《Then Pan was a Zombie》


 Chapter 1

    "Okay, you got this." Pan slapped her cheeks, pumping herself up for the upcoming battle. She''d need it.


    In the background, the two monsters, Cell and Dabra, duked it out. She gasped in horrified revulsion as Cell pulled off his own head to avoid getting turned to stone by the demon king''s petrifying spit. Why he possessed such an ability was anyone''s guess. Was it some trait of demons?


    "I''ll need it against monsters like them." While Pan was a member of the proud and powerful Saiyan race, she''d just entered her teenage years. Pained as she was to admit it, she was a little outclassed. Unlike some people here, she couldn''t survive losing her head.


    "But it''s fine." She watched as Cell used his frightening cunning and ruthlessness against his opponent to great effect. "I am the daughter of Gohan, son of Vegito. You got this. I hope."


    "Stop mumbling to yourself," her aunt Bra said in her usual blunt manner. "It''s your turn."


    "Oh, so it is." Pan saw that bio android Cell had emerged victorious, the announcer declaring his victory.


    "Cool, it''s my turn!" Pan said with more confidence than she felt. But she refused to show fear.


    "Pan," Before she could stop him, her father plucked her from the ground before she could enter the ring.


    "Yes, Dad?"


    "Sweetheart, I know Bojack. He is a very mean person, and he is really stronger than you."


    From the stories, she knew her father had struggled with him, only surviving by a hair and a desperate Kamehameha. The space pirate was at least Cell''s equal or beyond. But Pan''s voice was steady as she spoke.


    "I won''t give up!" Determination filled her. Her grandfathers and father had stood against foes ten times their strength, and so would she.


    "I''m not saying you should. Just be very careful."


    With a plop, she landed in the arena. With his arms crossed, Bojack stood across from her, his expression superior. The space pirate was a giant, standing over 200 centimeters tall, but Pan refused to be intimidated.


    "This will end quickly," Bojack said. But Pan didn''t lose heart. He''d underestimate her father to his peril, so he would with her.


    Pan gasped as he pounced at her with startling speed, just dodging his punch. An enormous crater remained where she''d just stood. If that had connected, she''d have been mincemeat. It reminded her she couldn''t hold back anything.


    "Dad is right. He is strong. I must give it my all!"


    "Fast little girl," the space pirate said, amused but unconcerned. Pan would show him why he should be shaking in his boots.


    Golden energy shimmered around her body as she turned Super Saiyan. The transformation was dramatic, her hair going golden. Light fatigue dragged her down. Her new form had a toll. Unlike her grandfathers or Bra, she still hadn''t yet mastered Super Saiyan. But the cost had been worth it, her ki bounding to astonishing heights.


    Her counterpart, the other Pan from the aberrant universe where her grandfather hadn''t stayed fused together, gasped in astonishment. So she hadn''t yet become a Super Saiyan? She''d have to give the girl pointers once the fight concluded. How she''d first become a Super Saiyan was quite the story.


    The transformation earned cheers and admiration from the crowd. Frieza, the intergalactic tyrant, flicked his tail in agitation, displeased a Saiyan so young was already a Super Saiyan. Her grandfathers smirked, pleased. Her aunt Bra only snorted, disinterested.


    Bojack astounded Pan as he matched her blow for blow. But she held the advantage in speed, landing a solid punch on his face. But the space pirate seemed more annoyed than hurt. She needed to up her game. After blocking a punch, she teleported behind her opponent and prepared her family''s trademark move.


    "Kamehameha!"


    Pan huffed, out of breath. Dust filled the arena as the dome protecting the battle arena cracked. She continued to breathe hard as she floated down, watching her downed opponent with a wary eye. It had cost a tremendous amount of ki for that blast. Bojack was unmoving, face down. But she wondered if that''d last.


    But her worst fears became reality as her opponent clutched dirt in his hand and rose to his feet, seething.


    "This one will taste Bojack''s fury," The female member of Bojack''s crew, Zangya, said.


    "Well, shoot," Pan thought. But she hadn''t lost hope yet. She only needed to be careful and not waste her remaining ki.


    Impossible. Pan flew back as she sensed the full fury of the space pirate''s transformation. His skin had turned a lime green, his hair bright like fire. His ki was beyond anything Pan had ever suspected. The sheer force of his transformation ripped part of the platform they stood on.


    "His power has increased," her mind raced. What now?


    But she didn''t get the chance, gasping as the space pirate appeared before her with blinding speed. She''d barely caught him move! "What?"


    "You little brat."


    Pan gasped as a tight vice grasped around her throat, making breathing impossible. Her father cried something, but she was too frantic to notice. She squirmed and struggled against Bojack''s titanic grip. But it was useless as he squeezed the life from her. The monster laughed, pleased at how useless her efforts had been against him.


    Then blackness consumed her as something cracked. She swam in a pool of darkness, its current pulling her towards a smoothing, warm light, inviting her to join it. There was no fear, only contentment. Pan allowed herself to drift along the current. But she screamed as something grabbed her ankle, flailing as it pulled her under. Air escaped her lungs as Pan fought against whatever had seized hold of her, but its vice-like grip refused to budge as she struggled against it. Her lungs burned as inky water filled her lungs, suffocating her. Desperate, she lunged at whatever had grabbed her in a last-ditch attempt to save herself. But Pan gasped as she saw the face of her attacker. It was herself. She smiled, her mouth showing too many teeth.


    "What happened?" Pan gasped, her eyes fluttering open. Her brain was foggy, indistinct. What had she been doing? She stared up at the shocked expression on her father''s face. Then the fight with Bojack returned in a rush.


    "Let me go," Pan said, leaping from her father''s arms. "I''m not finished yet!" With determination, she stomped back to the ring. "I''m ready for round two!"


    But nobody said anything, the stadium eerily quiet. Everyone stared at her, dumbfounded. Bojack stood still as a statue, mouth agape. Huh? Had she detected a hint of fear in his eyes?


    "Uh, I guess we announced the winner prematurely," the hesitant announcer said. "We never counted to thirty. But I could have sworn..."


    "Are you just going to stand there?" Pan taunted, bursting back into Super Saiyan.


    But her opponent ignored her taunt, continuing to stare at her. Then Bojack shook his head like he was freeing his head of cobwebs.


    "It doesn''t matter," the space pirate said. "I''ll just make sure you''re all dead this time."


    "Pan, don''t!" Her father said.


    "Father," Pan had never heard such a tone from her father before. Had he been crying?


    "You can''t beat him, Pan," Uncle Piccolo said. "It''s best if you stop the fight."


    "Don''t be stupid," Aunt Bra added, crossing her arms. "You''ve lost. Give up already. Quit wasting our time."


    "Hmm," Vegito stood on the sidelines, his interest piqued. Unlike the others, he wanted to see how the fight would conclude.


    But she ignored their pleas, focusing on her opponent. While it seemed wiser to give up, part of her refused to obey. This Bojack was a bully, someone who hurt others for fun. As the granddaughter of Vegito, she couldn''t stand by and do nothing. He won''t back down, so she won''t either.


    "But she should be dead, right?" A tall, bald Saiyan shook his head, dumbfounded.


    "Something off is happening here," Kakarot, the corrupted version of Goku, said, furrowing his brow.


    "Tsk. These monkeys are like weeds." Frieza said, voice dripping with contempt.


    "You should have listened to your pitiful family," Bojack returned to his transformation, though this one was less dramatic. But Pan noticed something this time. Like turning Super Saiyan, the space pirate''s transformation had cost him a tremendous amount of ki.


    "He has less finesse than grandfathers." She''d seen countless times how Vegito became a Super Saiyan, but it''d cost them only a tiny amount of ki. Unlike them, Bojack hadn''t trained himself with his transformation. Though what use this tidbit gave her, Pan hadn''t a clue.


    They flew across the arena as they reengaged their brawl. Pan struggled to keep step with her opponent. But she''d seen his moves and knew how he fought. Bojack was a brute, dependent on his brute strength to win. She''d use that against him.


    Using a feint, she tricked her opponent into thinking she was going for a punch instead of a kick. The blow landed with a solid thud, and Bojack grimaced. Wow! Had she gotten stronger? Her attacks seemed more effective this time.


    "Little brat!"


    A powerful kick struck her chest, throwing her into the arena. It cracked in half from the force of the blow, rocking the stadium. Energy gathered in her opponent''s right hand, and he launched everything down at the prone Pan. The arena vaporized into dust as it got blasted to pieces, blinding dust filling the battle dome.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Now the little idiot is dead," Zangya said.


    "That''s that," Bojack said, undoing his transformation. He smirked, quite pleased with himself. "Announcer, end this farce." Only he screamed in pain as a flying kick hit him where the spine met the neck.


    "Huh?" Bojack stared, grimacing in pain. Without his transformation, he wasn''t nearly as durable. "I could have sworn I broke your spine with that kick!"


    "Odd," Uncle Piccolo said, his expression curious. "I can''t sense her ki. I didn''t even see her until she launched her attack."


    "You''re right," her father said, wide-eyed.


    "You pest," Bojack said, eye twitching. Unlike before, however, he wasn''t in as great shape. The loss of ki he''d used trying to obliterate her was taking its toll.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Pan taunted, trying to trick her opponent into making a reckless mistake. "I didn''t even feel that so-called spine-breaking kick." And this was true. It''d only been a solid thud against her stomach. The hit was laughable.


    With a roar of fury, Bojack transformed and launched himself at her at full force. He was impossibly quick, Pan fighting to keep him off. While a brute, he possessed impressive fighting skills, landing punishing punch after punch. But again, his hits did nothing. He stared at her dumbfounded as she seemed unbothered by his attacks. He howled as she landed another solid punch to the chin.


    "Can she not feel pain?" Nappa from Universe 13 said, bewildered. Others mumbled to each other, theorizing what was happening.


    "Go down!" Pan recoiled as a palm struck her shoulder at full force, shattering it with a single blow.


    "Shoot." Pan leaped back, just dodging another punishing punch. She stared at her swaying, broken arm. To Pan''s amazement, no matter how much she prodded at it, it didn''t hurt. She ignored the disturbing implications, jerking the limb back into place with a sudden tug.


    With a flex of her fingers, Pan nodded in satisfaction that it had returned to normal. "That''s odd. What''s going on?" Had a blow from Bojack given her damaged something?


    "What is she?" Jeice from the Ginyu Force said. "That ain''t normal!" The entire crowd broke into muttering in both fear and confusion.


    "Well, well," Cell said, his interest piqued. If she won this fight, he''d be her next opponent.


    "You are a monster, aren''t you? Seems only total obliteration will do." Bojack flew higher, energy gathering within his right hand. "I''m finishing this."


    "Oh, no," Pan panicked, sensing the amount of ki her opponent was gathering into his next attack. His muscles seemed to expand, increasing his already fearsome strength. She feared what might happen if he blasted her to pieces. But a smile from her grandfathers calmed her. While he''d said nothing, it told her she could win. She only needed to grasp it.


    "Pan!" Her father said, worried.


    "I got this." Her opponent was running on fumes. If she survived his next attack, he might not have the power to stop her.


    "Just die already." Bojack''s voice dripped with contempt. With a sudden movement, he was behind her, mirroring her Kamehameha from earlier. Desperate, she channeled everything in her right palm to deflect the attack. Their beams clashed as Pan desperately fought for her life.


    "So strong." Despite the power she''d gathered for her defense, it barely seemed like a candle compared to Bojack''s. Her confidence faltered as she struggled to keep him at bay. He pulled his other hand into the attack, focusing his ki even further.


    "No, this is it. I''m going to die!" Tears glistened in her eyelids. She wasn''t sure if it was from her impending death or her failure to live up to her grandfather''s legacy.


    "Focus. You haven''t lost yet." A familiar voice in her head said.


    "Grandpas?"


    "You have the power to beat him," her grandfathers said. "Channel your anger, your determination. Show him what you are. Forget about everything else. Just focus on what''s in front of you."


    "Okay." Pan channeled more ki to her defense, sparing her from oblivion that''d been seconds away.


    Anger. Pan remembered what Bojack had done to a child for kicks. He''d hurt her only for the pure thrill of it.


    "What?" Trepidation crept into Bojack''s voice as Pan''s power only seemed to increase, her eyes filled with righteous determination.


    This jerk had likely done the same to countless others, terrorizing people because it was fun. Well, no more! She pulled her palms together, gathering everything she had.


    "Kamehameha..." The energy around her palms extended further, her hair becoming spikier.


    "meha!" Pan gave everything she got, piercing her opponent''s beam like a lance. While Bojack''s beam was stronger, hers had more focus. The space pirate howled as the Kamehameha blasted him in the chest, staggering him back. Bojack lost control of his beam, in too much pain to continue. He stood frozen like a statue as Pan''s power petered out.


    Pan heaved as she kept her Kamehameha pose, ready if her opponent tried something. But the last of exhaustion after spending a tremendous amount of ki disturbed her. She wasn''t tired, exactly, more empty than anything.


    "You! You! Brat!" Bojack stumbled forward, injured but not finished. He extended his fingers, clawing at her. Pan entered a battle position, ready to continue the fight. But it wasn''t necessary, her opponent collapsing in a heap.


    After a count of thirty, the announcer declared the victor. "Bojack hadn''t moved for thirty seconds. Pan from Universe 16 is the winner."


    "I did it." Pan released a half-chuckle, hardly believing she won.


    "You did it!" Her dad pulled her into an all-encompassing hug.


    "Nice work," Uncle Piccolo said.


    "No. It can''t be." Aunt Bra shook her head, dumbfounded. "That runt pulled it off? It''s impossible."


    But Pan ignored their congratulations, eyeing her father in concern. "What''s wrong, Dad?"


    "No warmth," her father said in bated breath. "None."


    "Let me see." Aunt Bra pushed past her father and grabbed her wrist. Her eyes widened in fear. "She''s cold as ice."


    "What?" Pan said, shaking her head. "No way that''s true. If my body''s cold, that''d mean I''d be dead."


    It was Uncle Piccolo''s turn to touch her. He shook his head, hardly unbelieving the words he was speaking. "You are dead. No wonder I couldn''t sense your ki."


    "Dead?" This news spread through the crowd like wildfire, people staring at Pan with fear.


    "Dead?" Buu from Universe 4 studied Pan with interest before breaking into a laugh. "How entertaining! That''s a twist! Even I didn''t see this coming."


    "She''s a zombie!" Jeice of the Ginyu Force said, his voice rising to a terrified shriek.


    "What are you talking about?" Frieza asked, twitching his tail in agitation.


    "Can''t you see how pale she is? What else could she be?" Jeice''s voice rose to a fevered pitch.


    Pan looked at her hand. It seemed paler than usual. But a zombie? That was just silly, right?


    "My God, it''s just like the movies!" Jeice continued. "Get away from her. Otherwise, you''ll become one too. She''s patient zero in a zombie epidemic!" Someone screamed, and utter pandemonium broke out, people scrambling over their seats and over each other to escape.


    "This is bad. We''re all going to die!" Jeice said, filled with nothing but blind fear.


    "We have to get out of here! I''ve seen what monsters like her do!" Burter said, his eyes wide and fearful. "She''ll come after us to eat our brains!"


    "Brains? But I like my brain!" Guldo said before disappearing. Pan blinked in surprise. She hadn''t even seen him move. Pan suppressed a shutter. She could only guess at his power. He might be the most dangerous member of Frieza''s group.


    "You shouldn''t have to worry. None of you have any," Frieza replied, deadpan.


    "Yes, a hasty retreat is definitely in order," King Cold said, trying and failing to hide his terror.


    "They''re nothing but shambling corpses. You''re a member of the Frieza Force, an organization that rules the entire galaxy. I expected more steel out of you," Frieza said, exasperated. Unlike his men, he remained cool as ice. "And you, Father? Scurrying like a frightened child?" Frieza had no words for this disappointment.


    King Cold coughed in his fist. "I, King Cold, am just being cautious. It won''t do to have our men die needlessly to some zombie virus, dear son of mine."


    "Is she infected with some virus?" Uncle Goten asked, his voice fearful. "I mean, why else would she be a zombie?"


    "If she is a zombie, then it means she died," Zangya said, giving the nearest Vargas a scathing glare. Unlike everyone else, she seemed unbothered by the possibility of a zombie outbreak. "She should be disqualified."


    "Well, uh. We''ll discuss it," the Vargas replied, trying to restore order. His pleas for calm failed to gain traction as people fled to the hills. Pan noticed, except for her father, that the rest of her family was keeping their distance from her. Her grandfathers, in particular, seemed rather stiff. Was he afraid? Impossible! Nothing scared the mighty, invincible Vegito, right?


    "Maybe I can help," a woman wearing tech armor said. She came from Universe 19 if Pan remembered correctly. "We have the technology to scan for any viral infection."


    "Please do," Pan said, her voice cracking, her mind still reeling over being dead. It seemed too impossible to believe, but her breath quickened when she found no heartbeat. Dear God, it was true. She was dead!


    "Please, sort this out," her father entreated, equal parts trepidation and hope.


    "Don''t worry, sir," the tech warrior replied. "We have the best technology in the multiverse."


    ---


    "Well, obviously, we allow her to continue in the tournament," one Vargas said. "Pan of Universe 16 won fair and square."


    "Yeah, but she died," another Vargas argued. "So technically, she lost!" Lila, the West Supreme Kai, watched from the sidelines as the pair bickered.


    "It doesn''t matter. The answer is already clear," Lila said, trying to restore some order.


    "Yes, the girl has become an abomination. We can''t allow her to continue to participate in the tournament." South Supreme Kai said with feeling, and Lila nodded her agreement.


    "Sorry?" one of the Vargas blinked in confusion.


    "Now, now," East Supreme Kai said with a slight chuckle. "We''re not quibbling about that old point, are we?"


    "East!" North said, his voice rising. "This is no laughing matter! That Pan girl from Universe 16 has become undead, an unholy blight on all life."


    "I''m not really understanding the point here," another Vargas said.


    "The undead are considered taboo among the gods. A perversion of the beauty of life." But East interrupted his explanation with a dismissive snort. "Or so the old Kai tenants say. Many of my colleagues still hold a strong prejudice against any undead."


    "I''m not really understanding your point here," another Vargas said. Who, Lila was losing track. All these bird people looked the same. "You allow demons in the tournament but not the undead?"


    "We didn''t want them in the tournament either! But you overrode us!" Lila snapped. The Vargas had ignored their rather vocal objections and allowed Babadi and his demon henchman into the tournament. Worse, they''d admitted Majin Buu, an ancient evil beyond all measure. She didn''t buy the Vargas'' excuse that the bird faces had technology that could easily subdue him if he ever got out of control.


    "What do you say, East?" North said, putting the diminutive, young Kai on the spot.


    "Well, uh," East floundered, struggling to come up with a response. He didn''t want to rock the boat any harder. "It''s a free tournament. I don''t see any issue about her fighting in it."


    "Indeed. Well said, young man," the Grand Supreme Kai said, finally adding his opinion to the conversation. "The young Pan hasn''t attacked or caused the contestants any bother. I see no reason we should disqualify her."


    "We''re ignoring the bigger point here," Lila said. "We still don''t know what caused the girl''s transformation. You hear what the mortals are saying. This might be an epidemic." And hoped this was the case. It gave her the perfect excuse to end this issue once and for all.


    "If so, we''ll deal with it. Until then, consider it a second chance for the young lady," Grand said. "I, for one, admire her courage and resourcefulness. It should be rewarded. We gods must look past the paleness of her skin and into the person within."


    "That''s that then," a Vargas said. "We''ll make the announcement."


    "Good. I''m eager for her next fight. It''s certain to be quite entertaining!" Another battle-hungry Vargas said. Lila wondered if it was a vice of their species to love watching combat.


    "Unbelievable." But the Grand Kai had spoken, and they each respected their elder Kai enough to not contradict his wise pronouncement. Still, it left Lila uneasy. Something about this seemingly trivial event of a young mortal being resurrected might have catastrophic implications. A single pebble was often enough to divert an entire river.


    ---


    Author''s note.


    Hello. I don''t usually write these, but I think this story deserves some sort of explanation. This fanfic came about from a random idea I came up with for my own amusement. I do this often, though I usually don''t put my ideas to paper. This one leaked from my head. I thought it would be amusing to see Bojack get his butt kicked by Pan for cruelly killing her. What happened to her was just wrong. Yes, I know this is Dragonball, and death sticks as much as it does in the X-Men. But still!


    So, I came up with this random idea: What if Pan didn''t lose her first fight? What happens next? And yes, this story does have some inspiration from "Doom: Repercussions of Evil," though hopefully with better grammar and spelling. I really don''t know why I made this story other than for my own amusement, but I decided to share it. Who knows, someone might like this nonsense. I''m not exactly sure where this story will go, but I hope you enjoy the ride. And please don''t take this too seriously. It''s Dragonball, for goodness'' sake! It has an entire alien race named after vegetables!


    RIP Akira Toriyama. I too like writing weird, random things, and you''ve always been an inspiration to me. Never be afraid to write what you like. Eventually you''ll find someone who likes your dumb stuff.

 Chapter 2

    ¡°Hmm. There¡¯s nothing suspect in your system,¡± Phipsil of the Heliorians said as she consulted her datapad. She¡¯d taken a sample of Pan¡¯s blood and put it through several tests for any outside agents or pathogens. ¡°As far as I can tell, you¡¯re a perfectly healthy young lady.¡±


    This earned a raised eyebrow from Pan. The tech warrior coughed into her fist and reworded her statement.


    ¡°I mean, I detect no agent that would cause a zombie outbreak. Your cells are acting oddly, but nothing from any pathogen,¡± Phipsil amended before sagging somewhat. ¡°I¡¯m uncertain why you returned to life. Your cell reproduction seems normal, but your organs aren¡¯t working like they should. I don¡¯t understand any of it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something, at least,¡± her father said, putting a comforting hand on Pan¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°So no zombie outbreak, that¡¯s good!¡± Goten said, relaxing somewhat.


    ¡°It¡¯s excellent news!¡± a Vargas said, his beaked face brightening with excitement. ¡°We can finally restart the tournament! I¡¯ll make the announcement.¡±


    ¡°Glad that¡¯s your priority,¡± Pan said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°How are you holding up?¡± her father asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Pan sagged. ¡°What did I do to deserve this? Have I become a monster?¡±


    ¡°Hey, now. Don¡¯t talk like that.¡± Her father pulled her into an embrace. Despite herself, Pan cried into his shoulder. She didn¡¯t want to admit how scared she was. ¡°Whatever you¡¯ve become, I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Dad?¡±


    Her father looked her in the eyes, his face full of compassion and love. ¡°Just remember this, Pan, whatever happens, I will always love you. You¡¯ll never be a monster to me.¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡± Pan hugged her father tight, eyes brimming with hope and love.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Aunt Bra disturbed their happy moment with a dismissive snort. She scowled, restraining her anger with considerable effort. Her sour expression twisted into a contemptuous smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to embrace this monster, Gohan. Can we even be sure she¡¯s really Pan? More likely, she¡¯s a monster wearing her face. People don¡¯t just return as a living corpse. Don¡¯t let those fake tears fool you.¡±


    ¡°B-Bra.¡± Pan¡¯s heart seized in her throat, both hurt and furious at her aunt¡¯s accusations.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Son Bra,¡± her father said, glaring at his half-sister. Pan¡¯s other relatives weren¡¯t happy either.


    ¡°Yeah, aren¡¯t you overdoing it?¡± Trunks said. ¡°You¡¯re jumping to premature conclusions!¡±


    But Bra only gave a dismissive shrug. ¡°Someone needs to say it.¡±


    Her grandfathers gave his youngest daughter a baleful glare. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far, Bra. You better give Pan an apology right now.¡±


    But Bra only walked away, disinterested in making amends with her niece.


    ¡°Impudent brat,¡± her grandfather muttered to himself. Pan saw where Bra got her ill temper from.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± an unfamiliar voice said, breaking into the family squabble. To Pan¡¯s surprise, it was Gast Carcolh, the super Namekian from Universe 19. ¡°Perhaps I can give this mess some clarity.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Pan asked, staring up at the towering cousin of Uncle Piccolo. Apparently, the Namekian was a fusion of hundreds of different Namekians. They¡¯d done this to repel an invasion of Frieza and his forces.


    ¡°I have some understanding of magic. Let me try,¡± Gast said.


    ¡°So you can finally determine if she¡¯s a monster,¡± Aunt Bra said snidely. Thankfully, everyone ignored her and focused on the super Namekian.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this won¡¯t hurt,¡± Gast said, putting a firm hand on Pan¡¯s head and closing his eyes. It brought back happy memories of when Uncle Piccolo had watched over her during her youth. Gast shared the same kind, powerful presence that told her everything would be okay and that nothing would ever hurt her. While not a child anymore, Pan embraced the Namekian¡¯s kindness, taking comfort in his gentle strength.


    ¡°Well?¡± her dad asked, his voice pensive.


    ¡°There¡¯s no evil magic, yet¡­¡± Gast¡¯s voice trailed off, trying to gather his thoughts. ¡°Her soul is torn. Something ripped her back from the afterlife.¡±


    ¡°What could do that?¡± Pan asked, suppressing a shudder. Whenever she thought back to when Bojack snapped her neck, only hazy memories returned. Yet, Pan sensed a hole in herself, a gaping chasm of emptiness. Something important had vanished.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I¡¯m afraid.¡± But Gast¡¯s smile was warm and reassuring. ¡°But you¡¯re not a monster, that I can tell you.¡±


    That was a relief, at least. ¡°What now? Can you restore me to normal?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe so.¡± Gast frowned and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not even certain the Dragon Balls could restore you to normal.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Pan said, alarmed.


    ¡°Dang it, that¡¯s right,¡± her father uttered a curse. ¡°They couldn¡¯t Android 17 and 18 back into humans, either.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯m stuck this way?!¡± Pan said, panic entering her voice. She didn¡¯t want to be a zombie forever! She¡¯d barely experienced life! Heck, she hadn¡¯t even learned to drive yet!


    ¡°But I only said I was uncertain,¡± Gast said, reading Pan¡¯s sudden panic attack. ¡°The Vargas¡¯s Dragon Balls might differ from the ones I remember on Namek.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something,¡± her father said, suppressing a sigh. But then he grabbed Pan¡¯s shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. ¡°We¡¯ll fix this somehow. You have my word.¡±


    Pan sniffed and nodded. But Bra gave a dismissive snort, ruining the mood. It raised Pan¡¯s hackles, but she forced herself to ignore her aunt¡¯s rudeness.


    ¡°Good news, everyone,¡± the announcer said. ¡°The Heliorians have done extensive medical scans and found Pan of Universe 16 free of contagion. The tournament will resume in fifteen minutes. Please, everyone, return to your seats. There¡¯s nothing to fear.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Still, that girl freaks me the heck out!¡± Jeice of the Ginyu Force said, watching Pan with a wary eye.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jeice, I got your back.¡± King Cold put a supportive hand on the Ginyu Force member¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But you can¡¯t let fear rule you! Take courage! You¡¯re a member of the Ginyu Force, the most elite, invincible warriors in the multiverse!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that zombies got nothing on us!¡± Burter said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll smash her to pulp!¡± Recoome¡¯s chest rumbled a low, cruel chuckle.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll show her.¡± Guldo added.


    ¡°Guys.¡± Jeice teared up, happy his teammates had his back now and always. ¡°The Ginyu Force fears nothing!¡±


    ¡°Now, show then a pose that fill strike fear in the heart of Frieza¡¯s enemies!¡± King Cold said.


    ¡°Right!¡± Jeice unleashed a scream that would make a rock star proud. ¡°I am Juice of the Ginyu Force!¡± He struck a pose that equal part ballerina and combat pose. Jeice pointed a finger at Pan. ¡°Listen here, Zombie! I might be out of the tournament, but you better watch your back! Lord Frieza and Lord Cold are gonna obliterate you into dust! They¡¯ll make you regret ever going against the Frieza Force!¡±


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t done anything,¡± Pan replied, sighing.


    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± King Cold gave the Ginyu Force member a hearty slap on the back, his smile one of a proud parent. He stiffened when he noticed his son giving him a strange look. ¡°Just keeping the men in good spirits. That way, they¡¯ll always be in fighting shape!¡±


    To this, Frieza only shrugged. ¡°Do what you wish. If it works, I suppose I can¡¯t argue against success.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re also officially declaring Pan of Universe 16 the victor in her fight against Bojack from Universe 6.¡± The announcer hesitated. ¡°We¡¯ve re-contextualized what it means to be dead.¡±


    ¡°And what the heck is that supposed to mean?¡± Aunt Bra said, flicking her hair.


    ¡°Bull!¡± the female space pirate Zangya said. She stomped over to the nearest Vargas and glared daggers at him. ¡°You cheated us! Pan died, so Bojack is the winner!¡±


    The Vargas raised his hands in a placating gesture. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s the committee¡¯s ruling. If you want to file a complaint, we have a form to¡­¡± But the birdlike alien didn¡¯t get to finish, gagging as a limping Bojack grabbed him by the throat, threatening to break his neck like he¡¯d done to Pan.


    ¡°That¡¯s not good enough,¡± Bojack said, his voice low and threatening.


    ¡°Hey! Stop being a sore loser,¡± Pan rushed to the Vargas¡¯s defense, ready to knock the space pirate into next week. ¡°You lost fair and square.¡±


    ¡°Please.¡± But Bojack ignored the Vargas¡¯s pleas and squeezed tighter. Pan feared the man¡¯s eyes would pop out from his eye sockets.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m afraid of you, little girl?¡± Despite his injuries, Bojack was a frightening, towering foe. His cronies stood behind him, ready to cause some mayhem. ¡°You only won through a fluke. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Her grandfather appeared at astonishing speed, grabbing the poor Vargas¡¯s neck with his tree trunk arms. Bojack hissed as the great Vegito applied tight pressure to his arm. ¡°You lost. Accept your loss and go in peace. Or else, I¡¯ll make you.¡±


    ¡°Is that right?¡± But Bojack grimaced as her grandfathers¡¯ grip tightened to an uncomfortable level. His gang rushed to his defense but flinched as Vegito glared at them.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Bojack released the Vargas. The bird man gasped, sucking in grateful breaths of air.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± the Vargas said gratefully. He glared up at the towering Bojack, his courage rekindled. ¡°For that, Universe 6 is disqualified.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zangya said, outraged.


    The Vargas adjusted his robe. ¡°This tournament has rules, and you¡¯re expected to follow them. Leave quietly, or there¡¯ll be trouble.¡±


    ¡°Pity,¡± Pan said, her smirk triumphant.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re done here,¡± Bojack said, turning to leave. His posse followed with a silent command, each sneering and outraged.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± Zangya whispered as she passed. ¡°Next time I see you, you¡¯re dead, brat!¡±


    But Pan only stared before her mouth quirked into an amused smirk. ¡°But I¡¯m already dead.¡±


    Zangya floundered, her cheeks reddening when she realized she¡¯d said something stupid. The pirate stomped away, fuming, sending Pan death glares as she left. Pan, in return, pulled down her bottom eyelid with a finger and stuck out her tongue. Served her right.


    Her father frowned as he watched the space pirates leave. ¡°They¡¯ll be trouble.¡±


    ¡°Let them try. Sounds fun,¡± Her grandfathers bristled at the prospect of battle.


    ¡°If Pan can beat their leader, what trouble will they be?¡± Bra said, rolling her eyes.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be any,¡± the Vargas said, his tone confident. ¡°We have safeguards in place in case the tournament¡¯s more rowdy guests cause trouble. With our supreme technology and the Gods behind us. Nothing can go wrong.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± Pan said, forcing a smile. Things had already gone awry with her becoming a zombie.


    ¡°Sounds dull,¡± her grandfather said, turning away. ¡°I was hoping for a little mayhem.¡±


    ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t jinx it,¡± her father said, his smile pained.


    A cough over the loudspeaker caught their attention. ¡°Sorry for the delay, folks, but the next battle is about to begin! Since Universe 10 left the tournament, Tapion from Universe 3 wins by default. So the next match will be Sauza from Universe 8 and Krillin from Universe 9!¡±


    But Pan wandered away, not interested. With her next match against the terrible Cell, she needed to prepare for it. Besides, after the zombie drama, Pan needed some alone time. After waving her family goodbye, she left for the back area.


    ¡°Hey, bro, do you think Pan will be okay?¡± Goten whispered.


    ¡°Pan¡¯s strong,¡± her father said. ¡°Just give her some alone time. I know she can sort it out. She¡¯s my girl, after all.¡±


    ¡°What should I get?¡± Pan¡¯s hand wavered as she inserted money into the vending machine. This was a moment of truth, and she dreaded learning the answer. ¡°Come on, Pan. You faced Bojack. You can do this!¡±


    Since her fight had ended, uncomfortable truths had struck like a ton of bricks. Not only couldn¡¯t she feel pain, but she had no other sensations either. When she¡¯d cried on her father¡¯s shoulder, none of his loving warmth had touched her.


    ¡°Tomato juice?¡± a voice said. ¡°People actually drink that?¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s healthy!¡± Pan replied with a huff. Her uncles had always gotten on her case for drinking it, too. The can landed with an audible clang as it hit the dispenser slot. The can hissed open as she tore open the pull tab.


    Her nose picked up no scent. It wasn¡¯t a good sign. Her hand quavered as it moved the can to her lips. But her hesitation turned to resignation, the can dropping to her side untouched. She sniffled, hating her weakness.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay.¡± Arms wrapped around her, comforting and kind.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Pan said, regaining some of her composure. She turned around, searching her memory for the girl in question¡¯s name. ¡°Mary Sue?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem,¡± the girl¡¯s dazzling smile brought unexpected warmth to Pan¡¯s heart. She seemed to radiate kindness and beauty, her flowing hair like a river of gold. Mary Sue picked her own drink, a jasmine peach soda, sipping it with relish. ¡°I¡¯m always ready to help a hurting soul.¡±


    ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Pan said dejectedly.


    ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± Mary Sue asked.


    ¡°What¡¯s to say? I¡¯m a zombie now, and everyone thinks I¡¯m a freak. I¡¯ve seen how everyone looks at me. When I was walking down the corridor, people avoided me.¡± Despite being told otherwise, people still treated her like a plague carrier.


    ¡°That¡¯s rough,¡± Mary Sue said after a moment¡¯s pause. ¡°I can¡¯t say my home treated me any better.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Pan said, her interest piqued.


    The other girl released a mournful sigh. ¡°My father hated me. He blamed me for my mother¡¯s death. She died during childbirth under some grisly circumstances. He put me through hell during my childhood. It wasn¡¯t what you¡¯d call typical.¡± She refused to go into further details, pain written across her face.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°It hurt not being loved. My father worked as a mercenary, so I never had any childhood friends. For the longest time, I thought I didn¡¯t need anyone. I had no one, not even friends. But that changed. I met people who looked past my rough, bitter exterior and loved me for who I am.¡± Mary Sue scuffed Pan¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯ll find some too.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. I needed that.¡± It reminded her her situation wasn¡¯t as bad. She marveled at Mary Sue¡¯s inner strength to withstand such a hardship yet still smile. Pan sipped her drink and grimaced as she tasted nothing but ash. ¡°Seems I can¡¯t eat either.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it isn¡¯t just the drink?¡±


    ¡°Hey, tomato juice is good!¡± But she laughed, taking odd comfort from the other girl¡¯s teasing.


    ¡°We have finished the first half of the 32nd finales. Let¡¯s begin a lunch break.¡± The announcer said, his voice echoing through the halls.


    ¡°Lunch break, joy,¡± Was the universe itself mocking her? No doubt, Pan¡¯s family was stuffing their faces to the brim.


    ¡°Want to do something? It might be awhile until we¡¯re needed again,¡± Mary Sue said, catching her new friend¡¯s dark mood. ¡°How about we borrow the universe transporter to go shopping? I know this cute place back in my universe.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t your fight coming up soon?¡±


    ¡°Eh, I wasn¡¯t really interested in the tournament, anyway.¡± Mary Sue shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d probably just get in the way of true fighters like Goku. He¡¯s the real star of this tournament.¡±


    ¡°You should fight! I want to see it. You look pretty tough!¡± Pan lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Truthfully, my grandfathers have complained about the lack of strong competition. It¡¯d be nice to see him get surprised for once.¡± While she loved him, her grandfathers¡¯ ego was mountainous. It¡¯d be nice to see him get knocked down a peg.


    ¡°Well, okay,¡± Mary Sue¡¯s mouth quirked into a smile. ¡°If you want me to, I will!¡±


    ¡°The next fight will be Vegito from Universe 16 against the unknown participant of Universe 20!¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s grandfathers¡¯ turn to fight.¡± Pan furrowed her brow. ¡°Unknown participant? What the heck does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh! Does that mean we might get a cool crossover?¡± Mary Sue said, brimming with excitement.


    ¡°Crossover?¡± She listened as Mary Sue rambled off random names she¡¯d never heard of before. Her new friend seemed pretty knowledgeable about whatever she was talking about.


    ¡°Or how about Superman? That¡¯s always been a classic matchup!¡±


    ¡°Suppaman?¡± Pan recognized the name. Her father had been a pretty heated rival with the caped superhero back in his Great Saiyaman days. Didn¡¯t he get his powers from plums or something like that?


    ¡°No, Superman. He¡¯s one of the greatest heroes in the multiverse!¡± Mary Sue practically gushed about the man, touting all his virtues. ¡°He once reversed time by flying so fast that he reversed the Earth¡¯s rotation!¡±


    Before Pan could reply to this obvious absurdity, she gasped as a power beyond anything she¡¯d ever sensed struck her like an anvil. Who could have this sort of power? She screamed in startled surprise as the wall behind her exploded.


    ---


    ¡°What were they thinking?¡± Lila said, batting away a wild energy attack. South, as usual, was his dependable self, keeping his fellow gods safe. Not that any of them were safe. Broly was nothing more than a wild animal, charged at people at random.


    He cared little if they were an ally, bystander, or enemy. The juggernaut only cared about causing wanton destruction. She watched in impotent fury as the legendary Super Saiyan went on a rampage.


    But Vegito rushed to meet this impeccable foe, matching the behemoth blow for blow. Despite Broly spiking power, the fused warrior kept him at bay. And the madman wore a grin the entire time. His Saiyan blood peaked at the possibility of a grueling battle.


    ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be happening.¡± Since her universe¡¯s Kais had sworn an oath to protect mortals, they¡¯d stood at the peak, benevolent Gods with unmatched power. Now, she felt like a mewling child.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t they sent him back yet?¡± South yelled at the nearest Vargas. Despite the beating the fused warrior gave him, Broly¡¯s ki only seemed to climb to greater heights. Was there no limit to his power?


    ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s a short in the circuit. The darn thing¡¯s refusing to work.¡± North said grimly but with some humor. ¡°I should write a strongly worded complaint about their maintenance crew. Sloppy.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t time for jokes, North!¡± Lila snapped.


    ¡°There¡¯s not much we can do. Best let the young Vegito handle this.¡± But North seemed pleased by this, gladdened that the fused warrior had such power.


    But Lila only fumed. First, the outrage of Pan from Universe 16 turning into an undead abomination. Now this? They hadn¡¯t even finished the first round of fights, and already this tournament was slipping through their fingers. They¡¯d killed their Broly as a baby before he became a danger, only for another Broly to become this.


    Something needed to be done before something else happened. Mortals need protecting. Not just here, but in all realities. But Lila needed power, power beyond the Gods. But did such a thing exist?


    South muttered something about Broly and how they¡¯d killed him as a child because they¡¯d sensed the danger. Lila gave a pat response, but her mind was elsewhere. Thousands of schemes flowed through her head, most discarded seconds later. As Gods, she couldn¡¯t afford any half-measures.


    ¡°What a monster family.¡± Vegito¡¯s daughter entered the fray. Despite the discrepancy in power, she held her own. Wasn¡¯t her name Bra? She was another abomination of sorts, the daughter of a fused mortal. Why had the Gods in her universe even allowed her existence? Like Broly, Lila sensed the instability in her ki. Worse, the girl was brash without any guidance on her behavior. She might become a threat just as dangerous as Broly, possibly even worse.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Her mouth quirked into a smile as an idea cemented in her head.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note.


    If you want some more backstory about what¡¯s going on, read chapters 7,8,and 9 of Multiverse. I did my best to explain what was happening behind the scenes, while not getting bogged down in too many unnecessary details. This is Pan¡¯s story after it, and it should revolve around her. You¡¯ll notice Mary Sue is taking a more prominent role in the story. I thought it¡¯d be fun to further develop her character. I have some interesting ideas for her. Besides, I thought it¡¯d be nice to have Pan have a female friend in the story. It wasn¡¯t like Bra would step up to the role.


    Next time: Pan vs Buu of Universe 4, can our heroine fight against such a fearsome foe alone? Mary Sue vs. Arale, the terrifying robotic girl. Can anyone match her power?

 Chapter 3

    ¡°Are you okay, Mary Sue?¡± Pan asked, pulling her friend from the rubble. The entire half of the building had collapsed on them, burying them alive. While it had caused no lasting damage, it wasn¡¯t an experience Pan was eager to repeat. Thankfully, since everyone else was out having lunch, only Mary Sue and Pan had been present in the wing.


    After a quick search of her person, Mary Sue nodded. ¡°Everything seems fine. What the heck happened? What was that power?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Pan frowned, sensing the odd ki spike even higher. ¡°Is Grandpas fighting it?¡± And she also sensed Aunt Bra somewhere in the middle of the conflict, reckless as always. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Woah!¡± Suddenly, Pan found herself weightless, flailing around in the air. Mary Sue took the sudden lack of gravity in better stride, floating with a dancer''s grace.


    ¡°What is Grandpas thinking?¡± The power was unreal. Pan had never sensed such ki from her grandfathers before, and it risked tearing everything apart with its sheer mass. Pan didn¡¯t even realize that was possible.


    While spinning like a top in midair, Mary Sue tapped her chin. ¡°Reckless. They should have taken this elsewhere.¡± Unlike everyone else, who seemed on the verge of blind panic, her friend seemed unfazed. ¡°He¡¯s needlessly scaring people.¡± She said, her tone disapproving.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about?!¡± With a thud, Pan flopped to the ground as gravity righted itself. Mary Sue landed with more grace, landing with a gentle plop.


    ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen! The artificial gravity has been increased for you to stay on the ground. Please hang on to something. Sorry for the inconvenience,¡± the announcer said.


    A roar resonated through the arena as her grandfathers unleashed a ki attack with a power beyond Pan had ever sensed. The light was blinding, making Pan flinch. If she still possessed normal eyes, she¡¯d see spots for days.


    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Mary Sue said.


    ¡°It¡¯s been 30 seconds that Broly has been away from eyesight. Vegito from Universe 16 wins the fight,¡± the announcer said.


    ¡°Glad they have their priorities straight.¡± Would they have allowed the rampaging Broly to fight again if he¡¯d won?


    ¡°The Vargas sure knows how to throw a party, huh?¡± Mary Sue said. ¡°We better get back.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The arena was a disaster zone as they climbed over rubble and fallen audience members. No one seemed too injured. The Namekians were quick to heal the odd bruise and bump. Mary Sue helped any audience member who needed help, ensuring they were okay.


    ¡°Thanks, young lady. My hip isn¡¯t what it used to be,¡± a grandma of a purple-skinned species said as they helped her stand.


    ¡°Medic!¡± Pan yelled, waving at the nearest healer. In moments, a young, green-skinned cousin of Uncle Piccolo appeared.


    ¡°Do you need assistance? I am a skilled healer. Tell me where you are¡­¡± The Namek froze as he realized who he was speaking to. The mood turned awkward as he had trouble finding the right words.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s this older lady that needs help.¡± Pan pointed towards the person in question.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± The Namek said, relieved he wouldn¡¯t have to deal with the strange zombie girl. Pan did her best to ignore this.


    ¡°Thank you so much, young lady,¡± the grandma said, pinching Pan¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You are a dear. Would you like some hard candy as a ¡®Thank You¡¯ treat?¡±


    Pan tried her best to keep her expression neutral. ¡°Sure. I¡¯d love to have them.¡± Maybe her uncles would enjoy them in her place.


    ¡°You, young man?¡± The woman said to her healer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t actually¡­¡± But Mary Sue jabbed him in the ribs, reminding him to have some manners. ¡°Sure. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do,¡± Mary Sue said, taking the candy with relish. She tore away the wrapper and plopped it in her mouth, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Thanks, grandma. It brings back happy memories of my own dear grandmother.¡± Her smile turned melancholic. ¡°She raised me after my father passed in the war. I¡¯m afraid I caused her no end of grief back then. I was quite the rapscallion.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that, dear,¡± the older woman patted Mary Sue¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure she was proud to have a beautiful and dutiful granddaughter like you.¡±


    Huh? Hadn¡¯t Mary Sue said an abusive mercenary father raised her? No, it made sense. Her mercenary father died in a war, then she moved in with her grandmother. Yet, she hadn¡¯t gotten that impression when Mary Sue had first explained her past. Pan shook her head, laughing at herself for overthinking such a silly thing.


    After helping some more people get the care they needed, they finally arrived back at Pan¡¯s group. She frowned as she caught everyone¡¯s pensive expressions. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is Broly not defeated?¡±


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Aunt Bra said, releasing a derisive snort. She kept a finger to her forehead, scanning for something.


    ¡°Yeah, you missed all the action,¡± Goten said with better grace. He blushed as he spotted the girl who¡¯d followed her. Her uncle opened his mouth to say something, but words failed him for some reason.


    ¡°Nowhere important.¡± Pan glanced around, frowning as she failed to find her grandfathers. ¡°Where¡¯s grandpas?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Uncle Piccolo replied, worry etched into his usually stoic face. ¡°He went after Buu.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± That didn¡¯t sound good. Buu was an evil beyond evil in her father¡¯s old stories. He was a being that existed only to destroy, killing without conscience. Worse yet, this Buu won in his native universe!


    ¡°Found him.¡± her father extended a hand to his daughter and niece.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Mary Sue said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not coming?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s still much to clean up after Broly¡¯s attack. I¡¯m staying to help anyone that needs it,¡± her friend replied.


    ¡°S-so noble!¡± Goten said. For some reason, a sob escaped his mouth, tears dripping onto the grass beneath them.


    ¡°She¡¯s so selfish! We must help her! Sacrifice our lives if we must in this noble goal!¡± Trunks added.


    ¡°K-kay.¡± What the heck was up with them? They hadn¡¯t just fallen head over heels for Mary Sue. They were worshiping her. Mary Sue was kind and pretty, but wasn¡¯t this overdoing it? With no time to spare to consider this oddity, her father teleported them to the battle scene.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Pan gasped at countless Buu heads that spread across the endless expanse of space like demonic seeds, each mouth grinning a malevolent smile.


    ¡°Our father is asking for help. It¡¯s not like him,¡± her aunt said. Pan gasped at her grandfathers¡¯ appearance. He was hurt! Impossible! Nothing could hurt him!


    ¡°So, the cavalry has arrived,¡± Prime Buu said, his smile widening as he spotted Pan.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt grandpas!¡± Pan said, energy gathering in a palm as she prepared to fight. She blanched as the evil genie directed his full attention toward her.


    ¡°Ah, the one who¡¯s caused so much controversy lately,¡± Buu said, amused. ¡°A living contradiction, neither alive nor truly dead. A monster, but with a caring heart. How fascinating! Save your grandfather if you can!¡±


    Pan gasped as a fist flew at her with astonishing speed. Only by a hair was she able to block it. But her troubles had only started. Pan grunted as a leg struck the back of her head, making her go into a wild tumble in space. Her aunt and grandfathers were not having a better time either, assaulted on all sides by Buu heads.


    ¡°Darn it,¡± Pan grunted as a kick hard enough to rattle bones drove into her chest. If she still needed to breathe, the blow would¡¯ve knocked the air from her lungs. She retaliated with a punch, but Buu slipped aside with ease.


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Buu taunted. ¡°Surely the monster girl can do better than that.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Energy gathered in her palm, and Pan unleashed her fury at her opponent. Its sheer might caught Buu off guard, disintegrating a hearty chunk of his torso. But the monster only smirked as his body reformed, rendering her attack pointless. Her grandfathers and aunt were in trouble, weakening as their limited air supply dwindled. But both refused to give up, not wanting to surrender Broly¡¯s body to Buu.


    Temper flaring, Bra exploded with power as she turned Super Saiyan. Half of Buu heads exploded into dust as she unleashed a mighty ki blast into him. Wasn¡¯t that grandfathers'' technique? Any Buu heads unlucky enough to get caught in the crossfire exploded as they met her wrath. Yet, it wasn¡¯t enough. Buu only reformed again, and Bra¡¯s last-ditch attempt caused her precious air. Pan¡¯s family faltered as the demand for air became impossible to ignore. They each lost Super Saiyan as the pressures against their bodies became taxing.


    Buu only taunted them, laughing at their pitiful attempt to kill all of him. But someone in their group didn¡¯t need to breathe.


    ¡°Get going! I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Pan said, taking a protective stance before her grandfathers and aunt.


    ¡°Ah, a gallant final stand! How amusing!¡± Buu said, engaging Pan in full. She howled as Buu delivered a punishing blow to the chest.


    ¡°Stay still!¡± But each of Pan¡¯s punches missed the mark, it was like fighting the wind. She released a scattershot of ki blasts, but her opponent only slapped them aside. Her skull rattled as Buu jabbed her hard in the face, her teeth grinding together hard enough to chip her teeth.


    This isn¡¯t working! Pan looked back, dismayed to still find her family in space. Were they crazy? They couldn¡¯t afford to linger any longer. Panic made her undead heart beat a mile a minute. Buu noticed her hesitation and divined her reasoning.


    ¡°Very well. If they¡¯re going to be a distraction, I should get rid of them.¡± With a gesture of his hand, her family vanished. It left only Buu, Pan, and the unconscious Broly. He smirked when he caught Pan¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I only sent them back. Now you can focus 100 percent on stopping me,¡± Buu said, malevolence entering his voice. Pan jolted in annoyance as a Buu head struck her from behind as she attempted to fight off Buu¡¯s attacks. They continued to pester her, inflaming her temper.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Golden light exploded from Pan¡¯s body as she went Super Saiyan. Still weak from her fight with Bojack, she¡¯d held back. But she couldn¡¯t afford any half-measures with the stakes so high.


    Pan roared and exploded with energy. The blast caught Buu by surprise, reducing him to half of a torso. Hundreds of Buu heads unfortunate enough to get caught in the explosion of ki evaporated. Pan channeled her fury and pain and all the terror she felt when she¡¯d become a zombie and focused it into the most destructive ki blast she¡¯d ever thrown.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± She didn¡¯t throw it in a straight line; instead, she created a path of destruction as it swept across everything within reach. When the dust cleared, she panted, her ki exhausted. She¡¯d used more than she intended. While her zombie body was immune to exhaustion, Pan felt drained and worn out. Without ki, her body seemed leaden. Heck, it was a struggle to keep her eyes open. Was her undead body powered by her ki? Was that keeping her alive? She gasped in fright as Buu reformed before her eyes. Impossible! She''d reduced him to dust!


    ¡°Impressive. If I¡¯d been more careless, you might have obliterated me. Lucky I kept pieces of my body distant, just in case,¡± Buu said, his smile self-satisfied. He frowned when he realized Broly wasn¡¯t anywhere in sight.


    ¡°And the prize got away from me. They must have returned Broly to his home universe when I was distracted.¡± But Buu only shrugged, not broken up about it. While her brain was foggy, Pan broke into a blind panic as the monster got into her face. Oh crap, she was dead.


    But, much to Pan¡¯s surprise, Buu only beamed at her. ¡°Impressive for someone so young. You possess your father¡¯s inner fury. But it¡¯s untrained, unfocused. Still, who knows? You might get far in this tournament, maybe even face me in a future match.¡± That was all Pan heard before darkness enveloped her.


    ---


    ¡°What fun! Already, spider webs are spreading across the fabric of fate!¡± The voice laughed in delight. It echoed in Pan¡¯s head, full of sadist mirth.


    Pan gasped as a twisted reflection of her face appeared, full of cruel humor. The doppelg?nger smiled, showing endless rows of jagged teeth. ¡°How much more havoc will you cause, I wonder? I can¡¯t wait!¡± The voice broke into mocking, delighted laughter.


    ---


    ¡°Huh?¡± Pan jerked awake, blinking in confusion. Above her stood the concerned face of her father.


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± her father grabbed his heart, sighing in relief. ¡°I was so scared you wouldn¡¯t wake up.¡±


    ¡°Pan! I was so scared!¡± Mary Sue said, hugging her tight.


    ¡°Hey now, it¡¯s all right,¡± Pan replied, patting the back of her sobbing friend.


    ¡°I told you she would. Would I lie?¡± A familiar voice said. Her father shot the speaker a venomous glare.


    ¡°Buu?¡± Pan said, surprised. When she¡¯d fallen unconscious, she¡¯d been certain the evil djinn would destroy her in her sleep.


    ¡°How little you think of me!¡± Buu said in mock injury, holding his heart. ¡°You wound me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve proven your point, Buu. Get lost,¡± her grandfathers said, a growl entering his voice.


