Dragon Ball Rewritten
Of Past, Present and Future
Chapter 5, A Man Named Gohan
Goku had been screaming his lungs out ever since his and Bulma's departure from the destroyed West City. Goku had looked at the full moon for the first time in his young life and the result was turning into a giant monkey monster which destroyed West City. Now Bulma and her adopted little brother are searching for the Dragon Balls in hopes of restoring the once great city to before it was demolished.
Bulma has been driving the jeep like a rocket and Goku was worried his crazy sister would crash it. The day after tomorrow is Bulma's sixteenth birthday and the teen wishes to find another Dragon Ball before then as an early birthday present to herself.
"Slow down before you make us crash!" Goku kept screaming.
"Would you chill out little brother? I know this is your first time riding with me but you shouldn't keep screaming or your voice box will go mute!" Bulma shouted over the raging winds.
Goku never rode with Bulma before, he had seen the way she drove and to be honest it scared the tailed boy despite being able to handle a herd of dinosaurs and elephants trampling over him.
"Just relax, I've got this under control. Now we should be near another Dragon Ball soon." Bulma said while looking at her Dragon Radar seeing one of the dots coming in closer to them. Goku screamed again when he noticed she wasn't watching the road.
'I'm so going to die! Dad was right; never ride with a teenager, especially a crazy girl like Bulma!' Goku frantically thought.
They were somewhere in a forest just before Bulma hit the breaks and caused a sudden stop. The jerk surprised Goku and he ended up hitting his face on the windshield. Bulma just smiled and got out of the jeep.
"Wew, finally made it. Now that Dragon Ball should be here somewhere." Bulma said as if nothing was wrong.
Goku managed to unglue his face from the jeep's windshield and massaged it. While Bulma was busy searching for the Dragon Ball, Goku was grumbling.
"I knew I should've learned to drive when I was ten, but noooo, they wanted me to wait until I was fifteen. Ugh, now I'm going to have every part of my body stabbed from windshields, rubber tires and metals. I probably should've wrote a will before agreeing to come on this journey with my crazy sister."
"Stop grumbling and help me look Goku. The Dragon Ball might be buried or something." Bulma said to her complaining brother.
"Alright, alright, just give me a second, you nearly took my face out you know." Goku said annoyed. His sister was always like that, but that's why he loved her.
After shaking his head to get rid of that annoying ringing sound in his ears, the young tailed boy hopped out of the jeep and began looking around. Bulma pointed at the direction her Radar was showing near a cave.
"I'm not sure if there's some dangerous animal in there, but I'd rather not risk it. You're use to fighting beasties, so you should go check it out." Bulma said.
"Fine, I'll go look." Goku sighed, wishing his sister trainned with him and Krillin so she could defend herself. The boy went into the cave and carefully looked around to see any orange balls or dangerous wildlife.
Goku began moving rocks around. "It's gotta be here somewhere..." he lifted another rock and saw a familiar small orange ball with five red stars in it.
"Ah-ha! Jackpot!" as Goku reached for it however, something suddenly jumped in front and snatched the little orange ball into its mouth.
Goku yelped in shock when he saw a giant pteradactyl holding the prescious Dragon Ball in its large maw. Goku's eyes widened as if begging the bird dinosaur not to swallow the ball. The pteradactyl only gave a sinister grin before closing his mouth and swallowed it.
Goku gave another yelp. "What's a matter kid? You wanted that? So sorry." it teased him.
Goku's eyes went from shock to hopelessness to anger. His tail's fur bristled in rage. "You! How could you do that? Spit up that Dragon Ball right now!"
The pteradactyl only responded with a mocking burp. "What are you going to do about it? I'm just about ready for breakfest and that little ball was just an appetizer. Maybe I should eat that girl outside, she's taller and probably has more meat then you. Besides, that fur on your tail would only choke me."
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Goku warned, but the monster already flew out of the cave. Goku ran after it.
"Bulma! Watch out!" Goku yelled, hopping to get his sister to run before she gets eaten.
"Goku? Aaaah!" he heard Bulma screaming. Goku jumped out of the cave only to see his big sister being taken into the sky by the dinosaur.
"BUUUULMAAA!" Goku screamed in horror.
"HELP ME GOKU!" Bulma yelled.
Goku thought furiously, trying to think of a way to save her before they got too far. Then he noticed Bulma's Capsule Case on the ground, she must've dropped it when the pteradactyl swooped in and grabbed her.
Goku quickly picked it up, hopping she packed a jet pack or something useful to get him into the sky. Goku picked a random Capsule with the number 2 on it. He quickly threw it and revealed a motorcycle.
"A motorcycle! First a jeep and now a motorcycle! That girl is trying to kill me!" Goku shook his head, knowing this wasn't the time. "This might work."
The tailed boy quickly hopped in the two wheeled vehical and started it. It started moving but at a slow pace. Goku was a little familiar using a motorcycle since he watched Bulma drived a hover one before in the city. "Come on, it needs to go faster, I have to save Bulma."
Goku twisted the bike's handle, causing it to suddenly shoot across the dirt road. "WHHOOAAA!" Goku looked up to see he was quickly catching up, now if he could just get it in the air...
"GOKU! PLEASE HELP ME!" Bulma screamed.
"HANG ON BULMA!" Goku found a steep hill, perfect. The motorcycle jumped from the hill and started going towards the pteradactyl. Goku quickly jumped out of the driver's seat and grabbed his big sister's hand before falling.
"Help me up." he said as Bulma pulled him up.
"Huh? Hey what's going on?" the pteradactyl didn't even see the kid coming. Goku jumped on his neck and grabbed his head and started pulling.
"HEY! LET GO THAT HURTS!" the dinosaur screamed in pain.
"Not until you take us down and spit up that Dragon Ball you swallowed!" Goku demanded still pulling on his head.
"YAARGH! Okay! I'll do it! Just stop pulling before you rip my scales off!"
The pteradactyl landed and gagged itself until it spat the orange little ball. "There! Happy?"
"Very." Goku smiled before picking up the wet Dragon Ball, the boy cringed in disgust.
"I don't ever want to see you again." the pteradactyl snapped before taking off into the sky again, leaving Goku and Bulma behind.
Bulma let out a breath of relief. "Wew, glad you saved me, thanks little brother. And we got our second Dragon Ball."
Goku stuck his tongue out while he held the wet ball away from his disgusted face. "Eew! I think this Dragon Ball's been swimming around in stomach acid."
"THAT IS GROSS!" Bulma put on her gloves and snatched the orange ball away from her little brother's hands.
"We're going to find a lake and wash both the Dragon Ball and your hands!" she scolded like a true older sister.
Thankfully they were already near a pond, so Bulma scrubbed the Dragon Ball until it became squeaky clean, Goku did the same to his hands. Soon the Dragon Ball was clean and Bulma put it in the suitcase with the other Dragon Ball.
"There, looks like we found the Five-Star Ball." she said proudly.
"Where are we going next?" Goku asked after Bulma put her motorcycle back in the Capsule.
"The next closet Dragon Ball seems to be over those mountains." Bulma pointed.
"Isn't that Mount Paozu? Didn't our Dad say a man called Gohan was there or something?" Goku asked, remembering how they named him.
"I don't know, it may just be a myth. I doubt anyone would be living in such an isolated place. Come on, we better make tracks." Bulma said as she got in the jeep. Goku sweatdropped, not looking forward to more Road Rage with his driving crazy sister, but it's not like he had much of a choice and jumped in.
Once again, Bulma took off like a jet. Goku was glad they were in a place with no other people or they'd crash a long time ago. Now he just hopes she doesn't run into any trees or fall off a ravine.
Goku was stiff as a board by the time they came to a narrow road, Bulma sighed as they slowed down hopping not to give her little brother and only bodygaurd a heart attack before they find another Dragon Ball.
Goku soon relaxed when she finally slowed down, but was still nervous to the fact they were riding on a very narrow road and one wrong move they'd be falling off the mountain.
"Geez Goku, what's with you? You're afraid of a little car drive yet you're not afraid to getting beaten up to a bloody pulp by robots. Honestly you're such a weird kid." Bulma sighed, making Goku chuckle.
"Sorry Bulma, I guess I'm just concerned since we never left the city before." Goku smiled and laughed, Bulma figured he was laughing due to the stress and not because he thinks anything was funny.
"Alright, stop laughing like a maniac, we're here." Bulma sighed after stopping in the middle of the woods and saw a small house.
Bulma checked the Dragon Radar. "The Dragon Ball might be in that house."
Goku blinked; this was just like his first vision! It's coming true now. Goku hopped out of the jeep and walked up beside her. "There might be someone in there, what if they don't want us to take the Dragon Ball?"
Bulma just shook her head. "We'll just have to find a way to persuade them. We need those Dragon Balls if we want our wish to come true."
Goku suddenly felt giddy, it felt like only yesterday that he saw this exact scene. Bulma noticed him suddenly grinning.
"What's up with you all of a sudden?"
"Nothing, it's just that scene just now... that was my first vision." Goku said with a smile.
