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How I'd Rewrite DBZ's Fusion Saga

I like the rest of the Buu Arc, but the Fusion Saga's a hot mess (the part with Super Buu). This is how I wish the story had gone.

Buildup

Gotenks is hyped a little less. He's still presented as stronger than Goku and their best chance to beat Buu, but he's not stronger than Super Saiyan 3 as a regular Super Saiyan or anything. Piccolo figures if he can reach Super Saiyan 2, he'll be able to beat Buu. This adds some tension to his training and to the part of the fight where he screws around in weaker forms. Is he really on Buu's level or not? And the emphasis on Super Saiyan 2 makes it more shocking when he blows right past that to 3.

The scene from the anime where Krillin buys time for everyone and Buu turns them into candy anyway is here, cause that isn't actually in the manga. Goku and Gohan are watching through the crystal ball hoping they can revive them with the Dragon Balls, but Supreme Kai says no. If any power in the universe could bring the Kais or all of Buu's victims back "from the outside", he would have done it millennia ago, but once Buu eats someone they're absorbed into him. Even killing him wouldn't separate anyone.

Goku's horrified and demands to go back to Earth, and Supreme Kai wishes there was a way… then Elder Kai says just give him your life force if you want it that bad. Facepalming at everyone's blank stares, he explains Supreme Kais can trade their life for someone else's. Supreme Kai does it, Goku's returned to life, and we get the gag where Supreme Kai is still there cause this is the afterlife. However, Elder Kai tells Goku not to go back to Earth yet because his Super Saiyan 3 power is limited and he needs to save it for the right moment. (He really wants his champion Gohan to get all the glory, but he doesn't say so till later.)

Once Gotenks goes Super Saiyan 3 he's stronger than Buu, but it's immediately clear it won't last. His ki is erratic, burning up inside. Super Saiyan 3 isn't supposed to exist. There's a reason it looks so ridiculous, shortens fusion time and Goku can't use it right with a living body. It's pushing things too far, past Saiyan limits, past any mortal's limit (and it's Toriyama taking the piss on his own powerscaling, just like Goten and Trunks being Super Saiyans). The point is it wouldn't last a whole episode. Just like canon he defuses just as he's about to land a big blow.

Gohan arrives. Unlike canon, he doesn't play with his food. First, we just saw that with Gotenks. Second, that was the mistake that got his dad killed with Cell. Third, the stakes are even higher: all his friends and family are either killed by Buu or about to be. Lastly, Gohan's supposed to be all grown up in this scene, so why is he acting like a child? It's insulting to his character to have him do the same thing again. The outcome is similar, but the mood is different. Eventually Buu explodes, baits Gotenks into fusing, and absorbs him and Piccolo like in canon.

But this time, it's part of the plan.

The Better Buu Fight

We get a flashback. Piccolo's been talking to everyone telepathically. Gohan told him about Buu's absorption ability, and Piccolo figures he'll try to absorb them if he's losing. Piccolo's absorbed people himself, so he understands how it works, and he has a little of that Dragon Clan magic in him. He can put a spell on Gotenks so he'll be able to move around inside Buu when he gets absorbed, and hopefully get everyone out. Then Gohan and Gotenks can kill him and save the world.

Unfortunately, there are two snags in the plan. First, Buu's magic is more powerful than Piccolo's. Gotenks gets defused and Buu takes most of his power, leaving Goten and Trunks alone inside. Second, Piccolo underestimated Buu's appetite; he's absorbed too. Gohan is all alone to fight a hyper-powered eater of worlds.

Here's where we get into how Buu's absorption works. He doesn't change outfits or faces or personalities, he doesn't get smarter. Erratic, impatient predator Buu is way more interesting than Cell 2.0. What he can do is read memories. He taunts Gohan with these like a deep-sea fish dangling a lure, not fully understanding them but knowing they get a reaction. Stolen techniques, voice impressions, callbacks to previous moments. He's got Chi-Chi, Piccolo, Krillin and Goten in there. There's a LOT to work with.

This is the big centerpiece fight of the Fusion Saga, Gohan's first even fight ever, a grieving son vs a cornered animal, both using every trick in their arsenal. There are no Potaras in this version. Gohan is the world's last hope. Their powers are equal, but combine the emotional warfare with all Buu's broken abilities and Gohan has no chance at winning. He doesn't have to, though. He just has to survive long enough for Goten and Trunks to pull everyone out of him… however long that takes.

The whole time Goku's watching from the Kai world. Now he knows how all his friends feel when he fights. He was sidelined against the androids, sure, but he knew he had a way to get stronger. This time there's nothing he can do but watch. But he's amazed at how strong and brave his son's gotten. Even Goten's doing his part. He regrets not being there to watch them grow. The story doesn't dwell on it but it's there.

Meanwhile Goten and Trunks are inside Buu, having similar adventure hijinks Goku and Vegeta did in canon, complete with Trunks' fear of worms. There's underlying tension in the silliness, though, cause instead of seasoned veteran heroes it's these two little kids in the world's strangest place. Occasionally there's booming noises from the battle outside. They both put on brave faces for each other. Still, this is mostly a break from the Gohan vs Buu nonstop action, and a last bit of adventure before the series ends.

Eventually, just as Gohan uses up the last of his strength, they make it to where all the pods are stored. Before they can blast anyone down, though, Buu appears inside and defends them. There's nothing the boys can do… until Piccolo bursts out of his pod and grabs him from behind. He used his spell on himself to stay conscious and waited for the right moment. Buu shakes him off fast, but not fast enough to stop the boys from freeing everyone. As Buu howls in anger and confusion, they childishly decide to free Good Buu to see what will happen.

As everyone escapes, Buu's roars shake the Earth. Everyone congratulates themselves on saving everybody and their friends… except Buu's reforming. He's weaker, yes, and less intelligent, no match for Gohan or Gotenks at full power… but they're not. Everyone's completely drained. Panting and bent, they stare up at Kid Buu charging up his Planet Burst and know there's nothing they can do about it. As the ball comes down they feel Goku's faint ki. He's back on Earth after Elder Kai finally admitted he was just making things more dramatic, but Super Saiyan 3 would take too long. He only has time to save Dende and Mr. Satan. Gohan thinks to himself, "We softened him up for you, Dad. Do what you do best." The Earth is no more.

Supreme Kai teleports Vegeta to his planet, and the Kid Buu fight plays out like canon, except Goku never says he could've killed Fat Buu at any time in their last fight. That was dumb. He tried his best, he just couldn't do it alone. And yes, the god sacrificing himself to bring the main character back to life does nothing on Earth (Supreme Kai could've gone to Earth to save people like he did in the anime) and makes the Kid Buu fight harder. One last gag for the road.

What's the point of this?

Goku was right to give the next generation a chance and trust them in a real battle. They can't live their whole lives in his shadow. But just because his sons are ready doesn't mean he needs to disappear. Different generations have to live together and work with each other. That's what happens here. The Fusion Saga and Kid Buu Saga feel more like two halves of an extended final battle. With Piccolo's help, Gohan and Gotenks finish the first leg of the fight so Goku and Vegeta can take it home. Neither group can beat Buu alone. It'd also explain why Goku's fine coming back at the end, because he's learned that lesson too.

P.S. I wish I could've put Vegito in somehow, I love the fanservice, but I think it's worth it not having him. I also like the idea that no one actually beats Buu at full power one-on-one. He's the god-killing final villain, he should feel intimidating. And I'm sure the Toei movie makers would've loved being the only ones to have a Goku/Vegeta fusion. They made some good stuff at the end of the Buu Arc, throw them a bone lol.