The Beginning of the End; Goku defeated!?

By the time he awoke Goku discovered that a whole two weeks had passed since his climatic battle with the Red-Ribbon army, yet he and Bulma had remained in Jingle village for his recovery. Presently, the blue-haired genius was snoring away on the couch of Lapis and Lazuli's home while Goku could be found seated at their kitchen table staring at his hands.

Flexing his fingers under the dull light of the stove, the martial-arts champion was doing his best to recall what had happened after Muscle Tower exploded. When he'd finally opened his eyes, Bulma had let him know she'd found him unconscious and bloody, yet with no memory of the actual battle Goku was forced to accept that he'd lost control again.

And that angered the boy.

In a way, those victories he'd gained hadn't truly been his, and this train of thought made the alien warrior upset. How could he claim to be the greatest, or to even be this world's champion, if he wasn't winning!?

But then...as the snoring on the couch hitched, and Bulma rolled over in her sleep, Goku began to let his mind drift towards another worry he'd had; one the boy had tried to push aside since he'd nearly beaten Krillin into the ground. What would happen to Bulma, or even Lazuli, if he lost control again? They'd been the first two people to show him true kindness after Gohan's death, and while he may not have known her as long imagining Lazuli's pained face pricked at something in Goku's core.

She pushed his buttons, of that there was no doubt, but so did Bulma and in the end both girls only did it because it was in their nature to do so; it was their way of getting him to react. Being so removed from civilization for such a long time had left Goku a bit blind to social norms or ques, but he was more than smart enough to catch on quick, and what he was finding out about his two female...friends made the alien's tail squirm with an emotion Goku was almost completely unfamiliar with.

They liked him, and this, it made the boy...happy.

Bulma and Lazuli knew what he was, had seen what he was capable of and witnessed what could happen should the boy lose control, yet despite this the pair continued to desire his company. They sought him out, engaged in conversation, stood by him in the face of certain danger! It was something Goku had never experienced in his short life, as even Gohan for all his kindness had been wary of the boy he chose to raise.

But them, two simple human girls, had chosen him to be their friend; Bulma had even helped pinpoint a proper birthday, through use of what she called 'science'. They'd discovered he was, in fact thirteen by the time of his competing in the tournament rather than twelve!

And yet, this comradarie both elated, and frightened the boy.

It fueled his worries about what could happen if, during a 'black out', he turned on the blue-haired genius. Lazuli's own life being in jeopardy touched a nerve as well, in that Goku worried about scaring away someone who really did seem to want to be around him; a thing even the alien boy himself didn't realize he even wanted!

However such revelations were put on hold when the sound of socked feet hitting the floor drew the wild-haired martial-arts champion's attention and, with a turn of the head, revealed that the very same blonde who'd just been on Goku's mind was now standing in the archway of the kitchen. Swift eyes checked the stove to see that it was an hour before sunrise, which helped make sense of Lazuli's fanciful nightwear and still drooped eyelids.

In all the time he'd spent with Bulma, Goku had never seen the older girl wear anything like the blue ensemble that concealed his newest friend's modesty. It was...light, and made of a very thin fabric that was held up by thin straps settled against creamy shoulders. There were no sleeves, and it stopped right above Lazuli's curved thighs. Onyx eyes could see the way her breasts were cupped gently by this odd outfit, and something began to stir inside of Goku at the sight of two small peaks reacting, unknown to him, to the cold air filtering through the house.

Topped by sleep-tousled hair and cloudy azure eyes, the moment Lazuli realized that she wasn't alone and actually smiled at him, was the moment Goku was truly reminded that boys and girls were very different creatures no matter what planet you were from.

"What are you doing up so early?" There was a hitch in his voice that the boy figure its origin, yet from the new slant to the blonde's smile she knew.

"Ara~ I should be asking you that; shouldn't you still be resting, Kakarot?"

She hadn't meant anything by wearing her camisole to bed that night but, after seeing normally unflappable warrior so effected, Lazuli decided she'd make a point of wearing them for the rest of his stay at Jingle Village. The daughter of former Commander Blue had known her whole life she was attractive, but not until she'd met Kakarot had the girl even considered talking to any member of the opposite sex; they were all weak, spineless losers after all.

But not him.

