EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

"That...that's impossible! How did you steal my balls!? Give them back right this instant...!"Completely forgetting that Vahn had also returned her radar, Bulma's anxiety shot up to an eleven the moment she saw the two and five-star Dragon Balls appear in his hand. She even attempted to snatch them back, but, the moment she moved forward, Vahn casually sidestepped her charge with the same relaxed smile he had been wearing from the start."Relax. If I needed something like wish-granting balls to make my dreams come true, I would never find fulfillment. Besides, you're mistaken if you believe the Dragon Balls belong to you. You neither created them nor have you collected them all. In fact, one such ball belongs to Goku. Depending on how things play out, the other balls may very well belong to others. Are you just going to take them for yourself...?"In spite of his words, Vahn returned the Dragon Balls to Bulma once he had finished analyzing their physical and spiritual structure. He didn't really need something like Dragon Balls to have his wishes granted, but, if he wanted to, he could produce a functionally infinite number of them so long as he was within the Actualized World. After all, the balls in Bulma's hands were, quite literally a very small part of his existence. It would be strange if he couldn't replicate something he had created...Seizing the glistening orange balls, Bulma took a moment to confirm the number of ruby-red stars floating in the center before exhaling a sigh of relief. Then, with an expression that was equal parts charming and ferocious, she glared towards Vahn and retorted, "What do you know? According to my research, no one has been able to make use of the Dragon Balls for nearly three hundred years. I'm the first person to develop the technology to locate them so I have every right to collect them. I mean, that's kind of the reason they exist."Rather than refute the emboldened teen's claims, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation. This came as a slight surprise to Bulma until he promptly replied, "You're not wrong. However, that isn't where your misunderstanding lies. You see, the purpose of the Dragon Balls is to pit the people who wish to claim them against one another. In other words, the moment you set out on your journey, you're bound to encounter others who wish to make use of them. Without the power to protect and make use of them, you are merely holding them for someone else..."Demonstrating his point, Vahn extended his hands to reveal the Dragon Balls Bulma had just put away. When she saw them, the incensed look on her face shifted from disbelief to helplessness as she extended her hands to grab the pair of gleaming orange orbs.Seizing the opportunity, Goku decided to chime in, answering, "Hey, Uncle Vahn. I have seen one of those balls. My Grandpa gave one to me before he died."Intending to teach Bulma a lesson, Vahn feigned surprise as he remarked, "Ah, I see. I imagine that makes the ball pretty important to you, isn't it?"Increasing Bulma's ever-growing exasperation, Goku adopted a remarkably wholesome smile as he answered, "That's right! Other than my Power Pole, it's the only thing my Grandpa left to me before he died. It's super, duper important~!"Hearing Goku's words, Bulma's mind kicked into overdrive. Unfortunately, Vahn had no intention of giving her time to think, asking, "Ms. Briefs, do you have any idea what happens to the Dragon Balls once their power has been expended?""Uh...I..."Without letting up, Vahn immediately followed his question by asking, "Better yet, do you think you would be able to 'steal' the ball from someone like Goku? How about from me...?"Dangling the two orbs yet again, Vahn was somewhat surprised when Bulma suddenly collapsed to the ground, tears welling in her eyes before she started crying full force.("I may have pushed her a little too far...")(*Well, she kind of deserved it.*)Unable to argue with that, Vahn teleported the two balls into Bulma's pouch before reaching up to grab Goku from his head. This earned him a confused look from the young Saiyan, but, borrowing a page from Grandpa Gohan's book, Vahn pinched the youth's cheek before whispering, "Girls can be pretty sentimental at times. Though you'll need to watch out for the ones that try to trick you, times like this require a gentle hand and some soothing words..."Demonstrating this 'wisdom', Vahn released Goku's cheek before kneeling in front of Bulma and placing his hand atop her head. Her crying didn't immediately cease, but, rather than bawling her eyes out, the two sapphirine orbs immediately turned to meet Vahn's gaze as he whispered, "It's going to be okay..."Though she felt compelled to argue, Bulma just sniffled a few times as Vahn continued to caress her head. By the time a minute had passed, the tears on her cheeks had started to dry up. In their place, a faint red hue began to spread as she averted her eyes and huffed, "Stop treating me like a child..."Maintaining his smile, Vahn fixed the bow atop Bulma's head before rising