Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty

Authors: Feraligreater328 and StevenBodner

A/N: I'm posting this one a bit early in case that stupid tropical storm knocks out my power. Please enjoy an early treat this week. :)

Chapter 171: Demonic Royalty

On Papaya Island, just outside of Gyuhime's private trailer…

Two tournament monks were walking down the cobbled pathway, speaking to one another in hushed voices. "Lots of freaks at this tournament this year. Two kids in the snack line I was manning just up and took off flying..."

The other monk nodded. "Bunch of tricksters looking to mess things up for Mr. Satan..."

At the sound of their hushed voices, a certain person within Gyuhime's trailer began to grunt as loud as she could and kick the door. Outside, the two monks gasped and one of them called out. "Is someone in there?!"

On Papaya Island, the tournament stands…

Android 18 sat up with a miserable groan. Her eyes felt heavy and her head was pounding, as if she had just gone through another multi-week trial. She pressed her hand to her chest and rubbed it over the tender spot where Cell had pierced her before. She felt horrible. The last thing she would ever say she needed was a 45 lbs. miniature missile slamming into her chest, and yet that was exactly what she got as Marron crashed into her.

The little one was sobbing, snot pouring from the flattened snout, inherited from her father, that 18 secretly hoped would develop as she grew up. "Mommy! Please feel better!"

18 sighed and hugged her close. "It's okay, Marron, honey. Mommy will be just fine."

As Marron sighed and snuggled deeper and deeper into 18's arms, the Android turned to her comrades. "What the heck happened?"

Everyone shrugged. Yamcha sighed. "Honestly, 18, it looked like a fluke. Gyuhime charged in and, I guess, she just happened to nail you in the right spot. Bad luck on your end..."

18 sniffed, thinking back to the apology she'd heard Gyuhime utter just before hitting her. She glared daggers down at the woman in the ring, standing across from Mr. Satan. "I'm not so sure about that..."

Yamcha cocked his head. "What do you-"

Erasa shoved past him on a mission, a very familiar scent drawing close to 18. The teen girl thrust a cup from 18's favorite coffee chain into her face and said, as if reciting a military command. "DOUBLE-WHIP FRAPPE WITH THREE PUMPS CARAMEL AND ONE PUMP VANILLA! COLD CREAM ON TOP WITH CINNAMON AND HAZELNUT DUSTING AND A CHOCOLATE SWIRL! PLASTIC STRAW, NOT PAPER, MA'AM!"

18 gratefully nodded, taking her favorite drink and taking a heavy sip. She sighed. "Do they have a Coffee Culture on the tournament grounds?"

Erasa sat down with a smile, happily accepting a hug from Marron. "No, but they have one three blocks away and I have a Capsule Bike..."

18 chuckled. "Good girl. You'll make partner yet."

Off to the side, Android 17 blew a raspberry. "Jeez, you've got the poor girl running around as a gofer, eh? You're one cruel lady, sis."

Android 16 briefly scanned her and nodded. "Cruel, but in good health. No lasting damage has occurred."

18 rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up..."

The Android looked around, spying Trunks sitting with his head down. The boy looked miserable and Bulma looked pissed. 18 counted heads and then spoke gingerly. "So... Bulla, Goten, and Chika are...where?"

Bulma seethed. "I don't know where my daughter is. But she and my husband are both in for it when I see them again."

18 winced. Gine sighed. "After Ranch flew off, I felt Goten and Chika's energy signatures fly off shortly afterward. Knowing those two, they're probably chasing their cousin to check on her..."

Android 18 nodded, sipping her drink. She glanced guiltily over at Blonde Launch. "And Ranch...?"

Blonde Launch sneezed and her hair turned blue. Blue Launch looked fretful, but shot 18 a brave enough smile. "... I don't know where my daughter is. Neither she nor Raditz are answering their phones. I guess, listening to all of you talk, Raditz might be in a place with no reception. But..."

She swallowed a lump in her throat, her voice becoming watery. "... I just really wish I could fly or sense Ki."

Bulma gritted her teeth, glaring at Gyuhime in the ring. "Trust me, sister, it's not as easy as these cavemen make it look."

Gine nodded. But then she turned to Bulma, looking confused. "Wait, what?"

Bulma began to blush and 18 quickly spoke up, steering the conversation away. "I'm sorry. I can go and try to find Ranch right now. I-"

Blue Launch held up her hand. "You just got punched in a very sensitive spot and, knowing my daughter, she needs a little while to vent her frustrations. I will gladly accept your help once the tournament is over, Lazzie, but please rest for now."

18 was very concerned, remembering the look on Ranch's face. She closed her eyes with a sigh and drank her drink. "Okay..."

The mood was tense among the Z-Supporters as Vale called out down below. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! WE SHALL NOW BEGIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MATCH!"

In the ring…

Vale smiled wide as the crowd cheered. "Now, folks, let me just take a moment to reacquaint you with the man now standing ready for this challenge! Mr. Satan is the winner of the 24th World Martial Arts Tournament! As an up-and-coming martial artist from South City, Mr. Satan earned his way to the top! He fought upward from the tragic decimation of the Satan School of Martial Arts by the dreaded Tao Pai Pai! This man went from tournament to tournament, sharpening his techniques on the whetstone of life! Eventually, he came to this humble arena where he flourished before an excitable crowd!"

Vale began to count off with his fingers. "First fell Pintar of the Bald Bull Academy of Pugilism in Round 1! Then fell Jewel, a master of Beautiful-Style, in Round 2! Then finally, the reviled Spopovich of the XXX Wrestling Conglomerate fell in Round 3! Three stunning victories lead to one amazing champion!"