"Oh I see. Looks like another vision comes true. Now we better go inside and see if the Dragon Ball is in there." Bulma said as she opened the sliding door.
To both of their surprised they saw an old man, he was reading a book and he looked at them. "Oh my, it's been a long time since I've seen people, especially around these parts. Why would a couple of kids like the two of you be doing way out here?"
"My name is Bulma Briefs and this is my little brother Goku Briefs." Bulma introduced polietly.
Goku bowed in respect before saying, "We came here looking for something very important."
"Hm? What's so important that you two young kids would come all the way out here for?" the old man said in shock that two kids would go out of their way just to come here looking for something
"We're looking for a small orange ball with red stars in it. We need it to help restore a fallen city." Goku explained briefly.
"I see... well I believe I have something like that, I found it on my morning walk a long time ago. But I can't just hand it over if it has such powers."
"But we really need it. Is there any way you would be willing to give it to us?" Bulma asked, not wanting things to get ugly.
The old man thought before looking at Goku. "Young man, you say your name is Goku? I've never seen a human with a tail before and I can sense something strong about you. How about this: I'll give you what you want if you have a little spar with me boy."
Goku and Bulma looked at him. "Uh... you sure you want to fight with me?"
"Of course. I'm much stronger then I look, so don't hold anything back." the man said as he walked outside.
"My little brother is pretty strong, are you sure this is a good idea?" Bulma asked in concern.
"I said don't worry about me. After all, I've been trainned by the Legendary Turtle Hermit himself." the old man said in confidence.
Goku's eyes widen in awe. "No way! You're a student of the great Master Roshi himself? I've got to fight you now! Uh... what's your name?"
"Oh right, how rude of me for not introducing myself: I am the great warrior Gohan Son."
"Gohan? I was named after you... well somewhat." Goku smirked as he crouched into his fighting position.
"Yes I could tell, 'Goku' would be the name I myself would've chosen if I ever had a grandchild." Gohan said before getting into his own fighting stance.
Both fighters stared each other down. Bulma just watched on the sidelines. She knew her adobted little brother was strong, but this old man was the great warrior Gohan and he's been trainned under Master Roshi himself. This battle could go either way.
Goku charged at Gohan. Gohan easily saw his movement and moved out of the way before the boy could hit him. "You're very fast, I'm impressed, but it'll take more then speed to beat me."
Gohan then jumped and kicked Goku in the back, causing the tailed boy to hit the ground face first. When Goku stood back up and rubbed his abused face, he glared. "Oh come on, I've already been hit in the face because of Bulma! I don't need anymore abuse!"
"Quit complaining. You should know in battle that enemy will strike where it will always hurt." Gohan said before lunging at the boy again.
Goku readied himself for the incoming attack. The boy managed to punch the old man in the gut, causing some damage. "You sure can pack a punch. Now let's see if you can handle my little technique." Gohan said with a smirk.
Goku stood his ground before jumping and trying to kick the old man, but to his and Bulma's surprise his foot went right through him! "Wha?"
Goku's eyes popped out when he saw the image of Gohan fadded away, then something knocked him to a tree. "Ow!"
Goku turned back to see it was Gohan who punched him. "H-how did you do that?"
"That's a little something I like to call: the After Image technique. It's a projection of the user, fooling the oppenent." the old warrior explained before getting back into his fighting stance and Goku doing the same, though it was sloppy since this is the first real fight the young boy ever had. Bullies don't count since they only charge head first into an attack. Goku never actually sparred with Krillin either, the two only worked together during trainning.
"Tell me something young Goku, is this your first battle?" Gohan asked the little warrior after noticing how sloppy his stance was.
Goku nodded. "That's right. I've only trainned and fought animals, this is my first true battle."
"I see, that would explain why your fighting style is so sloppy. Enough of this, I want to train you before I hand over the Dragon Ball." Gohan suddenly said standing up straight.
"Train? We don't have time for trainning." Bulma complained.
"If you want to find all the Dragon Balls, then this young man needs to be taught by a true Martial Arts Master, otherwise he may end up in defeat should you two run into a powerful warrior that is not willing to give you anything." the old warrior explained calmly.
Goku looked at his big sister and at the old man. "You sure we have time?" Goku was always eager to be trainned by a master, but he wanted to fix the city he destroyed first.
"Don't you worry, you're already strong, I'm just going to teach you the basics of Martial Arts so you can defend yourself better. If you're a fast learner then it shouldn't take more then a day or two." Gohan said.
"I suppose we could. We already found two Dragon Balls, that's some good progress especially since it would take most years just to find one let alone two Dragon Balls without the Dragon Radar." Bulma said.
For the next 24 hours, Gohan taught Goku the basics of Martial Arts. Since the young tailed boy never had a proper master there were a lot of things he had to learn, but he was a fast learner and easily picked up on what he needed to do. Bulma would either root for her brother or just read some magezines she packed in her Capsule Case, knowing something would've happened. The girl genius always bring entertainment.
Chapter 6, Battle and Tragedy In Mount Paozu
By the time the next morning sun rose, Goku had learned all the basics of Martial Arts and took a much better fighting stance. Goku's movements are now much more profecient and graceful instead of aggressive and sloppy.
"Good, good, you've improved a lot after learning all the basics. I would teach you more and some of my techniques, but you and your older sister should go find the Dragon Balls first. Maybe you should let my old master teach you as he can bring out your potential better then I ever could." Gohan said.
Goku bowed in respect for his first mentor. "Thank you so much Master Gohan."
"By the way, I want to give you something before I give you the Dragon Ball. I don't use it very much anymore, but it's a powerful weapon that's been passed down to me from my own father a long time ago." the old warrior pulled out a red pole from an old closet.
Goku's eyes widened as he recognize that red pole from his vision before when he was in the desert fighting a mysterious man. "Is that... the Power Pole?"
Gohan's eyes widen. "Why yes it is. How did you know?"
"I... had a vision about it seven years ago." Goku had explained the whole psychic thing already to Gohan during trainning.
"Hm? Oh I see. That ruined the surprise. Well yes, this is the Extending Power Pole. I want you to have it since you were my first pupil and a great one." Gohan said as he gave it to the excited tailed boy.
"Th-thank you Master Gohan." then Goku remembered something else from his vision. "Wait... in my vision I said you 'died'. But I don't see any reason you would unless it's from old age."
Gohan thought about it. "I doubt it. I'm not near my end yet."
Suddenly Bulma screamed. "BIG SISTER!" both Goku and Gohan ran outside to see the young teen girl being carried away by a huge eagle.
"WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO MEEEE!" she screamed from its talons.
"Guess I forgot to warn you this place has a lot of big carnivorous creatures. Goku, why don't you test that Power Pole of yours to save your big sister?"
"Alright, here goes." Goku smirked as he grabbed his new Power Pole. The little tailed boy ran towards the eagle carrying away Bulma.
"POWER POLE EXTEND!" Goku was surprised to see how long the little Power Pole suddenly got. It was high enough to reach the big bird. Without another second to spare, the young boy swung the extremly long Power Pole and slammed the poor bird's back, causing it to fall towards a deep ravine with Bulma.
"Bulma!" Goku threw his Power Pole at her. The Power Pole caught the back of her shirt and stuck to the rocky hill, saving her from falling.
"Wew, that was close. Are you okay sis?" Goku chuckled when he saw Bulma was leaking.
"DO I LOOK OKAY! Get me down! I'm having a little crisis!" she cried feeling extremly embarrassed.
"Master Gohan, I'm going to try and get my sister down, I'll be right back." Goku said to the old man before hopping off towards her.
Gohan smiled as he watched his newest and only student trying to save his big sister. "That boy's really strong and has a heart of gold. Master Roshi would be more then happy to take him as his pupil. Oh yes, I better get that Dragon Ball they came for." he went back into his little house.
Meanwhile, in the sky just above the teen girl and pre-teen tailed boy, a small yet military plane was flying by. Inside was a woman and a dog, both of them were looking down.
"This is the place Shu. Emporer Pilaf said the Dragon Ball is somewhere in Mount Paozu." the woman said.
"I sure hope we find it Mai, Emporer Pilaf is getting more and more impatient ever since he found the One-Star Ball." Shu the dog sighed.
Mai then noticed Goku helping Bulma get on solid ground. "Hey, I see two children there. They may have the Dragon Ball."
"Should we land and interrogate them?" Shu asked.
"We might as well. After all, how much trouble could a couple of kids give us?" Mai said with confidence as she landed the plane near them.
Goku and Bulma, who have yet to discover the plane behind them, were finally on solid ground. "You gonna be okay sis?"
"I'll be fine... just let me... catch my breath." Bulma said panting.
"That's twice you almost got eaten. Maybe you should've trainned with me a bit, at least so you wouldn't get so easily taken by giant birds." Goku suggested.
"Don't patronize me!" she snapped still a bit angered getting taken by carnovirous animals twice in one week.
"Hey you two!" someone said. Goku and Bulma turned to the voice and saw a woman and an anthro dog.
"We were wondering if the two of you have seen any orange balls with red stars in it." the dog said.
