Category: Doctor Who: Crossings

“…Y-You mean, everything the Doctor and Kirby said…is true?!” stammered Whis, his world crumbling around him.

“Yes,” replied Grand Zeno matter-of-factly. “I’ve long learned that there’s no such thing as a perfect being and who would want that? You look at the history of all the universes, and you’ll find that only tyrants say that and I don’t wanna be a tyrant. I’ve made mistakes and I learned from them. You’d be wise to learn from yours, Whis, not just cover them up in our usual indifference to mortals.”

“DONE!” called the Doctor. Everyone gave their attention to her and Kirby.

“All done!” confirmed Kirby. He then spotted Grand Zeno. “Oh! Hi!” The Doctor looked up and goggled.

“G-Grand Zeno?!” she yelped. “S-Sir, this matter with Cell is just a mortal trifle-!”

“I know,” replied Grand Zeno. “I’m gonna be going anyways. Beerus and Whis just needed to know that what you and Kirby said about me was right.” The Doctor smiled.

“Very kind of you to say, Grand Zeno,” she said.

“Oh, before I go, Doctor,” Grand Zeno handed the Doctor a button.

“Hey! You can visit him too!” called Goku.

“No, Goku, this is different to the button I gave you,” corrected Grand Zeno. “It’s only for emergencies that the rest of the gods and I think require a mortal touch, and the Grouping is one such mess. It only works in your TARDIS, Doctor. Press the green button when it flashes to get the briefing of whatever trouble we need your help with and press the yellow button to get to the spot where that trouble started. Squeeze the border of the device to teleport you back into this universe wherever you started once the trouble is over and you’re back in your TARDIS.”

“You of all people are asking for my help?” asked the Doctor. “The Grouping MUST be bad, then.”

“In the meantime, if you’re really done with your machine,” said Grand Zeno, “you’d better get on with it. I’ll see you around, Doctor!” He then vanished, leaving Whis and Beerus very shaken.

“…Well, it came from your highest superior, you two,” remarked the Doctor. “Perfection is best left for tyrants to flail around for. …Speaking of tyrants, we need to get to Cell.”

“I got a lock on him!” called Goku. “He’s outside of South City! Everyone, grab ahold!”

“Oh no, you don’t, Kakarot!” protested Vegeta. “I’m not doing that instant-!”

“Come on, Vegeta! We can’t always rely on Whis!” argued Goku.

“Goku, what is Vegeta talking about?” asked the Doctor.

“My Instant Transmission technique,” replied Goku.

“…That’s a Yardrat technique! How did you-?!”

“It’s a long story,” interrupted Goku. “Let’s just go. Everyone, get close!” Everyone gathered near to Goku and put a hand on him. Goku then put his pointer and middle finger onto his forehead and concentrated. In just a matter of milliseconds…the group vanished!

---

Cell was charging up an attack, ready to cause terror to summon Goku, when the group appeared. “Ah! So you just came running at the sound of potential terror!” laughed Cell. “Well, better be ready, Son Goku!” Cell fired, then Kirby leapt into the attack’s path and inhaled it. He then changed from Time Lord Kirby to Fighter Kirby.

“POYO!” he challenged.

“…Is that gonna be a thing these days?” muttered Cell. He then saw Goku adopt a familiar stance.

“Ka…me…ha…me…HAAAAAA!” shouted Goku as he thrust his hands forward and fired the Kamehameha Wave at Cell. Cell batted it aside.

“Goku, you DO remember that your DNA is a part of me, right?” asked Cell.

“RISING BREAK!” called Kirby as he delivered an uppercut to Cell’s jaw. Cell let himself get knocked into the air, planning on frying the pink menace, then he saw Goku put himself against the sun and put his hands to his head.

“SOLAR FLARE!” shouted Goku. A bright light filled Cell’s eyes and blinded him. Kirby took advantage of Cell’s blindness.

