The Z Pirates (One Piece/Dragon Ball Crossover)

A Ruined Throne

Goku soared through the sky, arms crossed behind his head, a bright grin on his face. The wind whipped past him as he flew effortlessly, his orange gi fluttering against the cool breeze. Behind him, the hoverbike zipped through the air, carrying Bulma and Oolong. The hum of the engine barely registered over the rush of wind as they closed the distance to their destination.

Oolong, gripping the side of the hoverbike tightly, let out an exaggerated groan. "Ughhh, remind me again why we're going on a suicide mission?!"

Bulma rolled her eyes, keeping her eyes on the small radar screen in front of her. "Because, Piggy, Arlong and his goons have been terrorizing this entire region. Someone needs to shut him down."

Oolong let out a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, and what if that someone isn't us? I mean, did you forget what happened to the Gosa Village? They flattened it like a pancake! And now we're marching straight into their front yard?! This is madness!"

Bulma didn't take her eyes off the radar. "No, this is payback."

Goku, still flying ahead, turned his head slightly. "Hey, Bulma, are we going the right way?"

Bulma smirked. "Yep! Just keep heading straight. Arlong Park should be just ahead. We should see it soon."

Goku nodded and picked up the pace slightly, his eyes scanning the horizon. The ocean stretched out to the east, the coastline bending around the island. The lush greenery of the island thinned as they neared what was supposed to be Arlong's stronghold.

But when they arrived, they were met with a sight none of them expected.

The towering, shark-themed fortress that was supposed to stand at the heart of Arlong's empire was gone.

Not damaged. Not crumbling.

Gone.

What remained was a massive field of rubble and destruction. Cracked stone, broken debris, and collapsed towers littered the area. The once-grand gates of Arlong Park were shattered, their remains scattered across the ground. Deep cracks ran through the earth, as if something immensely powerful had torn through the foundation itself. The small lake that had once surrounded the fortress was a murky swamp of debris and wreckage.

Bulma's hands tightened on the hoverbike's controls. "W-What… the hell?"

Oolong nearly fell out of his seat as he stared, slack-jawed. "W-Wait, this is Arlong Park? This was supposed to be a fortress!"

Goku landed on the ground lightly, his boots kicking up a small cloud of dust. His eyes darted around, taking in the destruction with a look of pure curiosity. "Whoa… someone really trashed this place."

Bulma quickly parked the hoverbike and hopped off, her boots crunching against the broken stone as she stepped forward. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes flickered across the scene. This had to be Arlong Park. The location was right. The remains of the structures looked like they belonged to the infamous fortress.

But… who could've done this?

Goku walked up beside her, tilting his head as he crouched down and ran his fingers through the dirt. "Hmm… this doesn't look like a normal fight."

Bulma turned to him, frowning. "What do you mean?"

Goku wiped the dust off his hands and stood up. "Well, look at the way everything's broken. This wasn't just smashed—something huge must've hit this place. And hard."

Bulma gulped, taking another glance around. There were huge craters in the ground, as if someone had sent massive shockwaves through the area. The stone structures weren't just broken; they were obliterated. Some of the wreckage had been flung so far that it was embedded in the surrounding jungle.

Oolong was still frozen in place, his eyes darting left and right. "S-So… does that mean Arlong's already dead?"

Bulma narrowed her eyes, pressing a finger to her chin. "If he was, wouldn't we have heard something? This place has been standing for years. If someone took Arlong down, wouldn't the whole island be celebrating?"

Goku crossed his arms, his expression serious. "Maybe it just happened recently."

That thought sent a chill down Bulma's spine.

If someone or something had destroyed Arlong Park so recently, then that meant they might still be around.

She swallowed hard and turned to Goku. "Okay, I don't like this. If Arlong's gone, we need to find out what happened. And more importantly…" She glanced over at Oolong, who was still shaking. "We need to find out if there's something even worse out there."

Oolong let out a small whimper. "Great. Just great. We came all this way, and now we might be walking into something even worse."

Goku cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Well, if there's someone stronger out there, then I wanna meet 'em!"

