Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball.
Betaed by: Zim'sMostLoyalServant and my best friend.
LAST TIME ON DRAGON BALL IJ:
Bora recounted the history of Korin Tower and the legend of its namesake to Lunch and Goku. The story of Korin, a master known as the God of Martial Arts above and beyond the Muten Roshi himself. And if the lore of Bora's people is to be believed. the Turtle Hermit himself studied at the foot of this great master.
But story time was cut short as the dreaded assassin Taopaipai dropped in, along with the infamous General Blue.
Tao proved his title was not just for show, easily subduing the mighty Bora, taking down Lunch, and finally tanking Goku's Kamehameha and defeating the mighty boy with a single Dodon Ray!
Claiming the Dragon Balls as his prize, Tao prepared to depart, only for tragedy to be compounded by young Upa picking his moment to strike and being killed by General Blue. The evil duo departed with the balls, and all hope seemed lost!
But Bora soon discovered not only was Lunch alive, but he met Launch, who then proceeded to scream and shake Goku back from the great beyond! Kidding. The Four-Star ball in his pocket shielded Goku from Tao's mighty blow.
Determined to regain the Dragon Balls and resurrect Upa, the two Kame students knew they had to become strong enough to defeat Tao, and so steeled themselves to scale the tower that rises to the heavens, just as their master did ages go.
What waits them atop this gargantuan structure?! Find out, NOW! On Dragon Ball Intended Journey.
Chapter 16
Scale New Heights!
Dread the Catlike Tread!
"I have heard you are the best tailor in this town. That is correct?" Tao demanded casually.
He and General Blue stood in a tidy tailor shop with a glass front facing a dusty main street that was oddly deserted for this time of day. Tao, despite his ragged state, was as poised as ever.
"Y-yes, I have that reputation," the fat tailor had a mustache and wore a yellow stripped robe in the local style, with a white headwrap on his head.
"Excellent, you seem to know who I am as well."
"You are the Lord Taopaipai, you honor me with your business."
"I do indeed. Tagalong, make a call to your boss and update him on the situation. You, I require paper and a writing implement, my order is precise," Tao commanded.
"Right, where's the phone?" Blue asked the tailor, who pointed. A moment's search let Blue find the landline phone, and he dialed the number and his access code while Tao sketched for the tailor.
"Commander Red, sir. General Blue-"
"What are you two playing at!?" Red yelled. Blue held the phone away from his ear and blinked, eyes wide, before holding the phone slightly closer to his ear.
"Sir? Our mission was a success-"
"'Our'? What exactly did you do?" Tao asked, still at his task. Blue frowned but continued.
"Taopaipai eliminated the brats, and we secured the Dragon Balls."
"Oh really, did you count the balls?" Red said; Blue could practically hear teeth being grounded. Blue felt himself pale a bit.
"Tao! Count the balls, there should be three!"
"Hmm? Oh, I see, only two? One of them must have had it in their pocket."
"…We seem to have missed one, Commander," Blue said, saluting over a very forced smile.
"I can see that from the giant radar screen in front of me. Get Tao on the line!"
"He wants to speak to you, sir," Blue said to Tao, holding out the phone.
"The feeling is not mutual. Here, I've given you the back, front and profile. The numbers indicate color and materials. I'll be getting new shoes as well, but I will see the cobbler about that. How soon can you have it done?" Tao asked the tailor.
"Uh, he's a bit preoccupied at the moment," Blue told Red.
"Tell him it's an order."
"…that's far too long. Five days. I will return at that precise time. Your payment will be your life. And do not think about running."
"Commander Red said to tell you it's an order to pick up this phone," Blue told him. Tao turned and glared at the phone. With seeming calm, he stepped over and took the phone.
"Red," Tao said.
"It's Commander Red," the leader of the Red Ribbon Army snapped.
"You have agreed to pay my price without being fool enough to haggle, so I will exercise my prerogative of mercy. Remember, you purchased my services, but I am not in any way one of your toy soldiers. You do not give me orders. No one commands me. I will fulfill my commission, and I will do it without being ordered around by my lessers. Here is how it will go. In five days, I will be ready to deploy again. I will check with you to verify the missing ball's location. Retrieve it, deliver the Dragon Balls to you, then head to West City. Or you can continue to pester me and I will cancel the contract, and erase you and your foolish army off the face of the Earth to remind the world exactly who Taopaipai is."
"…Well, in that case, take your time. We'll have things ready for you in West City."
"See that you do," Tao said, hanging up the phone.
"What now?" Blue asked. Tao went over to a clothes rack, and with a frown selected a robe and put it on.
"I will be checking into a hotel for my stay. You can do as you like, your presence is irrelevant to me, tagalong."
X X X
"You are certain?" Bora asked. They stood before the great tower, Launch and Goku with small packs on their backs.
"You bet, with some water and snacks, we'll get up there," Goku said.
"And you, you are still injured, Miss Launch," Bora reminded the blonde. She gave him a cocky thumbs up.
"This is nothing, we used to do all sorts of stuff with heavy turtle shells on our back. Besides, I can't let Goku out of my sight; I promised Chichi to look after him," she said.
"Huh, I wonder how Chichi and Krillin are doing?" Goku wondered. He turned, seeing Launch starting to climb.
"Worry about them some other time, we got a heck of someone's compensation to overcome," she told Goku.
"Hey, wait for me!" Goku objected, jumping up onto the tower to start climbing up next to her.
"…Good luck," Bora said, watching them rise. When they were out of sight, he went and picked up a newly-crafted spear. The enemy would likely return, and if they did so before the Son siblings, they would likely use their machines to try and climb the tower in their search.