Kakarot, or 'Goku' as Bulma seemed to call him, was a boy that Lazuli could tell who seemed destined for great things. He was determined, strong, and oh-so-very proud of himself as well as the things he accomplished with his bare hands. That cocky air, in the right doses, mixed with Kakarot's slightly pompous grin had quickly drawn the girl's eye and only pulled that much harder when Lapis told her to stay away from him.

Yet underneath this there seemed to be a person with a heart made for only the fiercest kind of love and a loyalty that would go unmatched. However Lazuli didn't think herself such a goddess that a simple offering of affection would grant her access to such treasures, and understood from watching him that Kakarot was someone she would need to prove herself to and show that she could be counted on to properly care for both the boy as well as his animal inside.

'Although, a little flirting never hurt anyone either~'

Using all the grace she could muster at nearly six in the morning, Lazuli slithered into the kitchen in her best attempt at a glide; though judging by the way those eyes watched her, the blonde decided it was good enough.

Goku did indeed watch as his host slid into the seat closest to him, and consciously had to take control of his tail before it gave away anymore of the boy's nervousness than what was probably shown on his face. Leaning into the table, with his fingers locked, Goku finally managed to answer...

"I was, and I did; for fourteen days apparently. Now though, I need to think."

"About the battle? What's there to think about; you won." Lazuli didn't understand what else there was to wonder, what else could be keeping him up at night, so what the boy said next shocked her.

"But I didn't, and that's the problem, you guys didn't see it but I blacked out again during the fight with Gero. It was just like with Nam; I can't remember a thing. And that means it wasn't me who won."

The blonde's brow furrowed. "You were the only one there, Kakarot, who else could it have been if it wasn't you?"

There was a sense of deja vu then, as he stared into those sharp blue eyes. Even without the cups of coco, and the face was different, but Goku had a memory flash at that moment and it stifled the angry snarl that wanted to snap at Lazuli. She wasn't questioning him so much as trying to understand.

"You saw what happened at the World Tournament, when it was my turn to face that guy who beat you, you saw what...what I did to him? Well, if you asked me, I wouldn't be able to tell you a single thing that happened the whole match; and the same thing happened after I beat your dad. I-I don't know what causes, not really, but whenever I do black out the memories just...aren't there."

"...Like it's someone else fighting," Lazuli finished the unspoken thought.

"And I hate it, because there's no telling what could happen the next time I lose control like that, there's no telling who...who I might hurt."

There was a storm swirling those dark eyes, and as badly as Lapis' sister wanted to quell those thundering clouds she didn't truly know how with having only known Kakarot for such a short time. However, this didn't stop her from trying, and this is how the alien boy discovered that Lazuli's hands really were as soft as they looked.

Nothing was stopping the way Goku's tail tightened around his waist at the contact, though the young teen stifled as sharp gasp at the electric jolt that arced up his arm and sparked something in the alien warrior's brain. Onyx met azure, and the two could feel themselves falling into a whole new universe as their breaths mingled together.

"No matter what happens, I'll always be there to help you; you don't have to figure this all out alone. Even if you hadn't saved Jingle Village, I'd still choose to stand beside you, because it's you...Goku. And nothing, no matter what, will change that; you're stuck with me, mister, so you'd better get used to it."

There was an urge, one Goku had never experienced in his life, welling up inside of him the longer her stared into Lazuli's eyes. So the boy tried to look away, and found his gaze dropping to look at her lips, making him suddenly wonder if they were as soft as they looked...

"AAAAHHH!"

And the the moment was ruined; a ruckus from outside drawing their attention.

The sound of Bulma rolling off the couch and Lapis rushing out from his room were the last two straw needed to get Goku practically flying out of his seat and pulling the Power-Pole from its place at the boy's back. With Lazuli still recovering from the tournament they once again ordered her to stay behind, though this time she was convinced to listen by eyes that now shone like tahitian pearls.

After all, if her safety distracted him, then Goku couldn't focus on winning; and the fact that he would worry was enough to keep the pretty blonde standing in the kitchen while everyone else hurried to see what new trouble had come to Jingle Village.

What they found was...shocking, honestly.

A single man, tall with a head of black hair pulled back into a pig-tail, stood over a villager who was very clearly dead if the whites of his eyes was anything to go by. Their 'guest' was dressed in garb that spoke clearly of martial-arts origin, though his color scheme of pink and blue was unusual for sure, but what truly let everyone know what type of person they were dealing with was the look in the guy's eyes.

