Welcome to DBZ Love Garden

Gohan sat hunched over the table, the candlelight casting a faint light, just enough to work by. He obsessively carved delicate designs into the handle of the sword in front of him, taking off just enough to make the sword balance perfectly. His tool moved across the handle and traced lightly over designs previously in place. His elbows were growing tired of being pressed heavily into the table; they were already marked with the red impressions of the uneven tabletop grooves.

Finally, he set the tool down. He lifted the sword to his mouth level, gently blowing off the residue before standing. His hand curled perfectly over the handle. A smile crossed his lips. It felt natural — just as it was meant to.

He twirled it across his fingers, finally balancing the base of the blade across his pointer finger, the blade on one side, the handle on the other. It rest perfectly horizontal.

He smiled even more.

“Another job done…” he whispered to himself. His only response was a loud snore from the back of the room where Yajirobe, his boss, slept. He never moved from that spot, or at the most, rarely. Gohan never really saw him move, except to use his hand to order tasks done — he was trusted enough to handle the workload, but… it would be nice to have some help. But that hadn’t come since he had been found to have some talent for swordsmithing.

With a sigh, he fell back onto his stool and set the sword delicately back on the table.

He brought his calloused fingers to the bridge of his nose, rubbing it roughly as his eyes slid shut. It was late and he’d been working by candlelight for far too long.

Take solace : You only have to polish the thing and you’re done!

Gohan ran his fingers back through his dark hair, pushing it back from his headband for a moment. He dropped his hands and ducked under the table, searching the shelf beneath it for a proper cloth.

Once he found it, he sat back up and set back to work.

***

He looked up a moment later and found himself staring out across rolling plains of lush green grass and assorted crops, mountains and sky as far as the eye could see beyond it. Trees clustered somewhere in the corner of the field, then spread out randomly across the fields. A river ran by his position. It was a crystal-clear blue, and the stones about a foot beneath the surface were smooth and silver and white in colour. It murmured softly, moving slowly downstream.

Gohan shook his head sharply, then spun around at the sound of laughter. He saw nothing new, just the grass and river stretching for miles. He blinked, puzzled.

“Where… am… I….” he breathed.

The laughter came again from in front of him, then abruptly stopped after a sudden, sharp howl of pain, a haunted echo across the broad range.

He winced, shrinking back slightly. He happened to catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye, his head whipping towards the river.

The river began to roar, started to rage. A thick, blood red colour spread down, quickly blanketing the once clear liquid. Then the river began to twist and snake unnaturally, spiralling and leaping out of the bed. Soon it began to spiral, jumping from the bed at a random point, stretching high up towards the sky, ravelling into a monstrous shape. A tail formed, a thick torso quickly followed it, broadest at the shoulders, then splitting. Half coiled down from the shoulders into thick arms, and the other half forming into a strong neck, then a terrifying head. Eyes flashed deep within the skull and a snout and mouth suddenly split through half of the face. Large, razor-sharp fangs grew from within the mouth, trailing back to close the wide grin.

The massive creature, resembling something like a dragon with humanoid features, turned its head to look far beyond Gohan. Its tail lashed violently across the dry riverbed, then snapped across towards him. Its jaw snapped open and it released an ear-shattering roar.

Gohan’s own eyes jerked open, his body drenched in a cold sweat. He sat up, eyes wide with fear as he looked around. He was back in the shop, morning sunlight pouring in through the window. The field was gone, the river… that blood creature. It was all gone.

When he sighed sharply, he realized that he had been holding his breath. His chest ached, heaving now. He brought his shaking hands to his face, holding his face as his eyes slid shut. He shivered, suddenly gasping and threatening tears welling across his eyelids.

He hung his head, hands dropping across the table. They fell across the flat edge of the sword, and his eyes snapped open.

Shit!

He looked abruptly out the window, all fears from the dream lost for the moment.

I hope I’m not late!

