Set after the events of the Buu Saga but before the last episode. Rated T for violence, fighting, mentions of death, and mentions of violence.
Another Hero
Saiyans always loved challenges. Saiyans never said die. Saiyans weren't afraid of heights. They weren't!
"Come on, Dad! You're gonna fall!" Goten yelled up.
"You know, you're dad's a real idiot," Trunks muttered. "Why doesn't he just fly up?"
"A Saiyan . . . always goes beyond his limits!" Goku grunted. And that was why, after a five-hour training session, Goku was found pulling himself fifty feet straight up a tree. Once he obtained the apple that was at the top of the boughs, his training would be over for the day. And he could eat a tasty apple while thinking about what sort of impossible training exercises he would do tomorrow.
Did it matter that the tree itself had slick bark that was impossible to grab onto? No! Was it of any consequence that one of the limbs on the tree had just broken under the weight of a mouse? Absolutely not! What about the fact that he'd allowed himself no floating, flying, or levitating whatsoever? Nope! And that he'd just looked down? Not really . . .
"This is stupid," Trunks said. "I'm leaving."
But Trunks stayed, Goten continued to shout up to Goku that he was going to fall, and Goku kept a tight grip on the tree as he slowly ascended.
"This is kinda fun! You guys should try it!" Goku shouted down to the two as he attempted pulling himself up using one hand only. It was getting easier. Maybe he should try going up the tree upside down! That would be more of a challenge. Just at the moment that Goku thought about putting such an idea into action, the bark he was holding onto snapped in his hand. He yelped and scrabbled on the air for a few moments before grabbing back onto the tree.
"Hey, you cheated!" Trunks yelled. "You're not supposed to fly!"
Goku blinked, not even realizing that he'd levitated for half a second. Right. No more flying. Period. Shaking his head to clear his thought, Goku looked up and again located the apple above him, and he focused completely on its retrieval. He was getting closer now. Closer. A brief glance downward. Yikes, don't do that again.
The apple was practically in reach now. Goku reached out but found that he couldn't grab hold of it from his current vantage point. He was just a few inches short.
"Come here, you little snack," Goku said, straining and attempting to magically lengthen his arm. He tried this for several seconds before rethinking his strategy. Right. Here was an idea. If he pushed off the tree, he could grab the apple, do a few summer-salts in the air, and land on his feet with the apple in hand and no flying used. It was simple. And man, was he hungry.
"He wouldn't jump," Trunks said. "Not when he can't fly. He's not that stupid. Is he?"
"I'll ask," Goten said.
Curling up his body like a cat ready to pounce, Goku pushed off the tree and headed straight for the apple.
"Dad!" Goten yelled up.
Concentration lost, Goku swiped at the apple but missed. He was now tumbling downward with a yell. Fly! No, don't fly! Flying wasn't allowed! What then? The ground was nearing. Think! Land on his feet. Yes, that's all he had to do. If he just had enough time to turn, then he could swing into an upright position and . . . and—
Why hadn't he noticed those rocks before?
