Chapter 4: End Of An Era

"Goku!" Krillin tearfully cried as he held on to his best friends hand.

"It's ok Krillin everyone has to die sometime" Goku said weakly giving his friends a small smile.

"Don't say that Goku you're going to be fine isn't that right guys" Krillin yelled turning his head back to look at both Marster Roshi and Bulma.

The old turtle hermit and the blue hair scientist both remained silent for a moment both holding back tears. It was Marster Roshi who stepped forward and placed a hand on the smaller man shoulder.

"Let it go Krillin there is nothing we can do for Goku now it is too late" Roshi's words were calm and considered showing the wisdom the old master usually hidden behind his perverted exterior.

"What about the senzu beans?" Krillin begged more than asked as the hot salted liquid ran down his face.

"Wouldn't work" Goku said calmly as all eyes turned to him.

"What!" Krillin yelled "But it healed you before when Piccolo pierced your stomach at the martial arts tournament"

"That was different" Goku replied weakly "Back then we had the senzu beans with us I don't think I could survive the journey to Korin's tower"

"Well then I'll go get it for you" Krillin jumped to his feet ready for action.

"No Krillin" Goku yelled though he grimaced in pain from the effort it took him. "It is too late for me but for Gohan you got to promise me to look after him while I'm gone ok"

And with that earths hero closed his eyes on the world for the last time.*

"I promise Goku" Krillin said before falling to his knees burying his head into Goku's chest hot tears streaming down his face.

Bulma froze at the scene before her too shocked to move single tear dropped on the ground in front of her before it was followed by many more tears that flowed freely.

Master Roshi stood silently as his two friends grieved over the loss of his greatest student though the old turtle hermit wanted to break down and cry himself he knew there was work to be done. Walking over quietly Master Roshi picked up the small figure of Gohan at that moment the body of Goku disappeared into thin air.

"What's happened?" Krillin asked in shook.

"This is Kami's doing he must want Goku to train in the next realm" Piccolo answered in his harsh tone as he approached the group.

With a roar Piccolo regenerated his lost arm much to the disgust of Goku's friends. The Namekian allowed himself a smirk at the look of horror spread across all the earthlings face. Stretching his new regenerated arm the green giant allowed his gaze to wonder over to the young boy sleeping in the turtle hermit's arms.

"Now I'll be taking that" Piccolo growled outstretching his right arm towards Gohan.

"No way" Bulma cried out oblivious to the fact Piccolo could kill her with a simple glare.

"Yeah we won't let you take him anywhere you'll probably eat him" Krillin roared in angier putting himself between Gohan and Piccolo. Though the small man was still shacking in fear.

"Fool I don't want to eat him I want to train him the boy has potential and power of which I have never seen" Piccolo's voice was demanding as he gazed at Krillin, He could of killed the small man easily but with the threat of the Sayians approaching the son of the demon king knew earth needed every able fighter it could get.

"Your wrong Gohan's not a fighter Goku said so himself" Bulma yelled angrily at Piccolo.

"And how would you know" Piccolo yelled his eyes locked on Bulma causing the blue haired genius to back away in fear. "I saw the boy attack his uncle and damage him with a physical attack where both me and Goku couldn't lay a scratch, it is my fault the fool was blinded by his wife and didn't train his son maybe if he had he would still would be alive today the boy has power, power which can help us fight the Sayian's when they arrive now hand him over to me so I can train him to unlock his hidden power."

There was a brief silence as no one made a sound before Master Roshi slowly walked forward towards Piccolo and handed over Gohan much to the shook of Bulma and Krillin.

"I'm sorry" The old master said solemnly "Piccolo's right we don't have a choice"

With that Piccolo soured into the air holding Gohan by the collar in his right arm disappearing from sight.

