no, no!
"Thank you, and so long, suckers! The balls are mine now, heheheheheeeeeh!"
On that note, he - whom I'm sure is that dog guy, Shu - rockets into the air and starts running away, hopping across the tops of those mushroom trees...
"That, thing just pilfered our Dragon Balls..."
"Re-possess them...?"
"It's stolen, kid."
"And he took my bag!"
I start running in the direction where the robot went, determined to get my things.
"Come back here with my bag, you weirdo!"
"Meli!"
"Hey, wait up, sprite!"
"Goku, call that cloud and go help her!"
I hear Goku do just that, and he's soon catching up to me atop Kinto'un.
"Hop on!"
"Right!"
I jump up behind him, and we follow the path the robot took...finding it a good distance away from where we were.
"There it is!"
We hop down once Kinto'un is low enough to the ground, and turn to face our thief...only to discover that they're already gone.
Darn it! Just missed him...
"Hey, you! You shouldn't take other people's stuff, ya know!"
I turn to my friend, who's got his Nyoibō out at the ready.
"Uhm, Goku? The thief's not here."
"Huh?...Whaddo you mean? (Points) It's right in front of us."
I giggle at his innocent response, then explain as we wander closer,
"No no, this is just a robot the real thief was controlling. (Points) See? They would've been sitting right here, using that wheel like Oolong and Bulma do when they drive the car."
"Oooooh...Wait, so does that mean our thief's gone already?"
"Seems like it...Oh! My bag!"
I rush over to a spot near the right of the robot, and kneel down in front of my gym bag with a smile of relief...which, turns into a frown when I see that the Dragon Balls aren't here.
"Shoot. All my things are still here, but the Dragon Balls were definitely taken."
Goku kneels by my left and offers a bit of positivity.
"At least they were sort'a kind enough to leave your stuff alone..."
"Mm, maybe...Ah! Wait!"
"What?"
"Maybe there's some hope left for us. Do you still have Sūshinchū, the Four-Star Ball?"
"Hm?...Oh, yeah!"
My friend reaches for the cloth bag attached to his obi sash, and pulls out the Dragon Ball inside.
"It's right here."
"Perfect! That means our thief isn't as clever as he thought he was."
"...You keep sayin' 'he'. Do ya know who they are?"
We get to our feet and walk back to Kinto'un as I answer,
"I have a hunch, but I'll tell you after we get back to Bulma and Oolong."
"Okay."
...We're soon back in the area we left from, and we hop down to greet our friends awaiting our return.
"Goku! Melita!"
"Hey, how'd it go?"
I sadly inform them,
"I'm sorry, but, the thief was gone by the time we found the robot. My bag was left behind, but the Dragon Balls were taken out of it."
Just as Bulma looks ready to collapse in despair, Goku quickly adds while pointing to his cloth sack,
"But the good news is that those are the only Dragon Balls they stole. See? I still got mine."
The tears that were forming in the corners of her eyes instantly disappear at that info, and she stands straighter with a new grin.
"Ahahahaha, of course! They thought they could outsmart us! Fools! Nyah, nyah!"
Bulma then kneels down to hug us in her excitement.
"You're the best! Yay! I knew I could count on you two!"
...But upon remembering my declaration regarding her wish, I couldn't really join in her cheers...
"Now, let's get 'em! Let's get out there and find those Dragon Balls!"
"No."
"Huh?"
Bulma backs away to look down at me in confusion, and I fold my arms with a firm look.
"Don't think I forgot what I said not too long ago. I still stand by my decision: I won't be part of a selfish wish."
"Oh come on, Melita-"
"No, Bulma, you come on! You're a smart girl; surely you know deep down how dumb your wish is, especially if you don't word it right. If you wish for a perfect boyfriend, the Eternal Dragon might take that as you wanting what grandpa calls a 'yes man', someone who has no personality or a life outside of you."
"Uh-h! Exactly what has your grandpa been teaching you?!"
