The Poor Miller's Boy

Beaner-Bop

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A/N: Another chapter!

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Disclaimer:Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

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Chapter Nine: The Mill

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Gohan sighed as he walked into the town. People actually stopped talking and their activities to turn and look at him. They began whispering again but all while looking at him. Gohan heard one of them talking rather loudly and was quickly able to figure out what was wrong.

Apparently Sharpner and Keeb already had their horses back at the mill.

All he had were the clothes on his back. He heard some people snickering as he walked past them, all of them wondering why he was even going to bother. He didn't have a horse, why would he even think of going back? Isn't he ashamed.

Gohan had to hide a smile from all of them, recalling Videl's earlier words as he pet her softly behind the ears in goodbye.

"I remember our promise Gohan. Don't worry, you'll get a fine horse - I promise you." she told him. Gohan believed her, being friends with someone for the past seven years, it kind of made it easy to trust them.

Now people were judging him because he didn't have the horse yet. What did they know, anyway?

Gohan, however, couldn't help letting some anxiety get to him. What if she didn't get the horse to him? What if she did and it's horrible? What if-

He stopped and shook his head, making even more people in town snicker, this he ignored fully though. He began his strong stride and started heading towards the mill again.

He was going to get a fine horse, he knew it.

As long as he could remember, Videl kept her promises…

Before he could think more on that, he saw some new families in the area. Seeing as to how the town didn't grow at all, he deduced that they were visiting for some reason. He stared at them for a moment when a small boy with pointy black hair and black eyes waved at him. He smiled and waved back. He was happy to see that these people didn't seem to care about the competition. He saw a man, much taller than the boy come from around the building and was holding a horse by the reins. He was like a copy of the boy (except for the height) and Gohan got the same feeling from both of them. Do I…know them? He thought to himself silently.

Gohan watched as the man showed the horse as if presenting it, but only for a moment, before leading it to some water. It was a fine horse, strong muscled and looked fairly young, and Gohan had to admit, it was one of the prettiest horses he had ever seen.

If the horse Videl gets me is half as good as that one… He thought silently. He turned his head away from the scene and began walking out of town, down the long dirt path. It was time to meet up with Keeb and Sharpner. He couldn't help but smile as he remembered who also would be there - Piccolo.

'Sensei!' he thought silently, 'I'm coming back!'

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When Gohan got there, the first thing he noticed were the horses. Two of them were by the house - one was very calm and quiet, and actually very pretty. It's white coat a stark contrast to the other horses deep brown coat. Gohan winced at seeing them.

He had apparently misjudged Sharpner and Keeb greatly - both horses seemed to be in perfect shape.

Gohan was surprised when the brown horse caught sight of him and blew air through his nostrils angrily, stood up and began to tug at his reins and start bucking as well as he could. Gohan, for the first time realized that the brown horse seemed to be somewhat weighed down, and on further examination, noticed a vial near the horses drinking water. His eyes widened.

'Is that horse…tranquilzed?' He thought silently. He made a big loop around it before finally getting to the door. Out of curiosity he turned and looked at the white horse, who was just standing there, munching on hay. It's teeth were down and Gohan got a good look at it's hooves and knees, not to mention its deep sloping back.

That horse definitely isn't a spring chicken…

He thought to himself. Finally, he opened the door to Piccolo's home and walked in.

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Sitting at the table were the three men - all of which looked older, but mainly Piccolo, who's old face seemed to be drooping with his age. When he saw Gohan come him, he sent him a weak smirk before staring at the cup in his hands. Steam was rising from it and smelled as though something were in it. Gohan looked at Piccolo, surprised. His sensei nodded.

"Medicine." The old man croaked. Gohan's eyes widened at that and his mouth opened. Before he could ask anything more, Piccolo raised his hand to silence him.

"Don't bother, son." He got up slowly, wincing as his bones creaked, along with everyone else in the room, though they all tried to stop it before the others noticed. He came to Gohan and Gohan looked at his side, surprised to see a cane aiding his sensei as he walked over to him. He looked up and Piccolo nodded again.

"My bone's are weak." He said in the same voice he said earlier. "There's a reason I issued the challenge, you know." Gohan smiled at him and hugged his sensei carefully, feeling strong thumps on his back from his sensei, who was giving him a forceful hug. Gohan laughed as Piccolo growled up at him.

"Give me a real hug Son Gohan, you know I'm not that weak." Gohan obliged and couldn't help but wondered at his Sensei's new attitude but didn't question it. When the two split up, Piccolo look up at him quickly.

"Did you bring a horse?" Piccolo asked. Gohan nodded.

"It will be here tomorrow." He said. The others snorted at him and Gohan couldn't help (well, he could've, but he didn't) the glare that he sent their way. They both stopped, not quite used to having ever been on what that strong before. Piccolo look at him strangely before nodding.

"Do you know when it will be here?" Piccolo asked. Gohan thought about it for a moment and figured it would have to be in the afternoon - if Videl was going to help deliever it, it definitely wasn't in the morning. She was willing to have her naps interrupted with very few things…Gohan doubted this was one of them.

"I believe later in the afternoon, sir." Piccolo nodded in assent. Before Piccolo said anything else, Keeb's mouth broke through his thoughts.

"Hey, Gohan, guess where you're sleeping…" He laughed happily, and before he could answer, Keeb told him. "The barn! Piccolo's using your room as a room for his new helper." Sharpner snorted befor adding his own quip.

"Have fun with the horses!"

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A/N: Another chapter done! Another one or two chapters left of this story!