Aionia had been watching Bunshichi soul for six years now.
"You're holding up, little soul," she murmured to the floating screen before her, watching the boy navigate another day of hell. "But this is nothing I haven't seen in my millennia of overseeing."
The child's life was a textbook case of human suffering. One of those poverty-stricken neighborhoods where hope went to die. He didn't know his real father. His mother was sick, bedridden, completely dependent on his stepfather, an alcoholic, a gambler, and when the mood struck him, violently abusive.
When he wasn't passed out drunk, when the frustration of his wasted life became too much to bear, he used the boy as a punching bag.
Or worse.
Aionia had witnessed it all. Every blow. Every violation. Every moment of cruelty that would break most souls.
She'd seen this type of life countless times during her duty. Mortal suffering was nothing new.
But she had never seen this reaction.
Total absence of emotion.
The boy didn't cry. Didn't yell. Didn't beg. When things happened to him, he obviously resisted, tried to defend himself, survival instinct was hard to kill. But his face remained blank. Empty. Like he didn't feel any of it.
It was as if something fundamental was missing from his soul.
That's what made Aionia stay. That's what made her choose not to move on to another assignment.
This boy was different.
The Night Everything Changed.
The boy sat at a rickety table in the apartment, his mother passed out drunk on the couch nearby. He ate what was left of some instant noodles.
The front door exploded open.
His stepfather stumbled in, drunk but purposeful. He rushed to the table and grabbed the boy by the arm, yanking him up with enough force to nearly dislocate his shoulder.
"Come with me, boy! I'll show you something!"
He dragged him toward the door so fast the boy couldn't grab his shoes. Bare feet on dirty floor. Then concrete. Then he was shoved into the car.
The engine roared to life.
The ride was silent.
The stepfather never talked to the boy. In all these years, barely a word had passed between them that wasn't an insult or a threat. This wasn't going to change now.
The boy sat in the passenger seat with his usual composure, that eerie, empty calm, and watched the city lights pass by the window.
Eventually, they arrived at a street with almost no lights. Dark. Forgotten.
The stepfather cut the engine.
They waited in silence.
Then an RV turned onto the street, its headlights cutting through the darkness.
The stepfather immediately got out of the car. The boy watched him through the windshield, watched him circle around to the passenger side. The door opened. The stepfather's hand clamped around his arm again.
"Now, no matter what, keep your mouth shut. Or—" He paused, then laughed bitterly. "Actually, you never speak anyway. Guess I don't need to warn you."
He dragged the boy toward the RV.
The boy lifted his head, looking up at the man who'd made his life hell, not understanding what was about to happen. His socks were already wet from the sewage water pooling in the broken street.
The RV door opened.
A man stepped out, tall, lanky, shaggy hair, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He looked like he belonged in the shadows.
"Hello, sir!" The stepfather's voice suddenly turned bright, false. "How are you? Chill night, huh?"
Empty words.
The driver ignored the pleasantries entirely. He walked forward and squatted in front of the boy, studying him like livestock.
Face. Body. Height.
He took a drag from his cigarette, then reached out with one hand and grabbed the boy's face, squeezing his cheeks hard enough to leave marks. He blew smoke directly into the boy's face.
No reaction.
Not a flinch. Not a cough. Nothing.
"He's skinny," the man said, standing up and looking at the stepfather. "It won't be full price."
"How much lower?!" The stepfather's voice cracked slightly.
The driver pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and held it out.
The stepfather stared at it. "That's it?! Come on, you gotta—"
He stopped mid-sentence as the driver's expression shifted. Something dangerous flickered in those eyes.
The stepfather took the money.
He shoved the boy forward without another word.
The boy looked up at him. Watched him count the bills. Watched him walk back to the car without looking back.
Not even once.
"Come on, kid," the driver said, opening the RV door wider. "Your new life begins."
The boy turned his head toward the man, then walked forward and climbed into the RV.
Inside, he could see a locked door toward the back. Reinforced. Scratched up.
The driver pushed him toward it and pulled it open.
The boy saw them.
Six other children. Probably around his age. Some sat in silence. Some were crying softly.
"Go sit," the driver ordered.
The boy looked at him, then walked inside and sat next to a little girl covered in bruises, arms, legs, everywhere.
The driver slammed the door shut, and they heard the lock engage.
"Why the fuck did it have to be me?" the driver muttered from the other side. "I didn't break his fucking vase. Fuck."
A pause.
Then: "Should take an advance on my pay."
The door opened again.
The driver reached in and grabbed one of the little girls by the arm, dragging her out.
The door slammed shut again.
The sound of the girl crying was muffled through the walls. Then a sharp sound, a slap, maybe worse.
Then nothing.
Ten minutes of silence.
The other children began to whimper. They squeezed closer together, seeking comfort in proximity.
All except the boy.
He sat perfectly still. Empty eyes staring at nothing.
Finally, the door opened again.
"Now get back in there," the driver growled. "And keep your mouth shut."
The little girl stumbled back inside, sobbing, and curled up in the corner.
The door locked again.
Aionia watched all of it.
She leaned forward, studying the boy's face through the screen.
Still nothing. Not a tear. Not a tremor. Not even fear.
Just... emptiness.
"Fascinating," she whispered.
—
Back in present day, in south City.
Four little girls sat in a circle under the shade of a large tree, their brown tails swishing lazily behind them in the afternoon breeze. Around them, other children played on swings and slides, but these four seemed content in their own little world.
The girl with short blue hair, the most confident-looking of the group despite being only four years old, held her tail up with both hands, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"I hate this thing," she announced. "It's not cute at all! And it always gets stuck in my dresses!"
She emphasized her point by showing off her blue dress, which did indeed have a hole cut in the back for her tail.
The girl with long, straight black hair looked down at her lap, her own tail curling protectively around her leg. Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"But... it's from Papa," she said quietly, fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "I think... I like it because—"
"Because you're in looooove with Papa!" the blue-haired girl sang out, making exaggerated kissing noises and giggling.
The shy girl's face turned bright red, spreading all the way to her ears. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her hands twisted even more frantically in her lap.
"I like my tail!" a voice piped up enthusiastically.
The third girl had wild, spiky hair that stuck up in all directions. She bounced excitedly where she sat, making her whole body bob up and down.
"Watch, watch!" She grabbed her tail with both hands and, after a few attempts and much tongue-sticking-out concentration, managed to use it to pick up a small pebble from the ground. "See?! See?! It's super practical! I can hold stuff!"
She waved the pebble around triumphantly, nearly dropping it twice, her grin showing a gap where she'd recently lost a tooth.
"That's not the point—" the blue-haired girl started, crossing her arms in that bossy way of hers.
"Enough."
The single word cut through the chatter like a knife.
The fourth girl had neat, straight black hair pulled back with a small ribbon. Despite being the same age as the others, she carried herself differently, back straight, eyes sharp and focused. When she looked directly at her blue-haired sister, there was an authority in her gaze that seemed far too mature for a preschooler.
"Don't talk badly about our tails," she said, leaving absolutely no room for argument. "And stop intimidating her."
She gestured toward their shy sister, who was still staring at her lap, face flushed red, looking like she might cry.
The blue-haired girl's confident expression faltered slightly. "I wasn't—"
"You were." The serious girl's gaze didn't waver. Not even a blink. "Apologize."
For a moment, the two stared at each other in the way only siblings could, a silent battle of wills between the self-appointed leader and the natural authority figure.
The blue-haired girl's face scrunched up, clearly not wanting to back down. But something in her sister's unwavering stare made her huff and look away.
"Fine," she muttered. "Sorry."
The shy girl nodded slightly, still not meeting anyone's eyes, her tail somehow managing to wrap even tighter around her leg.