He snatched up the sword and an appropriately-sized box. He slipped the sword into the box carefully, snapping it shut. He grabbed his light purple overcoat, throwing it over his off-white baggy shirt and speckled grey pants. He tucked the box beneath his arm, dashing out the door, letting it slam shut behind him…

A few moments later, Gohan quickly ran back into the shop. He set the box down on a nearby table, running off towards the centre of the room.

Feed the donkey first, Gohan.

He found the creature, asleep standing up. He patted the muzzle, then stooped to the side, grabbing and emptying the remaining back of assorted foods into the trough. It wasn’t much.

Have to stop off for food later.

The sound of the food dropping into her trough quickly awoke the donkey. The black eyes quickly rolled up to watch Gohan, the ears flickering back and forth.

“Good morning, Chichi,” he said with a smile, patting her muzzle again. “I’ll be back to let you out as soon as I deliver the sword…”

He leapt back to the door without waiting for a response. He snatched the box up from its resting spot, disappearing back out the heavy front door.

***

Videl opened her eyes slowly, turning away from the soft sunlight that came through the large window, even piercing the curtains. Once she felt her eyes had adjusted, she turned her head to look towards the window. She sat up slowly, gracefully, then pushed the covers aside and stepped out of the bed. Her bare feet stepped, silent, across hardwood floor, the bottom of her crisp white nightgown swishing against her ankles.

She drew open the drawer settled in the vanity ahead of her. She shifted through the miscellaneous items, pens, assorted jewellery, rings, earrings, nothing special. Her slender fingers found a loose board at the bottom of the drawer. She fumbled it free, then searched beneath it. She quickly found an elegant, green painted box.

She looked at it, biting her lip as she groaned at set it down. “Too early for chocolate,” she murmured to herself, going back into the drawer. She found what she had originally been looking for, and pulled the star charm and chain out from the dusty depths of the drawer. She tied it about her neck so it fell beneath the neckline of her nightgown.

A sharp knock came at her door. Her head snapped to look back at the door and her hands moved quickly to replace the green box inside the drawer. She turned around fully, leaning back against the dresser to shut it.

“Y-Yes? Come in,” she called to the visitor.

Governor Satan stepped in, holding a plain, off-white box, and he was accompanied by a handful of maids. He smiled warmly at her, “Did you just get up? At this hour?”

He stepped over to the window, throwing the curtains open with one hand and letting in the brilliant sunlight.

Videl raised her hand, shielding her tired eyes from the new light.

Her father turned, smiling at his daughter. “I have a gift for you.”

“A gift..?”

The box was opened, revealing a brilliant green dress trimmed with delicate white lace, strings running up the front and the back of the bodice. The skirt was billowing, wide, easily emphasizing the curve and size of the wearer’s hips.

“Oh!” Videl gasped, gliding across the floor to her father, taking the dress into her hands and holding it up, “Oh! It’s so beautiful!”

He smiled broadly, “Isn’t it?”

Videl paused, looking up at her father, holding the dress against her now. “What’s the occasion, Father…?”

“Do I need an occasion to give a gift to my lovely daughter?”

As Videl disappeared behind the changing wall with two of the maids to dress, her father continued, “…But, I was hoping you would wear it to the ceremony today…”

“The ceremony?” Videl slipped out of her nightgown, draping a slip over her slender form.

“…Captain Yamucha’s promotion.”

“I knew it!”

“He’s about to become Commodore…”

Videl gasped sharply as the corset was laced tight about her torso.

“He fancies you, Videl.. And he’s a fine gentleman.” He looked towards the wall, “How’s it coming?”

“It’s…” Videl attempted to take a deep breath against the tight corset, “It’s difficult to say.” The maids assisted her in sliding the dress over her head, then began to tie up the decorative strings at her back and chest.

“I’m told it’s the latest fashion in London.”

“Women in London must have learned not to breathe,” Videl grumbled.

Another servant appeared at the door, turning to the Governor. “You have a visitor, m’lord.”

