The sun hung high in the midday sky, casting warm golden light over the bustling streets of the local town. Cobblestone roads stretched in every direction, lined with lively market stalls, fine boutiques, and elegant cafes where nobles sat sipping wine and engaging in idle gossip. The air was thick with the scent of fresh bread from the bakeries and the occasional whiff of roasted meat wafting from street vendors. Carriages clattered along the roads, pulled by well-groomed horses, and pedestrians strolled about, engaged in their daily routines.
Amidst this picturesque scene of normalcy, there was one very obvious disturbance.
Louise walked stiffly, her fists clenched at her sides, her teeth grinding together as she tried to pretend nothing was wrong. But everything was wrong. The city streets, usually filled with quiet murmurs and polite conversations, were now riddled with confused whispers, gasps, and pointed fingers.
She didn't need to turn around to know why.
Behind her, the Ginyu Force strode through the streets like they were marching into a grand battle. Five enormous, ridiculously dressed warriors in matching white and black armor, each standing out in their own absurd way. They walked in formation behind Louise, completely oblivious to the sheer amount of attention they were drawing.
Jeice, ever the show-off, had his arms crossed, flashing confident smirks at any woman who so much as glanced his way. "Oi, this place ain't bad! Bit on the fancy side, but I like it," he said, winking at a passing noblewoman who gasped and hurriedly fanned herself.
Burter, taller than nearly every other person on the street, was stretching his legs, his massive frame making it impossible for anyone to ignore him. "Man, it feels good to move around. Space travel really makes you stiff, y'know?"
Recoome, meanwhile, was grabbing handfuls of fruit from a nearby stand and tossing them into his mouth like they were candy, much to the horror of the elderly shopkeeper, who trembled behind his stall.
Guldo, the shortest of the group, was waddling along with a self-important strut. He snickered at the tiny noble children who pointed at him, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and horror.
Of course, Captain Ginyu himself walked with an air of pride, his arms folded as he surveyed the city like a general inspecting his domain. "Louise, I must say, this place is rather lacking in military presence. Are you sure it's safe?"
Louise, already at her limit, stopped in her tracks. "That's it," she muttered under her breath, spinning on her heel so fast her cape flared behind her.
The Ginyu Force, trained to respond to sudden movement, snapped to attention as if she had just given them a command. Their synchronized motion only made them stand out even more.
Louise planted her fists on her hips, her face red with frustration. "Do you all have any idea how much attention you're drawing?!"
Recoome blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?" He gestured broadly around them. "People always stare at us. That's normal."
"That's not normal!" Louise shrieked, her voice cracking slightly. "You're walking around like a bunch of—of—lunatics!"
Jeice snorted. "Oh, c'mon, love. We're just walkin' through town. Not our fault if people can't handle how cool we are."
Louise's eye twitched. "Cool? COOL? You're towering over people! You're eating food off carts without paying!" She whirled toward Recoome, who was in the process of stuffing an entire apple into his mouth.
Recoome froze, cheeks bulging with fruit. "Mmmh?"
"You have to pay for that, you idiot!" Louise grabbed a few coins from her pouch and slammed them down on the fruit seller's cart before the poor man could faint. "There! Now, STOP eating everything you see!"
Recoome chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. "Huh. Neat system."
Louise groaned and turned back to the others. "And you! Jeice, stop winking at noblewomen! You're going to cause a scandal!"
Jeice smirked, tossing his hair over his shoulder. "Can't help it. They love the accent."
Burter leaned over. "Nah, I think they're just terrified."
Louise growled, gripping her head. "And stop talking so loudly! And no more posing! No catchphrases! No fighting! No weird behavior! Just act NORMAL for FIVE MINUTES!"
The Ginyu Force exchanged hesitant glances.
Ginyu stepped forward, rubbing his chin. "Louise, with all due respect, 'normal' is not exactly our specialty."
"I'VE NOTICED," Louise snapped, her voice carrying across the marketplace. She took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Just… try to blend in."
Burter frowned. "Blend in? With these tiny people? That's impossible."
Guldo patted his own chest. "I don't know, I think I fit in just fine," he said smugly.
Louise groaned. "You might be able to, but the rest of you look like—you know what? Never mind. Just—just behave!"
Ginyu nodded, standing at attention. "Understood, Louise. We will comply."
Louise finally exhaled in relief. Maybe—just maybe—this wouldn't be a disaster.
Then, without warning, Ginyu and his men all struck a synchronized pose, flexing their muscles and throwing their arms into exaggerated stances.
"THE GINYU FORCE… PROMISES TO BLEND IN!" they bellowed in unison, their voices shaking the very buildings around them.
