NOTE: Sorry, this took so long to upload. School and life were far more important to handle before I started working on fics again. I should be good to update my fics now that I'm on break. I make no guarantees since I also want to spend time playing Sparking Zero.
Enjoy and Review!
Chapter 1: 10 Years Later…
On the Supreme Kai's planet, the battle for the fate of the universe was reaching its climatic conclusion…the monstrous Majin Buu was stuck in a desperate struggle against the married duo of Goku and Makima. The Saiyan and Devil were giving it everything they had as the universe watched on, praying for their success…
Goku and Makima's power wasn't making the cut. The two were still losing ground to Majin Buu. If this truly was going to be the end, then at least they'd die together!
"Goku! Your energy! We wished for it to be restored!"
The Earthly Saiyan felt his body's exhaustion vanish like the wind. His energy came back to him like a second wind and he was all too happy to use it! "Yes, I can feel it! THANK YOU, DRAGON BALLS!"
"HYAH!" Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan. He moved his body back to take hold of Makima's right hand, interlocking their fingers. The Control Devil gasped as her husband's energy flowed into her. She felt his golden aura incase itself around her, turning her red hair into a similar golden color. Her yellow spirals took a teal color much like a Super Saiyan.
"Darling!" Makima's entire body was on cloud nine! It was as if her husband was sharing his everything with her for the first time once again. An expression of pure bliss and love graced her features.
"Together, right?" Goku smiled.
"Yes, darling." Makima returned the smile.
"HAH!" Together, husband and wife took control of the struggle, pushing the Spirit Bomb against Buu. Kid Buu let out a startled gasp as the pure energy was pushed into him, none of his power was even capable of fighting back now.
Makima stared down at the pathetic little pink monster that had caused them so much trouble. "I hate you with every fiber of my being. You tortured me, killed me, killed my children, and destroyed our home. However, if it weren't for you then my darling never would've returned to me." Makima met her husband's eyes once more before looking back at Buu. "We wouldn't have our happy ending. So for that, I'll always be grateful."
Goku's turn for some last words. "You were amazing, Buu. The strongest I've ever faced. I hope you're reborn one day as a good person. That way we can have another one-on-one. I'll be training and waiting… Until then! See ya!"
Buu could only stare at them in horror. For the first time, the monster had been fully consumed by fear.
Goku and Makima gave the final push. "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Kid Buu gave one last cry as the Spirit Bomb completely engulfed him, erasing Majin Buu entirely. The ultimate attack dragged through the planet like a comet before ascending into the air. The Spirit Bomb reached the darkness of space and exploded, creating a beautifully bright sight of colors for the whole universe to witness.
With Majin Buu defeated, the universe found itself settling in a new era of peace. Goku and friends, who had fought bravely against all odds, were able to return to their daily lives once more.
But, as we all know, peace doesn't last forever. The adventures of Goku, Makima, and all of their allies are far from done. Let us take a look at one of the two paths our heroes will find themselves in. One that will take them on a Grand Tour.
Opening 1: Dan Dan Kokoro Hikareteku
A dazzling porcelain white stage can be seen, a singular mic stand placed in the middle of the spotlight. Walking from the shadows of the backstage was none other than Lilith. Her hair flowed freely down her back; the Devil's stunning silver dress hugged her figure perfectly. She reached the mic, gently grabbing it with one of her hands. As the music began, Lilith gave a teasing wink to the audience.
Bit by bit, you're charming my heart with your dazzling smile
Let's fly away from this endless darkness
Hold my hand
Goku, dressed in a dark blue GI with yellow pants, stood above the Earth. A red dragon, similar to Shenron, surrounded the Saiyan and transformed him back into a child.
A spaceship is seen flying away from Capsule Corp, entering the vast reaches of space. Inside of the ship was Goku, an older Trunks, three young girls, and a small white robot.
The first girl looked similar to Gohan and Videl. She wears a red hoodie with a chained heart printed on the chest, sports an orange bandana on her head, chains on the right side of her gray capris' jeans and fingerless gloves and wears dark gray boots. She wears a blue-school bag as well.
The second girl has long messy blonde hair tied into a ponytail. She wears a black top of gothic design, dark skinny jeans that stop above her ankles, and two metal piercings on each ear. She has sharp razor-like teeth and coal black eyes.
The third girl looks like a younger version of Bulma. Her cerulean colored hair stops at the bottom of her neck. She has two golden ring-shaped earrings on her ears and a red hairband resting on her head. She wears denim overalls with a skirt instead of pants and has the Capsule Corp logo embroidered on the center. Underneath the overalls is a light blue expensive short sleeved shirt.
When I first met you, I recalled a place important to me when I was a child
Won't you dance with me?
Their spaceship crashed on a planet filled to the brim with oceans and dinosaur-like creatures.
Goku stripped off his clothes, prepared to dive into the water to catch some fish. The three girls looked embarrassed by his actions. The black haired was going to throw his clothes back at him until the blonde one tripped on her own feet, causing both girls to go falling into the water instead. Trunks and the blue haired girl were working on the ship as these antics transpired.
A winding road of light and shadow
Even now, are you still lost on him?
Goku resurfaced from the water, carrying a huge fish in his hands. However, he didn't realize he was standing on top of a dinosaur. The adult-turned-boy jumped into the air to escape. The scene transitioned to him, Trunks, and the girls flying up towards a massive spaceship
There's times when I want to turn around a bit
An older Bulma is seen gliding across the air on a jet-powered bike. She moved out of the way as Makima flew into the scene. The Control Devil's appearance was a bit different than previously; her hair had been cut down to neck length with a few stress marks visible on her face. She wears a tightfitting black dress with a cropped leather jacket over the top.
Following her were the twins, who, just like Trunks, were much older now. Goten's hairstyle became spiky, straight and tilted. He begins to look like his brother, Gohan as opposed to Goku. He wears a green short-sleeved shirt with a long blue jacket over the shirt, and wears purple chino pants, and light beige golden boots.
Nayuta's hair looked just as wild as her younger years, but the spikes curved inward to give herself a devilish look. Her two longest bangs were braided down the middle, centering above her nose. She wears a black crop top with a pink skull on the front and the words 'DEVIL METAL' printed on the back. Underneath the top is a net-like undershirt. She wears a short black skirt with purple socks that go up to her mid-thighs, and a pair of high-heeled boots. Draped over her torso is a purple and black guitar with flames printed on it.
The four gave their own peace signs to the audience before flying away.
But with love, courage and pride, I'll fight on
Goku, the girls, and Trunks flew through the air, excited for the adventure that would take them all over the cosmos.
Bit by bit, you're charming my heart
A fragment of hope in this world
Goku fires off a Kamehameha into the distance.
Trunks whips out his sword and slices an enemy robot in half, it explodes as it flies off in the background.
Surely everyone wants to hold eternity in their hands
Even if it seems like I don't care at all, listen, I'm in love with you
As an alien ostrich swallows a Dragon Ball, the blonde girl grabs onto it but ends up getting dragged along by the animal. As she gets comically bounced along the ground, the rest of the group follow the chase.
The group rests under some giant leaves. The water from the rain pools down like a shower nozzle, allowing them to refresh themselves after a hectic adventure.
