Now I was grounded, or at least that's what it felt.
It's what I get for sneaking outside, into the woods. Truthfully, I did not need to go that far off, but it gave me the chock-full experience. It was like running around in a house than outside, was I getting the real thing?
Would this inhibit my capacity to grow? It honestly depends.
"Go on, Goten, keep studying. You're not going anywhere if you don't."
Under the watchful eye of Chi-Chi, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book, I was back to the wooden floor again. My punishment was studying, not a bad discipline, ironically. After all, I was preparing for my future, even if I was relearning old skills again.
On my knees, with a pencil in my right hand, I was learning about science. This workbook was also acting as a textbook, which makes it my solid work yet. At least in comparison to my previous entirety. It was a longer book, and skimming through it before I got started. It came in at 144 pages but try as it might, it was still effortless.
A killer idea formed in my mind as I found a way to train while doing this dump.
Using my psychic power, I was holding the workbook along with the pencil in the air. Hopping onto my hands, I extended my index finger, and holy crap, it felt like snapping. One finger was too much. Using all five fingers on both hands, I started doing finger stands, realizing I'd need to work my way down slowly.
I did my work just like that; not even Chi-Chi could say anything, simply just sighing as she watched me work my magic.
Gohan was at the dining table studying, not paying much attention to what I did. He was really into becoming a scholar, completely devoted. I wanted to see what he calculated as I was under the impression he was wasting his time in the books. If this was what I got, it only makes you wonder, what was he doing? It couldn't be all that hard, right?
My workbook was about reading out not so, dense words, for the average child, in a science chant. I was looking at the shapes and sizes that helped with the science chant. Then it was an expectation for me to use the words in my daily experiences.
There were shape matching and some tracing, drawing what I saw, another science chant, a discussion to have with a parent, which I dutifully ignored, tracing again. Then there was a real-life activity for me to look around the house and find positional words and draw them. It wasn't arduous to treasure trove if I was able to not move from my spot.
It was an engaging and colorful book. But once again, if that was all I had to do, then Gohan's stuff shouldn't be all that hard.
I was nearing the end of my book when I wondered if I'd have to pick up another one. Just how long was I grounded? I still needed to teach mom flight.
"Mom, how long am I going to study? I still want to teach you flight."
Chi-Chi seemed to ponder her thoughts. I was thinking about the many unique powers I still had to learn.
"Do one more book, and I'll think about it."
"Fine."
Continue my preparation the day was traveling into the evening. While me doing a workbook was easy on itself, the pages compensated. It was long, and I was getting cross-eyed.
"But I'm tired."
"Well, maybe that will make you think twice before sneaking outside without my consent." She shot back.
There was not much for me to say there. I had overstepped.
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are, now be a good young man and finish your tasks so that you can get back to teaching me flight."
"Yes, ma'am." She sounded like a commandant. In turn, I responded to her as if I was her little soldier.
I finished off that science workbook soon enough, giving it to Chi-Chi through my psychic power. It flies across the room, landing on the sofa on mom's left. I hopped off from my fingers onto my feet.
Can I instead read a book? An alluring idea formed in my head.
"Hey, mom?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I read a book?"
She comically fell.
"You can't be serious, Goten. I mean, I knew you were smart, but I didn't think you were this smart."
"If I can read a page, can I teach you how to fly?"
Me working around with workbooks weren't going to cut it any longer. There wasn't any great mystery or grand plan. I was getting bored and impatient. I'm sure reading would count as studying. I would be improving my language skills and writing. It would make me astute, and I would have more memory.
And I did love reading.
Mom seemed to have a worried expression on her face which did make me nervous. What next? Was I being sent to a hospital?
"All right, son, come here."
I jumped from my positioning, front-flipping through the air and then landing on the couch. Being motioned, I climbed onto mom's lap.
Looking at the book she was reading, it was a real-life storybook talking about world history. Was mom a historian? Cool.
"Where do you want me to read off of?"
"From the start of the page."
And so I read off. The words were small, which made reading the page feeling long. As I read through it, I found myself drawn in. This world history was like a parody of my old world, things that just weren't true and some things that were. It all felt comical, yet finding their place inside this book meant that it was real and has happened sometime in the past.
I remained oblivious to Chi-Chi's reaction, just into the book. I needed to learn more about this earth, and was there a map somewhere? I'd like to know the geography of this world. In other words, I'd like to know where I am.
"GYAAAH!"
I promptly fell into the hard floor, but it wasn't so hard if my head was able to smash through it. Yep, someone will need to fix that later.
Hearing footsteps, I knew it was Gohan. My head lodged deep in the wooden floor. I couldn't see him, my eyes only seeing dark.
My sounds came out muffled, at least to those that were on top of the floor. I pulled my head out, damaging the floor even further.
"Hi, Gohan." He was the first person I saw out of the floor. I dusted myself and stood up.
Gohan got on to his knees and patted my head, which I accepted. He picked me up and allowed me to rest on his shoulders.
"You know, you shouldn't spend all your time studying." I started. He could go out there and have fun staying cooked up in a room all day was not ideal.
"You're just saying that because you want me to train you, that's all." Not that it wasn't any secret from the start, but that was my ulterior motive.
"Hmph."
"Hey, don't look so mad. You're much smarter and stronger than when I was your age."
While that was true, it was because I knew. From what I inherited, the enemies to face in future battles and more possible enemies after. I was still the same person, just a different body.
"Um, hello!" Mom looked angry.
"Oh, hi, mom!" Gohan said, then went on to ponder his thoughts, a hand on his chin as he suddenly remembers why he was here.
"Mom, why were you screaming? You had me worried."
"Little, Goten, here can read a page! I bet he could a read book if he wanted to."
Gohan just comically fell. I jumped off from his shoulders right before he did so, flying and landing safely onto the armchair of the sofa.
"Man, mom, I did not think you had a sense of humor." He said in between laughs.
"I'm serious!"
I just took it all in, looking at the banter between Chi-Chi and son.
"Hey, Goten, can you read?"
I nodded my head. Gohan just looked stunned. Yeah, if my baby could read a page from a book, I was just reading. I'd be going straight to a hospital, or maybe give it praise.
"Wow."
"Mhm," Chi-Chi remarked. "Told you so." She had her arms crossed on her sizable bust and looked away.
"So I don't have to study anymore, right mama?" I pressed.
She sighed.
"Fine, you're free. I doubt you were even learning much from your studies."
I smiled. Yeah, I doubt.
"So I can teach you now, mama?"
"Sure, sure."
"You're teaching mom how to fly?" Gohan cuts. I nod at his words. I still wished some time in the past someone had taught it to her, or at least someone from our family, The Son Family, stepped up. But I would be a hypocrite because before all of this. I did not care much for her to learn flight, only watching her for a hot date with my right hand.
"When did this happen?"
"I convinced her earlier today through love." I still felt proud about that.
"And that's when he thought it was a good idea to learn how to fly in the wild." She said, crushing my proudness.
"You're lucky to be alive, Goten."
"Even, so mom, he learned flight. He's an amazing little guy." Gohan said, lighting up the mood, but honestly, his smile and laughter did just that.