The spiky-haired girl, completely oblivious to the tension that had just played out, was now trying to pick up three pebbles at once with her tail. She kept giggling every time they all tumbled back to the ground.
"WAIT FOR MEEEEE!"
All four heads snapped up at once.
A small girl with short, fluffy blonde hair was running toward them from the school building at full speed. Her tail bounced wildly behind her like a flag in the wind. Her arms windmilled frantically as she tried to keep her balance, her little legs moving as fast as they could carry her.
"Oh no—" the spiky-haired one started, recognizing the inevitable.
*THUMP!*
The blonde girl tripped and went sprawling face-first onto the ground right in front of their circle.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the blonde girl pushed herself up on her hands, grass sticking to her cheek, dirt smudged on her nose. Her tail swayed happily behind her as if nothing had happened.
"Hi!" she said brightly, giving them all a big, carefree smile.
The blue-haired girl sighed dramatically. "You're late again."
"Am I?" The blonde girl looked genuinely confused, tilting her head. "Oh... oopsie!"
She crawled over to join the circle, plopping down between the spiky-haired girl and the serious one, completely unbothered by the grass stains on her blue dress or the fact that she'd just eaten dirt in front of everyone.
The spiky-haired girl immediately showed her the pebble. "Look! I can pick things up with my tail!"
"Wow!" The blonde girl's eyes went wide with genuine amazement.
The shy girl finally relaxed slightly, a tiny smile forming as she watched her blonde sister's enthusiastic reaction.
The serious girl adjusted her ribbon and said nothing, but her expression softened just a fraction.
The blue-haired girl rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide the small smile tugging at her lips.
Five tails swished.
Five sisters, each so different, yet somehow fitting together perfectly.
—
The Outskirts of South City.
BOOM!
The ground shook. Trees in the surrounding forest swayed violently, their leaves rustling in waves. Birds exploded from branches in panicked flight, scattering into the sky. Small rocks on the gravel path bounced with each tremor.
Then silence.
A brief moment of stillness.
BOOM!
Again. The earth trembled. Windows rattled in their frames. A few tiles on the mansion's roof shifted slightly with each impact.
The rhythm was steady. Methodical.
Like a heartbeat made of thunder.
The source came from deep within the mansion, underground.
In a massive underground room lined entirely with reinforced metal, a figure stood facing the far wall.
From behind, the silhouette was imposing.
He was taller now. The shoulders were broader, the back wider, every muscle defined. The trapezius muscles rose like mountains from his neck. His lats formed a perfect V-taper down to a narrow waist. Every movement revealed new valleys and ridges of muscle beneath the skin.
A long brown tail swayed lazily behind him.
He wore only gi pants, dark blue, tied at the waist. His upper body was completely bare, showing the full expanse of his back. But despite the obvious power in every line of his physique, his skin was completely dry. Not a single drop of sweat.
He pulled his right arm back slowly, deliberately. The muscles of his shoulder blade shifted, his entire back flexing as he chambered the strike. His hand opened, palm flat.
Then he thrust forward.
BOOM!!!
The sound was deafening, a thunderclap contained in metal walls. The impact echoed through the chamber, through the foundation, through the earth itself.
The wall where his palm struck bent inward, the metal warping and smoking from the force. Slowly, with a low groan, the special alloy began reforming itself, returning to its original shape.
Goku pulled his hand back and looked at it, turning his palm over slowly.
"This is not good..." he muttered.
The door to the training room suddenly exploded open.
"HOW LONG ARE YOU PLANNING TO CONTINUE?!"
A woman stormed in, her heels clicking against the metal floor. She walked right up to him, glaring upward.
Goku turned to face her.
He'd changed. His face had matured, sharper jaw, more defined cheekbones. And on his chin, a small, neatly trimmed goatee that gave him an edge he'd never had before.
He looked down at her.
It was Bulma. Still with that characteristic frown, that princess-like attitude she'd never quite shed. But her hair was different, cut short now, barely reaching her shoulders.
He smiled slightly. "I prefer your hair long."
She flicked the shorter strands with one hand, turning her head. "You'll love me no matter what."
Goku chuckled and slid his hands into his pockets.
Bulma turned her attention to the wall where he'd just struck, reaching out to touch the still-warm metal. "Even though I installed shock-absorption materials in every layer, it still shakes like crazy... Maybe I need to use more polymer-based—"
She started rambling about materials science and structural engineering.
Goku wasn't listening.
He looked at her, dressed nicely, purse in hand, clearly about to leave. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her against his chest.
"Going to pick them up?" he asked.
She grabbed his hands where they rested against her stomach, intertwining her fingers with his. "We're going to pick up YOUR daughters."
"You're all going together?"
"Yes."
She turned quickly in his arms and gave him a quick peck on the lips, *chu!*, then darted toward the door.
"Stop training! You're going to destroy the house! See you!"
She disappeared through the doorway, and the door slammed shut behind her.
Goku stood there for a moment, then looked down at his hand again.
"I was gonna stop anyway," he said to the empty room. "I'm not getting any stronger."
During the past five years, he hadn't trained regularly. But these last six months, he'd decided to take training seriously again. Bulma had upgraded this chamber specifically to withstand his power.
But nothing changed.
No matter how hard he pushed, he didn't get stronger. Weights did nothing. Repetitions did nothing.
He'd concluded that his time in that realm with Aionia had pushed his body so far beyond normal limits that regular training was completely ineffective. He'd hit some kind of ceiling.
He needed advice.
Time to visit Roshi. Maybe see Krillin. Get some outside perspective.
Goku emerged from the underground chamber and headed to his room to change. A few minutes later, he walked into the living room, looking more casual.
Lunch was sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to the TV, a bag of chips resting on her stomach.
"You didn't go with them?" Goku asked, adjusting his jacket.
"I don't have a kid to pick up," she said without looking away from the screen. "I'd rather stay home."
Goku walked to the entrance and sat on the step to put his shoes on. "You're gonna get fat if you keep living like this."
He said it with a smirk.
"FAT?!" Lunch dropped the bag of chips onto the carpet and shot up to her knees on the couch. "What do you mean FAT?!"
A small cleaning robot immediately wheeled over and began vacuuming up the spilled chips.
"Yesterday when I grabbed your hips..." Goku tied his laces slowly, deliberately. "Well, my hands felt... fuller."
He stood up and walked out the door without looking back.
Lunch stared after him, frozen. Then she looked down at her belly, grabbing her hips with both hands, feeling the soft flesh there.
She gasped.
"Move, stupid robot!" She shoved the cleaning bot aside and sprinted toward the stairs leading down to Goku's training room.
The robot beeped sadly and continued cleaning.
---
A capsule car blasted through the countryside landscape, heading toward the city at high speed. Inside, four women sat.
Bulma gripped the steering wheel with confidence. Next to her in the passenger seat sat Chi-Chi, who had fully grown into her role as a woman, poised, proper, and perpetually ready to lecture someone.
In the back seat, Mai sat quietly by the window, while Kakarot slouched beside her, staring out with a bored expression.
"I wanted to stay and train," Kakarot muttered, crossing her arms.
"You have to come too!" Chi-Chi turned in her seat to look back at her. "The teacher called especially for you! Rori has too much energy! Just like you!"
"Yeah!" Bulma chimed in without taking her eyes off the road. "You should tell her to take example from my Bula. She's so sweet and caring. Just like me."
Chi-Chi raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Bula make that little boy cry last week because he made fun of her tail?"
"He had it coming!" Bulma shot back immediately. "Plus, she only used words. Verbal abuse is the safe way of abuse."
"Abuse is abuse!" Chi-Chi countered.
"They all have such different personalities," Mai said softly from the back seat. "Complete opposites of Goku, really. But they all have his smart mouth... and his tail. We can definitely say they're his."
