EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

"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...')

Leaving Cheelai to her own devices, Vahn, Sarina, and Goku spent two-and-a-half hours traveling Northwest across the mountains surrounding Mount Frypan. This brought them a unique location on the outskirts of the Diablo Desert, a vast expanse of terrain known as the Mushroom Forest.As the name implied, Mushroom Forest was dominated by massive, tree-sized mushrooms that seemed to stretch out towards the horizon. Unlike normal mushrooms, however, the mushrooms of Mushroom Forest were rock solid near the base and remarkably springy near the top.In the distant past, long before the reign of King Picollo, people had used the Mushroom Forest like an extreme sports playground. It required a bit of skill, but, so long as you had sufficient finesse and adequate equipment, it was possible to bound from one mushroom to another as if they were giant trampolines.Though King Picollo had been defeated three hundred years prior, humanity was still in the process of a slow and gradual recovery. The crazed Namekian had gone around wrecking cities and hunting humans for sport. Were it not for the sacrifice of Master Mutaito, Roshi's former teacher, the human race would have been pushed to the brink of extinction and reduced to slaves.Fortunately, though they had been forced to endure severe hardships in the interim, the destruction wrought by King Picollo wasn't without its silver lining. The near-destruction of the human race had brought an end to nearly every conflict driven by race, religion, greed, and political fear-mongering. As a result, people of all races, religions, and backgrounds had banded together with the common goal of surviving, rebuilding, and ultimately prospering.Now, three hundred years after the destruction wrought by King Picollo, the people of Earth had become so tolerant of one another that pills capable of changing a person's gender and race had been created without any significant backlash. There had even been a craze ten years ago where millions of people, captivated by the notion of becoming Animal-Type Earthlings consumed a pill known as Animorphaline.By consuming a single, tick-tack-sized pill, a human's genetic code could be altered in such a way that the changes in their genome would be passed on to their descendants. It was even possible to determine which animal you ended up as by having a DNA and blood test prior to consuming the pill. As a result, nearly 17% of the global population had become Animal-type Earthlings as it made survival in some of the more inhospitable climates of Earth much easier.With even the 'King of Earth' having consumed the pill, subsequently becoming a Dog, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Animorphaline was remarkably popular for those who wanted to spice up their lives and experience something new.........Aiming for the massive clearing located near the center of Mushroom Forest, it wasn't long before Vahn, Sarina, and Goku found themselves in an extremely arid region whose only landmark was a massive, predominately sand-colored castle.With architecture reminiscent of Arabian and Egyptian cultures, complete with a pyramid base, said castle would have stood out as a marvel of ancient and modern engineering. Unfortunately, nearly half the castle currently lay in ruin. As for the culprit, she was currently sunbathing atop the chassis of the Model Tiamat, her developing yet remarkably mature body on full display as she relaxed in little more than a bikini and sunglasses...Teleporting over to the destroyed section of the castle with Sarina in tow, Vahn was unsurprised to find the wreckage of a peculiar blue, pink, and green robot littering the area. The differently colored sections had once represented individual mecha, but, due to the creator's obsession with retro cartoons and transformation sequences, they were able to change shape to form a single, massive robot.Unfortunately, said robot may as well have been a cheap action figure against the much larger and exponentially more powerful Imperial Dragon. Bulma had plucked away its limbs like the petals of a flower. Once she ran out, she forcefully separated them before threatening to give their bodies the same treatment if they attempted to run away.Powerless against the overwhelming might of the Model Tiamat, the trio, consisting of an imp-like man with blue skin, a raven-haired woman that could best be described as an Eastern femme-fatale, and a petite man resembling a chubby Shiba-inu remained confined to their cockpits. With the tail of the Model Tiamat contracting whenever they attempted an escape, there was little they could do but wait patiently for their fates to be decided."I see you took care of things on this end..."Hearing Vahn's words, Bulma was startled to a seated position. When she saw him standing next to Sarina, the latter wearing little more than yoga pants and a sports bra, a faint yet ill-tempered snort emanated from her nose as she retorted, "You sure took your sweet time. I was beginning to believe you wouldn't show."Though she hadn't considered for a moment that Vahn might not show, that didn't prevent Bulma from complaining. Fortunately, this was the last stop on their journey to collect the Dragon Balls. If she was lucky, they would be West City and celebrating before nightfall. Then, after decompressing for a bit, she could begin implementing the plans she had drafted since her engagement with Vahn.Shifting his attention to the buxom blunette, Vahn was unsurprised to find Bulma leaning forward in a way that showed off her faintly tanned breasts. He rewarded her expectations with a brief glance, but, instead of gawking, he quickly met her sapphirine gaze, answering, "There was a minor incident we'll need to discuss once we're finished here. Have you recovered the last Dragon Ball...?"Shaking her head, Bulma restrained her curiosity as she pointed towards the smallest of the three robots, the blue one, as she