Kakarot and the Quest for the Dragonballs:

Chapter One:

Ever since Kakarot was a child, he'd been frustrated at his lack of progress to his goal. He'd been sent to earth for the specific purpose of the destruction of the planet. His teachings under his begrudged master, Gohan, had taught him discipline. And when he was not being taught discipline, Gohan would tell him of the other martial artists. Ones who were stronger still. Since Kakarot had never been able to defeat his Master in a fair match, he had stayed his wrath. He'd watched over this valley of weak animals for as long as he could remember.

He knew that if he were to destroy this world, he must first defeat its greatest champions. And he would start with Master Gohan. Until he did, he was not prepared.

Thus had he lived and trained, memorizing every word his Master said. Committing his techniques to memory that he might one day slay him with it. His Master understood his mind, he knew what Kakrot intended, but hoped to change him. And Kakarot would be lying if he said he had not been affected by his lessons. He respected the old man, for without him he never would have become as strong as he was now. Defeating him would be Kakarot's moment when he could begin his true quest.

At times he wondered what terrible and almighty being had sent him down to Earth from far away. His memories were still fuzzy from a time when he had hit his head. He could have been sent by a king, or even a god. When he achieved his goal would they show themselves to him?

He often sat atop the roof, gazing on the stars and wondering about such things. The moon did not often shine into Gohan's valley, and only once had he seen it. And that day was the day when his Master died. Kakarot never found out how it happened. He remembered coming to his senses naked and crying by the corpse of the Man who had taught him everything. Everything but his mission.

After that Kakarot no longer lived, he merely existed. Hunting, gathering firewood and training. For with the death of his Master he had no benchmark by which he could tell how strong he was. All-purpose had drained from his life as he walked the forested highlands. The lions and tigers were no threat to him. Even if by some miracle they laid paws upon his form, their claws could not pierce his skin. He caught fish and cooked them by his own means.

It was becoming boring. To pass the time Kakarot had carved off a gigantic section of a tree and was currently walking on top of it. It was rolling downhill near a sheer drop of hundreds of feet. As he walked, he saw a group of pathetic deer drinking from a stream. A pterodactyl flew up from the forests below to go beyond sight.

He saw three monkeys hanging down from a nearby tree, and the bottom one smiled at him. 'Shut up, you're disgusting.' Said Kakarot as he rolled on by.

The slope was steepening. The speed at which he was descending was steadily increasing. He didn't laugh as walked faster, for he had long ago come to regard laughter as unnecessary. Whenever his feet began to lose their pace, he would leap into the air forward and catch himself on the log.

Eventually, it came to a halt near his home. He leaped off it and began to train himself in martial arts. His method? Hurling the section of log high into the air, then leaping towards it to meet it as it began to descend. With a single strike, he split it into dozens of small pieces of firewood. Perfect for driving off the cold when winter came, and the snows blew in from the north.

He said nothing to mark the occasion, for there was no purpose in it.


Radical. Totally radical.

Bulma Briefs sped along the roadside, driving her car at the enlightened age of sixteen. That particular age when you know everything about what you want out of life. She continued driving along the roads which were badly in need of safety rails until it bored her. She tried listening to music, but there was nothing good on the radio. Finally, she pulled the car to a halt and got out, taking in the fresh mountain air to gaze upon the land beneath her.

She stretched her long legs and her shapely arms. Then after a moment, she drew out her Dragon Radar, and it a single button to zoom out. 'Let's see here, oh yes, there it is. Your as good as mine you little jewel.'

She got back into her car and continued her journey. Having a drivers license at the age of sixteen was a truly awesome experience.


The shrine in which Kakarot dwelled was large for him, but it had never seemed more empty than today. Perhaps that was why he never entered it. Save to sleep and polish the keepsake that remained to him from his Master. A single, round jewel, orange with four red stars in the center. He did not know what, if anything, it was for, but he had always had a sense of power when in its presence.

'I'm going to kill something to eat.' muttered Kakarot as he put on his power pole, a short red pole about two thirds as long as he was tall. 'I don't expect any thieves will arrive in the time I'm gone. I should be so lucky.'