The black-haired girl picks up a flower, admiring its beauty until a tiny, cute creature pops out of it, surprising her.
Let's fly away from this endless darkness
Goku drowns in the darkness, a singular hand reaching out for him. He opened his eyes to see Makima was trying to reach him, however, a malevolent force pulled her away from him.
Hold your hand
Goku cried out for her, his anger pushing him into a Super Saiyan. He cupped his hands, the air swirling around him, he transformed into Super Saiyan 2 and 3 before reaching a new level of power. He fired off his Kamehameha at the darkness, blowing it away.
Goku, in his new form, stood protectively in front of his home planet, smiling at everyone to ensure that everything was okay.
Lilith slowly opened her eyes as she finished the song. The Devil turned away from the mic, walking off the stage. Tears slowly fell from her eyes as she did so, as if she were saying goodbye to a loving memory. But this wasn't goodbye, simply the beginning of a new chapter, one that she wanted to see the end of.
With the greatest battle the universe had ever witnessed behind them, the Earth was finally free from the raging flames of peril. With Goku's return to the living, he and his family were finally whole again. The saviors of the universe enjoyed their well-deserved happy ending for 10 long years, but of course, not all stories have a definitive ending. For someone like Son Goku, new adventures were always waiting to happen.
On the peaceful fields of Mt. Paozu, far separated from the bustling noises of the city, Son Makima relaxed outside of her home to enjoy this beautiful day. With her husband and children out of the house at the moment, she allowed herself to indulge in some well-deserved sweets.
Over the last decade, the Control Devil hadn't changed much in appearance, but there were slight changes. She had shortened her crimson hair to neck length with a short braid going down the right side of her head. She bears a few stress marks under her eyes which resulted from years of pent up issues she's encountered in her long lifespan (Especially from her work and family). She wears a white shoulderless top with black straps, and a long light blue skirt that stops above her ankles. Makima's pink sandals lightly tap against the concrete patio of their balcony.
Due to Gohan moving out and the twins growing older, Makima and Goku had renovated their house a bit to make more space. Adding a patio balcony for herself and her husband to enjoy outside of their room was definitely one of the best ideas she's ever had. The nice umbrella that prevented the sun from cooking them as they'd enjoy their sweets at the small table always made her body tingle.
As she thought about it, Makima let out a sensual noise. "Spending everyday out here, just darling and I, without any interruptions would be bliss." It reminded her of the days before the kids were born, when it was just her and Goku living in their small cozy house. She was planning on retiring as soon as Goten and Nayuta moved out of the house. With all of their children grown and gone, it would just be them again without any disturbances. "Ah~! Retirement~! No children, no world-ending threats, just darling and I-"
"GRAAAAAAAANDMMAAAAAAAAA!"
"Scratch that. Perhaps it wouldn't be as quiet." Makima let out a small smile as she looked over to see a tiny orange dot racing through the sky. She raised a single hand to stop the orange blur from smashing into her, having learned from previous incidents of said blur crashing into their uncle and aunt.
"GRANDMA!"
"Hello, Pan."
Smiling as bright as the sun itself was the child of Son Gohan and Son Videl, the granddaughter of Son Goku and Son Makima, and the only three-way breed between a human, Devil, and Saiyan. The four-year-old child known as Son Pan. She has short shaggy black hair and is dressed in a bright orange GI similar to one her grandfather used to wear. While everything else about her resembled a human, the dark yellow spiral's in her pupils hinted at the deeper meaning of her heritage.
"Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!"
"Yes?"
"Guess what!"
"Hm? What?"
"I just flew around the world!"
"Did you?"
"Yeah!"
"Did you see anything interesting?"
"There were a bunch of weird looking dolphins with guns and stuff!"
Makima paused at that, figuring that her little sister had something to do with that. Why would the War Devil would be raising an army of gun wielding dolphins? She'd have to figure it out later. "I see."
"Hey, Grandma!"
"Yes?"
"Can I have some cake!" Pan pointed at the piece of strawberry cake that Makima was peacefully enjoying a few moments ago.
"Sure." Makima picked up her granddaughter and placed the little girl on her lap. Pan immediately grabbed the plate and dumped the cake into her mouth in one whole gulp. "Did you like it?"
"Yeah! It tasted like strawberry!"
"It was strawberry cake."
"Cool!"
The two sat in silence for a moment before Pan looked up at her grandmother. "Hey, Grandma?"
"Yes, Pan?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"Retirement."
"Retirement? What's that?"
"It's where I won't have to work anymore, but I'll still be compensated for all the work I've done throughout my life."
"So, you can just stay at home and get paid money?!" Pan gasped.
"Yes."
"I want to retire!"
"You'll have to wait a long time before that." Makima lightly tickled her granddaughter, causing her to giggle and squirm around. "What were you doing before this, Pan?"
"Oh, I was training with Grandpa-OOOHHHH!" Pan screamed, slapping her hands against her cheeks. "I forgot! Grandpa was timing me!" She scrambled out of her grandmother's lap. "I don't want Auntie Nayuta to make fun of me again!"
"Just beat her up if she does."
Pan giggled and nodded her head. "Okay, Grandma! See you later!"
"Bye, Granddaughter." Makima waved goodbye as Pan shot off into the sky like a rocket. As she watched Pan disappear into the distance, Makima admired the bright light the little girl exhibited. Much like her grandfather, Pan was going to accomplish great things in her life.
"GUAH!"
"GUH!"
Two teenagers tumbled across the ground, clearly exhausted and beaten from the intense training they had just been doing. Standing across from them, clad in a dark and light blue GI, was Son Goku, who hadn't changed in appearance at all in the last 10 years. "Goten, Nayuta! Come on, you two can keep going. You've been slacking on your training recently."
"Can you go easy, Dad?! I have a date tomorrow and I can't exactly show up looking like I just got out of a boxing match!" Goten whined. Now a 17-year-old teenager, Son Goten's appearance changed a lot over the last 10 years. He had grown his hair to avoid looking like an exact replica of his dad, now it went down to his shoulders. He wears a white and blue shirt with his name printed across the front, and grey colored sweatpants.
"And my band and I have two gigs coming up! One tonight and tomorrow, in case you forgot, Papa!" Nayuta whined just as loudly. Just like her twin, Nayuta had gone through a drastic change over the decade. Having grown into a more mature figure, the daughter of Goku physically resembled her mother's attributes. Her wild hair stretched all the way down her back which called for her to tie it up into pigtails. She wears a tight black exercise top that shows her midriff and tight grey yoga pants that stop above her ankles.
Goku waved off his children's complaints. "You both know those are no excuses to be slacking off as much as you have been. Besides, the tournament's tomorrow, so you're still going to have to cancel those plans like me and your Mom said before."
"Ugh! You don't get on Gohan's case about not training so much!" Nayuta exclaimed.
"You're right, but Gohan's an adult. He can make his own choices. You two still have to listen to your parents." Goku smirked. "Now, come on, you don't want Pan to surpass you two, right?"
"Pan's four-years-old, Dad. There's no way she can surpass us so quickly." Goten waved the claim off.
Nayuta agreed with her brother. "Exactly! We're like leagues above her still. I bet I can beat her butt easily with just a finger."
