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Chapter 16: Emerald Warrior
"Piccolo?" Gohan said as he looked at his mentor who was talking with the old wise wizard, Dumbledore. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah yes, Harry." Dumbledore said as he got up from his seat. "I was just about to summon you but I see that you got here on your own, with a few extra."
"We are here on behalf of Gohan," Hermione said. "We are here to stick up for him."
"If you plan on kicking him out, then you are going to have to kick me out as well," Ron said with a slight quiver in his voice. "Mom is going to kill me if he agrees," he thought to himself.
"Harry," The wise old man said, peering to him in his half moon glasses, "would you like to tell me something?"
"Yes," he said, stepping in front of his two best friends. "What happened today during the exercise was my responsibility. I could have killed those two students and perhaps more for my own negligence."
"I see." Dumbledore nodded.
"However," he continued, "my actions were due to a hallucination. An illusion was created and I saw Draco in a more threatening manner." Gohan paused for a second before continuing. "I saw Vegeta instead."
"Was this the first time this had happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"While I was awake, yes, but during that past couple of months I have experienced severe nightmares, nightmares that were real enough to harm me not only in my dream but in the real world as well. I fear that today's event is the escalation of that."
"How long has this been going on?"
"It started when Ron and I crashed landed. My sudden weakness was caused by a voice that ran throughout my head."
"From voices, to dreams, to reality," Dumbledore recounted. "Well it looks like I have a lot of work to do on the cover up."
"Pardon?"
"The cover up story, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore smiled. "Everyone knows about your extraordinary powers now so we have to give them an excuse on what and why you have them."
"You aren't going to kick him out?" Hermione said, smiling.
"Not unless you want me to, Miss Granger." He smiled to the young lady.
"Professor," Gohan said, "I think this has something to do with the creature in the Chamber of Secrets."
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said, glancing back at him. "I was wondering when you were going to bring that up."
"Am I right?"
Dumbledore stopped and turned back around, "I am afraid you are."
"How can I find it then?"
"We've searched this castle for many years and no entrance has ever been found. I was hoping that either you or your mentor's abilities to sense others would come in handy but alas, another plot is a foot, and sadly you are the target."
"Babidi has something to do with it," Piccolo said, "Somehow he is blocking all ki sensing, yet I felt Gohan's ki rise during the convocation."
"Interesting," Dumbledore said, "it seemed like he was trying to draw you out."
"But for what though," Gohan said. "He came and nothing else happened."
"The only thing it did do is wear on my patience." Piccolo said.
"Well maybe he wanted you here so you couldn't sense what he's doing out there?" Ron said. Gohan and Piccolo looked at each other in a serious manner. A notion clicked in their minds.
"The lookout," was the only two words that Gohan could muster.
Piccolo quickly made for the exit and Gohan followed, "Gohan, stay here. Protect them just in case." Gohan stopped and watched his mentor disappear through the exit.
"What's at the lookout?" Hermione asked.
"The only thing I can think of that Babidi could use is the Dragon Balls." Gohan said.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Piccolo flew through the night sky as fast as he could, leaving a white energy trail in his wake. As he flew near the water, it separated by the sheer force that he was generating. He swooped up high in the sky towards an extremely tall tower. He followed the tower all the way to the top where there was a giant room in a circular platform style. He flew past that and climbed high in the sky until he saw his destination. The half sphere lookout was floating several hundred feet above the tower. He flew to the top of it where it had a flat surface and landed. Piccolo's face turned into anger as he saw the condition of the lookout. Ruins and debris was all that was left of the once beautiful palace in the sky. Piccolo walked further into the place to search around.
"Mr. Popo!" he called out, "Dende!" There was no answer from either of the two. Piccolo walked throughout the ruins. "They must be still alive or the dragon balls would be useless to Babidi," he said to himself. He continued his search throughout the debris, uncovering anywhere that he thought his friends would be at.