    ¡°Some gratitude for saving your granddaughter from getting lost in the deep reaches of space!¡± Buu said, lamenting their ingratitude.


    ¡°She was there because of you!¡± her father snapped.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Pan¡¯s mind was fuzzy, her odd dream already fading away.


    ¡°After we teleported back here. That thing teleported here with you in tow, unconscious and unmoving. We were certain he¡¯d killed you.¡± Her aunt replied.


    ¡°Why?¡± Pan asked, confused. Wasn¡¯t Buu¡¯s goal to destroy all existence or something? But Buu only gave an enigmatic smile, refusing to answer. What was with this guy?


    ¡°The next match is about to begin,¡± the announcer said, bringing a stretching halt to their conversation. ¡°Two members of Universe 2 are called for this match: Arale from Universe 2 and Mary Sue of Universe 2!¡±


    Then, bizarrely, the announcer mentioned a long list of facts about Mary Sue that Pan was almost certain completely contradicted things she¡¯d told Pan about her past.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Pan said, somewhat confounded, wondering how those random, contradictory attributes could be a reality. For example, Pan highly doubted that Mary Sue was a Saiyan or the secret daughter of anyone she knew. Worse was when her uncles started fawning over her, needlessly worrying about her safety.


    ¡°Please be safe, my love,¡± Trunks said. ¡°If anything were to happen to you, I couldn¡¯t live with myself!¡±


    ¡°I swear if anything happens to you, I¡¯ll dedicate my life to avenging you against this Arale!¡± Goten said, naming the other contestant¡¯s name with disdain. Other combatants named their devotions to her, even the barbaric Kakarot from Universe 13.


    ¡°Am I missing something here?¡± Pan asked.


    In response, Mary Sue released a deep, forlorn sigh. ¡°Just ignore them, I usually do. I¡¯m more worried about you, Pan. Are you going to be okay?¡±


    ¡°Um,¡± Pan tested a limb. Despite the usual dullness of her senses, she seemed otherwise fine. ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief at least.¡± Mary Sue sent Buu a scornful glare. ¡°Buu, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to, but I¡¯m putting a stop to it, mark my words.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I have done nothing warranting this abuse!¡± Buu spread out his hands, all innocence.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s another interesting one,¡± Her grandfathers said, watching the girl enter the ring. He furrowed his brow. ¡°Odd. She feels like an old, dear friend, yet I¡¯m almost certain we¡¯ve never met."


    ¡°Did you see the knockers on that girl?¡± Goten whispered. He made a crude, exaggerated gesture with his hands to demonstrate the object of his affection¡¯s bust size. To this, Trunk only rolled his eyes.


    ¡°...¡± Boys. Pan could only sigh.


    ¡°So this is my opponent,¡± Mary Sue said with uncharacteristic seriousness. ¡°Unbelievable. But I can¡¯t afford to lose! My brother is counting on me to wish him back from the dead!¡±


    ¡°So noble!¡± Trunk said, touched. Tears threatened to leak from his eyes.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Since when did Mary Sue have a brother? It didn¡¯t gel with what she¡¯d told Pan earlier.


    Her opponent, a purple-haired girl with a baseball cap and blue overalls, watched Mary Sue curiously. Neither combatant moved. Seconds stretched on, and neither did anything.


    ¡°Uh, Mary Sue?¡±


    ¡°Incredible,¡± Mary Sue suddenly announced, her tone dire. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a stance. It¡¯s perfect! I see no opening! To think this would be my first opponent!¡±


    ¡°Uh?¡± As far as Pan could tell, the young girl was just standing there. She hadn¡¯t a clue what her friend was talking about.


    ¡°Ho?¡± Arale said, curious. She took a step, only for Mary Sue to mirror the movement and take an equal step backward. Minutes passed as this pattern continued. Arale moved forward, only for Mary Sue to keep her distance. Neither combatant seemed ready to make the first move.


    ¡°Come on, do something already!¡± her grandfathers said in obvious impatience.


    But Mary Sue only gritted her teeth like she was in a life-and-death struggle like the slightest mistake would equal her doom. Arale only continued the dance of stalemate, amused by it. More minutes passed with neither contestant doing anything. The crowd entered a heightened state of tension, waiting for violence to break out.


    ¡°This must be an elaborate chess match,¡± a crowd member said. ¡°Thousands upon thousands of moves and counter-moves must be flashing through their heads!¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m bored now!¡± Arale jumped from the stage and dashed off, her arms spread out like a bird.


    Pan and the other onlookers fell over, a leg sticking up in the air. After a moment, Pan pulled herself to her feet. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± her grandfathers said, an eye twitching in agitation.


    ¡°Uh, I guess Arale from Universe 2 has surrendered, making Mary Sue from Universe 2 the victor!¡±


    Mary Sue released a tense breath, grabbing at her chest. ¡°What an intense match. I¡¯ve just survived the most dangerous combatant in the tournament! I was lucky to escape with my life!¡±


    ¡°I-if you say so,¡± Pan replied. What the heck was that?


    ---


    Author''s Note:


    Next time: Son Bra shows her sensitive side. And Pan''s restless night of terror! Bojack''s revenge!

 Chapter 4

    ¡°What an intense battle! I¡¯m amazed I even survived!¡± Mary Sue said, wiping sweat from her brow.


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± A portly, middle-aged man in the audience said, grumbling to himself. ¡°I was hoping to use Arale¡¯s wish to get myself a harem of the most beautiful women in the multiverse!¡±


    A woman with blond curly locks glared at the man sitting next to her. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Their baby, who was floating in midair for whatever reason, only shook his head, ashamed by his father¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Just kidding, my dear!¡± the man rubbed his hands together, sweating when the woman didn¡¯t buy this blatant lie. A green-haired child with antennae and wings cooed as Arale approached.


    ¡°Hi cha!¡± Arale said, greeting her family.


    ¡°You really messed everything up, you know that?¡± the portly man said, glaring at his daughter.


    ¡°Ho?¡± Arale said, staring in confusion as her father chastised her.


    ¡°How lame! Neither threw a single punch!¡± Aunt Bra said, grumbling to herself. She¡¯s been eager for a show of violence and battle.


    ¡°My love! What a spectacular battle! My heart breaks at the thought of anything even harming your beautiful skin!¡± Trunks said with his entire heart.


    ¡°Even how she looked at you ticks me off,¡± Goten said, veins bulging from his barely controlled rage.


    ¡°Eh?¡± What¡¯s with them?


    Mary Sue, however, ignored them both. ¡°Seems I¡¯ve advanced. You think I might see you in a future match, Pan?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful,¡± Pan said gloomily. Her next opponent was Cell, another monster beyond monsters. He wouldn¡¯t be as kind as Bojack. Worse, he was almost unkillable. From the old stories, Cell could heal himself from a single cell. How could someone beat that?


    Sensing her dismay, Mary Sue offered comfort by wrapping an arm around Pan¡¯s shoulder and pulling her in tight. Behind her, her uncles grumbling to themselves, jealous of such attention.


    ¡°Next! The next fight will oppose Gotenks from Universe 16 against Gotenks from Universe 18!¡± the announcer said, to her uncles¡¯ collective shock. Pan brightened. This upcoming fight sounded cool.


    Her aunt, however, seemed less than impressed. ¡°Let¡¯s see if these imbeciles can finally show their worth. I doubt it, though.¡± The other Bra from Universe 18 made a similar disparaging comment. Even her grandfathers seemed uninterested in the upcoming battle.


    Rankled by this, Pan offered her support. ¡°Go Gotenks! You got this!¡±


    Her uncles threw her a thumbs-up and a grateful smile. With perfect precision, they performed the fusion dance.


    ¡°A universal first! Before your eyes! The idol of all girls, regardless of their home planet! The greatest warrior of all universes! Gotenks the Magnificent!¡± Both fusion warriors said in an identical pose, fists raised proudly in the air.


    ¡°Okay, this is weird,¡± Pan said. Uncle Piccolo only sighed, lamenting how neither had grown up as a warrior despite their age and experience. Her aunt made another disparaging remark, wanting the fight over already.


    The match was odd. Each fusion warrior¡¯s moves mirrored their opponent. Each Gotenks howled as they took a duplicate jab to the nose. Identical power spiked as both turned Super Saiyan.


    ¡°This is a real toss-up. They might end up knocking themselves out!¡± Pan said. Despite being from different universes, the Gotenks shared an identical power level. She blinked as both lost Super Saiyan and then fusion.


    ¡°Because of their increased power, Super Saiyan 3 takes a shorter time to go out.¡± Her grandfathers shook his head. ¡°And the fusion time gets shorter, too.¡±


    ¡°Ah ha! These morons will be eliminated for cheating!¡± her aunt said, taking private delight in her brothers¡¯ misfortune.


    ¡°Only one person came into the ring. They are following the rules, even if they¡¯re two now,¡± her grandfathers explained.


    ¡°What a weird loophole.¡± Why¡¯d they even allow fusions in the tournament? Pan wondered what other odd ruling mishaps might happen?


    The fight dragged on as neither pair gained the advantage. Again, they duplicated their counterparts¡¯ moves to little success.


    ¡°Gee, I wonder if this¡¯ll happen if Grandpas fight Goku or Vegeta?¡± Pan mused.


    ¡°Hardly. I¡¯m their superior on every level.¡± Grandfathers replied, smirking.


    ¡°Get real!¡± Vegeta of Universe 18 said, ¡°Unlike you, I¡¯m the real deal, not some fusion that depends on Kakarot¡¯s power.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± her grandfather replied, eye twitching. The comment had hit a nerve.


    Vegeta¡¯s expression turned superior. ¡°Strong you may be, but you didn¡¯t earn that power. I bet you¡¯ve gotten soft sitting on your little hill.¡±


    ¡°Really? How about I show you how weak I am?¡± her grandfather replied, on the verge of jumping his smug counterpart.


    ¡°Now, Vegeta, how about saving it for when you face him in the tournament?¡± Goku of Universe 18 said, trying to calm down the situation. ¡°Though, I¡¯m eager to see if I can reach that hill, too. You are powerful, but I can tell it¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve had a serious fight. I look forward to giving you one.¡±


    ¡°If you can,¡± her grandfather said, unworried. In his mind, if Broly couldn¡¯t defeat him, what chance did anyone else have?


    ¡°Boys are so stupid,¡± Pan said, fed up with this stupid posturing. She frowned when she noticed Mary Sue frozen like a statue, eyes wide. ¡°Is something wrong, Mary Sue?¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh.¡± Her friend was almost vibrating. ¡°It¡¯s Goku! The Goku! Take deep breaths, Mary. You can do this!¡±


    ¡°May I help you?¡± Goku asked as he suddenly found Mary Sue standing before him.


    ¡°M-may I get your autograph?¡± Mary Sue said, bowing as she presented Goku with a pen and notepad.


    ¡°Autograph?¡± Goku said, the word sounding odd on his tongue. He stared at the notepad in confusion.


    ¡°Your signature,¡± her father¡¯s counterpart clarified.


    Goku became even more confused. ¡°Why would she want that?¡±


    ¡°Just sign it, Dad. It¡¯ll make her happy,¡± other Gohan said, somewhat exasperated.


    ¡°Okay.¡± In messy kanji, Goku signed his name.


    ¡°Sweet!¡± Mary Sue said, treating the notebook like a sacred relic. She turned to Vegeta next. ¡°May I get yours, too?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± While not that enthused, Vegeta signed his name anyway. His kanji was surprisingly well-organized and stylish, each curve of the pen perfect.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Mary Sue leaped around in pure joy, unable to contain her enthusiasm.


    ¡°And I suppose you want mine too,¡± her grandfathers said, extending a hand for the pen.


    ¡°No, not really,¡± Mary Sue replied bluntly.


    ¡°What?!¡± her grandfathers replied, flabbergasted. ¡°Why not?!¡±


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    But Mary Sue ignored him, showing off her new autographs with pride to Pan. ¡°I¡¯m so glad I joined this tournament, after all. This is the best day ever!¡±


    ¡°Hey! My autograph¡¯s just as good, no better!¡± her grandfathers said, fuming.


    ¡°Hm, it seems you¡¯re not as impressive as you think you are,¡± Vegeta quipped, earning a death glare from her grandfathers.


    ¡°All this drama over a stupid autograph,¡± Pan said, sighing. Her grandfathers could be so dramatic sometimes. ¡°So, why don¡¯t you want Grandpas¡¯ autograph, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Because that¡¯s Goku! He¡¯s like one of the greatest heroes in the multiverse! He¡¯s been an inspiration to countless heroes everywhere. Heck, it¡¯s hard to define hero and not include Son Goku!¡± Mary Sue said, gushing like a schoolgirl over her favorite boy band.


    ¡°Uh, thanks,¡± Goku said, embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m that great.¡±


    ¡°And such modesty, too!¡± Mary Sue said. ¡°So cool!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just as good a hero as him,¡± her grandfathers grumbled. ¡°I saved the universe from Buu!¡±


    But Mary Sue didn¡¯t seem too impressed. Was she under the impression her grandfathers weren¡¯t heroes? What a ridiculous suggestion!


    ¡°Ugh, all this stupidity is giving me a headache. I¡¯ll be back.¡± Without another word, Aunt Bra wandered off. Since Zangya and the rest of Universe 6 had gotten disqualified because of their boss¡¯s misconduct, Bra already won her round by default.


    ¡°Are you sure? Mom¡¯s about to fight soon.¡± But Bra had already left, barely paying her niece any mind or the continuing fight with the Trunks and Gotens.


    ---


    ¡°Stupid thing!¡± Bra punched the machine, hoping to dislodge her stuck drink. Of all the vending machines, she¡¯d picked the only broken one. With a satisfying thud, a soda landed in the vending slot.


    ¡°What gives?¡± She kicked the machine again. It crumpled under her kick, sparking from broken circuits. Her drink wasn¡¯t even cold. Who maintained these stupid things?


    ¡°You know, damaging tournament property is grounds for expulsion,¡± a voice said. Bra turned to find a girl with a spiky purple Mohawk watching her, expression deadly serious. Bra recognized the Kai as one of the tournament¡¯s administrators.


    ¡°It should work,¡± Bra cheeks burned red, embarrassed by her loss of temper.


    But then the Kai¡¯s expression turned mischievous. ¡°I won¡¯t tell if you won¡¯t. The Vargas like cutting costs, and this poor vending machine is a victim of their zeni-pinching.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Bra relaxed, relieved she wasn¡¯t in trouble. It¡¯d be embarrassing getting disqualified before her first proper fight. She tore the pull tab of her drink and soured as the lukewarm drink touched her tongue, fouling her mood even further. Thanks to her freak niece, her opponent had gotten disqualified. She¡¯d been looking forward to showing off her abilities.


    ¡°Your drink¡¯s warm?¡± The Kai asked, extending a hand. ¡°Here, let me help.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Confused, Bra handed over her lukewarm soda.


    White energy gathered around the female Kai¡¯s palm as she gripped the aluminum can. Much to Bra¡¯s astonishment, white mist poured out from the can.


    Bra gasped as the Kai returned her drink. ¡°It¡¯s cold! How did you do that?¡±


    The Kai¡¯s expression turned mischievous. ¡°A little party trick I invented. Using my ki, I stole the heat energy from the can.¡±


    ¡°Amazing.¡± Bra stared at her cold soda in wonder. ¡°You must teach me how to do that!¡±


    ¡°I just might, Lila.¡± The Kai extended a hand.


    ¡°Son Bra.¡± Bra took the hand and shook it. It was nice to meet a friendly face. And since Lila wasn¡¯t competing in the tournament, Bra didn¡¯t have to worry about some underhanded trick to eliminate a dangerous rival.


    The Kai drove a hand into the broken vending machine and beamed as she pulled out a canned fruit juice.


    ¡°You¡¯re not paying for it?¡± Bra asked, amused.


    ¡°The machine¡¯s broken. It¡¯s not my fault if people steal from it.¡± White energy gathered around her hand, and the Kai cooed in delight as she sipped her now-cooled drink.


    ¡°D-disqualification! Cell Junior is disqualified for attacking before the match started!¡± The announcer over the speaker said.


    ¡°Sounds things are getting interesting,¡± Lila said, amused.


    ¡°Who cares?¡± Bra gave a derisive snort. ¡°None of the upcoming fights look even remotely interesting.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you¡¯re playing hooky?¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡± With such an overabundance of contestants, the opening round of battles was taking forever to finish. Worse still, Bra counted only about five fighters in the entire roster worth bothering with. It was so hard being as super powerful and cool as her.


    Lila gave her new compatriot a conspiratorial grin. ¡°If you¡¯re interested, I know a fun way to waste some time.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Bra said, sharing the same grin.


    ---


    ¡°Well, dang. I was hoping that guy would lose!¡± Pan said, frustrated an evil version of Uncle Piccolo had won his fight.


    ¡°He fought well, but he¡¯s out of his league. I can¡¯t imagine he¡¯ll last long, especially against his next opponent.¡± Uncle Piccolo had a point. The so-called Demon King¡¯s next opponent was the mighty Super Namek Gast Carcolh.


    ¡°It¡¯s the end of the first round! Congratulations to all challengers. We¡¯ll take a twenty-hour break. You can sleep, eat, and enjoy your apartment! To the public, our shuttles will take you to luxury hotels in our universe!¡± The announcer said.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s how they¡¯re paying for all this.¡± The Vargas were pinching zeni from their tournament guests. Pan couldn¡¯t imagine the exorbitant prices.


    ¡°More time to myself, I guess,¡± Pan sighed, kicking a nearby rock dejectedly. Everyone would feast again, and Pan would stand on the sideline doing nothing. Worse yet, she wasn¡¯t even sure zombies slept either.


    ¡°Bra¡¯s been gone a long time. I wonder where she¡¯s wandered off to?¡± Goten asked.


    ¡°I thought it¡¯d been a little too quiet,¡± Pan said snidely. It was a nice break from her aunt¡¯s constant disparaging comments and cruel mockeries. Despite Bra¡¯s unusual vanishing act, no one appeared worried about her. The daughter of Vegito could take care of herself.


    Hours passed, and Bra still hadn¡¯t returned. But everyone had forgotten about her, digging into the mountains of food the Vargas had provided them. Pan stood by Uncle Piccolo and watched the chaotic scene unfold.


    ¡°You¡¯re not joining them?¡± Pan asked her Namek guardian.


    ¡°No, I only need water.¡± Uncle Piccolo could only shake his head as her grandfathers stuffed his face with everything he could get his hands on.


    ¡°We have something in common, I suppose,¡± Pan replied.


    ¡°Good work in your fight against Bojack.¡± Uncle Piccolo said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. ¡°You fought well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you think that way. Everyone else seems to avoid me.¡± Even her uncles seemed to treat her differently now. It wasn¡¯t anything overt, but they kept their distance from her.


    Uncle Piccolo didn¡¯t respond, staring into the distance with a thoughtful expression. ¡°I know how that feels.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Pan said, surprised.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the only one people avoid on instinct.¡± Uncle Piccolo admitted. Pan supposed the Namek¡¯s natural height and green skin made normal people naturally wary around him.


    Pan leaned against him, taking comfort from the height and power that scared other people. ¡°I¡¯m glad to know I¡¯m not alone.¡± Uncle Piccolo didn¡¯t respond but gave her a gentle smile.


    ¡°We¡¯ll dim the lights and go back to night mode. We wish you a good rest to you all.¡± The announcer said. When he¡¯d finished speaking, the lights became a light blue tint to simulate nighttime.


    Her uncles jumped into their sleeping mats, ready for some much-needed shut-eye. Pan reluctantly pulled the covers over herself and closed her eyes, hoping sleep would come soon.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Her grandfathers said, annoyed. ¡°She should be back by now.¡±


    ¡°I hope she¡¯s okay.¡± Now Pan was getting worried. This was most unlike her aunt. But she needn¡¯t have worried. Son Bra, daughter of Vegito, stumbled into the room moments later.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here!¡± She said in a slurred voice. ¡°Need to get some shuteye. Got a big fight tomorrow!¡±


    Her aunt stumbled over to the closet filled with sleeping mats and pulled out three more than she required. Bra giggled and plopped onto them, not bothering with any sheets or blankets. While Pan had lost her sense of smell, Bra stunk something fierce from her family¡¯s expressions.


    ¡°Son Bra, have you been drinking?¡± Her father said, accusation in his voice. Her grandfathers only sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°What? Where¡¯d you get booze here?¡± Goten asked, shrinking as her father sent him a glare. ¡°Not that I care, of course!¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡± Bra replied. ¡°I¡¯m a big girl. You¡¯re always such a pain, Gohan, as usual. Stop being such a goody-two-shoes! That¡¯s why you¡¯re lame and so uncool!¡± She spoke this like it was the worst insult possible. ¡°Me though? I¡¯m the biggest bad girl around! Not some coward that won¡¯t even fight!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Her father said, amused. ¡°Unlike you, I have nothing to prove. I don¡¯t need to beat anyone up to show how powerful I am.¡±


    ¡°Please!¡± Bra replied, getting into her brother¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re nothing! I got all the badassness from Dad. You¡¯re just some geek that occasionally goes to the gym!¡±


    ¡°You are strong, Bra. But you lack discipline. It¡¯ll be your undoing one day.¡± Her father said.


    ¡°Whatever!¡± Bra stuck her tongue out before flopping onto her sleeping mat. She was snoring a storm in seconds.


    ¡°Must be nice being allowed to do whatever you want.¡± Her father would never allow such behavior from her. Though, from her grandfathers¡¯ expression, Pan guessed Bra would get an earful later.


    ¡°Your mom was so right about Bra.¡± Her father said, his tone low and conspiratorial.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She said that Dad wouldn¡¯t have a clue how to raise a teenage daughter,¡± her father replied.


    ¡°A real prophet, Mom is!¡± Pan said, laughing.


    ¡°She¡¯s just acting out. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happened between them, but their relationship has been strained since her trip with Goten in space. Dad probably got a little too strict with her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s probably it.¡± The poor girl had always had trouble controlling her feelings. Her temper was notorious. Was her grandfathers part of the reason? She dwelled on this conundrum as she struggled to get to sleep.


    ---


    ¡°Darn it!¡± Pan twisted and turned on her mat, but sleep continued to evade her. The mat was comfortable enough, but she stayed wide awake no matter how many hours passed. Everyone else was already fast asleep, her grandfather¡¯s snoring echoing through the chamber like a thrumming beat. Frustrated beyond belief, Pan tossed off her covers in disgust.


    She grumbled as she left their apartment room and wandered the tournament grounds endlessly. It seemed she only slept after using too much ki. Should she blow things up until she blacked out? But something halted her, a half-remembered nightmare stopping her from attempting such a plan. Something hid beneath the surface that frightened her. But, much to Pan¡¯s eternal frustration, it refused to show itself.


    ¡°What is wrong with me?¡± Pan said, gripping the railing bars hard enough to bend them. She gazed up at the strange alien night sky. Countless flickering lights flashed above her, but nothing about them seemed recognizable. Pan spent an unknown time staring at the alien stars until someone intruded on her desolate solitude.


    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep either?¡± a quiet voice said. Much to Pan¡¯s surprise, it was the Pan from the universe where her grandfathers didn¡¯t stay fused.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Pan replied. Much to her amusement, both of them wore identical pajamas.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m getting jitters about my upcoming fight.¡± The other Pan hugged herself and shuddered. ¡°It¡¯s just that this Kakarot guy scares me. He isn¡¯t Grandpa at all. There¡¯s no soul behind his eyes.¡±


    ¡°Right! He¡¯s like if Grandpa Goku went totally wrong!¡± Pan said, full of sympathy for her counterpart. They¡¯d both had rotten luck, both matched with evil, murderous lunatics.


    ¡°Your fight was pretty cool,¡± the other Pan said, changing the subject. ¡°You kicked that jerk¡¯s butt!¡±


    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Pan said, her smile gentle. She supposed turning into a zombie wasn¡¯t all bad. Much to her relief, her counterpart seemed unbothered about her odd condition. Instead, she looked up to Pan with admiration, like a cool older sister.


    ¡°How did you become a Super Saiyan?¡± Her counterpart¡¯s voice became one of self-reproof. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to do it at all, no matter how hard I try.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re strong. It¡¯ll come in time.¡± Pan smiled as she imagined her counterpart turning Super Saiyan and kicking the evil Goku¡¯s teeth in. ¡°You¡¯ll learn, then I bet nothing could stop you!¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± the other Pan replied deadpan, but she was smiling.


    ¡°As for how I became a Super Saiyan? Now that¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s time. The first match doesn¡¯t start until another four hours.¡±


    ¡°You should get some sleep. You¡¯ll need it for your upcoming fight.¡±


    Her counterpart grabbed Pan¡¯s sleeve and pulled at it. ¡°Come on, tell me!¡±


    ¡°Okay. Okay,¡± Pan said, laughing. ¡°It all started when¡­¡± She paused as she sensed something. She yelped in surprise as a fist suddenly smashed through the floor and bits of concrete exploded like a fountain.


    ¡°Well, well. Look who we¡¯ve caught wandering alone,¡± a familiar baritone said.


    ¡°Bojack!¡± Pan cursed. In all the excitement, she¡¯d forgotten all about him. Behind the space pirate stood his slimy crew, all floating behind him, each wearing a cruel, malevolent smile.


    ¡°Pan!¡± her counterpart said in terror, and Pan¡¯s blood turned to ice. In Bojack¡¯s heartless grip was little Pan trapped in his massive fist.


    Author¡¯s note:


    If you''re wondering, no, I haven¡¯t read Multiverse¡¯s novelization. I wanted to do my own interpretation of events. I thought it was kinda fun reaching into Bra¡¯s psyche somewhat. She¡¯s a very damaged child.


    Next time! Pan and Pan vs. Brojack and his pirate crew? Can they survive? Can Pan of Universe 18 avoid the same tragedy that happened to her? Tune in next time to find out.

 Chapter 5

    ¡°No, let her go.¡± Pan¡¯s heart beat a mile per minute, fearful of what Bojack might do to her defenseless alternate self. The young girl howled as the space pirate squeezed her head tight, almost hard enough to pop it. She struggled to free herself, but Bojack¡¯s grip was an unbreakable vice.


    Little Pan¡¯s desperate pleas only earned a cruel smile from the villain. ¡°I shall, provided you don¡¯t resist what comes next.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t! Run away!¡± But her alternate self howled as Bojack¡¯s nails dug into her scalp. Blood leaked from the wound, stopping any attempt at brave self-sacrifice.


    ¡°Oh, this is going to be fun. You heard him. Resist, and we kill the brat!¡± Pan grunted as Zangya launched a ki blast into her exposed chest.


    ¡°You!¡± But she gasped as she found her movements restricted, like a spider had caught her in an invisible web. ¡°What the?¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere,¡± the larger of the pirates said, Bido, hands extended. On the other side stood the short one, Bujin, his pose mirroring his fellow pirate. Both grinned in triumph, convinced they had their prey dead to rights.


    ¡°Better,¡± Bojack said. Pan jerked back as a powerful blow struck her hard in the chest. Trapped as she was, she hadn¡¯t the space to move with the punch to lessen the blow. Pan grimaced. The punch had cracked something for sure.


    ¡°Told you we¡¯d give you what¡¯s coming to you!¡± Zangya said, patting Pan¡¯s cheek before striking her with a nasty jab where her boss wounded her. Now Pan was certain she¡¯d heard something crack.


    Seething, Pan gathered her ki but stopped as her counterpart howled when Bojack applied pressure to his captive. He smirked, promising worse punishments if she defied him again.


    ¡°Hurry up and destroy her,¡± the turban-wearing pirate said. ¡°They¡¯re sure to sense the disturbance and send someone.¡±


    But the pirate leader didn¡¯t seem too concerned. ¡°Let them. I¡¯ve sensed their guards¡¯ power. They¡¯re no match for us. Besides, by the time serious reinforcements arrive, we¡¯ll have hijacked a ship and be long gone.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a point, Bujin. We can afford to play a little,¡± Zangya said, shooting a consecutive blast of ki blasts into Pan¡¯s already ruined chest.


    ¡°Pan.¡± Tears leaked from little Pan¡¯s eyelids, fearful for her friend¡¯s safety. These gentle tears only sparked the cruelty of the space pirates as they savaged their helpless captives. For once, Pan was grateful for her zombie nature, not feeling anything from their attempts to brutalize her. She played possum, waiting for the right moment to strike back. Pan guessed it might be possible to blow apart the strings of ki binding her. Eventually, the pirates would drop their guard, then she¡¯d strike.


    But it wasn¡¯t easy hearing her counterpart¡¯s frantic, teary-eyed pleas as they continued to hurt her, rage bubbling inside her, ready to burst. She grunted as a blow shattered her left arm to uselessness. While they¡¯d gained ultimate victory over their victim, her lack of reaction didn¡¯t satisfy their cruel sadism. From Bojack¡¯s last half-hearted blow, he was losing interest.


    ¡°You really can¡¯t feel any pain, can you?¡± the pirate leader said, annoyed.


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Zangya tossed back her wavy red hair in disgust. ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a corpse. There¡¯s something not fun about beating a cold, dead body.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re done here,¡± Bojack said, disgusted. This hadn¡¯t come close to sating the pirate leader¡¯s thirst for violence. But then Pan¡¯s blood chilled as his expression turned cruel.


    ¡°I think I know how I might get a proper reaction out of her,¡± Bojack said, his smile showing too many teeth. ¡°How about¡­¡± But a ki blast threw the space pirate back. He glared up at who¡¯d interrupted him, more annoyed than hurt.


    ¡°Stop this right now!¡± a namek said, ki gathering in his palm. Beside him stood three other namekians, each poised to fight. The cavalry had finally arrived.


    ¡°Pest,¡± Bojack grunted in annoyance. ¡°Take care of them.¡±


    Pan collapsed as Bujin and Bido ceased their web trap to face the interlopers. While Bojack had called them pests, these four nameks possessed formidable power.


    ¡°Good, it was getting dull,¡± the swordsman Kogu said, flexing his fingers. With a glint of light, the blade had already left its sheath, and a namekian warrior howled as he clutched the bloody stump that remained of his arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them. Protect the girl. I¡¯ll handle the boss.¡± Their rescuer¡¯s leader was a behemoth of a Namek, dwarfing even the massive Bojack by almost half a meter. While outmatched, he was prepared to sacrifice his life to protect both Pans.


    ¡°You sure you want to do that?¡± Bojack said, tangling the struggling girl in his massive palm. ¡°One twist and I¡¯ll snap her little neck. Her blood will be on your hands, namekian.¡±


    Little Pan whimpered as the space pirate jerked her head hard, causing a terrible jolt of pain.


    ¡°You!¡± The namekian leader¡¯s hand trembled in outrage.


    ¡°So easy,¡± Bojack said in contempt.


    ¡°We can¡¯t afford to play around much longer!¡± Zangya said, dodging the punch of a namek warrior. From her expression, her attacker was stronger than she¡¯d expected. ¡°We need to finish the job quickly!¡±


    Her boss gave her a furious glare, disliking being told what to do. Pan caught a hint of murder in Bojack¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Can you fight, little one?¡± the lead namekian whispered to her.


    ¡°My arm¡¯s broken, but I¡¯ll manage,¡± Pan whispered.


    ¡°Tsumuri.¡± Unlike other namekians she¡¯d met, this namek didn¡¯t seem bothered by her undead nature. Instead, he eyed her with respect for her courage.


    ¡°Pan. How do you want to do this?¡± They needed to free her counterpart from the cruel pirate¡¯s clutches. But how?


    ¡°Follow my lead. Play dead for now,¡± Tsumuri whispered back.


    Bido coughed blood as a namek surprised him from behind, piercing him with a ki blast. The namek¡¯s victory cost him his life, his head bursting to pieces from a massive uppercut from the brute of a pirate. The damage had been done, however. Bido clutched at his wounded side, face constricting in pain.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    While they¡¯d defeated the Namek forces except for their leader, the pirates had paid a terrible price. Bujin lay on the paved floor, motionless. Kogu was wobbly, concussed, guessing from his bloody head wound. Zangya clutched at her arm, moving it with obvious pain. Despite the dire state of his men, Bojack didn¡¯t seem to care at all. In fact, he stared at them with obvious contempt that they¡¯d even gotten so badly hurt.


    What a leader! Pan thought. How could he not care at all?


    Tsumuri watched the fate of his men with obvious dismay, but he kept his eye on the pirate leader, daring him to try something. Despite the odds against him, the namekian¡¯s resolve remained firm.


    Energy gathered in Bojack¡¯s palm, pointing it at the remaining namek. ¡°Even attempt to dodge this, and the girl dies.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Zangya said, urgency entering her voice. ¡°If reinforcements come, we¡¯ll¡­¡± She never got to finish, howling in pain as her body disintegrated. Bojack had turned his gathering ki towards his subordinate instead. Pan gaped in shock that the pirate would do something so needlessly cruel. Worse, Bojack only smirked, pleased with himself.


    Rage boiled Pan¡¯s undead blood, her veins bulging at her temple. The hell with any ambush. She wanted to kick this guy¡¯s ass. Enough was enough.


    ¡°Pan.¡± Her counterpart said, ignoring her pain to stare at her in amazement.


    ¡°What?¡± Bojack recoiled as dark energy gathered around Pan as she concentrated her fury. A voice inside her laughed, encouraging her to burn hotter and embrace her boiling hatred.


    Before Pan realized what she was doing, she was launching at Bojack, her hair blazing golden as she unleashed her fury.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Blood gushed from the space pirate¡¯s mouth. Pan guessed the blow must have stabbed a rib or two into his lungs. Little Pan slipped from Bojack¡¯s grip, and Tsumuri snatched her, darting away before Bojack or his gang could retaliate.


    ¡°What the?¡± Bojack stared at her, fear behind his eyes. Much to Pan¡¯s puzzlement, even her counterpart stared at her with fear. Huh? What was going on? Dark energy crackled around her before dissipating. What was that? What was that strangle dark power?


    Bojack trembled but shook his head, composing himself. ¡°So what? You got a lucky hit. It won¡¯t happen again. In your pitiful state? You can¡¯t fight me.¡±


    And it was true. Pan¡¯s arm hung limp at her side, her body beyond bruised and battered. But it didn¡¯t matter. She¡¯d kick this jerk¡¯s butt into next week.


    With her counterpart no longer a hostage, Pan glowed golden as she held nothing back. Despite having only one usable arm, she surprised Bojack with the pure ferocity of her attack. The space pirate had underestimated how powerful Pan had gotten since their last encounter. Pan¡¯s Saiyan blood rang like a war drum as she engaged her hated enemy.


    A hiss escaped Bojack¡¯s lips as he deflected one of her punches, rubbing his stinging hand as he leaped back. It¡¯d been a good hit, but her ravaged arm hindered her ability to fight properly. Openings that would have been easy to exploit passed as Pan struggled to use her remaining arm effectively. Still, she was giving the space pirate a run for his money, keeping pace with him. Bojack hollowed as she landed a devastating kick to his wounded ribs, his face twisting in agony.


    Not liking his change in fortune, Bojack gave his surviving men a significant look. Pan cursed as she barely dodged a sword slash that would have sliced her in half. A fist drove right into her sternum, driving her back. The two pirate goons smirked at her, pleased with their ambush. From every angle, Bojack and his minions assaulted her.


    With impressive skill, Bido and Kogu fought as a deadly unit. When Kogu¡¯s blade missed, Bido was ready to demolish her with a fist Pan struggled to dodge. While lacking in killing power, the pair made up for it with teamwork. Only Bojack was the odd man out, hindering his team¡¯s efforts rather than helping. It gave her an idea.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting in the way of our fight, Bojack,¡± Pan taunted, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°How about you sit this out while we fight?¡±


    ¡°You little¡ª¡± Bojack seethed, his power flaring to life. Heedless of his men, he gathered ki into his palm and unleashed a destructive blast. At this range, Pan had little chance of dodging. In desperation, she fired off a makeshift Kamehameha. She sighed in relief as it barely deflected Bojack¡¯s beam, devastating a nearby patch of stadium stands.


    ¡°Hey, watch it!¡± Bido said, hair raised in fear at how close he¡¯d come to a quick and sudden death. If Pan had been a second slower, it would have blown him to pieces. Kogu seemed similarly rattled. But Bojack only glared at them, daring them to defy him again. Given what happened to Zangya, they knew he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to destroy them on a whim. The pair gulped and prepared for battle.


    ¡°Why put up with him?¡± Pan said, angry on their behalf.


    The pair only shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s the boss. He makes us strong. We¡¯ve gotten through hell because of him,¡± Bido said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Zangya agrees with you there,¡± Pan replied, her tone wry. While uncomfortable, the pair still didn¡¯t dare defy their boss.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Bojack said, seething. Ki gathered within him, done playing any games. ¡°Either she dies in the next two minutes, or you¡¯re dead.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Bido replied, knowing this wasn¡¯t an idle threat.


    ¡°Woah!¡± Pan ducked and weaved as thousands of ki blasts fired in her direction. Bido joined the assault, attacking her from another angle. With so many ki balls flying at her, Pan punched them to pieces, just keeping ahead of them. She ducked as Kogu appeared from nowhere, his blade gleaming.


    She winced as a stray blast struck her in the chest. Try as she might, they were just too numerous. This wasn¡¯t working. She needed to try something else. From behind, she sensed Kogu ready to attack. Gathering energy into her palms, she copied Vegeta and exploded with power. The blast blew apart the ki balls, and the pirate swordsman unluckily got caught in the explosion.


    Pan heaved, more from instinct than needing to breathe. Dang it, she¡¯d used too much of her ki. Blackness was already creeping into her vision, a reminder Pan had pushed herself too far. But she made nasty work of Kogu, the swordsman heaving in pain in a pile of rubble. From the angle of his spine, Pan doubted he¡¯d rise any time soon.


    With a contemptuous snort, Bojack crushed his wounded man¡¯s neck. ¡°Weak.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with you, seriously?!¡± Pan exclaimed, shocked at the pirate leader¡¯s heartlessness.


    ¡°The weak have no place in this universe,¡± Bojack replied, his smile turning cruel. ¡°And you¡¯re next.¡±


    ¡°Got her,¡± Bido said, grabbing her from behind. Dang it, she¡¯d allowed her guard to drop. With an injured arm, she failed to tear herself free.


    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll blow off your head and finish this,¡± Bojack said, gathering energy in his palm.


    Come on. It can¡¯t end like this. Pan''s foggy mind pushed forward for some solution. What about that dark power? Could she tap into that again? But the voice inside her only laughed at her, amused by her desperation.


    ¡°What?¡± But Pan didn¡¯t have time to contemplate this betrayal, howling as a sudden kick from Bido drove her to her knees. In a flash, Bojack stood above her, a fully formed ki blast in his palm.


    ¡°Goodbye,¡± Bojack said, pleased with his final victory. ¡°Gah!¡± But a sudden kick to the neck drove him off course, the beam lancing harmlessly past her head.


    ¡°You!¡± Pan said, shocked. What was her counterpart doing here? Didn¡¯t she understand how dangerous the situation was? But Pan didn¡¯t want to waste little Pan¡¯s bravery, gathering ki within her slapped-together palms.


    ¡°Boss, look out!¡± Bido said in alarm, but his warning arrived too late.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± Pan threw every bit of her remaining ki into this final blast. The space pirate desperately tried to throw himself clear of the beam, but his decision to kill Pan up close had backfired, leaving him no room to dodge.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Bojack howled in pain as the beam tore into his waist, leaving a blackened ruin. The space pirate howled in agonized fury, palm-lashing out to kill the defenseless Pan. But a kick from her counterpart knocked it aside with ease.


    ¡°Leave her alone!¡± Little Pan said, thrusting a palm into his chest. Weakened as he was, the space pirate leader was as dainty as a lamb, incapable of fighting back.


    ¡°You little!¡± Bido said, fuming, but he backed away as dozens of namekians joined the fray, led by their old friend Tsumuri.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Tsumuri said.


    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re late,¡± her counterpart said, Bojack howling as she poked him in the eyes. He swung another wild punch at her, but little Pan only deflected it and punched him right in the nose.


    ¡°Are you going to surrender, or we will have to kick your sorry butts?¡± Little Pan said, taking charge.


    ¡°I¡¯m good. I¡¯m done!¡± Bido said, holding up his hands. This only earned a nasty scowl from his boss.


    Unlike his underling, the great space pirate Bojack refused to surrender. With shaky legs, he rose to his feet. ¡°If I¡¯m going to die, it¡¯s going to be on my feet. Do your worst!¡±


    ¡°This guy doesn¡¯t know when to give up,¡± her counterpart said.


    ¡°Die, all of you!¡± Bojack rushed into the fray, hoping to take everyone else with him. But this only earned him a swift death as dozens of beams lanced through him. He collapsed in a pool of his own blood, squirming for some seconds before going still.


    ¡°What a monster,¡± Stubborn to the end, Pan wanted to rush forward to embrace her counterpart for the timely assist, but her knees buckled.


    ¡°Woah, there,¡± little Pan said, rushing over to stabilize her. ¡°Let¡¯s return you to your room. After the night¡¯s excitement, you¡¯ll need your rest.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯ll be nice, thanks.¡± Her limbs refused to listen to her. It was an odd sensation that parts of her body refused to listen to her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take the situation over from here,¡± Tsumuri said, giving the remaining space pirate a steely gaze. ¡°Though we aren¡¯t expecting any trouble, right?¡±


    ¡°Hey, none from me. I¡¯ll come quietly,¡± Bido said.


    ¡°Good work.¡± Tsumuri showed her a rare smile. ¡°Rest up. Good luck with your next match. We¡¯re expecting great things from you, Pan of Universe 16.¡±


    This earned a satisfied smile from Pan, allowing herself to be dragged back to her apartment. Hopefully, her dad wouldn¡¯t freak out too much. After this ordeal, Pan deserved some peace. She only hoped she¡¯d recover enough to fight her next opponent. Her arm was still a terrible mess. Unlike this battle, Pan had a real ordeal coming up. Cell was her next opponent, and he wouldn¡¯t be a cakewalk like Bojack and his motley gang.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note.


    Next time:


    Little Pan comes to an honest conclusion. Son Bra suffers a massive, raging hangover. Vegito''s humiliating defeat. And Mary Sue vs. Android 18.


    Correction:


    Little Pan comes to an honest conclusion. Son Bra suffers a massive, raging hangover. Pan faces off against Cell.

 Chapter 6

    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± South Supreme Kai asked with concern.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Lila said, appreciating her fellow Kai¡¯s worry about her. Her head thrummed from the drinks or ten she¡¯d shared with Bra last night. But as an immortal with millions of years of drinking experience, she¡¯d managed. Lila had to admit she had fun with the young saiyan. They were developing quite the link. ¡°But I need to ask him some questions. With you outside, I¡¯m not in any danger.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± South made a face but nodded. ¡°Cry out if something happens.¡±


    After an appreciative nod, Lila entered the small storage room. The Colosseum had no prison cells, so this storeroom was their next best option. While not secure, a dozen Nameks and South guarding the room, she doubted he¡¯d get far if their prisoner tried anything.


    ¡°You¡¯re in big trouble. The Vargas aren¡¯t happy. You violated their hospitality. They¡¯re tempted to teleport you to the most remote and desolate place in your universe,¡± she said.


    ¡°Is that right?¡± Bido kept his face neutral, but Lila detected the tension from the curl of his lip. ¡°But you haven¡¯t yet. I take it you¡¯re here for a reason?¡±


    Beyond a cot, the cream-colored room was bare. Her nose twisted from the dust that they hadn¡¯t cleaned away yet, though she detected a hint of bleach. Lila sat on the cot and crossed her legs like she owned the place. ¡°This is your lucky day. If you help me with an investigation I¡¯m working on, I might lighten your sentence. Heck, you might even reunite with your buddies once they get wished back.¡±


    ¡°Okay. What do you wish to know?¡± The space pirate crossed his arms. While he pretended to be disinterested, Bido seemed alert.


    ¡°When you were fighting Pan of Universe 16, I heard something strange happened. Can you elaborate?¡± She¡¯d already grilled Tsumuri about what happened, but she wanted Bido¡¯s opinion. He¡¯sbeen closer to the scene.


    ¡°The girl¡¯s a freak! Nothing we did seemed to hurt her!¡± Bido¡¯s mouth curled into a sneer. ¡°We should have killed her several times over, but she kept coming.¡±


    ¡°But is there something else? Even with her power, I¡¯m surprised she survived your gang¡¯s attack,¡± Lila said, adding some flattery.


    ¡°Yes, something else happened.¡± Bido paused, gathering his thoughts, but Lila detected a hint of fear. ¡°I don¡¯t know. She got angry, and this darkness flowed from her. The craziest thing.¡±


    The space pirate suppressed a shudder. ¡°It was like death was coming for us. I can¡¯t explain it otherwise.¡±


    Lila tapped her chin. Tsumuri had mentioned an odd feeling, but nothing like this. It confirmed the worst of the abomination from Universe 16. ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve been very helpful.¡±


    The space pirate regained his composure and smirked. ¡°Anything to help.¡± Though, she detected a hint of sarcasm.


    ¡°Yes, that should be everything.¡± Lila paused, taking in a breath. ¡°Let go of me! You really think you¡¯ll escape?!¡± she yelled at the top of her lungs.


    ¡°What?¡± Bido said, startled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you anymore,¡± Lila whispered. In a flash, she disappeared. A beam lanced through the pirate¡¯s chest, moving so quickly that he hadn¡¯t the chance to defend himself.


    The lumbering pirate collapsed in a pool of his own blood, eyes wide in shock. He clutched at Lila¡¯s boot, but she only kicked it aside. With a hole in his heart, Bido died seconds later.


    With perfect timing, South charged into the room. ¡°What happened?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lila said, pretending to be flustered. ¡°This scum charged me and tried to take me hostage. Tried grabbing me around the throat. The fool thought it was the best way for him to escape, but he underestimated me and paid for it.¡±


    She spat on his corpse. ¡°We were right to kill these monsters back in our universe. What was Kais of Universe 16 thinking, not doing the same? Sealing them away? What kind of solution is that?¡±


    South relaxed. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay. That was a reckless risk. Did you at least learn something?¡±


    ¡°No, I tried to get him to talk, but he only stalled for time until his failed attempt to take me hostage.¡±


    ¡°Pity. I want to learn more about Pan of Universe 16.¡± South clenched a fist. ¡°What is she? I can¡¯t help a sense of foreboding.¡±


    ¡°Me too. That¡¯s why she must be destroyed.¡± Pity her guardians were the greatest warriors in the multiverse. But she¡¯d take care of that. Lila hid a secret smile.


    ---


    ¡°Oh, by the way, I give up,¡± Nappa of Universe 13 said, a smug smile on his face.


    ¡°What?¡± Frieza said, seething, annoyed he¡¯d lost his prey. His teeth ground as Nappa explained that attacking him after surrendering would only disqualify him. Rage barely controlled, the Galactic Overlord stomped out of the ring. Raditz and Nappa exchanged a high-five, amused by their indirect victory over their long-time enemy.


    ¡°Master, are you okay?¡± But Burter of the Ginyu Force only earned a decapitation as his reward for his concern. Pan seethed in outrage at such a callous act, but a sudden flare of anger from another person caught her attention.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± King Cold clutched his fingers, righteous fury flaring like a supernova in his eyes. At least someone else found this pointless murder despicable, though the source surprised her. The other Ginyu Force members cringed as Frieza glared at them, daring them to complain.


    ¡°Do you have something to say, father?¡± Frieza said, spreading his arms in a half-hearted shrug. ¡°They are my men, after all. I can do whatever I wish.¡±


    King Cold didn¡¯t reply, but the anger bubbled beneath the surface. Caught by this drama, Pan hadn¡¯t noticed Goku of Universe 18 defeat Android 17 with a single strike.


    But Aunt Bra didn¡¯t seem too impressed. ¡°If Dad was fighting, that Android would be dust.¡± Pan noticed her words didn¡¯t have the bite they usually did. Her aunt seemed miserable, clutching at her skull with obvious pain from her hangover after a night of drinking.


    Vegeta, her grandfathers¡¯ other counterpart, earned an equally quick victory against Trunks of Universe 12, much to Pan¡¯s disappointment. This entire tournament seemed unlucky for all Trunks in the Multiverse.


    ¡°Next Fight: Pan of Universe 18 against Kakarot of Universe 13,¡± the announcer said.


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    ¡°This should be fun,¡± the evil Goku smirked, eager for the violence ahead.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Gohan of 18 asked, as his daughter didn¡¯t move to enter the ring.


    ¡°Getting cold feet? You¡¯re a Saiyan warrior! Act like one!¡± Vegeta said, his usual scowl deepening.


    ¡°This other version of me won¡¯t be an easy opponent to beat. You can¡¯t blame her for being apprehensive.¡±  Goku said. This only earned a scoff from Vegeta. It amazed Pan how they seemed to squabble like an old married couple.


    ¡°Are you okay? You got this. We¡¯re behind you all the way.¡± Gohan of 18 placed a comforting hand on his daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting bored! Hurry up already!¡± Kakarot said, his voice a whine as he leaped into the ring.


    ¡°Remember, Kakarot. No moments of madness,¡± Vegeta of 13 said.


    This earned a derisive snort from the evil Goku. ¡°I know how to control myself!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, Pan, it¡¯s fine,¡± her mom from Universe 18 said.


    ¡°You can do this,¡± Gohan of 18 said, his words a balm to the other Pan¡¯s fear. Goku gave her a nod, supreme confidence in his granddaughter.


    Still, Little Pan shook her head. ¡°Sorry, Dad. But I surrender.¡± This earned a shocked response from her family.


    ¡°Why?¡± Gohan asked. ¡°You were looking forward to this tournament.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. But last night¡¯s fight with Bojack and his goons taught me I¡¯m not ready yet. There¡¯s still so much I need to learn!¡± Little Pan said. Her tone wasn¡¯t fearful, but passionate. She hadn¡¯t given up her aspirations, but now wasn¡¯t her time.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Goku asked, lowering to his granddaughter¡¯s level.


    ¡°Yeah, I want to learn everything I can from Big Sis Pan first.¡± Pan of 18 replied. ¡°She¡¯s everything I want to be!¡±


    ¡°Pan of Universe 18 has surrendered. Kakarot of Universe 13 is the victor!¡± the announcer said.


    ¡°She wants to be a freak like you?¡± Aunt Bra said, but both Pans ignored her barb.


    ¡°Okay. If you don¡¯t think you¡¯re ready, then you¡¯re not. But you¡¯re going to need to train harder for next time!¡± Goku¡¯s words of encouragement earned an emphatic nod from Little Pan.


    ¡°Ridiculous. I was hoping at least someone from our universe won¡¯t turn out a total embarrassment,¡± Vegeta said, sending unspoken barbs at Trunks and Goten. He snorted and turned away.


    ¡°Besides, I¡¯d rather not risk turning into a zombie.¡± Little Pan said, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°I¡¯m not getting my neck snapped!¡±


    Kakarot snorted, annoyed. ¡°Seems you came begging and screaming about not killing your precious daughter for nothing.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Pan of Universe 18 sent her father a scathing glare.


    Sweat gathered on the other Gohan¡¯s forehead as he suffered Little Pan¡¯s scorn. ¡°I just wanted to make sure you¡¯re safe.¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯m annoyed with myself for giving up!¡± Pan of Universe 18 mumbled. From her expression, she won¡¯t be quick to forgive her father. Like her, this Pan hated being told what she couldn¡¯t do.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s ready for her next fight,¡± Pan said. Since she didn¡¯t need to sleep, why not help her counterpart? If she survived her fight with Cell, anyway.


    ¡°One problem at a time,¡± Pan whispered to herself.


    ¡°Next Fight: Pan of Universe 16 against Cell of Universe 17!¡± the announcer said.


    ¡°And I suppose this is where you surrender, too?¡± Aunt Bra said, her words acid to Pan¡¯s confidence. But Pan walked up to the stage, ready to face her next challenge.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking forward to this,¡± Cell said. ¡°Of all the combatants, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s interested me the most. You¡¯re an enigma, a total wild card in every sense of the word. Please keep this fight entertaining!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Pan stretched her limbs and got into a fighting pose. Neither combatant moved as they sized the other up.


    ¡°To think I¡¯d be facing off against Gohan¡¯s daughter. This brings me back,¡± Cell said. ¡°It was quite comical, his desperation against me in a Kamehameha battle. Since you exist, I suppose in your universe I lost! How strange that fate brought us together in this arena!¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s fate telling you it¡¯s your time that¡¯s run out,¡± Pan replied.


    ¡°No, I doubt it. It¡¯s the other way around. Fate decreed that I fix a mistake, to show perfection, can¡¯t be beaten!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll just see about that.¡± On impulse, Pan made the first move. Cell was lightning quick as they exchanged blows, each testing the other¡¯s reflexes. It was uncanny how her opponent¡¯s body seemed to know instinctively how to dodge each of her attacks. Still, Pan pushed him hard in this first exchange. After they each inflicted a blow to the chest, both combatants leaped back.