As he turned away from the ball, however, it shone and gleamed, and Kakarot turned in surprise to look at it again. 'That's odd, the gem has never shone like that before.'

What had happened? What did it mean? Whatever its significance, the odd state of the ball had obviously waned. 'Whatever, I'm going to get some fish.'

Fish. The choice of the game had been arbitrary. He decided that he would follow through with it for lack of a better option. He rushed through the forests, leaping over a trench, and stepped to get to the river. On a whim, he changed his direction and swung on a vine to reach an apple tree which he knew grew nearby. Eating of its fruit, he hung off of a tree with his tail as he munched it.

He wished a lion would approach and try to eat him. That would provide him with some action, and give him a chance to eat a lion. He hadn't eaten lion in awhile, Mostly because he had driven most of the predators out of this section of the forest.

He tossed away the core of the apple he had finished devouring, before grabbing another one. At that moment, a blur of orange fur appeared out of nowhere and came at him. He spun around from the top of the branch and let the creature fly over him. 'A sabretooth tiger! I may see excitement ere this hunting trip is over yet!'

Landing on the ground, he drew out his power pole, dodged aside from the tigers lunge. Then he slammed it on the back of the neck with his pole. There was a crack, and the beast lay still.

Well there's my meat for the day.' said Kakarot with a smile. 'A bit lean, but I'll take it.'

Grasping the tiger by the tale, he began to drag its body back to home. As he walked, he reflected: 'I must have exceeded Master Gohan by now. Yet how can I be sure? It is a matter I shall have to contemplate, and for Kami's sake! What is that noise?'

At that moment a square metal monster came rushing over the hill and around the bend. There was a hoarse shriek, and Kakarot was hit by the metal monster. It sent him sprawling to crash down onto the dirt, and his fish spun off the cliff to land with a crash. He rose up in a fury.

'Gah, is he dead?' asked a whining voice which annoyed him. 'You're alright kid?'

Kakarot was not one much inclined for pre-battle chatter. 'Power pole extend!' he roared.

And then he slew the dragon, or whatever the HFIL it was. He knocked it from its leg equivalents, smashing its blue glass part in the process. He brought the power pole up and smashed it again with another strike. His eyes going red, he raised his pole again-

'Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!'

At this point, Kakarot was hit in the face with a series of small pieces of metal which sent him sprawling to the ground. He rubbed his forehead and glanced up. 'What the HFIL was that?!'

'You... you shouldn't be alive kid!'

'Your pathetic weapons are useless!' snarled Kakarot as he rose up in a fury. 'Now I will end your pathetic monster existence, and restore order to the Forest.' A touch heroic for his tastes, but he'd take it.

'Hold on; I'm not a monster! I'm a human just like you are!'

Kakarot paused. Human, was that the species which he had been designated as, or was it the species which Master Gohan had been. Whatever it was he gave pause to his plans for monster destruction. This pended an official investigation of what had just happened.

'You mean to say that you are not, in fact, a monster.' he surmised tentatively.

Something emerged from the corpse. It was something he had never seen before. It was like Gohan and Kakarot, in the sense that it had four hairless limbs and peach colored skin. But the similarities ended there. For one thing, it was much slimmer, and fragile looking than Gohan or Kakarot. Although it was taller than Kakarot by some feet. It was holding a metal object which it had apparently used before to project the small pieces of lead. This was quite out of the ordinary for Kakarot.

'Well yeah, you can see that for yourself kid, can't you?' she raised her hands. There was only one species which Kakarot had encountered with hands of that type. 'Look, I won't bite.'

Kakarot leaped back as she advanced, still suspicious. 'A human, you say?'

'That's right, do I have to show you my birth certificate?'

'That won't be necessary.' said Kakarot as he edged around her, examining her form with suspicion. 'You look human enough, but you're different somehow.'

'I'm a girl silly.' said Bulma, correcting him.

'I see. So that's what you are.' he had never, as a point of fact, encountered a girl before now.

'Oh my gosh, are you saying you've never seen a girl before?' asked the girl.