He would train for that day to stop them. And if he failed, then he would do all he could first.
X X X
The sun was well and truly setting now. Launch tilted her head up to look. And saw the same sight of the white tower rising out of sight. Lowering her face back to facing the tower, she had a carving of a fish right in front of her.
"Whoever made this thing had a passion for seafood. I lost count of how many fishes are on this thing," Launch grumbled.
"Are you stopping?" Goku asked, peeking from his spot to her left.
"Nah, just trying to see if we are close to the top," she said, reaching out and resuming her ascent. She didn't want to admit the pain from her wound to herself, much less Goku.
"Oh, nothing, still a long way to go, I guess. Look how far down it is, wow!"
"I'd rather not," Launch told him, eyes fixed on the stone in front of her.
X X X
Goku's shout woke her, and her grip, strong enough in sleep, slacked and for a horrid moment she felt herself falling back into empty air. Her blind grab secured a grip and she pulled herself close to the tower, heart hammering.
"Goku?" she called hoarsely, realizing what had woken her in the night.
"I maybe sorta fell, but it's okay, my tail caught me," Goku said. She could see him now by the moonlight, waving to her.
"Well, that may have been the worse sleep I ever had. You want some more?"
"Nah, let's get going," Goku said, grinning. She forced her own in answer, and suppressed a grimace as she hauled herself up the next handhold.
X X X
Goku could see the top. Launch didn't look up. She couldn't afford to see how far away it still was. All she could do was stare ahead at the solid stone and try to ignore the sky all around and below her. She couldn't try and get the last drink of water she'd been saving. If she did anything but focus on one step after the next in this hell climb, she'd plummet. Her whole body was shaking, her jaw clenched tight, she was sweating even as she froze in this wind. Only Goku's voice cut through this haze of pain and exhaustion.
'Bora was saner, he gave up while he still had time, I couldn't climb back down if I wanted,' Launch thought.
"Come on, Launch, we're almost there, it's no time to stop," Goku sounded tired, but he could talk at all unlike her.
'He can't see me fall. That would be, terrible? What's worse word, crap, can't think. I let you down Lunch, I'm the tough one that keeps us alive.'
Her left hand closed over a handhold, and the frail grip easily slid away under her weight. She couldn't muster fear so much as an odd sensation of surprise it finally happened. And then was stopped in her sluggish panic by a small hand grabbing her wrist.
"Launch! What's wrong?!" Goku demanded. Her feet found purchase, but she couldn't even lift her free hand to try and grab it. Her legs were trembling, even with Goku holding so much of the weight.
"Let go, Goku," she told him, forcing the words out.
"No way!"
"Yes way, brat. Bora's counting on someone to bring Upa back, and someone has to stop the Red Ribbon, right?"
"And we're doing that!"
"Sorry kid, you're better, while I guess I just didn't make the cut. Go tell that jerk Korin his tower's too tall," she whispered. Twisting her wrist with the last of her strength, she broke his grip and her eyes closed while blackness drowned out his scream.
X X X
Goku screamed in agony, his tail pulled tauter than he ever remembered, wrapped around Launch's forearm as he pulled them up the last stretch of the tower, hold by excruciating hold.
He grunted in pain and determination, pain spreading through his butt and up his back. All that was left was climbing the ceiling ladder thing to reach one of the holes in the bottom of the structure.
"Got, an idea!" Goku gritted out. Grabbing the first rung carefully, Goku gave a battle cry and swung himself and Launch with all the force he could muster. He almost lost his grip, but his focus was only half on stopping his fall. He watched in an agonizingly long moment as Launch sailed through the air up and through the hole and landed with a thump out of sight.
Eyes watering with pain, Goku took the last rungs slowly, most of the tension gone now, he barely saw the room he pulled himself up into. But saw Launch lying face down, so crawled next to her and slumped to the floor against her, exhausted and pained. Never even noticing his severed tail still attached to her arm.
A small figure descended steps nearby with catlike tread. Walking over to the two, he hummed to himself and tapped his wood staff on the floor as if to punctuate his own thoughts.
"Well, well. Some have climbed in groups before, but still each made it or failed on their own power. Never before has someone gotten here being helped by another climber like that. Or for that matter gotten here while carrying someone else. The boy certainly passes, but the girl… Ah, what the heck! Having a friend willing to do that for you and preferring death to losing them, that's power all on its own. Well done kids, your master prepared you far better than he was. I look forward to seeing what the next generation has to offer," Master Korin said, withdrawing to the upper floor while his two new students slept off their ordeal.
X X X
"What a lousy nap," Goku yawned, sitting up. He looked around, blinking and taking in the round stone room he was in. There was Launch, passed out on the floor, and big jars and a bed nearby. Scratching his butt, Goku noticed something.
"Hey! My tail's gone!" Goku sprang to his feet.
"It is? Oh wait, I've got it," Launch said, pushing herself up and noticing the tail with the blood-clotted stump wrapped around her arm.
"…Yeek!" Launch screamed, shaking her arm until the tail fell off and scooting away from it.
Goku put his chin on his fist and walked over to one of the holes in the floor and looked down at the sky. And smiled.
"We did it, Launch! We're at the top!" Goku cheered.
"Huh? Wait, didn't I die or something?" Launch asked, scratching her scalp.
"Nuh uh! I caught you with my tail and hauled you up here," Goku corrected.
"Crap, thanks. But guess I was too heavy for your tail, Goku,"
"Ah, I'd rather lose a tail than sisters. But now I have a hole in all my pants," Goku realized, trying to look at his butt.
