Dragon Ball Tuffle Quest Z #46

(Just here to ask when Secret Princess Zelda Quest will be on since I don't use most social media save Whatsapp due to being stuck with G3 Internet for the moment.)

Trying for Sunday for Zelda.

Yay!

With a tilt of your head, you ask. "...why not bring this up before? Really, what's the occasion?"

Launch's cheeks turn a rosy red as she smiles. "Well... we..."

Your own face lights up. "A-are you expecting?"

She shakes her head. "No, not yet. But we... well, we do want to have a kid."

Tien's turned his face away, but it's pretty clear it's one bright, rosy red, even brighter than Launch's face. You get a giddy grin. "Ooooh, do you have a na-"

"Maple, please." Tien asks to hush you.

Launch's expression gets less happy as she continues. "Tien never had a happy childhood. He... wants to make sure our kid has one. And then we got talking about it... and I just couldn't recall my own."

"Ah, well, I can understand that. I mean, my first ten years of life were in a tube." you add.

Bulma raises an eyebrow. "First... ten? You were eight when you met us."

"Physically, and... basically mentally." you clarify. "Four years after that were spent with Ghost Dad and Teacher before he... you know. Left brobro and I here." You refocus on the topic at hand. "Now, Launch, are they like... blocked, or 'gone' gone?"

"Well, blocked is the best way to describe it." she says. "But it's all just one big fuzzy blur. Tien tried to look, and he couldn't get in there."

"It's a little worrying, isn't it?" the triclops adds.

"Blondie said they might be blocked for a good reason. It's all suspicious."

>A. Well, hope Auntie Baba can help, we'll let you be
>B. Mind if I try with you, Tien?
>C. Something else?

>C. Something else?
Offer to help along with Auntie Baba. It's presumptuous to think we can do better, but it won't hurt to help.

second

This, I guess: I'm reluctant to offer help on something that can be potentially mentally traumatic and that can't be punched in the face. We'll see if Baba would need help from us and go from there.

Supporting

I feel the same way, but this might also help her. Actually let's ask Baba first, then continue if she says it's safe. Fortune teller can give us a fortune.

"Well, mind if I go with? Maybe I can give some help, you know." you ask, walking to them. "Auntie Baba will know for sure, but maybe there's something I can do to help you and Tien."

Launch smiles sweetly. "Thank you, Maple."

"Ah, not to barge in on this, but what about the Ki container. Would you mind if I go get it myself, Maple?" Bulma asks.

>A. No problem, thanks Bulma! (Give her directions)
>B. I dunno, you sure you can find your way around here?
>C. Something else?

>B. I dunno, you sure you can find your way around here?

Maybe we can go pick it up real fast and join Tien & Launch later?

A
She'll be fine.

>A, and suggest asking Undine or one of the other fighters for help getting around if she needs to

>A. No problem, thanks Bulma! (Give her directions)
She's not dumb.

"No problem, thanks Bulma! And, uh, sorry if I'm a little sidetracked." you tell her sheepishly.

"Well, it was your idea." she notes, then looks to Tien and Launch with a smile. "But sometimes things like this come up."

You tell her where it most likely is, and then suggest to her to ask one of Baba's fighters if she needs help. You walk with Tien and Launch to Baba, finding her in her study. The elderly fortuneteller turns to you all with... a frown. "Mmnh. You know, if I keep doing this for free, I might get a reputation for it."

Tien bows to her. "I am very sorry, I could pay-"

"That said, this is something I have been wondering on myself, but never really had a reason to look into it." Baba says, her frown flipping into a smile. "I shall help you, child."

"Thank you, Ms. Baba." Launch replies, sitting down as the woman looks into her crystal ball.

youtube.com/watch?v=P6PVc2zSTWo

She starts to wave her hands at the sphere. "Before either of you try to read her mind, let me see the nature of this. I may be able to get a hint at-" she stops, starring into the crystal ball. "...this."

None of you are sure you like that reaction. "Is... something wrong?"

"...Launch, let me ask you something before I continue. Do you have any recollection of your parents? Any at all?"

