Coda: Piccolo

There was very little room for error in this matter. By merit of the authority incumbent upon my new station, I was privy to all relevant information concerning the destruction of the Saiyajin Prince's ship. Though Lord Enma's records made a sparse narrative, sticking religiously to the the facts as they did, it did not take much imagination to fill in the gaps.

She destroyed them utterly. Somehow, by guile or stealth or cunning, Bulma took control of the Saiyajin's ship and drove it a star, killing all aboard, herself included. Though the old god was once again a part of me, and moderated my feelings somewhat, I could not help but admire such ruthlessness.

It seemed that Bulma had taken action immediately following the wish which had brought the rest of us to this new world, which left a very brief window of opportunity. However, previous to our arrival, hands that could work stone had never before existed on this world. Even in their inert state the dragon balls' distinct, perfectly rounded shape made them stand out from the native stone. Long before the year had passed, all seven of the stone balls had been brought to me.

I called forth the Dragon God as soon as it was possible to do so, and asked of him that my wish be granted. This was done quickly, and afterward the Dragon did not tarry long with me; we were part of the same thing now, though his role in the Heavens is much greater than my own, and well we both understood that gods have little time for idle chitchat.

The dark clouds that the Dragon brought with him were already fading when Bulma appeared on the cliff beside me. The wind was strong up here, and when the gusts attempted to blow her hair into her eyes she reached up and gathered the strands together, then pushed it beneath her shirt collar.

When she had completed this task, she turned her head to look at me. "I'm alive again, right?" she asked. I nodded. "Thank god! - Heaven was getting way too boring for me!" She moved toward the cliff's edge, peering down at all the growing little villages below us. I moved to follow her, the weight of my staff resting easily against my shoulder.

She turned back to face me, then put her hands on her hips. "What're you smirking about?" she demanded, but as she studied my face her own expression grew serious. "You look old," she blurted out.

I crossed my own arms, the staff braced in the crook of my elbow. "I do not believe that I'm as ancient as all that," I told her stiffly, for in truth she's hit a sore point – I had been concerned that I would find myself enfeebled upon fusing with the old god, despite all his reassurances; instead, I've found myself - though somewhat aged – infused with more power than I could have previously imagined. Indeed, with the power I now posses I believe I might have made short work of the Saiyajin.

"It was necessary," I continued, "that Kami and I again became one being. The people here needed more protection and guidance than he could provide alone. He was very aged and near to death, and the business of the Saiyajin had taxed him greatly. We could not afford to lose the dragon balls, nor was I willing to relinquish my own life so soon."

"Oh," she said, and then hesitated before adding, "Then you're... are you -"

"I am as I have always been," I told her, and she allowed that lie to pass unremarked upon. "Though my authority has been increased. I am to be god over this world, as Kami was of Earth."

She turned back toward the cliff edge, staring down at the villages in the valley below. They were various in their aspects, those villages and the fields that surrounded them, the products of hundreds of divergent cultures from scores of different worlds. Many were surrounded by ineffectual but earnestly constructed walls, or were in other ways secured against their neighbors.

"Is this the new Earth?" she asked me, and I realized that of course she could not see the people moving about below us from this height, so many different types and kinds, as I could. Even if I were to close my eyes still I could see them all. More even than that, for I knew also their hearts and their souls, and everything they dreamed of and wished for. I knew too what they feared, and for so many that was very nearly everything.

"No," I told her. "Earth is over with. This is some new thing. May I show you?" I placed my hand on her shoulder, and allowed her to see all, as I saw it, and felt that she did not draw away, even from the worst of it, and knew that I had made the right decision in bringing her here.

"The people here are deeply damaged," I said, lifting my hand. "They've lost much, had many things taken away from them. They are confused and frightened, and they won't put their experiences behind them easily."

"No," she agreed slowly, frowning. "None of this is going to be easy, is it?"

"I'd have you here with me," I blurted out. "Mr. Popo is dead, and I find myself sore in need of council. The old god – he trusted that I was capable of looking over these here, but I do not know. I fear I am not well suited to this - …What are you doing?"

She had gone down on her hands and knees near the end of the cliff, and was dangling one leg over the edge, apparently seeking purchase. "We need to go down there,"she said. "You're being really stupid, just sitting up here waiting for some bad to happen, when you should be looking for some way to take action -" The bit of brush she had been clinging to gave away, and Bulma began to fall backwards. I reached out and caught her by the hand quickly, and helped her back onto solid ground.

"We need to be down there with them," she repeated. "But maybe you should fly us there."

END.