The group arrived at an open area near the city. “Sorry, my Lord,” said Whis, “what were you-?”
“YOU BROUGHT KIRBY!” shouted Beerus. Whis goggled when he realized his mistake.
“Oh dear!” he gulped.
“I can’t fathom how a member of an extradimensional species,” remarked the Doctor, “can be afraid of Kirby.” Before Whis could protest, the Doctor turned to Goku. “Goku, you can sense energy, yes?”
“Yeah, and he’s right ahead of us!” warned Goku, a determined look crossing his face. And he was. The Doctor arched an eyebrow, her scientific curiosity at the forefront.
“Most intriguing,” she muttered about the figure ahead of them. “Exo-skeletal structure, vague cross between a humanoid and an insect…and a stinger as well, hidden under the wings-.”
“A perfect creature,” remarked the figure, the bio-android, Cell!
“That’s relative,” dismissed the Doctor as she examined the horn-like crown. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were the result of the Daleks’ mutant phase.”
“You shouldn’t be here, Cell!” snarled Goku as he got into a fighting stance.
“Oh, come on, Goku,” chuckled Cell. “I can go where I wish.”
“Yeah, well it didn’t get you far now, did it?!” taunted Bulma. “This is Age 782 and-!”
“BULMA, ZIP IT!” shouted Tysar as she clamped her hand over Bulma’s mouth.
“Thank you, Tysar,” called the Doctor.
“Age 782?” asked Cell. “Wait a minute, I came from that era! Why isn’t Earth a bunch of ruins and-?! …No! No, I’m not-!”
“You are, insect,” replied Beerus as he stepped forward with the usual swagger of a god. “But I’m halfway tempted to just destroy you right here and now.”
“Insect?! You say that so derogatorily to the Perfect Being?!” snarled Cell.
“Trust me, you’re as imperfect as a human.” Beerus raised his hand. “Hakai.”
“BEERUS, NO-!” called the Doctor. Then…painful feedback ripped up Beerus’ arm.
“What in-?!” spluttered the God of Destruction. “How-?!”
“His death IS set in stone, my Lord,” reminded Whis. “Hakai can’t be used on someone who is fated to die.”
“DEATH?! IMPOSSIBLE!” shouted Cell.
“Whis, you-!” The Doctor ran her hand down her face in frustration.
“Welp, cat’s out of the bag,” remarked Bulma. “Yeah, Cell, you died in Age 767, at the hands of Gohan. He destroyed everything, right down to your nucleus. We used the Dragonballs to wish everyone back, and that included Androids 17 and 18.”
“Gohan is a coward who hates fighting!” argued Cell. “I couldn’t possibly die to him!”
“Well, believe it or not, your acceptance doesn’t matter,” said the Doctor. “Your memory of this time will be wiped and you’ll be returned to your proper point in time.”
“I don’t think so, Madam!” Cell conjured energy in his fingertips. “MAKANKŌSAPPŌ!”
“EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE!” shouted Goku. Cell fired a beam of energy with a spiral around it. Everyone except Kirby leapt out of the way. Kirby simply opened his mouth and inhaled the attack. Cell goggled at the scene in front of him. Kirby swallowed the attack and leapt into the air, spinning for a bit before a red ribbon with a star on it appeared and tied itself into a headband for Kirby. Kirby then punched the air in front of him and assumed a fighting stance.
“And the Copy Abilities come into play!” complained Beerus as Whis looked into his staff.
“It looks like, on his native Popstar, that form’s called Fighter Kirby,” remarked the angel.
“Fighter Kirby?!” asked Goku excitedly.
“Now look what you’ve done, Whis!” grumbled Beerus.
“Oh dear,” sighed Whis as he realized his mistake.
“Goku, save your fighting instincts for Cell,” directed the Doctor.
“Is he always looking for a fight?” Tysar whispered to the Doctor.
“It’s Saiyan nature AND nurture,” sighed the Doctor.
“Oh, a Saiyan. Yeah, that makes sense.” Tysar nodded as she recalled what Thal Intelligence said about Saiyans.
“You’re seriously throwing a pink puffball at me?” scoffed Cell.
“Did you not see him swallow your attack?!” protested Beerus.
“I’ll take him on!” insisted Cell as he threw a punch at Kirby…only for Kriby to roll out of the way.
“RISING BREAK!” called Kirby as he delivered an energy charged uppercut to Cell’s jaw. Cell was sent flying, much to his surprise. He caught himself in the air and goggled.
“Okay, time! Time out!” he called. “How is that pink puffball capable of that level of strength?!”
“I’d rather not explain,” replied the Doctor. “Whis, we need to retreat. He’s the exact opposite of cooperative.”
