Solarah felt that warm sleepy sensation and then the rumble of voices was slowly becoming more clear. there was lots of voices and then she could pick out one that was important to her. She struggled to move as she groaned.
"Piccolo...Where are we ...What Happened to that weird lady and that stranger?" She groaned and sat up finally. Piccolo was there holding her up and she gripped onto him as her head started to swim again.
"There both gone." Came his voice and lips pressed to her forhead. Then an embrace, a stuttered breath. then she was released gently.
"Are...Are you ok...You feeling ok?, Hows the baby?" Came his Hurried voice and she wanted to laugh but there was an odd throbbing in her head.
"So Piccolo...How'd you achieve this?, I mean this is Solarah were talking about." Came a very familiar snarky sounding voice, It was instantly followed with that tell-tell growl.
'Who?' Solarah asking in her mind and forced her eyes open. There was several people surrounding her and Piccolo was next to her. Faces were swimmimg together slightly, like her vision wouldn't focus, she groaned again and grabbed her temple.
"Piccolo...I feel hot...and I need water...please" Solarah pleaded and a glass of water was instantly handed to her. He helped her hold it which was funny really, But at the moment she welcomed the asist. After downing half the glass, she sighed and leaned her head back against the headboard of the bed and stared at the ceiling. She blinked she eyes several times and finally her focus returned.
She slowly looked back to Piccolo who sadly smiled at her. She was about to say something when movement inside her tummy drew her attention downwards. She could clearly tell what it was and It warmed her heart in ways that she couldn't begain to understand. The baby was gently rubbing the inside of her belly almost in a reasuring manor and Solarah couldn't hold the happy giggle that escaped her. She instantly noticed that everyones eyes were on her...'wait why is everyone in here anyways?' She looked back to Piccolo and raised her eyebrow. He looked down and sighed deeply.
'Whats wrong?' She thought as he brought his eyes up to hers.
"Solarah...I...I have a question...That night...when I came to return your Backpack I had asked you about your brother...if you don't mind could you please tell me...where he is?" Came Piccolo's voice and he sounded odd. Solarah Looked to him and the unreadable look in his eyes told her that he really wanted to know. She started to get her barings back and she sighed deeply.
"Gabe was Killed in a fire that erupted in our home four years ago...I don't rememeber much excpet waking up in the ashes of our home and the burnt body of my brother laid not far away...I don't know why it happened but it felt familiar and It seems that fire is a catalyst for me...Why is this so important?" Solarah spoke and Piccolo rose up his hands and Solarah brought hers up to her mouth in shock. he was badly burned on his palms.
"How'd Did this happen?" She asked and reached for his hands. At first he was reluctant then slowly offered them. What happened next however shocked both of them and everyone in ther room. The moment she made contact with his hands she started to glow, including his hands and right there before both of them his burns smoothed away til there was no evidence that it was there at all. Solarah quickly let go and brought her hands up to her face. "How did THAT happen?...Wait...so...Was I the one that..." Suddenly the realization hit her and she died inside...her heart shattered and she couldn't stop the tears as they fell...And the tremble that quaked her made her baby kick slightly. She placed her hands on her belly through the sheet. But the emotion that erputed was pain from her heart. Years...Years and Lives lost because of her. "WHY?" She asked not wanting an answer.
"Solarah...Hey look at me...I'm Fine...Solarah." Came Piccolo's voice and Dende was ushering everyone out. He looked back at her sadly and nodded to her.
"Oh Piccolo...I...I Killed them...My whole Family...I...Why...What Is this?" She spoke brokenly and cried.
Piccolo's POV*
'What the Hell do I do now?, I tried to calm her down and she cries harder...It's just as hard for me to she her break like this.' Piccolo thought as he sat there beside her. When he scooped up her unconcious form and started for the lookout she had suddenly erupted into flames and then he couldn't let go of her...so he suffered the pain of her flames in panick as he flew as fast as he could. right before he reached the top the flames snuffed out and she for the most part returned back to normal.