“VULCAN JAB!” Kirby jabbed Cell in the stomach, winding him. Cell collapsed to the ground.

“H-How-?!” he gasped.

“SPIN KICK!” shouted Kirby. He spun around and delivered multiple roundhouse kicks to Cell’s face.

“And for good measure!” called Goku. He then slammed his elbow into Cell’s gut, winding him again.

“NOW!” called the Doctor. Goku and Kirby broke off as the Doctor switched the machine on. An energy cage surrounded Cell. “Now, let’s see if I can actually send him back unlike what happened on Earth last time.” She pressed a few buttons. “Let’s see…aha! So, he came from then! Let’s send him back there!” She then flicked a switch. “Erasing his recent memories and…” Cell and the energy cage then vanished. “And there we go! Whis, could you double-check things?”

“Very well, Doctor,” replied Whis. He looked into his staff. “…Well, looks like time unfolded as it’s supposed to. Cell’s still in Hell.”

“In that case, Kirby, you ready?” “Kirby knew what the Doctor was driving at.

“Poyo!” he agreed.

“What’s going on?” asked Goku.

“A victory dance!” replied the Doctor. “Just follow along with Kirby!” She pulled Goku into the group and the two of them danced along with Kirby.

“HAI!” Kirby called at the end of the dance.

“That was actually fun!” chuckled Goku. “I gotta do a victory dance sometimes!”

“And look more ridiculous than you do right now, Kakarot?” scoffed Vegeta.

“Oh, don’t be such a sourpuss, Vegeta!” complained Goku. His stomach then growled. “…Hey, before we send Kirby back, maybe we could get some food in us?”

“Poyo,” agreed Kirby as his own tummy grumbled.

“I’ll take us back,” offered Whis.

---

After Whis took them all back to Capsule Corp, everyone was eating well. The Saiyans were in an impromptu eating contest with Kirby when they discovered how much he could eat! “How much do you want to bet they’ll lose?” Beerus asked Whis.

“That’s too easy of a bet to make, Lord Beerus,” remarked Whis. The Saiyans finally stopped.

“Phew! That hit the spot!” said Goku. “What do you think, Vegeta? …V-Vegeta?”

“Kakarot, LOOK!” yelped Vegeta as he pointed at Kirby. Goku goggled in surprise at seeing Kirby still going! By now, everyone was looking at the little pink puffball.

“…He just ate 57 Saiyan-sized full-course meals!” gulped Bulma.

“I lost count at 40,” replied the Doctor. Kirby finished his meal and sighed.

“…Poyo?” he asked the Capsule Corp waiter as he held out his bowl. Everyone yelped.

“Kirby, I think you’ve had enough!” gulped Tysar. Kirby looked at the bowl, then nodded. He then pulled out the dessert menu.

“Poyo!” he said. Everyone yelped again.

---

After the banquet, Goku and Vegeta joined with Beerus and Whis. “So long!” called Goku. “We’re doing some training!”

“Be careful, you two, all right?!” called Bulma.

“Kirby,” said Whis, attracting Kirby’s attention. Kirby looked at the Angel. “…Keep up the good work, will you? The universe needs some joy these days.”

“Poyo!” replied Kirby with a smile. Whis then transported himself, his master, and the Saiyans away from the planet.

“And then there was you, Kirby,” mused the Doctor. “I’ve disabled the memory-wipe, since you only traveled a few seconds into the past instead of years into the future and space-travel isn’t unusual for you. You’ll be able to remember your adventures here.” She fixed up the machine she and Kirby built and switched it on.

“It was fun having you, Kirby!” cheered Bulma. “See you later!”

“Poyo!” bid Kirby as the machine took him back.

“…And now there’s us,” said the Doctor. “That’s these chronal surges fixed up.”

“Doctor, you sure you don’t want to stay a bit longer?” asked Bulma.

“I can’t, Dr. Briefs,” replied the Doctor. “Tysar needs to get back to New Davius, and I need to continue fixing up the Grouping.”

