Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Princess WHO of WHERE?!? ❯ The Long Road to Discovery ( Chapter 2 )

Alright, everyone, I'm back. I managed to add three pages to this though you may or may not noticed them except at the end (well, those that have read the story before may notice). That was all I could manage to add without stealing a little from the next chapter and I would rather leave the next chapter in the next chapter. I love a good cliff hanger, don't you? It let's your imagination run crazy wondering what's going to happen next.

Anyway,

To my reviewers:

RisinIndeed: thanx. You're NUMBER ONE!!!! I'm glad you still like it and I hope that you'll like the changes I'm making even better.

Lady Killarri: didn't it? I'm going to repost as quickly as possible since I'm just editing and not writing from scratch.

Jessica: I guess in some ways it was a good thing it was deleted, that way everyone that's been reading the story will get a refresher before getting back to business.

Ryukai: glad you like it. Don't worry they'll keep coming. I still got to get back up to 27 and I had finished 28 when I found out the story was gone.

Adri: I know. They're lucky I don't know where they live. I thought that I would be safe by just changing the rating on my story, but I guess not. And it I find out somebody reporting me cause of that itty bitty, hardly graphic lemon scene…………well, let's just say THEY had better be glad that I don't know where they live either.

DarkAngelB: It does, doesn't it? I hope you can review every chapter. I hope that all of you guys can. I used to be SOOO PROUD of my reviews. I would strut around saying, `yeah, that's right, I got a 183 reviews!', but they're gone and as they say, no use crying over spilled milk.

Cat: I know. Keep reading. I want to try and make this story as descriptive as possible. I want you guys to `see' what I `see'.

pan0gwen: glad you like. And I already have, you have to wait for the rest.

The Flying Pen: Whoa! Long time, no see. Glad you're back. I know THE DELETION (as I like to call it) ruined everything for everybody. For me because I have to go and find all my chapters to repost and for you guys because you have to wait for me to put them all back up. I glad you like the revisions. There were some things I wanted to add, but I couldn't (or rather didn't want to) go back and fix.

RockAngel83: Yeah, I noticed at lot of people including in their summaries that they had to repost their fics. I know you guys will help me out. I have faith in my fic.

Korryne: sorry you don't like lemon. I have to admit though, there is one small scene in chapter 26 or 27 ( I forget which), but I promise you it's not graphic at all and you can skip it if you want to cause I don't think that I'll write another. I don't like fics where the main characters are getting down and dirty every other paragraph. But anyway, that's a long time away, so keep reading and just skip that part of that chapter.

Raptor101: yup! Here I am! You weren't the only one `puzzled' when it disappeared. I about smashed my computer for lack of anyone else to take it out on. Nope, Radditz wasn't in the story before. I just decided to throw him in there and make him look stupid. I got a good laugh off of it! If I can I'll try to get them all up before Christmas. That's a lot of work, but I'll try! Anything for the fans.

Death Vorstagalf: Interesting name you got there, but I'm glad you like it. If you're a first time reader you're in for some interesting happenings.

Ksha2222: I thought I would be safe since I changed my rating, but I guess not. I did read update news, but I thought I was SOOO clever by changing my rating…………..oh, well. I know for next time (hopefully, there won't be a next time). Parents need to mind there business! If there child isn't mature enough to handle it or just to know they aren't supposed to be reading certain fics, that's there problem not mine. Maybe if kids today didn't know more about computers than the adults it wouldn't be such a problem because I'm sure with parental controls, the kids can still get around it. Look at mediaminer! I bet they constantly get complaint, but do they take down their NC-17's, NOO!

Okay, I just needed to get that off my chest. I'm glad you came back to read my fic. Chapters will be coming out a lot faster than before. As a matter of fact, I should have another chapter up after this one (I have to go walk my dog first) before I go to work.

Thanx for the condolences everyone. The original PWoW will find a nice resting place, so the new one can take over.

DISCLAIMER: Screw a disclaimer! I don't have time for this! I have chapters to post! Readers to make happy! You know I don't own DBZ, so get real!

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Bulma couldn't believe her luck! Not only hadn't her parents yelled and complained at her, they actually liked the idea of her moving out on her own. Parents... go figure. A week had already passed and life couldn't be better. The freedom was almost intoxicating. No one told her where to go or what to do (except the scout leader). Bulma couldn't help berating herself a little for not doing this much sooner.

