EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

"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...)

"That could have gone better..."Amused by Vahn's utterance, a soft chuckle emanated from Sarina's throat before she replied, "I don't know. I feel like things went surprisingly well. This version of Chi-Chi is a lot kinder than her adult counterpart."Giving the raven-haired woman a questionable look, Vahn was surprised to find a genuine smile on Sarina's face. She didn't even seem remotely bothered by this development. Rather, undoubtedly as a result of her desire to alter the course of events to her liking, she seemed to be looking forward to the prospect of having Chi-Chi as a younger 'sister'.Noticing the look Vahn had directed her way, the smile on Sarina's face became marginally more prominent as she teased, "Don't give me that look. Besides, wasn't she a lot cuter than either of us expected? I don't remember her being that tall."As the Chi-Chi from the anime was only a half-head taller than the 124cm Goku, Sarina was more than a little surprised to see the scantily-clad Princess appearing just a few centimeters shorter than her. She didn't know her exact height but Chi-Chi had to be around 156-158cm tall. If she and Goku had been standing side-by-side, the latter wouldn't even reach her shoulders. A 32-34cm difference in height was 'very' noticeable.Understanding Sarina's confusion, Vahn explained, "When it comes to anime, there are a number of inconsistencies in the characters and art style. It's not easy to fit large characters on screen without making them take up the entire scene, so, more often than not, they're drawn to appear smaller or as a fixture in the background. As for Chi-Chi...I believe her height discrepancies are entirely related to Goku. I believe the series creator wanted them to be around the same height but got too used to drawing Goku a certain way. I mean, he barely even changes between the start of the series and the start of his training with Kami. A full three years passes in that time, yet, despite being a race that is supposed to mature quickly, he stays the same height for nearly five years..."Though her knowledge of the timeline couldn't compete with Vahn's, Sarina could recall most of the major events in the series. This included Goku's training with Master Roshi, his conquest of the Red Ribbon Army, the revival of King Piccolo, and his subsequent training with Kami. These events transpired over the course of several years, but, just as Vahn had stated, Goku's appearance didn't change in the slightest until the time skip leading up to the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament...Staring at the inordinately petite youth flying around and performing tricks on his Flying Nimbus, a thoughtful expression appeared on Sarina's face as she inquired, "Are you going to attempt to pair him with Chi-Chi?"Surprised by the sudden question, Vahn's brows perked up as he asked, "Oh? What makes you say that...?"Snorting through her nose, Sarina adopted a playfully pouty expression as she looked up at Vahn and asked, "Do you think so little of me? I'm not an idiot, Vahn. I may have been oblivious to it at the time but you were clearly trying to set me up with Jin. You did the same thing with Nono and I'm pretty sure you're the only reason Lily even bothered to give Jin a chance..."As he had always expected Sarina to eventually catch on to his 'scheme', Vahn wasn't too surprised by her accusations. He also wasn't ashamed of his actions, as, both then and now, he had only ever wanted them to be happy. He just doesn't want to be the lynchpin for everyone's happiness.Answering Sarina's previous question, Vahn explained, "As you pointed out, Chi-Chi is too ignorant of the world abroad. Even in the canon I'm most familiar with, she was notably intolerant and even hostile towards the people living in cities. While I do intend to try and get her to open up to Goku, my primary goal is to educate her and broaden her horizons. It's the only way to prevent her from becoming as close-minded as she was in the original series..."Nodding her head in approval, Sarina attempted to imagine a version of Chi-Chi who wasn't always shouting and trying to boss people around. It was...surprisingly difficult. Fortunately, Vahn could do just about anything, so, even if his plan to set her up with Goku was doomed to failure, Chi-Chi was bound to be a much better person in this timeline than the original.With that in mind, Sarina's thoughts briefly shifted to the other girls she imagined falling for Vahn. People like Videl, her favorite character from Z, were undoubtedly off the table but there were still girls like Lazuli, Caulifla, Kale, and Cheelai. The former might be a little difficult to secure unless she allowed Dr. Gero to survive but the latter three were relatively easy to acquire. Caulifla, in particular, would probably pursue Vahn on her own after a good fight...Thinking of the trio of girls, Sarina surprised Vahn quite a bit by asking, "Why don't you teleport over to Planet Vampa and pick up Broly? He would be much happier growing up on Earth and it would prevent a scenario where you're the only guy around the house. If you still want to pair him with Cheelai, you can pick her up as well. I remember her stating she was an orphan in the spinoff series. "Resisting the urge to point out it wasn't a healthy mentality to simply 'pair' people together, Vahn briefly considered Sarina's proposal. At the same time, his intent shifted to Planet Vampa, a lush yet inhospitable world with wild animals that would fodder most planets. There, seated atop the head of a monstrous, bear-like serpent, a teenage Broly could be seen staring off into space with a wistful expression that didn't suit his youthful appearance...Directing his intent to Cheelai in turn, Vahn was somewhat surprised she appeared nearly identical to her counterpart in Super. The only notable difference was that she was currently lacking the skin-tight uniform of a Frieza Force member. Instead, she was curled up in the alleyway of a futuristic yet extremely polluted city, her green-skinned body noticeably emaciated and covered in dark purple bruises..."Hmm..."Though he knew they would survive even without