Pokémon: Dragon Ball Version

Chapter 5: The First Battle - Goku vs. Vegeta

Just as Professor Rowan instructed, Goku, Vegeta, and their respective starter Pokémon anticipatingly ran toward Route 202. This area, otherwise known as Sandgem Beach, was a small shoreline of sparkling white-sand that connected the land with Route 220's presiding sea. Large rock formations were also placed next to mountainous regions and the ever-encompassing array of green trees located nearby. Rowan, Roseanne, Dawn, and Barry closely followed after the two Saiyans with varying opinions. While Dawn and Barry were increasingly interested in witnessing a full-fledged Pokémon battle between them, Roseanne and Rowan had a more research-based approach to this observation in mind. After all, it wasn't any other day that interdimensional travelers accidentally drop in and decide to use Pokémon for the first time.

            Goku and his new Chimchar practically moved in sync with one another, observing the  surrounding area in curious, child-like delight. Vegeta, however, just displayed his typical scowl and silently perused this semi-tropical portion of Sandgem Town. His Piplup nervously twitched about, shaking like a petrified leaf while sweat trickled down his spherical head.

            "Stop shivering, bird!" Vegeta grunted disapprovingly with folded arms. "Fear and cowardice won't get you anywhere, especially when we're facing a versatile opponent like Kakarot over there."

            Piplup suddenly froze in place, bowing his head apologetically with a downcast expression. Huffing in disappointment, Vegeta rolled his eyes in waiting for this so-called "battle" to start. Dawn glared at Vegeta's disrespectful attitude in instinctive disgust.

            "Talking down to the poor thing won't get you any further either, Vegeta. You're acting as if Piplup's opponent is Goku himself." Dawn remarked, sympathetically peering downward at the nervous penguin. Her own Piplup tried to comfort him once again, but to no further avail. Vegeta's starter simply wouldn't dare move a single muscle.

            "Like there's a difference. That fire monkey may be fighting, but it'll still be Kakarot telling it what to do regardless. In that sense, Kakarot and I are battling one another through these... things." Vegeta scoffed, directly gesturing to the four Pokémon with a dismissive wave of his hand. Barry furrowed his eyebrows while Turtwig attempted to do the same.

            "They're called Pokémon, Vegeta. It's not that difficult of a word to say." Barry corrected the irate prince's purposeful mistake. Vegeta just spared Barry a searing glance of annoyance.

            "Don't patronize me, kid. I simply refuse to say something so ridiculous." Vegeta spat distastefully. He personally couldn't tell which was a worse name to have: Pokémon or Piplup. To him, both seemed equally embarrassing and childish by his standards.

            "But, didn't you call Piplup one back in the lab?" Goku questioningly reminded his fellow Saiyan. Vegeta, inwardly cursing Goku for remembering such a small detail, sighed heavily.

            "Shut up, Kakarot." Vegeta grumbled angrily. He bitterly stamped over to the opposite side of Sandgem Beach with a prominent grimace. His Piplup fell straight into the sand in a desperate attempt to catch up.

            "Pip..." Piplup quietly whined, spitting out small pieces of sand from his yellow beak. Professor Rowan darted his eyes from the distressed Piplup to Vegeta for a moment before lightly coughing.

            "Ahem. While you are indeed correct in that assumption, Vegeta, the rules of Pokémon battling are a bit more complex than that." Professor Rowan wisely informed with a slight stroke of his beard. Goku directed his full, undivided attention to the elderly researcher while Vegeta denounced Rowan's statement.

            "Please. What could be so complex about two animals beating each other up until one is defeated? It sounds like mere child's play to me." Vegeta proclaimed grumbly. Roseanne shook her head at this while Rowan grinned in amusement.