#knuckles learns from tails landing position when gliding

[nblatinotails]

I love that for them, a little weekly interrogation of the bestie ✌

What fuCING GETS ME THO IS TAILS JUST RUNNING CIRCLES AROUND SHADOW AJAJAJ 100% valid hc that tails had to get good at avoiding questioning or giving non-answers while he was younger, but ALSO that he purposefully misdirects him. Tails goes, 'oh id definitely tell you but then Mrs. Vanilla wouldn't be very happy' (he used some of the parts he traded Rouge for to fix her oven) and then shadow has to try and snoop around Vanillas place without being rude (because vanilla and cream are saints and he'd never forgive himself if either of them got mad at him). Or tails will mention a random location (wherever he got the gems from) and tell shadow that villagers would be upset with him if word got out so no can do, and now shadow has to go huff around town looking for leads AND wondering if the people here are a threat or not. Just little wild goose chases to keep him of their trail.

THEY HAVE A CODE SYSTEM YESS

It's another one of the traits they picked up from tails actually :] like oh thats actually easier let's do that! Our little guys so smart :]

YES they know all his favorite movies and YES they have his favorite snacks on demand and YEAH they'll bring him things that interest him because they know it'll calm him down to learn !! They love himm!!!

The!! Comfort items!!! They bring over all his favorite stuffed animals and pillows and blankets they have at there respective houses for when he stays over,,, and like he doesn't need them cause he's like 8 and that almost 9 and that's practically 10 so he's basically already an adult,,, But he definitely brightens up when he has a few in his arms. They each bring him something from them personally that he definitely will not steel but like,, they're going in his pounce pile as soon as he gets home. He gets some kick ass legwarmers from amy and a hoodie from sonic and a jacket from shadow and soft bandana from knuckles + the blankets they bring for him, he's a fluffly speck in a sea of cloth. He spends as long as physically possible in that outfit because it's all from his siblings and he loves them! so! Much!

They spend the entire day dogpiled on shadow's sofa, movie marathoning and snuggling their little guy as much as he wants. They all have a few new pictures of him cradled in their arms after. The gc flourished the next few days.

THE SPECIAL BLANKET MADE BY VANILLA YOU ARE SO BIG BRAINED IM IN AWE

YES YES YES YES YES when she first gave it to him it was pretty basic, beautiful and comfortable but mostly empty, save for his 2 tailed logo in the center. One day he watched a documentary on tapestries and stories told though them and he was enthralled with the idea. After one of his bigger adventures he toddled up to vanilla and asked if she could add something to memorize it 'just like a heros tapestry!' She thought it was a darling idea and added it happily. Soon the blanket was filling up steadily with embroidery and patches, like a scrapbook with all his greatest moments. Some time later vanilla asks if he'd like her to teach him how to sew and patch print so, if he wanted, he could add to it independently. He was extatic

Years later the thing is nearly full but it's still missing something :/ he brings it up at one of their rare family dinner outings with everyone and gets a variety of answers. Knuckles tells him to add something that makes him feel safe, like it's protecting him in his sleep. Amy tells him to add something he admires, something strong to work towards and keep him determined. Shadow tells him to add something that makes him feel powerful, something to treasure him hes cool and confident. Sonic tells him to add something that reminds him of home, so if he ever hits it solo he'll have a reminder of a place where the doors always open. Tails thinks long and hard over his options. A few days later he shows up on Mrs. Vanilla's step again asking for help. He has an idea of what he wants to add but he wants to do it right, so he came to the expert. Over the next few days this is the only project that has his attention, day and night he works for this to be PREFECT. It's a little wobbly and just a tad unevenly spaced but it's his and he did it and he's so proud. The thanks vanilla profusely and runs to go show his siblings. He holds it up to them each with a big grin that practically screams 'look! Look! Look what I did!' Little voice excitedly explaining the technique he used and how it's just like vanilla taught him. Surrounding his little logo in the center of the blanket, there are four new patches. A gun, a hammer, the Master Emerald, and a Chilli dog. Something powerful, something he admires, something that makes him feel protected, and something that reminds him of home. He tells them what they mean and how he associates them with each of those things, with wide happy eyes. It's such a cute, thoughtful little thing to include them on his tapestry, on this live story of his life, it brings sever of his siblings to tears. They each have a picture with him and that blanket, not a dry eye in sight. Suffice to say he was spoiled rotten that day

random useless headcanon: sometimes tails will sleep on sonic's chest the same way cats sleep on ours for no reason other than because he felt like it sonic is perfectly fine with it and fully embraces his cat-fox brother's weird actions

[heartslogos]

newfragile yellows [294]

Evelyn watches, confused, as Mahanon suddenly tucks his wings in close to himself and plummets downwards, wings opening again as he turns around and flies back to Skyhold. Ellana’s course holds steady as she continues to fly out.