The crowd cheered and Vale called out again. "AND THEN, GOING BY THE WORD OF THE WITNESSES AT THE CELL GAMES, MR. SATAN TOOK HIS LEGEND EVEN HIGHER UP AS HE DEFEATED CELL AND SAVE THE WORLD FROM EVIL!"

The crowd cheered louder, roaring with a fervor that stomped the memory of Kibito's announcement into the dust. The people screamed Mr. Satan's name. Vale kept a neutral smile. Off to the side, Hiki Komori gave herself an uncomfortable, defensive hug. The Z-Supporters in the crowd remained silent, even Sharpner and Erasa in spite of themselves.

Across the ring, drowned out by the cheers surrounding her, Gyuhime the Cattle Princess snarled like an angry bull and her eyes gave the briefest flash of red.

These red hate orbs locked onto Mr. Satan, who was still playing to the crowd as they cheered for him. She grinded her teeth in anticipation of laying her hands on this man. The champ turned to face his opponent and nearly flinched in fear as he met her eyes. This woman hated him. He could see it. But...why?! Gyuhime had been so flirty earlier. She'd even slapped his butt. Why did she look like she wanted to set him on fire?!

Mr. Satan swallowed a lump in his throat and shook his head. He mumbled to himself. "Ignore it, Mark. Just get on and get this settled..."

Vale raised his hand into the air. "Fighters, ready?!"

Mr. Satan nodded. Gyuhime cracked her knuckles. Vale shouted. "THEN LET THE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MATCH BEGIN!"

Quick as a bolt of lightning, Mr. Satan charged in with his signature move. "DYNAMITE KICK!"

Even more quickly, Gyuhime shifted to the side, drawing out her arm and flexing all her muscles until it was about as stiff as an iron bar. She snarled through clenched teeth. "Eat shit, bastard."

And then, she slammed her arm into Mr. Satan's face and plowed him directly onto his back. The dazed and bloodied Mr. Satan skidded across the platform, stopping just short of a ring-out. He was visibly dazed, unable to quite mentally calculate what had just happened. Gyuhime straightened up, rolling her shoulders and spitting off to the side. "That was only the first taste of payback, scumbag."

The crowd was speechless. Even the Z-Supporters were stunned at how quickly Mr. Satan was dumped onto his ass. All of them except for Gine, Ox-King, and Android 18. Gine and the Ox-King both looked quite honestly ashamed of what they were watching. 18, however, looked as if a hunch had just been confirmed and her nose curled up. "Ah..."

On his back, Mr. Satan had to blink at least a dozen times to regain his wits. He sat up and wiped his hand over his face, looking down at his bloody palm and then up at the furious valkyrie standing across the ring from him. Carefully, Mr. Satan wiped the blood onto the fabric of his pants and stood up, taking on an unsure fighting stance. He swallowed a lump in his throat and thought to himself. '... This is bad. That wasn't a full-strength hit. I gotta take this up a notch...'

With a high-pitched battle cry, Mr. Satan leapt into the fray once again, unleashing a heavy flurry of punches onto Gyuhime. Cold as steel, the masked wrestler blocked each of the punches effortlessly, her hands performing a catch-and-flick maneuver that Mr. Satan had to struggle against to avoid leaving any sort of opening. He had watched this woman work in her previous three matches, her lightning quick wit and devastating strength had reduced even that flame lady and that guy from the Cell Games to little more than one-hit victories.

The champ went for his patented Double Satan Victory Punch and Gyuhime scowled in disgust, shoving the double-fisted punch down with one hand and clocking Mr. Satan across the jaw with the other.

Mr. Satan stumbled back as a billion thoughts ran through his mind. Chiefly, he wondered if Gyuhime had a roll of quarters gripped tight in her fist, because suddenly several of his professionally veneered teeth felt shaky and loose. The champ nearly fell onto his ass, but then he thrust a heel at the ring and steadied himself. Unwilling to give up, Mr. Satan jumped into the air and came raining down with a mighty dive kick!

This game-changing attack was quickly seized by Gyuhime. She whipped Mr. Satan through the air and slammed him hard onto his face. Following that, she took to the air herself and crashed harshly onto the champ's back. Mr. Satan wheezed as all the air was forced from his lungs like a rubber duck, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

Gyuhime got up and Mr. Satan shakily did the same, thinking frantically to himself. 'H-How?! How is this happening?! I know there's folks out there stronger than me, but Gyuhime is a marketing joke! How can she flatten me like this?!'

Gyuhime spoke in a seething voice that Mr. Satan immediately recognized as not Gyuhime's voice. "On your feet. It's time to take the rest of your medicine."

Mr. Satan was struggling to collect himself. He turned to question what he now suspected to be an imposter and gasped at the blazing fury in Gyuhime's glance. He yelped and flinched back. But then, he quickly collected himself. This wasn't where this was gonna end. He was Mr. Satan, the World Champion! He was gonna win this!

The champ rushed in, dropping at the last second and sweeping Gyuhime's feet. At the same time, Gyuhime backflipped to avoid most of the blow. This was to be expected, and Mr. Satan was already moving toward his next attack. The Champ swung a kick at the side of Gyuhime's head, looking to knock her off balance and hopefully take control of the match. However, Gyuhime proved to be one step ahead once again. She reached out and grabbed his leg, using it to stop her descent. And then, she swung forward off said leg with all her momentum and cracked Mr. Satan in the face with both of her feet.

Mr. Satan went tumbling toward the edge of the ring, catching himself at the very last second and standing firm. He looked up and was staring death in the face as Gyuhime lunged toward him, her fist drawn back as if she were preparing to swing for the fences. Mark's entire life flashed before his eyes and he saw the face of his wife staring at him from somewhere far away. "...Miguel?"