his interference, Vahn would be lying if he said he didn't sympathize with the duo's current circumstances. There was also a remarkably high likelihood they would never meet, as, the moment Frieza's path crossed his own, Vahn intended to 'delete' the monstrous tyrant from existence. At the very least, there was no way in hell he was letting him come back to life...After a moment of deliberation, Vahn composed a letter in his mind before dropping a satchel next to the shivering Cheelai. This surprised the green-skinned woman quite a bit, but, after cautiously checking her surroundings, she eventually picked it up to investigate the interior. When she found a pocketbook and a change of clothes inside, her confusion increased by several orders of magnitude until she finally noticed the message scrawled on a piece of paper.Since Cheelai was very clearly an adult, Vahn wasn't going to just whisk her away from her world without notice. He also couldn't just tell her she was 'fated' to be with an alien man she had never met. Instead, he asked if she was willing to work as a caretaker in the estate he was intended to construct. Either way, she was allowed to keep the money, clothes, and accessories contained within the satchel. They were more than enough to turn her life around, and, so long as she didn't become a despot, the pendant and bangle he placed inside would literally increase her luck.To Vahn's surprise, Cheelai didn't even hesitate to use the pen he provided to scrawl out a response. The shivering of her body made her handwriting near-illegible, but, even then, Vahn could make out the words, 'I accept. Please get me off this shitstain of a planet' as tears began to swell at the edges of Cheelai's rose-pink eyes.As he wasn't yet ready to bring Cheelai to Earth, a conflicted expression developed across Vahn's face until Sarina asked, "What's wrong? You suddenly went all silent on me."Explaining the situation in detail, Vahn was fairly surprised when Sarina suddenly palmed her head in exasperation and said, "You know, I wasn't telling check in on them and see what they were up to when I mentioned bringing them to Earth. You should have at least waited until we got situated in our new home. You know you can't help wanting to help people..."Unable to refute the buxom beauty's words, Vahn just adopted a wry smile as he looked toward the sky and contemplated solutions. There were actually quite a few, so, instead of overthinking things, he promptly manifested a Japanese style manor atop a plateau located to the West of West City. He had always been most comfortable in traditional Japanese housing, so, in preparation for the future training of Sarina, Goku, Chi-Chi, and now Broly, Vahn made sure the manor had everything from a bathhouse to a dojo.Though there was still a lot of work to be done, specifically related to the underground Workshop he was intending to build, Vahn wrapped things up by sending a follow-up message to the fretful-looking Cheelai. When she nodded her head almost violently in affirmation, he promptly teleported her away from Frieza Planet 297 before depositing her in the room that would serve as her home for the foreseeable future. She was a little dazed by the sudden and instantaneous transition, but, after a brief survey of her surroundings, a profoundly relieved expression appeared on her face as she plopped down like a marionette with its strings cut.Resisting the temptation to peer into Cheelai's past, Vahn sent the green-skinned woman one last message detailing her current situation and the facilities she had access to.Instead of immediately reacting to the piece of paper that manifested near the center of the room, Cheelai appeared to be gauging his response by staring at it for the better part of twenty minutes. When nothing happened, she tentatively made her way over before perusing the map and reading the information provided on the back.........Discovering that there was a bath located a relatively short distance away from her room, an excited smile developed across Cheelai's face. It had been a long time since she was able to relax in a tub or take a shower so she couldn't help looking forward to it.Unfortunately, the notion that someone was currently watching her made Cheelai more than a little apprehensive. She had gone to great lengths to avoid having to whore herself out after fleeing the orphanage and setting out on her own. As much as she appreciated being given an out, she would rather die than become someone's pet or plaything.Though she had failed to find any cameras during her preliminary search, the appearance of a third piece of paper made it pretty obvious she was still being watched. To make matters even worse, the person who was watching her clearly possessed special abilities. She had absolutely no idea where Earth was located but it sure as hell wasn't anywhere near Frieza Planet 297...Suppressing her growing anxiety, Cheelai tried to look on the bright side. As scary as the notion of someone possessing the ability to teleport her across the Galaxy was, it was also convenient. If she played her cards right, she could travel virtually anywhere in the Galaxy whenever she wanted. She had also been given a choice whether or not to accept her mysterious employer's invitation, so, as frightening as his powers were, he was a hell of a lot more reasonable than the twisted goons that had beaten her after she refused to whore herself out at their behest."Screw it..."Deciding that there were worse things than being seen naked by the person who may as well have saved her life, Cheelai promptly stripped out of her clothes before walking toward the bathroom in the buff. The letter informed her that she was the only person living in the manor at the present, so, even if she was being watched, she intended to make the most of it. It beat freezing to death in an alleyway.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Toriyama's art style changed drastically throughout the series...','Sarina is the type of person who self-inserts into a fiction and gives herself all the most powerful abilities in the first ten chapters xD...','Vahn's powers are objectively terrifying...')

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...')

Chapter 21: Arrangement