Chapter 2: The Journey Begins
As the tension at the crash site began to settle, Bulma let out a long sigh, placing her hands on her hips. "Okay, let's take a breather before things get out of hand. Kara, right? I'm Bulma, and this kid here is Goku. I think we all got off on the wrong foot."
Kara remained wary, her eyes darting between Goku and the strange blue-haired girl. "You haven't explained why you're here," she said curtly.
"I'm on a quest," Bulma replied, pulling a shimmering orange orb from her bag. "To find these—Dragon Balls. There are seven in total, and when you collect them all, a dragon appears and grants you any wish you want!"
Kara frowned, taking a step closer. "A dragon that grants wishes? That sounds… impossible."
"Oh, it's very real," Bulma said confidently. "And before you crashed here, I'd just met Goku for the first time. He stopped me from getting eaten by a giant fish!"
Goku grinned. "That fish was huge! I was gonna take it home for dinner, but then Bulma showed up."
Bulma continued, holding up the glowing orb. "Anyway, this is one of the Dragon Balls. It has two stars on it. I'm looking for the other six. And guess what? Goku here says his grandpa gave him one."
At this, Goku's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah! I have one just like that!" He scratched his head thoughtfully. "It's at my house. Grandpa said it was special, so I've always kept it safe."
Kara's curiosity deepened, though her suspicion lingered. Goku's cheerful demeanor and apparent innocence were at odds with everything she knew about the Saiyan race. Still, she decided to follow along.
"C'mon!" Goku said, grabbing the massive fish by the tail. "My house isn't far. I'll cook this up for us to eat!"
He bounded into the forest, carrying the fish effortlessly, while Bulma hopped on her bike to follow. Kara hesitated, then floated after them cautiously.
The trio soon arrived at Goku's simple mountain home—a cozy hut surrounded by lush greenery. A steaming river ran nearby, its gentle flow blending with the chirping of birds.
"Here we are!" Goku said proudly, tossing the fish onto a large wooden table outside. "You two wait here—I'll get everything ready."
Bulma sat down on a log, fiddling with her Dragon Radar. Kara crossed her arms, scanning the area. "You live here… alone?"
"Yup!" Goku called from inside the house. "Grandpa Gohan used to live here with me, but he passed away a while ago. He always told me to be polite to girls, so I'll make sure you're both taken care of!"
Kara raised an eyebrow, watching as Goku emerged with an apron tied around his waist. He began cleaning and preparing the fish with surprising care.
Bulma chuckled. "Well, you don't see that every day. A polite boy who can cook."
Goku smiled. "Grandpa said it's important to be nice to people, especially girls. And I like sharing food—it makes people happy!"
Kara found herself taken aback. The Saiyans she had read about in Kryptonian archives were ruthless conquerors who thrived on destruction and domination. Yet, here was Goku, cheerful, kind, and completely unlike anything she had expected.
As the sun began to set, the smell of grilled fish filled the air. Goku served up the meal with a grin. "Here you go! It's fresh and tasty!"
Bulma dug in immediately, letting out an exaggerated sigh of satisfaction. "Wow, this is way better than I expected!"
Kara took a cautious bite. The flavors surprised her—it was simple but delicious. She watched Goku as he eagerly chomped down on his portion, his carefree demeanor radiating warmth.
"You're… different," Kara said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Goku looked up, tilting his head. "Different? How?"
"I've read about your kind," Kara said, her tone measured. "Saiyans were known as ruthless, destructive warriors. But you're… kind. Gentle. It doesn't make sense."
Goku scratched the back of his head. "Well, I don't know much about Saiyans. Grandpa said I came from a weird egg, but he taught me to be nice and to help people."
Bulma chimed in between bites. "I don't think Goku's like those Saiyans you're talking about. I mean, look at him—he's clueless! In a good way."
Kara nodded slowly. Goku's actions spoke louder than words. Despite her initial distrust, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of curiosity about him.
As the meal came to an end, Bulma stood up, stretching. "Alright, Goku. How about you show us that Dragon Ball your grandpa gave you?"
"Sure!" Goku replied, dashing inside the hut. He returned moments later, holding a glowing orange orb with four stars.
Kara leaned in to examine it. "It's the same as Bulma's," she said, her analytical mind racing.
Bulma grinned. "That makes two down and five to go! Goku, you've gotta come with me—we'll find the rest together!"
"Really? That sounds fun!" Goku said, his excitement infectious.
Kara hesitated. She had no interest in chasing after magical orbs, but something about Goku intrigued her. Perhaps traveling with him would help her understand why he was so different from the Saiyans she had grown up fearing.
"I'll come too," Kara said finally, her voice firm.
Bulma smirked. "Looks like we've got ourselves a team!"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the trio prepared for the journey ahead, unaware of the adventures—and challenges—that awaited them.
To be continued...
