The bright colors outside of the temple were a distant memory. Dull, ugly colors ruled here albeit fittingly. The murky depths of the River Styx made it impossible to see beneath its surface much less the bottom. There was no telling what lived in its currents assuming anything did. Gohan knew for certain he wasn't going to plunge right in to find out.

Which was why he was standing on a rickety dock, bathed in the glow of a light that hung over his head from a post. The post was made of iron with some sort of metal arm extending out from its top. There was something that looked like a cage at the end of the arm and it was here the light was coming from. The youth hadn't seen a light fixture like this before, but then he was in a magical realm. It was most likely magic that created this unwavering, yet dim light.

The sounds of small waves flowing by filled the youth's ears. He could see the small bumps of water rising above the river's surface before crashing down back into it. The sight reached out for as far as he could see, a murky, mysterious fog blocking out the horizon on the other side, assuming there was one. The dark-haired young man sensed something…dangerous over there and he sure didn't want to find out what that was.

Yet, this is what he came for right? Allegedly, these waters would make him invincible so that he could take on Tao Pai Pai. But there was something in him that was screaming not to do it.

Before he could convince his warring mind that he indeed needed to dive in, a new sound caught his ears. Head quickly turning to his left, Gohan saw a small, thin boat drifting towards the dock. There was also a person standing up in the boat, a long thin stick in their hands, which they were using to paddle towards him. It was this paddle that he was hearing as it stirred the waters.

There was a dark cloak that masked the identity of the boatman. Gohan could only say for certain that it was a tall, thin person, and that was about it. A hood covered the person's head, leaving only shadow to darken their face to the point of being invisible.

Soon the boat pulled up next to the dock and came to a stop. The ferryman slowly tilted their head to a side, glancing to the youth. In turn, Gohan stared back, the two's gazes never leaving each other for what seemed like eons.

Eventually, the ferryman raised a hand up, and in a guttural tone, said, "Payment."

That caused the young man to blink his eyes owlishly. Payment? What payment? No one ever mentioned anything about paying anyone! Here he was, at Death's Loading Dock, and he was being ordered to pay a boat fare. What kind of place was this?!

Still, Gohan didn't want to appear too ignorant lest he offend this boatman. Besides, the voice in his head that was strictly telling him not to go for a swim was gently nudging him to get in the boat. So he began patting down his clothes and body in a poor attempt to appear as if he were looking for something to pay with. Maybe if he at least pretended like he wanted to go, he wouldn't offend this guy. "I'm sure I have some money here...somewhere," he spoke nervously right before he felt something in his pants. Frowning, the youth patted the spot and was sure there was something there.

Looking down, he pushed a hand into his pocket and felt some sort of thin piece of paper. Pulling it out, he discovered it was an envelope. Flipping it from front to back, he discovered writing on the front.

Should you make it to the River Styx, here is your fare. You don't want to ferryman to burn your eyes out of your skull

-Baba

Gohan stared at the note bewilderingly. It took him a moment to gather his wit and open the envelop, finding a couple of coins with in it. Since when had Baba placed this on his person? He honestly couldn't recall…

"Watch where you're going!" Baba reprimanded, causing Gohan to flinch back.

"I'm sorry," the youth quickly apologized. After seeing Sharpner's fate, he had no desire to share it, even if it meant jumping, crying, and stroking the old crone's ego. The woods the witch had led him and Dende wasn't the easiest place to move around, so bumping into someone or something wasn't so strange.

Of course, the last person you wanted to run into was an irate witch with a tendency to turn people into worthless pets.

However, unknowns to him, the witch had slipped something into his pants pocket. Due to his being startled, he never realized its presence…

Slowly the memory faded away, Gohan's glazed-over eyes sharpening. Huh, that had been a convenient flashback. The young man was pretty sure such a scene hadn't occurred in an earlier chapter and suspected someone was trying to shoehorn in an untold scene that may or may not have happened off-screen.

He was going to have to steal someone's script for confirmation.

"Payment," the ferryman demanded again, causing the dark-haired youth to jolt where he stood.

