Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Normal Friends from Strange Places ❯ Angels Awaken ( Chapter 24 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
By: Maria Cline 
The Angels awaken from their slumber and Vegita gets protection.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.18.2003 | Pages: 8 | Words: 8.6K | Visits: 286 | Status: Completed
The Angels awaken from their slumber and Vegita gets protection.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.18.2003 | Pages: 8 | Words: 8.6K | Visits: 286 | Status: Completed
Octavia and the Long Haired Gohan belongs to Nadia Rose.
Normal Friends from Strange Places
Chapter 21
By Maria Cline
He can hear her scream and then a mirror broke in his mind. "NOOO!!!" Bardock screamed as he went to his knees.
"Bardock! What's wrong?" Yamcha asked, concerned as he ran up to the Saiyan and knelt by his side.
"I... felt... a soul being ripped apart! I saw her very soul divided in two!" Bardock said as his body shook. He stared up at Tien with a look of fear. Tien shivered at the thought of any Saiyan showing fear. "Go to your wife, she needs you." Bardock advised.
"I have to go!" Tien exclaimed as he flew up.
"Wait! Let me give you a lift!" Luna said and a huge white portal opened. "This way!" She pointed into the portal.
"Let's go!" Tien boomed as he flew through the portal.
"Wait for us!" Yamcha cried out as he ran through the portal. Vegita, Piccolo, Bardock, Goten, and Trunks ran in as well.
"I'm coming too." Chi Chi said as she ran through the portal.
Bulma turned around to see Goldheart running and she screamed, "Stay!"
Goldheart paused and stared up at her.
"You. Stay. Right. Here." Bulma said as she stared down at the dog. Luna looked at her oddly and Bulma explained, "He's just a dog. He'll only get killed." She ran into the portal.
Goku growled slightly as he ran after her. Alice, the singers, and Luna sighed as they walked in after them.
*****
Choutsu sensed Tien from his training area in the mountains. "Tien!" Choutsu exclaimed as he followed his friend's Ki toward the house.
*****
Tien landed at his backyard where he saw Lunch lying on the her stomach with her blue hair spread out. "Lunch!" Tien exclaimed as he picked up his wife and checked her pulse.
The others appeared at the house and Tien sighed in relief. "She's alive."
"Tien?" Lunch whispered as she opened her eyes. "What happened?"
"It's okay... you're safe... do you remember anything?" Tien whispered tenderly.
"No... the last thing that happened was I was cooking in the kitchen and I sneezed." Lunch whispered as she got up. She held her head. "I feel a little woozy."
"Sit down." Chi Chi said as she looked around. "Maybe Launch knows what happened."
"Here, have some pepper." Bulma offered as she reached into her purse and got out a pepper shaker she always carried in case Lunch or Trey need to sneeze.
"Thanks." Lunch said as Bulma gently shook pepper in front of her face. She let herself sneeze and the group watched. Lunch opened her eyes and asked, "Didn't I change?"
"No... you... just stayed the same!" Tien exclaimed in both shock and joy. For as long as he'd known his wife he always wished that she would have more control over herself; and now his wish had been granted and without the Dragon Balls.
"Oh my Dende..." Lunch whispered as she held her head. "How did that happen?"
"I did it." A smooth voice said and everyone looked up to see a blond man in a white suit and a pair of glowing white wings. "Hello, I am Lazarus, the Angel of Life."
At once, everyone went into defensive positions. "What did you do to Lunch?" Tien demanded as he powered up.
"I did your wife a favor, Lunch, as you call her. I... simply cured her sneezing problem; Launch is gone forever." Lazarus explained as he held up a black sphere. "You are siding with the wrong angel. I am life and she is death."
"Yeah... but you're the one who killed off your fellow angels and the Kaioshins!" Luna screamed as she powered up and Lazarus grunted as he felt the gravity around him increasing.
"Foolish little girl. I am far more powerful than your mistress." Lazarus laughed as he flung his wings back and bright blasts struck the girl. Luna fell to the ground and held her side.
"You're mean!" Luna growled.
"Hey, leave the moon angel alone!" Alice boomed as she, Diva, and Pop Star walked in front of Luna.
"I'm not mean... nor am I a villain." Lazarus explained as he helped Luna up. "I want only what's best for you mortals."
"So... you kill off a group of Angels who are like family to you, stole all of the dead Saiyans' souls, turned Chi Chi invisible when she refused to give you Goku, and now manipulated Lunch's very soul so Launch would be dead?" Piccolo guessed as he crossed his arms. "Look, I was a god myself and I know that doesn't sound so... mortal friendly."
"You don't see the greater picture, not even with your godly experience. Gods... they are a mere step higher than mortals... the other angels are being corrupted by them. I have seen the inventors of the very concepts of the Universe bowing down to mere gods!" Lazarus said as his eyes turned red. "I am the only one who sees that the very universe must be rewritten! The souls must be redone the right way!" He gestured toward Lunch. "This poor girl and others like her face every day fighting their inner demons... I just want to give them peace."
"So... you alter their very souls?" Chi Chi asked, "That's not right!"
"For mortals, but I am beyond mortals... I am god." Lazarus said as his wings spread out. "Now... your lives mean nothing to me... I just wish to get the one you called 'Goku'. I can restore everything back to normal once I have him."
"Why do you want Goku?" Krillian asked, "And why are you asking us? You're an angel, you've got godly powers."
"True... but Kyuushi and that Kaioshin have shielded Goku from my power. I do know that you mortals are sentimental and would figure it out eventually." Lazarus explained as he smirked. "Or... when enough people he care about is in danger... Goku will show himself." He rose his ringed hand at Vegita. "Like an old arch rival." His ring glowed and Vegita's skin paled as he felt soul being ripped out of his body.
"No!" Bardock screamed as he struggled to move. "Damn it! I can't move!"
The others gasped as they tried to move their feet only to realize that their soles are glued to the ground. Goku lifted up his front paw easily.
"Only Goku can prevent this." Lazarus said as he smirked.
Goku quickly put his paw back down and growled. **Damn it, what should I do? I have to save Vegita, but I can't expose myself.** Goku decided as he barked loudly.
"What makes you think that Goku is even aware of what's going on?" Bulma demanded as she pulled at her feet.
"Because I know Kyuushi and Kaioshin... I was like an older brother to her, a role model. I know how she thinks. Goku is here, or at least knows what is going on." Lazarus said as he smirked and focused harder. "Even if this plan fails, I will still get a nice Saiyan soul for my collection."
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" A familiar voice boomed as a small sphere struck Vegita and the Saiyan vanished in a flash of light. A small ball landed on the ground, it was gold and red with a 'V' on it. The ball wobbled and then a light lit up.
Lazarus sighed as he and everyone else looked up to see a long haired man hovering overhead. "You are becoming an annoyance." Lazarus said as he released his hold.
Goku stared at the man and started growling. The man picked up the strange ball and held out his other hand toward the dog. "Relax, I'm not Radditz."
Goku sniffed the hand and his eyes widened. His eyes told him that it was Radditz but his scent was wrong. **Gohan?**
"Gohan! You saved Vegita!" Bulma gushed with pure joy.
"Oh my! That Gohan looks so... hunky!" Lunch said as she blushed slighty.
Gohan simply nodded and then went into fighter's position. "Okay, Lazarus, you have me to deal with."
"Oh please... you are a mere mortal training to be a god. I am a god." Lazarus laughed as he flew up. "Tell your angel friends that our next battle will be at the place where a demon and a mere mortal fought and the mortal won. I want those mortals to see who their new god will be." The angel vanished in bright blue sparkles.
"Are we safe?" Krillian asked nervously to Gohan. The others stared at the warrior and the warrior finally nodded.
"For now." Gohan said as he clicked on the button and the ball opened up letting out a bright red light.
Vegita looked around and then glared at Gohan. "If you do that again... I will break your neck!"
"You're welcome, Vegita." Gohan chuckled as he tossed the ball to Bulma. "Here, this will keep Vegita safe from that ring... just press the button and he will be zapped into the ball."
"What is this?" Bulma asked as she looked at the ball with great interest.
"I call it the... Saiyaball. It has the ability to lock onto the Saiyan's unique cell structure and turn it into energy and store it for infinte periods of time. It only opens and recalls for Humans and those with Human blood." Gohan explained.
"Really?" Yamcha said as he took the ball from Bulma and pressed the button. "Vegita! Return!" He proclaimed as Vegita turned into a bright red light and zapped back into the ball. "Heh heh."
"Yamcha!" Bulma scowled as she snatched back the ball. "I wanted to try the Saiyaball first!" She pressed the button and Vegita appeared in a red flash of light.
Gohan quickly grabbed Vegita before he could strangle Yamcha. "Let me go! I want to kill that pathetic weakling!"
"Hey! Don't kill my Yamcha!" Bardock said as he flung himself infront of the Human.
At once there was silence as the group stared at Yamcha and Bardock. Yamcha slapped his face as he moaned, "Don't say it like that."
"Don't worry... I've known you for a long time." Bulma said as she came up to Bardock and slung an arm around his shoulders. "Bardock and Goku are so alike sometimes and not just in face. Bardock, here on Earth, when we call someone who's not a relative 'mine' we indicate that we are close to that person."
"But, I am close to Yamcha." Bardock said, confused.
"I mean... together. Together." Yamcha said as he gestured while blushing.
Bardock pondered and then he nodded. "Oh... that together."
"Thanks a lot, you just gave me an image that I want to wash out of my mind." Piccolo grunted as he blushed slightly at the image of Yamcha and Bardock kissing. "Look, we have more important matters to deal with. Like an insane angel who's interested in taking over the Universe and getting Goku and had somehow separated Lunch and Launch."
"Right." Bulma nodded as she went into charge mode. "Okay, everyone here is going to move to Capsule Corps. Tien, Lunch, you two will have to move in with us. Krillian, get your family, Master Roshi, and even Turtle there too. We have to stop these ambushes."
"And bringing us all together can do that?" Tien said skeptically, "Why don't we just go to the Lookout?"
"Because Lazarus can go to the Lookout as easilly as to Capsule Corps." Bulma pointed out, "Also the Lookout is way too small... it doesn't have the resources needed to sustain this many people."
"She's right." Piccolo agreed, "The Lookout was meant to only handle a few people at a time."
"We better get Videl's mom and her uncle Eighter to the Corps too... Lazarus has his claws in Hercule, he may go for Suno and Eighter." Chi Chi suggested.
"Yeah... I'll get her." Piccolo said.
"So... will you be staying with us too?" Yamcha asked Gohan, "I mean... we can't have too many Gohans!"
"I'm sorry, but my duty is to the entire multiverse." Gohan replied regretfully. "There are other worlds that need me. Sorry."
"It's okay." Chi Chi smiled slightly, "It's good to see you again, Gohan. Ummm... do you know if my Gohan is okay or not?"
