I died... and I'm green now?!

Goku and Piccolo meet in the middle of the ring with their fists locked against each other. Knuckle to knuckle.

The first to fist hit rocks the ring a bit as the audience wonder where the tremor came from.

Piccolo and Goku then go into a flurry of hits, kicks, small blasts of ki, and light beam attacks that were aimed high and away from civilians.

Soon they break away after a full 2 minute nonstop brawl. They are both panting lightly as they show a few bruises each and a burn mark or two from the beam attacks.

The civilians are cheering as they just barely saw most of the brawl while John is stumbling in his words to keep up with the action.

Soon enough the two titans of the ring charge their beam attacks.

"KAMEHAMEHAAAAA!!!!"

"MASENKOOOOO!!!"

The beams headed towards each other and clashed. They hold the energy for a solid minute before their attacks explode into a dust cloud.

The two enter it and many hits that sound down right painful are heard from within.

Soon enough both fighters emerge with the dust being blown away from their power flowing off them again.

Piccolo is sporting many bruises and a split lip with his knuckles quivering from hitting Goku s hard body non stop.

Goku's hands are burned slightly from blocking a point blank beam attacks from Piccolo and his body is aching from many joint hits he endured from the green alien.

Both fighters smirk as they get ready for the second part of their match.

Piccolo thinks, You know... All things considered about my past life... I'm actually enjoying this!!

He roars out and shoots his arms towards Goku.

Goku gasps as he has never seen this ability from Piccolo in all their spars. Both fists collide with his sternum and face respectively showing how off guard the young warrior was.

But he quickly recovers and grabs the arms as they are retracting and pulls Piccolo towards himself. Piccolo gasps and is flung towards his rival as he begins to feel in his limbs.

He thinks fast and unleashes a mouth blast 3 feet from Goku who was charging up a Kamehameha blast.

The two attacks cause a great explosion that covers the ring.

As the audience go quiet to see who is left standing. They cheer as Goku is revealed on one knee panting a bit at the sudden hits he took. But looks up at a sound.

The audience also look up... Then up... And higher until they see a large 50ft tall Piccolo grinning down at Goku.

Goku gulps and gets ready for the next hit.

But as Piccolo goes to smash Goku he stops. His mind quivers as a clear memory of his stepdad standing over his sister's body hits his mind. He stumbles a bit and Goku looks concerned as he sees a flash of pain cross Piccolos face.

Tears seem to bud as Piccolos eyes seem to turn bitter, angry, and full of anguish. He roars out his pain and goes to continue his attack despite his mind telling him to stop.

Goku sees he needs to end this fast and goes for his new move. "MEGA! KAME! HAME! HAAAAAAAAAA!"

Piccolos one thought was, Yeah the hero should put down the bully shouldn't he?

Before he is encompasses by the beam and his whole body feels like it is burning.

Soon the dust clears, Piccolo is in his normal size, and The green man is outside the ring. Hurt. But happy that Goku won.

He struggles to get up as Goku is being hugged by friends and his new wife. While the audience cheer and chant for him.

Piccolo gets up and starts to limp towards the waiting room to receive the runner up prize of a couple thousand zeni. When he sees the Z fighters are waiting for him.

He goes to get around them but is stopped by a raised hand.

Krillin starts, "Look. We may not trust you, but we will believe that you have changed. We see that you have way more empathy and inner conflict than most people. But you seem to be using it for good."

Tien goes next, "So we are going to keep an eye on you but we will also be watching for anything wrong in the world. So keep on your best behavior."

Yamcha follows up, "So to keep you contained and watched, we decided to invite you to join the Z fighters. Mostly so you can have people who are on your level to get to know. What say you?"

A quick look to Chiaotsu and Roshi show faces that are accepting... But also a little bitter after what his father did to them.

Piccolo chuckles and says, "So... I'm under parole basically?"

With shrugs and waving side to side hands and plenty of "Ehhhh... Kinda?" They all but confirm it.

Another chuckle and Piccolo is about to say yes when his mind flashed back to that moment in the finals.

He looks to the floor and says, "I will... In a year or two. I've got somethings I need to work through first before I can safely call myself a stable member to have in your group. I need to travel and meditate on this. Then I'll come back to join you."

Everyone thinks it over but Roshi notices and walks up to the alien man. Piccolo perks up in curiosity as Roshi says, "I can tell... You have trauma and regrets don't you?"

With a stiff nod Piccolo confirms it with a tightened fist.

Roshi nods sadly as he says, "I am sorry I judged you based on your father. But as someone who is over three centuries old I can confirm that you need to go out and experience the world. Work through these traumas. Be a better person by being better than the worst people on this world. And we will welcome you back. Take all the time you need. Just make sure to never lose your heart. You are strong in body but your mind is uncertain. Work through it more and you'll be the strongest person ever."

Roshi patted Piccolo ok the shoulder with his staff and headed back to the slowly agreeing Z Fighters.

With a huff and gratefulness Piccolo accepts his prize money and flies off north. Figuring if he is going to be going around and working through his traumas. Then he will need to start from the literal top of the world. And work his way down.