Dende had instantly checked her and the baby out while Piccolo looked at his badly burned hands. They had hurt so bad and he tried to use his ki to force his healing but it wouldn't work...It was then that he realized that whatever this Phoenix was, Was a very powerful being...like a Kia...or Higher being.
"Piccolo...I'm Sorry...I...Don't know what this is and I never knew I had it...I'm so confused and ..."Solarah's voice reached his ears and he hated that sinking feeling he recieved as he looked at her sorrowed face. He did the only thing he could think to do and that was pull her into his arms. He loved her greatly and she was giving him all of hers.
"Solarah...you can't apologize for something you can't control...I get the tears and the reason for crying...But tears won't bring them back. As for why your brother never told you still eludes me cause then you could have learned to control it...but that's in the past and theres nothing you can do about it...what you can do is try to learn to use it for good...I will help you but first comes the baby...we can do nothing til then and you must stay calm...and if you feel like your going to...faint again...please let me know...Ok?" He hoped that what he said would ease her some...he understood self guilt quite well and he knew what it could do. He wanted to show her he supported her.
She gently pushed against him and sat up right. She wiped the tears from her face and looked up to him with a sad smile. She nodded and spoke, "Your right...It may take me a little moment to deal with this knowledge but...I promise to keep me head up" She said and he smiled back.
Suddenly there was a knock and both looked to the door. There stood none other than Chichi. 'Oh Good Lord! What does she want?' He thought detestingly as he watched her stroll in with purpose.
"Hello dear, My name is Chichi, I came here to talk to you both beacuse...I owe you" Chichi pointed at Piccolo and he couldn't hide the gulp that surfaced, 'This woman should not scare me but she does and I haven't figured out why' Piccolo concluded and a snigger erupted in his subconciousness 'Maybe it's because if you do anything to hurt her, the strongest force in the afterlife will most likely end your existance.' came that snarky voice and Piccolo instantly regretted for the millionth time that he had fused with Nail.
"Anyways Bulma had suggested that Piccolo and yourself would most likely not be very comfortable in a hospital and both of my sons were born at our house, So I could probably be of help to you when the baby is ready." Chichi spoke and Solarah smiled warmly at her.
Piccolo on the other hand suddenly reeled...He heard what she said but it was she had spoke directly to him the first time that struck him.
"Wait...Chichi...why do you owe me?...I killed Goku...kidnapped you oldest...and was, I qoute, A tyrant with no heart."
Both Solarah and Chichi stared at him. Then Chichi smiled and looked down at her feet.
"Because at the time I was naive and you said as much...When Goku's brother came and kidnapped Gohan, Who went with Goku to save him?"
"Yeah But My reasons were not..." He started and she stopped him with her gaze. "Me."
"And Who...even though, stole my son away for a whole year without telling anyone of his whereabouts...Trained him to take care of himself?"
She continued and he eyed Solarah. She had this light in her eyes that told him that she was finding this humorous.
"Me" he answered and then Chichi looked at him directly.
"And when Those two Saiyans arrived and wiped everyone out...Who gave his life to Save my Son?...Piccolo...I gave you a hard time because I didn't understand...I still don't understand why you kidnapped him in the first place...but I can't imagine what he would have been like if you hadn't...Gohan looks up to you like an older brother...maybe...even..." she trailed off and he knew, He knew what her next words were.
"You've always been there for us even though I was a hard ass...I knew it was you leaving the fresh kills at my door, And so did Gohan...So shut it and let me do this." She threw out and he smiled at her.She had never been docile to him and he guessed with Goku in the afterlife, she had to accept things.
"And you ask me why I don't see you as anything else but your wonderful self?" Came Solarah's voice and he instantly looked to her and blushed.
She giggled and leaned back against the headboard. There was still that sadness in her eyes but she did seem more like herself again.
"Can I Touch your belly?" Piccolo heard Chichi ask and Piccolo just stood there and watched...He was almost afraid to let anyone around her...in fear that she could hurt someone...but he threw those thoughts to the back of his mind and watched as Chichi gently rubbed Solarah's now exposed belly. He watched in amazment as both Chichi's eyes and Solarah's widened and then laughed.