"See, mom, he gets it."
"I don't see how you guys can be so casual. Come on, Goten, let's go." She relented.
I jumped off from the armchair of the sofa and landed on the floor, dodging the hole I made with my head.
"I hope you're a good teacher Goten, Good luck!"
I nodded towards him as I jumped across the room, not wanting to fly as I didn't know how teaching mother would go. I might end up needing every last bit of energy I could get.
Mom led me to the front yard of the house. Finding the rich air, I do not think I will ever get over how different it was to the city air. I use to inhale. We kept on walking until mom thought we were at a safe distance from the house.
"I think this is pretty far enough."
I nod at her words.
"So how does it work."
I put a hand on my chin, searching for the right words. It wasn't as if I had a skit.
"First, mom, can you use your Ki?" I don't think she could, and I don't remember ever seeing her using Ki.
She shook her head, not a setback.
"All right, all right, first you need to feel your energy. I recommend you sit down. You will need concentration." I wasn't going to sit, even, as I stood didn't make much difference with my height.
She does as I suggested and sits down, on her knees, if that counts.
"Now close your eyes, and feel your energy." I could pretty much say the whole thing right then and there, but I would overwhelm her. I needed to say things bit by bit.
She closes her eyes and, it's not as if I could feel her body that sounded weird, but I'm guessing she's feeling her energy. But for confirmation, though I was afraid of breaking her focus, I asked.
"Were you successful?"
She shook her head. And once again, it wasn't a setback.
"It's fine, mama. We have different biologies. It's easier for a hybrid like me to feel out their energy than it is for a human."
Ch-Chi nodded her head. If she had continued being a fighter, then she would've been able to pick this up on the spot. The scars ran deep. She had lost her way.
"You want to try again or on your own time."
"Right now, I won't take this lying in the dirt!" She angrily says with me, angry at the thought of doing this later because she failed, before nodding at her words satisfied.
I threw my hands up at a placating gesture, motioning her to calm down. She needed it if she was to fly.
Then she tries again.
'I wonder how long this is going to take,' allowing my mind to wander a bit. Telepathy was the next invaluable skill I wanted to learn and make sure everyone in my family had it. Talking with our mouths won't save the day all the time. Telepathy had its downsides too. If Goku was able to listen in on King Kai at random times, and vice versa. Who's to say it won't happen to us, and not from good hands.
Was it called telepathic eavesdropping?
I continued to watch mom as she kept her eyes closed. I then move to lay on my back, resting at this point, looking up at the sky, watching the clouds float by, and then staring at blue. I think. I could sleep. I was tired from flying and then studying and training.
"I did it!"
I rubbed my eyes and then straightened myself up.
"You did it?"
I scratched my head a bit, ridding my hair of the dirt that was on it.
"Was there ever any doubt."
I shook my head. The strongest woman on the planet can't find her energy? That was laughable.
"I knew you could do it, mommy," I say, taking note of the energy floating in her palm. White. I hadn't even told her to do that, and she did it on her own. Not impressive, knowing the context that she was a fighter but impressive knowing she can take it a step further without help.
Time to fly.
"You ready to fly, mother?"
She nods.
"You sure you're not afraid of heights?"
"Goten!" She clenched her fists, spiking in anger.
"Now, you need to direct the flow of your energy to your feet. It's like making a river move." Right now, her energy should feel, well, there. It wasn't going in a drift. Just because you unlocked; your energy did not mean you trained your latent power. You haven't taught it to fly or use telekinesis. Once you do practice it, let's say once. How easy it is; to pick up on the skill again, I assume, depending on your biology.
You'd need to be a prodigy to bypass that limitation.
She nods at my words. And I go back to staring off into space, my eyes meeting the sky once more without even noticing.
It was only a matter of time now. I felt ready for the storm.
She should be flying right about now.
The only thing I heard was the wind blowing, my hair following the direction of the wind.
All right, she should be flying right about,
There was a sound that sounded like the ignition for flight, like how you would turn on a lightsaber. Then you would hear the ignition sound for that lightsaber. I just stared at mom, watching her fly with a grin.
Not really quite verse with flying evident as she stayed low to the ground. It was still a proud moment.
There were no words to be exchanged. What exactly did I need to say? Great Job? Congratulations? Mom, do not fly very high. You're not that good yet.
She got this.
I could hear her laughter and cheers as I watched her slowly increasing her speed subconsciously. Flying was like running, ran too fast, and you lose your energy too slow, and you're not at your top speed. It's when you were so powerful that even flying slowly. You crossed a continent.
She swoops in and carries me in her arms and then places me on her back, me holding on by her neck.
"Incredible?"
"The feeling, nothing to hold you down, the fresh air in your face, to be free. It is incredible." She agreed, my thoughts exactly. The best powers, the best everything, are always the simplest ones. I don't need omnipotence to find happiness, to have an incredible something.
I stay on her back, watching her do her moves not high into the sky, probably about 2 meters, doing tricks and maneuvers. We did not go too far off from our home, just right around the corner. Mom was testing her flying skills.
"You're a natural flier."
"Of course I am. I'm amazing."
She eventually ends up flying at her full speed, and I would be terrified if I did not learn to fly. My face, starting to expand as I felt the air filling up my cheeks and my eyes widening. Only then bolstering my power, so the air pressure did not affect me. Too strong for it.
I looked down at the sea of green, not high up to see trees, but high up to see grasses and bushes. I was going to taunt her about her fear of heights. But I was conflicted about my fear of heights. Better keep my mouth shut this time. Sensing an opportunity, I took it.
"Want to race?"
"You're on!"
Hopping off her back, I flew side by side with her. Not only was it a race to see how fast I was, but it was also a way to test my skill with flight. Did speed correlate with strength? Finding my answer was a hard no.
Did that mean Power levels meant nothing, a number that explains who would win in a fight?
Hmm.
Power levels do not explain a character's abilities; it was a measurement, a measurement, of a character's power and talents overall. It was just that. But it did nothing to calm my instant regret at making such a race. I was sure I was not going to win. Chi-Chi was simply an experienced fighter, and it transfers to her flight.
All I've done was smash my head against a rock. That sounded familiar.
I did not probe my words towards mom. I knew where she was going. I followed her back home. We hovered on top of our house. I just waited for mom to pick a location for our finish line. It wasn't going to be Grandpa Gohan's hut. It was too short, and while I could keep track of who was faster, Chi-Chi wasn't that adept with Ki yet. I could easily lie.
And I don't think Mom likes liars, despite it even being true.
"Dragon Rock."
"What?"
"Dragon Rock, the rocky area on Mount Paozu near us." She pointed.
"Mount Paozu is where we live, right?"
"Mhm." She nods her head.
"That will be our finish line, but don't go into Dragon Rock. They are home to strong monsters, big creatures that will try to eat you." She concluded, and I gulped. I was starting to like the short race to Grandpa Gohan's hut more. But then there was the feeling to explore, and I felt the rush.
And the adrenaline to fight? Did I want a challenge?
It was a hard no. My limbs are too small, so small, that my head could even serve better a punch and kick than my actual limbs designed for it.