Piccolo's senses caught something and he immediately took action. He jumped up in the air to dodge the incoming energy blast from behind. He landed several feet in front of where the blast hit, looking straight at his attacker.
"Like a moth to the flame, you've came out, Namek." Vegeta said, smiling evilly at Piccolo.
"Vegeta," Piccolo said as he stood up straight, glaring back at Vegeta. "I've should have know it was you that did this. I'm surprise my nose didn't catch your stench."
"Such strong words for such a weakling," Vegeta retorted.
"Enough games, Vegeta. Where are Dende and Mr. Popo?"
"What would you do if I told you I sent them both to the next dimension?" Vegeta laughed at Piccolo.
"After I mop the floor with you, I'd say you were lying due to the fact if Dende dies, your master would be quite upset because the Dragon Balls would be rendered useless."
"Babidi is NOT my master!" Vegeta yelled back in anger. "I work for him on my own accord."
"Heh," Piccolo scoffed, "The Prince of Sayians, working for another. I guess that mark on your forehead is just how you bow into submission for him."
"SHUT UP!" Vegeta's rage grew. His hair transformed into the golden blonde and his eye's became the known unearthly blue of that of a Super Sayian. The ground underneath him cratered as debris rose into the air. "I'll make you eat those words!"
"Why, because it's the truth?" Piccolo grabbed and threw off his cape and turban. He clenched his fist with his elbows to his side and let out a yell. A white aura surrounded him as the ground around him began to tremble.
The two flew at each other at a tremendous speed. They connected with a punch that shook the whole palace. A shockwave was created each time they traded punches, making rocks and debris crumble into smaller pieces. Vegeta did not let up against Piccolo as he continued with an entourage of punches that Piccolo blocked with his fists and knees. Vegeta finished up with a kick to Piccolo's head only to be blocked by his forearm. Piccolo grabbed Vegeta's leg and came up with his own that connected with Vegeta's chin. He then slammed Vegeta into the ground behind him, leaving a body imprint in the ground. Vegeta flipped upward, back on to his feet and then lunged back at Piccolo, catching him in the stomach with his fist. Vegeta grinned at Piccolo malevolently. He kicked Piccolo in the chin, pushing his head upward, and followed by another kick by the other leg in mid-air to the side of Piccolo's head. Piccolo flew across the lookout into a pile of debris.
"Come on, Namek." Vegeta sneered. "This workout is barely giving me a sweat."
A large blast destroyed the debris that covered Piccolo. The dust quickly settled showing Piccolo standing sideways, glaring at his rival. The wind blew the dust away from the battlefield as the two stared at each other momentarily. Piccolo cracked a smile and said, "Then let me turn up the heat a little."
He bent forward as he spread his legs further apart; he bought his arms outward in a fist as he let out a loud yell. The ground around him began to tremble more than before as huge pieces of debris and chunks of the once beautiful palace began to uplift into the air by his ki.
"What!?" Vegeta said as his eyes widened as he felt the enormous amount of power Piccolo was gaining.
Piccolo continued to gather his energy as the aura around began to fade into an emerald green. His body began to glow green the more energy he gained. The ground around him began to ripple like water. He leaned back to let out an even louder yell. The green aura consumed him as the light flooded the entire palace.
As the light faded, Vegeta stared in the direction where he last saw Piccolo standing with a shocking expression. Piccolo finally appeared, staring back at Vegeta when the green light faded. He had a half smile on his face as a green lightening bold followed up his leg to his knee and jumped to the other leg. It continued up to his chest and grew to cover the width. It reached his neck and shrunk back down and finally dissipated as it hit his antennas.
"Interesting," Vegeta said, regaining his composure. "Look's like you took a vacation in the Room of Spirit and Time. I hope it wasn't in vain."