They were the eyes of a killer; of someone who had not only seen death, but brought it to the doorsteps of countless men and women throughout his life. The eyes of someone Goku had been searching for.

Whatever soft curve had existed in the boy's own gaze from his talk with Lazuli hardened into sharp corners, and muscles tensed at the thought of finally having a true challenge. Yet, Earth's martial-arts champion held himself back from jumping straight into a scuffle as he did remember the very words that had just past his own lips. He didn't want to lose control again, he wanted to be awake for his victories, and that couldn't happen if Goku allowed himself to get lost under the sea of...lust that came from every slightly difficult battle.

No, he would take this slower, and be more cautious. There was no glory to be had in victories not truly earned, and without true demonstration how could the alien warrior call himself the strongest?

Unfortunately, such things were taken from Goku's control as he locked eyes with this newcomer, and the man called to him.

"Ah, so then the hero appears then? I tried to ask this gentleman here, but the rude fool had the nerve to tell me to get lost, however I can see just from that look; you are the one who destroyed Muscle Tower, aren't you."

It wasn't a question.

"And if I am; what business is it of yours?"

"Then you and I have a problem, boy. The Red-Ribbon were my most profitable client, and now that you've systemically dismantled them there's no one to pay me for my services; I hate not being paid."

Lapis growled at the hook-nosed man as he watched him start to walk towards the house; who the heck did this guy think he was? Jingle Village had just gotten their peace back, and now here this jerk was trying to take it from them again!

"So what," he shouted in a rage. "Why take money from those scum in the first place, unless you're just as dirty as they are!"

Tao scoffed. "I'm nothing like those fool; I'm worse. And unless someone around here pays me the ten-million zeni I am owed in the next five minutes I will destroy this pitiful village with my bare hands...starting with monkey-boy over there."

"You want me, you got me, but we're not gonna fight here! These people have suffered enough; you and I can fight, but when I win you'd better leave this village alone ya got it!?"

Looking over the boy, no doubt a teenager by his mouth, Tao recognized him from the last tournament his brother had watched on television. "Ah, I think I see how you very well may have defeated that fool Blue; you're Kakarot, the winner of the Budokai, aren't you?"

"So you've heard of me," Goku smirked, "and you know what I did to those Red-Ribbon losers, but still want to fight me? That either makes you very brave...or very stupid mister-"

"Tao; and if being confident makes me a fool than so be it. I've killed thousands of men and women twice your age with ten times the experience, so forgive me if I'm not overly impressed by a shiny gold-plated belt. As for that 'army'; I could have killed them myself if I'd wanted, just no one's ever been willing to pay enough."

The mercenary let his hawk-like gaze move between Bulma and Lapis, who both held guns trained on the man, before looking back at Goku. "Your friends don't really think those pitiful weapons will work on someone like me, do they?"

"They just like to stand around for insurance; make sure my opponents don't try to run away. Don't worry though, when we get started they'll be careful to stay out of our way. Sound good enough for you Tao?"

"So long as they know that any interference will see them dead," the grown man shrugged before he swung his arm out towards the area, "now please, lead the way Kakarot. I'm a very busy man, and I'd like to get your demise done swiftly and get back to work."

Goku scoffed before sheathing the Power-Pole and beginning to exit the village.

"Careful Tao; insult me again and you wont have to worry about being 'busy', cause you'll be dead."

xXx

The place he'd chosen was somewhere beyond the range of sight so that Jingle Village wouldn't need to worry about possibly getting caught in the cross-fire of their battle. Now, Goku stared into the eyes of a man who's sole purpose for living was to make money off the deaths of others, and it made him think about what Lazuli had told him at the tournament.

If he wasn't careful, could he wind up like Tao?

The man in question though seemed t have waited long enough for their battle, and made sure his pint-sized opponent knew it.

"We've separated ourselves from the village per your request, boy, so now I'll ask one final time if there's anything else you'd like as a last request before this execution gets underway?"

"Just that you give me your all," Goku copied Tao's shrug before settling into a fighting stance. "I'd hate to have a go with someone who claims to be as strong as you and this turn out to be another disappointment."

Tao smirked, and off to the side Bulma felt herself grow queasy at the sight, but rustling from the forest behind she and Lapis alerted them to a new arrival. One that came in the rebellious form of the boy's twin sister!