"If you two have enough time to get cocky, then you can get back up and keep training." Goku's statement sliced through their cocky air. "Besides, I think you two will be surprised by how strong your niece has gotten."
The twins obviously didn't take his words seriously, making the legendary martial artist roll his eyes. He thought back to when the two were younger, so eager to train with him every chance they got, but then they started getting more independent. The older they got, the more they wanted to do anything other than training which led to the problem he was dealing with right now. No big major threat looming over their heads probably contributed to their lazy nature. What was that thing Vegeta, Yoru, and Piccolo would always say?
"Peace seems to have made them soft."
"Yeah, that's it! Thanks, the Vegeta inside of my head!" Goku exclaimed.
"The hell are you talking about, clown?! Turn around!"
"Huh?" Goku turned around to see that both Vegeta and Bulma had arrived in the forest clearing. Seems he was so caught up in his own head that he didn't notice Bulma's jet arriving behind him. Just like him, Vegeta's physical appearance didn't change at all but he was wearing far more casual wear than the battle armor he was used to seeing. Bulma had aged over the years, a few wrinkles present around her mouth and eyes. "Oh! Long time no see!"
Clearly annoyed with him for some reason, Bulma crossed her arms. "It wouldn't be such a long time if you took the time to come visit us more often!"
"That's not true! I visited you guys five years ago!"
"Yeah, for a party! But you don't ever show your face anywhere unless you need something!" Bulma criticized his behavior.
"You've really gotten old, Bulma."
"WILL YOU SHUT UP?! I'M SORRY THAT I CAN'T STAY LOOKING YOUNG LIKE YOU SAIYANS OR DEVILS!" Bulma shouted.
"We Saiyans live for battle, we remain in our prime to fight longer." Vegeta explained.
"Hmph! Then next time I'll just ask Shenron to make me younger!" Bulma huffed.
Rolling his eyes at his wife's usual behavior, the prince gave his attention to Goku. "Kakarot, is it true that you're going to participate in the tournament tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I decided on it a while ago. Makima agreed, so the whole family is gonna go." Goku answered.
"But why now?" Vegeta asked.
"There's a great fighter coming. I've been keeping an eye on him and he's gonna participate this year." Goku answered again.
"What?! But I don't feel any powerful presence!" Vegeta stretched out his senses to feel the powerful fighter, but nothing was turning up.
"Oh, he's holding back for now. But I know that he'll show what he's got once the time comes." Goku said. "He's super powerful."
"Powerful enough for you? I can hardly believe it. Unless he's some kind of alien or Devil."
"Nope. He's human."
"A human?!" Vegeta and Bulma gasped.
Suddenly, Trunks dropped down from the sky, surprising the others. Just like his two best friends, he had grown up a lot. His purple hair remained the same but he was now taller than both his parents. He wears a black long-sleeved shirt, a golden vest, dark gray pants and the same golden boots that he wore as a child. "So, this is where you guys were."
"Yo, Trunks!" Goten waved at his best friend.
"Sup, richy." Nayuta nodded at him.
"Hey, Goten." Trunks shared a high-five with him, then looked at Nayuta. His eyes wandered around her body for a second, slightly heat rising to his cheeks. "U-uh, hey."
Having caught his wandering gaze along her sweaty body, the female hybrid smirked evilly. "Hm? What's that?" Nayuta climbed to her feet and posed suggestively at the heir. "Is Trunks Brief checking me out? Hah? My feminine charms seem to have ensnared you, huh?"
Blushing up a storm, Trunks quickly denied the accusation. "L-like hell?! Why would any guy want to look at your smelly sweaty body?!" He quickly regretted those words when her teasing expression shifted into one of pure rage. Goten shuffled out of the way as his sister charged like a bull at the frozen heir.
Trunks' life was only saved by Goku grabbing Nayuta by the back of her top, keeping her held in place. She could've continued pressing forward but tearing off her top and exposing her bare chest to the boy who just insulted her was too big of a disgrace. Also, her mother would kill her if she tore another outfit.
"Calm down, Nayuta. Of course, you're all sweaty! We were just training!" Goku smiled, ignorant to why those words upsetted her.
Nayuta bared her fangs at her father. "You don't understand teenage girls at all, Papa!"
"Huh?"
"UGH! Forget it!" She tore out of his grasp and stormed over to the side to calm herself down.
"What's wrong with her?" Goku scratched his cheek, clearly confused.
"I don't know." Goten shrugged.
Bulma rolled her eyes. "How you managed to have three kids continues to baffle me." Then her gaze turned to her son. "And you better apologize to her, mister!"
"Yeah, yeah, fine!" Trunks sighed, looking away.
Vegeta shook his head. "Seems we've both been having issues with our lazy children. Even Trunks tries to sneak his way out of training. I've had better luck with Bulla, but she would rather just tinker with whatever Bulma has in her lab than train."
"Well, yeah, but they're happy during these peaceful times." Goku shrugged. He then looked up, sensing a familiar presence coming towards them. The small orange blur of his granddaughter shot down next to him.
"I'm back, Grandpa!" Pan announced.
"Nice work, Pan! That was pretty quick!" Goku smiled.
"I stopped to talk to Grandma too! She gave me cake!"
"Did you save some for me?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Oh man…" Goku slumped, clearly depressed.
Bulma looked at the two before realizing something. "Wait, is Pan going to compete in the tournament too?"
"Huh? Yeah." Goku responded.
"But there's no children's division this year! She's gonna fight with the adults!"
Goku shook his head. "Don't worry about that. I've been training her up to be real strong, right Pan?"
"Uh huh! I'm really strong!" Pan exclaimed.
"Intriguing, perhaps I shall join too." Vegeta said, then looked at his son. "Trunks, you're going to enter as well or I'm cutting your allowance."
"W-what?!" Trunks yelled.
Goten laughed at his friend's plight. "Well, with Trunks this should be more fun, right Nayuta?" He turned to his sister, who was still fuming at the heir.
"Yes…a good chance to kick the shit out of him." Nayuta hissed.
With the arrival of a new day, the Son Family household was bustling loudly, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of Mt. Paozu yet again. Makima sat in front of her vanity, putting the finishing touches on her appearance as her children loudly argued in the background.
"Goten, what did I tell you about taking my hairbrush without my permission?!"
"I didn't take it! It probably wandered off!"
"That excuse didn't work when you stole one of my skirts for some stupid prank, and it's not going to work now!"
"Hey! I'll have you know that prank wasn't stupid and I looked pretty good in that skirt! Everyone else even agreed!"
"They were making fun of you, dumbass! Now, move!"
After clipping on her golden accessories, the Control Devil turned her attention to the door. "Quiet down."
Her order vibrated through the house, reaching the ears of her children. Though she couldn't see them, she could tell they quickly straightened their backs. "S-sorry, Mama/Mom!"
"Hehe! Looks like they're ready to go." Makima looked over to see her husband exit their personal bathroom. He was dressed in his GI as usual, an excited smile plastered over his face. "It's nice to see them full of energy."
"Sometimes they have too much. A quiet morning in this house seems to be too much to ask for." Makima said.
"Ah, don't say that, Makima!" Goku strolled over to her, softly touching her shoulder. "You know you'll miss the sound of them when they move out like Gohan."