"…You can be too well-adjusted, ya know kid?" Launch told him. Looking around, she got up and stretched, flinching and clutching her chest for a moment.
"So, where's this power-up super water or whatever. One of these?" she asked, taking the lid off a barrel. The water within rippled as Goku joined her.
An image appeared in the water of a tall dark-haired teen in a turtle uniform running holding a brunette in a princess dress over her head, while Krillin ran behind her, stopping to kick away some monster with horns on its head. Then the image vanished, leaving the barrel dry.
"Wait, was that Chichi?" Launch asked.
"Nah, Chichi is shorter," Goku said, holding a hand up to about what he recalled the girl's height being.
"People grow, Goku. And what where they doing?"
"Rescuing a princess?" Goku offered.
"…I suppose. Next?"
Again, water rippled as she took the lid off the barrel. The scene formed there lacked any person, but they remembered the sight. Goku's house on Mt. Paozou. The picture faded, along with the water.
"Huh," Launch went, and took the lid off the next.
Above on the next floor, Korin chuckled to himself, hearing the youngsters scream in surprise.
"No one ever expects giant centipedes. Hmm, they have a good bit of peril in their future to call those guys out. Well, no need to beat around the bush. Hey, up here! You won't find what you're after down there," Korin yelled.
"Who's that, Launch? That Korin guy Bora told us about?"
"I guess, unless he has a roommate," the girl, Launch, answered.
'A roommate would be nice. The hermit lifestyle is fine, but 700 years kind of pushes it. But how exactly does an ancient master go about getting a roommate, do they put ads for that in the paper?' Korin wondered.
He put his social issues aside as the two came up the steps into the top of his sanctuary. The room was open air, with a railing that would be waist-high for most humans he was told, and thin but sturdy ornate pillars of white stone holding up the ceiling. And in the center was a podium made of sculpted elephants facing out with their trunks raised, surrounding an ornate teapot fashioned in an elephant of the same style as the podium it rested on. Other than that, there was just the tile patten of the floor and ceiling to enjoy.
These two weary tower climbers, though, were only staring at him when they got to the top of the stairs.
"Yo!" Korin greeted them, holding up an adorably well-groomed soft white cat paw in greeting.
"The legendary master is a short pudgy catman nudist?" Launch asked.
"Maybe he's the master's pet?"
"…I'm not a beastman, and not a nudist. Cats aren't supposed to wear clothes. And I am no one's pet," Korin told them.
'They must never know,' he thought, dark memories of Princess Martina and that pink tutu floating up to torment him from a place of unforgotten memories.
"So, you two made it up. And don't say anything, young lady, I'm well aware of how you got here, it's fine. And you, young man, sorry for the loss of your tail. That's rough kid," Korin said, his own tail twitching in agitation.
"Well, he didn't quite lose it. Maybe we can have Bora turn it into a belt or something?" Launch said, holding up the severed limb in one hand.
"…Uh, just set that aside for the moment," Korin sweatdropped.
"So, where's this power? Is it something to eat or drink? Bora said the story went both ways," Goku asked, as Launch dropped the tail into a small vase by the top of the stairs.
"Well, if you mean the divine water warriors of old sought, it's right there in the elephant pot. It's been kept there since before I took up this post, and I doubt it's going anywhere anytime soon."
"Neat, we can beat that Tao guy for sure with that," Goku said. He made to move forward, only for the young woman to grab his collar. Korin noted she wasn't hardly gripping it; he stopped more at the signal of the grab than the power of it.
'Unspoken understanding, a good sign. True teammate warriors seemed to have died with Mutaitio,' Korin noted.
"So, just that easy?" Launch demanded.
"Easy? You nearly died getting here, didn't you?" Kirin asked.
"Come on, Launch," Goku whined, but she didn't let go. Korin scratched his chin idly and walked over to them.
"But I wonder, why do you seek greater power still? You made the journey here, which is a testament to your strength. And you are both still so young, there's little reason to not believe further training won't gain you power. Why seek a legend so earnestly?"
"Oh, you see-"
"Ah, say no more, I can see you aren't one for words, and the lady has little patience."
Korin moved in a blink, lightly tapping the two on the forehead with his staff before returning to his starting position. They each brought a palm to their brows, exchanging confused looks as to what just happened.
"Hmm," Korin said, considering what he learned, "I see, so that ruffian Tao is still running amok."
"You know him?" Launch asked.
"Not personally, but I certainly know of him. He was once a student of Mutaito, who like your own Turtle Sensei scaled the tower and managed to drink from the pot. Mutaito was a very wise and forgiving man, who was not broken by the dark times and terrible losses he had to endure. Alas, of the small number of students to survive him, only the man who would become the Kame Senin did not fall to darkness. Like his brother, it seems even living so long and with the blessing of relative youth, that Tao has still not gained any enlightenment or a drop of self-reflection. What a shame, he could have really been something… But enough about the past. You two are hunting Dragon Balls, hoping to restore one of his victims to life. But it's inevitable that you will cross paths with Tao again if you follow this course, and you were no match for that warrior from another time. So, in your urgency to defeat evil, you come here seeking power."
"And you're not just going to give it to us, right" Launch asked.
"I said it's right there."
"And we have to either get past you or snatch it from you, right?"
"Ho! Sharp girl, aren't ya?" Korin laughed.
"Nah, just seen a few kung-fu movies."
