Here are the salient features of this fic:
No Dragon Balls (Character death shall occur)
Limited ki sense (functional only nearby)
Utilization of the under-utilized characters
A more realistic environment, use of smartphones
Slowly but surely it will diverge significantly from the original storyline.
Unpredictable twists and turns
Hopefully, a motivating piece of work.
The Reunion
Piccolo stood brooding on the edge of a rugged cliff, the jagged rocks beneath him contrasting with the sweeping view of the valley below. His cape billowed dramatically in the gusty wind, echoing the turmoil within him. As always, his mind was consumed with thoughts of revenge against Goku.
Suddenly, a sharp instinct made him tense up.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" He spun around, eyes wide with alarm. A massive power was approaching rapidly, making the very air around him crackle with energy.
With a soft impact, a long-haired, well-built man landed.
"Wait, you are not Kakarot!" the tall man shouted, his voice carrying over the roaring wind.
Piccolo quickly regained his composure, narrowing his eyes. "You have five minutes to tell me why you are here before I blast you to pieces," he said, masking his fear. He could feel the stranger's immense power, like a looming storm.
The man ignored him and pressed a button on his eyepiece. "Power level 322. I can tell you're not from this planet. Blast me to pieces, you said? Heh! I'd like to see you try."
Piccolo bristled. How dare this guy mock him? "RAAH!" he exclaimed, firing an energy blast directly at the newcomer.
DHISHOO!
Smoke rose, billowing out from the impact. As it cleared, the tall man stood unfazed, the ground around him scorched but his body untouched.
"Impressive. You actually managed to singe some of my leg hair," the man said, chuckling.
Piccolo's mouth dropped open in shock.
BEEP! BEEP!
"That's it. It must be him," the tall man said, looking at his eyepiece. "I am coming for you, Kakarot!"
With that, he took off, leaving a terrified Piccolo behind.
Piccolo dropped to his knees, sweat pouring down his face. The wind continued to howl, now feeling colder. "My God...what was that guy?"
...
At Master Roshi's island..
The island was a serene haven—gentle waves lapped the shore, and the distant cries of seagulls echoed under a wide, open sky. The salty breeze carried the sound of laughter as Goku, Krillin, and Master Roshi sat on the sand, enjoying the moments of calm.
"And then," Krillin recounted with a grin, "Me and Master Roshi were thrown out of the restaurant."
Goku blinked, eyes wide. "Really? What'd you do?"
Master Roshi grinned behind his shades, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let's just say... the waitress wasn't impressed with my charm."
But the laughter faded— Goku's smile vanished, his body stiffening like a taut wire..
"Er... what's the matter, Goku?" Roshi asked, his tone shifting, concern seeping in. "I know that was sad and all, but you look terrified!"
Sweat trickled down Goku's brow. His voice was quiet but urgent. "I am sensing a great power level!"
Roshi's face lost its color. His lightheartedness vanished in an instant. "Wait… I feel it too."
A few feet away, young Gohan remained blissfully unaware, busy shaping a mound of sand with his tiny hands, patting it proudly.
High above, a dot in the sky grew rapidly—dark against the afternoon light.
"Who is that?" Roshi muttered, squinting through his sunglasses.
Within seconds, a tall, armored figure landed softly on the sand, barely disturbing it. Goku and his friends froze, eyes locked on the stranger.
"So, I finally found you, Kakarot. You look just like your father," the man said, his voice deep and cutting. He raised a single finger and aimed it directly at Goku. "KAKAROT! Your mission was to kill all people on this planet. Why haven't you carried it out?"
Goku and his friends exchanged stunned glances.
"Kaka-what?" Goku muttered, puzzled.
"Now, now..." Krillin said, stepping forward with a shaky laugh. 'Out of Dew Dork's mental asylum, I guess,' he thought. "Shoo. Shoo," he said, gesturing for the stranger to go. "Allow me to escort you back to the hos—"
SMACK!
"OWW!"
Krillin flew backward, slamming through the wall of Kame House. Wood splintered and dust burst into the air, leaving a jagged hole in the structure.
"A tail!" Master Roshi exclaimed, eyes wide. "And... my house! What have you done?!"
The stranger's belt had unfurled for the strike—it wasn't a belt at all. It now swayed behind him, unmistakably a tail.
Goku gnashed his teeth, fists clenched. Sweat rolled down his face as the pressure of the man's power closed in.