She didn't show it on her face but she knew he wasn't entirely wrong. It had hurt her heart to see her oldest son move out to live his own life. She's proud of the man he's become, but she misses the little boy that would cling to her leg first thing in the morning. Goten and Nayuta are massive headaches at times but they're her babies, she'll miss having them around when they do eventually move out. But she'll still have her darling to keep her company. "They're thriving for their independence."
"They're growing up, a natural part of life."
"Nothing about us is natural, darling."
"Yup, but I don't think that's a bad thing."
"It isn't." She smiled at his reflection in the mirror. Makima stood up from her vanity, dressed in a modest black dress with silver linings around the collar and sleeves. "Are you certain that you're ready for this?"
"Hm? Oh yeah. I've been waiting 10 years for this." Goku responded.
"And if this person isn't like what you imagine? If the remnants of their soul still contain the wickedness from before?" Makima asks.
Goku shook his head. "Nah, it'll be fine. If he were evil, then why bother coming to a tournament? It's gonna be so much fun! I can barely contain myself!"
"As always, you're always thinking of the next big fight." Makima chuckled softly.
"MOOOM!" Goten rushed up to their room, a panicked look on his face. "Do you know where my GI is?! I can't find it!"
Makima closed her eyes, stamping out her annoyance. "Goten, I told you to make sure you had everything ready last night."
"I know, but I had to deal with the fallout of my date after telling her I had to cancel! Do you know how much she was crying last night?!"
"Yes, because you had the call on speaker."
…
"...Wait, really?"
"YES, DUMBASS!" Nayuta loudly called out.
Goten rubbed the back of his head. "O-oh…! Hehe, my bad!"
"Don't worry about it, son. I'm sure you can find another one in no time! Besides, why worry about a date when you can be having fun at the tournament?" Goku tried to cheer him up.
"I'm pretty sure you're the only one who thinks like that, Dad." Goten sighed.
Nayuta stormed up to the room next, still brushing through her excessively long hair. "Where's my sympathy, Papa?! My bandmates gave me a ton of crap for having to cancel our gigs like that!"
"Just get some more…uh…kicks?"
"Gigs, Papa! We've been over this already!"
"Right, sorry." Goku gave an embarrassed smile. "Anyway, you'll have plenty more in the future. Just focus on the tournament."
The female hybrid growled. "Why do we even have to participate? This is just something Papa wants to do."
"Because you two have gotten incredibly lazy and complacent as of late. I think a little public humiliation will serve you well." Makima answered.
"Humiliation from what? Losing to Papa or Vegeta?"
"To Pan."
The twins looked at each other, then back to their parents. Goten and Nayuta shared a laugh, clearly not believing their mother's words. "As if that'll ever happen! She's not even a Super Saiyan!" Goten exclaimed.
"The day I lose to that tyke is the day when I'll perform a concert dressed as a clown." Nayuta scoffed.
Goku and Makima shared a look between each other, knowing full well their kids are underestimating their niece a little too much.
"GRANDPA! GRANDMA!"
Already waiting for them at the tournament grounds on Papaya Island was Gohan's family. Little pan, dressed in her GI, charged towards her grandparents with blinding glee. Goku managed to catch her in his arms, almost buckling over from the force of her charge. "Woah, Pan! You almost knocked me down there!"
"Really?!"
"Yup! You're getting really strong!"
The look of pure joy on the little girl's face was infectious to all present. Little Pan was just a ball of sunshine that easily brightened up their world.
"Sorry about that, Dad." Gohan said as he and Videl walked over. The oldest son of Goku and Makima hadn't changed at all over the past 10 years. For Videl, her hair reaches down to her shoulders with a flat bang front over her forehead and red headband. She's wearing a short red jacket over a black top, and a short red skirt with black boots. "She's been excited to see you guys all morning."
"It's no problem, Gohan." Goku said. "We're excited to see her too."
"Speak for yourself." Nayuta muttered. However, the little hybrid heard her aunt's words and made a rude face at her in return.
"Stupid, Auntie!"
"What was that, brat?!" Nayuta glared back at her.
"Pan, behave." Videl ordered, causing her daughter to turn away from Nayuta.
Unlike his sister, Goten smiled at his niece. "Sup, Pan!"
"Hey, Uncle Goten!" Pan happily greeted him.
Nayuta grumbled even more. "He gets a warm greeting but I don't?"
Makima shook her head at her daughter. Pan and Nayuta always seemed to be at each other's throats, even when the little girl was just a baby. Once, when Pan was an infant, she peed on Nayuta's brand new dress. And that was moments after the baby's diaper had been changed, as if the action was intentional.
It was probably universal karma towards Nayuta for her rude behavior as a child towards her own aunts.
The Control Devil decided to focus on more important matters. She turned to Gohan. "I'm assuming everyone else is here?"
Gohan nodded his head. "Yeah, the others got here before we did. Though, I don't see Auntie Yoru anywhere."
"Last thing I heard about her was from Asa, who said that she's apparently living on some island training wildlife to wield weapons or something. It was a weirdly worded postcard apparently." Videl said.
Makima made a mental note to check in on her little sister to ensure she wasn't doing something that would end terribly.
"Alright, then! Let's go see everyone!" Goku declared.
It had been awhile since Goku's seen all of his friends, so he was a bit surprised to see how much older they all looked. Well, Piccolo didn't change at all in the appearance department either, but it was still nice to see him! His granddaughter jumped out his arms and he watched her run towards two other little girls that were waving at her.
"Bulla! Hina!"
Bulla is the 2nd child of Bulma and Vegeta, and has a scary identical look to Bulma. She wears a white dress with orange polka dots and her hair is tied back in a knot.
Hina is the daughter of Denji and Asa. She resembles her mother in appearance but has the same dirty blonde hair as her father. Due to his status as a hybrid, a few Devil traits had been passed down to her. Hina's teeth are razor sharp, almost like a shark's teeth. She wears a black shirt with a cartoon dog printed on the front, and black shorts with white tennis shoes.
"Pan!" The three girls join hands, jumping around in a little adorable circle. Their laughter fills the air with a sense of warmth that the group appreciates.
"Are you really going to be fighting in the tournament, Pan?!" Hina asks.
"Yup! Grandpa has been training me to make me really strong!" Pan puffs up her chest.
"Alright! Then you better kick some butt!" Bulla encourages.
"I'm still surprised you're letting her compete." Asa walks up to her long-time friends. "I mean, I understand with her heritage and all that there's nothing to worry about, but still." Asa had changed a lot over the years. Gone were the dead-lonely look in her eyes, now filled to the brim with happiness and warmth. Her complexion was far healthier than it had been in her teenage years thanks to the positive reinforcement given to her from the people around her. She wears a nice denim jacket and skirt with a white shirt underneath and black shoes.
Videl shrugged. "Pan really wants to compete with her Grandfather and the others. My Dad was also okay with letting her join in after some convincing from Gohan."
"Speaking of…" Asa's gaze shifted to the oldest hybrid. "Why aren't you competing?"
Gohan rubbed the back of his head. "Hehe… I'm just not good in the limelight. I haven't been keeping up with my training as much, so I'd rather not embarrass myself." There was a cry of anger from the twins after overhearing that, but their mother quickly silenced them with a glare.