***

Gohan stood in the main foyer, and found himself looking up at a sconce. He reached up to run his fingers over the entrancing, delicate detail, but to his surprise, that individual branch broke off in his hand. His eyes widened, and his panic increased as he heard footsteps. He thrust the branch into a tall vase that held canes and parasols, then whipped around, the long, white box held tight under his arm.

Governor Satan walked down the stairs, his hand trailing on the railing beside him. “Ah, Gohan! It’s good to see you.”

Gohan bowed his head, “And you, Sir. I have your order.”

He brought the lengthy box in front of him, opening it and displaying the sword, his masterpiece.

The Governor took the sword delicately, looking it over carefully. His eyes swept along the stunning detail in the glowing handle, and the little bits that crept up the blade.

“The blade is made of folded steel, and the handle is laid with gold filigree…” Gohan held his hand out, “If I may, Governor…”

He handed the sword back to Gohan who balanced the sword across one finger. “It’s perfectly balanced, and the tang is nearly the full width of the blade.” Gohan flipped the sword, taking it carefully by the blade and offering the hilt to Governor Satan.

“Very impressive… Commodore Yamucha will be very pleased with this…” Satan smiled, raising his eyes to Gohan, “Pass on my compliments to your Master, yes?”

Gohan swallowed his frown, nodding slowly. “I shall…” He stood upright, “A craftsman is always pleased to hear his work is appreciated…” Well, at least the sword was acceptable.

Videl appeared at the top of the stairs, fully dressed in the silken green dress. Gohan raised his eyes to her, barely able to keep his mouth from falling open.

“You look stunning, Videl…” Satan praised, beaming up at her.

Videl saw Gohan, a dazzling smile crossing her face. She moved down the stairs, stopping before him. “It’s so good to see you, Gohan!”

Gohan quickly regained his composure as she spoke to him. He smiled warmly, nodding,

“Same to you, Miss Satan.”

“How many times must I ask you to call me Videl?” she said in a soft voice.

“Is that entirely proper, Videl..?” Governor Satan whispered to her.

“At least once more, Miss Satan.” He bowed to her.

The Governor smiled upon Gohan, “There… The boy, at least, has a sense of propriety.”

He turned to Videl, “Now, my dear, we must really be off.” He reached to the vase, taking out a parasol to match Videl’s dress, and to Gohan’s relief, avoided bringing the broken sconce out of the vase.

Videl nodded to Gohan as she took the parasol, “Good day, Gohan.”

Governor Satan brought his hand to Videl’s back, guiding her from the foyer and out the front door. They stepped into a carriage drawn by the finest horses in the area.

Gohan walked out after them, watching them leave. He smiled to himself, whispering,

“Good day, Videl…”

***

The young man stood at the top of the mast of his boat. His long lavender hair, braided with beads and assorted coins, blew with the light breeze. He pushed it from his face, behind his ear and caught a glance of three figures hanging from an arched rock face.

He turned his head, squinting his eyes beneath the bandana and hat. Those figures, three skeletons, hung from nooses. In front of them perched a sign that read, “Pirates ye be warned” in dark, menacing letters. With a solemn face, he raised his hand towards the skeletons in acknowledgement before turning his attention back to the port ahead.

As he arrived at the nearest dock, he was able to gracefully step off the mast of his sinking ship onto the planks. He strode casually down the dock, as if arriving with a sunken ship was something he was used to.

The Harbourmaster quickly greeted him, “Hold up, you. It’s a shilling to tie up your…” he glanced beyond the man, at the mast that was soon disappearing beneath the light waves, “your boat… And I shall need to know your name.” He flipped open his book, licking the tip of his quill pen.

The young man raised his eyebrows, then spoke in a confident, slightly slurred voice, “What d’you say to three shillings and we forget the name?” He held up the said amount, smiling now.

The Harbourmaster and his assistant looked at the offered money, then the master quickly took it. “Welcome to Port Satan, Mister Smith.”

‘Mister Smith’ walked past the two, eyeing the bag of money laying on a nearby surface. He picked up the pouch, weighing it and glancing back at the Harbourmaster before disappearing into the crowd.