1 PROLOGUE—GIVE ME BIRTH
A/N: Pay close attention to detail! This is a totally different story line with totally different characters (it is in no way linked to A Slave's Gift). It takes place after the Cell Games just cuz there's so much free time to kill there with stories! =) Hope you like this, it was an inspiration spawned by my boredom in Math Analysis (I still luv ya, Mr. Enge)!
Now here's the Prologue and Chapter 1 just to accommodate ff.net's weird numbering system! =)
* * = Nail
~ ~ = Evergreen and/or Trees
' ' = Telepathy
( ) = Piccolo's private thoughts
* * * * * *
~He was sitting there meditating again, his green lids squeezed shut. His cape fluttered about his purple gi-ed body as he leaned against a rather large redwood tree. Its branches stretched toward the sky like open arms. I would have killed to be my sister at that point. It wasn't fair that all the years I'd gazed longingly upon his handsome face, beckoning him to take reprieve in my shade, he didn't give me the time of day. It was as if he purposefully ignored me! As if... he knew...~
1.1 CHAPTER 1—X MARKS THE SPOT
*Crap! I can feel it again!* Nail barked inside Piccolo's head.
'I know… what IS it?'
*I told you, something is whacked up with this forest! It's like something's watchin' us!*
'Feh, like what? The birds? The trees?'
*The TREES! I swear to Kami-sama it's the trees!*
'…You're real fucked up, I hope you know that…'
*No! No! I swear!*
'Nail, shut up and let me meditate in peace…'
*But--*
'NAIL!'
*Sorry…*
Sweat trickled down Piccolo's forehead as he focused on the ki he sensed in the forest. It was strongest when he was near the Evergreen, the small, puny tree that was barely a half-century old. Standing up slowly he eyed the tree across from him and approached it.
~This must be the second time he's actually glanced my way… his deep obsidian eyes are spellbinding. He… He looks lonelier today, moreso than usual… Poor thing, I haven't seen that boy, Gohan, with him for at least six months… and now he just works out alone or with a double of himself… I think he called it 'split-form' while talking to Gohan one day… Oh, his voice…~
(I swear it's as if I've pin pointed this strange ki right… here…) he splayed his emerald-skinned fingers against the rough bark of the Evergreen. (Is Nail right or am I just going crazy?)
~Goodness! He's really here! Right infront of me, touching me for the first time! Uh-oh… not that caterpillar again!!!~ the tree's voice tittered, falling on all ears except Piccolo's.
A black, fuzzy worm inched down the tree, tickling the bark with its furry little body.
~Oh Kami-sama, please stop! Oh, he tickles so much!~
Piccolo glared as the tiny beast wiggled its way onto his finger.
*Wow! Piccolo has a friiiiieeeeend!* Nail giggled like a girl, mocking the demon.
'Back off or I'll fry it!' Plucking the creature off the tree he held it in his large palm.
"Feh," he smirked, "You'd do yourself a favor to leave me well enough alone…" He set the caterpillar on a leafy-green bush to his right and returned his gaze to the Evergreen.
(Now I know all things have ki… rocks, oceans, animals, and humans… it's because of Earth's many naturally occurring kis that a Spirit Bomb can be created… but the levels are so low that they're almost insensible, otherwise I'd have lost my mind a long time ago! So… why can I sense such a strange power from this forest?… More specifically, this particular tree…)
The sun was turning in for the day and still Piccolo studied the tree for any sign or reason for the ki he sensed. Circling around it like a wolf would do with its prey and grazing his finger's over the Evergreen's rough skin, he collected data and observations that yielded no reasonable conclusions.
'That's it… I'm chopping it down tomorrow!' he growled in frustration.
*Hey! You can't do that!*
'And why not? It's driving me crazy!'
*It's just a tree! That's cold!*
"Nail!" he shouted aloud, "It'll be kindling by tomorrow night!" narrowing his eyes Piccolo shot two eye lasers at the base of the tree, scorching an X into its flesh.
~Wow, that burns!!! Ouch! Oh, that better not catch fire!~
The demon lord snarled and stormed off into a thicket of green weeds, heading for his cave.