Evelyn twists around on Ellana’s back, calling out to Mahanon who ignores her.

“What are you doing?” Evelyn asks her dragon as Ellana’s neck frills and spines raise. Evelyn can’t hear anything over the sound of the wind and Ellana’s wings occasionally beating downwards, the ribbon-like appendages moving like a wave through the air as she glides. “Ellana?”

Ellana’s head tilts to the side and she glances up. Evelyn follows Ellana’s line of sight as Ellana tilts and catches herself on an updraft and slowly gains altitude. Out of the clouds a familiar, dark shape descends at the same time.

“Oh no,” Evelyn whispers to herself. “Ellana, if you and the Iron Bull are going off to do…whatever it is the two of you do when you aren’t at Skyhold, I don’t want to be here for it. Call Mahanon back right now. I mean it. I really mean it, Ellana, listen to me this time, for once, please.”

Ellana, predictably, ignores her.  Not so predictably, she suddenly flies upwards, forcing Evelyn to flatten herself to Ellana’s back and hold on tight lest she fall off. Ellana doesn’t stop gaining altitude until she’s flying over the Iron Bull and then she angles herself just a little, making a low chirrup that Evelyn can feel with her knees.

“What?” Evelyn asks, “Now you’re listening to me? What is it?”

Ellana does a barrel roll. Evelyn is used to it enough by now that she manages to hold on and position herself on reflex, but she does swallow a surprised scream.

When Ellana is flying level again, she lowers herself down, closer to the Iron Bull’s back. As close as she can, Evelyn wagers, before things get dangerous and their wings start interfering with each other.

Ellana tilts herself slightly again and pointedly jerks her head down.

Evelyn looks over the side of Ellana’s neck and shoulder down at the Iron Bull.

“Cullen?” Evelyn yells down, “What are you doing?”

Cullen, from this distance, is a glittering shape of armor on the Iron Bull’s broad back. She can’t se his face but she can hear, just barely over the wind and the sounds of dragon wings Cullen yell back, “Inquisitor? What’s going on?”

Ellana pitches up again and Evelyn has no choice but to hold on and focus as Ellana loops upwards giving the Iron Bull space for him to adjust for descent.

The Iron Bull and Ellana land on a relatively level and clear bit of mountain.

Ellana promptly tips Evelyn off.

The Iron Bull lowers himself and carefully tilts to his right to allow Cullen a quicker climb down. As soon as Cullen is clear the Iron Bull stands back up, shakes his great mass and and stretches out his wings before turning to go and investigate what looks like a cave formed by a landslide of some sort.

Ellana is sitting on her hind quarters, and she gestures for Evelyn to go on.

“Go on where?” Evelyn asks, turning to Cullen as he approaches, “What happened? Do you know what this is about?”

“I was hoping you would,” Cullen says, “I was walking the battlements with Rylen discussing our distribution of troops around the wastes when Dorian flew low overhead and snatched me up. He dropped me on the Iron Bull’s back and now here we are.”

Whatever it is, Dorian’s in on it too.

“Maxwell?” Evelyn asks, watching as Ellana goes to join the Iron Bull, stopping every few yards to look over her shoulder at them, her long neck twisting to give her a few view of them but also making her look like a strangely excited puppy.

“I didn't see him on Dorian’s back,” Cullen replies, “If he was there he wasn’t responding to me.”

Evelyn waves at Ellana to come back, Ellana sits down again, curling her tail around her fore claws as she plays with it - nervously - and looks at the Iron Bull and then back at them again.

“If you wanted privacy you shouldn’t have brought company!” Evelyn yells, turning back to Cullen. “I’m…Well. I was flying with Mahanon and Ellana and then Mahanon took off and then there you were. I’m…considering that maybe I should have heeded Maxwell’s advice to plan for the eventuality of Ellana and the Iron Bull breeding.”

Cullen’s eyebrows raise, a mixture of both skeptical and incredibly amused by the idea.

