By the time the Capsule Corp jet touched down on the beach, the Red Ribbon base was dead silent.
Smoke drifted in thin, lazy ribbons from the wrecked guard towers. The perimeter was littered with bodies—unconscious soldiers scattered across the ground like discarded toys.
"Man." Krillin said, stepping out of the plane and looking around nervously.
"Did a typhoon hit this place? Look at that walker mech... it's been torn in half!"
"I don't like this." Bulma added, clutching her Dragon Radar.
"The signal is right here. It's not moving. It's... it's right on the dock."
Goku hopped out last, stretching his arms.
"Well, let's go get it!"
They walked toward the wooden pier, stepping over debris.
As they got closer, they saw a small figure sitting on a heavy crate at the very end of the dock, facing the sea.
It was a girl.
She was wrapped in a large, fluffy white towel, her bare feet dangling off the edge of the crate.
Her dark hair was soaked, clinging to her neck and dripping water onto the wooden planks. Her blue gi and boots were folded neatly beside her, also wet.
She heard their footsteps and slowly turned her head.
Goku blinked.
He tilted his head to the side, his eyes wide with genuine confusion.
"Huh?" Goku scratched his head.
"Chi-Chi?!"
"Chi-Chi?! The girl from the tournament? What is she doing here?" Krillin squawked, his jaw dropping.
Bulma lowered her radar, staring.
"Wait... did she do all of this?"
Chi-Chi didn't stand up.
She simply used a corner of her towel to dry a stray drop of water from her ear.
She looked calm, refreshed, and completely unbothered by the destruction around her.
In her right hand, resting casually on her knee, was a glowing orange orb with three red stars inside.
"You're late."
She looked over at Goku, a small, triumphant smirk curling the corner of her mouth.
"I got bored waiting for you to show up, so I decided to take a little dip in the pirate cave, were you looking for this?"
Goku's face lit up, breaking into that trademark, ear-to-ear grin. His eyes went wide with pure, infectious enthusiasm.
"Wow! You really got it, Chi-Chi! That's amazing!"
Krillin let out a whistle of pure relief, looking at the broken base behind them.
"You saved us a huge fight."
Bulma, however, stepped forward with her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed in curiosity.
"Wait. Why are you helping us? At the tournament, you practically wanted him dead. So what's the catch?"
Chi-Chi stiffened, her face instantly flushing a bright, indignant red.
She pulled the towel tighter around her wet shoulders, looking away toward the horizon to hide the fact that she was flustered.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I wasn't helping you. I just happened to be in the area because I'm on a journey of self-discovery. This... this army was in my way, that's all! It would have been an insult to my training to just walk past them."
She held the Three-Star Ball out toward Goku, though she refused to meet his eyes.
"And besides, I won't let some cheap army finish you off. If we're settling this, it'll be me. I'm just… protecting my rematch. Hmph."
Goku walked right up to her, completely oblivious to her attitude.
He didn't see the pride or the hidden frustration; he just saw a friend who had done something incredible.
"Thanks, Chi-Chi! You're really, really cool! I knew you were strong, but taking out a whole base by yourself? You're incredible!"
Chi-Chi froze.
"Stop saying such embarrassing things, you idiot!" She yelled, though her voice wavered.
She shoved the Dragon Ball into his chest with enough force to make him grunt.
"Just take it and go! And you better get stronger, Son Goku, because the next time we fight, I won't be handing you any prizes!"
Goku took the Dragon Ball, holding it up to the sunlight with a grin before tucking it safely into his bag.
He looked back at Chi-Chi, who was still trying to look dignified while wrapped in a giant towel.
"Hey, Chi-Chi. Since you're already out here traveling, why don't you come with us? We're looking for the rest of them, and it'd be way more fun with you around. Plus, you're super strong!"
Chi-Chi's heart gave another annoying little jump, but she quickly crossed her arms, pulling the towel tighter.
She gave a dramatic, haughty sniff and looked away.
"As if!" she snapped, her face turning pink again.
"Why would I want to spend my time trekking through the mud with a loud, messy monkey like you? I have my own training to worry about! I'm a busy woman, you know. I can't just drop everything to be your bodyguard."
She paused, her curiosity finally getting the better of her pride.
She glanced back at him over her shoulder, her expression softening just a tiny bit.
"Why are you even hunting for these things again? Last time, everyone wanted to be a king or get a boyfriend or something stupid. What could you possibly want from the Dragon this time?" She muttered, trying to sound like she didn't actually care.
Goku's expression changed.
The goofy grin faded, replaced by a quiet, determined look that Chi-Chi hadn't seen before.
He reached into his shirt and pulled out the Four-Star Ball, which he kept on a cord around his neck.
