#sparkling zero | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

elisajdb · 3 months ago

Text

A Dream Meeting

AN: This story is inspired by the Sparkling Zero game where Chi-Chi wishes to meet Bardock and thank him for sending Goku to her.

Goku stood in the doorway watching Chi-Chi kneel before the window in silent prayer. He noticed this ritual from Chi-Chi since his return to life. It was Chi-Chi’s private time. She told him it was a miracle he returned to the family and will give thanks every day.

Ch every dayi-Chi unclasped her hand and stood. She saw Goku standing in the doorway. Goku took this signal to come in. “Still giving thanks for me being back?”

Chi-Chi pulled back the bed comforter. “Yes, but I also thanked a new person.”

Goku pulled the sheets back. “Who?”

“Your father.”

“My father?”

Chi-Chi climbed into bed. “He knew Freeza was a threat. He had the foresight to send you away. I’ll always be grateful for his decision. It brought you to me. It gave us our sons. I hope I can meet him in the next life and thank him.”

Goku didn’t want to dash Chi-Chi’s hopes but she needed to know the truth. “He wouldn’t be where I went, Chi-Chi. My father did the right thing at the end of his life but he did a lot of killing before that.”

“So, he’ll be in Hell?” Chi-Chi guessed.

Goku got in bed and settled his long legs under the cool sheets. “Or reincarnated.”

“I see.”

Goku thought his words would sadden her but Chi-Chi kept her smile. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because you were taken from me for seven years. You told everyone you wouldn’t return, but I knew I would see you again. I didn’t know if it meant you would return to us or if it’d be in the next life but I knew I’d see you again.” Chi-Chi closed her eyes as she placed a hand over her heart. “On my worst days, I prayed to see you again. It’s happened. I know if I pray hard enough I will meet your father and thank him.”

Chi-Chi was always a determined one. From marrying him and after years of marriage, finally getting him to work. When Chi-Chi set her mind on something, Goku knew she’d succeed at it. It was one of many things he admired about her. “I’ll be a fool to think you can’t do it. So if you see my father, tell him I said, ‘Hey.’”

Goku’s approval gave Chi-Chi hope. “So you believe it’s possible, too.”

“The living world and the dead can cross paths in dreams. Sometimes the dead can be felt by the living if ya not sleeping and if the alignment is right.”

He spoke so exact. It made Chi-Chi curious. “Did you do that? Did you try to reach me while I was awake?” Goku’s silence confirmed he did but Chi-Chi didn’t know when that happened. “When did you?”

Goku wasn’t sure if he should tell her. It might be painful for her. “I forget. Let’s go to bed.”

Goku turned off the lamp and nestled under the sheets. Chi-Chi wasn’t fooled. “You know but you won’t you tell me.”

“I forgot,” he lied. “It doesn’t matter. I’m back.”

“It matters to me.” Chi-Chi did know and wouldn’t tell her. What is he hiding?

Whatever it was, Chi-Chi knew she wouldn’t get it from Goku now. Goku fell asleep fast when his head touched the pillow. As Goku drifted off to sleep, Chi-Chi laid awake thinking over what Goku said about the world of the dead and living crossing paths.

Did Goku connect with me while he was dead? Can I communicate with his father, Bardock?

The latter Chi-Chi wasn’t sure. His death was over forty years ago. He could have been reincarnated or he could still be wandering in the afterlife waiting for the right alignment. The chances of them crossing paths were slim. Bardock did a noble thing at the end of his life but it wouldn’t make up for the sins of his life.

He wasn’t evil Chi-Chi reasoned in her mind. He did evil things on the orders of a monster. It was the way of life he lived under and he couldn’t say no without sacrificing his life. That would’ve prevented my Goku from being born and coming to me.

The chance to cross paths wasn’t strong but a chance was a chance and Chi-Chi had hope she and Bardock will cross paths where she could give her thanks.

That belief lingered in her mind as she drifted to sleep.

*****

I think we can stay one more hour and then we should go back to our hotel room. What do you think, Goten?

Goten answered with a babble as he chewed his toy. He was happy with whatever Chi-Chi wanted. The decision to stay relied on Gohan as he played with the children in the park.

Chi-Chi brought her sons to Metro East for a vacation. They have spent the past two years at Mount Paozu being a happy family of three but Chi-Chi thought the family could use a change of scenery. They traveled to Metro East, visited Orin Temple, city shops and the memorial shrine dedicated to the victims of the Saiyan attack. They were now at a park Chi-Chi remembered coming to Goku with when Gohan was a toddler.

