Way of the Saiya-jin

Chapter 1: Mini-Goku is Off! Goku's Quest for Power

A/N: My god I've taken a lot of time off. I started this almost three and a half years ago and just let it sit. Well I got the idea to re-write it and see where this story goes. The whole world of Goku Jr. and Pack seems like it has so much promise in it the way I look at it. Don't have to stay within the DBZ continuum which is fun for once. Well…here goes…

-

A boy with a familiar mess of black hair walked into his white home in the heart of the busy Satan City. He immediately tore off his red headband and threw it onto a blue recliner. He continued up a flight of stairs and through a dimly lit hallway. He turned left at the first doorway and quickly threw himself onto his bed; burying his face in his pillow.

"Goku? Are you home?" an elderly voice came from the bottom of the stairs.

The boy lifted his head from the pillow to respond. "Yes Grandma!"

Through the doorway came an elderly Pan to greet her grandson. She sat down on the bed and placed a hand on Goku's back. "Did you have fun training today?"

The little demi-Saiya-jin flipped over onto his back and smiled at his grandmother. "Of course grandma,"

"That's wonderful!" Pan said with a smile. "You know, when I was your age, I used to train all day with my grandfather,"

"I know I know grandma. You've told me a hundred times," Goku said rolling his eyes with a smile.

Pan stood up and began to walk out of her grandson's room. "Well, you must be tired. I'll let you get to bed,"

"Actually grandma," Goku said, scratching the back of his head. "I'm a bit hungry,"

Pan gave a short laugh. "I should have seen this coming. C'mon Goku. I've got some leftovers in the refrigerator,"

After a short meal, Goku Jr. returned to his bedroom and changed his clothes for bed. He slipped on a white t-shirt with a little turtle symbol on the left side of his chest and a pair of light blue pajama pants. Once he was ready for bed, he knelt down on the ground and pulled a photo album out from under his bed. He took the book and sat cross-legged on his mattress and slowly paged through the book. The photo album was filled with pictures of his grandmother in her youth with Trunks, Giru and his great-great grandfather. As time passed, he made his way to more recent photos of he and his grandmother at the latest Tenkaichi Budokai.

He saw the pictures of his fight with a boy he knew as Vegeta. The only thing he knew about him was that he that he is a descendant of one of his great-great grandfather's rivals. Unfortunately, the only time they fought, he lost in the finals of the junior division of the famous tournament. For some reason, unknown to him, this sat unwell with him. Goku placed the book under his bed and turned his light out. He pulled the sheets up to his chin and sighed. He turned to his side and stared at the four-star dragon ball that he found on his trip to Mt. Paozu nearly a year before. He thought back to his grandpa Goku's words.

I've been watching you Goku…and I have to admit you're getting pretty strong…

At the thought, Goku Jr. began to tear up a bit. "I train as much as I can but I don't feel any stronger," he said to himself. "I must really be disappointing grandpa Goku and grandma," He wiped the tears from his eyes with the side of his wrist and sniffled. "I will be strong…I have to be…"

--

A paper ball hit Goku in the head and he rose from a light sleep. He looked around to see his friend Pack laughing at him. "What are you sleeping for?" Pack asked. "It's the last day of school!"

"Oh," Goku sighed. "Rough night,"

"So what do you have planned this summer Goku?" Pack asked.

Goku tiled his chair back and placed his feet on his desk. "I'm going on a trip to train at a temple,"

"A temple?!" Pack exclaimed. "Why are you going there?"

Goku returned his chair to the ground and pulled a picture out of his pocket. "Look," he began. "This is my grandpa Goku's best friend Kuririn when he was our age. He trained at this place before he went away to train with my grandpa and their sensei Master Roshi. Maybe I can find this place and learn to be stronger,"

Pack snatched the picture from his hand and stared it down. "This place looks far away in the mountain country. How are you planning on getting there?"

Goku shrugged his shoulders. "Walk, what else?"

"Do you know how far this is away? Do you even know where it's at?" Pack asked.

"No idea. But my grandma told me that they keep the six-star dragon ball there in memory of Kuririn. All I need to do is find one of my grandma's old dragon radars and find it with that,"

"Dragon…radar?" Pack asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah it's a little circular thing that helps you locate the dragon balls," Goku explained.

"You mean there's more!" Pack exclaimed.

"Yeah. My grandpa told me there are seven in total and my grandma told me the legend of the six-star one after we got back home from Mt. Paozu," Goku told him.

Pack shook his head. "Well, have fun then Goku,"

Goku looked over at the clock and began to count down the minutes until he could start his journey. He was putting up a tough front on the outside, but on the inside he was scared of what lie ahead of him. Unknown dangers were lurking around every turn and anything could happen. But, as his grandpa said, he's brave; he has to be…he is his grandson.

