Chapter Text
AN: Sorry for the delay again, I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I want to do with "my" Vegeta. Also Mint Silver is Corneal Silver's daughter, he didn't die in this fic but I'll cover more on that in the story.
Chapter 4: Heaven and Earth
Raditz and Goku walked in silence for what seemed like hours, making Goku very uncomfortable. He fidgeted to himself nervously. Goku took a deep breath and raised his hand, gesturing as if he was going to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, Goku simply went into thought, which was never an easy task for the Earthbound Saiyan. Raditz glanced over to see his brother struggling, and felt a smile come onto his face.
"We should hurry," Raditz said plainly, trying to seem unaffected by all the revelations they'd just been told.
"Huh, what?" Goku asked confused as if he had forgotten how to understand speech at all during the silent walk.
"We should hurry…if we want to arrive at King Kai's and get the most out of our training." Raditz repeated only half looking at Goku, not able to look him in the eyes.
"Oh, right, I guess I forgot!" Goku laughed and admitted dumbly. "But boy it's gonna take forever at this rate!"
"Kakorot, I have an idea," Raditz said smirking kindly at Goku, facing at him a little more fully, "I'm a lot faster than you…" Raditz started
"THAT'S NOT AN IDEA!" Goku shouted at Raditz punching him in the shoulder, Raditz swatted him back. "I wasn't finished! If you grab on tight I can fly us there and we'll get there four times as fast!" Raditz said in a growl, and began to laugh. So this is what it's like to truly have a brother…
"That's a great idea!" Goku said and grabbed Raditz, jumping on his back piggy-back style, his face had the smile of a little boy and he held his brother tightly.
"Hey! Stop pulling my hair!" Raditz yelled hitting Goku, lightly cringing in pain.
"How can't I? That's all that's back here!" Goku complained pouting, attempting to grab on where there was no hair…which wasn't easy.
"Tch, just stop whining and grab on," Raditz grumbled at him, then looked forward with a smile, Little Kakorot… still such a child.
"Ready?" Raditz said with a smile.
"Yeah!" Goku exclaimed impatiently.
Raditz flew off at top speed, Goku was almost blown off at first, it was more velocity than he had ever experienced. He began to get a little green.
"If you're going to vomit please don't do it on me…" Raditz voiced in a monotone, a bit disgusted at the thought of it, hoping it was just an exaggeration on his brother’s part.
"This…is…AWESOME! WEEEEEEEEEW!" Goku let out a shout, holding on for dear life, which made Raditz laugh out loud. Well as long as he's enjoying it… but I… I made a grave mistake.
Goku continued to shout in excitement, Raditz smiled but his smile soon faded.
"Kakorot, I was… wrong and…" Raditz looked away from his brother, the words limping out of his mouth.
"It's okay Raditz, I don't blame you," Goku said honestly, smiling as he held on to his brother.
"How can you not blame me? You died because of my vengeance!" Raditz said self-castigating himself as his fists clenched in anger.
"It's okay, I mean you thought I killed your mother and you wanted revenge, I don't blame you. I would want revenge on the monster that killed my grandpa if I ever find it…" Goku trailed off, trying to relate to his brother.
"Monster?" Raditz said curiously as if the concept was ludicrous.
"A giant ape monster that came one full moon and crushed him…" he mumbled sadly, remembering the sudden loss of his grandfather.
"Ape monster!" Raditz almost froze as he realized what happened. Kakorot without knowing it killed his own 'grandfather'.
"Kakorot, you… you'll find that monster eventually…" Raditz faked a smile, not wanting his brother to know the truth. It's better that way… I don't want him to blame himself for this man's death right after all this… mess.
"Yeah I hope so…" Goku said with a half smile, "But I got a lot of friends: Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Paur, Master Roshi, Mint…"
"Family?" Raditz interrupted him curiously.
"Huh?" Goku was taken off guard a moment. Then Goku said, "Oh, there is Chi-Chi my wife, Ox-king her father, and Gohan… who you met." Goku smiled a bit uncomfortably
"Indeed," Raditz uttered. He still couldn't help but feel guilty for what he did before.
"Oh, I guess they are your family now too!" Goku said with a smile trying to distract his brother from his self-punishing thoughts.
"Hmm…" Raditz grunted without a dead hollow tone as if he didn't hear. I hope so Kakarot…I hope I can truly be your brother.
"Hey Raditz! I think I see it over there!" Goku shouted, excitedly pointing the way to a tiny little dot in the sky.
"We'll be there in no time!" Raditz said with fake relief.
Meanwhile, in Limbo.
The Guardian stood solemnly, breathing a deep sigh of relief. A hooded and cloaked figure flew in behind the armored Saiyan. They were back to back.
