Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by to read this chapter. For those reading on , remember that the 18 content can be found on AO3 (search for my username, Gamer_James27)
For those of you here follow Oolong's perspective, pay close attention to his pov—things are getting interesting, and there's a lot happening beneath the surface! Enjoy the read and let me know your thoughts!
Oolong tossed and turned in the guest room, trying to settle into the surprisingly fluffy bed that was leagues better than anything he'd ever slept on before. But despite the comfort, sleep was far from his reach. Somewhere in the background, he heard the faint sounds of anime blaring from Bulma's room. "What the heck are they watching in there?" he muttered, shaking his head as he rolled onto his side. Just as he managed to doze off a bit, the noises got louder. Laughter drifted through the walls, and Oolong groaned, covering his head with a pillow.
"Great, like I'm not exhausted enough already," he muttered. "Why do they have to be up watching cartoons at this hour?" But he knew that was just how they were. Bulma had the habit of treating every night like a sleepover, and Jaku, well, he'd been along for the ride lately, laughing with her at all kinds of things. At least the two of them were getting along, he thought with a sigh. With all the stuff going on, maybe they both needed a bit of time to unwind.
Just as he was about to slip back into a half-sleep, the laughter in the next room quieted down. Oolong shifted his head a bit, relieved at the silence. But it was short-lived. Moments later, a different set of sounds drifted through the wall—a soft murmur followed by an almost breathy laugh.
Oolong's eyes snapped open, and he sat up, ears straining. "Oh, no… Are they…?" he whispered to himself, eyebrows raising as he caught a bit of their conversation.
"Unbelievable," he grumbled under his breath, his face scrunched up in a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. "Here I am, desperate for some peace, and those two are in there, getting all… cozy."
He pulled his pillow over his head, trying to block out the sounds, but every now and then, he could still hear faint giggles and hushed whispers.
"Come on, really?" he mumbled, rolling his eyes. "Can't they keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep over here!" Despite himself, a tiny smirk crept onto his face. "Well, if it makes them happy, I guess…" He sighed, feeling a strange mix of irritation and amusement.
After a few more minutes of muffled sounds, everything finally quieted down again. Oolong released a long, relieved breath, sinking back into the pillow. "Alright, finally, some peace," he murmured to himself, settling back in. But as he drifted off, a tiny smirk stayed on his face.
"Lucky guy," he muttered sleepily, finally slipping into slumber.
The desert sun was dipping low, casting long shadows over the rocky cliffs where Yamcha and Puar lay in wait. They were running low on supplies, and with no scores in sight lately, Yamcha was starting to get desperate.
Just then, he spotted a figure on the path below—a young girl in armor with a helmet that looked like it had a blade sticking straight up from the top.
"Check it out, Puar. Perfect timing," Yamcha whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "Looks like she might be carrying something valuable."
As the girl drew closer, Yamcha stepped out from behind a rock, blocking her path with his arms crossed. "Alright, kid," he called out coolly, "hand over your valuables. Cash, jewelry—whatever you've got on you. Let's keep this simple."
The girl's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms to mirror him. "I don't think so! My daddy taught me to stand up to bandits like you!"
Yamcha blinked, a bit thrown by her boldness. "Whoa, easy now! Look, no need to get all brave. Just hand over your stuff, and we'll both be on our way."
But Chi-Chi didn't back down. Instead, she aimed her helmet right at him, the sharp blade crest glinting in the light. Before Yamcha could react, the blade shot off her helmet with a bright flash, hurtling straight toward him. Yamcha just barely managed to tilt his head to the side, feeling a rush of air as it narrowly missed his face.
"Yikes!" he yelped, stumbling back a step. "Where'd that come from?" He glanced at Puar, muttering, "This kid's packing some serious firepower!"
Before he could regroup, the blade curved back through the air like a boomerang, snapping right back into place on her helmet with a loud click.
Chi-Chi charged forward, determined. Her helmet powered up, ready to launch another shot, but Yamcha quickly sidestepped, dodging just in time as she powered up again.
"Alright, I've had enough of this!" Yamcha said, pulling back. He shot a quick glance at Puar, who instantly transformed into a length of rope and wrapped around Chi-Chi's arms, pinning them to her sides. Yamcha quickly tied the knot to secure her before she could get in another shot.
"Hey! Let me go!" Chi-Chi wriggled against the ropes, her eyes blazing as she glared up at him. "You're in big trouble now! My daddy's going to come for me, and he'll crush you both for this!"
Yamcha chuckled, though he felt a bead of sweat on his brow. He'd heard about the Ox-King before—everyone had. And he knew this girl wasn't bluffing. But he kept his composure, looking down at her with a smirk. "Oh yeah? Well, until he shows up, you're coming with us. Let's see how much he'll pay to get you back."