~DBZ~

The first thing Gohan felt when he awoke was the unforgiving cold of the lake water that filled his vision. The next was the lack of oxygen filling his lungs opening his mouth to gasp for air the Demi-Sayian swallowed a large amount of water. A strong hand with sharp knife like nails reached down from above the water and grabbed the top of Gohan's head. The hand pulled the young boy out of the lake who began to cough violently and gasped for precious air. Opening his eyes to see who had rescued him from an early grave though Gohan immediately wished he hadn't of opened his eyes. Piccolo looked at the boy with contempt and utter disgust he could not believe just what he was about to do.

Training the son of his nemesis was not something the Namakien had ever expected to do in his life. Hell the sole reason for Piccolo's existence was to kill the man that had killed his father who in fact was the father of the boy he was now going to train. Life is full of vicious irony Piccolo mused to himself. But why? The Namekian thought why did he want to train the boy in the first place? The Sayians seemed to have no quarrel with him in fact if anything Piccolo owed them thanks for helping him take down his arch rival.

The thought of Goku brought even more anger to Piccolo's heart. He had dreamed of killing Goku the sweet moment when his destiny would be complete and he could rule over the world with an iron fist. But what happened was a cheap kill Piccolo hadn't killed Goku in an honourable way not in a battle between the two of them where the fate of the world was decided. But now the Sayians had taken away his victory and for that Piccolo would make them pay.

Piccolo closed his free hand into a fist and glared at Gohan who was squirming trying to get out of the green giants powerful grip. With the right training the boy could become one of the most powerful warriors that ever lift a threat to Piccolo if he ever took over the world however the thought of how much of an asset the boy would become if he was turned into Piccolo greatest minion. How iconic it would be if the two of them raised from the ashes of their fathers deaths and become stronger than their two seniors could ever have imagined. This thought brought a smirk to Piccolo's face a smirk that was quickly ripped ack of again by the crying of Gohan.

"Where…where… where's my Daddy? I want my mummy and daddy" Gohan sniffed as tears feel from his face mixing in with the water from the lake.

"Shut up you little brat or ill tear you limb from limb!" Piccolo shouted, satisfied that these words would strike fear in the boy and shut him up … It didn't.

"The big ugly green man's scaring me Daddy help me!" Gohan shirked

Piccolo sweat dropped as his ears stung with pain from the boys screaming. As quick as a flash the Namkeian throw Gohan back into the lake. When the Demi-Sayian resurfaced he was silent as he looked up at Piccolo as he silently sobbed shivering from the cold.

"Now you listen and you listen good boy. Your dad is gone. Dead! But with the Dragonball's he will be brought back to life in no time. However that uncle of yours had friend and those friends appeared to be just as powerful as him if not even more powerful. Your father and I couldn't even take on your uncle by ourselves we would have lost if you hadn't attacked with the power you have bottled up inside you. So I have decided that I am going to train you so that you can fight alongside us when the Sayian's arrive. I'll be bringing out that power of yours one way or another now any questions?" Piccolo snarled at the boy.

"What power? What's a Saiyan? Why do you have to train me? I want to go home!" All Gohan's question can out at once.

Piccolo let a growl of frustration to escape his lips before answering the young boy's questions.

"A Sayian as far as I gather is an incredible powerful alien race which both your father and uncle belong too and which you are half off. I have to train you brat because you have this amazing raw untapped power which can be used in defeating the Sayians when they arrive to attack. Now allow me to show you your own power" Piccolo smirked before lifting Gohan out of the river and throwing him towards a large mountain range.

Gohan knew he didn't like the sound of Piccolo's voice when he said he would show him his own power. And that moment all of Gohan's fears where confirmed when he was thrown by the Namekian towards the mountain range. Closing his eyes tightly Gohan prayed that the crash wouldn't hurt him too much and that the mountain would just go away.

~DBAT~

Gohan opened his eyes to see that the mountain range had mysteriously disappeared in front of him. It had been replaced however with a rather large crater that stretched for miles a head in a straight line. Looking up quickly Gohan could see Piccolo's judgemental eye looking down on him.