Louise's eye twitched so hard she thought it might get stuck.
The entire street had frozen. Every vendor, every noble, every passerby—everyone was staring, mouths hanging open, eyes wide with disbelief.
Louise's face turned the shade of a tomato.
"I—YOU—THAT—" she sputtered, clutching at her own hair as though she were about to rip it out. "THAT IS LITERALLY THE OPPOSITE OF BLENDING IN!"
Jeice scratched his head. "Is it?"
"Yes!" Louise shouted, her voice breaking slightly. "Yes, it absolutely is!"
Guldo folded his arms. "Hmph. I think we nailed it."
Recoome flexed again. "Look how much attention we're getting! That means it worked, right?"
Louise let out a long, suffering groan and turned away from them, stomping ahead toward the next street. "I give up. I give up. Just—just follow me and don't talk."
The Ginyu Force immediately formed behind her, marching in perfect synchronization, looking like some bizarre military parade.
Louise clenched her fists. "I swear, if one more person stares at me, I will move to the mountains and become a hermit."
Kirche, who had been sipping wine at a nearby café, chuckled into her glass, watching the whole ordeal unfold. "Oh, this is just too good."
As they continued walking, Louise felt the inevitable truth creeping up her spine.
Ahead, a small wooden sign swung gently over a modest shop entrance, its faded lettering reading Boulanger's Tomes & Scrolls. The bookshop was a quiet, tucked-away place, perfect for studious nobles looking to expand their magical knowledge. And right now, Louise desperately needed the kind of peace only an old bookshop could provide.
She turned sharply on her heel to face the Ginyu Force, her expression locked somewhere between desperation and exasperation. "Alright, listen up! I need to buy some books for my studies. That means I'll be going inside, and you will be staying outside." She pointed at the ground for emphasis.
Ginyu saluted, his expression stern. "Understood, Louise!"
The others nodded in unison.
Louise narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "And that means no causing trouble. No talking to people. No yelling. No fighting. No posing. No—" she hesitated, then sighed heavily, "—just don't do anything."
Jeice pouted. "Blimey, you're really takin' all the fun out of this."
Burter scoffed. "You act like we can't behave."
Recoome grinned. "Yeah, we'll be the quietest bunch you've ever seen."
Louise did not like how he said that.
But she had no choice. She had to trust them. "Fine. Just... stay here. Silently." She shot them one last threatening glare before turning and stepping into the shop.
The moment she entered, a wave of blessed calm washed over her. The air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and leather bindings. Dust motes swirled lazily in the dim glow of enchanted lanterns, which flickered softly overhead. Stacks of books, scrolls, and magical tomes filled every available shelf, their spines neatly arranged by category. It was the kind of place where voices naturally hushed to whispers, where knowledge hummed in the very air.
For the first time since the morning, Louise allowed herself a small, relieved sigh. Finally. A moment of peace.
A plump, bespectacled man, presumably Boulanger himself, looked up from behind the counter, his round face breaking into a friendly smile. "Ah, Miss Vallière! Here for your semester's reading materials, I presume?"
"Yes," Louise said, her voice unusually soft, grateful to be in a place where no one was shouting attack names or striking absurd poses. "I have my list here."
She handed over a small parchment with her required readings, and Boulanger nodded, adjusting his spectacles as he waddled toward the shelves. Louise took a moment to close her eyes, breathe deeply, and let herself relax for the first time that day.
As she waited, she wandered between the rows of bookshelves, running her fingers along the spines of centuries-old tomes. It was nice. Peaceful. She could almost pretend she didn't have five ridiculous warriors waiting outside for her.
Maybe they really are behaving themselves, she thought, surprised at the thought. Maybe—just maybe—they're actually standing still and staying quiet.
Boulanger returned, a neat stack of books in his hands. "Here you are, Miss Vallière. A fine selection this semester."
Louise smiled for what felt like the first time all day. "Thank you." She reached into her coin pouch, paid for the books, and carefully gathered them into her arms. She turned toward the door, feeling lighter than she had in hours.
And then she stepped outside.
Her stomach immediately dropped.
There, in the middle of the street, a crowd had gathered—a very large crowd.
People had completely encircled a small group of street performers who had been playing the lute and juggling for a modest audience just outside the bookshop. But the performers were no longer the center of attention.
Because the Ginyu Force had taken over.
"Oh, come on, that's how you pose?" Jeice was saying, arms crossed, as he watched one of the jugglers attempt a dramatic stance. "That's all wrong, mate."
Recoome nodded sagely, chin resting in his hand. "Yeah, that's not even a power pose. No confidence. No flair."