"Ah, yes, yes, here's my payment," Gohan said quickly, pulling out the coins and placing them in the ferryman's extended hand. Fingers wrapped around the offering and the boatman dropped their hand to grab onto their pole once more. Seeing as how his coins hadn't been rejected, the young man felt it was okay for him to step into the boat, which he did. The boat rocked in the waters as he stepped in, Gohan spotting seating in the watercraft. Thinking it would best, he took a seat, facing the back of the ferryman.

The ride was long and time meant nothing. The only sound of company Gohan had was the waves of water that splashed against the sides of the boat.

The ferryman had been poor company. The youth tried to engage him in what he thought was civil conversation. The ferryman…well…said, "Talking costs extra."

That shut Gohan up rather quickly.

With eyes dulled over from boredom, the young man just stared out in front of him, neither seeing the dark grey fog in front of them nor the back of the ferryman. To be honest, there wasn't much to look at around here. The banks were covered in ugly-looking vegetation that was just as grey if not greyer than the fog. The water had the color of sludge, though thankfully none of its consistency. Otherwise this boat ride would've taken much longer. It was a stark difference from the colorful and insane world he had encountered when he first arrived. Part of him was beginning to miss it.

There were a few times Gohan dozed off. He wasn't sure if he actually slept or if all the times he had snapped his heavy eyelids opened were just mere seconds after they closed. Regardless, nothing change, so there was no way to determine how far they gotten or how long it had been since his boarding. A couple times he could've sworn he saw a white rabbit appear on the banks, but rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things would make the rabbit disappear as if it had never been there.

Then, as if his eyes were playing tricks on him, a small island appeared at the horizon. It started as a small black dot, but slowly grew bigger. The closer they came to it, the more it seemed to rise high above their heads. Something created light at its top as a light glow emanated from it.

The moment Gohan realized he wasn't just seeing things, he immediately straightened up in his seat. Finally, he was getting somewhere.

As they neared the island, it soon became apparent that it was more of a giant rock that sat in these waters. Moss grew on its sides, though there was a good foot right at the waterline that revealed naked stone. The constant waves had cleaned off anything and everything that could've grown on it. Its sides were rounded, though from the looks of it, there were more angular surfaces towards its top.

Fortunately, it didn't seem like Gohan would have to climb his way up immediately. He wasn't that good of a rock climber to be honest and he didn't want to attempt here. He noticed a dock extended out from the island, a lone lamp hanging from a pole giving off any light. That seemed to be where the boatman was taking them.

The ferryman pulled his rickety boat up to the wooden dock. "End," he breathed out lowly before turning his head around. Shadows still covered his face because of his hood. "Get out."

Gohan immediately shot up onto his feet. "Umm, thanks for the ride?" he said uncertainly before he stepped onto the dock. The wood beneath his feet creaked, but held steady, much to his relief. Fulling standing on the dock, the young man immediately spotted a stone staircase that traveled up the face of the rock island, veering off to the right the higher it went.

"So I just go up the stairs?" he asked before turning around to look to the ferryman. To his surprise, the ferryman had pushed off the dock with his pole, his boat floating out into the river. "Hey! Where are you going?!"

The boat stopped completely. The ferryman turned his head to the youth. "Payment," he spoke raspy.

Once more, Gohan found himself patting his pants, only he didn't find a coin in his pocket. "Umm, I don't seem to have anything," he spoke softly.

"Then get a job, ya bum."

Gohan's mouth dropped. He had no idea how to respond to that comment. The voice had been so…well, normal sounding when compared to the deathly groan the boatman had spoken with previously. Helplessly, he watched the ferryman pull away, disappearing into the mists around them.

"But…how am I going to get home?"

There was no answer. Being alone as he was, Gohan really didn't expect an answer to his helpless question. But then a voice, sounding as if it were a far way away reached his ears.

"…get…a…job…"

Slowly, Gohan backed away from the river towards the staircase. It seemed the only way for him to go was forward. He'd have to worry about how he would leave this place later, assuming there was such a way. It wasn't the first time he wondered why he came to this strange place.