"More than I probably should know for my age, but that's not the point!...Hauh, Bulma, I'll be frank: if you're gonna stay true to this super selfish wish, (sad frown) then I have to seriously wonder if we really were friends to begin with, or, if you were just using me."
"...Melita..."
Her look of guilt seals it for me, and I turn on my heel to head for Kinto'un...
But before I can even touch the cloud-
(Swoop)
"Ah-h!"
Something snags me underneath my vest and lifts me into the air! I barely have any time to react above a few strangled yelps as the thing yanks me backwards, and I land on my bum near the spot I left from.
"Oof!...Hey, how did-...Uh!"
I whirl around, quickly deducing who the culprit is.
"Goku, you didn't...!"
His de-extending Nyoibō said otherwise, and he tucks it back into its sheath before giving me a look.
"I did."
"But why?!"
"Because as much as I agree with what you're sayin', we also agreed to try and negotiate before makin' any plans to leave. You're already assuming Bulma doesn't wanna compromise, and I think that's pretty immature."
I feel an offended noise escape me, and I try to get up to leave again, only for him to grab my arm with his tail and force me to sit again.
"Dayh! Hey!"
"If you even think about tryin' to hop on Kinto'un, I'll pin you to the ground with Nyoibō."
My eyes narrow at such a threat:
"You, wouldn't, dare...!"
He narrows his own eyes into a challenging glare.
"You wanna make a bet out of it?"
We stare at eachother for a long, tense minute...before I let out a huff and fold my arms, pouting over the situation.
Darn it.
Bulma's POV
All I can do is stare, mesmerized over the fact that Goku of all people is acting like the bigger individual and calling someone out on their childish behaviour. I mean, he's sort-of done it a few times already, but not at this level...And Melita...Seeing her so upset to the point where she's questioning our budding friendship is making a knot of guilt form in my stomach. Oolong wastes no time rubbing the situation into my face, though with less of a smug tone then I'd expect from him.
"Tch, there ya go. Ya see now why I said your wish is a ripoff? No one's gonna benefit from it but you, and even that's not guaranteed. I get you're the one who first started this crazy search, but we worked hard too, ya know? It'd be nice to get even a small piece of the pie."
Though I do give him a side-glare, the more I thought about it...the more I began to question my motives.
...I hate to admit it...but the pork-chop does have a point.
Heck, Meli made some valid points too. Just because I can wish for the perfect boyfriend...it doesn't necessarily mean I'll get one.
It's very possible that I could end up with a 'whipping boy' or a 'yes man'...
And if I'm being honest with myself...I don't want that, especially if it means I lose some good friends in the process...
Haaoh, I can't believe I'm actually about to do this.
A groan escapes me as I finally speak up, addressing the two squirts who are considering leaving.
"Alright, alright!...Haaah...If you two are serious about taking off...fine. We can, try and negotiate a wish we can all benefit from."
Melita's eyes light up with hope:
"Really?!"
"Really...I don't wanna fight, not when we're so close. And, as much as it's difficult to admit it...maybe my wish does seem a bit illogical."
A mock gasp escapes Oolong as he jokes,
"Did the great Bulma just admit she's wrong about something? Alert the media!"
"Oh shut up!...But seriously..."
I kneel down in front of Melita, taking her hands into mine.
"If my wish is truly making you feel undervalued, I can open up to compromising."
"You mean it?"
"I do. A boyfriend's not worth it if it means losing you as a friend, Meli. (Glance) Oh, and you too, Goku."
He nods at me with a smile, making me feel less crummy and, proud of myself.
Huh. Maybe being a little selfless once in a while's not so bad...
"Of course, before we can talk about making a wish together, (stands up) we need to get back the gems that were stolen from us. Let's head for the car, guys; we can track them with my Dragon Radar."
"Hey, fearless leader. Your forgot: our car got blown up."
"Ah-ah-ah-aaah~. That's okay, Oolong. I still have those capsules I got from the last town."