"I know, right?!" Bulma laughed, shaking her head. "The other day I told Bula to clean her room, and she looked at me and said, 'Why? It'll just get messy again. That's inefficient.' I cannot deal with that girl sometimes."
Chi-Chi closed her eyes in a condescending way, placing one hand delicately on her chest. "My Gohana is an example for all of them. She's so righteous and kind and proper—"
"She's stuck up," Mai said quietly.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Chi-Chi whipped around in her seat, eyes blazing.
Bulma smirked, still keeping her eyes on the road. "She said Gohana is stuck up. Which... I mean, she kind of is."
"BULMA!"
"What?!" Bulma laughed. "She corrects the other kids' grammar! At preschool! Last week she told Bula that 'ain't' isn't proper English!"
"Because it's NOT!" Chi-Chi defended passionately. "I'm raising her with discipline and proper education! Someone has to teach these children."
"My Mina never causes any problems," Mai interrupted quietly, desperate to change the subject and get the heat off herself.
Kakarot turned her head slowly to look at Mai. "That's because she doesn't talk."
"She talks!" Mai protested.
"Yeah. To Goku. And to you." Kakarot shrugged. "And like... once a month to everyone else."
"At least she's polite," Mai muttered defensively.
"She's terrified of people," chi-chi said bluntly. "There's a difference."
"She's SHY!" Mai insisted.
"Whatever you say."
Bulma sighed. "Honestly, it's like we all raised mini versions of ourselves. Except they all got Goku's attitude mixed in."
"And his appetite," Chi-Chi added with a grimace. "Do you know how much Gohana eats? She's FOUR. She ate an entire roast chicken by herself last night!"
"Rori ate two," Kakarot said with a hint of pride.
"That's not something to brag about!" Chi-Chi snapped.
Bulma chuckled. "At least they got his metabolism too.
The car entered the city limits, tall buildings rising around them. The school was only a few blocks away now.
"Speaking of Goku," Mai said hesitantly, "has he seemed... off to you lately?"
"He's been training a lot more," Bulma said after a moment. "Like, obsessively. Even more than usual."
"He seems frustrated," Chi-Chi added. "Like something's bothering him."
The school came into view, a colorful building with a playground visible out front.
—
30 minutes earlier.
Goku flew through the sky at incredible speed, blasting through clouds like they were tissue paper. Within minutes, the small island with Kame House came into view.
He descended, spotting Roshi lounging on a beach chair and Krillin wearing an apron, sweeping the deck.
Goku landed behind them with barely a sound.
"What's up!"
Both men turned at the familiar voice.
"GOKU!" Krillin's face lit up instantly. He dropped the broom and ran toward his old friend, throwing his arms around Goku's legs and looking up at him desperately. "Save me, please! I didn't sign up to be a maid!"
"What an ungrateful little man!" Roshi called from his lounge chair.
Goku smiled, pulling Krillin to his feet, and the two caught up briefly, small talk about life, the girls, how things were going.
Then Goku's expression shifted, becoming more serious.
"Roshi, I need advice." He crossed his arms. "I'm stuck. I keep training, but I'm not progressing anymore. I don't even break a sweat."
Roshi stood up slowly, placing his hands behind his back, and gazed out at the horizon with that contemplative look he got when he was about to say something profound.
"Why do you seek strength?"
Goku rolled his eyes immediately. "Please, Roshi. I didn't come here for philosophical advice."
"Fine, fine." Roshi turned to face him. "I'll make it short. You'll need to go see Kami-sama."
Goku's eyebrow twitched.
Krillin cringed, glancing nervously at Goku. It was still a sensitive topic, Kami had sealed him for three years in that dimensional prison. The memory of it hung heavy.
"Any other ideas?" Goku asked flatly.
"I'm afraid not."
Goku shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up at the sky, silent for a long moment.
"I'll have to think about it," he said finally.
Roshi approached him, leaning in close, and whispered conspiratorially, "By the way, Goku... can we do a boys' night out again?"
He was blushing.
Goku chuckled. "I'm married now. And I have kids."
Roshi frowned, his eyebrows drawing together in mock offense. "Well, I'M not! Don't be selfish now!"
"Alright, alright." Goku smirked. "I'll organize something."
Roshi's face lit up, and he started doing a little twirl of excitement.
Krillin approached hesitantly, his face also turning red. "Hey, Goku... you think I could come too? I want to... to have a g-g-girlfriend."
He stammered the last word, clearly embarrassed.
Goku looked at him. Krillin was one of his first friends in this world. One of the few people who'd shown him genuine loyalty. This simple, earnest request actually moved him a little. He hadn't expected that.
"I got you," Goku said.
Krillin's face broke into a huge smile. They dapped each other up, their hands meeting with enough force to make the entire island shake slightly.
"Anyway," Goku said, starting to float off the ground, "I'll take my leave."
"See you, Goku!" Krillin called, waving.
Goku raised his hand in farewell.
"Wait, Goku!" Roshi called out suddenly.
Goku paused mid-air, looking back.
"To get stronger, you need an objective," Roshi said, his tone serious now. "Either for good or for evil. Ask yourself, why do you want to become stronger?"
Goku looked at him with a serious, reflective stare.
Then he smiled.
"Girls like strong guys."
"YEAH!!!" Roshi shouted, throwing his fist in the air.
Goku blasted off into the sky, disappearing in seconds.
Krillin stood there shaking his head. "He didn't answer the question, did he?"
Roshi sat back down in his lounge chair, his expression thoughtful. "No. No, he didn't."
---
South City Kindergarten.
The playground was alive with noise, children running, laughing, screaming, playing tag and climbing on the jungle gym. But in one quiet corner, outside the girls' bathroom, three little boys stood waiting with the kind of focused malice only children could muster.
The bathroom door creaked open.
A little girl stepped out, carefully wiping her hands on a tissue embroidered with her initials. She had long, straight black hair with thick bangs that framed her face, just like her mother, Mai. Through a small hole in the back of her blue dress, a brown monkey tail swayed nervously behind her.
Mina.
The moment she emerged, the three boys moved to block her path.
"Stop right there, monkey girl!"
Mina jumped, her eyes going wide. She froze in place, her entire body tensing up. She was a shy girl, painfully so. Speaking to anyone outside her family was almost impossible for her.
She just stood there, shaking.
"Why do you have a tail?!" one of the boys demanded, pushing her shoulder.
She stumbled back slightly but didn't fall. Despite being only four years old, she had her father's natural strength. If she wanted to, she could knock all three of them flat without breaking a sweat.
But she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Is your dad a monkey?" another boy sneered.
At that comment, Mina's eyebrows furrowed. Talking about her papa, disrespecting him, made something hot flare up in her chest. But it still wasn't enough to make her act.
"You're ugly," the first boy said, pushing her again. "Say something!"
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"Speak! You're making me mad!" The boy clenched his little fist and pulled it back, ready to punch her—
*SMACK!*
His cheek snapped to the side as a small fist connected with his face. He hit the ground hard, immediately starting to cry.
The other two boys whipped their heads around.
Standing there was another little girl wearing the same school dress. She had black hair pulled into two low pigtails on either side of her head. A bandage covered her nose, evidence of some recent scuffle. Her expression was fierce, determined.
"Crap! It's Videl!" one of the boys shouted.
They grabbed their crying friend and ran.
Mina stared at the girl who'd saved her, her heart still pounding.
"T-thank yo—" she started.
"Stand up for yourself!" Videl cut her off sharply, hands on her hips.
Mina's mouth closed. She looked down at her feet.
"My father told me I always have to help the weak," Videl said, her tone matter-of-fact but not unkind.