Turning around, Gohan looked up at the staircase. It was much like the one at the half-finished temple he had been at prior to the ferry ride. Taking a deep breath, he released it before mounting the stairs.

Step after step he climbed, following the staircase up. It was alright at first. The youth expected he'd be at the top in no time. But then his legs became tired, then sore. Soon they were burning from the constant exertion he made as he climbed each step.

Soon, Gohan was covered in sweat. He was thirsty and panted loudly. It was around then that the stairs suddenly went very steep, nearly vertical. In order to keep going up, Gohan practically laid on the steps and grabbed onto the steps with his hands.

Eventually climbing gave way into dragging. Every step seemed to have a sharp edge and each one punched into Gohan's stomach, dragging down the full length of his torso. Dear Kami! How far did this staircase go?!

Then he made a rather dumb decision. He looked down. While he had expected to find the water far down below him. Instead he found the dock right beneath his feet.

Jerking his head up, he found the same right curve he had noticed the moment he had set foot on the dock. "No…" he whispered, his eyes on the verge of tears. He hadn't climbed all of those steps only to never had actually left the wooden pier. It…it wasn't fair.

"You know, you're never going to reach the top lying there."

And then there was this guy. Reluctantly, Gohan turned his head to regard the Sharpner Cat lounging to his left and up a couple of steps. His smile was just as creepy and obnoxious as ever. "C'mon, buddy, I believe in you," he encouraged.

"But I'm nowhere near the top," Gohan replied, nearly blubbering.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Just look—" Gohan started as he jerked his hand off the staircase to gesture below him. However, when he looked down, he found the dock was nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was a very, very long way down, almost a speck in his eyes.

"Eep!" he squeaked as he immediately grabbed onto the staircase. What was going on here? First he was at his figurative staring line, then he was nowhere near it. In fact, where the hell was he?! Nothing was making sense!

"Now don't you feel silly?" Sharpner Cat laughed. "C'mon, don't dilly dally, the white rabbit is just ahead."

The dark-haired youth's head perked up as he returned his attention to the cat. "Really?"

"Really what?"

"What you just said."

"What did I say?"

"You know, that the white rabbit is up ahead."

"It is?"

"That's what you just told me!"

"I did?"

"Yes!"

"Funny, I don't remember saying that, but you're not going to get anywhere laying on your tummy like that."

A migraine was forming in Gohan's head. He should've known better than to talk to this deranged cat. Its only purpose seemed to be to annoy him, much like his human self. "You know, you could help me," he muttered under his breath.

The Sharpner Cat heard him though. "I guess I could do that. If you would just climb up a couple steps more, I'll give you a helping hand."

With a resigned sigh, Gohan did as he was asked, hauling himself up one step, then two. However, there wasn't a third step. In fact, what was beyond the second step was a flat plateau. Gohan blinked his eyes for a moment before he quickly scrambled onto it lest he blink one too many times and it vanished. Huffing and puffing as he laid on cool stone tiles, Gohan thanked all the deities he could for this moment's respite.

"Thanks," he managed to wheeze out after awhile, turning his head back to the staircase. "I don't think I could've…"

He trailed off only because he saw the last vestiges of the Sharper Cat's smile slowly fade away. Oh, so that's how this was going to be. Dropping his head onto the tiles, Gohan closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment's rest.

Then, for whatever reason, the urge to get up assaulted him. Eyes snapping open, Gohan found he was standing on his feet—how he didn't know, but he was pretty sure his body had done it. It was then he realized he wasn't alone on this plateau.

Off to his right was a throne made of stone. On either side of it were two torches that burned with bright fire. Eyes darting from side to side, the youth realized he was on top of the rock island. These torches must have been the sources of light he had seen at its top.

Behind the throne were columns like the ones at the temple. They formed a semi-circle with a stone slab lying on top of them all. That was pretty much it for decoration.