Gyuhime stopped in her tracks, her feet skidding on the ring tiles. She stared Mr. Satan in the face and scowled. "You're crying?! What the hell do you have to cry about, you fraud?!"

"LIKE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL SOMEONE A FRAUD!"

Mr. Satan, Vale, the crowd, and Gyuhime herself all gasped as they turned toward the wreckage of the fighter's waiting area and saw a familiar, black-haired woman come running out. She had slowly fading red marks encircling her wrists, ankles, and mouth and she looked furious. She and Gyuhime locked eyes and the woman snarled, jabbing an accusing finger at her counterpart in the ring. "GIVE ME BACK MY OUTFIT, YOU FREAK! I PAID A DEPOSIT FOR THAT STUPID THING!"

The crowd gasped again, all of them now staring at the Gyuhime in the ring. Mark was silent, his eyes going wide. Gyuhime glared at him icily. Slowly, Vale approached and spoke into the mic. "G-Gyuhime... is this true? Are you... an imposter?!"

Gyuhime's eyes flicked from Mr. Satan to Vale and then to the half-naked woman glaring at her. She sighed. "Sorry."

Vale flinched. The fake Gyuhime turned to the apparent real one and sighed, undoing the mask covering her eyes. "You didn't deserve that. Sorry."

The real Gyuhime, Kyoko Ushina, rolled her eyes. "Look, lady, I was actually listening to you rant while you were taping my mouth shut... I get not liking when some shitty company appropriates your culture without asking first, but this was a really poor way of protesting that!"

The fake Gyuhime pulled her mask off, tossing it to the real one outside the ring. Chi-Chi cracked her neck and glared. "Would you believe me if I told you that that was only part of this?"

In the stands…

The entire crowd reacted in a massive wave of shock. Sharpner and Erasa both cried out in unison. "GOHAN'S MOM?!"

Yamcha had a bead of sweat run down the side of his face. "What the heck are you doing, Chi-Chi?"

Ox-King and Gine simultaneously buried their faces in their hands. 18 stood up and grabbed 17 by the back of his shirt collar as he tried to rush into the ring. "SHE HIT YOU THERE ON PURPOSE! I OUGHTA-"

18 pulled him back, slamming 17 into the seat next to his wife. "Sit down and shut up, 17!"

She crossed her arms testily over her chest and glared down at Chi-Chi. "This had better be good..."

Back in the ring…

Chi-Chi stripped off the ridiculous Gyuhime costume, revealing a sports bra and a pair of athletic shorts underneath. Her feet were bare, except for Muay Thai style wraps surrounding her soles. She tossed the outfit to Gyuhime and cocked her head. "There. Undamaged."

Gyuhime motioned. "And the horns...?"

Chi-Chi rubbed her horns with a frown. "Still in the trailer. These are real."

Gyuhime flinched, her eyes going wide just for a moment. "... You're... You're a demon?"

Chi-Chi nodded. Gyuhime scowled. "King Piccolo killed my uncle, you know..."

She responded. "King Piccolo helped to kill my mother."

The two women glared at one another and Gyuhime nodded. Chi-Chi nodded back and turned toward Mr. Satan and Vale. "I don't care about this stupid tournament. I want to settle my score with this fraud, Mr. Satan, once and for all! Down with the false savior!"

Vale flinched, immediately knowing what Chi-Chi meant. He stuttered into the mic. "F-False savior is a st-st-stunning accusation! Especially from the wife of Son Goku!"

The realization of what he had just heard smashed into Mr. Satan like a truck. All at once, all of the pieces of this puzzle fell into place in his mind. He shuddered in fear, realizing once and for all that his sins had come home to roost. The champ backed away a step and felt himself collide into the metaphorical corner. He couldn't escape this...

Vale sighed. "Well, Chi-Chi, unfortunately, I'm going to have to declare this match a no contest and ask you to leave the tournament ground. No matter your reasoning, ma'am, this is just..."

Mr. Satan stopped listening at that point, realizing that he was saved! She was disqualified! She couldn't hurt him now! If she got escorted away, he was home free! No chance of the truth getting revealed...

"SUPER!"

No chance of losing everything...

"DRAGON!"

No chance of his life falling apart...

"FIST!"

No chance of...

Mr. Satan's face fell slack as he remembered that day at the Cell Games. He remembered Son Goku staring at him and being unable to kill Cell along with Mr. Satan, sparing his life. He remembered Bardock's sacrifice. He remembered all the heartache and the physical agony. Gohan sobbing. Vegeta's leg exploding off. Future Trunks and Future Ranch both dying. Son Goku stopping Cell from blowing up like a bomb. That final flash of light as the real savior of Earth vanquished the monster once and for all...

As tournament security approached, Mr. Satan held up a hand. "Wait."

Everyone froze.

Mr. Satan turned to Kyoko Ushina outside of the ring. "Sorry, Gyuhime, I'll make sure you get some compensation for the trouble, but this is a fight I gotta finish."

She roughly shrugged, flinging her stupid outfit over her shoulder. "Whatever. I'm done with martial arts anyway. You people are bizarre..."

Mr. Satan nodded, turning back to Chi-Chi as Gyuhime stomped off. He bowed to her in respect. "I grant you this championship match, ma'am, as a reparation for everything I have ever said against your husband."

Vale gasped in shock, recoiling back. Chi-Chi didn't budge. Her gaze darkened. The champ sighed, looking over at his belt sitting on the sidelines. "In my bluster as champion, I have put down a great many people. People who didn't deserve it. You have every right to be angry..."