Ellana’s chirping draws their attention again. Ellana is gesturing for them to move closer together.

Evelyn stares at her dragon. Her dragon stares back, and somehow looks confused. She then starts squawking at the Iron Bull until he turns around, blinks at them, and shrugs before returning to his investigation of the area. Ellana seems very offended by this because she smacks his hind quarters with her tail. The Iron Bull, predictably, responds by knocking her into the snow with his own tail.

“I honestly have no idea why they brought you here,” Evelyn admits, turning back to Cullen. “I’m very sorry you’re stuck with me while this is being sorted out, though.”

Why do her dragons always have to embarrass her in front of Cullen? They don’t do these kinds of things in front of…say…the Empress of Orlais. Or the King of Ferelden.

Just in front of Cullen Stanton (Evelyn is secretly a little giddy about learning this little fact about him and it is incredibly childish and Evelyn is also profoundly horrified by how…immature this crush of hers is) Rutherford.

“I…what are friends for, apparently?” Cullen replies wryly, shrugging one shoulder. Evelyn gives him a small smile.

There’s a loud whuff-ing close by and Ellana turns to see that Ellana has come back closer and looks upset.

“What is it now?” Evelyn groans as Ellana comes closer and nudges Evelyn in the back and then nudges Cullen’s back. She keeps nudging them with her bony knuckles until the two of them are standing side by side. And then Ellana nudges them some more until they turn to be face to face. “Ellana?”

Cullen abruptly starts coughing, turning a bright, brilliant red from the tips of his ears to his cheeks.

“I think, Lady Trevelyan, you might want to look up,” Cullen says.

Evelyn looks past Ellana to see the Iron Bull. He’s made a circle with the fingers on his forepaws and is inserting his tail into it. He stops when she’s looking, points at Cullen, then points at her.

“Oh my god,” Evelyn feels all the blood draining from her face. The earth might as well open her up right now.

Could she summon a rift to take care of her? Could she?

Ellana turns around and then spits a small flicker of lightning at the Iron Bull. It dissipates before it reaches him and the Iron Bull tosses his head the way someone would roll their eyes. He laughs and lies down, spreading out his wings to sun himself.

Ellana nudges Evelyn until Evelyn is looking at her. Ellana shakes her head once and then taps herself underneath her chin.

“Did you bring me here to set me up with Cullen?” Evelyn whispers, mortified and keenly aware of the fact that Ellana is basically arranging her and Cullen like toy dolls to stand front to front.

Ellana nods.

“Well,” Cullen sounds strained, “I. Ah. I’m not sure what I should say to this situation, Inquisitor.”

“Only that you’ll forget it immediately,” Evelyn responds.

Ellana squawks.

“Quiet, you.”

Ellana clicks loudly and bounds over to the Iron Bull, gesturing for Evelyn to watch her as she smacks the Iron Bull’s side with her tail. The Iron Bull lazily raises his head and Ellana ducks down quickly and clamps her teeth around the small patch of vulnerable soft scales underneath the Iron Bull’s chin.

Ellana releases the scales quickly and gestures at Evelyn.

“Are we here for me or for you?” Evelyn asks, stomping over, “I’m not getting it.”

Ellana points at herself and chirps, confused.

“Yes, you. Are we here for you and the Iron Bull to…you know, or what?”

Ellana looks at Evelyn, then at Bull, then back to Evelyn and chirps again.

The Iron Bull sighs, a hot release of air that causes the snow around them to start steaming and dissolving. He raises his head, arching up higher and clamps his teeth around the back of Ellana’s neck, just underneath her spines where her head meets her neck. Ellana freezes, spines and frills raising slowly as he lets go and lies down again.

The Iron Bull grunts. Ellana stares at him and then spits a glob of greenish-black acid at the snow next to him. The Iron Bull laughs.

Evelyn feels as though she’s missing out on something.

Ellana nudges the Iron Bull’s shoulder until he raises his neck enough for her to bite the scales underneath again. Ellana does this and keeps looking at Evelyn pointedly.

“This would go so much faster if you would just learn telepathy,” Evelyn says. Because apparently Maxwell can’t ever get Dorian to shut up.

Ellana stomps her hind legs.

“You’re right, it is very hard for you and I’m sorry,” Evelyn concedes. “But I don’t understand what you’re trying to get me to do.”

