~ A Few Moments Earlier: Guru's Residence ~
"So, you're saying the only way to keep him alive is through this 'fusion'?" Piccolo repeated skeptically as he watched Nail's body gradually dissolve into shimmering particles of light.
"Indeed, young Piccolo," Guru confirmed. "His soul had been irreparably damaged due to being caught at the center of the struggle between Slug and me. The fusion will save him, and should you ever wish to separate, there are methods throughout the universe capable of reversing it."
Piccolo bristled slightly at the term "young." It stung, but the Grand Elder, who had witnessed the rise and fall of countless generations over the course of a millennia, spoke only the truth.
Because while Piccolo had experienced more than most ever would thanks to having inherited a lifetime's worth of memories from his predecessor, he still was, by definition, less than a decade old—a mere child by any and all conventional standards.
Piccolo shifted his attention back to Nail, who lay before him, barely clinging to life. But even in this dire state, there was a spark of stubborn resolve in Nail's eyes. Luckily, the half-disintegrated Namekian seemed to pick up on Piccolo's unspoken question, sparing him the awkwardness of voicing it aloud.
"Well, it's not like I have much of a choice, but hey, I suppose even fusing with an idiot like you beats being assimilated by Slug," Nail remarked with surprising calm, though his voice soon dipped to a snide mutter. "But not by much."
Piccolo's face twitched in annoyance. "Glad to know I rank so highly. I guess I should be flattered," he shot back dryly.
But Piccolo wasted no time.
He took a deep breath to steady himself, crouched down as the Grand Elder had instructed, and placed his hand on Nail's chest. Time seemed to stretch, an eternity compressed into a heartbeat—until, with a sudden, blinding flash, Nail's body disintegrated, his essence shooting toward Piccolo like a comet.
The impact was instantaneous. Piccolo's senses exploded, his mind flooded with Nail's power, fragmented memories, and something far more profound—a deep, intangible connection that transcended the physical realm. He staggered as he grappled with the influx, completely overwhelmed by the sensation of another soul entwining and fusing with his own.
Then, it was over.
Piccolo opened his eyes, disoriented by the sheer intensity of the experience. He stumbled back a step, almost losing his footing, but quickly regained his balance. Shaking off any lingering shock, Piccolo examined his hand, awestruck by the raw power thrumming just beneath his skin.
Nail's essence coursed through him, infused within every fiber of his being.
Piccolo's muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and the immense strength that rippled through him sent a thrill down his spine, making him giddy like a child who'd indulged in far too much candy. He clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms, when suddenly, a familiar wave of euphoria crashed over him, momentarily shattering his self-control.
'Wow. Unreal. My gosh. This...this is amazing! I feel INCREDIBLE! Yes! Yes! Yes! YES!! I can win! I feel great! I–can–do–this!! Yeeaaaaagghh!!'
But the exhilarating rush was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice.
'What's going on? Why am I still conscious inside you?'
"!! U-uhh, well, I... I was–umm…" Piccolo's self-hype screeched to a halt at Nail's voice. His confidence wavered, but he coughed and regained his composure remarkably quickly. "What do you mean? Isn't this normal?" he brushed it off, trying to dismiss the situation.
But Nail wasn't buying it.
'I'm not supposed to be in your head like this! You mean to tell me you couldn't even perform a basic fusion correctly? Are you kidding me?! This is a racial technique! It's like breathing! A child could do it—it's literally encoded in our DNA! How did you screw this up?!'
Piccolo's eye twitched in irritation as he felt Nail's frustration echo within him. "Look, it's not like I had a manual! I just followed the damn instructions!"
'Bullshit, like hell you did! What was I thinking?! Trusting an idiot like you who doesn't even know the basics! This is supposed to be smooth and seamless! It's like—'
"Like a dance?" Piccolo cut in, impatient.
'Exactly! And you've got two left feet! No, even worse! You've got just one foot—and it's missing the big toe!'
"You–! You're not the one whose privacy is being invaded, asshole!"
"...!" Nail was momentarily speechless before he exploded.
'Don't you dare pull that card! You're NOT the victim here! Do you think I enjoy being stuck in your head of all places? Along with your daddy issues and your unhealthy denial of affection for this brat Gohan?!'
"Ugh! Sh—shut up!" Piccolo scowled, raising his voice loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. "You're the one who's half disintegrated! Ever thought that this is your fault?!"
Nail gasped in indignation, utterly offended.
'Well, I'm sorry I'm dying, Demon King! And what the hell even is that title, anyway? What are you, five?!'
"Y-yes, I was... but I—I didn't... that wasn't really something I..."
'Alright, fine. Maybe you didn't choose it, but you sure felt good hearing everyone call you that, didn't you?'
"…"
Piccolo stood there in silence, unable to form a response. He used to take pride in that title—until Nail showed up and tore it down, ruining it for him forever.
