Chapter 42: A Sky-High Showdown

As Goku flew toward Muscle Tower, the Red Ribbon Army's radar picked up his approach. The Red Ribbon commander, General Red, immediately issued orders, sending his men to intercept Goku before he could reach their stronghold. Soon, Goku noticed several dark dots approaching on the horizon. Squinting, he saw the Red Ribbon jets cutting through the sky, trailing smoke and ready to engage.

Inside the flying fortress, Bulma caught sight of the advancing jets on the radar. She quickly manned the ship's defenses, activating lasers and missile launchers to counter the attack.

Goku, however, didn't want to see such a beautiful fortress get damaged, especially with Bulma onboard. Without calling for Nimbus, he stepped outside the fortress himself. He took a deep breath, activated his flying technique, and soared into the air, giving the incoming jets a fierce look.

The jets started firing their machine guns and missiles at him, but Goku's instincts kicked in, and he began dodging effortlessly. He weaved through the sky, the bullets and missiles whizzing past him, leaving only his afterimages in their path. Then, with a smirk, Goku began to retaliate.

In quick succession, he shot out a hundred or so small energy blasts toward the jets. The Red Ribbon pilots tried to dodge the blasts, performing complex maneuvers, but Goku's ki attacks homed in on them like guided missiles. One by one, the jets exploded in midair, leaving a fiery trail across the sky.

To Goku's relief, each pilot managed to escape with parachutes just in time. General Red, among them, scowled as he descended from the parachute. However, Goku wasn't about to let him off too easily.

Using a touch of his magic materialization skill, he summoned a small but bright lighter. With a playful grin, he floated up to General Red and lit the lighter beneath his parachute. "Hope we don't meet again!" Goku said with a wink, as the parachute began to burn.

General Red screamed as he frantically worked to put out the flames, all while Goku zoomed back to the flying fortress. Confident he'd taught them a lesson, he returned to Bulma's side with a grin. Bulma had watched the battle through the fortress window, amazed at Goku's power and agility.

"Wow, Goku! You could give any air force a run for their money," Bulma laughed. "But thanks for saving the fortress! I'd hate to see it get all messed up."

"Eh, it's no big deal," Goku shrugged, a little bashful. "I didn't want to ruin the fun of flying around in this awesome ship!"

Once inside, Goku and Bulma made quick repairs to the damage caused by the jets. Bulma monitored the controls, and as they flew higher, she noticed a sudden chill creeping into the fortress. Goosebumps prickled her arms, and she shivered despite herself.

"Goku, it's freezing!" she complained, wrapping her arms around herself.

Goku quickly used his magic materialization to make a bundle of cozy, warm clothes for Bulma. Grateful, she slipped into the warm layers, feeling much better. She also turned on the ship's heater, and soon the warmth seeped through the cabin, allowing her to relax.

"This place is getting more comfortable by the minute!" Bulma said, sighing contentedly.

After a short while, the radar signaled they were closing in on the next Dragon Ball. Bulma pointed out the location, but when she noticed the freezing landscape below, her expression soured.

"Uh-uh, no way am I going out there in that cold!" Bulma protested, pulling her coat tighter around herself. "You'll have to get the Dragon Ball on your own, Goku."

Goku chuckled. "Fine by me! I'll be quick." And exited the fortress, braving the cold air. As he moved through the snowy terrain, he spotted a quaint pink house nestled among the snowdrifts. The sight sparked a memory from his anime-inspired knowledge—Suno's house!

Grinning with excitement, he knocked on the door, eager to meet the kind-hearted family from his memories. Suno's mother opened the door, her face a mix of surprise and worry as she eyed the stranger standing in the snow.

"Who are you, young man? And what brings you out here in this weather?" she asked, her voice gentle yet cautious.

Goku bowed politely. "I'm Goku! I heard about some trouble with the Red Ribbon Army around here, so I thought I'd help out," he said, his eyes twinkling with his usual enthusiasm.

Suno's mother's eyes softened, and she motioned for him to come inside. "It's freezing out here. Come in, come in!" she insisted. Once inside, Goku felt the warmth of the house envelop him, along with the comforting smell of soup simmering on the stove.

Just then, Suno herself appeared, her red hair framing her wide, curious eyes. Goku smiled at her, his mischievous side surfacing as he remembered the funny scenes from the anime. "You look really cute, Suno, I always want a little sister like you" he blurted, reaching out to pinch her cheeks lightly.

Suno blushed, looking flustered but pleased. "Uh, thanks… I think?" she murmured, rubbing her cheek as she looked away shyly.

Clearing her throat, Suno's mother told Goku about the recent troubles. "The Red Ribbon Army has been forcing the villagers to help them search for something. They've been taking everyone who resists."

Goku nodded, feigning innocence even though he'd already sensed the location of the Red Ribbon soldiers. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. But thanks for telling me! And, uh… you have any more soup? It smells amazing!" he asked with a big grin.