"See for yourself," Piccolo said. He disappeared and reappeared with his fist in Vegeta's stomach. Vegeta curled forward as his eyes widened as blood came out of his mouth. Piccolo's elbow met the back of Vegeta's head, sending him forward through a pile of rock. Still flying forward, Piccolo appeared in front of Vegeta, cloths lining him in the neck. Vegeta's legs flew forward from the momentum and Piccolo punch him in the chest quickly followed by a kick in his back before he could hit the ground. Now Vegeta was flying upward before he caught himself and took control.
Anger and bleeding from the mouth, he looked frantically for where Piccolo had gone. Before he could react, he was punched in the face by Piccolo's left fist, followed by a right cross again in the face. Piccolo pummeled Vegeta with several more punches before axe handling Vegeta into the ground below. Piccolo raised his hands over his head and threw them forward with the palms facing Vegeta. "MASENKO-HA!" A green energy blast left his hands and hit Vegeta on the ground. A green light once again flooded the lookout momentarily.
The dust was settling and the light faded. The lookout was clear of debris except for the little bit of ruins that was still there from the palace. Piccolo landed on the ground a few feet from where Vegeta was last at. Piccolo's face frowned as Vegeta walked out of the dust cloud, wearing a smile and clapping his hands.
"Bravo Piccolo," Vegeta said as he stopped clapping. "You have gotten far stronger that I have ever expected you to. With that, I applaud you." Vegeta got into his stance. "Unfortunate for you, it isn't enough."
Vegeta began to laugh a hideous laughter. A kind of laughter you'd think only the devil himself could make. His energy sky-rocketed; his hair became even spikier than before. A bright golden light blinded Piccolo and filled the sky. The lookout and the earth below it began to shake violently. Clouds began to be pushed away from the lookout.
Piccolo's face wore the look of shock as Vegeta's power began to grow. "This can't be, how did he get so powerful?"
The trembling stopped just as fast as it started. Vegeta grinned evilly at Piccolo as he was now far more powerful than him. He stood with his arms crossed and said, "Even though you may be able to train a year within a day, I can still out class you with my power. Prepare yourself, Namek, for a world of pain."
Piccolo's aura returned as he got into his stance, "Bring it!" Before Piccolo could prepare himself, Vegeta had punched him in the face. Piccolo looked over and noticed that Vegeta's image had still not vanished from the first place. The next thing he knew, he was up in the air from a kick into his side. It felt like every rib on that side had been crushed. Blood trickled down the crack of his mouth. Vegeta grabbed the back of Piccolo's head and flew downward into the platform with him. He pushed Piccolo headfirst into the ground, shoving his face deep into what concrete that was left. He quickly pulled him out.
"I've only hit you with half of what I can do and you are already beaten." Vegeta said calmly in Piccolo's ear. "You weren't ever a challenge to me. I've gotten what I've came for and now I am done with you."
Vegeta stood up with Piccolo's head still in his hand. His body hung lifelessly as Piccolo spat up blood. Vegeta placed his hand in front of Piccolo and a golden energy ball formed in his palm. He let go of Piccolo and unleashed the energy ball that blasted Piccolo into the air. He arched and fell completely off the lookout and began to plummet towards the Earth.
Vegeta flew above the lookout and pulled out three dragon balls out of his pocket. "Only four more to go before nothing can stand in my way to reign supreme!" he laughed. He looked at the lookout and pointed his index finger at it. A small energy ball flew out of his finger and hit the lookout causing it to be consumed in a radiant blast before it completely disappeared. Vegeta flew off into the sky, laughing.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
The trio sat around in the common room of the Gryffindor tower. Hermione sat on the chair near the fire doing homework as Ron counted his wizard cards. Gohan stood next to the window, looking out.
"What's wrong, Gohan?" Hermione asked as Gohan looked out the window with a look of concern.
"Ever had that feeling that something bad just happened?" he glanced over his shoulder to ask her.
"I can't say that I have," she replied.
"Well, I'm having one of those feelings about Piccolo and Dende right now."
