EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

Bypassing the Diablo Desert, it wasn't long before Vahn, Sarina, Bulma, and Goku found themselves in an area filled with lush green plateaus, small mountains, and sparsely forested terrain. There were also a number of villages present, but, even from a distance, it was obvious that each and every one of them was abandoned.Unlike Aru, which merely resembled a ghost town, the villages surrounding Mount Frypan had been abandoned shortly after Mount Frypan, previously known as Pleasant Mountain, became enveloped in perennial flames.With the regional temperature shooting up by several tens of degrees, the local flora and fauna had been devastated. To make matters exponentially worse, the flames had created a perpetual pressure differential that caused all sorts of disastrous weather phenomena. Things got especially bad during Winter as the rapid cooling of nearby bodies of water contributed to hurricane-like conditions that would devastate the surrounding regions for upwards of four months...Running through the region on foot, Sarina was able to witness the devastation wrought upon the region firsthand. Her expression became progressively gloomier, and, were it not for the fact Vahn was running alongside her, she may have had to take a break. The sight of innumerable skeletons, many belonging to humans, weighed heavily on her mind."How could things end up like this? I understand it was caused by an accident but why didn't the people just leave before things got out of hand...?"Reaching the ruins nearest the base of Mount Frypan, Sarina couldn't help voicing her concerns. In response, Vahn guided her head to chest, gently combing through her hair as he explained, "People can be remarkably stubborn at times. For many, this area would have been the place their ancestors settled after the devastation wrought by King Piccolo. They would have worked tirelessly to rebuild, and, in the process, several generations of their family would come to be buried here. Abandoning their home wouldn't have been an easy decision for them to make...there is a reason people readily take up arms to defend their countries, communities, and homes..."Though Vahn's words didn't drastically improve her mood, Sarina felt more at ease after hearing his explanation. The warmth coming from his body also helped, and, were it not for the fact she could feel a distant tremor rapidly approaching, she would have liked to stay with him for a while longer. Instead, she gave him a quick hug before reluctantly separating to say, "I'm guessing that's the Ox-King...?"Wearing armor vaguely reminiscent of a Chinese warlord, the Ox-King was a mountain of a man at 428cm in height and nearly 370cm in breadth(shoulders). Each and every one of his steps shook the ground beneath him, and, despite appearing as a harmless, fun-loving individual later in the series, he was currently running towards the group like an enraged bull."Hey! You there! This place is a restricted area! Leave at once or suffer the consequences...!"Without waiting for the group, consisting of Vahn, Sarina, and Goku to respond, the Ox-King threw his monstrously oversized ax like a boomerang. He didn't actually aim for anyone in particular, but the wind pressure generated from the momentous projectile was enough to knock Goku on his butt while Sarina was forced to shield her eyes from the veritable dust storm kicked up in its wake.In a very obvious attempt to scare them off, the Ox-King followed his assault by raising his arms up like a bear and roaring, "This is your only warning! Leave at once...!" in a booming voice that echoed off the surrounding mountains.Creating a pair of goggles for herself using the [REquip] System, Sarina rushed towards the Ox-King with seemingly reckless abandon. This surprised the giant fellow quite a bit, as, for a brief moment, he wasn't even able to follow Sarina's movements as she planted her heel into his chest, shouting, "Calm down...!" as she sent his massive body sliding backward.Touching the area where Sarina had kicked, Ox-King was surprised to find a foot-shaped imprint in his reinforced, carbon fiber breastplate. The material was durable enough to withstand point-blank shelling from tanks, yet, without so much as a single sign of damage to her heels, his opponent was able to leave an imprint in the material with a simple kick.Realizing his opponent was no simple woman, Ox-King extended his hand towards the ax that had embedded itself in the terrain, asking, "Who are you? Why have you come here?" as the enchanted armament came flying back to him.Though she was a little surprised when the massive ax came flying past her, Sarina did her best to quell the tumultuous beating of her heart as she stood tall and answered, "My name is Sarina. My companions and I have come here to help extinguish the flames of Mount Frypan. In exchange, we were hoping you could help us find a crystal ball that resembles this..."Pulling out the faux Dragon Ball Vahn had