Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ

A/N: Happy Memorial Day. I dedicate this chapter to all soldiers, be they veterans, fighting in a war at the moment, dead, waiting to be sent to battle, or my country's enemy. Because everyone deserves recognition.

Chapter Twelve

Radditz, Nappa, and Fasha threw energy blasts at Frieza. Frieza canceled out most of them and tried to dodge those he couldn't cancel.

"You monkeys are nothing compared to me! I am the great Frieza!"

"Shut up!" Fasha barked, shooting a ridge hand at the dictator's head.

Goten ran around them, trying to figure out how he should help. I wish I had been in fights before, Goten thought. I mean, I've sparred with Trunks and Vegeta, but that's not the same. It was always one-on-one, and I really don't want to get in the way. Goten sighed. Maybe if I grabbed his tail . . . . Goten nodded, figuring that would be a good idea.

The little half-Saiyan ran up and dug his nails into Frieza's tail. Frieza shouted and flailed his tail around. Goten screamed, holding onto it for dear life.

"You little wretch!" the purple monster cried, slamming his tail onto the ground. Goten gritted his teeth.

Fasha, Nappa, and Radditz ceased fire.

"Goten! Let go!" Nappa shouted.

Radditz gritted his teeth. "How are we supposed to hit him if we're scared we'll hurt the brat?"

Fasha glared. "I don't know!"

Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Gohan and Cell met blow for blow. Their punches and blocks connected. Their shins bashed into each other. Gohan's elbow almost broke as Cell whipped out a roundhouse. The android felt some of his skin peeling off under the extreme heat of the energy blast the half-Saiyan shot at his face. Labored breathing was the soundtrack to their fight, resonating with every punch, every kick, every block, every step. Cell breathed in the exhilaration that he felt. He laughed as Gohan threw an energy blast at his face.

"This is exactly what I've been waiting for!" Cell praised. "This is what I was I've desired all this time! A worthy opponent! And you, my boy, are a very worthy opponent!"

Gohan glared at the android and followed it up with a jump reverse front kick to Cell's chin.

!#&()

Bulma punched the radar's button the times with her thumb. "The first dragon ball should be right around here."

Trunks stared down at the desert landscape, the sand swirling in the wind, making small tornadoes. His eyes glazed over as tears welled in them. Goten would've loved this – going on a dragon-ball hunt. He always did say he'd want to do it, someday, to see the Eternal Dragon. The tears rolled down Trunks's cheeks.

Goku, Chichi, and Vegeta sat in the back of the plane. Chichi knitted a sweater, the orange ball of yarn brushing against Goku's thigh. Vegeta tapped his finger repeatedly on his seat's arm. They had only been flying for thirty minutes, but it felt like hours. Everything felt like hours with the palpable amount of angst in the air. Trunks hadn't said a word. Chichi just kept knitting that sweater, it slowly turning into a Goten-sized garmet. Goku stared out the window, not focusing on anything. He obviously was in his own world, a world painted in grey, blue, and black. Vegeta sighed heavily.

"Approximately how far away is it?" Vegeta asked.

Bulma checked the radar again. "Five minutes."

"Good."

Five minutes passed frighteningly uneventfully, and Bulma landed the aircraft. About a yard away stood a primitive village. Bulma opened the cockpit. Vegeta helped Chichi out of the aircraft. Chichi gave Vegeta a questioning look. Vegeta just turned his back to her and walked towards the village. Chichi blinked repeatedly and smiled sadly.

Goku stared at the village. Recognition flashed in his eyes. "Hey!" Goku jumped down from the aircraft and ran over to the village. "Nam! You there?"

Vegeta raised an eyebrow at Goku. Who was Nam?

Bulma's face lit up with recognition. "Wait, so this is where that guy from your first tournament lives?"

Goku nodded.

The villagers stared at them. Whispering bubbled up, and a man in robes and a turban walked towards him. His skin showed age, and his eyes flashed in recognition as he looked Goku up and down.

"Goku!" the man said, his voice deep. "It's been a long time!"

"Yeah, it has," Goku replied. Nam blinked.

"Is something the matter? You don't seem as happy as you used to."

Bulma stepped forward. "Actually, we're looking for something. It's called a dragon ball and – ."

"Oh, we have one of those," a child spoke up. A woman shushed the child and pulled him closer to her. Trunks furrowed his eyebrows.

Nam nodded. "It's true. We have a dragon ball. But it was entrusted to us by a man who said it was God's will to protect the ball at all costs. He said that no one should be allowed to take it, unless God himself came down from the Heavens and asked for it back."

Vegeta snorted. "Did this man happen to be seven or so feet tall, green skin, pointy ears, fangs, and a white cape and turban?"

Nam's eyes widened. "That's exactly what he looked like."

Goku gritted his teeth and tightened his fists. Tears pricked Trunks's eyes as his rage and ki flared up.

"That monster murdered my best friend!" Trunks shouted.

Only the wind broke the silence after that. An old woman walked up to Nam, and the two whispered over what they should do. Bulma reached out to touch Trunks's shoulder, but Trunks shrugged her off. Nam nodded towards the woman and stepped closer to Goku.

"We have decided that, if you are able to defeat me in battle, you may have the dragon ball," Nam said.

Vegeta snorted and smirked.

"Now," Nam turned towards Chichi as he crouched down into his fighting stance. "Do you accept, miss?"

Vegeta's smirk slipped of his face.

Chichi nodded and flowed into her fighting stance. Nam leaped at Chichi and threw a hook kick at her head.