    ¡°Not bad. Your father taught you well,¡± Cell said, inclining his head. ¡°Now that our warm-up¡¯s concluded, how about we start the real fight?¡±


    Pan took a step back as Cell unveiled his true power, and it kept skyrocketing. Without any preamble, he charged. They zipped around the ring, both fighters keeping the other off balance. They were a blur as they exchanged blows, hundreds of feints and counterfeints passing between them. But Cell was impossibly fast, Pan just barely keeping him at bay. She hissed as a blow knocked her into the arena¡¯s barrier, a crack spidering where she¡¯d struck it.


    ¡°Come now. How about taking this seriously, Pan?¡± Cell said, crossing his arms. ¡°You still haven¡¯t gone Super Saiyan yet. Or did you foolishly believe you could defeat me without it? No, it¡¯s not that. I heard about that little scuffle you had with Bojack and his crew. I don¡¯t know how your odd zombie body works, but I¡¯m guessing that fight has left you drained. And since you can¡¯t eat Senzu beans, it¡¯s left you precariously low on energy. Have I hit the mark?¡±


    ¡°Fine. I suppose I have no choice.¡± Still, using Super Saiyan was a risk. It used ki she couldn¡¯t afford to waste. While she couldn¡¯t feel pain or exhaustion, Pan was getting accustomed to the odd rhythm of her zombie body. Four hours hadn¡¯t been enough to regain her lost ki.


    ¡°Damned if I do, damned if I don¡¯t.¡± Her power sparked, and a golden aura flashed around her body. But the attack costed her. Blackness was already creeping into her vision, warning her she was already risking hitting the brink.


    ¡°That¡¯s better!¡± Cell said, his Saiyan blood roaring in excitement at the possibility of a good fight. ¡°Show me what you¡¯ve got!¡±


    ¡°Impossible. She¡¯s gotten this strong already?¡± Her aunt said, taken aback. ¡°Pitiful compared to me, but still.¡±


    Her father only smiled, pleased with his daughter¡¯s development. Goku smiled, exciting by the prospect of facing her later. Her uncles cheered her on with unbridled enthusiasm.


    ¡°Show this biomechanical freak why the Son family is the strongest in the Multiverse,¡± her grandfathers said, arms crossed. In his mind, the fight was already a done deal. Pan wished she shared his confidence.


    ¡°Wow.¡± Her counterpart from Universe 18 marveled before erupting into cheering. Goku beamed with pride, eager to face this fighter later in the tournament.


    ¡°These Saiyans. Is there a limit to their potential for power?¡± Frieza said, whipping his tail in agitation. King Cold gave her a strange look, like gears were turning in his head.


    The entire stadium rocked as the two combatants exchanged blows. Pan was like lightning as she zipped around the stage, using her speed advantage to keep her opponent flat-footed. With her energy reserves so low, she didn¡¯t dare play around. But Cell was a monster, taking every punishing blow and eager to take another.


    ¡°You can do better than that!¡± Cell said, his words taunting. He landed a kick that rocked Pan to the core. Though impervious to pain, Pan recognized the blow had done serious damage. Cell¡¯s greatest strength was his well-balanced abilities. Matched with his incredible regeneration, he was almost unstoppable. She struck him again, but he only laughed it off.


    ¡°I¡¯m being too conservative with my power,¡± Pan thought in frustration. And unlike Bojack, she couldn¡¯t unleash a powerful Kamehameha to debilitate him. He¡¯d just regenerate from it. She¡¯d seen how he¡¯d healed from just being a head. It¡¯d cost him power, sure, but not enough to make the effort worthwhile.


    ¡°What now? Have you given up already?¡± Cell said, giving her a condescending smile when he caught her hesitation.


    ¡°Give it up already,¡± Aunt Bra said. ¡°This fight¡¯s over. Look at her. She¡¯s quaking in her boots!¡±


    ¡°No, you got this, Pan,¡± her father said. ¡°Focus. You haven¡¯t lost yet.¡±


    ¡°Right. I am overthinking this. Just go. Let your instincts handle the rest,¡± Pan thought.


    She was still thinking like a mortal, fearing pain and defeat. But she was a zombie who could push her body past all logic. She needed to use that to her advantage.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready, Cell,¡± Pan squeezed a fist, her whole body igniting with power. ¡°I hope you are.¡±


    With full force, she charged at her opponent. Startled by the force coming at him, Cell almost didn¡¯t dodge in time. But Pan didn¡¯t relent, giving everything she had. Ki charged her punches, purple blood erupting from Cell¡¯s mouth as she landed a devastating blow to the chest. Her opponent leaped back before she could deliver a follow-up strike.


    Cell spit blood onto the arena floor, smiling through his bloody teeth. ¡°Better.¡±


    Pan¡¯s Saiyan undead blood sang as she pounded her opponent with everything she had, a dark voice urging her on to greater heights of violence and bloodshed.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Cell said, grabbing at his arm, which a glancing blow had broken. But he only smirked, more amused than hurt. When he stretched out the broken limb, it straightened, completely restored. Cell took the initiative, striking her back. Pan did her best to defend herself, but she¡¯d wasted most of her energy trying to beat Cell to death. She screamed as Cell grabbed her by the leg and slammed her hard into the arena floor. She flailed as he tossed her aside like garbage.


    ¡°Hit your limit already? Pity.¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± Pan leaped forward, more determined than ever. Cell was fast, zipping around the field like lightning, but Pan was faster. Her opponent howled as she elbowed him in the face, then punched him hard in the gut.


    ¡°Again!¡± Pan wailed on him even harder, each punch causing the entire stadium to rumble. Cell tried to escape, but Pan was relentless. An elbow to the skull caved in a good portion of his skull, leaving her opponent dazed.


    With Cell helpless, Pan gathered energy into her palms to devastate what remained of her opponent. ¡°Kamehameha!¡±


    The entire arena exploded as Pan unleashed her devastating attack, leaving little beyond dust. Her body sagged, darkness creeping into her vision. Pan cursed her recklessness. She¡¯d allowed her temper to get the better of her again, wasting precious ki. She tensed as she waited for the dust bank to clear, waiting for the moment of truth. But, of course, she¡¯d been too hopeful.


    ¡°Impressive. You almost had me! You fought well, daughter of Gohan.¡± The half of Cell¡¯s body that remained said. Purple blood seeped from the side of his face, making it seem like the bio-warrior was weeping.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°But you wasted everything on this final attack, didn¡¯t you?¡± The other half of Cell¡¯s body burst from its remains, restoring him as good as new. ¡°This is the end. You¡¯ve lost.¡±


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    Sorry, what I said would happen next time will happen in chapter 7. I totally forgot Cell happened before those events. Doh!


    Anyway, next time:


    Cell vs Pan concluded. Vegito¡¯s humiliating defeat. And Mary Sue vs. Android 18.

 Chapter 7

    ¡°Not good.¡± Pan¡¯s mind raced as she considered her next move. Blackness continued to entrench in her vision, threatening to consume her.


    Was this it? Had she hit her limit? Should she surrender like her Universe 18 counterpart? But she scowled, hating the idea. After going so far, quitting seemed impossible. She¡¯d entered this tournament to show she could match both her famous grandfathers and her aunt Bra. Just thinking about her aunt made her undead blood boil. If she quit now, Bra would never let Pan live this down.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Cell said, amused as he caught her expression. ¡°Not finished yet?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Pan¡¯s ki flared like a torch, ready to ignite everything around her. Cell was caught off guard by the blow she struck to his chest, but snatched the next blow with his fist.


    ¡°Better.¡± Cell kneed her in the chest, driving her back. Pan only struck harder, determined not to lose without a fight, but it proved all for naught. Pan flinched as her next blow barely did anything to her opponent.


    ¡°So it¡¯s over then. Pity.¡± A knee slammed into her stomach, the arena exploding as Pan crashed into it. Energy lanced down at her, explosions blasting everything to dust. Pan¡¯s consciousness fell into a black void, consumed like a black hole.


    ---


    ¡°Is that truly everything you had? So disappointing!¡± a familiar voice said, rolling her eyes.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Where was she? What had brought her here? Within the black void, a hazy, indistinct figure grinned at her. Pan¡¯s mind was a thick fog that refused to clear. Even recalling her own name was difficult.


    ¡°You can¡¯t lose yet! The tournament will get dull otherwise!¡± the girl said with a pout.


    ¡°Be my little monster.¡± A shark-like grin extended across the familiar girl¡¯s face, stretching far past her eyes. ¡°Tap that darkness. Let your Saiyan blood dance! Bloodshed, murder, death, destruction! Make the multiverse bleed!¡± The girl spun around in a circle, then cackled. ¡°Such fun!¡±


    ¡°And with all that pesky light-side ki gone, the darkness can flow like a broken dam, ready to drown everything in its path!¡±


    No, that wasn¡¯t right. Pan didn¡¯t want this! But she was powerless to resist as darkness drove into her mouth, consuming her entire being.


    ---


    ¡°That¡¯s it? Sad,¡± Son Bra said with a contemptuous snort. What was her niece thinking? She didn¡¯t even attempt to destroy Cell¡¯s core. Didn¡¯t she pay attention to her father¡¯s stories? Pan collapsed, hair blackening as she dropped from Super Saiyan.


    Much to her disappointment, Cell didn¡¯t explode the zombie freak into tiny pieces. Instead, he allowed his opponent to lie half-covered in the rubble to get counted out. If she were fighting, she¡¯d destroy the monster girl¡¯s every atom as a precaution. But few had Son Bra¡¯s sense.


    ¡°Water,¡± she barked at the nearest Vargas, hoping it would temper her throbbing head. When she¡¯d awoken from her drunken stupor, she¡¯d felt like death. Bra swore she¡¯d never drink again!


    ¡°I¡¯m not some servant to be barked around!¡± the bird-like alien complained, but a death glare from Bra sent him scrambling to comply with her order. She smiled, pleased with herself.


    ¡°Pan is down for the count. To avoid what happened last time, we¡¯ll give a ten-count before declaring the winner,¡± the announcer said. A waste of time, in Bra¡¯s opinion. The monster girl was finished.


    ¡°Ten.¡±


    Cell stood still as a statue, arms crossed, patiently waiting for his victory to be declared.


    ¡°Get up!¡± Pan of Universe 18 said in useless encouragement. To Bra¡¯s annoyance, all of Universe 18 threw in their support. Why? They barely knew the girl!


    ¡°Nine. Eight.¡±


    ¡°Please, get up,¡± their Trunks whispered.


    ¡°You got this!¡± Goten added.


    ¡°Seven. Six.¡±


    Much to Bra¡¯s shock, even her father joined in. ¡°Get up! You can¡¯t surrender after fighting this far.¡±


    Bra¡¯s mouth curled in distaste, hate burning in her heart. Even her father? Why couldn¡¯t they see Pan for the freak she was? Why was everyone so willing to give her their love? She walked away, fuming.


    ¡°Five. Four. Three¡­ What?¡± the announcer gasped, stunned into silence.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Bra turned, freezing in her tracks as her heart froze.


    ¡°Oh?¡± But there was a hint of apprehension in Cell¡¯s voice. Like Bra, he sensed the wrongness of the girl rising back to her feet. Pan released a guttural growl, her eyes dead void. Her movements were jerky like a demented puppeteer guided her actions.


    A smile spread across her niece¡¯s features, sending a stab of ice through her. Bra feared her heart might have stopped for a second. Nothing friendly or jovial was in this smile, only madness and bloodlust.


    The Pan creature laughed, her voice like nails against a chalkboard. She fumed forward as though she didn¡¯t know how limbs worked.


    ¡°You have an untapped reserve of ki then? Or a new form perhaps?¡± But growing tension hid behind Cell¡¯s typical sarcasm. Everything in Bra¡¯s existence told her to flee until her legs gave out. The entire crowd became still, rigid like statues. No one felt like cheering anymore.


    The pair faced off, Cell keeping an uncharacteristically wary distance from his foe. The bio-android pounced, lancing a barrage of ki blasts at Pan. But Pan bounded forward, slipping through each beam with casual ease. Before Cell could utter his surprise, a fist tore through his gut. Purple blood oozed from the wound, Cell howling in pain. Pan used her hands to rip her opponent in half. Each half landed in a bloody mess. Cell¡¯s face twisted in pain. His eyes widened in terror as Pan leaped on him.


    Bra only stared, speechless as gentle, goodie-two-shoes Pan brutalized Cell with her fists. Purple blood stained her white tunic beyond repair, but Pan cared little beyond hurting her opponent. Little remained of his top half beyond a stain on the arena floor.


    But Cell wasn¡¯t dead, of course. His bottom half leaped to its feet before sprouting a new upper torso and head. He wasn¡¯t his usual smug, smiling self, however.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t Pan anymore, are you?¡± Cell said. ¡°More like an uncouth animal bent on nothing beyond violence and bloodshed. Even that brute Broly had better manners than you. How dull. But it doesn¡¯t matter how much you tear me to pieces; I¡¯ll always regenerate.¡±


    Pan, in response, only swaggered forward, a predatory grin growing wider across her face. Her aura flared like a black candle, suffocating everything around it with its oppressive power. Cell flinched as Pan approached, his green exoskeleton losing some color. Some of the audience started becoming faint, almost losing consciousness.


    ¡°Is that how she¡¯s staying up? By stealing ki?¡± Bra asked. Cell¡¯s brag about regenerating forever might not hold much weight if Pan robbed the ki he needed to heal himself.


    Cell jerked back, his movements sluggish as he backed away. But he only gritted his teeth, the arena exploding into blinding dust as Cell blasted the floor beneath them. A clash happened within the cloud, Bra straining her eyes to see inside. When they emerged, Cell was missing a chunk of his torso. But Pan had suffered worse; her right arm was missing. Bra cheered, pleased things were going better. Her brothers stared at her, scandalized, but she didn¡¯t care. Finally, this monster would get put down.


    The pair exchanged another set of blows, but Pan was losing momentum. Savage as she was, Cell fought smarter. While every exchange cost him, the bio-android made Pan pay more.


    She snarled at him, but Cell only smirked. ¡°You¡¯re a fearsome opponent, I¡¯ll give you that. I can feel you seeping away my ki, but how long will that tattered body last, I wonder?¡±


    Cell spread his arms wide. ¡°How about we end this little farce?¡±


    Pan collapsed as a barrage of ki blasts exploded into her chest. This time, her snarling crumbled as she lay against the rubble of the arena, motionless. Cell paused, wondering if he should wait for the count again, but decided against it. He stood over Pan¡¯s helpless body, arm raised to decapitate her and finish this.


    ---


    ¡°Hm?¡± Pan said, eyes droopy. She gasped as a hand slashed down at her, just avoiding the killing blow. She blinked, her foggy mind unsure where she was. ¡°Cell?¡± She entered a combat stance but blinked in confusion when a limb didn¡¯t work as it should.


    Pan glanced down at her right shoulder. ¡°What the heck happened to my arm?!¡±


    ¡°Your sanity has returned? Fascinating.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± What was he talking about? Pan noticed something odd. The crowd wore a pensive expression, some seeming like they hadn¡¯t slept in days. When she turned to her family, they avoided her eyes. Were they afraid of her?


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°I see your predicament is finally settling in,¡± Cell said. ¡°You see how they fear you? Not surprising considering you¡¯re a monster, Pan, not unlike me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a monster!¡± But Pan¡¯s words contained a hint of doubt, her eyes wide like a frightened animal.


    ¡°And look at you. You were almost completely out of ki, but now it¡¯s partly restored. Seems you¡¯re putting your stolen ki to good use. Brings back memories of my incomplete form. We are remarkably similar, aren¡¯t we? Still, the ability to steal ki passively is annoying. I can¡¯t allow this fight to continue any longer.¡± Cell wasn¡¯t kidding. Pan detected a wobble in his step. This battle had depleted almost all his remaining ki.


    ¡°Um.¡± Pan raced as Cell leaped into the air, energy gathering for a Kamehameha.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this nostalgic?¡± Cell said, taking in a pleased breath. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this how your father died as well? A desperate Kamehameha struggle with only a single arm to defend yourself? What symmetry! Father and daughter dying the exact same way. Deflect this, if you can!¡±


    ¡°Oh crap!¡± Pan¡¯s undead heart thumped in utter panic. With one arm, there was no way she could fight off Cell¡¯s Kamehameha!


    ¡°Pan, you got this!¡± her father said, regaining faith in his daughter. ¡°I believe in you!¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cell¡¯s powerful, but he¡¯s forgetting one thing!¡±


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± Cell¡¯s beam lanced down at her.


    ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± It all clicked into place. Her aura flared golden as she turned Super Saiyan. She smirked, gathering energy for her own Kamehameha. She faced the incoming beam without fear. ¡°In my universe, you lost, Cell! Kamehameha!¡±


    Their beams clashed, Pan gritting her teeth as she struggled to fight the beam back. Her feet implanted deep into the broken arena as she fought to keep the beam at bay. But she stayed firm, ready to fight to the bitter end.


    Yet, something felt off. Cell wasn¡¯t giving his attack everything he had. He was holding back! Her mind raced for why. While he claimed he wanted to defeat Pan as he¡¯d done to her father, this wasn¡¯t an exact reenactment of their final encounter during the Cell Games. She¡¯d heard the story a million times, and each difference stood out like a sore thumb. He had something else planned, but what?


    Instead of exhausting her ki, Pan held the beam at bay, pretending to struggle harder than she was. She¡¯d make him waste his ki instead. The moment seemed to stretch into eternity as she waited for whatever trick Cell had planned.


    ¡°There!¡± In a blink, Cell vanished. He¡¯d used the Instant Transmission technique. Pan responded, cutting her ki. She held it ready in her palm.


    There! Pan sensed Cell behind her, Kamehameha ready for the killing blow. But Cell was slower than he¡¯d expected, the hairs on Pan¡¯s head searing as she leaped away. Cell¡¯s eyes widened, realizing he¡¯d left himself vulnerable.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± The one-armed blast consumed the bio-android, with no room for him to dodge away. She used everything she had left, ensuring not even an atom remained of her opponent. When the dust cleared, nothing remained of Cell but the faint smell of burnt fish.


    Pan collapsed, a smile on her face. The darkness crept back, but she had enough ki to hold it at bay. She¡¯d done it. Somehow, she¡¯d won. The entire audience broke into applause.


    ¡°Cell from Universe 17 has been defeated. Pan of Universe 16 is the victor!¡±


    ¡°Congratulations, Pan,¡± her father said, his smile proud. ¡°You did it.¡±


    ¡°Daddy!¡± The Cell Jrs stared, stunned, many breaking into heartbroken tears. It brought Pan a pang of sympathy. While a monster, someone still cared about Cell.


    ¡°Like Cell stood any chance,¡± her grandfathers said, smug at his kin¡¯s victory. ¡°Well fought.¡±


    ¡°Are you guys ignoring what she did to win?¡± Bra said, ruining the joyous mood.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Pan said, wary.


    ¡°You were an animal, delighting in the pain and death you caused,¡± Bra replied.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way that¡¯s true!¡± But the guarded look in her father¡¯s eyes deflated her protests. It couldn¡¯t be true, right?


    Her father grabbed both her shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out, okay?¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡± Pan was speechless. What had happened when she¡¯d blacked out? She eyed everyone else around her. They seemed guarded around her, unsure what to think of her.


    ¡°Hey, Vargas. Pan attacked the audience. Shouldn¡¯t you disqualify her?¡± Bra said.


    ¡°What?!¡± Pan gasped in shock.


    ¡°Not directly,¡± her father was quick to add. ¡°No one got hurt.¡±


    ¡°Um.¡± The Vargas looked pensive, unsure how to reply. ¡°We¡¯ll have the council discuss this.¡±


    ¡°So stupid,¡± Bra grumbled. ¡°You¡¯re still giving this thing more chances?¡±


    ¡°T-thing?¡± Pan said, mortified. Had she fallen that far out of her aunt¡¯s favor?


    ¡°Son Bra,¡± her grandfathers said, showing his displeasure. It was rare for him to call his daughter by her full name. Bra tensed as her father got in her face, intimidated by his towering height and overwhelming presence. ¡°Enough. Apologize to Pan right now. What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±


    But Bra held her ground. ¡°I don¡¯t know. What do you think, Dad?¡±


    Something passed between them that Pan didn¡¯t understand. There was something beneath the surface that went beyond Bra bullying her niece. Was this even about her, really?


    ¡°You¡¯ll never progress as a warrior if you keep clinging to the past. Suck it up and get over it already. Grow up!¡± her grandfathers replied. ¡°We¡¯ve all had enough of your bad attitude.¡±


    Bra clicked her tongue. ¡°Grow up, right. Dumbass.¡± She turned and walked away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you walk away from me!¡± her grandfathers seethed. Dear Lord, Pan had never seen him this angry before. She feared Vegito, mighty hero of Universe 16, might actually strike his daughter.


    Her father noticed it too and stepped in before an altercation happened. ¡°Just give her some space to cool down, okay, Dad? Let¡¯s cool things down.¡±


    ¡°The brat never listens.¡± Her grandfathers turned away. ¡°It only shows she doesn¡¯t have what it takes to become a true warrior. She¡¯s nothing but an unruly child who can¡¯t control herself.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Bra scoffed before flying away. ¡°I hope you lose your match.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear. What¡¯s with these two?¡± her father said, sighing as they watched Bra disappear. ¡°Sometimes, I think Vegito¡¯s fusion was the worst thing that could have happened. Dad, my dad, was more compassionate and understanding than this.¡± This earned a glare from her grandfather, but he didn¡¯t argue the point.


    ¡°We invite Tapion from Universe 3 and Kulilin from Universe 9 to get in the ring!¡± the announcer said.


    But Pan paid no attention to the next match, too busy fretting over her family situation. Both her grandfathers and Bra had such anger bubbling beneath them. She desired to ask about the incident that caused such resentment but knew they¡¯d never answer. What a bother. Was there any way to fix this?


    ¡°And I¡¯ve lost an arm, too. What a day.¡± Pan waved her stump experimentally before sighing. And since she was a zombie, she couldn¡¯t use a Senzu bean to regrow it. Now she needed to learn to fight left-handed!


    ¡°Victory for Tapion of Universe 3!¡± With that, the fight concluded, and the next meal break began. Since she couldn¡¯t eat, she would spend her time doing something else.


    ¡°Big Sis Pan, do you want to hang out?¡± Little Pan asked, sipping her udon noodles as Pan passed. Unlike many others, she didn¡¯t seem as frightened of her.


    ¡°Maybe later. I don¡¯t want to interrupt your meal.¡± From Pan¡¯s reckoning, her counterpart from Universe 18 was already five bowls in.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Little Pan said. Pan pretended she wasn¡¯t jealous as her counterpart dug into a rice bowl.


    Pan walked over to Uncle Piccolo. Unlike many others, his gaze was friendly and understanding.


    ¡°Uncle Piccolo, could you help me train?¡± The Namekian stood in his usual spot, leaning against a wall in brooding silence.


    Piccolo smiled, understanding her reasons. She wanted to get her training in early. Her next opponent was Tapion, the mysterious warrior. She needed to cope with her new handicap quick. ¡°Fine by me. With your dominant arm gone, you¡¯re at a considerable disadvantage.¡± Together, they left for a spot free of people. Much to their surprise, a towering green shape intercepted them.


    ¡°Gast! Would you like to join our training session?¡± Pan asked. ¡°A little practice goes a long way.¡±


    ¡°No, I wish to check something.¡± Pan caught onto the fused Namekian¡¯s meaning and allowed him to put a massive hand around her head. He closed his eyes, channeling some deeper magic.


    ¡°Well?¡± Both Pan and Uncle Piccolo gave Gast a curious look.


    ¡°I see. Whatever¡¯s hiding within you is clever. I didn¡¯t sense it before, but its taint is still fresh,¡± Gast replied.


    ¡°Taint?¡± Pan bristled, fearing what that might mean.


    ¡°A darkness has taken hold of you, Pan. Be cautious of its power over you. I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re evil or a monster, but something evil hides within you. Don¡¯t give in to it,¡± Gast said.


    ¡°Is there some way to exorcise it?¡± Pan asked.


    But Gast shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s too ingrained in this body. I fear even dying might not separate you from it.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful.¡± What news. But there had to be a way. If she won this tournament, she¡¯d use the Dragonballs to free herself from whatever this evil creature was. It had to work.


    The mighty fused Namekian caught onto her thoughts and nodded, giving her a slight smile. ¡°I wish you luck, Pan. I have my own wish, but I won¡¯t protest if you win the prize instead.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± They waved Gast goodbye. This revelation gave Pan plenty to think about. ¡°You know, Uncle Piccolo, you come from a pretty cool race.¡±


    ¡°That Gast is something else,¡± Piccolo said in agreement. ¡°His magic is formidable. He won¡¯t be an easy opponent.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but the fight will be fun.¡± It was a pleasant change from the psychos she¡¯d been fighting so far. Tapion was her next opponent. Worry bubbled in her heart, but she tamped it down. Fretting about her next match wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. We have little time remaining until grandpas¡¯ fight starts.¡±


    ---


    ¡°What the heck just happened!¡± Pan glanced around, trying to locate her grandfathers¡¯ ki. Had he somehow been utterly obliterated? People muttered amongst themselves, theorizing what might have happened.


    Tense moments passed as they waited for her grandfathers to reappear. Old man XXI stood stock still, his wrinkled face calm but smug. He was certain his opponent wouldn¡¯t return in time.


    ¡°What¡¯d he do?¡± Goku asked, perplexed. ¡°I didn¡¯t sense any attack.¡±


    ¡°It must be some type of magic,¡± Vegeta said with a snort. ¡°He got careless and got caught in the spell.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s not fair,¡± Goku said, scratching his head.


    ¡°Is he dead?¡± Pan said, fighting back tears. Sure, he¡¯d eventually get wished back, but it was still a terrible blow.


    ¡°Relax, child,¡± XXI said. ¡°I only sent him into another dimension. He¡¯ll break out of it soon enough with an exertion of ki.¡±


    ¡°Um. It¡¯s been thirty seconds and Vegito has not reappeared, so XXI of Universe 5 is the winner!¡±


    ¡°What? Is this allowed?¡± Pan said, glaring at the nearest Vargas. ¡°He sent Grandpas into another dimension!¡±


    ¡°Weapons, magic, technology? Anything¡¯s allowed.¡± The bird person replied.


    ¡°But that was basically cheating!¡± Pan said, glaring at the Vagras. He flinched, backing away in fear. Gee, she hadn¡¯t meant to scare him that much.


    ¡°Oh, right. Zombie.¡± Pan thought, her mood damping.


    ¡°Yeah, it doesn¡¯t seem right at all,¡± Goku said. ¡°We came here to fight, didn¡¯t we?¡± Their argument had captured the attention of the other tournament goers, who watched the exchange with some curiosity.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re all wrong.¡± The Vargas said, chuckling to himself. ¡°What XXI did what we Vargas call the peak of combat brilliance. He won the match without even having to throw a punch. Vegito got careless, so he lost.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but this is a martial arts tournament,¡± Pan replied. ¡°It¡¯s not really keeping in its spirit. What if XXI wins every match like that?¡±


    ¡°The girl¡¯s right.¡± Buu of Universe 4 said. ¡°We¡¯re here to fight, not defeat each other through technicalities.¡±


    The Vargas only shook his head, laughing to himself. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, you do? If XXI wins like that, he¡¯s the ultimate warrior, the peak of fighting perfection. If you can¡¯t keep up, you were never worthy from the start.¡±


    ¡°So lame.¡± Pan watched as XXI left without a word. As usual, he returned to his apartment instead of watching the other fights.


    ¡°Fighting perfection? If you say so,¡± Goku said, scratching his head. ¡°It improved our chance of victory, but I wanted to face Vegito in the ring.¡±


    ¡°Some tournament.¡± Vegeta snorted, mouth twisting into a displeased scowl. ¡°I wonder why we¡¯re even bothering to fight if they allow such cheap tricks.¡± The other combatants voiced similar complaints, even Frieza.


    ¡°Tsk. Vegito deserves a rematch. Your audience is most displeased by this.¡± Buu from Universe 4 seemed partially annoyed by the Vargas¡¯ argument. And the Maijin warrior wasn¡¯t wrong. The audience seemed both bewildered and annoyed by this unexpected turn of events. This unusual victory hadn¡¯t satisfied them one bit.


    The Vargas fumed, stomping his bird-like feet. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then start your own tournament! Let¡¯s see you do better!¡±


    ¡°Our own tournament?¡± Buu of Universe 4 seemed partially intrigued by this suggestion.


    ¡°Anyway!¡± The announcer said, directing the conversation in another direction. If everyone left, the Vargas would lose everything. ¡°After that strange victory, here is Mary Sue, the wonderful, beautiful warrior of Universe 2.¡± Then, bizarrely, the announcer entered a ten-minute speech about Mary Sue and how wonderful she was. As usual, he offered contradictory tidbits about her past that never added up.


    ¡°Oh, there you are, Mary Sue,¡± Pan said as her friend appeared. ¡°Where have you been?¡± She had a peculiar habit of disappearing.


    ¡°I was cooking some ramen. Sorry. Did I miss something?¡± Mary Sue gasped when she noticed Pan¡¯s missing arm. ¡°What happened to you?


    ¡°Such compassion! How she cares about everyone around her! Her soul¡¯s as beautiful as her face! Please marry me!¡± Trunks howled as Goten elbowed him in the ribs.


    ¡°No way! She¡¯s going to have my children. We¡¯re having nine of them, all just as marvelous as her!¡± Goten said, his expression a mask of rage. Huh? What was going on with those two? They were in each other¡¯s faces, almost ready to brawl.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say. I¡¯ll explain later.¡± Pan said, unnerved by her uncles¡¯ behavior.


    ¡°And the horrible, rotten Android 18 of Universe 14 will be her opponent.¡± The announcer said in an angry hiss.


    ¡°Boo! You suck!¡± Almost the entire crowd hurled insults at the android warrior, sometimes saying such hateful things it made Pan¡¯s ears red. 18 was a bad guy, but wasn¡¯t this going overboard?


    ¡°What?¡± Android 18 scowled and sent the audience an angry glare. ¡°Got something to say? Come down here and say it!¡±


    ¡°Um, won¡¯t hurt her too badly? Will you, sis?¡± Android 17 said, tentatively.


    ¡°Not you too!¡± 18 said, exasperated. ¡°She¡¯s not even that pretty!¡±


    Pan signed. It would be a strange fight. She just knew it.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    Next time: Mary Sue vs Android 18, what the heck¡¯s with this girl?! Bra shows her ruthless side, no mercy to the evil! Bra spills her guts to Lila. The Dragonballs are used to revive the lost. What does this mean for Pan?

 Chapter 8

    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to this,¡± Android 18 said, her eyes wide with violent exaltation. ¡°You think you¡¯re so pretty and loved? But soon you¡¯ll be nothing but a rotting corpse!¡±


    This earned a shocked gasp from her brother, Android 17. ¡°You can¡¯t mean that! To do that to someone as marvelous as Mary Sue is beyond monstrous!¡±


    ¡°So uncool,¡± Goten said, seething. ¡°What a monster!¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Trunks seemed almost incapable of controlling himself. Pan feared he might jump into the ring to defend his crush, despite it being a flagrant breaking of the rules.


    18 rubbed her temple. ¡°We¡¯ve killed millions of people, 17! You can¡¯t be serious. What makes her special?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a living angel,¡± 17 replied, like this answer was obvious.


    ¡°You know, killing me isn¡¯t that big of a threat,¡± Mary Sue said absently. ¡°Won¡¯t I just get wished back?¡± This earned an angry scowl from 18, who seemed about ready to explode.


    ¡°Seems 18 has met her match,¡± Yamcha from Universe 9 said, amused. ¡°Maybe she can learn something.¡±


    ¡°Brought back, huh? Then I¡¯ll just kill you again and again! And heck¡­¡± Android 18¡¯s expression turned devilish. ¡°Why not wish back our other victims? Then I can kill them all a second time! Then we can wish them back again. My brother and I can have an endless parade of slaughter.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Yamcha¡¯s breath caught, shocked. He¡¯d surrendered in his fight against 18 because he believed there was some good in the android to redeem. He realized he might be mistaken.


    ¡°That¡¯s not nice.¡± Mary Sue put her hands on her hips. ¡°Besides, I have my own wish I want granted.¡±


    ¡°Too bad you¡¯re not getting it!¡± 18 launched herself at Mary Sue with vicious fury. But her opponent only deflected each blow with casual ease. Beyond incensed, 18 only fought harder, but Mary Sue countered her every attack without even breaking a sweat.


    ¡°You¡¯re not very strong, are you?¡± Mary Sue said, somewhat disappointed. ¡°Of course not. All you do is slaughter people. You¡¯ve never had a good fight in your life. So how strong could you really be?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± 18 snarled, unleashing a barrage of ki blasts at point-blank range. It created an explosion of dust. The android smirked, pleased with herself. Her eyes widened as the dust cleared, and Mary Sue didn¡¯t seem even ruffled by her attack. It hadn¡¯t even singed her clothes.


    ¡°How strong is Mary Sue?¡± Pan wondered. Her friend was keeping her ki remarkably guarded. It was impossible to tell how powerful she was.


    ¡°You!¡± But Mary Sue¡¯s survival only enraged 18 further, a vein bulging in her forehead.


    Mary Sue sighed. ¡°I suppose I¡¯m not one to talk. I¡¯ve never really had a good fight, either. It¡¯s like I live in a glass world. Everyone and everything around me is fragile and brittle.¡±


    ¡°Damn you!¡± Android 18 unleashed another barrage of ki blasts, but Mary Sue only swatted them aside. ¡°No!¡±


    A sad look overcame Mary Sue, forlorn and longing. ¡°It¡¯s like, what¡¯s the point of fighting if you can¡¯t lose?¡±


    ¡°Mary Sue is so amazing!¡± Trunks said, completely missing the point of Mary Sue¡¯s melancholic speech. He found her power awe-inspiring. Goten seemed similarly impressed.


    ¡°I suppose I could surrender like Yamcha did. There might be something redeemable in you.¡± Mary Sue said, considering. ¡°Naw. I don¡¯t like you. You¡¯re a jerk!¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Android 18 collapsed to the arena floor, unmoving. Pan gasped. She hadn¡¯t even seen her friend move.


    ¡°What an elegant attack! Was that a sudden burst of kaioken or something else? Even I can¡¯t tell!¡± Buu of Universe 4 said, intrigued.


    Goku seemed similarly impressed, bouncing on his feet. ¡°Seems we got another serious contender. I can¡¯t wait to face her in the ring!¡±


    But Vegeta tensed, unnerved. ¡°I didn¡¯t even feel her attack. What is she?¡±


    ¡°8¡­ 9¡­ 10! Android 18 from Universe 14 has fallen. The amazing, marvelous Mary Sue of Universe 2 is victorious!¡± This earned an impressive fanfare from the crowd. It was so exuberant, Pan feared they might start a riot.


    ¡°Sorry, Yamcha. But I couldn¡¯t allow her to win. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to redeem herself. People don¡¯t change unless they want to change,¡± Mary Sue said as she leaped away from the arena. Yamcha didn¡¯t reply, giving her a grim nod of acknowledgment.


    ¡°My love! Congratulations!¡± Trunks said, but Mary Sue ignored him.


    ¡°Impressive fight, Mary Sue. I¡¯m not looking forward to facing you in the ring,¡± Pan said, half-jokingly.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t being completely truthful,¡± Mary Sue replied. ¡°There is one I could never defeat.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Pan said, surprised.


    ¡°Though this kind of thing doesn¡¯t interest him.¡± With that cryptic comment, Mary Sue walked back to her apartment. Pan asked why, but her friend only gave a half-hearted excuse.


    Considering the strange behavior of her uncles and the others, Pan thought it might be best. They¡¯d hang out later. Still, this fight only sparked Pan¡¯s curiosity. What was Mary Sue exactly? Sometimes, Pan thought she was so perfect, her friend couldn¡¯t be real.


    ---


    ¡°Huh?¡± Bra blinked as her father disappeared. She placed her finger to her forehead to scope him out across the universe, but came up blank. She glanced around frantically, hoping to catch sight of him.


    ¡°What the heck? Did XXI completely disintegrate him?¡± Her father, the most impossible, invincible being in the multiverse, was dead? Bra stared at the empty spot where her father had stood, unsure how she felt. Was she happy? Sad? Both? Unexpected tears were threatening to burst. This was so stupid! She knew he¡¯d get wished back soon enough. So why was she getting so emotional? Why would she ever care about her father being dead? This was so stupid!


    ¡°Relax, child,¡± Bra overheard the wizened XXI say. ¡°I only sent him into another dimension. He¡¯ll break out of it soon enough with an exertion of ki.¡±


    Bra sighed in relief. Her father wasn¡¯t dead. Her sudden burst of emotion was her hormones causing havoc. She didn¡¯t really care about what happened to him. Truly, her father was a fool to be ensnared by such a simple spell! She bubbled with excitement for her father¡¯s return, so she could rub this embarrassing failure in his face.


    ¡°What a fool. What a fool,¡± Bra said, laughing to herself. No way she¡¯d fall for such an easy trick! She listened as the monster girl argued with the Vargas about the fairness of XXI¡¯s trick. Personally, Bra didn¡¯t care. A win was a win in her book.


    ¡°Still, that XXI guy is dangerous.¡± It was impossible to read anything about his wrinkly ass.


    When the announcer called Gotenks of Universe 18 and Nekomajin were the next combatants, Bra wandered away, caring less.


    ¡°Come on. Hurry up with my next fight already.¡± While her hangover had died down, it left Bra eager for some carnage.


    Unfortunately, her next opponent was some lame guy in tech armor. What was he even doing here? This was a freaking martial arts tournament! Bra smiled to herself, eager to show this warrior the folly of picking a fight with Vegito¡¯s daughter.


    ¡°Victory for Buu! As the new ring is being created... I now call Son Bra from Universe 16 and Eleim of Universe 19!¡±


    ¡°Finally!¡± Bra stretched, ready for some action. The intense gravity struck her as she landed on the arena. But to someone who trained with her father in the harshest gravity levels, it was nothing. She smirked at her opponent, whose armor fought against him in this intense gravity.


    ¡°Want to take it off? You might stand a better chance.¡± Bra said.


    But her opponent¡¯s expression stayed serious, like the entire multiverse would literally die if he lost this fight. What was this guy¡¯s deal?


    Her family watched in the background, but they didn¡¯t offer her any encouragement, much to Bra¡¯s annoyance. What? Did they only cheer on the monster girl and not her? Her face twisted into a scowl, her good mood ruined.


    Her mood worsened as the slowest moving energy ball flew towards her. ¡°Are you even taking this seriously?¡± Bra said, deflecting the ball with a simple stroke of her arm. Her opponent said nothing, entering a battle position.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope you can keep me entertained!¡± Bra allowed the battle to fill her veins, giving her a rush of euphoria as she entered combat.


    Her opponent gasped as his barrier barely deflected her blow, and she hadn¡¯t even used full strength. Still, it held, somewhat impressing Bra. She smirked, eager to test his limits.


    ¡°How about this, then?¡± Energy gathered in Bra¡¯s palms as she unleashed a barrage of beams at her opponent, holding nothing back. Eleim swore as he desperately tried to fend off the barrage. An explosion of dust filled the arena as it devastated the area.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°Seems they¡¯ll need to fix this arena too,¡± Bra said, amused. She waited impatiently as the dust cleared, curious about how badly her opponent had defended himself against her attack. Since her opponent¡¯s ki was so weak, it was difficult to tell how much she¡¯d hurt him.


    ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re finished already!¡± Bra said, her voice sickeningly sweet. Then a sudden weight overcame her, almost immobilizing her. A gravity attack? How? ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Tsk. Still alive? You Saiyans are monsters. That gravity well should have killed you,¡± Eleim said from behind her. ¡°This should finish you.¡±


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Fear spiked in Bra¡¯s heart as she just avoided a sudden flash from her opponent¡¯s finger. She gaped as it sliced through the arena like a knife. Someone in the stands screamed as a limb got sliced off, frantically clutching their wound to stanch the bleeding. Impossible. His attack even cut through the barrier protecting the audience?


    Bra leaped back as a dozen more beams threatened to slice her to ribbons. More people howled in fear and pain as they got caught in the crossfire. Her opponent gritted his teeth, frustrated by her agility despite the overwhelming gravity he¡¯d used to contain her.


    ¡°Hey! He¡¯s attacking the audience!¡± Bra cried out, crossing her arms. ¡°He should be disqualified!¡±


    But a Vargas put the kibosh on her protests, smirking at her. ¡°Again, with the constant whining from you, Bra. He¡¯s not intentionally attacking the audience, so it¡¯s fair game. Besides, they¡¯ll get wished back soon, anyway! Stop complaining and fight already! This is getting good!¡± Unfortunately for him, this was the last thing the bird creature said, his body sliding sideways in a bloody chunk as a beam accidentally sliced him to pieces as Eleim resumed his attack.


    ¡°Hey, just because you can wish people back doesn¡¯t mean you can just let us die!¡± Her monster niece complained. But she lost focus on what was happening in the audience as she fought to keep ahead of Eleim¡¯s barrage of death.


    ¡°You¡¯re really ticking me off!¡± Bra was done with this. If the Vargas wanted a show, she¡¯d give them one. The entire arena shook as she turned Super Saiyan, her eyes glowing a malevolent green like emeralds. She smirked as she saw the panic in her opponent¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Such power for someone so young!¡± Goku marveled. ¡°She¡¯s on a whole other level.¡±


    ¡°So, this is Vegito¡¯s daughter. Monstrous.¡± Vegeta said, scowling.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± her monster niece gaped, impressed by her aunt Bra¡¯s might. She smirked, pleased. Bra had spent the last few months training hard. She¡¯d show them all why they should fear the daughter of Vegito.


    ¡°No! I can¡¯t lose yet. Too much is counting on my victory!¡± Eleim said, clearly planning another dirty trick. But Bra didn¡¯t give him the chance. He gasped as she suddenly disappeared, his eyes darting around in a desperate, hopeless attempt to find her.


    ¡°Up here,¡± Bra said playfully. She enjoyed the look of shock in her opponent¡¯s eyes as he saw the massive ball of ki she¡¯d gathered in her extended palm. He didn¡¯t even get a chance to scream as she unleashed her attack.


    ¡°Big Bang Attack!¡± Eleim tried to gather his barrier to protect himself, but it flickered before dying under her onslaught. The entire arena exploded, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust. Nothing remained of her opponent¡¯s ki¡ªobliterated into nothing.


    ¡°Eleim of Universe 19 is defeated. Son Bra of Universe 16 is the victor! Please wait as we replace the arena.¡± The announcer released a deep sigh. ¡°Again.¡±


    ¡°No. We lost.¡± Devastation filled each of the Heliorians¡¯ faces as they faced the gravity of their defeat.


    ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t have to go that far, Bra!¡± her monster niece said. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to kill him!¡±


    ¡°Pan¡¯s right. You went too far,¡± her brother Gohan said.


    Bra scowled, pointing at the mangled bodies of the audience members who¡¯d gotten caught in Eleim¡¯s crossfire. One woman was cradling the bloody remains of her son, wailing uncontrollably. ¡°Too far? Look what he did. More people would¡¯ve gotten hurt if I hadn¡¯t stopped that maniac. Besides, who cares if he dies? He¡¯ll just be wished back!¡±


    To this, the self-righteous Gohan and Pan had no answer. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡±


    ¡°Why was he fighting so hard?¡± Goku asked. While hidden, Bra could tell he hadn¡¯t like her methods either.


    One of the Heliorians, Phipsil, looked down in shame, gathering her thoughts before answering. ¡°On our homeworld, Helior, there was an accident. A substance called Carbonite leaked into the planet and infected it. Nothing survived. It destroys anything it touches, organic or inorganic. We were able to evacuate the planet, but the threat still remains. Our scientists fear the calamity if an asteroid collides with Helior¡¯s remains. The resulting explosion would spread Carbonite across the galaxy, devastating life wherever it touched.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Pan said, speechless.


    ¡°Sorry for Eleim¡¯s behavior.¡± Tears gathered at Phipsil¡¯s eyelids before bowing to everyone. ¡°He desperately wanted to save our planet, but he went too far. Innocents shouldn¡¯t have suffered for our sake.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s his reason,¡± Bra said, snorting. ¡°He should have just asked. If it matters that much, I¡¯ll use one of my wishes to save your planet.¡± And who said Son Bra couldn¡¯t be benevolent?


    ¡°Yeah! Me too!¡± Pan said, waving her remaining arm. What a copycat.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not a problem,¡± Goku said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really going to use my wishes for anything, anyway.¡±


    ¡°You mean it?¡± Phipsil was crying now, tears of relief and joy.


    ¡°Sure. This gives me an even better reason to win this tournament!¡± Goku said, full of determination. The members of his universe offered their support and promises.


    Bra only rolled her eyes at their overdramatic reactions. Didn¡¯t she already say she¡¯d fix everything? It made her even more determined to win the tournament to show everyone Son Bra was just as mighty a hero as Goku. No, better!


    ¡°Good work,¡± Lila said. From her friend¡¯s smile, she seemed most pleased. ¡°You fought well.¡±


    ¡°Glad someone¡¯s saying it!¡± It irked Bra that no one celebrated her victory. They cheered on the monster girl, but not her?


    ¡°They were wrong. You did the right thing.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Killing Eleim,¡± the West Supreme Kai clarified. He was a dangerous threat that needed to be stopped. Your family means well, but in battle, hesitation against evil only gets you killed.¡±


    ¡°Just what I said!¡± Bra replied. Finally, someone understood!


    ¡°The righteous path isn¡¯t an easy one. But someone needs to fight the good fight, even if the task gets unpleasant sometimes.¡±


    Bra nodded in understanding, pleased. Why couldn¡¯t her family understand this? Understand her?


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lila asked, her voice full of compassion.


    Huh? Bra rubbed her eyes, embarrassed she¡¯d almost cried. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± Lila asked, motioning if they should move somewhere more private.


    Bra thought about it, her pride refusing to show weakness, even to Lila. But Bra settled with a quick nod. Soon they found themselves in a nice sitting area reserved for the Kais and Vargas. Lila said nothing, allowing Bra to continue the conversation at her own pace.


    Bra only slumped in a chair, refusing to show her face. ¡°They¡¯re all stupid. It¡¯s like I¡¯m not good enough for them. I try so hard, but it¡¯s never enough! They never listen to me!¡±


    ¡°But Dad¡¯s the worst. I hate him.¡± It felt good to admit that. Bra continued, ¡°I hate him. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s ever respected me in his life. He always looks down at me, judging me. I try my best to live up to his expectations, but it¡¯s never enough. And¡­¡±


    Bra¡¯s mind wandered back to that terrible day on the Jaykal home planet. She¡¯d lost control. And instead of helping, her father labeled her a monster, told her he¡¯d kill her himself if it happened again.


    ¡°Bra?¡± Lila said, putting a comforting hand on Bra¡¯s shoulder.


    Dammit, had she been crying? While she wanted to admit everything, Bra held back. Not yet. She feared if she spilled everything, Lila would hate her. Despise her like everyone else.


    Much to her surprise, the Supreme Kai pulled her into a hug. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here for you.¡± Bra said nothing, just cried into her friend¡¯s shoulder.


    They continued like this until Bra composed herself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know what came over me.¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize. You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± Lila gave Bra a dazzling smile.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Bra turned away, hiding her blush. ¡°Anyway. How about those lessons now?¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Lila tilted her head.


    ¡°For that freezing technique. I have a universe to save. I¡¯ll need every edge I can get.¡± It¡¯d be nice to have a sudden trick up her sleeve no one knew about.


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯d love to help,¡± Lila said, her smile dazzling. Bra hid her blush again. She didn¡¯t deserve a friend like this.


    ----


    ¡°Come on, Grampas, don¡¯t sulk. There¡¯s always next time,¡± Pan said, doing her best to comfort her grandfathers after his frustrating defeat.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. And I¡¯m not sulking!¡± her grandfathers said petulantly. For someone with almost god-like power, he was rather childish sometimes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad, I¡¯ll make up for your loss,¡± Bra said, not hiding her smug amusement. Her insistence on rubbing her father¡¯s defeat in his face hadn¡¯t helped his sour mood. ¡°Let your amazing daughter handle everything from here.¡±


    ¡°Tsk. Cheeky brat,¡± her grandfathers said, scowling and turning away.


    While Pan only sighed at her aunt¡¯s antics, she couldn¡¯t help but notice Bra¡¯s upturn in mood. Had something happened? She seemed to bounce on her feet, invigorated.


    Pan hid a secret smile. ¡°It must be that West Supreme Kai,¡± she thought. She¡¯d seen them together earlier. It warmed Pan¡¯s heart that her aunt had finally found a friend. Finally, Bra found someone to help soothe her turbulent heart. Her father wasn¡¯t the most comforting and understanding soul in the multiverse.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Pan cheered as Gast flicked Demon King Piccolo on the forehead, knocking him out cold. He¡¯d pulled some dirty tricks with whistling and pulling off his own ears, but he wasn¡¯t a match for Gast Corcolh¡¯s grand power. She smiled as he offered the villain some consoling words, trying to guide him to a better path. While this seemed unlikely, both her universe¡¯s Piccolo and Vegeta were both evil once. Pan supposed anything was possible.


    ¡°Gast Corcolh from Universe 7 wins!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s that,¡± Pan said. ¡°Uncle Piccolo, are you ready to resume our training?¡±


    This earned a pleased smile from the Namekian. ¡°Fine by me.¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡± Little Pan said, waving an enthusiastic hand.


    ¡°What about supper?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°That can wait. I¡¯ll have Dad keep some leftovers. After your fight, I¡¯m pumped! I¡¯m ready to rise to the next level too!¡± Little Pan replied, all enthusiasm.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Pan said, laughing.


    ¡°Now you can tell me how you became a Super Saiyan!¡± Little Pan said.


    ¡°Sure, it all started¡­¡± But the announcer interrupted her, making a startling announcement.


    ¡°We want to thank all the participants from the second round! Before dinner, we have a surprise for you¡­¡±


    ¡°Are those the Dragonballs? They¡¯re huge!¡± Pan said, eyes boggling, as a ship descended from the air and deposited a collection of seven-starred balls.


    ¡°They must be their universe¡¯s Namekian Dragonballs,¡± Uncle Piccolo said. ¡°Our Namek Dragonballs were just as huge.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Pan said, amazed. She¡¯d heard plenty about Namek, but she¡¯d never been there. When she returned home, she¡¯d ask Aunt Bulma to let her borrow a spaceship so she could visit sometime.


    The security around the mystical wish-granting balls was tight; even her grandfathers joined in the action. With so many villains around, it was a wise precaution.


    Pan watched in awe as the Namekian elder spoke his native language to the glowing balls.


    ¡°You have collected all seven Dragonballs; you may state your wish,¡± Porunga, the Namekian dragon, said. While Pan had seen Earth¡¯s dragon plenty of times, he didn¡¯t match the majesty of this noble creature.


    The elder spoke his wish in his native tongue. If Pan still had a beating heart, it¡¯d be thumping a mile a minute. Would the wish restore her to life? Part of her doubted it¡¯d be this easy, but Pan still hoped anyway.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Pan asked, noticing the sudden frown on Uncle Piccolo¡¯s face.


    ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± the great dragon said. His eyes flashed, granting their wish.


    The crowd was exuberant as they reunited with loved ones who¡¯d once been dead. Eleim was apologizing to his fellow Heliorians, bowing and asking for forgiveness for his actions. Others were bewildered yet happy as they celebrated their new lease on life. Cell, in particular, seemed pleased to return to life, his children overwhelmed with joy at his return.


    Pan stared at her dull, faded skin tone and frowned. She felt her heart with her remaining arm and found no heartbeat. Oh, well. She¡¯d known it¡¯d be a long shot.


    ¡°Please restore the lives of everyone who died because of the tournament, except Bojack and his crew,¡± Uncle Piccolo said.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Pan blinked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what he wished,¡± Uncle Piccolo confirmed.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Goku asked. ¡°Why would he exclude them?¡± Pan had to agree. Many other evil people also participated in the tournament. Why exclude them?


    ¡°My request,¡± West Supreme Kai said to the revelers. ¡°A punishment. Bojack and his crew broke our hospitality, so they received their just punished.¡± This earned confused and startled mutters from the tournament¡¯s participants.


    ¡°Hold on. We never talked about this!¡± East Supreme Kai said, shocked.


    ¡°Yes, we didn¡¯t discuss this beforehand.¡± North Supreme Kai¡¯s mouth hardened into a hard frown.


    ¡°Please explain yourself, West Supreme Kai,¡± South Supreme Kai said, crossing his beefy arms.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t a decision of the gods¡¯ council?¡± the elder Namek said, shocked at the West Supreme Kai¡¯s deception.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t punish transgressions, what¡¯s stopping them from happening again?¡± West replied. ¡°It needs to be understood that we won¡¯t tolerate any defiance. Bojack and his crew attacked other tournament-goers and almost killed them. This was an unforgivable sin. If we don¡¯t enforce the rules, chaos will reign!¡±


    This earned a concerned frown from the crowd. It seemed a little extreme, in Pan¡¯s opinion. But Bra was quick to offer her support.