given her, Sarina's body tensed when the Ox-King moved close enough that his body nearly blocked the view of the mountain behind him. The series she was familiar with hadn't done his size justice. He was far from the biggest person she had seen but that didn't make him any less intimidating.Bending down, the lenses on Ox-King's helmet appeared to zoom in like a telescopic camera as he remarked, "I recognize this ball. There's one just like it in my treasury."Raising his head, Ox-King shifted his attention from Sarina to Vahn and Goku before adding, "Very well. So long as you can extinguish the fire surrounding my castle, the orb is yours...?"Noticing the cloud Goku was standing on, Ox-King's words gained a bewildered inflection towards the end. His massive, bearded head promptly tilted to the side, and, despite radiating a frightening aura moments prior, he suddenly gave off an impression reminiscent of a harmless teddy bear as he asked, "That cloud and that staff...where did you obtain such things?"Without even considering whether or not he should keep it a secret, a carefree smile developed across Goku's face as he unhesitantly replied, "Master Roshi and my Grandpa gave them to me...!"Recognizing the former and intuiting who the latter must be, an ecstatic grin developed across Ox-King's face as he promptly ignored Sarina to make his way over to Goku. Roshi was the person who had trained him years prior, and, despite their past rivalry, Goku's Grandfather had been one of his best and closest friends."That must mean you're Gohan's boy! Come, let me get a good look at you!"Though he was a bit taken aback by the Ox-King's drastic change in behavior, Goku maintained a friendly smile as he answered, "That's right! I'm Goku...!" before following it up with asking, "How did you know my Grandpa?"Adopting an even wider smile, Ox-King remarked, "Goku? That's a fine name!" before answering, "As for how I know your Grandpa, well, we were like brothers when we trained under Master Roshi. We fought and trained together every single day and even went on a few adventures together. Tell me, what has that old rascal been up to? I haven't seen or heard from him in more than ten years."Similar to when Master Roshi had asked him the same question, Goku's smile became noticeably more melancholic as he revealed Gohan's death. This caused a somber expression to appear upon the Ox-King's face, but, moments later, he was all smiles again as he stated, "Well, knowing Gohan, I'm sure he died with a smile on his face. Now, tell me, what brings you here? Is it true you came to help this old man extinguish the flames surrounding my castle?"While he had no clue how they were going to help, Goku didn't hesitate to nod his head, smiling as he answered, "That's right! Me, Uncle Vahn, Sarina, and Bulma are currently on a journey to collect the Dragon Balls. If there's one in your castle, we'll be happy to extinguish the flames for you!"Using his massive, oversized hand to pat Goku atop his head, Ox-King remarked, "Good lad." with a toothy grin on his face. Then, as if he had just realized something, he asked, "If you don't mind my asking, how old are you this year?"Without having to consider his response, Goku immediately replied, "I just turned twelve this year. Why do you ask?"Though he assumed Goku would be younger due to his size, the smile on Ox-King's face widened as he said, "That's great! You're the same age as my beloved daughter, Chi-Chi. Why don't the two of you get married? She's a bit of a coward but the two of you would make an excellent couple...!"Tilting his head to the side, Goku asked, "A couple of what...?" before Sarina stepped in to say, "You shouldn't go arranging your daughter's marriage like that! At least let them get to know each other before you think to propose such a thing. I mean, how do you even know they would get along...!?"Shifting his attention to Sarina, the smile on Ox-King's face faded away as he explained, "Gohan and I agreed that we would marry our children if one was a boy and the other was a girl. Goku might be Gohan's Grandson but he's the perfect age for my little Chi-Chi. Now that Gohan has passed on, it's my duty to ensure his Grandson is able to live a happy and healthy life. With my Chi-Chi at his side, he's guaranteed to be happy."Like most fathers, Ox-King saw his daughter as an absolutely flawless little angel. He couldn't even fathom someone refusing to marry her, so, even though Sarina hadn't directly insulted Chi-Chi, his fatherly instincts had kicked in.Refusing to back down, a hazy aura began to exude from Sarina's body as she asserted, "You don't know that...!"Though they were concealed behind his helmet, Ox-King's brows furrowed deeply as his gigantic maw formed into a frown. Before he could lash out and challenge Sarina to a deathmatch, however, Goku chimed in to ask, "What's marriage?"Believing Goku was asking him, Ox-King turned to face the boy only to find him looking toward the man who had been standing off to the side since