Val felt a suddenly aware. She sat up in a rush, not sure where or when it was. She was on the rock they had all been on in a hole in the ground, all alone. She looked around, finding no one around her. She brushed the dirt off of herself. She touched her neck and her chest, finding dried blood on her neck. There was a hole in her armor level with her sternum, but it was uninjured now. She looked around her, seeing the waters churning and the ground shuddering. She pulled herself to a standing position.
'Val,' she heard in her mind a familiar voice.
"Who?" she looked around the area nervously.
'Val, this is the Great Namek,' she heard the voice, instantly recognizing the voice.
"You were dead," she stated.
'There's no time to explain,' he answered. 'Dende needs to get to the dragon balls and Porunga as soon as possible. He's the closest one, but he's not fast enough. You're faster. Get him there as quick as you can, please, child.'
"Okay," she shuddered out, blinking in confusion.
She jumped up and flew off, sensing and finding Dende flying slowly in the direction of the dragon balls immediately. She over took him. He looked at her in fear at first, but then in recognition. She snatched him up and flew at a sprinter's speed.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I don't know," she answered. "I thought you were dead." She remembered sensing his death. "I thought I was dead," she admitted. "The Great Elder was most certainly dead."
"Well, somehow were aren't. And the Great Elder somehow told me I needed to get to the dragon ball and wish everyone but Goku and Frieza to the planet Earth," Dende explained.
"What?" she said, frowning.
"He said to hurry, but were you always this fast?" he asked.
"I think so," she said, not sure. She sped up anyway. They landed on the ground by the dragon balls.
He ran over to them, hands raised up and shouting in a quick, clipped language she could not understand. She watched the monstrously huge dragon fill up the darkening sky. Dende was talking loudly and quickly with the dragon. "So? You don't have another wish?" the dragon asked.
"The third! My last wish is..." he shouted, switching into the language she did not understand.
She looked up seeing a bulked up Frieza flying straight towards them. She watched wearily, side stepping to block his path to shoot Dende if he wanted to try for it. He was too focused on the dragon, trying to shout his own wish. She saw another person fly over to them, someone with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Father?" she questioned, but then shook her head, noticing his hair was too short and he had no wings on his back. She frowned, but recognized the orange pants he was wearing. "Goku?" she questioned, not understanding what she was seeing.
The dragon boomed loudly, "Alright, I understand. I'll send everyone to Earth except for those two."
Val gasped, feeling a pull on her chest that she found unable to resist. She heard Frieza right before the sound abruptly cut off in her ears. She stopped abruptly, still standing right besides Dende. Everything everywhere around her in nature was various shades of green. She looked around, seeing odd white puffs in the light blue sky, not sure what to make of them. The air felt misty, but breathable.
"Are we dead again?" she asked Dende, turning back to look at him.
"No, I think this is Earth," he answered. Then he gasped, and took off running from her unexpectedly.
"Where are you going?" she called after him.
She ran after him the short distance, nearly taking him over when he stopped abruptly next to the strange Namekian, the one who had shoved her out of the way from Frieza's blast. She stood over Dende as he knelt down next to him, hand on his wound.
"Are you... healing him?" she asked.
"Yeah," he answered.
"How?" she asked.
He explained, "the Great Elder unlocked the ability in me." He finished, sitting back when he finished. "Kind of how he unlocked the ability for you to grow up."
She hummed, unsure what to make of the news she has had. The strange Namekian sat up, grunting. She looked down at him.
"Piccolo!" she heard a voice call from close by. "Dende! Val!"
She whipped her head towards the sound of the voice, seeing Gohan standing next to a woman with hair a similar color to the sky. She smiled over at him, but then frowned when she heard the next exclamation.
"Great Elder!" one of the Namekians shouted nearby.
She turned and looked at a few Namekians supporting a very weak looking Great Elder. She watched, study each one of them, surprised Nail was not amongst their numbers. She looked around the area, not seeing him anywhere nearby. She did see Vegeta nearby though. She saw Moori standing near Freight, Hull, Loader, and Cargo a little farther away.
"Excuse me," she said, rushing over to the five of them. She called over before she got there, "Moori!"
He turned looking up at her. He did not recognize her at first, but suddenly his face lit up. "Val, you've finally grown," he said, a gladdened look on his face.
She nodded. Seeing the others and greeting them in turn.
"We're you taken back? When we died?" Moori asked.
She nodded again, explaining, "I was, yes. But then Vegeta over there," she nodded over at him, "saved me."
Moori and the others looked over at Vegeta, who pretended not to notice them noticing him. "That was good of him," Moori commented and nodded. Yet then Val heard Freight grunt next to Moori.
She nearly asked them if they had seen Nail when they heard another shout. "Listen well everyone!" The Great Elder wheezed. "We're on Earth!"
"On Earth?!" she heard the blue haired woman ask.
The strange Namekian stood up. "What happened?"