"What about Denji? How come he and the others of your little pack aren't here?" Videl asks.
"Denji, Aki, and Power are out on a trip to find some rare movie tickets from two decades ago. It was far too late for them to be able to make it back on time for the tournament. Hina was a bit upset about it, but I think being around her friends will be a good distraction." Asa and her friends looked down at the young girls as they continued to chat energetically.
Krillin walked up to his best friend, the two sharing a handshake. "Good to see you again, buddy. You have to stop going so radio silent on us so much." As any human would, the Turtle School student had aged quite a bit in these last 10 years. His hair had started to grey up a bit with a few wrinkles under his eyes. He wore a business suit which matched his wife's attire as well.
"Hehe! My bad, Krillin." Goku apologized. "Are you and Lazuli going to compete in the tournament?"
"Are you kidding me?! I'm starting to get too old for this stuff, you know? We all can't remain as young as you or your family, ya know?" Krillin's words held no malice or jealousy. It was the honest truth that Goku's human friends were growing older as the years went by, and he hadn't really noticed it until now.
"And I don't feel like getting all sweaty today." Lazuli answered. Standing by her side was Marron, the daughter of Krillin and Lazuli had grown a lot as well. Hell, she even had a nose now compared to her appearance from childhood.
Marron waves at the twins, getting their attention. "Guys, how's it been?"
"Ah, you know, as normal as always." Goten smiled.
"Just being forced to participate in a tournament against our wills. Nothing too big." Nayuta comments.
"Are you two still complaining about that?" Looking over, everyone saw Trunks and Vegeta walking towards their direction. The heir of Capsule Corp scoffed at the Son twins. "Get over it already unless you're both scared to lose to me again."
His comment seemed to have lit a fire in the twins, their eyes burning. Nayuta glared at the purple-haired teen. "Okay, rich boy, I'm definitely kicking your ass today!"
"Like she said!" Goten agreed.
Piccolo huffed, crossing his arms. "Seems those three are at least finally ready to go. Would be better if they weren't slacking so much."
Goku shrugged. "Nothing much we can do about it. I'm sure this tournament will be a surprise for them." He then noticed Vegeta walking over to his direction. "Hey, Vegeta!"
"Kakarot, is you-know-who going to be here?" Vegeta asked.
"Hm? Oh yeah! He's gonna show up!" Goku answered.
"Really? I don't sense anyone powerful nearby."
"Well…just look at it as something to look forward to." Goku said.
"Tch…! You and your mysterious act!" Vegeta scoffed. "Just hurry up and get registered already!"
"Sure!" Goku nodded his head, then turned to the twins and Pan. "Kids, let's go get signed up, alright?!"
"Yes, Grandpa/Dad/Papa!"
Bulma stuck up a finger. "Hold it! Let's set some ground rules first! None of you are allowed to transform or fly during your matches! If you create a scene it'll only lead to a huge headache!" The ones participating nodded their heads to agree with her, except for Vegeta who just strolled past his wife. "VEGETA! You're the one I'm the most worried about!"
"I'm sure he's learned his lesson." Makima said, recalling the last time Vegeta was at a tournament.
"I hope so…" Bulma sighed.
"And the community centers are doing as well as the committee expected. They're helping people of all different ages and sizes find a place where they can belong."
"That's great, Beni. Makes me happy to see this project of yours flourishing." Hercule Satan spoke into the phone. The Earth's Champion looks just as he did 10 years prior, except for his famous afro, most of his afro had fallen to leave a huge bald spot on his head. Not that it did anything to hurt his reputation.
Speaking to him via a video call was Kobeni, who had changed a decent amount. Gone was her usual nervous and depressed behavior, replaced with that of a confident adult woman with dreams as high as the sky. She was unable to attend the tournament due to collaborating on a huge project she was leading. She and a few other organizations around the globe were working on building reinforced community shelters for those affected by natural disasters and Devil attacks. "Did you let Nobana know about Pan competing?"
"I told him, and he freaked out about it not being safe for a little kid. But I told him that there was no need to worry about the Granddaughter of Mr. Satan, she can handle anything!"
"Videl told me you were freaking out too."
Hercule choked on his beer, coughing loudly into his sleeve. Majin Buu continued to eat without helping him, since he didn't feel like the old man's life was in any danger. "A-anyway, he said he'll watch the tournament on TV with his roommates!"
"Well, that's good. I have to get back to work, so be sure to give Pan and the others my regards."
"Will do!"
"Bye, Buu, I'll talk to you later!"
"Bye, Beni!" Majin Buu looked up from his food to wave at his friend. As Kobeni ended the video call, there was a knock at the door. Hercule gets up to answer the door, hoping that it wouldn't be any popperazzi.
Thankfully, it was just his brother-in-law and the others. "Goku, buddy! How are you?"
"Hey, Hercule!" Goku greeted the champ.
"Don't forget about me, Grandpa H!" Pan jumped up from below. Quickly, she was scooped up into the old champ's arms and was nuzzled against his stubble beard.
"Oh, my darling Pan! I can never forget about you!" Hercule gushed happily. "You just couldn't wait to come see your Grandpa, could you?!"
"Not really. I see your face everywhere, Grandpa H!"
"T-that's true…" Hercule chuckled a bit. He looked back up at Goku. "What do I owe the visit, Goku? Don't tell me you somehow lost the prelims."
"Nope, we all passed." Goku points behind him with his thumb. Hercule looks behind the previous champion and gasps at Vegeta, the twins, and Trunks. The three half-breeds were posing similarly to the Great Saiyaman for dramatic flair.
"A-all of you are competing?! I-I thought it was only going to be you and Pan!" Hercule cowered in fear.
Goku waved off his fears. "Don't worry, we'll all throw the match if we make it to the finals."
"R-really?!"
"Well, yeah, unless someone other than us or Buu wins." Goku said.
"Ha ha ha! You're a funny guy, Goku." Hercule chuckled.
Goten walked up to his father-in-law. "Hey, Hercule, do you think you could find our family and friends some seats? The entire stadium is filled to the brim."
"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Hercule reassured them.
"This is unacceptable." Makima stood up promptly from her seat. Hercule had managed to find them all seats, but they were literally right next to the ring, meaning they were all open to be stared at by the entire stadium. If there was anything the Control Devil hated, it was being gawked at like some submissive zoo animal.
Videl quickly jumped to her feet before her mother-in-law could traumatize a poor staff member. "W-wait, Mother! Let me go talk to the staff, I'm sure they can find us something better!"
And thankfully, they were able to find better seats with a perfect view. Inside of the main building, right outside of where the prelims were usually held. There was enough room to accommodate their group. Videl turned to Makima with a nervous smile. "Better?"
"Yes, good work, daughter." Makima gently patted her head, making the champion's daughter blush.
CRUNCH!
Eyes shift over to the side to see Fami munching on some chips in the corner of the room. Nobody, not even Makima, had noticed her whatsoever, so it was a genuine question on when did she even get in here? Fami just waved at the group, and some of them awkwardly waved back at her.
With the finalists all selected, it was time to decide the matchups. While Goku stood there waiting, the others were looking around at the five other finalists to find the mysterious fighter Goku had been talking about. "Do you guys see that mysterious fighter anywhere?" Goten asked.