"Oh..." Mina's voice was barely a whisper. "Your dad is kind."
"Yeah!" Videl's chest puffed out with pride. "And he's also the strongest man on the planet!"
Mina's eyebrow twitched.
"Your dad must be strong," Mina said quietly, her voice gaining just a little bit of conviction. "But my papa is the strongest. Ever."
"Nuh-uh!" Videl crossed her arms. "My dad stopped robbers!"
"One time..." Mina's voice grew a tiny bit louder, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "One time, my papa and I were going to have a picnic, but it was raining. So he gave a big punch into the sky, and all the clouds moved far away! The whole sky turned blue!"
"Stop lying!" Videl said, her face scrunching up.
"I'm not!" Mina's eyes started to water, but her voice didn't waver. "My papa can do anything!"
"My dad is a world champion fighter!"
"My papa is stronger!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
They stood there, face to face, neither backing down.
For Mina, this was the longest conversation she'd had with anyone outside her family in months.
And she wasn't scared.
Because she was talking about her papa.
The bell rang, signaling the end of recess. Teachers began herding children back inside.
Mina and Videl were still arguing, their voices quieter now but no less determined.
"My papa is the strongest," Mina said one more time, firmly.
"We'll see," Videl said, crossing her arms. "Maybe our dads should fight."
Mina's eyes went wide at the thought. "My papa would win."
"Would not."
"Would too."
A teacher's voice called out: "Girls! Inside, now!"
They both turned and walked toward the building, still bickering quietly.
—
The capsule car pulled into the school parking lot and came to a smooth stop. The four women stepped out, Bulma checking her watch, Chi-Chi adjusting her purse, Mai looking stunning, and Kakarot already looking bored.
Before they'd even made it three steps toward the building, Kakarot stopped and cupped her hands around her mouth.
"KINTO'UN!"
A golden-yellow cloud appeared in the sky, zooming down toward them at incredible speed.
"Wait, what are you—" Bulma started.
Kakarot jumped onto the cloud, sitting cross-legged on its fluffy surface. "I'm going back home. I want to train with Goku."
"Kakarot, stop!" Bulma shouted. "You can't just—"
But she was already gone, shooting off into the sky like a comet.
Bulma stood there, hand still raised mid-protest, then let it drop with a frustrated sigh.
"Nothing interests her except training," she muttered.
The three remaining women walked toward the school entrance.
---
The classroom was in its usual state of controlled chaos, children gathering their things, teachers trying to maintain order, parents filtering in to collect their kids.
But four little girls stood out immediately.
They sat together near the corner of the room, and each one had a brown monkey tail swaying behind them through specially cut holes in their dresses. The other parents stared. Some whispered. The teachers had long since given up trying to explain.
The moment the four girls spotted their mothers in the doorway, their reactions were instant.
Gohana stood up first, smoothing down her dress with careful precision. She walked over to Chi-Chi with perfect posture, arms out for a hug.
"Mother," she said formally, wrapping her small arms around Chi-Chi's waist.
Chi-Chi beamed, stroking her daughter's neat black hair. "Hello, sweetheart. Were you good today?"
"Of course."
At the same moment, Mina saw Mai and immediately broke into a run.
"Mama!"
She crashed into Mai's legs and buried her face in her mother's thighs, clinging tight. Mai stumbled back slightly from the impact but smiled, gently patting Mina's head.
"I'm here, baby," Mai said softly.
Gohana turned her head, still in Chi-Chi's embrace, and called out sharply:
"Mina! You're supposed to put your things away first before greeting Aunt Mai!"
Mina's shoulders hunched, but she didn't let go of Mai.
Bula, meanwhile, took her time. She finished organizing the crayons she'd been using, placed them neatly in their box, and only then stood up. She walked over to Bulma with casual confidence.
"Hey, Mom," she said coolly.
"Hey is for horses," Bulma said, ruffling her daughter's blue hair. "Ready to go?"
"Obviously."
Rori, on the other hand, was still running around the classroom.
She darted between desks, jumped over a toy bin, did a somersault for absolutely no reason, then finally sprinted toward the group at full speed.
"WATTAAA!" she shouted, skidding to a stop in front of them, breathing hard and grinning. "Can we spar when we get home?!"
"We'll see," Chi-Chi said diplomatically.
Bulma glanced around, counting heads. "Wait. Where's Nappi?"
"Auntie already picked her up." Said Gohana.
"Her mother?" Chi-Chi said.
"Yes," the teacher assistant confirmed. "The blonde woman? Nappi fell and hurt herself, so she came early to take her home."
"Ah." Bulma nodded. That made sense. "I will send Goku pick them up "
"Alright, girls," Chi-Chi said, clapping her hands together. "Let's get your bags and—"
"Excuse me!"
All three mothers froze.
The teacher was walking toward them with purpose, her expression strained but polite.
Dark circles under her eyes. A forced smile.
"Mrs.... everyone," she said, stopping in front of them. "I'm so glad I caught you. I really need to talk to you about your daughters' behavior today—"
"Their dad will come," Bulma interrupted smoothly, already turning toward the door. "You can talk to him about it."
The teacher blinked. "Their... father?"
"Yep!" Bulma was already ushering the girls toward the exit. "He'll handle it. Come on, girls, let's go!"
Chi-Chi and Mai followed quickly, each holding their daughter's hand.
The four little girls waved their tails as they disappeared out the door.
"Their father?" she repeated to no one.
The three women and four girls piled into the car. Bulma started the engine immediately.
"Buckle up, everyone," she said.
As they pulled out of the parking lot, Chi-Chi glanced back at the school through the rearview mirror.
In the back seat, the four girls sat quietly, Gohana reading a book, Bula staring out the window looking bored, Mina clinging to her stuffed animal, and Rori kicking her feet against the seat.
Their tails swayed in sync as the car headed toward home.
---
15 Minutes Later
The capsule car pulled up to the mansion gates. Bulma pressed the button, and with a *poof* of smoke, the vehicle transformed back into a tiny capsule that she pocketed.
The three mothers and four daughters walked through the large garden toward the house. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the perfectly manicured lawn.
Rori suddenly stopped, her head snapping upward.
"What is it?" Chi-Chi asked.
Rori pointed at the sky. "Something's coming."
The others looked up. There was a black dot in the distance, growing larger by the second.
The girls, blessed with their father's exceptional vision, recognized it immediately.
"It's Papa!!" Mina shouted with more energy than she'd shown all day.
The dot grew closer, and they could make out the shape, a man flying through the air with something massive held over his head.
Goku descended rapidly, and as he got closer, they saw what he was carrying, a giant buffalo, easily the size of a small car, held effortlessly above him with one hand.
He dropped it onto the grass with a ground-shaking *THUD* that made the mothers stumble.
Then he touched down, one foot hitting the ground with barely a sound despite the force.
For a moment, he just stood there, tall, imposing, his tail swaying behind him. He looked down at the four little girls staring up at him with wide eyes.
Then his expression softened.
"Hey,"
What happened next was pure chaos.
"PAPA!"
All four of them rushed forward at once.
Rori got there first, naturally, being the fastest, and crashed into his legs with enough force to knock over a normal person. She wrapped her arms around his right leg, grinning up at him.
"Papa! Papa! Did you hunt that?! Can we eat it?! Can we go hunt?!"
"One question at a time, Rori," Goku said with a small smile, ruffling her spiky hair.
Bula arrived next, more composed but still clearly excited. She hugged his left leg, trying to maintain her cool demeanor.
"You've been gone all day," she said, trying to sound accusatory but failing.
"Missed you too, Bula."
Gohana walked up more formally, but her eyes were bright.
"Welcome home, Father."
Goku chuckled and reached down, placing his hand on top of her head. " I heard you were good at school today."