“Yes, I quite agree,” remarked Whis. The Doctor then grabbed Kirby. “Oh no! Not this time!” insisted Whis.
“Whis, get over your cowardice of Kirby and get us out of here!” snapped the Doctor.
“See here-!” protested Whis.
“Ka…me…” said Cell. Everyone looked back to see that he had stretched his arms out and cupped his hands. He then pulled the hands to the right of his waist. “Ha…me…”
“WHIS! NOW!” called Goku. Whis surrounded everyone, even Kirby, in a bubble.
“HAAAAAAAA!” Cell thrust out his hands and fired a huge stream of energy. Thankfully, the bubble vanished in time. Cell growled to himself. “So that’s a thing! …Well, I’d better fix things and not waste time on the Cell Games in this new era!
The group ended up in another part of the plains outside the city. “Not exactly ideal, but the best we can do, given the circumstances,” muttered the Doctor.
“Poyo?” asked Kirby.
“Right, we’d better fill you in, Kirby,” said the Doctor. “You see, you were taken out of your time and place, just like Cell. You came from this world’s future while Cell came from the past. We’re trying to send Cell back and wipe his mind so history can proceed as normal. With you, we don’t need to wipe your mind. …And Whis and his ‘Master’, Beerus, seem to be afraid of you, for some reason.”
“Ask Kirby about Nightmare! Dark Matter! Zero!” insisted Beerus.
“Or Dark Mind! Dark Nebula! Star Dream!” continued Whis.
“Void Termina! Fecto Elfilis! Galactic Nova!” finished Beerus.
“All of those had rather wicked ambitions, right?” asked the Doctor. “I know Fecto Elfilis did. …Kirby, did you really beat Fecto Elfilis?” Kirby nodded. “Ooh, I’d like the details!”
“Doctor, do we really have time to do that?” asked Tysar. “We still need to figure out how to deal with Cell.”
“…I should have something to help in that regard,” mused the Doctor. “But I’d need another Time Lord to help and they’re all on Gallifrey trying to help with the Grouping.”
“Then Rassilon was successful?” asked Whis.
“She asked for my help, but yes. …Wait a minute…” The Doctor then snapped her fingers. “I need to get back to the TARDIS!”
“Doctor?” asked Tysar.
“Trust me, there’s something in there we can use to solve this situation!”
“Right then, back to Capsule Corp,” said Beerus. “Whis-.”
“Good heavens, my lord! I’m not a taxi service!” complained Whis.
“Whis, please!” insisted the Doctor.
“Oh, very well. But when we fight Cell, it’s going to be Goku bringing us there.” Whis made his bubble and everyone vanished.
At Capsule Corp, a short, black-haired man with his hair pulled up to the sky and wearing blue spandex and white armor was looking around the place. “Earth Woman, where are you?!” he demanded. He arrived at the balcony and saw the TARDIS. “…What’s Bulma bought now?!” growled the man. Whis’ bubble then appeared and everyone arrived. “There you are!” snapped the man when he saw Bulma. The Doctor goggled when she saw the man.
“That’s impossible!” she whispered. “Y-You perished along with your planet, King Vegeta!”
“…You know of my people, then?” asked the man. “I’m not my father. I’m Prince Vegeta.”
“Ah, yes, the crown prince,” realized the Doctor.
“Bulma, what’s with the blue box?!” Vegeta demanded.
“That’s not mine,” replied Bulma. “That’s the Doctor’s.” She pointed out the Doctor.
“A doctor, huh?” scoffed Vegeta.
“Not A doctor, Prince,” corrected Whis. “THE Doctor. From Gallifrey.”
“WHAT?!” Vegeta goggled in surprise.
“You know about the Time Kings, Vegeta?” asked Goku.
“It’s Time LORD, Kakarot!” snapped Vegeta.
“Thank you, your Highness,” said the Doctor. “One second! Er, could someone fill Vegeta in on the current crisis?” She dashed into the TARDIS. As she searched for…whatever it was she was searching for, everyone filled Vegeta in.
“…I always thought the Grouping was a myth,” remarked Vegeta, “but if it really IS happening…”
“That’s how the Devourer got here,” shuddered Beerus as he pointed at Kirby. Whis took a step to the side.
“…Is he related to Majin Buu?” asked Vegeta.
“I don’t think so,” replied the Doctor as she came out, carrying a Time Lord Collar.
“…Erm, Doctor, what’s that uncomfortable thing supposed to do?” asked Whis.
“It’s not for me,” replied the Doctor. “Kirby, if you please?”
“Poyo!” replied Kirby as he gave up the Fighter Copy Ability. He then swallowed the collar, spun in the air, then the collar appeared on his shoulders, a skull cap fitted onto his head, and robes came out of the collar. “TIME LORD KIRBY!” called Kirby.