Goku and Bulma immediantly knew not to trust them if they were looking for Dragon Balls. "No we haven't." Bulma said, knowing her little brother Goku had a big problem with lying, the boy couldn't lie to save his life.
"Oh really? Then why are the two of you here?" Mai, the woman, asked.
"Yeah this place isn't exactly something people would come to on a pleasent trip." Shu, the dog, said.
Goku blinked and kept his mouth shut, knowing anything he say would give them away. Whenever it comes to lying, he let his big sister handle it and he just acts like a clueless naive kid.
Bulma was glad her brother knew what to do, they have gone through this before with their parents. Goku always gave them away so Bulma came up with a plan when it comes to desception; since Goku was terrible at lying he is to just keep quiet and act dumb while she herself does the talking.
"My kid brother and I have gotten lost. We were trying to find the city but took a wrong turn and ended up in this place. Do you know where the nearest civilization is?" she asked acting innocent.
Goku may not be good at lying, but he was a great actor as well as a Martial Artist. The tailed boy gave a pitiful face almost as if about to cry, the face itself was saying; 'I want to go home big sister'. It was pretty convincing.
"Don't cry little brother, we'll get home soon." she pretended to soothe him before turning her attention back to the two people.
"I see, well I'm sorry but we can't help you. We're on an important mission, we don't have time to babysit you." Mai said rudely.
"That's right. If you two can't help us, then buzz off." Shu said annoyed that they wasted their time.
Goku and Bulma glared at them. "Cold hearted thugs." Goku mumbled angerily, not liking the fact they would be so cold to someone needing help.
"Don't get riled up kid, as long as they don't know the Dragon Ball is here we'll be okay." she whispered to her angered adoptive brother. Goku nodded and calmed down before he does something rash.
"Guess those two lost kids don't know about the Dragon Balls either." Mai sighed as they were heading back to their plane.
"Hang on a minute Mai, I see someone else coming." Shu pointed at an old man running towards the two kids.
Gohan just arrived with the Dragon Ball in his hand. "Hey you two, is this what you were looking for?"
Goku and Bulma's eyes bulged out of their sockets when he showed them the Dragon Ball, it's not that they were shocked he had it, it's just that he showed it not only to them but to those two as well.
"No, Master hide it now!" Goku said franitcally.
"Hm? What's the matter?" Gohan obviously didn't notice the other company.
Too late, they have seen it. "THE DRAGON BALL!" they both screamed.
Gohan, Goku and Bulma turned to them. Both of them ejected the plane and were in some kind of egg like robot with arms and legs, it looked kind of funny.
Two eggbots were staring them down. "Oh dear me, what's going on?" the old warrior said in confusion, not expecting this development in just ten short minutes when he went to get the Dragon Ball.
"This is the Pilaf Robot. Designed by the Emporer Pilaf himself." Mai spoke proudly from inside the bot.
"These robots are specially designed to fight strong guys, so you kids and old man don't stand a chance." Shu also spoke proudly.
"We'll give you a choice: if you don't want to die hand over the Dragon Ball." Mai used the bot's hand to point at the little orange ball in Gohan's hand.
Goku glared angerily at them. "We'll give you something alright and it's not the Dragon Ball." he still had his Power Pole in his hand and was ready to use it.
"Very well, it's your funeral kid." Mai pushed a button and a missle fired from its body at them. Bulma screamed in terror while Goku and Gohan calmly took their fighting stances.
Goku kicked the missle as hard as he could right back at them. Mai and Shu dodged before it impacted them.
"He's pretty strong for a kid." Mai observed.
"Guess we'll have to fight back then." Shu said as he pushed the controls fowards, making the robot suit rocket towards the tailed boy.
They used the robots to punch the two warriors. Goku managed to block on of their metalic fists with his Power Pole, Gohan managed to break one completely due to being more powerful.
"These two are strong!" Mai was getting scared.
"We may have to use that to beat them." Shu said nervously.
"You can't be serious Shu, that weapon was made for emergencies only and it's very risky, we could die from it." Mai warned him.
"But it may be the only way, otherwise we'll die from fighting them." Shu said worriedly as the two young and old warriors charged at them.
Shu pushed a button on the robot. Blades of swords came rushing out towards them. Goku managed to beat them away with his Power Pole, Gohan dodged them with ease and they still charged towards the two robots.
Mai shot out bullets with her robot. But the same results: Goku used the Power Pole to bat them all away while Gohan either caught the bullets or dodged them. Instead of using weapons, they were engaged in close combat.
While Gohan took on Shu's robot, Goku went against Mai's robot. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not nice to hit a girl?" Mai snapped at the boy.
"Nobody ever said anything about a girl that wants to kill you." Goku retaliated while trying to kick the robot.
Gohan kicked Shu's robot and Goku broke the glass in Mai's robot. Shu and Mai were now backed in a cornor.
"Shu do it, we'll have to it after all." Mai said desperately.
"Here goes." Shu pushed a big red button and Mai did the same.
Both of the Pilaf Robots connected to each other and began to glow brightly. "What's going on?" Gohan and Goku both demanded while Bulma was hiding a safe distance away from the battlefield.
"This is the emergency attack called the FINAL DEVASTATION! Let's see you survive this!" both Shu and Mai shouted as the robots launched forward in unmatched speed. Goku and even Gohan are unable to dodge or block that.
"Out of the way!" Gohan reacted fast and pushed the young tailed boy out of the way.
"M-Master!" Goku shouted just before the Final Devasation hit the old man full head on! Goku had to shut his eyes because it was too bright.
When the tailed boy was able to open his eyes, he saw in horror the bloody beatened old man was falling, falling into the deep revine and Goku can't save him because his clothes were torn, so tossing the Power Pole at him wouldn't do any good.
Shu and Mai were alive, but the robots were in pieces. "Let's... get out... of here." Mai said weakly as she and Shu wobbly made their way to the plane.
Goku was far too busy trying to save Gohan to chase the two idiots. Bulma could only watch as her little brother jumped down the revine in a desperate attempt to save his first mentor.
Goku made it to the bottom, but not in time to save the old man from hitting the ground. Goku yelled in horror when he saw the bloody old man lying on the ground nearly lifeless.
"MASTER!" Goku cried as he rushed over to him and kneeled down.
Gohan weakily opened his eyes and smiled a bit when he saw Goku. Goku was in great concern, he knew his mentor wasn't going to make it but he was in denial. "No... you can't die. Please Master Gohan, you can't... we've only known each other for a day and I already felt like you were a grandfather to me." by now, tears were pouring from the tailed boy's face.
Gohan struggled to breathe and tried to talk. "Listen... Goku..."
Goku looked at him, listening intently not wanting to miss a single word of his mentor's final breaths.
"T-take this... Dragon Ball... a-and use it to... rebuild your city." Gohan still had the Dragon Ball in his hand and was trying to lift it to give it to Goku.
Goku slowly took the ball from the dying man's hand and counted four stars in it. It's the Four-Star Ball.
Goku turned his attention back to his dying mentor. "But what about you? You didn't deserve to die, not like this."
Gohan gave him a weak smile. "I'll be... okay. I guess... I just wasn't... meant to live anymore. I've done... my part in... training you... Goku. Now you must... find Master Roshi... and let him... teach you."
Goku's tears were pouring like a waterfall, he ducked his head on the dying old man's chest. "Please don't... go. You were my first Martial Arts mentor. You were my first real battle. This isn't fair. You felt like... a grandfather to me."
"I'm sorry... Goku... my only wish... was that... I could've trainned you... a little longer. Good luck... finding the Dragon Balls with your... big sister. I know... you'll make... me proud... like the grandson... I never had. Good-bye... Goku." Gohan said his last words before closing his eyes as if drifting off into slumber and his bloody body went limp and lifeless.
Goku pulled his head up and looked at his dead mentor, he looked peaceful like he was only sleeping. "M-Master? GOHAAAAN!"
Goku screamed out his mentor's name in grief. "He... he was a great man... he saved my life... Why? Why did he have to die like this?"
Bulma could hear her little brother crying, but she couldn't comfort him as long as he's down in that deep revine. Bulma knew it didn't matter since the boy would want to be alone for a while after seeing his first mentor, like a grandfather to him, died right in front of him.
Goku stayed beside the old man's body crying his eyes out, hopping this was just a nightmare and he'd wake up to see Gohan's face alive and well smiling at him. Or that Gohan was just sleeping and would suddenly wake up. Even though the grieving tailed boy knew in his mind that his mentor and grandfather figure was dead, his heart refused to believe it so.
After about an hour of crying and grieving, Goku remembered about his big sister waiting for him on top. The tailed boy sniffled and rubbed his wet eyes before picking up the Four-Star Ball, the last thing Gohan gave to him before his passing. Goku found a big sentimentle value in this Four-Star Ball. The young boy couldn't do a proper burial, so he decided to put Gohan's body in the river and let it flow down stream and hopefully into the sea. Goku took one last look at Gohan's body before jumping up the revine.
