Dragon Ball Z Dynasty

by Feraligreater328

When travelling along Snake Way, Son Goku suddenly finds himself plummeting down to Hell. There, he meets a surprisingly familiar ghost from his past that promises to change everything about his life going forward. How will the Saiyan react to this sudden, positive change in his life? Find out in Dragon Ball Z Dynasty.

157. Chapter 155: Tournament Training

Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty

Written by: Feraligreater328 and StevenBodner

Chapter 155: Tournament Training

At the Ginyu Force's secret treehouse…

Jeice sat at the table, his fingers drumming against the hardwood, a soda gripped in his free hand. In the background, Burter and Recoome were arguing over a video game. Guldo had run off to the store to grab something to eat for dinner later that evening. On the other side of the table sat Gohan, a somewhat queasy look on his face. Jeice took a greedy sip of the soda, anything to combat the ever-increasing summer heat, then sighed. "One problem checked off the list leads to five more added, eh?"

Gohan shouted. "YEAH! IT'S BULLSHIT!"

Jeice chuckled and motioned for Gohan to calm down with his hand. "It's alright, mate. It's alright. Life is full of junk like this. It's not all fighting enemies to the death. Mundanity can be just as frustrating, sometimes."

Gohan let loose a long, frustrated sigh. Jeice nodded. "Let's just back up and talk about the progress we've made, yeah?"

For a moment, Gohan was quiet. But then, he started to speak. "I finally made my choice. I chose to pursue a committed relationship with Videl."

Jeice nodded. "Right. Good."

Gohan continued. "I want things to progress normally. I'm trying to make things progress normally. Videl and I have gone on lunch dates. We've been to the movies. We've worked out together in her personal gym. We've kissed... a lot."

Jeice nodded, noting Gohan blush at the mention of kissing. He smirked. Gohan continued. "And now... a roadblock. This tournament is coming up. She's fighting in it. Everyone else I know is now fighting in it. Including, no offense, the two guys that killed the three of you. And they've only gotten stronger since then.I know my dad wouldn't hurt her or anyone else if they got matched up. And I don't think Vegeta would. But... but I... I... uh..."

Jeice slapped the table and Gohan flinched. The Brenchian set down his empty soda bottle and stifled a belch. "Okay, so there are two things that need to be addressed here. I'm going to be blunt."

Gohan nodded. "Yeah, okay..."

Jeice crossed his arms. "First, you need to stop thinking this is a normal sort of thing you see on the telly. You aren't some ordinary high school kid dating some other ordinary high school kid. You're a human that's also a hybrid of a bloodthirsty race of warrior apes and, apparently, an actual demon from actual Hell. You've fought fist-to-fist with the former supreme emperor of the universe. You've personally killed some sort of biological super weapon, from everything you've told me. Accept the hard truth, kid. You. Are. Not. Normal!"

Gohan swallowed a lump in his throat. Jeice continued. "You are dating a super-rich, super famous daughter of a super-rich, super famous worldwide hero. She fought crime as a hobby. She's not old enough to buy a lottery ticket, but she's chomping at the bit to enter a fighting tournament and confidently believes she's a contender. And, from the sounds of it, she IS a contender. She. Is. Not. Normal!"

Gohan nodded. "O-Okay..."

Jeice nodded back. "Now that we've cleared the air on that, why don't we go ahead and quash the thought of this being a normal relationship, mate? You aren't going to be able to steer this thing you have going on with cookie-cutter bullshit. You are going to have to react dynamically. Don't plan ahead for obstacles, wait for them to fall in front of you like this one did."

Gohan groaned. "F-Fine. But then, like, what do I do?! I feel like I should know what to do, but-"

Jeice rolled his eyes. "Let me show you something real quick..."

He stood, walking over to a small cabinet and eventually producing a small black book with the Ginyu Force emblem printed on the cover.

Gohan was surprised by this. "Where did you get that?"

Jeice smiled. "Always kept it on me during missions. Good morale-booster. I take this with me on every mission for good luck."

He opened it and Gohan saw that it was an album full of photographs. Jeice flipped a few pages into the album and then showed a picture. There were five people standing there. A purple guy with horns in a muscle shirt, Ginyu. A red guy in a leather jacket, Jeice. A tall blue guy wearing a sundress, Burter. A yellow one with braces and an orange mullet, Recoome. And a green one, with a two-toned face, a ridge dividing his head down the middle, and a pair of what appeared to be plastic cups over his ears, wearing a two-toned yellow and blue jacket, white baggy pants, and a waist sash. Gohan cocked his head. "Who's the green one?"

Jeice snorted. "Guldo."

Gohan gasped. "Wh-What?! I mean, I guess I see it in the face..."

He turned to Jeice. "What happened?"

Jeice shrugged. "Guldo got fat."

"HEY!"

Guldo was emerging into the treehouse from the rope ladder, four convenience store bags swinging in his hands. "Body shaming is rude!"

Jeice shook his head. "Whatever. You let yourself go and you know it."

Guldo grumbled as he began to load things into the minifridge. Jeice turned back to Gohan. "But, I didn't pull this out to pick at Guldo. I pulled this album out to make a point, mate. And that point is this: we were all young, once."

Gohan nodded. Jeice continued. "No one is born knowing all the answers. That's what the journey to life is about finding. Life throws a wall in your way, find out how to bust down the wall. Right?"

Gohan agreed. "Right."

Jeice continued. "Now, as I've mentioned before, I like you. So, I'll help guide ya just this once because I see a pretty cut-and-dry answer. Are you ready?"

Gohan was eager. "Ready."

Jeice gave a one-word response. "Win."

Gohan's eyes went wide. Jeice continued. "Win. That's how you get out of this. You and the girl love each other. You're afraid that she might be alienated if your family, who she barely knows, wins the tournament. That she'll hate it if she ever learns the match was thrown. So, just win. Beat your family, beat her, beat her father, and everything will work out beyond that."

Gohan seemed unsure. "Y-You're sure that will work?"

Jeice shrugged. "I dunno. My one interaction with the girl was a brief fight in the woods. I'm simply providing advice based on what you've told me."

Gohan sighed. "Right."

Then, Gohan sat there for a while. Without realizing it, a few hours passed. He didn't snap out of his thinking trance until a plate of stovetop curry and rice was set in front of him. He looked up and Burter smiled. "Please enjoy~"

Gohan smiled. "Th-Thanks."

He and the Ginyu Force sat there, eating dinner together. Gohan watched as the four of them bickered and talked back and forth, arguing and laughing in equal measures. He took a bite of his curry and smiled a bit wider. He really did like these four, who had turned out to be great friends once he got to know them. After finishing his plate, Gohan sat it down and then spoke up. "I haven't been fair to you guys."

The conversation came to a stop. Recoome looked over at him. "What do you mean by that?"

Gohan sighed. "I promised you a ship months ago for helping me with the Saiyaman stuff. And I've managed to get so wound up in my own life that I've neglected to produce my end of the bargain. That's... not right."

The four Ginyu's went quiet. Gohan scratched the back of his head. "So, here's what I'll do. After the World Tournament is over, I'll go ask Bulma for a spaceship capsule. I'll explain myself, swear her to secrecy, and then come clean to everyone else about what I did once you guys are safely off planet. I can't say anyone here likes you, but I don't think any of them are going to give chase."

He chuckled. "Worst case scenario, Vegeta might slug me~"

That little crack got the Ginyu Force laughing. Gohan and his former enemies laughed for quite a bit after that and Gohan got the feeling, at least he hoped it was a real feeling and he wasn't imagining it, that maybe they considered him a friend as much as he considered them friends. Then Jeice spoke up. "You're a good lad. You've treated us pretty well, considering how we first met ya."

Burter laid his cheek into his palm. "Anything we can do to assist you while we wait for this tournament to be over?"

Recoome grinned. "Anything we can do to help the relationship along?"

Gohan's eyes went wide. "R-Really?! You're still willing to help?"

Guldo rolled all four of his eyes. "Duh, dummy. We're friends. Friends always try to help friends."

Gohan nodded. "Well then, yes. I can think of one more thing that you could do to make things go just a bit smoother. I just need to ask Bulma about it..."

Jeice nodded, cracking open a beer. "And what would that be?"

Gohan smiled. "Well, first, we'll have to get the four of you sized up for some new suits."

The next day, Mt. Paozu, near Gohan's house…

Goten laid upside-down on a rock and watched as his brother and his brother's friends all sat in a circle. It had been hours since Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner had shown up and, while he was too polite to say it, Goten was getting pretty bored. As a matter of fact, he was very, very close to dozing off.

Goten sincerely wished that Chika had chosen to join in on the tournament as well. Then, at least, he'd have someone to spar with while he waited for Gohan. But, of course, Chika didn't like fighting. She took their parent's training sessions seriously, but that was it. So now, he laid there, watching the bird fly through the sky as Gohan and his friends worked towards basic Ki mastery.

Over in the sitting circle, Gohan and his friends were all quietly focusing on their inner strengths. Everyone had been silent for nearly 30 minutes, focusing more and more within, looking for whatever inner spark was necessary to be able to access the mysterious, natural force known as Ki.