to his feet and extending a hand to help her up. This elicited an upturned glower from the embarrassed blunette, but, instead of refusing his assistance, she accepted his hand and grumbled, "At least he's not a complete jerk..." under her breath.........After a short journey through a small forest, Vahn and Co found themselves in a clearing housing a small hut. Though it was clearly the place Goku lived, the hut resembled an ancient Chinese Shrine rather than an abode. The foundation was a mere 4x4 meters, and, while there was a well located a short distance from the entrance, there were no visible electric or telephone lines.Voicing Vahn's thoughts, Bulma remarked, "Oh, wow. I never expected we'd come across a shrine in the middle of the mountains. I wonder which God it's dedicated to?"Confused by Bulma's words, Goku tilted his head to the side, asking, "God? What God? This place is my home."Though it should have been obvious from the start, Bulma was both surprised and taken aback by Goku's words. She had grown up in the most populous city on the entire planet. She couldn't even imagine anyone living without access to what she considered to be basic amenities. After all, even the Capsule Homes her father's company produced had wireless electricity and satellite TV. Living in a refurbished Shrine just seemed so...uncivilized...Seeing Bulma staring with her mouth agape, Goku just shrugged his shoulders before scampering forward to push open the turquoise double doors granting access to the hut. The interior, much like the outside, appeared old and worn down. As for the furnishings, the only things inside were an old, canopy-style bed, a low-lying red table, a large and dilapidated chest, and a broken jar that smelled of urea, feces, and mulch."Welcome to my home, everyone! Come on in."Without waiting for the others to respond, Goku entered the, for lack of a better term, cozy abode. Vahn followed close behind, but, due to the smell, even Sarina was somewhat reluctant to enter the poorly ventilated building. As for Bulma, she was in complete and utter disbelief until she noticed Goku bowing in front of the dilapidated chest."A Dragon Ball...!"Seemingly forgetting the events from earlier, Bulma attempted to charge into the hut only for Vahn to block her path. Then, before she could yell, he looked down at her, an easy feat considering the more than twenty-centimeter difference in their respective heights, whispering, "Stop...can't you see he's praying to his dead Grandfather? Show some respect..."Opening her mouth, Bulma wanted to say something, but, much like every other time Vahn had chided her, she simply couldn't find the words. After all, even if she wanted to argue, what could she say that wouldn't make her sound like an insensitive, borderline inhuman monster?Nodding his head in 'approval', Vahn turned away from Bulma to silently observe Goku's praying. His Grandfather, Gohan, was an exceptionally kind and caring man. The impact he had made on the lives of Goku and several others had changed the course of history for generations to come. In fact, were it not for his boundless patience and the unwavering kindness he displayed when adopting an alien child, Earth would have been destroyed the moment Goku matured..."I have good news, Grandpa. I met someone that might be my family. There are also two girls. One of them seems kind of mean but I don't think she's a bad person. Please continue watching over us so we can live happy and healthy lives..."Clapping his hands together, Goku ended his prayer with a happy smile on his face. Then, as if he had just remembered something important, his eyes widened as he shouted, "Oh, no! I forgot my fish!" in a panicked tone.While Bulma was brooding with a thoughtful expression on her face, Vahn couldn't help laughing in response to Goku's sudden outcry. He could tell the next couple of years were going to be very fun, so, in order to celebrate, he manifested a large table and four chairs outside before saying, "Leave that fish to the birds. Today is a special day so allow me to prepare a feast."Punctuating his words, Vahn pulled out a castiron long stove and several other cooking appliances from his Inventory. This earned a surprised yet enthusiastic, "Wow!" from Goku while Bulma, unable to believe her eyes, just stared blankly as Vahn began producing utensils and ingredients from thin air.Taking pity on the befuddled blunette, Sarina approached her with a friendly yet slightly wry smile as she said, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it pretty quickly. You just need to accept that Vahn can do just about anything. Trying to make sense of his powers will only leave you with a headache..."Though Sarina was tempted to state that people exponentially smarter than Bulma had attempted to understand Vahn's powers, she suspected that would only incentivize the blunette to try. While that wasn't exactly a bad thing, she didn't want Bulma to monopolize Vahn's time and interest. He was the type that liked to use his hands and tinker with things, so, unless he violated the rules they had