"Well, learning a lesson is no small thing. But yes, worthy as your cause is, rules are rules. Getting up here was just the qualifying round to see if you had the barebones of skill to defeat me. My test is the true hurdle you need to clear. All you need to do is take this pot from me. Even if only for a second. Then whoever does it can drink to their heart's content."
"So, turns or together?" Goku asked.
"I know yer just itching to try on yer own, but what can I say, I'm still not at full tilt," Launch said, brushing at the bindings under her gi.
"Well, I could use a real meal first," Goku commented.
"Oho! No need to fret. I prefer facing challengers at their best. Otherwise, they start whining about how if only this or if only that, they'd surely have won. Eat these," Korin said, tossing a bean each to the martial artists. He'd been keeping them in his palm the whole time. This wasn't his first time at this, after all.
"A bean? This isn't even a snack," Goku complained, while Launch went a bit cross-eyed staring at hers.
"Just eat it and you'll see," Korin chuckled. Goku ate his and gasped in surprise.
"I'm not hungry anymore?" he said.
"That's right. Good ol' senzu beans. Grown right here by me with a bit of love, a bit of magic and a lot of patience. Just one and your average person won't need to eat again for ten days," Korin explained. Launch frowned at that and ate her own bean, chewing fiercely before swallowing.
"Woah. Hey, I feel better," Launch realized.
"Of course, the senzu bean is so many meals as one for a bonus. Their true great power is a super medicine that lets you heal from most any wound in mere seconds. Now, why don't you two take a moment to get reacquainted with not feeling like I dragged you in, then we'll see about that water," the white cat suggested.
"Hold on, I need to check something," Launch said, holding up a hand. Going through her pockets, she pulled out empty hands.
"Crap, I'm out of pepper packs! Cat, got anything that can make me sneeze?" Launch demanded.
"Sneeze? Well, I usually only eat non-senzu food once a decade or so… hmm, I think there are some spices left downstairs," Korin said, sweatdropping a little. This was a different twist on this.
"I've got some salt," Goku said, pulling out some salt packs.
"Good for you. What am I supposed to do with that? Who sneezes to salt?" Launch ranted, going back down the stairs. Not liking the potential consequences of her rummaging through his stuff, Korin followed her as Goku began a warm-up.
X X X
"Achoo! Oh my, where am I this time? Oh, above the clouds? Am I dead? Well, at least I don't see Goku here," Lunch said, looking around Korin's tower floor and seeing the clouds outside one of the long narrow windows.
"Ohohoho! A Twinsoul? I had thought after all this time, I'd seen the last of your kind," Korin said, as Lunch began inspecting his freestanding bathtub.
"Hmm, oh, a kitty," Lunch said, noticing him.
"Well yes, I'm Master Korin. And you're not dead, by the way, though it was a close call. Luckily for you, senzu bean magic healed both sides of you."
"Hmm, oh! That horrible mustache man! What happened?!" Lunch squeaked, hands flying to her mouth.
X X X
"Lunch, you're okay!" Goku cheered, running over to the top of the stairs as Launch and Korin walked up.
"Sorry about that, Goku. Oh, is that the special stuff?" She said pointing at the podium with its elephant decoration.
"Yeah, we'll have to fight him for it," Goku said pointing to Korin.
"Man, that used to be a surprise. Maybe I should take the time to watch some of those movies?" Korin wondered.
"Awww, I don't want to fight the kitty, I want to rub his fuzzy belly," Lunch said, eyes big.
"Er, just to be clear, if anyone would be rubbing this fuzzy belly, it would be a guy. Not that you're not very pretty, of course," Korin said.
"Oh? Guess kitties have needs too," Lunch remarked.
"Okay, this is entering some awkward territory. So, let's get back to your quest, shall we? What you seek is the divine water. To get it, you don't need to defeat me in a fight, you just need to get the water. But I'm in your way. Any questions?" Korin asked. Lunch raised a hand, while Goku shook his head.
"Miss Lunch?" Korin asked, pointing to her.
"Do we have to come one at a time or can we work together?"
"Most insist on one on one to prove their strength, but there ain't no rule. So…"
"Lunch, I'd like to do this alone," Goku whined.
"Well, too bad, Mr. Bora is counting on us to bring his son back. You can come back later to try and beat up the cute kitty on your own, Son Goku," Lunch chastised him, wagging a finger.
"Are you two going to argue all day? Because if you are, this cat can go take a nap," Korin said. The two Turtle students went quiet and assumed stances.
"Alright then, let's see how thirsty you are," Korin said. Goku made the first move, going straight for the water. Korin ignored him and swiped the space in front of him, knocking Goku aside, even as the other Goku faded away.
"Afterimage technique. Crude execution, but never seen someone so young grasp the fundamentals." Then Korin flickered out of sight, appearing to knock Lunch's hands away from the pot with the fat end of his staff and kick her away with the same motion.
"Quick on yer feet kid, but don't think I'm so easily distracted." The two picked themselves up, while Korin stood sedately in front of the water's podium.
"One of the key precepts in many schools of martial arts is to achieve mastery of a space, however small. So, whether it's around this podium or the whole chamber, can you two truly challenge my dominion?" Korin asked.
"Of course, we don't give up easily," Goku said.
"Good answer, you never get better if you don't try," Korin said. He easily evaded Goku's kick, and with a motion of the staff sent the boy flying into Lunch, who barely caught him, "But there's something to be said for trying the same thing over and over."
"Lunch," Goku said, as she put him down. She knelt, and they whispered to each other, concocting a plan Korin knew, because as a cat he had excellent hearing, which those two didn't seem to realize, and frankly their plan wasn't very inspiring.