However, there was someone lounging in the throne. At first the figure was a blur of darkness, so Gohan couldn't make out who they were. For some reason he narrowed his eyes into a squint, which somehow allowed him to see the person more clearly. Unconsciously, he took a step towards the stone chair, and then another. Soon, the light from the torches removed all darkness and Gohan's eyes widened.

"Mr. Piccolo?"

Indeed, the green-skinned man sat in the chair, his arms on the armrests and a bored look in his eyes. "You sure took your time getting here," he remarked boredly.

Slowly, Gohan walked towards him, stopping a short distance away. "What are you doing here?" he asked breathlessly.

Amusement danced over Piccolo's face. "I think you're confusing me for someone else," he said.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"I'm not the man you know as Piccolo."

That left Gohan flabbergasted. "Then who are you?"

"I'm the one who rules this wonderful land you've traveled through. I've been watching you since you arrived and I must say, you are entertaining."

This was becoming too much. Between the flowers and white rabbits and Sharpner Cats, Gohan had just about reached his limit on the absurdity of this place. Why couldn't someone just answer him without going into riddles? He could stomach some, but this was just too much.

That was the only explanation for why he behaved the way he did next. "Can you just give me a straight answer?" he demanded. "I've come a long way and through a whole lot of stuff and I'm sick and tired of being the only one in the dark."

The mirth never left Not-Piccolo's face. "I can if I choose to."

Gohan scowled. "Tell me who you are."

"That's not a question."

The youth's eye twitched. "Who are you?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Not-Piccolo smirked. "I am the Ruler of the Underworld, the place where all souls come to once their mortal coils have been spent."

Immediately, Gohan straightened out his posture. Oh Lord, he had not just been rude to the man that had control of his afterlife. No, no, no! His anger drained out of him, only to be replaced with fear. He needed to tread carefully now so as not to upset this rather important person.

"Oh," he spoke after a long moment. "Umm, nice to meet you…Sir." He swallowed deeply. "Umm, why do you look like Mr. Piccolo?"

Not-Piccolo shrugged his shoulders. "I can take any form I please. Since I knew you were coming, I thought I'd take a form you'd be more comfortable with."

Comfortable? Gohan frowned at that. "What do you normally look like?"

"To be honest, it isn't a nice-looking form. Most people that have seen me have their skin melt off their bones, heads explode, or they go insane."

"That bad, huh?"

Not-Piccolo scowled at him. "You dare insult my true body?"

Gohan's eyes widened. "Oh, no, no, no! I was just commenting on your…uh, description. I'd like to see what you look like if that's okay with you."

Amusement returned to the green man's face. "Are you sure about that?"

"Absolutely. I'd be honored even."

"Absolutely, huh? You know, if you want to back out now, I'll let you."

A part of the dark-haired young man felt he should've taken this offer. To be honest, he didn't want to see what could drive a person insane by merely looking at it. Yet, there was a part of him that was dying to know. Every second his curiosity was getting the better of him. "Please, I'd like to see it."

"Well, if you insist."

Suddenly, Piccolo's form was gone. Gohan found himself tilting his head back to look at something so horrific, so disgusting, so monstrous it was beyond those very words. They didn't even really describe it well either. Nightmares couldn't even compare to its hideousness.

So he screamed.

Over and over.

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

And then the Ruler of the Underworld transformed back into Piccolo. "I warned you," he said in an I-told-you-so tone.

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

"I know, it's terrible. It's impressive you haven't ripped your own skin off."

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

Not-Piccolo stared at him. "Uhh, are you going to be at this for long? There are other things for us to discuss."

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

Now he was looking annoyed. "You can stop now."

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

"If you don't stop, I'll show you something even more terrifying," he warned.

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"

"So be it. Have it your way."

And then the Ruler of the Underworld changed his form yet again. True to his word, he had become something that made his real form pale in comparison to the horror this one brought.

"Hey, Sidekick," Sharpner said.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

To Zerolink100: There's usually a price that comes with going to the underworld and it's never a good one. For most people, they never get to leave; for others, they usually end up losing something precious to them.

RyRy tested; MaMa approved