"What are you doing here," the blue-haired genius hissed so as not to draw Goku's attention. "I thought you promised you'd stay away!"

"The fact you and mountain-boy really believed her just shows you don't know my sister at all; once she grows to care about someone there's no stopping her. Lazuli probably listened for as long as it took us all to leave the village before following."

"For your information, I waited until you guys were out of sight of the whole village first-"

"It doesn't really matter," Tao interrupted without taking his eyes off of Goku. "It's just more people to witness the fall of Earth's 'strongest fighter'; I'll show you just how much that silly title really means. You wanted my best, Kakarot, but let me remind everyone that it's best to be careful what you wish for!"

Goku wasn't the easiest person to hurt, but when he felt Tao's elbow smash against his nose there was a new definition to the word now.

Stars filled the boy's vision, and it was pure instinct that saw the alien warrior's tail come racing up to catch the mercenaries knife-hand strike, but it was up to Goku to jump away from the grown man's heel as it came down in a vicious kick. From there it was a game of cat-and-mouse, and for the first time in his whole life...Goku was the mouse. It was strange, infuriating, to be put on the defensive but it was all he could do just to keep up!

"Please," Tao chuckled as his barrage continued, "don't tell me this is all you've got champion; those tournaments really are a waste of time if this is the type of fighter they give the belt to."

Even as he felt the wind pressure slice into his cheek Goku tried his best to keep himself from letting those taunts get to him. The boy's tail had begun to tingle, forcing the alien warrior to keep it wrapped around his waist, and the bruises covering skin showed off how much harder the match had become as a result. A spin-kick nearly took Goku's head off and the wild-haired martial-artist barely put up a cross-block as Tao's palm came rushing forward next.

"Grah!"

The sheer force of that attack sent him flying through the air but, this time there was no nimble recovery, and spittle flew from Goku's lips as he slammed against the trunk of a tree. Barely managing to stay stumbling on his feet, the spiky-haired boy grunted as the pain his arms made him nauseous.

'T-This guy...he's...different from the others. That hit, I-I've never felt anything like it; what sort of human is he!?'

Off on the sidelines Lapis was scowling as he watched the other boy prop himself up on his knees, and as he looked on at the one who'd defeated his father Lapis turned to Bulma with harsh eyes.

"What's Kakarot doing; why is he messing around? That guy's being doing all the damage since the fight started, when is your friend going to start taking things seriously?"

But Bulma wasn't in any position to answer. With hands wrapped around her mouth and tears brimming at the corners of the young woman's eyes, Goku's first friend was seeing something that she'd never believed could be possible...and it frightened her.

"I-I don't think Goku is playing, brother, I think...I think this guy might actually be too strong, even for him."

xXx

And as the two girls began to feel fear that their friend may have finally met his match, Pilaf and his pair of followers were sweating bullets as they stared at the battered old rice cooker they'd finally managed to get their hands on after so long.

"Um...sire, I-I just wanna ask again that you are absolutely sure this is what you wanna do," Mai gulped as she eyed the ratty old kitchen appliance. "Because you know that, i-if we open this, there's no going back."

"I am aware of that you fool," the disgusting little imp snarled, "but how else do you two fools think I'll be able to regain my former glory!? It took me my whole life to amass the grand stature you both were hired into, and now with it all destroyed by some...child there's no time left for me to start over! Every last cent, every last connection and favor went into securing this damned pot so yes Mai I am sure!"

But even still the trio found that none of them could move; none of them could do it.

They'd all heard the stories, and Pilaf had even visited the sight of that climactic battle that had sealed the demon away. Even now, forty years after the trip, he could remember the pure evil that permeated the air and nearly suffocated him with its intensity. Grass had refused to grow and trees stood barren as even wildlife dared not even step foot in that place.

The Demon King's power was no myth.

He had been real; he was real. A being of unfathomable might, capable of wiping out whole cities with a flick of his wrist. The whole world still flinched at the very mention of his name!

...and this power, now rested in the hands of a grumpy little imp.

Could he really control it? Did he truly have what it took, to keep this mad fiend in line with what Pilaf himself desired? Truly, he did not know, but the ugly little creature decided then and there that he never would have gotten anywhere in life if he'd simply let fear of the unknown rule his life!