Burter scoffed. "Where's the energy? The attitude? You gotta sell it."
The street performers, clearly baffled, looked at each other nervously. The juggler hesitantly adjusted his stance. "Like... this?" he asked, mimicking Jeice's earlier pose.
Guldo groaned and facepalmed. "No, no, NO! That's all wrong!" He turned to Ginyu. "Captain, we can't let this stand."
Ginyu stepped forward, his eyes sharp and determined. "You're right, Guldo. It's our duty—no, our mission—to educate these poor souls on the art of posing!"
The Ginyu Force all nodded, their movements synchronized as they stepped into position.
Louise's heart sank into her stomach. "No," she whispered.
Ginyu lifted his arms dramatically. "Watch and learn, amateurs! The true way to command an audience is to strike a pose!"
And then they did it.
All at once, the Ginyu Force exploded into motion, throwing themselves into their signature stances with absolute, unwavering confidence.
Recoome flared his arms wide, flexing every muscle in his absurdly large body. "RECOOME, THE MASTER OF DOOM!"
Guldo struck a squat, his hands positioned like a mystical warrior. "GULDO, THE MEAN GREEN!"
Burter zipped in a blur of speed, striking a dynamic mid-air stance. "BURTER, THE BLUE HURRICANE!"
Jeice spun dramatically, his red hair catching the sunlight. "JEICE, THE RED MAGMA!"
And finally, Ginyu himself leaped forward, landing with his arms outstretched like a grand commander leading his troops into battle. "GINYU, THE CAPTAIN!"
Then, all together, they shouted, "TOGETHER WE ARE… THE GINYU FORCE!"
They froze in place, their muscles tensed, their legs bent at absurd angles, and their faces locked in expressions of sheer determination.
The street fell utterly silent.
The street performers looked at them like they had been hit over the head with a brick.
The crowd, initially unsure, began to murmur.
And then... people started clapping.
Louise's entire soul left her body.
The applause spread, confused but growing, as some onlookers began nodding in approval.
"That was... actually kind of impressive," someone muttered.
"They really do have confidence," another agreed.
"I don't know what's happening, but I think I like it," a noblewoman whispered to her husband.
Louise, however, was not impressed. She was mortified.
Her eye twitched so hard she thought she might faint. "I left you alone for five minutes!" she shrieked, storming toward them, her books nearly falling from her grip. "Five! Minutes!"
Ginyu, still frozen in his pose, turned his head slightly. "But Louise, we were only assisting in their performance."
"This wasn't assisting! This was taking over!" She spun toward the street performers, who were now clapping awkwardly alongside the crowd. "I—I am so sorry! They weren't supposed to—!"
The juggler, still looking utterly lost, just shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure what just happened, but… that was the biggest reaction we've ever gotten."
Louise let out a strangled sound somewhere between a groan and a scream.
She had lost control of her life.
Again.
Louise had reached her breaking point.
Without another word, she stomped forward, grabbed the nearest person—Recoome, unfortunately—and yanked at his absurdly thick wrist. "We're leaving!" she snapped, her voice strained with barely contained exhaustion.
Recoome blinked down at her, unbothered. "Huh? But the crowd loves us." He gestured broadly to the still-applauding townsfolk, who were murmuring in amused confusion.
Louise tugged harder, which accomplished absolutely nothing given the size difference. "I! Don't! Care! We are leaving before you do something even dumber!"
Ginyu, still locked in his triumphant pose, nodded approvingly. "Very well, Louise! The mission was a success!"
"There was no mission!" Louise nearly screamed before deciding it wasn't worth the energy.
Instead, she marched off toward the academy, forcing herself to breathe deeply. The Ginyu Force fell in line behind her like an overly enthusiastic parade, completely unbothered by her distress.
As they walked, Louise pressed her fingers to her temples, feeling the migraine of the century forming. "I swear, I'm going to die young. I can feel it. Stress is going to kill me. This is my life now—wrangling five overly dramatic aliens through a noble town while they heckle street performers and nearly cause riots."
Jeice chuckled, stuffing his hands in his belt. "Oi, c'mon now, love. We made that whole performance better!"
"No. No, you didn't." Louise's voice was eerily calm, her expression void of emotion. "You made it worse. I can't even scold you right now because my brain physically cannot process what just happened."
Guldo waddled beside her, glancing up curiously. "So… does this mean we should do more performances?"
Louise stopped walking, slowly turned her head toward him, and stared with such deadpan exhaustion that even Guldo gulped.
"…Noted," he muttered, stepping behind Recoome.