Even now, she was putting a pack together so she could leave in the morning to begin her search. The excitement was fueling her energy and she had been working relentlessly since dawn this morning to be ready to leave tomorrow morning. Her parents had expressed slight disapproval in the idea, but like moving out, they most left her alone about. Just then someone tapped at the door. It was Goku.

"Bulma! How's the packing going?"

"So far, so good. I mostly have everything I need condensed into one pack."

"I see," Goku said skeptically, "but where are you going to pack your food at? There isn't any room in that pack for even an apple!"

He poked around her packs as if he was going to find a secret food compartment. Bulma laughed. Trust Goku to think of food before anything else.

"I don't need to carry food. I can kill for meat and I am more than capable of foraging for greens being that I can tell the difference between what's poisonous and what's not."

"Still...."

"I also don't have to eat every other hour."

"But what if hunting isn't good on a particular day or it's raining, or you get hurt and you can't hunt, or ......"

"GOKU PLEASE! You're starting to sound as bad as my parents do. I don't know why you're getting so panicky all of a sudden."

"I'm just use to having you around is all and I don't want anything to happen to you."

Bulma's attitude instantly softened. She went to Goku and hugged him tightly with the threat of tears glistening in her eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to me. Don't worry."

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Bulma shivered as two raindrops splattered simultaneously on her nose and back. It had been raining for nearly six hours and after being sucked down into the mud more times than she could count and finding tree branches far too slippery to be leaping from one to the other, she chose a branch that provided as much shelter as possible and prepared to wait it out. She was fortunate that she wasn't lying in the mud. Instead, she was lying high above the ground in her natural form, trying to use some of her water shedding abilities to keep from becoming soaked.

So far she wasn't having too much luck on either staying dry or tracking down any information. She had only been through two small villages and they weren't very helpful. She couldn't outright just ask, "Hey, anyone know where I can find shape shifters?" People would look at her like she was crazy.

The rain suddenly began to let off and the sun began to peek through the clouds. Bulma stood up on the branch and shook all the water free of her outer coat, leaving it fluffed until it dried fully, and made her way down the tree. The sky had cleared to a brilliant blue that matched her fur with only a few harmless looking clouds and the sun blazing in its full glory. Bulma ran to where she stored her pack at in a secure dry spot in another tree and changed back to her human form and shrugged it on. She knew that the next village was much larger than the others she had been to, maybe she could learn something more there. It was only another couple of hours away so she was sure that she would reach it just before sunset, which would be just enough time to take a quick look around and get the lay of the place. She would then return to the nearest wooded area and return in the morning. This was pretty much how she always worked and so far she hadn't seen a reason to change it.

Arriving when she anticipated, she was greeted by a larger village than expected. In fact, it was the largest village she had ever been to in her life. The sign at the crossroads that she had began to follow after the rain shower said that it was called Saginaw. It was easily a small town and Bulma was hard pressed to keep the look of awe off of her face. At the edge of the town were the small single story cottages that she was more familiar with, but as she walked deeper into the heart of the town, a great deal of the structures were two and three stories high. Bulma noticed that most of them were shops, taverns, and other businesses. She then later learned that the height of buildings was due to the fact that most of the owners lived above their establishments.

There were also more people than she expected and with it being late in the evening, this probably wasn't even half the population. After completing a full pass through the town, she turned to head back to the woods. She had already been there later than she wanted to and the only people that were out now were drunks, prostitutes, and those whose work couldn't be done during the rush of the daytime hours. Bulma was then walking past one of those taverns, with a few men playing dice outside. She knew they were there, but didn't give them any more attention other to note their location. Just when she had completely walked by one of them grabbed her arm.

"Why don't cha cum here shugar and gie us a kiss?" He was a dirty, greasy looking man who smelled as if he hadn't had a bath in months. His ragged clothing looked as if it had seen better days and the cap on his head covering his oily looking hair looked as if moths had been using it as their personal restaurant.

"I don't think so," Bulma said, her voice full of venom.

His hold tightened on her arm and pulled her close enough that the smell of the cheap ale he had been drinking was enough to make her sick. He was quite obviously drunk, but that was no excuse. "Really? What's a lil girl like you gon do `bout it?"