established prior to entering the Actualized World, there was a chance he would spend weeks, months, or even years cooped up inside a workshop.Imagining a scenario where there were Companions running around with power on par with a God of Destruction, a sudden chill ran through Sarina's body. The notion might seem like complete and utter nonsense, but, just as she had informed Bulma, there were no limits to Vahn's ability to shatter expectations. He was, after all, the God of Infinite Possibilities...Noticing the awkwardness in Sarina's expression, countless questions appeared in Bulma's mind. If she were to take Sarina's words at face value, Vahn might as well be the legendary wish dragon she was attempting to summon. It would explain his ability to steal her Dragon Balls and manifest items out of thin air. Heck, it would even explain the advice he had given her about the true nature of the Dragon Balls...Shaking her head, Bulma promptly dismissed such thoughts as nonsense before meeting Sarina's gaze and saying, "I'll believe it when I see it. For now, there's something I wanted to ask you..."Raising her brows, Sarina prompted Bulma to continue with a slight nod. She had already prepared herself for all kinds of questions, so, assuming Bulma wanted to ask about her age and background, Sarina's smile visibly cramped when the petite blunette suddenly asked, "What's your bra size? I've never seen a girl around my age with such big and perky tits. I mean, be honest with me, are those things even real...?"(A/N: Bulma's height is 163cm and her three sizes are 85/58/84cm. Sarina's height is 165cm and her three sizes are 92/58/85cm. Sarina got some dohoonkabhankoloos.)......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn can't keep his hands off of Bulma's balls xD...','Grandpa Gohan raised a good kid','Massive tonhongerekoogers'...)

Curious to see how much Goku could fit into his remarkably small body, Vahn cooked up a feast fit for at least fifteen people. In spite of this, the young Saiyan kept gorging down food as if he were a garbage chute, his body metabolizing it almost instantly before converting it into trace amounts of Ki...Though Vahn was amused by Goku's ability to put down food, the only thing preventing Bulma from losing her appetite was the phantasmal quality of even the most casual dishes he prepared."This is really good, Vahn. You should come back with me when I return to West City. I can help Sarina and Goku enroll in school while you work off their tuition as my personal chef."Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn skillfully flipped a line of thinly cut Tyrannosaurus Tail Steak as he replied, "There are some things money can't buy, Ms. Briefs. I believe your journey to discover the Dragon Balls is proof enough of that..."Adopting an annoyed expression, Bulma huffed before scarfing down half her plate and saying, "If I wanted to, I could easily purchase what I'm looking for. It's just, even if I did, I wouldn't be happy..."Asking in Vahn's stead, Sarina chimed in to inquire, "What, exactly, are you planning to wish for? I'm curious."Blushing in embarrassment, Bulma began to fiddle around with the food on her plate as she meekly replied, "I want to wish for the perfect boyfriend..."Though she already knew about Bulma's wish after watching Dragon Ball, Sarina couldn't restrain an awkward smile. After all, there were innumerable flaws with such a wish. After all, the definition of a perfect boyfriend would vary from person to person, and, unless they constantly adapted to match your wants and needs in any given situation, could they be called perfect?Realizing that Vahn could probably do exactly that, a soft chuckle escaped Sarina's throat. Bulma, assuming Sarina was laughing at her, immediately began to flare up. Fortunately, just as she was about to shout and ask what Sarina would wish for, Vahn joined them at the table, asking, "What are the two of you whispering about?"Redirecting her ire towards Vahn, Bulma shouted, "It's none of your business, Buster! Didn't anyone ever teach you not to butt in when girls are having a private discussion!?"Showing little regard for Bulma's words, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he looked down at Goku and asked, "Are you enjoying the food?"Unable to talk due to the amount of food he had stuffed into his mouth, Goku just smiled up at Vahn with an expression reminiscent of a chipmunk.Amused by the young Saiyan's antics, Vahn habitually extended his hand to pat the top of Goku's head before meeting Bulma's gaze out of the corner of his eye."There is no such thing as perfection. Even if there was, it could only exist for a single moment in time. The moment it becomes bound by the Laws of the World, it is no longer perfect. After all, the definition of perfection, much like life itself, is constantly shifting from one state to another. Unless it exists in a form that cannot be observed, perfection is a transient concept that simply can't exist in any meaningful capacity..."Furrowing her brows, Bulma took a moment to reflect on Vahn's words. Not because