“Just keep us informed if any chronal surges take anyone, okay?” asked Tysar.

“Will do,” promised Bulma. “Of course, that’s if I don’t wish on the Dragonballs to fix that.”

“I don’t think Shenron can undo the Grouping, but you’re welcome to try,” remarked the Doctor. She and Tysar returned to the TARDIS, and it took off.

“Bye, Doctor!” called Bulma. That was when the waiter arrived.

“The bill for that banquet, Ma’am,” he said.

“Oh, yeah, that. Let’s…” Bulma paled when she saw how much money it cost. “…That’s…triple…my usual…food budget!” she whimpered.

---

“I had heard Saiyans can eat a lot,” remarked Tysar, “but I didn’t think they ate that much.”

“Well, it’s a bit to do with biology,” replied the Doctor. “The Saiyans can burn through calories faster than most humanoid species. The food on the planet of Vegeta was rich in calories, so the normal human portions would have filled their bellies if they used their ingriedients. Sadly, those ingriedients died along with the planet and species.”

“I heard about the Vegeta Catastrophe,” said Tysar.

“If you heard it was a catastrophe, then you didn’t get the full story,” corrected the Doctor. “Those in the know call it the Saiyan Genocide.”

“…Daleks?”

“No, but that WOULD be their MO. No, this was the result of an Ice-jin mutant called Frieza.” As the Doctor explained, the TARDIS spun through the Time Vortex, probing for the next chronal surge.

“YOU GAVE THAT THING THE ABILITIES OF A TIME LORD?!” protested Beerus.

“And granted him speech, by the look of it!” remarked Whis in terror.

“What are you two so afraid of?!” demanded Vegeta.

“We can discuss that later, Prince Vegeta,” replied Kirby. “Right now, we have a problem.”

“Yes, Cell’s appearance in this time and how we can’t kill him or it would cause a bigger mess than the Grouping,” remarked Beerus.

“I’m surprised the Grouping’s not a myth,” remarked Vegeta.

“Oh, it’s real, Vegeta,” replied the Doctor. “It was a chronal surge that took Cell out of his time and put him here and did the same for Kirby.”

“And we gotta stop it!” declared Goku.

“And how do we do that, Kakarot?” asked Vegeta. “You know Beerus and Whis’ views on time travel! Just look at what they did to Bulma’s time machine!”

“We’ll discuss their hypocrisy later,” said the Doctor.

“Excuse me?!” snarled Beerus.

“Like I said, later,” insisted the Doctor. “Right now, Kirby and I need to work on sending Cell back as he’s the most dangerous.”

“Agreed,” said Kirby.

“Now, let’s pool our experiences,” directed the Doctor.

“Telepathically?” asked Kirby.

“Seems the best way.”

“…All right. Contact.”

“Contact.” As the Doctor and Kirby had their telepathic conference, Beerus snarled.

“Hypocrisy?!” he ranted. “Of all the disrespectful-!”

“Well, you didn’t really destroy HER time machine, Beerus,” remarked Goku.

“Watch it, Goku, or I’ll destroy you!” warned Beerus as he summoned a ball of purple and black energy. Goku wisely backed off.

“Besides, Grand Zeno has ordered that Gallifrey is untouchable, as is the society of Time Lords,” remarked Whis.

“All right!” declared the Doctor once she and Kirby were finished.

“We have an idea,” explained Kirby, “but we’ll need Bulma’s notes on her time machine.”

“What?!” yelped Bulma. “Are you trying to get me in trouble with Beerus and Whis here?!”

“You kept notes on that thing?” asked Beerus menacingly.

“They’ll be properly destroyed when we’re done, Lord Beerus,” assured Kirby. “Now, come on, Dr. Briefs. Let’s get those notes.”

“Right, come on,” said Bulma. She led Kirby to the lab. Whis and Beerus shuddered once Kirby left.