In the quiet that followed, both Namekians took a moment to come to terms with their new reality. For Nail, it was also a chance to delve into Piccolo's memories, picking up a few new concepts and vocabulary in the process.
So, as luck would have it, the silence didn't last. Soon enough, Piccolo heard a snort echo in his mind, followed by a mocking voice.
'Also, seriously? Yes, yes, yes, yes, I feel great! I can win! I can do...pfft! Ha! Hahahaha!' Nail couldn't keep it up and burst into laughter. 'That's the line you went with? Out of all the badass one-liners out there that you could've picked, that's the one you went with?'
Piccolo felt his face burn, and Nail sensed it too—but he couldn't have cared less.
'I mean, come on, you had all that buildup! The perfect moment! If you wanted something cringey, you could've gone with, 'I am the storm that is approaching!' or, 'Death is coming for you, Frieza!' or, I dunno, 'Prepare to face the fury of a Super Namekian!' But no, you went with, 'I feel great! I can do this!' That's... that's just embarrassing, man.'
Piccolo folded his arms, his face flushing with both embarrassment and annoyance. "It was in the heat of the moment. And I don't remember you spouting any brilliant lines when you were busy getting half your ass absorbed by Slug."
'Oh, yeah?' Nail shot back. 'At least I didn't walk around in a cape and shoulder pads pretending to be some wannabe fashionable superstar! What exactly are you trying to pull off with that look? Are you aiming to fight Frieza or strut down a catwalk?'
"Oh, you want to go there? You might've forgotten, but you just merged with the only person on this planet capable of keeping you alive. So maybe you should try showing a bit of gratitude."
'Oh, believe me, I'm grateful. Really. It's just that now I'm stuck with you, and I didn't realize that meant putting up with all your brooding and angst,' Nail retorted, and somehow Piccolo could sense the mental eyeroll. 'What's next? Are you gonna start narrating everything you do? 'I am Piccolo! And I have picked up this rock! Fear me!''
"Don't push me, Nail," Piccolo warned, his patience fraying.
Nail's tone shifted, becoming exaggerated and mocking. 'Oh no, what ever shall I do? The mighty Piccolo, Demon King of the shoulder pads, might get upset!'
"Do you have a death wish?!" Piccolo snapped, thoroughly exasperated.
'Been there, done that,' Nail replied dryly. 'Wouldn't recommend.'
Nail then grew more serious, though it didn't last long.
'Listen, now that we're fused, I'm just here to make sure you don't screw things up for both of us in the upcoming fight. But while we're on the subject—is your strategy just to shout all your attacks really loudly and hope they work, or do you actually have a plan? Because, honestly, you should listen to that Ajax kid; he sounds like he knows what he's doing.'
"Grrhh! Why couldn't you just stay stoic and silent like before?" Piccolo muttered reproachfully, pinching the bridge of his nose and exhaling sharply through gritted teeth. "This is going to be a long and painful partnership, isn't it?"
'Not for me! Oh, also, for your information, stoic and silent is only my work persona. But hey, look on the bright side. At least we didn't end up getting absorbed by Slug. Pretty sure that would be a lot worse.'
But Piccolo didn't reply; his attention had snapped toward the sky, where dark storm clouds were rapidly swallowing the horizon, stretching as far as the eye could see. The atmosphere grew dense, and night fell upon a planet that had always been bathed in light.
"You should go now, young Piccolo," Guru's voice pierced the darkness. Piccolo turned to see the Grand Elder, whose ancient eyes were focused intently on him. "They will need you."
At that moment, a sudden jolt of awareness shot through Piccolo. He paused, feeling an enormous amount of knowledge forced directly into his mind. Even Nail fell silent.
Piccolo staggered slightly but quickly regained his footing, staring at his own hands in disbelief. With a flex of his muscles, a thin, red aura flashed around him, vibrant and alive.
Somehow, he had spontaneously learned how to use the Kaio-ken.
Piccolo smiled.
He no longer has any intentions of staying. The tension in the air made it clear to both he and Nail that the final confrontation was drawing near. In the distance, he sensed what had to be Frieza and Slug, their titanic battle having reached a temporary ceasefire as they raced toward the eye of the storm.
But just as Piccolo was about to depart, Guru offered him one last piece of advice.
"Good luck, young Piccolo. I'm pleased you've found a friend, but next time, perhaps it's best not to speak to Nail out loud."
Piccolo froze, turning to see Guru smiling at him. Mortification flooded over him as Nail roared with laughter in his mind. But with time being of the essence and simultaneously very eager to leave, Piccolo took off, his face still burning with embarrassment.
As they departed, Guru smiled. Then, using his telepathic abilities, he sent a message that only Nail could hear.
'You've fulfilled your duty well, Nail. You are hereby honorably discharged from your role as Guardian,' Guru paused. 'And also, farewell, my boy.'
Guru watched as they faded into the distance, knowing he would not receive a response.
The final battle awaits.