she was in any way impacted by them but because she wanted to refute them. Before she could, Sarina interrupted her train of thought, saying, "You shouldn't get in the habit of arguing with Vahn. His Wisdom is far beyond your ability to comprehend. I'm not saying you can't question him. Just don't go into things assuming you're right. Trust me, when it comes to knowledge, there is little Vahn doesn't know and nothing he can't know..."Undaunted by Sarina's words, a challenging look flashed across Bulma's face as she remarked, "Oh, is that so? Sounds to me like this guy might have brainwashed you with his handsome appearance and delicious food..."Leaning forward, Vahn supported his head with the knuckles of his left hand as he mused, "Thanks for the compliments..."Snorting through her nose, Bulma pursed her lips before mirroring Vahn's actions. Instead of one hand, however, she framed her face with both palms as she asked, "So? How does this work? Are you some kind of Psychic or..."Seeing Vahn casually levitate a few trays with a simple raise of his right index finger, the words at the tip of Bulma's tongue promptly faded into the void.Dismissing the possibility magnets were at play, largely due to the fact the plates were ceramic and there were several other metal objects present, Bulma's intrigue was piqued as she asked, "What am I thinking right this instant?"Disguising his annoyance with a light chuckle, Vahn manifested a cup of coffee for himself before saying, "I have a policy against prying into other people's thoughts. Can I? Certainly. Do you truly want me to? No. After all, even if they find it entertaining in the beginning, the novelty wears off quite quickly. Ask yourself this, Ms. Briefs. Would you ever be able to sleep comfortably if you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, there were people in this world who knew the inner workings of your mind even better than yourself...?"Paling at the thought, Bulma found herself swallowing a knot that had formed in her throat. Then, just as she was thinking about asking Vahn for something to drink, the cogs in her mind ground to a stop when he manifested a cup of tea for her. If it was any normal tea, she would have thought he had primed her by pulling out a cup of coffee. Instead, the tea in the cup was her favorite..."Now, how about we move on to the questions you really want answers to? So long as it doesn't invade the privacy of another, I don't mind sharing..."Feeling far more nervous than before, Bulma attempted to calm herself by positing that Vahn had simply investigated her. This was a terrifying notion in and of itself, but, compared to the possibility that there were people who knew her every thought, it was significantly less scary...Thinking he may have pushed her a little too hard, Vahn attempted to allay Bulma's concerns by saying, "Relax. As I stated previously, I have a policy against prying into a person's thoughts and memories. I also don't share private information about people without their consent, so, even if I were aware of your secrets, there is no chance of them getting out."Though she did calm down a little, Bulma wasn't particularly comforted by Vahn's words. She was now firmly convinced that there was at least a possibility that there were people in this world that 'could' read her thoughts. At the same time, however, she was fascinated by the notion that there were still forces in the Universe she had yet to fully comprehend...Organizing her thoughts, Bulma decided to put Vahn's knowledge to the test, asking, "If you're so knowledgeable, why did you need to inspect my Dragon Radar before being able to sense them? Shouldn't you just know the location of the Dragon Balls?"Surprised by the remarkably to the point question, the corners of Vahn's smile curled upward as he answered, "There is a significant difference between knowing the location of something and being able to sense it. For example, you undoubtedly know the location of your own house, correct? Can you sense it...?"Realizing the flaw in her question, a frown developed across Bulma's face as she quickly rephrased things, asking, "Where are the rest of the Dragon Balls located? Is there anything I need to be wary of when searching for them?"Stroking his non-existent beard, Vahn took a moment to organize his thoughts before musing, "This is dangerously close to invading the privacy of others. Fortunately for you, three of the Dragon Balls are currently regarded as little more than trinkets. Their owners could also use some help so there is a decently high probability you will be able to obtain them after rendering your assistance..."Though he was half-tempted to just steal Emperor Pilaf's Dragon Ball, Vahn knew the petite, imp-like man wasn't truly as evil as he appeared. He had always been more of a comic relief character than an actual villain, and, depending on the timeline, he even redeemed himself by sacrificing his life to protect his vassals/friends/caretakers, Mai and Shu."Let's see...the three-star Dragon Ball is in the possession of the Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi. As