And I wasn't looking to lose my head.
"Scared? We don't have to take the race towards there if you don't like."
"Nope, let's do this."
Just don't enter Dragon Rock, and I should be fine, I chanted internally. I should've been more excited than I was. I've always loved Dinosaurs, and I'm going to come face to face with a real one if given a chance. Was I just nervous?
Though still not quite the Dinosaurs, I would've seen from my world if they were alive. I can still proudly say I've seen one if I ever somehow returned to my world. But still, I was going to see a dinosaur, a pseudo-version, were they to be hostile or friendly with me.
I hoped they were friendly with me.
"A countdown?" I probed.
"Mhm." Mom held up her fingers and begun to punctuate her words.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Go!"
I started flying, bolstering my power through me. Looking straight up ahead only at Dragon Rock, simply watching it zoom closer and closer to me as I flew towards the rocky area.
Now, where was mother?
Taking a few glances to spot her, I could not find her. All I saw was the blue sky. She did not outfly me, did she? I was just by her side. Yeah, telepathy can wait. Ki-Sense was next on my list.
Can I try the power?
Ki Reading was a pretty straightforward power peer for someone's Ki. But how do you peer for someone's Ki? I don't have eyes on it.
Having an idea of where to start, I closed my blinder. There was no peculiar reason. It was to help with focus. Me seeing dark would make my mind focus exclusively on my energy.
I imagined an angle, trying to reach out to Chi-Chi's Ki. I could feel it out. She was there and right on top of me.
I opened my eyes, my wide eyes.
"You're too slow." She taunted and flew off ahead of me, gaining ground and closer to the finish. I slowed down, not even caring about the race anymore, now simply marveling at my newfound ability.
Just Woah.
I saw everything around mom, from the sky, the air, the trees. I was like a radar picking up everything that went on around her, for it to fade as she kept traveling, attention focused. It was a cooling sensation, sight for the blind.
It paled in comparison to be able to sense Mom's Ki.
I could go as far as to say see the energy than supposedly feeling it around her. And it felt unique, that if I were to try, to sense Gohan's Ki. I would effortlessly tell who was who. It was a signature, a face to know a person. You could not forget unless it's been a minute. As mom traveled further, it was getting slowly arduous and harder for me to reach her out. Knowing she'll stop at Dragon Rock if she traveled further? I wouldn't be able to feel her.
If I were blind and tried to see with Ki only, there was a limitation. I could only see the region of anyone that I'm sensing. While I'm sure that can be rectified, for now, it was a restraint.
Watching her reach closer and closer to the Dragon Rock, I wondered if I could still win? Feeling out, mom didn't give me the indication that she was powerful, but was she suppressing her energy?
No, what am I saying? She just learned how to fly!
If she wasn't suppressing her energy, then I was stronger than her.
I powered up, a white aura coating me as I release the concentrated Ki welled inside for a high-speed flight. I wanted to scream, but I would be alerting mom that I was coming for her. Dragon Ball Characters roared in pain when powering up. I was going to need to will it through.
I moved.
When looking around, fixating my gaze, everything was slow. Trees were like statues, birds, grasses, even the air. Looking forward, mom was the only person I could count as moving. At least faster than everything else, I've stared, losing the grip with my eyes, as if I've just pressed resume after a pause button. I zipped past mother right at the tipping point for Dragon Rock.
Just like that, I won the race.
Was I proud? Happy?
Well proud was more like it. I never knew my strength, how strong I was in comparison. I could smash rocks with just my head, but how strong. I remember Chi-Chi being somewhere around 130+ in pl. If I could beat her in a race, I can officially blow up the moon or a side of this planet without paying attention. Though proud, I was getting spooked. I'm sure I could control my Ki. This time, I wanted help on how to do it.
Who was going to be there to stop an energy bomb of doom?
I looked at the entrance for Dragon Rock. I saw the Rocky Terrain with dirt, no green unless you traveled in. But more rocky terrain and still less green. I was a bit tired. Working out and then flying like that. I wanted to explore the inwards of Dragon Rock, but how long could I stay awake? My eyes were feeling droopy.
I turned around, watching mom arrive on, scene.
"You are crafty. Do you know that? Making me think I was going to win just for you to blitz me." She whined.
"But you were going to win, honest." I tried. She was. A reminder that I needed to know my strengths first. My foes, then deciding if it was worth the try. Unless there was a goal, I was not going to take things that meant nothing. Something I knew of already.
"Mhm," she hummed angrily, but then it softened. Flying towards her, I fell into her arms. I was practically carried, like the baby I was, but I did not care. I had learned a new power. That's all I cared about right now.
Eyes closed, I went to sleep.
###
The day had traveled into the night. Looking at the time, it was 9:24. Eh, I can go to Dragon Rock tomorrow. Not a loss.
I was laid in my basket crib, blanket over me, staring at the ceiling. What time had it been before? I hadn't paid mind to it. I did know that the day had light before the evening by the looks of it. I had been out as if someone had flipped a switch.
I got up and surveyed the area, soon resting my head on the border of the crib. Gohan was asleep next to me. We were upstairs. Should I go straight to sleep? Ki-Sensing was the last great proof. I had to learn that in the end. All these powers were going to be easy because of Theory and because I was Goten. A character with so much potential.
I had been thinking too hard when each time I found an answer. It was in front of me.
Using this time, I felt out my Qi and reached out for Chi-Chi. She was well, unsurprisingly awake, but near me, taking the role of a guard dog. Was she waiting till I was awake? Did she think I was going to pull a fast one and leave outdoors? It had to be it.
What should I say?
No, I should confront her if I had nothing to say. I flew out of my bed and went downstairs, finding her on the sofa, reading. Before I could make my presence known, she beat me to the punch.
"You know, you should be sleeping, honey."
"So you know?"
"Mhm," She giggled, "You may be able to sense me out with your power, but I still have my love."
When she puts it like that, I can understand. A mother's instinct, in expression.
"You stayed awake because you knew I'd wake up?" I asked.
"Well, you did pass out. You would have awakened and done something reckless. I would be a bad mother if I left it to chance."
"But I wouldn't have left." Yeah, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have.
"So righteous are you?"
I then thought about how easy it was for me to leave once I convinced myself. What if there was another invaluable ability like Ki Sense. Still, even if I knew it was effortless, would I be getting the real thing? It was about the firsthand experience than just being insightful about how to do the power.
"I don't know."
"Come."
I jumped to her position. She sat on the far end of the left side of the sofa. Inside of sitting on her lap, I sat on her side, an arm thrown around me. I felt safe. She smelled sweet.
"Hey, mom."
"Yes?"
"Is it disturbing that I talk?" I scrutinized.
They loved me. I'm sure of it. But my family hadn't expressed what they felt about me speaking. They just danced around the idea.
"Should it be? If I love you, I don't care if you could talk even as a baby."
That sounded too easy, something I should be happy with calmly. All I could feel was dissatisfaction. Not even a hint of restraint?
"Really?"
"Mhm."
"Oh."
A hair ruffle was what followed.
"Truthfully, I stayed awake because I've never established what time you should be in bed."