Chapter 16: Emerald Warrior
"Piccolo?" Gohan said as he looked at his mentor who was talking with the old wise wizard, Dumbledore. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah yes, Harry." Dumbledore said as he got up from his seat. "I was just about to summon you but I see that you got here on your own, with a few extra."
"We are here on behalf of Gohan," Hermione said. "We are here to stick up for him."
"If you plan on kicking him out, then you are going to have to kick me out as well," Ron said with a slight quiver in his voice. "Mom is going to kill me if he agrees," he thought to himself.
"Harry," The wise old man said, peering to him in his half moon glasses, "would you like to tell me something?"
"Yes," he said, stepping in front of his two best friends. "What happened today during the exercise was my responsibility. I could have killed those two students and perhaps more for my own negligence."
"I see." Dumbledore nodded.
"However," he continued, "my actions were due to a hallucination. An illusion was created and I saw Draco in a more threatening manner." Gohan paused for a second before continuing. "I saw Vegeta instead."
"Was this the first time this had happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"While I was awake, yes, but during that past couple of months I have experienced severe nightmares, nightmares that were real enough to harm me not only in my dream but in the real world as well. I fear that today's event is the escalation of that."
"How long has this been going on?"
"It started when Ron and I crashed landed. My sudden weakness was caused by a voice that ran throughout my head."
"From voices, to dreams, to reality," Dumbledore recounted. "Well it looks like I have a lot of work to do on the cover up."
"Pardon?"
"The cover up story, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore smiled. "Everyone knows about your extraordinary powers now so we have to give them an excuse on what and why you have them."
"You aren't going to kick him out?" Hermione said, smiling.
"Not unless you want me to, Miss Granger." He smiled to the young lady.
"Professor," Gohan said, "I think this has something to do with the creature in the Chamber of Secrets."
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said, glancing back at him. "I was wondering when you were going to bring that up."
"Am I right?"
Dumbledore stopped and turned back around, "I am afraid you are."
"How can I find it then?"
"We've searched this castle for many years and no entrance has ever been found. I was hoping that either you or your mentor's abilities to sense others would come in handy but alas, another plot is a foot, and sadly you are the target."
"Babidi has something to do with it," Piccolo said, "Somehow he is blocking all ki sensing, yet I felt Gohan's ki rise during the convocation."
"Interesting," Dumbledore said, "it seemed like he was trying to draw you out."
"But for what though," Gohan said. "He came and nothing else happened."
"The only thing it did do is wear on my patience." Piccolo said.
"Well maybe he wanted you here so you couldn't sense what he's doing out there?" Ron said. Gohan and Piccolo looked at each other in a serious manner. A notion clicked in their minds.
"The lookout," was the only two words that Gohan could muster.
Piccolo quickly made for the exit and Gohan followed, "Gohan, stay here. Protect them just in case." Gohan stopped and watched his mentor disappear through the exit.
"What's at the lookout?" Hermione asked.
"The only thing I can think of that Babidi could use is the Dragon Balls." Gohan said.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Piccolo flew through the night sky as fast as he could, leaving a white energy trail in his wake. As he flew near the water, it separated by the sheer force that he was generating. He swooped up high in the sky towards an extremely tall tower. He followed the tower all the way to the top where there was a giant room in a circular platform style. He flew past that and climbed high in the sky until he saw his destination. The half sphere lookout was floating several hundred feet above the tower. He flew to the top of it where it had a flat surface and landed. Piccolo's face turned into anger as he saw the condition of the lookout. Ruins and debris was all that was left of the once beautiful palace in the sky. Piccolo walked further into the place to search around.
"Mr. Popo!" he called out, "Dende!" There was no answer from either of the two. Piccolo walked throughout the ruins. "They must be still alive or the dragon balls would be useless to Babidi," he said to himself. He continued his search throughout the debris, uncovering anywhere that he thought his friends would be at.