the start of the encounter. This caused Ox-King's eyes to squint, but, recalling that Goku had referred to Vahn as 'Uncle', the smile promptly returned to his face as he asked, "Are you one of Gohan's kids...?"Blinking in surprise, Vahn opened his mouth to speak only for Ox-King to approach him with a wide smile on his face, asserting, "I can see the resemblance! Your features are a little different but you have the same calming aura as old Gohan. How about it, kiddo? Will you marry my darling Chi-Chi and help fulfill my promise with your father?"Without waiting for Vahn's response, Ox-King pulled out a relatively recent photo of Chi-Chi before shoving it into his face and saying, "Take a look! Isn't she just the more adorable thing you've ever seen?"Resisting the urge to point out that a twelve-year-old girl shouldn't be running around in bikini-like armor, Vahn forced a smile as he answered, "I'm flattered, really, but there is quite a substantial age difference between your daughter and myself. I'm-"Slapping Vahn on the back, Ox-King's thunderous voice echoed off the surrounding mountains as he shouted, "Nonsense! Things like that don't matter. Why, Chi-Chi's mother was more than thirty-eight years younger than me when we got married. So long as you take care of one another, things like age don't matter in the slightest!"Ignoring the slack-jawed expression on Vahn's face, Ox-King followed his words by cupped his hands around his mouth and shouting, "Chi-Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-!" in a booming voice that caused dust and debris from the surrounding ruins to kick up and quiver. Immediately thereafter, an equally loud but considerably more feminine voice answered, "Coooming~!" before a young girl wearing blue bikini armor came bounding over a building like in a teal cape.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fire bad...','Ox-King has a rock in place of his brain...','Chi-Chi's original design always confused the hell out of me...')

"Chi-Chi, there's someone I want you to meet.""Who is it, father...?"Though she could see Vahn, Goku, and Sarina just fine, Chi-Chi had been taught from an early age that she should never talk to strangers. This included the people that came to pay her father tribute, so, without looking directly at them, she trotted up to her father with an obedient smile on her face.With an affectionate expression that could be discerned even with a helmet covering everything above his cheekbones, Ox-King gave Chi-Chi a gentle push towards Vahn and Goku as he said, "I'd like you to meet Goku and his Uncle, Vahn. One of these two is going to be your future husband."While most people would react with fear, trepidation, or mild shock, Chi-Chi's face practically lit up in response to her father's words. Her hands shot up near her face, and, though she didn't outright squeal in glee, her body language made it clear she wanted to. Instead, her crystal clear, obsidian-black eyes darted between Vahn and Goku as she excitedly inquired, "Really!? Does this mean I'm finally old enough to have a boyfriend!?"Amused by his daughter's behavior, a thunderous laugh emanated from the Ox-King's throat as he answered, "I suppose so!" in a booming voice.Though they had spent the last ten years trapped outside of their castle, Chi-Chi was still used to getting everything she wanted from her father. Her bikini-like outfit, while remarkably skimpy, was actually a rare garment worn by a female hero who had once saved the world. The pink helmet on her head, equipped with an exceptionally sharp blade and a ruby that could fire incinerating lasers, were rare treasures whose value rivaled small countries. As for her bright pink gloves and boots, the former multiplied her strength by ten while the latter allowed her to jump super high and fall from great heights without even spraining her ankles.Hearing her father state that Vahn or Goku was going to be her husband, Chi-Chi didn't even think to doubt his words. Instead, she assumed he was giving her the option of choosing between them, so, with the expression reminiscent of a young lady that had just been told she could purchase any item in a jewelry store, Chi-Chi alternated her gaze between Vahn's handsome face and Goku's confused expression before pointing towards the former and saying, "I want that one!" in a decisive tone.Unsurprised by his daughter's choice, another boisterous laugh emanated from Ox-King's throat until Vahn flatly replied, "While there is no knowing what the future might hold, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse in this particular instance. Chi-Chi is simply too young-""You're using that same excuse...?"Though the smile hadn't completely faded from his face, the Ox-King's tone made it clear he wasn't happy with Vahn's refusal. Chi-Chi also appeared taken aback, moisture building across the surface of her eyes as she tentatively covered her mouth and asked, "Did...did I do something wrong...?"Shaking his head, Vahn's deadpan relaxed