Yet as he snatched up that rice cooker and ripped the top off Pilaf was reminded of an even older story, about a foolish girl and a box, and how she'd doomed the entire world with her foolishness.

xXx

How many years had it been, since he had last breathed fresh air, or felt the wind on his face; Piccolo did not know. Yet it must have been many, because the hand that was stretched out before him was old and wrinkled, and he could feel the loss of power that came from countless days of being sealed away.

Clawed fingers curled into a fist, and purple blood oozed as their tips pierced the leathery flesh of Piccolo's palm. Just thinking about that damned old man, and his disgusting, cowardly technique set the Demon King's entire being on fire. He grew hot with rage, and large yellow eyes bulged as they filled with fury; how dare that pathetic human stand in his way!

A rush then, of power untapped for so long, and the very earth beneath his feet shook from the pressure. Cracks splintered across the land and clouds began to gather as a scorching tornado of aura swirled up and around Piccolo's towering frame, yet even as the harsh winds began and whipped at the elderly conqueror's cloak he snarled.

This was not his power; not even close! The hands of time had stolen from that which made him mighty, age sucked the very essence of strength from his bones, and whatever paltry amount remained was likely to be lucky enough to demolish a single city let alone lay waste to all of mankind!

Oh, he could still do it, with the help of children all the world could be made to kneel before the might of Piccolo Daimyo once more; but this was not enough! The Demon King wanted to crush every last spec of hope those pathetic fools had with his own bare hands, and he couldn't do that as an old man!

But then...perhaps, he wouldn't have to.

That weakling who'd split himself apart, who'd given birth to Earth's greatest plague, had created those wonderful orbs hadn't he? The ones who granted any wish; even the restoration of youth. It didn't matter who gathered the balls, or what their wish, so long as it was within the dragon's power they would have it!

He would have it!

And then the whole world would once again know the unstoppable might of King Piccolo once again!

"AHA-AHAHAHAHAHAHA-"

"Um, excuse me, but...I-I'd like to t-talk to you."

Large, yellow eyes snapped down in search of whoever had just interrupted his scheming and, when they found a grisly little imp sided by a human girl and a dog, Piccolo snarled.

"Who are you; what sort of death wish do you have to interrupt the Demon King!?"

"A-Actually," Pilaf stammered, "I-I'm the one who released you; I am E-Emperor Pilaf, these are Shu and Mai, my a-associates."

"You released me? Not very smart for an Emperor; freeing your competition. Tell me, Pilaf, what's keeping me from vaporizing your pathetic existence from the world of the living? Surely, if you went through the trouble of finding me, then you know who I am."

The nervous little imp wrung his gnarled hands together as he fell under the mocking leer of the world's most terrifying scourge; this was not going how he'd planned.

"I-I do, your most malevolent, a-and that's exactly why I sought your tremendous power; I-I am in need of your...assistance-"

The laugh that echoed through the empty air was cruel and chilled the three to the bone. Even aged by time, King Piccolo was every bit as imposing as his legends foretold.

"Tell me," the vicious giant spat, "what makes you think, now that I've been freed, that I have any intention of simply picking up where I left off and taking this world for myself?"

"A-Ah, but, I-I freed you-"

"Which simply means you'll receive a swift death," Piccolo smirked as he raised his hand, "rather than the long and painful one I'd originally had planned."

Pilaf began to sweat as he fell back onto his haunches in fear. Looking up at the towering green monster, the pitiful little imp had just one last thought as he screamed in terror; he should have never left home.

Off to the side Mai and Shu watched as their 'leader' was turned to cinders before their very eyes, with nothing left but an ashen patch of ruined grass to mark that he'd ever even existed. The young woman felt her heart leap into her throat a moment later when Piccolo turned to look at them.

"N-No," Shu whimpered, "I-I don't wanna die too!"

The talking dog howled and turned to start running away, desperate to save himself, yet this seemed to only excite Piccolo who's eyes began to glow...and then Shu joined Pilaf in the otherworld.

Mai dropped to her knees then, all hope leaving her as she then became the target of this demon's heartless attention. This was it. All of the terrible things she'd done in life, all the lives Mai had taken, it was all about to come back around and complete her circle of violence...

or at least, that's what she thought.