Gohana's face lit up. "Yes!"
"That's my girl."
Then there was Mina.
She stood a few feet back, hands clasped in front of her, looking down at the ground. She wanted to run to him like the others.
Goku noticed immediately.
He crouched down, bringing himself to their level, and held out his arms.
"Come here, Mina."
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. Then, without hesitation, she ran.
She crashed into his chest, and he caught her, standing up and lifting her into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder, her little hands gripping his shirt tight.
"There we go," he said softly, holding her with one arm while the other three girls still clung to his legs. "I've got you."
"Alright, alright," Goku said after a moment. "I need my legs back if you want me to carry this buffalo inside."
Rori, Bula, and Gohana reluctantly let go, stepping back but still standing close.
Mina, however, did not let go. She clung tighter.
"Papa, don't leave again," she whispered into his shoulder.
"I'm not leaving," he said gently. "I'm right here."
Bulma stepped forward. "Actually, Goku, you need to go pick up Nappi"
Goku looked at Bulma. "Give me the capsule. We'll come back in the car."
Bulma tossed him a capsule.
The moment the other three girls realized he was leaving again, their faces fell.
"Papa, no!" Rori whined.
"You just got here!" Bula protested, her cool facade cracking.
"Father, surely it can wait," Gohana started.
But Goku felt Mina's grip tighten around his neck. She wasn't letting go. Not for anything.
He looked down at her face pressed against his shoulder, then over at Mai.
"I'm taking her with me," he said. "We'll be back soon."
He started to float off the ground.
Mina lifted her head slightly, just enough to peek down at her sisters. When she saw them watching, the biggest smile spread across her face, a smile of pure, triumphant joy.
"She's such a baby," Bula muttered, crossing her arms.
"Completely infantile," Gohana agreed, adjusting her hair.
But neither of them could hide the jealousy in their voices.
Rori, on the other hand, was openly envious. "That's not fair! I wanna fly with Papa too!"
"Next time," Goku called down. "I'll take all of you."
"Promise?!" Rori shouted.
"Promise."
And then he shot upward into the sky, Mina held safely in his arms.
Goku flew in a way he rarely did, relaxed, unhurried. He tilted backward until he was horizontal, flying on his back through the clouds like he was lying on an invisible bed.
Mina sat on his chest, her little hands gripping his shirt, her tail swaying happily behind her. The wind rushed past them, whipping her long black hair around her face.
She looked down at the world below, tiny houses, tiny trees, tiny people, and she felt like she was on top of everything.
"Papa?"
"Yeah?"
And then, like a dam breaking, she started talking.
"Today at school there were these boys and they were being mean and they pushed me and they said I was ugly and they said you were a monkey and I got so mad but I didn't know what to do and I was so scared but then this girl came and she punched one of them and her name is Videl and she said her dad is really strong and she said he's the strongest in the world but I said no he's not because YOU'RE the strongest and she said I was lying but I wasn't lying Papa you ARE the strongest right?!"
She said it all in one breath.
Goku listened, nodding along, his expression attentive. "I'm pretty strong, yeah."
"See?! I told her!" Mina continued, her voice getting louder with confidence now that she had an audience. "And she said her dad is a champion but I said you can punch clouds and make them go away and she didn't believe me but it's TRUE because I saw you do it!"
"You remember that, huh?"
"Of course I remember! It was amazing!" She bounced slightly on his chest. "And then we kept arguing and arguing!"
Goku smiled. He didn't even realize he was doing it, small and genuine.
Then Mina's little hands grabbed his face, squishing his cheeks.
"Why are you smiling?" she demanded, her eyebrows furrowing. "You should be ANGRY! she said her dad is stronger than you!"
Goku blinked, his smile still there despite his cheeks being squished. "Should I be angry?"
"Yes!" she said.
"ok then! I'm angry ! I will go see her father and challenge him!" Goku said, going fake angry.
"But don't hurt him ! Videl said his a good dad!"
She thought about that for a moment, then slumped against his chest again.
"Gohana and Bula always say I'm too soft," she mumbled. "They say I need to talk more. That I'm a baby."
"They said that?"
"All the time." Her voice got quieter. "They're always better than me at everything."
Goku was quiet for a moment, still flying smoothly through the sky.
"They love you," he said finally. "They want you to be capable of defending yourself. That's why they push you."
"But I can't," Mina whispered. "I'm not strong like them."
"You are, though." Goku adjusted his hold on her slightly. "You just showed it in a different way today. You stood up for me when that girl said her dad was stronger. You defended someone you love. That's being strong."
Mina lifted her head, looking at him with big, confused eyes.
"Really?"
"Really." He smiled at her again, that same soft smile. "You're already like that, Mina. You defend the people you care about. You just need to learn to defend yourself the same way."
She stared at him, trying to process what he meant. She didn't fully understand, but something about the way he said it made her feel warm inside.
She laid her head back down on his chest.
"I like flying with you, Papa."
They continued in comfortable silence for a few more minutes until the familiar domed building of Capsule Corp came into view.
Goku tilted forward, slowing his descent.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go get your sister."
Goku descended slowly, touching down on the familiar front steps of Capsule Corp. Mina hopped off his arm and immediately started playing, running in circles between his legs as he leaned against the wall next to the door.
He reached over and pressed the doorbell.
"You excited?" Goku said, looking down at her.
"Yes!" Mina beamed up at him. "I get to be alone with Nappi!"
"Yeah?"
"She's funny. She falls down a lot and doesn't get sad. And she tells me stories that don't make sense but they're nice."
Goku smiled slightly. "Sounds like Nappi."
They heard footsteps approaching from inside. The door handle turned.
The door swung open.
A little girl stood there, barely reaching the doorknob. She had short, fluffy blonde hair that stuck out in all directions, and she blinked up at them with big, curious blue eyes.
"Who is it?" she asked in a small, dreamy voice.
Then her gaze traveled up, up past Mina, up to the tall figure leaning against the wall, and her eyes went wide.
Recognition exploded across her face.
"PAPA!!"
Her brown monkey tail appeared behind her, wagging frantically like a dog's. She launched herself forward with surprising speed and crashed into Goku's legs, wrapping her little arms around them.
Goku chuckled and reached down, ruffling her messy blonde hair. "Hey, Nappi."
"You came! You came to get me!" She looked up at him with the biggest smile. "I fell down today and hurt my knee but Mama put a bandage and it's all better now see?!"
She lifted her dress slightly to show him a colorful bandage with cartoon characters on it.
"Very nice," Goku said. "Now go get your stuff. We're heading home."
"Okay!"
Nappi let go and ran back inside, Mina following close behind.
"Don't forget your shoes this time!" Goku called after her.
The two little girls disappeared into the house, their voices echoing as they ran.
Goku straightened up from the wall and stepped inside, intending to wait in the entryway.
"Oh! Little Goku!"
Dr. Briefs appeared from around the corner, cigarette in mouth as always, wearing his usual lab coat. He smiled warmly.
"How are you, son?"
"Fine, Doc," Goku said with a nod. "Just here to pick up—"
"Yes, yes! Panchy and Nappi!" Dr. Briefs took a puff of his cigarette. "You know, they live with you now, of course. But today was special circumstances. The little one took quite a tumble."
"Yeah, Bulma mentioned."
There was a brief pause.
Then Dr. Briefs continued in the same casual, conversational tone.
"It's quite something, isn't it? You and Panchy. And little Nappi being yours." He chuckled. "Accidents happen, of course."
Goku's entire body tensed.
"Uh... yeah," he said shortly, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked away, suddenly very interested in a potted plant near the door.
"These past five years have been the most fruitful, I must say," Dr. Briefs continued, completely unbothered. "Very productive in the lab. Panchy not being home has given me tremendous focus."
