Chapter 1 – The Monkey Devil of Mount Paozu

The forests of Mount Paozu, that once thrived, teeming with life, were now twisted and broken, the mountain peaks that once stood proud and tall, have now crumbled to dust, the creatures of the mountain fled at the faintest rustle of leaves, their eyes wide with terror. They knew better than to go near these dangerous lands.

For there lived a beast, the monkey devil of Mount Paozu, every day the beast prowled these lands, pushing its body to the very limit, leaving warrant destruction everywhere it went through, legends said that once the moon shines brightest, the demon reveals it's true form and threats the Earth itself. These lands had become a realm of fear and destruction, only the most foolish would brave them and few would come back alive to tell the tale, but, among those ruins, there remained a small and lonely house, unscathed.

Kakarot, a young saiyan boy of about 12, was resting, near a lake, after another arduous day of training, using his scouter he scanned himself "A power level of 35, it increased by one, not nearly enough" enough for what? Not even he knew.

Bulma, the young heiress of the Briefs family was speeding trough these remote lands with one goal in mind, the Dragon Balls "It should be near here, I hope I can get out of here soon, this place gives me the creeps" as her metal machine went through these broken paths, she could feel a bone chilling presence, almost as if a predator was stalking her.

Her instincts rang true, Kakarot's scowl deepened as he watched the strange metal machine zip across his territory. His tail swayed with irritation behind him, this weakling, with her pitiful power level of 2, had no business being anywhere near his domain. And yet, she was heading straight for his home. That was unacceptable.

He leaped into the air and jumped from tree to tree at blinding speeds, quickly approaching the vehicle, he landed in front of it and simply put his hand forward, ready to destroy this threat, but the vehicle stopped.

Bulma's heart leaped into her throat as she slammed her foot on the brake, she could only stare in shock at the boy who stood in front of her, was he crazy? Or was this the demon she had heard about? Right now, she was so angry and confused she could only scream at him "Who the hell are you?! And where did you even come from?! You know I could've almost killed you there!"

The boy didn't flinch, only looking at her, his eyes full of anger and determination, he spoke in a low commanding tone that sent shivers down her spine "Why are you here".

Bulma's frustration was now only growing, this lunatic appears out of nowhere, almost makes her crash and now HE is the one asking questions? "Why am I here?!" she snapped, her voice rising in irritation. "I should be asking YOU that! You just jumped out of nowhere like some wild animal! I could've killed you—or worse, I could've been hurt!"

Kakarot was slightly taken aback, most would cower at his presence, but he remained irritated at her presence, he stared back, his eyes unflinching and demanding a response "I will give you one more chance, Why. Are. You. Here?"

Bulma crossed her arms and huffed "Okay, if you must know, I'm searching for the Dragon Balls, there should be one just up this hill" she reached in her bag and grabbed 2 glowing orange orbs, showing it to the boy.

Kakarot's eyes flickered with recognition as he stared at the Dragon Balls in Bulma's hands. They looked just like the one Master Gohan had given him before he... For a moment, his hardened expression faltered, his mind briefly pulled into the past. But he quickly pushed those thoughts away, his focus returning to the present and the strange girl standing before him. Still, his curiosity was piqued. "Where did you get those"

Bulma sensed a slight shift on the boy's tone "I've been searching all over for them using my radar, legends say if you collect all seven you will be granted any wish!"
Kakarot's eyes narrowed "Any wish?" That sounded too good to be true, but the look on her face, a stubborn and determined look, told him, it just might be true, and with any wish, he might just get the power he desires.

Bulma could see he was considering her words, so she pressed on. "Look, you don't have to believe me, but it's the truth. I'm not here to mess with your... creepy mountain or whatever. I just want the Dragon Balls. You let me trough, I get the dragon ball, and I will leave you in peace here, deal?" She paused, her hands on her hips, meeting his gaze defiantly. "Or you can keep acting like a caveman, and we'll both get nowhere."

Kakarot almost smirked. Almost. This girl had fire—more than he'd expected. Most people ran at the sight of him, but she stood her ground, even in the face of his power. He found himself feeling something unfamiliar—a hint of respect.

"You've got guts for someone so weak," Kakarot said, his voice a little less hostile. "But, that one you are searching for, on top of this hill, I will warn you, it is mine, and I received it from the only human I ever respected, so I will not part with it, but these wishes you talk about… they intrigue me, give me the radar and I might just let you live" Kakarot's muscles tensed, his tail uncoiled from his clothes and it's fur spiked, he let out a threatening aura.