~~Evergreen! Evergreen! Oh no dear, you're going to die tomorrow!~~
~Oak, is that you?~
~~Yes dear, it is I! Oh goodness, that terrible terrible man! He is planning on taking your life!~~
~…He… He can't mean it…~
The leaves between the giant Oak and the Evergreen rustled, the wind carrying their words. Words that the trees and woodland creatures could hear and understand but fell mutely on the deaf ears of humans and a certain demon.
~~When a man wants a tree dead he means it! He can tell you are more than what you appear to be…~~
~I didn't know he could…~ was the reply.
~~It's because YOU fell in love with him! That changes your ki signature! Us trees must save ourselves by only being the acquaintances to Earthlings; offer them shade, shelter, food… if we offer our heart they'll KNOW we are more than just organic compounds! Their ignorance is our bliss! As long as they assume that anything that doesn't walk on two feet, speak through its mouth, or have needs or emotions, is non-living then we are all safe! But YOU! You're in love with him!!! And now you are going to die!!!~~ Sap poured from the giant Oak as her leaves drooped sorrowfully in the wind, her own tears.
~~I know!~~ the Oak's leaves suddenly shivered, ~~I know a way to save you!!!~~
~How?~
~~I'll give my ki to you! With both of our kis combined they'll reach the normal human level five! You can become a human and avoid murder!~~
Evergreen was silent for a long time before she rustled her leaves in response, ~But without your ki… you'll die…~
~~Dear, I've lived a good five hundred years. You, young one, have barely begun to live. It would be a cryin' shame to lose you now. Please, I'd rest in peace knowing I saved your life.~~
~Oh noble Oak… I dare not refuse if it'll please you.~
~~And it would too! I love you, Evergreen, take care!~~
~Thank you Grandma Oak, I love you too!~
A small glowing ball emerged from the large Oak and entered the young Evergreen, engulfing its form in a blinding gold light. As the lifeless Oak crashed to the ground the glowing form of Evergreen twisted and turned, shaping delicate fingers and long, slender legs; hair burst forth from the leaves and the face was formed.
As the light died down the newly created human fell to the forest floor, unconscious.
A/N: If you wonderful people would be so kind… could you please review this? I'd be eternally grateful!!! =)
Also, A Slave's Gift has NOT been abandoned. I just want to use this as an outlet for Writer's Block when my other story gives me trouble, expect an update on it soon though!
A/N: Pay close attention to detail! This is a totally different story line with totally different characters (it is in no way linked to A Slave's Gift). It takes place after the Cell Games just cuz there's so much free time to kill there with stories! =) Hope you like this, it was an inspiration spawned by my boredom in Math Analysis (I still luv ya, Mr. Enge)!
Now here's the Prologue and Chapter 1 just to accommodate ff.net's weird numbering system! =)
* * = Nail
~ ~ = Evergreen and/or Trees
' ' = Telepathy
( ) = Piccolo's private thoughts
* * * * * *
~He was sitting there meditating again, his green lids squeezed shut. His cape fluttered about his purple gi-ed body as he leaned against a rather large redwood tree. Its branches stretched toward the sky like open arms. I would have killed to be my sister at that point. It wasn't fair that all the years I'd gazed longingly upon his handsome face, beckoning him to take reprieve in my shade, he didn't give me the time of day. It was as if he purposefully ignored me! As if... he knew...~
1.1 CHAPTER 1—X MARKS THE SPOT
*Crap! I can feel it again!* Nail barked inside Piccolo's head.
'I know… what IS it?'
*I told you, something is whacked up with this forest! It's like something's watchin' us!*
'Feh, like what? The birds? The trees?'
*The TREES! I swear to Kami-sama it's the trees!*
'…You're real fucked up, I hope you know that…'
*No! No! I swear!*
'Nail, shut up and let me meditate in peace…'
*But--*
'NAIL!'
*Sorry…*
Sweat trickled down Piccolo's forehead as he focused on the ki he sensed in the forest. It was strongest when he was near the Evergreen, the small, puny tree that was barely a half-century old. Standing up slowly he eyed the tree across from him and approached it.
~This must be the second time he's actually glanced my way… his deep obsidian eyes are spellbinding. He… He looks lonelier today, moreso than usual… Poor thing, I haven't seen that boy, Gohan, with him for at least six months… and now he just works out alone or with a double of himself… I think he called it 'split-form' while talking to Gohan one day… Oh, his voice…~
(I swear it's as if I've pin pointed this strange ki right… here…) he splayed his emerald-skinned fingers against the rough bark of the Evergreen. (Is Nail right or am I just going crazy?)
