Dragon Ball Rykon (The 2nd Brother of Son Goku!)

Over two decades had passed since the day Planet Vegeta met its fiery demise.

In the emptiness of a desolate Earth wasteland, the cracked ground bore witness to yet another impending tragedy. A deadly silence weighed in the air, broken only by the rustling winds and the low hum of suppressed ki. Three warriors—Gohan, Piccolo, and Krillin—stood on shaky legs, defiant yet visibly exhausted. Behind them, battle scars littered the field: smoldering Saibamen corpses, charred craters, and the remains of fallen Z fighters.

High above, a grim voice sneered.

Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans.

"Look at them squirm," he said with cruel delight, reclining atop a jagged rock. "As pathetic in death as they were in life."

Beside him, Nappa conjured a small ki sphere, its crimson glow pulsing with violence. "Should I end this now, Prince Vegeta? I want Kakarot to see their bodies when he arrives."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed. He could feel it—a shift in the air.

"Gohan. Krillin. You feel that?"

The two nodded.

"It's him... Goku's ki!" Krillin gasped. "He's almost here!"

But just as Nappa raised his arm to hurl death at the young Gohan, the sky split open. A shrieking whistle, like thunder wrapped in fire, slammed into the earth between Nappa and his target. Dust and fire erupted.

A crater.

And from the crater... a Saiyan pod.

"Another one?!" Piccolo shouted.

The pod hissed open. A figure emerged, stretching his limbs and blinking at the weak gravity.

"So this is Earth... The pod readings weren't lying. This planet's gravity is pathetic compared to Rumaki..."

He shadowboxed lightly, floating an inch above the ground. Muscles tensed and relaxed effortlessly, clearly well-trained. Then his golden eyes scanned the field—stopping on the Z fighters, on Nappa's tail, and then on Vegeta.

That tail... another Saiyan? But not Kakarot. Could it be... no. It can't be...

Vegeta stood up, his brow furrowing.

"That voice... No way... Rykon?"

Nappa blinked. "Rykon? You know this guy?!"

Vegeta's scouter beeped as he narrowed his eyes. "He's Bardock's son... The other one. He was supposed to be on our squad until Frieza vetoed it."

Rykon smiled lightly. "Well, if it isn't Prince Vegeta. It's been a long time. And Nappa... still bald, I see."

Vegeta chuckled dryly. "You're alive. Impressive."

Rykon's expression grew serious. "Why are you two here, conquering planets again?"

"The Dragon Balls," Vegeta answered. "Seven orbs that grant any wish."

Dragon Balls? Sounds like one of Ruccollo's dumb tales... Rykon scoffed. If Akchoy heard this, he'd lose it.

Then his gaze turned. Three Earth warriors. Worn, bruised... afraid. The child—he looked familiar.

"You three. Natives?"

Krillin nodded slowly. Gohan flinched behind Piccolo.

Rykon's eyes narrowed. They look terrified. Just what the hell did Nappa do before I arrived?

"Prepare yourselves," Piccolo whispered. "Another enemy."

Nappa laughed. "Maybe he'll join us instead!"

"Do what you want," Vegeta muttered. "Just don't provoke him. He's... explosive."

Nappa stomped toward Rykon. "Let's see what you've got, Bardock's runt. Show me you still have that old bite."

But Rykon said nothing. He didn't even look at him.

"Rykon! I'm talking to you!"

Still silence.

Nappa's voice exploded. "WHAT ARE YOU, DEAF—?!"

CRACK!

A spinning roundhouse exploded against Nappa's jaw, sending him flying across the plains, crashing into a mountain wall.

Krillin's mouth dropped open. "D-Did he just one-shot Nappa?!"

Piccolo didn't blink. "He's not with them. That's clear now."

Rykon dusted off his gloves. "Sorry, but no. I'm not here to conquer Earth. I'm here to find my brother."

My brother... he looked again at the boy, sensing something oddly familiar in his ki.

Vegeta's eyes narrowed. Not Raditz... He means... Kakarot.

"Join us, Rykon. Help us, and I'll leave Kakarot unharmed."

"Tempting," Rykon mused. "But after what I saw on Planet Vegeta, I lost interest in galactic conquest. That pain... it changed me."

He floated toward the Earth warriors. Piccolo tensed.

Gohan stepped forward nervously. "Are you... are you going to help us?"

Rykon nodded. "If you'll help me find Kakarot after this."

Gohan's eyes widened. "Kakarot is my dad's Saiyan name!"

Wait... this kid... my nephew?!

Rykon burst out laughing, shaking his head. What are the odds...

Behind him, rubble exploded. Nappa returned, enraged.

"LAUGH WHILE YOU CAN, WORM!"

Rykon's aura erupted—gold and silver, pulsing with intensity. Vegeta's scouter went berserk.

"What's his power level?!" Nappa shouted.

Vegeta smirked. "12,000."

"WH-WHAT?!"

"Not my problem," Vegeta replied. "But it's about to be yours."

Rykon rocketed forward and smashed his fist into Nappa's gut. The larger Saiyan collapsed, unconscious.

I won't lose another family. Not again.

Rykon clenched his fists, memories of Bardock and Gine flashing before him.

"If protecting this planet means standing against you, Vegeta... then so be it!"

Vegeta grinned. "Finally. Something interesting. Let's dance."

Their fists collided, shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.

Rykon channeled his ki into his palm. "PRIME BLAST!"

A blinding beam exploded in Vegeta's direction, forcing the prince to dodge and reassess.

"You're good. Too bad you won't join me. No Saiyan is reliable... except myself."

Then...

A flash. A new presence.

Goku landed with calm fury. His eyes scanned the wreckage.

"Where's Tien? Yamcha? Chiaotzu?"

Krillin looked away. Piccolo answered.

"Gone."

Goku's jaw clenched. His voice dropped.

"Then it's you two. You killed them. You'll pay!"

"Kakarot!" Rykon shouted. "Brother, it's me!"

But Goku's eyes narrowed. "I don't know you. Anyone attacking my planet isn't my brother."

Damn it, Raditz... What lies did you tell him?!

"KAIO-KEN!"

Goku vanished in a blur and struck Rykon square in the chest.

Rykon staggered, surprised by the sheer force.

Then—Vegeta lunged.

But Rykon reacted instantly, blocking Vegeta's strike and pushing both him and Goku back.

They both think I'm the enemy. This is bad.

Above him, Goku charged a Kamehameha.

Their eyes locked.

"HAAAAAA!!"

To be continued...