Of course, for Gohan, this was a process that was literally as natural to him as breathing. He had been utilizing his Ki for the large majority of his life. And Erasa, while not as proficient, had been gently mentored by her kindly, legal mentor. This was more of a lesson for Sharpner and Videl than it was for her.

Once again, Gohan repeated the same mantra he had begun the lesson with that morning. "Silence your doubt. Calmly listen to your body's inner voice. Feel the pulse of the living world around you. Feel your energy flow, just like your blood. Center yourself and pull. Don't force it, let it come naturally. And then..."

Within Gohan's cupped hands, a small sphere of Ki flared to life. It pulsed with power and with warmth and Gohan smiled. It took a few moments longer, but then Erasa managed to do the same. Her Ki sphere had developed into a much larger, healthier orb compared to the first time she had done it with Ms. Lazuli. Erasa loved her teacher, but it was pretty obvious that Gohan knew a lot more about this than she did.

Meanwhile, Erasa and Sharpner both tried again to summon their living Ki. Videl's face tensed like she was trying to lift a heavy load. Sharpner's shoulders locked up like he was preparing to swing a baseball bat. Both tried and, to Videl's frustration and Sharpner's disappointment, both of them failed yet again.

Videl snapped, screaming in frustration. "Damn it! What the hell am I doing wrong?!"

Sharpner sighed, leaning back and scratching the back of his head. "Hey, Gohan, Erasa! Are you two sure this isn't just some trick you're trying to pull?"

Videl pounded her fist against the ground. "It's not a trick! It just doesn't make any damn sense! How am I meant to pull something out without any force when it's so clearly stuck?!"

Erasa sighed. "Calm down. Calm down. This isn't something you're immediately good at, Videl. When Miss Lazuli was teaching me, I thought she was just messing with me for quite a while. Mr. Krillin was actually the one to help us fine tune the process."

Videl glared at her. "Then explain to me exactly what you did!"

Gohan cut the conversation off. "Nope! We've done all the explaining we can do here. I suppose there's some kind of crude, technical explanation for it... but I guarantee you'll never fully figure it out like that. This is something that needs to come to you naturally, Videl. Naturally. And then, once you understand the fundamentals, it'll be as easy as can be to teach you the actual technique of Sky Dancing."

Sharpner frowned. "You make it sound so easy. Tell me, dork, how'd you come across this so naturally?"

Gohan spoke without thinking. "Master Piccolo left me in the wilderness for 6 months and told me wild animals would eat me if I didn't learn."

The other three went silent, their eyes going just a bit wide. Gohan sighed. "I'm... not even going to try and backpedal on that one."

Videl thoughtfully stroked her chin. "Damn it. We don't have 6 months."

Sharpner flinched. "Are you nuts?! I'm not becoming a wilderness survivor!"

Gohan chuckled, a small bead of sweat rolling down his face. "N-No need to go through all of that. It's actually been a lot more common for people to naturally discover their Ki recently. It's kinda the basis of Mr. Carmine's research. People are discovering their own innate power more and more often since around the time Cell died and the attack on Gyosan Mane happened. He thinks it's a form of natural evolution that the Earth is going through due to an excess of perilous trauma..."

Sharpner's eye went half-lidded. "He thinks that Cell gave people superpowers...?"

Erasa shrugged. "It sorta makes sense. I mean... all those people Cell killed suddenly rose from the dead."

Gohan crossed his arms, falling flat onto his back and staring at the clouds. At first, his friends just stared at him. But then, Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner fell over like a sequence of dominos into the grass. Gohan was silent for a while, but then he spoke. "If I'm being honest, I'm trying to find a way to help this along without having to get any sort of trauma involved. Ki is a response the body provides toward a problem that standard strength and conditioning wouldn't be able to fix. It's a natural phenomenon that results from very unnatural circumstances."

Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner all nodded along as Gohan continued. "... I learned to use mine to avoid a grizzly death alone in the wilderness. I wanted to be able to ward off danger and protect myself. Erasa learned to access hers through heartbreak. Our relationship ending left her spirit in a vulnerable state and it allowed her to access deeper strength to steady herself."

Gohan winced as he realized what he said out loud with said person right near him. He looked over at Erasa. "Sorry."

She winked and blew a kiss. "I'm, like, 40% over it."

He sat up. "Maybe we could make it work the other way?"

Videl and Sharpner both sat up as well. Sharpner cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

Gohan sighed. "Maybe, instead of reducing the discovery of Ki to negative trauma, we could pull from a more positive source. Perhaps, if we focused on your desires, your joys, and maybe even your life goals, that would give you the extra push you need to access it."

Sharpner snorted. "So, what? You're saying the key to... Ki... is that Videl and I might just have to believe in ourselves? That's so..."

Gohan looked at him. "So what?"

Sharpner wanted to call the idea childish. But, as the sentiment crested the tip of his tongue, he just as quickly swallowed it back down. Videl's face was quite a bit more sour. "Believe in ourselves, eh?"

Videl and Sharpner lowered their heads again, and began to focus once more on the strength within. Gohan leaned down to Erasa. "Hey, there's not a lot more than I can really do here. Would you mind watching them while I go spar with my little brother? He's excited about the tournament too..."

Erasa looked past Gohan at the bored, lounging Goten. She smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "Keep your phone turned up. I'll call if we need you."

Gohan nodded and smiled. "Thanks, Erasa!"

Elsewhere on Mt. Paozu…

Goku hurdled through the air, his eyes shut tight, and deftly dodged around three shrieking Destructo-Discs. Rotating mid-air, he turned and tossed out a punch which Krillin smoothly slid under. The monk, his eyes also tightly sealed, charged at Goku and threw a punch.

Goku caught it and threw one back, which Krillin also caught. While blind, the two warriors were having enough fun with this spar that they smiled right into each other's faces before giving a shove to create some distance. Krillin back flipped and landed on his feet, holding up a single finger and drawing all three Destructo-Discs back to himself. The three attacks fused into one massive attack and Krillin sighed. "Man, you and Yamcha and Tien run off to the afterlife and I'm suddenly lagging behind! Not cool!"

Goku laughed. "Lagging? Pfft. You're keeping up better than I ever would have expected. I thought all cops did was eat donuts~"

Krillin jabbed a finger at Goku. "H-Hey! Sometimes I drink coffee too!"

Goku smirked and stretched his shoulders. "So, how's your daughter?"

Krillin smiled as well. "She's having a fun extended sleepover with her cousins while 18 and I train."

There was a small beat and then both laughed out loud. Suddenly, Goku and Krillin were twelve again and standing on the sands surrounding Kame House. Goku sighed. "Remember our last match? At the 22nd Tournament?"

Krillin nodded. "Yeah. That was the last time I really put my all into a fight where the other person wasn't trying to kill me. I miss fun fights like that."

Goku nodded. "I imagine that the people you chase on the job aren't just out for a good time."

The two charged and engaged in a rapid-fire exchange of blows. Krillin caught both of Goku's fists and locked his friend's arms in place. "Yeah, not really! But none of them have ever been as good a shot as Launch, so I've never really felt like I was in real danger!"

Goku forced himself out of the lock, taking a swinging kick at Krillin's head and wildly missing as Krillin managed to duck. Goku leapt back and threw a kick. "So why go out of your way to keep up, then? Don't get me wrong, I like my rivals to be strong, but you could just relax!"

Krillin held up the Destructo-Disc like a shield, and the bottom of Goku's boot briefly connected before pulling back , then he smirked. "And miss out on a chance of getting my win if I ever get the chance to fight you? Fat chance!"

Krillin charged up and kicked Goku in the gut. Goku felt the wind blow out of his lungs and coughed. Krillin went for a punch and Goku caught it. Again, the two warriors were smiling as if they had just started their training at the very beginning. Goku and Krillin, two disciples of the Legendary Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi.

Goku chuckled. "You think I'm going to let you take me down like that?"

Krillin grinned wide. "Nah. But you're not the only one who went out of his way to learn Master Roshi's most prized techniques behind his back~! Your grandpa and Annin are no more than a field trip with Fortuneteller Baba away!"

Goku's eyes snapped open. "So...?"

Krillin's snapped open as well. "So, you'd better hope that Vegeta or Piccolo tire me out on the way to the finals, Goku!"

And then the two warriors charged at one another, getting back to their spar with renewed vigor.

Back with Videl, Sharpner, and Erasa…

Videl sat on the ground with a look of shock and fury frozen on her face. She certainly wasn't angry at the person she was staring at, but she was genuinely livid.

Sharpner was floating in the air, if a tad uncertainly. He pumped his legs, almost toppling himself over before quickly correcting and regaining his balance. He laughed out loud and pumped his fists. "Holy crap! Erasa! Videl! Look! I'm flying!"

Erasa chuckled and pumped her fist in the air. "Hell yeah, Sharpner! Way to go, buddy!"

Videl couldn't form words, her hands curled into fists and ripped grass from the ground like she was ripping out the Earth's hair. Sharpner tottered around in the air before eventually shambling to the ground below. Erasa went running to check on her friend. Videl stiffly stood and half-walked, half-stomped over to the other two.

Sharpner was breathing heavily, as if he'd just run a marathon. "I dunno how Gohan makes that look so easy. I... I feel like I just finished an entire training camp..."

Erasa nodded, patting Sharpner on the back. "Yeah. It's intense when you're first doing it. But it gets easier the more you do it."