As he turned to wipe away the last living creature to know of his return Piccolo stopped at the last moment, claws raised, and thought about it for a moment. Yes, he knew about the Dragon Balls, but the Demon King didn't know where to find them, and wanted to keep his resurrection a secret until youth had been restored to him. He would need...help.

Just the word alone was enough to turn the monster's stomach, but there was really no way around it at this point. Even the birthing of children could alert the martial-arts community to the return of their world's greatest bane, leaving Piccolo with only this girl to gather the wish granting orbs for him.

It was sickening, but he would make do.

"Tell me, human, I'm sure you've heard of the Dragon Balls before; do you happen to know how to track them down?"

When her imminent doom was thwarted by this one inquiry Mai's eyes widened with hope; a chance to be useful, and escape death. She jumped at the opportunity.

"Y-Yes, Your Most Terrifying, i-in fact I was the one w-who built the radar for Pilaf during h-his search. He...he was originally just going to collect them again to attempt his wish a second time before, w-well, before he thought of you."

"And now he is dead; such things do not interest me, human. All I need is for you to create this device and use it to find all seven balls so that I may make my wish; do this, and I shall allow you to live even after this world becomes mine."

Tears pricked at Mai's eyes as she listened to the bargain, and nodded jerkily in acceptance before telling the fiend that it would take time. "A-And even then, i-it could take at least a full y-year before I can manage t-to get them all for you."

Piccolo wasn't happy about it, not by a long shot, but a single year was well worth it after waiting what felt like an eternity for freedom.

Yes, a single year was nothing, and at the end of that short road would be the beginning of the end for these pitiful humans!

xXx

At the same time, Goku was struggling to gain the upper-hand against Tao as their fight continued on.

The martial-arts champion had tried nearly every trick in his arsenal, but the mercenary seemed able to counter everything Goku threw at him with ease; even the after-image had been rendered useless. So now, barely standing as blood pooled in his mouth, the alien warrior decided that there was only one thing left to do...

the Kamehameha.

If that didn't work, then nothing would.

On the other side of things, Tao was honestly impressed with his opponent; the boy had lasted far longer than any other fighter he'd been contracted to kill. It was almost too bad that the martial-arts champion needed to die, but then Tao thought about all of the money he'd lost on account of this same upstart and those feelings were washed away.

However, as he watched the younger fighter begin a very familiar set of movements, Tao found himself interested enough that he was willing to let things play out just a little longer.

"Ah," he called, "so then you really are a true student of the arts then; to know such a technique at your age. Truly, if you can manage it, I'll be quite impressed Kakarot. Enough so, that I may let you live."

"You'll regret those words," Goku snarled as his entire body tensed as he gathered every last drop of energy the young teen could muster. "I've played this game on your terms long enough Tao, now you'll learn what happens to those who underestimate my strength!"

The mercenary just replied, "We'll see, boy."

Off to the side, Bulma could feel her heart thundering behind her chest while Lazuli found herself unknowingly experiencing the same horrible feeling. The two girls eyes were gleaming with worried tears, and their bodies trembled as the sight of their friend in such a perilous position ate away at their spirits.

'Come on Goku, you can do this!'

Just like during his fight with Roshi, the monkey-tailed martial-artist allowed himself to focus only on the enemy in front of him as the power swelled up inside. A small flame turned into a raging inferno, one that swallowed Goku whole and warmed his entire body to such a degree her was soon sweating. The blood that trickled from every open wound began to hiss and bubble, turning to a crimson mist as a dark orb of energy began to shine brightly between the teen's cupped hands.

"Ka...me...ha...me..."

Dark, narrow eyes widened at the feel of just how powerful this next attack was, and for the first time since their fight had begun Tao felt a twinge of fear in his own heart. How could the kid still have that much power!?

"HA!"

'I-If that hits me straight on I'm finished!'

Immediately the beak-nosed assassin began to build up his own energy within, but instead of forming into an attack the man let the power cover his entire body so as to better ward off the full force of the incoming beam. However it had been done in haste, so even as Tao put up his arms in a cross-block he could feel his body beginning to suffer under Goku's own technique.

The light show was blinding, but once it was over one could see both combatants were heavily battered from their scuffle; something the mercenary could hardly believe.

With nothing but torn trousers remaining from his ensemble Tao could be seen now covered in intense burns as well as numerous openly bleeding sores. Bruises dotted the man's torso and forearms, while a slight bit of color had been added to his face; Tao's right eye had even swelled so much that it had forced itself closed.