Bulma was frozen in fear, her heart racing as she just realized what she had walked into, that tail, this was no ordinary boy… this was the monkey devil himself, she had stumbled into the lair of a legend and might just become yet another cautionary tale, but she had come so far, her goal just in the grasp of her hands, she couldn't give up at the first roadblock, she wouldn't give up, if she wanted to get the dragon balls, she had to make a deal with the devil.

She steeled herself, taking a deep breath to push through her fear. "Look, you might be all powerful and strong, but how much do you know about the world out there? You wouldn't even know how to use these Dragon Balls. I do," she continued, her voice gaining strength. "I might not have your muscles, but I'm really smart and skilled. With your brawn and my brain, I think we can gather these Dragon Balls in no time. Then we both get what we want. How about that?"

Kakarot raised an eyebrow, her fear was palpable, but he was intrigued by her proposition. Her confidence was surprising, especially for someone who had just realized the danger she was in. "You make a solid argument, but do you truly believe you can live up to it?" he challenged, though there was a hint of interest in his tone.

Bulma nodded vigorously. "Absolutely! Think about it: you can fight, but you might need someone who can think strategically, plan ahead, and navigate the world outside this mountain. If we join up, we might just be unstoppable"

He crossed his arms, considering her words. The idea of having a partner was new to him, humans were weak, his "goal" was to conquer them, and yet… this one… she intrigued him, she was braver than most, he could kill her in a second and yet she was daring to challenge him, this idea was becoming almost appealing to him. "I will accept it, but, if you even dare to betray me, I will end you in a second, deal?"

She shivered, what had she just gotten herself into "Deal, now, let's get going then" she tried to show a brave face, but she was terrified on the inside, she just escaped a potential life or death situation, "I hope you can protect me from this place."

Kakarot smirks, his confidence and ferocity radiating from him. "You don't need protection from this place. You only need protection from me."

As they began their trek up the hill, the oppressive atmosphere of Mount Paozu felt slightly lighter, after many years, a visitor had been welcomed, though the air crackled with unspoken tension. Bulma could hardly believe she was walking alongside the infamous monkey devil, and a mix of excitement and trepidation swirled within her.

As they approached Kakarot's home, a modest yet sturdy dwelling nestled against the mountainside, it looked almost out of place in the rugged terrain, but it was clear that Kakarot had made it his own, and so, Kakarot pushed the door open without a word and stepped inside, leaving Bulma standing at the threshold for a moment. "Aren't you coming in?" he called over his shoulder, not bothering to turn back.

"Right!" Bulma replied, shaking off her hesitation and stepping inside. The interior was surprisingly clean and organized; it seemed this was the one place Kakarot actually cared about.

As she took in her surroundings, she noticed a variety of weapons organized along the walls, alongside a strange-looking yellow and black armor and a weird device with green lenses.

"Wow, I didn't expect this," Bulma remarked, glancing around. "For someone who lives out here, you've got quite the setup. But what's with that armor? And that thing?" She pointed to the scouter, her curiosity piqued.

Kakarot stepped closer, a hint of pride in his voice. "That armor is saiyan gear. It's lightweight and flexible but really tough, perfect for battle. And this," he said, picking up the scouter, "is a tool to measure power levels and detect enemies. It's come in handy for keeping track of anyone who dares to invade my territory and to see how much I've grown in power!"

"A… Saiyan?..." She was confused, having never heard of those saiyans before.

A slight look of annoyance flashed through Kakarot's eyes, but he reminded himself that no one here knew about his kind. It had been so long since he had to explain himself to anyone. "The saiyan race," he began, his tone shifting to a mix of pride and determination, "we are a proud and strong race of warriors and conquerors. I was sent here from Planet Vegeta. One day, I will conquer this planet, and then they will finally come to take me back."

Bulma blinked, taking in his words. "Conquer the planet?" she echoed, her curiosity piqued, aliens were real, and here was a living one, but to conquer? What did that mean? Was the Earth in danger? "That sounds… intense. But why? What's the point of all that?"

That question… it was a simple one, yet it reverberated in Kakarot's mind, reminding him of his countless days spent pondering the same thing. "I… I don't really know," he admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "But I have to. I have to conquer it. My parents told me to survive." The only thing he could recall from his life on Planet Vegeta were those stark words and the fleeting faces of his family.

Bulma frowned, this boy clearly had no real idea of what he was meant to do himself, she was trying to piece together his thoughts. "So, who told you to conquer?"