Videl stepped up and both of her friends turned to her. Sharpner was still breathing hard, but he shot a shaky thumbs-up. Videl forced a smile and shot a thumbs up back. Once more, she had to reassure herself that she wasn't angry at Sharpner. "G-Great job, Sharpner."

Erasa flinched and frowned. She started to say something when another voice entered the conversation. "Hey, guys! I saw someone flying while I was heading over!"

The three teens turned to see Gohan's sister flying over, a plate of cookies and a pitcher of lemonade with glasses for everyone sitting on top of a nice-looking bamboo tray. Chika set the tray down and beamed as her brother's friends came up to enjoy their midday snack. "You've been working really hard, so I thought you would like some snacks."

Videl fumed to herself that even a little child already mastered this technique to such a level, that it became a casual effort while carrying other things. Erasa bit into a cookie and instantly beamed. "Oh my gosh! These cookies are delicious~!"

Chika's eyes went really wide, sparkling like diamonds. "Y-You really like my cookie recipe?!"

Sharpner and Videl each took a cookie, and both nodded in agreement after enjoying the taste as well.

Chika blushed. "Th-Thank you~ I worked really hard trying to find the right balance of chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. D-Do you like my lemonade?"

Sharpner theatrically gasped. "You made the lemonade too?!"

Chika smiled, almost bouncing at this point. "Yeah! I really like cooking! Daddy and Gohan and Goten all like to fight and, I mean, I know how to fight too. But I like cooking better. I think it's more fun~"

The three teens all nodded along, happy to play into this lovely little girl's interests. Chika sat down, grabbing a cookie and a glass of lemonade for herself. "So, how's the flying training going?"

Sharpner shot two thumbs-up. "I've made the first step! Learned to draw out my energy and then Erasa showed me the technique. Gonna meet up with your brother later and get the rest of it down!"

Chika giggled. "Nice! Flying is complicated when you start, but it gets easier~"

That comment stung Videl. She visibly flinched and her eyes crinkled into an annoyed glare. Erasa elbowed her friend in the side and whispered. "Let's not get pissy at a child, eh?"

Videl elbowed Erasa right back. "I'm not pissy at her."

Chika frowned just a little. "Is everything okay? I didn't say something to upset you, did I?"

Videl flinched back, her eyes wide. "N-No! No sweetie! You didn't do anything wrong! I'm so sorry!"

Chika's frown didn't move. She sighed. "Are you having trouble with the flying technique?"

Videl was silent for a long moment. She stared down, a bit uncomfortably, at this little girl. The little girl stared back up at her. Then, Videl sighed. "No, not flying technique. I can't even get my Ki to come out..."

Chika stared at Videl for another long, silent moment. Then she smiled wide. "You should talk to my mama and my grandma~! I feel like they could help you figure it out!"

Videl cocked her head. "Your mama and your grandma?"

Chika nodded. "Mhm. My Mama is a good teacher. And Grandma taught her how to use her Ki. They might be able to help you out!"

Videl looked over to Erasa and Sharpner. They both shrugged. She turned and looked back at Chika, who was gathering up the used lemonade glasses onto her tray. Videl took a deep breath and then let it out. "H-Hey, Chika!"

Chika turned to her. "Yes, ma'am?"

Videl glanced away, a small blush on her cheeks. "Would you help me ask your mom for help? I'm... stuck."

Chika smiled wide. "Of course! My mama will help you! My mama loves helping people!"

Chika went flying off back to her house and Videl followed. She took one last look back at Erasa and Sharpner and they both shot an encouraging thumbs-up. Videl shot a shaky thumbs-up back and sighed. She had to figure this out somehow.

In a remote clearing on Mt. Paozu…

With a loud crack, a formerly massive boulder flew high into the air and split in two. The two halves fell to the ground with an almighty boom and kicked up a massive cloud of dust. Within that dust cloud, a silhouette raised its hands and clapped them hard. The dust cloud was blasted away, revealing Ranch standing there with a scowl on her face.

She groaned and cracked her bruised, bleeding knuckles. "Damn it. All my power and still..."

She roughly raked her hands through her hair. "... not even a hint of gold."

Ranch grinded her teeth and pictured them all. Her Uncle Goku, her Grandmother Gine, all three of her cousins, Vegeta and both his kids, and she had even heard about her Grandpa Bardock. All of them were able to perform that transformation so easily. So effortlessly. She needed to be able to stand on that platform with them. She needed to.

Ranch sat on the ground and felt the first prickling tears welling up. She roughly scrubbed her palms over her eyes, making the infernal emotions go away. She couldn't cry. She made herself agree to that. She wasn't allowed to cry. Not until she won the tournament. Not until she became a Super Saiyan. Not until...

She snarled. "Not until he loves me."

Ranch stood up and leapt toward the boulder, smashing half of it under heel and crushing the other half into rubble with a single punch. Raditz would acknowledge her. Her father would acknowledge her. No matter what she had to do, she would grab his attention. No matter what.

At Capsule Corporation…

Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze intense as his two kids stared him down. The gravity generator in the center of the Gravity Chamber hummed as it produced a hearty 80G. Vegeta refused to let it shine through, but he was proud of Trunks and Bulla both for standing straight and steady under such intense weight.

The two of them were sweating profusely, but it had nothing to do with the gravity. Vegeta turned his nose up at the two of them. "Pathetic! 4 hours of continuous effort and you can't get me to budge?!"

Vegeta's gaze flickered down to the chalk square at his feet and then back to his progeny. "What have I been spending my time doing these past 6 years?! You two can't even make me take an insignificant step backwards?! Gohan was already able to knock me off my feet when he was your age."

Bulla swiped her arm across her forehead, dismissing a waterfall of sweat. "Please, Dad, can't we take a break? This is pointless?"

Vegeta sneered. "A break?! Pointless?! When did you earn such a haughty attitude?! You can have a break once you manage the simple task I've given you! Do you understand me, Bulla Eschallot Briefs?!"

Bulla cringed. Trunks growled under his breath. "This is stupid..."

Vegeta turned his attention to his son. "Stupid, is it?! Spoiled brat. Count your lucky stars that you live such a blessed life you're allowed to call those infernal androids 'auntie' and 'uncle' rather than 'enemy'!"

Bulla scowled. "Yeah, Trunks, quit being such a whiner!"

Trunks glared at her. "You were whining too!"

Vegeta watched his kids start to bicker and he felt a vein bulge from his forehead. As the two of them started to shove each other, he spoke in his serious tone. "I'm losing my patience. You two are dangerously close to me forbidding the both of you from participating in the tournament."

Trunks and Bulla both gasped and immediately snapped into attention. Vegeta shook his head. "Now focus! One of you should be able to move me! Hell, I'll take you two working together to move me at this point!"

With that comment, Trunks and Bulla looked at one another. They shared a small, silent nod and then they both charged at their father once more. Trunks began the assault with a massive Ki blast, forming it and tossing it at Vegeta with all of his strength. Effortlessly, Vegeta batted it away. Using her brother's attack as a distraction, Bulla tried to go for a sliding kick. Very quickly, Vegeta punted her in the face and sent her crashing into a wall. Trunks charged in for another flurry of punches, but Vegeta quickly batted all of them away.

At that same moment, Bulla flashed behind her father, wiping blood from beneath her nose. She swung a heavy kick at Vegeta's head, but the Saiyan Prince effortlessly caught her by the ankle and used her to smack her brother across the room, tossing her after him and slamming them both into a heap.

Trunks and Bulla both stood up, somewhat dizzy and trying to shake the cobwebs from their heads. Vegeta rolled his eyes. "You aren't paying attention! You're letting frustration get the better of you and just charging in blind! You need to pay attention to both your opponent's movements and your allies', however subtle, and improvise on the fly!"

The two kids stood up, each taking a deep breath to calm down. They got back into their stances. Vegeta nodded. "Go!"

The two of them raced to either side of their father, charging up a familiar attack and firing simultaneously. "GALICK GUN!"

The two beams of energy shot toward Vegeta and he simply held up his hands, catching the beams and redirecting them at the opposite child. Bulla ducked her brother's beam and Trunks weaved around his sister's. Then, they both charged in and attacked again. Vegeta blocked Trunks' elbow with his knee and Bulla's knee with his elbow.

In that same instant, Bulla made her Ki pulse. The resulting shockwave propelled her into the air and over Vegeta. At the same time, Trunks dropped and slid between his father's legs. For just a moment, Vegeta was caught off guard. Trunks smirked and leapt into the air, throwing a mighty uppercut. Vegeta feinted back, throwing himself off-balance and immediately went to correct himself with a haymaker. Before he could right himself, however, Vegeta felt the weight of his daughter's leg slam into his throat and began to drive him down.

Using all the strength in his legs and back, Vegeta withstood. Bulla scoffed and grabbed Trunks by the tail, heaving him into the air. Trunks curled into a ball, drawing all his energy into his core, and then Bulla slammed him into Vegeta's stomach. Vegeta wheezed as the air was forced out of his gut. He was crashing toward the ground, just out of the chalk square. In one final act of desperation, Vegeta roared and released a medium-level Explosive Wave. The force of the Ki sent Trunks and Bulla flying, making them both crash into the ceiling. At the very last moment, Vegeta caught himself and then lunged back into the safety of the chalk perimeter.