"I don't have a lot of time left before I die again," the Great Elder kept explaining. "So I'll explain everything..." Val listened with the others, hearing his explanation given to him as well from the Kaio as well, about what happened and the current fighting between Frieza and Goku and the imminent destruction of Planet Namek. "... So we were brought back to life by the Earth's dragon balls' one wish, and Planet Namek's dragon balls' third wish the brought us back here."
Moori asked, "but where's Tuno's village? Why aren't they here?"
"That's right," Freight commented, looking around.
"I killed them," Vegeta called over, drawing everyone's attention that was near by, including Val's. "You asked the dragon to bring back those killed by Frieza and his group. But I wasn't with them. Too bad."
Val heard Freight, Hull, and Loader growl louder, making her ears draw back. "Was that before or after you saved our sister?" Moori asked, hand raised up to tell the three warriors to back down.
Vegeta clicked his teeth that question. "Before," he answered, rolling his eyes.
Moori looked over at her, and she shot him a pleading look. Moori looked over at him, humming. "You rescued her... Consider that to cancel out the lives you took," he forgave. "I do not wish for anymore violence or bloodshed."
The tension in the area broke suddenly at the sound of seven large stone dropping onto the ground. The Great Elder spoke, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "The dragon balls followed us. As I said, I'm going to die soon. Moori," he called out. Moori, Val, and the others nearby looked up at him. Moori went over to the Great Elder, standing tall before him. "I name you the new Great Elder. Use the balls with wisdom when they're reactivated."
"Alright," Moori said, nodding. Val could not help but notice he seemed to have a sudden and immense weight placed on his shoulders.
"I'm counting on you. Peace be with the Namekians, no matter how each of you was born," the Great Elder blessed before he simply faded away and out of existence.
Val watched on, shuddering as he disappeared. She looked around the area, thinking of Nail again, knowing he would have wanted to here when he died. "Great Elder, rest in peace," the strange Namekian said solemnly standing over by Dende. She nodded at his sentiment, but said nothing herself.
"Now I understand!" Dende exclaimed, looking right up at the strange Namekian. Val looked down at him, not understanding what he was getting at. "You fused with Nail, didn't you?"
Val gaped, seeing him nod down Dende. She brought her hand over her mouth, not sure what to do or say. She felt his gaze come over to hers, but she looked away, refusing to meet it. She breathed deeply, too quickly in an effort to keep herself calm. She half felt ready to run, but resisted the temptation since she had no clue where she could go on such a strange looking planet. She reached up for the vial, not finding it. She balled her hand up around nothing. She sensed someone else looking at her. She flicked her gaze up just long enough to meet Vegeta's before looking back down and away.
She heard the others around her talking, drawing her into listening to their conversation. The blue haired woman asked, "but what about Goku and Krillin? Why aren't they here?"
Gohan explained, "Krillin was killed by Frieza. And dad's still on Namek fighting Frieza. He'll come back, I'm sure of it."
The strange Namekian turned to look at him, asking, "he's still fighting Frieza?"
"Yes. He wanted to stay and avenge Krillin," Gohan explained, sounding worried.
The blue haired woman asked, "what a second. Frieza killed Krillin, so why isn't he alive?"
Gohan shook his head. "He was already brought back once by the Earth's dragon balls, so..."
"Oh, that's right," she responded morosely.
Dende looked over Gohan, asking, "what? Your dragon balls can't resurrect people twice?"
Gohan gaped at him. "You mean...?" the woman started.
"Ours work without limits," Dende explained. "Except natural deaths! And I think within a year limit, but not quite sure... Depends on the wishes."
Val looked up at that comment, feeling a bit hopeful. She pawed at the collar of her battle armor.
"Great! When can we use your dragon balls? We can bring back Krillin and Chaozu!" Gohan cheered.
"Getting back to Goku," the strange Namekian interrupted. "He's acting without thinking! He's too rash! There's too big a difference between him and Frieza. Goku doesn't have a chance. Doe he want to die?"
Gohan shook his head. "You're wrong, Piccolo. Dad will win! I saw it. Dad became a Super Saiyan!"
"What?!" Val and the others turned to look over at Vegeta, who looked shocked himself.
He stepped over to them, coming to standing nearest to her. "I saw it, too," she explained. She brushed a few stray hairs away from her face. "When I came back to life. When Dende was wishing all of us here, to this strange planet."
Vegeta seized her by the upper arm, shaking her a bit. "What did it look like? How?"
She pushed his hand away with some effort. "Like my father," she described. He grunted at her, eyes throwing a glance at her hands. She shook her head, guessing at his unspoken question.
"Hey, keep your hands off a lady," the blue haired woman said to Vegeta in a surprisingly bossy tone. Val looked over at her. "I'm sorry, but who are you?" the blue hair woman asked, looking at her in turn.
Val looked back at her, opening her mouth to answer. "That's Val," Gohan explained. Val looked down at him. He cocked his head up, saying, "That's Bulma." Val nodded, finally having met the other remaining Earthling she had heard so much about.