    ¡°Damn right. The bastards got what they deserved. I hope this is a lesson for the rest of you.¡± Aunt Bra¡¯s visage turned devilish. ¡°Any funny business, and you¡¯re dead, likely by my hand.¡± This sent a wave of unease through the crowd, even the good guys. Pan knew her aunt wasn¡¯t joking.


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s going too far!¡± East said.


    ¡°Um, what¡¯s going on here?¡± a familiar voice said. Pan blinked and turned to find Little Pan standing next to her. Huh? But that couldn¡¯t be right. Hadn¡¯t the voice come in the opposite direction? Pan¡¯s hair raised in fright as she turned that direction. It couldn¡¯t be.


    ¡°I¡¯m confused. What¡¯s happening? I was fighting Bojack, then something happened. It¡¯s all dark after that.¡± The girl that shared Pan¡¯s face gaped as she spotted Pan, eyes wide in fright. ¡°Who the heck is that?!¡±


    ---


    Author¡¯s Note:


    Okay, I didn¡¯t get to Pan¡¯s training this chapter, but when you get to a natural ending point, I don¡¯t argue against it. Also, ideas come and go, so it can mess things up. (Or the stupid author forgets the sequence of events in the tournament and has to retroactively change his plans when he realizes how much he¡¯s screwed up!) Anyway, things are about to get interesting. This has been a plot point I''ve been messing around in my head since I started the story. Also, I am going to go back and next the ¡®Next Time¡¯ segments to better reflect what actually happened. So bear with me.


    Next Time:


    Another Pan? How it that possible? Who is the real Pan form Universe 16? A troubled Pan trains for her fight with Tapion. Buu investigates Pan! What is the darkness that lurks in her soul? Just what is she? The next round of fights begins. Pan vs. Tapion, a battle of inner demons!

 Chapter 9

    Pan stared at her doppelg?nger uncomprehendingly. They shared a blink as they stared into each other¡¯s eyes. Unlike Little Pan from Universe 18, this new Pan was her exact age. She even spotted the slight scar across one cheek she¡¯d gotten when she¡¯d played too rough with Aunt Bra. Somehow, this person was her.


    ¡°Two Pans? But how?¡± Goten asked, eyes widening to dinner plates.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Bra said, smirking, pleased with herself. ¡°Like I¡¯ve said all along. This monster isn¡¯t really Pan. She¡¯s stolen Pan¡¯s body. When the Dragon granted the wish, he restored the real Pan who died in her fight against Bojack back to life!¡±


    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be!¡± But doubt bubbled like acid in her chest. It must be a lie. She was the real Pan, right?


    ¡°Daddy?¡± the new Pan said, clutching her father¡¯s arm. ¡°What is that thing?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Her father hesitated, wracked with indecision.


    ¡°Dad!¡± Pan said, shaking her head, lost. He wasn¡¯t about to call her a monster too, right?


    ¡°This is confusing,¡± Goku said, scratching his head. ¡°How are there three Pans now?¡±


    ¡°I hate to say it, but Bra is right,¡± Vegito said, stabbing the knife of betrayal into Pan¡¯s heart. Indecision was racked over his face, but the new Pan¡¯s fearful, helpless expression hardened his resolve. His expression turned vicious as he extended a hand, pointing it at the person he¡¯d once considered his granddaughter. Energy gathered in his palm. ¡°It makes sense. This thing stole Pan¡¯s body and has been posing as ever since. She had us all fooled.¡±


    ¡°Hold it.¡± But a firm green hand caught her grandfathers¡¯ hand, stopping his attack.


    ¡°Uncle Piccolo!¡± Pan said, relieved.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± Uncle Piccolo said, locking eyes with her grandfathers.


    ¡°He¡¯s right, Dad. Stop this!¡± her father said, ready to interfere if necessary.


    ¡°Out of my way,¡± her grandfathers said, his eyes hard. ¡°Stay out of this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious she isn¡¯t the real Pan,¡± Bra said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Remember what she did to Cell. She isn¡¯t normal. Something evil lurks within her.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s right. Whoever she is, that isn¡¯t Pan. Don¡¯t do something you¡¯ll regret, Piccolo.¡± Vegito said, offered a challenge. Despite the disparity in power, Pan¡¯s green protector refused to budge.


    ¡°I only see a frightened little girl.¡± Uncle Piccolo¡¯s voice hardened even further.


    ¡°He has a point there,¡± Goten hedged.


    ¡°Yeah, but¡­ What is she?¡± Trunks said.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Her grandfather pulled his arm away, appeased for now. But his eyes were unfriendly to Pan, distrustful.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Her father pulled away from the other Pan, his smile full of love. ¡°We¡¯re going to solve this. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening, but you¡¯re no monster, Pan. You¡¯re still my daughter.¡±


    ¡°So na?ve!¡± Bra said, rolling her eyes. This earned a dirty glare from her father.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is everyone fighting?¡± the other Pan asked, completely lost.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± her father said, sighing. Their family squabble had earned the other tournament goers¡¯ attention, who gaped at the pair of Pans, one normal, the other a zombie.


    ¡°One twist after another!¡± Buu from Universe 4 said, delighted.


    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Cell said, eyeing Pan with even greater curiosity.


    ¡°Told you she was a freak!¡± Jeice said, shivering as Pan turned in his direction. His eyes were wide and fearful. ¡°And what if it happens again?!¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Frieza said. ¡°That¡¯s enough noise for today.¡±


    ¡°Right, shutting up,¡± Jeice straightened up like a board. This earned a scowl from King Cold, but he kept quiet.


    Instead, the Frost Demon chieftain placed a hand on the newly revived Burter. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯ve returned to the living.¡±


    Burter blushed, embarrassed. ¡°Thank you, sir. I will better watch my tongue, sir.¡± But King Cold only smiled and guided Burter away. He bragged about a hidden secret stash of booze, inviting the other Ginyu Force members to join him.


    ¡°What a mess,¡± West Supreme Kai said, sighing. She stared at Pan like she was a puzzle that needed to be understood.


    ¡°Another complication!¡± East Supreme Kai said, frustrated.


    ¡°This has been quite the tournament,¡± North Supreme Kai snorted, amused.


    ¡°Everyone, go to the feast,¡± South Supreme Kai said. ¡°We¡¯ll sort this out.¡±


    ¡°Feast? I¡¯m starving!¡± The other Pan, whom Pan nicknamed Anpan, said enthusiastically, as if to mock Pan¡¯s zombie status.


    ¡°What do you think, Piccolo?¡± Trunks said. ¡°Could the other Pan be a clone? Did the Dragon accidentally create a new Pan when it tried bringing her back to life?¡±


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Uncle Piccolo said, sighing. ¡°The wish should have just failed. Technically, Pan is still alive. But those were Kami¡¯s Dragonballs. These Namekian ones? I can¡¯t say.¡±


    ¡°What a mystery,¡± Trunks said, stroking his chin.


    ¡°What is my life now?¡± Pan groaned, head in hands.


    ¡°Hey, you want something?¡± Anpan said, her voice harsh as Gast approached her.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± The Namekian hero watched as Anpan joined the others for the feast.


    ¡°Your thoughts?¡± Uncle Piccolo asked.


    ¡°This is beyond anything I¡¯ve experienced, too,¡± Gast replied. ¡°But something foul is happening here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the whole situation with Anpan is beyond bizarre,¡± Pan said, signing.


    ¡°Anpan?¡± Uncle Piccolo raised a curious eyebrow.


    ¡°We have to call her something.¡±


    This earned a smile from Uncle Piccolo. ¡°It works as any. Shall we start your training, Pan?¡±


    ¡°I suppose.¡± Tapion was still her next opponent. Family drama wouldn¡¯t change that. ¡°Thanks for sticking with me.¡± Tears stung Pan¡¯s eyes, beyond grateful.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a monster, Pan,¡± Uncle Piccolo replied. ¡°Regardless of what Bra and your grandfather say.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe how quickly he¡¯d turned against her. He was too much like Bra.


    ¡°Mind if I come too?¡± Little Pan asked.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mind after¡­¡± Pan waved a vague hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but you¡¯re not a monster,¡± Little Pan replied, tone serious. ¡°You saved me from Bojack and his team of jerks. You¡¯re a good guy in my book.¡±


    ¡°Guys.¡± Pan hadn¡¯t realized how blessed she was.


    ¡°How Saiyans are quick to abandon their own,¡± a voice said derisively.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Pan said, turning to find the wizened Raichi watching them.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Those two represent the worst of their race,¡± Raichi continued, eying Bra¡¯s and her father¡¯s retreating backs. ¡°They live for dominance and power and nothing else. You children are pitiable indeed to inherit such cursed blood. Especially you, child.¡± He pointed at Pan.


    ¡°My situation is, um, unusual. But I¡¯m not cursed or evil, if that¡¯s what you think,¡± Pan replied, indignant. What was with this guy? She¡¯d seen his blatant hatred for Saiyans before.


    ¡°You¡¯re a bomb ready to explode,¡± Raichi replied. ¡°Your claims of goodness are false because of the all-consuming darkness within.¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Tapion said, shooting Pan an apologetic smile. ¡°Young Pan here has proven herself heroic. She helped people when Broly went on his rampage.¡±


    ¡°And yet, you saw her true self when she faced Cell, another monster with Saiyan blood.¡± With that, Raichi floated away, leaving a peeved Pan. How many times must she prove to everyone that she¡¯s good?!


    ¡°Forgive my friend,¡± Tapion said. ¡°He¡¯s suffered through a lot. The cruelties he¡¯s faced from Saiyans are hard for him to forgive.¡±


    ¡°But still!¡± Pan huffed.


    ¡°Apologies again.¡± Tapion extended a hand. ¡°Still, it¡¯s nice to meet you, Pan. I look forward to our upcoming fight.¡±


    ¡°Me too.¡± Pan extended her remaining arm and shook it. ¡°It¡¯s nice to fight someone normal for once.¡±


    ¡°Normal?¡± Tapion said, amused.


    ¡°Yeah, not some mass-murdering bully! Is something wrong?¡± Pan noticed Tapion had given her a strange look.


    ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just you remind me of someone I once knew.¡± A hint of melancholy entered Tapion¡¯s voice. ¡°He was brave and wise beyond his years, too.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Take guard, young Pan, against the darkness within. But I think you have the strength to overcome it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Didn¡¯t Tapion also have some monster within him? It startled her when he summoned some wild demon to help him fight. Some creature called Hirudegarn? What was the story behind that?


    ¡°Though, I won¡¯t hold back in our fight. My wish is too precious to surrender easily.¡± Tapion said before walking away. Pan gave him a solemn nod in response.


    ¡°What an odd fellow,¡± Little Pan said. ¡°No idea why he¡¯s friends with a blatant racist. He¡¯s so unreasonable!¡±


    ¡°I can tell my next fight won¡¯t be an easy one.¡± Unlike her other foes, Tapion wasn¡¯t a villain, excluding his questionable company. She couldn¡¯t in good conscience throw her full power against him. Still, Pan was eager to test her skills against him.


    ¡°Ready, Uncle Piccolo? Little Pan?¡± But her first, immediate problem was mastering left-armed combat. Still, she¡¯d take a cue from Goku, and turn weaknesses into strengths. Use your limitations to inspire you to greater heights.


    Little Pan smiled and gave a thumbs-up. They followed Namekian to the Universe 10 apartment. With that universe¡¯s participants gone, it seemed the perfect place to train.


    ¡°Time to show everyone you¡¯re no monster! You can win without some evil demon magic whatever. You are in control, Pan, always.¡± Pan thought. By everything holy, she¡¯d prove this true, dang it!


    ---


    Buu of Universe 4 smirked as his proxy slipped through the crack in the floor. After the day¡¯s excitements, he was eager for some mischief. It was the spice of life, in his opinion. Besides, his gifts would make the upcoming festivities more interesting.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°And they didn¡¯t listen?¡± Resting on the tube¡¯s edge was Son Bra, tower draped over her shoulder. Its position kept her from complete indecency. Besides the bath was a tray with a sake set. She sipped at a cup of sake, her legs dangling halfway in the pool.


    ¡°No, they care more about Buu of Universe 4 and his influence over the Grand Supreme Kai!¡± This comment earned a silent snicker from Buu. How little these so-called gods understood. West Supreme Kai lowered deeper into the water, sulking. ¡°As if an abomination gaining uncontrollable power isn¡¯t a bigger concern! What if Pan learns how to combine her darker half with Super Saiyan? We might have a situation more dire than Broly! She¡¯ll likely drain the entire galaxy to death in an eye blink!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, good point,¡± Bra said, nodding. She stretched, enjoying the warmth of the hot bath. The added ingredient of sake helped improve her mood further. ¡°But forget them and their idiocy! We have this nice bath all for ourselves! We should enjoy it. I want to forget everything and relax. They have nothing like this in the tournament-goers¡¯ apartments. They spoil you!¡±


    ¡°Rank has its privileges,¡± the West Supreme Kai said, smiling. She gave Bra a playful splash of hot water.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Bra laughed and retaliated with her own splash. Buu left them to their fun, cheeks burning red. He¡¯d wandered somewhere he shouldn¡¯t have. Still, it pleased him to see the usually volatile Bra had gained a friend.


    ¡°Ah, here we go.¡± Just the person he wanted to see.


    Pan of Universe 16 was engaging Piccolo in a sparring match, matching his strikes blow for blow. Even with her obvious handicap, she was holding up well. Like Goku, she¡¯d inherited his quick thinking and ability to adapt on the fly. The other Pan from Universe 18 watched the engagement with interest, studying each of their moves. She yawned but kept alert. It was already two hours past curfew.


    After another exchange, Piccolo exploited an opening in Pan¡¯s defenses and struck a blow to her right cheek. ¡°Your form¡¯s good, but you leave your right flank vulnerable. If you don¡¯t close it, an enemy will exploit it.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be open if you let me turn Super Saiyan,¡± Pan of 16 said, pouting. ¡°Then I¡¯d match your speed with no problem.¡±


    ¡°The lesson isn¡¯t about power, it¡¯s about technique. Like Bra, you¡¯re too focused on your raw power. You¡¯re forgetting the basics. Not every enemy can be defeated through brute force. Again.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± While not convinced of her trainer¡¯s arguments, Pan restarted the sparring match. Again, Piccolo exploited the weakness in her form, much to Pan¡¯s frustration.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this, Uncle Piccolo! This is one weakness I can¡¯t fix!¡± Pan from Universe 16 said.


    ¡°Nonsense. Again!¡± Piccolo said, showing no leniency. He was a hard taskmaster and wouldn¡¯t allow any slacking from his student. Again, Pan failed to close her weakness.


    Pan growled in frustration, more angry at herself than her opponent.


    ¡°Can I tag in?¡± Little Pan asked.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Piccolo said, walking to the room¡¯s far corner.


    ¡°Again!¡± Pan of Universe 16 cursed as her counterpart exploited her weakness too, despite the obvious skill difference between her two training partners.


    ¡°You need to calm down,¡± the younger Pan said. ¡°You¡¯re too wound up. Like Grandpa always says, you need to move like water, bending with your opponent¡¯s attack.¡±


    Pan of Universe 16 took a deep breath a zombie didn¡¯t need and readjusted her pose. Much to her delight, she blocked her counterpart¡¯s next attack.


    ¡°There we go, see?¡± Pan of 18 beamed.


    ¡°Excellent work. Now repeat the same motion again another hundred times,¡± Piccolo said. This earned an exasperated groan from both girls.


    ¡°They seem well underway.¡± Buu beamed like a proud parent, pleased with Pan¡¯s development. While he wanted to touch her mind to examine the darkness that hid within, it seemed unlikely with Piccolo under her watch. And it seemed she didn¡¯t need his planned gift.


    However, he could offer her another boon. He giggled to himself, pleased he¡¯d done the task unnoticed by Piccolo¡¯s watchful eye. He¡¯d examine her darkness later. Besides, he had a more interesting mystery to investigate. After planting a hint that Uub¡¯s subconscious in Universe 18 apartment about learning magic from a certain handsome person from Universe 4, he arrived at his true destination.


    ¡°Universe 16¡¯s apartment, perfect.¡± Much to his surprise, his quarry wasn¡¯t in her bed. Trunks and Goten were fast asleep, splayed over each other. His true target, however, was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± the revived Pan said, startling Buu. What was the nickname Pan had given her again, Anpan? He hadn¡¯t sensed her arrival. She stood there in her PJs, arms crossed.


    ¡°Just to meet you,¡± Buu said, regaining his balance. ¡°Quite the ordeal coming back to life.¡±


    ¡°It was. How about leaving already? I doubt the Vargas will look too kindly on some old man entering a young maiden¡¯s bedchamber unannounced.¡±


    While a scandalous accusation, Buu continued forward anyway. ¡°I was worried. You must have been confused and scared when you met your other counterpart, the one with the pale complexion. What do you think about her?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s to say? She¡¯s some monster that stole my body when Bojack killed me. That¡¯s what Aunt Bra says, anyway.¡± Her tone was icy, deadly. It contained none of the fear and confusion Buu had expected from a girl thrown into such a crazy ordeal.


    ¡°But what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Buu pressed.


    ¡°Who knows?¡± Anpan waved a dismissive hand. ¡°All I know is evil lurks within her.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡± Buu dropped the issue, but he was far from convinced. He sensed some secret hiding behind this girl, something ruthless and cunning.


    ¡°Good. Please mind the door when you leave.¡± Anpan¡¯s smile turned predatory, showing too many teeth.


    Despite himself, the gesture unnerved him. Buu left the Universe 16¡¯s apartment to do mischief elsewhere. ¡°Something not right about that girl.¡±


    He sensed none of zombie Pan¡¯s innocence. Buu broke into a grin. This tournament was becoming more exciting by the minute. How would these two Pans change the tournament¡¯s outcome? He couldn¡¯t wait to see. Next on his visitation list was Frieza. How could he make his upcoming fight with Goku more interesting?


    ---


    ¡°How¡¯d the training session go?¡± her father asked in the morning.


    ¡°Pretty well!¡± Pan replied, stretching. ¡°I think I made some major progress!¡± While Pan hadn¡¯t enjoyed repeating the same move hundreds of times, she hoped her hard work would pay off. While not proficient, she could manage with her left arm.


    ¡°Morning, Grandpas.¡± Her voice became somewhat guarded as she saw who accompanied him. ¡°And other Pan.¡±


    Instead of responding with a warm welcome, Anpan hid behind the Grandpas, her expression terrified. This earned an ugly look from her grandpas, as if it were her fault. Pan saw the suspicion and distrust in his eyes.


    ¡°Glad dad¡¯s finally seen the truth, the dullard.¡± Bra said smugly. ¡°I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re still allowing you to fight. But know this: you aren¡¯t fooling anyone.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Pan scowled, wondering how everything had gone so downhill. Almost nobody seemed to trust her anymore. It hadn¡¯t been hard to notice the wary and distrustful looks people were giving her. They were even worse than when she¡¯d become a zombie. While she¡¯d been expecting this, it pierced her heart like a jagged, rusty knife.


    But a gentle hand touched her shoulder. ¡°Everything is going to be okay. I trust you,¡± her father said.


    ¡°Dad.¡± Pan sniffed, overcome with emotion. What did she do to deserve such a loving father?


    Of course, Bra punctured this tender moment with her usual sarcasm. ¡°Such a sentimental fool. Don¡¯t blame me when she stabs you in the back, Gohan.¡±


    This earned a scowl from her father, but he didn¡¯t bother trying to argue with Bra. It wasn¡¯t worth the effort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll prove them all wrong.¡±


    ¡°What about her?¡± Pan gestured toward the other Pan.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t decided about her yet,¡± her father said. Something in his voice indicated he wasn¡¯t as open to trusting this new Pan as everyone else. Some fatherly instinct? From Uncle Piccolo¡¯s thoughtful gaze, he shared the same opinion. Only Goten and Trunks remained conflicted about this crazy situation.


    ¡°The gravity has been multiplied by ten again. The invincible protection wall has also changed,¡± the announcer said.


    ¡°Another increase in gravity? What a pain.¡± While she¡¯d barely noticed it last time, this would be a major hindrance. ¡°Let¡¯s hope the protective barrier actually does its job this time!¡±


    This earned a scowl from a nearby Vargas. ¡°This time? What¡¯s with you people? Why is it you assume we can¡¯t do our jobs? I doubt anyone in the entire Multiverse could facilitate this tournament better than we can!¡± This earned smirks and laughter from the tournament participants.


    ¡°We can! We can!¡± the Vargas said, stomping his foot in a huff.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Goku and Frieza¡¯s turn?¡± Pan said as the pair entered the ring. It seemed like an easy match, but she detected that the Ice Demon had some underhanded trick ready. She just hoped Goku would be okay.


    But her worries were unfounded. After an intense battle of wits and mental fortitude, Goku of Universe 18 won easily. Her grandfathers, however, seemed less than impressed.


    ¡°It took him that long to win?¡± Vegito said with a snort. ¡°I could have beaten that weakling by blinking at him.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Grandpas,¡± Pan said, sighing. It seemed he was still huffy about his earlier loss. She looked over at Anpan, but she only hid behind their grandfathers again.


    ¡°I won¡¯t bite, really!¡± Pan said with a friendly smile. But Anpan only winced and backed away, earning a furious scowl from their grandfathers.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Pan rubbed the bridge of her nose. It seemed Anpan had convinced their grandfathers that Pan was a monster.


    The tournament progressed without much issue. After an intense battle, Uub defeated his counterpart from Universe 11, Buu. It fascinated Pan that, in Universe 18, Buu had gotten a second chance and reincarnated into a better person. Unsurprisingly, Vegeta beat the evil version of Goku with ease in the next round. Pan detected Vegeta¡¯s self-satisfaction, pleased he¡¯d humiliated his arc rival, even if this Goku originated from a different universe.


    ¡°Is something the matter, Little Pan?¡± she asked her Universe 18 counterpart when she caught her sudden change in mood.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± But Little Pan paused, unsure how to respond. ¡°Maybe? Have you noticed a weird change in the atmosphere? Like a palpable sense of dread?¡±


    Pan extended her senses but detected nothing. She glanced over at Anpan, but her counterpart was playing with Trunks and Goten, laughing. She seemed an innocent child, harmless to anyone. Pan shook her head.


    ¡°Pan from Universe 16 and Tapion from Universe 3 may enter the ring.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, then. Forget it.¡± Little Pan replied. ¡°Good luck.¡±


    But Little Pan¡¯s warning hung with Pan as she entered the ring to face her latest opponent. She grunted as she stepped into the ring. While dull to the pain of the increased gravity, it hampered her movements.


    ¡°If you step into the ring without Hirudegarn¡¯s aura, you¡¯ll be instantly killed,¡± Raichi warned.


    ¡°In fact, last night I figured out a much better solution,¡± Tapion replied. ¡°Wrap around me with your aura and fight for me!¡±


    Pan gaped as gigantic monsters appeared in Tapion¡¯s place, fearsome and demonic. It was like some evil, ancient, lost god had returned to wreak havoc on the world that had forgotten it.


    ¡°What the heck?!¡± Pan said, her eyes boggling. When did he learn that?


    But Raichi smiled, pleased with this sudden, unexpected development. ¡°Excellent. Destroy this demon in innocent skin. Don¡¯t let her appearance fool you. She¡¯s a Saiyan monster deep down!¡±


    Bellowing an unearthly roar, Hirudegarn charged, eager to destroy everything in its path.


    ----


    Author¡¯s note:


    Next time: Pan vs Tapion, battle of the inner demons concludes. Mary Sue vs XXI. Bra and Pan have a ¡®friendly¡¯ sparing match. And something sinister is gathering in the shadows as Babidi schemes his next move.

 Chapter 10

    ¡°Woah!¡± Pan ducked as a fist flew past her face. She flared golden, readying herself to engage Hirudegarn.


    She darted around her foe, probing her latest opponent with her senses. Hirudegarn  relentlessly pursued her, a chunk of the ring exploding as Pan leaped away from one of the creature¡¯s destructive punches.


    ¡°This thing is fast for its size,¡± Yet, Pan detected a noticeable lack of technique in Hirudegarn¡¯s attacks. The demon was nothing but a mindless monster. Was Tapion unable to control it?


    ¡°Let¡¯s try this!¡± Pan unleashed a volley of ki blasts at her opponent, but they didn¡¯t even singe the monster¡¯s thick carapace.


    ¡°Shoot.¡± Pan leaped away from another wild punch. ¡°Let¡¯s try this, then.¡± Her ki flared brighter, punching Hirudegarn from behind. But again, the attack did nothing. Her next kicks and punches ended with the same result.


    ¡°Useless,¡± Bra made a derisive snort. ¡°Is that the best she¡¯s got?¡± Her grandfathers watched with crossed arms, studying the fight with detached interest.


    Gritting her teeth, Little Bra cheered on her counterpart even louder to drown out Bra¡¯s sarcastic comments. ¡°You got this!¡±


    ¡°What is this, though?¡± her father asked. ¡°He didn¡¯t do this last time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just like when we fought Hirudegarn before,¡± Goku said with uncharacteristic seriousness. ¡°This will not be easy.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Tapion,¡± Pan said in apology.


    Her ki flared like a supernova as she gathered energy in her palm, ready to unleash her most devastating attack yet. With quick steps, she pivoted around to Hirudegarn¡¯s blind spot.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± But Pan gasped in shock as her opponent dissolved into wind, her attack flying past harmlessly. She grunted as a massive arm swatted her like a fly, leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the arena.


    A massive fist swung down to finish the job, but Pan slipped away, avoiding getting crushed by a hair. As powerful and destructive as Hirudegarn was, Pan¡¯s swiftness kept her a step ahead.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s just not fair.¡± Pan¡¯s mind raced, wondering what her next move should be. A dark voice whispered, telling her to abandon everything to the wind and embrace the darkness. It told her it took an animal to defeat another animal. Anpan stared at her, expression watchful, expectant.


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not the answer!¡± Pan told herself, yelping in surprise as a sudden burst of flame shot in her direction. Her opponent had shot fire from his mouth, almost toasting her.


    ¡°Quite a predicament,¡± Buu of Universe 4 said. ¡°What will you do now, Pan?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fast, but let¡¯s see you dodge this!¡± An idea struck Pan. Her mouth stretched wide, eager for some payback.


    ¡°Uh, Pan,¡± her father said, pointing at her shoulder.


    ¡°Huh?¡± She glanced down, yelped in surprise when she realized part of her shirt had caught fire. With frantic palms, she swatted it out. ¡°Thanks.¡± She blushed. Unable of feeling pain, she¡¯d completely overlooked it.


    ¡°That was my favorite shirt!¡± Outraged, she charged her foe.


    Energy gathered in her palm and she fired a ball of destruction. Like before, Hirudegarn phased into his wind form and the blast flew through him harmlessly. The ball exploded against the ground, creating an obscuring cloud of dust.


    The reformed giant monster glanced around, unable to find his quarry. Then Pan charged out of the dust cover, golden aura alight as she gathered ki for her next attack.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± Hirudegarn howled in pain and fury as the blast connected. It swung a wild fist in retaliation, but Pan ducked. She fired another destructive ki blast but found Hirudegarn had shifted to its wind form. It roared in annoyance, swatting at the dust cover with wild attacks.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± The blast shot a hole through the creature¡¯s back. Pan tenses, fearing she¡¯d caused Tapion serious harm. Hirudegarn screamed in agony, but the monster quickly reformed itself. Much to Pan¡¯s relief, she hadn¡¯t accidentally killed Tapion.


    She smirked and fired another blast into the ring, creating another dust cover. She vanished into it again.


    ¡°So that¡¯s her plan,¡± Uncle Piccolo mused. ¡°When Hirudegarn phases into its wind form, it temporarily loses sight for a split moment. It creates the perfect opportunity to create an ambush.¡±


    ¡°Quick thinking,¡± Goku said, beaming with pride. ¡°Good head on that one.¡±


    ¡°Please.¡± But Aunt Bra only snorted in derision. ¡°She could have won easily if she blasted Hirudegarn with everything she had. The fool held back to avoid hurting Tapion. Did she forget this is a real fight?¡±


    ¡°Bra, there¡¯s more to winning than killing your opponent,¡± Goku admonished.


    ¡°He¡¯s right. Killing should only be a last resort!¡± Pan¡¯s grandfathers said, scowling in his displeasure. ¡°They told me how you blew Eleim to pieces. You don¡¯t need to resort to such methods!¡±


    But Bra only clicked her tongue and ignored them. Pan¡¯s grandfathers seethed as his daughter refused to heed his advice. He muttered under his breath, promising retribution later.


    Another ki blast shot through Hirudegarn as Pan pivoted around the monster. The creature reformed again, but Pan sensed she was whittling her opponent down. She guessed Tapion¡¯s ki powered Hirudegarn. Once the gauge fell empty, manifesting his inner demon would be impossible.


    But that was wishful thinking on Pan¡¯s part. Darkness had already crept into her vision as she expended ki to blast her opponent. With Hirudegarn¡¯s hide so tough, it took a tremendous amount of ki to pierce. At this rate, she¡¯d expend herself faster than Tapion would.


    Caught by her thoughts, she yelped as a stray fist swatted her into the arena. She cursed, annoyed by her carelessness. She created another cloud of dust as she recovered, but Hirudegarn only used his flame breath to roast her for her effort. Pan yelped, patting out her flaming hair. While mindless, Hirudegarn still possessed a predator¡¯s cunning. It wouldn¡¯t allow her to keep using the same trick against it.


    And Hirudegarn grew wise to her tricks, using its flame breath to keep her at bay. She inflicted some major wounds, but her ki kept depleting. The dark voice sang louder, eager to feast on violence if only she surrendered to the calling.


    Pan grunted in annoyance as her last blast deflected off Hirudegarn¡¯s thick demonic carapace with ease.


    ¡°I can¡¯t continue.¡± She was running on fumes. Had winning become impossible? A quiet voice inside her whispered an insight, asking her if the demon within was a completely separate part of her. Huh? Where did that come from?


    ¡°Of course it is! We¡¯re nothing alike. I will never use its power, ever!¡± Yet, another part asked if she might use its abilities to her advantage. She howled as a fist smashed her against the protective wall, and collapsed in a heap. Pan struggled to even lift her head, almost completely drained. The dark voice whispered louder, urging her to give in to the darkness and feed on violence and chaos.


    In the crowd, Buu of Universe 4 wore an annoyed expression, muttering to himself. But then a sly grin stretched across his face. In a dramatic voice, he said, ¡°Oh no! Best move back, everyone. Her demon forms about to appear again. She¡¯s going to drain your energy!¡±


    ¡°Oh shoot! You¡¯re right!¡± Jeice said, fleeing in an almost blind panic to the apartments. Many others joined him, not wanting to get drained by Pan¡¯s inner demon again. Many of the serious contestants, however, stubbornly stayed put, refusing to be scared.


    ¡°Oh come on! I¡¯ve restrained my dark side this entire time!¡± Pan had heard what her dark half had done against Cell, but wasn¡¯t this overdoing it? Like she knew anything about ki stealing.


    ¡°Could she do that? Steal ki?¡± An idle thought wondered. If she robbed Tapion of his remaining ki, Hirudegarn wouldn¡¯t be a threat. Her undead heart skipped a beat as the monster landed in a booming thud right before her.


    She closed her eyes, considering her idea, encouraged by the quiet voice inside her. She emptied everything else, focusing on the flow of her ki. At first, Pan dismissed her wild idea as a hopeful fantasy, but then she sensed something. While faint, a slight stream of ki was flowing into her. It was minuscule, a passive absorption of ki from everything around her. The stolen energy was so minuscule, a normal person wouldn¡¯t notice the difference. How had she never noticed it before?


    When she probed that ability, she realized she could change its flow. A fist interrupted her experiment and jolted her back to reality.


    ¡°Okay, maybe meditation isn¡¯t that smart during a fight.¡± Pan groaned, wincing as Hirudegarn grabbed her and tossed her like a baseball across the arena. A foot landed on her next, crushing her. Pan¡¯s bones creaked as the pressure increased.


    She used her inability to feel pain to her advantage, using time that would be agony for a normal person to think. Pan examined the influx of ki, pushing and pulling against it. It fought against her, like forcing back the tide with your bare hands. But Pan discovered she could change when direction it flowed, it only barely. An idea struck her. She only needed to convince Hirudegarn to not crush her for a second.


    Her body went limp, pretending to be unconscious. The monster looked down at her quizzically, wondering if it had finally killed its prey. It pulled back, watchful for any sign of movement.


    ¡°Pan is down. Starting the count! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6¡­¡± Hirudegarn turned away, eyeing the other combatants watching the fight. Its eyes gleamed, eager to unleash its fury on them next.


    ¡°2¡­¡± But then Pan jumped up, hurling a leaping punch at Hirudegarn¡¯s chest.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Unimpressed, Hirudegarn didn¡¯t bother dodging or turning to wind. That was its fatal mistake. Through its thick hide, Pan sensed Tapion¡¯s life energy. It was a faint glow, ready to collapse from exhaustion. This fight had taken a toll on him.


    With a pull, she tugged his ki in her direction. It flowed into Pan, invigorating her. While limited, the small amount she¡¯d sapped from her opponent was enough, breaking what little control Tapion held over Hirudegarn. The warrior collapsed unconscious in Pan¡¯s arms.


    After a 10-count, the announcer declared her victory. ¡°Tapion is out. Pan of Universe 16 is the victor!¡±


    ¡°What the heck did you do?¡± Bra demanded, but Pan ignored her. Instead, she flew over to a nearby Namekian.


    ¡°Could you heal him, please?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± the Namekian said, nodding. In a moment, Tapion had regained consciousness.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s over.¡± Tapion looked down, already knowing the answer to his next thought. ¡°I lost, didn¡¯t I? When I allowed Hirudegarn to gain control, I lost sight of how the fight was going. I hope I didn¡¯t hurt you too badly, Pan.¡± His expression was earnest.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. It was a good fight.¡± Pan extended a hand, and the warrior shook it.


    ¡°It was. Much to my shame, I¡¯ve realized using Hirudegarn isn¡¯t a good way to fight. Not being able to control my power during a fight is useless. Perhaps it¡¯s best I lost here.¡±


    ¡°Sorry about your wish. What is it? I could grant it if I win.¡±


    But Tapion shook his head. ¡°No, that¡¯s selfish of me. I¡¯ll get it some other way. They are your wishes. You should use them.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re sure.¡± Still, she wished him the best.


    ¡°You drained his ki somehow? What a demonic ability,¡± Raichi said.


    ¡°What?!¡± The other fighters gasped in surprise.


    ¡°So what was her play? Fascinating!¡± Cell said, enthused.


    ¡°Only a little!¡± Pan said, blushing.


    ¡°Watch the monster Saiyan girl. She might destroy us all,¡± Raichi said, souring her already sketchy reputation.


    ¡°It was a good victory,¡± her father said, putting a positive spin on the situation. ¡°Good work.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Good job!¡± Goku said, pleased. ¡°That ki-stealing technique is pretty scary, though. You can drain away your opponent¡¯s ability to fight.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll fall for the same trick.¡± Vegeta, her next opponent, said with a snort.


    ¡°I doubt it¡¯s that good,¡± Pan replied. Still, it had some possibilities. She was glad she was getting some use from her horrible inner demon.


    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s satisfactory,¡± Anpan said with a sigh. Huh? What did that mean?


    ¡°Excellent fight,¡± Buu of Universe 4 said, slapping her on the back. From his smile, it seemed he thought Pan¡¯s victory was all his doing.


    ¡°Okay?¡± Why was he getting all buddy-buddy?


    ¡°The next match: The wonderful, beautiful star of the tournament, Mary Sue of Universe 2!¡± Again, the announcer entered another long-winded speech about Mary Sue and her virtues. This time, it continued on for nearly twenty minutes.


    ¡°Against the vile, nasty, heartless monster known as XXI!¡± Pan heard the contemptuous sneer in the announcer¡¯s voice. He wasn¡¯t the only one throwing vitriol against Mary Sue¡¯s opponent. The crowd threw obscenities even worse than they¡¯d used against Android 18.


    ¡°Hey, there are children present!¡± But Pan¡¯s words got drowned out by the audience¡¯s rage. Some fights even broke out as various members argued how they¡¯d make the perfect husband to their darling star.


    Mary Sue wore a forced smile as she entered the arena. But everyone ignored her unease, heaping more praise on her.


    ¡°Mary Sue! Your beauty only increases every time I see you. Your radiance blots out the sun!¡± Trunks said.


    ¡°Idiot!¡± Goten replied with a contemptuous snort. ¡°Our shining star doesn¡¯t care about such flowery language. She wants to hear it as it is! Mary Sue, you are the love of my life. Take this as an appreciative gesture of my devotion!¡± Somehow, her uncle even gotten hold of a diamond ring.


    ¡°Idiot? You¡¯re the idiot! She doesn¡¯t want your trashy, fake ring!¡± Trunks shot back.


    ¡°Why you!¡± The pair were at each other¡¯s throats, murder in their eyes.


    ¡°What? Hey! Stop that!¡± But Pan¡¯s pleas fell on deaf ears as her uncles clobbered each other, fists eager to the other¡¯s blood.


    ¡°Ugh. What¡¯s with those morons?¡± Bra said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. ¡°Has everyone gone crazy?!¡±


    ¡°Mary Sue sure is popular, huh?¡± Goku said, understating the situation. He blinked, mystified by the sudden change in everyone¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re noticing?!¡± Vegeta said, exasperated.


    But her grandfathers only snorted. ¡°They fawn over her beauty, but who gives a crap about that? What matters is her ability to fight.¡±


    ¡°Where is Mary Sue¡¯s opponent?¡± Pan asked.


    She found the elderly wizard wobbling to the arena floor, his steps unsteady. Had a sudden illness struck him? XXI seemed to wince whenever someone threw another insult at him for daring to be a threat to their precious Mary Sue.


    XXI muttered some strange language to himself, but his words sounded clipped and pained. It took a surprising amount of effort to pull himself into the ring.


    ¡°So what will be his next underhanded trick?¡± Pan wondered as the two combatants squared off. Despite the nasty trick her opponent pulled against her grandfathers, Mary Sue was bright and cheery, unconcern about what the wizard might try.


    ¡°Hello, it¡¯s an honor to meet you,¡± Mary Sue said, bowing with the respect one usually reserved for an honored elder.


    Sweat, however, trickled down XXI¡¯s wrinkled brow, and he offered no reply. Was he okay? The elderly wizard appeared unwell. He continued to mutter under his breath, but his strange incantations kept faltering, forcing him to start over.


    ¡°We can stop the fight if you want,¡± Mary Sue said. This earned an appreciative round of applause from the audience.


    ¡°She¡¯s so caring! What a heart!¡± One audience member said.


    ¡°She thinks of others before herself. We don¡¯t deserve her!¡± Another said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± Android 17 said, leaping into the ring. His expression was earnest as he uttered these next words. ¡°Please be mine. Ever since we first met, you¡¯ve been the sole occupant of my mind and heart. I can¡¯t live without you! Please marry me!¡±


    ¡°What?! You don¡¯t even know her, 17!¡± his shocked sister said. ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot!¡± The crowd didn¡¯t seem impressed with this either and booed him with a ferocity bordering on mania. Even the announcer joined in, threatening to send everyone back to their universe, regardless of their innocence.


    ¡°Shut up! All of you!¡± XXI said, genuine anger in his voice. ¡°Enough of your pointless babbling!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, can you please stop? This is getting out of hand,¡± Mary Sue added. But the audience¡¯s furious response drowned her protests out. Their hurtful words seemed to cause XXI physical pain.


    ¡°None of you will survive when my hour comes,¡± XXI said darkly. ¡°I will leave all your universes dead husks! Mark my words!¡±


    The elderly wizard pointed a bony finger at Mary Sue. ¡°I had a spell prepared to finish you quickly, foolish girl. But this crowd keeps interrupting my concentration! No matter. I¡¯ll deal with you more permanently!¡±


    Shadows gathered around XXI, his body dissolving until it became a creature of pure darkness. It flicked its fingers, and razor-sharp claws extended from its fingertips. Another shadow extended from its body, its features gaining definition and becoming the shape of a demonic humanoid. What was happening? Was XXI two people?


    ¡°Hey, stop that! Don¡¯t you dare threaten my beloved!¡± Android 17 said, rushing to his love¡¯s aid.


    ¡°Out of the way, pest!¡± XXI snarled. Pan gasped when 17¡¯s head went flying, his body collapsing in a heap.


    ¡°Now that annoyance has left, let us demonstrate our true power.¡± XXI said, his smoky visage¡¯s mouth extending into a demonic smile. His other half had developed into a clearer figure, almost completed. But the announcer¡¯s next words stopped him cold.


    ¡°XXI has attacked another combatant that wasn¡¯t in the fight. He is disqualified!¡± the announcer said with satisfaction.


    ¡°17! You bastard!¡± 18 snarled. She barely contained herself, ready to jump at XXI.


    XXI, oblivious to the threat, stood stunned. ¡°What? No, that can¡¯t be right! Android 17 was interfering with the fight! He had no business being in the ring in this first place! I demand a rematch!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, XXI, but rematches aren¡¯t allowed,¡± Buu of Universe 4 said smugly. ¡°You blew your chance, tough luck.¡±


    ¡°So this is how it ends, really?¡± Pan¡¯s grandfathers groaned, whining like a child stolen from their entertainment. ¡°He didn¡¯t even get to manifest that cool shadow monster!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me! I am XXI, devourer of universes! I will not be denied!¡± He continued to fume and rant, but his threats fell on deaf ears.


    ¡°Leave the ring, XXI, or we will send you back to your universe,¡± the announcer said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    ¡°You!¡± But the shadow creatures combined once more, forming his old-man shape. XXI said nothing as he retreated, not glancing at anyone.


    ¡°That was odd,¡± Pan muttered. Whatever XXI was, he had been a real monster. Still, why had such simple insults hurt him so badly? She didn¡¯t understand any of this. ¡°Anyway, nice work, Mary Sue!¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Mary Sue replied, her gaze downcast as she retreated to her apartment. What was going on with her? Why did everyone act so weird around her? Pan resolved to force some answers from her friend¡ªenough was enough. This was getting out of hand.


    Thankfully, her uncles had stopped fighting, with only some bruises for their trouble.  Though, they didn¡¯t seem on speaking terms yet. What a mess. Hopefully, they¡¯d return to normal soon. She¡¯d had enough craziness for one day.


    ¡°Gotenks of Universe 16 versus Buu from Universe 4!¡±


    ---


    ¡°So, that¡¯s how XXI was defeated. How unexpected,¡± the Grand Supreme Kai said.


    ¡°The fool was too confident in his abilities,¡± Lila added. She was giddy for Bra¡¯s next fight, eager to see how the girl might use the new technique she¡¯d taught her.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t over, I tell you!¡± Elder Kai grumbled. ¡°We need to monitor that one!¡± But no one paid him much attention. They¡¯d heard his ramblings far too many times.


    ¡°Speaking of someone we need to watch, I¡¯m told that Babidi tried interfering in Universe 11¡¯s Buu¡¯s fight?¡± Lila asked, sending her eastern colleague an icy glare.


    ¡°What¡¯s to say? I stopped him,¡± East replied simply.


    ¡°And you just let him go?¡± Lila bristled.


    ¡°Should I have executed him on the spot?¡± East replied with a dangerous edge to his voice.


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s what we do,¡± Lila countered. It was why Universe 1 was peaceful and no longer had any threats.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to question the wisdom of it,¡± East said quietly. ¡°You take it so far, it makes us seem like the villains. I¡¯ve seen how people are looking at us, West Supreme Kai.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a popularity contest. If they fear us, good. Then they understand the consequences of stepping out of line!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± Elder Kai said firmly. ¡°You¡¯re treading on dangerous ground. There¡¯s a reason it¡¯s taboo to interfere with mortal affairs.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve seen worlds where we didn¡¯t. Tell me I¡¯m wrong,¡± Lila replied, crossing her arms. She gestured to Buu of Universe 4, who was toying with Gotenks for his amusement.


    ¡°Even so, you risk stepping over a line you can¡¯t return from,¡± Elder Kai warned.


    ¡°You agree with me, right, South?¡± Lila asked, turning to the towering Kai.


    ¡°West has her reasons,¡± South replied, standing by her as always.


    ¡°It¡¯s still wrong!¡± Elder Kai insisted.


    ¡°Tsk. You understand nothing,¡± Lila muttered. Someone had to protect the worlds. Why didn¡¯t they understand? ¡°Excuse me. I need to investigate why some audience members are causing trouble.¡± She scowled, knowing that mess would make her lose her lunch break. She was planning on having curry for lunch, her favorite!


    ¡°What a mess,¡± Lila scowled. Why was it only she understood the stakes? But soon, there would be peace. She smiled as she spotted Bra, her prot¨¦g¨¦. Yes, soon the multiverse would gain its salvation. Bra was its greatest hope and hero.


    ---


    ¡°So that¡¯s where you disappeared.¡± Bra said, watching Piccolo spar with the zombie girl in a simple training exercise. Without her right arm, the girl was at a major disadvantage, and she scowled as Piccolo exploited her weak guard, landing a punch. Behind them, the others were eating enthusiastically¡ªher father, in particular, stuffing himself like always. Giddy for her upcoming fight, she hadn¡¯t eaten as much.


    Bra scoffed, amused by the zombie girl¡¯s clumsy stance. ¡°Nice moves, zombie girl.¡±


    The zombie girl forced a smile, though clearly irritated. ¡°Hey, Bra. Just training for my next fight. With Vegeta as my next opponent, I can¡¯t afford to slip.¡±


    Vegeta was her next opponent? Bra smirked. Unlike her previous fight, this wouldn¡¯t be as easy for the zombie girl. He¡¯d show her no mercy, like a proper warrior.


    ¡°Step aside, Piccolo. Let¡¯s spare, zombie girl,¡± Bra said, taking a fighting stance. Since they¡¯d never meet proper in the tournament, why not fight now?


    ¡°That¡¯s fine with me,¡± the zombie girl said, a glint of determination in her eyes. She was eager for a challenge. Piccolo nodded as the two squared off.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can entertain me!¡± Bra rushing in head-on, taking the initiative. But the zombie girl met her blow for blow, holding her own with impressive skill, even with one arm. Bra reeled as the girl drove a knee into her stomach.


    ¡°You!¡± Bra flared up in anger, her power surging. Each blow she threw could crack a planet, but the zombie girl dodged with surprising speed. How was she this fast? Bra¡¯s scowl deepened as she took another hit, though it caused no damage.


    This time, Bra let loose. The nearby stands exploded into wooden shards as zombie girl smashed into them. Luckily, they¡¯d been empty.


    ¡°Hey! This is just friendly training!¡± the zombie girl shouted, extricating herself from the debris.


    ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯re weak. In a fight, you give it your all!¡± Bra retorted.


    Behind her, Piccolo sighed and facepalmed. Some other contestants had stopped their meals to watch. Pan, the real one, watched with curious intensity, her eyes glowing with predatory fascination. An unease rippled though Bra, and almost got her hit as she got distracted.


    What was that about? Bra dismissed the odd scene and refocused, striking harder and faster. Despite the punishment, the zombie girl refused to go down. Bra had killed lesser opponents with less effort than this. It seemed she¡¯d have to push even harder.


    ¡°Excuse me, but the next round of fights is about to begin!¡± the announcer called, irritation clear in his voice. ¡°Son Bra, please come to the ring, and cause no more damage!¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Bra realized just how much of a mess they¡¯d made, flushing with embarrassment. A good section of the stands stood in ruined, and audience members made their displeasure known. But she couldn¡¯t help it! The zombie girl just ticked her off!


    ¡°Thanks for the session,¡± the zombie girl said, disheartened by her poor performance. She slapped her cheeks, determined to do better next time. Bra had to admit, the girl was tenacious. Their next fight would be more interesting. But then, it wouldn¡¯t be a friendly sparring match¡ªit¡¯d be for real. The monster girl with Pan¡¯s face would learn what true power really was.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    I¡¯m not sure if this was the best way to defeat XXI, but I thought it would be amusing. Since Janemba is part of him, I thought it¡¯d be interesting if XXI shared his weakness. Also, sorry I didn¡¯t get to Bra vs Cold, but this chapter ran long. In better news, I fixed the next time segments to better reflect what happened in the chapter. Expect these to improve in later chapters (Though their reliability might still be somewhat shaky.)


    Next time: Bra vs Cold. Bra¡¯s secret technique. Majin invasion, both Pans are separated from the others and are forced to survive against Babadi¡¯s forces alone! Pan turns Majin?! (Okay, not really).

 Chapter 11

    ¡°Don¡¯t turn Super Saiyan?¡± Bra stared into King Cold¡¯s confident grin. He was trying to taunt her into a more disadvantageous fight.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it, Bra,¡± the zombie girl said, unimpressed. ¡°It¡¯s a trick!¡± Her family argued against such a deal because it only worked against her.


    ¡°Without Super Saiyan? Sounds like a fun challenge!¡± Goku said, intrigued.


    ¡°Come on, Kakarot! Would you really fall for such an obvious trap?¡± Vegeta said, rolling his eyes. In response, Goku only laughed and scratched the back of his head.


    ¡°I say take it!¡± her father said, wearing a wicked grin. ¡°Show him the might of the Son family! You won¡¯t need Super Saiyan to win!¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡± the real Pan said, beaming with enthusiasm. ¡°This should be fun!¡±


    ¡°I could never deny you, Pan!¡± Bra said, giving her niece a thumbs up. This earned an annoyed snort from the zombie version. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re on, King Cold. I doubt I¡¯ll even need to power up to defeat you. You saw how Goku crumbled your son with a single punch? I doubt I¡¯ll even need that to win!¡±


    ¡°Confident, aren¡¯t you? But let¡¯s see if your confidence holds after this little surprise.¡± King Cold¡¯s power spiked to an impressive level as the Frost Demon transformed, armor growing over his body. Wicked-looking spikes sprouted from his form, a demonic grin spreading across the Frost Demon chief.


    ¡°So you were hiding something? You might make this fight interesting!¡± While Cold¡¯s power had grown to an impressive level, it would only give her a hard workout. Oh, well. She¡¯d hoped for an actual fight this time.


    But Cold only smirked, amused by her reaction. What? Did he have another trick up his sleeve? Bra marveled as his power spiked again, his body becoming more monstrous, more brutal. Somehow, he¡¯d grown another pair of arms, his nails like deadly talons.


    ¡°A second augment form? Frost Demons can do that?¡± Bra marveled at how much Cold¡¯s power had boosted. So this was what happened when someone of Frieza¡¯s race got serious?


    ¡°It¡¯s too risky!¡± Gohan said. ¡°Cancel the bet now!¡±


    But her half-brother¡¯s worry only heightened Bra¡¯s excitement. Finally, she¡¯d have a fun fight! ¡°Are you kidding? This is great training!¡± Her Saiyan blood sang, eager for the upcoming battle.


    A flurry of punches flew at her from every direction, attacking her from every angle. She winced as a few passed her guard, but she fought them off with adept skill. Still, Cold was fast, almost skewering her with his tail spikes. They played cat and mouse as they darted around the arena.


    Cold was relentless as he lashed out at her with his four arms. The sheer power made each punch difficult to deflect. But Bra wasn¡¯t a helpless victim, paying back each blow with her own. Her opponent flew across the arena as Bra delivered a double-handed blow to his head. But Cold caught himself with his six limbs, crawling around like some demonic insect.


    ¡°How about this?¡± Energy gathered in his four palms, and volleys of energy balls blasted toward her. With energy blasts of her own, she dissipated them.


    However, the sheer number forced Bra to evade and defend against them. Relentless, Cold charged after her, firing a powerful concussive blast. Bra deflected it with her left hand, wincing as it left her hand blackened and aching. That had been a mistake, and Cold gave a monstrous grin, pleased he¡¯d hurt his foe.


    ¡°Having fun, are we?¡± Bra said. ¡°How about this?¡±


    She caught her opponent off guard with the sheer ferocity of her attack, holding nothing back. It forced Cold on the defensive, howling in pain as she hit his blind spots. Four arms were useful, but they could also get in each other¡¯s way. While Cold had clearly trained with his four limbs, he¡¯d never fought with them in a real battle. She sent him reeling as she delivered a kick to his chin.


    ¡°A real monster you are,¡± Cold said, rubbing his bruised chin. ¡°And so young!¡± For some reason, this seemed to excite the Frost Demon lord instead of worrying him. It sent a wave of unease through Bra. Her opponent was planning something.


    Not playing around, Bra pressed her opponent even harder. But the battle was taking its toll. Strong as Bra was, Cold just refused to stay down, taking abuse that should have crippled him. It was her turn to get careless, and she winced as her opponent¡¯s barbed tail dug into her side. The gapping wound oozed crimson, Bra hissing in pain.


    ¡°Will you be able to fight much longer with that wound? You¡¯re bleeding pretty badly,¡± Cold said.


    ¡°Please. It¡¯s only a flesh wound.¡± But Bra¡¯s head felt light-headed, her strength sapping away.