The Saiyan Prince was actually breathing heavily. They almost got him.

After a few moments of rest, Trunks was the first to speak up. "Hey! You never said you'd use Ki attacks to save yourself, Dad!"

Vegeta smirked, rolling his eyes. "Never said I wouldn't. You kids are way too spoiled, expecting the opponent to play by your own assumed rules..."

The prince stood and stepped out of the chalk of his own accord. "... still, I must congratulate you for the effort and the teamwork. You two make one worthy warrior when you're holding each other's hand..."

Trunks and Bulla looked at each other with disgust. Vegeta scratched his chin. "Okay, I've seen enough. And, as a result, I have come to a decision."

The two kids looked up at Vegeta expectantly. In that moment, he felt such a swelling of pride for the two of them in his chest he almost knelt over and hugged them. But, he restrained himself. "The truth is, I never expected the two of you to force me out of the chalk. I wanted to see how far your determination would carry you and you have managed to surprise me. Now comes the real test."

Bulla cocked her head. "The real test?"

Vegeta nodded. "You two are roughly equal. I am impressed with your growth. You will both take an hour of rest, then return here. When you return, you will fight one another. Not spar. Fight."

Trunks flinched. "Like... FIGHT fight?!"

Vegeta nodded. "And the winner of that fight... will be the one allowed to enter the tournament."

There was a long pause, Trunks and Bulla were both dumbfounded. The boy spoke. "Wait..."

Then the girl. "... you mean..."

They shouted in unison, furious and offended and horrified all at the same time. "ONLY ONE OF US GETS TO ENTER THE TOURNAMENT?!"

Vegeta smirked. "Yes. That's exactly what I mean. The winner gets to enter the tournament. And then, if that one does well, they get all the ice cream they can eat. What do you think of that?"

Trunks and Bulla looked at one another, and then they looked up at their father. And then, they both opened their mouths to speak.

Back on Mt. Paozu, Gohan's house…

Videl sat at the kitchen table, her hands folded in her lap and watching as Chi-Chi did her work. This woman was clearly a master in the kitchen, chopping vegetables so neatly without a moment wasted and eyeing contributions to a stock without so much as a measurement.

As she neatly cleaved through a large shank of pork, Chi-Chi spoke. "So, Chika tells me you're having trouble accessing your Ki?"

Videl nodded. "Y-Yeah..."

Chi-Chi tossed garlic, onions, several fragrant herbs, and four large pork bones into a pot of boiling water. "Don't sound so down about that. Ki is tough. It took my mother-in-law a while to help me understand what exactly I was missing when I tried to access mine."

Chi-Chi scratched at the base of her horns. Videl cocked her head. "Forgive me if I'm being insensitive, but..."

The housewife answered without even looking at the teenager. "Yes. They're real."

Videl nodded. "Chika's too?"

Chi-Chi nodded as well. "Yes."

Hearing the slight shift of tone in Chi-Chi's voice, Videl dropped the subject. Instead, she went back to the original subject. "I feel like a failure. Gohan and his dad are one thing, I get that the twins were basically raised on learning the skill, but Sharpner and Erasa both got this so easily. And they aren't even fighters. I just... am I just not-"

A chair scraped across the floor. Videl looked up and Chi-Chi was sitting there, texting on her phone. She finished her text and put the phone down, looking Videl in the eyes. "Do yourself a favor and stop right there. You can't compare yourself to others in something like this, Videl. Sure, your friends are having an easier time! But that's just them working with what they naturally have!"

Videl flinched back. "Wh-What do you mean by that?"

Chi-Chi crossed her arms and shrugged. "I don't know. I barely know you teens, but it could be a lot of things. Maybe you just have more weighing down on you spiritually. Maybe... you just have more that you're trying to pull out?"

Videl's eyes went wide. The door in the kitchen opened and she and Chi-Chi turned to see Gohan's grandmother marching into the kitchen. She smiled and waved. "Hi, Videl~"

Without waiting for an invitation, Gine walked around the table and sat in a chair next to her daughter-in-law. She smiled. "Chi-Chi tells me that you're having a bit of trouble accessing your Ki. So, I'm here to help."

Then, Chika walked into the kitchen as well. She walked over the last empty chair in the room, sitting next to Videl and smiling warmly. Gine continued. "So, I hate to dig into your personal business..."

Videl tensed and Gine's gaze registered that immediately. She lowered a voice just a bit, adopting a slightly more soothing tone. "You've had a pretty tough life, right? At least, recently?"

For a moment, Videl was silent. Then, she spoke in a forcibly even tone. "I guess you could say that, yeah. I got hurt because I was dumb. I caused a lot of people to worry by being dumb. My father and his personal assistant are both still walking on eggshells, even now..."

Gine looked over to Chi-Chi. Chi-Chi closed her eyes with a sigh. "And your mother, right?"

Videl shuddered. "H-How...?"

Chi-Chi smiled. "The two of us have been moms for a while now, sweetie. We are both pretty tuned in for how to read when our kids are upset. Neither of us is your mother, but the instinct is still there."

Gine chimed in. "Also... we were both on Gyosan Mane Island for that hideous little festival X.S. Cash put on."

Videl grimaced. "Fat fuck..."

She gasped. "I-I'm sorry! That wasn't a good thing to say in front of-"

Chi-Chi and Gine both burst out laughing. Videl stopped for a moment, then she smiled. These two seemed to understand her. Gine sighed. "Sweetheart, we've seen some miserable people in our lives. You don't have to worry about expressing disgust at the miserable people in yours."

Videl couldn't help but smile. "Th-Thanks..."

With Videl a bit more at ease, Gine continued. "So, I hate to admit it, but I spied on you guys during my walk a bit earlier. I heard everything that Gohan told you. And he's got it... mostly right."

Videl nodded. Gine continued. "... Here's the difference between you and everyone else who learned this, though. You, Videl, have quite a bit of emotional baggage that is specifically weighing you down."

Videl frowned. "Is that... really all it is?"

Chi-Chi nodded. "Seems like it. And, Dende-above bless my poor son, he genuinely seems to have no idea how to bring that up to you. Partly because I think he's scared of driving you away, and partly because the person who taught him how to fly is the type to disregard such things..."

Videl sneered. "Gohan's teacher sounds like a prick."

Gine and Chi-Chi looked at one another, sharing a small, silent conversation. Gine turned back to the teen. "He's gotten a lot better over time."

Chi-Chi sighed. "The point is that this is something that can be fixed and you seem like the kind of girl who can tackle the challenge head-on. You clearly have aptitude for this sort of thing, you just need someone who has had similar experiences to guide you..."

Videl glanced away. "... and where would I find someone like that?"

Another short silence, then Chi-Chi spoke up. "My mother was killed in front of me. It started with her dropping me while I was in her arms."

Videl's head jerked toward Chi-Chi with an audible crack. She hurriedly searched Chi-Chi's entire face for any sign of dishonesty and found none. Chi-Chi smiled. "It's a hard life to live, right? So much that you realize you had left to say and no way to say it. And no method or magic you've found in the world can give you that chance back..."

As Videl and Chi-Chi looked one another in the eye, Gine stood up. "Chika, dear! I think you and I are going to have to handle dinner!"

Chika giggled, standing up. "Yes, Grandma!"

Videl looked up at the older woman. Gine smiled a warm, motherly smile. "I think you and Chi-Chi will be able to figure this out, dear. Don't lose faith in yourself. You've got this~"

As grandmother and granddaughter marched from the table to the stove and got to work cooking, Videl swallowed a small lump in her throat. Then Chi-Chi stood up as well, motioning toward the door. "Come on. Let's go find that spark of yours."

Wordlessly, Videl followed her new instructor outside.

Mt. Paozu, Gohan's backyard…

Videl watched as Gohan's mom undid her shawl and shrugged off the top of her qipao, letting it drop to her waist. In spite of herself, Videl couldn't help but let one tiny outburst free. "Holy shit."

Videl was left truly amazed by the sight of this middle-aged, retired, mother of three. This woman was not only beautiful and deceptively young-looking, but she was a built and stacked as a log cabin.

It was clear to Videl from Chi-Chi's firm shoulders that she was fit, but Videl had simply attributed that to life as a housewife in the mountains. Upon Chi-Chi shrugging off the top part of her dress, however, Videl's opinion instantly changed.

While not that much larger than Videl, and still well in the parameters of slender with feminine in shape, Chi-Chi's physique was clearly toned with noticeable mass in a distinctly athletic musculature. Her back was broad. Her chest was firm. Her arms were very well-lined. Looking at the domestic mother's slim and flat waistline, Videl could make out the outline of her abs beneath the fabric of her undershirt.

For just a flash of a thought, Videl realized that this was more or less the woman that she wanted to grow up to be. Chi-Chi half-lidded her eyes. "You're looking at me like my husband does~"

Videl shuddered. "S-S-Sorry! I don't mean to stare! I-"

Once again, Chi-Chi laughed. "I'm only kidding, dear. Don't be so jumpy. Actually, I'm glad to know I still got it~"

Chi-Chi took a deep breath, cupping her hands right next to her stomach. "Ki generation is about focusing your energy flow into a single point and letting it flow out naturally. For this, the conscious mind and the subconscious mind must both be free of worry and strife."