Bulma was sitting on a rock waiting for her little brother, she knew he would be crying for a long time, grief is something that takes time for to heal. To her surprise it's only been an hour and Goku already came back up from the revine with the Dragon Ball in his hand, but she could tell he wasn't quite done grieving over the loss of his mentor and grandfather figure.
"Are you going to be okay, Goku?" Bulma asked in concern.
Goku didn't answer right away, he didn't want his voice to crack after all the crying and yelling he did, instead he showed her the Four-Star Ball. Goku's blue gi was wet from the water in the revine and his tail was drooping.
Showing the Dragon Ball was all the answer Bulma needed: it was the last thing Gohan gave to him before dying. "I understand. You keep that Dragon Ball with you, little brother. It probably means a lot to you since... well you know. You don't have to say anything, let's just go." Bulma said with a concern smile as she walked him to the jeep and got ready to look for the next Dragon Ball.
"So you didn't bury him?" Bulma asked after a while of driving on the open dirt road, it was still a long way to the next Dragon Ball and the sun was going down. She hoped she gave Goku enough time to finally be able to talk at least.
Goku recovered enough to speak, he had tied the Power Pole to his back and put the Four-Star Ball in a brown small bag and tied it to his white belt waist.
"I couldn't... There were nothing but rocks and water in the revine. Besides... Master Gohan didn't seem the type to want to be buried into the ground. I figured it'd be better to give him a sea burial instead if the river took him there with no predators trying to eat his... remains." he spoke softly, his voice cracking a little still not fully recovered.
Bulma nodded. "I understand." then she looked up and saw the sun was setting and was getting dark. "We better stop for the night. You need a good night rest anyway after what you've been through."
Bulma stopped the jeep and put it back in the Capsule. She took out the biggest Capsule in her Capsule Case that's labeled #1. "This outta do it." she tossed it and out popped a nice sized house.
"Come on Goku, let's get inside and take a bath. We both stink after going two days with no shower." Bulma chuckled lightheartedly, hopping to at least cheer her brother up a little.
Goku looked at her and gave her a weak smile knowing she's trying to cheer him up. He had such a caring sister, even if she is a little spoiled and loud mouthed. "Thanks Bulma, I think a good bath will help." he said softly, still unable to speak normally.
Bulma turned on the lights in the house and put down her stuff and straightened. "Wew, we've been driving all day."
Goku turned on the T.V. to see a man and woman about to kiss each other. Goku glared, disliking soap operas more then bullies. Goku turned to his sister when he heard her moaning.
"One little kiss, just one kiss." Bulma's eyes turned into pink little hearts and she was drooling.
Goku rolled his eyes, his sister always gets like that whenever it comes to romance, that's why she wanted a boyfriend so bad. Then the tailed boy got an idea, smiling evilly, he took the remote.
Just before the two couples could kiss, Goku changed the channel suddenly and a monster reptile suddenly appeared and shot out flames from its mouth at the screen, causing the female teen to jump and fall on her butt in shock.
Goku couldn't help but laugh. Bulma glared. "Oh that's REAL funny tailed brat!" she snapped.
"Sorry Bulma, but I had to do that. You were daydreaming about boyfriends again, it's my job as your little brother." Goku laughed and his voice was back to its normal loudness.
Bulma would've chased her little brother around had she not realized that he was looking much better since this morning after Gohan's death. So instead she just humphed. "Well I'm glad I could make you feel better. Now are you going to take a bath or do I have to help you?"
Goku stopped laughing and blushed. The last time Bulma helped him take a bath, his tail kept moving around and she grabbed it being irritated by his tickling fur. The grab really hurt Goku and drainned all his energy, it's worse then hunger... at least he thinks it is.
Goku sweatdropped. "I-I'll go and take my own bath." Goku didn't mind taking baths. It was easy for him to scrub his own back since his tail was like an extra hand behind himself.
After finishing his bath, Goku changed into his pajamas, which looked like a brown monkey's body suit. Their mother made that pajama saying that it fits him because of his monkey like tail. All that was missing was a monkey's head... or not. It was like a hoodie since the monkey's head was the hood.
After Bulma finished her own bath, she saw Goku was watching T.V. and flipping through the channels until he saw one about a woman, a short bald man and a five year old boy on a different planet with green sky and blue grass called Planet Zamek, they went there in search of seven Dino Cubes since the ones back on their own planet Earth disappeared during the battle with strong aliens called the Nayias (Saiyan backwards).
Goku was very interested in this show and it was his favorite since he first watched it at the age of two. The series was called: Dino Cubes Z (Dragon Ball Z parody I made for fun). The first of the series was just called Dino Cubes. It was about a mountain boy with a reptile tail about the same age as Goku, who was raised by an old warrior who died because the boy looked at the full moon and turned into a giant wild alligator like godzilla. The boy was very naive to the world until he met a city girl about the same age as Bulma.
Together, the two set off to find the seven magical Dino Cubes. The cubes were red with orange dots in them. If one collected them all then the Mystic Dinosaur, a giant T-Rex, will be called fourth to grant the discoverer a single wish. Goku couldn't help but laugh; the show was far too much like his own life right now, or at least the beginning of it was.
"Watching Dino Cubes Z again I see. Have they fought Frozer yet?" Bulma asked (Frozer is Freiza's parody counterpart) curiously, she knew the show as well since she watched it with her little brother several times at home.
"Not yet. They're about to face his most powerful men called the Uynig (Ginyu backwards) Force and even that Prince of Naiyas is scared, though they're kinda funny. The main character, Ukog (Goku backwards) hasn't even made it there yet." Goku sighed.
"Wasn't Ukog dead after finding out he's a Nayias and fighting his evil brother?" Bulma asked, obviously missing the part Ukog was wished back to life.
"Yeah, but his friends wished him back to life with the Dino Cubes. Bulma... do you think I could do the same for Master Gohan with the Dragon Balls?" Goku asked seriously.
Bulma looked at him. "I know you want him back, but we have to fix the city first. The Eternal Dragon only grants one wish."
"I know... it's just it felt like it was my fault Master died. He pushed me out of the way and took the brunt of the hit." Goku said sadly, remembering all too well how the Final Devastation drilled through Gohan's body before plummeting it down the deep revine.
Bulma smiled and patted his back. "Don't worry little brother, he's in a much happier place now and he wouldn't like it if you took him away from it."
"I guess not. West City comes first, after all, I was the one who destroyed it." Goku sighed.
"Oh don't start the blame on yourself again. I won't hear it. Now let's get some dinner before we go to sleep tonight." Bulma suggested, knowing food would get the tailed boy's mind off of things.
"Great! I was starving!" Goku jumped up and drooled, forgetting about everything else at the moment. Bulma smirked.
That night, Goku was chowing down on enough food to feed an army Bulma had prepared for him. She knew how her little brother ate and packed extra just for him. She herself only had coffee, salad and some bread. After eating, Goku decided to do a little research on the moon again, since it wasn't full tonight, it was safe for him to look at it.
"The radiant... something about the radiants reflecting off the moon..." Goku thought as he wrote down notes.
"Hey there Mr. Lunar Scientist, we better get some sleep for tomorrow." Bulma said coming into the room.
"Hey sis, isn't tomorrow your sixteenth birthday? I wish I could give you a gift, but I didn't get a chance to get one yet." Goku sighed.
"It's okay kiddo, just you being here with me is gifted enough. Just keep smilling and I'll be happy, I can't stand to see you so sad." Bulma remembered how sad and guilty he looked when he discovered he destroyed West City, she also remembered how sad and grieving he looked when Gohan died. She hated to see him like that more then anything.
"Aw, but I wanted cake for your birthday! Isn't it called Sweet Sixteen after all? How are we going to make cake and candy all the way out in the middle of nowhere?" Goku whinned, he loved sweets and cake was one of his most favorite desserts. The young tailed boy couldn't imagine a birthday without cake, it was a crime against nature!
Bulma laughed. "It's not even your own Sweet Sixteen Birthday and yet you're acting upset about not having cake."
"But you only get to turn sixteen once and it would be such a waste if you didn't have cake or presents!" Goku whinned again before frowning. "I guess I ruined a very important birthday for you big sis. I seem to be ruining a lot of things lately."
Bulma sighed. "Hey, don't worry about it Goku. This adventure and leaving the city is a great present, don't feel bad. Now let's just get some sleep."
"Okay..." Goku sighed before Bulma turned out the lights.
Chapter 7, Bulma's Birthday and Goku's Present
Goku woke up around 5:23 AM in the morning. It was still dark, but there was a reason why the young tailed boy warrior decided to get up so early.
Goku checked to make sure his older sister was still asleep and indeed she was. She was snoozing away. Today was her 16th birthday and Goku knew to a teen, especially girls like Bulma, always dreamed of having a big Sweet Sixteen party bash with big presents and lots of food and friends over.
Since they can't do that while on this hunt for the seven Dragon Balls, Goku decided to try and make this the best day ever for his big sister, it's the least he could do after all she's done for him. She adobted him when he was abandoned just outside of West City when he was a baby, she helped healed his injured head when he fell from the roof, she gave him advice when he needed it, she gave him hope on how to fix the devastated city he destroyed and she was there to cheer him up when he was grieving over the loss of Gohan.