Ellana puts one claw on Evelyn’s shoulder and slowly turns her around and shoves her at Cullen again.

Cullen looks…entirely too amused by this situation. Even if he’s a very handsome shade of pink right now. Evelyn gives him what she hopes is a reassuring smile.

Ellana keeps prodding her until she’s standing next to Cullen again.

And then Ellana takes Evelyn’s hand and she takes Cullen’s hands and she hits the together until Evelyn and Cullen are holding hands and oh.

“Is this supposed to be a date for me and Cullen?” Evelyn asks.

Ellana makes a very proud series of chirps and when Evelyn looks she’s gone back to the Iron Bull, climbing over his back so she can spread out and sun herself also.

“I suppose…we might have been going too slow for her taste,” Cullen muses, cautiously squeezing Evelyn’s hand. Evelyn squeezes back, much less cautiously.

“In my defense, it’s not like there’s the time to go about courting,” Evelyn says. “And we went spoken since the battlements.”

[ultiman73]

The Saiyan and the Whiner

@thefandomimagine I hope I'm not too late for the oneshot contest!

This oneshot is based on the imagine "Imagine Goku accidentally teleporting into the Hidden Leaf Village on the day Pain attacks"

Cold wind swept across the clear sky. Birds chirped as they glided on unseen air currents high above the Hidden Leaf Village. In the streets below, countless civilians laughed and walked and traded and carried on with their lives as usual. From his hidden position, Deva Pain narrowed his eyes.

                Deep within their makeshift base outside the village, Konan looked up from her notes. “Is everything ready?”

                “Almost.” Only the faintest outline of the gaunt figure in the tall metal frame could be seen from the light of Konan’s glowstick, its head bowed in concentration over a pair of white-knuckled hands. “In moments, the final connection layer will be complete, and as we tear the Nine-Tails from their grasp, the Hidden Leaf will at last know Pain.” A trace of satisfaction crept into Nagato’s voice.

                Konan glanced over to the corner, where the dossiers of all Hidden Leaf shinobi had been neatly stacked. “I’ve been over the intel more times than I can count, but I can’t help wondering if we’ve overlooked something.”

                “I appreciate your concern, but there is nothing to fear,” Nagato reassured her, not raising his head or opening his eyes. “With the power of the Rinnegan at my disposal, I am as a god to those below, and no shinobi in the Hidden Leaf can stop us.”

                                                                                                                  #

                “Bye, honey! I’m gonna go train now!” Goku called cheerfully, waving as he strode out of the front door.

                “Did you get all your plowing done for today?” Chi-Chi asked from within the house.

                “Plowing? Uh…” Goku flew off toward a field to the east, flying back an instant later. “Sure did, sweetie!”

                “Okay, have fun in training! And could you please pick a better spot? I appreciate all the diamonds, but I’m getting tired of picking up all the debris from those mountains. And that horizon is starting to look really bare.”

                Goku glanced toward the horizon and noticed the newly-empty spaces. “Uh, right. Sorry,” he grinned as he scratched the back of his head.

“Oh yeah, Bulma called and said to tell you the new Gravity Chamber is ready for you.”

“Okay, I’ll head over to Bulma’s place. See you later!” Goku placed two fingers on his forehead and bowed his head in concentration. As he did so, a sudden wind picked up, carrying with it the dust of the crumbled mountains. Goku gathered his energy. As he prepared to teleport, some of the dust entered his nose. Before he could stop himself, a sneeze exploded within his chest and out his nose and mouth right as he vanished.

“Huh?” Goku raised his head. Before him lay a busy street clogged with people going about their business, seemingly not caring about the gigantic Saiyan that had appeared in their midst.

“Where am I?” Goku looked around. “I don’t remember coming here before. Well, I guess now we know what happens when you sneeze during Instant Transmission.” He glanced up, noticing a pair of men in animal masks jumping across the rooftops. “Huh, guess they must be into martial arts around here.” He set off up the street, following the direction the men had taken.

Goku wandered the streets, trying to take in everything around him. Briefly he glanced up at the cliff above and the five stone faces it held. “Huh. Wonder who they are and what they’re so angry about.” He moved on, eventually passing a building bearing a sign reading “Academy”. “This must be where they learn to fight. Looks kind of nice. I bet I would have liked it there if I hadn’t had Master Roshi.”

A boy brushed by Goku. “Oops, sorry,” Goku said.

“Don’t worry about it,” the boy said shortly.