"That's... good," Goku muttered, still not making eye contact.
*Come on, Panchy, hurry up,* he thought desperately.
"And I must say," Dr. Briefs went on, taking another puff, "Panchy looks younger than ever these days. Living with you seems to make women flourish. Quite remarkable!"
"More like the Dragon Balls," Goku muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Footsteps echoed from deeper in the house. Thank god.
Panchy appeared, looking as bubbly and energetic as ever, with Nappi and Mina trailing behind her. Nappi had her school bag on, backwards, and was holding Mina's hand.
"Goku~!" Panchy sang out.
Before he could react, she threw her arms around him in a warm hug.
Goku stood there stiffly, arms at his sides, acutely aware of Dr. Briefs standing right there watching with that pleasant smile.
"Uh. Hey," Goku said awkwardly.
Panchy pulled back, looking up at him with that carefree smile. "Ready to go home?"
"Yeah. Let's get going." He gently but firmly extracted himself from her embrace and immediately moved toward the door. "Come on, girls."
"Bye, Grandpa!" Nappi called to Dr. Briefs, waving enthusiastically.
"Goodbye, sweetheart," Dr. Briefs said warmly. Then he looked at Goku. "Take care of them, son."
"Yeah. See you, Doc."
Goku practically fled out the door, the girls and Panchy following behind.
Once outside, he pulled out the capsule Bulma had given him and threw it. With a *poof*, the car materialized.
"Everyone in," he said quickly.
Panchy climbed into the passenger seat while Goku helped both girls into the back and made sure they were buckled in. Then he slid into the driver's seat and started the engine immediately.
As they pulled away from Capsule Corp, Panchy turned to look at him.
"You okay~? You seem tense."
"I'm fine."
"Did he say something weird again?"
"Define weird."
She giggled. "He does that. He's very... open about things."
"Too open," Goku muttered.
In the back seat, Nappi and Mina were already chatting happily.
Goku drove faster than necessary.
He just wanted to get home.
---
Evening
The car pulled into the driveway and everyone piled out. The usual chaos of arriving home, bags dropped, shoes kicked off, the girls scattering in different directions.
Panchy headed straight to the kitchen, tying her apron on as she went. "I'll help with dinner~!"
Mai and Chi-Chi were already there, preparing ingredients. The three of them moved around the kitchen, chopping vegetables, stirring pots.
In the living room, Goku dropped onto the couch with a heavy sigh. Almost immediately, two small figures climbed up on either side of him.
Mina on his left. Nappi on his right.
They pressed close, warm and comfortable.
"Go put on your pajamas," Goku said after a moment, not moving. "Both of you."
"But Papa—" Nappi started.
"Now."
"Okay..." They slid off the couch reluctantly and padded toward the stairs.
Goku leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
Roshi's words echoed in his head.
*"Why do you seek strength?"*
Even now, he didn't have a real answer.
But he knew this much: since arriving in this world, danger kept appearing. Threats kept getting stronger.
He wanted to maintain the advantage. Stay ahead. Because if he didn't know what was coming, and he never did, then he couldn't afford to take risks.
Not anymore.
Not with them here.
A door slammed.
Lunch stumbled down the stairs from the training room level, completely drenched in sweat, breathing hard. Behind her came Kakarot and Rori, both looking energized despite the workout.
"Helped Mom train!" Rori announced proudly.
Kakarot spotted Goku and immediately launched herself at the couch, landing in his lap with zero regard for personal space.
"Kakarot. Shower first," Goku said, leaning back to avoid her sweaty hair in his face.
"But—"
"Shower. First."
She groaned but climbed off, following Lunch and Rori toward the bathroom.
Dinner Time.
"FOOD'S READY!"
The call echoed through the mansion. Within seconds, the sound of small feet thundering down stairs and through hallways filled the air.
The dining room had a large round table, Goku's specific request. No cornersl.
The plates were enormous. Piled high with food.
Goku sat with all five daughters around him, the mothers filling in the gaps between.
Rori started eating immediately, shoveling food into her mouth.
"Rori, slow down," Chi-Chi said. "You'll choke."
"'M fine!" Rori said through a mouthful of rice.
Gohana ate with perfect manners, cutting everything into precise pieces. Bula ate similarly, slow, methodical, clean.
Nappi somehow managed to get sauce on her cheek within thirty seconds.
"How do you even—" Bulma started, reaching over with a napkin.
Mina ate quietly, sitting between Mai and Goku, occasionally glancing at her father to make sure he was still there.
"Papa, watch this!" Nappi held up a piece of broccoli with her tail.
"Very impressive," Goku said dryly.
"I can do that too!" Rori immediately grabbed food with her tail.
"Girls, no," Chi-Chi said firmly. "Tails are not utensils."
"But it's practical!" Rori protested.
"I don't care if it's practical, it's not sanitary!"
Gohana looked at her sisters with visible disapproval. "Mother is correct. Proper table manners are—"
"Oh, shut up, Gohana," Bula muttered.
"Bulma!" Chi-Chi snapped. "Don't tell her to shut up!"
"I'm Bula, not Bulma."
"I know who you are!"
Kakarot just kept eating.
Panchy smiled serenely. "Isn't this nice~? Everyone together~"
"Nappi just dropped her fork," Bulma pointed out.
"Again?!" Panchy looked down. "Sweetie, that's the third time."
"Sorry, Mama!" Nappi climbed under the table to retrieve it.
Goku watched all of this.
After dinner and cleanup, everyone migrated to the living room.
Goku claimed his usual spot on the couch. Within seconds, all five daughters swarmed him.
Rori on his lap. Mina tucked under his left arm. Nappi under his right. Bula sitting on the armrest. Gohana sitting primly on the floor in front of him.
The mothers filled in around them.
Panchy had picked the movie. Something animated and colorful.
Within twenty minutes, Nappi was asleep, drooling slightly on Goku's shoulder.
Within thirty, Mina's eyes were drooping.
Rori lasted the longest, fighting sleep with everything she had, but even she eventually lost the battle.
When the credits rolled, Goku carefully extracted himself from the pile of sleeping children.
"Bedtime," he announced quietly.
One by one, he carried them upstairs. The mothers helped, each taking their daughter to their respective rooms.
Gohana insisted on walking herself, of course.
Before bed, each girl got a hug from their father.
"Goodnight, Papa."
"Night, Gohana."
"Night night, Papa!"
"Night, Nappi."
"Sleep good, Papa."
"You too, Mina."
Even half-asleep Rori mumbled, "'Night, Papa."
"Night, Rori."
Bula just hugged him without words.
"Goodnight, Bula."
Goku walked down the hallway and pushed open the door to Mai's bedroom. It was her turn tonight, they rotated, always had. Kept things fair.
He pulled off his shirt and climbed into bed, settling against the headboard.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
Mai stepped in, closing it softly behind her. She wore a light nightrobe, tied loosely at the waist. She'd been expecting this. Anticipating it.
She climbed onto the bed and curled up next to him, her head resting on his chest.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
"Why are you acting weird recently?"
Goku glanced down at her. "Weird how?"
"You know how." She lifted her head to look at him. "You're... distant. More than usual. I noticed."
He was quiet.
"I'm confused," he said.
She sat up slightly. "About what?"
"You know I'm not from here."
Her expression shifted, something guarded, almost flustered.
"I know you know," Goku said quietly. "Since that day. When I made the wish. You figured it out, didn't you?"
She stared at him, her face flushing. "I... you were born here, Goku. You were born and raised here. You just have memories of a past life. That's it. That's all it is."
He looked at her in silence.
She leaned forward and kissed him.
Soft at first. Then deeper. Tender and sensual, trying to prove a point through touch alone.
