The Rise of a Prince
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Chapter 2: True Colours of the Masked Man: Grandpa Gohan
The Masked Man slammed Goku down on the ring.
Goku's friends were all staring at the Masked Man with new eyes.
"No, this can't be happening," said Bulma. "Please don't tell me I'm looking at some kind of ghost."
"Goku's Grandfather is most definitely dead," said Master Roshi. "That halo above his head isn't just for decoration. Somehow, he's returned."
"Why's he hurting Goku?"
"I don't think he came all this way to harm his grandson."
Gohan kept slamming Goku on the ring.
All of Goku's friends stared helplessly.
"Oh Goku," Upa said sadly.
Goku, thought Master Roshi, you must find the strength to hold on. If you give up now, Gohan's visit will have been for nothing!
--
Emperor Pilaf jumped into the robot he made. He closed the door and laughed. I'm a genius, he thought.
He made the robot chop a boulder in half, and then kicked another one. He then walked up to an even bigger boulder, lifted it above his head with both mechanical arms and squished it into rubble between his hands.
He laughed again.
"Perfect," he said, "with this new power suit, I will rule the planet and crush all who appose me."
Shu was controlling a satellite in order to locate the dragonballs.
"Yes! The sensors indicate that this is the location of the dragonball cluster," said Shu, looking at Baba's palace on a monitor.
"Zoom in on sector twelve," said Mai over Shu's shoulder, looking at the Goku's friends. "Who is that?"
Shu pushed a button on the keyboard. The monitor showed Goku getting slammed to the ground by Gohan.
Mai and Shu gasped.
"That's the same old brat as before," said Mai.
"What a shame. All your power has left you with one grasp of your tail," said Gohan's voice on the monitor.
"So he does have a weakness," said Shu.
"We must inform the emperor at once," said Mai.
--
Vegeta stepped out of bed. He did not feel like trying to sleep anymore. He walked out of his room and out of the house.
Maybe if I train, it will be easier to sleep, he thought.
He walked up to the punching bag and noticed Tien up and training as well. Tien was only a year younger than Vegeta and was the closest thing to a friend that Vegeta had.
"Hey Vegeta!" said Tien. "Care to spar with me?"
"Ya sure. Why not?" replied Vegeta.
Vegeta walked up to Tien and they both moved into the Crane style fighting position.
--
"Finally, victory is within my sights," said Pilaf while raising a glass of wine as a toast to himself. He laughed. "Of course his tail is his weakness. I mean look at it. It doesn't even go with his outfit."
"We are now in a perfect position to extract our revenge on the child and take all six dragonballs in one fell swoop. He's down and we have the advantage."
Pilaf chugged back the rest of his wine. "Sooner or later that boy was destined to fall to my feet. I am Pilaf the invincible. Tonight I sleep without my nightlight." Pilaf laughed maniacally.
He picked up a blue box. "We must seek him out. He won't be coming to us thanks to my specially designed compacted, anti-radar, dragonball shield container. To bad the right to the word lunch box were taken but again I proved that nothing can stop me. With my spy satellite, I can count every hair on that brat's head and I could place this dragonball under his nose and he wouldn't even see it."
"Emperor Pilaf," said Mai, "when we located the boy, he appeared to be fighting in one of Fortuneteller Baba's tournaments presumably to receive aid in locating the seventh dragonball."
"What if she tells him where to find us, sire?" asked Shu.
"If she were a real fortuneteller what's she doing stuck in the middle of a pond?" said Pilaf. "Besides, look at the size of her crystal ball. She rides on it for goodness sake. She's obviously compensating for something."
"And if for some reason he gets lucky…" Pilaf looked at the three robots he had made. "My power suits will reduce him to dust."
"Right. Very well, sir," said Mai.
"Behold my brilliance. These robots will assure my ascension to greatness by laying waste to anyone foolish enough to appose me. Don't just stand there. Grab a suit and capsule it."
Pilaf, Mai and Shu all went over to a separate power suit, pushed a button on them and caught the capsules that they turned into.
"Once I have all seven dragonballs in my possession, the eternal dragon will be under my complete control," said Pilaf. "And if that big haired freak so much as looks at me wrong, let's just say his short life won't be getting any longer."
--
Gohan slammed Goku on the ground again. Goku's friends stared helplessly.