Goku decided Bulma deserves to have the best birthday ever today and he's determined to do whatever he can to make it happen.
Before Goku could move out of bed however, his head started to ache. Another vision since seven years ago was making its way to his head again.
*Vision*
Huh? Another vision? Wow I hadn't had one since I was five, I wonder what this one's going to be about?
Hmm... I see a mountain... whoa! It's all on fire! Someone call all the Fire Departments!
Wait, I see me and Bulma again, but the two of us are riding in some kind of weird red car, I'm sure it's not something Bulma had in her traveling Capsules... Wait, we're not alone this time: there's an anthro pig with us.
"I told you the legend was true! That's Fire Mountain and the dreaded Ox King lives there!" the pig sounded frantic. I heard about the Ox King, but I wasn't really sure if the stories were true... they were all too horrid.
"The Ox King? You mean he's real?" my counterpart said nervously. Oh boy... don't tell me a Dragon Ball is in that castle.
Bulma checked her Dragon Radar and as to annoy me even more, she said, "The Dragon Ball is in that castle. Goku, do you think you could use your Flying Nimbus to get passed the flames and into the castle?"
Flying Nimbus? What the heck is that? My counterpart nodded and called loudly, "FLYING NIMBUS!"
"Argh! Now you've done it! The Ox King heard that for sure!" the pig cried in panic.
I saw my counterpart hopping on some kind of yellow cloud that came out of nowhere and flew up towards the flaming mountain. It was too hot though and my counterpart's tail got caught on fire... ouch, I better remember that so I don't do the same stupid thing.
"Goku!" I saw Bulma and the pig about to get attacked by a huge shadow with a giant axe. He's... GOING TO KILL THEM!
*End Vision*
Goku shook his head. "Wow... what a... vision. This one's about the Ox King. So I guess that means we'll be facing him some time in the future. And who's the pig traveling with us? I guess we'll meet him later on too. What was that yellow cloud I rode? Bulma called it the Flying Nimbus? What's a Flying Nimbus? I remember reading it somewhere but I can't really remember."
Goku didn't like the way his vision ended. "The Ox King was going to kill them. I have to prevent that from happening." Goku cringed, he didn't like the idea of going head-to-head with the Ox King, especially not after all the stories and rumors he heard about him.
Goku looked at the time to see it was almost six. "I'll worry about that when the time comes, for now I'm going to try and make sure this will be my sister's best day ever!" Goku changed out of his monkey pajamas and into his favorite blue gi, strapped on his Power Pole and with determination, the tailed boy went outside while his sister continued to snooze away.
Goku looked around trying to find a good present to give to his teen sister. "Nothing but rocks and grass out here. How am I going to find a good present out in the middle of nowhere?" the boy grumbled to himself with his tail twitching in irritation.
Goku spent about thirty minutes looking for anything like pretty flowers or something, but the only flowers he came across had poison ivy over them. Luckily the boy knew not to touch them. Good thing he did his research on plants before starting this journey.
The tailed boy was getting frustrated, he knew his sister won't be getting up until the sun was high in the sky, which would be roughly around 8 or 9, but he's a bit worried that she may get up early. Finally, Goku had enough and began picking up big boulders and crushed them with his bare hands, for exercise and for releasing his frustration.
The young boy went to pick up another big boulder, but then it made a sound. Goku blinked until he saw the 'rock' had flippers sprawled out. Surprised, the tailed boy jumped back and dropped the 'rock', which turned out to be the shell of a sea turtle. It was a big brown sea turtle.
"W-Whoa! I never thought I would see a sea turtle way out here. Why are you so far from the ocean?" the surprised Goku asked the sea turtle, not sure if he could talk. Some animals can talk while the more primative ones only make their natural noises.
The sea turtle can talk, much to Goku's relief. "Uh... well, I kind of got lost. I've been looking for the sea for a long time."
"The sea? But that's really far from here. Hang on just a sec." Goku rushed back into the house, careful not to wake his still sleeping sister, before coming back out with a map.
"Hmm... I hate to say this; but the ocean is about 100 miles away from here." the tailed boy said to the lost sea turtle.
The sea turtled sighed. "Great, that'll take me 20 years or so."
Goku frowned and looked at the poor sea turtle, he wanted to find the perfect present for his sister before she woke up, but he also wanted to help this poor sea turtle get back to the ocean. Goku couldn't imagine not being about to go back home for twenty or so years.
With a defeated sigh, the pure hearted tailed boy put the map back in the house before turning to the sea tortise. "I can help you get back faster. I'm a pretty good runner and I should be able to get you back before the afternoon." Goku suggested, not wanting to drive Bulma's crazy motorcycle again, not to mention it's good trainning to run 100 miles with a big sea turtle on his back.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to trouble you. By the way, just call me Turtle." the sea turtle named Turtle said.
Goku gave him a smile. "Don't worry about it. I'd feel too guilty if I didn't help you." Goku sighed before writing a letter to Bulma just in case she'd wake up before he gets back; so much for finding a great present before she woke up.
"Is there anyone else in the house?" Turtle asked the boy curiously.
"Yeah, my big sister, but she's sleeping right now so it'll just be you and me." Goku said as he picked up Turtle on his back and started running down the road with the map in his hands so he doesn't get lost.
For about an hour, Goku has been carrying Turtle the sea turtle on his back down the dirt road trying to get to the ocean. Goku would glance at the map occasionally to make sure they were going the right way.
"Are you and your older sister close?" Turtle asked.
"Yes we are. She saved me when I was a baby. Today's her 16th birthday and I was hopping to find her a perfect present since she couldn't throw a big party." Goku explained.
Turtle sighed. "Sorry about that. Guess I kinda ruined your plans for doing so."
"Like I said; don't worry about it. Bulma wouldn't mind if it's delayed."
"I hear most girls like to have a big celebration for their sixteenth birthday. Why are the both of you living so far from civilazation anyway?" Turtle asked.
"We're traveling. We're looking for something important together." Goku said, not wanting to tell everyone he meets about the Dragon Balls.
"I see, sounds like an adventure." Turtle smiled.
As Goku got closer to the ocean, a giant red bear monster suddenly came and blocked their path. Goku stopped and Turtle yelped in fear. The giant red bear had a huge sword in his hands... and was drooling.
"Hand over the turtle if you want to live kid." the bear demanded while drooling nonstop and staring hungrily at Turtle, who gulped in fear.
Goku glared at the bear, knowing a lot about prey and predator and he wasn't about to let his new friend become the prey. "Forget it Tubby! I'm not going to let you eat my friend!"
"Heh? You must have a death wish then kid! Fine, I was going to let you go since you're so scrawny, but now I'll just have you as an appetizer!" the large red bear swung his giant sword at the young tailed warrior, who easily dodged it.
"I think you better stay hidden." Goku said to Turtle before putting him down behind a rock.
Goku jumped on the giant bear's sword. "Can't find me?" he was playing with him. The bear growled trying to punch the brat off his weapon. Goku jumped to avoid it and landed on his snout. Goku smiled, then glared and punched the poor bear's eye socket!
The giant bear collasped in pain while Goku jumped down with a big carefree smile on his face. "That was easy and fun."
Turtle's eyes bulged, couldn't believe that this child with a tail could beat a giant bear like that so easily. "W-wow... you're strong."
"Thanks, I've trainned a lot and I had a mentor even if it was for a short time. Now let's get you to the ocean before anymore predators want to eat you." Goku said as he picked Turtle back on his back and continued down the dirt road to the sea.
After about thirty minutes of walking, Goku and Turtle could hear the ocean waves. Excited, the tailed boy ran over the hill to see the great sea itself.
"Wow, I've read a lot about the ocean, but this is the first time I've ever saw it for real." Goku was amazed at how big the ocean was.
Turtle smiled happily with gratitude. "Thank you so much Goku for helping me get back home. Why don't you stay here? I'll be right back with a reward, maybe you'll even get something for your sister."
Goku smiled. "Great, I'll wait here then."
Turtle swam into the horizon as Goku sat on the sandy beach. While waiting, Goku noticed the sun was already getting higher in the sky, he briefly wondered if Bulma is even awake yet?
The young tailed boy decided to look for some seashells in the shallow water, maybe he could find something pretty for Bulma as an extra apology present for leaving while she was still asleep. Goku sighed, already Bulma's day was going to turn out bad if she awakens and finds her little brother gone, he had wanted to make the best day ever for her, not make her worry.
Goku sat down and closed his eyes, letting the nice ocean breeze blow his black hair and the fur on his tail, it felt good. He listened to the relaxing ocean waves and the seagulls flying.
Goku opened his eyes when he heard Turtle swimming back. Goku stood up with a big grin anxiously waiting for him to get to shore. Goku noticed someone was riding on the sea turtle's back, looks like an old man.
Turtle finally made it to shore with the bald old man who wore sunglasses. "Hello there young man, I believe it was you who saved my turtle?"
Goku nodded. "Yes, my name is Goku Briefs, adoptive son of Dr. Briefs." he bowed in respect.