Satisfied that at least some of her words had sunk in, Louise resumed walking. The academy wasn't far now, and for the first time, she allowed herself to think maybe—just maybe—she could salvage the day.
And then she remembered how they got to town in the first place.
She stopped again, her fingers twitching. "Oh. And one more thing."
The Ginyu Force halted behind her, standing at full attention. "Yes, Louise?" Ginyu asked dutifully.
Louise slowly turned around, her eyes dark with frustration. "We are never flying anywhere ever again."
Burter blinked. "Wait, what?"
"You dropped me!" Louise shrieked, her composure cracking. "I almost DIED because of you, IDIOTS!"
Recoome scratched the back of his head. "Eh, technically, we caught you before you hit the ground."
"That is NOT THE POINT!" Louise practically seethed. "I was dangling thousands of feet in the air while you threw me around like a bag of potatoes! I SAW MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE MY EYES!"
Jeice grinned sheepishly. "Y'know, to be fair, that was mostly Recoome's fault."
Recoome crossed his arms. "Hey, don't pin this all on me! Burter was supposed to catch her when I tossed her over!"
Burter's jaw dropped. "I thought Jeice had her!"
Jeice looked personally offended. "Mate, do I look like I was paying attention?"
Louise threw up her hands. "I HATE ALL OF YOU."
The Ginyu Force immediately saluted in unison. "Understood, Louise!"
Louise inhaled deeply, pressed her palms together, and muttered a prayer to whatever divine forces might still have mercy on her. "We are taking. A carriage. Ride. Back."
Ginyu nodded sagely. "A wise choice, Louise. As always, your leadership is unparalleled."
Louise groaned. "Just—just shut up and follow me."
The Ginyu Force, still marching like a military squad, obediently fell into line behind her as they made their way to the nearest carriage station.
As they settled into the carriage, Louise took the furthest possible seat away from them. Ginyu leaned toward Jeice, his voice hushed. "Did you send the signal?"
Jeice smirked, tilting his scouter slightly. "Already done, Captain. Sent it while we were in town. Didn't want to say anything before, figured we'd make it a surprise for Louise."
Ginyu nodded, pleased. "Good. If our message reaches the Frieza Force, it's only a matter of time before they locate us."
Burter, overhearing, grinned. "Heh. She's gonna be thrilled when the whole force shows up to serve her again."
Guldo snickered. "Yeah, she's acting all annoyed now, but deep down, she must be so proud of us."
Recoome beamed. "That's why she keeps us close!"
Ginyu leaned back, arms crossed, nodding to himself. "Yes. Lord Frieza—erm, Louise—is simply testing us. Soon, we'll reunite with the rest of the army, and she can rule as she was meant to. She's probably just being modest about it now."
Jeice chuckled. "Yeah, she does get flustered a lot. Can't wait to see the look on her face when the whole force arrives to serve her again."
Completely unaware of their hushed conversation, Louise sat across from them, rubbing her temples. She was exhausted. Just a little longer, she told herself. Just get back to the academy. Get to your room. Lie down. Pretend none of this happened.
The carriage rocked gently as it rolled down the road, heading back to the Tristain Academy.
And somewhere, out in the far reaches of the universe, a message pulsed through the void.
A message that would soon bring the Frieza Force straight to Louise's doorstep.
Deep in the Void of Space…
A vast, imposing flagship carved its path through the endless darkness, its sleek, metallic hull reflecting the distant light of scattered stars. It was a warship of incomprehensible size, a mobile fortress that dwarfed the smaller ships flanking it. The fleet surrounding it moved in perfect unison, an armada of destruction, their engines glowing like burning embers against the cold void.
The flagship's bridge was a grand chamber designed with an air of imperial dominance and ruthless efficiency. The walls were lined with sharp, angular alien metal, and their surfaces were embedded with monitors displaying various star charts and fleet diagnostics. A hum of energy coursed through the ship, pulsating through its core like the steady heartbeat of a beast.
At the very center of this command room sat a figure upon a massive throne, his form cast in shadow. The throne itself was an intricate construct of cold steel and engraved glyphs, towering over the surrounding officers who scurried about, monitoring the ship's trajectory. The figure leaned back slightly, a hand resting against his cheek in quiet contemplation. His presence exuded an undeniable sense of authority—one that demanded unwavering loyalty and inspired silent fear.
Before him, the chamber remained eerily quiet, save for the hum of machinery and the low murmur of distant conversation among the crew. Beyond the enormous viewing window, there was nothing but the endless stretch of space, with stars blinking like distant whispers, their glow doing little to disturb the ominous presence of the throne's occupant.