for the six and seven-star balls, the first is located in a village being terrorized by a pig demon with the ability to shapeshift. The second is located within the treasury of the Ox-King on Mount Frypan. So long as you can save the Village of Aru and extinguish the inextinguishable flames of Mount Frypan, the six and seven-star Dragon Balls are as good as yours. As for the one-star Dragon Ball...well, that depends on your fate..."Shivering at the mention of fate, Bulma decided to skip asking about the specifics of the first three Dragon Balls and instead asked the question at the forefront of her mind, specifically, "Are you able to teleport or summon the other Dragon Balls?"As the Dragon Balls basically became resurrection fodder after the events of the Red Ribbon Army, a soft chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat before he went on to answer, "Indeed."Demonstrating his point, Vahn briefly borrowed the seven-star Dragon Ball from Mount Frypan. The Ox-King and his daughter were currently trapped outside their palace so it wasn't like he was going to miss it.Seeing the six-star Dragon Ball in Vahn's hand, the pupils of Bulma's sapphirine eyes contracted to points as she asked, "Are...are you the Guardian God of this planet...?"Unable to contain himself, a guffaw-like laugh emanated from Vahn's throat before he promptly got it under control. Then, with a remarkably amused smile on his face, he answered, "No. That is a title that belongs to Kami. If you travel to the Sacred Grounds guarded by the Karinga Tribe, you'll find a tower that appears to extend to the Heavens. Those who climb said Tower without the aid of tools will have the opportunity to meet the Immortal Sage, Korin the Wise. From there, you need a special key to be able to ascend to Kami's Lookout, a special platform that exists between the fabric of reality and the Heavenly Realm. It is there you will find the Guardian God of this world..."Though she was left with even more questions after Vahn's explanation, Bulma decided to focus on the most important matter at hand, asking, "I'm guessing you're not going to just hand that Dragon Ball over, are you?"Returning the aforementioned ball to its previous position, another chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he teased, "You're a fast learner. It's no wonder you were able to create something as truly extraordinary as a radar designed to track a specific form of magical energy. I'm looking forward to seeing how you use that remarkable intelligence of yours to solve the problems of people in need."Clicking her tongue, Bulma had to take a deep breath to suppress the urge to lambast Vahn for his blatant teasing. If he would just bring the Dragon Balls directly to her, she could make her wish and be home by sunrise. Instead, he was insisting she go on a perilous journey that spanned days, if not weeks. Sure, she may have been the one to set out on this journey, but, as a man, shouldn't he feel some form of obligation towards her, a beautiful woman?("Chivalry really is dead...")With that thought now firmly cemented in her mind, Bulma began picking at her food like an ill-tempered child. The only difference was that she would take a bite every now and again, as, despite being on a diet, she simply couldn't resist the food Vahn had prepared.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'There are few things more terrifying than a delusional genius...','Vahn is like a ninehead...','Shenron is going to be sweating when he meets Vahn for the first time xD...')

"Hello there. My name is Sarina. It's nice to meet you."Amused by the pouty look on Bulma's face, a mischievous smile developed across Sarina's during her introduction. Her stay in the Game Board put her around the same age as Bulma, so, while she dared not compare herself to mature beauties such as Da Vinci and Artoria, she felt pretty confident in front of girls her own age.Seeing Sarina fold her arms under her rather sizeable breasts, a tick mark appeared on Bulma's exposed forehead as she asked, "Sarina, huh? What's your relationship with...um...?"Having yet to hear Vahn's introduction, a faint blush spread through Bulma's cheeks as she looked toward him and asked, "What was your name again? I don't recall you introducing yourself."Returning a carefree smile, Vahn placed his hand over his chest, answering, "My name is Vahn. Vahn Aldrnari Mason. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Briefs."Seemingly forgetting about the existence of Sarina, Bulma cupped her cheeks in a bashful manner as she said, "Oh, wow. Ms. Briefs, huh? I don't think anyone has ever called me that before. You're so polite, Vahn."Maintaining a casual smile, Vahn decided to guide things forward a bit, asking, "What brings you to the mountains, Ms. Briefs? I don't mean this as an insult but you don't exactly strike me as the type of woman to venture outside the city limits..."Though there was quite a bit of equipment in her car, Bulma's outfit consisted of little more than a short purple dress, a dark purple scarf, and an oversized red ribbon typing up her hair. She also had a turquoise pouch attached to a leather belt around her waist, but, while the former might contain a number of useful capsules, she was pretty much helpless the moment she lost them.Had she heard the same thing a few minutes ago, Bulma would have turned her nose up at Vahn's words. She was confident in her aim, and, so long as she didn't encounter any dinosaurs, her guns were enough to deal with most threats.Now that she knew there were bulletproof children capable of sending cars flying with a kick, Bulma realized she still had a lot to learn. Fortunately, she was the undisputed most intelligent girl on the entire planet, so, when it came to learning and applying knowledge, there were none more qualified than her."You're not wrong. Though I traveled around with my parents when I was younger, this is my first time leaving West City on my own. I guess I should have done a bit more research before heading out. As for why I'm here...well...it's complicated..."As much as she could appreciate Vahn's appearance, Bulma wasn't too sure about his character. If he knew she was on a quest to assemble magical, wish-granting balls, there was a good chance he would either laugh at or rob her. There had been no less than sixteen attempts to kidnap her ever since her father developed the prototype for Capsules."Since we're on the subject, what are the three of you doing here on Mount Paozu? There have been reports of Giant Apes wreaking havoc in the region. Even the local dinosaur population has been chased off."Now that she was thinking about it, meeting Vahn, Sarina, and Goku just as she was setting out on her journey was pretty suspicious. They didn't strike her as criminals or kidnappers, but, when your father was the richest person in the world, it was better to be safe than sorry.Realizing the purpose of Bulma's words, the corners of Vahn's smile curled upward as he said, "I'm escorting my apprentice on a training journey. She may look like a normal, albeit attractive young woman at a glance but Sarina is a remarkably powerful young lady..."Taking advantage of the opportunity, Vahn gently ruffled Sarina's silky smooth, remarkably glossy hair. They had discussed their cover story prior to descending into the world, so, while they were also lovers, the purpose of their journey was as described. He would be accompanying her around the world and helping her train, as, even if there were Masters of Ki in this world, they would need to be on the level of Whis to even have a hope of contending against him."Apprentice? Are you trying to tell me this girl is a martial artist...?"Acknowledging Sarina for the first time since her introduction, Bulma's brows furrowed as her sapphire eyes scanned her 'competition' from head to toe. At a glance, Sarina's figure wasn't much better than hers, so, unless she was hiding some kind of secret, Bulma found it hard to believe the former was a martial artist.Fortunately, Bulma would quickly learn the truth as Goku, surprised and excited by the revelation, adopted an enthusiastic smile as he exclaimed, "Wow! I knew you were strong! Let's fight...!"Without waiting for a response, Goku immediately launched himself toward Vahn like a bullet. He was only around 98cm tall, remarkably short for a twelve-year-old, but he was able to easily vault through the air in an attempt to kick at the former's face. Before the blow could land, however, his foot was intercepted by Sarina, who, faster than Bulma could see, flickered in front of Vahn's body.With a smile not all that dissimilar from Goku's, Sarina sent the youth flipping through the air with a relatively casual wave of her hand. Then, in a manner reminiscent of Tione and Tiona, she launched herself forward while staying low to the ground. The movement caused literal cracks in the ground where she had been standing, so, while Bulma was squealing like a frightened schoolgirl, Goku was sweating bullets as Sarina's foot impacted his crossed arms and sent him crashing through the tree she had been resting under minutes prior."Owie! That really hurts...!"Despite leaving a toddler-size imprint in the tree's trunk, Goku managed to climb to his feet before blowing on his swelling arms. There were a number of microfractures in both arms, but, with a few days of rest, his Saiyan Biology would allow him to make a full recovery. In fact, it would also make him stronger...Appearing at Goku's side like a phantom, Vahn bent down to ruffle the young man's remarkably bristly hair as he said, "You're also quite powerful. How about becoming my student...?"Unsurprisingly, Goku didn't even hesitate to swat Vahn's hand away, answering, "No, thank you. My Master was my Grandpa. He told me that true strength is something you could only obtain through self-mastery and protecting the people you care about. I want to see how strong I can get using the methods he taught me."Since he would actually prefer to train Goku after his apprenticeship with Master Roshi, Vahn didn't mind the young Saiyan's refusal. He hadn't come to the Actualized World of Dragon Ball to train