“Beastly thing!” gulped Whis.

“What’s your problem with him?” asked Goku.

“They’re afraid of what he represents,” replied the Doctor.

“I fear nothing, Doctor!” snarled Beerus.

“That’s a lie, you fear the ultimate truth that even someone like Grand Zeno is capable of a mistake and Kirby is living proof of that.”

“BLASPHEMY!” shouted Whis.

“Truth,” retorted the Doctor. “Why else would Grand Zeno look for new experiences?”

“She’s right, you know,” said Kirby as he and Bulma returned with the notes. “Now, I made sure Bulma purged every single paper relating to time travel from her computers and backups, but we need to keep these physical copies until the machine the Doctor and I will build is complete. Let’s get to work, Doctor.”

“Right.” The Doctor and Kirby got to work.

---

It was taking a long time and Goku and Vegeta amused themselves with sparring. The shockwaves and noises of their blows and banter caught the Doctor’s attention. “Goodness,” she said. “The Saiyan desire for dominance comes to the fore when those two play.”

“They haven’t fully gotten along,” remarked Whis. “Now, Doctor…”

“Make it quick, Whis,” directed the Doctor. “Kirby and I are busy.”

“It’s about what you said about Grand Zeno,” explained Whis. “You seriously believe even the Omni-king is imperfect like you mortals?”

“The Omni-king I heard about,” explained the Doctor, “at least during the childhood I remember, always sought new playmates because he wanted to learn about how his creations functioned. That was sometime after he destroyed six universes because of his sour mood. …But he can’t do that if his attendants are so…clinical.”

“I’ll have you know that my father is the Grand Minister,” warned Whis.

“A being that needs to improve,” remarked Kirby. “ALL beings need to improve.”

“Then why devour them before they get the chance?” asked Whis coldly.

“You’re talking as if the void my stomach is connected to acts like Hakai energy or something,” said Kirby. Whis arched an eyebrow. “…Ah, so that’s why you feared me.”

“But Fecto Elfilis-,” muttered Whis.

“He’s being subjected to an emotion he forgot about…joy. He’ll come back when he relearns it, as will all my previous enemies. Some of them take multiple attempts while others, like Susie or Magalor, rediscover that for themselves.”

“You’re saying they’re coming back?” asked Whis.

“As better versions of themselves,” confirmed Kirby. “Ask any Waddle-Dee and they’ll tell you how they came back. Gods seem to forget what makes life fun and happy, focusing too much on cosmic threats and doom and gloom. But there’s more to life than that. Heck, look at Beerus, he’s become friends with the Saiyans and I’ll bet you, deep down, he enjoys it because it reminds him what his job is supposed to be about.”

“…I suppose that IS true, but myself-.”

“You’ve become friends with Bulma, haven’t you?” asked the Doctor.

“…W-Well, yes, but-.”

“Then you’ve personally been made better,” said the Doctor. “A person is defined by more than enemies or allies. There’s something stronger than that…friends. I had to learn how to make friends outside of my family during my first incarnation and Susan proved to be the best teacher in that regard. She helped me along in eventually becoming friends with Ian and Barbara. I know, I know, their lives are brief compared to mine, but the way I see it, having worthwhile friends despite brief lives makes my own life all the more fulfilling. It looks like the same could be said for you, but your indoctrination has been holding you back.”

“B-But-!” Whis was floundering. Never, in all his existence, had he been challenged like this!

“Whis,” said Kirby, “life’s better with friends, otherwise there’s no point to existence. Now, if you’ll excuse us, the Doctor and I need to finish this thing.” Kirby and the Doctor resumed their work. Whis…just stood there for a while, then had to walk away. What they said had managed to set what he learned on its ear.