Then, the silence was broken.
A set of heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber, followed by the sharp hiss of an automatic door sliding open. A second figure approached, stepping confidently yet bearing the necessary caution of one delivering news to an entity of such high command. His armor gleamed under the dim, artificial lighting, a distinctive design that set him apart from the other officers in the room. His movements were fluid and precise as if honed by years of both experience and necessity.
He came to a halt several paces before the throne, offering a swift, respectful bow. "My lord," he said, his voice steady but carrying the undertones of urgency.
The figure on the throne did not immediately respond. Instead, a heavy and calculated silence lingered between them. Then, without shifting his posture, the seated figure lifted his gaze, his crimson eyes gleaming from the darkness of his throne. "Speak."
The armored figure straightened, his golden-tinted visor catching the glow of the surrounding monitors. "We have intercepted a signal," he said, wasting no time. He gestured to a nearby console, where a transmission feed flickered in raw, undeciphered pulses. "The message's origin is unknown, but its encryption is unmistakable."
A pause. The seated figure's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Explain."
The soldier took another step forward. "The message is marked with an unmistakable designation," he continued, his tone sharpening. "It belongs to the Ginyu Force."
At that point, a noticeable shift rippled through the chamber. Several officers turned their heads slightly, exchanging uncertain glances, though none dared to speak. The air itself felt heavier, and the weight of the words sank in.
The figure on the throne remained silent for a moment longer, but there was no mistaking the slight tension in his demeanor. His fingers curled slightly over the edge of the throne's armrest, the only indication of his reaction.
"The Ginyu Force," he repeated, his voice slow and deliberate, as though testing the words himself.
The soldier nodded. "Yes, my lord. The transmission was brief, but the codes match. They are alive… and they claim to be with Lord Frieza."
The chamber might as well have turned to ice.
For the first time since the discussion began, the figure on the throne shifted forward, his piercing gaze locking onto his subordinate with a new intensity.
"Say that again."
The soldier stood firm. "The message claims that the Ginyu Force is alive and in service of Lord Frieza. The signal originated from an uncharted world in an unknown sector of space."
The words hung between them, their weight undeniable.
For a long moment, the seated figure remained still, absorbing the information with an unsettling calmness. Then, slowly, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Frieza…" he mused, the name rolling off his tongue with both curiosity and amusement. He leaned back once more, his tail flicking lazily over the armrest of his throne. "How fascinating."
He let the silence stretch, savoring the irony of the revelation. His younger brother, whom he had long believed to be dead—defeated at the hands of that insufferable Saiyan on Namek—was now, apparently, alive. And not only alive but commanding the Ginyu Force once more?
It was absurd. It was impossible.
And yet, the transmission could not be faked.
The Ginyu Force had been wiped out. There had been no trace of them since their failure on Namek. If this signal was truly theirs, then their survival alone was a mystery. But even more intriguing was the mention of Frieza.
The thought that his brother had somehow returned from the grave sent a flicker of something rare through his cold, calculating mind. Interest.
"My lord," the soldier continued, sensing his master's intrigue, "shall I order an investigation?"
The smirk remained on the throne's occupant's face, but his crimson eyes sharpened with something far more menacing. "No," he said simply.
The soldier inclined his head. "Then…?"
The figure on the throne rose to his feet, his silhouette cutting an imposing form against the backdrop of space. He turned toward the massive viewing window, his arms folding behind his back as he stared out into the abyss.
"We go to them."
The officer blinked. "You wish to—?"
"Set a course for this planet," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I want to see this for myself."
The soldier bowed his head in understanding. "As you command, my lord."
He turned sharply on his heel, issuing a series of orders to the surrounding officers. Within moments, the flagship's core systems roared to life. The vast armada surrounding them shifted in formation, aligning themselves for a hyperspace jump. Coordinates were locked. Engines surged. The ship trembled ever so slightly as power flooded through its metallic veins.
And in the center of it all, the figure on the throne remained unmoving, watching the distant stars with quiet amusement.
"Frieza… If you truly live, let's see if you're still worthy of the name."
The fleet surged forward, vanishing into the void.
Welp, I suddenly felt the urge to write another chapter for this, and here we are! No idea where this is going, but hey, mystery is fun, right?
So, some totally-not-important space overlord just so happened to hear the Ginyu Force's message, and now they're on their way to Louise's world. Who could it be? What could they want? Surely, they'll be thrilled when they realize Louise is definitely not who they think she is.
Only time will tell. Assuming, of course, that Louise doesn't keel over from stress first. Keeping the Ginyu Force in check is already shortening her lifespan by the minute. Poor girl.