>>5209653“Gonna check up on dad and Tarble, and maybe see if mom and uncle Acer have anything to say.” you tell Keli.
“All right. Might be worth that input.” she says with a nod, the both of you heading out. You… surprisingly catch glimpse of Tarble’s form shrinking back down. Huh. Vegeta did destroy the Power Ball, but had the Blutz Waves faded from him already?
Goku pats his shoulder. “You did great out there. Might not be taking home the Champ title, but you came pretty close.”
Tarble smiles and nods. “Thank you. I… still have a long ways to go, but I feel more capable than ever of protecting my home.”
“Tarble!” a soft, almost squeaky voice calls to him. Ahh, it’s his wife, Gure. The little alien woman hugs him tight.
“I’m glad for you too.” you add as you walk closer. “But man, pulling out that trick was something else! Went above even my own expectations!”
He rubs the back of his neck bashfully. “Thank you, Peppa.”
“So, you did manage to beat Tien, but Vegeta learned his lesson from last match pretty well.” Keli brings up, getting to the point.
Maple nods in agreement. “Can’t underestimate him. It was a good strategy, but…” She places her hands on her hips. “Maybe a bit more warning next time before you toss a Power Ball up into the air, yeah? Had to get Baozi some glasses with seconds to spare.”
The two Saiyan men laugh nervously. “Yyyyeah, but hey, worked out in the end, right?”
Maple boops him on the nose. “Becaaaause, monkey boy…?”
“Ehehehe…” He rubs his head. “Because I’ve got a pretty clever wife?”
Acer shakes his head. “Same as ever, Goku.”
“A-anyway.” Keli speaks up again. “We’re up against them next.”
“We’ve got our strategies, but what about you guys? Anything you’d have done differently, dad, Tarble? How about you, mom? Uncle Acer?”
Goku crosses his arms. “Well, might have been able to wear him down more if I kept my distance better. That Primal form is seriously tough, but if we could just keep avoiding the worst hits, we might be able to hit him with a lucky ring-out.”
“I’ve got something I’ve developed specifically to deal with Vegeta’s new power.” Maple states confidently. “Don’t know how well it’ll work in combat, but the idea behind it is solid.”
You tilt your head. “…And that might be?”
She winks and grins cheekily. “A secret. For now.”
Damn. Oh well. “Still, there’s also Tien to worry about.”
Keli nods. “Master Tien’s not invincible, but he’s also a lot harder to really deal with.”
“He is, yes, but his skillset is closer to one we’re more readily able to deal with.” Acer states. “Plus I don’t think he’s as capable of sharing his power with Vegeta as w-mhurh-” Maple covers his mouth and gives him a glare.
“Brobro.” she warns.
(cont.)