explained, "Nah. I figured it would be safer to wait until you arrived. I do know where it's at, though. That little blue-skinned man has it."Responding to Bulma's accusation, the external speaker of the blue robot hissed to life as a shrill, high-pitched voice answered, "Lies! Slander! I've never even heard of these magical, wish-granting balls you speak of...!"Scoffing in response to the imp-like man's excessively expository remark, Bulma used her [REquip] System to don something more appropriate than a bikini before having the Model Tiamat lower her to the ground. Then, despite knowing Vahn could sense the Dragon Balls, she walked over with the Dragon Radar, dangling it in front of petite imp's blast shield as she said, "Nice try, loser. Now, hand it over before I show you what real violence looks like."Rather than abiding by Bulma's demand, the imp-like man popped open the hatch of his robot with a ludger-like pistol in hand. Under normal circumstances, this would have terrified Bulma, but, now that she had a literal God as a fiance, she adopted a cheeky smile with only a hint of nervousness in her expression.Though he was a little unnerved by Bulma's reaction, the diminutive imp placed a bit of pressure on the trigger as he stammered, "I-If you know what's good for you, you'll hand over your Dragon Balls and that monster of a machine! I'm in a forgiving mood today so I could be convinced to let you go if you're obedient!"With the look on Bulma's face showing ridicule rather than fear, veins bulged at the imp-like man's temples as he shouted, "You ungrateful wench! How dare you mock the Great Emperor Pilaf!? Let's see you smile with a bullet between your eyes...!"Without waiting for Bulma's response, the imp-like man, self-proclaimed Emperor Pilaf, pulled the trigger to his pistol several times over. This caused a series of clicks to echo through the destroyed throne room. The first few caused Bulma's body to tense, but, realizing both the chamber and click were empty, a rather vicious smile developed across her face as she sent the diminutive man back into his cockpit with a punch before shouting, "Emperor my foot...!" as she stomped his face and hands with the heel of her foot.Though Bulma was well within her right to seek vengeance after Pilaf attempted to shoot her in the face, her foreknowledge that nothing would happen made her reaction unnecessarily violent. Thus, the moment she had kicked the petite man the exact number of times he had fired, Vahn appeared next to her, saying, "That's enough..." in a soft yet firm tone.Feeling calmer the moment Vahn wrapped his arms around her body, Bulma's adrenaline-fueled frenzy gradually ceased. In its wake, her body trembled violently for several seconds, but, thanks to Vahn, even that faded away as he held her head to his chest and gently caressed her back.Sensing that she had calmed down, Vahn relaxed his hold on Bulma's body, his tone gentle and soothing as he asked, "You okay...?"Too ashamed to look Vahn in the eye, Bulma lightly headbutted his chest before complaining, "You could have made the gun disappear instead of making the chamber empty..."Nodding his head, Vahn softly replied, "You're right..." in the same soothing tone as before. This left Bulma feeling at a momentary loss for words, as, rather than feeling vindicated by his response, she felt even greater shame. After all, there was nothing requiring her to step forward and confront Pilaf herself. She had just wanted to show off...If Vahn hadn't taken the initiative to remove the bullets from Pilaf's gun, Bulma would currently be sporting ten holes in her head. She was far from bulletproof, so, even if the pistol was a relatively low caliber, it wouldn't have had any trouble penetrating her skull. As a gun fanatic, Bulma was well aware of this, so, the moment Pilaf pulled the trigger, she had nearly peed herself from fright...Feeling the chaotic and not-so-subtle fluctuations in Bulma's aura, Vahn continued to hold her for several minutes without saying a word. She was a remarkably intelligent woman, so, as long as she had the time, she could sort things out. If he tried to speed the process, there was an exceptionally high probability that his words would have the opposite effect. This was something he had learned after associating with quite a number of prideful women, so, while Sarina and Goku handled tying up Pilaf's crew and assembling the Dragon Balls, he remained by Bulma's side until she was the one to say, "I'm okay now..."Giving her one last squeeze, Vahn released Bulma from his embrace before smiling affectionately in response to her staring up at him with a visible blush on her cheeks. He knew she wanted to thank him, but, as a result of her pride, the words couldn't quite make their way to her lips. Instead, Vahn bent down to claim them for himself, startling the befuddled blunette back to her sense.Pulling away before she could get too hot and bothered, Vahn gave Bulma's cheek a gentle caress as he asked, "Shall we go and summon the dragon? Even if you've lost interest in this journey, it's a sight you wouldn't want to miss. I guarantee it."Unable to find the words to convey her current emotions, Bulma just nodded her head in response to Vahn's invitation. When he subsequently grabbed her hand, the blush on her face threatened to extend into her ears, as, despite turning seventeen in a few months, she had never so much as held a boy's hand. Her father and the boys from her preschool obviously didn't count, so, even though this was actually the second time Vahn had held her hand, Bulma's heart raced as she cemented it as one of their firsts.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'So, you're telling me the solution to most of the world's problems is to push humanity to the brink of extinction? Naruhodo...','Giga Chad Model Tiamat vs. Beta Pilaf Machine','A woman's heart and mind are as complex as a rubix cube with constantly changing color panels...')

"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...)

Chapter 22: Snooping