Taking a hint, Videl followed Chi-Chi's motions. "R-Right."

Chi-Chi nodded. "Your form is excellent, but you aren't really following directions."

Videl flinched. Chi-Chi chuckled. "I hate to give Piccolo credit, but he chose the correct method for teaching this to Gohan, I think. My son is a worrywart at heart. He got that from me, unfortunately. By leaving Gohan to his own devices for a few months, he allowed his young mind to be more at ease. To occasionally forget the dire circumstances that were waiting at the end of that long year. That's the key to using Ki."

Videl cocked her head. "I'm not following..."

Chi-Chi took a deep breath, after a moment Videl aped that as well. They both let it out simultaneously. Chi-Chi spoke calmly. "Close your eyes."

Videl did as she was told. Chi-Chi continued. "Picture your mother's face. Hear her voice."

Both women did so, the images of Miguel singing and Chika Sr. talking to her cows appearing respectively in each of their minds. Videl's hands began to lightly tremble. "What... now?"

Chi-Chi's breathing was still even. "Picture yourself saying whatever it is you want to say to her. Don't say it out loud, that's for you and nobody else to know. Just... imagine."

Videl fell silent. Chi-Chi slightly cracked one eye and gazed sadly at quite a familiar sight. The outer Videl, the one this girl had manufactured to simply exist day-to-day, was gone. The Videl standing there now was the little girl that existed 7 years ago. The little girl that had been told news no little girl needed to hear. Videl's jaw trembled. Tears were welling in her eyes. "Wh-What now...?"

Chi-Chi sighed. "This is the hardest part. Are you ready?"

Videl nodded. Chi-Chi took a deep breath and then spoke as she let it out. "Let her go."

Silence. Chi-Chi heard Videl's breath stop. She continued, picturing her own mother in her head. She watched with quite a bit of wistful sadness as Chika Sr. smiled at her. Then, with a wave, the Gyuhime turned and she and her pet cows walked away. Chi-Chi's tone and emotions remained even. "Videl, dear, we never forget those we've lost. When you let people into your heart, it's impossible to drive them out. You're allowed to remember her. You're allowed to miss her. You're allowed to cry if it gets to be too much. But..."

A ball of Ki burst into Chi-Chi's cupped hands, warm and radiant and pulsating with life. "... you have to let go. You can't live in the past, or you will never be able to grow."

Videl whimpered. "You say that like it's easy..."

Chi-Chi shook her head. "I do not. Easy is being born with a natural talent for this. Easy is being able to afford to be carefree. Not to say that those with a natural, newborn affinity for this live-easy lives... Vegeta, Piccolo, Bardock, and so many others are all examples of that..."

Videl started to tremble. Chi-Chi spoke with a smile in her voice. "... but that's just something people like us share that they'll never be allowed to comprehend. People like you, me, and Gohan are those that have been forced to try just a bit harder for what we have, Videl. It's something to take pride in, it's a hurdle you can always say you've jumped, it's... doing your mother proud. I lived through something that should have locked me away from this power..."

Videl pictured her mother in her mind, singing and full of life. Miguel looked at her and she stared at Miguel. The deceased pop star smiled, leaning down and kissing Videl on the forehead just like she did so long ago. She gently wiped Videl's tears away and then, with one last loving smile, Miguel turned and she walked away. Videl's eyes popped open at the exact same moment a golden flash erupted from her cupped hands. She looked down and stared at it, this pulsing, bright thing in her hands.

Chi-Chi smiled, a musical tone to her voice. "... and then I pulled it out anyway~"

Life, love, luster.

Ki.

Videl took a deep, shaking breath in and then felt a hand clapped down on her shoulder. She looked up into Chi-Chi's smiling face. The older woman chuckled. "See? Easy. Now that you've got that feeling, never lose it. That feeling is how you access that power..."

Videl was blushing. Her breathing heavy. Without even realizing, there were huge, hot tears pouring down her face. "Thank you. This is..."

Videl held her Ki in her hand as if it were a delicate thing. She couldn't stop staring at it. Chi-Chi smiled warmly. "Now then, my daughter and mother-in-law have kicked me out of my own kitchen. So, seeing as I have some free time on my hands, why don't I just teach you how to fly?"

In a training field within the Royal Nature Preserve…

Androids 17 and 18 both charged toward Android 16, each going for a brutal strike of their own. 17 aimed a kick at 16's neck. 18 threw a piercing punch towards 16's chest. 16 sighed and slapped both attacks away, leaping back and avoiding every blow that came thereafter. 16 observed his two friends' attacks with a cold, calculating glare. He had to give the two of them this much: they were relentless. The two rushed in again and 16 finally undertook a counterattack, seizing both twins by the throat, heaving them into the air, and then slamming them harshly into the ground.

17 and 18 both laid there, stunned and a bit out of it. 16 sighed and marched a few yards away, sitting in a heavy-duty camping chair and picking up a mystery thriller novel he had been working on the past few days. A few paragraphs later, he heard approaching footsteps and looked up to see 17 and 18 approaching him. 17 groaned. "Shit, dude, you still hit like a truck. And here I thought 18 and I would overtake you eventually. But... you're still improving. I mean... how? You're completely synthetic."

16 smirked. "Since Bulma upgraded me with nanites, I have been able to consistently improve my output and performance through combat review and self-modification."

18 cracked her neck, gently sipping from her sports bottle. "So... you Saiyaned yourself?"

16 looked to the sky, as if really thinking about it. "Indeed. I 'Saiyaned' myself, less the need to endure great struggles or injuries first to improve."

18 set her bottle down. "Okay. Okay. Looks like we gotta get serious, 17."

17 stretched his shoulders and nodded. "Yep. Serious Mode."

16 sighed and clapped his book shut, setting it down and standing up himself. 17 cocked his head. "Hey, buddy, the question does pose: why don't you join the tournament?"

16 was blunt. "Don't wanna."

18 chuckled. "Such a bluntly human answer. You're doing fantastic, 16~"

16 smiled. "Thank you."

The hulking Android raised his arms high and blasted out two streams of nanites, forming a high metal cage around the surrounding perimeter and producing an energy barrier to fill in the gaps. 17 comically raised his hands up. "Hey now, officer! I didn't do it! And you didn't read me my rights!"

16 rolled his eyes. "This cage is to prevent crimes. I would hate to hurt an innocent tree with flames or lightning."

17 and 18 both smirked, and then they both flashed like a miniature sun. 16 shielded his eyes and, once his vision cleared, he saw one friend crackling blue with electricity and the other one burning yellow with flames. 16 nodded and removed his Capsule Corp hoodie. Then, with a flex of his arms, 16's skin turned slate gray, his eyes turning golden yellow. 17 and 18 flinched. 17 cried out. "What the hell is this?!"

16 blew a jet of pressurized steam out of his mouth. "I call it Strongarm Mode."

18 smirked. "Turboblaze."

17 chuckled. "Terravolt."

16 sighed. "Strongarm."

There was a serious moment of silence between the three. And then, when none of them could hold it in any longer, they all burst out laughing.

17 wiped a tear from his cheek. "I still can't believe how our lives turned out. My god, Lazuli, we're married. We're, like, MARRIED!"

18 stifled a laugh. "Don't call me Lazuli, Lapis!"

16 held his gut. "You're both so childish. How did you find such agreeable spouses?"

They shouted back. "SHUT UP, GEBO!"

And again, a hearty round of laughter broke out. Once that subsided, the three of them shared one long, hard sigh. And the 17 and 18 charged right at 16. 16 held up his slate gray arms in defense and blocked a sizzling kick and a sparking punch from his Android counterparts. He easily shoved them both back and then pounded both fists against his chest. "Come! Come and break yourselves over the mountain!"

17 scoffed. "Oh! He's confident!"

18 adopted a devilish smile. "Let's beat his ass!"

And then, to 16's surprise, the twins each held up their hands and produced a weapon. 17 summoned a lightning bolt into his hand that took the shape of a massive trident. 18 formed a bow and sparked 5 arrows to life as she drew the string back. The arrows shot at 16 faster than bullets could dream, and he quickly went to defend himself, punching and dispelling four of them with practically no effort. The fifth one pierced into the ground at his feet and the stone turned to liquid.

16 leapt into the air and immediately had to fall back to avoid a crackling trident stabbing into his chest. He spun around and his fist crashed into 17's cheek, sending the smaller Android flying and crashing into the cage wall. 16 landed with a thud and cracked his neck. "I see you've learned to make weapons from your lightning and fire abilities?"

18 nodded. "Yup. And here I thought Vegeta teaching me Ki control was just a waste of time!"

Manipulating her Ki, 18 formed a dozen more flame arrows and shot them at her friend. 16 clapped his hands and made them burst apart. She groaned. "They're so fragile though. Gotta work on that."

17 leapt back into the scene, stabbing the prongs of his trident into the ground and making the soil beneath their feet hum. "No one said it would be easy for you and me to master Ki techniques. But we'll keep working on it."

16 cocked his head. "Is weaponry allowed in the World Martial Arts Tournament, though? I do not believe that is the case."

Both the younger Androids flinched. They looked at one another, somewhat dumbfounded, and then groaned. "Shit."