Gohan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I don't know his fate yet. I do have faith in his abilities and stength, and I don't mean Ki level. Those three have a great deal of heart and strong will. Regaining lost memories will be trying but I believe that they will be fine, especially your Gohan. I will keep an eye on them... after all, your Gohan is me... kinda."
Chi Chi smiled slightly as she removed her scarf and gently kissed Gohan on the cheek. "Thank you."
Gohan's jaw dropped as he saw empty air where there should be a face. He knew about this version of Goku's fate but he had no idea of this version of Chi Chi's condition. "Mom?"
Chi Chi gasped as she quickly pulled her scarf back over her face. "I forgot. Lazarus did this to me when I refused to give Goku up."
Gohan just wrapped his arms around the woman and said, "It's okay... I'm sorry for acting scared. I've seen worse... believe me. It's okay."
"It's... just that I'm worried about how Gohan may think when he sees me like this!" Chi Chi wailed.
"Look, I'm an alternate version of your son... we think alike on many levels and I won't stop loving you just because I can't see you. Gohan will think the same way when he comes back." Gohan insisted as he grinned.
"I'll remember." Chi Chi said as she nodded.
"We do have to figure out where Lazarus will strike." Gohan figured, "The last time a mortal and a demon fought and the mortal won... I don't remember any battles like that on Earth."
"I can't really remember myself." Bulma confessed as she rubbed her chin.
Suddenly, Goldheart ran into the house through the open door. He came back out with a trophy in his mouth.
"HEY! THAT'S MY TOURNAMENT TROPHY!" Tien boomed as he snatched the trophy away and wiped the drool off. "Bad dog. Very bad dog."
Goldheart whined as he gazed up at Piccolo and tugged at his cape.
"Demon..." Piccolo repeated as he stared at the trophy and then he snapped his fingers. Goku was smart enough to know not to bother other people's possessions. This must be a clue. Then, he remembered his own battle with Goku back when he thought he was a demon. "The Tournament! I fought Goku at the Tournament!"
"Of course!" Chi Chi exclaimed, "At the time you were believed to be a demon! That must count! Lazarus must have gotten his position as Hercule's agent for a reason... that must be it!"
"But why such a public place?" Krillain asked, "You can't even kill in the Tournament."
"There are worst fates than death. Lazarus doesn't kill, he absorbs essences and souls." Gohan said, "This is bad. Angels can be empowered by mortals knowing they exist. Even if mortals don't know their names, if they acknowlege the fact that what they stand for exists and they wish for it, the angels become stronger."
"But... Kyuushi isn't known and I doubt that people ask for death." Yamcha figured.
"True... but she is very widely known as The Angel of Death. People know that title and fear it intensely. That gives her power." Gohan explained, "Lazarus could be much stronger since most mortals love life more than death."
"So... basically we will be dealing with a foe that the public would love and will empower him in the Tournament." Krillian said as he sweatdropped, "Why do I wish that we will be fighting Cell instead? Cell sounds so tame right now."
"Tell me about it. Lazarus is even be worst than Majin Buu." Gohan agreed.
"Who?" The group asked confused.
"Different villain that happened in my timeline. Long story; I'd rather not talk about it." Gohan sighed. Suddenly, there was a beep and Gohan took out a pager from belt and said, "Kaioshin's calling. I gotta go."
"Okay, take care." Chi Chi said as she hugged Gohan again.
"I will." Gohan went up to Goten and said, "You take care of your mom, okay? You too... Goldheart right?"
"Yeah, that's his name!" Goten said as he tried to grin. "He's the best."
"I know." Gohan winked as he patted the dog. He got up and vanished in a bright flash of light.
"Well... that was interesting, let's go." Bulma said as she rubbed her head.
*****
Kyuushi meditated as usual as she watched the figures lie in bed. Her long wings twitched with anxiety as she watched the three glow and transform. She couldn't see beyond the strange cocoons that housed her friends. The cocoons each had a different color. Trey's had silver with streaks of black, Gohan's was red and Videl's was blue. It had been a week and so far no change, no indication that they would ever get out of their slumber. She began to worry; what if they never woke up? What if she had brought about their very doom? The angel shook her head and muttered, "I've been hanging around these mortals way too long."
She got up and gently placed her hand on Trey's cocoon. How much will they remember? Slowly, a bright light came out of the three cocoons.
Kyuushi backed away and the three cocoons floated out of the beds and stood straight up. The cocoons broke away into little pieces of light and vanished. Three figures came out and collapsed onto the floor.
Kyuushi quickly went to a man with long silver hair with black streaks in it that was tied up in a ponytail. He was dressed in an black and white samarai warrior's outfit. His long silver wings hung on his back as he breathed deeply. "Yinyo!" She exclaimed as she helped him up.
Yinyo blinked several times as he held on. "Kyuushi, is that you?"
"Yeah... it's me." Kyuushi gently placed the warrior into the bed. "Hang on." She quickly went to the second warrior. The woman had long black hair with bright blue streaks, a blue crown on her head, a short white dress with black shoulder pads, and her gauntlet covered her entire forearm. "Aphradite?"
Aphradite nodded as she rubbed her eyes. "Why can't I see, Kyuushi?"
"You're recovering, relax. I'll get Gorgandus." Kyuushi said as she helped Aphradite to her bed.
Finally, she went up to a tall figure. He was dressed in a red jacket, red pants, with a long red tail behind him and a pair of red wings on his back. "My eyes..." He muttered as Kyuushi helped him to his bed. "Kyuushi, everything is so clear in my mind... I'm Gorgandus."
"I know. Relax, Gorgandus." Kyuushi whispered as the warrior lay in his bed. "Rest, all of you, you went through the hardest part. Now regain your strength and your sight. I'll wait for you."
"Thank you Kyuushi, you are a strong angel." Yinyo smiled blindly at her.
*****
Lunch peeked around the corner nervously. She had always been timid before, but now she was petrified. It had been two hours since Lazarus attacked her and everyone moved to the Capsule Corps. Now she accept it. Her alter ego and the sister she never wanted was gone forever. Dr. Briefs confirmed it and now she was scared. Launch had always protected her when she was in trouble. Before when she's in danger, she could just sneeze and wake up somewhere safe. Of course other times, she would wake up in a middle of a car chase but that rarely happened.
She slowly went to the living room and sighed in relief as she sat down. "I feel so alone." Lunch moaned as she buried her head in her hands. There was a faint pressure from her knee. She looked down to see Goldheart with his head on her knee. "Hello, boy." Lunch cooed as she pet the dog. "I'm so scared. Launch is gone. I can sneeze until my nose falls off and I can't bring her back."
Lunch sighed as she looked up. "You know... I hated Launch. She's rude, slept with strange men, drank all the time and robbed places I don't even want to know about. She always got me into trouble. So many times, I wished that she was gone so I would know what was going on all the time but now... I want her back. I feel so alone and... naked without her. Who will protect me?"
"You're safe." Lunch and Goldheart looked up to Bulma coming up to them. The woman smiled slightly as she sat next to her. "Look, you are in one of the most highly-secured complexes in the world surrounded by the most powerful warriors in the Universe. You're as safe as you can be."
"I feel... strange." Lunch said as she shook her head. "Like... there's a hole in me. I'm scared. I want Launch back."
"I know... I know... we all miss Launch." Bulma said as she put a friendly arm around Lunch's shoulders. "We'll find a way to bring back Launch. I promise."
"What can I do till then?" Lunch said as she held herself and leaned next to Bulma. "Can Tien love half a woman?"
"I'm sure he's taking this just fine." Bulma said as she chuckled.
"Personally I think you had better stop your weeping and deal with it. No warrior would stand to have a weeping girl like yourself as a wife." Vegita said as he came in wearing his usual boots, biker shorts, gloves, and towel around his neck.
Lunch stared at him and sobbed.
Bulma and Goldheart glared at the Saiyan. "Shut up." Bulma said as she held up her Saiyanball and pressed the button.
"HEY!" Vegita protested as he vanished in a bright red light.
"I love this invention." Bulma sighed as she held the ball in her hand. It wiggled and beeped in protest and Bulma ordered, "Calm down or I'll have Goldheart play fetch with you while in the ball!"
The ball stopped wiggling and then let out a loud beep before shutting down.
"Good." Bulma patted the ball and put it into her pocket. "Anyway, I've known Tien for a long time and he loves you."
"He also loves Launch." Lunch sighed.
"Maybe you can take some self-defense lessons or carry a weapon with you." Chi Chi suggested as she came in.
Lunch looked up and scream in fear at the sight of the sight of a floating trench coat. Then she remembered about Chi Chi's condition. "Chi Chi?"
"Yes. Why do you have to keep on screaming like that every time you see me?" Chi Chi asked, sounding irritated as she put her hands on her hips.
"I... I just can't see you." Lunch confessed.
Bulma frowned and asked, "Chi Chi, why aren't you wearing your bandages? Can you imagine how someone else would freak if they see... eh... not really see you?!"
"What are you talking about? I am wearing my bandages." Chi Chi said as she gestured to her face.
Goldheart tilted his head as he stared upward and then his eyes widened as he got up and ran out of the room. Chi Chi saw this and wondered what would scare Goku.
"Chi Chi... I don't see any bandages." Lunch pointed out.
Bulma's jaw dropped as gears in her brain started to work overtime. She knew that Chi Chi wouldn't lie about something like that and she was just as concerned about her invisibility as everyone else.
Goldheart came back in with a mirror in his mouth. He lay it down onto the floor and barked.
Chi Chi quickly picked up the mirror and gazed into it. She gasped as she saw nothing in it. She dropped the mirror and reached up to her face. Slowly bandages appeared out of thin air and unraveled into her hand.
Bulma and everyone else stared at the invisible woman and Bulma finally said, "Chi Chi, we better go and have my dad check you."
"Yeah." Chi Chi nodded as she fought the urge to faint.
******
Gorgandus stared up into the ceiling as he lie in his bed. His sight and strength had returned but he still felt strange. He still remembered his life as Gohan but it felt like a different life. The people he remembered as Gohan still meant so much to him, and yet they seemed less evolved than before.
"Yes, it is strange." Yinyo said from his bed. He smiled as he got out and went up to Gorgandus who finally got up. "I felt the same way, especially after Trey's transformation into Triforce."
"Yes, I am remembering things that happened before Earth was even created." Gorgandus realized as he stood up and stretched his metal wings. "Gohan thought that he would change forever and he may have been right."
"Gohan still exists. Nothing, not even over an eternity of old memories can wipe out those mere years of mortal life away. The power of the mortal soul is that great." Yinyo said as he closed his three eyes.
Gorgandus nodded as he patted the angel on the back. "You have always been the wiser one. I may know everything but you are still wiser than me."
