The hangar was rubble now. Metal beams bent like twigs, smoke rising in thick plumes as ki blasts carved through the air.
"HYAAAA!" Gotenks darted forward, his aura flaring in chaotic bursts of gold and blue. He slammed a fist into one Buu's chest, sending the monster skidding across the debris.
Piccolo followed up, his fists a blur, driving another Buu into the cracked wall. "Stay on them! Don't give them a second to breathe!"
"Like they need to breathe," Gotenks muttered, whipping his head around as the third Buu cackled, stretching his arm like a whip. He twisted midair, blasting it apart before it could coil around him.
The three Buus laughed in unison, voices overlapping like a discordant choir.
"You think this is enough? Heeheehee…"
Gotenks gritted his teeth. "Damn it! They just keep regenerating!"
Piccolo's eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. The way they fought… like this was only a game. His gut twisted. They're stalling.
Above them, shockwaves rattled the broken hangar frame, bursts of ki illuminating the smoke like lightning. Gotenks launched a massive energy sphere, slamming it into the trio. The explosion lit the sky, tearing through the ruins.
When the dust cleared—three Buus still stood. Bruised, but grinning.
Piccolo's fist tightened. "…This isn't right."
Far above the battlefield, the stolen ship hurtled through the upper atmosphere. Flames streaked its hull as it cut through the last barrier of Earth's sky.
Bulma clutched the controls, knuckles white. "Engines stable… trajectory locked. We're breaking orbit." She exhaled sharply, sweat trickling down her temple. "Please don't fall apart now…"
A soft chuckle echoed behind her.
Bulma froze, her breath catching. Slowly, she turned.
There he was. Buu. Sitting casually in the co-pilot's seat, one leg crossed over the other, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the cockpit.
"Excellent work, Bulma," he said. "Smooth takeoff. You really are the best."
Her stomach dropped. "W-what…? But you— you're supposed to be—"
"Fighting down there?" Buu finished for her, grinning ear to ear. "Oh, those? Just clones. Enough to keep your friends busy."
Bulma's face went pale. "You tricked them…"
"Of course I did." His tone was playful, but the weight of it pressed on her like a mountain. "Did you really think I'd waste time against Gotenks and Piccolo? No, no… I play smarter than that."
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Besides… this way, you and I can take the trip without distractions."
The ship jolted, breaking free of Earth's pull. Stars stretched out ahead, an endless black canvas dotted with light.
Bulma swallowed hard, refusing to let the tremor in her hands show. "…And what happens when we get to Namek?"
Buu's grin widened, his reflection glimmering against the cockpit glass like a demon in pink.
'It sure is difficult being the villain… but just a little longer, and this will end.'
-Author here: Oh shit... Here we go again (let's see who catches the reference). I've seen your suggestions, and one thing in particular stood out. Should Buu get a human form? If yes, whose body do you think would fit best? Maybe even an anime character?