The crowd cheered at Mr. Satan's honorable display. He grimaced and tried to block them out, observing that they were only making his opponent angrier. Vale approached, his microphone lowered. "Mr. Satan, sir... are you sure?"

Mr. Satan nodded, taking on his fighting stance. "Just call for the resumption when she's ready..."

Reluctantly nodding, Vale turned to Chi-Chi and flinched. Her fury had become no less in light of Mr. Satan's announcement. She gripped her fists tight and took on what Vale recognized as an Ox-Style stance, though his mouth was entirely too dry to announce it to the crowd. With an almost sick look on his face, Vale lifted his mic. "B-Both fighters appear to be ready! So, uh, L-LET THE FIGHT RESUME!"

Rather than immediately spring into action, both warriors stood steady. Mr. Satan spoke softly. "Your husband... I wronged him. For the past 7 years, I've been wronging him. Every time I talk to the press, my associates, my daughter..."

He looked at Chi-Chi and considered every last thing he could say. But he knew that nothing was going to help his case here. That Chi-Chi's fury would only subside by a single method. The champ sighed and looked at her with steely resolve. "In the back of my mind, I always knew this day would come..."

He tightened his stance. "For whatever it is worth, I'm sorry."

Chi-Chi sneered and rushed forward with a roar, her fist drawn back. Mr. Satan knew all at once that this was the most important match of his life thus far. He steeled himself and then raised his forearm in defense, taking the entirety of Chi-Chi's punch and sliding back with a throbbing, purple welt for his trouble. He winced in pain and shook the feeling back into his arm. Chi-Chi wasted no time in charging again, but Mr. Satan was more prepared this time. Moving quickly, he grabbed Chi-Chi by her horns and threw her into the air.

Mr. Satan took a breath as Chi-Chi tumbled, landing softly on her feet but looking genuinely off-put. She rubbed her horn where he had touched it and snarled. The champ almost apologized, but then steeled himself and charged. This was a fight! There was no more need for words or pleasantries!

Mr. Satan put his hands together like a pair of claws and rushed at Chi-Chi. "SATAN-STYLE: DEMON SHEAR!"

He thrust the attack at Chi-Chi's stomach with a twisting motion, but Chi-Chi was far faster. She caught Mr. Satan by the wrists, jerking the attack to the side and slamming her knee into his jaw. The champ fell back and crashed hard onto the ground, but immediately sprang into the next attack. Shifting into a handstand and spinning his outstretched legs like a top, Mr. Satan called out. "SATAN-STYLE: HELL WHIRLWIND!"

Chi-Chi was almost taken aback by the sheer speed of this fool-move, deflecting at least a dozen kicks in the blink of an eye. Finally, with a snapping grasp, Chi-Chi seized Mr. Satan by the ankle and jumped into the air with her target held tight. Mr. Satan panicked as the ring suddenly became smaller and smaller in his view. Chi-Chi yanked him up and latched her grip around his throat. With a furious screech, she plummeted back toward the ring and smashed Mr. Satan into the tiles with a mighty chokeslam.

Mr. Satan's eyes bugged out, a well of spit and bile gathering in his throat. He rolled over and began to hack it up as Chi-Chi loomed over him. The woman was radiating scorn that even the severely Ki-blind Mr. Satan could feel. He looked up at her remorsefully but saw not an ounce of pity in return.

Quickly achieving his second wind, Mr. Satan got moving as quickly as he could, wrapping his legs around Chi-Chi's dominant arm and trying to pull her down into a cross armbar. To his shock and horror, the woman didn't even begin to buckle. The champ's jaw quivered as he finally took a moment to really take in Chi-Chi's physique. While slender and distinctly feminine, she equally sported such well-defined muscles of a woman who was used to real labor. As that realization sank in, Chi-Chi responded once more. She heaved Mr. Satan into the air and slammed him against the ring again. Streams of pure electricity ran from Mr. Satan's aching spine into all his limbs, and he went limp.

Chi-Chi stood solid as a statue, watching as Mr. Satan got gingerly to his feet. She wasn't going to end this with him on his lying ass. People would say it wasn't fair then. She was going to wait, each and every time, until he got back to his feet and then she was going to put him down again. And she would keep that up, all day if she had to, until he didn't stand. This oaf might think he was putting on a heroic act, but Chi-Chi was going to chip that foolish interpretation he had built for himself apart piece-by-bloody-piece. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! Especially when it involved her son!

Mr. Satan struck his fighting stance and Chi-Chi's fist made itself at home on his nose, sending a gusher of blood splattering to the floor. The idiot didn't fall, so Chi-Chi continued on. She pummeled him like a heavy bag, smashing punches into him up and down his entire body before knocking him right onto his ass with a kick!

Mr. Satan fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes as Chi-Chi lowered her leg with the grace of a ballerina. She watched the oaf push himself up, one eye swollen shut. The two of them looked at one another again and Mr. Satan spoke in a low voice. "Ma'am, I know you don't believe it, but I am sorry for everything. I'm sorry about everything I've ever said about your husband. I'm sorry for-"

Chi-Chi snapped. "This isn't about him."

Mr. Satan flinched. Chi-Chi sneered. "Goku is a grown man. He's been at this and relishing it since the first moment I met him. He's not someone who you could ever hurt. Say what you want about him, he doesn't have it in him to really care."

She stepped forward and Mr. Satan shuddered back. Chi-Chi growled. "This is about my son and what you stole from him."