"Well, it's nice to see you so well mannered. The name's Roshi, the Turtle Hermit."
Goku's eyes got wide, he couldn't believe he was talking face-to-face with the Legendary Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi and Gohan's mentor. "M-Master Roshi! It's an honor to meet you sir!"
"Okay, settle down. Guessing you heard of me then. Now listen, I'm here because you saved Turtle, for that I am grateful. I shall give you a little gift as a reward." Master Roshi said as he looked up at the sky.
Goku was still kind of shell shocked to see he was talking to Master Roshi, the legendary Turtle Hermi, so he just stood there like a statue, not hearing a word he said, so he was puzzeled as to why the old man was looking up.
"Come here! MAGIC CARPET!" he called suddenly.
After a minute, nothing happened. "Uh Master? Don't you remember? You sent the Magic Carpet to the cleaners." Turtle spoke up.
"Oh right, guess I forgot." Roshi sighed and started thinking what else he could give the boy.
Goku, still as star strucked as ever, kept staring cluelessly. The boy didn't know what was going on, just that he was in the presents of greatness. It was what Roshi said next that snapped him out of his 'fan boy' trance.
"The other option is the Flying Nimbus, but am I ready to give that up? Eh, why not? If you can ride it, then it's yours. COME TO ME FLYING NIMBUS!"
Goku shook his head to come back to his numb senses. He heard Master Roshi speak of the 'Flying Nimbus', could it be the same thing he saw in his vision earlier? Goku blinked before looking in the sky to see the same yellow cloud he saw in his vision.
The yellow cloud stopped in front of them. "This is the Flying Nimbus, she's as sweet as candy." Master Roshi said.
Goku looked at it, blinking. "Uh... What am I suppose to do with it?"
Master Roshi did an anime fall, then stood up and said, "What do you mean by that? Isn't it obvious? You're suppose to get on it and ride it through the air."
"Huh? Really? But aren't clouds made of water? I'll just fall right through." Goku protested, having logic in his mind.
Master Roshi smirked. "If you have a pure heart you won't. Only people with a pure heart can ride the Flying Nimbus, others would just fall through as you have said. Here, watch me."
Roshi tried to hop on the Nimbus Cloud... only to fall through. The Turtle Hermit was embarrassed and Goku only sighed.
"Didn't I tell you?" Goku said as Turtle helped Master Roshi up.
"You must've done something naughty." Turtle said as Roshi told him to keep quiet.
"You go ahead and give it a try. Don't be scared, the worse thing that could happen is that you'd fall into the sand." Roshi said to the tailed boy.
Goku looked at the yellow cloud, remembering how he rode it in his future vision. Shrugging, the tailed boy decided it couldn't hurt to try it. The tailed boy leaped cautiously on the cloud. To his, Turtle and Master Roshi's surprise, he didn't fall off the yellow cloud, he was right on top of it.
Goku looked around himself, as if not believing it either. The tailed boy moved around a bit on the cloud, but Nimbus didn't budge. "Hey... I'm not falling off. How is this even possible?"
"Didn't I tell you? The Flying Nimbus is a special cloud that allows only the purest of people to ride on it. Since you're able to get on without falling, that means you're pure. Well, I leave my Flying Nimbus to you then Goku." Master Roshi said to him.
Goku's expression went from shock to unsure to an excited grin. "This is so neat! I've got to try this out!" the Flying Nimbus took off around the ocean, Goku rode the Nimbus like an expert. The tailed boy laughed carefreely as the yellow cloud did loop-de-loops in the sky and surfed across the sea.
Goku then had the Nimbus stop in front of Master Roshi. "Thanks so much Master Roshi!"
"It was my pleasure, I've never seen anyone ride the Flying Nimbus as naturally skilled as you." Master Roshi said.
Goku then noticed a familiar orange ball with three red stars around Master Roshi's neck. "H-Hey! Is that a Dragon Ball around your neck?"
Turtle and Master Roshi raised an eyebrow. "Dragon Ball? What in cottonpits is a Dragon Ball?"
Goku took out the Four-Star Ball from his small brown bag. "They look like this. There's seven in all and if you can collect them the Eternal Dragon will grant you a single wish. I think you have one around your neck, may I see it Master Roshi?"
Master Roshi took off the ball around his neck and showed it to the curious boy. Goku looked at it and nodded. "Yup, it's the Three-Star Ball. Won't this be a good birthday present for Bulma? Hey Master Roshi, if you don't mind, could I keep this Dragon Ball?"
The old Turtle Hermit looked at him. "You want that old thing? Are you sure some great dragon will grant you a wish?"
"Yes sir. My big sister and I are trying to collect these to help rebuild West City, the whole thing's been destroyed and we want to restore it using the wish." Goku explained, leaving out the part that he turned into a giant ape and destroyed it himself.
"I see, you're a noble kid Goku. Okay, I'll give you the Dragon Ball and the Nimbus Cloud as thanks for saving Turtle." Master Roshi said.
"Thanks so much! Bulma will be so happy. Oh, I better go before she misses me. Good-bye Master Roshi and Turtle!" Goku waved as Roshi got on Turtle and started swimming away. Goku rode the Flying Nimbus back to the campsite. It was then Goku remembered he was suppose to ask Master Roshi to take him in as a student, the kid mentally slapped himself for forgetting. "Oh well, I'll ask him next time."
It didn't take long before he made it back to the house with his new Nimbus Cloud. Goku hopped down. "Thanks Nimbus." and the cloud flew away.
Goku quietly opened the door, hopping Bulma was still sleeping. No such luck. "GOKU BRIEFS! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME LIKE THAT! I WAS WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU!" he heard her voice screaming at him.
Goku jumped and saw the angry Bulma glaring at him. Goku gave a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry Bulma, but something came up and I had to leave for a moment."
Bulma took out the letter. "Yes, I gathered that from the little note you left me, but I was still worried. Today's my birthday and it started out with me worried that my little brother was out there lost or getting eaten!"
Goku felt guilty. "I'm sorry sis, that was the last thing I wanted to do. But I did find something that you'll like."
"No amount of birthday presents will change the fact that I was worried sick." Bulma scolded.
Goku took out the Three-Star Ball. "But I found another Dragon Ball."
As soon as he said that, Bulma turned around and immediantly forgot her anger when she saw the Three-Star Ball in his hand. "REALLY! Oh Goku you're amazing! This is the best birthday present I could've asked for!" she took it from his hand and smiled happily at the orange orb. They now had four Dragon Balls.
"Only three more Dragon Balls left and we can restore West City. Then I can have a real birthday party bash, even if it's a late one." Bulma smiled while staring at the Three-Star Ball in awe.
Goku smiled, happy he gave her something worthwhile for her birthday, even if it's not a perfect day or the best party bash, he was at least able to make her happy. "I also have something that could transport us faster."
"Really? What is it?" Bulma asked curiously.
"Watch this. FLYING NIMBUS!" Goku yelled into the sky. The yellow cloud flew in and landed in front of the two siblings.
"Oh wow, a yellow cloud." Bulma never seen anything like it before.
"That Turtle Hermit Master Roshi gave it to me as gratitude for saving his sea turtle." Goku smiled.
"THE Master Roshi? You actually met him? Did you ask if you could become his pupil after we find all the Dragon Balls?" Bulma asked curiously.
Goku sighed. "No, I kinda forgot to. But no worries, I'm sure I'll see him again and then I'll ask him."
Goku jumped on the Nimbus Cloud. Bulma looked at it. "No offense Goku, but I don't think both of us can fit on this tiny cloud. Maybe I should just use my motorcycle." she said.
"You sure that's a safe idea?" Goku sweatdropped, Bulma driving a jeep was dangerous enough, Bulma driving a motorcycle was just plain suicide.
"Unlike you I'm not actually scared of riding my motocycle. You stay on your cloud, I'll follow on the ground, just be sure not to go too far ahead." Bulma said as she took out her Capsule and threw out the same motorcycle Goku used to save her from that pteradactyl.
"Okay, but I'm staying close to you anyway to make sure you don't get yourself killed." Goku said, a bit worried for his sister's safety.
Goku then had a thought. "You know Bulma, I'm pretty sure there's enough room for two people on the Nimbus, are you sure you don't want to ride it?"
"I'm sure Goku, now let's go."
Goku then wondered if Bulma is afraid of heights? No, she drove a hover bike before so that can't be it. Unless... "Bulma... are you worried you don't have a pure heart?"
"Well... yeah, I guess you could say that." she sighed, she knew about the Flying Nimbus and how they only allow pure hearted people ride them. She's not really sure if she has one and didn't want to find out.
Goku gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course you've got a pure heart. You're my big sister, you've always helped me when I needed it."
"Maybe later Goku, let's just go." Bulma said as she got in the motorcycle and started it up.
"Okay, if you're sure." Goku sighed.
Goku rode the Flying Nimbus just above his sister while she drove the motorcycle. To the tailed boy's relief she was actually driving carefully, but still made sure she didn't crash or fall off the mountain. They were making good progress, but they could go even faster if Bulma would just get on the Numbus cloud.