---

Beerus overheard the whole conversation. He pondered his next move and realized that what he had in mind would be so easy. He looked up to the sky to see Goku and Vegeta sparring as they were wont to do. “…Hmmm. …He DOES have that button,” the God of Destruction said to himself. “…Yes, I think that will do.” He then cupped his hands to his mouth. “HEY! GOKU! VEGETA! QUIT FIGHTING AND COME DOWN HERE!” Goku and Vegeta looked down…and promptly punched each other in the jaw, making them plummet down to earth. Beerus pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. The two Saiyans then approached Beerus.

“What’s up, Beerus?” asked Goku.

“Is it about Cell?” quizzed Vegeta.

“Goku, you still have that button Grand Zeno gave to you?” asked Beerus.

“Yeah, why?” replied Goku.

“I need to ask him something. Could you use it?”

“What could you possibly need to ask him personally, Lord Beerus?” asked Vegeta.

“That will be revealed in time,” replied Beerus. “Now, Goku, if you please.”

“It must be important if you of all people want to talk to him,” remarked Goku as he pulled out a purple circular device with a blue button on one side and a red button on the other. Goku pressed the blue button and a being the size of a child appeared. He wore light purple and white robes with gold trim, had blue skin, and his head had purple areas on each side, framing his childish face. Right now, the being was confused.

“Huh?” he asked. “What’s going on?” He looked at Goku and brightened up. “Oh! Hi Goku!”

“Hi Zenny!” replied Goku, using the being’s nickname.

“Did you want to play?” asked the being, Grand Zeno. “Because, for once, I can’t play. There’s something called the Grouping going on.”

“Actually, Lord Beerus wanted to ask you something,” answered Goku. Beerus bowed low to Grand Zeno.

“My apologies for distracting you from whatever work you were doing in response to the Grouping the Doctor is engaged with,” said Beerus.

“The Doctor? You mean the Time Lord known as the Doctor?” asked Grand Zeno. “So they’re working on the Grouping? Good.”

“Grand Zeno, the Grouping has brought the Devourer here and-.”

“Why do you call Kirby the Devourer?” asked Grand Zeno.

“…His appetite precedes him, my Lord. He’s recently gained a Copy Ability based on the Time Lords and got the ability to speak and I overheard a conversation between him, Whis, and the Doctor.”

“What was the conversation about?” Beerus then told Grand Zeno everything.

“…Bit bold of the Doctor and Kirby to say all that to an Angel,” remarked Vegeta.

“…Whis, could you come here for a second?” called Grand Zeno.

“Oh! My Lord Zeno! My apologies!” chuckled Whis as he approached. “How are you doing today?”

“Whis, it sounds like you were hit hard with the truth of the Doctor and Kirby’s words,” replied Grand Zeno. …Time stood still for Whis at that revelation.

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.

It was a warm, sunny day in West City. People were going about their business as usual. Over in a large, dome shaped building, a group of people were relaxing and eating on a balcony. One of the people, a man with spiky, black hair, was chowing down with no signs of stopping. Given that his biology required a lot of calories, it was no surprise. The owner of the building, a blue-haired woman, was off to the side with a blue-skinned man with white hair. “I’m surprised you could find some time in your schedule to visit, Whis,” remarked the blue-haired woman.

“Well, Lady Bulma,” sighed the blue-skinned man, Whis, “when you serve someone like Lord Beerus,” he indicated the humanoid, purple, hairless cat with an Egyptian motif in his clothes that was napping in the sun, “you tend to have a lot of free time. Then again, a visit to your world is ALWAYS delightful when you invite us.”

“Yeah, barring any threats,” muttered the blue-haired woman, Dr. Bulma Briefs.

“I don’t know, you and your friends seem to handle them quite well.”

---

Meanwhile, Beerus lazily reached for something…only to realize that what he was reaching for wasn’t there. “Hm?” He lazily opened an eye. His eyes bugged out when it hit him. “HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! WHERE’S MY CASHEW PORK?!” he demanded.

“Oops! Sorry!” replied the black-haired man childishly.

