Ch. 74: Vegeta Vs. Zarbon (2)
"Grr... We can't lead Vegeta back to the others." Piccolo growled.
"You're right, but what other option do we have?" I asked Piccolo. Our choices were almost nonexistent. We could go back to the cave and meet up with Gohan and Krillin, but that would put Bulma and Cargo in danger. We could go to Guru's place. Nail would be able to smash Vegeta into the dust... but that would put Dende and Guru in danger, and our only other options for destinations were Frieza's ship or the village Nappa was staying at. "Do you want to fight?" I asked. I'd rather that not happen, since both Vegeta and Piccolo would be needed for the upcoming battle against the Ginyu Force. Luckily, Piccolo agreed with me.
"Let's save fighting for a last resort. Currently, Vegeta has no idea where we're heading, and there's someone on his tail who we can expect to be his enemy. If we lead him around for a while, then that guy'll probably catch up with him, and we'll be able to slip away." Piccolo made a plan. It was a good one.
In the canon, Vegeta had followed Krillin to the cave we were staying at, and then ended up fighting Zarbon. He'd ended up squashing Zarbon like a bug before taking the Dragon Ball from Krillin. The only reason he hadn't ended up with all seven was because Gohan had ended up stealing the one from the village. That wasn't happening this time, so we needed to ensure that we kept our hands on this one no matter what.
"Argh. Did they notice me?" Vegeta wondered, "No. They would have sped up. Either way, if they don't stop soon, I'll have to deal with Zarbon, then go looking for them later... Damn these bugs!" He shouted, turning around and pumping his speed up.
"Vegeta!" Zarbon shouted in surprise, before Vegeta unceremoniously punched him in the gut.
"I'm in a rather bad mood at the moment, Zarbon. I'm afraid that I'll have to take it out on you." Vegeta told the alien, dropping to the ground in front of the crater Zarbon was now lying in.
"As if, Vegeta! One lucky punch doesn't make you stronger than the likes of me!" Zarbon shouted.
"Go ahead and transform into that ugly second form of yours, Zarbon. You know you can't beat me without it." Vegeta told him, laughing.
"You've mocked me for the last time, you disgusting ape!" Zarbon went in close for a flurry of punches and kicks, but it quickly became clear that Vegeta was toying with him. With a light jump, Vegeta casually kicked Zarbon into the dirt.
"You can't even entertain me in that form, Zarbon. Transform already. Maybe then you'll be able to give me a real fight!" Vegeta gloated, laughing.
"Heh. You disgusting ape. You're cocky for someone who just barely survived the last time that I assumed this form!" Zarbon shouted, transforming into his monster form.
"Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, Zarbon." Vegeta joked lightly.
Shouting, Zarbon went in for another try at close combat, and they were definitely more evenly matched this time, but Vegeta still had the upper hand, to Zarbon's shock. After being punched in the face, Zarbon was knocked to the ground once again.
"That's right. Stay in the dirt where you belong." Vegeta gloated, laughing.
"How-how are you so much stronger than you were before!?" Zarbon screeched, backing up in shock.
"Didn't you know, Zarbon? You can beat us into the ground. Break every bone in our bodies, and grind us into the dust. Everything short of death just makes us stronger than we were before." Vegeta gloated stepping towards Zarbon to scare him.
"M-monster!"
"Glass house, Zarbon. Glass house... But, I can throw as many stones as I like. Just see!?" Vegeta tossed (no not a stone) a barrage of energy blasts at Zarbon, but the larger man was able to bat aside each one. The gap between them wasn't that big, in all actuality. The big difference between them was composure, not that Zarbon was going to be able to realize that in time. Vegeta had Zarbon read like a book, while the monstrous alien was terrified of Vegeta's unfathomably grown power.
"You're nothing! Just a bug for me to crush, Vegeta! Weak as a newborn compared to me! I refuse to believe that you're suddenly stronger than me!" Zarbon shouted, "HAA!" He shot an energy blast at Vegeta. When the dust cleared, the Saiyan was gone.
"Ha! HAHAHAHA-ha?" Feeling something strange, Zarbon turned around, just in time to see Vegeta standing there, a smug grin on his face.
"I think you're getting a little overconfident here, Zarbon. Here's a little reality check. HA!!" Vegeta blasted him point blank with an explosion of energy, catapulting Zarbon backwards. But Zarbon wasn't quite done yet. Ignoring his injuries, and pulling himself back to his feet, Zarbon launched a desperate offensive.
"You'll never beat me, Vegeta!" He shouted. The waves of energy that he was giving off by this point was enough to destroy a few nearby bluffs. But Vegeta wasn't affected.
"Goodbye, Zarbon!!" Vegeta shouted, pulling back his arm. He then put it right through Zarbon's chest.
"You... Vegeta...!" Zarbon muttered in disbelief. Vegeta ignored his enemy's mutterings, tossing his body aside like a rag doll.
"Now to get the last Dragon Ball from those Earthlings."
...
"We need to get Gohan and Krillin to the Grand Elder as quickly as possible! If we get their potential unlocked, then Vegeta won't stand a chance against us." Piccolo said. Lucky for us, Vegeta was so distracted by Zarbon that he'd completely lost our trail. He'd have a heck of a time finding us again now, especially since we'd gotten him to think that our hideout was in a totally different direction from where it actually was. We'd actually begun slowly curving right as soon as we'd noticed that we were being followed. Now, we corrected our course.