Yamcha POV
I was walking a path on a sunny day with grass all around me for miles. There was a small breeze in the air. It was very relaxing.
I saw my friends up ahead on the path and ran to catch up, " Hey guys! Goku! Krillin! Tien! Guys wait up!" I shouted. I ran and ran, but I couldn't seem to catch up. It seemed they kept getting farther and farther away.
" Com'on guys, wait up! Please! W-wait for me!" Now I felt like was running in place, everything around me was crumbling and turning white. I couldn't even see them anymore.
" What the-!?" I was interrupted by suddenly falling below to the ground with loud and painful THUD! " Oof!" I slowly got up from the ground only to see it was black. Everywhere I looked: black.
" Hello!? Is anyone there!? Answer me!" I kept frantically looking around, " Somebody!? Anyone!?", I called more into the darkness, but no one heard me.
I was completely alone.
Then a loud voice that sounded like Goku shouted: " FOOL!" Then I felt a whip on my back, I screamed at the pain. Nobody was around. Another with Krillin's voice, " JOKE!" I was punched by an invisible force in the face.
Soon more and more voices of people I knew shouted more things, and with each painful word; came a whip or a punch. I tried fighting back but I kept hitting air. " IDIOT!"
" MORON!"
"Agh!...Stop..."
" COWARD!"
"Stop"
" TRASH!"
" Stop! Stop it!" I cried in agony.
" FAILURE!"
" STOP IT! PLEASE!"
" WEAKLING!!!"
" NOOOOO!" I was at my limit. My clothes were torn and bloodied. Bruises and whip marks decorated my body. Every one of them burned and itched my skin. I turned over on my back; panting. " P-please...just leave me be" I rasped out dryly, " a-all I ever wanted...was to be good enough".
This pain...it was nothing I've ever felt before. I could feel it in my cutting very soul, carving into it. I was so exhausted and...weak, I couldn't move to do anything. I couldn't even cry.
Goku suddenly stood over me with the rest of my " comrades", all with looks of disgust or malicious smiles, " It's time I rid this world of this filth" he aimed a ki blast at my already breaking heart.
I managed one to say one thing: " G-Goku...why?" He smiled evilly.
" Because...you...are nothing"
With that, he shot it right through my chest.
" GAH! " I shot up with a jolt from my covers. Panting hard, sweat pooling off of me. I clutched my pounding bare chest.
Just a nightmare...again
I looked at my surroundings remembering I'm in a palace guest room on an alien planet.
I had been having that nightmare for weeks now, but this time it felt so...real.
" I thought...maybe if just ignored it, it might go away" I rubbed my head " pretty dumb me to think it I could. But...why did this feel so much worse than the other times? Annnnd I'm talking to no one" I let out breath I didn't know I was holding.
A knock on the doors interrupted my thoughts. "Hello? Are you awake Mr. Yamcha? May I come in?" said a woman's voice outside the doors. It must've been morning already.
" Uh yes! You can come in" I got up to put on my under shirt. She opened the door. She was a peached skinned woman with sea green colored hair pulled into a bun. She smiled brightly at me.
I hope the fact that everyone here smiles because they're just nice people and not actually evil beings masking their true purpose of wanting to dissect me or something...
-The hell am I saying!? Oh Dende, I got to stop watching those sci-fi movies at home.
« Good morning, sir. My name Liyta, one of the palace servants here. I've been asked by his Highakin to give you a change of clothes and escort you to breakfast. He has made a Nect for me to understand you" " Oh, uh, that's good I guess-wait what change of clothes?"
She pointed behind me to life size cylinder chamber of some sort that I didn't notice in the room last night, " This is an clothing modification chamber. All you have to do is step into it and it will scan your mind to create a preferred clothing choice of the user and create it for you. It is our easy and convenient way to dress quickly, but unfortunately only the royal family, other families of status, and the wealthy attain these. Very costly".
I just looked at it up and down in curiosity " So this thing...can make any outfit I want?" " Yes" " that is way past cool!" " Yes, it is ' cool ' as you say".
I turned to her surprised, " You understand my slang?" She giggled a little, "Of course, making a Nect also allows us to understand certain aspects of other languages" " Sweet".
She pressed a button and the chamber opened, " Just step right in" I hesitantly stepped in. Lights were all around the inside. A computerized voice came on and said something about scanning. They're was a flash of lights around my head, then a ring slowly lifted from my feet to my head and as it did clothing manifested my body. When it was finished I was in a aqua blue sleeveless gi top with matching styled pants that I normally wear. A gold sash around my waist and my normal black shoes.
" Is this outfit efficient?" She asked, " Yeah! It's great! And...very comfortable" I replied pulling at " Good,-" she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hello, may I come in?" " Princess! I did not know you would be coming, forgive me-" " No no no, Its alright, Liyta. I wanted to greet our guest in the morning as well, because uh... there is something I would like to discuss with him...if that's alright?"
I felt my face get hot again, so did she, " Oh-uh really?" I stuttered out, " Well uh um sure I guess, P-Princess".