"Do you know if It's a Girl or Boy yet?" Chichi asked and Piccolo grunted his reply on it being a boy and walked out to talk to Dende.
Solarah's POV*
"He's convinced...But I'm not so sure...He says all Namekians are male, and he's very proud of that fact but I just don't think...What?" Solarah was explaining but trailed off due to the blank expression on the older woman's face.
"Wait...are You telling me that it's HIS child?...I thought that he was just fond and was accepting you and your baby...Wow...Ok." Chichi's Look was staggering and Solarah Felt complete Pride for Piccolo and Herself...Everyone was in denile excpet Bulma who had confirmed that it was namek.
"So ...You'll be my Midwife and help me with the birthing?" Solarah asked...she felt so confortable with this woman...Like she reminded her of her mother. The woman nodded and hugged her gently.
"It's funny really to me really... how Karma tends to come around full circle. I'm sure evryone has told you how Piccolo was before he kidnapped My son...Gohan was such an innocent child and believed there was no bad in the world...but Piccolo opened his eyes and after that event everyone instantly noticed a change in the Big Green Man...He at first was only nice to Gohan and then slowly as the years progressed he warmed up to everyone. It was when Goku, My Husband Died with Cell, and I found out I was Pregnant with Goten that Piccolo started hanging closer to our house.
He kept training Gohan against my wishes, but then scolded Gohan when he started to rebel against me... I learned then, that he was trying to support us...me...It's been hard and If it wasn't for Piccolo being there like he was...I think he was longing for a family...I really do...and now here you are and I can see it when he looks at you, that you and this baby means his life to him."
Solarah just listened to Chichi and smiled, She didn't have to hear any of this to know what she meant to Piccolo, that much has already been made very clear.
"I Promise my dear that I'll be there for you." Chichi claimed and Solarah nodded. Solarah watched as the woman walked out and suddenly she was alone, She sighed and thought about everything. "So I have this weird Firey power...how do I control something that I don't know anything about?" She said to herself.
A soft whisper floated across her mind and she latched onto it.
"Feel it deep...Slowly let it rise...form it's warmth to your hand." the whisper chanted and Solarah Concentrated on it...there was a warmth that was rising and she focused on it. "slowly let it rise" the whisper directed. She could feel it rise gently and she closed her eyes.
"Form it to your hand" came that whisper again and she made a fist in her right hand, then concentrated on her fist and to her amazement she could feel that warmth flood to her fist.
She opened her eyes and looked at her hand. She almost screamed. Her fist was engulfed with a warm reddish Flame and she was scared to open her hand as she slid of the bed slightly off balanced and slowly headed for the door.
"Let...Go...It will Desperse, and disappear..." came the whisper...and at first Solarah hestitated then finally she opened her hand and the flame receeded and snuffed out.
She stood right by the door and stared at her hand for a moment.
A strange Sensation tricked about her body and then she heard a voice. A voice that she had heard before and very recently.
Piccolo's POV
He had been standing there talking to Gohan and Dende when He felt it. An extremely large power sourse and it was close but he couldn't lock onto it it had everyone confused. Reaction had him running towards Solarah when He stopped dead in his tracks. That Woman from before was standing by the door and staring back at everyone. He growled as he got into stance.
"Well Now...Isn't this a plesent suprise...Tell me...where your little girlfriend is and I won't kill you...or your friends."
Came her sneering voice and Piccolo realized that she couldn't sense Solarah either.
Before he could say anything, A flash of light erupted behind him and suddenly there was Trunks and The Stranger from before.
"Towa...Where's your puppet...Mira?" Trunks lunged at Towa. She swiftly glided away as his fist strunk the wall of the room Solarah was in.
The wall started to crumble and before Piccolo had time to think of a reaction, The stranger was zipping past him and into the crumbling room.