“You glutton, Goku!” snarled Beerus. “That was my naptime snack! I ought to destroy you for this!”

“Oh, come on!” complained Goku. “That’s not fair! It was just so good!”

“Keep talking, let’s see how far-!” Beerus’ ear twitched. “…On second thought, there’s something that requires investigation. Whis!”

“I hear it too, my Lord,” replied Whis.

“Isn’t that the TARDIS?” asked Bulma.

“Well, with Gallifrey having come back, it’s certainly A TARDIS,” said Whis.

“Hey! Over there!” called Goku as the Doctor’s TARDIS materialized.

“What’s going on here?” mused Beerus as something more interesting than food held his attention for the moment. “Why are they coming here?”

“Well, we can always ask,” replied Whis. The TARDIS doors opened and the Doctor and Tysar stepped out.

“You took off after those readings like the Daleks were chasing us, Doctor,” said Tysar. “What’s wrong?”

“Two chronal surges centered around here according to Gallifrey, that’s what,” replied the Doctor. “That means the Grouping’s starting to get worse.”

“Ah! Lady Doctor!” greeted Whis. The Doctor looked up and goggled.

“Whis!” returned the Doctor. “And Lord Beerus! Good to see you again!” She then spotted Goku and Bulma. “And you, Goku and Bulma!”

“…I don’t think we met before,” remarked Goku.

“I KNOW we never met before,” said Bulma. “Where’s the Doctor?”

“That IS the Doctor,” said Beerus.

“Huh?!” yelped Goku and Bulma.

“Don’t you remember?” asked the Doctor. “That whole business with Frieza wanting to make a wish on the Dragon Balls but you and Amy made your own wishes, Bulma?”

“Good grief, it IS you!” called Bulma. “But how?! You’re completely different!”

“Time Lords tend to change their physical makeup when they’re about to die somehow,” replied Whis. “Now, Lady Doctor…what’s this about the Grouping? Surely it already happened?”

“…I’m afraid there’s a new one and…I’m partially to blame,” replied the Doctor. “You see, Amy was encouraged by her future to come with me, then a whole thing surrounding the TARDIS happened on Gallifrey, resulting in the TARDIS’ heart bi-generating so the old heart becomes the new Eye of Harmony-.”

“And that released its stabilization over the paradox surrounding Amy,” finished Whis, “resulting in chronal surges. I see you have a Thal with you. Does that mean Amy told her past to go with you?”

“Yes, and she’s on Mobius. Her return there is another thing that I really don’t have time to explain. I’m trying to send people back to their native times like Tysar here.”

“Hello,” said Tysar. “Turns out the frequency of chronal surges is happening faster. I got plucked from New Davius and landed in Gotham, then we had to save Martin Luther King Jr.”

“Hm, that IS a worry,” remarked Whis. He then summoned his staff out of thin air and peered into it. “Hm, You’re right, two chronal surges are on approach. One is centered around this planet, the other…I’m not too sure I-.” That was when the chronal surges washed over everyone.

“Oh heavens!” gulped the Doctor.

“They arrived at the same time,” shuddered Whis. “It really IS getting worse!”

“Doctor, what does that mean?!” asked Tysar.

“Time is unravelling,” replied the Doctor. “All we’re doing is treating the symptoms when we should be finding the cause.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you much there,” sighed Whis as he peered into his staff again. “While that paradox surrounding Amy was the seed, I don’t think it’s your TARDIS’ old heart becoming the new Eye of Harmony that’s the source.”

“We’ll discuss those theories later,” said the Doctor. “Right now, we need to find who was taken or brought here and bring them back to their original points in space/time.”

“Now that, I CAN help you there,” smiled Whis. “It looks like no one from the present was taken. It looks like one chronal surge took someone from the past and put them here while the other surge took someone from just a few seconds in the future to right here. …It looks like that last one-.”

“Poyo?” asked a childish voice.

“Hm?” Beerus looked down at his feet…then yowled in terror and scrambled up to a higher place!

