Chapter 2: Aang and the Monkey King

Goku…

Goku…

Goku's eyes steadily fluttered open in response to the strange disembodied voice calling his name. He had no idea who it was, so the boy just rubbed the sleep out of his eyes while surveying the surrounding area. What caught the young Saiyan's gaze was a gigantic sea of puffy clouds floating across an orange tinged sky with a bright white sun shining down on him.

"Wasn't I in Kami's Lookout just now? Why am I floating in-" Goku's cluttered thoughts were interrupted by the sight of him riding on top of the same blue dragon that flew towards him just seconds before. His eyes widened ever so slightly at both the appearance of said reptilian creature and how immensely smaller it was compared to the eternal dragon, Shenron. It also had four horns instead of the deer antlers said aforementioned green leviathan was known to have.

"SON GOKU!" shouted a powerful raspy voice to the extremely lost martial artist. Goku flinched hard at the third utterance of his name, almost off the glowing dragon if it weren't for the fact that he was really inside some sort of illusion keeping him in place. Hesitantly, Goku peered over to the eyes of his current mode of transportation.

"Was that you Mr. Dragon? How do you know my name?" inquired Goku as he peered into the slit pupils of the foreign mythological being. The dragon simply gave a deadpanned look to the boy and pointed to the north with his right whisker, growling silently. Goku blinked twice and looked into the direction of the actual speaker, witnessing an elderly man with a flowing white beard and long hair to match. On top of the individual's head was a crown designed in the likeness of fire with a needle tightly securing it to a short bun of the man's scalp. He also wore red shoulder pads and an extensive robe of the same tinge that completely covered both of his legs and arms. This was Avatar Roku, a firebender who managed to master all four elements during the time he was alive.

"Oooooohhh, you're the one who was talking to me. That makes more sense. So, wassup?" asked the gleeful Goku without a care in the world. Roku simply sweat dropped at the immense innocence of such a powerful being. He honestly had no idea what to think at the moment. The fact that Goku had no sort of reaction to him floating in mid-air was bad enough, but his response was at an even higher level of baffling. Wassup? What does that even mean? Roku just took a deep breath and focused on what was most important in this situation. This is for Aang and he would do anything to make sure the next Avatar in the cycle fulfills his destiny as best as humanly possible no matter what.

"What's up, Goku, is that I am in need of your abilities. More specifically, your ki, or life energy, as your world calls it." Roku calmly expressed to the hopelessly confused alien kid. Goku, putting two and two together, narrows his eyes at the strange old geezer standing…err…levitating right in front of him. His brown tail fluffs up in apprehension.

"My world? Does that mean I'm somewhere else?" Goku reluctantly pronounced to the former bridge between the mortal and spirt worlds. Roku grimaced and closed his wrinkled eyes, peering at Goku in a sympathetic light.

"I'm afraid to admit that you are, my boy," murmured Roku remorsefully as his eyes glow a pure white much to the monkey boy's amazement. Suddenly, before Goku's very eyes, the clouded sky transforms into a map of the countryside down below, showcasing four continents of varying sizes and colors. "Unlike your home, this world has four nations based on four basic elemental properties. First, there are the Northern and Southern Water Tribes, glaciated environments where the inhabitants can manipulate all forms of water. Second, there is the largest of the four, the Earth Kingdom. As implied by the name, many of its citizens can control the earth beneath their feet for combat or transportation purposes. Third, there are the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern Air Temples, mountainous locals inhabited by nomadic monks who have power over the very air they breathe. Then, there is my home…"

Roku pauses for a moment, scowling in disgust at the mere thought of what used to be his birthplace. Goku is too wrapped up in trying to comprehend the information Roku just shared him to notice the change in behavior.

"The Fire Nation…" growled Roku as the scenery changed once more to display towers of raging fire, paired with a vast army of marching foot soldiers. Each of the men wear masks similar in appearance to human skulls, aligned with red crests that curve upward. "Is an island country tasked with global domination over all four nations. They plan to do this by utilizing the most deadly and destructive element there is: fire. Unlike the other nations, people living there can bend at any point in time. As long as the sun is still shining and there is breath still in their bodies, they have a limitless supply of fire to utilize to their heart's content. That is what makes the Fire Lord's plans for worldwide conquest a true force to be reckoned with."