'You catch on quick.' said Kakarot. 'Besides my Master, you are the only human being I've ever encountered. He instructed me that if I were to encounter a girl, I should be polite, and not attempt to kill them.'

'Uh... your Master seems to have a firm grasp of the obvious.' said the girl. 'Is he around here, kid?'

'Oh, he died a long time ago.' said Kakarot, getting a closer look at the girl lower down. He moved aside certain obstructive elements.

She slapped his power pole away and turned on him. 'Shame on you, what do you think you're doing?'

'I was just checking to see if you had a tail.' said Kakarot. 'However, it is possible that females of our species get them later.'


Bulma Briefs didn't know what to think of this strange wild child. And more than a little unnerved. He had a cynical, analyzing manner with which he observed her, and she didn't like it. 'I'm sure it'll sprout up any time now kid.' Was what she said, but what she thought was: 'What a weirdo.'

'How did you convince that monster to do your bidding?' asked the boy.

'That's not a monster, kid.' said Bulma. 'That's a car.'

The boy leaped atop the totaled window and looked over the car curiously. 'So this is a car. My Master spoke of such things between our lessons. This is the first time I've seen one.'

'You know for a little kid you're strong.' commented the girl, remembering the force of the collision as the car had been knocked over.

'Thank you.' said the boy. 'My training has given me power akin to steel. Are you from one of the cities I have heard spoken of?'

'You got it.' said Bulma as he leaped down.

This was exactly what Kakarot wanted to hear. He moved back to his dead Sabretoothed Tiger and picked it up again. 'Follow me; I will provide shelter and a meal if you do so. Then we may speak of your city, its people and its defenses.'

'Hang on a sec kid.'

Bulma drew out her dragon radar and looked at it. From the looks of things the Dragonball she was seeking was right down the road. Which meant that it was probably in owned by this kid.

She looked at the sabretooth tiger and shuddered. 'So it looks as though we're having... tiger for lunch. So what's on the agenda?'

'We can have a meal together, then speak of various matters.' said the boy. 'Then, if you are so inclined you may observe me in my exercises. I am something of a martial artist.'

'If you think we're going to do anything improper you can forget it.' clarified Bulma.

'Oh by all matters the thought never crossed my mind.' stated Kakarot, before beginning to drag his tiger off.

'And what is that supposed to mean?' asked Bulma as she followed, offended, even though she did not believe a word of it.

'Just what I said.' said Kakarot.

For a time they walked in silence. However, there is only so long one can stare at a dead sabretooth tiger before one wants to ask questions. 'So kid, do you have a name?'

'My name is Kakarot, and I'm not from this planet. What is yours?'

'Uh, my name?' she remained silent for a moment. 'Bulma.' He didn't laugh, in fact, he didn't seem to find it even remotely amusing. Just continued walking without any further statements. 'Hey, what is that about you being from another planet?'

'I'm sorry, do you reveal your deepest darkest secrets to complete strangers?' asked the boy.

'Uh... no.'

'Then why are you asking me questions you don't expect to get the answers to? Nice name by the way.'

'Hey, Bulma happens to be quite elegant! It's a lot better than Kakarot that's for sure.'

Finally, they came to the house of which he had been speaking. It was green-roofed, with red brick walls and a blue door. It was, for lack of a better word, quaint. 'That's a nice little place you have there, kid.' said Bulma.

'I inherited it from my Master.' he explained quickly. 'One moment.'

Kakarot rushed through the doors and opened them inward. He halted in surprise. Bulma walked forward to where he was standing. Bulma could see a thesaurus on one of the shelves. It looked as though it had been read until its bindings were barely holding on.

'Do you hear that?' he asked. 'It's reacting again.'

'I don't hear anything-' began Bulma, before halting. For beyond the doors on a table at the far wall lay a Dragonball. It had four stars and was glowing bright orange. 'Oh my goodness! It's a Dragonball!' She shoved Kakarot aside and grasped the gem to look at it.

'Hey, give me my Master's sacred jewel back now!' snarled Kakarot, getting close.

'You mean this...'