Liyta, sensing the strange atmosphere, decided to excuse herself, " Well...I see you have it handled, Princess, I'll take my leave" " Oh thank you again, Liyta. Sorry to interrupt you, you where only doing your job. Please tell my brother that I can take it from here".
She curtsied in a odd style and proceeded out the room, leaving just the two of us.
"Well um...p-please forgive me if made a too abrupt of an entrance" her voice shy and nervous" Oh no, of course not, Princess" she giggled a little " What is it?" I asked thinking I did something wrong, " You don't have to address me so formally, just call me X'hara" " Are you sure?" " Positive" Heh like brother, like sister.
" Well...I have been tasked with teaching you our language" I was confused, " Huh? N-not to be rude or anything, but couldn't you just make a Necy-thing-a-mausit?" with that she burst out laughing, I heated up from embarrassment.
" You really are funny, Yamcha! Sorry I shouldn't laugh. You can't make a second Nect with everyone, only people with really strong cosmic power can do that, like my brother. He's one of the most powerful cosmic wielders that's ever ruled over Covexis" " I can believe that" agreeing with her.
When I was first near X'herin, I could feel some strange energy. It wasn't exactly like ki. It was probably due to that cosmic power they have. It felt stronger than ki.
" Now" she took my arm, such soft hands " I'll teach you as we go along, so you can communicate with everyone and because you'll be staying here for a while. I'd like to show you around, after breakfast of course, if that's all alright?" I smiled at her, " Well, being toured and taught by a beautiful princess? Doesn't seem like a bad deal to me. Plus I don't got anything else to do" I said, she went completely red like a cherry. It was cutest thing I've eve-waaaaaait...what did I just say!? I called her beautiful! Not like it's not true, but...where did that come from!?
" O-Oh thank you" she said, we both headed out my room.
~~~~~~~~
No one POV
To say the least two weeks went by in a snap. The language was difficult at first. Speaking in a accent and pronouncing the words was a pain in the ass but he got through most of it. Especially with his oh so lovely tutor.
He learned that the currency on this planet were these 'luminis crystals'. They are mined in mountain ranges a few miles from a city called Saaracose and there were different colors to signify wealth.
Black=one, White=ten, Green= twenty, Red=one hundred, Blue= two hundred, Violet= five hundred, and the rarest, the Gold-like ones=one thousand.
X'hara used a few ones blue while showing Yamcha around the market, while also buying herself and him some sort of sweet.
She showed him their artists conservatory, which was full of strange and beautiful paintings and sculptures all around the facility. An almost hip-hop type music played on a "bexo-speaker" as X'hara called it, with a twist of something he couldn't figure out, but he liked it.
«Holy cow...I've never seen statues like this before» Yamcha awed looking around the huge room" I'm not really into art but this is incredible! How do even make these?" He asked, «the artists use some sort of substance that is found in our trees. It holds together when burned and gives it shiny look» she explained.
" Cool" she just looked at him, " Ha! You think that's cool!? You haven't seen nothing yet!" She grabbed his arm, pulling him down a hall way.
While walking around the main square, they came up into a huge statue in the middle of the street. It was white stone statue of a women. Wearing armor of some kind while posing in a heroic stance holding a spear sword high in the air. It stood at least 13 or 16 feet high and had what looked like sparkles flowingbout from the bottom base.
Yamcha stopped to just admire. He thought the statue was beautiful but that's not why he stared at it. She seemed... very familiar for some reason. As if she was somebody important in his life that he may have forgotten. Though he had no idea why nor why he would forget someone like that.
«Who is that?» he asked X'hara slowly.
« That» pausing for dramatic affect « is Queen Alayaca. One of the greatest rulers of our time. Kind, just, powerful, and beautiful. She had a long and prosperous reign, until one she just disappeared. » « What? How!?» « No really no knows. Legend says she was taken in a Eonagin just as how you came»
« Hmm...»
One day, some of the Sholticon Warriors invited him on a "exercise trip" as they put it. He had surprisingly gotten along well with the soldiers over the short time he was there. They got comfortable enough were they kept dragging him into a bunch shanagins that he was not ready for, even though he kept telling himself every time that he was going to be.
« Alright guys, what is it this time?» Yamcha asked. They dragged him to a open plain with no grass, just dirt and rocks. For some reason...there were a bunch holes and line craters everywhere.
« Oh nothing, friend!» said a purple haired man named Gerin «just a little hunting», « Hunting? Hunting what?» « Baldagores» « Oh. Wait huh?»
Baldagore:
An blue insect-like beast that lives under ground in tunnels. It eats meat and purple-colored fruits. They are the main protein source on Covexis. Also they are very hostile.
Gerin took out a long cable with some type of harpoon, « These big guys are the main meat on people's tables all around the seven cities. They live under ground in this area. They're pretty dumb too, because if they weren't, they would've colonized somewhere else by now».
He attached a purple fruit to it and shot far out until landed a good ways a way from us.
«Now what?» « Shhh! Just watch» he got into position. Suddenly a rumbling noise shook the ground and the harpoon was pulled under ground jerking Gerin forward for second until he got his footing and pulled back.
