First of All, I am Vegeta Ch.29

— Vegeta —

I crossed my arms as I followed behind Kakarot, and we made our way higher and higher into the air. After spending the day training with the others, we’ve all decided that our training within the Spaceship simply wasn’t enough as things stood, which is why our group will be training up on Kami’s Lookout for the foreseeable future. 

Bulma offered to see what she could do with the ship, but she was clear that we shouldn’t hold any high expectations due to the lack of parts we possess. However, with the added five ships we dismantled, thanks to Cui, there could be a chance of success. 

Either way, I know Bulma is going to try her hardest, and that’s more than enough for me. 

As we flew higher, my eyes narrowed at the giant floating lookout with unhidden interest. Seeing it in the anime and seeing it in real life were too completely different experiences. 

The thing really is just a giant floating structure. 

We touched down atop the lookout and our eyes almost immediately fell onto the dark-skinned man who was watering some plants out front. 

His wide eyes slowly looked over to us and a shiver of something went down my spine as he placed the watering can down and stood up, his eyes locked onto mine. 

“Heya, Mr. Popo!” Kakarot grinned, walking forward and taking the turban-wearing man’s hand. “How ya been?” 

“Quite alright, it’s a beautiful day.” Mr. Popo hummed, his expression didn’t change in the slightest.  “And you?” 

“I’m great!” The younger Saiyan flexed his bicep and slapped it with the other hand. “And once we get into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, everything will be even better!” 

“Hm.” Mr. Popo frowned a bit as his eyes strayed back over to me for a couple of seconds before returning back to the Saiyan raised on Earth. 

…He doesn’t like me, does he? 

“Goku.” A raspy, almost tired old voice rang from the building ahead of us.

We all looked in that direction to see a frail, wrinkly, old Namekian walk out using a wooden stick as a cane to support his weight. 

“Hey, Kami!” Kakarot took a step past Popo and made his way over to the Guardian of Earth. 

“It’s always nice to see your face, Goku. So full of spirit and life. The last time you came here was when you came back to life, correct?” 

“Yeah, sorry for not visiting.” Kakarot scratched the back of his head sheepishly, and Kami waved him off.

“While your absence makes this place a bit colder, I couldn’t ask you to come visit every time I wished, could I?” Kami chuckled before turning his attention to me. His eyes grew more stern, and any fondness he had with his precious successor completely vanished upon meeting my gaze. 

“And you must be the Saiyan Prince, Vegeta.” 

“I am.” I nodded with ease. My arms crossed over my chest tightened. The mood upon this lookout was dull. Not that I wasn’t used to a dull presence, but it was clear that neither Kami nor Popo wanted me here. 

Which is fair. 

“And you’ve come to train within the Time Chamber?” He questioned, and I raised a brow. 

If he knows and fully understands our purpose for being here, why is he doing this song and dance? 

The OG Vegeta would have insulted Kami for wasting his time, but I’m a much more patient man, even if his game is pissing me off a bit. 

“Yes, Kakarot has said that this Lookout offers a rather sought after training experience. A place where someone can come to train a whole year's worth in a single day. Such a place could make the difference in a battle against Freeza.”

“I suppose that is true.” Kami nodded easily. “That tyrant deep within the loneliness of space is strong, perhaps as strong as you say.”

My eyes hardened at that. “You’ve seen him?” 

Kami just frowned slightly before he turned away, not answering my question. 

“Come along then, Goku, Saiyan Prince, I will escort you to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber where you will both be free to use it at your leisure.” 

“Thanks, Kami!” Goku grinned and placed his hands behind h*/is head as he followed behind the old Namekian. 

I however frowned at their retreating forms before following behind. I know for a fact Kami has never met Freeza face to face, but the fact that he sounded a bit familiar with him suggests that he may have had a vision, or saw something regarding Freeza that allowed him to surmise his power. 

Which doesn’t bode well for the planet. Could he be coming soon? 

We walked into the tower and straight toward the large wooden door before stopping. 

“This is it. Do I need to explain the rules?” 

“Nah, I already told Vegeta everything he needs to know, hehe!” Kakarot stepped forward and past Kami, taking hold of the handle and opening the door slightly. “You ready, Vegeta?” 

“Of course, a Saiyan must always be prepared; fighting and strength are what we live for, after all.” I grinned madly as Kakarot returned it. He opened the door and stepped in, and I followed after him. 

It was time to lock in and fuck Father Time in the face. 