X X X
Korin sweatdropped as they flew at his spot from opposite directions, whacking Goku away using his staff like a hammer and kicking Lunch down to collide with the podium head first.
X X X
"Hey, look over there!" Goku yelled, pointing behind Korin, who turned his head, along with Lunch.
BONK
"Did you really think I'd fall for that?" Korin asked.
"Lunch, why didn't you attack too?" Goku asked, rubbing his head as he sat on the floor.
"I was looking where you were pointing."
"It was a trick, Lunch," Goku told her.
"Really. Oh, what's that!?" Lunch shrieked. Korin sweatdropped as Goku turned to look.
"What is it?" Goku asked.
"See! It's not so easy to see through that trick, is it?" Lunch huffed, cheeks puffing out.
"Are you sure you all aren't blood related?" Korin asked.
X X X
"Ahah!" Goku cheered, springing for the pot, only for Korin to reach out with the thin end of his staff head to hook the handle and pull it away, leaving Goku to fly through the air. Goku landed with a skid as Korin leaped away from Lunch's sudden grab.
"No fair… you're moving the pot," Goku panted. Lunch slumped down onto her knee, panting, and Goku wasn't far behind.
"I never said I couldn't move the pot. Whether I leave it sitting or carry it with me, you still haven't gotten it."
"Those beans, you said they'd fix me, so why am I tired so quickly?" Lunch asked.
"The beans aren't the issue. The air is much thinner here than any atmosphere you've ever moved around in, much less trained in. So, each breath is worth less than you're used to. If you want to excel in this environment, you must both give extra thought to your breathing and try to eliminate wasteful movements. A bit less chatting certainly couldn't hurt," Korin told them, ticking off his points on his paw.
"So, this is training?" Goku asked.
"All of life can be training with the right attitude and perspective. You certainly won't get this pot by just staying the course," Korin told them.
"Maybe we should mix it up and call in Launch? Wait, how long did Master Roshi take to get the pot?" Lunch asked.
"Yeah, if Turtle Guy did this, so can we," Goku perked up.
"Hohoho! Good question, but there's a limited value in using someone else's path to gauge your own. Anyway, I'll tell you how long it took that old pervert," Korin said, holding up three fingers.
"No way, only three minutes!?" Goku shouted.
"I think he means three days, Goku," Lunch sweatdropped.
"You're both wrong, it took that guy three years to the day," Korin told them.
They both shouted in surprise, while Korin's eyes opened slightly, giving a catty grin.
"It ain't a legendary challenge for nothing, kids," he reminded them.
X X X
As the sun began to set, Korin sighed, looking over the two exhausted fighters.
"Well, you have made some improvement, but really, is this the best that students of the Turtle Hermit can do?" Korin asked. Walking between them, he pulled two senzu beans out of somewhere and tossed them in front of them. Eating them, they stood but still sagged a bit.
"Ah yes, your scruffs and stuff are as healed as your fatigue, but the mental strain of all that fighting can't be banished by the senzu, that is a trick that only comes from the disciplined passion of a fighter who doesn't wear down in the face of adversity or failure."
"Sir, can I have something to sneeze, maybe Launch should try now?" Lunch asked, raising her hand.
"Hmm, well, I'm not made of spices or herbs, so if you want that you'll have to go down. Bora should have plenty in that wigwam of his."
"You know about Bora?" Goku asked.
"Of course, I have a sense for the world around me just like I can read minds. I didn't become a hermit half-cocked like Roshi; centuries of training, and you can unlock all sorts of useful or just plain weird powers. He won't get any further than he is with TV, girly mags, and so many other luxuries distracting him on a daily basis."
"I did think his lifestyle seemed a bit out of place," Lunch nodded.
"Son Goku, will you go down and get something for her to sneeze with?" Korin asked.
"But that will cost us time," Goku objected. Korin hummed and reached behind a pillar to pull out a pack. Goku made an alarmed sound before checking his belt.
"That's my pack with the Four-Star ball. How'd you get it!?"
"Quite easily. Whoops," Korin said, tossing it over the railing.
"Noooo!" Goku and Lunch rushed past Korin, with him scrambling for a moment to keep the pot from falling from its perch on his staff. The two watched the pack vanish into the clouds, oblivious to the fact that was the closest Korin had come to losing the pot yet.
"Are you crazy!? The Red Ribbon might have the other balls by now! If they get the Four-Star, who knows what evil wish they might make!" Goku yelled.
"Bad kitty! Bad!" Lunch yelled next to Goku.
"Good point. Better go and get it," Korin told them. He stepped aside as Goku rushed past but held out his staff to stop Lunch. She paused and waited too long to reach for the pot right in front of her before Korin pulled it away again.
"Relax, the Red Ribbon isn't back yet. And I'd rather you keep trying while he's gone. You've been moving away from relying on your twin for the hard stuff, I glimpsed that in your mind and Goku's, hers as well. But you need to be sure not to shift that to Goku, or just copy her."
"Copy her?"
"Yes, her style is growing and changing, but it seems like you're just trailing after her. A Twinsoul's great strength isn't doubling down, it's being able to spread wider and deeper than other fighters usually can."
"Twinsoul, that word again. You know what we are?"
"Ah good, you asked. Launch heard me, but she fears answers."
"I'm not sure she's scared of anything," Lunch giggled forcefully.