"I am the Angel of Balance and Unity." Yinyo reminded as he smiled slightly.
"The Zen Angel." Aphradite said as she came up. She gazed at Gorgandus and Yinyo. "Oh my... how long has it been since we were like this? In our true forms after all this eternity?"
"It felt like forever." Gorgandus said as he took Aphradite's hand and held it. "My stomach is turning. My heart is pounding at the sight of you, even your very touch feels like fire."
"I feel the same way." Aphradite whispered as she blushed. "I felt this way before the fall, but it's more intense now."
"It's your mortal selves amplifying the emotions." Kaioshin said as he, Kiboto, and Kyuushi entered the room. Immediately, Gorgandus, Aphradite, and Yinyo knelt down into one knee and bowed their heads down.
"Lord Kaioshin." Gorgandus said as he looked down. "I am sorry for failing to protect your fellow Kaioshins."
"You have done your best." Kaioshin said as he put his hand on Gorgandus' shoulder. "You sacrificed your lives to stop Lazarus and that is noble."
"But Lazarus has returned and is far stronger than before." Aphradite said as she shook with rage. "That monster."
"We have defeated him before, we can do it again." Yinyo said, "We have more allies now and we have experience."
"Stand." Kaioshin ordered and the three angels stood up. "How do you feel?"
"I still feel strange." Gorgandus confessed, "I am still adjusting to my new power."
"I feel the same way." Aphradite whispered as she looked around. "I can feel the Multiverse and all of my counterparts. I can feel their anger, sorrow, fear, love... I can feel them all."
"We will get better after a few days." Yinyo figured and then stared at Kyuushi. "You have grown greatly while we were gone."
Kyuushi looked down and blushed slightly. "I am grateful you noticed. I have been training for the day when Lazarus returned." She looked up and gained a serious expression on her face. "Now we must prepare." She extended her hand and said, "Staff of Power come to me." A bright red staff appeared in her hands and she gave the staff to Gorgandus. "Your staff. It had served well but it needs its old master."
Gorgandus accepted the staff and it glowed with a bright red light. "Thank you, Kyuushi. It feels so good to have my trusted staff again."
Kyuushi took out a long katana from her belt and gave it to Yinyo. "Here is one of your twin blades. The other one was shattered in the battle."
Yinyo accepted the blade and said, "That is all right. Just give me the shards and the Blade of Healing can restore its sister."
"Kyuushi, where is the ring that goes with the gauntlet?" Aphradite asked as she stared at her gauntlet.
"The weapons' remains are this way." Kiboto said as he, Kaioshin, and the angels walked out of the room. The group walked down the hall and stared at the various decorations.
"You changed the place while we were gone." Gorgandus commented as he looked around.
"Yes, it had gotten somewhat painful to see some of the old Kaioshins' stuff around so we packed it up." Kyuushi explained as they reached a huge door with a pair of giant golden wings on it with a pair of gold angel wing handles. "Here it is." She opened the doors and the group walked in.
The room was dusty and had only three small chests in it. One had a picture of a cross on it. The second one had a heart on it. And the third had a black circle. "The three chests." Aphradite said as she went to the one with the heart and opened the chest. She got out a small ring and put it over her gauntlet. It glowed brightly and fused with gauntlet. A bright blue stone appeared ontop of her hand. "Yes, I can feel it. It's complete after all this time."
Yinyo went to the chest wtih the black circle and opened it. There were black metal shards with a silver handle at the side. "My blade." He took out the silver handle and held it against his Blade of Healing. "Sacred Blade of Healing, heal your sister and make her strong to fight along side you." The silver blade glowed as the black shards floated up to the silver handle and attached themselves to it. The shards fused together and glowed. "They have been reunited after eternity."
"My turn." Kyuushi opened the chest with the cross and took out a pair of broken blades that were black with gold triangles on them. "My Chakaram of Death." She shivered slightly as she remembered her old weapon.
**Flashback**
Lightning flashed against the red sky as the Angel of Death and the Angel of Life fought. Kyuushi held up her chakaram and flung it at the angel. Lazarus screamed as he lashed his sword and slashed the chakaram in two. Kyuushi's jaw dropped as she watched her weapon fall to the ground in two peices.
"I am far stronger than you, Little Angel of Death." Lazarus laughed.
**End Flashback**
"I will heal your blade." Yinyo said as he touched his Blade of Healing onto one of the broken shards. "Sacred Blade of Healing, heal your cousin the Chakaram of Death."
The broken shards glowed and refused into one whole weapon again. "Thank you." Kyuushi said as she held her chakram and then place it on her right forearm. "Chakaram, shield." The weapon glowed and tranformed into black shield with a sharp blade on the edge. "Thank you, Yinyo."
"You're welcome." Yinyo nodded and smiled, "It feels good to use my powers again." Suddenly, his wings twitched and he held his head. "My head." A bright glow overwhelmed him and his clothes and hair changed.
Trey appeared and looked around. "Oh man... that was weird, even for me."
"You changed back." Aphradite realized in shock. "How?"
"Simple, the powerup must've provided the mortals with their angel counterparts as split personalities." Gorgandus figured, "If we use too much of our power, we lose our forms and revert to our mortal identities."
"Great, just what I needed, another personality." Trey sighed as he held his head. "Oh man, Mom and Mother will freak."
Gorgandus's jaw dropped as his metal wings rose up and sparked. "I... can receive information about anything I need to know." Goragndus realized as he looked around. "By the creator... Dad..." Gorgandus reverted to Gohan.
Gohan glared at Kyuushi and screamed, "WHY DID YOU TURN MY DAD INTO A DOG?!"
"It's for his own good. Lazarus can use him against us, you know that." Kyuushi said.
"Wait... back up... Goku is back as a dog?" Aphradite asked as a blue glow overcame her body and Videl reappeared.
"This is overwhelming." Videl confessed as she looked down at her gauntlet. "Wait... don't tell me that Goldheart is..."
"Goldheart's Goku?!" Trey realized in pure shock as his jaw dropped.
"All this time." Gohan said as he sat down and ran his hand through his hair. "Goldheart was so kind and was always around when I need him. He even helped me go to sleep before that major battle with Kyuushi, why didn't I see it before? I'm a smart guy and I know my dad. Why didn't I put the peices together?"
"Kyuushi and I created a special aura around Goku so it's less likely for mortals to put the pieces together." Kaioshin explained, "Unfortunately, if it's too obvious the mortals would know."
"I know. I can't believe the things I learned as Gorgandus. It's like this entire adventure, this multiverse is like an epic tale and I can read any part I like." Gohan said and then he looked down. "Trey, your mom is in trouble. Lazarus killed Launch."
"What?!" Trey exclaimed, "Lazarus killed Mom?!"
"He didn't kill both of them." Gohan said, "He somehow managed to split Launch away from Lunch and took her away. Lunch is fine physically. That's not all that bastard did... he turned Mom invisible and tried to absorb Vegita. He's after Dad. I'm going to get that traitor."
"Me too." Videl vowed as she stood up. "He didn't get my mother or any of my family right?"
"I don't know what he did to Hercule but your mom and uncle are okay. They're living at the Capsule Corps just in case so they should be fine." Gohan said as he held his head. "We have to get there. I have to be there for my family!"
"You already did." A familiar man said as he entered the room.
"Gohan." Kaioshin said as he bowed his head, "You received my page?"
"Yes." The Supreme Kai in training replied as he nodded. "Gohan, Trey, Videl, I understand how much you wish to go to your families, especially you Gohan, but you have to train."
"My mom's invisible, my dad's a dog, and Trey's mom no longer has a split personality! Okay, maybe the last one doesn't sound so bad... but you can't expect us to just train while our families are in trouble!" Gohan screamed as he went super saiyan. "You are me! You know that I can't just stand to the side and watch all this!"
"I know." The Long Haired Gohan said as he put his hand on his younger counterpart's shoulder. "But you three have a destiny. You three are the reincarnated Fallen Angels and only you and Kyuushi have a prayer in stopping Lazarus. The other mortals will help out, but when things get critical, only you four can change the odds. You have to train with the new angel forms in this plain of existance. Right now you can barely hold onto that form, but if you work on it you can hold it longer and it will help you and your family."
"It's not fair." Gohan said as he looked down and clenched his fists. Tears came down his face as he went onto his knees. Trey and Videl looked down as well as they tried to figure out what to do next.
"Life is never fair." Kaioshin said, "I learned that a long time ago. You three can go back only after you master your angel forms."
"Then we train." Trey said as he glared up. "If we defeat Lazarus, we can find a way to get my mothers and Gohan's parents back to normal."
"We have no choice." Gohan said as he wiped his face. "Let's do it."
"Where you will be, so will I. I'm staying and train too." Videl said as she took Gohan's hand.
"I know you will do it." The Long Haired Gohan said as he crossed his arms.
"But the second we are ready to take on Lazarus, we're going home!" Videl pointed out, "Not a millisecond longer. Got it?"
The Long Haired Gohan gulped as he stepped back. This version of Videl was just as willfull as his own wife. "Yes, Ma'am!"
*****
"Well... no doubt about it." Dr. Briefs said as he looked at the printout. "Your invisbility aura has gotten stronger."
"But why?" Chi Chi asked as she slipped her dress back on. While she knew that no one can see her nude form, she still felt the need to wear some clothes. The dress vanished from sight and Goldheart whined slightly.
"Perhaps, the exposure to Lazarus had boosted the effects of the spell." Dr. Briefs commented, "Or maybe it was the type of spell that gradually grows stronger on it's own. I wish I can help you more but magic isn't my specalty."
"That's okay. I'll talk with Baba or maybe Piccolo, they may know something." Chi Chi said as she stood up. "I need to lie down. Come on, Goldheart." Chi Chi walked out and Goldheart walked beside her as she walked away.
Goku looked up at where he can hear his wife's heartbeat. It was strange, even for him, to not see Chi Chi but know she was there. Before her clothes were visible and showed signs that she was there. Now, the only way that he knows that she was even in front of him is by scent, hearing, Ki, and the ocassional moving of objects.
"Oh... Goldheart.... what will I do? How can I be a good mother to Goten if he can't see me?" Chi Chi asked as she entered her room and closed the door.
**I'm sure Goten can cope.** Goku thought out. **Chi Chi, I've been thinking about the invisibility thing myself and... I didn't want to risk using telepathy around other people.**
Chi Chi sat down on the bed and Goku lay his head on her lap. "What is it?"
Goku sighed as he closed his eyes. **Well... my exposure to Lazarus weakened the spell containing my Ki abilites. Kyuushi and Lazarus both have unique auras that seem to affect everything around them. What if Lazarus' aura boosted your invisibility on purpose? Like... to show you that he can't be defeated. These super villains like to do that.**
"So... Lazarus is causing us pain just to show off?!" Chi Chi wailed.