Kakarot was struck silent again. Nobody had. The command came from his pod, a programmed message urging him to conquer and survive. But he felt a growing irritation at her persistent questioning. "It doesn't matter who," he replied sharply, his voice laced with impatience. "What matters is that it's what I'm meant to do."

Bulma crossed her arms, undeterred. "But do you even know what you want? You can't just go around conquering because you feel like it. There must be more to life than that."

Kakarot's brow furrowed. "Why do you care?" he challenged, his voice thick with defensiveness. "I thought you were here for the Dragon Ball and not to question me so much. Let's get on with it; it should be right here." He gestured for her to follow as he moved deeper into the small house.

Bulma watched him with a mix of annoyance and intrigue as he led her to a small altar in the corner of the room. There, resting on a pedestal, was the four-star Dragon Ball, its orange surface gleaming in the soft light. She stepped closer, her eyes wide with wonder. "That's it! Now I'm one step closer to finding the perfect boyfriend!" she reached out and grabbed it "This is the one you received from your master?"

Kakarot nodded, a hint of nostalgia crossing his face. "Master Gohan raised me. He taught me how to fight and survive in this world. He was my fiercest opponent, this Dragon Ball… it's the only thing I have to remember our battles."

Bulma paused, sensing the weight of his words, he missed his master, even if he had a strange way of putting it. "It must mean a lot to you," she said softly, her frustration from earlier fading, as she felt some empathy for the boy. "But if we're going to work together, I will need to take it, maybe you can take it back later."

"I already agreed to it, don't pity me," he replied curtly, snatching the Dragon Ball from her hand. "But I will keep this one in my possession. Can't risk you dying somewhere and losing it."

Bulma was annoyed again, just as she was starting to feel a little empathy she is reminded of the mean devil she had just partnered with "Well alright then mister big mad saiyan, let's just get on with it then, the next dragon ball should be just over to the west of here." She and Kakarot left the house together as she looked west "Quite a few miles from here too… we can go in my car, but you sit in the back"

She activated a capsule, her car, the same one she used to travel here, popped from it. "By the way, what is your name?" she asked, leaning against the car as she opened the door.

Kakarot hesitated for a moment, looking at her with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "Kakarot," he finally said, the name rolling off his tongue like an unfamiliar word, he never had to introduce himself to someone before.

"Well, nice to meet you, Kakarot! You can see my name in my dress," she pointed to herself, the name "Bulma" sewn on her pink dress, "I'm the heiress to the Briefs family. Maybe you've heard of me?" There was a playful smirk on her face, a slight hint of pride evident in her tone.

Kakarot, however, could only read the Saiyan language. He squinted at the letters, attempting to decipher them. "Bumly? And are you talking about the briefs I use?"

Bulma's expression soured as irritation bubbled up, she can't believe this kid. "It's Bulma! Not Bumly! And no, it's not about those kinds of briefs! Do you not know how to read!"

Kakarot simply shrugged, unbothered by her outburst "I only know the saiyan language, let's just get on with it Bumly, hopefully we can atleast meet someone strong on the way" he said as he entered the car, the insides of it feeling a bit alien to him, it would take some time until he could get used to it.

Bulma sighed, fighting the urge to correct him again. "It's Bulma, but whatever. Just try not to break anything in there, alright?"

As they sped off, an air of apprehension hung between them. Bulma's heart raced, a knot of fear tightening in her stomach—she couldn't shake the feeling that teaming up with Kakarot might be more dangerous than the quest itself. What if he turned on her? What if the end he just wished to conquer the planet? And yet, there was something undeniably thrilling about the adventure she was about to head into.

Kakarot, in contrast, felt a spark of curiosity igniting within him as he glanced at Bulma. Her fierceness intrigued him; most people would have been cowering, but she faced him head-on, unyielding and struck a deal he would never imagine himself taking. Despite the fear flickering in her eyes, there was a fire in her spirit that he found oddly appealing. This partnership was unorthodox, but perhaps it could lead to something interesting after all. Together, they were stepping into a world of danger and adventure, completely alien to both, in different ways, bringing start to an alliance that would end up shaping the universe itself.

AN: right now there aren't any other stories on my profile, ended up deleting all of them, but I do regret it, I wanted to get back to writing though, Sparking Zero reignited that desire, the bumly thing was taken from MasakoX's what if goku never hit his head, he never finished his story, and I'm not really taking much else from it, but I thought that concept of Kakarot getting everyone's names wrong was quite funny to add and play with more.