I head over to the wrecked car, and pull out the suitcase I bought before leaving Fungus Town to better carry my things...
"Now let's see...Aha! Here it is."
I take out the smaller carrying case holding the hoi-pois I bought, choosing one of the XB-7s that contains a jet bike.
(Poi...BOM)
"Okay, let's go!"
Oolong and I jump onto the vehicle while Goku and Melita opt for Kinto'un again...
But when I try to start the engine...
(Ka-chchchchchchch...Ka-chchchchchchch...)
"Huh?...No gas?!"
"Are you kidding?!"
Sucking in a breath to try and calm down, I mutter,
"Okay, okay, not a big deal. Let's just try another one."
(...BOM)
"Nothing?"
(BOM)
"Nada!"
(BOM)
"Zilch?!"
(BOM)
"Aaagh, this one's empty too!"
Sliding off of the third jet bike, I kick it with the heel of my foot and let out another yell of frustration while glaring at it, the other two bikes and the two hovercars I got.
"This is ridiculous; what kind of dummy sells capsule vehicles without adding fuel first?!"
Melita nervously shrugs,
"Maybe the gas was sold separately...?"
I just moan in response, and plop to the ground while leaning the back of my head against the jet bike.
"Great, just great. Now what'll we do?"
"Well the thief couldn't have gone far, so we can probably walk."
Oolong scoffs at Goku,
"Ha! After what happened last time? We'll have better luck flaggin' down a total stranger than catchin' up on foot."
"...Hey, look who it is!"
Suddenly, by some crazy twist of fate, that hunk Yamcha comes by in his car.
"Oh! Yamcha!"
I feel my heart race as I greet him:
"Hiya~ Yamcha!"
What a guy; such perfect timing...!
"Heha, heh, what, a, total coincidence. Are you guys stuck out here? Ahahaha..."
Hehee, still as shy as ever~.
I hop into the other seat opposite of him, using all the charm I can to persuade him into lending us a hand.
"Yeah, we were until you showed up. Could you give us a ride, Yamcha, pretty please~?"
I wink to seal the deal, and he barely avoids a full stutter as he replies,
"S-Sure. We'd-We'd be, happy to."
Yay! We're back in business!
No POV
Thanks to Yamcha's act of chivalry, our main quartet is now a sextet, with the two older teens riding in the available front seats of the young bandit's car, while Puar and Oolong sit atop the back section, and Goku and Melita fly next to them atop Kinto'un...
"Yamcha, I know this might sound a little weird, but I need you to do something for me. Would you mind closing your eyes for a second please?"
"Uh! C-Close my eyes?"
"Yeah, just for a second, pretty please?"
"Wh-What for?"
"You'll see~."
Watching the awkward tension emanating from Yamcha (he oblivious to the bluenette simply wanting a peek at her Dragon Radar), Goku whispers to Melita,
"Ya think we should tell Bulma that he and Puar already know about the Dragon Balls?"
"Nah, she'll figure it out eventually. Eeheehe, plus this is kind-of funny."
One check of the radar later, Yamcha opens his eyes to see that what he expected to happen, didn't.
"Huh? Hey, nothing happened...Nothing happened. Nothing at all."
I thought for sure she was gonna kiss me...
"Hey, something happened. I just can't say what. Us girls, we have to keep our secrets, y'know."
Bulma leans in close to Yamcha, hands curling into the iconic ILY sign with a coy smile on her lips.
"Don't, be, mad~."
All the poor young man can do is stifle a yelp, his face growing more red by the minute as he drives them along.
Meanwhile, Goku's blank expression doesn't falter in the slightest as he mutters,
"Man, love is so weird," making his companion on the cloud giggle,
"It sure is."
It seems Bulma's pretty close to having her original wish, but she doesn't need Lord Shenron's power for it~.
She focuses back in front of herself, just as the tip of a large building slowly comes into view...
Okay, this is it. Time to get the Dragon Balls back!