"Fire Lord? Sounds like a bad dude, but how would I be any help in stopping him? I already have Piccolo to deal with at the next tournament!" Goku whined childishly while crossing his arms in confuddled frustration. Roku, undeterred by Goku's concerns, points to the boy with an air of respect etched on his wise visage.

"Your triumph over the Demon King is exactly why I called you here, Goku! I have observed all of the feats you have accomplished in the past three years and some of them would be comparable to even the greatest of Avatars, myself included. From fighting Jackie Chun in the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament to destroying the Red Ribbon Army singlehandedly, I know for a fact you will be helpful in fulfilling Aang's destiny to master all four elements. That is, if you agree to train him in ki control when the time is right." Roku praised Goku in a quite decent act of persuasion. Said martial artist was unsure of the proposition, but witnessing the pain and suffering being caused by this so-called "Fire Nation" caused his blood to boil in rage. Plus, the prospect of having a decent fight with the fire lord didn't hurt either.

"So, if I help this U-ung…Ong?" presumed Goku as he struggled to recall the name of the kid he was being asked to help out.

"Aang, yes." Roku calmly acknowledged, patiently waiting for Goku to mentally catch up.

"Will I be able to go back to Kami's place after this Fire Lord guy is over and done with?" pleaded Goku as he proceeded to grasp onto Roku's dragon for dear life. Roku looked down on the boy with a tight smile laced with an underlying sense of uncertainty. He briskly stroked his beard and thought of the best way to put Goku's conundrum into words.

"Well, time works differently in this specific version of Earth when compared to yours. Since I'm no longer alive, I was fortunate enough to transport myself and Fang here from the Spirit World to Kami's Lookout at just the right moment. However, I was only able to pick you up because of the Time Room's activation. If that specific location is not used again, I won't be able to pair my abilities with Kami's to bring you back." Roku exclaimed to the already homesick monkey boy.

"YOU'RE DEAD?!" shrieked Goku in absolute shock as he pointed towards the old firebender, causing him to fall backwards in mid-air…somehow. Fang also let out an audible growl in response to the Saiyan kid's sudden stupidity, but continued flying anyways.

"You've resurrected friends of yours with those Dragon Balls, yet the fact that I'm a spirit surprises you?! Why do you think Fang is glowing?!" Roku practically yelped at the combat savant whilst clawing at the sides of his hair.

"Oh, I thought he just looked like that. Shenron glowed, so I assumed all dragons did too. Whoops!" Goku shamefully admitted while crossing his arms behind his head and smiling.

"Of course you did. Why wouldn't you?" sighed Roku in defeat with slumped shoulders.

"But…" Goku's wide smile disappeared, replaced with a noticeable frown and narrowed eyes. "If I am stuck here and time won't progress that much in my own dimension, I might as well do what you want me to do." Goku closes his eyelids, thinking about the friends he would have to leave behind in the process of fulfilling this difficult request, especially those recently slain by Piccolo a few months beforehand.

"Krillin…Master Roshi…Bulma…I promise to comeback somehow. I won't let Piccolo do anything to hurt you guys ever again." Goku mentally vowed to the people he cared for the most. Roku, grateful for the boy's acceptance, slowly nods at his trusty animal companion. Understanding the request of his master, Fang elongates one of his whiskers to touch Goku's bang enshrouded forehead. The sensation of this touch causes a white aura to surround Goku, projecting a gallery of images for the boy to decipher. One is of the Southern Air Temple bustling with various bald denizens wearing matching orange and yellow garments, many riding spherical orbs of condensed wind. The display of the landscape then zooms in on one specific monk in particular gliding around on a brown staff with orange wings. He has grey eyes and the atypical blue arrowhead shared by all airbending masters. This is the potential pupil Roku was requesting Goku to teach: Avatar Aang, or the boy who would hopefully bring unity to all four nations someday.