"Did I do that?" Gohan asked his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes you did brat now take off your top and put it over their by those trees over their your training starts now" Piccolo snarled.

"But my mummy made this for me and if I take it off now I'll get cold" Gohan whined in complaint.

"You will do as I say and take that wretched top off right now or I'll blast you into smithereens" Piccolo roared causing Gohan to quickly rip his top off and toss it aside.

"So what are we going to do not Mr Piccolo?" Gohan asked innocently.

Piccolo allowed himself an evil smirk before he spoke a smirk that sent a shiver down the back of Gohan's spine.

"We are not going to do anything. I am going to leave you here for six months and then come back. Maybe living in the wilderness will toughen you up if you have survived if you haven't well then I guess I won't have to waste my energy training up a wimp" With that Piccolo took to the sky and flew away quickly all the while Gohan ran after him quickly begging him to stay.

It was at that moment a cruel stick tripped Gohan up causing the Demi-Sayian to fall face first into the mud.

~DBZ~

"…. So that is the reason why I have come here today to request permission for Goku here. To travel across snake way to seek the training with the great King Kai" Kami's voice jittered slightly with nerves as he talked to the pink giant ogre known as King Yemma.

King Yemma let out a sigh as he began to look though a large stack of papers in front of him on his mahogany desk. Goku turned towards the Kami of earth giving the dignity a hugh smile before whispering into the old god's ear.

"So errm who is this guy again Kami?" Goku asked innocently.

"This is King Yemma Goku the judge of souls he is the one who decided where you go once you have died. Be it down below into the fire of hell or pass on into the glory of heaven. In your case it is a bit more complicated because I have made a request to grant you special permission to keep your body so you are able to go train with King Kai" Kami whispered back in his constantly present patient voice.

"Oh I see" Goku said with a smile before yelling up at the giant ogre in front of him. "Hay King Yemma did my brother Raditz come through here yet?"

Kami couldn't help but face palm himself angrily at Goku's rudeness.

"Goku, King Yemma is an incredible busy man who does not have the time to answer such rediquilious questions"

Kami face palmed himself before angry replying to Goku. "Goku, King Yemma is a very busy man who does not have time to answer such requests."

"Was Raditz the little guy with the long hair and bad attitude" King Yemma's booming voice interjected before Kami could finish his sentence.

"Yep that's him." Goku chirped back happily

"Yeah I remember him" King Yemma mushed stroking his beard "He put up quite a fuss before I put him into my famous Yemma lock and tossed him straight into hell"

Goku looked up at King Yemma in a mixture of awe and excitement before turning back to Kami.

"Man King Yemma here is incredible strong!" Goku exclaimed excitedly "Forget King Kai I want to train with him"

King Yemma chuckled at Goku's response obviously happy that the young Sayian wanted to train under him instead of King Kai. What a very wise man indeed the Ogre mused to himself.

Kami looked at Goku wearily wishing that the Sayia would just keep his mouth shut to make everything easier. However nothing was easy when it came to Goku.

"Goku listen, King Yemma is a very busy man he simply doesn't have the time to train you" Kami said tactfully before whispering into Goku's ear. "Besides, King Kai is much stronger than King Yemma."

"I will remember that one Kami when the time comes when I pass judgment on your soul1" King Yemma roared at the god

Kami looked back at the pink giant with a mixture of shook and fear before bowing low and yelling.

"I am so sorry King Yemma sir I didn't mean to cause you any offence"

"Stop sucking up Kami" King Yemma chuckled "I was only playing you caused me no offence. Well now I have just been looking over Goku's record hear and he ddose have enough merit to his name to keep his body and attempt the trip on snake way. I will send for a guide to take him to the start of the bridge though I must warn you Goku it is a long hard journey. You must be prepared to put your body on the line and face challenges that you have never faced before"

"Thank you King Yemma." Goku called cheerily, starting to run off towards his guide before turning around "O yeah before I go where can I get food around this place?"