I gulped.
"You should be in bed at 6:25 PM."
My eyes widened at how absurdly early that was, but I couldn't find myself being angry at it. I held no real power in the house, and it was an orderly timeframe, baby or not. You eat breakfast within the first hour of waking up, lunch between 10 AM to 2 PM, four to five hours later dinner, then sleep. Did I have dinner or lunch?
And Chi-Chi was an orderly person.
"What? Don't like it?" She glared.
"No, It's fine."
Her expression switched in an instant showing how much mom was a moody person.
"Want me to tuck you in?"
"No, I'm hungry."
She carried me onto her lap, and a feeding session was what followed. I greedily accepted her fluids and now finding a training benefit from this. What if I could eat less? Wouldn't it make my body resourceful to process every last drop of food, making even the tiniest food a feast to me? While don't get me wrong, I did love eating but was it beneficial to eat more than I could train myself, required?
Interesting Theory.
I was picked up after Chi-Chi well, sensed that I got it done. I hadn't said anything. Just moved me to my basket crib and tucked me in, a kiss on my forehead. I hadn't found it cringy, but it would be cringy to say I loved it. I needed a bit more time.
It wasn't hard to find sleep. I had been sleeping before, and my eyes felt dry. I suppressed my energy, which meant not concentrating on my ki, letting it fade on its own, feeling relaxed. I could do it willfully, but I was just about to sleep, allowing my body to take its course.
I closed my eyes, and after tumbling around a bit. I went to bed.
###
Waking up, it was 7:59. So this was the power of Ultra Instinct?
Feeling a bit of action around the house, I was unsurprised when everyone I knew was awake. And I was still feeling tired, ready to go back to sleep. I did have a good lucid dream, and I could still be able to retain it.
One thought about Buu was all I needed to cancel the idea.
The next thing I wanted to do was feel out Gohan's Energy, then the Ox-King as I heard stomping. No one could stomp that loud daily. I needed to brush my teeth, then try to get Gohan to mentor me a bit. For his benefit, in 7 years. But I was fully Confident; I could train alone, after when I got a grip on my Ki.
The moment I opened my Ki Senses, I felt him in a snap, hit with an intense amount of pressure. He was powerful, intoxicating. It was like I was drowning in water that had no bottom end and stretched infinitely. But it felt kind. The same feeling I had when first meeting Gohan. Had I been sensing Ki all along? Or the Lifeforce behind it.
Seeing his Location, he was well-studying again. I mean, I knew he studied as I thought he was wasting his life away, but this was on a level of dedication I could not begin to program on to myself.
At least until I knew my life and everyone else's were in danger. But even so, after that, this studious amount of work is something I don't see myself doing on a daily, but it was something I had to respect.
A dedicated kid.
I sprouted upwards. Gohan's energy was all I needed to be awake and alive. I then flew, and from there, went on to meet with mom, finding her in the kitchen.
I did not know where the bathroom was.
"Hi, son."
"Hey, mom, can you brush my teeth?"
"Mhm. Give me a minute."
I went on to fly from the kitchen to the Ox-King. As he was on the sofa in the living room, I surprise him with my learned ability flight.
"Goten? You can fly?"
His eyes wide, I nodded my head, my thrill when first flying is gone. I was not excited as he was, but it brings a smile to my face as I watched him take off his glasses and puts him back on as if someone had just told him the world was ending.
To hit the last nail on the coffin.
"I would also like to teach you how to fly."
Grandpa comically fell over the back of the couch, shaking the entire house. I should do this more often to people.
"You can't be serious."
He gets back and hangs over the back pillows. It only takes a while of staring for him to realize that.
"You are serious."
I nod my head.
"Goten, back in the day, I use to be a fighter, but now, I don't fight these days. I'm old, and I'm fine with watching you and Gohan grow up." In his words, he was happier with walking than flying.
"But you have to learn how to fly! It's a helpful power, and one day it will save your life. I care about you, grandpa. That's why I want to teach it to you."
I was using the same tactic. I used with Chi-Chi, I had to be honest. It truly was going to save their lives.
The Ox-King began to look conflicted. My words had smashed through the wall he had fortified. In the end, it was his choice, but I will be happy when he preferably says yes.
It takes a bit of time, but he comes to an answer.
"Fine, I'll give it a shot."
I beamed, now one step closer to making sure my family doesn't kick the bucket. Flying a bit closer, I extended my right arm, to which he accepted, making sure I had his word that I will be able to teach him how to fly sometime in the future. It wasn't as if Buu was showing up tomorrow. And Grandpa was a busy man. He had a town to watch.
"Goten," Chi-Chi called out.
"I'll see you later, Grandpa."
I flew towards Chi-Chi, to which to her turn, she takes me outside. Wait, didn't we have a bathroom?
She takes me to a nearby river, to which she stops, and turns to me.
"You're brushing my teeth out here?
She responds, leaving me clueless why out here?
"We're going to brush your teeth with the natural properties of wildlife."
I wanted to say, 'but don't we have toothpaste and a toothbrush at home?' But it sounded ridiculous. I wouldn't be able to explain how I knew of those things. To think of it, I haven't even seen a bathroom. I've never done this before, and if this was how the Son Family did it. I wanted to learn it too.
"Fine."
She remains standing. I stayed afloat to give myself height.
"By the river, we have charcoal. It will be an essential process to cleaning your teeth." She points at one, giving me a clear description of how it would look; if I was to find one on my own for brushing my teeth.
I levitate it with my telekinesis. Mom walks off to karate chop leaves from the tree, making them into a pocket. She comes back, and naturally, I place the charcoal inside the pocket leaf.
"Get more."
My eyes scanned through the river rocks picking out the ones that qualified as charcoal. Lifting a finger, I moved it inside the leaf pocket then waited for Chi-Chi's next instruction.
She moved near the river, and for a moment. I thought she was about to go in. Mom picked out a large river rock and laid it out on top of the other stones. Me being mildly observant, she flipped the earth that had the flattest surface.
Mom took the charcoal and placed it on top of the River Rock. She beat it out with another river rock. She did not stop until she turned the charcoal into a powdered state. I just took it all in, paying attention to the slightest detail.
"Now, from turning the charcoal into powder, you then need to go through and remove the pieces of wood and impurities that aren't charred. This stuff will be going into your mouth. You wouldn't want it to get stuck in your teeth, now would you?"
Nodding at her words, I thought about how I could help by using telekinesis to remove the pieces of wood and impurities with clinical precision. I wouldn't even touch the powdered form of charcoal if as it is on the wood because I could focus my telekinesis down to a point.
But mom was doing this without any help. I guess; I needed to learn how to do this without my Ki. I don't think I'll ever lose my capabilities, but at least I learned how to do it without it, right? She moved her fingers incredibly fast, forcing me to boost my power to keep up with her movements. She used her sharp nails from her index and middle finger to remove the wood and other impurities that didn't add to the charcoal.
She got done in about 10 seconds.
"Wow."