    Regardless, Bra continued the fight as if nothing was wrong. Cold howled in pain as she blasted him in the chest. But the fight turned ugly as sudden dizziness distracted her enough for Cold¡¯s powerful tail to swat her in the head. Dazed, Bra was helpless as her opponent kicked at the open wound, sending spikes of unbearable pain through her. Four arms grabbed her, leaving her helpless to Cold¡¯s nonexistent mercy.


    ¡°Not bad, but you just weren¡¯t good enough to beat King Cold!¡± Her opponent boasted. Instead of finishing her, he took unnecessary time gloating about his victory.


    ¡°Yes, yes. You¡¯ve won,¡± Frieza said, annoyed at his father¡¯s antics. ¡°Kill her already. We don¡¯t have all day.¡±


    ¡°Bra!¡± the zombie girl said, frightened for her aunt¡¯s safety. Huh? Was she actually concerned for her?


    ¡°Give up!¡± Gohan said. Her father watched the fight without comment, curious about what she¡¯d do next.


    ¡°Yes, give up. You can¡¯t win. Surrender, and I¡¯ll be merciful,¡± Cold said, Bra wincing as he pulled her limbs tight. Any stronger and he¡¯d pull them clean off.


    ¡°Never.¡± Through her pain, an idea struck Bra. She¡¯d hoped to keep the technique secret until she faced a more worthy opponent. Oh, well. Bra cursed, not knowing if it would work. She¡¯d never used it in a proper fight.


    ¡°Eat this!¡± Bra opened her mouth wide, a beam blasting into Cold¡¯s face, blinding him. He staggered back, releasing his captive.


    Not missing a beat, Bra rushed forward and placed both palms against the Frost Demon¡¯s chest.


    ¡°What?¡± Cold gaped in shock as the heat and energy sapped away from his body and the surrounding air. He gasped in pain as his chest turned to solid ice.


    ¡°What?¡± the zombie girl gaped in surprise. ¡°How did she do that?¡±


    ¡°Fitting, right? A Frost Demon reduced to ice?¡± Bra smirked, pleased with her clever wordplay. With a mighty punch, she shattered Cold¡¯s torso. Her flight was shaky as she took to the air, still burdened by her injury,


    ¡°King Cold is down for the count. Beginning countdown! 10!¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± In the corner of her glove, Bra pulled out a Senzu bean. Vitality restored through her system as she chomped it down. Her wounds stitched together, vanishing like it¡¯d never happened. Bra laughed as she flittered around in the air, unburdened by her previous injuries.


    ¡°A Senzu bean?¡± Goku said. ¡°She must be healing up so she can throw Cold one too!¡±


    ¡°Come on, Kakarot. That¡¯s idiotic!¡± Vegeta replied, rolling his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s won the fight.¡±


    ¡°Huh? It can¡¯t wait until after the fight?¡± the zombie girl asked, perplexed.


    ¡°No, I have a better idea.¡± Energy gathered in Bra¡¯s palm, fueled by her newly restored ki.


    ¡°What is she doing? She can¡¯t be serious!¡± the zombie girl said, aghast. Bra chowed down on another Senzu bean, so her next attack was even more impressive.


    ¡°Goodbye, King Cold.¡± Bra unleashed her blast, not holding anything back. ¡°Big Bang Attack!¡±


    ¡°Oh, fu!¡± Cold cursed, all bravado replaced with sheer terror. ¡°Chan...¡± His last words disappeared as an explosion obliterated him and the arena.


    ¡°Cold has died...¡± the announcer¡¯s disbelief turned into rage. ¡°Do you have any idea much those arenas cost? Just¡­ just rejoin your family, Son Bra!¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s how you do it!¡± Bra said, pleased with herself as she landed on the ground.


    ¡°That was unnecessary!¡± Goku said, appalled. ¡°You won the fight. There was no need to kill him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right. You can¡¯t just kill people, Bra!¡± her father said, seething. ¡°How many times have I told you¡­¡± But Bra cut him off.


    ¡°King Cold was a murderer and a villain. He got what he deserved,¡± Bra replied, her tone frosty.


    ¡°You!¡± Her father¡¯s eyes blazed with fury, looking ready to punch his daughter for her defiance. But Bra couldn¡¯t care less. She¡¯d outgrown him.


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s not right!¡± Goku said.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°She¡¯s a ruthless one,¡± Vegeta smirked, pointing at the other members of Universe 8. ¡°But it sure showed them something.¡±


    Cold¡¯s sons stared at the ruined remains of the arena, horrified. When Bra smiled at them, they recoiled in automatic fear. Good. Lila was right. The righteous should inspire terror in the hearts of the wicked. This was a lesson they¡¯d not soon forget. The Ginyu Force seemed sorrowful, mourning their leader''s loss.


    ¡°Don¡¯t walk away, Bra!¡± her father said, but she knocked his hand away.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore, Vegito.¡± Bra purposely used his name to annoy him. ¡°I don¡¯t need your advice anymore.¡± With those words, she turned her back on him.


    ¡°You!¡± Her father was hopping mad now, but her half-brothers butted in to defuse the situation.


    ¡°How¡¯d you do that, Bra?¡± Goten asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve seen nothing like it,¡± Trunks added.


    ¡°Somehow, she used her ki to steal heat,¡± Piccolo said, sharp as ever. ¡°What a deadly technique.¡±


    ¡°Nice work, Bra. You fought well,¡± Lila said. Her friend¡¯s compliment brought butterflies to Bra¡¯s chest. Her words mattered much more than anything her father said.


    ¡°Hey, just what have you been teaching my daughter?¡± her father asked, eyeing the Supreme Kai suspiciously.


    ¡°All I care about is your daughter reaching her full potential,¡± Lila replied diplomatically.


    ¡°I bet,¡± the zombie girl said with a snort.


    ¡°That was a good fight! You blew him up real good!¡± the real Pan said, all smiles.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± At least somebody in her family understood how cool she¡¯d been.


    ¡°Excuse us while we fix the arena,¡± the announcer said, forlorn.


    ¡°Yes, Gast and Raichi are next.¡± This fight would decide her next opponent. She nibbled at another Senzu bean, bouncing in eager anticipation. Whoever won wouldn¡¯t be an easy foe. They both had crazy powers. Still, she wasn¡¯t worried. No one had yet seen her full power.


    ---


    ¡°That accused girl!¡± He fumed, stomping his feet in impudent rage. How had someone like him¡ªonce feared and respected throughout the universe¡ªbeen reduced to such a sorry state?


    ¡°Curse you, Bra! You won¡¯t get away with this!¡± The Cell Jr¡¯s tiny, childish voice said.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± Cell said eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Nothing, Daddy! Just talking to myself!¡± The Cell Jr. said, all innocence, but inside, Captain Ginyu was hopping mad.


    Cell turned away, disinterested, more focused on the battle between the wizard Rachi and the Namekian Gast Carcolh. Ginyu had noticed that the bio-android rarely paid his children much attention, allowing them to run wild. This worked to Ginyu¡¯s benefit while he planned his revenge.


    It¡¯d been a close call. He¡¯d avoided annihilation by a hair by Vegito¡¯s devilish daughter. Only luck had rescued Captain Ginyu from total destruction.


    And he¡¯d worked so hard to cultivate that last body, too. King Cold¡¯s body had served him well, allowing him to even surpass Lord Frieza. But Ginyu supposed he¡¯d been fooling himself into thinking he¡¯d been the mightiest across the cosmos. This tournament had opened his eyes to how powerless he¡¯d actually been.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Ginyu thought. ¡°I¡¯ll just steal a better body! You better watch out, Son Bra. I¡¯m coming for you!¡±


    ¡°Why are you laughing to yourself?¡± Cell raised an eyebrow.


    The Cell Jr. that Ginyu inhabited rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°No reason!¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Cell shook his head, muttering something about defective clones.


    ¡°Curse you, Bra!¡± Ginyu thought. ¡°You will pay for this indignity!¡±


    ---


    ¡°Mary Sue?¡± Pan said, rapping her knuckles against her friend¡¯s apartment door. After Gast¡¯s stunning victory over the Saiyan racist Dr. Rachi, she¡¯d left to get some answers. Little Pan had joined her. Her Trunks and Goten were acting just as bizarre, obsessing after Mary Sue like love struck school boys.


    ¡°Hey.¡± A downtrodden Mary Sue said, her expression sheepish. ¡°Come on in.¡±


    Both Pans entered a stunningly furnished room, nicer than Universe 16¡¯s apartments. It was immaculately clean, though she noticed the pile of ruffled blankets on the bed. Had Mary Sue been sitting curled up on her bed?


    ¡°Would you like some tea, Pan?¡± Mary Sue asked. ¡°Oh, right, you can¡¯t drink anything. But what about the other Pan?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Little Pan said. ¡°We¡¯re here to ask something super important!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s something weird about you, and we want some answers!¡± Pan¡¯s declaration had come out more forcefully than she''d wanted, but she was worried about her uncles. She feared that if this mystery wasn¡¯t solved, her uncles might kill each other.


    ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Mary Sue said, her smile sad. ¡°I¡¯ve caused nothing but problems, as usual. I was being selfish. My wish isn¡¯t worth this.¡±


    ¡°Your wish?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s why I came to the material world. I¡¯m not actually from Universe 2. I lied on my application.¡± But Mary Sue¡¯s answer only made both Pans even more confused.


    ¡°Sorry, what do you mean? You¡¯re not from Universe 2?¡± Little Pan asked, perplexed.


    ¡°I¡¯m from somewhere else.¡± Mary Sue replied cryptically. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful and terrifying place. Unicorns and fairies run free, while dinosaurs are mounted by knights in gleaming armor to battle monsters. Princesses inhabit impossible castles with towers that scrape the sky. People plummet from boundless heights but never hit the ground. The worst, most hideous monsters hide in the shadows, while little girls have tea parties in groves of endless flowers that spread well beyond the horizon.¡±


    Pan tried to absorb what her friend was telling her. ¡°So you come from some sort of fairy-tale land?¡±


    ¡°Yes! But more than that! All stories happen there!¡± Mary Sue tapped her chin in thought. ¡°No, more like it¡¯s where all stories originate.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve lost me,¡± Pan said. The other Pan nodded in agreement.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the realm of the dead, right?¡± Mary Sue asked.


    ¡°You mean the Other World?¡± Little Pan asked. ¡°Grandpa has told me about it. It¡¯s where King Kai trained him.¡±


    Pan nodded in agreement. She¡¯d also heard the stories.


    ¡°There are other realms. Though, sometimes they overlap,¡± Mary Sue replied.


    ¡°Are you from a Dream Realm?¡± Pan said, catching on.


    Mary Sue nodded. ¡°Dreams and death often go together. Have you ever heard of someone¡¯s life flashing before their eyes? That¡¯s their soul partially entering our world. It¡¯s to comfort them before they start their next journey.¡±


    ¡°Are you a dream creature?¡± Little Pan asked, fascinated.


    Mary Sue responded with a sad smile and a nod. ¡°Little Pan, how do I appear to you?¡±


    ¡°Uh?¡± Little Pan blinked, confused by the question. ¡°Well, you¡¯re pretty, for one. Like, more beautiful than even my mom. With shining silver eyes and green hair with pointed ears.¡± Before Little Pan could continue, Pan interrupted her.


    ¡°Green hair? She¡¯s blond!¡± Pan said, confused. What was her counterpart talking about? And Mary Sue¡¯s ears were smooth. They bickered, each pointing out contradictions in the other¡¯s description of Mary Sue.


    ¡°No, Mary Sue is tall, not short!¡± Pan said, exasperated.


    Mary Sue¡¯s amused laughter interrupted their argument. ¡°And I¡¯m sure if you asked Trunks and Goten, they¡¯d give you a completely different answer.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± But when Pan considered it, hadn¡¯t both Goten and Trunks said odd things about Mary Sue¡¯s appearance? Goten had claimed she was endowed to an absurd, almost grotesque level. Trunks, however, had claimed she was a sleek beauty.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m not like you. I¡¯m a creature of the Dream Realm. My appearance is malleable. Like dreams, it changes depending on who¡¯s observing it.¡±


    ¡°But what do you really look like, then?¡± Pan said, completely flummoxed.


    ¡°Nothing you¡¯d understand,¡± Mary Sue replied.


    ¡°Is that why everyone acts so weird around you? Because you look like their ideal person?¡± Little Pan asked.


    Mary Sue¡¯s expression turned sad. ¡°Yeah, everything they could ever want from a friend, companion, or lover. The perfect woman. And in dreams, that¡¯s fine. I only meet you for a spell, a half-forgotten memory. But in the physical plane, the mortal mind can¡¯t handle it. I¡¯d hoped locking myself away would limit my influence on everyone. You can gauge the success that¡¯s been.¡±


    It explained much. No wonder Mary Sue¡¯s past was so contradictory. It didn¡¯t exist! It was whatever people needed it to be.


    ¡°You can¡¯t turn it off?¡± Pan asked. Everything was starting to make a sick sense. If she drove everyone crazy, she¡¯d hide herself away too.


    Mary Sue shook her head. ¡°No. It¡¯s in my nature. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m going to surrender in my next fight. I¡¯m too dangerous to stay in the mortal realm any longer.¡±


    ¡°But your wish!¡± Pan protested. She felt sorry for her friend. Mary Sue couldn¡¯t help what she was.


    ¡°As I said, it was selfish of me. This whole adventure was selfish.¡± Mary Sue shook her head.


    ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t have risked it if your wish wasn¡¯t important!¡± Pan argued.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Little Pan added. ¡°We don¡¯t need our wishes. We¡¯ll make it for you! What is it? I doubt Grandpa will complain about granting it!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not worth it,¡± Mary Sue replied. ¡°You deserve the wish more than me.¡±


    ¡°After you fought so hard?¡± Pan said, a stubborn tightness to her jaw. ¡°You deserve happiness, too!¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Little Pan added. ¡°Grandpa always says you should always give it your all, even if you can¡¯t win. What matters is doing your best.¡±


    Mary Sue conceded to their argument. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll fight. Just be careful with your uncles. Maybe convince them to sit in your apartment during my next fight? I don¡¯t want to see them hurt.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll work something out.¡± Still, Pan feared more about the audience. What if Mary Sue¡¯s perfection aura drove them over the edge? They¡¯d need to be careful.


    But Pan¡¯s musings came to an abrupt halt. She yelped in surprise as the apartment door suddenly burst open. Dozens of burly-looking men with makeshift weapons entered the room. They wore malicious grins, eager for violence.


    ¡°Look what we have here, boys!¡± the biggest one said, laughing. ¡°All helpless and alone!¡±


    ¡°Uh, what do you want now?¡± Pan said, baffled.


    ¡°Lord Babidi has ordered to destroy anyone who might oppose him. Surrender, and we might not have to get rough with you!¡± the leader replied.


    ¡°Is this guy for real?¡± Little Pan said, eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Lord Babidi?¡± Then Pan saw it, the ¡®M¡¯ on the rough men¡¯s foreheads. Were they being mind-controlled?


    A horrible sense of dread traveled down Pan¡¯s spine. What if Babidi had a mental hold on the nastier combatants in the tournament? Everyone was in terrible danger!


    ¡°So what¡¯s it gonna be?¡± The leader slapped his club against his palm.


    ¡°Um, could you please not do this?¡± Mary Sue said, giving their attackers pleading, puppy dog eyes.


    The leader froze like a statue, a strangled groan escaping his throat. ¡°Mary Sue, my beloved!¡± He clutched at his head, howling in pain. ¡°No! Lord Babidi! What are you making me do?¡± Then, much to Pan¡¯s astonishment, he slammed his club hard against his own skull. He collapsed, his head caved in.


    ¡°He killed himself?¡± Pan said, horrified. The other goons were even more vicious in their retaliation against Babidi¡¯s control, one literally slitting his own throat. Pan stared, both horrified and traumatized.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Little Pan said, shaking. She hadn¡¯t been prepared for that either.


    ¡°Poor guys.¡± Mary Sue lowered to her knees and stroked the leader¡¯s cheek. Tears flooded from her eyes, her expression pained. ¡°They couldn¡¯t handle the contradicting orders.¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Pan said, still unsettled. It had happened so quick.


    ¡°Others need our help.¡± Mary Sue said, her expression turning serious.


    ¡°Oh shoot! You¡¯re right!¡± Everyone was in serious danger.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Little Pan avoided looking at their would-be attackers'' corpses.


    The entire arena was pandemonium as everyone fought to keep alive. All the bad guys in the tournament were in full force, terrorizing everything in their path. Both Piccolos were engaging a mutated Frieza and Cooler, while Son Bra was playing with Cell. Unlike everyone else, her aunt was enjoying herself. Dozens of other skirmishes had broken out, adding to the general chaos.


    ¡°Big sis, what should we do?¡± Little Pan asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± With so many desperate, pitched battles, Pan wasn¡¯t sure who needed their help the most. Worse yet, she still hadn¡¯t recovered from her fight with Tapion. ¡°Wait, where are the other tournament fighters?¡± She extended her senses but didn¡¯t sense any of them, not even her grandfathers¡¯.


    ¡°It¡¯s that Babidi! He must have done something!¡± Little Pan said, fuming.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange. Why weren¡¯t we taken? Because we were in the apartments?¡± And hadn¡¯t Bra joined the West Supreme Kai after Gast¡¯s victory? They must have been somewhere Babidi¡¯s magic couldn¡¯t touch them too.


    ¡°What a mess!¡± Mary Sue said, sighing.


    ¡°We need to destroy the source, Babidi!¡± Little Pan said.


    ¡°Okay. But how will we find him in this?¡± Pan gestured at the general chaos. Once they exposed themselves, they¡¯d get attacked on sight.


    ¡°I have an idea!¡± Little Pan said, eyes alight with mischief! ¡°Quick! To Universe 18¡¯s apartment!¡±


    ---


    ¡°And how will this help?¡± Pan asked, eying the marker scribbling on her forehead.


    ¡°Everyone thinks you¡¯re a monster, right?¡± Little Pan replied. Mary Sue hovered over them, curious.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, don¡¯t remind me,¡± Pan said, her expression sour.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand. I¡¯m saying we can use it to our advantage. If you show up with this mark, no one will blink an eye. Little Pan explained.


    ¡°I guess.¡± She supposed that made sense. ¡°And we use this to sneak up on Babidi and defeat him?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Little Pan beamed, showing her counterpart¡¯s new M on her forehead with a mirror. It was an impressive facsimile. ¡°They won¡¯t suspect a thing! And take me as your hostage!¡±


    ¡°Ah, the old Wookie prisoner trick!¡± Mary Sue said, nodding. Pan blinked. Huh? The what?


    ¡°It seems risky,¡± Pan said, dubious. ¡°Some pretty scary guys will be protecting Babidi. Why not take Mary Sue instead?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m going to search for Goku and the others.¡± Mary Sue replied.


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re not planning to fight?¡± Pan asked.


    ¡°No. I¡¯d only cause more chaos. You saw what my presence did to those poor men. Besides, we need a Plan B. I¡¯ll get backup if things turn sour.¡±


    ¡°I suppose.¡± The argument made sense. Still, it meant both Pans were going into terrible danger. Still, Bra would be a nifty distraction while they defeated Babidi. She¡¯d keep the bad guys busy. Pan doubted anyone on the villain''s side could stop her.


    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do this. Majin Pan is ready to roll!¡± Pan bellowed an evil laugh, getting into her role. This needed to work, or they¡¯d be in serious trouble.


    --


    Author¡¯s Note:


    If you haven¡¯t read Multiverse, yes, King Cold was really Captain Ginyu all along. I tried my best to hit at this, but I don¡¯t know if I did the best job. Anyway, I¡¯m not sure the Next Time preview will properly predict what will happen in the next chapter. The Majin Invasion is a pretty chaotic arc, and I¡¯m not sure exactly that¡¯s going to happen. I have plans, but plans have a habit of derailing in writing.


    Next Time!


    Majin Pan infiltrates Babidi¡¯s gang. Captain Ginyu¡¯s revenge! Pan vs Anpan!

 Chapter 12

    ¡°So, these guys were causing trouble?¡± Bra said, giving the offender a hearty kick. The bound man howled, screaming obscenities in protest. Since the tournament arena didn¡¯t have a prison, they stood in an apartment room converted into a makeshift holding cell. Beyond a table with a pitcher of water and some cups, the chamber stood bare.


    ¡°They were trying to force their way into the Dragonball chambers,¡± Lila replied.


    Behind her stood the East Supreme Kai, his expression serious. ¡°That isn¡¯t the only trouble that¡¯s been happening lately. Others in the audience were trying to enter the apartments and terrorize the tournament-goers¡¯ guests. South and North is rounding them up right now.¡±


    ¡°Though, should she really be here?¡± The diminutive Supreme Kai pointed a finger at Bra. ¡°This is the business of the tournament facilitators, not one of the fighters.¡±


    ¡°Consider it as a learning lesson. Our friend here is curious about being more proactive in defending the cosmos.¡± At her friend¡¯s words, Bra¡¯s heart fluttered with pride, pleased someone had such confidence in her.


    ¡°Okay.¡± But the East Supreme Kai seemed less than convinced by his colleague¡¯s words but didn¡¯t voice any further objections. ¡°Something feels off about this. Why would these innocent audience members attempt such a stunt? It must be the Buu of Universe 4¡¯s fault! He¡¯s finally making his move!¡±


    ¡°I disagree,¡± the Grand Supreme Kai said. So far, he¡¯d been watching the scene without comment. ¡°It isn¡¯t his style. Besides, I sense dark magic behind their minds.¡±


    ¡°Fools!¡± the man Bra had kicked said. ¡°It has already begun! Soon, Lord Babidi will be the lord of the entire cosmos!¡±


    ¡°Babidi?!¡± the East Supreme Kai said, shocked.


    They watched in astonishment as a black ¡°M¡± appeared on the captured man¡¯s forehead. It materialized on the other captives too. Their smiles turned sinister, dark energy flowing from them like a dark tide. With a flex of their muscles, each one broke through their restraints with ease.


    The leader cracked his neck, a confident smirk on his face. ¡°And now that we¡¯re fully empowered by Lord Babidi¡¯s magic, I think it¡¯s time for some well-deserved payback.¡± Behind him, his goons loomed over their former captors, even their size enhanced by Babidi¡¯s evil magic.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself,¡± Bra said, a knee smashing into the leader¡¯s smug face. He collapsed in a heap, his flunkies staring in shock. She cracked her knuckles, giving a smile that made her would-be attackers flinch. ¡°What? You¡¯re done already? Where¡¯d that big talk go?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± The other mind-controlled audience members launched their assault, hoping their numbers would allow them to overwhelm this seemingly diminutive teenage girl.


    ¡°Some people don¡¯t learn,¡± Bra said, stepping over her unconscious attackers. She hadn¡¯t bothered killing them. They weren¡¯t worth the effort. Besides, they weren¡¯t the real enemy.


    ¡°Impressive. Your father taught you well.¡± But the East Supreme Kai¡¯s expression turned worried. ¡°But I doubt these are the only ones Babidi has taken hold of. If he has control over fighters like Cell or Buu from Universe 4, we might be in serious trouble.¡±


    ¡°Father and I can handle this, no problem,¡± Bra said, unconcerned. But she frowned as she dashed outside, not finding the Ki signatures she¡¯d expected. While she sensed both Gohans and Piccolos, her father¡¯s Ki was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sense my dad!¡± Bra said, panic entering her voice. Had they somehow killed him?


    ¡°I don¡¯t sense any of the other tournament fighters either,¡± the East Supreme Kai said, joining her. ¡°This must be one of Babidi¡¯s tricks.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± That made more sense. She¡¯d worried over nothing. Her smile extended into a pleased grin as Nappa and Demon King Piccolo entered the hallway, their power bursting at the seams from the boost Babidi had granted them.


    ¡°What do we have here?¡± Vegeta¡¯s former minion said. ¡°More meat for the slaughter! This is going to be fun!¡±


    ¡°Shall I show you what true wickedness is?¡± King Piccolo said. Unlike his partner, the fallen Namekian¡¯s power was more formidable. He wouldn¡¯t be as easy to defeat.


    ¡°Retreat,¡± the East Supreme Kai said. ¡°We can¡¯t afford these small skirmishes. We need to deal with the problem at its source!¡±


    But Bra had already launched herself into the fight, energy gathered in her palm. The entire hallway exploded into dust as she launched her attack. It caught Nappa by complete surprise, launching him clear across the arena into the stands. The impact left a satisfying crater. Thankfully, that area had already gotten evacuated.


    The entire scene outside was pandemonium. A quarter of the audience had gotten mind-controlled, turning on their fellow audience members. People fled for their lives as the controlled enacted violence on anyone in their path. Piccolo and her Gohan were engaged with Frieza and Cooler, who¡¯d mutated into monsters from Babidi¡¯s magic. Evil Goku and a random Heliorian had also joined the fray, making their lives difficult.


    ¡°Really? Does that girl not listen?¡± the East Supreme Kai said, annoyed.


    Lila placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Let her run wild. It¡¯s what Bra does best. She¡¯ll keep them busy. Let¡¯s go!¡± After a reluctant nod, the East Supreme Kai joined his fellow Kai down a far hall.


    The Grand Supreme Kai ran in another direction. ¡°Run ahead. I¡¯ll protect your rear.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant girl,¡± King Piccolo said, his power doubling as dark energy filled him. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you before you can transform.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need Super Saiyan to defeat you,¡± Bra replied, gesturing to her opponent to attack her.


    ¡°Your cockiness will be your downfall, brat!¡± The evil Namekian launched his attack, Bra easily ducking under his punch.


    But Bra didn¡¯t give him the time for a follow-up. He screamed as Bra thrust a hand against his chest and blew him to pieces. Little remained of the Namekian beyond scraps of dust. With his species¡¯ propensity for regeneration, she won¡¯t give him a chance to recover.


    While Bra wanted to extend the fight longer, she couldn¡¯t afford to waste time. Besides, bigger, more dangerous foes were up ahead.


    ¡°Brutally efficient as ever.¡± a familiar voice said, amused.


    Cell stood in the remains of the hallway with his arms crossed, a pleased expression on his face. Clearly, he¡¯d been eagerly anticipating this encounter.


    ¡°Another small fry?¡± Bra replied, her tone sarcastic. ¡°I was hoping Babidi¡¯s forces would offer a better challenge.¡±


    ¡°I see. You assume that because your niece defeated me, I¡¯m only a bothersome roadblock?¡± Bra jerked back in surprise as the bio-android¡¯s power leaped to frightening levels. ¡°But you forget that I have Saiyan DNA in my cells. Each defeat makes me stronger. And with Lord Babidi¡¯s magic, my power has risen to heights unimaginable.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not bad, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± A grin spread across Bra¡¯s face. Finally, a true opponent worthy of her attention. Her aura glowed golden as she unleashed Super Saiyan. Much to her satisfaction, her opponent seemed surprised by the amount of power Bra brought to bear. ¡°But I doubt it¡¯ll still be enough.¡± She gestured with a hand. ¡°Come on, Cell. Entertain me.¡±


    But Cell only laughed. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s make this fight one of a lifetime!¡± Without hesitation, he launched himself into the fray.


    ---


    ¡°Cell sure has gotten a boost thanks to Lord Babidi!¡± Ginyu said, impressed as his ¡°father¡± squared off against Son Bra.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    He watched from the shadows, curious how the contest would play out. His fellow Cell Jrs were out harassing Lord Babidi¡¯s enemies. Ginyu, however, was content staying in the shadows and seeing how the situation would unfold. The Majin curse screamed at him to kill all opposing his master, but Ginyu fought against it. He only had eyes for Son Bra, the girl who¡¯d destroyed his previous body. Revenge was a more powerful motivator than anything Babidi could hold over him.


    ¡°Should I go for Cell¡¯s body or Bra¡¯s?¡± Ginyu wondered. Both bodies had their advantages.


    ¡°Cell¡¯s body would be nice; his regeneration is incredible! But then I¡¯d be some creepy green thing.¡± This thought caused a pit of disquiet in Ginyu¡¯s belly. The bio-warrior was too frog-like for his liking. It was a lucky thing that Cell¡¯s children were blue. Ginyu had always hated frogs, not helped when she¡¯d overhear that his Universe 18 and Universe 16 counterparts had gotten trapped in one. It had left him with nightmares, waking up in a cold sweat every night.


    ¡°No, Cell¡¯s definitely out.¡± Besides, he had a better option. Once Bra dealt with Cell, her body would be his.


    A light suddenly flew at him, and Ginyu jerked back. A split second slower, and he¡¯d have gotten blasted to pieces.


    ¡°I saw you hiding there.¡± said a deep voice. It was one of the Piccolos.


    Ginyu grunted in annoyance, his prey moving out of sight. Oh well, he¡¯d catch up with them later. Instead, he grinned, a plan forming as he eyed the interloper.


    The Namekian¡¯s eyebrow rose as the Cell Jr. grinned at him. ¡°You are plotting something.¡± With impossible speed, Piccolo rushed at him for the kill, Ginyu just barely keeping ahead.


    ¡°Pest.¡± Still, Ginyu knew something the Namekian didn¡¯t. A useful body had just appeared before him. Victory was inevitable for the great captain of the Ginyu Force!


    ---


    ¡°I hope this works,¡± Pan said, her eyes darting around. They¡¯d been exploring the arena¡¯s back halls, but still hadn¡¯t found any sign of their prey. With Babidi being a wizard, his ki wasn¡¯t anything they could sense over the chaos.


    ¡°Trust me. This will work!¡± Her counterpart said, tied up with a rope. Pan held the other end with her remaining arm. She still doubted this would fool anything. Still, they¡¯d gone too far to quit now. Her family was in danger. ¡°We got this!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Pan wished she had her young self¡¯s confidence. She felt ridiculous with this fake ¡°M¡± on her forehead. What if these brainwashed fighters saw through their deception? Could they sense is someone was a Majin? This plan was crazy risky.


    ¡°Hey, you!¡± a rough voice said. Five rugged-looking men appeared from a side corridor, dark Ms marking their foreheads, their auras oozing pure evil.


    ¡°Hey, guys! How¡¯s it going?¡± Pan said, all innocence.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s only you.¡± The first burly man relaxed. ¡°We heard reports of someone sneaking in these back corridors, but it¡¯s only you.¡±


    ¡°Yep, that¡¯s right. Only me.¡± Pan faked a smile.


    ¡°Should¡¯ve figured you¡¯d be one of us,¡± the man said, smirking. ¡°I saw your fight with Cell. Utterly ruthless. You tore him to pieces without a second thought. You kill without remorse!¡±


    ¡°Right, totally!¡± Was this guy confusing her with Bra? It annoyed her that he bought she¡¯d become a Majin so easily. It¡¯d been the plan, true, but still!


    ¡°And that?¡± The man gestured to the tied-up Little Pan.


    ¡°A hostage for Lord Babidi!¡± Pan said, puffing out her chest. For her part, her fake captive played the role of a beaten-down prisoner, looking small and pathetic.


    The man laughed. ¡°Clever! With her father causing trouble, he¡¯ll think twice when he sees his daughter¡¯s life in our hands! With the other Pan in our custody already, we have a matching pair!¡±


    Anpan was being held hostage? Not good. ¡°Just show me the way to Lord Babidi, and I¡¯ll deposit her. These stupid corridors are a maze!¡±


    ¡°Take that left hallway.''¡°


    ¡°Perfect, thanks!¡± Pan cursed, realizing expressions of gratitude weren¡¯t in character for an evil warrior. But the brainwashed men didn¡¯t notice, offering her a hearty thumbs-up before dashing off to cause more havoc.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing Babidi¡¯s spell doesn¡¯t make them smarter,¡± Little Pan said, smirking.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± It startled her how easy that¡¯d been. Once they saw the M, they didn¡¯t question a thing. Still, Babidi wouldn¡¯t be as easy to fool. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry!¡±


    ---


    ¡°Buu¡¯s hungry!¡± A childish voice said. ¡°Can Buu have some chocolate already?¡±


    ¡°Quiet, you tub of lard! I¡¯m trying to concentrate! Too much is riding on my other warriors¡¯ success!¡± a wheezy voice snapped. The diminutive wizard hovered over a crystal ball, inside which tiny figures fought.


    Through the door crack, Pan saw several figures standing in the room. Buu from Babidi¡¯s universe stood dutifully by his master¡¯s side. Bardock was on the sidelines, arms crossed. The Ginyu Force crowded the room as well, standing at attention for potential threats.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master! We of the Ginyu Force will ensure no one interferes with the grand plan!¡± Jeice said.


    ¡°Right!¡± the other members of the Ginyu Force replied in unison.


    Then Jeice broke into a pose, arm raised high over his head. ¡°Soon, a glorious new era is upon us! And nothing will get in our way! The Ginyu Force is ready!¡± His comrades joined his posing, each sillier than the last.


    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m very grateful. Will you shut up already?¡± Babidi snapped, muttering to himself about useless idiots. But his reprimand didn¡¯t stop the Ginyu Force¡¯s posing, eager to impress their boss with their moves.


    ¡°Yeah! Awesome!¡± And there Anpan stood, eyes glued to the window. Despite being a prisoner of villains, her untroubled face was full of childlike glee. ¡°Yes! That guy¡¯s head just went flying! Blood¡¯s everywhere!¡±


    ¡°Um, yeah,¡± Babidi said, somewhat unnerved. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting a little too excited about this?¡±


    ¡°Hey, this is fun!¡± Anpan said, peeling her eyes away from the fights outside. ¡°Yes! Nice! That guy just got his arm ripped off and is getting beaten to death with it! Sweet!¡±


    A wave of unease swept through the room, disturbed by Anpan¡¯s love of gruesome violence. ¡°What¡¯s with this girl? With a heart this wicked, my magic should have turned her in seconds,¡± Babidi muttered to himself.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m not evil. I just love violence and mayhem!¡± Anpan said in protest.


    ¡°Um, I¡¯m pretty sure that, by definition, makes you evil,¡± Burter replied. The rest of his team gave a nod of agreement.


    ¡°Nuts to you all. You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Anpan said, before returning her attention to the fight outside.


    Pan and Little Pan exchanged a look. There was definitely something wrong with Anpan¡¯s head. But they had bigger concerns. After bolstering her courage, Pan burst into the room.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Babidi jerked back in surprise, eyes wide in fright. His bodyguard tensed, ready for any trouble.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, guys, it¡¯s just me!¡± Pan said, trying to give her best evil expression. In her captivity, Little Pan whimpered pathetically.


    ¡°It¡¯s only her,¡± Burter said, relaxing.


    ¡°So she¡¯s on our side, nice!¡± Recoome said, laughing.


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Jeice said, grimacing. ¡°B-but what if she loses control? She might come after our brains!¡±


    ¡°Gah! Really?! When have I ever eaten anyone¡¯s brains?!¡± Pan thought, indignant. This discrimination against zombies was ridiculous!


    ¡°Brains? Are brains yummy?¡± Majin Buu asked, curious.


    ¡°No! Eating brains is bad, very bad! Not yummy!¡± Jeice replied, his voice rising in pitch.


    ¡°Yeah, buddy. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Burter put a comforting hand on his teammate¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll watch your back, whatever happens.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we got you!¡± Guldo said, giving a thumbs-up. Recoome nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Thanks, guys. She just freaks me out,¡± Jeice said, forlorn.


    ¡°Yeah, thanks for clearing that up. Now, what are you doing here?¡± Babidi asked, annoyed. Much to her relief, he didn¡¯t pay her much attention, more interested in his crystal ball.


    ¡°Unhand me, you brute!¡± Little Pan said as Pan pushed her forward.


    ¡°A hostage!¡± Pan said, straightening with pride. ¡°With the other Gohan causing trouble, I figure it¡¯ll be a great deterrent.¡± This caught Anpan¡¯s attention, and she watched the scene with interest.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad plan,¡± Bardock said, rubbing his chin. ¡°But too much can go wrong. The future is unclear.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Babidi waved a dismissive, wrinkled hand. ¡°Just throw her with the other one. But I¡¯d prefer it if you were out there fighting! They¡¯re putting up a tougher resistance than I expected. Removing the tournament fighters wasn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so Babidi was behind Grampa and the others disappearing.¡± Out loud, Pan said, ¡°Are you sure? What about your safety? They might attack at any moment! You¡¯re their biggest target. Defeat you, and we¡¯ve lost!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that!¡± Babidi snapped. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem if everyone who opposes us is dead! Now get out there! Dabura is having trouble with your bothersome father!¡±


    Dad! That caused a spike of worry through Pan. Still, he could take care of himself. She eyed the room. Beyond Majin Buu, Babidi¡¯s defenders didn¡¯t seem too dangerous. Together with Little Pan, they should be able to handle them. But something held her in place. Anpan was staring at her with a knowing look. Did she see through her disguise?


    ¡°Hey, are you listening to me?¡± Babidi snarled, losing his patience.


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Pan said a little too quickly. Bardock eyed her with curiosity, brow furrowed.


    ¡°Now or never!¡± She made the preplanned gesture with a hand, a flick of her pinky.


    Since nobody could sense her ki, Babidi and his goons were completely ignorant of the power Pan was bringing to bear. Before she could launch her sudden attack, she jerked back as Bardock suddenly gasped. He stared into the distance, like he was seeing something only he could see. What was going on?


    ¡°They¡¯re coming. In a few minutes, the Supreme Kais will assault this room,¡± Bardock said, much to Pan¡¯s total bafflement. She gasped as he turned Super Saiyan and pointed an accusatory finger at Pan. ¡°And she¡¯s going to join them! That mark on her forehead is a fraud.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Pan only stared, lost for words.


    ¡°A fraud?!¡± Babidi scrutinized Pan, face scrunching up in concentration. ¡°You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t sense my magic in her! It¡¯s a trick!¡± This earned startled looks from the Ginyu Force and Buu.


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± She flared golden as she turned Super Saiyan, abandoning any pretense of subterfuge. She launched herself at Babidi.


    The wizard gasped in surprise, summoning a magical barrier. But it shattered under the sheer force of Pan¡¯s punch. The Ginyu Force launched their counterattack, but Little Pan jumped into the fray, knocking them away. Even without Super Saiyan yet, she was a formidable fighter.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t forget about me!¡± Little Pan said.


    ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± Pan rushed forward to defeat the evil wizard, then gasped as her punch struck empty air. She glanced around, confused. What just happened? Behind her, Little Pan engaged the Ginyu Force and Bardock, fists flying.


    ¡°Over here, master!¡± the frog-like Guldo said, guiding Babidi through a newly destroyed wall. Huh? Had he done something? With speed belying his aged, wizened figure, Babidi fled like the devil himself was after him.


    ¡°Hey, come back here!¡± Pan rushed after them, but jerked back as Anpan intercepted her.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t allow you to defeat Babidi just yet,¡± Anpan said.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Babidi said, just as baffled. ¡°You¡¯re helping me?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. I don¡¯t want the fun to end yet!¡± Anpan¡¯s face stretched, showing too many teeth. Unsettled, the wizard disappeared through the hole with Guldo.


    ¡°Fun? People are dying!¡± Pan replied, her expression sour. ¡°Our family might be dying!¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯d be boring if they didn¡¯t! Death is meant to be loved, embraced. To fear death is to fear life! But forget them. It¡¯s our turn to have some fun!¡± Anpan¡¯s arms fell limp, her posture bending forward. She took no fighting posture Pan had ever seen before. It was primal, animalistic, devoid of anything approaching technique.


    Then Anpan¡¯s ki struck her, and Pan recoiled in revulsion. It was sickly, clinging to her like some cloying ooze. Pan sensed its wrongness. And she wasn¡¯t the only one disturbed by Anpan¡¯s corrupted ki. Everyone else in the room jerked back, eyeing Anpan with large, frightened eyes.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s play, Pan.¡± Anpan¡¯s tone was sickeningly sweet. She swayed, her movements jerky. They hurt the eyes, making her seem like a demented puppet on strings. Pan jerked back, a kick flying at her face. It struck her hard, driving her clear across the room.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    And now we enter the Majin Invasion proper. I¡¯d be lying if it didn¡¯t make me somewhat nervous. It¡¯s a lot of chaos, and some events in the canon version were controversial. But I promise this version will be different, with its own surprises. I¡¯ll try to make it about 4 chapters or so. But, who knows. I might drag on a little longer, but I hope not.


    Next time!


    Anpan vs Pan! Little Pan faces a hard choice and a more difficult lesson. Majin Cell vs Son Bra! Captain Ginyu gets a new body.

 Chapter 13

    The explosion rang in her ears as Bra ducked under a ball of destructive energy. It reduced a good chunk of the stadium seats to rubble. Beneath her, crowd members were fighting desperately against their brainwashed number. But Cell¡¯s destruction scared even the Majin crowd members away, fearing getting caught in the crossfire. They fled to a safer distance as they resumed their terrorizing. Other fighters were engaged in their own battles: Videl and Raditz were fighting Kakarot, while Gohan was facing Babidi¡¯s main flunky, Dabura.


    But this was only background noise as Bra weaved through the barrage of energy spheres. Hand to forehead, the bio-android guided their path. It amazed Bra how Cell controlled so many spheres so seamlessly. She winced as one clipped her shoulder, singing it. Despite her claims, Cell was proving a tougher opponent than she¡¯d expected. But it only earned a slight smile on her lips. Finally, a true opponent.


    Her ki flared to new heights as she gathered her energy. Its sheer power blew the surrounding energy spheres apart. But Cell had been counting on this, using his instant transmission to appear in her blind spot. It still wasn¡¯t quick enough¡ªCell¡¯s eyes bulged as she elbowed him in the skull. Her fists pounded into him, and she gathered ki into her palm for the killing blow. Cell, however, disappeared before she could blow him to pieces.


    ¡°Aiming for the kill already?¡± Cell asked, appearing a few steps away. ¡°Just when we started the fun?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not like the zombie girl,¡± Bra replied, raising her nose at her opponent. ¡°I don¡¯t play nice. If you can¡¯t last thirty seconds against my worst, you aren¡¯t a worthy opponent. You¡¯ve already disappointed me.¡± And besides, time was pressing against her. The situation in the stadium had already spiraled out of control. She needed to contain the Babidi¡¯s worst elements before things got worse.


    But Cell smiled, amused. ¡°That¡¯s what I like about you, Son Bra. You¡¯re not like Goku, or even that weak-willed Gohan. You¡¯re a born killer. We¡¯re a lot alike.¡±


    Bra¡¯s eyes twitched, her temper flaring. ¡°I¡¯m nothing like you. I¡¯m no monster.¡±


    ¡°Hit a nerve, did I?¡± Cell replied. ¡°What¡¯s got you so tightly wound, I wonder? Something to do with your father? I¡¯ve seen the way he looks at you. He looks at me the same way.¡±


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Bra abandoned all pretense of control. She was ready to pound her opponent to dust.


    Streaks of light zipped across the battlefield as the two combatants engaged. Cell¡¯s teleportation helped keep him ahead, but Bra was quicker. Cell released a satisfying howl of pain as she punched him hard in the sternum. A blast blew into her face, but Bra didn¡¯t care, only striking her opponent harder. If Cell had bones, her blows would have crushed them to paste.


    Cell¡¯s attempts to defend himself turned desperate as Bra unleashed her fury. The bio-warrior quivered as she stood over him, fury burning in her eyes. ¡°Who¡¯s laughing now, Cell?¡±


    She moved to finish him, but something wet splashed against her leg. She looked down and gasped in shock. The flesh of her leg was hardening, graying into solid stone. Bra looked up to see Dabura the Demon King grinning a pleased smile at her. In the heat of battle, she hadn¡¯t noticed him.


    ¡°Bra!¡± Gohan said, eyes wide in shock. She hadn¡¯t noticed him either, apparently fighting the Demon King, until he¡¯d switched his attention to her. Bra had been vulnerable, and Dabura had taken advantage of it.


    ¡°Crap.¡± Bra¡¯s mind raced in pure panic, stared in stunned horror as the stone continued to spread across her leg. It wouldn¡¯t be long until it spread to her pelvis and torso. But pain exploded in Bra¡¯s vision as something struck her leg.


    The stoned leg fell to the ground, shattering into gray chunks. Blood oozed from where her leg had gotten cut, but it remained flesh, untouched by the stone curse. Bra stared up at her rescuer in amazement.


    ¡°You helped her?¡± Dabura said, eyebrow raised.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t have the fight end yet,¡± Cell said, flicking blood off his fingers. He saved her? Awkwardly, Bra used her ki to remain standing.


    While grateful for the rescue, it left Bra confused. Why help an enemy?


    To this, the Demon King only shrugged. ¡°Very well, enjoy your battle.¡±


    ¡°Bra, are you okay?¡± Gohan said, seething. From his raw anger, she guessed this was her Gohan.


    ¡°I¡¯ll manage. Watch your opponent next time, you doofus!¡± Bra replied. But she already felt her strength waning from the wound and loss of blood. Her half-brother paled, but nodded. He glared at his opponent, eager for some payback. But Bra zoned him out, her attention only on Cell.


    ¡°Thanks, I suppose. But you¡¯re likely going to regret it,¡± Bra said, teeth clenched. She¡¯d used her Senzu beans when she fought King Cold. She hadn¡¯t bothered obtaining new ones yet. And with the general chaos, she couldn¡¯t spot a Namekian to heal her. This wasn¡¯t good. This wound might cost her dearly.


    ¡°But I need you, Bra, if I¡¯m to get stronger,¡± Cell replied. ¡°When your father returns, I want to show him who the strongest, most perfect being in the Multiverse truly is.¡±


    Wounded as she was, Bra didn¡¯t bother wasting energy on a response and launched herself at her opponent. If she didn¡¯t finish him soon, she¡¯d be dead.


    ---


    ¡°W-what are you?¡± Pan stared at her counterpart, her body quivering uncontrollably. This type of ki was nothing she¡¯d ever sensed before. Even the evil warriors she¡¯d faced, like Cell, didn¡¯t have such vile ki. Wrongness seemed to ooze from her opponent.


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Anpan replied, twisting her head at an odd angle. ¡°What matters is the fight before you. All that matters is the next person you can slaughter.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Battle, death? That¡¯s what gives meaning to life. Without either, one can¡¯t live,¡± Anpan said. ¡°I shall teach you this lesson, Pan. A person can only live when they¡¯re free of any restraints!¡±


    ¡°Woah!¡± Pan ducked, just avoiding a wild blow. Her opponent had been so quick that she¡¯d almost missed the attack.


    ¡°Get it together, Pan. She¡¯s just trying to rile you up,¡± Pan thought. Her aura turned golden as she unleashed her full power. The Ginyu Force yelped in surprise as they flew off their feet, grunting in pain as they struck a nearby wall.


    ¡°Nice!¡± Little Pan said, throwing her counterpart a thumbs-up. ¡°Defeat that freak. I¡¯ll go after Babidi.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Just be careful!¡± Pan said. Many dangerous opponents were under the wizard¡¯s sway. With their ambush ruined, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to get to him. Still, with powerhouses like her Aunt Bra and her father, they could manage¡ªor so she hoped.


    ¡°Not so fast!¡± Bardock said, scowling as Pan abandoned the battlefield through the hole Guldo had created.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Burter said, rubbing his sore head. The alien¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at Pan and Anpan, palpable dread filling him. Without another word, he fled after Little Pan. His teammates did the same, eyeing both Pans with fear before retreating. Only Buu remained in the room, eying the impending contest with interest.


    ¡°Buu like this. Buu find you both fun!¡± the obese pink creature said, clapping his hands together. Pan wanted to remind him that protecting his master was more important, but closed her mouth. Little Pan didn¡¯t need more trouble after her. Besides, if Babidi forgot to order his chief protector to watch over him, it was his own darn fault. Pan exorcized him from her mind to focus on the greater threat.


    Anpan continued to study her, interested in what she might do next. The dark voice whispered to unleash her inner brutality, to rip her former body into bloody chunks. It surprised Pan with its volume and insistence, almost overpowering her. It whispered horrors in her ear, promising power to destroy her enemies if she only submitted. She trembled, having trouble keeping hold of her emotions. Anpan only smiled at her, her grin full of too many teeth. It reminded her of a nightmare, a half-forgotten memory. She¡¯d seen this nightmare who wore her face before.


    ¡°You! You¡¯re doing this to me somehow,¡± Pan said through gritted teeth. ¡°You¡¯re connected to why I¡¯m a zombie¡ªor the reason it happened in the first place!¡±


    ¡°Maybe? Maybe not,¡± Anpan said, skipping on her heel. ¡°I wonder. Hmm?¡±


    ¡°No more games!¡± Pan said, temper flaring. She held nothing back as she launched herself at her foe.


    ¡°Better!¡± Anpan laughed, grimacing as the blow connected. But her retaliatory strike was quick, driving Pan back. She blinked. Where had that blow come from?


    Pan¡¯s vision blurred as she had trouble following the fight. Despite her best efforts, the doppelg?nger¡¯s blows came from every direction they shouldn¡¯t. Her movements were sporadic and jerky, using a fighting style more feral than formal. Pan grimaced as a blow she should have dodged connected with a thud.


    ¡°What is her style?¡± Pan wondered, getting some distance from her foe. She circled, pushing her undead brain to figure out how her opponent fought. ¡°She¡¯s more illusion than person. And she hasn¡¯t even become a Super Saiyan yet.¡± A palpable feeling of dread grew in her chest at that possibility. Behind them, Buu clapped his hands, thoroughly entertained.


    ¡°My senses aren¡¯t making any sense.¡± Somehow, Anpan deceived the senses and muddled the mind.


    So Pan closed her eyes, focusing on her opponent¡¯s oily ki. It distorted and wavered, but was detectable. Pan¡¯s hearing heightened, hearing every rustle of Anpan¡¯s clothes and every footfall as her opponent lashed out at her. She smiled in contentment as she blocked a punch with a knee and connected her remaining arm with Anpan¡¯s head. It sent her opponent flying, crashing hard into a nearby wall.


    ¡°Ugh, nice hit,¡± Anpan said with a groan. But Pan didn¡¯t relent in her assault. Without her ability to distort Pan¡¯s senses, Anpan wasn¡¯t nearly as quick as she seemed. Pan blocked every blow and returned it with full force. Her opponent staggered back as a punch connected with her ribs.


    But instead of getting frustrated by the turn of fortunes, Anpan only laughed with glee. ¡°Yes, I was right to choose you! You have a killer¡¯s instincts! You pick apart your opponent¡¯s weaknesses and destroy them!¡±


    ¡°So you are behind me being a zombie!¡± Pan opened her eyes and glared at her doppelg?nger.


    ¡°Did I say that?¡± Anpan said, considering. ¡°Or did I not? I wonder.¡±


    ¡°What are you after?¡± Pan pressed.


    ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m after anything?¡± Anpan ignored Pan and watched the chaos unfolding outside. She smiled, pleased.


    Pan risked a glance outside, and a pit formed in her stomach. Bra was engaging Cell, and somehow she¡¯d lost a leg. She was floundering, hampered by blood loss.


    ¡°What am I doing?¡± Pan cursed her stupidity. She allowed herself to get distracted by Anpan. Villainous monster though she might be, Pan had bigger problems.


    With an extended hand, Pan blasted a hole through the window. ¡°We¡¯ll finish this later.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Anpan replied, saddened and outraged. ¡°Now? But we¡¯ve barely started! Oh, well! Time to play for keeps, then!¡± Pan jerked, her body convulsing as viscous ki struck her in waves.


    While golden light flared around Anpan, it seemed to suck the light in instead of emitting it. Her hair seemed more dirty blond than golden, the darkness of her ki suffocating, even to someone like Pan who didn¡¯t need to breathe. Nearby fighters on both sides passed out, collapsing in a heap. Even Pan had difficulty standing. Only Buu seemed immune. He beamed, more amused and delighted than ever.


    Anpan extended a finger and gestured for Pan to continue. ¡°Round two, then?¡± Even her voice sounded distorted, her words choppy and monstrous.


    ¡°It¡¯s like she is darkness itself,¡± Pan thought, marveling. Or the absence of light? Anpan oozed corruption, her ki distorting whatever it touched.


    ¡°Sorry, Dad, Bra, but there¡¯s someone I need to face first!¡± Pan¡¯s aura flared, pushing past the corrupted dark ki. She was a candle in a pitch-black room and took a fighting stance. ¡°Round two, then. I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Get back here!¡±


    Babidi yelped in fright as he narrowly dodged a beam that exploded over his head. Panic filled his wizened face as pieces of stone rained down on him, redoubling his efforts to escape on his stubby legs. He shrieked again as Little Pan appeared above him, her arm raised to smash his skull.


    ¡°Got you!¡± But her strike hit empty air. Little Pan blinked, confused. How the heck did that keep happening? Once again, Babidi appeared somewhere else.


    ¡°Hurry, hurry, hurry!¡± Guldo said, running alongside his master down the hallway as they fled certain defeat.


    But Little Pan only redoubled her effort, appearing ahead of them in a flash. They stared at her in abject terror.


    ¡°No! We aren¡¯t finished yet!¡± Guldo said, ki gathering. Little Pan raised an eyebrow, wondering what he could possibly do.


