“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.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“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—weird 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—a 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.
