Black Thorns (Dragon Ball OC within the Goku Black arc)

The Request

( Author's Note

Just to recall, I'm still talking about Cereza's life growing up within the past few years. I haven't exactly gotten to where we are now in this story, so bear with me a little longer. )

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It's been a few months now, maybe closer to half a year since I started hanging with Goku and the gang. Yamcha and Krillin were pretty quick to accept me within the group, both equally intimidating in their own way, but not as much as Goku. I never really saw them in action as much as Goku and Vegeta, but just looking at Krillin and Yamcha, I can tell they're not your average human.

I still felt really left out on more than one occasion. I just felt really out of place. Here I am, wanting to hang out with two of the world's strongest fighters, only so I feel slightly better about myself.

Once or twice, I have asked Goku and Vegeta to teach me a thing or two about their different types of martial arts. Goku would say yes without a second thought, Vegeta would huff and scoff before maybe tolerating me for at most, 5 or 10 minutes.

But whenever it came to them sparing against each other, or fighting another threat off, be big or small, where was I? Standing on the sidelines, watching. I mean, that's what I originally wanted, right? As true as it was, watching wasn't cutting it out for me anymore.

Something inside of me was starting to take form, someone I never thought about becoming. Someone stronger, someone wanting to help out their friends instead of sitting on the sidelines. The more I watched, the more and more I desired to become that type of individual. I started growing more tired about being weak, tired about not being able to do anything.

But, what could I do? I couldn't just-

...

And then it hit me. There was always "THAT" option. But who could I ask?

I feel like asking Goku, he would question my motives and say something like "you're fine just the way you are" as he smiles his signature smile. And frankly, I'm too scared to ask Vegeta to help, he already barely helps with any of my training.

It took some brainstorming, but then it hit me again, I knew exactly who I needed to ask for help

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"You want to do...what?" the blue-haired lady asked.

"I, I'm asking if you can help me, Ms Bulma," I started. "I, would like your help in searching for the Dragon Balls. You have that Dragon Radar, don't you?"

"I mean yes, I do. But what idea do you have in mind?"

"There's something I've been wanting for a while now, but I'm afraid I can only accomplish that by asking the legendary dragon to grant that wish."

"What wish is that?"

"I-" I stopped. I couldn't tell her, not the full truth, I don't know how she would feel about it.

I took a deep breath before starting my request again.

"Ms Bulma,"

"Please, just call me Bulma," she stated.

"Okay... Bulma... listen, I, I feel like if I told you, you would give me a very distasteful look, and I don't mean that in any way offensively. I will say, it will be for me, so I apologize if that sounds selfish. But I promise you when I say this, I don't wish for something as selfish as immortality, all I will say is what I desire, is impossible to achieve from my standpoint. And that's why I need Shenron's help," I felt a very small tear start to develop in my eye, I didn't realize how bad I wanted this.

"Please, Bulma. If I ask Goku or Vegeta, they won't help me. I know they're good people, but if they know what I want, I know they won't approve. You're the only one I can ask, not just because you have the Dragon Radar, but I hope you understand my feelings, even if you don't fully understand my reasoning or motives. Again I promise you this, you can breathe easy knowing that it won't be for anything evil or remotely close. I only ask that you help me gather the Dragon Balls for this one wish I want. One wish, and I'll never bug you about it again."

There was long pause. Silence. I didn't know what was going through her mind and if she knew me enough to trust me, but she was all I had left for this request.

After another pause of silence, she finally spoke after taking a deep sigh.

"Okay Cereza," she started. "I'll help you, but I strongly recommend we at least bring Goku with us. Searching for the Dragon Balls is not an easy task, and who knows what dangers we might run into along the way. I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from when I say we "need" to at least bring him along, at this point, it's not much of a request, but more of a compromise."

I hesitated for a bit. Goku and Vegeta would've found out eventually what I wanted to wish for in the end, but I would have preferred that it was after the wish was done, rather than be on site to experience what I desired. But as much as it pained me to admit it, she's right. Neither one of us would be able to defend ourselves if we ever got into trouble.

After some time, I took a deep breath.

"Okay. Alright, Bulma, I understand. We'll bring Goku. But, if it's okay with you, and I'll talk to Goku about it too, I wish to keep my reasoning to myself."

"Yes, you "will" have to be the one to tell him eventually, but yes, I understand."

"Thank you, Bulma," I gave her a small hug, catching her slightly off guard, but then I quickly let go as fast as I hugged her. "Where do we start?"

"Well first, I have to find the Dragon Radar and make sure there's no tweaks that I may have to adjust. While I do that, I suggest you go find Goku and bring him back. We should be good after that, because if I remember right, he should already have 1 of the Dragon Balls."

"I'll do that then. Thank you again, Bulma. You don't know how much this means to me."

"For sure. I'll get started, first I have to find the damn thing in all my junk drawers," she chuckled slightly.

"I'll go look for Goku then, I'll be catching you later, Bulma!" I waved as I started walking out.

Things were starting to move along, I only hope Goku understands too.

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