"Nope. None of these guys feel impressive at all." Nayuta shook her head.
"But they do look like weirdos." Trunks looks at the one guy who was dressed as some chicken-themed superhero.
"Which one is it, Kakarot?"
"I'll tell you soon." Goku said.
"Please step forward when I call your name!" The announcer yelled.
Goku leaned over to Buu. "Hey, Buu? Can you change the numbers with your magic?" Buu tilted his head. "C'mon, you're already cheating for Hercule, right? Just do me this little favor."
"Okie doki." Buu nodded.
"So what's your plan?" Vegeta asked.
"Sorry, but I really want to fight this guy in the first round when we're both fresh." Goku said. He waited until his name was called up to draw his number. The Earthly Saiyan looked over to see an open spot in the bracket. "Buu, give me number 3!"
"Okie!"
Once Goku got his 'chosen' number, he went back to waiting. He told Buu to give someone a different number on the further end of the bracket, further confusing Vegeta. Until finally, Goku perks up at the next name called.
"Uub! You're up next!"
"There! Give him number 4, Buu! That's all the cheating I need!" Goku exclaims quietly.
"What?!" Vegeta gawks, his eyes turning to the young boy walking up to the small green box. "T-that scrawny child?!"
Uub is a dark-skinned youth with dark eyes and black hair. He also sports a mohawk on an otherwise shaved head. He is very short and scrawny, wearing his village's traditional robes consisting of a brown, one-shoulder top, and white pants tied with a white belt.
Goku smiles at the kid. "Yup, I've been waiting 10 years for him."
"Explain yourself, now!"
"10 years ago, when Makima and I were finishing off the evil Buu, I asked for Buu to be reincarnated as a good person, so that we can fight again. Looks like King Yemma heard my request." Goku explains.
Vegeta still couldn't believe his eyes and ears. "Him?! That child is the reincarnation of Majin Buu?!"
"Yeah, plus his name is 'Uub', just spell that backwards." Goku said, then looked back at the nervous young boy. "I can feel it…the energy deep within him just waiting to be unleashed."
Ignorant to the conversion happening between their fathers, Goten looked at the bracket and blanched. "Eh?! Why am I fighting Buu in the first round?!"
"Hah! Good luck, little bro, you're going to need it." Nayuta teased, then she felt a small tug on her pants. She looked down to see Pan glaring up at her. "What's wrong, shorty?"
"Don't lose." Pan pointed over at the brackets. The older female hybrid saw that if they won their first round matches, then they'll fight each other in the second round. Looks like her niece was getting a little too cocky.
"Hmph! Don't worry about me, short-stuff. You're the one who should be careful to not slip out of the ring."
Pan glared adorably at her aunt. "I'm not gonna slip! I'm gonna win and kick your butt!"
"Just try it, brat."
"Are you really acting superior over a toddler?" Trunks' incredulous tone cut through the atmosphere. Nayuta had to resist punching him with all of her might, knowing that her parents wouldn't be pleased with her causing a scene.
"THANK YOU ALL FOR WAITING! WE ARE NOW READY TO BEGIN THIS YEAR'S 28TH WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT! FROM A POOL OF ONLY 114 PARTICIPANTS, 12 HAVE EMERGED! WHICH ONE OF THESE DAZZLING FIGHTERS WILL CLAIM VICTORY TODAY?!"
The crowd roared loudly, the excitement at seeing the battles to come was too much to ignore. Especially, when it came to seeing the world's savior potentially claim victory once more.
"LET'S GET STARTED! OUR FIRST MATCH IS SON PAN VS MO KEKKO!"
People in the crowd gasped at the astronomical size difference between the two. The tiny toddler looked like an ant compared to the giant-sized Mo Kekko. Several audience members were hesitant to see this fight play out, even after the announcer revealed Pan's status as Hercule's granddaughter.
The only ones not worried were those who knew Pan personally. Bulla poked her head out of the window to yell towards her best friend. "Kick his butt, Pan!"
"Yeah! Tear off his skull and beat him with it!" Hina added.
Videl and Gohan shifted their gaze to Asa, who awkwardly crossed her legs. "She's…been watching some interesting films with her Father and Aunt…" Asa massaged her temples, thinking back to when she caught Power and Denji showing those slasher films to Hina.
Mo Kekko looked down at the little hybrid without an ounce of worry. "Even if you are Hercule's Granddaughter, I'm not gonna give you any special privilege. I'm just gonna chuck you out of the ring."
Pan didn't say anything even if his words and attitude did irritate her. But she remembered her grandmother's advice about keeping control of one's emotions.
"BEGIN!"
Before Mo Kekko could even blink, the four-year-old jumped into his face. Her hand slapped him hard against the cheek, sending him spiraling across the ring. As the larger man stumbled towards the edge, Pan soared towards him and kicked him out of the ring.
The entire audience stared at the little girl in awe. The fight barely lasted a minute and the one who looked like he had the advantage was the one to get easily beaten. Guess the lesson not to underestimate others because of their size really was true.
"MO KEKKO IS KNOCKED OUT! WHICH MEANS SON PAN IS THE WINNER! SHE'LL BE MOVING ON TO THE SECOND ROUND!"
As Pan walked back into the Fighter's Area, her balding grandfather scurried over to her. "Pan, are you okay?!"
"I'm all good, Grandpa H!"
"No shit she's okay." Trunks rolled his eyes.
"If she lost against someone like that, then she'd be a big baby loser." Nayuta teased, earning a glare from the little girl.
Goten looked nervously between them. "Uh, maybe you shouldn't antagonize her so much?"
"She started it." Nayuta scoffed.
"Real mature…" Trunks muttered.
While the crowd was still getting over the quick first round, Goku looked down at his nervous opponent. "Alright, it's our turn to get out there."
"O-oh, right!" Uub stuttered.
Goku held out a hand to shake. "Nice to meet ya."
"N-nice to meet you too." Uub carefully shook the Saiyan's hand. He didn't really know who this man was, but there was something inside of him that screamed just at the sight of him.
"ONTO OUR NEXT MATCH: SON GOKU VS UUB!"
As the announcer went over the details of the two fighters, Makima kept her eyes on the boy the entire time. Even if she was ignorant of the cheating her husband did, she knew that whoever he was fighting would have to be Buu's reincarnation. And that small child fit the bill exactly. Her eyes could see the unimaginable power bubbling beneath his skin, untapped potential that he was ignorant of. Makima knows her husband was going to do everything in his power to draw that power out, to really get the fight he's been waiting for.
"Poor kid. He has to face Goku in the first round." Bulma shook her head.
Piccolo felt a similar energy as Makima as he stared at Uub. "This will be the real match of the tournament." His words confused the others, who didn't know what to expect from this fight.
"MATCH, BEGIN!"
Goku waited patiently for Uub to calm his own nerves. However, the boy looked like he was about to jump out of his own skin. Contrary to the chaotic monster that soul used to be, Uub was just a young village boy stepping out into the world for the first time. "No need to be so nervous. Just relax and enjoy the fight."
"Y-y-y-yes, sir!" Uub stuttered.
