Piccolo was quick to return with seeds for spice growing, and was surprised to find that Big Mac had already constructed an oven at the top of the plateau he'd grown the tree on, as well as clearing space for a full garden for the spices. In the distance, he could see several other plateaus having been knocked over, collapsed, or punched through to be turned into arches as a result of Raditz and Gohan sparring.
"That's it, Gohan!" Raditz roared out as he ducked a punch, countering with one to the younger ape's gut. "Feel what it is to move with this mass! Know that you're more than strong and fast enough to handle it!" Gohan roared something back as he sank to all fours and charged. "Saiyans are designed to adapt to any environment and thrive! Physics has no place here!"
"Can...he actually understand him?" Piccolo asked Big Mac in surprise.
"Nnnnope," Big Mac replied as he took the seeds and began to plant them.
"Then how does he know how Gohan would reply well enough to respond?" Big Mac shrugged in response. "He's just making it up as he goes along?"
"Eeeyup." Big Mac stepped back and poured his energy into the small plot of earth where he'd planted the seeds. Before long wheat, a cinnamon tree, and various other sources of herbs and spices sprang out of the dirt, rapidly growing to full growth. He then stepped forward and began harvesting.
Not sure what else to do at this point, Piccolo settled down in the air near the pony as he worked. "Can I help?" he asked curiously.
"Eeeyup." Picking up a rock, Big Mac drove one hoof into the side with a loud crack. Pulling out a segment, he handed the crudely shaped mortar and pestle over to Piccolo before pushing the harvested cinnamon bark his way.
"Okay, I can manage that," Piccolo allowed as he started grinding, directing some of his ki into the plant matter to encourage it. He was surprised to discover just how naturally that came as he worked. After a time, he glanced back up to where the two apes were trading blows...just in time to see Gohan grab hold of Raditz' tail and begin flipping him like a flapjack. "Heh, kids got spunk."
"Nnnope."
"Right, the tail weakness," Piccolo murmured ruefully as Raditz broke free by using a ki blast to reverse his movement when Gohan didn't expect it, only to flip back over Gohan and return the treatment until Gohan used an energy blast from his mouth to break the hold. "Hope that's constant through the whole race...but from the looks of things, these two are already adapting to it. If the other two are so much stronger, they're probably just as adapted to it."
"...eeeyup..."
Glancing over, Piccolo saw the pony looking up at him with big, soulful eyes. "You're worried about our chances, aren't you?"
"Eeeyup."
Reaching over, he tousled the colt's mane. "Don't worry so much," he replied, awkwardly attempting a gentler approach than what was comfortable to him as he remembered the threat Mr. Popo had hanging over his head. "I'm sure we'll come up with something. And you never know, we might just get strong enough to fight back."
Big Mac said nothing as he mixed several ingredients together before putting the mix into his makeshift oven. Pressing his forehooves against it, he filled it with energy as the mixture inside rapidly cooked to perfection. Reaching inside, he pulled out the freshly baked pie.
As Piccolo's nose caught the scent, he found his mouth watering despite not actually needing to eat. "Then again, if Goku's obsession with food is indicative of his race, maybe you can win their stomachs over to switching sides...well, if that tastes anywhere near as good as it smells."
Big Mac shook his head, but a smile crossed his face as he set the pie aside to cool.
"You don't think that will work?" Piccolo asked in surprise.
"Not likely," Raditz growled as he tackled Gohan to the ground next to the plateau, the pair having shifted to wrestling rather than energy blasts or traded blows. "The ones higher up the chain aren't Saiyans, and neither of the other Saiyans are likely to throw in with what they see as the 'losing side' without compelling reason, and a pie isn't going to cut it." As Gohan knocked him off, he got to his feet and grappled. "Only reason I'm helping is because my only other option at this point is whose hands I die at."
"Eeeyup," Big Mac allowed sadly as he started another mix, splitting apples with light touches to prepare them. He hoofed a segment over to Piccolo.
"So maybe a pie won't cut it," Piccolo allowed as he took the piece of apple. "Maybe a dish more to their tastes will do. Don't suppose you know how to make jambalaya?"
"Nnnope!" Big Mac replied, not sure why he was smiling.
Piccolo chuckled, glad to see the pony perking up. "Well, we'll find something." Smirking, he took a bite of the apple slice...and felt his energy replenishing. It wasn't quite as strong as a Senzu bean, but the energy it had taken to regrow his arm was now completely replenished. It wasn't filling like a Senzu was, but the energy replenishment was easily on par. And if that was one bite unprepared...
"Hmm?" Big Mac pressed, tilting his head curiously as Piccolo stared at the made pie. As it was cool enough, he cut a slice for the green being.
Taking the slice, Piccolo took a bite...and stared at the pastry in amazement. "This...is a pie?" he asked in surprise.
"Eee...yup?"
Piccolo, what did you just eat? Kami pressed from in his mind. I felt my energy replenishing through our bond, and even Senzus don't do that!
Big Mac calls it a pie, Piccolo thought back, staring at the pastry in awe. I call it our edge.
I call it what I'll sic Mr. Popo on you for if I don't get a slice.