"Hiyah!" yelled Gohan as he slammed Goku once again. "Had enough? Ready to surrender?"
"Be smart," said Baba. "Give up while you still have a face."
"No, I will never give up," mumbled Goku.
"Well it's your tail on the line, sonny," said Gohan slamming Goku on the ground again.
"No no no no no no no no," screamed Bulma. "I can't watch this anymore. This is insane."
"How could he be so cruel to his own grandson," said Puar.
"Hello! Roshi!" yelled Bulma. "In case you haven't noticed, that's your student out there and if you don't have something to say about it he's the last one you'll ever have!"
"Goku needs help," said Upa. "He can't last much longer."
"But guy, it's forbidden," said Krillin. "If we do he'll lose the match.
"Right. Our helping Goku will ruin everything that we've sacrificed to get to this point," said Yamcha.
"Look at him," cried Upa. "He's in pain! We can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"There's no other choice."
Gohan looked at Goku's friends then looked at Goku.
"Your friends are loyal," he said. "They care a lot about you. Any one of them would lay down their life for you without question."
"Can we Get on with this," said Baba. "I'm having my ball waxed in an hour."
"Certainly my dear Baba. It's almost over. The boy and I just have a few more things to pound out first."
Gohan slammed Goku on the ground again and again.
"I got it!" Krillin burst out. "I know how we can help Goku. We can call for a timeout. They do it in other sports all the time. This way we're not interfering with his match but we can still let him have a break."
"A break!?" yelled Bulma. "He's already broken."
"If he rest, he might be able to get his strength back," said Upa.
"No," said Master Roshi. "No one is going to help Goku. It is crucial he faces his grandfather without interruption."
"This is ridiculous," said Bulma. "Goku doesn't even know who he's fighting."
"That fact will be revealed in time, I assure you. You must have patience Bulma."
"How much longer can he hold on?"
"You mean, how much longer is his grandfather gonna hold on," said Krillin.
"Gohan was not a reckless man," said Master Roshi. "We must have faith in his judgment. He won't give Goku any more than he can handle. Goku will want to see this fight through to the end."
Suddenly, Goku's tail snapped off. Everyone gasped. Goku landed on his butt in front of Gohan and started screaming and holding the spot where his tail had once been.
"Well, at least you don't have to worry about people pulling it anymore," said Gohan, holding Goku's tail in his hand.
Master Roshi laughed. "I can't believe it! The darn thing came clean off. So much for that weakness, huh."
Goku's friends cheered Goku on.
"Ow! It's sore!" said Goku, rubbing the spot where his tail should have been. Goku turned and faced Gohan.
"You meany!" he said. "Why'd you have to go and take off my tail? That isn't fair and you know it."
Goku moved into his fighting position angrily. "You won't trick me like that again." He slowly moved towards his enemy, trying to keep his balance without his tail.
Gohan giggled. "I surrender."
"Huh? Did I just hear you right? Did you say you surrender?"
Gohan giggled.
"Hey, wait. You're really telling the truth, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. I surrender. I am defeated."
"Uh, Okay?"
"Hmm, this is most irregular," said Baba.
"Goku, you have worked hard and gloomed strong in such a short amount of time," said Gohan.
"How come you already know my name?" asked Goku.
"Unfortunately, you never mastered your only weakness. This tail would be your undoing one day. I always told you that, remember."
Goku suddenly realized who the masked man was.
"Wait a minute! You're my…" he said pointing his finger at Gohan.
"Oh, thank goodness. I was starting to get so tired of wearing this mask." Gohan pulled the fox mask off. "Did the whiskers give me away?"
"I-is that y-you, Grandpa?" Goku was stuttering. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Yes, it is you!"
Goku ran forward with his arms spread wide, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" he yelled joyously.
"That's right. It's me, my boy. It's me!"
Goku jumped up and hugged his Grandpa in a loving hug.
"I'm so happy to see you, Grandpa! I missed you so much. Where have you been. I thought you…" Tears filled Goku's eyes.
"There, there. Stop your crying."
"I looked everywhere for you. I couldn't find you."
"Goku, how's your backside doing? Does it still hurt?" Goku shook his head. "I didn't mean to break your tail, my boy. I was just trying to prove a point. You have to learn to protect your weaknesses like I always told you. Now are you okay?"
"I'm alright, Grandpa." Goku wiped his eyes.
