The night before Goku was due to leave, he and Bulma lay in bed together. He noticed that she was unusually quiet.
"Bulma, what's wrong today? I feel like you've barely said a word all day." Goku was afraid Bulma was keeping something bottled up and would eventually make herself sick.
"Goku, are you really leaving again?" Bulma's voice was noticeably tearful. She had actually known since Goku went to see her father.
Goku fell silent. He didn't know how to answer. They had only been a couple for two months, yet he was going away again, even leaving Earth for outer space.
"Yeah." Goku thought for a long time before answering.
"Can't you take me with you?" Bulma looked at Goku with a hint of hope.
Goku shook his head. Space was too dangerous. He could keep himself safe, but he couldn't guarantee Bulma's safety.
"Bulma, it's too dangerous. I... can't take you!"
Bulma's expression grew visibly more dejected.
"How long?" Bulma curled a finger and drew circles on Goku's chest, making him squirm from the tickling.
"About a year. I'll definitely be back for the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, and this is the last time I'll leave without you. No matter what, I'll take you with me next time."
Goku felt that once he learned Instant Transmission, he would be able to keep Bulma safe.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
With that, Bulma rolled on top of Goku, bent down, and kissed him.
Goku was a little flustered by Bulma's sudden kiss.
"Goku, don't talk. Kiss me."
This was destined to be a sleepless night.
Beneath the lovers' quilt, they spent the night as one, a pear tree's blossoms pressing down upon the begonia.
When he got up the next morning, even Goku, with his physique, felt a little drained. Bulma had been too wild the night before, making demands of him as though she never tired.
After getting up, Goku looked at Bulma sleeping in bed and the trace of red on the sheets, then quietly left the room.
He didn't like goodbyes, and he liked saying them face-to-face even less. If they had to part, why not do it quietly?
Sitting in the spaceship, Goku took one last look through the window at the room where Bulma was, then started the ship and flew into the depths of space.
"Goku!"
The first thing Bulma did when she woke up was call Goku's name, but the answer she hoped for never came. Goku was no longer beside her.
Bulma slowly walked onto the balcony and looked up at the sky.
Aboard the spaceship, Goku activated his Gravity Bracelet and began training.
The Gravity Bracelet had now been upgraded to 200 times gravity. For Goku as he was now, training at 300 times gravity was most efficient, but it was still better than nothing.
The gravity chamber at Bulma's home on Earth had been wished into existence by Shenron. Its materials were excellent, and it had already been upgraded to 600 times gravity.
Goku had actually tried using the Gravity Bracelet and the gravity chamber together, but for some reason their effects wouldn't stack. He didn't think much of it, since it would be a long time before he adapted to 600 times gravity anyway.
About half a month later, Goku followed the map King Kai had given him and arrived at Planet Yardrat.
The people on Planet Yardrat sensed Goku as soon as he entered the atmosphere.
At that moment, inside a palace.
"Batra, go and bring that guest here," a tall Yardratian said.
"Yes, Elder Pybara," said a small Yardratian with a pointed head.
Goku landed in a wilderness. He sensed ten Ki signatures outside, but interestingly, nine of them were clones.
If his control over Ki hadn't been high enough, he wouldn't have noticed.
Goku opened the hatch and stepped out. Ten identical-looking Yardratians came forward to greet him.
"Hello, honored guest. My name is Batra. Our elder invites you to see him," the ten figures said, bowing in perfect unison.
Batra had already noticed Goku's tail and was very curious. Hadn't Planet Vegeta been destroyed by Frieza? Hadn't the Saiyans been wiped out too?
And this Saiyan's Spirit Control wasn't evil at all. (This was from the Dragon Ball Super manga; Spirit Control was what Yardratians called Ki.)
"Hello, Batra. My name is Son Goku, a Saiyan who grew up on Earth."
Goku had never thought of hiding the fact that he was a Saiyan. After all, the Saiyans might not have been renowned throughout the world, but they were certainly notorious. Anyone could recognize one.
"Batra, the other nine are clones, right?"
Hearing that, Batra scratched his head sheepishly and dismissed his clones.
"Ha ha, there aren't many of us Yadratians, and we're fairly weak, so we always increase our numbers a little in front of outsiders. Your control over Spirit Control must be very high, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to tell."
"I understand. The weak get invaded, after all."
"Right? Mr. Goku, please put your hand on my shoulder. I'll take you to the elder."
At Batra's words, Goku put his hand on Batra's shoulder. The scenery before their eyes changed, and the two arrived in a palace.
"Hello, Saiyan from afar. I am Pybara, an elder of Planet Yardrat. Is there something you need help with?" Pybara could sense that Goku's Spirit Control was good, so he treated Goku kindly.
"Hello, Elder Pybara. My name is Son Goku, a Saiyan who grew up on Earth. I heard that the martial arts on Planet Yardrat are extraordinary, so I came to learn," Goku said humbly.
"You've come to learn martial arts? Planet Yardrat welcomes you. But I can see that your control over Spirit Control is very high. I don't think learning these martial arts will be difficult for you."
"Elder, is Spirit Control your name for Ki?" After saying that, Goku condensed a ball of energy in his hand using Ki, then dispersed it.
Goku had read the manga and knew that Spirit Control was what Yardratians called Ki, but he thought it was better to pretend he didn't know and ask anyway.
"Oh, so you call Spirit Control 'Ki' where you come from. They mean the same thing."
"I can sense that your Ki is very powerful, so you probably don't lack martial arts for combat. We'll teach you some practical martial arts instead." Pybara was considerate, calling Spirit Control "Ki" to make it easier for Goku to understand.
"Batra, take him," Pybara said, looking at Batra beside Goku.
"Yes, Elder. Mr. Goku, please follow me."
Batra led the way with Goku following behind, and the two came to a place resembling a martial arts training ground.
"Mr. Goku, I think there are a few martial arts that would suit you very well."
"Batra, just call me Goku. Calling me Mr. Goku feels awkward." Goku didn't really like people showing him too much respect. Speaking as equals was best.
"All right, Goku."
The two exchanged a look, then both laughed.
"By the way, Batra, which martial arts were you talking about that would suit me?" Goku asked curiously.
"Instant Transmission, Forced Spirit Fission, the Ki Materialization Technique, and the Fusion Technique."
Goku knew about Instant Transmission, Forced Spirit Fission, and the Fusion Technique, but he didn't know what the Ki Materialization Technique was. It had never appeared in the original story.
Batra seemed to notice Goku's confusion and hurried to explain.
"Instant Transmission is a martial art that uses Ki to sense Ki and move instantly. Forced Spirit Fission separates powers that don't belong to you. The Ki Materialization Technique is a name we came up with to make it easier for you to understand. It can turn the Ki inside you into anything. Look, like this."
With that, Batra waved his hand, and a stairway of white Ki shot straight into the clouds.
Holy crap, master, I want to learn that. That's so damn cool! Goku's inner chuunibyou couldn't help but burn with excitement.
Once I learn it, I can walk into the sky with a step appearing beneath each foot, climbing higher and higher. Just thinking about it is exciting.
"As for the Fusion Technique, it lets two people of roughly equal power fuse. The fusion produces a miraculous warrior with an incredibly powerful Power Level. We Yardratians have used the Fusion Technique to overcome difficulties many times.
"All right! Batra, let's begin!" Goku could hardly wait.
"Okay."
Batra was looking forward to teaching Goku these martial arts. Goku's control over Spirit Control was greater than his own, so he could also ask Goku for guidance while teaching him.