He was playing tug a war with something, and something really strong. Finally using all his might, he pulled one last tug and the other end came out ground. A huge rolly-polly like beast had its mouth on the harpoon. Blue shells on its back and a six legs to walk on. It was one the ugliest things Yamcha had ever seen.
He was playing tug a war with that!? He thought.
« Go! Go!» Gerin shouted and the other men charged the beast with their cosmic weapons. One distracted the beast while one wrapped another cable around its legs tripping it. As it fell on its back another man jumped on its belly and stabbed it in the middle, apparently killing it instantly.
« Well crap» he said, Gerin turned to him, « Luckily its Lazo season. Its a time when these creatures are at they're weakest. If it were any other time it would be a lot harder to kill them, especially mating season. Alright, your turn!» removing the harpoon from the creatures mouth with excess pink blood dripping from it. Yamcha eyes went to saucers « WHAT!? Oh no no, no way in-!» « Oh come now! You said you used to hunt before, yes?» « yeah beasts that I grew up learning and knowing how to kill!» «It's easy, just hang on to the rope and pull as hard as you can, and if you are about to be pulled in to be eaten alive, we'll help» Yamcha gulped.
I just love how shamelessly blunt he is. Well, it can't be that hard can it? I mean I was one of the strongest men on back earth...expect I'm not on earth anymore.
Yamcha then remembered that X'hara was watching. Can't look like a whimp in front of her.
« Um uh...ok fine!» « That's the spirit! Here» he handed him the cable and shot the harpoon out like before. Yamcha prepared for the creature to come. When it did start to pull, unlike Gerin, he went flying for a good minute. Being dragged on the dirt, until he scrambled to get his footing and started tugging with all his might, his whole body going red with strain. His muscles felt like they were being torn from torn to pieces but he sstill hung on. X'hara, Gerin, and other men where cheering him on.
How weak he's become
Remembering Tien's words made him angry and gave him new determination.
No...I...won't...be weak again!
He pulled harder and harder, sweat pooling his body while muscles were being flexed, until finally the damned thing started coming out. I won't cheat by flying, he gave on last tug when it finally came all the way out of the ground, even bigger than the last one.
«Great Nexolar, that ones a mongrel! Great work, Yama! Alright, let's get it men!" They proceeded to kill it the same way as the other one. « That was amazing, Yamcha! Even I couldn't catch one that big!» X'hara cheered« Whew...thanks...X'hara. Man that...was tou-wait you've done this before!?» he said huffing.
« Morgo yeah she has! I don't know what princesses are like on your planet but ours is a straight up badkaa!» X'hara smirked at that « But to another point, she's right! That last minute haul was great!» Gerin pat him on the back, « By the way, when I meant " exercise", I meant by doing this. This is one of the ways we get into shape for battles» « You don't say, eh?» he asked sarcastically.
Morgo: equal to saying hell.
Kaa: equal to saying ass.
I need get a lot stronger than I am now. I can't afford to slack off anymore no matter whose stronger than me.
The city was also one of those that had random dancing in the streets. X'hara often joined them whenever they we're around. He loved to watch her glide and step in tune with the street music with the other dancers. Her hair swaying with her movements.
It was majestic.
He had only been here a short while yet, he started to have strange feelings for the princess. Feelings he thought he'd buried for a long time ago. He thought maybe it was just an infatuation, but...
Since the moment he laid eyes on her, he felt a pang on his chest, some sort of connection that he never felt before.
It was like...he had been waiting for her his entire life, just to meet her, but he didn't know why.
Infatuation or not, he wanted to know more about her as much as possible.
Even though...she was most likely out of his league. She's a energetic and bright princess of an entire planet and he, a lowely washed up martial artist and ball player.
But hey a guy could dream.
«Com'on!» said X'hara, pulling Yamcha up the stairs of one of the palace towers, « Alright, alright! I'm coming as fast as your pulling me!» he laughed.
They made it up to a open balcony were they can see the star-filled night sky. « Wow, there so many of them» « I know, it's beautiful, but that's not why I brought you here, watch...five...four...three...two...one».
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the stars in the sky gathered in a huge cluster and swiftly but smoothly flew down towards the ground. It flowed like water throughout the city, covering it completely. The cluster flowed over the two of them.
To Yamcha, the stars felt like warm snowflakes brushing against his skin. It spread a sense of warmth and...power.
« W-what?...was that?» «The event occurs every three weeks. It's when the stars wash over us to replenish our cosmic power. Some say it's a gift from the God of our world, Nexolar and also the heart of our planet. Without it our power will cease to exist» she said.
Incredible he thought.
Her expression went shock, « o-oh I mean-I wasn't supposed to tell yo-» « It's ok» he reassured her, « your secrets safe with me». He smiled warmly and she gazed into his eyes, in a moment, both realized that he put his hand in hers. They blushed yet again and quickly swiped them away from each other, but still kept their smiles.
Yamcha didn't know how long he was going to be here, but a least he'd know his stay was going to be a pleasant one.
Or so he thought.
Alright that's out of the way. Next chapter, I'll introduce some more characters. Please comment...or nah. Just kidding please do, and if you don't...it's ok...I-I'll understand! * sniffles in the corner*.
Anyway, till next time!