King Yemma and Kami both feel to the floor in amazement as Goku looked on confused.

~DBAT~

"I have gathered you all here today at my humble home above the earth because our planet is in deadly danger. As I am sure you are all aware Goku has sadly passed on from this realm thanks to his older brother Raditz. What you may not be aware of however is his brother had many allies that appeared to be even more powerful than himself. They are now all head here as we speak and their powers are beyond anything you or I have ever faced before. However the reason I gathered you all is so that I may offer you training so that you may fight these new foes of ours and save this planet. I know that I am asking a lot from all of you here some of which have already died to protect this planet and may more I am afraid may die during this fight. If you want to leave now please feel free to do so" Kami finished with a low sigh while he leaned on his stick. The old dignity could feel his end fast approaching but he felt that he needed to carry on for the sake of the earth.

Looking up Kami looked at all of earths hero's he had gathered onto his look out all of whom looked back at him with fierce determination.

Tien the tall strong three eyed Cyclopes stood motionless arms crossed his face stony as he looked at Kami with fierce concentration

Next to Tien floated the small white skinned and red cheeked Chiaotzu who despite his small stature was incredible gifted in the arts of telekinesis.

To the right of Chiaotzu stood the tall proud Yamcha though not as gifted as the others the scar faced ex-bandit was still an accomplished martial artist and his care free attitude was only out matched by Goku's.

Then there was Master Roshi the old turtle hermit may have been a lot weaker than his former students of his and his nemeses master Shen. The old man had decided to join the group when Yajirobe had come to inform Krillin of Kami's message believing he still had his own part to play in saving the world.

Talking off Yajirobe and Krillin the small man held tightly onto the fat samurai's belt as the latter attempted to sneak away from the group.

"We are ready to fight these Sayian scum" Yamcha confidently proclaimed smacking his fist into his out stretched hand. " Just tell us what we have to do and will do it"

"I'm in knowing Goku he's proberly already training in otherworld as we speak. There is no way I am letting him surpass me any further than he already has besides I haven't had a decent fight in years" Tien spoke calmly.

"Well if Tien is going to fight then you can count me in!" Chaotzu shouted with enthusiasm.

"I'm ready let's get started!" Krillin yelled.

"Don't you wiper snappers forget about me I might be old but I can still teach you a thing or to" Master Roshi chuckled.

Kami smiled at the determination presented in all of the "Young" warriors faces and mused to himfelf at how there was still some good left in the world of man.

"Very Good" Kami began slowly. "As you can all see I am too old and frail to be any use to you fine men however Mr Popo here will be more than capable of overseeing your training now Mr Popo is you please"

The black genie smiled at the fighter before he beckoned them to follow him. He lead the fighters down winding corridors towards a strange room that could alter time.

*We all know Goku is coming back it's just this line sounded too good to pass up.

Right I hope everyone liked that chapter special shout out to my first reviewer Ky111's who I would like to thank very much for the detailed review.

Now to business I would like you all to know that I am aware that Master Roshi never fought Nappa and Vegeta in cannon. However I thought this didn't make much sense because he was still a decent fighter and could have still been of some use to the Z fighters. However the difference in my story is there are more Sayians on the way I won't say how many due to spoilers but let's just say they will need every able fighter they can get their hands on.

Now I have decided that I am going to try and update this story at least once a week starting from now :o).

I hope you guys have enjoyied what I have done so far and will continue reading. As usual please review and tell me what you think and how I can improve.

Power levels Gohan90 this is for you :o)

Krillin: 206

Master Roshi: 139

Goku: 400(If healthy) 25 (Since he's dieing)

Piccolo: 300 (Healthy) 230 (After regeneration, if Master Roshi and Krillin been braver at this point in time their combinded efforts could have proberly killed Piccolo)

Tien: 250

Yamcha:190

Chioutzu: 100 (Is physically weaker than Master Roshi but this dose not take into account his telekanises ability)

Yajirobe: 150