If she closed her eyes, Chi-Chi could remember Gohan’s playful shrieks as Goku pushed him on the swing, went down the curvy slides and chased him around the pond. She remembered Gohan’s reluctance to play on the monkey bars. He cried, unwilling to go unless Goku held him and helped him across.

Gohan was all laughs now as he easily climbed those monkey bars. He even wowed the kids doing it with his eyes closed. This is what Gohan needed Chi-Chi thought. A change of scenery to run and play with children his age, put down the books and enjoy being a kid.

A cry suddenly erupted from Goten. Chi-Chi checked his diaper. It was dry. She took out his baby bottle and rubbed the rubber end to his lips. He refused. Goten never refused a bottle. Even when he wasn’t hungry, he’d drink a few sips out of habit. Chi-Chi pulled Goten from his stroller and held him to her breasts. “Oh, what’s wrong, Goten? Are you getting bored? Do you want Big Brother to play with you?”

“He has a strong pair of lungs,” a man observed. “I hope that means he’s strong.”

Chi-Chi turned her head to the man lowering himself to sit on the bench with her. The sunlight oddly blocked her eyes from seeing his face. She could see his body; strong and big. His hair, wild and defiant, looked familiar to one who used to hold her and was forever gone.

It wasn’t him but if only she could see his face and…..

Was that a halo over his head?

“Oh, Goten will be a strong one just like his Daddy.”

“Goten?” the man let the name roll off his tongue. “Strange name.”

Maybe it was her gently patting his back or the man’s voice sounding strong but soothing, but Goten quietly settled. His eyes were fixated on the man. Goten could see him but Chi-Chi couldn’t.

“His name represents sky and heaven in memory of his Daddy.”

“Ah,” the man sounded disappointed. “His father crossed over.” The man’s head turned in the sunlight. “Must have been young. Unfortunate. I thought living on a peaceful planet would spare him the tragedy I endured.”

Chi-Chi’s lips parted as the sunlight faded from the man’s face. His face was the same as her beloved; strong and handsome but marred with a scar on his left cheek. His wild hair was a giveaway but she failed to see who he was until now.

“Bardock….” Chi-Chi whispered the name.

Was this real? How could he be here?

“My grandson,” Bardock gently touched Goten’s pudgy arm. “He’s second born. Second sons resemble the father.” A smile tugged the corner of his lips. “My son had two offspring.”

“The other is on the swing,” Chi-Chi whispered unable to take her eyes off him.

Bardock looked away from her to Gohan pushing himself on the swing high, jumping off to flip and perfectly land on his feet. “I’ve never smiled like that in my youth. This world offers blessings my world could not give.”

Chi-Chi didn’t understand how Bardock could be here. She knew to take advantage of the opportunity. “How did you know Earth would be perfect for Goku?”

“Goku.” The name didn’t roll easily off Bardock’s tongue. “I didn’t. I knew it was far enough and too insignificant to concern Freeza. If Saiyans were hunted, they wouldn’t look for Kakarot here.”

“It was a smart decision.” Chi-Chi smiled as Goten reached for Bardock. “Would you like to hold your grandson?”

Bardock looked reluctant, almost fearful to do so. “I….. I…..”

Chi-Chi answered for him as she gently put Goten into Bardock’s arms. “He’s half-Saiyan so you know he’s strong and will not easily break.”

Goten’s curious hands touched Bardock’s uniform. Bardock’s eyes roamed wondrously over the child in his arms. “I never held Kakarot.” Goten raised himself to grab a piece of Bardock’s hair and tug hard. “Maybe that was a good thing.”

Chi-Chi quietly giggled. If only she had a camera, Chi-Chi would record the moment.

Relaxing slightly, Bardock raised Goten over his head. The child laughed happily while trying to grab Bardock’s wild bangs again. “If only Kakarot could have escaped my fate of dying young.”

“If it’s any comfort, Goku died saving everyone.”

“Hmm.” The irony wasn’t lost on Bardock. “Like father, like son.” Bardock looked around the park at his grandson and happy people enjoying the warm afternoon. “But where I failed, Kakarot succeeded.” His eyes settled on Gohan. He stood around a group of kids as a ball rolled to him. Gohan kicked it. The ball fired into the sky and disappeared from view as it soared from the park, astonishing everyone except the proud mother and grandfather on the park bench. “He’s strong.”