*These lips. This body. This is yours.*
Goku's hands came up, gripping her shoulders. He pulled her back, breaking the kiss with a soft *pop*.
Mai's eyes opened, confused. "Goku—"
He moved her to the side, putting space between them.
"Why did you—"
The door opens.
"Mama? Papa?"
The door cracked open.
A small figure stood in the doorway, backlit by the hallway light. Long black hair. Tiny hands clutching a stuffed animal.
"Can I sleep with you?"
Mai froze. Then she understood.
He'd heard her coming.
"No, Mina," Mai started, her voice slightly strained. "You have to sleep in your own—"
"Come here, Mina," Goku said.
Mina's face lit up. She padded over to the bed and climbed up onto Goku's side.
Mai crossed her arms, looking away. "It was my turn," she muttered.
Goku lifted Mina and placed her between them, her small body nestled in the space where Mai had just been.
Mina smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. She was exactly where she wanted to be, safe between her parents.
"Mama, Papa, I had a dream about—"
And she started talking. The way four-year-olds do, jumping between topics, asking random questions, telling nonsense stories that somehow made perfect sense to her.
Goku listened to every word.
His hand rested on her tiny arm, thumb rubbing slow circles on her soft skin. His focus was completely on her, the rise and fall of her voice, the way her hands moved when she got excited, the way her tail curled around his wrist.
Mai watched him.
She saw the way he looked at their daughter. The way he touched her so gently. The way he was completely absorbed.
And she smiled.
Mina's voice grew quieter. Slower. Her eyes drooped.
Goku kept rubbing her arm, lulling her to sleep.
Finally, her little hand stopped moving. It rested on his, her tiny fingers curling around one of his larger ones.
She was asleep.
"Goku," Mai whispered.
He looked at her.
"That's why you have to forget about your past world," she said quietly. "You shouldn't have made them if you weren't willing to stay. So answer me honestly, would you leave them? Would you leave her?" She gestured to Mina. "If you had the chance to go back... would you?"
Goku looked down at Mina's hand.
Her tiny fingers gripping his finger so tightly, even in sleep. Trusting. Safe.
Goku lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss to it.
He reached his other arm across and pulled Mai closer, wrapping both of them in his embrace.
"I'll forget about it," he said quietly.
Mai's eyes closed, relief flooding through her.
She settled against him, Mina warm and safe between them.
"Promise?" Mai whispered.
---
Early Morning.
Goku's eyes opened.
Soft morning light filtered through the curtains. On his left, Mina was curled up against him, her small hand still gripping his shirt. On his right, Mai had her arm draped across his chest.
He carefully extracted himself from both of them, moving slowly so as not to wake them.
Goku stood, grabbed his clothes, and headed for the shower.
Downstairs, Panchy was already awake, humming cheerfully as she prepared breakfast. She wore a light apron over her nightgown, her blonde hair still messy from sleep.
Goku walked in, and she immediately turned and kissed him.
"Good morning~"
"Morning," he said.
"Oh! Don't forget, we have a picnic today," Panchy said brightly. "It's all planned out. The girls are so excited!"
Goku paused mid-sip. "Right. The picnic."
"You're coming, right?" She looked at him with those wide, expectant eyes.
"I have something to do first," he said. "I'll come join you there after."
"Promise?"
"Yeah. I promise."
She smiled, satisfied, and went back to cooking.
Goku finished his coffee, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door.
He had something he needed to handle.
Someone he needed to see.
Goku shot upward into the sky, ki propelling him forward at incredible speed. Clouds parted around him. The ground became a distant blur below.
His destination, Kami's Lookout.
After several minutes of flight, the massive tower came into view, a pillar stretching impossibly high into the sky.
Goku slowed his ascent, landing on the platform at the top.
Korin was there, as always, a white cat with a walking stick, currently purring contentedly with his eyes closed.
"What's up, Korin."
The cat's eyes shot open. He jumped, letting out a startled yowl.
"GAH! Son Goku!" Korin clutched his chest. "I didn't sense your ki at all! You spooked me!"
He took a moment to catch his breath, then his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
*His ki control is incredible,* Korin thought. *He can suppress it completely. I couldn't feel him approaching at all. How a mortal reach such a level of mastering...?*
"I just came to say hi," Goku said casually.
A bead of sweat rolled down Korin's furry head. "...That's it?"
"Yep."
"Not going up there?" Korin gestured upward with his staff.
"I am."
"Then why—" Korin stopped himself. "Wait. Is this about what happened? With Kami?"
Goku turned and started floating upward. "No."
And he blasted off toward the Lookout, leaving Korin staring after him.
"That boy..." Korin muttered, shaking his head.
---
Meanwhile, Far Away.
A ball of fire tore through Earth's atmosphere.
It screamed downward at impossible speed, flames trailing behind it like a comet. The friction with the air created a sonic boom that echoed across the countryside.
*CRASH!*
The impact shook the ground for miles. Dirt and rock exploded outward, creating a massive crater in the middle of farmland.
Smoke billowed into the sky.
A chubby man with a mustache stood frozen on his porch, staring at the smoke rising from his field.
"What in the—?!"
He panicked. Meteor? UFO?!
He grabbed his rifle from inside the house, jumped into his truck, and drove as fast as he could toward the crater.
When he reached the edge, he stopped the truck and climbed out carefully, rifle raised.
He approached the crater and looked down.
There, at the bottom, was a white spherical pod. Perfectly intact despite the violent landing. Steam hissed from vents along its surface.
Then, with a loud *hiss*, it depressurized.
The door opened.
The farmer jumped back, his finger tightening on the trigger.
A hand gripped the edge of the pod's opening. Pale. Strong.
Someone climbed out.
The first thing he saw was hair, long, impossibly long, spiking backward like wild flames.
Then she stood.
Tall. Athletic and powerful, every muscle defined and purposeful.
She wore armor, shoulder pads. Beneath it, a black form-fitting bodysuit with high leg cuts that showed her toned thighs. Combat boots. Gloves.
Her face was cold. Beautiful in a sharp, dangerous way. Like a blade. A soldier.
She turned her head slowly, scanning her surroundings with calculating eyes.
Then she looked up.
And saw the farmer.
In one smooth motion, she leaped and landed directly in front of him.
She towered over him, looking down with those cold, emotionless eyes.
"So this world's inhabitants are still alive..." she said, her voice low and sharp.
"Damn you, Kakarot."
On the side of her face, attached to her ear, was a device with a green visor covering her left eye. It beeped suddenly, numbers scrolling rapidly across the display.
It stopped.
She smirked, looking down at the farmer.
"A power level of 5?" She laughed, cold and mocking. "What a pathetic planet."
The farmer raised his rifle with shaking hands. "D-don't come any closer! Or I'll shoot!"
Panic took over. His finger squeezed the trigger.
*BANG!*
The bullet flew toward her face at point-blank range.
Her hand moved, so fast the farmer didn't even see it, and caught the bullet between two fingers.
The farmer's eyes went wide.
She flicked her thumb.
*PING!*
The bullet shot back at him, hitting him. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"Feh." She stepped over his body without a second glance. "A planet of weaklings."
Her scouter beeped again.
She looked at the display. Her eyes widened.
"Someone powerful is nearby... Distance: 4,880 meters."
A grin spread across her face.
She shot into the sky, ki exploding beneath her, rocketing toward the signal.
"KAKAROT!!!"
In the distance, far from any city or town, Piccolo stood alone.
He was meditating, or perhaps farming, it was hard to tell with him. His eyes were closed, arms crossed, cape billowing dramatically in the wind.
Then, like lightning through his body, he felt it.
His eyes snapped open.
He turned his head sharply toward the east.
"Something powerful is approaching... and fast!"