    His teammates had tried engaging her, only to find themselves completely outmatched. She had dispatched Burter with a single blow to the neck. Jeice collapsed after she punched his kidney. The final member, Recoome, froze in fear as he watched her take down his comrades with ease. He charged at her in reckless fury, only to end up collapsing in a heap. Bardock had disappeared somewhere, likely realizing the pointlessness of fighting her.


    ¡°Do your worst.¡± Pan said, puffing out her chest. Guldo clamped his hands together and roared.


    ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Little Pan gasped as she suddenly found herself unable to move. Somehow, the Ginyu Force member had stolen her ability to act.


    ¡°Can¡¯t move, can you?¡± Guldo sneered. ¡°You underestimated me, and now you¡¯re paying the price!¡± Little Pan cursed under her breath. She¡¯d dropped her guard and was paying for it. This wasn¡¯t good.


    ¡°Good work!¡± Babidi said, leering at Little Pan. ¡°And now we have this brat at our mercy!¡±


    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Guldo replied. ¡°What should we do to her? After what she did to our poor teammates, I think some payback¡¯s in order!¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Babidi said, his tone oily and cruel. ¡°How should we make this brat suffer?¡±


    ¡°Oh, shoot!¡± Little Pan¡¯s mind raced for a solution. Try as she might, her limbs refused to move.


    ¡°Super Saiyan!¡± If she transformed, Guldo¡¯s telekinesis wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. It¡¯d allow her to break this trap with ease, at least Little Pan hoped so.


    Guldo and Babidi stepped back as Pan¡¯s ki flared, exploding outward like a broken dam. Pan¡¯s mind turned to her predecessors. Her grandfather had transformed when his friend had died. Her father had transformed when he channeled his trauma and rage.


    Pan thought of her mother, who might be in terrible danger. Her thoughts drifted to her grandfather, fearing the worst. Babidi¡¯s magic had stolen him, taking him to who-knew-where. She channeled the helplessness she¡¯d felt when Bojack had captured her as a hostage against her Universe 16 counterpart. Her hair glowed golden as her fury built to a crescendo.


    But Pan collapsed to the floor, heaving with exhaustion. She punched the ground in frustration, angry at herself for failing to transform. Tears stung her eyes. Why couldn¡¯t she do it? Wasn¡¯t she angry enough?


    ¡°Huh?¡± Pan blinked, realizing Guldo¡¯s hold on her had broken. She glanced up to find Guldo and Babidi clutching each other, quivering in fear. Though she had failed to go Super Saiyan, her power had shattered Guldo¡¯s control. Wiping her tears away, she glared at the pair, embarrassed for crying in front of the pair of villains.


    ¡°You¡¯re done!¡± she declared. With a quick burst of ki, Little Pan unleashed a destructive wave of energy at them. The pair screamed, clutching each other even tighter.


    Before the blast connected, however, a figure appeared and slapped it away. The energy exploded against a nearby wall, shrouding the area in dust.


    ¡°Pathetic, both of you,¡± a familiar voice said with open disdain.


    ¡°Grandpa?¡± Pan asked, confused. But when the dust cleared, another Goku stood before them: Kakarot of Universe 13, the dark, insane Goku.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you,¡± he said. Unlike her grandfather, his face carried none of the warmth or childlike glee she knew. This was someone who relished causing pain. ¡°It vexes me you ran from our fight before it even started. But this time, there¡¯s no surrender. No bell.¡±


    Pan gasped at the overwhelming power radiating from him as he turned Super Saiyan, far beyond anything she could hope to face. Somewhere in the confusion, both Guldo and Babidi had both slipped away.


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry,¡± Kakarot said, flashing her a predatory grin that sent a chill down her spine. He pulled something from behind him, trusting it forward. ¡°I plan to make it interesting.¡±


    ¡°Pan, get out of here!¡± her mother cried, her voice weak with pain. Her attacker had beaten her nearly to death, barely hanging on.


    ¡°I¡¯m a fair man,¡± Kakarot said. He grasped a hand around her mother¡¯s neck. ¡°How about this? Turn Super Saiyan¡ªor your sweet, poor mother dies.¡±


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    So this in this timeline, Elder Kai didn¡¯t offer to unlock Raditz¡¯s hidden power. I suppose in this timeline, because Little Pan surrendered, Gohan didn¡¯t tell another from Universe 13 about the Elder Kai¡¯s power. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t sure how to use this potline, so I dropped it. Don¡¯t worry, I still plan to use Raditz for something.


    Next time!


    Bra vs Cell, Bra¡¯s desperate battle. Pan vs Anpan, hope vs corruption. Buu makes a surprising move. Little Pan faces the worst day of her life.

 Chapter 14

    ¡°No! It can¡¯t be!¡± Bardock said, his hand clenched against his head. His other hand supported him against the hallway wall.


    He stood transfixed in terror, shaking his head. Too terrible. Was that the future? Babidi¡¯s curse ordered him to chase after his great-granddaughter from another time, but Bardock ignored it. It paled compared to what he¡¯d seen. On trembling legs, he headed back the way he¡¯d come. Bardock hoped he wasn¡¯t too late. If what he¡¯d seen came to pass, they were all doomed.


    ---


    ¡°Mom!¡± Little Pan said, quivering. ¡°L-let her go!¡±


    ¡°I shall! If you entertain me enough. See, it ticks me off that you robbed me of a good fight. Your father begged and whined about giving you a fair fight, only for you to quit for no reason! You¡¯re meant to be my granddaughter. I expect big things from you, girl. Entertain me! Become a Super Saiyan. Show me your true potential!¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Little Pan floundered, lost what to do. She¡¯d already failed to transform, even when her life had been on the line. But Little Pan clenched a fist, ready to show her stuff. She¡¯d become a Super Saiyan and knock this guy¡¯s clock.


    ¡°Pan, no! Just run, please!¡± her mom howled before a fist collided with her neck. Her eyes closed and didn¡¯t reopen.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Little Pan said, horrified.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s still alive,¡± Kakarot said, his tone condescending. ¡°But she¡¯ll get worse in one minute if you don¡¯t transform. Unless you¡¯re a terrible daughter who doesn¡¯t care about her dear mother?¡±


    ¡°How can you do this?! In a way, we¡¯re blood!¡± Little Pan glared at Kakarot, tears welling in her eyes.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t raise you or your father,¡± the evil Goku said with a shrug.


    Rage burned in her chest as she gathered her power. She¡¯d show this jerk her true power. Her mind focused on a single image: her mother slumped in this heartless villain¡¯s hands. Her ki burned brighter and faster, raging like an inferno. Gold sparked in her hair as she screamed, channeling all her anger to rise to the next level.


    Kakarot watched her intently, curious about what would happen next. Her mother lay slumped in his grip, her breath faint as a whisper. He¡¯d hurt her to make her angry. Well, he¡¯d reap the folly of such an action!


    A roar escaped her lips as her power flared even brighter, rising to heights she¡¯d never realized were possible. Something in her chest tugged at her, pressing her to push even harder. Inside was a light, begging for Little Pan to reach toward it. A little further and she¡¯d have it!


    But her power failed, and Little Pan collapsed in a heap, heaving labored breaths. Tears leaked from her eyelids, frustrated with herself. How? Even with her mother in danger, she still failed? A sob escaped her lips, ugly and raw.


    ¡°Is that it?¡± Kakarot gave a derisive snort. ¡°And you¡¯re meant to be my blood? Or even a Saiyan? Pathetic. What a waste of time.¡±


    But then the villain paused, considering. Little Pan didn¡¯t like the grin he was giving her.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Kakarot dragged out the word. ¡°But maybe there¡¯s another way. More stimuli, you might call it. Yes, that should work!¡±


    Little Pan watched in horrified dread as the evil version of her grandfather drove a killing blow at her mother. Frozen, she watched helplessly in terror. But someone appeared from nowhere, tackling Kakarot from behind.


    ¡°You?¡± Little Pan blinked in confusion. Her unconscious mother dropped to the stone floor with an audible thud.


    ¡°Stop this right now, brother!¡± A battered Raditz said, arms around Kakarot¡¯s middle.


    ¡°Tsk. Really? You¡¯re getting in my way again?¡± An elbow pounded into Raditz¡¯s head, causing the other Saiyan to howl in pain. ¡°And what¡¯s with you, anyway? We slaughter innocents all the time. Why quibble here?¡±


    ¡°Because this is wrong. Cruel. She¡¯s our kin, in a way. It doesn¡¯t sit well with me,¡± Raditz replied, rubbing his bruised head. ¡°Snap out of it. You aren¡¯t acting like yourself. You¡¯re stronger than what is controlling you.¡±


    ¡°Resist this?¡± Kakarot spread out his hands. ¡°Never. I feel free, alive! Like I can do anything! And with my immortality, I¡¯m invincible! Nothing can stop me!¡±


    Immortality? What did that mean?


    ¡°Take your mother and run, girl. I¡¯ll hold him off,¡± Raditz grimaced as his brother turned Super Saiyan, but seemed ready to fight.


    ¡°Okay. Hold on, I¡¯ll get help!¡± In a dash, she grabbed her mother and darted away. She only needed to find her father. He¡¯d smash that so-called invincible, immortal warrior to a pulp.


    ¡°Hey! Come back here!¡± Kakarot said, annoyed. But Little Pan had already gone.


    She sped past corner after corner, not daring to look back. Little Pan, recalling the layout, figured she¡¯d be in the main arena after another right turn. She jerked back as she almost collided with someone.


    ¡°Whoa, careful!¡± a woman said. It was Phipsil the Heliorian. Her battle armor seemed battered, its wearer in terrible shape. She had lost an arm and was bleeding from multiple contusions. But worse was her expression¡ªshe seemed defeated.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Little Pan said, sympathetic.


    ¡°I¡­ he got us,¡± Phipsil replied, tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°I tried reasoning with him, but he won¡¯t listen.¡±


    ¡°Hey. Let¡¯s get you away from here,¡± Little Pan said. ¡°It isn¡¯t safe. We can talk there¡ª¡±


    Little Pan howled in fright as an explosion burst over her head, wincing as rubble rained on her. She glanced back in horror, already knowing who it was.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a little late for that, brat,¡± Kakarot said, his mouth extended into a sinister grin. ¡°Far too late.¡±


    ---


    Bra ducked and weaved, just keeping ahead of Cell¡¯s attacks. Her opponent was tireless and relentless as he pursued her. Every second drained her waning strength as her lifeblood continued to seep out. She¡¯d made a makeshift tourniquet from a torn piece of her pants, but she needed serious medical attention. Not that this stopped her, however.


    Energy gathered in her palms, and she rushed Cell with a speed that caught him off guard. She pressed her fingers against his chest, and her ki tore him into bloody chunks. But Bra didn¡¯t have the power to obliterate him completely, and her opponent laughed after regrowing his upper torso, hale as ever.


    ¡°Good, keep destroying me. I¡¯ll just come back stronger every time!¡± Cell said, laughing. This was why he¡¯d saved her from Dabura¡¯s stone curse¡ªso she¡¯d push him hard and encourage his power to grow stronger.


    ¡°This is bad,¡± Bra thought. She was running on fumes, her power ebbing out into almost nothing. ¡°I need to¡­¡± No, she couldn¡¯t do that. Despite her dire situation, fear sparked in her heart, cold and terrible.


    ¡°I can¡¯t! If I did¡­¡± Bra¡¯s mind whirled, fear suffocating her. This happened whenever she thought about the other Super Saiyan form she¡¯d gained at twelve. It¡¯d be a disaster, causing destruction beyond anyone¡¯s comprehension. It was why her father had labeled her a monster.Stolen story; please report.


    If she transformed, she might lose total control and destroy everything in her path, just like Broly. Everyone on the tournament planet and beyond would die. Fear and uncertainty plagued her as she struggled to figure out what to do.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the daughter of Vegito is finished already?¡± Cell mocked, goading her on.


    ¡°Bra!¡±


    Cell howled in pain as Gohan appeared from nowhere and elbowed him in the head. ¡°You¡¯re hurt! Get out of here. I¡¯ll handle this one. There are some Senzu beans in our apartment. Dad took extra to help with his hunger.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, Gohan,¡± Bra said, though without her usual venom. She¡¯d hit an impassible wall, much to her frustration. How could she be this weak? She was the Multiverse¡¯s greatest defender!


    ¡°Swapping out, are we?¡± Cell said, amused. ¡°Well, this matchup suits me just fine. Run off and heal, girl. I¡¯ll handle you later.¡±


    ¡°Asshole,¡± Bra muttered, darting away. Her flight, however, was unsteady, dizzy from blood loss.


    In her flight, she surveyed the scene. Bra spotted Demon King Dabura collapsed in a heap, dead or unconscious. A Piccolo still fought with the Frost Demon brothers, Frieza and Cooler. Both had mutated into grotesque monster forms by Babidi¡¯s vile magic, though Piccolo was wearing them down. Bra considered throwing a stray ki blast to help him, but she needed that power for her fight to their apartment. The other Gohan was nowhere in sight, and Bra couldn¡¯t sense him anywhere. She wondered if he was fighting deeper in the apartments somewhere.


    Many of the audience had already faced a terrible end, with only a few capable stragglers surviving the initial conflict. Some Heliorians were helping the surviving audience members get to safety, fending off any Maijin getting too close. She also spotted the other Piccolo facing a stray Cell Jr., who was putting up a tougher fight than she expected. Whatever. She ignored them and landed unsteadily at the entrance to the apartments. Throughout the halls, she heard distant fighting. Bra pressed a hand against the wall, using it to hobble her way through the halls. It¡¯d save her precious energy.


    A flash caught her eye, and she released the wall, just falling under a stream of light. Something sliced open the wall behind her, cutting through a decent chunk of the stadium seats.


    ¡°Lucky,¡± a man said, hand extended outward. It was the random Majinized Heliorian she¡¯d seen earlier. ¡°You won¡¯t be so lucky next time.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± Her limbs felt weak as she struggled to push herself up. In her weakened condition, even this goober was a threat.


    ¡°Cocky, but will you be so tough after this?¡± Another flash of light rushed at her, ripping through everything it touched. Unable to dodge in her condition, Bra howled in pain as the attack sliced off part of her shoulder. Bra made him pay for it, however, hurling a destructive ball of energy at him.


    But she forgot about his protective shield, and it bounced off harmlessly. Warm lifeblood soaked down her chest as she collapsed on the ground, helpless. Her heart skipped a beat as the Heliorian stood over her, weapon aimed at her head. In her condition, Bra was helpless to stop her sudden and painful death. The Heliorian smirked, savoring his victory. It gave her just enough time to raise her fingers to her forehead.


    ¡°What, another useless beam attack? Just try, I dare you.¡± The Heliorian presented his chest, arms wide open. But the fool hadn¡¯t a clue what she had planned. He gasped as Bra suddenly disappeared.


    Her years of trying to master her father¡¯s Instant Transmission had paid off. She collapsed in a bloody heap next to a surprised Piccolo and Cell Jr. Of everyone in the arena, he seemed her best bet to stay alive.


    ¡°Bra! Are you okay?¡± the Namekian asked in alarm.


    ¡°Damn you! Where¡¯d you disappear to, brat?¡± the Heliorian yelled.


    ¡°I sure as hell am not,¡± Bra replied. ¡°Cut your fight short and help me. I don¡¯t think I can last much longer.¡±


    Much to her confusion, the Cell Jr. gave her a strange look before smiling in victory.


    ¡°Well, this simplifies things! Change!¡± Bra gasped in surprise as a beam shot from the Cell Jr.¡¯s mouth into Piccolo¡¯s. Her uncle¡¯s demeanor changed drastically, turning cruel and sinister.


    ¡°What the?!¡± the Cell Jr. said, staring at his body in stunned horror. His bearing had changed as well, becoming strikingly familiar.


    ¡°That¡¯s better. That distraction you gave me was just what I needed, Bra.¡± the changed Piccolo said, flexing his arms. ¡°It¡¯s nice being tall again. Can¡¯t say I like the green, but at least I don¡¯t have stumps for limbs anymore.¡±


    ¡°What?! You stole my body?!¡± the Cell Jr. said.


    ¡°They changed bodies?¡± Bra stared in shock, unable to believe her eyes. Where the hell did that Cell Jr. learn that trick?


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The Piccolo gave an evil grin. ¡°But I suppose you don¡¯t recognize me, do you?¡± Much to Bra¡¯s bewilderment, Piccolo started posing, each one more ridiculous than the last. It made Bra wonder if her massive blood loss was causing her to suffer hallucinations.


    ¡°I am Captain Ginyu!¡± Piccolo declared, raising an arm high while holding the same-side leg against his back.


    ¡°Sorry, who?¡± Bra said, completely lost.


    The Cell Jr. uttered a curse. ¡°I assumed he was dead. He wasn¡¯t with the other Ginyu Force members.¡±


    ¡°Exactly what I wanted everyone else to think. But I was here the entire time¡ªsomeone you¡¯re all familiar with. Especially you, Bra.¡± The fake Piccolo gave Bra a look that chilled her to the bone. It was full of hatred and a desire for vengeance.


    Her mind raced, trying to put the pieces together. Then it all clicked into place. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not talking about King Cold, are you?¡± The Frost Demon lord had been strangely chummy with the other Ginyu Force members.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! And now some payback for that body you destroyed!¡± Ginyu-as-Piccolo said.


    ¡°Oh crap,¡± Bra muttered. She realized she¡¯d only made her situation worse. In her condition, she couldn¡¯t face a Piccolo. But she used her ki to rise shakily to her remaining foot. She refused to die like a helpless dog!


    ¡°We haven¡¯t lost yet,¡± Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. said, his tiny fist clenched.


    ¡°Will you now?¡± Ginyu-as-Piccolo replied, arms crossed. ¡°Show me what you¡¯ve got, then!¡±


    They fought together to subdue Ginyu, but his movements were devilishly quick. Her one leg hampered her ability to fight on the ground, but she pushed him for everything he was worth. She even landed some solid hits, surprising her opponent with her hidden, reserved strength.


    Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. did his best, but he wasn¡¯t used to fighting in such a strange, small body. Worse, Ginyu-as-Piccolo was adapting fast, each movement growing more adept with his new body. Bra¡¯s world became pain as Ginyu struck a blow to her wounded shoulder. But she paid him back for it, channeling her rage into a deadly body blow. Ginyu-as-Piccolo grimaced as her fist connected with his stomach.


    Abandoning any attempt to fight with fists and limbs alien to him, Piccolo stuck to beam attacks, pestering Ginyu-as-Piccolo as he fought off Bra.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Ginyu-as-Piccolo extended both arms and blew his opponents away. Bra did a somersault, and her back exploded in pain as she landed hard. She coughed blood as Ginyu-as-Piccolo landed a blow to her ribs, cracking several.


    Piccolo-as-Ginyu tried rushing to her aid, but an energy beam blasted into his face. It left Piccolo-as-Ginyu¡¯s face a real mess, almost unrecognizable.


    ¡°Better. This Namekian body is pretty good. I wanted your body, Bra, as revenge for the one you destroyed. But in your condition, it¡¯s worthless to me. Still, there''s another body that¡¯ll serve me even better!¡± Ginyu-as-Piccolo eyed her half-brother Gohan, who was still battling Cell. The two fought evenly, with Cell showing a surprising amount of strength.


    ¡°You¡¯re much stronger than when you faced Pan,¡± Gohan said, his breath heavy. He was still tired from his fight with Dabura.


    ¡°What? Did you think me content to stay weaker than some little girl?¡± Cell replied. ¡°No, your daughter isn¡¯t the only one determined to grow stronger. Since my defeat, I¡¯ve been training even hard for just this moment. This tournament has invigorated me. Back in my universe, I¡¯d grown bored. I fought and fought to reclaim the thrill of the Cell Games, but none could compete with me. But now I¡¯ve found real challenges, and I plan to surpass them to become the true ultimate being of the universe!¡±


    ¡°And what if you win? Say you beat Vegito, then what? There¡¯s no one left to challenge you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Then I will search the entire cosmos until I find a new one. The Vargas are fools. I doubt Vegito is the strongest in the multiverse. There must be someone stronger. I will find and defeat them.¡±


    This earned a chuckle from Gohan. ¡°Bold plan. But you have to defeat me first.¡± Bra marveled as Gohan revealed his true might, holding nothing back.


    ¡°Damn, you¡¯ve been holding back on me in our training sessions, Gohan,¡± Bra thought.


    ¡°Yes, that body will suit me nicely,¡± Ginyu-as-Piccolo said, eying her half-brother with naked avarice.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to get past me first!¡± Bra unleashed her waning power in a frontal charge.


    Ginyu-as-Piccolo howled in pain as her fist connected with his ribs. He staggered back, coughing blood. Even weak as a kitten, Bra knew how to throw a punch. Behind them, the fight between Cell and Gohan intensified. While Gohan had the lead, Cell was proving his match. The bio-warrior wouldn¡¯t be easy to defeat. Much to her annoyance, she caught the Majin Heliorian lurking in the rubble. As she exchanged blows with her opponent, she kept a keen eye on him, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t cause more trouble for her.


    ¡°You¡¯re a tough one,¡± Ginyu-as-Piccolo said, a smirk on his face. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t use your body.¡±


    ¡°Please, you¡¯d spoil this beauty,¡± Bra replied, relaunching her assault.


    With her injuries, holding back wasn¡¯t an option before her body failed her. She weaved through a barrage of ki blasts and delivered a right hook to Ginyu-as-Piccolo¡¯s jaw. But her opponent smirked, more amused than hurt. Pain blinded her as her opponent struck her shoulder wound. But Bra blasted him in the face, stunning him. Before he could recover, Piccolo-as-Ginyu joined the fray, hurling his body¡¯s thief away with a flying kick.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m getting used to this body,¡± Piccolo-as-Ginyu said. His face had recovered, sharing Cell¡¯s unique ability to heal.


    ¡°Together, we might get him,¡± Bra said, heaving. The lightheadedness was getting worse. She wouldn¡¯t last much longer.


    After a snort of amusement, Ginyu-as-Piccolo engaged them. Despite being two-on-one, they weren¡¯t able to do much to him. Bra watched in horror as their opponent gathered a ki blast in his hand and sent Piccolo-as-Ginyu flying. It exploded against some nearby stands, likely killing Piccolo outright. Dread gathered in her chest as he faced her, ki gathering in his palm for a repeat.


    ¡°This has been fun. But it¡¯s time to say goodbye.¡± Before Ginyu-as-Piccolo could kill her, a flying knee struck the back of the skull. His eyes bulged, and the blow sent him flying well across the arena.


    ¡°Gohan!¡± Bra said in relief.


    ¡°You okay, Bra?¡± Gohan asked with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll survive, but thanks.¡± This time, she spoke without sarcasm, only gratitude.


    ¡°I saw what was happening. Piccolo wasn¡¯t himself. What happened? Did Babidi¡¯s magic take him over? Hard to believe Piccolo would fall prey to his magic so easily.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Captain Ginyu! He somehow stole Piccolo¡¯s body!¡± But to Bra¡¯s surprise, this bizarre explanation made sense to her half-brother.


    ¡°I see. I thought it was strange he hadn¡¯t appeared with Frieza and the other Ginyu Force members. Up to his old tricks again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen this before?¡± She needed to pay better attention to her father¡¯s and half-brother¡¯s old stories.


    ¡°When I was a kid. Ginyu stole Dad, sorry, Goku¡¯s body. We almost didn¡¯t survive.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell me about it later.¡± Bra tensed as Cell flew toward them.


    ¡°If you¡¯re done with this distraction, how about we continue our fight?¡± Cell asked, arms crossed.


    ¡°I¡¯m all yours, Cell,¡± Gohan said. ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Gohan, look out!¡± Bra rushed forward, but her weakened body couldn¡¯t push her half-brother hard enough. Without strong ki, they hadn¡¯t sensed their attacker¡¯s approach. She watched in horror as a beam of light sliced her half-brother in half.


    ¡°Ha! Got you!¡± the Majin Heliorian said, grinning in triumph.


    ---


    Author¡¯s Note:


    Yeah, I wasn¡¯t able to get to Pan vs Anpan in this chapter. The Bra and Little Pan fights plots took a bit longer than I expected. But don¡¯t worry, the fight will continue in the next chapter.


    Next time!


    Little Pan unleashes her true power. Bra and Piccolo struggle to survive against Captain Ginyu, Gohan¡¯s noble sacrifice. Pan vs Anpan, Buu makes a surprising move.

 Chapter 15

    ¡°Ha! Ha! I did it!¡± the Majin Heliorian said, grinning ear to ear.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Gohan coughed up blood. He squirmed, his upper torso the only thing that remained of his body. He had at best half a minute to live.


    ¡°Gohan!¡± Unexpected tears stung Bra¡¯s eyes. She thought she was strong, but seeing her half-brother dying in a bloody mess tore into her soul. She regretted each haughty remark she¡¯d given him over her life. Her fist trembled with emotion. ¡°Bastard!¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. trembled with equal emotion. Even inside this foreign body, he radiated a fury she¡¯d never seen from the Namekian before.


    ¡°Ha! And what about it?¡± the Majin Heliorian said, arms crossed. ¡°You can¡¯t beat me! I have more than enough energy to handle both of you!¡± His smirk widened as Cell appeared behind him. ¡°Say, pal, how about we kill these fools quickly and return to Lord Babidi? The other Gohan and the Kais still pose a threat. I haven¡¯t seen them, but if they¡¯re anything like these idiots, they¡¯ll be dead as quick as you can blink!¡±


    ¡°Silence, fool.¡± Cell extended a hand forward. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your irritating yapping. You cost me a good fight.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you can¡¯t be serious! I¡¯m on your side!¡± The Majin Heliorian tried raising his shield to stop the traitorous Majin. Cell broke through his pathetic defenses with ease.


    ¡°No!¡± The blast obliterated the Majin Heliorian to dust. His audience watched his sudden ruination in utter shock.


    ¡°What? But aren¡¯t you on Babidi¡¯s side?¡± Bra asked, her mouth hanging open.


    Despite dying, Gohan uttered a choking laugh. ¡°Thought so. Like Vegeta, Babidi couldn¡¯t control you either.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Cell replied. ¡°Someone of my superior mind would never fall prey to such a petty, simple mind trick.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± Bra asked, tightening her fist as she prepared to fight.


    ¡°Like I said earlier, there¡¯s no point in challenging someone who can¡¯t fight me,¡± Cell replied. ¡°My goal has never changed. I will defeat the multiverse¡¯s strongest fighters and achieve ultimate perfection.¡±


    Seeing no reason to continue their conversation, Cell flew off for better prey. Most likely, it was the other Gohan.


    ¡°Sorry, Gohan. We¡¯ll wish you back as soon as we can,¡± Bra said, grabbing her half-brother¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Are those tears, Bra? Funny, I didn¡¯t know you cared,¡± the dying Gohan said with a slight smirk on his bloody lips.


    ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± Bra said, jerking her hand away and pushing her half-brother hard in the chest. She wasn¡¯t blushing, and would deny the allegation to her dying day.


    ¡°We better get you a healer, Bra. You¡¯re one step in the grave yourself,¡± Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. said.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ll have to carry me. I¡¯m running on empty,¡± Bra replied. She jerked in surprise as Gohan¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Cell, look out!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Cell said in confusion. Much to her horror, she realized what her half-brother meant.


    ¡°Change!¡± A beam shot towards Cell. Distracted by his search for stronger opponents, he hadn¡¯t noticed Ginyu-as-Piccolo sneaking up beneath him. Bra watched in helpless horror as Ginyu stole the strongest body on the planet.


    But Gohan was quick on the uptake, planting an arm on the ground and launching himself toward the beam with one desperate ki blast. With remarkable luck and precision, Gohan landed the mark.


    ¡°What the heck?!¡± Cell said, befuddled.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Gohan said, landing painfully on some rubble. ¡°No! Not this body!¡± Ginyu struggled and squirmed, trying to position his half-body to find another body to steal. But Bra beat him to the punch. Ginyu-as-Gohan¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the palm directed at his face.


    ¡°No! C¡ª¡± Those were Ginyu¡¯s last words as Bra blasted him to dust with her remaining energy. She collapsed to her remaining knee, totally spent.


    ¡°What the?¡± Cell said, bewildered. ¡°She killed him?¡±


    ¡°You should thank them both,¡± Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. said. ¡°Ginyu almost stole your body.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Cell peered at his so-called son more closely. ¡°Piccolo, is that you?¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. confirmed the question with a snort.


    Cell shook his head. ¡°I thought one of my children was acting strangely. That must have been Ginyu. And I suppose that¡¯s you in Piccolo¡¯s body now, Gohan?¡±


    ¡°I must admit, since childhood, I¡¯ve always wanted to be Piccolo. I never thought I¡¯d literally become him,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, testing his fingers in awestruck amazement.


    ¡°How amusing,¡± Cell said with a slight chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll consider this payment for sparing your lives earlier.¡± With greater speed, he flew away.


    ¡°What?! What type of thanks is that?!¡± Bra fumed but allowed the bio-warrior to leave. Still, how would they return everyone to their rightful bodies?


    ¡°Have to say, Bra. I thought you¡¯d hesitate a little more,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, amused.


    ¡°Please, that wasn¡¯t my brother,¡± Bra rolled her eyes. ¡°Enough stupid jokes. I need a healer right now.¡±


    Despite their victory, unease was creeping into her. She knew in her bones they hadn¡¯t won yet. Still, with Cell, Babidi¡¯s greatest warrior, going rogue, who could challenge them still? Despite that reassurance, her unease didn¡¯t ebb, heightened as her half-brother¡¯s expression turned to shock.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bra asked.


    ¡°No!¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, grief written all over his face. It turned to rage, flying off before Bra could ask what was wrong.


    ---


    ¡°You really thought you could run, silly girl?¡± Kakarot said, his smile sardonic.


    ¡°You! Get behind me! I¡¯ll protect you!¡± Phipsil said, taking a protective stance in front of Little Pan.


    Not good. Little Pan hadn¡¯t expected her grandfather¡¯s evil counterpart to catch up to them so quickly. ¡°Why are you even chasing me? Even if I become a Super Saiyan, I probably can¡¯t even beat you!¡±


    But Kakarot only shrugged. ¡°Call it scientific curiosity. We Saiyans live to fight, and I want to see if you can amuse me.¡± Then, with startling speed, he struck.


    Phipsil winced as Kakarot struck against her shield with terrifying force. It drove her back, but she stood firm. The Heliorian extended an arm and shot energy balls at Kakarot point-blank. While one struck him right in the chest, he slipped around the others with ease.


    ¡°That hurt!¡± Kakarot extended both hands and shot a barrage of careless ki blasts at them. Little Pan screamed as one exploded over her. She shielded her mother with her body and worked with Phipsil to deflect the attack. She was panting as she broke each apart with her fists.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t use your shield that time,¡± Little Pan whispered.


    ¡°My energy is very low,¡± Phipsil whispered back. ¡°Keep him distracted¡ªI think I can land a killing blow.¡±


    With an almost indistinct bow of her head, Little Pan nodded in the affirmative. It was time they disproved his ludicrous claim that he was immortal.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± With delicate care, she placed her mother against a nearby wall.


    ¡°Pan.¡± Her mother rasped out, but when she saw the determination in her daughter¡¯s face, she gave Little Pan a slight smile. ¡°Go get him. You¡¯re just like your dad¡ªyou can¡¯t help but fight to protect people. Be careful.¡±


    ¡°How touching!¡± Kakarot said with a sardonic smile. He extended both hands, exposing himself and dropping his guard. ¡°Come on, then. Entertain me.¡±


    Phipsil and Little Pan exchanged a look, then launched themselves at Kakarot at once. While the evil Goku outclassed them both, they pushed him hard. Amused, he engaged them, deflecting each blow. He smirked as he caught a blow aimed at his back, and Little Pan howled in pain as he elbowed her in the face. Blood oozed from her nose, but she only fought harder.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Phipsil howled in pain from a punch to the chest, her armor cracking. She doubled over, collapsing on the ground.


    ¡°And now it¡¯s just us!¡± Kakarot launched a vicious assault, each blow landing painfully. He tore her defenses apart with ease.


    A kick sent her flying, and Little Pan pinballed against the walls, landing painfully on the cement floor. But she refused to surrender and regained her feet. Her bravado was in vain, though, as a punch blew the wind out of her.


    With a hand, Kakarot lifted her. ¡°Pathetic.¡± But he frowned as Little Pan smiled at him. ¡°What?¡±


    A beam of light flashed behind him, and Kakarot¡¯s head collapsed off his body. He toppled like a mighty tree, dead.


    ¡°Sorry, but I couldn¡¯t leave anything to chance,¡± Phipsil said, her finger still extended. ¡°That was the last of my power.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. He paid for his arrogance.¡± Some immortal. What a foolish braggart he¡¯d been¡ªnothing like her humbler grandfather. Little Pan removed Kakarot from her thoughts and focused on her wounded mother. ¡°Are you okay, Mom? Do you need a Senzu bean?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be okay,¡± her mom replied, struggling to her feet. ¡°What about you?¡± She seemed more worried about her daughter than herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll manage.¡± Like her mother, she didn¡¯t want to admit the severity of her injuries, either. Little Pan squinted and scanned her surroundings. It was still chaotic, but she sensed the situation was dying down. Most of Babidi¡¯s forces had either retreated or fallen. She saw her father engaging with Cell, who still seemed all full strength.


    Whatever. It¡¯s fine. Dad beat him once before, and he¡¯ll do it again. Though, she was worried when she spotted Bra. Her alternate aunt seemed really roughed up, but distance made it difficult to tell her situation.


    Unable to help her father against Cell, Little Pan made another plan. ¡°Let¡¯s help the other survivors.¡± It seemed unlikely she¡¯d find Babidi among the labyrinthine corridors, nor was she in any shape to fight a serious opponent. It¡¯d be best to help get Phipsil and her mom to safety. She frowned as she caught the Heliorian¡¯s expression. It was one of fright.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Little Pan stared in shock at the person standing to her right, a pit of dread forming in her stomach. ¡°Impossible.¡±


    ¡°Hi,¡± Kakarot said, hale and alive. After a mocking smile, he punched Phipsil hard in the stomach. She didn¡¯t rise again. Kakarot flicked blood from his hand.


    ¡°But you died!¡± She¡¯d seen his head come off!


    ¡°I said I was immortal, didn¡¯t I? I used the Immortal Dragon of my universe to wish for it,¡± Kakarot replied, though a frown creased his mouth. ¡°You can¡¯t imagine how annoying it is to find and reattach your head. I¡¯m going to enjoy this.¡±


    ¡°Pan!¡± Her mom watched helplessly as Kakarot wailed on her, so quick that his prey didn¡¯t even respond. Pain became her world as he pounded into her, relishing her helplessness.


    ¡°You pushed me harder than most, but in the end, you¡¯re nothing but a disappointment. You bore me now.¡± Kakarot tossed Little Pan hard against a nearby wall, smearing it with blood.


    Her opponent¡¯s blows left her face badly bruised, unable to open one eye. Her good eye widened as he stalked toward her, his killing intent evident. She gasped as she sensed something, her heart going dead. Her father¡¯s ki had disappeared. Had he just died? No! Impossible! Tears streamed down her cheeks, her pain forgotten.


    Her attacker paused, sensing her father¡¯s death, too. ¡°He died already? Pity. Oh, well. Might as well finish this game.¡± He stabbed a hand forward, ready to impale her. Little Pan groaned but found no strength to rise and defend herself. A hot, coppery liquid splashed on her face, but it wasn¡¯t hers.


    ¡°M-Mom.¡± Despair struck her heart as she saw the hand that stabbed through her mother¡¯s chest. Her mother collapsed in a heap, but her face held a smile, using her remaining strength to show her daughter how much she loved her. ¡°Mom!¡±


    Little Pan grabbed hold of her mom, shaking her in a vain hope she¡¯d rouse again. ¡°Mom!¡±


    Kakarot only laughed, amused. ¡°How pointless. All she did was give her daughter a few seconds longer of life!¡±


    A sob escaped Little Pan¡¯s lips as she buried her head into her mother¡¯s cooling body. How could this happen? She¡¯d lost both her parents in a matter of moments. It seemed unreal, impossible.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, little girl,¡± Kakarot said in mock sympathy. ¡°You¡¯ll be joining her soon.¡±


    Her mom¡¯s killer¡¯s mocking words pierced her grief, sparking something inside her. To him, her pain was a joke, a way to amuse himself.


    ¡°You.¡± Little Pan¡¯s voice trembled with pent-up emotion. ¡°You murderer!¡±


    The fire inside her burned hotter and brighter, a supernova of power and light. She took it all inside her without hesitation, caring little if it burned her alive from the inside. ¡°Murderer!¡±


    Shock replaced Kakarot¡¯s laughter as Little Pan stood, her ki rising to unprecedented heights. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± Her grief and pain fueled the supernova even hotter until it exploded.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you get away with this.¡± A golden aura blazed around Little Pan.


    But Kakarot didn¡¯t seem too concerned, more amused than anything. ¡°What do you know? All it took was a death of someone close to become a Super Saiyan? But I was wasting my time. You¡¯re still nothing but an insect compared to me! Still, it should offer some amusement.¡±


    ¡°A game, is this?¡± The nova inside her wasn¡¯t content. No, it was still ready to burn even brighter. She hated Kakarot with her entire being, and that anger drove her to grab the light inside her with both hands. It burned her soul to grasp it, pain beyond anything she¡¯d ever felt. But Little Pan didn¡¯t care. She¡¯d take this power and destroy him. Kakarot stopped laughing as she screamed, blown off his feet by its sheer power.


    ¡°What? What is this?¡± Kakarot trembled, staring at her in shock.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted? To see my true power? Here it is.¡± Somehow, she¡¯d pushed past Super Saiyan into another form altogether. She glared down at Kakarot with cold eyes. Her fury had pushed past a raging inferno and become an arctic wind.


    Every thought was clear and calm as she planned her opponent¡¯s demise. ¡°You say you¡¯re immortal? I¡¯m going to make you wish you weren¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± Kakarot backed away in fright, a bully who¡¯d realized he¡¯d picked on the wrong person. ¡°It was all just a joke! We¡¯ll wish them back, no problem! There¡¯s no need for¡­¡±


    A fist drove hard into her opponent¡¯s chest, hard enough to shatter his armor. Kakarot howled in pain, blood staining his teeth. He gritted his teeth, sending a wild blow in his attacker¡¯s direction. But he might as well have been attacking smoke.


    Another fist drove into his chest, the blow even harder. A crater formed where he struck the ground. Kakarot released a wheezing moan, eyes widening in terror as Little Pan stood over him, her eyes frigid and merciless.


    She struck him again, the crater beneath Kakarot widening to a gulf. Still, Little Pan didn¡¯t stop. Blow after blow struck her opponent, each with greater power. One punch became dozens of punches, hundreds, then thousands. His immortality stirred her into even more mercilessness. There was no anger¡ªher heart was a block of ice. She wailed at him, each blow targeting Kakarot¡¯s most vulnerable points. Her target lost any ability to fight back, completely helpless against the onslaught. And Kakarot didn¡¯t die; his immortality kept his body from getting blown to pieces. When she stopped, his body was a crumpled, broken heap.


    ¡°Still together, huh?¡± Little Pan said, speaking to no one. Her victim long had since losing consciousness. She stood in a pile of rubble, a good chunk of the tournament planet reduced to a gaping hole. ¡°Oh well.¡±


    She lifted a fist for another punch, but a green hand caught hers. ¡°Enough. You have him beaten.¡±


    A crack spidered across her frozen heart. ¡°Uncle Piccolo?¡± The cracks widened and splintered until her inner emotions broke through, shattering the ice.


    ¡°Uncle Piccolo!¡± She dropped the unconscious Kakarot and sobbed into the Namekian¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Hey there. It¡¯s okay.¡± Piccolo stroked the back of her head, tender and loving. She bawled into him until she regained some semblance of composure.


    ¡°It¡¯s Dad and Mom. They¡¯re both¡­¡± Little Pan¡¯s voice cracked.


    ¡°I felt it,¡± Piccolo said, his voice hard. ¡°He was the one who killed her, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Something about the Namekian¡¯s tone confused her. Uncle Piccolo usually didn¡¯t get this emotional. His stoic face broke into a wide grin. ¡°But you sure showed him, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯m amazed you were able to awaken such power within you.¡±


    A Cell Jr. appeared, a pleased smile on his face. ¡°You reached Super Saiyan 2. Incredible. I didn¡¯t realize that was possible for someone who wasn¡¯t even a regular Super Saiyan yet.¡± The bio-monster¡¯s appearance put Little Pan on her guard, but something about his expression troubled her. It was far too familiar somehow.


    Then Bra from Universe 16 appeared, her appearance bloody and haggard. ¡°What a mess. Nice work.¡± She looked at Little Pan with open awe. ¡°How did you do it? Control your power, I mean.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Little Pan replied. She gestured to what remained of Kakarot. This earned an amused snort from Bra.


    ¡°Still, I¡¯m confused.¡± She pointed at the odd Cell Jr. ¡°Did he switch sides?¡±


    Piccolo rubbed the back of his neck, an odd gesture from the Namekian. Something about it was familiar. ¡°That¡¯s a long story.¡± He bent down to Little Pan¡¯s eye level. ¡°We¡¯ll wish her back, okay? She might not be my wife, but I won¡¯t allow her to stay dead.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Little Pan blinked, trying to put it all together. She stared into Piccolo¡¯s eyes, seeing something unmistakably familiar. ¡°D-Dad?¡±


    ¡°You got it. Though I¡¯m the Gohan from Universe 16,¡± Piccolo replied, chagrined. ¡°Still, you¡¯re my daughter, regardless of the universe you come from.¡±


    ¡°How? Why?¡± So her dad was okay then? She stared at the Cell Jr. ¡°Are you the real Piccolo?¡± The Cell Jr. only gave a firm nod of agreement.


    ¡°Are you someone else too?¡± Little Pan asked Bra.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s me,¡± Bra replied. ¡°But how about we get me some help already? Or would you rather have me bleed to death?¡± Much to Little Pan¡¯s shock, she realized her alternate aunt was missing a leg, just barely keeping afloat with ki.


    ¡°Sorry, Bra,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo replied. ¡°I almost forgot. No more distractions. We are getting you help now.¡± A smile quirked at Little Pan¡¯s mouth, eager to see Big Sis¡¯s reaction to her father being Piccolo now, but Bra needed her help first.


    ¡°You better!¡± Bra said to her half-brother.


    ¡°And on the way, please tell me what happened!¡± Little Pan floated alongside them. She gave Kakarot a sour look, but she doubted he¡¯d cause trouble anytime soon. And if he did, he¡¯d face her wrath once again.


    ---


    A fist flew past Pan¡¯s face¡ªor that¡¯s what she initially thought. Even with her eyes closed, Anpan continued to distort everything around her. Pan grunted as she took a blow to the chin, sending a barrage of ki blasts in every direction in retaliation. If she couldn¡¯t trust her senses, she¡¯d attack with something her opponent couldn¡¯t easily dodge. At this range, Anpan would have trouble avoiding them all.


    And she scored a few lucky hits, blasting her opponent back. Instead of being pained or annoyed by the damage, Anpan seemed enthused. Her Cheshire-like grin seemed a phantom image as it stretched across her face, dangling arms swaying like a demented pendulum.


    ¡°Yes, yes. Fight me! Grow stronger! Feast on my blood!¡± Anpan said.


    ¡°I will do no such thing!¡± Pan shot back, disturbed.


    Her mind raced, trying to figure out how to conquer this foe. It wasn¡¯t just that Anpan¡¯s attacks were erratic with no recognizable fighting style, or that she deceived the senses. No, reality itself seemed corrupted by her very presence. Combined with her Super Saiyan powers, she was trickier than even Cell to defeat.


    While they¡¯d exchanged blows, the fight hadn¡¯t progressed at all. Anpan seemed content playing with her, drawing out her strength and battle lust. Behind them, Buu continued to cheer them on, delighted by their battle. In the commotion, Pan had almost forgotten about him.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay here forever,¡± Pan thought and took a risk. No more pussyfooting around. Her ki erupted like a volcano as she pulled from her deepest reserves. It¡¯d drain her already-depleted ki¡ªshe still hadn¡¯t fully recovered from her fight with Tapion¡ªbut the others were in danger.


    ¡°Oh, ho!¡± Anpan said, a fire of delight burning like dark flames behind her eyes. ¡°Are we getting serious? I will too!¡±


    The miasma around her opponent flowed like a tainted river, poisoning everything it touched. The stone in the room they stood inside blackened and warped. Anyone unlucky enough to be close to their fight collapsed, their form warped and mangled beyond recognition. Only Pan¡¯s undead nature saved her from being affected¡ªor was it because they shared the same dark power? It did not bother Buu either, not surprising for a construct of evil magic.


    ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Anpan asked, her voice so distorted her words were almost unrecognizable. Her blow knocked Pan off her feet, so quick she hadn¡¯t even seen her opponent move.


    Gritting her teeth, Pan launched her counter-assault. But it was like trying to fight smoke¡ªher opponent everywhere and nowhere at once. While Anpan¡¯s blows weren¡¯t as powerful as Pan¡¯s, it didn¡¯t matter when you couldn¡¯t defend yourself. Still, one of Pan¡¯s flailing blows landed, giving her a vague idea of where her opponent was.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± Pan waved her blast into a destructive wave, obliterating the apartments into rubble. She released an unnecessary breath, scanning the cloud of brick dust for her opponent. Had she gotten her? A sudden blow to the back of the neck was her answer.


    ¡°Close, you almost had me!¡± Anpan¡¯s playful voice said. Pan threw a fist back at her, but it only struck open air.


    ¡°If only I could sense her!¡± Pan thought in frustration. ¡°Come on, Pan, think. There must be a way to win.¡±


    ¡°We share power¡ªis that something I can use?¡± Pan knew she was grasping at straws with this observation.


    Or was it? She recalled how she¡¯d used her ki-draining power to knock Tapion unconscious. Could she pull Anpan¡¯s dark power into herself? Was that even safe to try? When she looked into Anpan¡¯s demented Cheshire smile, she decided it was worth the risk. This girl offended her to her primal being. Anpan''s very existence was a blasphemy against nature.


    The two combatants darted like bolts of shadow as they zipped across the air. Pan put all her energy into sheer speed, hoping to move quicker than her opponent¡¯s confusing distortions. It worked, putting Anpan on the defensive. Pan landed blow after blow, never letting up her attack. While Anpan¡¯s battle style was erratic and primal, it lacked any defensive capability. Her opponent howled as a blow connected with her ribs, hard enough to knock the wind from her. Pan reached out to grab her, but her opponent pivoted away.


    ¡°Yes! Yes! So strong!¡± Anpan cackled in delight. Energy gathered in her palms, unleashing orbs of pure darkness around her. ¡°Void Walkers!¡±


    Hundreds of orbs flew at Pan, each one hurting her eyes as she looked at them. In a snap decision, she gathered ki into her palm and fired into the incoming orbs.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡± Much to her shock, the orbs distorted her ki blast, redirecting it in random directions like demented ping-pong balls. Pan was suddenly in more danger from her own attack than the orbs, wincing as one scored a hit on her ribs. It left a black hole in her shirt.


    ¡°Oh, shoot!¡± The full assault of void orbs bombarded her. She weaved through them, but they seemed endless, redirected by the playful Anpan. She watched as one smashed into a pile of rubble. The rock blackened before dissolving into dust. Gulping, she made careful aim to avoid getting hit. But a sudden blast flew toward her, almost causing a fatal distraction. She winced as she just ducked under an orb. Pan glared at Anpan.


    Anpan continued to shoot irritating ki shots at her, some almost impossible to avoid, as she waved around the void orbs. So Pan took the less damaging option¡ªtaking stinging blasts if it meant dodging an orb. They wore her down, but Pan kept moving, aiming toward her foe.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Anpan¡¯s next ki shot was more powerful than the previous one, the impact almost driving Pan into a void orb. Somehow, she stabilized enough to avoid a collision. She glared at her opponent.


    ¡°I can¡¯t dodge forever.¡± Pan came to a snap decision. If her ki couldn¡¯t harm the orbs, that what about this? She screamed, creating a gust of power. It created a whirlwind that blew everything around her away, even the void orbs. While they destroyed everything in their path, the orbs were at least eradicated.


    ¡°Nice going, you did it!¡± Anpan said in congratulations. Little remained of the apartment they¡¯d been fighting in, beyond piles of dark ash. She looked around but couldn¡¯t locate Buu anywhere. Had the void orbs killed him?


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Pan replied sarcastically. Her body sagged, worn thin. The outburst of ki had drained her. Darkness was already creeping into her vision. Her opponent, however, seemed ready for ten more rounds, loving every moment of their fight.


    Still, Pan sensed that the Void Walkers attack had drained Anpan¡¯s power considerably. She¡¯d risked an exorbitant amount of ki to use it. Even her distortions seemed less lively than before. Pan held nothing back as she launched her final assault.


    The sheer ferocity of her attack caught Anpan off guard. Pan launched a ki blast past her opponent¡¯s face, surprising her as it suddenly exploded. The blast cleared the distortion just enough to give Pan a clear image of Anpan. The doppelganger gasped as Pan grabbed her wrist and refused to let go.


    ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Anpan said in obvious distress, but Pan didn¡¯t care.


    Through their contact, Pan sensed the dark power within Anpan crashing like an eternal sea storm on a dark ocean. The seas of her power were like an oily sap, cloying and viscous.


    A wave of revulsion passed through Pan as she absorbed it. It was both sickly and sweet, and it disturbed her how much she enjoyed tasting it. She suddenly released Anpan¡¯s arm, shivering in disgust.


    ¡°We¡¯re done here.¡± Pan could have stolen more, but she feared what might happen if she did.


    Much to her annoyance, Anpan seemed satisfied despite her loss. She didn¡¯t even seem drained, despite the amount of ki Pan had stolen from her. ¡°That power can be yours, Pan. Just take it. You should be its master.¡±


    ¡°Why? Who are you?¡±


    Anpan opened her mouth to answer, but Pan gasped as a wave of pink flowed toward them. Still exhausted from their fight, neither combatant had the strength to fight back.


    A head poked out of the pink blob¡ªBuu¡¯s face. ¡°Buu like you. You are like Buu. Me make your power mine. Me show Uub who is strongest!¡±


    Pan cursed, realizing this had been Buu¡¯s game. Buu had been standing in the background, waiting for Anpan and Pan to exhaust themselves until they were weak enough for him to easily absorb. They both fought against it, but they were too exhausted from their previous battle.


    But a golden orb shot out and exploded between Pan and Anpan. It gave her dark counterpart enough room to rip free and fly away. Pan tried to do the same, but Buu was faster, dedicating his strength to consuming her instead.


    ¡°No! It didn¡¯t work!¡± Bardock said, eyes wide in utter shock. ¡°I couldn¡¯t completely stop the future I saw!¡±


    But Pan didn¡¯t have time to puzzle out what this meant, as the pink blob absorbed her completely¡ªand she became part of Buu.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    Next time:


    The Ginyu Force faces off against the Supreme Kai¡¯s to defend Babidi. Buu¡¯s new, terrifying form! Can anyone stop Pan Buu? And Mary Sue locates the tournament fighters.

 Chapter 16

    ¡°You¡¯ve given us a merry chase, Babidi, but we have you cornered,¡± Lila said, pleased. After a tedious runaround, they had their prey trapped in a dead-end corridor.


    The decrepit wizard shook in abject terror, frantically search around for any escape. Beside him, the green-toad Ginyu Force member trembled, his breath heaving. He¡¯d used his time-stopping power to slip through their grasp, but he¡¯d overused it. Cornered with five gods looming over him, there was nowhere to run.


    ¡°Surrender. You have lost,¡± the Grand Supreme Kai said, his voice pleasant and non-threatening. ¡°If you do, we promise not to harm you. We will return you to your universe, and the matter will be forgotten.¡±


    ¡°Better than what he deserves,¡± South gave a snort of derision. Lila agreed, preferring to blow the pair to bits right here, but the Grand Supreme Kai wanted to offer mercy first.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make this more difficult, Babidi.¡± East said, crossing his arms.


    ¡°Yes, you have lost. Enough.¡± North said.


    ¡°I, uh¡­¡± Indecision wracked Babidi¡¯s features. While still defiant, he didn¡¯t want to die, either. ¡°That stupid Buu! If only he hadn¡¯t abandoned me!¡± He stomped around in impotent rage.


    ¡°Where is Buu?¡± Lila asked, a touch of worry sparking within her. That creature was unpredictable and dangerous. She knew not to underestimate him, despite his silly appearance and disposition. They¡¯d seen what he was capable of in other timelines. He¡¯d almost wiped out the universe in Universe 18.


    ¡°That worries me too,¡± Grand Supreme Kai said, frowning. ¡°Should I depart and search for him? You four can handle these two.¡±


    ¡°Good idea. But first, your answer, Babidi. You have three seconds to answer,¡± Lila said, giving a glare that sent a wave of terror through the wizened wizard. ¡°Two¡­ one.¡±


    Before Babidi could answer, a voice interrupted him. ¡°Not so fast. It isn¡¯t over yet!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lila turned to the intruder.