Bulma groaned, rubbing her temples. "Of course you do."

Goku just kept grinning, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Whoever did this must be really strong! I wonder if they're still around…"

Bulma sighed, glancing around once more. "Well, let's be careful. If someone was strong enough to do this to Arlong Park, then we might not wanna pick a fight right away."

Goku tilted his head. "You sure? I mean, we won't know how strong they are until we fight 'em."

Bulma smacked his arm. "We are not just picking fights with random people we don't even know!"

Goku rubbed his arm, chuckling. "Hehe, okay, okay."

Oolong crossed his arms. "So what now? Do we just… look around?"

Bulma exhaled, nodding. "Yeah. Let's find some answers."

________________________________________

The ruins of Arlong Park held nothing but death and silence.

Bulma, Goku, and Oolong had searched through the wreckage, but aside from a few collapsed walls and lifeless fishmen bodies, there was nothing left of Arlong's reign. No stolen riches, no signs of struggle beyond the obvious destruction—just a ruined battlefield.

After an hour of searching, Bulma finally sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "This is getting us nowhere."

Oolong, who had been poking at one of the fishmen corpses with a stick, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, and it smells like fish guts and regret around here. Let's get outta here before I lose my appetite."

Bulma rolled her eyes but turned to Goku, who was still inspecting the broken ground with curiosity. "Goku, I think we should check out Cocoyasi Village. Remember? The people back in Hinuba Village mentioned it."

Goku stood up, dusting his hands off. "Cocoyasi Village?"

"Yeah. It's one of the places Arlong ruled over. If anyone knows what happened here, it's them."

Goku stretched, cracking his neck. "Alright! If it means getting some answers, let's go!"

Oolong groaned. "Or maybe, you know, we could not rush into another village full of people who might wanna kill us."

Bulma ignored him and hopped onto the hoverbike. "Alright, let's move."

With a loud whir, the hoverbike shot forward, kicking up dust as it sped toward Cocoyasi Village. Goku took to the skies, soaring ahead with a bright grin, the wind rushing past him.

As they traveled, Bulma's eyes caught something on the horizon—a ship.

It was large, docked a good distance away near the shore. Its sails were torn, but there was a distinct Jolly Roger still flapping in the wind.

Bulma narrowed her eyes but shrugged. Probably just another pirate crew. She didn't pay it much mind and refocused on the road.

Within minutes, they arrived at Cocoyasi Village.

Unlike Hinuba Village, which had been shrouded in fear, Cocoyasi Village was lively. People walked freely, chatting, laughing, celebrating. Children played in the streets without a care in the world. It was a stark contrast to what they expected from a place that had once been under Arlong's rule.

The hoverbike hummed as it came to a stop in the middle of the village, immediately drawing attention from the locals. The unfamiliar technology stood out, and whispers began to spread among the villagers.

Goku landed beside them, looking around with wide eyes. "Whoa, this place is way happier than I thought it'd be."

Oolong adjusted his sunglasses, looking around cautiously. "Yeah, too happy. Makes me nervous."

Bulma didn't hesitate. She hopped off the bike and approached the nearest group of villagers. "Hey, excuse me! Can I ask you guys something?"

The villagers stopped their conversations, turning toward her with suspicious eyes.

Bulma, unbothered, continued. "Do you guys know about Arlong?"

The reaction was instantaneous.

The villagers' smiles vanished. Their postures stiffened, and their expressions hardened. Some of them even clenched their fists, as if preparing for a fight. The friendly atmosphere turned hostile in an instant.

One of the older men stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "What business do you have with Arlong?"

Oolong gulped. "O-Okay, we're dead."

Bulma blinked at the sudden change in mood. "Whoa, hey, relax! We just wanted to—"

Before she could finish, Goku stepped forward. "I wanna fight him."

Silence.

The villagers looked at him, confused. Some exchanged glances, others frowned. Then, one of them scoffed.

"You want to fight Arlong?"

Goku nodded. "Yeah. He was treating the people in Hinuba Village really badly, so I wanted to stop him."