“So is this one,” Chi-Chi remarked her of curious baby. “I’ll make sure he’s stronger than Gohan.”

“You?”

“I’m a martial artist,” Chi-Chi proudly confessed. “Goku and I were promised to each other as children but I won Goku’s heart in the ring.”

Bardock laughed. Oh, how he liked that! “Like a true Saiyan.”

“Yes,” Chi-Chi agreed. “I got myself a good one. Like his father.”

The smile faded from Bardock’s face. He returned Goten to Chi-Chi. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I have done.”

Bardock’s sins didn’t matter to Chi-Chi. “I know all I need. You gave me Goku. That’s a blessing I will carry in my heart forever. Thank you for delivering Goku here to me and our little blue planet.”

“When I sent Kakarot away, I knew I wouldn’t see him again. I am at peace with the life he did have and the legacy he leaves behind. My soul is at peace.” Bardock smiled a man pleased to know his death wasn’t in vain. He began to fade with a parting message to Chi-Chi. “Thank you for giving Kakarot a life I could not give.”

****

Birds chirping outside willed Chi-Chi awake. Her mind was slightly foggy as she slowly pulled herself from the dream world to the living. She could feel Goku sleeping beside her but his presence wasn’t her focus.

I went to that park with Gohan and Goten. That did happen. Chi-Chi remembered it happened. But I was alone on that bench.

“The living world and the dead can cross paths in dreams. Sometimes the dead can be felt by the living if ya not sleeping and if the alignment is right.”

Is this what Goku meant? Did Bardock come to me in my dream?

Chi-Chi sat up. That had to be it. “It’s true. He came to me.”

“Who came to you?” Goku mumbled as he slowly awakened. He yawned and rubbed his sleepy eyes. He propped his head on his elbow. “Who’s ‘He?’”

Chi-Chi could hear the curious jealousy in Goku’s voice. “Your father. I dreamt of him.”

Goku’s eyes fully opened. “You did? He came?” Goku hoped success for Chi-Chi to meet his father in her dreams but thought the chances were too slim.

“Yes. I was at a park in Metro East. The one we took Gohan when he was a baby. I did go there after you died with Goten and Gohan. I was alone on the bench then but in my dream, your father sat next to me.”

Goku sat up happy to hear it. “What happened?”

“He watched Gohan on the swings and held Goten. He was sad you were gone but happy you had a good life.”

“Did you tell him I said, ‘Hey’?”

Chi-Chi put a hand over her mouth ashamed she didn’t. “No. I forgot. It happened so fast.”

“It’s all right.” His message to his father wasn’t important to Goku. He was happy Chi-Chi got what she wanted. Fighting off another yawn, Goku stretched his arms over his head and got out of bed. “What��s for breakfast? I’m starving.”

“It was the night of the Cell Game, wasn’t it?” Chi-Chi suddenly blurted.

Goku couldn’t take another step. Her words froze him and made his heart thump faster in his chest.

“I was crying in bed thinking how I lost you again. I thought I imagined it but I felt the shift in our bed. I felt your arms around me. I smelled dirt mixed with the pine of the forest. I smelled you. I thought I was hallucinating but I felt your kiss on my neck and your voice say….”

“‘Please remember.’” Goku turned around. Chi-Chi was off the bed and coming to him. “I didn’t know you if you could feel me. King Kai said you wouldn’t.”

“I did.” Happy tears sprang from Chi-Chi’s eyes as she embraced him. “You were here.”

Goku’s arms circled Chi-Chi. “Only a few seconds. It was all King Kai would allow. I want to talk--”

“Shhh,” Chi-Chi gently shushed him. “I never needed words as long as I had you.” It could have been one second and it would have been enough for Chi-Chi. “I thought I was hallucinating in my grief but it gave me comfort I will see you again. And here we are.” Chi-Chi smiled with happy tears. “Together again.”

“Forever,” Goku promised with a kiss.

They held each other happy to be reunited and grateful for this miraculous chance. Suddenly, Goku had a strange feeling they weren’t alone. There was a presence watching them. He looked towards the window and saw a figure fading in the morning light. He had a halo, wore Saiyan armor, had a tail wrapped around his waist and looked like him.

Father?

Father and son held a brief gaze before Bardock began to fade. Bardock couldn’t speak but Goku heard Bardock’s thoughts in his mind.

Kakarot. Your beautiful wife. Your strong sons. Take good care of them.