    ¡°You face the wrath of the Ginyu Force!¡± Jeice said, entering a rising crane pose.


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Recoome said, leaning forward with one leg stretched out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, bud. We¡¯re here to rescue you!¡± Burter said, giving what Lila could generously call jazz hands.


    ¡°Guys!¡± Tears streamed from Guldo¡¯s four eyes, touched. His resolve hardened, and he backflipped over to his comrades. He entered a praying mantis pose. ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re facing the full power of the Ginyu Force. Together, we are unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°If only the Captain was here,¡± Jeice¡¯s mood turned solemn before hardening. ¡°But never mind about that. Together!¡±


    In unison, the four members each entered a flamboyant battle pose. ¡°We are the Ginyu Force!¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t be serious,¡± Lila said, lost for words. Her fellow Supreme Kai seemed just as bewildered.


    ¡°These idiots are my last defenders?¡± Babidi said, beyond exasperated, rubbing his bulbous forehead.


    ¡°And with Lord Babidi¡¯s power, we¡¯re mightier than ever!¡± Jeice said, his confidence unwavering. His teammates uttered a battle cry and charged.


    ---


    Beneath them, the Ginyu Force members groaned in a heap, utterly decimated. Their misplaced confidence in their abilities had cost them. They lived, but only barely.


    ¡°So for that,¡± Lila gave Babidi a blistering glare. ¡°I¡¯m still waiting for that surrender.¡± A glow of energy gathered around her palm. If he didn¡¯t surrender in the next second, she¡¯d blow the slimy toad to dust.


    ¡°Fine, you win. I surrender,¡± Babidi said, all fight draining out of him.


    ¡°Excellent to hear. You made a wise choice,¡± Grand Supreme Kai replied. ¡°I would advise releasing anyone under your control. We¡¯ll work on rescuing the tournament-goers you teleported away next.¡±


    But Babidi¡¯s expression turned cruel, pleased with himself. ¡°That, I can¡¯t help you with. I teleported them to a random location in space. Most are probably already dead from oxygen depletion. Mortals are weak that way.¡±


    ¡°No matter. That¡¯s another matter we¡¯ll have to fix with the Dragon Balls,¡± East replied. ¡°Though I fear we¡¯re growing overly reliant on them. It betrays their original purpose. I pray we won¡¯t need to do this again.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. The Vargas are too cavalier about using them,¡± South said, before turning a death glare at Babidi. ¡°However, we can discuss that another time. Babidi, fulfill your promise. We won¡¯t ask again.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Babidi said, grumbling to himself. He extended both hands and chanted under his breath. He tensed as Lila and South gathered ki in their palms, ready to obliterate him if he tried any funny business. Self-preservation prevailed, and a darkness lifted over the tournament planet. They watched as the ¡°M¡± on the Ginyu Force¡¯s heads evaporated away, leaving bare foreheads. ¡°It is done.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s them, at least,¡± South said. ¡°Let¡¯s check his other victims.¡±


    Babidi scowled, muttering to himself. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me, do you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the five Kai responded in unison.


    With his magic, the Grand Supreme Kai materialized rope and tied it around the wizened wizard, making sure to immobilize his hands. Not that they didn¡¯t remain vigilant for any tricks. While defeated, Babidi still held a hint of defiance within him. It made Lila want to obliterate him right here. South kept a tight grip on him as they flew toward the arena.


    ¡°What the heck?¡± Lila gaped at the destruction left in the wake of the Majin attack. While she¡¯d felt the shockwaves, nothing had prepared her for the sheer havoc caused by all the fighting. A huge quarter of the tournament planet was just a gaping crater, and half of the apartment area was gone. The death toll was worse than what she¡¯d expected, the survivors only a couple dozen at best, though she hoped some had fled or hidden elsewhere. A knife stabbed in her heart when she couldn¡¯t find Bra anywhere, and fretted about her prot¨¦g¨¦e¡¯s safety.


    ¡°So you finally caught the rascal, eh?¡± The elderly Kulilin said, sidling up to them. Behind him stood Tien and Yamcha, each looking worse for wear. Only the Turtle Master seemed otherwise unharmed.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure we¡¯d get out of that alive,¡± Yamcha said. ¡°Those Cell Juniors are almost impossible to kill. And 18¡­ wasn¡¯t exactly being friendly.¡±


    ¡°We could have handled them, but we¡¯re grateful for your help,¡± Tien said. ¡°We were in a rough spot until the Majin curse lifted.¡±


    ¡°Where is everyone else?¡± Much to Lila¡¯s relief, she didn¡¯t find Bra¡¯s body. But it didn¡¯t make her any less worried. She still couldn¡¯t sense her anywhere.


    ¡°Gohan is helping gather and rescue survivors,¡± Yamcha replied. ¡°I saw Bra and a Piccolo searching for a healer. She was in rough shape. The others? I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Lila said, giving a sigh of relief.


    ¡°So I take it¡¯s over then?¡± Piccolo said, flying up to them, gesturing at the captured Babidi. Numerous cuts and bruises covered his body, his tunic shredded in places.


    ¡°Should be.¡± North glanced around. ¡°Where are the other Nameks? We have people who desperately need healing.¡±


    ¡°Most are dead,¡± Piccolo said, his voice flat. ¡°Frieza and Cooler targeted them first. They paid for it with their lives. I don¡¯t know how many remain alive. Do we have enough Senzu beans to treat everyone¡¯s injuries?¡±


    ¡°No. They are rare and difficult to grow. We only had a couple hundred at most, and Vegito took his healthy share of them.¡± North frowned in thought. ¡°You say they slaughtered the Namekians? Is Morty okay? We need someone to communicate with Porunga.¡±


    ¡°Dead too.¡± Piccolo replied. ¡°But I should be able to handle that part. My Namekian¡¯s somewhat rusty, but I can handle the wish.¡±


    ¡°Troubling,¡± North said, his expression sad.


    ¡°This should have never happened,¡± Babidi squirm in fright as Lila glared death at him. ¡°The Vargas were fools to allow a monster like him here.¡± Or allowed the zombie version of Pan to run free.


    ¡°Yes, they were,¡± North said, shaking his head. ¡°We came so close to losing everything.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°I agree.¡± Babidi winced as South gave him a rough jerk. ¡°If there is another Multiverse tournament, there will be changes, that I promise you.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if they¡¯ll listen to reason,¡± East said. ¡°The Vargas will claim there isn¡¯t an issue. No harm, no foul if the Dragonballs are around to fix any problem.¡±


    ¡°Well, they are idiots!¡± Lila said, releasing some of her pent-up frustration at that bird-like race. They¡¯d been too free with them.


    ¡°Now, now. This isn¡¯t the time for recriminations,¡± Grand Supreme Kai held out a hand, seeking calm. ¡°People are still in need. Many are still suffering.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Lila replied, but this conversation wasn¡¯t over. ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s still alive. Where did the survivors flee to?¡±


    Yamcha nodded. ¡°Sure, I can lead the way. Over¡­¡± Suddenly, a man wearing a bandana burst through a wall, surprising everyone.


    Lila stared in shock, confused that Goku had already returned. But a better look made her realize it was Bardock, his father, instead. In his arms was a young girl, Pan from Universe 16, the version who wasn¡¯t a zombie. For simplicity, everyone called her Anpan. While Bardock looked frightened, his passenger seemed enthused.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± From the Saiyan¡¯s expression, Lila sensed something was terribly amiss.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop it,¡± Bardock replied, lost in his own world. ¡°The future. I couldn¡¯t stop it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lila said, baffled. Her fellow Kai seemed just as befuddled.


    ¡°That was fun! I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d survive that!¡± Unlike her companion, she seemed completely unbothered, like she¡¯d just left a fun party. ¡°Oh, and here she comes.¡±


    Lila turned to meet her gaze, heart seizing up in terror.


    ¡°Hi!¡± Buu said, with a gentle wave. But this Buu was unlike the fat, silly one who¡¯d been in Babidi¡¯s service. This Buu was short and youthful, her appearance feminine. Her expression was playful, a wide smile across her pink face. In terrible clarity, Lila realized what had happened: Buu had absorbed the zombie version of Pan.


    ¡°No!¡± Lila froze in fright. Her worst imaginings can come to light.


    ¡°Buu transformed?¡± East said, startled. ¡°So this is what it looks like.¡±


    North stroked his mustache. ¡°Buu even took on his victim¡¯s appearance. Does that mean she has Pan¡¯s abilities as well?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. There are still five of us. We can take her.¡± South said with supreme confidence.


    But Lila wasn¡¯t so sure. They¡¯d avoided fighting Buu in their universe, killing Babidi before he could unleash his pet monster into the universe. While the details were hazy, it was clear it hadn¡¯t gone so well for them in universes where Buu had gotten free.


    ¡°Finally! Kill these fools, Buu!¡± Babidi said, pleased the situation had turned in his favor.


    But Buu didn¡¯t seem interested in obeying, instead focusing her gaze on her master. ¡°Buu doesn¡¯t care about them. You took Uub somewhere. Buu wants him back! Buu wants to prove she¡¯s stronger!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Babidi said, dumbfounded. ¡°No, you idiot! Face the Kais instead. They are my enemy! Obey me!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Babidi?¡± Grand Supreme Kai said. ¡°Having some difficulty controlling your creation?¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Obey me, Buu, or I¡¯ll seal you up again!¡±


    ¡°No! Bring Uub back first,¡± Buu said in stubborn defiance. She turned away from her master in a huff. ¡°Buu hates you! You never give Buu what she wants!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± East whispered.


    Lila smiled, understanding dawning on her as she watched the pair squabble. ¡°It seems Buu didn¡¯t take only Pan¡¯s powers, but a bit of her personality as well. Buu¡¯s taken the characteristics of an overemotional teenage girl!¡± Buu had no interest in being bossed around, regardless of the consequences.


    ¡°Buu obey me, or I¡¯ll seal you up again,¡± Buu said, mocking her master¡¯s reedy voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take that tone with me!¡± Babidi said, his temper flaring even hotter. With some effort, he forced calm into his countenance. ¡°Fine! But only if you promise to kill them all! But you¡¯ll need to free me first. I can¡¯t cast magic bound like this!¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡± Buu bounced up and down, delighted. With startling speed, her childlike demeanor changed, becoming vicious and terrible. South coughed blood as a pink fist drove into his stomach, so quick he hadn¡¯t the chance to react.


    ¡°South!¡± North swung a fist at Buu¡¯s head, but she evaded the blow with ease. His eyes widened as a ball of energy gathered in the pink monster¡¯s palm. The ball smashed into his stomach, sending him flying. It exploded against some nearby stands that had survived until this point.


    ¡°Finally!¡± Babidi said, as he wiggled free. ¡°Now! Kill the rest of them!¡±


    ¡°No! Fulfill promise first!¡± Buu said, refusing to budge.


    ¡°Such power.¡± Lila watched as South struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth. North wasn¡¯t in any better shape, struggling to stand. They hadn¡¯t expected Buu to get this strong from absorbing Pan.


    ¡°Fine!¡± Babidi grumbled to himself and extended his hands wide. He closed his eyes and chanted in some arcane language.


    ¡°Well?¡± East asked, eying Buu with a worried glance.


    ¡°Let him complete the spell,¡± Grand Supreme Kai said. ¡°A new ally would be most appreciated. If Buu wants a rematch with Uub, so be it.¡±


    ¡°Still, how is she this strong? While Pan was a mighty warrior, I doubt she¡¯d win against a god that easily,¡± East said.


    ¡°Oh, that?¡± Anpan said, unperturbed that two mighty warriors had just gotten seriously hurt. ¡°That¡¯s because Pan and Buu have very similar powers. They are both creatures of darkness, so their powers feed into themselves. Buu has less of that icky light ki now.¡±


    ¡°I think I understand. This Buu absorbed both me and South Supreme Kai,¡± Grand Supreme Kai said. ¡°Our godly power actually weakened Buu. Pan¡¯s dark ki allows Buu to access more of her original power.¡±


    ¡°And she¡¯s draining you,¡± Anpan added. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel a little lightheaded? Almost like you¡¯ve gotten a cold.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Distracted by Buu¡¯s appearance, Lila hadn¡¯t noticed how under the weather she felt. She¡¯d assumed she was tired from chasing around Babidi and Guldo. A spike of fear stabbed into Lila¡¯s heart. Unlike Pan, Buu didn¡¯t care about holding back her dark power. If they didn¡¯t destroy Buu right away, she¡¯d kill them all without having to lift a finger.


    ¡°Found them,¡± Babidi said, sweat trickling down his bulbous forehead. With another incantation, the arena flashed with sudden light.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Uub said, glanced around confused, unsure where he was. ¡°I¡¯m back at the arena? What happened here?¡± The amount of death and destruction around him startled the warrior. He gasped in startled surprise as he looked at the newly transformed Buu.


    ¡°Finally!¡± Buu said, her tone turning sinister. A vicious glee entered her dark, soulless eyes. ¡°Now Buu will show you who is stronger, Uub.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Still nothing?¡± Vegeta asked, impatient. ¡°We¡¯ve been stuck here for almost a half an hour!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying, Vegeta, but it isn¡¯t easy to track ki so far away,¡± Goku replied, fingers to his forehead. The other fighters also voiced their complaints, worry hiding behind their words. They had no idea what was happening on the tournament planet after their sudden and unexpected teleportation.


    Upon arriving here, they quickly realized the evil wizard¡¯s magic had thrown them to this distant part of space. Now they stood on a barren rock with little beyond a bare atmosphere.


    But unlike the others, Vegito wasn¡¯t worried about the people trapped on the tournament planet. Bra was there to fix things. Even if the wizard used his magic to corrupt the evil tournament fighters, she¡¯d squash them like a bug with ease. Still, the prospect of missing a good fight annoyed him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re doing the best they can, Vegeta,¡± Uub said, trying to placate the proud Saiyan warrior.


    ¡°It still isn¡¯t fast enough,¡± Vegeta said, scoffing before turning away.


    ¡°We¡¯d better hurry. I¡¯m getting a bad feeling,¡± Trunks from Universe 12 said. ¡°A dark wind is blowing.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Trunks?¡± Android 16 asked.


    ¡°Call it a premonition.¡± the future Trunks replied, his expression troubled.


    ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± his Trunks said, shivering.


    Vegito only rolled his eyes. ¡°Please. We have nothing to fear from the bunch of weaklings Babidi¡¯s corrupted. Unless you think he somehow gave someone like Frieza a terrifying new form.¡± His words became mocking, amused at the prospect of the frost demon ever being a threat.


    Besides, no one in the tournament came close to threatening him. The XXI fight had only been a fluke, and he¡¯d cheated! But the future Trunks looked out into the starry sky, troubled. A wave of anxiety passed over the group of fighters at his words.


    ¡°A dark wind, huh?¡± Though Goku sounded more excited than worried. ¡°Now you got me interested.¡±


    ¡°Always eager for a good fight, eh?¡± Uub said, finding his mentor¡¯s attitude exasperating. ¡°This is a serious situation, you know!¡±


    ¡°I know!¡± Goku said in his defense. ¡°But I can¡¯t wait to see what happens next! This tournament has been unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡± Vegito replied, scowling. He found it infuriating his dimwitted counterpart was still fighting in the tournament. It should be him instead.


    Uub opened his mouth to reply, but then he vanished in a blink of light. Everyone scared for a second in utter befuddlement.


    ¡°Uub?¡± Goku glanced around in confusion.


    ¡°He vanished!¡± Eleim said in astonishment.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sense him anywhere,¡± Vegeta said, his nerves tightening.


    ¡°It was magic,¡± Buu of Universe 4 said. This caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Babidi¡¯s work, no doubt.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡± Gast said, nodding in agreement. ¡°The same magic that teleported us here.¡±


    ¡°Huh? But why?¡± Eleim asked.


    ¡°He must be summoning us one by one to finish us off,¡± Vegeta said. The implications of that suggestion hung like a heavy cloud over the group.


    ¡°Something bad must have happened on the tournament planet!¡± Universe 18 Goten said, alarmed.


    ¡°Please.¡± But Vegito remained unconvinced and crossed his arms. There was no way Bra or Gohan would fall prey to Babidi¡¯s weak forces. ¡°You¡¯re overreacting. The others are fine.¡±


    ¡°I wonder,¡± Buu of Universe 4 said, tapping his chin. ¡°I recall Babidi was a crafty one.¡±


    An unease hung over them as they continued to scan the universe for any sign of their friends. Vegito, however, walked away, bored with the whole ordeal. The others could handle it. And frankly, their alarmist attitude was getting on his nerves.


    Instead, Vegito separated from the group, snacking on a Senzu bean. Despite being capable of filling someone for days, it did little to sate his eternal appetite. It was like trying to fill a giant chasm with clumps of dirt. He found little satisfaction in anything these days, in battle or food. The price for being a god, he supposed. Once his components had fused, they¡¯d destined him to this life.


    ¡°What?¡± Vegito said, scowling as he caught Buu of Universe 4 watching him.


    With false geniality, Buu spread his arms. ¡°It occurred to me the great Vegito might be lonely.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your company, Buu.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem too concerned about your daughter or granddaughter,¡± Buu said, ignoring the rebuke.


    ¡°They can take care of themselves.¡± Though, a worrying thought crept into him unbidden.


    If Babidi had won, what did that mean for his daughter? While strong, Bra had a weakness, a seed of darkness.


    ¡°What if Babidi used that darkness to control her?¡± Vegito thought, bile filling his stomach. He¡¯d seen what had happened when she¡¯d lost control. It had cost billions of lives, including Goten. While they¡¯d been wished back, it didn¡¯t free Bra of the blood staining her hands.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Buu asked.


    ¡°None of your business.¡± Vegito gave his unwanted companion a scathing glare.


    And he couldn¡¯t forget the zombie imposter of Pan, either. Babidi might have corrupted her too.


    ¡°Whatever, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Vegito thought. He¡¯d sworn an oath he¡¯d protect the universe, whatever the cost, even against his own kin. If he needed to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good, so be it.


    A cheerful yet frantic voice interrupted his brooding thoughts.¡°Finally!¡±


    Vegito¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. It was Mary Sue! She stood them among them, sweat dripping down her brow. She seemed exhausted, like she¡¯d gone days without rest.


    ¡°My love! You have come to rescue us!¡± Trunks said, eyes alight with delight.


    Trunks jerked in pain as Goten elbowed him in the ribs. ¡°No, you idiot! She¡¯s here for me!¡±


    Much to Vegito¡¯s astonishment, the pair looked ready to exchange blows, likely to the death. They weren¡¯t the only ones affected. The other fighters eyed her with starry eyes, eager to please her every whim. This was the bizarre magnetism that seemed to accompany Mary Sue wherever she went.


    ¡°What are you, Mary Sue?¡± Vegito wanted to hate her. She caused chaos wherever she went, but something always tugged at his heart, begging her to forgive her. It was disconcerting, tearing him up in the inside.


    People looked ready to bombard her with a million questions, but the girl interrupted them. ¡°No time! Everyone¡¯s in great danger! Sorry, but I can only take one of you.¡±


    Huh? Vegito opened his mouth to respond, but Mary Sue had already grabbed Goku¡¯s arm. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± Then they were gone, vanished like smoke.


    A silence hung in the air before Vegito finally spoke. ¡°What?! Why him?!¡±


    ¡°Figures. Kakarot always gets all the fun,¡± Vegeta said, stewing in his frustration.


    ¡°Hey, this good. Goku can solve anything.¡± The future Trunks said. The others agreed with him, glad the situation had turned.


    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed it wasn¡¯t me, but it was a wise choice.¡± Gast added.


    ¡°Idiots. All of them.¡± Vegito fumed, furious that Mary Sue had taken that useless, weak simpleton. Why hadn¡¯t she taken the fighter who was a literal god?! He scowled as he caught Buu from Universe 4 smiling.


    ¡°Well? Why not?¡± Buu replied, amused. ¡°If you¡¯ve got a problem, Goku¡¯s the best to answer any problem. He is the multiverse¡¯s greatest hero!¡±


    ¡°Moron.¡± Vegito scowled, fingers to his forehead. He extended his senses to find the tournament planet. He wouldn¡¯t let that girl show him up. Once he found the tournament planet, he¡¯d teleport there and defeat whatever was happening with ease. Then he¡¯d show Mary Sue how idiotic she¡¯d been for not taking him instead!


    ---


    Author¡¯s Note:


    I¡¯m not exactly sure if Buu becomes female when absorbing someone like Pan, but I figured this would be best for simplicity.


    Next time! Pan Buu! Can anyone stop her? Buu vs Uub rematch! And Goku and his granddaughter reunite to save the day.

 Chapter 17

    ¡°Wha¡ªwhat?¡± Uub stared at the newest version of Buu, both baffled and perplexed. ¡°Is that Buu? What¡¯s happened to him?¡±


    ¡°Oh, simple!¡± Anpan replied, eager to answer any questions. ¡°Buu absorbed Pan and now wants to kill you!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Uub replied, staring at the alternate Pan, bewildered by her blunt yet cheerful response to his possible demise. Lila had to agree with Uub here¡ªAnpan¡¯s total disconnect from the danger of their current situation was beyond bizarre.


    ¡°Right, Buu can steal the attributes of the people they absorb, hence why the other Buu is so different,¡± Uub said, gathering his thoughts. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see, though. The changes are so drastic. What¡¯s wrong with her ki? It¡¯s off somehow.¡±


    ¡°Buu strong now! Stronger than you! Buu is gonna beat you up!¡± Buu said, almost dancing in joy at the prospect of battle.


    Uub shook his head, gathering his resolve. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve beaten you before, and I¡¯ll do it again. I was holding back in our previous fight, Buu.¡± His smile turned wolfish as he gathered his ki. ¡°Watch this!¡±


    The sheer power of Uub¡¯s unleashed ki almost blew Lila and her fellow Kais off their feet. It amazed her that a mere mortal had such power. ¡°Who is this human?¡± Lila wondered, suddenly put on edge. First Vegito, Goku, Bra, and now this. Mortals shouldn¡¯t have power that surpasses the gods. It wasn¡¯t natural!


    ¡°Remarkable.¡± Unlike Lila, the Grand Supreme Kai seemed unperturbed by this mortal¡¯s unnatural power. No, he seemed more delighted than anything. To this, Lila only sighed. Did he not realize the danger of mortals having more power than the gods?


    ¡°Remarkable,¡± East said, eyes wide. ¡°He might have Buu beat!¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Incredible. I didn¡¯t realize he was hiding this much power,¡± South said, limping over.


    ¡°These young¡¯uns are something else,¡± North added, amused.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait!¡± Anpan said, giggling. Her eyes shone with an almost maniacal glee. ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight!¡±


    ¡°Show her what you¡¯ve got, Uub.¡± Piccolo said, a devilish smile spreading across his face. No doubt he was more aware of Uub¡¯s capabilities.


    Only Bardock seemed solemn, watching the impending conflict with a worried expression. Lila shared his concern. Despite the power level on display, Buu¡¯s smile hadn¡¯t changed. She wore a secretive grin like she knew something they didn¡¯t. The pair of combatants eyed each other, neither making the first move.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to handle this alone,¡± Uub said. ¡°Stupid, I know, but I inherited that trait from my master. Please step back. This might get messy.¡±


    ¡°Good luck.¡± Piccolo said with a slight wave, joining Lila and the others as they flew to a safe distance. The Turtle hermit and his pupils eyed the impending conflict with interest, knowing they¡¯d be no use in the fight.


    She figured they¡¯d also only get in Uub¡¯s way. She¡¯d seen how both Buus fought. Lila and her fellow Kais wouldn¡¯t be much use against him. Besides, Buu might use them as absorption fodder if the battle turned against her.


    Only Babidi stood where he was, confident he wasn¡¯t in danger. He stomped his foot in impatience. ¡°Well, fight already! Uub isn¡¯t the only enemy here, you idiot! Look at the mess you caused, arriving so late! I¡¯ve lost almost all my forces!¡±


    In response, Buu only stuck her tongue out at her master and returned her attention to Uub. For whatever reason, she seemed content to allow him to make the first move. Did she have something up her sleeve? Antsy, Uub finally struck.


    And Buu smiled, delighted, as they exchanged the first few opening blows. While Uub fought harder than his opponent, neither committed to any real attack. They were both testing the other¡¯s power, seeking any potential vulnerabilities.


    To his disbelief, Uub seemed more winded from the exchange. ¡°What? How am I this tired already?¡± A light flashed in his eyes when he realized why. ¡°You¡¯re draining me, like Pan did against Cell?¡±


    This earned a mischievous smile from Buu. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t afford to draw this out, then. Simple magic tricks won¡¯t work this time.¡± Uub¡¯s ki spiked higher, sending a jolt of fear and excitement through Lila. Now the real fight would begin.


    Lights flashed as the pair increased the pace of the battle. They moved so fast that they were almost a blur to Lila¡¯s godly vision. While on equal footing in power, Uub edged out his opponent on speed. Still, Buu¡¯s magically constructed body didn¡¯t have the restraints of a normal person. She laughed as Uub¡¯s blow missed because she stretched out of the way and replied with one of her own. Uub hissed in pain, launching a sudden close-range ki blast from his hand. It blasted right through Buu¡¯s chest, but it closed a second later.


    ¡°Darn it,¡± Uub said, cringing. In a desperate rush, he blasted Buu to pieces with a sudden burst of energy, only for her to reform totally unharmed.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Uub howled in pain as Buu suddenly headbutted him, causing him to recoil. Buu continued her assault, her rubbery skull pounding into her opponent. She laughed with glee, amused by his pain.


    ¡°Amazing!¡± Babidi said, cackling in delight. ¡°She¡¯s unstoppable. There¡¯s nothing that can stop Buu now!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± A red aura flared around Uub, releasing previously hidden power. Lila marveled as his ki flared to astounding heights. ¡°Kaio-ken!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Buu recoiled as a fist pounded into her chest, almost blowing her body apart. Uub moved so quickly, that even Lila couldn¡¯t follow him. He zipped around his opponent, pummeling Buu with each mighty blow.


    Buu wheezed as a blow sent her flying, stunning her. A victorious grin spread across Uub¡¯s face, energy gathering in his palms. The red aura around him flared brighter, like a miniature solar storm. His muscles expanded, his arms bulking up three times their usual size as he unleashed his true might. ¡°Heal from this, Buu! Kaio-ken Transcended! Kamehameha!¡±


    The blast threw Lila and her fellow Kais back, dust filling the arena as it obliterated Buu. She winced as her head struck a wall, shaking it to clear the dizziness.


    ¡°Did he get her?¡± North Kai asked, coughing on dust. When the dust cleared, no sign of Buu remained.


    Uub stood stock still, a pleased smile on his face, though he winced as he tried moving his body. ¡°I should have listened to Master. Kaio-Ken really puts a strain on the body. At least¡­¡± He gasped as a pink hand burst through the rubble beneath him. Despite only being an arm, Buu was still alive. Uub¡¯s eyes widened in horror as Buu reformed before his eyes, her body regrowing from her remaining arm.


    ¡°Got you! Got you!¡± A devilish smile grew across Buu¡¯s face. Terror spiked in Lila¡¯s chest as Uub¡¯s arm decayed and shriveled like a raisin. Uub pulled his arm away, but the damage had been done. The disparity between his two limbs was almost comical if it wasn¡¯t so grotesque¡ªhis bad limb little more than thin skin on bone.


    ¡°What the?¡± Uub said, backing away. He panted like he¡¯d run himself ragged.


    But Buu only beamed, pleased with herself. ¡°Buu thinks she¡¯s gotten used to her new powers. How about I show you what Buu can really do?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over already?¡± Anpan said, kicking her legs as she lay across a pile of rubble. From her tone, she seemed utterly unconcerned by the events unfolding before her.


    ¡°This is bad.¡± Lila hadn¡¯t expected the situation to turn this dire so quickly. ¡°We can¡¯t stand on the sidelines any longer.¡± However, with such a discrepancy in power, their options were limited.


    ¡°We must,¡± Grand Supreme Kai said, nodding. The others gave their agreement. While desperate, they might trap him if they worked together.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    And they needed to act fast. They watched as Buu tore apart Uub piece by piece. Despite his impressive power, Kaio-Ken Transcended ravaged his already damaged, weakened body. His attacks turned desperate as Buu easily evaded them.


    ¡°Now!¡± With Buu¡¯s back turned, the five Supreme Kais struck at her from all angles. Babidi opened his mouth in warning, but it was too late.


    ¡°I hope this works,¡± Lila thought, pressing a hand against Buu¡¯s back. Fog obscured her vision as she stole the heat in Buu¡¯s body.


    Thankfully, her duplication of Bra¡¯s makeshift freezing technique against King Cold worked, turning the Majin monstrosity¡¯s pink torso to ice. The other Kais extended a hand and created a ki barrier around Buu, restraining her. It¡¯d only last a couple of seconds, but it should last long enough to freeze Buu¡¯s entire body. Lila only hoped she¡¯d have enough ki to complete the task.


    Buu struggled against their restraints, but her body became useless as its rubbery substance froze solid. Lila¡¯s legs trembled as she expended more ki, her reserves running dry. But she held strong, relieved when she realized Buu wouldn¡¯t break free in time. Uub sighed in relief, his ravaged body sagging. He won¡¯t stand for much longer.


    ¡°Let Buu go!¡± Lila recoiled as Buu howled at the top of her lungs, almost getting blown off her feet.


    Ice drove into Lila¡¯s chest as the power of the shockwave of Buu¡¯s voice shattered the Majin creature¡¯s frozen body into tiny ice chunks. Steam filled the arena as each chunk of Buu heated itself to super hot levels. Then the liquefied parts of the magical creature sloshed together to reform Buu, completely unharmed.


    ¡°No!¡± Lila quivered in fear, knowing they¡¯d blown their only chance to contain Buu. She¡¯d been a fool, not realizing Buu could just shatter herself to save her pink skin.


    ¡°Buu, you survived!¡± Babidi said, relieved. That¡¯d been too close for his comfort.


    ¡°No, we failed!¡± East Kai said in despair. The other Kais shared his dismay, knowing they¡¯d lost everything.


    ¡°Impossible.¡± Uub said, trembling from either fatique or fear.


    ¡°You make Buu mad! Buu hate you! Buu kill you dead!¡± Buu said, turning her baleful glare on the stunned Lila. Before she could even open her mouth in alarm, Lila gasped as a fist drove into her stomach, blood dripping down Buu¡¯s glove.


    ¡°East!¡± West cried out in alarm, but he was too late.


    Any remaining power left her body as Lila collapsed, all strength leaving her limbs. Blood soaked the floor beneath her from the fist-sized gaping hole in her chest. While more resistant than mortals, it was a fatal wound. Lila barely clung to life.


    ¡°No!¡± Uub hurled his remaining fist at Buu, but it only implanted into her rubbery body, stretching with the impact. His punch lacked sufficient power to inflict any harm. His ki reserves drained away, the warrior stumbling as his body deflated, his Kaio-Ken failing.


    ¡°You lose!¡± Buu thrust a punch into her now scrawnier opponent, Uub coughing blood as the blow crumpled his rib cage. Buu raised her fist in triumph, laughing and dancing around in a circle.


    ¡°No!¡± Lila uttered a strangled cry of despair. They¡¯d lost. She watched in muted, helpless horror as Buu set her wrath on her fellow Supreme Kais next.


    ---


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± the Namekian asked, wiping sweat from his brow. His green skin seemed paler than usual, tight on his flesh.


    ¡°Better, thanks,¡± Bra replied. She stretched her right arm, sighing in relief when it¡¯d caused no pain. That damn Majined Heliorian had done a number on it, almost ripping the limb from its socket. While not at peak strength, she¡¯d manage.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your leg,¡± the Namekian said. ¡°If we had some Senzu beans, we would grow it back. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s beyond my meager power.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯ve done plenty.¡± The ward was proof of how hard the healer had worked. Many had recovered from injuries that would have been lethal without his remarkable ability. Still, it wasn''t enough. Only a handful of Namekians had survived the onslaught. Their number was insufficient to help the countless injured, and few Senzu beans remained. While Bra could have demanded a Senzu bean, more critical patients needed them.


    ¡°Stupid Dad,¡± Bra thought sourly, recalling how he¡¯d grabbed several handfuls of Senzu beans for himself that morning. True, he couldn¡¯t have known about the Majin attack, but his wastefulness had cost lives. Around her, cots filled with the injured and dying lined the room, the atmosphere of suffering tugging at Bra¡¯s heartstrings.


    ¡°Are you okay, Bra?¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo asked when he saw her clench her fist.


    ¡°This shouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Bra replied. ¡°We got lazy and complacent. Innocents are paying for our idiocy.¡± They¡¯d allowed evil into their company, and this was the result. Lila was right. Evil was a cancer that needed to be excised.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, nodding. ¡°But we¡¯ll make things right.¡±


    A scream cut short their conversation as a woman sobbed over a young man lying on a cot. From the stillness of his body, it was clear what had happened. A Namekian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as the woman grieved for her son.


    ¡°Will we? The Dragonballs can restore him to life, but they can¡¯t so easily wish away the pain,¡± Bra replied. That grieving mother would forever suffer the memory of this painful moment.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, giving a somber nod. No doubt he understood the woman¡¯s agony well enough. He¡¯d seen his own daughter killed right in front of him.


    Piccolo-as-Gohan entered, giving them a nod. ¡°Cell is fighting the other Gohan, but otherwise the other Majin seem contained. I think the worst is over.¡± After escorting Bra to the makeshift hospital, the Pan from Universe 18 had rushed after her father to see if he was okay. From what she sensed, the other Gohan was engaging Cell. Bra figured both should be fine.


    ¡°Not yet. Not until Babidi is a corpse,¡± Bra said, flexing her fingers. She¡¯d enjoy snuffing out the wizard¡¯s pathetic existence with her own hands. She stood up from the cot, using her ki to stay aloft. While having only one leg was annoying, she¡¯d manage.


    ¡°Still at it, huh?¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said with a shake of his head. ¡°I suppose I won¡¯t stop you. Just don¡¯t go overboard.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t underestimate him,¡± Piccolo-as-Gohan added. ¡°That little toad is slipperier than he looks. We¡¯ve underestimated him once already.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just blast him on sight,¡± Bra promised. Her half-brother didn¡¯t seem happy about her answer but knew arguing was pointless.


    Bra gasped as she almost lost her footing. Wounded cried out in pain as the shockwave knocked them off their seats or beds. Namekians and other volunteers rushed to assist the fallen.


    ¡°Getting a little rough, aren¡¯t they?¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo asked, frowning as he sensed something. The ward was once an empty storage area, not an apartment, so nothing blocking their senses. That burst of power hadn¡¯t come from either Cell or the other Gohan.


    ¡°Not another one,¡± Bra said, rushing from the makeshift ward. Then she sensed another power, one even more powerful. The building rumbled from a shockwave as the two powers fought. Both Gohan-as-Piccolo and Piccolo-as-Gohan followed her to check out the situation. In the background, Gohan and Cell continued to fight, but they stopped as they felt this massive ki.


    Bra arrived with a gasp of horror as she saw the sight before her. She trembled, her breath caught in her throat. ¡°Lila!¡± Her friend was lying in a pool of her own blood, her ki barely clinging to life. The other Kai were in worse shape, most were already dead. Only the Grand Supreme Kai stood, though he fought to stand. Uub, who¡¯d somehow returned to the tournament planet, breathed raggedly as he bled out on the ground. Only Bardock and the real Pan seemed unharmed, watching the battle from the sidelines.


    And there their attacker stood, dancing in delight over their victory. It was Buu, but the magical monstrosity had changed, becoming sleeker and more feminine. What the hell? She gasped in horror as the female Buu extended a hand and the Grand Supreme collapsed dead, a ragged hole in his chest.


    ¡±Bastard!¡± Bra said with fist clenched.


    ¡°More interruptions,¡± Babidi said, annoyed. The froggy wizard eyed Bra and her compatriots contemptibly, not thinking her much of a threat. ¡°Kill them too. Then I can claim the Dragonballs for ultimate power.¡±


    ¡°Another opponent?¡± Buu tilted her head, curious. ¡°Another playmate?¡±


    ¡°Buu¡¯s changed?¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, his green face scowling. ¡°He must have absorbed some. And from that shape.¡± He gasped. ¡°Pan?!¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re right. I can feel Buu sapping away my ki.¡± Piccolo-as-Gohan said. ¡°That¡¯s one of Pan¡¯s abilities. Though, she never actually enjoyed using it.¡±


    And Bra realized he was right. Though subtle, she detected an odd change in her ki, like something was tugging away at her power. ¡°Great.¡± Why had that idiot girl allowed herself to get absorbed by Buu? Now her curse might doom them all.


    ¡°No, not Pan.¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo trembled with emotion, his Namekian feature twisted with anguish. They solidified in rage as he glared at Buu. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away with this.¡±


    But before her half-brother could launch himself into action, Bra stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t. You don¡¯t have your original body anymore. You can¡¯t win. Let me handle this.¡±


    Indecision wracked Gohan-as-Piccolo¡¯s features, wanting to avenge his daughter. But reason gave way, and he nodded. He sagged, defeat. ¡°You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t do anything against Buu. Just promise me you¡¯ll win. We¡¯ll get her back with the Dragonballs.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Bra decided against reminding him that the zombie Pan wasn¡¯t the real Pan. There wasn''t time for an argument. Heck, Bra she wasn¡¯t even sure the Dragonballs could restore the monster Pan. But that was a problem for later. Buu eyed her with interest as she floated over.


    ¡°You have some nerve causing this much trouble, Babidi,¡± Bra said, floating up to Buu. She¡¯s lost a freaking leg because of this bastard. ¡°But it¡¯s over now. You¡¯re facing me now. I¡¯m not soft like Pan or Uub. You¡¯re both going to die, and I¡¯m personally making sure neither of you gets revived.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Buu said, not really understanding what she was talking about.


    Babidi however trembled in fear at the intensity as she eyed them both. But he regained his nerve, laughing at her with scorn. ¡°You, little girl? Kill me? Kill Buu? You saw what she did to Uub! You and your pathetic band are all already dead!¡±


    ¡°Are you strong? Buu like strong opponents!¡± The pink monster seemed to bounce with glee at the prospect.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Bra got ready to launch her attack, but a hand grasped her leg, stopping her. It was the dying Uub.


    His voice was weak and rasping, barely clinging to life. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her. She can drain you dead with a touch.¡±


    With gentle care, she pushed Uub¡¯s hand away. ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± She turned to address her two adversaries. ¡°Strong? You don¡¯t know the half of it.¡±


    But Bra knew she had a choice. She¡¯d sensed Uub¡¯s power during their fight. It¡¯d be astonishing any human could reach that level. Even her father would have to try fighting someone like him. Heck, he¡¯d even surpassed her normal Super Saiyan form. While healed, she wasn¡¯t at her full capacity. As she was now, she¡¯d stand no chance against this version of Buu with zombie girl¡¯s power. But Bra had a trump card that would turn the tables.


    A hand inexplicably shook as she considered accessing that form, fear paralyzing her. Her father¡¯s voice spoke to her, telling her what a monster she was. How he¡¯d kill her without hesitation if she ever lost control again.


    Was she a monster? Honestly, Bra wasn¡¯t certain. She hoped not, but her father¡¯s nagging voice argued otherwise. It clawed at her, trying to drag her into the pits of self-loathing and despair. Sometimes it was easy to listen to that voice and believe every word, that she wasn¡¯t deserving of either forgiveness or happiness.


    But none of that mattered. Lila was in danger. Her family was in danger. She¡¯d sworn she¡¯d become the protector the multiverse deserved. She¡¯d do the ugly work if it meant keeping people safe. And this fear and self-loathing only held her back. Her father was wrong about her.


    ¡°You can do this,¡± Bra told herself. ¡°If Pan from Universe 18 can control SSJ2, so can you. Bra, you aren¡¯t a child any longer. You can surpass her. You can surpass your father!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m done holding back. I¡¯m done being scared.¡± Power welled inside her, a dam ready to burst.  Like a caged animal, it was eager to be finally free. Bra inserted the key into the lock and turned.


    ¡°What?!¡± Babidi said, striking the ground hard as he flew off his feet. Buu stared at her with wide-eyed astonishment, her pink rubbery skin rippling in the wind.


    ¡°No way!¡± The dying Uub said, eying her with awe.


    ¡°This is going to be fun!¡± The real Pan clapped her hands in delight.


    ¡°She¡¯s doing it,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, awed and delighted. ¡°Has she finally mastered it?¡±


    ¡°No. This not right. You¡¯re this strong?¡± Buu said, trembling as she sensed the golden aura that raged like an inferno around Bra.


    ¡°I am Son Bra, daughter of Vegito. I am the nightmare that makes evil tremble.¡± A slight smirk creased her lips and she entered a battle stance. It was primal, her fingers like claws ready to gore her prey. Never had Bra felt so alive. She was Super Saiyan 2¡¯s master, not the other way around. Her Saiyan blood sang, eager for battle. ¡°And now I¡¯m coming for you, Buu. I hope you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ---


    Next time:


    Buu vs Bra! Cell, Little, and Gohan enter the fray! Nightmare Buu! Can anyone stop her?

 Chapter 18

    Power crackled around Bra, her heart elating with the sheer power on display. There was no guilt or shame¡ªjust power. Power that was hers to command. She¡¯d finally broken the barrier her father had erected. Bra was in command of her own destiny now.


    She smiled as she caught the fear in Buu¡¯s eyes. Even with her ki-draining ability, it was like cleaning up a flood with a napkin. Her smile widened as the little toad Babidi began panicking.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Lila muttered, her voice a croak. Bra felt her life ebb away, hastened by the ability Buu had stolen from the zombie girl.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get you to a healer right away.¡± Her first point of order was getting Buu away from her friend.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Buu cried out in pain as a sudden punch drove her clear across the arena. The impact of the blow had blown her body to pink bits, her resilient body unable to resist Bra¡¯s fiercer attack.


    ¡°Remarkable. And that¡¯d only been one punch.¡± Her Saiyan blood sang for violence and conquest, telling her none could oppose her. But she reined it in, making the power her servant.


    In a second, Buu had already reformed, but Bra was already upon her, ki gathered in her palm. She wasn¡¯t playing around, knowing from her brother¡¯s stories how dangerous Buu could be. Stupid as the creature was, Buu wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. She¡¯d destroy the evil creature before it even had the chance to turn the tables.


    But Buu foresaw her attack, splitting in half as she launched a beam that would have annihilated her in a single blow. Instead of getting blown to bits, Bra had only destroyed half of Buu¡¯s body. The half-face of the creature grinned maliciously as she stretched out a hand to grab Bra and drain her dry.


    Bra was quicker, however, slipping out of its grasp and grabbing hold of Buu¡¯s arm. ¡°Sorry, but you¡¯re going to have to do better than that.¡±


    A knee struck into Buu¡¯s still-reforming face. The blow drove Bra¡¯s opponent back, and she gathered ki into both hands and fired a destructive concussive blast. ¡°Big Bang Attack!¡±


    A cut-short howl escaped Buu¡¯s lips as she was annihilated, little remaining of her but scraps of pink. While Buu¡¯s regenerative ability was remarkable, she was vulnerable when reforming. Ki gathered in Bra¡¯s palm to eradicate the rest of Buu. But she hesitated, part of her annoyed at herself for finishing the fight so quickly. Her Saiyan blood wanted a real fight, not a slaughter. But Bra shook her head, readying her attack. That split-second hesitation was the time Buu needed to launch a counterattack.


    ¡°Hey, let go!¡± Bra said as pink goop stretched out to envelop her arm. Pain seized her as her ki was ripped from her body like someone had cut away with a rusty knife. It made Bra feel violated, and she immediately fought to rid herself of it.


    Her body exploded with energy, shredding the portion of Buu that had grasped onto her. But the damage had been done. The afflicted arm had lost much of its muscle, almost emaciated. Only Bra¡¯s quick thinking and vast reserve of ki had saved it.


    ¡°Damn it.¡± Already, Bra felt the effects of Buu¡¯s draining attack. She felt winded, like she¡¯d spent hours in hard training. It had taken away her ability to fight, but it¡¯d cost her. She growled as she caught Buu¡¯s pleased expression as she reformed.


    ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Bra¡¯s ki flared to previously unknown heights, her fists flying as she launched a sudden attack. While she¡¯d lost some power, it¡¯d done little to impede her lightning speed, moving at a pace Buu couldn¡¯t hope to match. Bra wailed into her opponent, holding nothing back. In the background, she saw she¡¯d gained an audience.


    The real Pan was watching with utter delight, cheering her aunt on. Gohan-as-Piccolo had grabbed hold of Lila and propped her up. Krillin and his students were watching with rapt attention. Piccolo-as-Gohan gave her a proud smile, pleased his former student was performing so well. Babidi watched with utter terror, knowing he was helpless to affect the fight. Only Bardock, her alternate half-grandfather, seemed dour.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make a show of it, then,¡± Bra thought. Buu¡¯s eyes bulged as she elbowed the creature¡¯s skull from above. She launched a barrage of ki blasts, obliterating the area beneath her. When the smoke cleared, Buu seemed worse for wear, having trouble standing. The creature¡¯s eyes told Bra she¡¯d lost the fight, and she knew it.


    ¡°No more tricks, Buu,¡± Bra said, gathering the ki necessary to destroy this monster once and for all. Worn out as she was, Buu shouldn¡¯t have the strength for any counter tricks. Besides, Bra wouldn¡¯t fall for the same trap again. She¡¯d make sure not a scrap of Buu survived.


    ¡°No!¡± Babidi said, frantic. If his servant died, all his efforts would have been for naught. ¡°No, that¡¯s it!¡±


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Whatever. He can¡¯t do anything.¡± The arena brightened as ki gathered in Bra¡¯s palm. She smirked, eager to deliver the killing blow. But then a chanting filled her head, and she seized up.


    Dark words passed through her, injecting themselves into her. They promised power, darkness, and absolute freedom. They rid her of morality, love¡ªanything that would hold her back. She would become the absolute Ruler of Darkness, unmatched by anyone, even her father. Bra only had to accept them.


    And why not? Bra knew how everyone feared and despised her. They saw the power hidden within her and trembled. Why not cast them aside like useless junk? All they¡¯d done was hold her back. Yes, she should take this power and become the monster she was destined to become.


    Bra smirked as a black ¡°M¡± formed on her head, her power rising beyond anything she¡¯d felt before. She¡¯d done it. Son Bra had finally obtained absolute freedom.


    The others had realized what Master Babidi was attempting, launching everything at him. In his panic, her master erected a barrier around himself. While his magic was mighty, it wouldn¡¯t hold them off forever. Not that it mattered. These pathetic fools were no match for her. She¡¯d have fun killing them all. Bra ignored Buu and launched herself at the nearest foe, her worthless, sentimental half-brother in Piccolo¡¯s body.


    ¡°Bra, no!¡± a voice said, insistent and desperate. Pathetic. Why should she care? She smirked as she saw the helplessness on Gohan-as-Piccolo¡¯s face. She delighted as his green face twisted in pain as her punch connected. It hadn¡¯t been enough to kill him, though. No, she¡¯d have fun tearing him apart first.


    ¡°What can we do?¡± Tien said, eyes wide. ¡°We can¡¯t fight her.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think we have a choice, bud,¡± Yamcha said, getting into a fighting stance.


    ¡°You plan on fighting me? Cute,¡± Bra said, amused. Her smile widened as more fighters got ready to join the slaughter. They were all collapsed in a heap in a thousandth of an eye blink.


    ¡°No, Bra. Fight it,¡± Piccolo-as-Gohan said. He¡¯d already dropped his bundle and was ready to square off against her.


    ¡°Who says I want to fight it?¡± Bra said, arms stretched out wide. All that had opposed her had already fallen.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Master Babidi said, delighted, pleased his fortune had turned for the better.


    ¡°Oh, this is getting interesting!¡± the real Pan said, taking delight in the carnage to come. It made Bra furrow her brow. She wasn¡¯t under Master Babidi¡¯s control. Why would Pan act like that? Whatever. She¡¯d give her niece a show she¡¯d never forget.


    Blood spilled down Piccolo-as-Gohan¡¯s mouth as her fist connected with his tiny chest. He hung from her fist like it was a hook. His eyes screamed for her to spare him, to show mercy. Silly fool. Why would she do that? Ki gathered in her hand still impaled in his chest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Please. Bra.¡± A hand grabbed her leg, stopping Bra from delivering the kill. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why you¡ª¡± But Bra froze as she saw who had stopped her. It was Lila.


    The Kai didn¡¯t say anything, only her eyes pleaded for Bra to stop. With how wounded she was, Lila wasn¡¯t in any shape for much else. Even grabbing Bra had cost her.


    ¡°Get off me.¡± Bra raised her other hand to cave in Lila¡¯s skull, but something stopped her.


    ¡°Why am I doing this?¡± a voice inside whispered.


    ¡°Why should it matter?¡± But Bra hesitated.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m not a monster,¡± the voice argued back.


    ¡°Monster.¡± That word. That terrible word. Bra recoiled, dropping the still-bleeding Piccolo-as-Gohan.


    ¡°I¡¯m a monster?¡± Bra stared at her fist covered with purple lifeblood. She stared down at the fighters she¡¯d beaten into submission.


    ¡°Kill them,¡± the dark voice argued. ¡°It¡¯d be so easy. They are helpless against you.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the quiet voice said, firm and resolute. Bra trembled, not sure which voice she should heed. She stared down at the dying Lila for several long moments.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Babidi screamed. ¡°You idiot. Kill them already!¡±


    ¡°Kill them.¡± The words sounded odd on her lips, like they were spoken by another person. Another voice spoke¡ªhers. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Babidi said, shocked. ¡°No, you will listen to me.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think I will,¡± Bra replied simply. Her fist trembled, but not from anguish¡ªfrom emotion. ¡°I¡¯m not a monster.¡± She repeated those words over and over again, like a holy mantra.


    No, Babidi was wrong about her. Her father was wrong about her. The darkness screamed at her to obey, but Bra was having none of it. Much to her disgust, this darkness was a part of her, now and forever. But like SSJ2, she was its master, not the other way around.


    ¡°No. I¡¯m not going to hurt anyone,¡± Bra said, resolute. ¡°Not for you.¡±


    ¡°Impossible. S-she broke my control?¡± Babidi said in utter disbelief.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Bra said, ki gathering in her palm. ¡°Fuck you.¡± The evil wizard didn¡¯t even get a chance to cry out, his pathetic barrier doing little to save him as he was blasted to pieces.


    ¡°Bra, you did it,¡± Piccolo-as-Gohan said, a slight smile on his bloody lips.


    ¡°Yeah, it looks like I did,¡± Bra said, amazed. The M had disappeared from her forehead. The darkness still lurked within, but she¡¯d contained it.


    She stared down at the warriors she¡¯d nearly beaten to death. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I lost control.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay. You did right in the end,¡± Yamcha said, a smile on his pained face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown, young lady,¡± Master Krillin said.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m proud of you,¡± Gohan-as-Piccolo said, a hand grabbing his wounded arm.


    ¡°I suppose I have,¡± Bra said. Lila smiled up at her, but she didn¡¯t have the strength for anything else.


    ¡°No, behind me.¡± a scream cried out. Bra¡¯s heart seized in her chest, realizing they¡¯d forgotten someone. She turned to see Buu screeching her entire body at two figures.


    Bardock tried bravely to fight off Buu to stop her from absorbing the other Pan, but his power was nothing compared to his attacker. Buu didn¡¯t bother going around him, taking both figures inside herself. Weirdly, the real Pan didn¡¯t bother fighting back, more intrigued by this development than anything. Then they were both engulfed.


    ¡°No.¡± Stupid. How had she forgotten about Buu?


    ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± Buu said, flexing her fingers. ¡°I knew I was incomplete without the other one.¡±


    While at first glance the new Buu seemed little different from her previous version, there were subtle differences. Her pink skin was a darker shade. Her face had changed, more serious yet still keeping its playful edge. But her aura was the thing that had changed the most. Even touching it made Bra feel unclean.


    ¡°No, how about we continue our game,¡± Buu said with a smile that caused Bra¡¯s heart to freeze in her chest. It was like a vice had literally grabbed it and started squeezing, causing real pain. What the heck was this new Buu?


    ---


    Author''s note:


    Next time: Bra, Gohan, and Cell team up against Nightmare Buu, can even this mighty team stop her? Little Pan makes a hard decision, can the Potara Earrings save the day?

 Chapter 19

    ¡°You still wish to continue this, Cell?¡± her father asked, eyeing his opponent across the room. ¡°You¡¯re missing your mighty ¡®M¡¯¡±. It seems Babidi has lost. You¡¯re weaker than before.¡±


    ¡°That fool doesn¡¯t concern me. The power he granted me was inconsequential,¡± Cell replied, amused. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m having too much fun! Why stop now? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re quitting already?¡±


    ¡°Not a chance,¡± her father replied. ¡°I¡¯m more than ready to settle this score.¡±


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Cell said, more than enthused. He entered a fighting stance, and her father did the same. They circled each other, neither making the first move.


