"I thought the one who freed me would be a Supreme Kai," Elder Kai said, sighing like the entire universe had disappointed him. "Instead, it was an Earthling. Tragic."
Shin leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Elder Kai, years ago, someone named Broly pulled out the Z Sword too. Did you know about that?"
Elder Kai rounded on him. "I was sealed inside the sword, you idiot. How would I know every little thing happening outside? I spent most of that time sleeping."
"Oh." Shin scratched his head. "I thought you were watching the outside world the whole time."
"I do not want to talk to you."
Shin lowered his head and quietly backed away.
Elder Kai pointed at Gohan again. "You. Come here."
Gohan looked helpless. "I really wasn't the one who pulled out the Z Sword."
"It was me," Cabba said, raising his hand again. "I pulled it out."
"Be quiet," Elder Kai snapped. "You think I can't tell?"
Cabba froze.
Tell what?
Elder Kai clasped his hands behind his back and looked him over. "You're a Saiyan from Universe 6, aren't you?"
"Yes. I'm from Planet Sadala." Cabba nodded, then glanced toward Gohan, clearly still hoping someone would explain why this disqualified him.
Shin perked up. "Elder Kai, why does Universe 6 have a Planet Sadala too?"
Elder Kai's patience broke immediately. "Because Universe 6 and Universe 7 are twin universes. Many things in them mirror each other. Does that finally make sense?"
"I think so. Are those the only twin universes?"
"Any two universes whose numbers add up to thirteen are twin universes," Elder Kai barked. "Do not ask me another question that stupid."
Shin looked embarrassed. "Is there a book I can read about this?"
"Does the palace library not have books?"
"There are no books in the library."
Elder Kai stared at him. "Did you open it?"
"Open it?"
"You need to open the library with godly power. Then the books appear." Elder Kai looked up at the sky as if asking it for mercy. "Please do not tell me you didn't even know that."
Shin blinked.
"You have to open it with godly power?"
Elder Kai pointed away. "Go. I am done with you."
Shin covered his mouth and stopped talking.
Elder Kai turned back to Cabba. "Now do you understand why I'm not choosing you?"
"Because I'm from Universe 6?" Cabba asked, looking as if he wanted to cry.
"Of course. This is Universe 7. I'm making someone from my universe stronger. If you want help, go ask your own Supreme Kai."
"But…" Cabba glanced at Gohan.
Technically, Gohan's group came from Universe 6 too. The Earths had only been swapped long ago.
Caulifla leaned toward him. "Leave it for now. I'm not convinced this old man can make anyone stronger anyway."
Cabba nodded. "You may be right."
Elder Kai ignored them and pointed at Gohan. "Stand there. Do not move."
Gohan stepped into place, still doubtful. "Are you sure this will work?"
"What kind of man asks if something will work before trying?" Elder Kai snapped.
Gohan gave an awkward laugh. "I didn't mean it like that."
Then Elder Kai paused, eyes narrowing with sudden interest. "By the way, do you have a girlfriend?"
"A girlfriend?" Gohan blinked and instinctively looked at Kale.
Elder Kai followed his gaze.
Hmm.
Kale's cheeks turned red.
Gohan-nii really thought of her that way.
Elder Kai crooked a finger at Gohan. "Come here."
"You just told me not to move," Gohan said, but he came closer anyway.
Elder Kai leaned in and lowered his voice. "I'll unlock your power. In exchange, let me have a little moment with your girlfriend. Just a touch. Nothing outrageous."
Gohan's face went green. "What are you saying?"
Goku laughed. "Gohan, your face looks like Piccolo's."
"Dad!"
Elder Kai only smiled wider. "Think about it. I give you the power to defeat Majin Buu, and all I ask for is one small reward. A fair trade."
"No," Gohan said immediately.
"You are too stubborn. At least ask her."
"I am not asking her that."
"If she loves you, she'll agree." Elder Kai pushed him toward Kale. "Go on. Discuss it."
Kale looked at Gohan in confusion. "Gohan-nii?"
Gohan wanted the ground to open under him, but he still told her what Elder Kai had said.
Kale listened, then smiled.
"Gohan-nii, agree to it."
"What?"
"Gohan-nii, agree to it," Kale said, smiling sweetly. "If he tries anything, I'll make sure he regrets it."
"Please don't kill him," Gohan said quickly. "He is still a Supreme Kai."
"I'll control myself."
"This feels like I'm living off my girlfriend," Gohan muttered.
"If you become stronger than me, it won't feel that way anymore."
Gohan took a breath and steadied himself. "All right. I'll try."
Elder Kai's eyes lit up when Gohan came back. "She agreed?"
Gohan nodded with a dark expression.
Elder Kai patted his arm like a wise teacher. "Listen, once you become powerful, you can get any girlfriend you want. Losing one or two is nothing."
"Start," Gohan said. "And I'm warning you now. If my strength doesn't improve a lot, forget the deal."
"Stand still."
Elder Kai raised a hand toward him.
Goku folded his arms, watching closely. "Is this really going to work?"
"Here I go!" Elder Kai shouted. "The power to defeat Majin Buu!"