**And... maybe to convince the others who know where I am to... expose me.** Goku looked down. **Lazarus is doing this just to get to me.** He got up and said, **Look, I'll be right back... um... go to the bathroom.**
"Okay... I need to take a nap anyway." Chi Chi yawned opened the door, lie down in her bed and fell asleep.
Goku sighed as he watched the sheets moved up and then back down revealing a feminine figure. **Oh Chi Chi...** Goku thought sadly as he walked through the door and went down the hallway. His heart ached at the thought of Lunch and Chi Chi suffering thanks to him. Chi Chi was his wife and didn't deserve to not be able to look herself in the mirror and Lunch had taken good care of him back when he was training with Master Roshi. She even helped him get stronger by shooting him constantly as Launch. Now, both were suffering just because Lazarus wanted him. **It's not fair... why should they go through this just because of me?** He thought as he wandered into one of the biodomes and lay in the soft grass.
"I can't believe Lazarus did this!" Goten wailed as he held his head. Goku's ears perked up as he lifted his head to see Goten sitting on the log with Trunks. "Now I can't see Mommy at all!" Goku silently watched from the bushes, wondering how to comfort his son.
"Relax, Goten... just pretend that she's dead, like a ghost."
"A ghost?" Goten repeated.
**Dead?!** Goku thought.
"Yeah... I mean... people die and come back all the time. We just pretend that Chi Chi's a ghost. There's not that much of a difference." Trunks logically said.
Goku sighed as he hung his head. Trunks was logical but very blunt. He obviously took it from both parents, but how could he pretend that Chi Chi was dead? He had been dead twice and it wasn't like being invisible. Still, Trunks was entitled to his own opinion, no matter how cruel it may sound.
"I can't! Mommy's not dead! She's just invisible!" Goten screamed as he powered up and flew out.
"Oh boy..." Trunks moaned as he rubbed his head.
Goku got up and silently walked out of the other door. After he went into the hallway, he collapsed onto the floor and closed his eyes. What should he do? He wanted to do what's right, but what was right? Should he sacrifice himself so Lunch could be whole and Chi Chi could be seen? But if he did, Lazarus will use him for some evil purpose and Gohan and the others wouldn't have a prayer. He needed someone to talk to but who can he talk to without drawing attention?
"Hello, doggie!" Mrs. Briefs said as she came up. "You look all sad, is something wrong?"
Goku looked up and thought quietly, **This isn't what I was hoping for.**
"How about a treat?" Mrs. Briefs asked as she held out a doggie treat.
**I don't want a treat! I want my wife back to normal.** Goku growled slightly and then sighed. **Oh well...** Goku thought as he accepted the treat.
"Good doggie! Oh! My husband has a surprise for you!" Mrs. Briefs said as she patted Goku on the head and walked away singing.
Goku tilted his head curiously as Mrs. Briefs returned with a metallic cat in her arms. It was gold with bright eyes and seemed to have a strange aura around it. "This is Firestorm... she's a metal cat and your new companion." Firestorm jumped out of her arms and stared at Goku. It purred in a mechanical way and rubbed its head under Goku's chin.
Goku backed away and stared at the cat. Why did this mechanical cat make him feel nervous?
"Isn't she adorable. Ta ta." Mrs. Briefs walked away, whistling.
Goku and Firestorm stared at each other. Finally, a female voice entered Goku's head and said, **Don't think about turning yourself over to Lazarus.**
Goku looked around wildly and then looked at Firestorm. She was staring at him with those golden eyes of hers as he sensed a great presence near him. **Are you talking to me?**
**Who else am I talking to?** The cat almost purred as she lay down. **And if you must know, my real name is Octavia.**
**I'm Goku.** Goku nodded at the cat as he lay beside her. **What are you doing here?**
The cat seemed to shrug and replied, **I'm here to make sure you don't anything stupid like surrending to that angel.**
**But... I can't watch Chi Chi and Lunch suffer just because of me. I mean... Lunch is half herself, Chi Chi's invisible, and I bet that Lazarus made Hercule into a self-conceited jerk.** Goku thought.
**Actually, Hercule is already a self-conceited jerk. Lazarus just exploited Hercule's stupidity but that's a different story.** Octavia said, **Anyway, are you aware of what would happen if Lazarus gets his way? He will rid the entire multiverse of free will and cause every warrior, every living being, to lose their will to fight. Yeah, it sounds nice but it's so boring! Life is about getting messy, taking risks, and pain. Without pain or risks what's life?**
**I guess... but, the others are suffering because of me.** Goku looked down with great guilt in his green eyes.
Octavia placed her small paw on Goku's back. **Chi Chi's a powerful warrior and Lunch is strong in her own way. They will endure. I know Chi Chi very well.** Octavia sighed as she gazed up.
**How do you know her?**
**I'm her mother.** Octavia said as she smirked slightly.
Goku fell over and then stared at the cat. He had heard of cyborgs giving birth to babies and coming back from the dead several times but he could never figure out how a mechanical cat who was just created be Chi Chi's mother. **MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS A MECHANICAL CAT?!**
**I'm not really a mechanical cat, I'm using this as a vessel to communicate with you. I'm really one of the Supreme Kai's messangers, but since everyone's so busy preparing for Lazarus, I've been given a duty to keep an eye on things. Gohan, the one who's training for Kaioshin's job, told me about this.** Octavia said as she smirked. **Don't look so shocked. After all, how do you think I feel knowing that my son-in-law is a dog?**
**Oh...** Goku said as he stared at the cat. **Well... it's an honor meeting Chi Chi's mom! Wow... I didn't know that her mother works for Kaioshin!**
**Well... it's either that or keeping the minor demons from escaping hell. I never liked hot weather. I could just do nothing but I can't stand that... besides, Chi Chi needs me.**
**Okay, want me to show you to her room?** Goku offered as he tilted his head toward the hallway.
**No need... I can sense my daughter anywhere.** Octavia said as she looked around. She walked down the hall and Goku followed.
**So... Octavia, how did you end up working for Kaioshin?** Goku asked.
**Oh, it's a long story.** Octavia said as she and Goku went up to the door. Goku growled as he glared up at the closed door.
**Oh man... the door's closed. I can't open it.** Goku sighed as he barked out loud.
The door opened and Goten was there. "Hey, eh... Goldheart!" Goten said as he looked around and whispered, "Mommy's okay now... but she seems real sad."
Goku nodded as he licked Goten's face and entered the room with Octavia by his side. **Chi Chi?** Goku thought out to his wife who was laying in her bed.
"Oh... Goku..." Chi Chi sighed, "Are you okay?"
**I am now.** Goku said as he looked at Octavia.
**Don't tell her. She's stressed out enough as it is. Besides, she doesn't remember me.** Octavia said with a note of sadness.
Goku understood fully. Goten did't remember him since he was dead when he was born. He was scared of what Goten would think of him if they ever reunite.
"Good... what's this?" Chi Chi asked as she pet the golden mechanical cat.
**This is... Firestorm, she's this mechanical cat Dr. Briefs invented for me.** Goku introduced.
"Firestorm huh?" Chi Chi smiled slightly invisible as she rose her hand up. Octavia let herself purr and rubbed herself against Chi Chi's leg. "You can see me?"
"I made her that way." Dr. Briefs said as he came in. "I had motion sensors, heat sensors, special Ki detection devices, and normal optical sensors so she can detect anyone, including you."
"She's so precious." Chi Chi smiled softly. "Thank you, Dr. Briefs."
"Anything to help out." Dr. Briefs said.
"But... why a cat?" Chi Chi asked, "I mean... aren't you afraid that Goldheart may chase her or even try to fight her?"
"Well... I trust Goldheart... he's not like most dogs I had seen before. I thought that a nice docile cat that can detect you is something that you may need." Dr. Briefs said, "Besides, it just seems right."
"She's so cute." Chi Chi said as she pet the cat again. Goku stared at them. He wondered if Chi Chi had any idea that she was holding her own mother. Chi Chi did sense him; is it possible that she could sense Octavia? She looked down at Goku and asked, "Are you okay?"
"He's probably jealous of the cat since she's the latest pet." Dr. Briefs figured.
Goku glared at the doctor and thought, **I'm not jealous.**
**Not even a little?** Octavia chuckled as she purred.
Goku sighed as he stared at the lap. It was so comfortable but he was far too large to sit in her lap so he had to just cope with just his head in her lap. **Okay... maybe I'd like to fit on her lap...** Goku said as he stared up. **Oh well.** He jumped onto the bed and lay down.
*****
Lunch sighed as she wandered the dark halls. The complex was huge and it seemed to twist and wind into all sorts of places. "Hey, Lunch." Tien said as he came out of the shadows. "You okay?"
"I'm lost." Lunch whimpered as she looked down. "Launch would have found her room by now."
Tien nodded as he came up and hugged her. "It's okay. I'm sure that we will find a way to bring back Launch. I won't leave you. We can just go to bed and think more about this tomorrow. I think this is our room." Tien turned the knob and the two walked in.
"Hey!"
Tien and Lunch blushed as they heard Yamcha's voice. "Sorry, Yamcha, I think you're in my room."
"No, it's my room... I used this room before." Yamcha protested.
"What is going on?"
Tien and Lunch blinked as they heard Bardock's voice. "Bardock?!" Tien asked as he turned on the lights and saw Bardock and Yamcha lying in the same bed covered only by a pair of blankets.
"EEEEKKK!!!" Lunch screamed at the top of her lungs before fainting.
"What is going on?" Bulma demanded as she and Vegita raced into the room. "Did Lazarus-" She stopped as she saw Yamcha and Bardock in the bed blushing slightly. "YAMCHA?! BARDOCK?!"
"Bulma, I can explain." Yamcha said as he covered himself.
"Uh... uh..." Bulma stood there shocked.
"Well... you two finally did it. How long?" Vegita asked as he crossed his arms.
"YOU KNEW?!" Bulma screeched.
"Of course I knew... Saiyan men getting together with other men aren't that rare." Vegita replied as he smirked.
"And you didn't tell me."
"It was none of your concern."
Bulma scowled as she took out a Saiyaball and pressed the button. Vegita scowled as he vanished in a bright red light. "Okay... I'm going to bed and we can talk about this... in the morning." Bulma said as she walked out.
"Yamcha... I had no idea..." Tien said stunned beyond belief as he picked up Lunch.
"Yeah... it was a shock for us too." Yamcha said as he looked down. "Can you not tell the others about us? I mean... I don't want to know how Chi Chi and her family would react."
"Yeah... I bet Chi Chi would be stunned to find out that her father-in-law and Yamcha are a couple." Tien said as he tried to remain calm. "Okay, we won't say a word... Bulma's smart, she won't say anything either... night."
"Goodnight. I'm sorry for the shock." Bardock finally said.