Knowing it would've taken me minutes without my boosts. I knew mom had been at this for years, but seeing it all for the first time, was fascinating. I wanted to get to that level of skill, that level of mastery. Looking at the black dust, I found nothing, and even boosting my powers. The results did not change.
"Your amazing mama."
She kept a small smile. To her, it was just another day.
She went to a tree and cut off a small branch. Returning, she sat down in front of me and sharpened one side. The other side, holding on to the leaves. With a swift motion of her hand, it was off. She bit into it, taking it out of her mouth to see her progress before putting it back in. She turned the other end into a brush.
Mommy then ran the brush through her mouth and then fingers making sure there was no aggression. She then dipped into the charcoal and aimed it at me. Wait, that was going in my mouth?
"Me?"
"Mhm."
I opened my mouth, and she gently brushed my tiny little teeth. Lower teeth meant an upwards fashion, and upper teeth spelled downwards. Mom was keeping the wooden brush away from my gums, avoiding the abrasion.
When she got done, I had acknowledged that she placed the brush in my mouth that she used for hers. I needed to get used to actions like these. She was my mother. I still felt the charcoal in my mouth. It did not give any taste. How was I going to wash it off? Was there a step after this?
As if on cue, the pocket leaf that housed charcoal before, mom used it to now hold freshwater from the river. She placed the bits of green inside, observing, it had gotten crushed, barehanded. I had an idea of what she was doing. She was mixing the essential oils from the leaves with the water, turning it into a mouthwash. She placed a finger to separate the crushed green from the liquid.
"Drink up."
She holds the pocket drink close to my lips, and I do so selfishly drink up, eager to get rid of the black paste from my mouth. A quick gargle and it was out. The contaminants, stirring themselves in the river. For that river, to get cleaned again through the hydrologic cycle.
The mouthwash tasted like mint.
"Let's go, son."
###
Chi-Chi went right back into the kitchen, and it was almost as if she hadn't taken me out to clean my teeth. She just washed her hands, free of the black char, and went right back to doing what she did before.
I had found myself resting on the sofa with the Ox-King. Not really on his lap, but his right side. However, if he wanted to take me on his lap, I would not deny him. He was my Grandpa. I was not the grandson he should've had.
Joining him, he was watching the news. ZTV News, as the station talked about the things that went down in the world with their Journalists. I wasn't paying attention to that. More focused on the station letters itself, ZTV. It was an ironic feeling, a station I did not take into consideration. Now here I was, viewing it all through my very own eyes.
The Ox-King placed his hand on my head. The palm of his hand covering my entire back. He grinned at me, and I laugh as we both continue to watch the news. It made me closer to him than I ever was, still not on the same level and appreciation I gave my parents in my former life, but he was getting there. They were all getting there.
After a fat minute on T.V., I started trekking around the room. I wasn't looking to train today, as I spent yesterday doing just that. It'd become torture if I rightly did it every day.
I thought I was getting ready today to continue my streak of training. That went down the drain. Well, Dragon Rock, here I come.
Hopping onto the table, I sat right in front of Gohan. My headlights, widening at how sophisticated his work was. That was going to be me, years from now? I had to be doing that?
"Don't worry, Goten, it's not as hard as it looks."
I gave a slow reaction. Which Gohan just patted my head as a result. He and I both know, though, that wasn't why I was here.
"Hey, Gohan," I whispered, "can you take me to Dragon Rock?"
"Why?"
"I want to see the big strong monsters." In a nutshell, dinosaurs.
He doesn't look conflicted. He knows that he is too powerful to let anything happen to me. The only conflict here was Chi-Chi. He needed to decide whether our trip to Dragon Rock was to be secretive. Or was he even going to take the foray at all?
"All right, let's go."
Jumping high, I made enough sounds to show my excitement, but not enough to attract any attention. Gohan smiled, content with making me happy at the expense of his study-time.
"Give me a minute."
I go back to watching Television with Grandpa again.
###
Not much time had passed. It was now 8:40. For a minute, it had been 20. The longest minute ever.
Receiving a signal that my brother had finished through telepathy, It was a jolt as I almost jumped from the sofa, but a welcome one. At last, Dragon Rock, here I come.
"Goten, can you hear me?"
"Clear."
Telepathy was an easy technique, focusing your energy onto another's mind, then speaking through your mind. It was only limited to the amount of concentration you give and the power gap of the mind. You were trying to reach.
"Look behind you."
And I do just that, my brother stands there behind the couch and smiles at me. He extends his left hand and motions for me to take it. I do take it, and everything around me becomes a blur. There was no time to react because soon as it came, it was gone.
We were now outside the house.
"Woah."
Even with me bolstering my power, it didn't make a dent to slow Gohan's Speed. It only showed how much harder I needed to train. Damn.
"Done."
Not knowing which way he used to enter out of the house, it looked as if he teleported. One moment I was in there watching T.V. Now I was out here staring at the window, grandpa not even realizing, I vanished into thin air.
I had to blink a few times to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
Hopping onto Gohan's back, he then lifts off and flies. I noticed he was not at his top speed anymore. I assumed he was slowing down to enjoy the scenery around him.
Looking down at the sea of green, I couldn't keep up. He was too brisk. I had to close my eyes to keep myself from going cross-eyed. I did not want to lose what contents I had left in my belly. Suddenly realizing I forgot to have breakfast this morning.
Honestly, if I had to drink sweetened almond milk from another parent every day, I would happily forget I had breakfast.
"Wow, Gohan, you are strong."
"Told you."
I knew he was smiling.
"Can you please teach me how to fight now?"
"Goten..." he groaned.
"C'mon." I heard him sigh
"Nope, sorry, Goten. Your body has not developed enough. As it stands, your head could serve a much better force than your limbs."
Hey, that's what I said.
"Oh, all right."
"Don't look so down. I'm taking you out to Dragon Rock, remember?"
I settled for staying quiet, not wanting to exchange more words. I watched the scenery, as I thought. How can I train? Or at least develop early skills as a fighter. There had to an alternative.
I wished Gohan was right. I did. But I knew what was to come, the powerful beings we will need to face. I can't breathe. Too much was and always will be at stake.
I looked ahead and saw Dragon Rock come in view. Even when Gohan was not at his top speed, his power was still immense. He outmatched any of us by miles. I could only hold on for safety.
I watched as the sea of green turned into rocky dirt, then rocky terrain; before I knew it, we were here.
"Goten, we're here."
I hopped off from his back and flew side by side. I observed the place. It was quiet. I assumed it was because we were about to enter. Why would there be monsters at the entrance? All they would do was scare prey away.
I descended till my feet touched the ground, Gohan mirroring my actions. We didn't say anything to each other. We both knew what we had to do.
Gohan would guard me, and I'd watch where I stepped.
I skittered across Dragon Rock, not finding anything. For a place that housed strong monsters, you'd think you'd find something. I only found dirt.
"I can't find anything."
Turning around, Gohan looked relaxed. Here I thought he'd be scared for my life. I had to remember. He had lived in the woods before. He knew how it all went down.
"Don't sweat it, Goten. You're bound to find one very soon." He had his hands over the back of his head. It looked like he was taking a walk in a park.
"All right."