Mr. Satan stammered. "R-Right! Your boy! H-He's dating my daughter! He's been over to my house before! I-"

Chi-Chi stepped on one of Mr. Satan's hands and he cried out. She grabbed him by his gi and got inches from his face. "Let me tell you about my son's life..."

Mr. Satan went very quiet. Chi-Chi seethed in a harsh whisper. "It was all stolen from him. Kidnapped at age 4. Trained to fight for his life by age 5. Facing down evil alien dictators and entire armies. Fighting vampires and death robots and that monster that you took the credit for..."

The champ quickly blurted out. "No one cares about that!"

That was the wrong choice of words. Chi-Chi's eyes went wide and she pulled her fist back. Panicking, Mr. Satan cried out. "SATAN STYLE: ABYSS PUNCH!"

Mr. Satan's fist shot forward at such speed that a small vacuum was created, pulling in everything with a certain pressure and then exploded out when his fist collided with Chi-Chi's cheek. She listed to the side and the champ breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't about to have his head pulped. Chi-Chi quickly broke that fantasy with a snap kick to the side of the head, sending Mr. Satan tumbling over as she herself stumbled to the side.

Mr. Satan groaned in agony, but that was quickly cut off by Chi-Chi wrapping him into a choking headlock, flexing her solid bicep to dig against his adam's apple. She snarled into his ear, squeezing so tight that he couldn't breathe. "That's the theme in my Gohan's life. The endless constant that, even as his mother, I can't do anything about. The world keeps taking things from him. His childhood. His innocence. His friends and loved ones. And I don't care how many times we summon that blasted dragon, he's never going to unsee his grandfather being killed in front of him. You don't unsee something like that..."

Chi-Chi pictured her mother leaning over her, the first drops of blood raining from the arrow wound in her chest. She snapped. "I DIDN'T!"

Mr. Satan pulled with all his strength, giving himself just enough room to breathe. "But... he doesn't care. None of them care. Goku told me so..."

To Mr. Satan's horror, Chi-Chi smiled. "You're right. They don't. And, you know what, maybe I shouldn't. I know I've probably burned a bridge or two getting here today. It's going to really suck if Yamcha and 18 just don't talk to me anymore. But, at the same time, it's worth it. And do you know why it's worth it?"

Mr. Satan yelped. "W-Why?"

Chi-Chi seethed. "Because in a world that will take your innocence. And take your childhood. And take your loved ones. And then will personally play a joke on you by doing the same thing to your own child... I've found a way to take something back. You stole my baby's credit. And maybe he doesn't want it. But that doesn't mean you can have it!"

Mr. Satan was trembling in Chi-Chi's grip. The entire world had gone still. His gaze hit the floor, a man shamed into personal defeat. He spoke in a hollow tone. "I was going to confess, I swear. In front of everyone. I was going to tell them all and let that be that. Then Miguel died. And I couldn't bear the thought of my little girl being ridiculed for the sins of her daddy. The shame of it all..."

Again, he turned and looked at Chi-Chi. "I am so, so sorry for what I did. I'll do anything to make it right. I'll give you everything. I'll apologize on my hands and knees to your boy. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right..."

Chi-Chi was taken aback. This close, she had no choice but to really listen to what Mr. Satan... to what Mark was saying. This wasn't about bluster or fame or presenting to the crowd. This was about true atonement. Chi-Chi heard what the man said and, without really thinking about it, she let her headlock go and he stumbled forward.

Everything moved in slow motion for a minute.

Mr. Satan turned, and Chi-Chi lowered her head, thinking over everything that had brought her here today. Every little thing. She was almost ready to forgive the man, until she remembered the first time she saw Gohan after the Cell Games had ended. Him sitting there, his tired little face, and that stump where his arm should have been!

Mr. Satan turned, and it was almost like an iron shot put ball crashed into his face as Chi-Chi's unforgiving fist caved in his cheek. The champ went flying out of the ring, grass trailing under his feet, and he knew what had just happened.

Mr. Satan crashed into one of the tournament walls, reducing it to rubble as he flew through it, before landing flat on his back out-of-bounds.

And the entire crowd went silent.

In the stands…

The Z-Supporters all stared in exasperation. Sharpener and Erasa couldn't believe their eyes. Gine rubbed both hands over her face as the Ox-King rubbed the back of his neck. In their collective opinion, nothing good could come of this at the end of the day.

At ringside…

Hiki Komori's cane clattered to the ground as she fell to her knees, fresh tears brimming in her eyes as her hands clapped over her mouth.

In the ring…

Vale watched as Mr. Satan lay there in defeat, a low groan escaping his throat as what had just happened settled in. He raised his microphone and, at first, his voice came out as a croak. But then, the showmanship came back full swing and Vale called out in a roaring pitch. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE HAVE JUST WITNESSED A CHANGING OF THE GUARD! MR. SATAN HAS BEEN DEFEATED! YOUR NEW CHAMPION IS SON CHI-CHI!"

The crowd was silent for a few tics longer, but then they exploded into cheers all the same. Chi-Chi watched dumbfounded, coming down from an angry high that she hadn't experienced in a good, long while, as Hiki ran over to Mr. Satan to check if he was okay.

Chi-Chi flinched as she felt a weight suddenly crash onto her shoulder, looking over and seeing a sparkling gold plate gleaming in the afternoon sun. Vale cried out one more time. "LET'S HEAR IT FOR SON CHI-CHI!"

The crowd roared. The sun beamed. Revenge never tasted so sweet.

An easy-going smile spread across Chi-Chi's face and she grabbed the belt from her shoulder with both hands, thrusting it into the air and screaming at the top of her lungs. "HELL YEAH!"