The woman clearly feels a shiver go down her spine, and she isn't quite sure why. "I... I don't. At least, none that I can... remember..."

"...you may not like what you find." Baba warns her. You can tell from the look on her face there's something she's actively trying to avoid saying.

>A. Ask Baba something telepathically
>B. This doesn't sound like good news, Launch...
>C. Should... should I go? This sounds very personal
>D. Something else?

Oh shit
>A
"Is she an orphan?"

Be supportive of launch, no matter her decision.

These,

>Do C via telepathy

Rolled 10 (1d20)

You focus on Baba and ask her, telepathically, after gulping, '...she's an orphan, isn't she?'

'Yes. That much has been revealed to me. And... it is not a pretty sight how she was made one.'

You can't help but frown. 'Should... should I go, then? I mean, this seems personal for her...'

'If she wishes to know the truth, it would be best to help her through this. She will need it.'

You place your hand on Launch's shoulder. "I know this is gonna be tough. But we're here for you."

Tien seems to understand what you're saying and places his hand with her own. "It's your choice. I... don't wish to bring you any harm, Launch. But now that-"

"We'll do it." Launch declares, her blonde personality making the statement. But... you notice that her eyes seem a little watery. "We... we need to know now."

Baba sighs. "...if that is your wish." She floats over and places her hand on Launch's forehead. "Tien, Maple, I need you two to focus with me. Focus on helping her see the truth."

>Roll 1d20, best of five. DC is 10.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

Rolled 7 (1d20)

Rolled 9 (1d20)

Let's do this.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

Rolled 16 (1d20)

Praise Olmec

All right. It's time.

So are red seeds gonna be the new evil powerup mcguffin?

Kato is kill. Post suplexes.

You and Tien focus together, delving into your friend's mind with Baba. You... feel a little nostalgic as you move past some of her memories, view them again. Hah, there's where she first met you, trying to steal that Sleeping Princess. And there's you taking her guns away- ...huh. You encounter the thing Tien was talking about. It's... not quite a block. It's more like... well, if a fish were to try to swim through peanut butter. You keep going, slowly, taking your time.

...you don't quite know what to make of what you see next.

Launch is running.

She's running through rainy woods, the sound of people behind her. She's clearly being chased. There's... this strange fog all around. Wait a minute. This seems... way too familiar. You've been here. At least, somewhere like it. Launch keeps running, not looking back. A flash of lightning illuminates her hair... looks like it originally was blue. She...

She trips.

Launch stumbles to the ground, and you realize how young she is. No more than... five, maybe. The people slowly catch up. She looks back and they have this... blank, but piercing expression on their faces. Eyes seem... wrong somehow. Even their movements aren't normal. The young Launch pleads with them. Tells them to stop. She tries to move away, but she can't stand properly in the mud.

(cont.)

Then you notice the axe in one person's hand, with deep bloodstains on it... and all over the people. The two in front... look like her. A man and a woman. And based on Launch's call to them... they're her parents. One of the people in the back seems to shove into another, causing them to almost out of the blue come to blows. Soon the whole group is just this... laughing, manic, depraved ball of violence.

All except Launch's parents.

The father grabs the young girl by the neck and tries to pick her up. She pleads with him to stop, calls to him. Her eyes water as she clearly has trouble breathing. She tries one last time... and then you can feel anger build up in her. Desperate, panicked anger. A... glow seems to come from her.

What happens next almost makes you feel sick. The girl... she... she couldn't quite control what she's doing as she fends them off. And they... fall at her hands.

Launch killed her parents.

And everyone else that tried to attack her that night.

The rain lessens, barely managing to wash away the blood on her. The glow is gone. And Launch is sobbing, asking for her parents to come back. Telling them she didn't mean to. Telling them it was... "the bad girl" that did it. She'd never hurt them. "The bad girl" was the one that did all this.

The... bad girl.

The blonde girl.

You finally let go. Launch is... barely holding back the tears. Tien hugs her tight. She tugs at her blonde hair. "This... I'm..."