"Fang will directly transport you to Aang's home, which is the series of temples you just saw." Roku informed Goku as the ghostly apparition of his once living body steadily flickered away in a surge of clouds. The former best friend of Fire Lord Sozin smiles down once more upon the Saiyan prodigy and gives the traditional Fire Nation bow of respect: a fist placed against an open palm in the form of a warm flame as he leans his chest downward.

"Good luck, Son Goku. I know you and Aang will both help each other realize your fullest potentials." regarded the boy with the highest of hopes possible. Before Goku could say another word, Fang teleported away in a spiritual blue ball of glowing energy, taking the bravest of the Z Warriors with him. Roku staid in place a short while after, his eyes suddenly widening at a slight miscalculation in his plans that he somehow forgot to compensate for.

"Oh. I probably should have told Fang to drop Goku off at a specific location near the temple grounds." murmured the preceding Avatar in slight worry for Goku's safety. He strokes his beard a few times, then shrugs his concealed shoulders absentmindedly.

"He should be fine." Roku stated while having full confidence in Goku's skills as a martial art professional. With that last thought, he faded away in a plume of smoke, waiting for the moment Aang or even Goku himself would need to call upon him for guidance on the adventures they will most likely have with each other in the near future.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" screamed Goku in bloody murder after Fang transported him almost 50 feet above the Southern Air Temple's main pavilion. His loud wailing caught the immediate attention of the air nomads meandering about from below, moving their heads around to find the source of the ear-splitting screech.

"W-what on earth was that?" asked a frightened young monk without any tattoos along his head or body.

"Is that a child? Where did he come from?" yelled out a much more elderly airbending master with long orange and yellow robes. He squinted his eyes and a placed a hand atop both of them to block out the glare of the sun.

Goku started to run out of options, picking up more and more speed the closer he got to reaching his intended destination. He thought of spinning his tail like a helicopter blade, but that was just a spur of the moment sort of sensation that only took place as a result of his fight with Jackie Chun at the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai. Nimbus also wasn't a guaranteed life-saver since he left it in his home dimension alongside his trusty power pole, the Nyoibo. That only left one possible survival method that he could utilize if executed fast enough.

"Ka…" Goku cupped both of his hands together and placed them on the right edge of his premature body. He glared daggers at the descending location, his black spiny hair slicked backwards in response to the flowing gust of wind. Nearby, Aang was gliding in the air without a care in the world when he suddenly spotted a weird kid with a monkey tail falling down to the surface at concerning speeds.

"What's he doing with his hands?" Aang pondered while observing the boy's strange behavior in the midst of his potential demise. Not wanting the kid to hurt himself, the peace-loving monk adjusted the position of his glider and followed a current of wind leading to Goku's compromising position.

"Me…" A ball of white and blue energy envelops from within Goku's open palms, growing ever so slightly in size. The glow of the expansive ki blast surrounds the entire Southern Air Temple, leaving Aang and the other air nomads completely entranced by this unknown combination of power.

"Ha…Me…" pillars of white light shoot out of the condensed orb of ki, starting to spin around in a hyperactive rhythm of motion. Goku is now halfway towards falling face first into the tiled floorboards of the temple's gathering area. He clenches his teeth and makes preparations to shoot downward.

"…HA!" shouts Goku as a cylindrical stream of blue and white rockets downward, crashing into the paved center of the Southern Air Temple. A small explosion is created from the trademark "Turtle Destruction Wave", sending out a gust of wind that blows away Aang and the other airbenders. Pieces of broken pavement fly all over the place as Goku utilizes his signature technique to make a safe landing. He stands up on his two feet and peruses the foreign environment Roku gave him information about. Aang, after adjusting his glider a bit, gazes upon the boy in awe, never even hearing of such abilities in his entire 12-year-old life span. He jumps near Goku from up above, spinning his staff around in order to put away the orange wings.

"W-who are you?" questioned a slightly terrified, yet amazed Aang, a sentiment shared by the fellow occupants of the Southern Air Temple. Goku, recognizing the face of the next Avatar, simply closes his eyes and gives out a peace sign.

"Yo, I'm Son Goku. You got any food around here?" snickers Goku in preparation for his first meal in the new world. Aang simply gives the boy a look reminiscent of smelling a bad fart for the first time, not knowing that his life from this point onward would change for better, or for worse.