"That's okay... I'm used to it." Tien said as he carried Lunch out.
As the stunned couple walked out, Octavia came out of the shadows and thought, **Bardock and Yamcha... that's an odd couple... even for a Saiyan.**
To Be Continued...
Normal Friends from Strange Places
Chapter 21
By Maria Cline
He can hear her scream and then a mirror broke in his mind. "NOOO!!!" Bardock screamed as he went to his knees.
"Bardock! What's wrong?" Yamcha asked, concerned as he ran up to the Saiyan and knelt by his side.
"I... felt... a soul being ripped apart! I saw her very soul divided in two!" Bardock said as his body shook. He stared up at Tien with a look of fear. Tien shivered at the thought of any Saiyan showing fear. "Go to your wife, she needs you." Bardock advised.
"I have to go!" Tien exclaimed as he flew up.
"Wait! Let me give you a lift!" Luna said and a huge white portal opened. "This way!" She pointed into the portal.
"Let's go!" Tien boomed as he flew through the portal.
"Wait for us!" Yamcha cried out as he ran through the portal. Vegita, Piccolo, Bardock, Goten, and Trunks ran in as well.
"I'm coming too." Chi Chi said as she ran through the portal.
Bulma turned around to see Goldheart running and she screamed, "Stay!"
Goldheart paused and stared up at her.
"You. Stay. Right. Here." Bulma said as she stared down at the dog. Luna looked at her oddly and Bulma explained, "He's just a dog. He'll only get killed." She ran into the portal.
Goku growled slightly as he ran after her. Alice, the singers, and Luna sighed as they walked in after them.
*****
Choutsu sensed Tien from his training area in the mountains. "Tien!" Choutsu exclaimed as he followed his friend's Ki toward the house.
*****
Tien landed at his backyard where he saw Lunch lying on the her stomach with her blue hair spread out. "Lunch!" Tien exclaimed as he picked up his wife and checked her pulse.
The others appeared at the house and Tien sighed in relief. "She's alive."
"Tien?" Lunch whispered as she opened her eyes. "What happened?"
"It's okay... you're safe... do you remember anything?" Tien whispered tenderly.
"No... the last thing that happened was I was cooking in the kitchen and I sneezed." Lunch whispered as she got up. She held her head. "I feel a little woozy."
"Sit down." Chi Chi said as she looked around. "Maybe Launch knows what happened."
"Here, have some pepper." Bulma offered as she reached into her purse and got out a pepper shaker she always carried in case Lunch or Trey need to sneeze.
"Thanks." Lunch said as Bulma gently shook pepper in front of her face. She let herself sneeze and the group watched. Lunch opened her eyes and asked, "Didn't I change?"
"No... you... just stayed the same!" Tien exclaimed in both shock and joy. For as long as he'd known his wife he always wished that she would have more control over herself; and now his wish had been granted and without the Dragon Balls.
"Oh my Dende..." Lunch whispered as she held her head. "How did that happen?"
"I did it." A smooth voice said and everyone looked up to see a blond man in a white suit and a pair of glowing white wings. "Hello, I am Lazarus, the Angel of Life."
At once, everyone went into defensive positions. "What did you do to Lunch?" Tien demanded as he powered up.
"I did your wife a favor, Lunch, as you call her. I... simply cured her sneezing problem; Launch is gone forever." Lazarus explained as he held up a black sphere. "You are siding with the wrong angel. I am life and she is death."
"Yeah... but you're the one who killed off your fellow angels and the Kaioshins!" Luna screamed as she powered up and Lazarus grunted as he felt the gravity around him increasing.
"Foolish little girl. I am far more powerful than your mistress." Lazarus laughed as he flung his wings back and bright blasts struck the girl. Luna fell to the ground and held her side.
"You're mean!" Luna growled.
"Hey, leave the moon angel alone!" Alice boomed as she, Diva, and Pop Star walked in front of Luna.
"I'm not mean... nor am I a villain." Lazarus explained as he helped Luna up. "I want only what's best for you mortals."
"So... you kill off a group of Angels who are like family to you, stole all of the dead Saiyans' souls, turned Chi Chi invisible when she refused to give you Goku, and now manipulated Lunch's very soul so Launch would be dead?" Piccolo guessed as he crossed his arms. "Look, I was a god myself and I know that doesn't sound so... mortal friendly."
"You don't see the greater picture, not even with your godly experience. Gods... they are a mere step higher than mortals... the other angels are being corrupted by them. I have seen the inventors of the very concepts of the Universe bowing down to mere gods!" Lazarus said as his eyes turned red. "I am the only one who sees that the very universe must be rewritten! The souls must be redone the right way!" He gestured toward Lunch. "This poor girl and others like her face every day fighting their inner demons... I just want to give them peace."
"So... you alter their very souls?" Chi Chi asked, "That's not right!"
"For mortals, but I am beyond mortals... I am god." Lazarus said as his wings spread out. "Now... your lives mean nothing to me... I just wish to get the one you called 'Goku'. I can restore everything back to normal once I have him."
"Why do you want Goku?" Krillian asked, "And why are you asking us? You're an angel, you've got godly powers."
"True... but Kyuushi and that Kaioshin have shielded Goku from my power. I do know that you mortals are sentimental and would figure it out eventually." Lazarus explained as he smirked. "Or... when enough people he care about is in danger... Goku will show himself." He rose his ringed hand at Vegita. "Like an old arch rival." His ring glowed and Vegita's skin paled as he felt soul being ripped out of his body.
"No!" Bardock screamed as he struggled to move. "Damn it! I can't move!"
The others gasped as they tried to move their feet only to realize that their soles are glued to the ground. Goku lifted up his front paw easily.
"Only Goku can prevent this." Lazarus said as he smirked.
Goku quickly put his paw back down and growled. **Damn it, what should I do? I have to save Vegita, but I can't expose myself.** Goku decided as he barked loudly.
"What makes you think that Goku is even aware of what's going on?" Bulma demanded as she pulled at her feet.
"Because I know Kyuushi and Kaioshin... I was like an older brother to her, a role model. I know how she thinks. Goku is here, or at least knows what is going on." Lazarus said as he smirked and focused harder. "Even if this plan fails, I will still get a nice Saiyan soul for my collection."
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" A familiar voice boomed as a small sphere struck Vegita and the Saiyan vanished in a flash of light. A small ball landed on the ground, it was gold and red with a 'V' on it. The ball wobbled and then a light lit up.
Lazarus sighed as he and everyone else looked up to see a long haired man hovering overhead. "You are becoming an annoyance." Lazarus said as he released his hold.
Goku stared at the man and started growling. The man picked up the strange ball and held out his other hand toward the dog. "Relax, I'm not Radditz."
Goku sniffed the hand and his eyes widened. His eyes told him that it was Radditz but his scent was wrong. **Gohan?**
"Gohan! You saved Vegita!" Bulma gushed with pure joy.
"Oh my! That Gohan looks so... hunky!" Lunch said as she blushed slighty.
Gohan simply nodded and then went into fighter's position. "Okay, Lazarus, you have me to deal with."
"Oh please... you are a mere mortal training to be a god. I am a god." Lazarus laughed as he flew up. "Tell your angel friends that our next battle will be at the place where a demon and a mere mortal fought and the mortal won. I want those mortals to see who their new god will be." The angel vanished in bright blue sparkles.
"Are we safe?" Krillian asked nervously to Gohan. The others stared at the warrior and the warrior finally nodded.
"For now." Gohan said as he clicked on the button and the ball opened up letting out a bright red light.
Vegita looked around and then glared at Gohan. "If you do that again... I will break your neck!"
"You're welcome, Vegita." Gohan chuckled as he tossed the ball to Bulma. "Here, this will keep Vegita safe from that ring... just press the button and he will be zapped into the ball."
"What is this?" Bulma asked as she looked at the ball with great interest.
"I call it the... Saiyaball. It has the ability to lock onto the Saiyan's unique cell structure and turn it into energy and store it for infinte periods of time. It only opens and recalls for Humans and those with Human blood." Gohan explained.
"Really?" Yamcha said as he took the ball from Bulma and pressed the button. "Vegita! Return!" He proclaimed as Vegita turned into a bright red light and zapped back into the ball. "Heh heh."
"Yamcha!" Bulma scowled as she snatched back the ball. "I wanted to try the Saiyaball first!" She pressed the button and Vegita appeared in a red flash of light.
Gohan quickly grabbed Vegita before he could strangle Yamcha. "Let me go! I want to kill that pathetic weakling!"
"Hey! Don't kill my Yamcha!" Bardock said as he flung himself infront of the Human.
At once there was silence as the group stared at Yamcha and Bardock. Yamcha slapped his face as he moaned, "Don't say it like that."
"Don't worry... I've known you for a long time." Bulma said as she came up to Bardock and slung an arm around his shoulders. "Bardock and Goku are so alike sometimes and not just in face. Bardock, here on Earth, when we call someone who's not a relative 'mine' we indicate that we are close to that person."
"But, I am close to Yamcha." Bardock said, confused.
"I mean... together. Together." Yamcha said as he gestured while blushing.
Bardock pondered and then he nodded. "Oh... that together."
"Thanks a lot, you just gave me an image that I want to wash out of my mind." Piccolo grunted as he blushed slightly at the image of Yamcha and Bardock kissing. "Look, we have more important matters to deal with. Like an insane angel who's interested in taking over the Universe and getting Goku and had somehow separated Lunch and Launch."
"Right." Bulma nodded as she went into charge mode. "Okay, everyone here is going to move to Capsule Corps. Tien, Lunch, you two will have to move in with us. Krillian, get your family, Master Roshi, and even Turtle there too. We have to stop these ambushes."
"And bringing us all together can do that?" Tien said skeptically, "Why don't we just go to the Lookout?"
"Because Lazarus can go to the Lookout as easilly as to Capsule Corps." Bulma pointed out, "Also the Lookout is way too small... it doesn't have the resources needed to sustain this many people."
"She's right." Piccolo agreed, "The Lookout was meant to only handle a few people at a time."
"We better get Videl's mom and her uncle Eighter to the Corps too... Lazarus has his claws in Hercule, he may go for Suno and Eighter." Chi Chi suggested.
"Yeah... I'll get her." Piccolo said.
"So... will you be staying with us too?" Yamcha asked Gohan, "I mean... we can't have too many Gohans!"
"I'm sorry, but my duty is to the entire multiverse." Gohan replied regretfully. "There are other worlds that need me. Sorry."
"It's okay." Chi Chi smiled slightly, "It's good to see you again, Gohan. Ummm... do you know if my Gohan is okay or not?"
Gohan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I don't know his fate yet. I do have faith in his abilities and stength, and I don't mean Ki level. Those three have a great deal of heart and strong will. Regaining lost memories will be trying but I believe that they will be fine, especially your Gohan. I will keep an eye on them... after all, your Gohan is me... kinda."