"Oh boy…" Goku sighed. He scratched his brain for some way to get the kid to focus. He didn't like to talk like this to people, but he was gonna have to tap into his inner mean spirit. Thinking back to the insults his daughter would always spout to people, Goku took his shot. "Hey, ugly! I'm sick of playing the nice guy, so I'm gonna kick your ass now!"
…
…
…
"The hell…?" Gohan blinked.
"Darling…" Makima muttered.
Everyone else was equally as shocked by Goku's uncharacteristic way of speaking. The man didn't have a single mean bone in his body. He was always pretty positive, even towards his worst of enemies.
Uub paused, staring blankly at the man. "W-what?"
"What?! Are you deaf too?! Gonna go cry to your fatass Mommy after I send you packing?!"
The insult towards his mother got the boy growling. "M-my Mother isn't fat!"
"Then she poops herself! A big 'ol poopy pants!"
"She isn't! Quick talking bad about my Mother!"
"One more!" Goku shot forward with a bent knee. "AND YOUR DAD'S A BED WETTER!" His leg struck the boy across the face, spiraling him near the edge. Uub caught himself, completely dull to the pain stinging his cheek.
The boy's body was trembling with fury, thoughts of his struggling family emerged from his memories. His reasons for coming to this tournament to win the prize money for his village burned his soul. For this man, this ignorant stranger, to insult them like that…? "D-don't you dare…don't you dare…"
Makima and the others, the ones who can sense power levels, gasped loudly as Uub's true strength started to spring forth. A red hot aura was melting the air, distorting it like a hand plunging into the surface of the water.
Goku just smiled, getting himself ready for a tough fight.
"DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY FAMILY!" Uub roared like a mighty predator, his eyes shifting into a dark red color. He shot forward like a bullet and slammed his leg against Goku's guard. The Saiyan winced from the blow, surprised to feel the strength behind the attack. He ducked back to avoid a punch, then backflipped away to gain distance.
Goku dashed forward and engaged in a fierce melee against Uub, the kid easily keeping up with the speed of his movements. "You're amazing, kid! I knew you had it in you!"
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I'M GONNA SMASH YOUR FACE IN!" Uub grabbed his arm and pulled the Saiyan in for a strong elbow strike. He kept hold on Goku and swung him around before throwing him towards the other side of the ring. Goku stabilized himself, then closed the distance in an instant, striking Uub in the chest. As the village boy went flying, the Saiyan flashed behind him and smashed him in the back. Uub skids across the tiles for a moment before flipping back up to deflect a punch from his opponent.
"Holy shit! That kid really is keeping up with Papa!" Nayuta gasped.
"Though his movements are unrefined, his strength is no joke. That kid really is the reincarnation of Buu…" Vegeta muttered.
Uub buckled under the weight of Goku's attacks, wincing from the blows dealt. "I-I can't lose here! I promised everyone that I'd win, that I'd bring home that money!" Uub jumped away from Goku, his eyes still burning with fury. "I have to win! I have to beat you! I'LL GIVE IT EVERYTHING I HAVE!" With another shout, his power increased even more than before. Everyone in the stadium fought to keep themselves from getting blown away. The stadium floor cracked underneath the weight of his blazing aura. "I HAVE TO WIN!" Uub charged forward with lightning fast speed then twirled in the air with a kick.
Goku blocked the attack then shoved the boy back. He and Uub clashed knees before throwing rapid fire punches at one another. Goku knocked him back once more, dashing forward to blow Uub away. The boy didn't falter and matched Goku's powerful onslaught with his own. The two snapped around the stage, destroying it with their impressive display of power. As their clash ascended into the air, Goku landed a severe strike that broke through the boy's guard. Uub went sailing down towards the ring, crashing into the stone floor.
As Uub climbed back to his feet, he looked around for his opponent. He was confused for a moment until he looked up to see Goku flying in the air, the sight alone snapped him out of his anger. "Y-you can fly?!"
Goku didn't reply and instead chose to cup his hands. "Ka! Me! Ha! Me!"
CRACK!
"Eh?" Goku stopped his attack when he noticed the floor beneath Uub explode, far too weakened from their fight. As the boy reached out for anything to keep him from hitting the grass, Goku reached out and saved him.
Uub stared at his opponent in confusion. "Y-you saved me?"
Goku brought him back into the ring, setting him down for Uub to stand on his own. The famous martial artist smiled down at him. "So, you don't even know how to fly yet, huh? That's a bummer, guess we'll have to put our fight on hold then."
"W-what?"
"It's not your fault, though. You never had a teacher." Goku chuckled a bit. "Sorry about those insults from earlier. I needed you to stop being nervous and anger is usually a good motivator. At least that's what I've learned when it came to my son."
"Y-you didn't mean those insults?" Uub asked, lowering his guard.
"Not at all. Again, sorry about those mean words towards your family and you." Goku apologized. He felt at ease seeing the boy's anger fade from his eyes, meaning that Uub trusted his words. "You were just as I expected, Uub. You're incredible. There's so much power just hiding within you, but you don't know how to control it or bring it all out."
"Really? I'm really that incredible?" Uub clearly didn't believe him.
"Look around you. Do you think anyone that wasn't extraordinary could've done all this damage?" Goku pointed at the ruined ring. Uub was blown away as he took in the damage, the memories of his brief fight with Goku flashed through his head. Had he really done all of that? His family always said he was really strong, but this was crazy!
Goku scratched his head in thought before snapping his fingers. "That's it! I'll just come live with you and train you!"
"W-wait! My village is poor! Without that prize money we won't be able to keep living there!" Uub exclaimed. Things were happening pretty quickly but his reason for even coming out here was still important.
"Don't worry about that. I can ask Mr. Satan or Bulma to send some money and supplies to your village to keep you guys thriving." Goku waved off the concern.
"B-but-"
"Hey, don't worry." Goku knelt down, placing a hand softly on his shoulder. "I get it. This is all super sudden and scary, but there's no reason to be afraid. I'll be with you every step of the way, and soon, it'll be up to you to protect the Earth when I'm not around." It was clear as day to Goku that none of his kids were willing to take up that kind of responsibility, so maybe this kid could do that? It would be pretty ironic for the guy who destroyed the Earth in a previous life to be the one to save it.
"P-protect the Earth?!" Uub squeaked.
"Uh…! Excuse me!" The two turned to see the announcer running up to them. "We still have a tournament going on! You have to continue with the match or I'll be forced to disqualify you both!" It was clear he didn't want to disqualify them after that amazing display but rules are rules.
"Don't worry, we both forfeit." Goku announced, surprising everyone in the arena. The Saiyan took to the air, floating over to his wife and everyone else. "Hey, guys!"
"Darling, what are you planning?" Makima asked, knowing that look in his eyes.
"Sorry about this, guys, but I'm gonna go live with Uub in his village and train him. Letting him run around with all of that power without control doesn't sound too safe, yeah?" Goku announced his departure casually, as if he didn't see the issue.
"W-wait, Dad, you're leaving just like that?!" Gohan gasped.
"Yup! Not sure when I'll come back though, so don't wait for me." Goku smiled. His eyes shifted over to Makima, who was staring at him blankly. "Uh, Makima-"
"Go." She sat back down in her seat. "I wouldn't be able to stop you if I tried, I've come to accept that after all of these years."