"Oh, far from it, I think. But leave that for now. Twinsouls have never been common. But they were more numerous before the Demon King waged his war on life. Back then, the many races were more numerous too. Humans were even then the biggest population, but nowhere near as imbalanced as these days. And the distinct clans of humans, like the three-eyed clan, were more abundant and prominent. Twinsouls weren't a clan, though. They were people who were essentially two in one. The phenomenon occurred with no regard to gender, region, culture, ethnicity or any other category you'd care to name. The mark of it being one half was blue, the other yellow. Opposites from the start, but who could grow by drawing together in their differences."
"What? Differences drive people apart, they don't bring them together."
"By that logic, every boy-girl couple would be doomed. Or a PB-and-J would fly apart."
"Uh, huh."
"At least you're not spouting denials. It's true, birds of a feather can flock together and that can work, but it's also limiting in many ways. When differences can come together in harmony though, it can produce something distinct from either starting point. Anyone can achieve that in a group or even in themselves, but it's harder and harder. Twinsouls, though, are much better adapted to that sort of thing. Some of the greatest warriors and sages of humanity were of that stock."
"A heroic lineage?"
"Nope, not at all. Twinsouls are as sterile as mules. Apparently with the mess yer organs are, someone has to take it for the team, and it's down under, so to speak."
"Oh! Is that why I don't…"
"Yes. Moving on… I want to show you something to work on while waiting for Goku. Of course, if you'd prefer to keep chasing me in his absence…"
X X X
Bora had returned from the village, sharing his bad news with them. He had decided to keep to his daily routine while the two warriors ascended the tower, though it was a hollow experience without his son. His wife's death had shown him how absence can make the most routine of tasks feel alien, and now he had an unwanted reminder.
Then something slammed hard into the ground.
Fearing the worst, that one of the Son warriors had fallen, he rushed to the source of the sound, and was stunned to find a pack torn up in the cracked earth. Opening it, he found some supplies that might be salvageable, and the Four-Star Dragon Ball that had drawn the Red Ribbon to the Land of Korin in the first place.
He looked up, but naturally the tower yielded no more answers now than ever.
Normally he would have kept the ball on his person against theft, but after his humiliating defeat at Taopaipai's hands, he knew he would hardy be an obstacle. So instead, he hid it amidst the branches of a nearby tree. At the very least, the search might vex invaders for a while.
And his routine continued. And while preparing for the evening fire, Bora raised his head. What was that sound?
He looked around, then looked up. The giant man's jaw dropped as Son Goku practically charged down the tower on all fours.
"Yaaah!" Goku yelled, jumping down to skid on the ground on all fours. He looked around, jumping about on all fours, until he spotted Bora.
"Bora, the Dragon Ball!?" he yelled.
"Uh, I found it."
"Whew!" Goku went, slumping to the ground.
Soon enough, Goku had the Dragon Ball in hand, and had eaten a fistful of dried food.
"So, you both made it," Bora said, stunned. He had long believed it was possible, but confirmation like this was an unexpected boon. Goku nodded as he finished chugging a drink from a waterskin.
"Yeah, but that jerk threw my bag over! He's going to get it when I get back up there," Goku said. Without another word, he leapt unto the tower and started climbing. Bora reached out a hand and started to say something, but then thought better of it.
"I wonder, uncle, did you ever meet such odd people during your time as Guardian?" Bora wondered.
X X X
Lunch landed a blow on Korin's stomach, and he didn't so much as budge.
"See, look carefully," he told her. She did, leaning into the punch to look at him. The water was forgotten for the moment amidst the lesson.
"Your fur stopped me?" she asked.
"My fur, and ki. Ki is what allows martial arts and other fighting styles to transcend the reason of the mundane world. The most blatant examples are techniques like your master's Kamehameha Wave, and the Crane School's Dondonpa. Those techniques harness ki as a force to be thrown around. What I use is ki to enhance and perfect the physical, usually. Bora's people have a similar approach."
"Did you teach it to them?"
"Hahaha, no. They were on the right track when I crossed paths with them, I just gave a few pointers that let them get to completion a bit quicker. Really, it was nothing warranting the respect they've held for me all this time. Anyway, just as Bora's physical and spiritual training makes him practically bulletproof, I can basically create a shield to defend myself with ki by radiating it out as a repelling force through my fur. But a shield can also be a good weapon, letting you hit harder without and damaging what you're attacking with."
"And I can do that?" she asked.
"I think you've been moving toward it without realizing it. Your twin is naturally inclined to attack, the change is she is now attacking to protect. You've moved from hiding behind her to defending yourself and others, but pure defense is no good. If all you do is defend, you lose to a determined clever attacker every time, as they need only be patient. You must move past just defending to defensive offense."
"And you'll teach me how to make a better shield?"
"Nope."
Lunch facefaulted.
"It's not nice to lead people on," she whined, getting up.
"Sorry kid, I'm not the type to go through step-by-step teaching these days. I'm more 'give 'em the tools and show 'em what they want then have 'em start hammering away' type of teacher. The failing part is part of the process."
"Are you sure you're not just being a lazy kitty?" she asked, hands on her hips.
"…Er, a bit. But my point remains valid in the ethics of enigmatic martial arts teachers, I'll have you know."
"Well, if that's all, I might as well… Get the water!" Lunch said, lunging for the water with a burst of speed.
'Ho, she has gotten faster! And best of all, she hasn't noticed how she's adjusted already with the breathing exercises to this altitude. I would expect a year before a new arrival had adjusted this much. Roshi, you're a bit of a dumb genius when it comes to training, aren't you? Taking everything you learned from different masters and rolling it into a course that prepares them to excel at a level they aren't even thinking about yet. At this rate, you may put me out of a job. Heh, maybe I should think about getting a boyfriend then? Ah, never mind, the near before the horizon,' Korin thought, almost breaking Lunch's nose as he kicked her away. Increasingly he had to resort to violence to escape her rather than just hooking it to break up the dodging. He smiled, pleased despite the swiftness of the process.