Piccolo's senses caught something and he immediately took action. He jumped up in the air to dodge the incoming energy blast from behind. He landed several feet in front of where the blast hit, looking straight at his attacker.
"Like a moth to the flame, you've came out, Namek." Vegeta said, smiling evilly at Piccolo.
"Vegeta," Piccolo said as he stood up straight, glaring back at Vegeta. "I've should have know it was you that did this. I'm surprise my nose didn't catch your stench."
"Such strong words for such a weakling," Vegeta retorted.
"Enough games, Vegeta. Where are Dende and Mr. Popo?"
"What would you do if I told you I sent them both to the next dimension?" Vegeta laughed at Piccolo.
"After I mop the floor with you, I'd say you were lying due to the fact if Dende dies, your master would be quite upset because the Dragon Balls would be rendered useless."
"Babidi is NOT my master!" Vegeta yelled back in anger. "I work for him on my own accord."
"Heh," Piccolo scoffed, "The Prince of Sayians, working for another. I guess that mark on your forehead is just how you bow into submission for him."
"SHUT UP!" Vegeta's rage grew. His hair transformed into the golden blonde and his eye's became the known unearthly blue of that of a Super Sayian. The ground underneath him cratered as debris rose into the air. "I'll make you eat those words!"
"Why, because it's the truth?" Piccolo grabbed and threw off his cape and turban. He clenched his fist with his elbows to his side and let out a yell. A white aura surrounded him as the ground around him began to tremble.
The two flew at each other at a tremendous speed. They connected with a punch that shook the whole palace. A shockwave was created each time they traded punches, making rocks and debris crumble into smaller pieces. Vegeta did not let up against Piccolo as he continued with an entourage of punches that Piccolo blocked with his fists and knees. Vegeta finished up with a kick to Piccolo's head only to be blocked by his forearm. Piccolo grabbed Vegeta's leg and came up with his own that connected with Vegeta's chin. He then slammed Vegeta into the ground behind him, leaving a body imprint in the ground. Vegeta flipped upward, back on to his feet and then lunged back at Piccolo, catching him in the stomach with his fist. Vegeta grinned at Piccolo malevolently. He kicked Piccolo in the chin, pushing his head upward, and followed by another kick by the other leg in mid-air to the side of Piccolo's head. Piccolo flew across the lookout into a pile of debris.
"Come on, Namek." Vegeta sneered. "This workout is barely giving me a sweat."
A large blast destroyed the debris that covered Piccolo. The dust quickly settled showing Piccolo standing sideways, glaring at his rival. The wind blew the dust away from the battlefield as the two stared at each other momentarily. Piccolo cracked a smile and said, "Then let me turn up the heat a little."
He bent forward as he spread his legs further apart; he bought his arms outward in a fist as he let out a loud yell. The ground around him began to tremble more than before as huge pieces of debris and chunks of the once beautiful palace began to uplift into the air by his ki.
"What!?" Vegeta said as his eyes widened as he felt the enormous amount of power Piccolo was gaining.
Piccolo continued to gather his energy as the aura around began to fade into an emerald green. His body began to glow green the more energy he gained. The ground around him began to ripple like water. He leaned back to let out an even louder yell. The green aura consumed him as the light flooded the entire palace.
As the light faded, Vegeta stared in the direction where he last saw Piccolo standing with a shocking expression. Piccolo finally appeared, staring back at Vegeta when the green light faded. He had a half smile on his face as a green lightening bold followed up his leg to his knee and jumped to the other leg. It continued up to his chest and grew to cover the width. It reached his neck and shrunk back down and finally dissipated as it hit his antennas.
"Interesting," Vegeta said, regaining his composure. "Look's like you took a vacation in the Room of Spirit and Time. I hope it wasn't in vain."