They soon came to a small village. Goku jumped down from his Nimbus and Bulma put her motorcycle back in her Capsule as the two headed in, ready to face any dangers to get their next Dragon Ball.
Chapter 8, Oolong the Shape Shifter
"The Dragon Ball is in this village, but it looks deserted." Bulma said when she and her little adobtive brother Goku walked in the seemingly empty village.
Goku looked around, his tail wavering slightly. "I can see people here, they're all just in their houses... but why?"
Bulma knew Goku had great senses, he could see, smell and hear someone miles away. "Hmm, something must've spooked them."
"Let's see... maybe someone could tell us." Goku said walking up to one of the houses. He was surprised that the door wasn't locked when he jiggled the handle, the door opened right up.
"I thought they'd at least lock their doors." Bulma said.
Suddenly, an axe came down on Goku's head before the tailed boy had time to react. Luckily, because Goku's head was harder then steel, the axe literally shattered, but it did leave a soft bumb on the poor boy's head.
Goku whinned as he held his abused head. Bulma screamed as she was terrified that someone tried to kill them just by entering their unlocked house.
The man who had hit Goku with the now shattered axe, dropped the broken weapon in fear. "Oh-no... it's just as I feared..."
Goku glared at the man who tried to kill him. "I know you people are paranoid, but trying to kill me was uncalled for!" he yelled.
The man begged. "Please don't kill me Mr. Oolong, but I didn't want you to take my only daughter away! I knew it was foolish of me attacking you, but I was only trying to protect her!"
Goku was still annoyed that he had a headache now, but he decided to let it go. "Oolong? My name is Goku. Who's Oolong?"
"It's not him Dad." a young girl said from behind the table.
Soon all the people in the tiny village gathered around the house, they were all mumuring about a boy and the legend.
The girl, known as Pochawompa, places a wet towel on Goku's bumbed head. "There, it'll be better soon."
"Thanks, at least this head injury is nowhere near as bad as the one I had as a baby." Goku said with a smile.
"That's for sure. Anyway, could you tell us more about this Oolong and why you're all so afraid of him?" Bulma asked.
Pochawompa's dad nodded and began to explain. "Oolong is a terrible plague that haunts us. None of us know his true identity, because he can somehow shape shift into anything he wants. He can become giant beasts and monsters, none of us stand a chance against him. For weeks, that terrible monster has been kidnapping our daughters and now he wants my daughter Pochawompa and marry her! Instead of one nightmare, we're cursed by many, there's nothing we can do."
"That sounds terrible." Goku said.
Bulma then took out her Two-Star Ball. "Before we do anything else, I want to know if any of you have seen a ball that matches this one."
"Strange, it looks like a pearl but it has stars in it, I've never seen anything like it." Pochawompa's dad said in wonder.
"I have. Young lady I have the matching one." an old lady said walking up to her.
"Really? Can I see it then?" Bulma asked. Goku turned to look too.
"See? It's just like yours." the old lady said holding up an orange ball with red stars in it.
Bulma quickly counted the stars. "You're right, it's the Six-Star Ball! Could we have it?"
"I'm not just going to give this ball away, it's been in my family for generations."
Goku then had an idea. "Hey, would you give us that ball if we got rid of Oolong and get those girls back for you?"
All the villagers were shocked by what he just said. "That's a great idea little bro. We can take down this Oolong and get back those kidnapped girls in exchanged for your Dragon Ball." Bulma agreed.
"You expect me to believe that you and this pipesqeak with a tail can challenge the monsterious Oolong?"
"I know I don't look it, but I'm really strong. I can take this Oolong on." Goku said confidently as he removed the wet cloth from his head, the bumb completely gone. The boy heals fast.
"Now hold your horses there little bro, we're not going to get much of anywhere if you fight him. I have a better idea." Bulma said with a mischevious smile, the smile Goku really disliked since is always meant he was going to hate her idea.
The next thing the tailed boy knew, he found himself dressed in a pink dress with a rather large red polka dotted yellow scarf covering his spiky black hair. Yup, he knew he was going to hate her idea.
"You make one pretty girl Goku, but you need to smile." Bulma said giggling.
Goku glared at his sister. "Why does your idea involve me making an idiot of myself? I really don't like being a crossdresser!"
"Oh come on little bro, you know as well as I do that if you want to save those girls then you have to have Oolong kidnap you and take you to where they are. After that you can handle him anyway you like."
"I may be a good actor, but when it comes to lying I stink worse then a wet dog on a hot day." Goku said still glaring.
"Don't think of it as lying, think of it as... an implied script for acting, you should be fine, just make sure you don't have to use the bathroom." Bulma suggested.
"Goku you make a real pretty girl." Pochawompa said with a smile.
"Becareful out there kid."
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Goku still didn't like the idea of having to act like a girl.
"There's no time, just stick with it and do your best acting out there." Bulma said.
Suddenly, there were shaking on the ground. Something big was on the way. Everyone in the village were running and screaming. A man ran in the house. "Oolong is arriving and just crushed the gate!"
"Thanks, we'll take it from here, you go make sure everyone is indoors." Bulma said.
"Done!" the man hurried away to help the villagers get inside their houses.
Bulma pushed her relunctant brother outside. "Okay little bro, it's show time. I'll be right here rooting for you."
Goku grumbled. "Why does it always have to be me?"
A giant red orge in a surprising white suit with a big rose banquet came up behind the tailed boy now disguised as Pochawompa. Goku hid his tail in the dress, so Oolong won't see it and get suspiscious.
"Ah Pochawompa, I'm here for you now and we'll get married. Hope you're ready and packed because we've got a busy day ahead of us. I even brought you these flowers." the red orge said.
"Oh gee thanks, I... I don't know what to say." Goku had his voice in high-pitch to sound like a little girl, his acting was pretty convicable... so long he doesn't think of it as lying. And he really didn't know what to say, so it was the truth anyway.
"You don't have to say anything sweetheart, just smile for me and we'll be on our way dear." the red orge said in delight.
Goku was about to turn around and get ready to leave with the red orge when suddenly his body began trembling. Oh-no! I should've listened to Bulma and use the bathroom before doing this, now I really gotta go! What am I going to do? If I use the bathroom now he'll know for sure I'm not a girl! Goku frantically thought wishing he had listened to his older sister.
Oolong misunderstood his tremblings. "Oh my, you're trembling, I see you're scared of me. Well, I'll just fix that right now." with that, the red orge smirked and raised his arms. Suddenly, he was covered in yellow and pink smoke. Goku looked to see the smoke cleared and in the red orge's place was a handsome young man in the white tuxedo.
"What about this? If you don't like it I can always change into something else." the now handsome man said. Goku cringed. I'd be happy if you'd just hurry up and take me to wherever it is you're keeping the girls or change into a toilet.
Bulma, being boy crazy as ever, couldn't help but fall for this hunky guy that suddenly stood where the red ugly orge once was. She let herself outside and had pink hearts replace her eyes and her senses. "Hey there handsome, I don't believe we've met."
Goku saw his sister outside and flirting with Oolong and did an anime fall. That's just great, whenever Bulma sees a cute guy she goes in a trance, doesn't matter if said guy is a maniac out to destroy and kidnapping people, sheesh, teenager girls, I'll never understand them. Goku thought, then realized this was a great distraction for him to make a quick pitstop while his romantic crazy sister distracted the shape shifter.
Oolong looked at Bulma. "No I don't believe we've met."
"My name is Bulma, we should get to know each other. When are you going to kidnap me so we can ride off into the sunset together?" she was totally out of it.
Oolong couldn't decide whether to take Bulma or 'Pochawompa'. Then the man noticed 'Pochawompa' over by the bushes and appears to be watering them.
Oolong walked closer to 'her' and realized something was off. Goku, not realizing Oolong was coming closer to him, continued releasing his natural waters. It wasn't until Oolong was in front of him did he realize that his cover was drastically blown.
Oolong screamed when he saw 'she' was really a 'he'. "AARGH! THAT'S NOT POCHAWOMPA!"
Goku sweatdropped after he finally finished releving himself. "Uh... oops?"
Oolong glared menacingly at the crossdreseed tailed boy. "IF THERE'S ONE THING I CAN'T STAND IT'S DECEPTION!" (look who's talking)
Bulma blinked cluelessly as her 'dreamily handsome hunk' was suddenly covered in yellow and pink smoke. A giant black bull replaced the man.
"Now you've done it little man, I am a very angry bull and I will rip you limp from limp with these giant horns." Oolong said angerily.
Bulma shook her head. "I felt like I just woke up from a dream and thrust into a nightmare. One minute he was a handsome man, now he's giant bull. Goku! The plan's off, just kick his butt and make him tell us where those girls are!" she shouted at her little brother before going back into the house for safety.
Goku happily tossed off the ridiculous dress and scarf, happy that he was just in his favorite blue gi again, he got his Power Pole out ready. "I like this plan much better, no more crossdressing for me."
"Why aren't you worried little man? I'm about to make shishcabob out of you!" the bull snapped, wishing the boy would tremble.