Back in Babidi's Ship, Stage Five…

Piccolo and Dabura stood across from one another, increasing the pressure of their Ki in an attempt to each overwhelm the other. Gohan swallowed a lump in his throat. This was the first true challenge of the day. "B-Be careful, Piccolo. This guy is-"

Piccolo snapped. "Have you forgotten your place, brat?!"

Gohan flinched. Piccolo turned to him, looking serious for a moment but then adopting a smirk. "The temerity of it... thinking that you can advise me when you're leaving me to deal with the dregs. In a different life, I'm the one fighting Bardock up next."

The Namekian cracked his neck and his knuckles at the same time. "But, no, you have something you want to prove, apparently..."

Dabura chortled. "The dregs, am I? I wonder at what sort of frozen terror I shall leave you in, worm."

Piccolo shot a sharp glare at the Demon. "On the other hand, I suppose I'm perfectly fine with facing you here and now. After all, in this room full of fight-happy Saiyans, someone has to think about Krillin and Tien."

Dabura closed his eyes, bowing at the waist and motioning Piccolo forward. "Be my guest. Soon, your folly will be laid bare for all to see. You shall know the terror of facing the Demon King!"

Piccolo smirked. "I was actually about to say the same thing to you~"

And then the preamble was over all at once. Piccolo and Dabura both began to roar, their power flaring out with such force that all of the glass in Stage Five shattered off of the walls. Babidi shouted out. "DABURA! DON'T BREAK MY SHIP! LET ME TELEPORT YOU FIRST!"

Dabura cackled. "My apologies, Master! Please, send us somewhere just like the Earth! Same gravity! Same atmosphere! Same yellow sun! I don't want an ounce of difference to taint my utter domination of these cretins!"

Piccolo growled. "Yes! And make sure Babidi is keeping a close eye on this battle, so he can watch you die!"

Dabura and Piccolo charged at one another and Babidi frantically called out. "PAPARAPA!"

In Stage Six…

The scene rapidly shifted in the crystal ball as Piccolo and Dabura made impact, the sheer force of their blow blasting out from the crystal ball and sending Babidi flying into Bardock's arms. The wizard sneered as he watched the fight begin in earnest. But then, the sneer quickly evolved into a shrill cackle. "Yes! YES! This is what we needed, Bardock! With Dabura taking the reins, Majin Buu will finally gain the energy he needs! VICTORY IS AT HAND!"

Bardock nodded. "I totally agree, Master Babidi. But I also believe in insurance."

Babidi smiled up at his soothsayer. "Oh?"

Bardock nodded. "Indeed. I am sure that Dabura's strength will deliver energy to Majin Buu, but I am also of the opinion that we should go a step further, just in case, Master Babidi."

Babidi cocked his head. "And what do you mean by that?"

Reaching forward, Bardock pressed his hand to the crystal ball and shifted the scene from Dabura fighting Piccolo to the outside, where Chiaotzu was meditating on the ground. Bardock spoke in a sinister whisper. "Piccolo is no slouch. Dabura is strong, but I wouldn't be surprised if he were somehow slain. Four Zoonian soldiers who will carry the stone statues outside, plus however many you think it might take to slay poor little Chiaotzu there. What do you say, Master Babidi?"

Babidi cackled. "I say... I love your way of thinking~"

Outside of Babidi's ship…

Chiaotzu sat on the ground, trying to spend his time productively. He had already made sure to move Krillin, gently using his telekinesis to place the former monk on the ground next to Tien. Now, he was sitting in front of them and meditating, focusing his energy just in case something went wrong.

That something, to Chiaotzu's dismay, came alongside the sound of a sliding metal door from below. Chiaotzu's eyes popped open, and he glanced down, hoping to see his friends emerging from the ship with news. Quickly, that hope shattered to pieces. "Crap!"

Hundreds of alien soldiers were pouring from the open maw of Babidi's ship, all of them glaring right at Chiaotzu. He heard one of them shout at the top of his lungs. "TAKE THE STATUES! KILL THE DWARF!"

Chiaotzu groaned. "Why the hell do things like this always happen...?"

And then, the smallest Z-Fighter shouted. "TRI-BEAM!"

Twenty of the soldiers were incinerated into dust and Chiaotzu glared, throwing a hand behind himself and bubbling Tien and Krillin in a psychic barrier. "YOUR ORDER IS REVERSED! YOU WANT MY FRIENDS?! THEN KILL ME FOR 'EM!"

Back in Stage Six…

With their furious battle underway, Piccolo and Dabura were wasting no time in trying to kill each other. The Demon thrust his palm forward, a ball of ghastly red flames forming that he quickly fired out right at Piccolo. "HELL BLITZ!"

The Namekian grunted, smacking the blast away with little effort. In that time, Dabura had raced around into Piccolo's blind spot and shot toward the Namekian with a hefty spear kick. Piccolo turned and threw a punch, only for his fist to slice through empty air.

The after-image faded away and Dabura appeared behind Piccolo again, wrapping his hand around the back of Piccolo's neck. The Demon chuckled. "You're going to have to do better than that if you wish to survive this~"

Piccolo smirked, stretching his arm around lightning quick and unleashing a flurry of Ki blasts right into Dabura's face. The Demon stumbled back, and Piccolo turned, stretching his other arm and running the Demon King through with his claws. Blood erupted from Dabura's mouth and he fell to his knees, only to fade away once again.

Piccolo flinched in shock, but quickly recovered. He turned to face the real Dabura, hovering in the air. Piccolo frowned. "That isn't the Afterimage Technique. Those clones are much too real. They bleed before they fade into nothing..."