And, like that, the bow and the trident sparked out of existence. 16 crossed his arms. "They were both valid techniques. I am sure they will see use before you know it."

He adopted a fighting stance. "Now then..."

17 and 18 charged at 16 with renewed vigor, exchanging blows with their larger comrade and managing to keep him on the backfoot. 17's reaction time was more than superhuman, it was supernatural. In 16's own estimation, he was making lightning look slow. Every punch and kick came accompanied by an ear-splitting sonic screech. 18's attacks, while much slower, were hellaciously powerful. Each burst of white-hot flame sheared by 16, singing his metal skin and blackening the tips of his hair. 18 leapt above him, forming a miniature sun in her hands. "Phoenix Burst!"

The crackling hell orb descended on 16 like a lunatic firework. 16 gripped his fist tight and plunged his fist into the flame, making it break apart with a thunderous explosion, destroying the fireball and the Android's hand along with it. 16 scoffed and quickly regenerated his lost appendage.

The two of them resumed their attacks afresh, 16 on the backfoot once more. As he sparred with the two, he began to talk once more. "So, why are you two so eager to win this anyway? Aren't you both still rich?"

17 caught a clubbing punch from 16, straining under the massive Androids brawny strength. "I mean...yeah. But this is about more than wealth, man. This is about bragging rights!"

18 lashed out with a burning kick, which 16 took on the cheek. She flinched when he didn't budge and seized her ankle. As 16 lassoed her around in the air, 18 cried out. "THEEEEE MOOONEY IIIIIIIS NIIIIIICE!"

16 slammed 18 on top of her brother, smashing them both into the ground. 18 groaned, dizzy and disoriented. "... ugh... but, like... maybe we also just wanna prove Gero, Dan, and Moonwater wrong..."

17 pushed himself up, shoving 18 off to the side. "Two of them thought we were worthless. One thought we were only useful as mindless weapons. This gives us a chance to prove both of those things wrong. All three of them can look up from Hell and see me or 18 holding that belt. Then they can go back to burning knowing they're wrong."

18 shook her head, still groaning. "Erasa and I have been working double-time to make sure our casefiles are all completed and filed away before the tournament. That girl is a godsend."

17 nodded. "Same for Trixie, watching all the kids while I screw around like this. I owe her a nice dinner and a bottle of wine...after the baby is born I mean…"

Squatting down for another quick break, 16 couldn't help but smile as he listened to his two comrades discuss such mundane things. 18 flinched. "Wh-Why the hell are you smiling at us like that?!"

16 chuckled. "It's... I'm just proud of the people you two have become. That's all."

17 cocked his head. "Meaning?"

16 continued. "Happily married. Happily employed. As far as I'm concerned, Gero and your parents were proven wrong a long time ago."

The two Androids flinched, their faces turning bright red. Sheepishly, they both shied away from their larger counterparts. "Sh-Shut up..."

16 stood and turned away, sneaking a quick look back over his shoulder to catch 17 and 18 both smiling a small, contented smile. He cracked his neck. "Well, if you are both back on your feet, then I suppose we can continue."

He turned and took on a fighting stance. "COME AT ME!"

A confident gleam returning to their eyes, 17 and 18 were happy to oblige as they both charged at 16 once more.

In the mountains, the New Crane School Temple…

Chiaotzu summoned a dozen energy spheres and launched them Tien's way all at once. The three-eyed warrior was deft in his evasion, dodging and flipping every which way to avoid taking any serious damage. Spotting an opening amid the array of attacks, Tien caught one of the energy sphere's midair and tossed it into another one nearby. The resulting chain reaction caused all the attacks to explode at once.

And then, it was Tien's turn to retaliate. He launched himself at Chiaotzu and then, before his comrade could react, feinted behind him and threw a mighty punch. Chiaotzu smirked, a sparkle appearing next to his eye, and turned just as Tien's fist bounced off a psychic shield. As Tien was shocked by the recoil damage he felt, Chiaotzu smirked. "I call that move Detect!"

The smaller fighter reared his head back. "Now! Zen Headbutt!"

Chiaotzu's head gonged against Tien's and the taller warrior felt every sensation in his body disorient. He needed a moment to recover, so he desperately grabbed Chiaotzu by the shirt and heaved him high into the air. Without looking, Tien aimed his finger into the sky and fired. "DODON BARRAGE!"

Chiaotzu scoffed and quickly began to dodge the oncoming attacks. Tien shook his head, trying to shake loose the cobwebs, but then suddenly found himself frozen in place. Barely able to shift his eyes, Tien glanced over and saw another Chiaotzu standing off to the side. His friend had used the Multi-Form Technique to launch a paralyzing psychic pulse from Tien's blindspot. Tien growled. "Blast it."

The shorter warrior chuckled. "I know I'm never going to be able to fully catch up to you guys! But, strength isn't just lifting and throwing and punching! I'm gonna win that tournament, Tien! Or, at least, make all of you play hell to win!"

Chiaotzu shouted. "Kaioken Times Four!"

And then he shot forward, another Zen Headbutt charged and ready to pulse directly into Tien's brain. Tien chuckled. "I appreciate your fire, my friend."

Then, the Multi-Form vanished. Chiaotzu gasped and skidded to a stop in midair. He nervously looked around. "Huh? What?! When did-"

Tien burst from the ground, chopping Chiaotzu in the ribs and sending him crashing into a wall. The little warrior crashed into a heap, the rubble from the structure covering him up quite neatly. However, the pile of rubble immediately exploded out and Chiaotzu sat up, looking annoyed. "Damn it! How did I not notice that it was a Multi-Form clone?!"

Tien chuckled. "You've allowed your eye to become quite lazy it seems, my friend! Water break and then back at it?"

Chiaotzu stood with force. "Water break and then back at it!"

On the sidelines, the New Crane School disciples all sat down, enjoying a cup of afternoon tea. Watching their two instructors towel off and drink water, the ten younger martial artists all came to the same conclusion: a thousand years of training would never make them monsters on the level of Master Tien and Master Chiaotzu.

Back at Mt. Paozu, Gohan's backyard…

Videl was in genuine awe as she stared at the 20 meters of space between her and the ground. Being this high up was unbelievably disorienting, but she was still ecstatic to have made it this far up at all. "H-Holy crap! Look at me! I'm flying!"

Chi-Chi was beaming, her arms crossed over her chest. For just a moment, Videl was envious of how much more effortlessly Chi-Chi was keeping balance than she was... but then Videl remembered once more that she was freaking flying and that envy disappeared like a handful of sand in a harsh gust. Videl tottered to and fro, extremely aware of every slight breeze that passed her by. "O-Okay... so how do I control it from here?"

Chi-Chi nodded. "Now that is a bit more complicated. The basics of this technique are simple: you are using your Ki as a propellant to keep yourself afloat. Everything from here is learning how to position your body for flight and how to increase Ki output to maintain or drive-up speed. It's kinda like driving a car; over time, you just learn how to instinctually multi-task these various mechanics to get where you want to go. You've got the hardest part down, next comes the technical work."

Videl nodded. "R-Right. Good thing there's still a couple weeks until the tournament..."

Videl began to kick her legs, perhaps as a nervous tick. Chi-Chi flinched. "H-Hey! Be careful!"

Videl shuddered. "Wh-What?! Am I-"

Having lost focus, Videl began to plummet to the ground, screaming all the way. Chi-Chi gasped. "OH MY GOD!"

She immediately gave chase, but was not fast enough. To Chi-Chi's relief, someone else caught Videl. The poor girl hadn't realized she'd been saved, her eyes squeezed shut and a terrified scream still ringing out. After a moment, a voice spoke and Videl fell silent. "Hey... you're okay. Stop screaming."

Her eyes popped open and, for a second, Videl thought that it was Gohan who had caught her. But then, she realized that was not the case. This man was much taller than her, his face slightly chubby and his hair very much longer. He was dressed in a crisp, designer suit and Videl could feel what was most likely an expensive watch digging into her back. They landed on the ground as softly as a feather and Videl cleared her throat. "Th-Thanks. Sorry..."

The older gentleman shrugged. "Everyone is new at something once."

Chi-Chi landed shortly after, sounding winded and still a tad frantic. "Oh! Oh my god! Thanks, Raditz! You're a lifesaver!"

This man, Raditz, shrugged. "Just passing through. Can't let someone fall to their death, after all."

Videl smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Raditz. How are you? I haven't seen you since Gohan's birthday."

Raditz nodded. "Just 'Raditz' is fine. To the business world, Son Raditz, proprietor of the Son Agricultural Corporation, a subsidiary of Capsule Corp. On Mt. Paozu, I'm just another everyday guy."

He held out his hand and Videl took it. As they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, she sized him up. This man was strong once. In the present, in addition to his rounder physique, his eyes were overcast, as if he had just been told a busload of family members toppled off the edge of a cliff. But, apart from his round face and belly, there was still some noticeable muscle about his upper-body. His handshake was firm in a way that suggested he feared delivering a weak one. He was definitely strong once. In a way, Videl almost pitied the person that had been cocooned in this person in front of her. She was willing to bet he was pretty great.

She shook her head, mentally kicking herself. That was no way to think about someone who had just saved her life. "Again, thanks for catching me. So... you're a company president?"