— Piccolo —

“Ha!” Piccolo’s Half Saiyan apprentice shouted as he tried to land a punch on his uncle. The blow was blocked with ease, and a grin came to the long haired Saiyan’s face as he punched away his nephew. 

“You gotta come at me with more than that if you wanna get a good kick in!” Raditz taunted. As Gohan stood back up, he eyed Raditz carefully. His eyes were studying the taller man, searching for a weakness. Gohan was more calculating than any other fighter Piccolo knew, and while that habit of his could be beneficial at times, it also worked against him quite often.

“Stop thinking and fight!” Piccolo shouted from his place on a hill above them. Gohan’s head snapped toward Piccolo, and the green man had to do everything in his power not to facepalm at the sight. 

Had the boy learned nothing?!

As if to fuel Piccolo’s anger, Raditz rushed Gohan and slapped him hard, sending him flying backward again. 

The boy spends so much thinking, but then completely turns all of his attention away from the fight when he gets even the slightest of distractions. 

Gohan pushed himself off the ground, dirt stuck to his face as the boy clenched his teeth.

“Enough.” Piccolo shouted as he flew down to the uncle/nephew duo.

“Why? We just got started.” Raditz frowned, and Piccolo gave him an annoyed look. 

“Because this isn’t working.” 

“And it will with time.” Raditz argued, but Piccolo just shook his head.

“No it won’t.” The green man argued back with gritted teeth. “Gohan isn’t like you, or any other Saiyan for that matter.” 

“And who the hell are you to decide that?” The older Saiyan’s eyes narrowed and Piccolo remained unflinching.

“The guy that fought his father, the guy that fought his uncle.” Piccolo practically spat out the word, twisting a knife into Raditz’ heart as the spiky-headed Saiyan looked away. “I know Gohan better than you, and I guarantee this isn’t the way.”

“…Then what is?” Raditz surrendered.

Piccolo eyes Raditz for a few seconds before looking at Gohan. The kid had caught his breath, but looked like shit. 

Dirt smeared into his clothes, bruises on his face. He looked like he had spent the entire day getting his ass beat—which he had, and that was a problem that needed to be solved.

“Gohan. We need to fix that problem of yours.” 

“Problem? I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Piccolo.” Gohan whispered out. It was so quiet Piccolo was certain Raditz hadn’t caught it.

It took everything in Piccolo’s power not to shout at the poor kid.

“You think too damn much!” In the end, he lost the fight. The kid needed to hear about his blunder before it cost him in a fight that really mattered. A fight for keeps.

“I-I don’t understand-”

“Of course you don’t.” Piccolo facepalmed. “Your mind is always processing what’s in front of you, trying to surmise the best course of action going forward, but that doesn’t work in a fight, not all the time.”

Gohan remained quiet and Piccolo took that as a sign to continue.

“Calculating the best course of action in a fight is bad, it causes you to weigh out the pros and cons of every hit you throw, and the same for the hits thrown at you. Too much thinking burdens the mind and slows you down, but a warrior that fights without thinking, that throws a punch unconcerned of what may come in response, is the kind of warrior that will fight to win or die trying.” Piccolo explained. 

He knew words were better for Gohan’s understanding that any other method. Beating the knowledge into him just wouldn’t work, the runt’s ignorance would persist.

The Half-Saiyan looked down at the ground thoughtfully, and a small smile came to Piccolo that quickly vanished when Gohan looked back up at him.

“I think I get it, Mr. Piccolo, but how do I win a fight if I don’t think at all?” Gohan mumbled out. 

“Experience.” Piccolo answered with ease. “You need to fight against others and adapt to their fighting styles. Using your brain in a fight is not entirely bad, but relying on it too much will steal your resolve, and you’ll eventually lose to the warrior that wants to win more than you.”

“…Thank you, Mr. Piccolo.”

A grunt escaped Piccolo as he flew back over to the mountain. Raditz gave him an impressed nod before turning his attention to Gohan who had dropped into his stance.

Raditz launched forward and Gohan really blocked the fist that was heading his way, and then followed up with a punch of his own.

A proud smirk came to Piccolo as he continued to watch them fight. Gohan had lessened his time out of the fight. Instead of getting hit away and taking a moment to think and catch his breath, he’d launch back in and try to do some damage.

Sure, the kid was a runt, but he was an impressive runt.

— Chapter End —

Beta Reader: @Dragonboy1

Author’s Note: I wanted to start the arc with Slug pulling up this chapter but decided against it. I realized I haven’t really included much on the other fighters and kinda wanna do that before I jump into the action.