~Goodness! He's really here! Right infront of me, touching me for the first time! Uh-oh… not that caterpillar again!!!~ the tree's voice tittered, falling on all ears except Piccolo's.
A black, fuzzy worm inched down the tree, tickling the bark with its furry little body.
~Oh Kami-sama, please stop! Oh, he tickles so much!~
Piccolo glared as the tiny beast wiggled its way onto his finger.
*Wow! Piccolo has a friiiiieeeeend!* Nail giggled like a girl, mocking the demon.
'Back off or I'll fry it!' Plucking the creature off the tree he held it in his large palm.
"Feh," he smirked, "You'd do yourself a favor to leave me well enough alone…" He set the caterpillar on a leafy-green bush to his right and returned his gaze to the Evergreen.
(Now I know all things have ki… rocks, oceans, animals, and humans… it's because of Earth's many naturally occurring kis that a Spirit Bomb can be created… but the levels are so low that they're almost insensible, otherwise I'd have lost my mind a long time ago! So… why can I sense such a strange power from this forest?… More specifically, this particular tree…)
The sun was turning in for the day and still Piccolo studied the tree for any sign or reason for the ki he sensed. Circling around it like a wolf would do with its prey and grazing his finger's over the Evergreen's rough skin, he collected data and observations that yielded no reasonable conclusions.
'That's it… I'm chopping it down tomorrow!' he growled in frustration.
*Hey! You can't do that!*
'And why not? It's driving me crazy!'
*It's just a tree! That's cold!*
"Nail!" he shouted aloud, "It'll be kindling by tomorrow night!" narrowing his eyes Piccolo shot two eye lasers at the base of the tree, scorching an X into its flesh.
~Wow, that burns!!! Ouch! Oh, that better not catch fire!~
The demon lord snarled and stormed off into a thicket of green weeds, heading for his cave.
~~Evergreen! Evergreen! Oh no dear, you're going to die tomorrow!~~
~Oak, is that you?~
~~Yes dear, it is I! Oh goodness, that terrible terrible man! He is planning on taking your life!~~
~…He… He can't mean it…~
The leaves between the giant Oak and the Evergreen rustled, the wind carrying their words. Words that the trees and woodland creatures could hear and understand but fell mutely on the deaf ears of humans and a certain demon.
~~When a man wants a tree dead he means it! He can tell you are more than what you appear to be…~~
~I didn't know he could…~ was the reply.
~~It's because YOU fell in love with him! That changes your ki signature! Us trees must save ourselves by only being the acquaintances to Earthlings; offer them shade, shelter, food… if we offer our heart they'll KNOW we are more than just organic compounds! Their ignorance is our bliss! As long as they assume that anything that doesn't walk on two feet, speak through its mouth, or have needs or emotions, is non-living then we are all safe! But YOU! You're in love with him!!! And now you are going to die!!!~~ Sap poured from the giant Oak as her leaves drooped sorrowfully in the wind, her own tears.
~~I know!~~ the Oak's leaves suddenly shivered, ~~I know a way to save you!!!~~
~How?~
~~I'll give my ki to you! With both of our kis combined they'll reach the normal human level five! You can become a human and avoid murder!~~
Evergreen was silent for a long time before she rustled her leaves in response, ~But without your ki… you'll die…~
~~Dear, I've lived a good five hundred years. You, young one, have barely begun to live. It would be a cryin' shame to lose you now. Please, I'd rest in peace knowing I saved your life.~~
~Oh noble Oak… I dare not refuse if it'll please you.~
~~And it would too! I love you, Evergreen, take care!~~
~Thank you Grandma Oak, I love you too!~
A small glowing ball emerged from the large Oak and entered the young Evergreen, engulfing its form in a blinding gold light. As the lifeless Oak crashed to the ground the glowing form of Evergreen twisted and turned, shaping delicate fingers and long, slender legs; hair burst forth from the leaves and the face was formed.
As the light died down the newly created human fell to the forest floor, unconscious.
A/N: If you wonderful people would be so kind… could you please review this? I'd be eternally grateful!!! =)
Also, A Slave's Gift has NOT been abandoned. I just want to use this as an outlet for Writer's Block when my other story gives me trouble, expect an update on it soon though!