    Little Pan watched the scene with her arms crossed, ready to intervene if Cell tried anything dirty. Despite draining her power, she kept her transformation up, her aura flaring like a blazing candle. Her transformation to Super Saiyan 2 had surprised them both, amazed someone so young accessed such a potent transformation. Even the proud, arrogant Cell had given her a respectful nod.


    Her sour expression amused the bio-warrior. ¡°You¡¯d best call your daughter off, Gohan. This is between me and you. Relax, child. I have no intention of killing your father¡ªjust putting his head under my heel.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Pan,¡± her father said, not taking his eyes off his opponent. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡± Little Pan replied, her lip trembling. She¡¯d already seen one of her parents die today, and she¡¯d sworn it¡¯d never happen again.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen,¡± Gohan said, finally ripping his gaze away from Cell. ¡°I have no intention of losing this fight.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± But Little Pan didn¡¯t dismiss her Super Saiyan 2 transformation. Although Babidi had clearly lost, she wouldn¡¯t rest until everyone got wished back to life.


    ¡°Is that right?¡± Cell said, delighted at the prospect of a true fight. It seemed his previous battle with the alternate Gohan hadn¡¯t been enough for the bio-warrior. Little Pan supposed the Saiyan blood rang loud to him.


    Together, the two warriors sprang into action. Even with her heightened state of power, their speed astonished her. Their skill was magnificent, no attack wasting an iota of movement. It became abundantly clear how far Little Pan still had to go. In a flash, each fighter had already exchanged hundreds of blows.


    ¡°You¡¯re stronger than when you fought Pan,¡± her father remarked. ¡°Is there no limit to how high your power can grow?¡±


    ¡°Limit?¡± Cell replied. ¡°The perfect being has no limit. You may have reached the pinnacle of your power, but I¡¯m just getting started.¡±


    ¡°Power isn¡¯t everything,¡± her father said, his power flaring to incredible heights. ¡°How about I show you how much I¡¯ve improved since I killed you?¡±


    ¡°Good! That¡¯s exactly what I want, Gohan!¡± Cell¡¯s ki spiked next, the entire building shaking from its sheer power. Their fists clashed, its impact like thunder.


    But both warriors froze as an odd sensation struck them. Power washed over her like a tide wave, ki that pounded you to dusk. Both Cell and Gohan gasped in surprise, amazed by the power they felt.


    ¡°What the?¡± Cell said. ¡°Who can that be? Has Vegito returned? No, it¡¯s not him. Is it Goku?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Her father said, his tone contemplative. ¡°It must be Bra. She must have reached Super Saiyan 2 too. It¡¯s the only explanation.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Cell frowned. Little Pan sensed his frustration. Despite his best efforts, he still wasn¡¯t even close to the strongest being in the multiverse. The warriors of Universe 16 still outclassed him. But then his good mood returned. ¡°Very well then. It¡¯s just another hill I¡¯ll have to climb. Come, Gohan. Fight me so I may tower to even greater heights.¡±


    ¡°Is there no limit to his ambition?¡± Little Pan thought.


    ¡°Again, you¡¯re underestimating me.¡± Her father exploded with power, his face full of purpose. ¡°Because I¡¯m, going to knock you down that hill.¡±


    This earned a smile from Cell and the two resumed their bout, the air booming from their strikes. They were so quick, Pan soon lost sight of their attacks. Despite Cell¡¯s boasts, they seemed evenly matched. From their smiles, it was obvious they were enjoying themselves. But who would win this rematch?


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for a warm-up.¡± Cell said. ¡°How about we fight for real now?¡±


    ¡°Sounds fine with me.¡± Her father replied.


    ¡°They were only warming up?¡± Little Pan said, astonished. Before they could resume their fight, the two combatants froze as an aura of pure darkness struck them. Little Pan sensed it too, shuddering in revulsion. Bile gathered in her throat, threatening to burst.


    ¡°What the¡ª?¡± her father said, sensing the unnatural ki. Like her, he seemed ill.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Cell said, narrowing his eyes. Even the proud, seemingly unstoppable bio-warrior paled after sensing that vile ki.


    ¡°Anpan?¡± This vile ki had the same property as when her counterpart faced off against the imposter Pan, but its properties were ten times more foul somehow. What was going on?


    ¡°Anpan?¡± her father said, confused. Cell also eyed her, waiting for an explanation.


    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with that girl,¡± Little Pan replied. ¡°When she fought against Big Sis, she emitted that same vile ki, but it wasn¡¯t as powerful. I don¡¯t know what the heck she is.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to continue this another time, Cell,¡± her father said, already dashing towards the foul ki.


    ¡°Very well. I¡¯m also curious about what could cause that,¡± Cell replied, joining him. Sensing something was terribly wrong, they put their battle aside.


    Little Pan followed, hackles raised. It was like jumping into a sewer as they approached, and she feared she¡¯d never feel clean again. As they got closer, she felt more light-headed, like getting dizzy after standing too quickly. The reason for their plight soon became apparent.


    ¡°Buu?¡± Gohan said in astonishment as he stared at the shorter, more feminine pink Majin.


    ¡°And here comes my newest playmates. Right on time.¡± Buu said, tossing away a battered Bra, as if she¡¯d been expecting them. Little Pan¡¯s stomach turned as she stared at the pink monstrosity, barely able to look at her. It was as though her eyes had trouble keeping focus.


    ¡°Gohan!¡± Bra said in a wheeze, struggling to float. ¡°She absorbed both Pans. I couldn¡¯t stop her.¡±


    The entire scene was a bloodbath, warriors she¡¯d considered amazing had all fallen. Beyond one of the Piccolos, none had any life remaining. No, that wasn¡¯t true. Somehow, one of the Supreme Kais¡ªthe female one¡ªstill clung to life.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re here to help,¡± her dad said, giving Cell a side-eye, unsure if he could trust him.


    But the bio-warrior only stared at Buu, lost for words. ¡°That pink tub of lard became that? It¡¯s like she¡¯s distorting reality itself.¡±


    Little Pan realized he was right. Even Buu¡¯s movements made no sense, as though they were free of any coherent continuity. But her vile ki was the worst aspect, smothering her like an avalanche of darkness. Even breathing was difficult around their newest foe.


    ¡°What can we do against this monster?¡± Little Pan scowled, knowing how much she lacked in the power department, she created space between herself and the other fighters. She¡¯d play backup while the others fought. She jerked as a hand touched her leg.


    ¡°Pan.¡± A voice that rose barely above a whisper said. Pan gasped as she saw its owner. In the excitement, she hadn¡¯t noticed him.


    ¡°Uub!¡± Her friend looked terrible, almost mummified somehow. His skin seemed thin against his flesh, almost like paper against his dark skin. Much to her revulsion and horror, the other fallen fighters appeared the same.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uub.¡± Little Pan said, looking frantically around for something that might help her friend. But her heart fell as his body went still, still as the grave. Tears stung her eyes, knowing they¡¯d been too late. But she saw he¡¯d only passed out, his chest still rising and falling, if faintly.


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    ¡°This should be fun,¡± Cell said, intrigued by his newest opponent. ¡°While your regenerative abilities are impressive, they''re nothing compared to mine!¡±


    With a leap, he launched himself at Buu. Much to Little Pan¡¯s astonishment, the blow seemed to phase through the warrior like she was smoke. Cell¡¯s eyes widened as his punches struck empty air, Buu doing the bare minimum to dodge them.


    ¡°Cell!¡± Her father cried out, but the warning came too late. He cried out in pain as the blow delivered to his back hurled him into the ground, creating a plum of dust.


    ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Cell said as he emerged from the cloud. He heaved like he¡¯d just fought an intense battle. ¡°She sapped away my strength that easily?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s how she got me too,¡± Bra said, though she didn¡¯t seem too concerned about Cell getting seriously weakened.


    ¡°Considering the situation, Cell, we must work together. We can¡¯t fight her alone.¡± her father said, taking charge.


    ¡°Must we?¡± Bra didn¡¯t sound too enthused, but won¡¯t argue.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Cell replied. ¡°Just this once. We¡¯ll work together. But don¡¯t assume we¡¯ll ever become friends. This won¡¯t become a habit.¡±


    ¡°Good enough,¡± her father said, nodding.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Bra said, fanning out like the others. The three warriors got into position, making it easier to assault Buu from all sides. ¡°She can even fool ki reading.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± It didn¡¯t seem possible, but Little Pan realized Bra was right. Even Buu¡¯s ki was slippery and ethereal, making it impossible to get a proper target on her. How the heck were they meant to defeat her if they couldn¡¯t even rely on their senses?


    As one, the trio sprang into action, each a streak of light as they zipped around their opponent. Buu only laughed, launching herself at the nearest target. But her father proved quick, darting out of the way. Instead of launching a counterattack, he zipped away.


    Annoyed, Buu gathered a ball of ki into her palm and hurled it at Bra next. She deflected it easily enough, but her opponent only hurled more at her, Buu¡¯s attacks getting faster and faster. Bra frantically fought them off, struggling to handle the barrage.


    Thinking his opponent distracted, Cell hurled a beam at Buu¡¯s blind side. But Buu sensed the attack, her body contorting away. Amused, the pink demon hurled a kick at Cell¡¯s exposed head. But her father used the distraction to knee the back of Buu¡¯s neck. The force of the blow stretched her neck forward, and Buu glared daggers at her attacker.


    ¡°Thought so,¡± her father said. ¡°You can¡¯t drain me just from touching me. It needs to be a conscious effort.¡±


    ¡°Who cares? I will drain you to death!¡± Buu snarled, hurling herself recklessly at Pan¡¯s father. But it was Cell and Bra¡¯s turn to deliver a punishing blow. The bio-warrior threw a kick into Buu¡¯s stomach hard enough to blow her body apart. Bra, in contrast, hurled one-armed beams into Buu¡¯s disintegrating form. But Buu quickly reformed herself¡ªthe damage wasn¡¯t enough to destroy her.


    This incensed Buu further, and Cell gave a self-satisfied smirk. ¡°Your ability to distort our senses is annoying, but not impossible to overcome. A gimmick, little else. Only a novice would fall prey to such a petty trick.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to start something?¡± Bra said, annoyed.


    ¡°Not now, Bra,¡± her father said. ¡°That¡¯s right, Buu. Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got? I¡¯m already getting bored.¡±


    ¡°Bored?¡± Buu was hopping mad now, steam venting from her pores. Were they trying to provoke her on purpose? Little Pan realized that was her father¡¯s and Cell¡¯s plan. As the Majin warrior fueled her fury, reality seemed to distort to near incomprehensibility, but her attacks became more erratic. Instead of engaging their opponent, the three warriors kept their distance, riling Buu up even more.


    ¡°I will kill you!¡± Buu screamed, hurling random beams in every direction. Little Pan shrieked in fright, creating a barrier just in time to protect herself. While destructive, the attack still hadn¡¯t harmed its intended targets.


    ¡°And now you¡¯re throwing a temper tantrum, like a child,¡± Cell said, his voice mocking. He stood in front of his opponent, arms crossed, wearing a pleased smile. ¡°I suppose it isn¡¯t surprising. You¡¯ve only absorbed children.¡±


    ¡°You die!¡± Buu hurled herself at Cell, but Bra and her father were upon her in a flash, energy gathered in their palms.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡±


    ¡°Big Bang Attack!¡±


    But her distortion couldn¡¯t make the two point-blank attacks miss, and Buu¡¯s body blasted to pieces. Still, it hadn''t destroyed her completely, Buu¡¯s body reforming moments later.


    ¡°Come on! Even that didn¡¯t work?¡± Bra said, her voice tense.


    ¡°It¡¯s her draining ability. I¡¯ve already lost almost a fourth of my power,¡± her father replied.


    ¡°Buu mad! Buu¡­¡± But then the Majin warrior calmed herself, reigning in her emotions. ¡°Better. You won¡¯t fool me into making a mistake again.¡± Then, for whatever reason, her eyes glazed over for a second. She muttered herself before readjusting her gaze back at Cell. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you first. You¡¯re the only dangerous one.¡±


    ¡°What the heck was that?¡± Pan thought, baffled.


    ¡°So you¡¯re ready to take this seriously, then?¡± Cell replied, nonplussed. ¡°I haven¡¯t even started yet.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Bra snapped. ¡°Stop messing around!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still holding back, aren¡¯t you, Cell?¡± her father said. ¡°You haven¡¯t tapped into your full strength?¡±


    ¡°Perceptive as always, Gohan,¡± Cell said, pleased. ¡°No, I still haven''t used my full ability. How about a demonstration, then?¡±


    A gasp escaped Little Pan as the power emanating from the insectoid bio-warrior struck her. Even Bra seemed shocked as Cell¡¯s power spiked past anything either of them had suspected.


    ¡°Impossible. You were holding back during our last fight,¡± Bra said, her mouth hardening. While her Super Saiyan 2 form was awesome and formidable, Cell was catching up at an alarming rate. It made Little Pan¡¯s jump in power seem like a pitiful bunny hop.


    ¡°Naturally. Like I¡¯d need my full power against a child,¡± Cell replied, ignoring that he¡¯d used just that against the other Pan during their tournament fight¡ªand lost.


    ¡°Why you?!¡± Bra said, seething. Her smile turned dangerous. ¡°You¡¯re nothing to me now. You¡¯re the child here compared to my power.¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Bra. Don¡¯t let him needle you. We¡¯re still in the middle of a fight here,¡± her father said, trying to restore some peace between tentative allies.


    Buu, for her part, had frozen when Cell unveiled a level of strength she hadn¡¯t expected, but her confident smile returned. She seemed pleased about something. The pink monstrosity gestured for her opponents to attack.


    And Cell obliged, leaving his allies in the dust. Little Pan marveled at his speed¡ªit was like Buu¡¯s ki draining had barely affected him. His blows made Buu stagger back, her opponent incapable of keeping up. Buu¡¯s expression turned desperate as she failed to fight off her opponent, and then Cell disappeared. Confused, the pink monster searched around, losing track of her opponent. Then Cell appeared right beneath her, catching her off guard, hands cupped together. Flat-footed, Buu was in no position to dodge away in time.


    Smirking, Cell unleashed the signature attack he¡¯d stolen from her grandfather. ¡°Kamehameha!¡±


    Before the beam connected, however, something odd happened to Buu¡¯s body, it expanded like a balloon. Before Little Pan could see what else was happening, the beam obscured any sight of Buu. She exploded, bursting into a million pieces.


    ¡°And that¡¯s that,¡± Cell said, pleased. ¡°A little trick I stole from your father, Gohan.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re meant to fight together, Cell,¡± her father said, though his tone lacked any real rebuke.


    ¡°Did this guy team up with us just to show us up?¡± Bra asked, barely reigning in her temper. Little Pan had to agree, Cell hadn¡¯t been what you might call a team player.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of being magnificent without an audience?¡± Cell spread his arms wide before offering a slight blow.


    ¡°Wait, something¡¯s not right,¡± her father said, stopping the banter.


    Little Pan felt it too¡ªthe nauseating aura still hadn¡¯t dissipated. In fact, she would swear it¡¯d gotten worse. Then what had happened became apparent, Little Pan widening in horror.


    ¡°Change, cupcake!¡± A pink beam shot at Cell, but the biowarrior seemed unfazed by the sudden sneak attack. He braced himself, ignorant of any danger.


    Her father saw it too, shooting a warning they both knew would fail. ¡°Cell, look out!¡±


    ¡°Nice try, Buu. You disappoint me!¡± With a hand, Cell tried deflecting the beam. But it was useless¡ªan attack impossible to deflect.


    A pink cupcake with colorful sprinkles fell from the sky and dropped to the hard ground, smashing into pieces.


    ¡°Fool,¡± Gohan said.


    ¡°Indeed, the fool thought himself unbeatable. Now he¡¯s a pink confetti stain! He thought he could kill me, but I saw it coming!¡± Buu pointed a finger to her head and cackled.


    ¡°Saw it coming?¡± Little Pan thought. ¡°What did that mean?¡±


    ¡°But I thought Cell obliterated her?¡± Bra said, frustrated.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been learning. I figured you can¡¯t blow me to bits if I explode myself first!¡± Buu replied.


    ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡± Little Pan thought she¡¯d seen bits of pink as Buu exploded. She¡¯d made herself combustible, so she exploded instead of disintegrated. To demonstrate, Buu inflated and deflated her body on whim.


    ¡°How the hell did you kill this guy before?¡± Bra said, annoyed.


    ¡°Through a Spirit Bomb. Though I doubt that¡¯ll be useful in this instance,¡± her father sighed. ¡°And Cell wasn¡¯t as big of a team player as I¡¯d hoped. If only he hadn¡¯t¡­ never mind. It seems it¡¯s up to us, Bra.¡±


    ¡°Useless.¡± Little Pan chastised herself, raging at her impotence. She watched as Bra and Gohan struggled against Buu, her natural distortions making it impossible to track her movements. She winced as a blow to the chest doubled Bra over.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    A voice got her attention. Much to Little Pan¡¯s astonishment, it was the West Supreme Kai. She barely clung to life, but her teeth gritted with determination.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk,¡± Little Pan said, flying over.


    ¡°No, listen. We must stop Buu.¡± A pained cough escaped her lips. With shaky fingers, she removed an earring from her pointed ear. She tried her other ear, but her remaining strength failed. Instead, she opened her palm, presenting the single piece of jewelry to Little Pan. ¡°Use this. Take my other earrings and give it to Bra. Fuse together. It¡¯s the only way to win.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    But then the Kai¡¯s meaning became clear. Weren¡¯t these the earrings that allowed someone to fuse with another? Didn¡¯t they create Universe 16¡¯s Vegito from her grandfather and Vegeta?


    Little Pan gasped as she realized something. ¡°But isn¡¯t it permanent?¡±


    But the Kai lacked the strength to respond, only giving Little Pan a meaningful look.


    Her head spun, wondering what she should do. Little Pan realized the situation was dire, but to fuse permanently with Son Bra? It was inconceivable! What would that fusion even produce? Would she disappear forever?


    ¡°But haven¡¯t I been useless until now?¡± Little Pan thought, hand trembling.


    This way, she¡¯d change the tide of battle. ¡°I¡­ okay.¡±


    Though the thought of fusing with Bra caused bile to bubble in her stomach, she¡¯d do it to save her father. She wouldn¡¯t lose her father today, too!


    And not a moment too soon. Since she¡¯d gained the upper hand, Buu had been toying with her two opponents. While they¡¯d put up a valiant effort, it hadn¡¯t been enough.


    Her father screamed in pain as a fist implanted itself in his stomach, tearing the life from him. Little Pan gasped in horror as the life seeped away from him, leaving him gaunt and skeletal. He pushed away in time to avoid getting completely drained, but he¡¯d lost any ability to fight.


    ¡°Gohan!¡± Bra launched herself forward, but a blow to the dome sent her reeling. Another punch drove her flying, and a cloud of dust exploded as she crashed into the ground.


    ¡°No!¡±


    But thankfully, Bra seemed okay, stumbling to her feet. Little Pan saw her chance, hurling the earring at her.


    ¡°Bra, catch!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Bra caught the thrown object on instinct, staring in confusion at the earring in her hand.


    ¡°Put it on!¡± Little Pan said, rushing to grab the fallen Kai¡¯s other earring.


    ¡°But¡ª¡± Immediately, Bra realized the implication of this.


    ¡°Another one?¡± Much to Little Pan¡¯s astonishment, Buu¡¯s eyes glazed over again, like she was viewing something only visible to her. Then, much to Little Pan¡¯s dread, Buu¡¯s attention jerked in her direction, noticing, her clutching the earring attached to the East Supreme Kai''s ear. A light dawned in the pink monster¡¯s eyes, realizing exactly what they were attempting to do. Buu had Big Sis¡¯s memories and knew all about the earrings¡¯ power.


    A fist drove into Little Pan¡¯s chest, pain screaming throughout her body. She heaved, trying to gather breath. She stared up in terror as Buu stood over her, her face distorted with a demented smile.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you create her. I saw what you were about to become. But you can¡¯t if you¡¯re dead!¡± Buu whispered and opened a hand with an energy ball clutched within it.


    ¡°Saw it coming?¡± What the heck was Buu talking about? Could she see the future somehow? The light from the ki ball illuminated the terror on Little Pan¡¯s face, knowing she was meeting her doom.


    Before the ball could obliterate her, a sudden uppercut drove Buu clear across the destroyed arena.


    Little Pan stared, unsure of what had happened. She gasped when she saw who her rescuer had been. His golden aura seemed like a torch in the night, dispelling the dark aura that¡¯s been suffocating them.


    ¡°Grandpa?¡± Little Pan said in utter disbelief.


    ¡°You guys did good,¡± Goku said, giving her a smile that shone like the sun. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here to help.¡±


    Author¡¯s note:


    Next Time: Goku joins the battle? Can even he change fate? Fusion! A new warrior emerges? But with who?

 Chapter 20

    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯ve returned!¡± Little Pan with awestruck amazement. She had always heard tales of his timely arrivals when everything seemed lost, but witnessing it firsthand was awe-inspiring.


    ¡°Heh.¡± Her father said, a slight grin on his wrinkled face. ¡°So you made it.¡±


    ¡°Him?¡± West Supreme Kai said, her voice barely a whisper. She stared at her grandfather in utter astonishment.


    ¡°Hey, Pan. You¡¯ve become a Super Saiyan. I¡¯m impressed. You¡¯ve done well to survive this far.¡± Her grandfather said with remarkable calm, considering the situation. He stared at Buu in her newly transformed state, studying her with interest. ¡°Things have gotten out of hand since I¡¯ve been gone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll say! Too much!¡± Little Pan replied. Where would she even start? ¡°Because careful! Buu has all sorts of crazy new powers! She can even see the future! And¡­¡±


    Much to Pan¡¯s astonishment, her grandfather placed a firm hand on her head. ¡°Shh. It¡¯ll be quicker if I learn about it this way.¡± He closed his eyes for several seconds before opening them again. ¡°I thought Anpan was likely some imposter, but this is beyond anything I expected.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Little Pan looked at her grandfather in bewilderment.


    ¡°I read your mind. I know the entire situation now.¡± Her grandfather said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, Pan. It was a clever idea, having Universe 16 Pan pretend to be a majin.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a technique Kami taught me.¡±


    ¡°You must teach me!¡± Little Pan said, insistent.


    ¡°It¡¯ll have to wait. We must defeat her first.¡± Her grandfather said, eying Buu.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Little Pan said, blushing. She¡¯d gotten ahead of herself. ¡°But what are we going to do? Dad, Bra, and even Cell couldn¡¯t stop her!¡±


    ¡°Can you still fight?¡± Her grandfather asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± But what could she do? She¡¯d proven to be completely useless so far. ¡°Buu can see the future. How do we stop that?¡± It must have come from Bardock. It was the only explanation.


    ¡°Yet she didn¡¯t see my arrival coming. I¡¯m guessing she can¡¯t see everything. I¡¯m counting on you to back me up.¡± Her grandfather said.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Somehow, his confident words had bolstered her, steeling her failing resolve.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you¡¯re back, too. But I¡¯ll smash you as well! You¡¯ll die like the rest!¡± Buu said with a smirk.


    ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true.¡± Her grandfather replied. ¡°You¡¯ve been holding back, Buu. You¡¯ve avoided using your draining power to kill. When you struck Gohan earlier, you could have drained him to death. He was weak enough, but you didn¡¯t. You¡¯ve avoided draining the fallen fighters to death, too.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Little Pan blinked. Was that even possible? But when she looked at the other fallen fighters, she realized they weren¡¯t dead. She¡¯d only assumed they were so. In fact, Piccolo, Yamcha, and Tien were already struggling to their feet, though in no condition to rejoin the fight.


    ¡°But what does it mean?¡± Little Pan asked. Could this somehow be used to their advantage?


    ¡°It¡¯s your counterpart from Universe 16,¡± Her grandfather replied. ¡°She¡¯s tempering Buu¡¯s evil side. This Buu isn¡¯t as evil as the one we fought, purged of any goodness.¡±


    ¡°No! Buu is as evil as ever!¡± Buu said in protest, affronted.


    ¡°And I don¡¯t think Anpan is as evil as she first appears, either.¡± her grandfather said, thoughtful. ¡°Destructive, chaotic, but not evil. It¡¯s made Buu an interesting stew of ingredients.¡±


    To contradict his words, reality warped around Buu in a sickening cacophony of colors and darkness, making Little Pan almost lose her lunch. Buu was furious, and reality reflected that. ¡°Buu will kill you!¡± Without any further preamble, she launched herself at Goku.


    Ready, Goku¡¯s aura flared golden as he transformed into Super Saiyan to meet his opponent. The pair clashed, meeting head-on. Little Pan feared for her grandfather¡¯s safety, knowing the dangers of such a confrontation. But her worries proved unfounded. Her grandfather fought with incredible swiftness, keeping just ahead of his opponent. Somehow, he pierced through Buu¡¯s reality shifting to strike the core, her head stretching backward as a knee flew into her face.


    Furious, Buu gathered energy into her palms and unleashed a barrage of blasts in wild directions. But her grandfather weaved through them to launch a ki blast into her face.


    ¡°Incredible!¡± It was like her grandfather saw through all of Buu¡¯s attacks. Had her memories given an edge in the fight? But the demonic monster recovered from each blow with astonishing speed, like she¡¯d never been hit. Her arms stretched as she punched out, almost catching her grandfather off guard. But he deflected them with two well-placed ki blasts, throwing them off course.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just stand around.¡± Little Pan thought. While her grandfather was doing well, Buu was already draining him passively. It guaranteed she¡¯d wear him down, eventually. She kept a sharp eye on the fight, ready to spike when their opponent showed weakness. And if all else failed, she could still fuse with Bra.


    Speaking of her alternate universe aunt, Bra joined the fray too, her expression beyond livid. Her blast struck Buu from behind, Buu howling in pain as they blasted him from behind. Annoyed, the majin warrior¡¯s fist stretched out to knock her senseless. It, however, provided an opening for her grandfather to strike back.


    ¡°Kamehameha!¡±


    Buu tried to stretch away, but Little Pan used this moment to strike. She unleashed a barrage of ki balls to blast Buu back on course. While inflicting pitiful damage, they did their job. The monster howled in pain as her grandfather¡¯s signature attack consumed her.


    Still, it hadn¡¯t been enough, Buu regrowing her half-destroyed body in seconds. She looked rather smug about this. ¡°Is that all? Cell did a better job!¡±


    But her grandfather remained as cool as ever. ¡°You¡¯re a tough opponent, Buu. Your regeneration makes you almost impossible to put down.¡± A slight smile creased his features. ¡°But that¡¯s what makes you a fun challenge to fight. How about I turn it up a notch?¡±


    Little Pan marveled at the Ki gushing from her grandfather. Lightning sparked around him as he powered up, his power flaring to astonishing heights. Golden hair waved like a torrent behind him as he took the highest form of Super Saiyan, his face taking more primitive features as his eyebrows disappeared.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°That¡¯s better!¡± Buu said, laughing. ¡°But it¡¯s useless! You¡¯ll fall like the rest!¡±


    And Little Pan had to admit that Buu had a point. Even her Father and Bra with their considerable might had fallen. While formidable, her grandfather was alone. What chance did they have? Still, something about his confident smile sparked a flare of hope within her. Was she about to witness a miracle?


    Little Pan¡¯s ears rang as the pair exchanged blows, each seeming to shake the entire universe. Her grandfather held nothing back, striking at full force. With Buu¡¯s draining ability, he couldn¡¯t afford the battle to drag on. But Buu¡¯s distortion hampered her grandfather¡¯s attacks. Beams that should have hit their mark passed by harmlessly. Her grandfather¡¯s expression became harried as he struggled to fight off Buu¡¯s attacks.


    ¡°You¡¯re weak, just like the rest!¡± Buu said, throwing a hand forward. One touch, and she¡¯d drain away her grandfather¡¯s Super Saiyan 3 form to nothing.


    But then her grandfather¡¯s expression turned into a pleased smirk, and he suddenly launched forward, unleashing a barrage of punishing blows to the majin warrior¡¯s exposed chest.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Buu recoiled back in pain. Little Pan realized what her grandfather had done. He¡¯d played weak to make Buu overconfident, and she¡¯d walked right into it. Now he was making her pay for her mistake. Buu tried distorting the arena to confuse her opponent, but his blows pierced right through them with ease.


    ¡°Cell was right.¡± Her grandfather said. ¡°Your ability to distort the battlefield is annoying, but not impossible to overcome. You rely on it too much.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Buu said, seething. Then her gaze dulled, her features going vacant. The creature shook her head, her expression troubled. ¡°No! I¡¯ve wasted too much time! He¡¯ll be here soon! Must kill you first before he returns!¡±


    ¡°Another vision?¡± Were the other tournament fighters about to return soon? Hope blossomed in her heart before wilting somewhat. Buu was a cornered mouse, and it only made her more dangerous.


    An unpleasant smile stretched across the majin warrior¡¯s face. ¡°You think Buu too weak to kill, to destroy? You¡¯re wrong. I will win. I will survive!¡±


    ¡°Look out!¡± Her grandfather said, ducking over Little Pan. His reason soon became apparent. Energy gathered within Buu, her body expanding like a balloon. Her pink skin became red-hot, her eyes going crimson. Then she exploded into a devastating boom.


    ---


    Little Pan shook her head, ears ringing. She blinked, trying to regain her senses. Her body hurt everywhere, gashed by its impact against the ground. Little remained of the arena beyond an expansive crater slowly filling with water from some broken pipes.


    Someone was trying to speak with her, but their voice sounded distorted, the words impossible to decipher.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± The muffled voice said. Little Pan looked up to discover her grandfather eying with concern.


    ¡°I think so.¡± She gasped as she saw her grandfather''s condition. Scorch marks marred his skin, a portion of his massive expanse of golden hair burned away. ¡°Grandpa!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± But it was a lie. Her grandfather tottered, standing on unsteady feet. His expression turned concerned as he glanced around. ¡°But the others? I¡­ can¡¯t sense their ki.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Little Pan extended her senses and found she couldn¡¯t feel her father¡¯s presence.


    Tears spilled down her face. They¡¯d been wrong. They¡¯d underestimated Buu. Big Sis¡¯s pure-hearted influence hadn¡¯t tempered Buu enough. The creature¡¯s desperation to survive would drive her to any lengths.


    Little Pan had failed again. She¡¯s failed to protect anything. And she was supposed to be the granddaughter of Goku, the multiverse¡¯s greatest hero? What a joke!


    A comforting hand touched her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I doubt anyone could do better. Still, that was a reckless attack. Buu wasted almost all her ki.¡±


    ¡°Why though? What is she planning¡­¡± Little Pan froze as a movement of pink caught her attention. It had burst from the ground, trying to catch them unaware. In a flash, she realized Buu¡¯s plan. With Vegito coming, Buu needed to be stronger. Her grandfather had caught sight of the ambush too, but he wasn¡¯t quick enough.


    Driven by an unexpected burst of strength, Little Pan moved by an iron will determination to stop Buu¡¯s machinations. Luck was with her, Buu attacking the side she¡¯d been facing.


    ¡°Pan!¡± Her grandfather cried out in alarm as the pink goo enveloped her instead. It spread around her quickly, eager to swallow her whole. Then, inexplicably, her grandfather smiled, an idea striking him. She had moments until Buu absorbed her, making her the third Pan the creature had absorbed.


    ¡°Pan, listen to me. Form a barrier around yourself. It¡¯s your only chance.¡± Her grandfather said, more serious than she¡¯d ever heard from him.


    ¡°What?¡± But she did as instructed, a golden barrier forming around her. She gave an involuntary cry of alarm as the pink goo enveloped her face whole.


    ---


    ¡°Bra.¡± A muffled voice said, and she groaned, her head throbbing. She stared up in confusion, unsure where she was.


    ¡°Bra.¡± The voice said again. Her eyes cleared to reveal Lila¡¯s worried face.


    ¡°What?¡± But then recent events returned in a rush. When Bra had realized Buu¡¯s plan, she¡¯d rushed over to her friend to protect her from the explosion. Then everything had gone black.


    Lila was in terrible shape, her body a blackened, bloody mess. Despite every movement causing a jolt of pain, her eyes held concern for her friend. When she sagged, Bra caught her.


    ¡°What a mess we are,¡± Lila said, her strength finally failing her. Her eyes were despondent, crushed by failure. ¡°Can you fight anymore?¡±


    Bra only flopped down next to her. ¡°Not really.¡±


    Silence passed between them as they lay there in the Colosseum¡¯s ruins, little remaining of it beyond dust and rubble. However, both knew Buu lived. Sure enough, Buu¡¯s ki returned in a sickening rush, faint cries heard in the distance. Buu¡¯s ki was a beacon of power, not diminished whatsoever despite the battles she¡¯d fought in. Bra felt the remainder of her ki being sapped away. She¡¯d be nothing but a corpse soon.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lila said from out of nowhere.


    ¡°For what?¡± Bra asked, turning to face her friend.


    ¡°I should have taught you better. Better prepared you for the challenges ahead.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. That¡¯s in the past.¡± Bra said with a snort.


    Lila only laughed, amazed by something.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We were stupid. We should have destroyed Babidi when he arrived, like in our home universe.¡± Lila said, voice full of self-recrimination. ¡°Our foolishness has doomed everyone.¡±


    ¡°Hey, my dad¡¯s still out there. If Goku can return, so can he.¡±


    ¡°Do you really trust him to win this, though?¡±


    ¡°No really.¡± Bra flopped back onto her back. Because he¡¯d defeated Buu before, her father would underestimate her, and it¡¯d cost him. He¡¯d been practically invincible his entire life. It¡¯d never occur to him that Buu would ever be a threat. The majin creature had proven the folly of such assumptions.


    ¡°Pan!¡± A faint voice cried out, and then the ki of her alternate niece snuffed out. Whatever had happened, it¡¯d cost the girl her life.


    ¡°And there goes that plan,¡± Lila said, her voice bitter. While Goku¡¯s ki remained strong, Bra doubted it¡¯d last.


    ¡°Right.¡± In the hubbub, she¡¯d almost forgotten. In her hand, the fusion earring glittering in the fault light.


    ¡°You could fuse with Goku, but I doubt that fusion would work that well. Whatever. Grab my earring and try, anyway. There¡¯s no other option.¡±


    ¡°Fuse with him? Never.¡± Bra said, standing up. Her wobbled as she floated, but kept her flight straight. ¡°And I don¡¯t want to fuse with Pan, either.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lila stared at her in confusion.


    ¡°No, I want to fuse with you, Lila,¡± Bra said, bending down. ¡°And only you.¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t care about more powerful combinations. You¡¯re the only person who¡¯s ever understood me.¡±


    ¡°Bra.¡±


    ¡°My entire life, everyone thought they knew what was best for me. Either that, or called me a monster. But you listened, really listened. Around you, I feel like I can be myself.¡±


    For once, Lila had no words. She only smiled, grasping Bra¡¯s extended hand. With gentle fingers, the Kai pushed a hair from Bra¡¯s eyes. They were so close, that Bra smelled the Kai¡¯s flowery perfume mixed with her sweat. Her heart beat with excitement at what they were about to do.


    ¡°Now let¡¯s kick Buu¡¯s ass, together,¡± Bra said, holding Lila tight with one arm as she attached the earring to her left ear.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Lila said, nodding. Their bodies flash with a blinding light as they bound together forever.


    ---


    ¡°What the?¡± Little Pan shook her head, totally baffled. What had just happened? Buu had tried absorbing her, and then she found herself here.


    Her surroundings were bizarre¡ªweird blue pulsating flesh walls with bulbous protrusions growing from them like cancerous tumors. The air was pungently sweet, like she was breathing pure sugar. It made her stomach turn, leaving her queasy.


    ¡°Is this inside Buu?¡± Little Pan said, flummoxed about what she should do next. The fleshy vines stretched endlessly like demented cables hung haphazardly.


    ¡°I¡¯m here. Might as well do some damage.¡± Little Pan doubted Buu would appreciate getting blown to bits from the inside. But then she remembered something¡ªa story her father had told her once. Hadn¡¯t he mentioned something about being freed from Buu? She racked her brain harder for more details but came up empty.


    ¡°They must be around here somewhere.¡±


    ¡°This way.¡± Little Pan took a random direction, using her instincts to guide her.


    After a minute of exploring, Little Pan was no closer to finding her goal. The halls of blue flesh seemed an endless maze. She growled in frustration, knowing time was short. Her grandfather wouldn¡¯t last long. Instead of getting discouraged, she only redoubled her efforts. Then she spotted it, three cocoons through the web of flesh vines. Little Pan¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she noticed the head poking out from behind one.


    ¡°Big Sis!¡±


    Before she could rush to her counterpart¡¯s aid, a familiar voice stopped her.


    ¡°Hold it!¡±


    ¡°Oh, shoot.¡± Ice stabbed into her chest as a figure literally grew from the fleshy floor.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you interfere, little girl,¡± Buu said, a malicious smile spreading across her face as she took form.


    ¡°Impossible. You can fight within yourself?¡± Little Pan entered a fighting pose, though she knew how little chance she stood against this monster.


    ¡°Buu is master of her domain!¡± Buu replied. ¡°And you¡¯re only an unwanted bacterium.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Little Pan calmed her beating heart. She was so close. If she freed Big Sis, this nightmare would end. Of course, that meant lasting even seconds against this monster.


    But for Big Sis and her grandfather¡¯s sake, she¡¯d fight to her last breath and not before. She would win this and save Big Sis from Buu¡¯s fleshy, disgusting clutches.


    Author¡¯s note:


    Next time: Bra x Lila? Libra is born! Little Pan vs Inner Buu! Can she rescue her counterparts before getting overwhelmed by countless Buu clones? Stay tuned for the epic finale to the Majin Invasion arc.

 Chapter 21

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Little Pan ducked, wincing as the energy ball exploded overhead. She retaliated, hurling a barrage of widespread energy beams. Much to her astonishment, Buu didn¡¯t bother dodging, exploding into pink goo.


    ¡°Heal from this!¡± Little Pan destroyed every bit of Buu''s remains until nothing remained.


    ¡°I won?¡± Little Pan thought. It seemed a little too easy.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± a voice said. Little Pan turned to see another Buu emerge from the pulsating walls. Before she could even respond, the monstrous creature sprang at her.


    ¡°You!¡± Little Pan winced as a fist drove into her chest. Her attacker paid for it¡ªBuu¡¯s head split in half as Little Pan slashed at him with her hand. But Buu only reformed seconds later, unharmed. Little Pan howled as a knee slammed into her face.


    Rage gathered within Little Pan¡ªshe¡¯d had enough of Buu¡¯s mocking smile. Her ki spiked to new heights, surprising even Buu. With an unexpected burst of speed, she unleashed a ki pulse that splattered Buu instantly. The creature¡¯s distortion ability wasn¡¯t helpful against such an attack. But her outburst only earned mocking laughter, the sound echoing through the chamber from every direction.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how many times you destroy me, little girl. You can¡¯t kill Buu inside Buu!¡± The monster¡¯s mocking laughter grew louder.


    ¡°Dang it, he¡¯s right,¡± Little Pan thought. Her eyes traced over the cocoons of Big Sis, Anpan, and Bardock. Her only shot was to weaken Buu by freeing the people she¡¯d absorbed. She dashed towards Big Sis¡¯s pod with a burst of sudden speed.


    But Buu saw her attack coming, growing out of the ground before Big Sis¡¯s cocoon and punching her in the jaw hard enough to chip a tooth. A kick sent her flying clear across the chamber, away from her goal.


    Buu tapped a finger on his temple. ¡°Thanks to Bardock, I saw this coming a long time ago. I knew you¡¯d find yourself in this chamber. You can¡¯t surprise me, girl. Nothing you do will ever surprise me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, shoot.¡± What now? She¡¯d underestimated Buu again, not realizing she could grow from the walls anywhere. And it made sense¡ªeverything around her was Buu. The only solace was that inner Buu didn¡¯t seem as powerful as her real-life counterpart. But it didn¡¯t matter when she was this outclassed.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Little Pan burst with power. ¡°I¡¯m saving Big Sis!¡± Now wasn¡¯t the time to give up. She didn¡¯t doubt for a second that her grandfather hadn¡¯t given up the fight outside, so neither would she.


    ¡°Foolish girl,¡± Buu said as Little Pan hurled herself at her, launching a barrage of fireballs as she did so.


    But it had only been a distraction¡ªLittle Pan hurled a single ki blast at the strand holding Big Sis¡¯s cocoon. She enjoyed Buu¡¯s expression as it sliced the cord, the cocoon toppling over. One more cord and Big Sis would be free from Buu.


    ¡°No!¡± Buu cried in horror, appearing before Big Sis¡¯s cocoon before Little Pan severed the final link.


    ¡°How about this?¡± Little Pan targeted Bardock¡¯s pod next, but Buu had already moved to intercept. This provided the perfect opportunity to shoot a cord on Anpan¡¯s cocoon instead, which sat some distance away from the others.


    Little Pan beamed as she caught Buu¡¯s frustrated expression. ¡°Ha! You¡¯re strong, but there¡¯s only one of you! You can¡¯t protect all three cocoons alone!¡± And once she freed one of them, it¡¯d weaken Buu severely.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Buu¡¯s expression took on an expression Little Pan didn¡¯t like. She gasped as dozens of Buus appeared from the walls and ceiling, growing like pink, demented weeds. Together, their distortions made them difficult to distinguish.


    ¡°Me and my big mouth!¡± Little Pan said, before howling in pain as a knee connected with her chin. The mere contact sapped away her strength, weakening her so much that she almost didn¡¯t dodge the punch from another Buu clone. She fled away to avoid the deadly blows, forcing her further away from her target.


    ¡°Darn it.¡± Little Pan moved to turn around, but dozens of Buus blocked her. She unleashed a wave of destructive ki, but the destroyed Buus only reconstituted themselves moments later. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair!¡±


    Little Pan fought for her life as blows came from every direction, each blow sapping her already waning strength. She¡¯d spent too long in Super Saiyan 2, and it had cost her. Buu¡¯s body blocked any attempt to reach her targets. Finally, a punch to the sternum drained her last reserves, and she fell to her knees as her transformation failed.


    ¡°Ick!¡± Blue goo clung to Little Pan¡¯s legs, fastening her in place. Her heart raced with terror as dozens of Buus approached to finish the job. They had her helpless, drawing out the moment to savor her fear and hopelessness.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead, dead, dead!¡± The Buus said in unison, their tone jeering and mocking. ¡°Fight and defeat Buu from the inside? Stupid!¡±


    But then, the Buus¡¯ faces distorted with pain, the walls shaking with each quake. Was this her grandfather¡¯s doing?


    ¡°I get it. Grandpa¡¯s kicking your sorry butt!¡± Little Pan said, her tone superior. ¡°To fight me inside yourself, you need to put resources elsewhere. And Grandpa won¡¯t go down easily.¡± It explained why Little Pan could fight her at all.


    ¡°A minor distraction!¡± Buu snarled, and dozens of Buus rejoined the walls, melting back into herself.


    ¡°I can¡¯t give up.¡± But what now? Her energy reserves had drained to basically nothing. Even standing proved difficult. Little Pan figured she might manage another transformation to Super Saiyan, but it would sap her remaining ki.


    ¡°Play helpless. It¡¯s my only chance.¡± If she surprised her opponent, she just might manage to free either Anpan or Big Sis¡ªthen it¡¯d be up to Grandpa to save the day. What happened to her didn¡¯t matter as long as they defeated Buu.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    But her defiance only seemed to amuse the monster. The Buus circled her like a pack of hungry wolves, and Little Pan was a helpless doe with a broken leg. She tensed, ready to strike when the moment presented itself, regardless of the risk.


    But the attack never arrived. Only instinct saved Little Pan as she leaped back when a sudden chill struck her. The Buus in front of her stood in a permanent expression of shock, frozen to ice statues. Whatever the chill had touched froze solid¡ªincluding the once-pulsating flesh walls. If she¡¯d been a split second slower, she would¡¯ve suffered the same fate.


    ¡°What the heck?¡± Wasn¡¯t this Bra¡¯s technique? But how? She¡¯d been half-dead.


    ¡°No!¡± The unfrozen Buus shrieked in panic. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I see this coming?! No! It can¡¯t be!¡±


    ¡°Well, Buu.¡± Little Pan flared golden as she turned Super Saiyan, and his confidence surged. ¡°Seems the tables have turned!¡±


    ---


    Goku ducked as a fist flew past his face, just barely scratching his skin. He knew how fatal it¡¯d be if Buu made any contact. After the explosion, he couldn¡¯t count on Buu not fighting to kill. That had been a terrible misstep on his part, and it had cost Gohan his life.


    A pang stabbed at his heart for making such an error. Despite his blood being up, part of his heart dragged him down, a sadness he couldn¡¯t completely shake. Somehow, the loss hurt more than he¡¯d expected, even though he knew the Dragon Balls would restore his son. Goku used his anger and frustration with himself to fuel his attacks. Buu wouldn¡¯t get away with this!


    The air thundered as Goku exchanged blows with his opponent, each strike sending ripples through Buu¡¯s rubbery flesh. That made the creature an interesting opponent¡ªshe took damage differently than other opponents. Heck, Goku wasn¡¯t even sure Buu felt pain at all.


    Despite the damage he inflicted, the creature only bounced back moments later. Still, from the slight decrease in reaction speed, Goku sensed he was wearing his opponent down.


    ¡°You made a big mistake, Buu,¡± Goku said. ¡°By killing everyone else, you can''t leech any ki to rejuvenate yourself.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Again, Goku¡¯s comment triggered a childish tantrum, making his opponent act erratically. The creature sent wild energy balls at him with impressive, destructive force. He used Instant Transmission to teleport away. A shockwave shook the entire tournament planet as the ki blasts struck the surface. Phew. He¡¯d been lucky to avoid those.


    Buu scowled, searching for her opponent. Goku avoided Buu¡¯s line of sight¡ªnot to launch a sneak attack, but to draw out the fight. He needed to stall until Pan rescued her counterparts. He could go all out, but Goku doubted he possessed the firepower necessary to kill Buu.


    Still, he worried about his granddaughter. He remembered how Buu had sent a copy of herself to stop Vegeta and him from saving Gohan and the others. He prayed Buu couldn¡¯t fight both him and Pan at the same time.


    ¡°You!¡± Buu found him and charged recklessly, but Goku didn¡¯t engage, dodging away and forcing his opponent to chase him.


    As the fight dragged on, Buu became even more erratic. Goku recalled her earlier comment about a certain person coming. She must be talking about his fused counterpart and the other tournament fighters. She needed to finish him first before confronting them.


    Vegito and the other tournament fighters didn¡¯t know about Buu. If she killed him, it gave her the perfect opportunity to set a trap¡ªbut that plan would be foiled if Goku warned them. Still, despite reinforcements coming soon, he didn¡¯t drop his guard. When cornered, Buu was even more dangerous.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Goku howled as a fist connected with his face, and felt his ki draining away. But he was quick, leaping back before she stole anything else. Still, the blunder had cost him.


    His flight wavered as he struggled to stay afloat. Super Saiyan 3 was costing him, taking a terrible toll on his body. He had two minutes at most. Still, Goku hardened his resolve and engaged his foe head-on.


    ¡°Come on, Pan. You can do it!¡± Goku thought as he exchanged blows with Buu. He could have Instant Transmissioned away and forced Buu to search for him, but he needed to keep her distracted¡ªotherwise, she¡¯d focus her attention on Pan invading her body. At least, he hoped that was true.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Another sloppy dodge got him touched again, draining him to almost nothing. Goku felt his transformation slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.


    Seeing the futility of dodging any further, Goku used his remaining strength to give Buu something to think about. His aura flared as he gathered his remaining energy and charged. Buu¡¯s eyes bulged as the blow struck her chest, and dust exploded everywhere as she crashed into the rubble of a nearby building.


    Goku lowered to the ground, his hair returning to black. He panted, knowing he¡¯d lost everything in that final desperate attack. He hoped Pan would be okay inside Buu¡ªhe hadn¡¯t a clue how the world inside that creature worked.


    But as he¡¯d feared, Buu was already back on her feet, royally ticked off. Without ki attacks, blows were basically futile against her. Still, Goku entered a fighting stance, ready to engage his opponent even without any Super Saiyan transformation.


    ¡°You¡¯re spent,¡± Buu said, her grin widening. She took sadistic glee in the discrepancy of their power. She would enjoy hurting him. Still, if it bought Pan more time, he¡¯d take it.


    And the blow came, Goku coughing blood as a fist to the ribs punctured his lung. He fought on, regardless, making Buu work for her torture session. But with their difference in strength, he might as well be fighting smoke. Blow after blow sent Goku to his knees, and Buu lifted him by the head, enjoying how helpless he was against her.


    ¡°Now you die!¡± Buu said with an evil glint in her eye. But then she paused. ¡°No¡­ you must suffer some more. No one has hurt me like you have.¡±


    But Goku didn¡¯t buy this logic. Something inside Buu made her hesitate to kill him. His guess about Pan restraining Buu¡¯s deadlier instincts had been correct. His mind focused on something else as his opponent ravaged him, distracting him from the pain. But then he gasped as Buu suddenly dropped him.


    He also sensed what had caught the monster¡¯s attention. The power was incredible.


    ¡°No¡­ it can¡¯t be. I should have seen this coming!¡± Fear flashed across Buu¡¯s face as an unfamiliar figure came into view.


    No, that wasn¡¯t right. There was something familiar about her, but Goku couldn¡¯t quite place it¡ªuntil he noticed the earrings in the young girl¡¯s ears. Bra? But who had she fused with? He marveled at her power. And she hadn¡¯t even gone Super Saiyan yet!


    The fused warrior¡¯s features were strong and angular. Her wild hair extended down her back, dark purple with bluish highlights. She wore a Supreme Kai uniform. Instead of red, however, it was a striking hot pink. Her expression was serene, yet it only put Goku further on guard.


    ¡°You killed my brother, Buu. I saw the explosion consume him until he was nothing but ash.¡± The newcomer¡¯s voice was level, but Goku heard the simmering fury beneath her words. ¡°Even Frieza, Cell, and their murderous ilk have some reason behind their crimes, petty as they are. But you? Your entire existence is destruction. You are an abomination, Buu.¡±


    Before Buu could respond, the fused warrior struck. Even Buu was caught off guard by her speed. She extended a hand, pressing it against Buu¡¯s chest. The monster shrieked in terror as ice spread over her entire torso, freezing it solid. With a single swipe of her hand, the frozen mass shattered. But the warrior didn¡¯t stop there¡ªshe extended her power again, instantly freezing Buu¡¯s lower half.


    Goku¡¯s eyes widened. That was the technique Bra had used against King Cold¡ªor rather, Captain Ginyu. But this was beyond anything she¡¯d used before.


    Buu, eyes wide in terror, crawled away, her torso a frozen stump of her torso. The ice interfered with her regeneration? How interesting. He needed to learn this technique. Buu¡¯s rubbery body had turned brittle and fragile under the freezing effect.


    The technique, however, burned a considerable amount of ki. Goku worried the fused warrior had pushed herself too far. Much to his relief, he didn¡¯t sense any drop in the warrior¡¯s impressive ki. He briefly wondered if the Vargas would allow her to fight in the tournament. She''d be an impressive foe to fight.


    ¡°Wait! Pan¡¯s still in there!¡± Goku blurted out. ¡°She¡¯s trying to free the other Pans!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but this must be done. We¡¯ll just wish them back,¡± the warrior said, her tone cold and uncompromising. ¡°This abominable creature must be erased.¡±


    Goku frowned, his mind racing. That attitude. Then it clicked. He knew who Bra had fused with. It explained everything.


    ¡°You¡¯re the West Supreme Kai, aren¡¯t you?¡± he asked. ¡°Fused with Bra.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Call me Libra.¡± The fused Kai gave a slight smile. ¡°A fitting name for a hero. I¡¯m sorry about your granddaughter, but we must destroy this monster before it causes further harm.¡±


    Buu was still dragging herself away, her expression desperate. Then her eyes glazed over, and Goku tensed. She was seeing into the future again.


    ¡°No! I¡¯ve lost! Buu has lost!¡± Her voice trembled with despair. ¡°There¡¯s no escape for Buu! No! I won¡¯t accept this!¡±


    An icicle of fear stabbed into Goku¡¯s chest as he caught the manic grin spreading across Buu¡¯s nightmare face.


    ¡°Buu will not accept this!¡± she shrieked. ¡°If I¡¯m going down, I¡¯m taking you with me! I¡¯m taking this entire galaxy!¡±


    Her skin glowed red, her body pulsing as she gathered every last ounce of her energy into one final, devastating explosion. It wasn¡¯t about winning anymore. If she couldn¡¯t win¡ª


    ¡ªshe¡¯d kill them all.


    ---


    Author¡¯s note:


    Next chapter will restart the tournament proper, I promise. Buu is a surprisingly difficult foe to beat.


    Next time: Buu¡¯s final stand! Will the galaxy survive her desperate gambit? Tournament cleanup. Who the heck is going to pay for this mess? Vegeta vs Pan? A new form? SSJ Zero?