Dabura smirked, giving Piccolo a small golf clap. "My Demonic Shell Game technique. I can form multiple flesh-and-blood copies that are able to accurately produce my energy signature and techniques. Real clones, but none of them contain the essence of my life force."

Piccolo rolled his eyes. "A technique worthy of a two-bit stage magician."

Suddenly, twelve Dabura's all bearing the same full strength as the original surrounded Piccolo. They all cackled and spoke in unison. "We're sorry to disappoint you!"

As they all charged in, Piccolo smirked. And then, the Namekian's vicious fury made itself fully known as he tore into the Dabura's one-by-one, dismembering them with ease until they all faded. For a moment, Piccolo was covered in demonic blood until that too faded away. And then, the Namekian rushed up into the air and slugged Dabura in the jaw.

The demon flew back, eventually catching himself and wiping his busted lip. "How dare you draw my noble blood?!"

Piccolo took on a fighting stance. "You'll never win this with pathetic parlor tricks! Those clones might be real, but they're ridiculously fragile."

Dabura scowled. "Big talk for a peasant."

Piccolo responded. "Stow your classism up your ass. You might call yourself a King, but I can hear your heart trip-hammering in your chest. Let me guess, you were expecting this to be over by now, right?!"

Dabura chuckled. "You speak of my rapid heartbeat as a sign of weakness? Fool. I simply relish the idea of tearing an equal apart on the field of combat! I shall rip you asunder, Namekian!"

Piccolo hummed. And then, he fired a dozen ki blasts at the ground and kicked up a massive, dusty smokescreen. Dabura snarled as the cloud of black dust overtook him. "RIDICULOUS! AN OBVIOUS PLAN OF ATTACK!"

The Demon King could hear his opponent's arms stretching as they had done before. He watched for signs in the smoke, waiting for just the right instance to react. Noticing a subtle shift just below, Dabura raised his hand up and brought it slashing down just in time to tear off both of Piccolo's approaching hands. He sneered and raised his hand, firing a Ki blast into the smoke and nailing Piccolo in the chest.

The Namekian went flying back into a nearby rocky outcropping, and stuck in place. Dabura immediately flew up, looking smug. He slapped Piccolo about the face not once, but twice, and hissed. "Blasted fool! You thought such a simple stratagem would confound the great Dabura?!"

Piccolo smiled wide. "It did, though."

Suddenly, to Dabura's shock, the Piccolo in front of him dispersed and the real Piccolo came shooting up from behind, leveraging a massive roundhouse kick right to the back of Dabura's head. The Demon King went soaring across the battlefield, but quickly caught himself and landed on his feet. For just a moment, the Demon was coldly furious. He glared at Piccolo with hateful disdain. But then he smirked. "Well-timed! I had forgotten the Namekian division capability. It's how your miserable vermin race reproduces, correct?"

Piccolo scowled. "Incorrect."

Dabura shrugged. "Who cares?"

The two of them stared at one another for a long moment afterwards, each trying to plot their next move against the other. Overhead, a cloud was drifting through the blood red sky of whatever planet Babidi had sent them to. The shadow crossed over the two and lazily proceeded along. Soon enough, Dabura was the first to be uncovered by the shade. And he celebrated by launching into a vicious assault!

The Demon King thrust his hand at Piccolo, summoning five blue will-o-wisps on his fingertips and firing them off. "MALEVOLENT BURST!"

Piccolo leapt back, his cape fluttering behind him as he retreated from the five glowing flame orbs. Piccolo's greater instinct told him that these attacks would track him and a sudden detour into the sky proved him to be correct. As he zoomed higher and higher into the air, the five flaming orbs seemed to be growing in size and increasing in speed. Piccolo sneered. "They're feeding off the ambient energy I'm leaving behind as I fly! Damn it!"

Suddenly, all five of the orbs shot past Piccolo, forming a ring around him and all shooting in at once. The Namekian growled, and then roared at the top of his lungs as he released a sudden Explosive Wave. The rapidly expanding dome of energy quickly engulfed the flaming orbs and caused them all to peter out. Piccolo tried to take a second to recover from the sudden, mighty exertion, but then Dabura was right there in front of him. The Demon thrust his elbow toward Piccolo's face and Piccolo responded by shooting his knee up. The two warriors clashed and were immediately locked in a stalemate.

Dabura cackled. "How does this feel, green man?! Are you struggling?!"

Piccolo was silent. Dabura snarled. "Say something, damn you!"

The Demon King glared and fired a pair of hellish black beams from his eyes, Piccolo responded with Eye Beams of his own. Rather than clash, the moment Dabura's beams hit Piccolo's they let loose a mighty explosion. The two warriors wasted no time to charge through the smoke and clash into one another, clenching their hands together and engaging in a test of strength.

Piccolo seethed. "You're just like my father..."

Dabura cackled. "Daddy issues, have we?"

Piccolo ignored Dabura, pushing him back. "Arrogant! That's all you are! Arrogant!"

Dabura smirked. "But, of course! I am the Demon King!"

Piccolo roared and pulled Dabura forward. The Demon gasped, suddenly thrown off balance. Piccolo lifted both legs and double spear kicked Dabura in the stomach, launching him back. The Namekian then showed off his speed, racing around Dabura and swinging a chop at his neck.

Dabura disappeared at once, but Piccolo quickly turned and blocked a punch from behind. He glared at the Demon. "My father, King Piccolo, also referred to himself as the Demon King. He was just as much of a weakling and a fool as you are. I have no use for the title, but I will happily end you to claim it!"

Dabura scowled with disgust. "Some mere insect dares to try and lay claim on my royal title?! How dare you?!"