Goku stopped dead in his tracks. The boy’s eyes were completely pale, with no iris at all.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize you were blind!” Goku said quickly, feeling through his pockets.

“What?” the boy asked, frowning.

“Hang on, I bet I have a senzu bean in here somewhere,” Goku said, checking another pocket. “We’ll fix you right up!”

“I don’t know what you’re babbling about, but I’m not blind,” the boy informed him. “Haven’t you ever seen a Hyuuga before?”

Goku stopped searching. “A what?”

“Oh, nevermind,” the boy said irritably. “I don’t have time for this.” He turned and jumped away.

“Hey, wait!” Goku called, following him. “If you’re not blind, how do you see without pupils?” Before he could take off, a delicious scent wafted over Goku’s nose, halting him. “Hey, what’s that?” He inhaled, his mouth beginning to water. “Mmmmm. I guess I could use a bite before I go train.”

Goku followed the scent, eventually finding himself outside a small restaurant. Unable to stop himself, he ducked down and entered under the hanging cloths in front.

Behind a counter stood an older, heavyset man. Looking up, he smiled as Goku entered. “Hi, stranger. What can I get for you?”

“A bowl of whatever smells so good, please!”Goku said cheerfully, taking a seat.

“One bowl of ramen, coming up!” The man announced, turning around. “Say, you’re not from around here, are you?”

“How did you know?”

“You’ve just got a look about you.”

“Yeah, I was looking for a place to train and ended up here instead,” Goku admittedly sheepishly.

“Well in that case, this one’s on the house.” The man turned again, bearing a generous bowl of the finest ramen Goku had ever seen. He set it on the counter as Goku tried not to drown in his own saliva. “Consider this a Ramen Ichiraku  welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village.”

“‘Hidden Leaf Village’? Goku asked, picking up a pair of chopsticks.

“Oh, yes. Crown jewel of the Land of Fire.”

“No kidding.” Goku put a noodle in his mouth. “Oh, wow! This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted!” He finished the bowl in one second flat and reached into his pocket. “Can I have some more?” He tossed a large diamond on the counter.

The old man’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Uh, sure…” He served up another bowl, which disappeared almost as soon as it hit the counter. “Woah! Never thought I’d meet anyone who likes my noodles more than Naruto.” He served up another bowl.

Soon a stack of empty bowls piled up next to Goku’s elbow. Other customers gawked at the pointy-hair giant inhaling bowl after bowl of noodles. One woman motioned to a passing man who joined the crowd. “Where does he put it all?” someone whispered.

The old man stood speechless. “Could I get a picture when you’re done?” he asked, unsure of what else to say.

“Oh yeah, sure.” Goku set down another bowl. More, please!”

Suddenly a gigantic blast rocked the earth. The old man was thrown back against the wall as debris and kitchen supplies crashed around him. Outside, screams erupted as dust clouds engulfed the street.

Goku nearly choked on the last noodle in his bowl. “What the-? What’s going on? Hey, old guy! You okay?” The appeared at the old man’s side. “Talk to me!” Despite his efforts, the old man did not open his eyes.

                                                                                                  #

Lady Tsunade strode into the ANBU combat center. “Report!”

“Massive security breach, ma’am!” One of them shouted. “Reports are coming in from all over the village! Unknown number of hostiles, but they appear to be extremely powerful!”

“Noble Squad was found dead outside the walls, ma’am!” Another shouted. “No signs of a struggle. Whoever they are, they overpowered an entire ANBU squadron in an instant.”

Tusande swore under her breath. “All available units, with me!” She ordered. “We’re stopping this now!”

                                                                                  #

Goku rushed outside, frantically looking in all directions. The world had exploded. Buildings had been vaporized. Bleeding people lay in the dirt. A never ending chorus of screams filled the air, broken only by more explosions. Gigantic creatures thundered above, raining death down on the helpless innocents below.

A piercing scream rose up to Goku’s right. He whirled around, teeth and fists clenched.

Further up the street, a small child lay pinned under a fallen slab of concrete, trying in vain to pull her bleeding leg free as tears streamed down her face. In front of her stood a girl bearing the same pale eyes Goku had seen on the boy earlier. The girl’s faced twisted in determination, hands raised toward an unseen enemy.

Further away, a lone figure approached them. Six arms hung from the figure’s shirtless body. Metal studs protruded out of its skin. It’s lips tightened into a cruel smile as it approached the girl.