The stranger stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Goku. "Kakarot," he said, almost mockingly. "Did you ever get hit on the head when you were young? I mean a really severe hit."
"Grr, yes, I did," Goku answered, confusion flashing in his eyes. 'How come he knows about it?'
"That's it. You forgot."
"I forgot what?!" shouted Goku.
"You forgot your mission!" the tall man bellowed. "That you were supposed to kill every human on this planet and make it ready for sale. You were sent here for this very purpose! You are a Saiyan, Kakarot! You are from a proud race of warriors! And I, am your brother, Raditz..."
The name hung in the air. Goku stared at him, blinking. His mouth moved, but no words came. "What?" he finally said. "You must be joking."
Raditz smirked, arms folded across his chest.
Silence fell again. The only sound was Krillin's groaning as he crawled out of the rubble.
"Goku," said Roshi, his tone grave. "Maybe there is some truth to what he's telling."
Goku turned sharply. "What are you saying, Master Roshi?" His voice shook.
The old master met his eyes. This was the moment he'd been avoiding for years. "Goku...your Grandpa Gohan told me one day about how he found you... Years ago, on a starry night, he saw something fall from the sky. Then he heard a crash that shook the entire area. When he went to investigate, he found a crater—and in the center, a small pod. You were inside, Goku."
Goku's face twisted in disbelief. "I am… from outer space?"
Krillin limped back beside Roshi, rubbing a fresh abrasion on his head. "Hate to say it, but he does look like you, Goku. Not to mention his tail."
Raditz barked a laugh. "Hahaha! Good, little man."
Goku clenched his fists and turned toward Raditz. "Even if what you say is true, I now belong to this planet. Nice to know that I have a brother and all, but I really would have hoped our reunion to be friendlier than this." He glanced at the rubble, then at Krillin, his voice laced with restrained fury.
"Oh, it's going to get so much more friendlier..." Raditz sneered. He raised his hand toward Master Roshi, a pulsing ball of ki forming in his palm, its energy humming violently.
"Don't dare!" Goku shouted. In a blur, he lunged forward and threw a punch at Raditz's face—
But Raditz caught the movement easily. He sidestepped and slammed his knee into Goku's gut.
Goku flew backward, spit flinging from his mouth. He crashed into the sand with a dull thud, groaning as pain shot through his body. "Agh!"
"Daddy!" Gohan wailed and sprinted toward his fallen father.
"No, Gohan!" Krillin yelled, reaching out.
But it was too late.
Raditz stepped forward and scooped the child up. Gohan shrieked, kicking and screaming.
"No," Goku groaned, still clutching his stomach. "Oh God."
Krillin and Master Roshi stood frozen in horror. They could feel it—this being's strength was beyond anything they could challenge.
Raditz held the boy tightly, smirking. "So, Kakarot. I am giving you one last chance. Either you return to your mission of killing the people on this planet or I will do it for you anyway—and make your son suffer."
Goku's eyes locked onto Gohan. He reached out a trembling hand, desperate. "No, please. No..."
"After you have exterminated the population of at least ten cities," Raditz continued, checking data on his eyepiece, "you can meet me in the plains eight hundred kilometers northwest of here. The place is just two hundred meters from this Saajan farmhouse of your planet. You have only got forty-eight hours."
With that, Raditz shot into the sky, Gohan's cries echoing through the horizon.
...
Minutes later...
Goku had finally managed to push himself to his feet, though his body trembled with strain. Krillin and Master Roshi flanked him, keeping him steady. The ocean didn't care. It kept hammering the shore, wave after wave, as if mocking their helplessness.
"I am going after him!" Goku growled, his voice rough with fury, eyes burning with raw determination.
"No, Goku!" Krillin snapped, fear bleeding into his voice. "You will get killed!"
Roshi said nothing. His gaze stayed fixed on the horizon where Raditz had vanished—where Gohan's cries had been swallowed by the sky.
Goku let out a guttural groan, the weight of helplessness gnawing at him. "Then what should I do? How will I be able to show my face to Chi-Chi if something happens to Gohan?"
Krillin stepped forward, trying to steady his own shaking hands as he gripped Goku's shoulder. "Stay cool, Goku. We've still got forty-eight hours. Surely we will find a way out of this by then."
Master Roshi stroked his beard, eyes narrowed, mind racing through long-buried knowledge. "I know of something. Do you remember what would happen to you, Goku, when somebody squeezed your tail?"