>A. Hold her, no words
>B. I'm... I'm so sorry
>C. Baba... who was responsible for that incident?
>D. Something else?

Uh
Jesus
>A.

>A. Hold her, no words

>D. Something else?

The other Launch was around before that. The event was tragic but it wasn't the trigger that made Blonde Launch.

>I've been to that place before. Somewhere like it. Those people look like they had bee infected with the black water mist. The kind Magil had been brewing.

>A. Hold her, no words

So. Pendulum Room time? Go check this shit out personally.

You hold Launch quietly. No words right now. She needs to let this out. Launch begins sobbing.

Tien pats her back and gives it a comforting rub. All of you just... let her have the moment she needs. "I... I'm so..."

"...at least I know now." she says through her sobs. "Why we were... never able to converse. Why we were... separate."

"...I don't know for sure, but... Launch, I don't think that's what caused you to... well, have..." you motion to her hair. "But... you're right. It is what probably caused your actual split. And... don't blame yourself. Please." You look to Baba. "We... that place, we've been there before. Back when we first encountered Magil-"

...

Oh gods no.

"Mn. So it seems." Baba nods reluctantly. "The blasted Mist, and everything that spawned from it."

"What should we do about it?" you question.

"I suggest you all leave it. Kami will be able to come up with a better solution for this, for good." the fortuneteller states, patting Launch's shoulder. "...you must hate me for letting you see this."

"I... I don't." she responds with a smile. "At least now I have some closure."

(cont.)

A knock comes on the door to the room. "Uh, is... everything okay in there?" Bulma asks.

"M-mostly!" you respond. "What's up?"

"I've got the Ki container... but we might not be allowed it for long. Beelzebub apparently wants it back."

...always going to have some kind of complication, huh? You turn back to Launch one more time. "I'm-"

"It's gonna take some time to adjust. But I'll make it through. That's a promise." she says with the sweetest smile you've ever seen on Blondie's face. She pulls you and Tien close. "Thank you."

youtu.be/1F7MwxJ43Vk

>YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE SEVENTH SOCIAL LINK WITH LAUNCH

>YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE FIFTH SOCIAL LINK WITH TIEN

>DRAGON BALL TUFFLE QUEST Z #46 END
>Twitter account is @KatoQm, will have status updates there
>Got some questions for the QM? Characters? Suggestions? Throw them at ask.fm/QMKato and I'll try to answer them as best I can

And that's all for tonight, folks. I'll be around for questions and such for a while like usual. Did y'all have fun?

Fun enough, though it's a bit more DRAMA than usual.

Thanks for running, Kato!

What are Vegeta and Nappa up to in the meantime? How well are they adjusting to life on Earth?

Yeah, sorry if that came off a bit too... strong. But thanks.

Thanks for playing!

Vegeta is busy training himself, trying to test the limits of his Super Saiyan power on his own. Nappa is wondering if he's able to become a Super Saiyan as well. He's actually met with Raditz in private a couple times to kind of just talk. He's honestly kind of tired of the Earth, because he and Vegeta do have plans of what they'll do now that Freeza is out of the picture. But Vegeta's desire for revenge has kind of kept him on the only place he knows there's SOME secret to getting stronger at. To Nappa though, the upcoming Tournament can't come soon enough.

Also, any places y'all kind of want to go for for the next thread or two, things you want to focus on, people you want to see? I have my own ideas, but would like some feedback.

What are Suno and Misa up to?

Suno's still working her Nimbus-based delivery service.

Princess Misa may have met a certain prince recently.

I think it'd be kinda neat to explore the demon realm and just kinda see where demons fit properly into the celestial bureaucracy. Perhaps see if there's a way to throw in some training there too, or a method to get stronger beyond physical conditioning?

It'd be nifty to have a way of getting stronger while not having to sacrifice too much time that would otherwise be spent on social links or exploration.

What's the plan with the ki container again? I forgot what it does.

That might be a good idea.

Idea I've seen is to see how it operates, and eventually try to replicate some of its effects. You know, without the stabbing people thing.