Puar, still hovering beside him, bit his lip nervously. "Uh, Yamcha… are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Relax, Puar." Yamcha waved him off, flashing a grin. "We've got ourselves some solid leverage here. Ox-King's treasure? We'll be set for life."
Chi-Chi stopped struggling just long enough to glare up at him, her face red with anger. "You're both gonna regret this! My daddy's the Ox-King, and he won't let you get away with it!"
Yamcha couldn't help but laugh, though there was a hint of unease in his voice. "Guess we'll find out soon enough, kid."
Pov Chi-Chi
Chi-Chi trudged through the barren landscape, dust swirling around her feet with every step. She heaved a frustrated sigh, clutching her helmet tighter in her hands. Whose brilliant idea was it to find Master Roshi anyway? she thought, frowning. Oh, right—mine. Months had passed since she'd set out, her sense of direction long gone. Every landmark looked the same. She'd practically circled this desert a hundred times by now, and her patience was wearing thin.
The only reason she'd survived this long was her training—and her armor. She glanced down at her outfit with a grimace. It wasn't exactly the ideal look for a princess warrior; the outfit left more skin exposed than she cared for, hugging her form in ways that felt… well, a bit improper. It may be durable, but it's hardly what a princess should wear!
But there was no denying it had its uses. Like yesterday, when a T-Rex-like creature had ambushed her from behind. The dinosaur had roared, its teeth sharp enough to bite clean through a tree trunk. But she'd turned on it in an instant, launching the blade from her helmet straight into the beast's throat. With a final howl, the creature had collapsed, defeated. She'd stood over it, panting but proud. Barbaric, she had thought. I'm supposed to be a princess, not some… savage!
And then there were the pterodactyls—huge, shrieking beasts that dove at her from the sky, talons glinting. She'd taken them down too, one by one, with blasts from her helmet's laser. She'd even encountered bandits along the way, though they'd barely lasted a minute against her. Most of them had fled before she could even raise her weapon, but those that stayed? Her armor had protected her, and the blade crest of her helmet had done the rest. Ridiculous, she thought. They didn't know who they were messing with.
Still, every fight, every ambush wore on her nerves. It was exhausting having to fend for herself constantly. She'd never realized how tiring it was to survive in the wild, battling creatures and scaring off bandits. This is not how a princess is supposed to live! I'm practically a barbarian now!
As she climbed over a ridge, muttering to herself about her rotten luck, she caught sight of a figure blocking her path ahead. He had a confident smirk and stood with his arms crossed, almost like he'd been waiting for her.
"Alright, kid," he called out. "Hand over your valuables. Cash, jewelry—whatever you've got on you. Let's keep this simple."
Chi-Chi's eyes narrowed. Another one? Can't these bandits see I'm not someone to mess with? She raised her head, staring him down. "I don't think so! My daddy taught me to stand up to bullies like you!"
The bandit seemed surprised by her defiance, but Chi-Chi didn't give him time to respond. She aimed her helmet's crest at him, launching it with a flash. The blade hurtled toward him, forcing him to dodge it at the last second. That'll teach him, she thought with satisfaction as the blade swung back toward her, clicking into place on her helmet with a reassuring snap.
She lunged at him, ready to end this quickly, but he dodged her attack with surprising agility. Frustrated, she prepared for another strike when suddenly a length of rope appeared, binding her arms. She struggled, but the knot held fast, and her helmet's weapon was now useless. She squirmed against the restraints, her blood boiling.
"Let me go!" she shouted, glaring at the bandit with all the fury she could muster. How dare he capture me! "You're in big trouble now! My daddy's going to find you, and he'll crush you for this!"
The bandit smirked, though she noticed a flicker of something—was it worry?—in his eyes. "Oh yeah?" he said, looking her over. "Well, until he shows up, you're coming with us. Let's see how much he'll pay to get you back."
Chi-Chi's mind raced. She wasn't exactly thrilled at the thought of being a hostage, but the longer she thought about it, the more she realized that, right now, it might not be the worst option. If I go with this bandit, I might finally end up back with Father… or at least get out of this desert. And if her father found him? Well, he'd likely put this bandit out of his misery.
A wave of exhaustion swept over her. Months of surviving in the wilderness, endless fights, getting lost over and over again—it was all weighing her down. Fine, she thought. Let this guy try to ransom me. Let him think he's in control. She allowed herself a small smile, more amused than she wanted to admit. Little did this bandit know her father would do a lot more than pay up. Poor guy probably has no idea what he's gotten himself into.