I was starting to feel foolish. Had I bought into Chi-Chi's story far too quickly without hesitation? Did Gohan know I wouldn't find anything, merely trying to entertain me?
Hmm.
"Roar!"
My body immediately boosted its power on reflex to counter the harsh but loud sound. I just jumped far back, not afraid but cautious. I felt hyper, almost wanting to fight.
There stood a dinosaur in all its glory, it staring at me as its eyes bored deep into my own. I would be intimidated if I didn't know I could kill it with ease.
This dinosaur had spikes pointing out in the back of its skull. Its skin was orange. I assumed it thought I was an easy snack. Evident due to its mouth-watering at me. I only smiled.
"Goten, get back."
I lift a hand out onto my right, silencing him. I knew what I had to do.
It charges at me, and I wait till the last second. Time around me froze, and I jump on its head. To Gohan, he saw everything. To this dinosaur, it thought that it ate me. Only to feel nothing in its mouth and something on its head.
"Ta-da!"
It only looks shocked as it stares up at its forehead. Woah didn't think it could do that.
I jump off from its head, and now it looks curious before it thought that I was another prey to be eaten by it. Now it was cautious, was it trying to learn what I just did? Or at least trying to understand where its attack went wrong.
"See, Gohan, I'm fine."
I turned around only to find the t-rex charging at me. Its tactic may have been sharp at what it tried to do. It wasn't fast enough. I dodge, this time not on the t-rex's head, on another rocky terrain far.
"Wow."
Gohan finally realizes how much I learned in a short period. How drastically different we are from one another. The potential I held.
For the first time, his eyes are opening. I felt proud.
"Hi."
I'm sitting on the rocky terrain, as I'm waving my hand. The t-rex, which I'm calling it, for now, stares at me in shock.
Even if it had managed to swallow me, I would've busted my way out of its stomach. It was something I didn't want to do, as I would get covered in its contents.
I never did want to take life, especially from intelligent creatures. Rodents were all right but mammals, living things here that were more intelligent from my world. That knew what it was doing?
I move on to jump on its head.
Only for it to still try to bite me. I narrowly dodge, avoiding its sharp teeth at the last second, or at least that's what it looked like to the t-rex.
I was on its right side as it turned its body and still tried to eat me. I keep dodging. Suddenly finding a training opportunity.
I let it keep trying to eat me, only to keep dodging and dodging. Each dodge, becoming more minimal than the last, using the least amount of force possible to perform the widest dodges.
It still keeps trying but eventually, it gives up, realizing it wasn't getting anywhere.
"Tired?"
It nods. I still had to get used to some animals being more intelligent than others. I merely said it for a show, not for an actual response.
I think it felt mutual respect for me, understanding that if I wanted? I could readily kill it. It couldn't even catch me, let alone touch me. What's stopping me from acting?
My kind-hearted nature and because I like dinosaurs, but it didn't know, I assumed it thought I had also given it, a chance, to back down before I changed my mind.
I heard the dinosaur's stomach growl. I only knew one answer to that.
"Are you hungry?"
It nods at me. Yeah, it was. I ruined its snack time. But it was either me or it, speaking of it.
"Do you have a name?"
It just stares at me. I don't think it even knew what a name was.
"A name something to call you by."
To that it understands, I was getting real tired of calling it, well it. It wasn't colorful. It was bland, something you'd say to a rat you saw on the street.
It was a freaking T-rex. Its presence demanded respect.
I rack my brain for thoughts, only to find nothing. I was never good at naming things, often having to rely on someone else's thinking for it. Or a Generator for help.
Looking at its skin, I wasn't going to call it simply orange. What kind of name was that? I preferred brands with deep meanings rather than names that were glaring.
The T-rex waits for my response, and after more thinking and coming up with nothing. I give my reaction.
"Sorry. I got nothing."
I turn my back to Gohan, who's simply been standing there, watching the whole thing go down with amusement on his face.
"Any ideas?" I called out.
He gets into a thinking pose before he, too, has nothing. I guess he wasn't good at naming things either.
"Another time, buddy." I pat on its head, not having my guard up, even at this range. It still couldn't touch me.
I fly in the air, he, I start to assume, following me as well, Gohan taking up the rear. I dawn to see more and more dinosaurs. Woah. Cool.
They all went about their natural habitats. I saw creatures that I've never even seen before that I knew only existed in this world other than my own.
However, dinosaurs weren't the only thing I saw.
I saw giant birds, hawks, and eagles. Some Birds that I've never even seen before or known off. Just like the Dinosaurs that only existed in this world, then my own as well.
When Dragon Rock was labeled home to Strong Monsters, they meant strong monsters. I can see why my brother was scared for me. Some of these monsters were even bigger than Dinosaurs than the T-rex itself.
I was way above my pay-load here, and yet I felt the adrenaline once more. Not even scared that this was a place I'm supposed to fear.
I guess if you've died already, there's only much that can spook you.
I scout the area, wanting my dinosaur to find something to eat. Yet I shouldn't be the one to hand the rex his food. It should hunt for itself, but I guess being the first creature I saw had its benefits. I didn't want it to get comfortable.
"Gohan, when do we have to go back?"
"We can stay as long as you like, just before lunch."
"Awesome!"
One of the first things I liked about Gohan was that he was very supportive and did not disappoint. He just gave me a lot more hours than I needed, but then again, I was going back home to Chi-Chi, who was probably pissed at the both of us.
I changed my mind. I need those hours to prepare for my oncoming death. Kami, please help me. I didn't do anything wrong, please!
###
After a while of searching, we came across a target. It was too fitting. I do not think I will need to step in.
Well, me and Gohan, for that matter.
It was an alone triceratops. It looked weakened. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that it was pregnant. It was female.
It was exhausted out alone in the ditch. I almost felt bad. But I took it as a test to harden my resolve. To have my dinosaur have something to eat.
At the end of it all, I wondered if I should still leave the t-rex on its own and have it fend for itself for good.
The T-rex did not charge in as the brute I expected it, too. It patiently waited. I bet he was doing the same thing that I was doing. He was searching for the male.
Triceratops was no joke. They may be small, from where I learned, and I hope it did not change here. But they were the same weight as a T-rex.
But this triceratops looked small and felt cramped. This T-rex, however, was colossal. She is big, but he's bigger than her.
The male did show and went back to the female's side. The T-rex did not stealth its way for a surprise attack. Not like he could, but he did manage to surprise them. Or at least the male.
The female wasn't important.
"You okay?" Gohan explored.
I genuinely was fine. I had kept telling myself that this happens all the time, but I still felt the need for comfort somewhat. It was under my hand that this was happening.
I only hugged Gohan right then and there, and he reciprocated it back. I knew before that he was just like this, innocent before learning how the wild works.
Life was cruel.
And despite there being an easy way to learn these things, I don't think there ever really was.
Triceratop fights bravely, but in the end, this was a hungry dinosaur looking for food. That and it was huge. Its size could not be natural. I may be a baby, but I even knew when someone was oversized and wasn't. Let alone an animal.
