DRAGONBALL Z meets Sly Cooper

Alternative path

The birth of Son Gohan to Goku and Chi-Chi was like a blessing to the Z-gang. Both Goku and Chi-Chi were overjoyed and were highly amazed at how much Gohan was like them. He had his father's looks, strength and appearance while his eyes bore the same glow like his mother's. A mixture of both parent's personalities was also running through Gohan's veins.

But one thing was certain about Gohan that proved he was definitely the son of Goku, he loved to fight, and that wasn't from a glance, it was from instinct. Well, he was more like his father then he was his mother since he ate just as much as Goku.

Following the birth of Gohan, the whole Son family lived peacefully and after their son's first year, Goku immediately threw him into training while Chi-Chi pitched in with her share of the family load by forcing Gohan into studying. Though the work Gohan was put under was unbalanced at first and the child could barely form a word in his mouth, the child was soon able to balance both his martial arts training with his father and studying under his mother's watchful eyes.

Because of the martial arts his father taught him, Gohan grew stronger, more focused and more confident while the studying Chi-Chi subject him to helped him in both his knowledge and speech. When Gohan hit the age of two, he was able to form complex sentences and speak like a teenager. By the age of three, he was reading and solving equations and questions at a grade six level.

When Gohan was four years old, the chibi Saiyan had developed well and succeeded in all aspects of his life so far. He even had hopes and dreams for the future. Though his mother disapproved, Gohan always wanted to be like his father, kind towards others, naïve in many ways and carry the passion, will and skill to be the strongest fighter in the world.

Gohan's dreams however were to come sooner then he thought but were screwed up in reverse as a person from his father's past came back that would forever change his future life. His life, family and friends were all but shattered after that.

Radditz, Goku's brother came to earth and confronted the bewildered group of Z-fighters on Kami island. The mercenary explained why he was here and what Goku really was: a Saiyan born on planet Vegeta, a planet that used to be home to one of the most powerful races in the universe but had long ago been destroyed by a tyrant called Frieza.

Radditz also proclaimed that he was here to finish the mission Goku had not even commenced when he was sent here, but the valiant hero was having none of it. In one swift movement, Goku attacked the alien invader however was beaten easily by the stronger fighter and during the chaos, Gohan was kidnapped.

Goku later teamed up with his old rival Piccolo and together, the pair flew off to defeat Radditz and rescue Gohan. By the time they arrived at Radditz's landing point, he had already thrown Gohan into his ship, using the pod as a prison cell for the half breed.

With both Goku and Piccolo lightened up and ready to fight, they both took their stands. The line had been drawn, and there was no turning back. Well, they didn't have a choice in the matter when they discovered to their horror that Radditz was far stronger then they even realized as the mercenary powered up to his maximum and attacked. Radditz's assault soon turned into a merciless rampage as he cut down both fighters in a few seconds flat.

A failed attempt from Piccolo's Special Beam cannon lead up to his initial death at the hands of Radditz and soon enough, the mercenary was crushing Goku beneath his feet, the sounds of his brother's cries being music to his ears. It was what Saiyan's were, ruthless and cruel.

Radditz's victory was to be short lived however as Gohan, fueled by rage at his father's suffering burst out of the ship holding him prisoner. Radditz, shocked at Gohan's sudden outburst didn't have time to act or the courage to defend himself when his nephew charged at him, a the same time unleashing his full potential and strength that was lying dormant in him ever since he was born.

Gohan's latent abilities proved to be far too much for Radditz to stomach when Gohan, blinded by his rage head butted Radditz hard in the chest. But instead of bouncing off, Gohan's unbelievable level of power actually sent the young Saiyan straight through Radditz, creating a huge gaping hole in the mercenary's chest and armor, thus ending his rain of terror right then and there.

Goku's death came soon after as the damage he had suffered from the fight with his older brother killed him and Gohan fainted from exhaustion at releasing his latent abilities, forming the Mystic state you see him use today.

Goku's friends arrived later to find a barren and destroyed battle zone including three dead bodies and one unconscious Gohan. With Piccolo dead and Kami as well because of their connection, it meant that there was no possible way to wish back Goku. Chi-Chi and the others were devastated.

The Z-fighters tried to gather up after the fight but because of everything that had happened during the fight, it was hard. Then, everything the Z-fighters had hoped to build or had collapsed around them.

It started off with Chi-Chi's death a couple of weeks later. She was so hard broken at the loss of her husband that she had ironically lost the will to live. It was after her death that the Z-fighters broke up their band and went their separate ways. But what was to become of young Gohan?

None of the other Z-fighters were able to take him in mostly because they didn't have good parenting instincts or skills and neither had any room to take care of him, even Bulma. So, in a startling decision, they sent Gohan to an orphanage. Gohan's life had just made a sudden turn down a different and unknown path.

But it was there where it all started…

…the beginning of Gohan's life right there at the orphanage…

TO BE CONTINUED…