He snatched it away. 'This is all I have to remember him by. Nobody can touch it but me.' He looked down at where it was gleaming. 'Why is it reacting this way? It never has before.'

'Well it might be because I have two just like it.' said Bulma, reaching into her bag, and removing a five-star ball and a two-star ball.

'You have two sacred Jewels?' he asked, sounding incredulous.

'Their not sacred jewels.' she said. 'Not exactly anyway. They're called dragon balls.'

'Are you certain?'

'Definitely, I'm positive.' she replied. 'Your ball started glowing because it was reacting to the two that I have.' She placed them down on the table. 'See, put yours next to these.'

'...Very well.' said Kakarot, placing his Four Star Ball next to the others. Right away, the balls began glowing before them, and Bulma took one up as an odd chiming sound echoed.

'Yeah, these things have the power to do great things.' Bulma paused. 'And not so great. Let's just see if a bad person got ahold of these balls, he could really wreak some havoc.'

'And what precisely do they do?'

'Are you sure you want to know?' Bulma asked, faintly amused.

'I asked, didn't I?'

'Okay...' said Bulma, and then she told him the story.


In another place entirely, a door opened, illuminating a realm of darkness. Many dark suits of ancient armor lined the walls. Into the room stepped three figures. First, a black-clad woman with dark hair. Second, an anthropomorphic dog in a ninja suit of violet. And a blue-skinned imp-like thing dressed in colorful garb.

'Wow,' said the dog, 'it's dark in there isn't it?'

'Shut up Shu.' said Pilaf, the imp-like creature as he moved forward. Pilaf, or Emperor Pilaf as he preferred to be called, was, in fact, a distant cousin of the demon Garlic Junior. However, Pilaf had fewer personal resources. Even so he was smart enough to find a dragon ball and pick it up off of the cushion it had been placed.

'Come to Emperor Pilaf my precious yes...' It was at this moment that a suit of Armor fell down on top of him and he struggled with the decayed corpse in armor. 'Get off of me, you bonehead!' he snapped, before shoving it off.

There was a long, awkward silence.

'Well enough of that,' said Pilaf. 'I'm ready to make my wish.'

'Sir,' said Mai, the woman, 'I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you can't make a wish with just one ball. You have to have all of the others as well.' Mai and her compatriot Shu had considered working for the Red Ribbon Army. Then they noted the tendency for employees of the Red Ribbon Army to die after one minor mishap. After that, they sought alternative sources of employment. Thus, Pilaf. 'There are seven dragon balls, Sire. You have to unite all seven of them before the dragon will appear and grant your wish.'

'More searching...' murmured Pilaf.

'But just imagine, dear Emperor, that glorious day when the Seven Magic Balls are finally brought together.' said Mai. 'A brilliant surge of energy will light the sky, and in a blaze of glory, the Dragon will arise for the sole purpose of granting you a single wish. Whatever it may be.'

'Yes... yes... I can see it.' said Pilaf. 'I guess I can handle a little more searching.' Then, joy of joys, he started laughing to himself. 'Any wish I want, huh? I wish to rule the entire world!' Mai sighed inwardly. With the Red Ribbon Army absorbing all the other paramilitary forces, employment was hard to find.

He held the Dragonball aloft in a pose that might have been striking. It might have been if Emperor Pilaf was in any way impressive looking. Which he wasn't.


Far away, Kakarot was far more impressive looking as he looked at his Four Star Dragonball.

'That sounds like an exciting power.' said Kakarot with a smile that was more than a little disturbing. 'So just to confirm, you can wish for anything?'

'Uh... yes.' said Bulma, having a bad feeling about this.

'My Master never told me any of this.' reflected Kakarot. 'I think I know why.'

'He may not have known about it Kakarot, few people do.' said Bulma. 'The truth is that you and I are some of the few people in the world that even know about the dragon balls or the dragon.'

'Don't mix up mine with yours.' said Kakarot, looking like a cornered wolf.

'Don't worry, that's impossible.' said Bulma. 'Each one has a different number of stars on it. See, yours has four, and mine has five.'

'I see.'