But he was still standing.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said about poor Goku. The wild-haired fighter had dropped to his hands and knees, gasping for breath as those muscular arms shook from having to support the boy's weight. Blood dripped from Goku's busted lip, and his own body had long-since suffered a number of contusions of its own, it was easy to see though that last attack had indeed been the alien's last shot at victory.

He was finished.

He...had lost.

"Goku!"

The two girls rushed onto the battlefield at the sight of their shared friend down on the ground; Lazuli wrapping her arms around the clearly exhausted boy while Bulma knelt with tear-filled eyes and kept her pistol trained on Tao.

"Alright, that's enough," the blue-haired genius shouted at him. "If you take even one more step towards him, I'll blow your damn head off; you hear me, not one step!"

"G-Goku," Lazuli whispered hoarsely to the battered form cradled against her chest, "hey, can you hear me? I-It's going to be okay, w-we're not gonna let anything else bad happen to you-"

"No!"

It was strained, and tired, but there was no mistaking the sound of an angry Goku as he pushed himself away from the blonde girl and stumbled to his feet. Pushing past a horrified Bulma, the boy staggered out into the open and glared at the still-standing mercenary.

"I-I won't...I will not run from this! If I...if I c-can't defeat this human here and now then I deserve to die; either I win, or I lose!"

"Goku, no!" Bulma went on to try and convince her friend that he didn't understand what he was talking about, that he needed to get away and rest because the fight was over. But this kept the girl from noticing the way Lazuli now looked at the boy; eyes filled with knowledge, gained from an early morning talk.

Lapis stood off to the side, curious to see what would happen next, sharp blue eyes intense in their intrigue.

"Ha," Tao chuckled as he began to raise his pointed finger. "That's truly quite admirable of you, Kakarot, far beyond the weak cowards I'm usually paid to take from this world; I really am impressed now. So much in fact, that I'll give you a swift death..."

A yellow ball of energy began to build at the tip of the man's outstretched finger, it was slow, but there was no denying what the intent was behind Tao's next move and both girls could now be heard shouting at Goku to come to his senses.

"It truly was an...interesting match, Kakarot, but this is the end; Dodon Ray!"

No one could truly see what happened as the attack came crashing into its intended target, only that when the smoke cleared Goku was on his back with nothing but the whites of his eyes showing and a hideous scorch mark over the thirteen-year-old's heart.

Amid the bellowing cries of his female companions Tao whipped his pig-tail up off his shoulder and then turned to walk away; his vengeance sated.

"Be grateful, fools, that boy's bravado saved you all; had it not been for him, I'd have killed every last villager in my anger. Give him a heroes burial; it's the least you could d—ack!"

It was silenced by the attachment left on during the Red-Ribbon mission, but Bulma's shot rang true in her own righteous fury and hit home in the mercenary's cold, black heart. Ironically, had the man not just used his signature technique, he would have been alert enough to avoid the shot. As it were, however, Tao had been drained to the point of an ordinary man...one with no hope of stopping a bullet.

And so it was, after years of killing and merciless murder, Mercenary Tao met his end; not at the hands of a worthy opponent, but through heart-broken revenge by an angry woman.

But while their enemy bled out mere feet away, the rest of them gathered around the downed martial-arts champion, two pairs of eyes brimming with tears while the third had a brow raised speculatively.

"I don't think our usual treatments will work this time," the male twin grunted. "We're going to need something a bit more...mystical if there's going to be any real chance of saving him you two."

"And just where do you expect us to find something crazy like that," Bulma screeched with tears rolling down her face. "Even with my radar, there's no way we'll get the Dragon Balls together in time Lapis!"

It was Lazuli who answered, "Then we wont use them; we'll have to take him to Korin's Tower."

"T-The what tower?"

"It's a place not too far from here," Lapis explained further, "a tower said to reach so high that it'll take you to the realm of the gods. What my sister seemed to have forgotten is that the foot is guarded by a chosen warrior who's been imbued with the powers of Sacred Water; and there's no telling how they'll react to us even if Kakarot's dying."

"Well," his sister sniffed, "we wont know until we try, will we?"

Bulma had apparently had enough though, because she rounded on the twins with bloodshot eyes filled with rage. "Enough already; if there's any chance that this tower could save Goku's life we're going right now!"