into a slightly apologetic smile as he said, "No. The truth of the matter is that I'm already engaged. I also have numerous other wives and quite a few lovers. These factors, combined with your age, leave me with little choice but to refuse. My inhibitions may have waned with the passage of time but I haven't sunk to the point I'm willing to lay my hands on children..."Seemingly undaunted by the revelation that Vahn had numerous wives, the Ox-King caressed his beard in a thoughtful manner, remarking, "Hmmm...you must be rich and powerful to support so many wives. Once I'm able to access my treasury, I'll need to sift through my rarer treasures to find a suitable dowry..."Hailing from a culture where women had a subordinate status to men, it wasn't uncommon for the patriarchs of powerful families to marry their daughters off in exchange for various benefits. In this sense, dowries were basically bribes used to ensure the host family accepted the marriage proposal and took care of the bride.Hearing her father's words, a wave of relief washed over Chi-Chi's body and mind as she regained her smile and said, "Don't worry. I'm sure I'll get along with the others. I also had my first period a few years ago so I'm no longer a child. If-"Raising his hand, the smile on Vahn's face was becoming wrier by the moment as he explained, "My words weren't predicated on whether or not you were...biologically capable. It has more to do with the fact that it simply isn't socially acceptable for a girl as young as you to engage in such activities. You being unaware of this is more than enough proof to show that you're not adequately prepared for marriage..."Tearing up in response to Vahn's words, Chi-Chi did her best to maintain a smile as she answered, "I think I understand. You're saying I still have a lot to learn before I become a bride, right...?"Though that was just the tip of the iceberg, Vahn ended up nodding in response to Chi-Chi's words. Then, before he could suggest enrolling her in school or hiring a private tutor, the look on her face showed considerable relief as she wiped away her tears and said, "That's a relief..."Once her eyes were free of moisture, Chi-Chi adopted the same radiant smile she had presented earlier, stating, "I can learn from your other wives. If they were able to marry you, they must know what it takes to be a bride, right? I'll be sure to study hard each and every day so that we can get married as soon as possible...!"Pumping her fists in the same excited manner as before, the look on Chi-Chi's face morphed into a fiercely resolute smile. This caused the smile on the Ox-King's face to grow even larger, a not very subtle air of pride radiating from his body as he whimpered, "That's my girl..." before attempting to wipe away a tear building behind the lens of his left eye."..."Taken aback by the unexpected development, Vahn fell silent as he shifted his attention to Sarina. To his surprise, the raven-haired woman had a pensive, thoughtful expression on her face as if she were seriously considering something important.("Are you sure I don't have some kind of hidden Innate that attracts young girls...?")Though she understood where Vahn was coming from, Sis exhaled an exasperated sigh before repeating the same words she had stated a total of 119 times in the past, (*I'm absolutely certain. If anything is to blame, it's your good looks combined with your calming aura and considerate nature. Even now, you're not completely against the idea of marrying her once she grows and matures. This kind of thing is easily picked up by women, so, unless you put your foot down and break her heart, she is bound to pursue you. If you'll recall, Chi-Chi barely had any interactions with Goku, yet, even after a six, nearly seven-year separation, her determination led her halfway around the world before forcing her to confront him at the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai...*)Unable to refute Sis's words, Vahn briefly considered nipping the problem in the bud by putting his foot down and simply refusing the arrangement. Instead, a compromise promptly manifested within his mind as he proposed, "How about this. Once this journey has reached its natural conclusion, I'm intending to settle down in the hinterlands West of West City. I will allow you to stay there but you'll need to attend one of West City's Escalator Schools. So long as you're able to graduate with honors and convince my current fiancee, I'll gladly accept you as my wife..."Without even considering that Vahn might be pulling a fast one on her, the smile on Chi-Chi's face became even more radiant as she replied, "Of course! I might not look like it, but I've read a ton of books! I've also wanted to attend school ever since I was a kid so I'm really looking forward to living together and walking to and from school every single day~!"Imagining the scene of Vahn escorting her to school, Chi-Chi's cheeks became progressively redder until she eventually covered them with her gloved hands. In