- Chapter 1 -

Adoption and Tragedy

Mount Paozu, East District

The pod containing Kakarot and Celira rocketed through the Earth's atmosphere and crashed into the middle of a lush green forest, creating a sizable crater. The door opened, and the two siblings woke up, briefly blinded by the bright sun.

Celira was the first to crawl out, making it out of the crater and a few yards into the bamboo forest before stopping to wait for her older brother. Kakarot, slowly but surely, made it to his sister, before sitting down and starting to cry loudly. Celira pulled Kakarot into his arms and curled her little tail around his, trying to calm him down.

It wasn't long before Kakarot's wailing drew the attention of a figure within the forest. Out of the bushes came a short, stubby old man with small dark eyes and a bushy white mustache, dressed in a martial arts uniform consisting of a sleeveless orange jacket over a long-sleeved black shirt and matching black pants and shoes, complete with a dark green hat that bore a while bauble on top.

"Oh, my goodness!" the old man declared. "Babies? What are you two doing way out here?"

He lifted the two up into his arms, and as he did, Celira's tail untwined from Kakarot's, causing them both to hang loosely in the air, with Kakarot's crying ceasing immediately. The man lifted them up to get a better look at the tails, initially surprised, but then he chuckled.

"What do you know? Tails! Strange kids. But don't worry, I'm a little odd myself, believe it or not."

At that, Kakarot and Celira both grabbed either side of his mustache and tugged, giggling like crazy.

"You're little stinkers, aren't you?" the man asked, laughing. "You should take it easy on me. I'm old enough to be your grandpa, you know."

The man was silent for a moment, thinking of what to call the two, and then it hit him.

"I think I know what to call you two until I find out where you belong," he said. "How about I call you 'Goku,' little fella?" Kakarot, now Goku, gurgled happily and held out his little arms as the man looked to Celira. "And I'll call you 'Akira,' little lady." The newly-rechristened Akira giggled at that.

"Well, I'm Gohan, and I'm gonna be your new grandpa," Gohan said. "Now, let's go home." With that, he took his two new grandchildren to his home in the forest.

After the first two weeks, Goku and Akiras destructive Saiyan instincts kicked in, and they became wild and rowdy, not obeying Gohan at all and trying to break everything they touched.

One day, Goku and Akira dashed out of the house, laughing wildly as Gohan chased after them. He realized with horror that the two were headed for a ravine, but Goku and Akira didn't realize it until it was too late, and they plummeted down the ravine, hitting their heads on the hard rock below.

Gohan made his way down, slowly and carefully, tears stinging his eyes as he desperately prayed that the two weren't dead. Much to his relief, they were still breathing.

Gohan took Akira and Goku home, where they were comatose for several days, to the extent that Gohan feared they weren't going to make it. However, the two did eventually wake up, and Gohan was pleasantly surprised to discover that they were much calmer and sweeter. As time went on, Gohan passed his martial arts knowledge on to the twins, and bestowed upon Goku the Power Pole, a magical red staff that could stretch to great lengths.

Age 748, eleven years later...

Eleven years had passed, and Gohan had discovered something quite unusual about his grandhcildren. Something strange that happened whenever the two looked at a full moon. After surviving the first time, he told them that a horrible monster came out during the full moon, and to stay inside when the moon was full at all times. They obeyed him until one fateful night...

Goku woke up, an almost unbearable pressure in his bladder. Though he remembered his grandpa's warnings, he desperately had to use the bathroom, and there was no indoor plumbing in their little house.

He got to his feet and tiptoed over to the door, only to be stopped when he heard the voice of his sister.

"Goku, what are you doing?" Akira asked sleepily. "You know we're not supposed to go outside during a full moon. The monster will get us."

"I know, Akira," Goku replied, doing a small potty dance. "But I gotta pee really bad."

Akira sighed. "Okay, I'll go out with you," she said. "If only to make sure the monster doesn't come."

Goku shrugged, and the two made their way outside. Akira stayed alert, looking every which way to make sure no monster was around as Goku relieved himself on a tree. Eventually, he was finished and pulled up his pants, and the two began to re-enter the house when a bright light shone down on them.

Curious, Goku and Akira glanced up and saw the full moon for the first time.

"So, that's a full moon?" Goku said. "It's... big."

Ukyo nodded in agreement, and then suddenly everything went black.

The next morning...

The sounds of birds chirping reached their ears as Goku and Akira woke up. Three things immediately struck them: they were outside, they were completely naked, and their house was in shambles.

The twins bolted up. Their house was in shambles!

"Oh, no," Akira said. "Goku, it was the monster!"

The two exchanged a horrified glance as they realized that Gohan might have still been in the house.

"Grandpa!" the two yelled as they dashed into the house's ruins.

"Grandpa, are you there?!" Goku called out, just before they heard a weak moan. The two turned to see Gohan pinned beneath several beams of wood.

"Akira help me!" Goku said as he grabbed some of the beams. Ukyo complied, and the two easily lifted the pile of wood up off of their grandfather. The siblings gasped as they saw the blood staining Gohan's clothes, and realized that their grandpa did not have long to live.

"You... you two went out during the full moon last night, didn't you?" Gohan rasped, sounding more concerned than angry.

"Yes, Grandpa," Akira said, tears drizzling down her cheeks. "I know you said not to, but Goku had to use the bathroom, and with what you said about the monster, I couldn't let him go out alone. I'm so sorry!"

Using the last of his strength, Gohan gently pulled Goku and Akira into an embrace.

"I'm... not mad," he said. "I'm just glad the monster didn't get you two." He couldn't bear to tell the twins the truth about the monster. "Take care of each other. I'm... so happy... to have been... your grandpa..."

Gohan managed one last gentle smile before he let out his last breath and his eyes closed forever.

"Grandpa?" Goku and Akira said simultaneously. "Grandpa?!" Please, wake up! Don't leave us here alone!"

There was no answer. Akira buried her face in her hands and started sobbing uncontrollably as the realization hit her. Their beloved grandpa, Son Gohan, was dead.

Goku was also crying, and he pulled Akira into a hug. Akira returned her brother's embrace, and the two sat there, mourning their grandfather's untimely demise.

Their weeping was cut short as a bright yellow light began to shine. The two pulled away from each other and looked to see the little ball their grandpa had kept for some time, the orange-sized yellow ball adorned with four red stars.

Ukyo stood and made her way over to the ball, Goku close behind. Akira picked up the ball, cradling it in her palm.

"Grandpa?" Akira asked the ball, not really expecting an answer. Goku smiled slightly.

"I think I understand, Akira," he said, tapping the ball with his finger. "Grandpa's still here with us. He's in the ball."

Akira smiled as well and wiped her tears. "I think you're right, Goku."

After giving their grandfather a proper burial, Goku and Akira rebuilt their house and continued living as usual, now guardian's of Gohan's precious treasure.

His Dragon Ball.

Author's Note:

Well, that was rather depressing. But necessary for the story.

Next chapter marks the beginning of the Emperor Pilaf Saga.

Please R&R. Until next chapter...