Raditz shrugged. "Formerly. I'm a VP on the Capsule Corp board of directors after selling to Bulma. It's all pretty boring, but her research allows us to innovate and explore new methods of producing the vegetables we grow here in the rich Paozu soil. And it allows us to explore new venues for our agricultural stock without fear of financial reprisal..."

Raditz looked Videl in the eye. He could see she was polite, listening intently when everything he was saying was boring her to tears. He adopted what he thought was a warm smile, but was pretty crooked and quite unhappy to the outside observer. "We're researching another technology I used in my previous work to see if it's possible to grow workers for menial, agricultural related tasks. I'm thinking of calling them Farmbamen. Or maybe Agrimen. We're... work-shopping names..."

Videl looked mildly disgusted at the thought. Chi-Chi sighed. "Raditz, I don't think you're hooking her into the conversation."

Raditz nodded. "I can see that. I need to be on my way anyhow..."

The business Saiyan turned and began to plod off in the direction of his house. Videl called after him. "Th-Thanks again for saving my life!"

Raditz shot a weak thumbs-up and then disappeared over the rolling hills. Chi-Chi clapped her hand down on Videl's shoulder. "More practice? Or would you like to rest for the day?"

Videl sighed. "R-Rest might do me some good. I'm thinking I might go search for Gohan to let him know that I figured it out."

Chi-Chi smiled. "Okay. Just keep in mind, if you ever need further guidance, you know where I live."

Videl politely nodded. "Yes, ma'am! Thank you again!"

And then, she ran off in search of Gohan.

In the Northern Continent, near Jingle Village…

A harsh winter wind was blowing, practically shredding the needles off the sturdy pines, and yet the lone wolf and his cub dashed through with wild intensity. Yamcha boosted off the trunk of a nearby tree, his claws at the ready, and met his daughter in a furious clash. Yamcha growled, his Fierce Red Wolf form mirrored by Koriocha. He smiled. "Do I ever tell you just how proud I am of you, sweetie?"

Koriocha giggled, adjusting her sweater. "Every day, Dad!"

Yamcha held up his hand, summoning a Spirit Ball into his palm. "Now, I'm gonna chase you with this Spirit Ball for 30 minutes. Think you can go that long without getting hit?"

Koriocha smiled wide, shooting two massive thumbs-up. "YOU BET!"

Yamcha nodded. "Excellent! 30 minutes of evasion, 30 more minutes of sparring, and then we go and enjoy some of Mama's awesome deer meat stew!"

Koriocha cheered. "YEAH~!"

And then Yamcha tossed his Spirit Ball and Koriocha began to evade!

On Kami's Lookout…

Piccolo hovered in the air, his lotus position fully locked in. His eyes were comfortably closed, no sign of pressure or strain on his face. Within his head, however, Piccolo was furiously at work in the middle of a mental spar. Semi-transparent ghosts glided along the tiles of the Lookout, exchanging blows and studying their foe.

On one side, Piccolo landed with an agile grace, his aggressive posture ready to launch another assault right away. On the other hand, Nail's more conservative pose gave off the energy of a fighter ready to attack or defend as the situation demanded. At first, it shocked Piccolo when he realized so long ago that these Namekians still existed in the deepest recesses of his subconscious. But, at this point, they had become his method to train no matter the circumstance.

Piccolo smirked. "It's amazing to me that you've managed to maintain such a skill level just sitting around in my mind all day."

Nail nodded. "Your experience is mine, brother. The sons of Planet Namek all move as one, whether separate or together."

Piccolo charged again and Nail was prepared to meet his attack, blocking Piccolo's furious strike and responding with one of equal measure. Sitting on a nearby step, the transparent spirit of Kami smiled warmly. "For what little worth my opinion is to you, Piccolo, I do truly admire the man you've become. Independent and brash, but overall good-natured."

Piccolo shot a sour look in Kami's direction. "Are you still here? You really just can't stop trying to help people, even when they don't want it."

Kami flinched, before smirking. "Very interesting. That seemed a rather half-hearted insult. It's almost like you've begun to let go of your disdain of me."

Piccolo scoffed and turned away. "Get over yourself. I just don't wanna live in self-pity. We're fused, and that's that. No point wallowing in the past.

Kami gave a good-natured sigh. "I suppose some things regarding our relationship will never change..."

King Piccolo snarled. "Bah! All of you are pathetic! A goody-two-shoes, an overly emotional fossil, and my failure as an heir! I preferred Hell to this!"

Kami scowled. "Oh, my counterpart, I suppose you'll never fully grasp that this man is not merely a reflection of your own wicked history! A truly strong warrior needs not for the world to grovel at his feet and shrivel in his shadow! Piccolo is a man living his own life how he sees fit! Right, Piccolo?"

Piccolo scowled. "The two of them never stop talking, huh?"

Nail frowned. "Believe it or not, it is worse when you are not here."

Piccolo's entire face sunk. "I... I am so sorry to leave you stuck in here with them, Nail. Truly."

Nail's face showed an almost comical disdain. "You owe me."

Both the older Namekians flinched back at the disdain of their younger counterparts. Then, Piccolo and Nail clashed once more.

Mt. Paozu, Gohan and Goten's special training ground…

Gohan and Goten clashed fists, the force of their blows almost strong enough to blow each other back. Goten landed with a small stumble and took on a fighting stance. "You're still wearing your weighted clothes, right?"

Gohan nodded. "Yup."

Goten cocked his head. "Why?"

Gohan shrugged. "Dad and Mr. Piccolo have both always told me that training doesn't stop when sparring does. The weighted clothing serves to make movement more difficult. It teaches me about conservation of movement and efficient use of strength and stamina."

Goten nodded, a smile shining on his face. "Okay! Should I wear some too?"

Gohan chuckled. "Taking this all seriously, eh? Very nice. But you should probably wait until you have your big growth spurt for anything too serious. Even Vegeta doesn't make his kids walk around in weights all the time."

Goten nodded. "Okay. Then you might wanna take that off. Otherwise, I might kick your butt~"

Gohan motioned his brother forward. "Give it your best shot, squirt."

Goten moved so fast that the grass beneath his feet bent all the way to the dirt. Gohan flinched in surprise. As Goten's fist came flying, Gohan held up his arm in defense and shuddered as Goten's fist collided into it. He whistled in appreciation. "Man, buddy, you are a whole heck of a lot stronger than I was at 7."

Goten twirled in the air, launching his foot toward Gohan's head like a cracking whip. At the very last possible second, Gohan ducked down and Goten's foot swooped right over him. Goten cried out. "Wh-Whoa!"

Gohan chuckled, wrapping his arms around Goten's waist and power-bombing him into the ground. Goten grunted as he collided and then looked up at Gohan, quite grumpy. "Hey! How'd you do that?"

Gohan smirked. "I fully analyzed the situation. That's something you need to work on, Goten. You lock-in on an attack before you fully grasp everything in front of you. Remember, buddy, measure twice and cut once. That's the way to do things."

Goten nodded and was on the attack once more. Gohan kept his guard steady, blocking assault after assault without too much effort. Goten raised forward, ready to deliver a chop, and Gohan responded by kicking the boy's feet out from under him. The younger Saiyan tripped and stumbled forward. Ever the attentive brother, Gohan turned and went to help his sibling to his feet, only to take a punch to the jaw for his troubles. Gohan stumbled back and Goten mischievously chuckled. "Gotcha!"

Gohan smirked. "All right! Kiddy gloves are coming off!"

The two began sparring afresh, trading blows back and forth but refusing to back down from each other. Gohan threw a punch that Goten pretty effortlessly ducked. He wrapped his tail around his older sibling's wrist and swung himself upward, kicking Gohan in the face. Gohan grunted and heaved his trapped arm into the air, swinging it down and trying to slam Goten into the ground. Goten's face became serious, pressing his feet together he formed a Kamehameha on his shoe soles and blasted away from the ground. Gohan fell back onto his butt and Goten shot into the air, the burned remains of his shoes flopping to the ground.

Gohan blinked a few times, genuinely caught off guard. "Wh-What the heck was that?!"

Goten giggled. "Dad taught me that one! He's been teaching me a lot of cool new things recently~"

Gohan stood. "Ah, I see! You've been going behind my back and learning from the big man himself, eh?"

Goten nodded. "Yup! He taught me this too!"

Goten shot to the ground and immediately began to move at speeds faster than Gohan's eye could follow. Before long, dozens of Goten afterimages filled the field, throwing Gohan off kilter as he struggled to follow the real one. Goten laughed and it sounded like it was coming from everywhere. "What's wrong, Gohan? Can't find me~?"

Gohan groaned, narrowing his eyes. "... I think I might actually need glasses."

And then, with a wide sweep of his hand, Gohan spun around and sent up a massive cloud of dust. Immediately, all but one of the Gotens became blurry. Gohan smirked and shot forward, smashing Goten in the gut with his knee. Goten went shooting up into the air, flipping three times before correcting himself.

Gohan nodded. "It's a good use of techniques, Goten! But your tactics are too basic!"

Goten grumbled and shouted back. "Y-You're basic!"