Goku, having fought many large animals and dinosaurs back in the once big garden at home, was not afraid of some shape shifting bull. "Like I'm scared of you. Now tell me where you kidnapped those girls or I'll be forced to hurt you!"
"Don't be foolish! You can't hurt me but I sure can kill you! You're just a little boy with a stick and I'm a gigantic bull. But there is a way you can save yourself, get me the girl." the bull said trying to be intimidating.
Goku didn't falter. "You can try to intimidate me all you want, but I'm not backing down. Either show me where you kept those girls you've kidnapped or prepare to fight."
The bull didn't like how spunky this kid was. Then he looked at the clock for some reason. "Uh I gotta go kid, we'll finish this later." with that, he started running away towards the gate. Goku, surprised the giant bull was suddenly running away, started chasing after him.
"Come back here! You're not getting away!" Goku knew he wasn't fast enough to catch up to him though, the bull was fast.
The bull reached the gate and that same yellow and pink smoke surronded him. Goku stopped when he saw a familiar humanoid pig; it's the same pig he saw in his vision this morning... at least now he knew how they met.
"Um... hey there... you see any bulls around here?" Goku knew this pig was Oolong, the evidence pointed clearly since he saw the smoke at this exact spot, but decided to pretend to be oblivious. Goku had his reasons, mostly to find out why and how Oolong ended up joining him and Bulma searching for the Dragon Balls.
The pig, obviously believing Goku naively didn't know he was indeed Oolong, pointed across himself. "He went that way."
Goku ran in the direction he pointed, but stopped after he was a good distant from the pig and hid himself to he could listen to what Oolong to say to himself. Maybe he would find out why someone like him would want to terrorize these people.
Oolong smirked and decided to talk to himself about why he was doing it... guess he just wanted to reminise his reason out loud. "I'm cute and small and because of that people don't usually suspect me of being a threat. I get picked on and have no respect. That is until I went to shape shifting school and learn the art of transformation. Now I can turn into anything I can imagine... problem is I can only hold a new shape for five minute until I'm forced to turn back, that's why I had to run away before my secret got blown. If I want to continue to feast on these simpletons I have to make sure the kid doesn't blow my cover."
Goku heard enough. Sounds like Oolong had a rough childhood like he and Krillin did, but at least they're not going around terrorizing people with their strength and power like the pig was. Deciding it was a good time to return to the village after 'vainfully searching for the bull', he walked passed Oolong.
"Couldn't find him?" Oolong said, still believing Goku didn't know the truth.
Goku looked at him before saying, "No, I couldn't find the bull." then he walked in the village, waiting for the pig to make another strike.
"Oolong's gone, he ran away, but he could come back at anytime!" Goku warned the villagers.
Oolong looked at his watch. "I better watch myself or this kid could ruin a good thing. If I'm going to want to keep up this rouse I better come up with something really fierce... I know."
Goku pretended to look around, but he was secretly waiting for the pig to change into something so he could somehow convince Oolong to return the girls.
"HEY!" Oolong shouted just before transforming himself into a giant metal robot holding a giant chinese bowel of hot soup as well as holding giant pairs of chopsticks... seems he's gone overboard with the whole 'giant' thing.
"Looking for me? You actually thought I would run away? You naive little boy." Oolong sneered trying his best to scare the tailed kid.
Goku wasn't at all scared, he had a feeling that the transformations doesn't give Oolong any added strength, so most likely, even right now as a giant robot, he was only a weak little pig. Though the boy had to give him some credit for thinking of something big and a bit intimidating.
"You seem a bit more timid this time. Well I'm feeling merciful today. I was going to dump you in this hot soup and eat you, but I'm willing to give you one more chance if you just get me Pochawompa."
Goku rolled his eyes. "I'm not giving you anything. Now are we going to fight or what?"
"You foolish little boy!" suddenly, another boy sneaked behind Oolong and used a slingshot to throw a rock at the robot's head, despite being metal, it really hurted the shape shifter.
"OW! THAT HURTS!" Oolong screamed in pain. The woman, apparently the boy's mother, picked him and ran inside the house.
"What do you think you're doing? You want to get yourself killed?" she scolded him.
"You've got a real monster there lady!" Oolong said angerily as the lady flinched before getting inside her house.
"You know... I think you should just show me where those girls are. If you can get hurt from a little pepple, there's no way you can fight me." Goku said after witnessing Oolong crying in pain from that little rock.
Oolong, not liking what the kid just said, stomped. "You listen here you naive boy! I'm the strongest person alive! What makes you think you can beat me?"
"Well, I trainned all my life and Master Gohan taught me the basic arts of fighting." Goku answered simply.
"Wah, ha, ha, yeah right. If you're so good at fighting, then you can break these bricks with one hand." Oolong said confidently that a kid couldn't be so strong. He put three bricks in front of the tailed boy... don't ask where he got those.
Goku laughed when he saw those bricks. "I can break them with one finger." he easily shattered all three bricks with his finger, leaving a very shocked and scared shape shifter.
"D-do you kn-know what I d-do to people w-who can do that?" Oolong transformed again into a light brown bat this time.
"I flee. Later dude." the bat said before flying away hastily.
Goku shook his head. "I better just get this over with. NIMBUS!" his yellow cloud came to him quickly. Goku hopped on his Nimbus cloud and took off after the bat Oolong.
Bulma and the rest of the villagers came out of their houses. "You go get him kid."
"It's just like the legend: a monster would be topheled by a mere boy who can dance on the clouds." one of the villagers said in awe.
"That kid is bad news, but he'll never catch me now." Oolong said or so he thought until he looked down and saw the 'bad news kid' himself was right on his tail riding on a yellow cloud.
Goku smirked. "Here I come Oolong!"
Oolong transformed himself into a smal rocket and literally blasted off, but Nimbus was still able to match his speed. Rocket Oolong and Goku riding Nimbus were shooting across the sky. Goku was quickly gaining on the rapidly tired shape shifter.
"His time should be up just about... now." Goku counted perfectly just as Oolong was forced to turn back into his true pig body and was now falling.
Goku caught Oolong just before he hit the ground. "Well, well, well, looks like it's ham and bacon for us tonight." the tailed boy teased.
Oolong paled as he's sure the boy actually means it. "NO! PLEASE DON'T EAT ME! I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE THE GIRLS ARE I PROMISE!"
Goku only laughed as he brought Oolong back to the village and tied him up so he wouldn't try to escape.
"Well what do you have to say for yourself you little porker?" Bulma demanded the little pig.
"I'm sorry, that's all I can say." Oolong sighed.
"I feel disappointed to have been scared of him." Pochawompa's dad said.
"Now tell us where those girls are." Bulma demanded.
"They're safe in my home, I'll lead you there." Oolong sighed as he started walking with Goku holding his rope.
Goku saw that glint in the pig's eyes. "If you're planning on turning into a bug, forget it; I'll squash you. Besides, anything you turn into now won't help you one bit and only delay the inevitable until I knock you out."
Oolong blushed a bit embarrassed that the kid knew what he was planning. They walked a bit until Oolong showed them a fancy mansion.
"Oolong... how did you get that?" Goku demanded, knowing someone like him must've either robbed a bank or ripped people off.
"It wasn't easy kid; I had to rip off a lot of people." Oolong said, confirming Goku's latter theory.
"Don't look so smug about it." Goku glared.
Three of the villagers ran into the mansion wanting to find their daughters. Everyone else soon followed. They found the three kidnapped girls... but they were dressed in fancy clothing. One was sipping a smoothie while relaxing in a big red chair, another was eating on the counter in the kitchen while another was doing some exercise with the radio. They weren't being tortured or anything at all the villagers thought.
"Are they here?" Bulma asked coming up behind them along with Goku, Oolong and the rest of the villagers.
The three girls looked to see them. "Oh hey Dad, sorry I didn't call, I was like busy."
"Sorry I didn't come home Mom, but I was working on my tan."
"Oolong, did you bring those non-fattening yogurts I ordered?"
Oolong sighed and said, "I was hoping these girls would cook and take care of my house but they don't, all they want to do is lie around all day. Please take them off my hands."
"Looks like they got spoiled rotten, even more so then you big sis." Goku said sweatdropping at the scene.
Bulma didn't pound her little brother's head for that, because she herself knew it was true. Then the old lady smiled. "Oh well, a deal's a deal. This belongs to you and Goku now." she said as she handed Bulma the Dragon Ball.
"Wow, thanks! You've made our day!" Bulma happily took the Six-Star ball. What a great birthday. We had an adventure and got two Dragon Balls out of it, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Bulma thought with a smile, now they only have two more Dragon Balls to go.
Goku smiled. "We're so close now, soon we'll be able to go back home and fix the city."
Now Goku and his sister Bulma have finally collected five Dragon Balls, will they be able to find the last two? What about Goku's vision of Fire Mountain and the dreaded Ox-King? Will his vision come to be or can the young tailed warrior prevent it? Find out, on the next Chapter of Dragon Ball Rewritten, Of Past, Present and Future.