The girl gritted her teeth, her eyes darted back and forth across the thing’s body. As Goku watched, the thing began to twist and transform, its body exposing metal weapons beneath its flesh. The girl stood her ground. The thing raised a hand, blade gleaming. “Now die.”

CRASH!

The girl gasped. The thing’s eyes widened.

Goku stood between them, holding up one finger, glaring duriously. The blade struggled against him, but to no avail. “Are you okay?” He asked the girl.

“Yes, I think so,” she replied, her wide eyes staring up at him, her voice seeming oddly quiet.

“Take her and get out of here.” With his free hand, Goku made a sweeping motion. The concrete slab rose into the air and crashed a few meters away. “Go!” The girl scooped up the child and ran.

“Since when does the Hidden Leaf have a shinobi like you?” The thing asked, it’s mechanical-sounding voice high with shock.

Goku glared into its purple eyes. “I don’t know what a shinobi is, but I’m not one. I’m a Saiyan.” Twisting on one foot, he hurled the thing into the sky. The thing tumbled helplessly through the air for a second, then crashed into the middle stone face in the cliff.

All across the village, the Pains stopped and stared in Goku’s direction. Tsunade halted, momentarily forgetting the gigantic boulder she was holding above her head. “What? What are they doing?” Before she could strike, the Pains took off toward Goku.

Back in the cave, Nagato barked at Konan. “Find out what a Saiyan is! NOW!”

Konan scrambled through her notes. “I’m not finding any reference to anything called a Saiyan anywhere!”

“Nothing?” Nagato squeezed his eyes shut tighter. “No matter. Whoever or whatever this Saiyan is, I will show him the meaning of Pain.”

Goku turned as the five remaining Pains exploded into the sky above him. “Looks like I’ll be getting that workout after all!” Goku took off.

Goku rolled to the left, sending the first Pain flying with a kick. Spinning, he punched away a second and flew up into the third. Grabbing it by the throat, he flew straight down and slammed it into the ground. Explosions rocked the ground around him. He looked up. The puppet thing soared toward him with the others, firing a swarm of rockets at him. Goku raised a hand. The rockets shuddered, turning in midair toward the Pains. A massive pressure wave shot out in all directions from a dense cloud of smoke. Goku dashed in, fists raised.

Lights flashed. Blasts flew. Booms echoed. Seven streaks tore across the Sky as Goku and the Pains battled. Below, Tsunade stood with her ANBU, gazing up in confusion. “Who is that?” She asked no one in particular. “Is that a shinobi?”

“He’s sure not one of ours, ma’am,” an ANBU agent replied. “None of us can fly.”

“Hatzuki! Get a read on him!” Tsunade ordered, pointing.

“Understood.” The ANCU known as Hatzuki raised her head. “Byakugan!” She was silent for a moment. “Ma’am… I don’t know how this is possible, but he’s not using any chakra at all!”

“None?”

“Not a single joule. I don’t a chakra network anywhere in his body!”

Tsunade turned her gaze skyward once more. “What kind of monsters are up there?”

Goku raced through the sky, punching and kicking and biting and chopping and blazing with unearthly power. All six Pains flew around him, blasting him with their strongest attacks. One of them held out his hand in a pushing motion, as if he expected the move to level the whole village, but Goku felt nothing more than a slight breeze. “You guys are determined, I’ll give you that much!” He called. “But this is a little slow for me, so how about we kick things up a little! HYAAAAAAHHH!!!!” Goku exploded with energy, his hair becoming golden.

As one, the Pains stopped in shock. His power is already astronomical and it's still climbing!

Tsunade’s jaw dropped. “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” she demanded of everyone around her. No one could tear their eyes away long enough to reply.

More explosions filed the air, almost seeming as one as Goku fought. No eyes could follow the yellow streak as it tore across the heavens. With one punch, he shattered a Pain bearing the power of resurrection, sending it’s debris crashing to the ground. Sensing their loss, the other Pains retreated to a safe distance. “You are not of this village,” the lead Pain declared.

“Let’s just say I’m passing through,” Goku smirked.

“How are you able to transform your body?”

“Oh, this? It’s a little trick I picked up on Planet Namek. There was another guy who wanted to murder everything there too. Bet you guys would have gotten along just fine.”

“You are not from this world?” The lead Pain asked, shock carrying through his voice.