His heart sank when the walls caved in but he didn't give in as he started pulling Large protions of the wall away. Suddenly Gohan and Yamcha as well as Tein were clearing away the debri.
Piccolo pulled away another large piece and found the bedframe. It was shaking, he could feel it. 'The stranger must have grabbed the bed to use as support against his back and the wall'.Piccolo Thought as he continued to clear the rubble. Suddenly there was an arm around his neck and dragging him backwards. He was Slammed into a tree and stunned for a moment as a face came into view.
"You will not have time playing rescue to your little Firebird, You will be fighting for your own life." Came an oddly dead voice.
"Both of you will pay with your lives is there is one hair harmed on her, Or if anything happens to my child." Piccolo Snarled back. There was so much Anger flooding his system that all he did was look back at Gohan who was trying to decide what to do that The teen instantly turned back and continued digging.
"Did you say...Child?...You Mean the Phoenix...Is Pregnant?" The strange discolored man said and then looked to Towa and Trunks.
"You Never said That the Phoenix is with child!" His voice boomed and Piccolo wasted no time in drawing back and slugging The mechanical man as hard as he could. He could feel the bones in his hand crack from the force as the Android soared backwards and crashed some feet away.
" THis is going to Stop NOW!!!!" Piccolo Screamed and Powered up, Then headed straight for Towa and Trunks. 'That brat better move if he wants to live!' He growled inside as he closed in.
Solarah's POV*
At first the world was shaking around her and then the walls were crashing down on her and out of reaction she had gotten to the floor and wrapped her arms protectively around her womb.
When nothing happened she chanced a glance and there before her eyes was that Stranger from the other day. They had grabbed the bed and was holding up the crumbled debri as it fell around them.
"You...Saved me again...Who...Are you?" Solarah asked and a grunt came from the stranger. Voices could be heard from outside and then as clear as day she heard Piccolo.
"This Is going to stop NOW!!!!" The ground slightly shook and the stranger muttered "No...Don't...Stop...Father."
Solarah looked back at the completely covered stranger and then curiousity struck her. 'Father?' she reached down to her womb and rubbed it tenderly.
"Show...Me your Face." Solarah asked softly and the stranger looked away and then back towards her.
"To Do So would alter the flow of time...I Can not." came a very odd sounding voice...almost as if there was some device that distorted it.
Solarah looked up to the covered face and slowly reached up to touch it. She could hear voices and sounds. She reached up to the edges of the mask. The stranger did not resist. Solarah gently peeled the mask back and when it was removed completely she could not believe the face that looked back at her.
The Stranger was a woman and the same shade of green as Piccolo. She had Amethyst eyes and they glowed brightly in the shadowed debri.
All she could see was her face but Solarah could definately tell she was Namekian. The Stranger Looked down now and Solarah pressed her forehead to the strangers as a thanks for saving hers and her baby's life.
Walls started to shift around them and Solarah quickly placed the mask back and smiled. Then Solarah placed her finger across her lips and shushed at the stranger.
"No worry...Your Secret is safe with me...I won't utter a single word...deal?" Solarah said quietly and the stranger nodded and then lifted up finally able to move the last of the debri herself.
As Solarah rose from the debri Dende instantly rushed to her side. The Stranger went to pull away when Solarah grabbed her wrist.
"Give em Hell." And with that Solarah released her.
Dende Ran up to Solarah and started to lead her away when a weird sound caught her attention. As she turned back towards all of them fighting The sight that chilled her very soul was a hand sticking out of Piccolo's back and His purplish blood was dripping down his back, down his leg and onto the ground below.
"Solarah...Come on...Hey...WAIT!!!!" She could hear Dende scream after her but her body was moving on it's own.
Suddenly the stranger was infront of her again, and was shaking her head no. She was really tall and when she gripped Solarah's shoulders. It felt familiar but Solarah knew she had never seen her before.
"I...I, will save him...I have to...for you...go now,... Please trust me." came her voice and it was so smooth and soft.
"Bring...Him back to me...I need...We need him." Solarah offered as she rubbed her belly comfortingly and turned back towards Dende.