Piccolo smirked. "It would fare better upon me anyway. Then I could show certain fools the difference between a paltry prince and a powerful king!"

Vegeta and Bulla both snapped at the same time. "WATCH IT, NAMEKIAN!"

Videl laughed out loud.

Piccolo and Dabura separated and glared at one another. A harsh wind blew across the nameless planet. And then, Dabura began to chuckle. Soon enough, that evolved into a hearty, full laugh. The Demon King wiped tears from the corner of his eye with his knuckle and sighed. "Forgive me. It's just fascinating the petty justifications that lower beings find to back-up their paltry desires. You wish to take my vaunted title to outdo one of your own?!"

He sighed, his wicked eyes glinting bright yellow. "You have no idea the true force that the title of Demon King carries behind it. But fear not friend, I shall educate before you die of the terror the King of the Demons can bring~"

Dabura sped forward with a roar, kneeing Piccolo in the chest and grabbing him by the face. The Demon King sped downward, Piccolo gripped tight, and shoved his head through the solid stone. Rising into the air, Dabura extended his palm and roared. "HELLSTORM!"

A deluge of liquid flame cascaded to the ground below, setting everything on the ground ablaze. Dead trees crackled and burned. Water evaporated. Rock scorched and cracked and melted under the sheer heat of Dabura's power. With a hellish roar of his own, Piccolo stood and created an energy barrier overhead, deflecting the majority of the flames but still wincing as his cape and turban burst into plumes of scorching fire.

Realizing that he was burning up, Piccolo shot into the air and whipped around Dabura, firing a massive Ki blast into the Demon King's back. Dabura turned and, with a flick of his regal cape, he dispersed the blast.

Piccolo's entire body was smoking. He shakily raised his hands up to his crisp turban and blackened cape. Dabura cackled. "See, fool?! You are no real match for my power! It is foolhardy for you to even attempt to presume claiming my title for yourself!"

The Namekian sneered. "Shut up."

With two wrist flicks, the burned cape and turban shredded off of Piccolo. He floated in the air, otherwise unscathed and looking unimpressed. He growled in a low tone at Dabura. "You think yourself tricky, but I've figured you out. You talk of teaching me a lesson, but I don't think you truly have anything to offer..."

On the ground below…

Goku smiled. "Man, Piccolo is awesome. He's really been stepping up his training these past 7 years..."

Yakon whimpered. "If you say so…but is he strong enough to face Dabura? That guy is scary…"

Gohan nodded. "He could beat Cell by himself. Dabura feels about similar in power."

Vegeta sniffed. "Quite powerful indeed. But this is no time to get cocky. Dabura is the only real threat on this ship. We all know for a fact we haven't seen the true depth of his strength yet."

Bulla frowned. "He's that strong, Daddy?"

Vegeta nodded. "Not unbearably so, but this is the real challenge of today."

Raditz, Videl, and the Supreme Kai watched on in silence, all unsure about where this battle would go next.

Back in the air…

Piccolo charged at Dabura once more, this time really giving it his all. The Demon King snarled and took a deep breath, and then he let loose a ghastly torrent of dark red flames from his throat. Piccolo dodged around the fireball, looking to swing around and counterattack, but he gasped at the sight of Dabura turned right toward him. The Demon King smirked and cleared his throat, spitting a massive loogie right at Piccolo which splattered against his wrist. The Namekian gasped in shock as, immediately, his skin began to petrify.

Dabura grinned as Piccolo began to focus his energy into his wrist, halting the petrification with the greatest of difficulty. The Demon spoke. "Congratulations for providing a reasonable challenge. But this is where it ends I am afraid. The peasant insect uprising ends in another lifeless statue. My title of Demon King remains~"

Piccolo looked up at Dabura, veins bulging from his scalp and a strained smirk on his face. "I suppose that would be the case... except, like I said... I've figured you out..."

Dabura cocked his head. "Oh?"

Piccolo gave a throat-shredding shout and snapped his arm forward, building ki up just below the petrified flesh and blasting his entire hand off. The stone extremity shot forward like a missile and all five of Piccolo's petrified claws sunk deeply into Dabura's chest. Quite fragile, the arm exploded into stony dust and a trickle of blood ran from Dabura's mouth. He narrowed his eyes at Piccolo and snarled. The Namekian smirked. "You can use Ki, but most of your techniques are based around magic. Am I right?"

Dabura snarled again. Piccolo nodded. "I'm right."

He held up his bleeding arm stump. "Magic follows its own rules, but once you can figure them out you can start to counter them. Your fire breath, your spit... nothing more than tricks to discern and properly counter~"

Dabura growled, pressing his hand to the bleeding gashes on his chest and searing them shut. "And how do you expect to be effective with only one arm?!"

In response, Piccolo simply regrew his missing limb. Dabura gasped. The Namekian once again began to crack his knuckles and neck. "You're the type to spend so long looking down at others that you never bother to learn of them, right? Perhaps you should learn a greater respect for the Namekian race..."

Piccolo spat to the side and took a fighting stance. "The real fight begins now, 'Demon King'! Try to make it good, my comrade are watching below~"

And then, a dreadful feeling overtook the battlefield. The humor and mirth utterly faded from Dabura's face. He wasn't just angry, he was furious. The Demon King snarled. "A greater respect?! Make it good?! You think you've any right to speak to me that way, bug?! A grave misconception! I'll rip you asunder!"

All of the trees below burst into hellish flames as Dabura's lips spread into a grimace of pure rage, his catlike slit pupils focusing in on Piccolo. "I shall dismember you! And then, as your flyblown head rots on a pike, I shall slaughter everyone one of those so-called comrades standing below!"