Chi Chi smiled slightly as she removed her scarf and gently kissed Gohan on the cheek. "Thank you."
Gohan's jaw dropped as he saw empty air where there should be a face. He knew about this version of Goku's fate but he had no idea of this version of Chi Chi's condition. "Mom?"
Chi Chi gasped as she quickly pulled her scarf back over her face. "I forgot. Lazarus did this to me when I refused to give Goku up."
Gohan just wrapped his arms around the woman and said, "It's okay... I'm sorry for acting scared. I've seen worse... believe me. It's okay."
"It's... just that I'm worried about how Gohan may think when he sees me like this!" Chi Chi wailed.
"Look, I'm an alternate version of your son... we think alike on many levels and I won't stop loving you just because I can't see you. Gohan will think the same way when he comes back." Gohan insisted as he grinned.
"I'll remember." Chi Chi said as she nodded.
"We do have to figure out where Lazarus will strike." Gohan figured, "The last time a mortal and a demon fought and the mortal won... I don't remember any battles like that on Earth."
"I can't really remember myself." Bulma confessed as she rubbed her chin.
Suddenly, Goldheart ran into the house through the open door. He came back out with a trophy in his mouth.
"HEY! THAT'S MY TOURNAMENT TROPHY!" Tien boomed as he snatched the trophy away and wiped the drool off. "Bad dog. Very bad dog."
Goldheart whined as he gazed up at Piccolo and tugged at his cape.
"Demon..." Piccolo repeated as he stared at the trophy and then he snapped his fingers. Goku was smart enough to know not to bother other people's possessions. This must be a clue. Then, he remembered his own battle with Goku back when he thought he was a demon. "The Tournament! I fought Goku at the Tournament!"
"Of course!" Chi Chi exclaimed, "At the time you were believed to be a demon! That must count! Lazarus must have gotten his position as Hercule's agent for a reason... that must be it!"
"But why such a public place?" Krillain asked, "You can't even kill in the Tournament."
"There are worst fates than death. Lazarus doesn't kill, he absorbs essences and souls." Gohan said, "This is bad. Angels can be empowered by mortals knowing they exist. Even if mortals don't know their names, if they acknowlege the fact that what they stand for exists and they wish for it, the angels become stronger."
"But... Kyuushi isn't known and I doubt that people ask for death." Yamcha figured.
"True... but she is very widely known as The Angel of Death. People know that title and fear it intensely. That gives her power." Gohan explained, "Lazarus could be much stronger since most mortals love life more than death."
"So... basically we will be dealing with a foe that the public would love and will empower him in the Tournament." Krillian said as he sweatdropped, "Why do I wish that we will be fighting Cell instead? Cell sounds so tame right now."
"Tell me about it. Lazarus is even be worst than Majin Buu." Gohan agreed.
"Who?" The group asked confused.
"Different villain that happened in my timeline. Long story; I'd rather not talk about it." Gohan sighed. Suddenly, there was a beep and Gohan took out a pager from belt and said, "Kaioshin's calling. I gotta go."
"Okay, take care." Chi Chi said as she hugged Gohan again.
"I will." Gohan went up to Goten and said, "You take care of your mom, okay? You too... Goldheart right?"
"Yeah, that's his name!" Goten said as he tried to grin. "He's the best."
"I know." Gohan winked as he patted the dog. He got up and vanished in a bright flash of light.
"Well... that was interesting, let's go." Bulma said as she rubbed her head.
*****
Kyuushi meditated as usual as she watched the figures lie in bed. Her long wings twitched with anxiety as she watched the three glow and transform. She couldn't see beyond the strange cocoons that housed her friends. The cocoons each had a different color. Trey's had silver with streaks of black, Gohan's was red and Videl's was blue. It had been a week and so far no change, no indication that they would ever get out of their slumber. She began to worry; what if they never woke up? What if she had brought about their very doom? The angel shook her head and muttered, "I've been hanging around these mortals way too long."
She got up and gently placed her hand on Trey's cocoon. How much will they remember? Slowly, a bright light came out of the three cocoons.
Kyuushi backed away and the three cocoons floated out of the beds and stood straight up. The cocoons broke away into little pieces of light and vanished. Three figures came out and collapsed onto the floor.
Kyuushi quickly went to a man with long silver hair with black streaks in it that was tied up in a ponytail. He was dressed in an black and white samarai warrior's outfit. His long silver wings hung on his back as he breathed deeply. "Yinyo!" She exclaimed as she helped him up.
Yinyo blinked several times as he held on. "Kyuushi, is that you?"
"Yeah... it's me." Kyuushi gently placed the warrior into the bed. "Hang on." She quickly went to the second warrior. The woman had long black hair with bright blue streaks, a blue crown on her head, a short white dress with black shoulder pads, and her gauntlet covered her entire forearm. "Aphradite?"
Aphradite nodded as she rubbed her eyes. "Why can't I see, Kyuushi?"
"You're recovering, relax. I'll get Gorgandus." Kyuushi said as she helped Aphradite to her bed.
Finally, she went up to a tall figure. He was dressed in a red jacket, red pants, with a long red tail behind him and a pair of red wings on his back. "My eyes..." He muttered as Kyuushi helped him to his bed. "Kyuushi, everything is so clear in my mind... I'm Gorgandus."
"I know. Relax, Gorgandus." Kyuushi whispered as the warrior lay in his bed. "Rest, all of you, you went through the hardest part. Now regain your strength and your sight. I'll wait for you."
"Thank you Kyuushi, you are a strong angel." Yinyo smiled blindly at her.
*****
Lunch peeked around the corner nervously. She had always been timid before, but now she was petrified. It had been two hours since Lazarus attacked her and everyone moved to the Capsule Corps. Now she accept it. Her alter ego and the sister she never wanted was gone forever. Dr. Briefs confirmed it and now she was scared. Launch had always protected her when she was in trouble. Before when she's in danger, she could just sneeze and wake up somewhere safe. Of course other times, she would wake up in a middle of a car chase but that rarely happened.
She slowly went to the living room and sighed in relief as she sat down. "I feel so alone." Lunch moaned as she buried her head in her hands. There was a faint pressure from her knee. She looked down to see Goldheart with his head on her knee. "Hello, boy." Lunch cooed as she pet the dog. "I'm so scared. Launch is gone. I can sneeze until my nose falls off and I can't bring her back."
Lunch sighed as she looked up. "You know... I hated Launch. She's rude, slept with strange men, drank all the time and robbed places I don't even want to know about. She always got me into trouble. So many times, I wished that she was gone so I would know what was going on all the time but now... I want her back. I feel so alone and... naked without her. Who will protect me?"
"You're safe." Lunch and Goldheart looked up to Bulma coming up to them. The woman smiled slightly as she sat next to her. "Look, you are in one of the most highly-secured complexes in the world surrounded by the most powerful warriors in the Universe. You're as safe as you can be."
"I feel... strange." Lunch said as she shook her head. "Like... there's a hole in me. I'm scared. I want Launch back."
"I know... I know... we all miss Launch." Bulma said as she put a friendly arm around Lunch's shoulders. "We'll find a way to bring back Launch. I promise."
"What can I do till then?" Lunch said as she held herself and leaned next to Bulma. "Can Tien love half a woman?"
"I'm sure he's taking this just fine." Bulma said as she chuckled.
"Personally I think you had better stop your weeping and deal with it. No warrior would stand to have a weeping girl like yourself as a wife." Vegita said as he came in wearing his usual boots, biker shorts, gloves, and towel around his neck.
Lunch stared at him and sobbed.
Bulma and Goldheart glared at the Saiyan. "Shut up." Bulma said as she held up her Saiyanball and pressed the button.
"HEY!" Vegita protested as he vanished in a bright red light.
"I love this invention." Bulma sighed as she held the ball in her hand. It wiggled and beeped in protest and Bulma ordered, "Calm down or I'll have Goldheart play fetch with you while in the ball!"
The ball stopped wiggling and then let out a loud beep before shutting down.
"Good." Bulma patted the ball and put it into her pocket. "Anyway, I've known Tien for a long time and he loves you."
"He also loves Launch." Lunch sighed.
"Maybe you can take some self-defense lessons or carry a weapon with you." Chi Chi suggested as she came in.
Lunch looked up and scream in fear at the sight of the sight of a floating trench coat. Then she remembered about Chi Chi's condition. "Chi Chi?"
"Yes. Why do you have to keep on screaming like that every time you see me?" Chi Chi asked, sounding irritated as she put her hands on her hips.
"I... I just can't see you." Lunch confessed.
Bulma frowned and asked, "Chi Chi, why aren't you wearing your bandages? Can you imagine how someone else would freak if they see... eh... not really see you?!"
"What are you talking about? I am wearing my bandages." Chi Chi said as she gestured to her face.
Goldheart tilted his head as he stared upward and then his eyes widened as he got up and ran out of the room. Chi Chi saw this and wondered what would scare Goku.
"Chi Chi... I don't see any bandages." Lunch pointed out.
Bulma's jaw dropped as gears in her brain started to work overtime. She knew that Chi Chi wouldn't lie about something like that and she was just as concerned about her invisibility as everyone else.
Goldheart came back in with a mirror in his mouth. He lay it down onto the floor and barked.
Chi Chi quickly picked up the mirror and gazed into it. She gasped as she saw nothing in it. She dropped the mirror and reached up to her face. Slowly bandages appeared out of thin air and unraveled into her hand.
Bulma and everyone else stared at the invisible woman and Bulma finally said, "Chi Chi, we better go and have my dad check you."
"Yeah." Chi Chi nodded as she fought the urge to faint.
******
Gorgandus stared up into the ceiling as he lie in his bed. His sight and strength had returned but he still felt strange. He still remembered his life as Gohan but it felt like a different life. The people he remembered as Gohan still meant so much to him, and yet they seemed less evolved than before.
"Yes, it is strange." Yinyo said from his bed. He smiled as he got out and went up to Gorgandus who finally got up. "I felt the same way, especially after Trey's transformation into Triforce."
"Yes, I am remembering things that happened before Earth was even created." Gorgandus realized as he stood up and stretched his metal wings. "Gohan thought that he would change forever and he may have been right."
"Gohan still exists. Nothing, not even over an eternity of old memories can wipe out those mere years of mortal life away. The power of the mortal soul is that great." Yinyo said as he closed his three eyes.
Gorgandus nodded as he patted the angel on the back. "You have always been the wiser one. I may know everything but you are still wiser than me."
"I am the Angel of Balance and Unity." Yinyo reminded as he smiled slightly.
"The Zen Angel." Aphradite said as she came up. She gazed at Gorgandus and Yinyo. "Oh my... how long has it been since we were like this? In our true forms after all this eternity?"
