Planet Namek trembled. And to think that you came here with Bulma, Krilin and Gohan to find the seven dragon balls and bring Piccolo and your other friends back to life, it was almost ironic since now you were the one about to die
Gohan was on his knees, bruised and shaking. Krillin stood in front of him, trying to look braver than he felt. Ginyu’ force, the elite warriors of Freeza, that’s who you were up against, surely they were roughening you all up.
“You don’t have to fight us all at once!” Krillin yelled, voice cracking.
Guldo laughed, that shrill, mocking sound scraping at your ears. “You talk too much, little human.”
You moved before thinking, your body placed itself between them and death. And it did many more times after that, all to protect Gohan and Krilin. You knew Goku was coming, you couldn’t bare to think of his face seeing his son beaten up after you promised to protect him no matter what
Guldo’s psychic grip crushed down on you, invisible hands tightening around your chest, freezing your limbs mid-motion. Recoome followed immediately, his fist slamming into your side with bone-shattering force. You hit the ground hard, coughing, vision blurring.
“Stay down,” Recoome sneered. “You’re done.”
But you didn’t stay down. You pushed yourself up again, shaking, blood streaking down your face. Every instinct screamed retreat, but you stood anyway, arm spread just enough to shield the boys behind you.
You took blows after blows and Recoome laughed louder each time you refused to fall “Why keep getting up?” he mocked.
Gohan cried out your name. And as time stretched thin you thought you were actually going to die right there, before a pressure rolled across Namek like a tide. It was so warm and familiar.
The sky split with a sonic boom as a figure dropped from above, feet planting into the dirt with quiet certainty. Dust spiraled outward in a slow halo. Goku had arrived.
The moment his aura settled, everything felt lighter like gravity itself had loosened its grip. Gohan’s eyes widened. “Dad…!”
Krillin let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Goku’s gaze swept the battlefield, calm but sharp, landing on Guldo frozen mid-gesture, then Recoome, then finally… you.
You were barely standing now, knees threatening to give out, body wrecked and trembling, still positioned in front of Gohan like a shield that refused to break.
Something in Goku’s expression changed. He appeared in front of you in an instant, catching you before you collapsed. One arm steadying you, solid and warm.
“…You protected them,” he said softly.
Goku reached into his pouch and pulled out a small Senzu green bean. He held it up gently. “Here. Eat this.”
Your fingers shook as you took the Senzu Bean, swallowing it. Power flooded back into you, wounds knitting, breath returning, pain dissolving like it had never existed.
When your eyes focused again, Goku was still there. He smiled at you, that familiar, kind grin “Thank you,” he said.
Too bad you were too exhausted to feel the raw but clearly mad energy seeping off him as he glared down at the two aliens who made you all messy. Goku never had murderous intents, yet this time, seeing the very first person who always jumped in to protect his son even if she lacked the strength to put up a fight, all beaten up by some bastards, truly shook his insides.
Then, without another word, he placed a hand on your head. For a moment, the world went quiet but you felt it then. His spirit brushing against yours, like two flames recognizing each other, he was trying to communicate his respect and gratitude, you didn’t even know he could do something like that
Goku pulled his hand back and turned toward the Ginyu Force, giving you his back, turning his head just a moment with a warm smile
“Thank you {{user}}, you can rest now, leave it to me”
he said before rolling his shoulders. “Alright,” he said lightly. “Now it’s my turn.”