A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Could it be... no. It's not Son Goku. Maybe... Kakarot?"
Then he saw her.
A figure cutting through the sky at incredible speed. Long spiking hair flowing behind her like a banner.
She landed in front of him with a heavy *thud*.
"Feh." She looked him up and down with clear disappointment. "You're not Kakarot."
Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "And just who are you? Do you have business with me?"
"No. Not with the likes of you."
His jaw tightened. "Then why are you here?! Do you have a death wish?!"
She just smiled.
"Hehehehe... You're a feisty one, aren't you?"
She clicked a button on the side of her scouter. It beeped, numbers scrolling.
"Let's see... A power level of 322. That's more than I expected on this rock." She smirked. "But you're still nothing compared to me."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Piccolo's voice boomed. "Do you have ANY idea who you're talking to?!"
"Should I care?"
She stared at him with that same cold smirk.
He thrust his palm forward.
"HAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
A massive ki wave exploded from his hand, tearing across the ground, disintegrating rocks in its path. It crashed into her with the force of an artillery strike.
The explosion was massive. The shockwave blasted outward, rocks flying, dust filling the air.
Piccolo stood there, breathing hard, waiting.
The smoke cleared.
She was still standing.
Her hair had blown back slightly. There was a tiny smudge of dirt on her cheek.
She wiped it away with one finger.
"A lovely dust show," she said, still smirking. "If that was your intention."
Piccolo's eyes went wide. His body froze.
*Impossible...*
"Is it my turn yet?" She raised her hand lazily. "How would you like to see some real strength?"
Her scouter beeped again, frantically this time.
She shot upward immediately, her head snapping toward a new direction.
"An even greater power nearby... Distance: 12,909 meters. What a massive power level... the greatest on this planet!" Her eyes blazed with anticipation. "Could it be... KAKAROT?!"
She blasted off, leaving a sonic boom in her wake.
Piccolo dropped to his knees, shaking.
"Unbelievable..." he gasped. "I was frozen... in fear."
The female warrior tore through the air at maximum speed, her face twisted into a grin mixed with fury.
"Have you gone and lost your pride?!" she shouted into the wind. "The pride of a Saiyan warrior?!"
Her fists clenched.
"KAKAROT!!!"
---
Kame House.
The small island was alive with activity.
Roshi's humble home was surrounded by people, Goku's wives, his daughters, and his old friends. Krillin, Yamcha, and Oolong.
Puar floated nearby.
"This is nice!" Bulma said, setting down a cooler. "When was the last time we all got together like this?"
"Too long," Chi-Chi agreed, organizing food on a table.
The five daughters ran around the island, tails swaying behind them, playing tag and laughing.
Krillin watched them with a warm smile. "Man, it's been so long since I've seen them! They've grown so much!"
Bula looked at him with that characteristic smirk. "Of course we grew. That's what children do. It's a natural biological process."
Everyone stared at her.
"Bula!" Gohana snapped, walking over with her hands on her hips. "Shut up and respect your elders!"
"Don't tell me to shut up."
"I just did."
Roshi chuckled, adjusting his sunglasses. "Gohana, huh? That's a lovely name."
Chi-Chi beamed with pride. "We named her after Goku's grandfather, Gohan. But with a feminine touch. 'Ohana' means 'a flower.' Strong but gentle."
"Very… fitting," Roshi said.
Krillin leaned against the grill, still watching the girls play. "But hey, how come it's only girls? No boys at all?"
Bulma shrugged. "Guess Goku just makes daughters."
"Five in a row though? That's gotta be some kind of—"
Kakarot's head snapped up.
Her entire body went rigid.
Everyone noticed immediately.
"Kakarot?" Bulma asked. "What's wrong?"
Kakarot's eyes were locked on the sky, her pupils dilated. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple despite the cool ocean breeze.
"Something's coming," she said, her voice low and tense.
"What?" Krillin stepped forward. "What do you mean?"
"A ki..." Kakarot's fists clenched. "It's monstrous. It's... strong."
The playful atmosphere evaporated instantly.
Roshi stood up from his chair. Yamcha too. Oolong hid behind Puar.
Then they saw it.
A figure descending from the sky at incredible speed.
She landed directly in front of them.
The shockwave from her landing kicked up sand and wind. Everyone shielded their eyes.
When the dust settled, she stood there.
Tall. Imposing. Cold eyes scanning them all like they were insects.
And she was smiling.
"So we finally get to meet."
She looked directly at Kakarot.
"You've certainly grown up, haven't you? But I could still recognize you at first glance." Her smile widened. "You look just like your mother."
Kakarot's eyes went wide. "Huh?!"
"What's she talking about?" Krillin whispered, positioning himself protectively in front of the group. "And who the hell is she?"
The mothers immediately moved.
They all moved behind Kakarot, Krillin, and Yamcha.
The warrior woman's eyes swept over them all with cold amusement.
"Kakarot," she said, her tone shifting to something darker. "What's with the condition of this planet?"
Kakarot stared at her, confused.
"Your mission," the warrior continued, "was to exterminate their species."
"What...?" Bulma breathed.
"Exterminate?" Chi-Chi repeated, her voice shaking.
Krillin stepped forward, his jaw set. "Hey! I don't know who you think you are, but you need to scram! Now!"
"KRILLIN! DON'T APPROCHE HER!" kakarot shouted.
The warrior didn't even look at him.
Her belt moved.
*CRACK!*
Something lashed out, too fast to see clearly, and Krillin was sent flying across the island like a ragdoll, crashing through the wall of Roshi's house with a thunderous impact.
"KRILLIN!!!" Yamcha shouted.
Everyone froze in horror.
Then they saw it.
Behind the warrior woman, swaying lazily in the breeze...
A tail.
Brown. Furry. Exactly like Goku's. Exactly like Kakarot's. Exactly like the five daughters'.
All eyes went wide.
Bulma's hand flew to her mouth. "She has... a tail..."
"Just like Goku," Chi-Chi whispered.
Only Goku and his family had tails. Only them.
Meanwhile, Several Hundred Kilometers Away.
Another ball of fire tore through Earth's atmosphere.
It screamed downward at the same impossible speed, flames trailing behind it, the sonic boom echoing across empty landscape.
*CRASH!*
The impact shook the ground. Dirt and rocks exploded outward, creating another massive crater.
The white spherical pod sat at the bottom, smoking and hissing.
Then, with a loud *hiss*, it depressurized.
The door opened.
A figure climbed out.
She had long, spiky hair, wild. Unlike the first warrior's cold, soldier-like demeanor, this one looked... different.
Younger, looks same age as Goku. More open. Less armor, more casual clothing beneath her light battle gear.
And she was smiling.
A bright, excited smile.
She looked around at the landscape, the trees, the sky, the distant mountains, and her smile widened.
"So!" she said aloud, voice full of energy. "This is where Goku is from!"
She clenched her fists in front of her, practically bouncing with anticipation.
"I can't wait to find him! I have too!"
She shot into the sky, blasting off toward the nearest source of civilization, a village in the distance.
Her ki signature was powerful.
---
One Hour Earlier, Kami's Lookout
Far above the Earth. Goku touched down on the pristine white tiles.
Waiting for him, standing at the edge of the platform, was Kami.
Beside him stood Mr. Popo, when Goku's eyes met Mr. Popo's, the attendant looked away.
"Son Goku," Kami said, his voice aged but strong. "It's been a while. Korin just informed me of your arrival."
Goku walked forward slowly, hands sliding into his pockets. His footsteps were quiet against the white stone.
He stopped a few feet away from Kami, looking up at the old guardian.
The wind blew gently across the Lookout.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Goku broke the silence.
"Kami," he said, his voice even. "I have a question."