"The one who escaped Frieza and ran away to a Namekian village at one point? But you said she was a kid?" Bulma responded.
"The former Great Elder unlocked her potential and she grew," Dende explained.
"And counts as one of ours," Moori added in. "Equal to him at the very least," he nodded over to the strange Namekian.
Bulma looked at her and around at the other Namekians. "Aren't you bored?" she deadpanned.
Val looked at, her puzzled. "I don't understand your question," she responded.
Bulma just raised up her eyebrows and muttered, "never mind..." She suddenly looked confused, looking around the area. "What? Yamcha? Where?"
"What is it?" Gohan asked. "Kaio-Sama?"
"Yeah, How did you know? It's Yamcha that's talking," she explained. Val studied her, thinking this Kaio must have been the one that had allowed the Great Elder to communicate with her to get Dende to the dragon balls in turn. Meanwhile, Bulma was still talking. "How are you doing, Yamcha?..." She went quiet, like she was listening to another person talking without the use of a scouter. "Listen, everyone. Goku killed Frieza!" she cheered. Val smiled softly at that news, hearing others cheer around her. Vegeta seemed more irritated by the news than anything else. "Hey! Goku died again when Namek exploded! Too bad, eh?" she blurted out right after.
Val brought her hand to mouth, smile wiped from her face. "He didn't make it?" Gohan asked. She looked over at him, feeling awful for him.
"You're not up to date, are you?" Bulma kept talking. "The Namekians are on Earth with their dragon balls. And you now what? We can bring back back dead people as many times as we want with their dragon balls." She went from excited to pale in half a second. "But they'll be resurrected on Namek and since it's gone... It would work if their bodies were rebuilt by Kami and were at Kaio like Chaozu's."
"Neither Dad nor Krillin can be brought back?" Gohan asked.
"It's not in Kaio's territory," Bulma finished explaining.
"No luck then," the boy resigned.
"Are you brainless or what?" Vegeta asked. Val looked back over at him, frowning at his harsh words. "Just bring them back after your transfer their souls, thoughts and whatever here. Right?"
"Huh?" Bulma turned to look at him. "That's true! He's right!" she cheered. "You're not so bad after all," she complimented. "Mister I saved a damsel in distress."
"Thank you," Gohan said, going over to Vegeta to offer him his hand.
Vegeta smacked it away rudely. "Don't get me wrong," he chided. "I want to see the Super Saiyan so I can face him and beat him!"
Val wrinkled her nose, but smiled at his response, no surprised to hear it. She caught him looking at her. She covered her mouth to hide her smile and soft laugh that came soon after.
"Excuse me?" Moori said, coming over to Bulma.
"Yes?" she responded.
Moori continued, "we'll find a new planet to live on once our dragon balls work again. In the meantime, would you know of a place where we can stay?"
Bulma spoke cheerfully, "come and live with us! We have tons of room! Plus, we want to use your dragon balls as well. There'll be a panic if you just parade around." She turned and looked over at Val. "You, too of course. Us pretty ladies got to stick together. Just be careful, my dad can be a bit of a flirt, but he's totally harmless." Val blinked up at her, nodding, and taken a bit aback by the unexpected generosity. Bulma turned to Vegeta next. "You want to come, too? You don't have money for a hotel anyways." Vegeta looked at her, scowling. "We'll feed you well. I guess you're a big eater like Goku. There's one condition: You can't jump all over me even if you find me seductive!"
Val could not hold it back anymore. She laughed out loud at the very idea. "What a mouth! Low class woman!" Vegeta griped.
"Wait here!" the said low class woman instructed. She side stepped over to where Val was standing, taking her by the hand, and tugging her with her. "We'll go to that house over there and phone my dad. He'll pick us up." Gohan approached them, looking scared. "What is it?" Bulma asked.
"Could I come with you guys?" he asked.
Bulma looked down at him. "You should go home to your mom," she said bluntly.
"I didn't do my homework. Mom won't be happy," he said shyly.
Bulma saddled up to the kid, ruffling his hair. "Tell you what, you can come with us to my house and call her from there. How does that sound?"
"Okay," he resigned.
"Come on," Bulma said, tugging Val over and away from the others.
"But..." Val started, looking back over at the others, Vegeta in particular. She could tell the strange Namekian had his eyes on her. She shot him a look, mouthing, 'later.'
She turned back and followed after the other woman, listening to her complain. "Oh my word, I cannot tell you how nice it is to be around another woman for a change... I flew all the way to Namek with two dudes, then was left all alone most of the time by the two of them... How's my skin... Ugh, I was so stressed out... That wasn't good for my skin... Yours looks flawless by the way... Surrounded by all those Namekians, how did you even manage it...? Ugh, I'm so jealous..."
They kept moving, Val not talking. She threw one more look back the distant crowd, trying to puzzle things out.