"See for yourself," Piccolo said. He disappeared and reappeared with his fist in Vegeta's stomach. Vegeta curled forward as his eyes widened as blood came out of his mouth. Piccolo's elbow met the back of Vegeta's head, sending him forward through a pile of rock. Still flying forward, Piccolo appeared in front of Vegeta, cloths lining him in the neck. Vegeta's legs flew forward from the momentum and Piccolo punch him in the chest quickly followed by a kick in his back before he could hit the ground. Now Vegeta was flying upward before he caught himself and took control.
Anger and bleeding from the mouth, he looked frantically for where Piccolo had gone. Before he could react, he was punched in the face by Piccolo's left fist, followed by a right cross again in the face. Piccolo pummeled Vegeta with several more punches before axe handling Vegeta into the ground below. Piccolo raised his hands over his head and threw them forward with the palms facing Vegeta. "MASENKO-HA!" A green energy blast left his hands and hit Vegeta on the ground. A green light once again flooded the lookout momentarily.
The dust was settling and the light faded. The lookout was clear of debris except for the little bit of ruins that was still there from the palace. Piccolo landed on the ground a few feet from where Vegeta was last at. Piccolo's face frowned as Vegeta walked out of the dust cloud, wearing a smile and clapping his hands.
"Bravo Piccolo," Vegeta said as he stopped clapping. "You have gotten far stronger that I have ever expected you to. With that, I applaud you." Vegeta got into his stance. "Unfortunate for you, it isn't enough."
Vegeta began to laugh a hideous laughter. A kind of laughter you'd think only the devil himself could make. His energy sky-rocketed; his hair became even spikier than before. A bright golden light blinded Piccolo and filled the sky. The lookout and the earth below it began to shake violently. Clouds began to be pushed away from the lookout.
Piccolo's face wore the look of shock as Vegeta's power began to grow. "This can't be, how did he get so powerful?"
The trembling stopped just as fast as it started. Vegeta grinned evilly at Piccolo as he was now far more powerful than him. He stood with his arms crossed and said, "Even though you may be able to train a year within a day, I can still out class you with my power. Prepare yourself, Namek, for a world of pain."
Piccolo's aura returned as he got into his stance, "Bring it!" Before Piccolo could prepare himself, Vegeta had punched him in the face. Piccolo looked over and noticed that Vegeta's image had still not vanished from the first place. The next thing he knew, he was up in the air from a kick into his side. It felt like every rib on that side had been crushed. Blood trickled down the crack of his mouth. Vegeta grabbed the back of Piccolo's head and flew downward into the platform with him. He pushed Piccolo headfirst into the ground, shoving his face deep into what concrete that was left. He quickly pulled him out.
"I've only hit you with half of what I can do and you are already beaten." Vegeta said calmly in Piccolo's ear. "You weren't ever a challenge to me. I've gotten what I've came for and now I am done with you."
Vegeta stood up with Piccolo's head still in his hand. His body hung lifelessly as Piccolo spat up blood. Vegeta placed his hand in front of Piccolo and a golden energy ball formed in his palm. He let go of Piccolo and unleashed the energy ball that blasted Piccolo into the air. He arched and fell completely off the lookout and began to plummet towards the Earth.
Vegeta flew above the lookout and pulled out three dragon balls out of his pocket. "Only four more to go before nothing can stand in my way to reign supreme!" he laughed. He looked at the lookout and pointed his index finger at it. A small energy ball flew out of his finger and hit the lookout causing it to be consumed in a radiant blast before it completely disappeared. Vegeta flew off into the sky, laughing.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
The trio sat around in the common room of the Gryffindor tower. Hermione sat on the chair near the fire doing homework as Ron counted his wizard cards. Gohan stood next to the window, looking out.
"What's wrong, Gohan?" Hermione asked as Gohan looked out the window with a look of concern.
"Ever had that feeling that something bad just happened?" he glanced over his shoulder to ask her.
"I can't say that I have," she replied.
"Well, I'm having one of those feelings about Piccolo and Dende right now."