X X X
"You still haven't gotten the pot, eh?" Goku asked, putting the pack down by the stairs' top railing. Korin had to promise not to throw it off again.
"No. But now Launch can try for a bit. Did you get the stuff to make me sneeze?" Lunch sighed.
"Nope, I forgot," Goku admitted, sweatdropping a bit.
And so, Lunch began climbing down the tower as Goku started fighting Korin one on one.
X X X
"Achoo! Huh? Why am I back here? Did we get the super water?" Launch asked Bora. The forest at the base of the tower was beautifully illuminated slightly by Bora's fire and decorated by fireflies while stars and heavens shone above the trees.
"No. Lunch said to give you this," Bora said, passing her a note.
"Huh? Oh hell, that figures. Looks like I'm tagged in. But first I'm going to kick this tower's butt! Later, handsome!" Launch said, beginning her climb. Bora watched her and shook his head at the strange family in wonder.
X X X
"Let's call it a day on training," Korin declared as Launch and Goku both caught their breaths. He hadn't lit any lanterns, so the only illumination was starlight and moonlight from beyond the chamber.
"Blast, we're no closer than when we started," Launch lamented, slumping.
"Maybe this really will take three years?" Goku wondered.
"You aren't the sharpest, are you? You've already made tremendous progress."
"Huh?" they said together.
"How long did it take you to get here?"
He smiled, feeling their stunned realization set in, and seeing it too; ah, cat night vision, an excellent superpower.
"That's right, it took you practically a full day and night the first time. But Goku was able to make the round trip in only three hours the second time. Lunch and Launch took longer at a little less than four hours, but compared to her start…"
"We've gotten stronger just by climbing the tower?" Goku said.
"Somewhat. But training is a lot more than just, say, lifting a weight. It's learning the best motions, the proper breathing, the right stance and footing to get the most out of it. Climbing the tower, fighting at this altitude, it can't help but make you a bit stronger, but the greatest benefit is learning to make the best use of what you have. A sword can be wielded like a club and do damage, but if you actually use it like a sword instead of a club, you'll be far more effective with the same amount of effort. But don't think relentless training is the way to go! The senzu beans I've given you are letting you cheat a bit, getting the absolute best of your efforts. But they are no substitute for true rest.
"It's like the story of the two racing woodcutters. Each claiming they can chop more trees down between sunrise and sunset than the other. The first, after the sun rose, chopped without stopping and despite being an utter mess when the sun set, he realized his rival despite resting between each tree had beaten him. He may have been unceasing in his labors, but in the end, he was so exhausted his unceasing labor was useless, barely able to cut into the wood. His rival not only preserved his strength far longer, but used his rest periods to sharpen his axe so it remained an effective tool, while the unceasing woodcutter was left with a blunt piece of metal shaped like an axe.
"You may be getting stronger here, but the greater boon is getting more powerful by being sharper in more than one sense of the word. Well, goodnight," Korin said, laying back against a pillar and starting to snore.
X X X
Goku tiptoed up to the sleeping Korin, hands reaching for the water pot. It was right there, hanging off the thin end of the staff head.
He looked back at Launch, barely able to make her out sitting against the railing they'd both slept against. He couldn't see her usual troubled face that she slept with, but could hear steady breathing.
'Nah, I don't want to get it like this,' Goku thought, returning to Launch's side to sleep.
Korin listened to him leave and smiled.
'Hohohoho! So, he's got more honor than that master of his. Even with noble goals, he's got rules and standards; many use noble ends to excuse bending or breaking rules and standards. You're impressive, Son Goku,' Korin thought, before letting himself actually fall asleep.
X X X
"Getting closer," Korin said as he dodged Goku. His tail tripped up Launch as she passed her, "But close only counts in horseshoes and stink bombs."
Korin turned to see them both regarding him with intense expressions, Launch cracking her knuckles.
"Uh, do either of you hear music?" he asked, tilting his head.
"Ready, Goku!?" Launch yelled.
"For what?!" Goku yelled, not even facing her.
"Improvisation!" Launch yelled, and kicked him square in the fanny hard enough to send him flying toward Korin like a cannonball.
Korin was fast enough to dodge such an attack, but not when stunned by such an absurd attack being carried out. He held the staff up high as Goku hit him and sent them both back into the railing.
"I haven't tried tickling you!" Goku said. Korin could only resist a moment those fingers working under both armpits at once, before he guffawed and was forced to swat Goku away.
And in doing so, realized he had let go of the staff and the water pot.
"Got it!" Launch said, hopping onto Korin's head and lunging after the staff and pot, over the rail.
"What?! NO!" Korin screamed, turning as the blonde plunged over the side.
"Rocket Launch!" Came the call from below, causing Korin to jerk back as Launch shot back up into sight. Goku reached out, grabbing Korin with one hand and Lunch's ankle with another. With a yowl, Korin braced himself, claws digging into the stone as Goku twisted and hurled the young woman back over the rail. She landed, skidding on her back, the pot clutched to her chest like a baby.
The moment of silence after was broken by Korin's staff clattering to the ground.
"Does that count?" Goku asked.
"Not even a week," Korin muttered, stunned, rubbing the patch of fur Goku had been on the verge of ripping out.
"What? Going to call it cheating? Or say you were going soft on us and now the real training begins?" Launch said, sitting up still clutching the pot.