“Nope. I’m a Saiyan from the Planet Vegeta, but Earth is my home.”

Pure terror swept across the faces of all the Pains. “What kind of man are you?” the lead one almost whispered.

Goku lost his smirk. “What kind of man am I? I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace. I am protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness! I am truth! Ally to good! Nightmare to you! MY NAME IS SON GOKU, AND I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO HAVE… THIS… VILLAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!!!!” Goku’s aura exploded, becoming brighter, more intense, seemingly ready to destroy the world should its master lose control for even an instant.

Goku dashed forward, crushing two more Pains with his bare heads. With a flick of his wrists, he sent them flying to the sky, already burning up from friction.

The lead Pain retreated, scattering with the other two. Goku blazed after them, blasting them with punches from all sides as they tried in vain to escape. More thunder rolled across the landscape, and those watching below covered their ears.

Amid the chaos, the lead Pain managed to gather his words as each blow brought him closer to oblivion. “You can’t do this… my Pain is greater than yours…”

“AND IT’S ABOUT TO GET EVEN GREATER! HYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!”

                Before the eyes of the onlookers, Goku’s body exploded three more times, first bearing a head of enormous golden hair, then red hair, and finally brilliant blue hair.

The jaws of all remaining Pains dropped. Without a moment of hesitation, they all turned and flew away as fast as they could.

Goku flew under them and drew back his fist. “SERIOUS PUNCH!!!!!!”

The remaining Pains shot into the sky, no longer able to move. Goku moved his hands together. “KA-ME-HA-ME-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!”

“AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”Nagato howled in agony back in the hideout, the machine overloading from Goku’s power. Konan turned to run. But before she could take more than two steps, the explosion engulfed her, reducing her body to ash as well.

Goku touched down on the ground, his hair returning to its usual black. “That was too easy.”

Instantly, a cheer went up from nowhere and everywhere at once, growing louder every second.”Huh?” Goku looked around.

Out of the wreckage appeared the citizens of the Hidden Leaf, battered but alive. They converged on Goku as one.

“Thank you for saving us, Goku!”

“You’re the best!”

“We owe you our lives!”

“I’ll name my firstborn after you!”

“Goku, will you marry me?”

“Aw, stop guys, you’re making me blush!” Goku grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head as blood rushed to his face.

Tsunade shouldered aside some of the crowd and approached Goku. “Son Goku, I am Lady Tsunade, Hokage of the Hidden Leaf. On behalf of the village, I’d like to formally extend our gratitude to you for saving us.”

“Hey, no problem! I’m just glad I got here when I did!” Goku replied, shaking Tsunade’s hand.

Off to the side, the pale-eyed girl from before stood next to a pink-haired girl, a blond girl, and a brown-haired girl with buns.

“Well, look at that,” Sakura said, smiling. “We got a new member today.”

“Think he could teach us some moves?” Ten-Ten asked.

“I just hope he’s single,”  Ino said dreamily.

Hinata looked at the others. “Um… do you think he’ll get along with Naruto?”

Sakura shrugged. “Probably. He looks like the kind of guy who gets along with everybody.”

Ten-Ten snapped out of it. “Oh yeah, we’ve got to tell Naruto about this! Go see about a summoning jutsu!” She jogged off.

`                                                                       #

A short time later, Naruto arrived. “Huh? What happened to this place?” He asked, seeing the damage. Ten-Ten opened her mouth.

“Big Brother Naruto!” Konohamuru ran up. “You missed it! There was this evil guy and he was destroying everything, but then Goku showed up and he was all ‘No, you don’t!’, and then he went ‘Boom!’ and ‘Punch!’ and ‘Boom!’, and the bad guy was all ‘AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

Naruto tuned him out as his friend led him toward the group of people huddled around Goku. “Big Brother Goku!” Konohamaru called. “I want you to meet Big Brother Naruto!”

Goku and Naruto’s eyes met. “Well, hi!” Goku said cheerfully.

“Hi there!” Naruto replied. “I heard you saved the village!”

“Well, I couldn’t let all that delicious ramen go to waste, now could I?” Goku laughed.

Naruto laughed as well. “Glad somebody loves Ichiraku’s as much as I do.” He held out his hand. “I’m Naruto, by the way. Naruto Uzumaki.”

"Naruto, huh?” Goku smiled, shaking his hand. “I’m Goku. Good to meet you.”