her mind, he would essentially be the proverbial Prince Charming coming to pick her up and whisk her away to his castle. In reality, most people would assume he was either her father or her older brother coming to make sure she didn't get accosted on her way home...Smiling wryly in response to Chi-Chi's words and behavior, Vahn hoped his plan to set her up with Goku went smoother than his attempt to pair Sarina with Jin. His promise with Bulma would make things a little easier on him, as, given her current naivete, Chi-Chi would interpret his promise as a part of the conditions he had set. In other words, so long as Bulma didn't accept her, he didn't have to worry about her trying too hard to advance their relationship. Instead, most of her time would be spent studying and training. After all, even if she was book smart, graduating with honors when she had never even attended school wouldn't be easy.Though he had the sinking suspicion he had just planted some kind of flag, the unperturbed flow of fate allowed Vahn to place it at the back of his mind as he scratched the back of his head and said, "Well...we sort of need to get going. The sooner I can finish this journey and get settled, the sooner I can come to pick you up."Since it would cause a number of issues if they were to retrieve Master Roshi and have him blow up the entire mountain, Vahn simply waved his hand towards the fiery mountain. A marble-sized ball of flames immediately appeared in his hand. Shortly thereafter, the flames on the mountain began to peter out, as, without a magical power source, they had nothing to sustain them.Placing the vermillion orb into a sealed container, Vahn handed it to the Ox-King, explaining, "The mage who set up the formation around your castle used a Vermillion Bird's Spiritual Core thinking it was an artifact known as Fenghuang's Tear. The two are often confused for one another so it's not too surprising a mishap like this would occur. As for why they didn't come back to fix the issue...I'm guessing you know the answer better than anyone..."Recalling how he had gone on a rampage after failing to enter his castle, Ox-King emulated Vahn's action of scratching the back of his head. He hadn't killed anyone but the village nearest the base of the mountain had been destroyed by the time his rage had settled. Under normal circumstances, he would have compensated the people living there, but, without access to his treasure repository, both he and his daughter were forced to find shelter in the mountains due to his fear that someone would try to rob him the moment he took her someplace safe...Restraining a sigh, Vahn was preparing to depart when Chi-Chi abruptly grabbed his sleeve, a ruddy tint to her cheeks as she stared up at him with a starstruck expression and asked, "Can I come with you? I promise not to get in the way..."Since her helmet prevented him from patting her on the head, Vahn knelt down to Chi-Chi's level before saying, "You've just recovered your home after several years. Go and spend some time with your father. He is going to be exceptionally busy these next couple of weeks. Having you at his side will make things easier. Don't worry. The moment I'm finished sorting out paperwork and preparing our living arrangements, I'll be sure to stop by and pick you up."Without losing a hint of the starstruck expression on her face, Chi-Chi responded to Vahn's words by giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Then, like the innocent and pure-hearted girl she was, she issued a giddy, high-pitched squeal before scampering off to seek shelter behind a destroyed wall...Pretending he didn't see the blade of Chi-Chi's helmet sticking out from behind the wall, Vahn met the Ox-King's gaze, asking, "Are you sure about this?"Grabbing his beard as though he was about to pull it out, Ox-King's expression morphed into a faint grimace as he answered, "Women are fated to leave home the moment they're born. I'm just glad my Chi-Chi will be in the care of people powerful enough to protect her..."Though he was also appreciative of the fact that Vahn was considerate enough to think about Chi-Chi's feelings, Ox-King didn't want to appear too soft in front of his newly acquired son-in-law. He was known throughout the land as an invincible, battle-hardened tyrant. Appearing sentimental in front of others would undermine his status as both a warrior and a King..."Now, go. Finish your journey and return as quickly as possible. If you keep my daughter waiting for too long, I'll have no choice but to track you down myself..."Shouldering his massive ax, Ox-King attempted to appear as intimidating as possible. In response, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face, as, compared to people like Whitebeard, Ox-King's size and stature were more cute than intimidating.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sheltered and spoiled...a dangerous combination...','Bulma is going to be pissed...','Whitebeard would be able to pat Ox-King on the head xD...)