'Now your catching on.' said Bulma in a congratulatory tone as she stood. 'I can't believe that I already have three of the Balls! If I keep this up, I'll be able to wish for a Boyfriend before the end of the month!'

'I'm going with you.' said Kakarot.

'What?' said Bulma.

'I said I'm going with you.' repeated Kakarot. 'Since I am supposed to be polite to women, I have to. This area is extremely dangerous for people. There are predators and all manner of other creatures that would jump at the chance to devour you.'

'P-Predators?' stammered Bulma.

'Oh yes. Pterodactyl's, tigers, even pigs can be dangerous if pushed to it.' continued Kakarot. 'Then there are bandits, and that's not even getting into some of the other dangers you'll face. It's a miracle you went as far as you did without being attacked.'

'Uh... yeah, quite a miracle.' agreed Bulma. 'Look I think I can handle myself.'

'Well, of course, you're sure of yourself.' said Kakarot. 'However, you will need a bodyguard.'

'Actually... that doesn't sound like half a bad idea.' said Bulma. 'Okay, sure, you can come.'

'This kids kind of creepy,' she thought privately. 'but he'll make a great bodyguard until I make my wish. I'll wish for the most perfect boyfriend who ever lived!' Bulma felt perfectly justified in using the powers of a god to get herself a boyfriend. Thanks for asking.

And just like that, they began their journey.

'Well here we go!' said Bulma to herself, as much as to Kakarot. 'The start of a great adventure!'

It was only once they had gotten perhaps five hundred feet away from the house that Kakarot spoke up. 'Out of curiosity how do you intend to start looking? These dragon balls could be anywhere.'

Bulma took this opportunity to feel smug. 'Just who do you think your dealing with here, kid? I'm no amateur.' she removed her dragon radar. 'Look check it out.' Kakarot gazed at the device which interest and she continued. 'It's a special radar which tracks the Dragonballs. See these three dots; these are the dragon balls that we have. And these dots scattered around are the other balls.

'From the looks of things the closest balls is about seven hundred and fifty miles to the west.'

'These numbers mean nothing to me.' said Kakarot 'Put it in terms I may understand.'

'It's out of our walking distance.' said Bulma with a sigh 'And since you trashed my car, we'll be needing a new set of wheels. Then, removing her dino caps, she tossed one of them towards the ground. There was a poof of smoke, and a two-seat motorcycle appeared.

'Are you some manner of sorceress?' asked Kakarot, sounding impressed.

'No, it's just dino caps.' said Bulma as she got onto the driver's seat. 'Everyone in the City has them. Hop on.'

Kakarot complied. 'I am on.'

'Great, here we go!'

And then Bulma gunned the engines, and they zoomed off, far faster than Kakarot was capable of running on his own. He wondered if anyone was able to run faster than they were going, for the world seemed to rush by without halt. They zoomed out from under a monkey who was eating from an Apple, and continued onward.

Some hours onward, Bulma rushed over a hill at such a velocity that they were stuck in midair. Then they hurtled towards the ground. They landed, and Bulma pulled to a halt.

'You don't seem to be in very much control of this thing, Bulma.' noted Kakarot, who was confident he could have survived the fall, but not confident she could have.

'I'm fine.' she said as she got off. 'I need to make a pit stop. Stay right here.'

'I think I should go with you-' he began.

'Stay right here you pervert!' she shouted, before rushing off.

Kakarot sighed as all his warnings proved for naught. He began to count for the benefit of any omnipresent observers. 'Five, four, three, two-'

'Kakarot! Get over here!' Bulma screamed in horror.

'Right on schedule.' said Kakarot as he made his way around the rock. Seeing Bulma in the grip of a massive pterodactyl, he planted his feet and removed his power pole.

'Power power extend.' he said with a sigh, before smashing the creatures neck without a word. The beast fell dead, as Bulma landed on the ground. 'Finish up, and get back to the car.' He said, before marching away.

Kakarot was surrounded by idiots.


Author's Note:

Hey, I've been going through all my old fanfics and updating them to have better flow and grammar. Kakarot and the Quest for the Dragonballs is next. Enjoy.