A wave of hesitation rolled through the Saiyan's chest. He just realized that he would be leaving her all alone with his departure. With the twins growing too old and wishing for independence, and with the uncertainty of this training journey, Makima truly would be all alone in their home. "Makima, I-"
"I'll be okay, darling. Like always, I'll be waiting for you." She smiled softly, though there was a hint of sadness. "This is what you really want to do, right?"
"Yeah." Goku said.
"Then go do it and remember to give it everything you've got."
With his fire relit, Goku nodded his head. "Right!" He turned away from the window and descended back down to the stage. As he was approaching Uub, a small figure crashed into his back.
"GRANDPA! YOU CAN'T LEAVE! DON'T LEAVE!" Pan cried, tears brimming in her eyes. She had overheard Goku's announcement and refused to let him leave her.
Goku grabbed her and moved Pan around to face him, holding her in his arms. "Don't cry, Pan. You're a big girl, aren't you?" She sniffled. "I gotta go on a big journey, and I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"D-don't leave me…" Her voice was small, a contrast to her usual high energy. "I'll be lonely if you leave…"
Goku smiled sadly at her, hugging her close. "Don't say that, Pan. You still have your parents, your Grandmother, and everyone else. You'll never be alone, even if I'm no longer here to hold you. You're a strong girl, so don't let anything get you down or tell you what to do. Become strong, okay Pan?"
She softly nodded her head, still crying into his torn GI. Pan refused to let go, but she was pulled away by her Uncle Goten, who gently held her.
"You kids take care, okay?" Goku gave his goodbyes to his youngest children.
Nayuta frowned a bit. "You're really leaving like this, Papa?"
"Hey, I'll be back. You two just have fun with your lives, okay? I don't want to come back and see you two looking miserable. When you say goodbye, you should be doing it with a smile on your face." Goku said.
Goten relaxed, smiling at his father. "Okay, Dad, but don't take too long, okay?"
"Hehe! I'll try not to!" Goku waved goodbye as he hurried back over to Uub. He floated in the air, lying down to allow the boy to climb onto his back. "Okay, just climb on."
"O-okay…" Uub muttered as he climbed onto Goku's back.
"Your village is south of here, right?"
"Y-yes!"
"Okay, then hold on tight!" With a burst of speed, Goku took off from Papaya Island, Uub clinging onto his clothes for dear life.
"And just like that…he's gone again." Krillin sighed.
Fami looked over at her sister, who was just staring at the small white blip that disappeared into the distance. "You didn't stop him?"
"I wanted to stop him."
"Then why didn't you?"
Makima looked back at her sister with a misty look in her eyes. "Because he looked so happy. In all of the years we've been together, I don't think I've ever seen darling look that excited. It was as if he's finally found the thing he's been looking for." She looked back towards the sky. "His deepest desire has always been for a fight that he can enjoy to his heart's content. It's been something that I could never give him, no matter how hard I tried."
Down below, Vegeta shook his head. "Kakarot, I know you too well at this point. This isn't just about protecting the Earth…"
With Goku and Uub's sudden departure, the entire tournament was thrown out of whack. The proposition of a battle royale was suggested by Hercule once again to give a big explosive ending to the tournament. Unfortunately, Majin Buu ended up falling asleep and Vegeta no longer wished to compete without Goku to fight against. This left seven competitors to compete in the big battle. But really, this was just a match between the hybrids.
With the weaklings thrown out of the ring effortlessly by the twins, Nayuta and the boys turned towards Pan. "Okay, squirt, just give it up now. The big kids want to have their rematch and you're just in the way."
Her words were the wrong words to say, since Pan was still hurt by her grandfather's departure. Pan's anger exploded like a bright burning flame, surprising the three older hybrids. She dashed forward, far faster than the three expected, plunging her fist into Trunks' face. The rich boy went spiraling out of the ring and crashing into the opposite wall.
"What the hell was that?!" Nayuta gasped.
"Trunks!" Goten exclaimed.
Pan vanished from sight and appeared above Goten. The second son of Goku, blocked the attack but buckled from the applied force. He slipped under his own feet, leaving him open for Pan to slap him brutally across the face. Goten went flying into Trunks, crashing into his best friend's stomach.
As the two boys struggle to even comprehend what just happened, Nayuta finds herself struggling to keep up with her niece's burst of speed. She winced from a surprise blow to her stomach and dodged a punch that would've bruised her face. "D-dammit! I'm not gonna lose to you, brat!" She struck her niece across the face, knocking the girl back.
Pan stared at her aunt with a blank expression.
Become strong, okay Pan?
"Okay, Grandpa. I'll become strong." Pan focused her expression, strengthening her resolve with the pain in her heart. Pan's eyes glowed a bright shade of yellow as she controlled her emotions to strengthen her power. "Strong enough to never be hurt again." She dashed forward and ducked underneath Nayuta's punch. Pan smashed her fist into her aunt's gut, eliciting a cry of pain from the girl. Then she grabbed the purple GI's collar and tossed her aunt into Goten and Trunks. The three hybrids went flying through the wall from the force of her throw.
With Pan being the last one standing in the ring, the tournament had reached its conclusion. "AND THERE WE HAVE IT FOLKS! THE WINNER OF THE 28th WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT IS SON PAN! GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOLKS!"
As the crowd, her family, and friends celebrated her victory, the small child couldn't even hear them. Her little heart focused only on the pain her grandpa Goku had caused. She hated this pain and she hated that one of her favorite people in the world was responsible. Pan promised herself that she'd honor her grandfather's parting words to grow stronger. If getting stronger meant that she would never have to feel this pain again, then she'll do it with everything she can.
And then she'll show her grandpa that leaving her was a mistake.
Goku continued soaring through the vast blue sky with Uub on his back. "Hey, Uub, once your training is complete, promise to fight me! I've been waiting years for this!"
"Uh, sure!"
"Isn't it exciting to meet someone so strong? Somebody you can fight with all of your power without holding back?" Goku asked.
Uub remembered the times in his village when he would wrestle with the other boys for fun. But since he was just too strong, none of them wanted to play with him anymore. However, Goku was someone who he could fight without holding back against. He's someone who is even willing to train him to control this power inside of him. It honestly did sound pretty exciting. "Yes, sir!"
"And now we'll both become even stronger than before!"
"Yes, sir!"
"No! You have to shout 'yeah'!"
"O-okay!"
Goku smiled up at him. "Alright, we'll do it on three! One! Two! Three!"
"YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Now that he's finally found his ultimate opponent once again, Son Goku travels on a new adventure for even greater strength. Though, not everything here is left with the sense of a happy ending. For Goku and his friends, their brand new journey is only just beginning.
Chapter End
NOTE: While this chapter was mostly for Goku meeting Uub, there's still a bit of set up here. As you can tell from the opening, Pan, Bulla, and Hina will be traveling through space with Goku and Trunks. So, for those who wanted it to be Makima? Sorry, I was never letting her go on that trip. That entire first arc of GT will be getting some revamping to make them feel more...cohesive. It's an opportunity for character building, especially for Goku and Pan.
Though, I can't wait to get to Baby. He's gonna be fun. How is he gonna get around Makima? You'll still have to wait to find out.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. I can't guarantee when I'll answer them.
Have a great day!