The T-rex keeps going for its neck, and the triceratops keeps directing him towards its horns. Then charging as a T-rex, surprisingly, uses its speed and backs off. It couldn't have gotten that from me. I knew the animals here were intelligent, but I did not think they were this smart.
Inevitably it catches by its neck and bites down. I could practically see the life leave the triceratops eyes. It was over.
Blood spilled.
I only realized how hard it was for me to breathe throughout the whole thing. But I calmed myself. I was going to see my dinosaur's handy work when Gohan stopped me.
He shakes his head, and I understood.
"It's time for us to go back." He says.
I agreed.
On the way back, I still could not stop thinking about what had just transpired. Coupled with the guilt of knowing I allowed it to happen.
I've seen animals get killed, but still. I couldn't block it out of my mind.
"We are not doing that again," Gohan says.
I was riding on his back, not because I couldn't fly side by side with him. It was just faster. He was faster than me. By miles, to punctuate.
"I know." I wailed.
What was there to say? A little one, watching a dinosaur maul, another. It just doesn't happen; it shouldn't have happened.
Gohan was trying to satisfy my curiosity, but he got carried away and paid the price. At what cost? Only for me to receive a harsh awakening? One could see it as a blessing, another as a curse depends on your views, but I already knew these things.
I don't think it was so much as the kill that shocked me. It was the idea that one day, that will be me holding that power. Will I use that to be a killer? Even for my survival?
"How do you feel?" He tries.
I was going to say, I'm fine. But Gohan and I both know that I wasn't.
"I-I don't know. I know that one day, I'll be that T-rex. I'll hold all that power. What will I do with it? will I-I." I stumble over my words, and I could just feel the pain from Gohan.
Metaphorically.
"Don't worry, little brother. You'll be fine. I know you will."
Will I?
"Hey, Gohan? I want to know how to control my Ki."
I've wanted to say this for a while. But I never found my chance out of excitement and worry. Now, this was the right time, no downplaying.
"It's easy. Focus your Ki."
"What?"
"Focus on your Ki. Will it to what you want. You'll understand when we train soon."
I thought hard about what he said. Thinking back about Vegeta's Final Flash with Cell, he didn't destroy the planet. He focused his Ki onto Cell. It obeyed.
That's it.
"I sometimes wonder what I'll do without you."
He giggles. It was refreshing.
"That's why I'm here."
I felt relaxed soon after. Watching the sea of green as I always did when flying over. Even better than I wasn't the one flying, and someone else was flying for me. For a moment, my worries about Buu were gone, replaced with a cordial future, where I saw myself with a family of my own.
But I'll never bring a kid to a place where gods exist.
I kept watching the world around me soon after that. Watching home reach ever so closer, and me and Gohan sweating bullets at the scolding we were about to receive.
###
"WHAT!" Mom screeched.
We hadn't snuck in. There was simply no way for us to do so. I told Gohan about the Chimney, but he shot it down, telling me that there was no chimney and it was Chi-Chi's cooking. I only thought about if I had gone through with my plan, imagining Chi-Chi's face when she found a Goten at the dinner plate.
It'd be funny if I did not know who that Goten was.
Truthfully, if we arrived sooner, no one would have noticed we snuck out. It would've been as if we were somewhere within the house for a long time. But eventually, someone had to move. And call for our names only for us not to be there.
Now, here we are.
"Don't worry, Mom, Goten is fine."
Gohan was the one doing the explaining while I stayed back and allowed him to do so. To mom, and Gohan, it was his responsibility. He was the one who took me out. I only felt guilty. He loved me too much.
He told her everything about my incredible abilities to the part where that T-rex chewed out a Triceratops. I made a mental note to learn about the different Dinosaurs and other strong monsters.
It was purely out of interest. But, hey, it helps out with survival in the wild, at least.
I realize the gravity of my choices here.
I may have accepted myself, but I was still treating my family as if there were characters from a video game that made a specific response to an action.
Chi-Chi looks like a bomb. I hide behind Gohan. Yeah, I was safer here.
I wondered if she was going to punish him. But how can she punish him?
He studied all the time, only helping Chi-Chi around the house when she requested, I assume or taking a break-time exploring.
What can she do?
"Gohan," She barked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"You're not to do anything he says, got it?"
"Mhm."
"Goten!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You are not to leave my sight, understood?"
I could not argue. Mom had a tone that made it very clear for me.
I only look downwards. What can I do here? I couldn't focus on training every day of my life. I deserved fun.
"Yes, mom."
She only turns her back to me and back to the kitchen. Gohan only walked back to the dining table and resumed his study, patting my hair as he did so. I'm only left in the kitchen, not knowing what to do.
Yet knowing this was all my fault.
"Goten?"
"I'm hungry."
She turns back around and carries me. She breastfeeds me, and I honestly don't care at this point. I'm too hungry and confused to care what Chi-Chi is feeding me.
What have I done? What did I do?
###
After lunch was over, I remembered Chi-Chi's instruction. I only stayed in the kitchen, helping out where I thought she needed it.
It's only then. I see that mom makes a variety of foods every day. It wasn't because she stays here and does nothing. She cooked for fun. She enjoyed it.
Whenever mom finished, she stored it in the Fridge. For a later snack or until it is spoiled, and we all know what happens when something spoils.
Mom threw out the food, or in my case.
"Hey, Goten, can you get rid of this for me?"
"Yes, mom."
She throws food that I'm not sure of in the air. I only stare at it, my eyes flashing a bright blue, shooting eye beams from it, vaporizing the run-down food.
It was fun.
Mom seemed a lot happier. I gave a contented smile. Had I been too harsh of myself for needing to stop any threat all alone? Was I blind thinking that if I knew I was saving the future, my current situation improved? That my family will magically start accepting me, being nice to me?
It was a wake-up call that I needed.
I needed to calm down. So what if Buu managed to win, or if I lost to an unforeseen threat after him?
At least, I tried. That's what mattered.
So what if I did not have fun today?
I needed to respect and be kind to my family.
I wanted to tell mom that I was sorry for sneaking out. But I kept my mouth closed.
She already knew I was apologetic. The question was, will I prove myself wrong again and sneak out?
I wanted to say no. But all you needed to do was give me the right reason, and you'll be surprised. It had always been about the spur of the moment, rather than me doing whatever I wanted.
It wasn't like that.
All in all, the kitchen wasn't too bad. It was tidy and had a positive smell to it. An aroma you'd find only in a specific area or room that you couldn't find anywhere else. No matter how hard you try.
It had mom's scent to but in the end. She was the only one that came and cooked here. Who else did? I made a mental note to remember I had a heightened sense of smell. I can be like Goku now and know when a good meal is coming up.
"Mom," I say, playing with my fingers, I didn't want to ruin this.
"Mhm."
"I promised I would teach the Ox-King flight sometime in the future. I wanted you to come and watch me."
"Are you afraid that you'll sneak off and make me mad?"
If there was one thing; I could say I liked about mom. She always cut straight to the chase. Or was blunt. It takes care of my nervousness.
"Yes."
"Good boy." She pats my head. Something I realize this family loves doing to me.
