Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Free My Soul ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

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Free My Soul

Chapter Nine

Bulma kicked the dragon balls into a loose circle in the shadow of a small, grassy hill. Behind her, Dende chanted, his young voice cracking over the words. The absent wind suddenly kicked up, blowing through Bulma's short hair. The sky darkened overhead. Shadows streamed into the clouds, thickening and churning. Bulma collapsed to her knees next to the ring of golden balls, allowing the wind and shadows to rush over her. She wished they would take her sadness with them, carrying it up to the sky, so she could forget what she was about to sacrifice.

Bulma wanted to go back to a time that didn't exist anymore. She wanted to bring her little girl up in the comfort and security of a world she knew. The roaring wind trickled down into a breeze. She glanced up, and in the sky was a coil of dark green scales and whirling shadows. The dragon peered down at her with pitiless, gold eyes, daring her to speak. When she looked at him, she could see all of her hopes and dreams in the vastness of his eyes. Here was a creature greater than any god she had never met. This was a creature who could grant her anything, if she could just find the voice to ask.

A single tear crested her pale cheek. Dende placed a small hand on her shoulder from behind. A tiny child, she could barely feel him, but his presence was overwhelming.

“It's going to be okay, Bulma.”

She placed her hand over his, feeling the warmth of his fingers.

“I know.”

Gulping down her loss, Bulma struggled to her feet.

“What is your wish?”

The force of the dragon's voice nearly knocked her back to her knees. All she could do was stare, watching as annoyance pinched its snout.

“What is your wish?”

“I wish—“

Pain blistered her heart, and she stuttered to a stop. She rubbed her chest, thinking of her daughter. Dende slipped his small hand into hers.

“You must stay true to your path.”

Bulma glanced down at him, confusion lining her brow.

“How do I know what my path is?”

“It's what's in your heart.”

She smiled, squeezing the boy's hand. Looking back up at the dragon she took a deep breath, and spoke from her heart.

“I wish that Vegeta was endowed with the strength he needs to defeat his enemies.”

“I can only grant him what he is capable of.”

Despair crashed down on Bulma. She knew there was a limitation on the amount of wishes, but on what she could wish for as well?

“Vegeta has yet to reach his potential,” Dende offered.

Bulma nodded, rubbing her sweaty palm down her thigh.

“Then grant him every drop of power that he is capable of. Unlock the power that is inside him so he can be victorious,” she called up to the dragon, raising her hands to him in supplication.

“It is done,” the dragon boomed. For an instant silence lay heavy over the world, then was shattered by a scream that ran over the hills and valleys, followed by gusts of wind, and sparks of light.

Relief shot through Bulma. Now that the decision had been made, weight melted off her heart. She stumbled back, allowing Dende to seat her on a large gray boulder. It felt cool and lumpy beneath her. It was done. There was no going back. No acid eating at her gut, as she tried to decide what would be best. Vegeta was great now. He would protect her. He would care for their daughter. It wouldn't be perfect. It wouldn't be Earth, but at least they would be alive. Maybe, they could even be together. Happy.

“What is your second wish?”

Bulma nearly pitched off her perch. She stared up at the great dragon aghast.

“Second wish? How many wishes do you grant?”

“Three.”

At his response, Bulma splayed her fingers across her face, her mouth agape. Suddenly, she laughed, sobbing between the guttural outbursts. Three wishes? If only she had known. The arguments with Vegeta could have been avoided. She wouldn't have agonized so!

Galvanized she shot off the rock. “I wish for Earth and its people to be restored!” She shouted happily, nearly jumping up and down.

“This cannot be done.”

Bulma stared up at the dragon uncomprehendingly. “What do you mean it can't be done? You are the eternal dragon. You grant wishes. This is my wish!”

“The loss of life was too great. I cannot restore that which was not taken by me. Something so terrible done by a mortal can only be undone by a mortal.”

“But how?”

“I can fold time, and return you to a point before your world was destroyed with all your knowledge intact. If you are strong enough, perhaps you can undo the wrongs perpetrated against you.”

“Go back? But that would mean—“. Bulma fell to her knees before the dragon, her fists pressed to her chest. Strands of her fine blue hair blew across her face, hiding her eyes. “That would mean everything I experienced since then would have never happened. Vegeta and I would have never met. Would have never---. Bunny would never---. But I would remember. I would remember it all.” Her voice hollowed out, and it echoed in the still air.

The weight returned, pressing hard between her shoulder blades. She lurched forward, digging one hand in the grass to keep her from falling into the dirt. The grass was soft and cool, but beneath it she could feel the sharp pang of tiny pebbles digging their way into her skin.

“You cannot ask a mother to murder her child,” Bulma gasped. The pale green grass swam in her view.

“It would not be murder if she never existed.”

“She does exist!” Bulma screamed, her head thrown back, her fists full of grass. “She exists right here and now, you bastard.”

“Then you wish to revise your second request?” The dragon queried in bored, unconcerned tones.

Bulma shrieked into the sky, inconsolable by the little boy who clucked soothingly nearby. Frustrated, and exhausted by the weight, Bulma launched herself prone into the grass, slamming her fists into the dirt until they bled.