There was a beat of silence before one of the younger villagers scratched his head. "Uh… you're a bit late, buddy."

Bulma narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

The villagers looked at each other before one of them finally spoke. "Arlong is arrested."

Bulma's eyes widened. "What?!"

Oolong's jaw dropped. "Oh, come on! After all that trouble, someone else beat him?!"

Goku tilted his head. "Huh? Who did it?"

One of the villagers grinned, his hostility melting away. "The Straw Hat Pirates."

Bulma and Goku shared a look. "Straw Hat Pirates?"

The villager nodded. "A pirate crew. They showed up yesterday, stormed Arlong Park, and wiped the floor with those fish freaks. Their captain, some kid named Luffy, was the one who took Arlong down."

Goku's eyes sparkled. "Whoa, so he's strong?"

The villagers laughed. "Strong? He beat Arlong with his bare hands!"

Bulma crossed her arms, processing this. "And where is he now?"

"They already left for the Grand Line. The captain said he was going to be the King of the Pirates."

Goku's grin widened. "King of the Pirates? That sounds awesome!"

Bulma, on the other hand, frowned. "A pirate crew strong enough to take down Arlong? Interesting…"

Deciding to change the topic, Bulma cleared her throat. "Hey, is there a sheriff or a Marine base around here?"

At that, the villagers' faces darkened again.

One of them spat on the ground. "We had a Marine captain, Nezumi. But that rat was just as bad as Arlong."

Bulma raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

The villager growled. "Nezumi was in Arlong's pocket. That bastard let the fishmen do whatever they wanted as long as he got his cut. He turned a blind eye to the suffering of the people."

Oolong scowled. "So, a corrupt Marine. Great."

The villager smirked. "Don't worry. We beat his ass and sent him running away. Served that bastard right."

Bulma smirked. "Well, at least something went right."

Goku, however, was still grinning. "Man, I wish I got to fight Arlong! Sounds like it would've been fun!"

Bulma shook her head, exasperated. "Only you would say that."

The villagers, seeing that the newcomers weren't a threat, relaxed. Some even smiled. "You guys hungry? We're still celebrating! Come on, join us!"

Goku's eyes sparkled. "FOOD?!"

And just like that, the tension melted away as the group was welcomed into the village which was stepping into a world that was finally free from Arlong's rule.

_________________________________________

The night in Cocoyasi Village was unlike any other.

Laughter, music, and the clinking of mugs filled the air as the villagers celebrated their newfound freedom. Lanterns flickered in the cool night breeze, casting a warm glow over the town square where tables had been pushed together for a grand feast. Plates of grilled fish, fresh fruits, and barrels of sake lined the tables as villagers ate and drank merrily.

Among them, at the center of one particular table, Bulma, Goku, and Oolong sat, joined by Genzo—a grizzled man with a scarred face, clad in his signature pinwheel hat.

Though initially wary of the strangers, Genzo had decided to gauge them himself. But instead, he found himself on the receiving end of Bulma's endless curiosity.

"So, let me get this straight," Bulma said, leaning forward, elbows on the table. "This Gold Roger guy set sail, found some legendary treasure, and his last words before being executed started this whole pirate era?"

Genzo took a deep swig from his sake cup before nodding. "That's right. Before Roger, the seas were still dangerous, but things were… different. The moment he declared to the world that his One Piece was out there, thousands of pirates set sail, hoping to claim it for themselves. The world's never been the same since."

Bulma rubbed her chin. "A legendary treasure, huh? And no one's found it yet?"

Genzo shook his head. "Not yet. The Grand Line is where it's hidden. And let me tell ya, it's not a place for the weak."

At the mention of treasure, Oolong's ears perked up. He leaned in, his small pig-like hands gripping the edge of the table. "So, uh… what exactly is this One Piece? Gold? Jewels? A whole harem of beautiful women?"

Genzo chuckled. "No one knows. That's what makes it so alluring."

Oolong groaned. "Great. Chasing after mysteries instead of money."

Bulma, on the other hand, had stars in her eyes. "A treasure so big it changed the world? If I could get my hands on that, I'd never have to work again!"