I stay for a bit until she's done cleaning dishes and cooking them. Sometimes rewashing plates that were clean already. I guess she was a perfectionist in her kitchen, not leaving the slightest speck. Everything was clear.
She moves to the sofa with the Ox-King. I followed her from behind.
"So, Goten, will be teaching you flight?" She congratulated.
"It's hard to believe. Goten did teach you how to fly, right?"
Mom then flies, proving that I can teach.
Well, if it was simple.
"Wow."
"It's not a hard technique to learn. Very easy if you're quite strong."
Grandpa was quite strong. I might not know his power level, but I could sense his Ki. He had to be somewhere around 150 or is at 150, a moon buster.
His ability to learn flight shouldn't be hard at all. What would make it complicated is his style of fighting a person who preferred power over technique if his size is any indication enough.
I wondered if he was ready to learn. I mean, all he had been doing so far was watching T.V.
"Grandpa? Are you ready to learn flight? Ready, right now?"
He only gives it thought, a thinking expression shown as he puts a hand on his chin, say yes.
"Is it that simple?"
I only nod. Yeah, it was.
"All right, let's do this."
I was about to say finally or give a response, but mom just shot it down. I never found out what I was going to say.
"And you're not leaving my sight!"
"Yes, mom."
Ox-King, Gohan, those two laughs, and I join in, and mom too.
It's what I get in the end.
###
This time everyone is outside.
Mom to watch me, Grandpa to teach, Gohan simply wanting a change of environment. There weren't here to watch me do the obvious.
It still felt like I was being judged with my abilities, testing the waters.
We weren't far from the house, just far enough for me to know my way around.
Time to get started.
"All right, Grandpa. I recommend you sit down for this part. You're going to require concentration."
He does as I say, just that as he sits, he shakes the area around us. At one point, he was the strongest, being in the show. Too bad it was short-lived.
I like to think that his ability to shake things around us is a constant reminder of the old days of Dragon Ball. He only sits cross-legged and is ready to go.
How to start this?
Before, I was not a person that cared much about what I had to say. I would go with the flow, not caring about what another person felt or spoken. If they lost interest, I would keep it moving. But I have become reserved. Careful with what I had to say. I will reveal my meta-knowledge one day on accident. I have accepted that fate, but this was a subconscious necessity I found myself doing.
And I'm not complaining.
"Close your eyes and try to find your energy," I owned.
He does just that, and it takes time, a bit too much time if you ask me. I laid out on the grass, cloud-watching. Chi-Chi right by my side, and Gohan off to the side studying, but he was noticeably taking it easy on himself. A changing environment will do more for my brother than he could ever realize.
Chi-Chi seems to be meditating, legs crossed, eyes closed. She was on the right side of my head. She truly was not going to let me out of her sight for real. As much as I did not like it, I knew it was for my good, and she'd be an irresponsible mother if she let me go like that one more time.
Gohan, for sure, wouldn't take me anywhere until I came of age. I was going to get stuck like this for a while. But I remember him sneaking out, all he needed was a push, but as I am now, that is not going to happen soon.
Years from now.
Chi-Chi meditating is giving me an idea, that same sense of remembrance that I had before. I couldn't place it. It was like on the tip of my tongue, but as if I had the words, but nothing would come out of my mouth.
I almost had it, but there was nothing I could do.
I keep waiting for the Ox-King to give me a sign of life, but he gives me nothing. It was starting to look like he wasn't concentrating. Wait a minute.
I jumped up from where I was. It shouldn't take this long. Grandpa was one of the strongest humans on the planet.
I tap his forehead, and I hear a snore. I knew he was sleeping.
"Wake up!" I stormed.
He does and looks around. Acting aloof, I wanted to say that I did not have to teach him, but I knew it was wrong. I had to teach him for his safety.
But a little respect, please?
"Huh? What happened?"
"Come on, Grandpa, I am trying to teach you how to fly."
"Sorry, Goten, you know I am old."
Yeah, I guess so. I could not be too hard on the Ox-King. He was way out of his prime. Once a feared king, now here he was, a grandfather, me, a grandson.
It was still sometimes hard to believe.
"Are you ready this time?"
"Mhm."
"All right now, all you need to do is close your eyes as it helps, and focus on your ki."
You truly did not need to close your eyes for this, but as for trying a new power, as I tried with sensing Ki. It makes you exclusively focus on that power. Well helps at least to get off anything unnecessary, but not your thoughts.
It would be the same for Ultra Instinct, a long-term goal I had.
I wait for him to pick up the power as I go back to Cloud-Watching again. Hopefully, he does not fall asleep in the middle of school. I hop onto Chi-Chi's lap, as I knew she would enjoy it. I had a feeling this would soften my punishment a bit, but not enough to remove it.
Sure enough, I heard the ignition sound as the Ox-King picked up his Ki. Here he was, worried that he was outdated. His hands held a white ki blast. I still needed to remember. I am dealing with moon busters around me.
And it felt good.
"Nice Job, grandpa." I applauded, chi-chi holding me with both hands on my waist.
Once one unlocked their Ki, you instinctively knew what you had to do to bring it out, something I observed.
Now it was time.
"All right, Grandpa, now all you need to do is direct the flow of energy to your legs. Once you do that, you should be able to levitate."
He nods at me. It was time.
I go back to resting again, but I do not fall asleep. I waited, but something told me; there will not be much of a wait. Hearing the ignition sound, I open my eyes, and he is already starting to fly. The difference between Chi-Chi and Grandpa was that one preferred technique over power, while the other preferred strength over approach. Ironically, what they lack is what they seem to pick up faster.
For Chi-Chi, taking longer to fly than it did with Grandpa, only because he was sleeping annoyingly.
Time was important.
He struggles to fly, but eventually, he manages. He can only levitate, not able to fly, naturally.
But it was enough for me; it was up to him to improve on that ability.
"Good job, Grandpa."
"Woah, Goten, I'm flying."
"That's good. You only need to practice."
Ox-King only levitates for a bit before he drops to the ground. It wasn't because of his size, as size doesn't affect ki. He wasn't a fast learner, but it was a better try than I could've ever asked.
He shakes the earth around us, reminding us of his strength as he rests. He looked completely drained. I jumped from Chi-Chi's lap and made my way over to him.
"You all right?"
"Yeah, let me catch my breath."
I lay with him as I started to cloud-watch again. It felt peaceful as it always did. Chi-Chi comes by and lays with us, giggling as she does so. Gohan too, when he needed a break. All four of us, Cloud-Watching, it felt good, not having a care in the world, just us four caring for each other. But I loved it the most, knowing I still needed to stop Buu.
My brain went off like a light bulb as I then suddenly remember about image training.
Damn, so that was the familiar feeling I had? Did it need to take me this long?
I only groaned in pain.
Author's note: And cut! The Self-insert (me) is about to become; thoroughly broken by the time seven years is up. I could go as far as to say less. I had also edited the 1st chapter many times. Hopefully, it's easier to read. Lastly, if you guys are willing to leave a review, that's to help or think you've caught a mistake. Open up your private messages so I can respond, or I can't take them seriously. I'm not an evil person. I am kind. Now you all stay safe, stay mysterious. Submino out.