The younger brother charged forward, and Gohan sprang into action, vanishing from sight in an instant and appearing behind Goten the next. He raised his leg high into the air and brought it down like a bolt of lightning, slamming Goten to the ground so far he bounced. Gohan flinched. "Oh man! I didn't mean to kick that hard, I-"

Goten leapt to his feet, his hands drawn to his sides, and called out. "KAMEKAMEHA!"

Gohan's eyes went wide, he drew his arms to his sides and returned fire. "MASENKO!"

The two beams collided and created a small explosion. For a moment, the struggle was even. But then, Gohan gave the tiniest push and Goten's arms began to quiver. All at once, his older brother's strength overwhelmed him and Goten was sent flying back onto his back. The entire battlefield went still. Gohan floated up above. He swallowed a lump in his throat. Then Goten sat up and began to shout. "NO FAIR! NO FAIR! NO FAIR! YOU CAN'T JUST HOLD BACK LIKE THAT!"

Gohan rolled his eyes, planting his fists into his hips. "Maybe I wouldn't have to hold back if you got the name of the move right. Kame-KAME-ha? Did you bite your tongue, dude?"

The argument ceased and Goten shot up into the air, his fist drawn. The brothers continued their training spar... both totally unaware that they were being watched. Nearby, behind a massive, full-bodied tree, Videl was watching in silent awe. "Looks like...more than just flying then..."

In the Sacred Land of Korin…

The flap of the biggest tipi in the entire village opened and a tall, muscular young man stepped out. Dressed in his finest buckskins, the young man looked out upon the waiting villagers. He raised his fist into the air and they all roared with approval. The flap to the tipi opened again and an older, somehow even more muscular man stepped out. He clapped a hand down onto the younger's shoulder and smiled a warm, wise smile. "Now, my son, you go out into the world beyond this land of ours in search of glory and triumph! May the ancestors and the great Lord Korin smile down upon you!"

The crowd roared again, and the older man hugged the younger tightly. He spoke in a whisper, right into the young man's ear. "I am so proud of you, Upa. Should you see our friend. Goku, please give our people's regards to him."

Upa smiled, gripping his father tightly. "Of course, Father. I hope to bring back news of my triumph as the World Champion!"

In the desert wastes…

Another hometown hero left with a triumphant round on his heels. As the cheers of his family and villagers became fainter and fainter, Nam enjoyed a small, peaceful sigh. The sun was intense overhead, but Nam was grateful for the warmth. He stroked his long, black beard and thought that he appreciated the warmth just fine.

A few miles down the road, Nam flinched in surprise before smiling wide. "Well, it is certainly nice to see you again after so long!"

Under the shade of a rocky outcropping, Monster Beast Giran was drinking from a large bottle of milk. He gave a small belch. "I figured you'd come plodding along eventually. You can feel it too, right? This tournament is gonna hit different!"

Nam smiled. "Indeed, my friend, indeed."

Giran rolled his eyes. "We ain't friends, string bean! Now... hop on!"

The monster turned and spread his wings wide, allowing Nam to hop onto his back. Once Nam was secure, Giran flapped his wings and took off into the air. Papaya Island and the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament awaited them!

Mr. Satan's House, June 5th…

Videl knelt in front of her mother's altar, her hands folded in front of her in silent prayer. The smell of the herbaceous incense filled her nose and she sighed. "Watch over me, Mom. This is it. 2 days from now..."

She pictured her father's prize belt in her head. She pictured it around her waist. She pictured Gohan and all his friends and family. And then, she smiled. "... 2 days from now, I will finally prove that I'm strong!"

Videl stood and marched into the foyer, finding Erasa and Sharpner waiting for her, their bags piled at their feet. Videl chuckled. "So, still wanna fly on my Dad's drab old jet? No better way of going about it?"

Erasa rolled her eyes. "And what fun would that be if you and Gohan weren't with us? There'll be plenty of time for us to go on flying trips later~"

Sharpner sighed. "Plus, self-flight doesn't include a kickass hotel with a kickass catered menu~"

"D'AWW! AND HERE I THOUGHT Y'ALL JUST WANTED TO HANG WITH OL' MR. SATAN!"

The three teens turned to see Mr. Satan and Hiki Komori walking into the foyer, both of them gripping two suitcases each. Hiki smiled wide. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! 3 days of tournament and 4 days of vacation! I can't wait to work on my tan~"

Mr. Satan sighed. "And, uh, you said that Gohan fella would be there, right? I made sure to include him in all the bookin' and plannin' and such. Got him a jet ski pre-rented and everything."

Videl sighed. "He'll be there, Dad. He's coming with his family."

Mr. Satan nodded. "And you said some of his family was plannin' to join the tournament?"

Videl nodded. "Yup."

Mr. Satan cocked his head. "Anyone I'd know of?"

There was a long pause. Videl looked off into an empty corner. "... No."

Mr. Satan almost asked another question, but then the limousine pulled up into the drive and honked its horn. Hiki took the lead. "Okay, people, let's go! We have a flight to make and a schedule to keep! Into the limo! Let's go, go, go!"

All at once, everyone crowded out of the house and piled into the limousine, ready for what was sure to be an unforgettable week.

Papaya Island, June 5th…

The doors to the Papaya Rittz slid open with an electronic hum and the Z-Fighters walked into their lodging for the next few days. With Bulma at the lead, the warriors were given the red-carpet treatment as they made their way to the front desk.

The Z-Fighters, and their friends and family, were each handed a keycard that opened their pre-booked room and all led by the most accommodating of concierges to the elevators. It was an eventful evening of dinner and well-deserved rest from a few weeks of hard training.

But even the finest of luxuries aren't enough to slake the minds of dedicated warriors.

Goku, Gohan, and Goten all laid in their beds that night, anticipating the next day with varying levels of excitement.

As her parents were slumbering, Ranch stood on the balcony and threw punches at the air.

Vegeta, Trunks, and Bulla all feigned sleep, but their minds were too preoccupied with the next day. Vegeta was thrilled at the idea of competition. And while one of his kids was beyond excited, the other was furiously angry at being denied the opportunity to prove themself in front of their father.

Android 17 could feel the electricity hum beneath his skin.

Android 18 was burning up with excitement, as was Krillin in the bed next to her.

Tien and Chiaotzu had both entered a state of half daze, half meditation, steadying their spirits for the competition at hand.

Yamcha and Suno were both resting well, dreaming of their chances at standing tall on the big stage.

Piccolo stared out of his hotel window, prepared for a competition but also feeling oddly uneasy.

Following tomorrow morning's sunrise, the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai would be underway. Who would be leaving the victor?

On Papaya Island Beach…

The moon shone high in the inky black night time sky. The waves on Papaya Beach gently lapped along the shore. It was high tide and only a third of the beach was left dry. No one was around, all the vacationers and tournament contestants were either sleeping in a peaceful slumber or planning for the big days to follow.

And then, out of thin air, two people suddenly appeared, a tall one and a short one. The taller man stepped forward, scanning the layout in front of him. His eyes shifted from the beach, to the city skyline, to the mountains beyond. His scowl deepened. "Finally, after so long, we put this wretched business to bed."

The shorter man floated forward, the soles of his red boots barely skimming the sand. He closed his eyes and a small frown tightened on his lips. The larger man looked concerned. His shorter counterpart spoke. "They are here."

On the other side of Papaya Island, a seaside villa…

The door to the villa burst open and a young woman, half into her evening pajamas, ran out with tears welling in her eyes. Never before had she cursed her and her husband's choice to buy such a remote villa, but now she was cursing it with all she had. She had to get away. Had to escape.

Escape!

Escape!

Escape!

Esc-

Suddenly, her feet froze in place, and she nearly toppled over onto her face, saved only by the desperate straining of her ankles and the tearing of her achilles tendon. She looked down at her feet, seeing nothing binding them in place. What was going on?! What was happening?! With no other option remaining, she opened her mouth and began to scream. "HE-"

A large, pale hand clamped over her mouth and cut her off. She struggled, tears running freely now. Behind her, a dreadful voice spoke in a tone devoid of joy or rage or any sort of emotion. The dirge of that voice was almost worse than fury or lust. No, scratch that, infinitely worse than either of those. It wasn't the voice of violence; it was simply the voice of death. Beneath the flesh of the cold, heavy hand, she spoke one final plea. "... Please don't kill me..."

And then, the other hand reached up and snapped her neck backwards. The woman's vision prismed as her final, empty tears let loose. In her fading vision, all she saw were heartless black eyes and the letter "M".

The killer grabbed his vanquished quarry by the hair and dragged her limp body back into the villa as one would drag a bag of leaves. Thoughtlessly, he tossed her body into a pile with the rest: a younger man and two whelps. Hearing the clinking and then shattering of glass, he looked over into the kitchen and sighed in disgust. "Must you stuff your ridiculous face?"

In the kitchen, a hulking brute noisily chewed and swallowed down entire handfuls of food at once, the half-chewed slurry sliding across his purple tongue and down his throat. He grunted. "Yeah! Hungry! Need strength for the tournament!"

The killer scowled. "Focus, you fool! We must keep our attention solely on our mission."

The hulking brute turned, the "M" symbol on his head glowing bright red. "I am focused! Satan! Gonna kill Satan!"

The killer shook his head. "Your personal goal is secondary. We have our orders. With our help, Master Babidi's will shall be realized. The resurrection of Majin Buu is just over the horizon!"