"I'm not looking for a wish. The Red Ribbon Army is trying to take them all to do something bad, and I can't let them have Grandpa's ball. I'm gonna find them all to keep them safe."
"Your grandpa, huh?"
She knew what it was like to value a father's legacy more than anything else. She stood up from the crate, the towel fluttering in the wind, and looked out at the ocean.
"Hmph. I guess that's... a slightly less stupid reason than the others. But don't think that means I'm joining your little fan club! I've got my own path to follow."
Goku blinked, his expression as simple and honest as ever.
"Oh, okay then! If you're busy, I guess we'll see ya later, Chi-Chi!"
Chi-Chi's jaw nearly hit the pier.
Wait, that's it?
She screamed internally.
He's just going to give up after one 'no'? You're supposed to beg!
She watched as the group started heading back toward their plane, chatting casually.
She felt a surge of indignation.
"Hey!" She shouted, stomping her foot on the wooden planks.
Goku turned around, curious.
"Yeah?"
"Where exactly do you think you're going next?"
"I'm gonna go grab the next Dragon Ball."
"I'm heading back to Capsule Corp. I'm exhausted." Bulma added, waving a hand.
"And I should probably get back to Master Roshi's for more training. I don't want Goku leaving me in the dust forever." Krillin said.
Chi-Chi huffed, looking at the horizon and then back at Goku.
"Fine! Since you're practically begging me to help you, I suppose I can tag along for a little while, It's not like I have anything better to do than watch over a clumsy kid like you."
Goku looked confused.
"But I didn't insist... it's really okay if you want to go do your own thing, Chi-Chi! I can handle it!"
Chi-Chi's face turned a violent shade of red.
"Just shut up and get moving already, you idiot!"
"Whatever you say!" Goku laughed. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the sky.
"Flying Nimbus!!"
Within seconds, a streak of bright yellow light descended from the clouds, hovering just inches above the dock. The magical cloud softy pulsed with energy.
"Here's my ride!" Goku said, hopping onto the cloud. He patted the space behind him and looked at Chi-Chi.
"Hop on. But remember, you have to be pure of heart to ride the Nimbus, or you'll just fall right through."
Chi-Chi stared at the fluffy yellow cloud, her heart racing. She looked at Goku's extended hand, then at the "pure of heart" requirement.
She hesitated for a split second—wondering if her temper counted as a "stain"—before stepping toward the Nimbus.
Chi-Chi stared at the shimmering yellow cloud, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Pure of heart?
To a disciplined martial artist, purity was a high bar, and she was certain her inner turmoil would send her falling straight through the Nimbus like a stone.
"I... I'll pass!" She stammered, taking a step back and tightening the grip on her towel.
"I can just use my Skywalk technique to keep up. I don't need your dusty old cloud to travel!"
Goku tilted his head, his patience clearly wearing thin with her stalling.
"Aw, come on! Skywalking is way too much work, and we've gotta go fast if we want to beat the army to the next ball!"
"I said I'm fine, you—"
Before she could finish her protest, Goku reached out and grabbed her wrist. With a sudden, firm tug, he pulled her off the wooden pier and onto the Nimbus.
"Stop being so stubborn and just get on!" Goku said, his voice unusually assertive.
Chi-Chi let out a small gasp, her eyes wide with shock at his sudden boldness.
For a split second, she braced herself for the sensation of falling, waiting to plunge through the vapor and into the cold ocean water below.
She squeezed her eyes shut, her face flushed with a mix of surprise and dread.
But the fall never came.
She shifted her weight, testing the strange surface beneath her boots. It was a contradiction—yielding and soft, yet impossibly solid. It felt like standing on a thick, sun-baked pillow, one that hummed against her soles.
She slowly opened one eye, then the other.
She was still on the Nimbus.
She wasn't falling.
"I... I'm staying up?" She whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"See? I told ya!" Goku laughed, oblivious to the internal crisis she had just survived. He turned around, grabbing the "reins" of the cloud.
"You're a good person, Chi-Chi! I knew you'd fit!"
Chi-Chi stood frozen for a moment, staring at the back of Goku's head.
The realization hit her harder than any of his punches: despite her temper, her ego, and her constant nagging, the magical cloud judged her soul as pure.
"O-of course I am!
The bite in her voice was softened by a shy, confused smile she couldn't quite hide. She sat down behind him, carefully tucking her towel around her legs.
"I'm the daughter of the Ox King. Purity is part of our discipline! Now... just go already before I change my mind!"
"Hang on tight!" Goku yelled.
With a sudden burst of speed, the Nimbus shot into the sky, leaving the ruined base and the shouting Bulma and Krillin far below.