"It felt like forever." Gorgandus said as he took Aphradite's hand and held it. "My stomach is turning. My heart is pounding at the sight of you, even your very touch feels like fire."
"I feel the same way." Aphradite whispered as she blushed. "I felt this way before the fall, but it's more intense now."
"It's your mortal selves amplifying the emotions." Kaioshin said as he, Kiboto, and Kyuushi entered the room. Immediately, Gorgandus, Aphradite, and Yinyo knelt down into one knee and bowed their heads down.
"Lord Kaioshin." Gorgandus said as he looked down. "I am sorry for failing to protect your fellow Kaioshins."
"You have done your best." Kaioshin said as he put his hand on Gorgandus' shoulder. "You sacrificed your lives to stop Lazarus and that is noble."
"But Lazarus has returned and is far stronger than before." Aphradite said as she shook with rage. "That monster."
"We have defeated him before, we can do it again." Yinyo said, "We have more allies now and we have experience."
"Stand." Kaioshin ordered and the three angels stood up. "How do you feel?"
"I still feel strange." Gorgandus confessed, "I am still adjusting to my new power."
"I feel the same way." Aphradite whispered as she looked around. "I can feel the Multiverse and all of my counterparts. I can feel their anger, sorrow, fear, love... I can feel them all."
"We will get better after a few days." Yinyo figured and then stared at Kyuushi. "You have grown greatly while we were gone."
Kyuushi looked down and blushed slightly. "I am grateful you noticed. I have been training for the day when Lazarus returned." She looked up and gained a serious expression on her face. "Now we must prepare." She extended her hand and said, "Staff of Power come to me." A bright red staff appeared in her hands and she gave the staff to Gorgandus. "Your staff. It had served well but it needs its old master."
Gorgandus accepted the staff and it glowed with a bright red light. "Thank you, Kyuushi. It feels so good to have my trusted staff again."
Kyuushi took out a long katana from her belt and gave it to Yinyo. "Here is one of your twin blades. The other one was shattered in the battle."
Yinyo accepted the blade and said, "That is all right. Just give me the shards and the Blade of Healing can restore its sister."
"Kyuushi, where is the ring that goes with the gauntlet?" Aphradite asked as she stared at her gauntlet.
"The weapons' remains are this way." Kiboto said as he, Kaioshin, and the angels walked out of the room. The group walked down the hall and stared at the various decorations.
"You changed the place while we were gone." Gorgandus commented as he looked around.
"Yes, it had gotten somewhat painful to see some of the old Kaioshins' stuff around so we packed it up." Kyuushi explained as they reached a huge door with a pair of giant golden wings on it with a pair of gold angel wing handles. "Here it is." She opened the doors and the group walked in.
The room was dusty and had only three small chests in it. One had a picture of a cross on it. The second one had a heart on it. And the third had a black circle. "The three chests." Aphradite said as she went to the one with the heart and opened the chest. She got out a small ring and put it over her gauntlet. It glowed brightly and fused with gauntlet. A bright blue stone appeared ontop of her hand. "Yes, I can feel it. It's complete after all this time."
Yinyo went to the chest wtih the black circle and opened it. There were black metal shards with a silver handle at the side. "My blade." He took out the silver handle and held it against his Blade of Healing. "Sacred Blade of Healing, heal your sister and make her strong to fight along side you." The silver blade glowed as the black shards floated up to the silver handle and attached themselves to it. The shards fused together and glowed. "They have been reunited after eternity."
"My turn." Kyuushi opened the chest with the cross and took out a pair of broken blades that were black with gold triangles on them. "My Chakaram of Death." She shivered slightly as she remembered her old weapon.
**Flashback**
Lightning flashed against the red sky as the Angel of Death and the Angel of Life fought. Kyuushi held up her chakaram and flung it at the angel. Lazarus screamed as he lashed his sword and slashed the chakaram in two. Kyuushi's jaw dropped as she watched her weapon fall to the ground in two peices.
"I am far stronger than you, Little Angel of Death." Lazarus laughed.
**End Flashback**
"I will heal your blade." Yinyo said as he touched his Blade of Healing onto one of the broken shards. "Sacred Blade of Healing, heal your cousin the Chakaram of Death."
The broken shards glowed and refused into one whole weapon again. "Thank you." Kyuushi said as she held her chakram and then place it on her right forearm. "Chakaram, shield." The weapon glowed and tranformed into black shield with a sharp blade on the edge. "Thank you, Yinyo."
"You're welcome." Yinyo nodded and smiled, "It feels good to use my powers again." Suddenly, his wings twitched and he held his head. "My head." A bright glow overwhelmed him and his clothes and hair changed.
Trey appeared and looked around. "Oh man... that was weird, even for me."
"You changed back." Aphradite realized in shock. "How?"
"Simple, the powerup must've provided the mortals with their angel counterparts as split personalities." Gorgandus figured, "If we use too much of our power, we lose our forms and revert to our mortal identities."
"Great, just what I needed, another personality." Trey sighed as he held his head. "Oh man, Mom and Mother will freak."
Gorgandus's jaw dropped as his metal wings rose up and sparked. "I... can receive information about anything I need to know." Goragndus realized as he looked around. "By the creator... Dad..." Gorgandus reverted to Gohan.
Gohan glared at Kyuushi and screamed, "WHY DID YOU TURN MY DAD INTO A DOG?!"
"It's for his own good. Lazarus can use him against us, you know that." Kyuushi said.
"Wait... back up... Goku is back as a dog?" Aphradite asked as a blue glow overcame her body and Videl reappeared.
"This is overwhelming." Videl confessed as she looked down at her gauntlet. "Wait... don't tell me that Goldheart is..."
"Goldheart's Goku?!" Trey realized in pure shock as his jaw dropped.
"All this time." Gohan said as he sat down and ran his hand through his hair. "Goldheart was so kind and was always around when I need him. He even helped me go to sleep before that major battle with Kyuushi, why didn't I see it before? I'm a smart guy and I know my dad. Why didn't I put the peices together?"
"Kyuushi and I created a special aura around Goku so it's less likely for mortals to put the pieces together." Kaioshin explained, "Unfortunately, if it's too obvious the mortals would know."
"I know. I can't believe the things I learned as Gorgandus. It's like this entire adventure, this multiverse is like an epic tale and I can read any part I like." Gohan said and then he looked down. "Trey, your mom is in trouble. Lazarus killed Launch."
"What?!" Trey exclaimed, "Lazarus killed Mom?!"
"He didn't kill both of them." Gohan said, "He somehow managed to split Launch away from Lunch and took her away. Lunch is fine physically. That's not all that bastard did... he turned Mom invisible and tried to absorb Vegita. He's after Dad. I'm going to get that traitor."
"Me too." Videl vowed as she stood up. "He didn't get my mother or any of my family right?"
"I don't know what he did to Hercule but your mom and uncle are okay. They're living at the Capsule Corps just in case so they should be fine." Gohan said as he held his head. "We have to get there. I have to be there for my family!"
"You already did." A familiar man said as he entered the room.
"Gohan." Kaioshin said as he bowed his head, "You received my page?"
"Yes." The Supreme Kai in training replied as he nodded. "Gohan, Trey, Videl, I understand how much you wish to go to your families, especially you Gohan, but you have to train."
"My mom's invisible, my dad's a dog, and Trey's mom no longer has a split personality! Okay, maybe the last one doesn't sound so bad... but you can't expect us to just train while our families are in trouble!" Gohan screamed as he went super saiyan. "You are me! You know that I can't just stand to the side and watch all this!"
"I know." The Long Haired Gohan said as he put his hand on his younger counterpart's shoulder. "But you three have a destiny. You three are the reincarnated Fallen Angels and only you and Kyuushi have a prayer in stopping Lazarus. The other mortals will help out, but when things get critical, only you four can change the odds. You have to train with the new angel forms in this plain of existance. Right now you can barely hold onto that form, but if you work on it you can hold it longer and it will help you and your family."
"It's not fair." Gohan said as he looked down and clenched his fists. Tears came down his face as he went onto his knees. Trey and Videl looked down as well as they tried to figure out what to do next.
"Life is never fair." Kaioshin said, "I learned that a long time ago. You three can go back only after you master your angel forms."
"Then we train." Trey said as he glared up. "If we defeat Lazarus, we can find a way to get my mothers and Gohan's parents back to normal."
"We have no choice." Gohan said as he wiped his face. "Let's do it."
"Where you will be, so will I. I'm staying and train too." Videl said as she took Gohan's hand.
"I know you will do it." The Long Haired Gohan said as he crossed his arms.
"But the second we are ready to take on Lazarus, we're going home!" Videl pointed out, "Not a millisecond longer. Got it?"
The Long Haired Gohan gulped as he stepped back. This version of Videl was just as willfull as his own wife. "Yes, Ma'am!"
*****
"Well... no doubt about it." Dr. Briefs said as he looked at the printout. "Your invisbility aura has gotten stronger."
"But why?" Chi Chi asked as she slipped her dress back on. While she knew that no one can see her nude form, she still felt the need to wear some clothes. The dress vanished from sight and Goldheart whined slightly.
"Perhaps, the exposure to Lazarus had boosted the effects of the spell." Dr. Briefs commented, "Or maybe it was the type of spell that gradually grows stronger on it's own. I wish I can help you more but magic isn't my specalty."
"That's okay. I'll talk with Baba or maybe Piccolo, they may know something." Chi Chi said as she stood up. "I need to lie down. Come on, Goldheart." Chi Chi walked out and Goldheart walked beside her as she walked away.
Goku looked up at where he can hear his wife's heartbeat. It was strange, even for him, to not see Chi Chi but know she was there. Before her clothes were visible and showed signs that she was there. Now, the only way that he knows that she was even in front of him is by scent, hearing, Ki, and the ocassional moving of objects.
"Oh... Goldheart.... what will I do? How can I be a good mother to Goten if he can't see me?" Chi Chi asked as she entered her room and closed the door.
**I'm sure Goten can cope.** Goku thought out. **Chi Chi, I've been thinking about the invisibility thing myself and... I didn't want to risk using telepathy around other people.**
Chi Chi sat down on the bed and Goku lay his head on her lap. "What is it?"
Goku sighed as he closed his eyes. **Well... my exposure to Lazarus weakened the spell containing my Ki abilites. Kyuushi and Lazarus both have unique auras that seem to affect everything around them. What if Lazarus' aura boosted your invisibility on purpose? Like... to show you that he can't be defeated. These super villains like to do that.**
"So... Lazarus is causing us pain just to show off?!" Chi Chi wailed.
**And... maybe to convince the others who know where I am to... expose me.** Goku looked down. **Lazarus is doing this just to get to me.** He got up and said, **Look, I'll be right back... um... go to the bathroom.**
"Okay... I need to take a nap anyway." Chi Chi yawned opened the door, lie down in her bed and fell asleep.