"I must tell you. I was impressed by your strength. I never expected you could beat me in a match. Have you been taking lessons from Master Roshi?"
Goku nodded and looked at Master Roshi. Gohan looked to.
"Oh! Master Roshi. It's an honor to see you again, my old friend." Gohan put his hands together in a praying position and bent his head in respect to Master Roshi.
"Likewise. It's been a long time, Gohan. I almost didn't recognize you being that silly mask."
"Oh. Forgive my secrecy. I thought it was necessary. I was afraid if Goku knew my true identity, he would hold back and not use his full power."
"Yes, yes. I understand. How else could you have measured the boy's true growth."
"Did you really come back to life, Grandpa," asked Goku, excitedly.
"Oh no Goku. I didn't come back to life."
Baba flew over on her crystal ball. "Close your mouths and open your minds," she began. "This world is divided into two halves: the living world and the otherworld. I can travel between both. This comes in handy when I'm recruiting new fighters. If I can't find one on this side, I just take a little road trip."
"Now that you're here, does that mean that you can come live with me again?" Goku asked Gohan.
"I'm afraid not." answered Gohan. "The rules of inter-world travel are very specific. I've only got a one day pass."
"Hmm. I've got something to show you Grandpa. I'll be right back." Goku ran into one of the houses attached to Baba's palace and then ran back out carrying a pink backpack. Goku set it in front of Gohan, opened it and pulled out the four-star Dragonball.
"Here it is. Four-star ball. I've been saving it for you."
"Oh yes. I picked up that doohickey a long time ago. It looks like you've been busy gathering quite a collection, young man."
"Actually, those balls have made a big impact on your grandson's life," said Bulma.
"I'll bite. Tell me more," said Gohan curiously.
"Certainly," began Bulma. "They're called Dragonballs. There are seven of them, very popular. In fact, tracking them down is how I first met Goku."
Bulma told Gohan about all of Goku's adventures.
"I see," said Gohan. You've been very busy, my grandson. Good thing you had this nice lady to help you out of those tight spots."
"Grandpa, I can wish you back alive with the dragonballs," said Goku.
"Don't be silly. I couldn't be happier in Otherworld."
"Okay Grandpa. I'm just happy to see you."
"I hate to break this up but my feet are killing me," said Baba, jumping off her crystal ball. "And I can't rest until I tell the boy his fortune."
"Well I guess you won't be needing me anymore so I'll be taking my leave now," said Gohan. "It's been fun."
"Wait. What do you mean?" asked Goku. "You can't leave yet, Grandpa."
"Saying goodbye is never easy, but it is a necessary step before we say hello again and we will. I promise." Gohan looked at Goku's friends. "Master Roshi, friends, I will ask that you look after my grandson in my absence. You are now his family." Gohan walked over to Baba and bowed. "And Baba, I appreciate this opportunity."
"Ya, next time you better not lose."
Gohan walked over to Goku and put his hand on Goku's head. "You have a strong heart and I will always remember you. Always remember that." Goku nodded. "Also Goku, there is another boy with a tail that I found around the same time that you were born. I would like you to find him. You may learn something from him. I didn't catch his name because he ran away as soon as I came near him but it shouldn't be too hard to find him. It isn't every day that you see a boy with a tail, you know."
Gohan giggled. "Goodbye Goku. Goodbye everyone."
Gohan stood straight. "Until we meet again, sayonara." Gohan slowly faded away.
"Grandpa!" Goku yelled to the sky. "I know my tail is going to grow back again and when it does I promise you I'll train it to be stronger than ever before!"
Baba's handed were working the crystal ball. "I'm telling your fortune if anyone's interested." Goku ran over to her. "Listen crystal to my call. Where can I find the seventh dragonball? Tell me now, tell me true. Tell me what I have to view." A blue aura surrounded the crystal ball.
"The seventh dragonball is being transported in that red automobile," she said while pointing to a red car on her crystal ball.
"This is strange," said Bulma, looking at the dragon radar. "If the seventh dragonball is truly in the red car then why isn't it showing on the radar?"
"Where is the car?" Goku asked Baba. "Please tell me. I need to know."
Baba pointed. "Easy. Calm down. It's about 200 miles in that direction."
"It's close!" Goku looked at Upa. "Do you hear that Upa? It won't be long now and you'll be back together with your father."
"Great!"
--
To be continued…