It's about 3 years before the arrival of the androids. Chichi learns that there's something more to Piccolo than that cape and turban...she finds there's a heart in there too...
Chichi sat at the table looking out the window where Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo trained outside. Chichi had a lot on her mind. She was beyond worry for Goku and Gohan. They were sparring outside with the monster that had nearly killed her husband 6 years ago. She remembered it well.
Her husband was lying on the ground with a huge bloody hole under his right shoulder, nearly dead. She was screaming and trying to run to him but the others held her back knowing that she would most likely be killed if she went out there. Kami, the guardian of the earth, told Tenshinhan to kill him, thinking that it would be the only way to stop Piccolo, for he would die as well. Goku said no and that if Kami died, no one could be wished back with the dragonballs.
The fight had ended in a draw, both of the fighters near death. Goku had been given a senzu bean and had lived. He had also given Piccolo one. Piccolo had lived too and had sworn that someday he would kill Goku.
Chichi looked out the window again to see the three punching and kicking each other in the sky. A shiver went down her spine thinking about that Piccolo had sworn to kill her husband and was sparring with him. She had no idea if he would just one day kill him. But then again, Goku was stronger than he was and Piccolo was smarter than to do something so stupid. Chichi gasped. Why hadn't she thought of it before? Even though he couldn't kill Goku, he could easily kill Gohan!
She imagined it happening. Gohan would be throwing rocks in a lake when suddenly a shadow went over him. He'd turn around slowly with his face shaking with fear. Piccolo would then lift his hand then-
Chichi shook her head ferociously. She wouldn't let her Gohan be killed by the monster. She just wouldn't. Also, he had to do a science fair project next month!
She got up from her chair, nearly knocking it over. She marched outside. She looked up to see Piccolo and Goku dukeing it out. She got a worried look when she didn't see Gohan. Had she been too late?
"Where's Gohan?" she yelled out at the two. They stopped sparring and looked down at her.
"He went to take a break," Goku said pointing over at a clearing in the woods.
Just then Gohan walked through the trees across the dirt road, getting closer to where they were. Chichi sighed a sigh of relief. She started walking over to him. Suddenly the ground shook. Chichi struggled to keep her balance. A herd of Brontosauruses ran across the dirt road. Gohan stared in horror at them. He began to run out of their path when his foot got stuck between two rocks. He grabbed his leg and tried to yank it out but the rocks were too close to each other. His foot didn't fit! He became more panicked as the dinosaurs got closer.
"Goooohhhhaaaannn!!!!" Chichi screamed terrified.
The dinosaurs were just 20 feet from Gohan when a green and purple blur grabbed him and got them both out of the dinosaurs' path. The dinosaurs quickly passed.
Chichi ran across the road and to the edge of the woods where Gohan had disappeared into. She stopped when she saw Piccolo with Gohan in his arms. Gohan was staring at the disappearing dinosaurs with huge eyes and breathing hard. Piccolo was breathing hard too. Chichi grabbed Gohan from Piccolo after he stood up. Chichi hugged Gohan tightly.
"My baby, are you okay?" she asked quickly.
"Ya, Mom," Gohan said trying to get a little distance from her so he could actually breath.
Chichi looked up at Piccolo who had his arms crossed and was staring back at her. They stood there for awhile without saying a thing. Goku came up breaking the silence.
"Is he okay?" he asked referring to Gohan.
Chichi looked at him and nodded. He then stood next to Piccolo.
"If it wasn't for Piccolo here then Gohan would have been smashed into a pancake."
Chichi glared at him, warning him not to talk about that in front of Gohan.
"Now it's the third time that Mr. Piccolo saved me," Gohan chirped.
Chichi lifted an eyebrow while looking down at Gohan. Third? Did I miss something here? Chichi shook it off.
"Enough training for today. Gohan, go inside and get ready for dinner."
"Yes, Mom," he said already walking back to the house.
Gohan carried a tall stack of plates that had been needed to feed two Saiyans. Chichi was standing at the sink doing dishes. Chichi couldn't get here mind off what happened that day.
"Gohan?" she asked. "What do you think about Piccolo?"
Gohan stopped in his tracks and blinked at her. Never once did she ask about Piccolo.
"He's my hero," he said smiling putting some more dishes in the sink.
Chichi looked at her son. "Why?" she couldn't help but ask.
Gohan got a sad face. "Because he sacrificed his life to save mine."
For Chichi, this was like a regular brick in the head. She had never known how Piccolo had died against the Saiyans. She had had no idea that Piccolo would even do a thing like that. Gohan saw here face. He gulped, trying to get that big lump out of his throat.
"You see.." he began, telling that painful story.
Chichi and Gohan were now sitting at the table talking about it. Chichi leaned forward in her chair, amazed by the story.
"And.." Gohan concluded clenching his fists and staring down at the table. "...Then he died. He said it was ironic for him to sacrifice his life for his enemy's son."
Gohan then looked up with tears forming in his eyes. Chichi was near tears as well. How could she of thought of him as a monster?
"Honey, it's bed time," she said more shakily than she wanted.
Gohan looked down and nodded. He jumped off his chair from the other side and walked to his room. Chichi watched him leave and thought about what he had said.
Piccolo was sitting in front of a campfire outside. Chichi stepped out of the shadows and stood there. Piccolo looked up and got a curious look.
"May I join you?" Chichi asked.
Piccolo looked back at the fire and gave a slight nod of his head. Chichi took a seat on a rock next to him. She stared at the fire as well.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered.
Piccolo glanced at her.
"For what?"
Chichi sighed.
"For thinking of you as a monster when you're not."
Piccolo looked back at the fire.
"What made you change your mind?" ,p>"The way you've changed. You're not that cold-hearted killer I met 6 years ago."
"If I'm not a cold-hearted killer then what am I?" he asked still staring at the fire.
Chichi turned to look at him. She smiled. "You're a sweet, kind man. That's what you are."
"?!"
Chichi smiled. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," she whispered to him.
Piccolo smirked. "Good. Now everyone can still think of me as one son of a-"
"Hey, I didn't say you can go that far," she warned.
Piccolo let out a laugh.
"What are you, my mom?"
Chichi smirked and crossed her arms.
"You're darn right I am. And it's time for you to go to bed, young man."
She pointed authoritically to the house. Piccolo smirked. He got up and started heading to the house. He turned to her and asked,
"What really made you change your mind about me?"
"It wasn't so much as a change of mind...it was more a change of heart."
Piccolo gave the first smile that Chichi had ever seen from him. He then faced forward and walked to the house. Chichi watched him and smiled.
"Truly a change of heart.." she whispered.