Waking with a bump arguably larger than his brain, the first words out of Oolong's mouth were, "Whoever did this, you're going to pay for daring to sneak attack the Great Oolong...!"In spite of his words, Oolong was visibly shaking as he looked around to find himself surrounded by the people of Aru Village. To make matters worse, he was currently bound in rope and confined in a steel birdcage. The former wasn't much of an issue, but, with his smallest form being that of a large bat, escaping through the pencil-thin holes in the birdcage was impossible.Destroying any hopes the diminutive pig man might have possessed, Sarina, standing closest to the birdcage, explained, "Your magic has been sealed. Give up, Oolong. Your reign of tyranny has come to an end."Though he was briefly distracted by Sarina's breasts, Oolong immediately came back to his senses when he heard her words, shouting, "What are you talking about!? I have no idea who this Oolong person is! If you don't release me...I'll report you to the police and have you arrested!"Deadpanning in response to the shameless pig's words and actions, any desire Sarina had to spare him promptly faded away. An uncharacteristically cold expression developed across her face, and, after a moment of silence, she dropped the proverbial guillotine on Oolong's neck by saying, "The entire village witnessed you transform from that red ogre to your current form. You also mentioned the name Oolong the moment you woke up. From now on, every time you attempt to lie your way out of this, six months will be added to your sentence..."......Observing the scene inside the Village Chief's house from within the Model Tiamat, Bulma couldn't help remarking, "Wow...stop me the next time I try to pick a fight with Sarina. That girl doesn't play around, does she...?"Raising his brows, a skeptical look developed across Vahn's face as he flatly replied, "If it were that easy to prevent you from picking a fight, there wouldn't be any conflict between you. Sarina, deep down, is a kind and caring girl. I honestly don't understand your hatred toward her. After all, it's not like she's taken anything from you. Quite the opposite, actually..."Frowning in response to Vahn's words, Bulma wanted to retort but found herself unable to. She had never been good at arguing against facts, so, whenever Vahn presented her with an objectively true statement, she always found herself at a loss. In this instance, she knew precisely who was intruding on the other's relationship. Thus, even if she was more than a little annoyed by Vahn's words, Bulma couldn't really say anything to refute them."You're a real jerk sometimes..."Shaking his head, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he retorted, "No. I'm just honest. As much as that might annoy you at times like this, you'll come to appreciate it in the future. You never have to worry about me lying to you. Rather, the closer we become, the greater the truths you'll have access to..."Inhaling a slow and steady breath through her nose, Bulma punctuated it with an exasperated sigh before asking, "Once this search for the Dragon Balls has come to an end, how long will we have to prepare for the events you have alluded to?"Raising his eyes towards the crystal clear sky overhead, Vahn briefly considered his response before answering, "It's hard to say. The moment I descended into this world, the future was altered in such a way that not even the Gods of Time would be able to accurately predict its course. Unless I simply ignore everyone and everything, most of the threats scheduled to appear in the next eighteen years can be dealt with easily. Sarina is guaranteed to grow stronger at an exponential rate and Goku has the potential to be one of the strongest beings in all Universes..."Appreciating the fact that Vahn hadn't simply disregarded her question, a faint smile returned to Bulma's face as she incorporated his words into her growing plan for the future. There was no way in she was going to let her home be destroyed, so, even if she had to squander her entire fortune, she intended to make sure they were prepared for any and all threats."Well, that's a relief. Eighteen years is more than enough time to prepare. In fact, if we get a move on, our kid will be an adult by the time things start to get out of hand..."Though she had been intending to put off having children until her early thirties, the eighteen-year timeframe Vahn had presented was exceptionally convenient. If she could get raising a child out of the way, she would have more time to dedicate to her research once the proverbial shit hits the fan.Surprised by Bulma's words, it was Vahn's turn to be at a loss. He had already surmised that she was a remarkably pragmatic person. Unfortunately, pragmatism wasn't exactly a maternal quality. Bulma may have the means to care for a whole host of children, but, with her personality, parenting would forever take a back seat to her research. Her magical studies were bound to consume even more of her time, so, as much as he would like another child, Vahn didn't think it was fair to father one just because it was convenient...Fortunately, just as Vahn was about to advise her against making a hasty decision about birthing a new life into existence, Bulma appended, "Nah, as convenient as that would be, I'm not ready to be a mother right now. I still have to attend college and my father is planning to name me as CEO of Capsule Corp once I finish my degree. If anything, it would be better to wait till things settle down before having a baby. Better to be safe than sorry..."Having seen Vahn revert someone to their prime with a literal touch, Bulma wasn't worried about becoming too old to be a mother. She could even make use of the Dragon Balls to wish for eternal youth if she really wanted to, so, instead of jumping into parenthood, Bulma decided to shelve the idea until she had a better grasp of the situation. So long as Sarina didn't have a child before her, it wasn't really a pressing matter.With this in mind, Bulma surprised Vahn by asking, "Do you use contraception when you have sex with Sarina...?"After supplying a dry laugh and a wry smile, Vahn explained, "Contraception is