That was all Bulma had been waiting for. She came across his face with her left fist, which instantly freed her arm from his grip. Her pack slid from her shoulders to ground in the same movement that she dropped to the ground and kicked out her leg and spun to take his legs out from under him. He fell to the ground with a loud "Oomph!" and just lay there moaning, blood gushing from his nose. Bulma was certain it was broken, being that she felt a wet crack when she connected with his face. That's when his friends noticed what was going on.

"HEY! Tha lil gurl jus smashed Ranulf in his face! GET `ER!" This was from a guy who was just as bad looking as "Ranulf" and a little more heavy set. The other two looked pretty terrible too. Bulma wasn't worried though. She had taken on more challenging fights than this.

The first one rushed her and she neatly clipped him and he fell headfirst into a rain barrel. It shattered when he hit it and he didn't get back up. His two friends looked to be a little more sober and thought out their plan of attack more thoroughly. They split up and tried to come at her from either side. It was obvious that they weren't too bright because it was just too easy for Bulma to just step back and watch them crash together and knock themselves unconscious. Bulma almost laughed until she noticed her tail had pulled free from her clothing and was swishing madly behind her almost as if it were ready to fight. She tucked it away before anyone could notice. Then she heard some dry applause coming from a single person leaning against a nearby wall. She had briefly noticed him standing in the shadows before the fight, but as long as he wasn't bothering or following her, she paid him no mind.

She looked him up and down. He was a slender fellow almost a full head taller than Bulma. He had a slender build and sharp facial features that reminded her of a fox. Even his hair was a reddish-brown of a fox. He more glided than walked over to her. His clothing was ordinary though far more neat and pristine than an ordinary peasant's. He was clean, TOO clean for someone hanging around his kind of area at this time of night. That set off an alarm in her mind and she knew instinctively that she would have to tread carefully around him.

"That was rather well done, young miss."

"Thanks," Bulma responded warily. Something in this guy's scent was odd, but she didn't know what it was.

"I'm afraid that the average young woman would have been in a very compromised position by now."

"Yeah, well, no one else was going to help me. I know how to take care of myself," she snapped.

"I can see that," he said with a smile, but his charming grin held no appeal for Bulma. There was something about him Bulma just didn't quite trust. "Be assured though, that had he had gone any farther with his unwanted attentions, I would have stepped in."

"I'm sure," Bulma replied sarcastically.

"No really. I know that I would hate to see my own mother or sister being harassed in such a way, so I try to help those in need who suffer from the absence of a male relative."

"Hmph. Okay, well, whatever. I need to be on my way." Bulma scooped up her pack and slid it back on. She turned and began to walk away.

"It's late and I see that you're still carrying your things. I you are in search of a place to stay, I'm afraid that there isn't anything to be had around here at this hour. If you are in need, I would be honored to offer my hospitality to a lovely lady such as yourself," he called out to her retreating form.

"No, thanks," Bulma answered shortly without a glance.

"I am called Nomaro. Might I at least know your name, miss?"

Bulma turned back around to look at him, considering his request. "Bulma." She said simply and continued on her way.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Bulma."

"Yeah, whatever." She still kept walking. Even after she turned the next corner, he still stood there watching.

"Yes. A pleasure indeed." Nomaro said to no one but himself. He turned and walked into the shadows he had come from. A pair of glowing eyes watched him from the over hang of the shop, also cloaked in darkness.

"I think we've found what we're looking for, Nisbet. I wish immediate retrieval, so that we may leave this place."

"Yes, sir," the voice from the shadows replied. "Shall I use the regular methods?"

"Yes, but have a care. This one may possibly be more difficult than the others."

"I understand, sir." With that the darker spot within the shadows flew off into the darkness.

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ok, how was that. Who's this Nomaro guy and what's he got planned. And what's that thing in the dark going "retrieve".

And for those of you who don't know (and it's probably most of you) Saginaw is a type of Tie Rod End. Oh, and a tie rod is a steering part. A bad one can cause your wheel to vibrate or lose your wheel alignment.

In case you haven't noticed, I edited this at work where I sell car parts. Sorry.

How about that Road Runner went down just before I was ready to post!!!! That really sucked.

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode!!! And don't forget to review!!!