"Hohoho. Nope, that's a fair win. And it's not me going easy on you. That Roshi, in his day, nearly killed himself failing to climb the tower the first time. It took him a year of further training to try again, including practicing climbing the tower partway. Even then, I had to pop him a senzu to say hi. That guy was a great champion in his day, but he's far better as a teacher. Like I said, you've gotten a bit stronger here these last days, but most of what I've done is show you how to make full use of what you already have. Your stamina, speed, economy of movement and power have grown into themselves."
"Wait, so we were stronger than we thought in the tournament?" Goku asked.
"More like you had untapped potential, but potato potato. With me pushing you near every waking moment, either here or climbing the tower, plus the senzus giving you the max recovery from it all, you've crossed a final hump."
"So, we can both drink this, then?" Launch asked, clearly unimpressed by the lecture.
"Yes," Korin said.
"Alright! Time to taste sacredness!" Launch said. Unstopping the fancy bottle, she took a guzzling pull from it.
"Hey, Launch, save some for me!" Goku protested, running over.
"Though I have to ask, how did you two plan that last attack?" Korin wondered.
"What plan?" Goku asked, as Launch surrendered the pot and got to her feet.
'That was on the fly? These kids are as nuts as they're strong,' Korin thought, sweatdropping.
"Yes, I can feel it spreading like cool refreshing power through my very veins! My bones! New awesome powerrrrr! HAHAHAHA!" Launch cackled, fists raised. Korin could swear he saw lightning strike behind her.
"It's just rainwater," Goku told her, having taken a sip.
"Huh?" Launch said, practically deflating at the short sentence.
"Kid's right."
"…So make with the real deal then, pussycat! It's in one of those jars after all, ain't it? The centipedes, right? Am I going to have to eat bugs again? Cause I can, but don't go thinking…"
"The water's just a trophy, kid. The true sacred power was the training you underwent to get it."
"…So you lied to us! You stinking cat! Don't you walk away from me, I'm yelling at you! Goku, be outraged with me! It's fun!" Launch ranted, until Korin grabbed a small pack from behind a pillar and threw it in her face.
"Oh you, ACHOO!"
Soon:
"What, you lied to us! Bad kitty! Lying isn't nice," Lunch said, pointing dramatically at Korin.
"Well, you two are definitely related. Anyway, Tao will be back today, so unless you want Bora to die, you need to get back down to the ground."
"What? How do you know that?" Goku demanded.
"Ancient master, kid, I can see the future. It's just only around the tower, and usually not very useful for more than weather, or an early bird gets the worm sneak preview. Anyway, I brought out Lunch so she could claim this!" Korin declared, tapping his staff three times sharply. He gestured the duo to the railing and they watched as the clouds parted, replaced by a golden cloud that spread out wide below the lookout.
"Wait, is that the Nimbus?" Goku asked.
"It got big?" Lunch asked.
"In a manner of speaking, it is," Korin told them, hopping up onto the railing, "This is the Mother Nimbus. Here is where the magic clouds come from, and it is here they return to when they are destroyed or their keeper dies without a worthy successor. If you pass my training, you have the right to claim a Nimbus for yourself, if you are of pure enough heart."
"No thanks, I like riding with Goku. And I couldn't share it with Launch anyway, so you'd need to give her another gift or she'd feel left out."
"Uh," Korin slipped a bit. That was a new response.
"But Lunch, if you had your own you could give me rides on your Nimbus. That'd be pretty cool," Goku said.
"Oh! That would be different," Lunch mused.
'The Nimbus are practically identical, so basically, they'd just be doing the same thing on a different cloud. Yet they find it cool. Are they sure they aren't related?'
"Well, I'd really like to give you something for having crushed the old record, so how about after you deal with Tao, I'll give you a scroll Launch can use for a technique I can tell she's been thinking about. Would that be enough?" Korin asked.
"Sure, so how do I get my cloud?" Lunch asked, getting up on the railing next to Korin.
"First, do this," Korin said, hitting her over the rear with his staff to send her toppling with a startled cry, "That's for making me worry earlier."
Naturally, the bluenette bounced off the Mother Nimbus before coming to a stop. Goku hopped down to join her.
"Just tear off some, the Mother Nimbus has already accepted you, it'll do the rest."
"Okay, Mr. Kitty!"
"Korin. It doesn't have to be Master Korin, but I do have a name," he muttered, as the young lady tore a small gold cloud off that escaped her grasp to hover around her quickly.
"Oh wow! This is amazing! I'm going to name her Marshmallow! It is a girl cloud, right?"
"Uh, I'm not sure clouds work that way," Korin sweatdropped.
"Well, she's Marshmallow now," Lunch said, hugging her cloud.
"Hey, we can't stick around here, that Tao guy's coming!" Goku reminded her. He called his Nimbus, while Lunch carefully climbed in hers.
"Goku, how do I make it go?" she asked.
"You just do," Goku said.
"Hmmm, WOAH!" Lunch went, before Marshmallow took off forward.
"Bye, Master Korin, thanks! And be sure to have that scroll ready for Launch!"
"Hmph, after that last fight, they don't even hesitate for a rematch with a friend's life at stake. This is a strange, wonderful generation rising up here, Roshi. I think our legends are going to be thoroughly trounced by the time they're done. Heh, but that's just the way it should be," Korin chuckled to himself, solitude returning to his lookout above the clouds.
Author's Note:
And another one down, and a longer one than usual I do believe. I hope you are all still enjoying this fic.
Thanks again to Bobdude17 for inspiring this story with their work.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and that you'll be back next week for more.
Long days and pleasant nights to you all.