“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.