“Lord Beerus, why are you acting-?” Whis trailed off when he saw what Beerus was freaking out over. It was a pink ball with a face, stumps for arms, and big feet!

“Kirby?!” yelped the Doctor.

“LORD BEERUS, MOVE OVER!” Whis shrieked in terror as he tried to join his master.

“NO! FIND YOUR OWN BUTT SHELTER!” shouted Beerus in a panic. Everyone just stared at the God and Angel scrambling to get away from Kirby.

“…Lord Beerus, Whis, what on Earth is wrong with you?” asked the Doctor. “Kirby’s got an appetite, yes, but-.”

“Don’t you know that thing’s reputation, Doctor?!” yelped Whis girlishly.

“Doctor?” asked Kirby as he tilted his face in confusion.

“Yes, Kirby, it’s me,” replied the Doctor. “Remember when we fought the Weeping Angels on Popstar? You sucked up Rassilon’s regeneration energy and became Time Lord Kirby. And we won against the Angels too.”

“Doctor!” cheered Kirby happily as he leapt into the Doctor’s arms.

“It’s good to see you too, Kirby!” replied the Doctor happily.

“Doctor, you’re friends with a Star Warrior?” asked Tysar.

“Oh, you know about them?” quizzed the Doctor. “I met Kirby when I was on a quest for the Key to Time. I remember Kirby being a hungry boy.”

“Doctor, that pink menace eats and eats and eats! Even gods have been consumed by him!” protested Beerus. “My Hakai technique won’t do any good!”

“For your own safety, please get away from him and let me send him back!” urged Whis.

“Oh, come now!” dismissed the Doctor as she set Kirby down. “He’s not dangerous to his friends and he’s made many friends!”

“Hold on, Beerus,” said Goku, “he’s scary to you and Whis?”

“Goku, you’re not thinking of fighting that horror, are you?!” argued Whis. “Even Grand Zeno wouldn’t dare!”

“Whis, you’re just exciting Goku!” snarled Beerus.

“I wouldn’t bother picking a fight, Goku,” said the Doctor. “Kirby’s not a fighter by nature.”

“Aw!” complained Goku. “But I wanna know how strong he is!” Kirby then saw the food and gurgled happily. He then opened his mouth and inhaled! The food flew into his mouth and Kirby only stopped when it was all gone! Bulma and Goku goggled in surprise.

“That was enough to feed ten Saiyans!” yelped Bulma.

“He’s called the Devourer among us gods and angels for a reason!” called Beerus. “Now let Whis get rid of him and-!”

“Absolutely not!” defended the Doctor. “We might need him to help out with the other fellow that got caught up in the chronal surge.”

“Doctor, that’s no longer your call to make!” replied Whis. “Now move aside so-!”

“Hang on!” interrupted Goku as he looked to the north. “Something’s just popped up.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” asked Beerus. “What’s more important than getting rid of a menace?!”

“…IT’S CELL!” yelped Goku.

“What?! Cell?!” Bulma’s eyes widened in fear. “But how?!”

“Might I ask who this Cell person is?” asked the Doctor.

“A Bio-android with the DNA of Goku and all his friends!” explained Bulma. “Designed by a Red Ribbon army scientist to kill Goku!”

“But my son, Gohan, killed him years ago!” said Goku.

“Whis, can you-?” asked Bulma.

“Let me have a little looksee,” replied Whis as he looked into his staff. “…Oh my! It IS that Cell monster your son killed, Goku! It looks like he ended up in the ruins of that arena he made.”

“We gotta get there now!” urged Goku.

“And send him back to when he’s supposed to die,” remarked Beerus. “Whis-!”

“Yes, I know, Lord Beerus,” sighed Whis. He raised his staff, surrounded everyone in a green bubble, then everyone vanished.

“WAIT! YOU BROUGHT THE PINK-!” Beerus’ warning came too little, too late.