Then he began circling Gohan.
Round and round.
Humming.
Gohan stood there.
Everyone else stood there too.
Nobody understood what they were watching.
After dozens of circles, Elder Kai showed no sign of stopping.
Gohan finally broke. "Excuse me, what exactly is—"
"Quiet. This is an important ritual."
Goku raised a hand. "How long does it take?"
"Five hours for the ritual," Elder Kai said. "Then twenty hours to draw out the power."
The silence that followed was brutal.
Kale recovered first and pumped a fist. "Good luck, Gohan-nii."
Gohan had no answer.
Goku stretched. "I'm going to take a nap. Hang in there, Gohan."
"I'll go too," Caulifla said.
Goku blinked. "Together? I'm not used to sleeping with women other than Chi-Chi."
Cabba nearly stumbled. "Goku, don't make it weird."
"Huh?"
Caulifla was already flying off. "I meant I'm going to sleep."
Goku went in a different direction.
Gohan watched them leave.
So he really had to stand here alone for twenty-five hours.
At least Kale stayed with him.
Shin leaned toward Kibito. "Should we stay too?"
Kibito nodded. "Probably."
Universe 6, Earth.
"Move. Stop."
Piccolo's voice rang across the Lookout again and again.
Zarek looked like he was questioning every choice that had led him here.
This was humiliating.
They were really making him practice that ridiculous Fusion dance.
"Vegeta," Piccolo said. "Your turn."
Vegeta snorted, but he stepped forward and took over the instruction.
More time passed.
Piccolo watched the boys move through the steps again and finally nodded. "They should be close enough. Let them try."
Vegeta turned to the three of them. "Match your ki. All of you."
"Yes," Trunks said.
"Right," Goten said.
Zarek said nothing. His face said plenty.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "And listen carefully. If anyone ruins this on purpose, I will hit him with destruction energy. If that kills you, Earth's Dragon Balls will not bring you back."
Zarek immediately became much more cooperative.
"Begin," Piccolo said.
Zarek, Goten, and Trunks stood at the three corners of the triangle. Their expressions turned serious as they matched their ki.
They stepped in together, arms sweeping through the final motion until their fingertips met at the center of the triangle.
Light swallowed the Lookout.
When it faded, the three boys were gone.
In their place stood a round, heavyset fusion with Gotenks's outfit, Gotenks's face in broad strokes, and just enough of Zarek in him to make the result even stranger.
Light flared across the Lookout, and for a moment, nobody could see a thing.
When it cleared, Zarek, Goten, and Trunks were gone.
In their place stood a round, heavyset fusion in a familiar Fusion outfit. He looked mostly like Gotenks, but with just enough of Zarek in his face to make the result feel deeply wrong.
Piccolo stared.
Vegeta stared.
Dende and Mr. Popo did not look any more encouraged.
After a long silence, Vegeta folded his arms. "This is Ken's Fusion? What is he supposed to do against Buu like that?"
"Something went wrong," Piccolo said.
"Zarek's finger missed," Vegeta said.
"That would explain it."
Before either of them could say more, the failed fusion suddenly took off across the Lookout, jogging with far too much enthusiasm for someone shaped like that.
He made it less than a hundred meters before stopping, bent over and panting.
Dende wiped sweat from his forehead. "That is definitely not the version we need."
Piccolo's mouth tightened. "Again."
The fusion looked back at him. "Again how?"
"Separate, then try again."
"How do I separate?"
Vegeta clicked his tongue. "Ken said Fusion lasts thirty minutes. So we wait."
Piccolo looked at the failed fusion again, then at Vegeta. "Zarek missed on purpose, didn't he?"
"No," the fusion said immediately. "Absolutely not."
Dende tried to move past the awkwardness. "What should we call you?"
The fusion straightened with what little dignity he had. "Zarotenks."
Vegeta snorted. "Of course. They just jammed the names together."
Thirty minutes later, the fusion broke apart in a flash of white light, leaving Zarek, Goten, and Trunks standing there again.
All three of them looked shaken.
Mr. Popo leaned forward. "Do you remember what it felt like?"
Zarek looked down at his hands. "We really fused?"
"You don't remember?"
"Questions later," Piccolo said. "Buu is still down there, and we don't know what he's doing."
Mr. Popo nodded and stepped back.
Piccolo pointed to the triangle. "Again."
They returned to their positions.
The second attempt failed too. This time Goten's finger missed, and the light left behind a thin, pale fusion who looked exhausted before he had even taken a step.
Piccolo closed his eyes. "Wrong again."
"He looks like he might collapse," Mr. Popo said.
Vegeta's patience was visibly running out. "Another thirty minutes."
So they waited.
When the second failed fusion finally split apart, nobody argued anymore. Zarek, Goten, and Trunks went straight back to their positions, matched their ki, stepped inward, and brought their fingers together at the exact center of the triangle.
This time, the contact was perfect.
Light burst over the Lookout, and the pressure that followed made both Piccolo and Vegeta sharpen at once.
When the glow faded, Vegeta finally smiled.
"About time."
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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