all but meaningless to Gods. We don't have to worry about things like accidental pregnancies. In fact, many of us don't even possess a genetic code. My offspring, in particular, inherit the majority of their characteristics from their mothers. They are still my children, but, instead of contributing genetic material, the vital essence produced from my body refines their qualities and stimulates their evolution. In the event I produce offspring with a human, the end result is almost always a High Human. If you were able to increase your strength beyond a certain threshold, there is a chance our children would be born as Lesser Gods or something known as a Vanir..."Committing everything Vahn said to memory, innumerable trains of thoughts vied for superiority within Bulma's mind. The notion that her power would influence the starting point and potential of her children, while obvious, wasn't something she had considered. This drastically altered her plans for the future, as, rather than simply waiting until she was in her thirties to give birth, she needed to take measures to guarantee her children had the best possible start. This meant becoming stronger, and, more importantly, learning more about the characteristics of Vahn's 'vital essence'.........After making it transparently clear he wasn't going to be able to talk himself out of his predicament, Sarina convinced Oolong that his only hope was to confess his crimes, return the children, and work off the money he had stolen. His only other option was to be turned over to the authorities in West City, a scenario that would invariably result in him being sentenced to prison for upwards of twenty years.As he would rather work on a farm than spend half his life rotting away in a penitentiary, Oolong ultimately agreed to Sarina's proposal after failing to transform more than a hundred times. He was even weaker than most children without his ability to transform, so, with no other options available to him, Oolong signed a magically binding contract with Granny Paozu. He would help take care of her for the next ten years, and, in the process, earn his freedom through tilling the land and helping to harvest crops.With that taken care of, Sarina and Goku bade farewell to the people of Aru Village after promising to check in every three-to-six months to ensure Oolong was on his best behavior. Shortly after that, they met up with Vahn and Bulma outside the village before setting course for the Diablo Desert, a vast stretch of badlands to the West of Mount Paozu and bordering Mount Frypan.As the name implied, the Diablo Desert was a hellish place where temperatures routinely exceeded 50 degrees Celsius during the day and -3 degrees Celsius at night. This made it impossible for most plants and animals to live there, so, with the exception of a few sunbleached stone structures, only bandits, coyotes, and a few subterranean creatures called the Diablo Desert home.Since Sarina wasn't particularly interested in Yamcha, Vahn ultimately agreed to simply fly over the inhospitable desert surrounded by natural stone walls. She was apparently dissatisfied with the way Yamcha had treated Bulma in the series she was familiar with. The two had been together for more than sixteen years, yet, despite Bulma helping to launch his baseball career and allowing Yamcha to live with her, he was constantly cheating on her.Were she not vying for Bulma to end up with Vahn, Sarina would have preferred it if the intelligent blunette had been paired with Goku. She had never been particularly fond of Chi-Chi, especially in the later arcs, so she had always envisioned Goku ending up with the childhood friend he had gone on numerous adventures with.Sarina had always found it odd that Goku had married Chi-Chi in spite of the fact the two had only known each other for a few days before subsequently separating for more than six years. After that, the two married, and, without any real developments between them, Gohan is born a year later and subsequently turned into a bookworm by his excessively violent and intolerant tiger mom.Though Chi-Chi supposedly loved Goku, her words and actions contradicted this at every turn. She constantly badmouthed him in front of Gohan and was vehemently against the idea of him turning out anything like his father. This had never made sense to Sarina, as, how could you purport to love someone if you didn't want your children to end up like them?From the moment of his birth, Chi-Chi had literally controlled every aspect of Gohan's life. Were it not for the fact Piccolo had literally kidnapped him, the Earth may have been destroyed several times over just because she wanted her son to be a scholar rather than a fighter. Then, despite the fact she continued to dictate his life even into his adulthood, so much so that he would sometimes go years without training, she actively trained her youngest son and allowed him to pretty much do whatever he wanted. She went from not wanting Gohan to be anything like his father to not caring at all if Goten was exactly like his father...Since Vahn had given her free rein to make decisions, Sarina was determined to change everything she hated about the version of Dragon Ball she was familiar with. This included pairings, so, even if Goku did end up with Chi-Chi, Sarina would be damned if she allowed the woman to treat him the way she did in the original series. As for Yamcha, Sarina didn't particularly care about him. He never really accomplished anything in the version of Dragon Ball she was familiar with. Instead, he literally exploited the power he had gained while training under Master Roshi to basically cheat at sports by competing against normal human beings. When things got dangerous, he was either the first to die or the first to propose running away. In the end, he ended up being relegated to little more than a background character, who, even after they were separated, leeched off Bulma by convincing her to let him stay rent-free in one of her properties...It was kind of sad.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Oolong gets his bacon cooked...','Ah, yes, 'vital essence'. Indeed...','Sarina is fucking brutal o_o...')

Chapter 20: Shortsighted