Piccolo's POV*
He couldn't move and could barely breathe as he watched from the corner of his eye, at Solarah and that weird Completely covered stranger that barred Solarah from rushing to him. The Hand that was thrusted through him was jerked back painfully and his throat instantly filled his mouth with his blood. He was getting weaker.
He was suddenly thrown to the ground, where he coughed up some of that blood upon impact.
His vision started to blur but he could see enough as the stranger removed the helmet.
His eyes followed it's fall to the ground and when he looked back up, He nearly fainted then.
There his eyes focused again and suddenly he could hear Gohan's voice next to him, But for some reason he couldn't take his eyes off of the green skin, so much like his own, long slender ears, again, like his own, and the extremly bright Pink locks of tendriled hair that fell around a very femine face. what struck him most was those eyes.
"Piccolo...here eat this...Its a senzu bean...HEY!!" Piccolo was suddenly snapped out of his stupor with a slap to the face as Gohan shoved a bean into his mouth.
After eating it he could feel his strength returning but he was going to have to wait it out and strategize. His focus kept wandering to the very apparent Namekian that was standing before him. But he was soconfused as well as everyone else as to how this could be.
Gohan helped him to his feet and he staggered a bit before the bean took full effect and he was able to keep himself upright.
"Hero...I never thought you would show your face to me...Now that I have seen you...I know I'll be able to end you."
"Aren't you forgetting something Demon?" came a voice that put a chill in Piccolo. he watched as The other Namek rose up a hand and suddenly a staff appeared in that hand.
"Wait...How did you...when did you...GIVE THAT BACK!!!!"The demoness growled and the Namekian smiled.
"Nah...I think I'll hang on to it...Or better yet...maybe I should give it to the Supreme Kia Of Time...I bet she would know what to do with it."
Piccolo heard that cocky tone suddenly and he out of reaction rolled his eyes. 'why must everyone toy with death...Is everyone an idiot?'
"HEY...YOU! STOP MESSING AROUND!" Piccolo growled out and the Femine Namekian looked to him with a shocked expression.
Out of now where that Android man barrel into the Stranger and they both crashed to the floor. Piccolo was sure he heard a few bones snap on impact and Gohan and himself rushed to aid the stranger.
The staff slid some feet away and Piccolo made a dash for it. He didn't reach it in time however. Towa had it in her hands and she opened up that weird purplish void and disappeared within it, chuckling. Then the weird Puppet like being followed.
And groan came from behind him and he turned to see the stranger pulling off a shoulder piece, Revealing more green skin. However there was more to it. This being that was kneeled before him was clutching their arm at the shoulder. He knew what came next. They tore their arm off and dropped it to the grround next to them.
"You really are Namekian...But how?" Piccolo asked Firmly and the stranger brought up their Amethyst eyes to him. He Faultered for a moment.
"I Don't know...I never question what is suppose to be...Isn't that right?" Came their femine voice, and that sortof shocked him.
"Wait So she's A namek?...But I thought that there wasn't any female nameks." Came a voice that Piccolo wished with all his soul, would go away and never come back.
"I cannot tell you anymore...I must go...I am already going to be reprimanded for my poor exsecution of this mission...Where is Trunks?"
Came that once again, stern voice and as she got to her feet she growled deeply and her power serged. A newly regenerated arm had suddenly replaced the one she had torn off.
"You People are just gross and with that I'm Out." Came Yamcha's voice and Both Piccolo and The She-Namek sighed, and shook their heads.
Trunks chose that moment to approach. "So all this time I thought you was a man And now I find out that not only are you Woman...but a Namekian as well. Does the Kia know about this?"
She shrugged and replied. "Maybe we should go now and report back in... eh?"
He nodded and the She-Namek turned towards Piccolo.
"She'll Be back...And so will we...Be on your guard...Piccolo...Farwell." She said and right before she disappeared he thought he heard a whisper.
"Cobaweah Taka"
(Goodbye Papa)