And they did. After Lazuli released the capsule she'd brought from the house, they all piled into the small jet-car and sped off in the direction of Korin's Tower with Lapis doing the navigating. Thanks to Bulma's frantic piloting they made it in record time, though true to the dark-haired boy's warning there was indeed a triangle tent pitched at the bottom of the structure and a very large man seated in front of a small fire next to what could only be his son.

Upon hearing their approach, the mountain of dark-skinned muscle stood and made sure to pick up his spear on the way.

"Who are you; what do you seek coming here?" His voice was thick, and deep, booming through the open air like thunder. "Answer quickly and true, or feel the wrath of Bora the Defender!"

It was Bulma who answered first, making sure to leave her weapon in the car.

"Please, Bora, we've come because our friend is gravely hurt and needs the help that only Korin Tower can give him. I-I don't know how much it'll cost, but please, I-I'll pay whatever price if you'll just please help him."

The warrior chief walked over to the floating vehicle and peered inside to see a beaten and bruised Goku laying across the backseat with pinched brow settled over a mask of pain. His wild, dark hair splayed over the cushions like a flame and there was sweat glistening from nearly every pore. Bora could hear the ragged breathing past wet coughs, and quickly identified the intense burns littering the young teen's muscular frame.

So, they were telling the truth, but...

"While I feel for your plight I'm afraid I cannot help you; Master Korin only comes down once a season to deliver senzu beans to my tribe. Unfortunately for your friend, we have just used the last of our bag to heal an elder of their own terrible sickness. There may be more, but they would be at the top of the tower...and the only way there is to climb."

This was not what anyone wanted to hear, and Lazuli took a step forward in defiance as she told Bora so. "You can't be serious; can't you see that Goku is about to die!? We don't have time for some outdated tradition, he needs help!"

"I truly am sorry," the man lamented, "but there truly is nothing I can do; you either climb, or find a way to bring Master Korin to you. There are no alternatives, no short cuts, as the magic of this tower negates all flying machines technology. It is meant to test true warriors and, as such, has been crafted so that only those worthy may reach the top."

It was quiet then; no one knew what to say at that point.

A heavy blanket of despair began to descend upon the group now, their shoulders slumping and fire dimming from their eyes as hope left them. Yet just it seemed like Goku would be lost forever...

"I'll do it then."

Lazuli's pretty face was a mask of pure disbelief as she stared into the hard facade of her twin brother.

"Y-You? But I thought-"

"It's not about my feelings," the dark-haired teen sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "it's about yours; I know how messed up it'll make you if this guy dies, especially if it happens right in front of you. So, I'll climb the tower, and bring back whatever I need to heal him."

With his mind made up, Lapis pulled his shoulder-length hair into a pony-tail and rolled up his sleeves before striding over to the tower with a look of sharp focus. Craning his neck to look up into the clouds, those white balls of fluff hiding the rest of the structure, Lapis turned to look at Bulma and his sister one last time...

"Well, wish me luck."

...before jumping up, and beginning the arduous task that was climbing Korin's Tower.

xXx

The journey to the top was truly a grueling experience, and by the time he'd managed it Lapis understood just why so many people had failed to complete the endeavor.

His shirt was in taters from the high winds that tore at him as he climbed higher, and he'd cursed himself a thousand times over fro not bringing gloves as the palms of Lapis' hands were raw and bleeding. Muscles were sore, and some even might have torn after he'd nearly fallen halfway to his goal. There were scrapes along the boy's knees from that occasion as well, and just as the top was in sight Lazuli's brother had lost his hair-tie.

All together, there was only one thought that ran through Lapis mind as he finally pulled himself up into the home of this 'Master Korin'.

'That damned monkey-boy had better appreciate this!'

However, Lapis wasn't given much time to get his breath back before a gruff voice called to him, drawing the boy's tired eyes over towards the center of the oval-shaped head of the tower.

"So, you made it after all huh? If I'm being honest, I half expected you to give up after nearly falling, while the rest of me thought you'd go splat young man. But, you humans were always good at exceeding my expectations I must admit, so I suppose there's only one thing left to say..."

Even as Korin spoke, the teen couldn't believe his eyes at just what that voice was coming out of; it was just...impossible!

"Welcome to my tower, Lapis of Jingle Village."

After all, how could this 'Master Korin' be a talking cat!?