Goku, who had been munching on a large piece of grilled meat, finally chimed in between bites. "Sounds fun! So, is there anyone strong out there trying to find it?"

Genzo smirked. "Oh, plenty. But the ones you should really be worried about are the Marines."

Bulma raised an eyebrow. "The Marines?"

Genzo leaned back, swirling his cup of sake. "Yeah. They're the world's military force. They keep the seas in check—or at least, that's what they claim. Truth is, they're just as dangerous as the pirates they claim to fight."

Oolong huffed. "Yeah, no kidding. That rat Nezumi was a Marine, and he was worse than the pirates."

Genzo grunted. "Nezumi was a coward and a crook. But there are others in the Marines who are truly powerful. The Admirals—those guys are monsters. Even pirates fear them."

Goku's eyes lit up. "Whoa! Are they really strong?"

Genzo gave him a pointed look. "Stronger than anything you've ever faced, kid."

Goku grinned. "I dunno, I've fought a lot of strong guys!"

Genzo chuckled. "You might be strong, but an Admiral? That's a whole other level."

Bulma, however, was intrigued by something else entirely. "You mentioned Devil Fruits earlier. What are those exactly?"

Genzo took another sip before exhaling. "A curse and a gift. They say these fruits grant incredible powers to those who eat them, but in return, they take away your ability to swim."

Bulma's stomach twisted. She had a sinking suspicion about that strange orange she ate a while back.

"So, they're real?" she asked carefully.

Genzo nodded. "I never believed in them myself… until yesterday."

That caught everyone's attention.

"Yesterday?" Oolong asked.

Genzo smirked. "I saw one in action. That Straw Hat kid—Luffy, the captain of the crew that beat Arlong—he's a Devil Fruit user. His body stretches like rubber."

Bulma's jaw nearly dropped. "Like rubber?!"

Genzo nodded. "Yeah. Arlong threw everything he had at that boy, but Luffy just kept bouncing back. Literally. That's when I knew—Devil Fruits are real."

Bulma swallowed. Could that orange have been a Devil Fruit? If so… what the hell did I eat?!

Genzo continued, "But there's a downside. Devil Fruit users can't swim. The sea hates them. Arlong nearly won when he dragged Luffy into the water. If it weren't for his crew saving him, he would've drowned."

Bulma's thoughts were spinning.

Oolong, on the other hand, was sweating. "W-Wait… so if you eat one, you lose your ability to swim forever?"

Genzo nodded. "Yep."

Oolong sighed in relief. "Whew! Good thing I didn't eat anything weird lately."

Bulma, on the other hand, wasn't so sure anymore.

Goku, however, was grinning ear to ear. "Man, that Luffy guy sounds awesome!"

Genzo smirked. "He is. The kid's got guts. I hope he conquers the Grand Line and becomes the King of the Pirates."

Bulma and Goku shared a look. The idea of an adventure so grand, a journey so dangerous, was exhilarating.

For the first time since arriving in this world, they felt the pull of the sea.

As the night stretched on, the conversation drifted into more stories of legendary pirates, distant lands, and dangerous waters.

But for Bulma, one thought lingered.

Did she eat a Devil Fruit…?

________________________________________

The night had grown quiet after the festivities. The once lively Cocoyasi Village, filled with laughter and song, had settled into a peaceful slumber. Only the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore remained, a rhythmic lull that made everything feel surreal.

Bulma carefully stepped out of her room, barefoot against the cool wooden floor. She had woken up needing to use the restroom, but as she made her way down the hallway of the inn, she noticed something odd—Goku's room light was still on.

What's he doing up so late?

Curiosity got the better of her, and instead of heading straight to the restroom, she lightly knocked on his door. "Hey, Goku, you awake?"

A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing Goku sitting cross-legged on the floor, arms resting over his knees. His usual cheerful face was slightly scrunched in thought, something rarely seen on the battle-happy warrior.

Bulma raised an eyebrow. "What's up with you?"