"I'm surprised you didn't tell them," the cloaked figure spoke looking over his shoulder.
"I'm surprised you didn't do anything at all," the Guardian smiled at little, teasing him.
"Oh I will, I will…" the cloaked figure promised and then flew off.
"Don't be too rough with them…" the guardian whispered, praying for them.
Krillin came out of a giant door holding his arm in pain, he was grimacing a little, "Ugh, too much!" Yamcha trailed behind, limping, breathing heavily in exhaustion. "Those Saiyans were tough." Tien came out carrying an unconscious Chou-tzu, his body badly bruised, his demeanor as serious as ever, "And they aren't even as strong as the pair that's coming in a year..."
A woman's voice echoed from the pendulum room, holding her face, nose scrunched up as she was nursing a nasty hit, “Tell me about it… so when are we going back in?”
She was a young red-haired woman, about a year younger than Goku and few inches shorter than him, her hair was in a bob. Her outfit consisted of a torn up turtle school uniform, a blue leather jacket, and a red ribbon bandana tying up her hair, making her look a bit boyish. She was not exceptionally pretty having a fierce look at times from her father in spite of her mother’s voice, but her energy and her gung-ho attitude made her upbeat if a little exhausting to her friends. Anyone could tell she was a warrior, for she sported a black eye and multiple bad bruises, she had pushed herself too far in her training.
"Miiint!" Krillin whined almost crying, rubbing the back of his head.
"What?!" Mint said laughing as she wiped a bit blood that had gotten on her hand on the side of her
"You've got a self-destructive personality lady, you know that?" Krillin said falling backward in exhaustion.
"Well if we're gonna beat the Saiyans we HAVE to at least beat these guys!" Mint said frustrated, shaking her fists, antsy to get back to training against the Saiyans from the past.
"She has a point Krillin," Tien said solemnly, holding Chou-tzu.
"Yeah, I know, but she doesn't have to enjoy it," Krillin complained sitting up with big waterfalls of tears.
"Now, where are those senzu beans?!" Mint said with a smile, rubbing her stomach.
"I swear you're addicted to those things Mint." Yamcha put in, half jokingly
"Like you should talk Yami, the amount you eat could feed an army!" She voiced smacking Yamcha on the back, making him scream in pain. He jumped around with ahs and owes.
Mint blushed and rubbing the back of her head with a embarrassed, "Oh sorry, Yami, forgot how hard that bald one hit you on the back." Yamcha smiled a pained and flashed a thumbs up, making Mint wink and give him a playful
Krillin smiled at her, she had been in the group the least amount of time but had defiantly carved out her niche in the dynamic. And though she wasn’t the strongest of them she was always pushing herself.
The group laughed together lightly at the scene, as Mr. Popo turned the corner with five senzu beans on a gold platter. "Yes you must train, but you must be mindful that you have limits and senzu beans are not common."
"Sorry, Popo, I'm just worried we won't be ready," Mint said meekly, bowing a little to the man.
Popo chortled, "You are ready now for what comes next, not want comes after that, this is the progression of things. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Thanks Popo!" Mint said with a smile as she popped a senzu bean in her mouth and chewed. The beans were passed around, each one of the human warriors ate one, Tien helped Chou-tzu with his, as he had yet to completely compose himself.
Mint looked down at herself, with a tiny pout on her face, "Damn, that's the second ruined uniform this week!"
"Yeah, and it's only Tuesday!" Krillin teased, laughingly punching Mint lightly on the knee.
"Good thing I packed plenty of extras!" Mint said with a confident smile. "I need to change, no peeking Yamcha!" She said sculling away taking out a new uniform.
"Hey! Why do you warn only me?!" Yamcha complained as if he'd been accused of a crime.
"BECAUSE! YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD!" Mint yelled waving from over her back.
Tein, Krillin, Popo, and even Chou-tzu laughed at Yamcha's expense as he was stuck with a dumb look on his face.
"HEY! SHUT UP!" Yamcha said flailing at the others.
"Good thing Bulma isn't seeing this!" Krillin shouted and dodged Yamcha's attack.
"She would have your head, Yamcha." Tien laughed as he barely dodged Yamcha. A small chuckle came from the main building.
"Not you too Kami..." Yamcha whined, his body sunk in depression.
"My apologies," Kami said with a smile and a light cough.
Mint came out dressed in a fresh uniform, "What's everyone laughing at, did I miss something?"
Everyone but Yamcha was trying hard to hold in their laughter as Yamcha had his back turned in embarrassment.
"Well, whatever! Let's get back to it shall we?" Mint said fixing her bandana tighter bursting with eagerness.