-

Goku Jr. opened the front door to his house and dropped his backpack on the floor. "Grandma! I'm home!" he shouted. He walked into the kitchen and saw Pan sitting at the table, drinking tea.

"Hello Goku how was school?" she asked.

"Good grandma. I'm glad it's summer," he replied. "There's something I need to ask you though grandma," Pan nodded for him to continue. Goku looked down at his hands that he had clasped together on the table. He looked back up at his grandmother and sighed; looking for the words to say. "I want to travel to the temple where grandpa Goku's friend Kuririn trained at to get strong like you and grandpa Goku," he said quickly.

Pan was silent for a second and Goku feared the worst. Although she had never had a problem with him training before, he was asking to leave home for a far away place. Pan smiled at him. "I've been waiting for this day Goku,"

Goku smiled and jumped up from his seat to hug his grandma. "Thank you grandma thank you!"

Pan let go of her grandson and looked down at him. "You remind me of grandpa Goku so much. Your parents would be so proud of you," The room had an awkward silence before Goku spoke up. "I should pack up for my trip then,"

Goku ran excitedly up the stairs to his room and pulled a backpack from his closet. In a flash of colors, clothes were thrown into the bag. He then grabbed a toothbrush and toothpaste as well as a bar of soap from the bathroom. Finally, he placed the four-star dragon ball carefully into a pouch on the side of the bag. He patted it and smiled. "Ok grandpa. I'm going to be brave,"

"Who are you talking to?" Pack's voice came from the doorway.

Goku turned around and saw Pack looking quizzically into his bedroom. "Pack! What's with the backpack?"

"You didn't think I'd let you go alone did you Goku? You'd get killed out there. Besides, why would I want to spend my summer sitting at home," Goku laughed. "That's awesome Pack! I'm glad you're coming along,"

The boys made their way down to the kitchen and Pan was sitting at the table. "Now Goku, to be successful on this mission you must need to fend for yourself," Goku nodded and Pan continued. "Now as my last training for you is this. I will pack you and Pack enough food for three days. After that you must learn to catch, prepare and cook your own meals,"

Goku fell down backward quickly. "Grandma! How can you do that! You know how I get hungry!" he shouted.

"Well Goku, if you don't want to go…" she trailed off.

Goku looked down at the ground and clenched his fist. "Ok ok. I'll do it. But do you think we can have one big meal before we leave?"

-

The orange sun was setting between the tall skyscrapers of Satan City. The cloudless sky let the sun's rays shine unrestricted around the building and onto the faces of our adventurers. Goku smiled and patted his belly. "Thanks grandma, that was great,"

"Yeah, thanks," Pack tacked on.

"Now Goku, before you go I have one more thing to give to you," Pan said.

Goku tiled his head. "What's that grandma?" Pan looked up and shouted. "Kinto'un!"

A small yellow cloud shot across the sky and came to a screeching halt in front of Pan and the boys. "Goku, this cloud has a great history and has belonged to many great warriors. You my grandpa Goku got it from his sensei Master Roshi and then he passed it down onto Gohan, then to me, then to your father. Since your father isn't here to give it to you like I know he would, it's my honor to give you the Kinto'un for your journey,"

Pack stared in a confused amazement at the Kinto'un. His eye twitched. "A f-floating c-c-cloud…"

Goku's eye welled up with tears. He fell into his grandmother's arms. "Thank you grandma thank you," his voice muffled by her shirt. She placed her hands on his shoulders and moved him away from her a bit. He wiped his eyes and smiled at her. "Now go on Goku. Make me proud,"

"I will grandma. I promise I'll become a great fighter just like grandpa Goku,"

"I know you will,"

Goku grabbed his backpack and jumped onto Kinto'un. "C'mon Pack, let's go!" Pack, still in shock from the appearance of Kinto'un looked over at him. "Hmm, what? Oh, alright,"

Pack jumped onto Kinto'un but fell face first on the ground. Goku gave a little laugh. "Look like someone isn't so nice after all," Pan laughed. Pack grumbled and stood up. "How am I supposed to go now?" Pan and Goku looked at each other. "Hold on tight!" they said in unison. Pack gave a frightened look. "Are you kidding!? I'll fall off!"

"Don't worry Pack, if you fall I'll catch you," Goku said calmly. "Trust me,"

Pack thought for a second. "Are you sure. This thing doesn't go too fast does it?"

Goku shook his head. "No not at all,"

"Oh Goku! Before I forget, here's that old dragon radar," Pan said. She placed it into his backpack and closed it back up. "You're all ready now,"

Goku smiled and Pack grabbed him around the waist, visibly shaking. "Ok, let's go Kinto'un!" Goku shouted. The yellow cloud shot off into the air and up over the Satan City skyscrapers. "G'bye grandma!"

Pan waved goodbye to her grandson. As the cloud flew away she could hear Pack faintly yelling "Too fast!"