Goku's brow furrowed. "Yeah. I was paralyzed. I felt all of my strength sap out of my body." A flicker of hope pierced the darkness in his expression. "And if my brother shares the same weakness..."
Krillin's lips curled into a grin. "Then we can take him out, no problem."
Roshi shook his head grimly. "He won't just let us walk up to him and grab his tail, Krillin. Hmm, I think... the three of us should attack him straight away… together. He would least expect it."
Krillin paled, visibly shaken by the suggestion.
Goku stood straighter now, teeth clenched, fists balled. The fire in his soul had returned. "Alright. It's settled then."
Roshi flexed his fingers slowly, feeling the familiar creak of old joints, the echoes of countless battles. "Hope these old bones still pack a punch."
Suddenly, a thunderous roar filled the air..
"YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED! YOU ARE TOO WEAK!"
The words slammed into the earth like a shockwave. All heads snapped upward, dread tightening in their chests.
There, suspended in the air like an omen of doom, was Piccolo—cape thrashing violently in the wind, eyes burning with cold fury.
Krillin groaned, his voice low and bitter. "Fantastic... just what we needed."
Piccolo descended, boots touching the sand with eerie silence. The air itself seemed to hold its breath. Tension twisted around them like a storm about to break.
Goku's stance shifted—muscles coiled, eyes sharp. "If you're here for a fight, Piccolo, I'm not in the mood... but I'll still take you down."
But Piccolo didn't flinch. He didn't even look at them. He strode forward, slow and deliberate, his power bleeding into the atmosphere. Krillin and Master Roshi dropped into defensive stances, ready to strike.
Piccolo walked past them like they weren't even there. His eyes were locked on the horizon.
He stopped at the edge of the shore, back to the group, voice cutting through the silence like steel. "I saw it all. I faced your brother, Goku. He's a monster. Neither of us can take him alone."
Goku narrowed his eyes, heart thudding. He knew. The ache in his ribs was still fresh—a brutal reminder.
Piccolo's hand clenched into a fist. "Neither of us alone can stop him." A grin crept across his face. "But together... we might be enough."
Krillin stepped forward, angry, confused.
"Why would you fight beside Goku?"
Piccolo turned, eyes like burning coals. "I'm not fighting with him," he spat. "Don't get it twisted." He stalked closer, voice rising like thunder.
"I want Goku dead. That hasn't changed." His gaze cut through them. "But I won't let some alien warlord conquer this world. I plan to do it myself."
The words hit like a gut-punch. The truth in them was sharp, unrelenting.
Goku exhaled slowly, his expression hardening.
He looked at Piccolo—enemy turned uneasy ally—and nodded.
"If that's what it takes to save my son…"
Piccolo gave a dark, satisfied smirk. "Smart choice. Just don't forget—this is war, not a reunion."
"Krillin," Goku said, "senzu bean."
The bean flew through the air. Goku caught it without looking, popped it into his mouth—and the surge hit instantly. Energy tore through his muscles like a lightning strike. His posture straightened. His eyes lit with fire.
"Alright, Piccolo. Let's move."
Piccolo nodded, eyes locked on the horizon. "This is a ceasefire, not forgiveness."
"Understood."
Goku turned back to the others. "Stay here. I'll bring Gohan home."
Krillin managed a nod, fists clenched. "Don't die trying."
Roshi placed a steadying hand on Goku's shoulder, his voice quiet. "We'll be waiting. Just finish it."
And with that—
Goku and Piccolo launched into the sky.
The island shrank below them. The world fell silent.
They hovered for a moment—neither smiling, neither flinching. Just a shared resolve between warriors.
"Let's do this," Goku said.
"Try to keep up," Piccolo growled.
They shot off - streaks of light tore through the clouds—two titans, one mission.
The ocean stretched endlessly beneath them. The wind screamed. The sun dipped lower, casting them in firelight.
Back on the beach, silence reigned on the island for a minute, the only sounds the gentle lapping of waves and the distant cries of seagulls.
Krillin stared at the sky in awe.
"…Was that real?"
Master Roshi's face cracked into a rare, excited grin. "Believe it, Krillin. The two greatest fighters on the planet—finally on the same side."
To be continued...
For those interested: A brief summary of the events of OG Dragon Ball in this alternate retelling is given in the review section: This will explain how the OG Dragon Ball happened without the Dragon Balls. (You are recommended to skip it, however, because it doesn't really contribute much to the story)