the Z-Fighters and resolve all their problems for them. Would he train them? Most likely. Was he going to go out of his way to train them? There was, simply put, no need. After all, even Grand Zeno, the High Priest, and Dragon God Zalama would be hard-pressed to match him."Understood. If you ever change your mind, let me know. I'm quite fond of training exceptional and talented youths. With that tail of yours, I would argue you're both."Now that Vahn had mentioned it, Goku noticed that neither he nor Bulma and Sarina had tails. This confused the young Saiyan, who, despite being taught by his Grandpa that most people didn't have tails, asked, "Where's your tail, Vahn? Did you tuck it into your pants?"Chuckling in response to the rather peculiar question, Vahn surprised even Sarina by manifesting a tail and answering, "Good guess."Beaming the moment he saw Vahn's tail, Goku practically leaped into the air as he shouted, "Wow! You're just like me...!" in an overly excited tone.Catching the youth before he could return to the ground, Vahn situated the young Goku on his shoulders before teasing, "Who knows, perhaps we're distantly related to one another? I've never met anyone else with a tail like mine. How about you call me Big Brother or Uncle Vahn from now on? I might not be able to teach you but I can still look after you for a bit."Captivated by the notion he and Vahn might be related to one another, Goku happily leaned over the former's head, exclaiming, "That's great! You and your friend can come and stay at Grandpa's house! It's kind of small but I'm sure you'll like it!"Poking the center of Goku's head so the youth would stop obstructing his vision, Vahn answered, "I would certainly like to take a look. Before that, however, there is another matter to attend...""Huh? What matter...?"Pointing towards Bulma, Vahn surprised the blunette by saying, "Our friend may have deflected the question our way, but, when you think about her warning, it's pretty obvious she must have come here for a reason. My instincts tell me it may have something to do with you, or, more specifically, something that is hidden away in your Grandpa's house..."As the dirt path was something that had been created by Goku dragging fish and other spoils through the mountains, there was really only one place Bulma could have been heading. This was something Bulma herself was well aware of, so, after remaining statuesque for several seconds, she ultimately released a sigh before pulling out a circular device that vaguely resembled a large watch with a dark green, digital display screen."Fine. You got me, okay? I'm tracking down these large, marble-like spheres known as dragon balls. This radar allows me to track their unique energy signal within a hundred kilometers. I can't say for certain if there's one located at Goku's Grandpa's place but I'd like to check and make sure."Deciding to play the part of a wisened yet deceptively young-looking old master, a knowing look flashed across Vahn's face as he repeated, "Dragon balls...as in the ancient, wish-granting orbs said to have been produced by the Guardian God of this world..?"Tensing the moment she heard Vahn's words, Bulma was tempted to try and play it off as some kind of urban legend. Unfortunately, she was literally risking life and limb in their search, so, unless Vahn was a complete idiot, she doubted he would buy such an excuse.Before Bulma could get her thoughts in order, Vahn surprised her quite a bit by extending his hand and asking, "May I see that radar? If it's as unique as you say, I'd like to take a closer look."Offering a wry smile, Bulma instinctually slipped the radar into her cleavage before answering, "I'd rather not. This is the only radar I have right now. As much as I'd like to trust you, Vahn, I'd prefer to not spend the rest of my Summer Vacation building a replacement."Without losing his smile, Vahn held up his hand to inspect the radar he had snitched the moment Bulma attempted to stow it away. The pupils of her sapphirine blue eyes immediately contracted to points, but, before she could even think to protest, he handed it back to her, saying, "It's quite the ingenious design. You said you created it yourself...?"Though she practically snatched the radar back from him, Bulma quickly calmed down the moment she heard Vahn's words. A lot of people assumed that she simply borrowed her father's inventions, so, hearing someone compliment her work, a somewhat narcissistic smile developed across Bulma's face until Vahn suddenly turned away from her and remarked, "There is, indeed, a dragon ball at my nephew's place. I can also sense two more hidden away in that little pouch of yours..."Demonstrating his impressive sleight of hand(teleportation) capabilities, Vahn promptly produced Bulma's two and five star dragon balls before holding them up to Goku and asking, "Ever seen one of these, kiddo...?"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn activated Charm. It was unnecessary...!','Uncle Vahn (O w O)...','Bulma is not prepared for how much her life is about to change xD...')

Chapter 3: Respect