Goku sighed as he watched the sheets moved up and then back down revealing a feminine figure. **Oh Chi Chi...** Goku thought sadly as he walked through the door and went down the hallway. His heart ached at the thought of Lunch and Chi Chi suffering thanks to him. Chi Chi was his wife and didn't deserve to not be able to look herself in the mirror and Lunch had taken good care of him back when he was training with Master Roshi. She even helped him get stronger by shooting him constantly as Launch. Now, both were suffering just because Lazarus wanted him. **It's not fair... why should they go through this just because of me?** He thought as he wandered into one of the biodomes and lay in the soft grass.
"I can't believe Lazarus did this!" Goten wailed as he held his head. Goku's ears perked up as he lifted his head to see Goten sitting on the log with Trunks. "Now I can't see Mommy at all!" Goku silently watched from the bushes, wondering how to comfort his son.
"Relax, Goten... just pretend that she's dead, like a ghost."
"A ghost?" Goten repeated.
**Dead?!** Goku thought.
"Yeah... I mean... people die and come back all the time. We just pretend that Chi Chi's a ghost. There's not that much of a difference." Trunks logically said.
Goku sighed as he hung his head. Trunks was logical but very blunt. He obviously took it from both parents, but how could he pretend that Chi Chi was dead? He had been dead twice and it wasn't like being invisible. Still, Trunks was entitled to his own opinion, no matter how cruel it may sound.
"I can't! Mommy's not dead! She's just invisible!" Goten screamed as he powered up and flew out.
"Oh boy..." Trunks moaned as he rubbed his head.
Goku got up and silently walked out of the other door. After he went into the hallway, he collapsed onto the floor and closed his eyes. What should he do? He wanted to do what's right, but what was right? Should he sacrifice himself so Lunch could be whole and Chi Chi could be seen? But if he did, Lazarus will use him for some evil purpose and Gohan and the others wouldn't have a prayer. He needed someone to talk to but who can he talk to without drawing attention?
"Hello, doggie!" Mrs. Briefs said as she came up. "You look all sad, is something wrong?"
Goku looked up and thought quietly, **This isn't what I was hoping for.**
"How about a treat?" Mrs. Briefs asked as she held out a doggie treat.
**I don't want a treat! I want my wife back to normal.** Goku growled slightly and then sighed. **Oh well...** Goku thought as he accepted the treat.
"Good doggie! Oh! My husband has a surprise for you!" Mrs. Briefs said as she patted Goku on the head and walked away singing.
Goku tilted his head curiously as Mrs. Briefs returned with a metallic cat in her arms. It was gold with bright eyes and seemed to have a strange aura around it. "This is Firestorm... she's a metal cat and your new companion." Firestorm jumped out of her arms and stared at Goku. It purred in a mechanical way and rubbed its head under Goku's chin.
Goku backed away and stared at the cat. Why did this mechanical cat make him feel nervous?
"Isn't she adorable. Ta ta." Mrs. Briefs walked away, whistling.
Goku and Firestorm stared at each other. Finally, a female voice entered Goku's head and said, **Don't think about turning yourself over to Lazarus.**
Goku looked around wildly and then looked at Firestorm. She was staring at him with those golden eyes of hers as he sensed a great presence near him. **Are you talking to me?**
**Who else am I talking to?** The cat almost purred as she lay down. **And if you must know, my real name is Octavia.**
**I'm Goku.** Goku nodded at the cat as he lay beside her. **What are you doing here?**
The cat seemed to shrug and replied, **I'm here to make sure you don't anything stupid like surrending to that angel.**
**But... I can't watch Chi Chi and Lunch suffer just because of me. I mean... Lunch is half herself, Chi Chi's invisible, and I bet that Lazarus made Hercule into a self-conceited jerk.** Goku thought.
**Actually, Hercule is already a self-conceited jerk. Lazarus just exploited Hercule's stupidity but that's a different story.** Octavia said, **Anyway, are you aware of what would happen if Lazarus gets his way? He will rid the entire multiverse of free will and cause every warrior, every living being, to lose their will to fight. Yeah, it sounds nice but it's so boring! Life is about getting messy, taking risks, and pain. Without pain or risks what's life?**
**I guess... but, the others are suffering because of me.** Goku looked down with great guilt in his green eyes.
Octavia placed her small paw on Goku's back. **Chi Chi's a powerful warrior and Lunch is strong in her own way. They will endure. I know Chi Chi very well.** Octavia sighed as she gazed up.
**How do you know her?**
**I'm her mother.** Octavia said as she smirked slightly.
Goku fell over and then stared at the cat. He had heard of cyborgs giving birth to babies and coming back from the dead several times but he could never figure out how a mechanical cat who was just created be Chi Chi's mother. **MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS A MECHANICAL CAT?!**
**I'm not really a mechanical cat, I'm using this as a vessel to communicate with you. I'm really one of the Supreme Kai's messangers, but since everyone's so busy preparing for Lazarus, I've been given a duty to keep an eye on things. Gohan, the one who's training for Kaioshin's job, told me about this.** Octavia said as she smirked. **Don't look so shocked. After all, how do you think I feel knowing that my son-in-law is a dog?**
**Oh...** Goku said as he stared at the cat. **Well... it's an honor meeting Chi Chi's mom! Wow... I didn't know that her mother works for Kaioshin!**
**Well... it's either that or keeping the minor demons from escaping hell. I never liked hot weather. I could just do nothing but I can't stand that... besides, Chi Chi needs me.**
**Okay, want me to show you to her room?** Goku offered as he tilted his head toward the hallway.
**No need... I can sense my daughter anywhere.** Octavia said as she looked around. She walked down the hall and Goku followed.
**So... Octavia, how did you end up working for Kaioshin?** Goku asked.
**Oh, it's a long story.** Octavia said as she and Goku went up to the door. Goku growled as he glared up at the closed door.
**Oh man... the door's closed. I can't open it.** Goku sighed as he barked out loud.
The door opened and Goten was there. "Hey, eh... Goldheart!" Goten said as he looked around and whispered, "Mommy's okay now... but she seems real sad."
Goku nodded as he licked Goten's face and entered the room with Octavia by his side. **Chi Chi?** Goku thought out to his wife who was laying in her bed.
"Oh... Goku..." Chi Chi sighed, "Are you okay?"
**I am now.** Goku said as he looked at Octavia.
**Don't tell her. She's stressed out enough as it is. Besides, she doesn't remember me.** Octavia said with a note of sadness.
Goku understood fully. Goten did't remember him since he was dead when he was born. He was scared of what Goten would think of him if they ever reunite.
"Good... what's this?" Chi Chi asked as she pet the golden mechanical cat.
**This is... Firestorm, she's this mechanical cat Dr. Briefs invented for me.** Goku introduced.
"Firestorm huh?" Chi Chi smiled slightly invisible as she rose her hand up. Octavia let herself purr and rubbed herself against Chi Chi's leg. "You can see me?"
"I made her that way." Dr. Briefs said as he came in. "I had motion sensors, heat sensors, special Ki detection devices, and normal optical sensors so she can detect anyone, including you."
"She's so precious." Chi Chi smiled softly. "Thank you, Dr. Briefs."
"Anything to help out." Dr. Briefs said.
"But... why a cat?" Chi Chi asked, "I mean... aren't you afraid that Goldheart may chase her or even try to fight her?"
"Well... I trust Goldheart... he's not like most dogs I had seen before. I thought that a nice docile cat that can detect you is something that you may need." Dr. Briefs said, "Besides, it just seems right."
"She's so cute." Chi Chi said as she pet the cat again. Goku stared at them. He wondered if Chi Chi had any idea that she was holding her own mother. Chi Chi did sense him; is it possible that she could sense Octavia? She looked down at Goku and asked, "Are you okay?"
"He's probably jealous of the cat since she's the latest pet." Dr. Briefs figured.
Goku glared at the doctor and thought, **I'm not jealous.**
**Not even a little?** Octavia chuckled as she purred.
Goku sighed as he stared at the lap. It was so comfortable but he was far too large to sit in her lap so he had to just cope with just his head in her lap. **Okay... maybe I'd like to fit on her lap...** Goku said as he stared up. **Oh well.** He jumped onto the bed and lay down.
*****
Lunch sighed as she wandered the dark halls. The complex was huge and it seemed to twist and wind into all sorts of places. "Hey, Lunch." Tien said as he came out of the shadows. "You okay?"
"I'm lost." Lunch whimpered as she looked down. "Launch would have found her room by now."
Tien nodded as he came up and hugged her. "It's okay. I'm sure that we will find a way to bring back Launch. I won't leave you. We can just go to bed and think more about this tomorrow. I think this is our room." Tien turned the knob and the two walked in.
"Hey!"
Tien and Lunch blushed as they heard Yamcha's voice. "Sorry, Yamcha, I think you're in my room."
"No, it's my room... I used this room before." Yamcha protested.
"What is going on?"
Tien and Lunch blinked as they heard Bardock's voice. "Bardock?!" Tien asked as he turned on the lights and saw Bardock and Yamcha lying in the same bed covered only by a pair of blankets.
"EEEEKKK!!!" Lunch screamed at the top of her lungs before fainting.
"What is going on?" Bulma demanded as she and Vegita raced into the room. "Did Lazarus-" She stopped as she saw Yamcha and Bardock in the bed blushing slightly. "YAMCHA?! BARDOCK?!"
"Bulma, I can explain." Yamcha said as he covered himself.
"Uh... uh..." Bulma stood there shocked.
"Well... you two finally did it. How long?" Vegita asked as he crossed his arms.
"YOU KNEW?!" Bulma screeched.
"Of course I knew... Saiyan men getting together with other men aren't that rare." Vegita replied as he smirked.
"And you didn't tell me."
"It was none of your concern."
Bulma scowled as she took out a Saiyaball and pressed the button. Vegita scowled as he vanished in a bright red light. "Okay... I'm going to bed and we can talk about this... in the morning." Bulma said as she walked out.
"Yamcha... I had no idea..." Tien said stunned beyond belief as he picked up Lunch.
"Yeah... it was a shock for us too." Yamcha said as he looked down. "Can you not tell the others about us? I mean... I don't want to know how Chi Chi and her family would react."
"Yeah... I bet Chi Chi would be stunned to find out that her father-in-law and Yamcha are a couple." Tien said as he tried to remain calm. "Okay, we won't say a word... Bulma's smart, she won't say anything either... night."
"Goodnight. I'm sorry for the shock." Bardock finally said.
"That's okay... I'm used to it." Tien said as he carried Lunch out.
As the stunned couple walked out, Octavia came out of the shadows and thought, **Bardock and Yamcha... that's an odd couple... even for a Saiyan.**
To Be Continued...