Goku sighed, tilting his head as he gazed out the small window. "This world's so… weird."

Bulma leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Tell me about it."

"There's just so much water." Goku frowned, staring at the ocean beyond the village. "Back home, we had oceans too, but this? This place is nothing but water. No mountains, no forests as far as I can see. Just islands and more water."

Bulma nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I thought the same thing. It's like this world was built for boats."

Goku chuckled. "Yeah. And I don't even know how to drive a boat."

Bulma smirked. "It's called sailing, dumbass."

Goku grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, that."

The two fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, only the soft night breeze filling the air. Then, Bulma shifted, her arms tightening around herself.

"…What do you wanna do next?" she asked softly.

Goku blinked at her. "Huh?"

She looked at him, her blue eyes reflecting the moonlight. "We came to this world so suddenly. We don't know how or why. But we're here now. So what do you wanna do?"

Goku's expression turned thoughtful again before he finally shrugged. "I dunno. I just figured I'd follow your lead."

Bulma blinked. "Me?"

"Yeah." Goku grinned. "You're way smarter than me. So I'll just go wherever you go."

Bulma stared at him, heart skipping a beat. She knew Goku was simple, but the trust in his voice, the absolute certainty that he had in her—it caught her off guard. She looked away, feeling her cheeks warm.

"Well… after hearing Genzo's stories, half my mind is telling me to get a ship and set sail."

Goku's eyes widened in curiosity. "Really?"

Bulma nodded. "Think about it. One Piece. The greatest treasure in the world. No one's found it yet. The Grand Line, Devil Fruits, ancient mysteries… It's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure."

Goku grinned. "Sounds fun!"

Bulma turned to him, suddenly smirking. "If I did that, though, you'd have to join my crew. I'm not doing this without you."

Goku laughed, his voice light and carefree. "Of course! I'll go with you anywhere, Bulma!"

Something about the way he said it made her stomach flip. She cleared her throat, shaking off the sudden warmth in her chest.

"…Then why don't we actually do it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Goku blinked at her. "Huh?"

Bulma stepped closer, eyes shining with excitement. "Think about it, Goku. There's not much technology here. I've already spent so much of my life in labs and studying. Why not use this time for something different? Why not actually become pirates and claim that treasure?"

Goku's grin widened as he clenched his fists in excitement. "That'd be awesome! If we did that, the Admirals would come after us, right?"

Bulma sighed, shaking her head. "Trust you to think about fighting strong guys before anything else."

Goku laughed. "But it's true, right?"

Bulma chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. But it's not just about fighting. I want to find those Devil Fruits and study them while conquering the seas and kingdoms. That's way more exciting than sitting around waiting for answers."

From the corner of the room, a groggy voice groaned.

"You guys are too damn loud…"

Both Bulma and Goku turned to see Oolong sitting up from his futon, rubbing his eyes. "Wait, what's this about conquering kingdoms?"

Bulma smirked. "We're thinking about becoming pirates."

Oolong blinked, his sleepy mind processing her words. Then, suddenly, he sat up wide-eyed.

"Pirates?!"

Goku grinned. "Yeah! We'll sail the seas, fight strong guys, and search for One Piece!"

Oolong's shock quickly turned into greedy excitement. "So you mean we'll be able to loot money?!"

Bulma rolled her eyes. "That's what you're focusing on?"

Oolong grinned. "Hey, I don't care about fighting like Goku does, but if we're gonna be pirates, we might as well get rich!"

Bulma chuckled. "Fair enough."

Then Goku tilted his head. "But… don't we need a ship first?"

Bulma's smirk turned mischievous. She crossed her arms, giving him a knowing look. "Oh, don't worry about that."

Goku blinked. "Huh?"

Bulma turned on her heel, heading toward the door. "I already have a ship in mind."

Goku and Oolong exchanged glances before scrambling to their feet.

"Wait, what do you mean by that?!" Oolong demanded.

Bulma simply winked over her shoulder. "You'll see soon enough."

As she walked off into the night, a new adventure was already forming in her mind.

And for the first time in a long time…

Bulma felt alive.