Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon Ball GT. They are properties of Akira Toriyama, Bird Studio, Shueisha Inc, and Toei Animation.
To Find Strength
Chapter 1
Today was nice and it was my day off from work. I decided to take a bus ride and check out the sights of downtown.
I get off nearby wanting to walk the rest of the way. It is about 10 minutes later when the alert is posted on all our phones.
"Emergency Alert: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL."
My heart stopped at what I just heard. People all around me were also frozen in the growing horror of the situation. It was quiet but just for the moment. That silence was broken with pure chaos as people broke out into screams, everyone desperately fleeing the area.
I just stayed still as I heard the rest of the warning giving an approximate location of the detonation. It was only a few blocks down at a park. I would never make it out in time. Even if I had a car the streets are most likely clogged with traffic as other people try to escape the blast.
I had less than 30 minutes till the blast. As I walk to the park I start to call my family. My mom picks up and I am informed that this is happening all over the world. No one was safe. I called all my family members, my dad, my brother, my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, everyone that I had on my phone. I told them how much I loved them as we each gave our goodbyes. By the end tears are streaming down my face.
During my calls I had made it to the park and soon to be ground zero. I looked up to the sky as I grew angry at all this. Angry that everyone I love is going to die. Angry that I can do nothing to stop this. I am not content with death and have so many regrets. That just added fuel to the fire.
And as the missile appears in my sight I realize that I am powerless, and that makes my rage explode.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."
I scream to the heavens. It is full of rage, sorrow, and defiance. During my final moments I found out that it is true that you can see your life flash before your eyes.
Then it detonated and I was instantly vaporized.
All over the world the planet was bathed in nuclear fire. And over the coming years the human race would slowly come to an end.
In a place devoid of light float a consciousness completely unaware of its surroundings. Trapped in its own thoughts.
All I can feel is sorrow for everything I lost, regret for the missed opportunities, and the things I never got to do. All my anger and rage was drained out upon my death. All thoughts of what I could have done differently raced through my mind. But that only served to add to my sadness.
One thought kept making itself apparent, that I was powerless. Powerless to save anyone. Powerless to change anything. Powerless to do anything. This thought tortured me until I broke.
"I wish I could be strong." Just as I was about to embrace oblivion a voice boomed through the void.
"YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED."
I blacked out.
I awaken to the feeling of laying down on soft grass. I open my eyes to see a blue sky above me. I can hear the chirping of birds around me. I sit up and look around to find myself in a forest.
A breeze passes by causing me to shiver. I look down on myself to find that I am in the body of a 4 year old. Not only that but I am naked. 'What? How did this happen?' I thought to myself.
It all came rushing back to me, the trip, the alert, the chaos, the goodbyes, the warhead, everything. I couldn't hold it in, this body wouldn't let me. I cried.
It was too much. Everyone was dead. Why was I alive? Is this some cruel joke? Sobs wracked my body as I was having a complete mental and emotional breakdown.
An old man walked into the area to see a crying child. He carefully made his way over to the clearly distressed boy. He takes off his sleeveless orange jacket and covers the boy.
I had been crying for a while until I felt something warm wrap around my body. Through my blurry vision I can see a man kneeling in front of me. I can barely make out the fact that he had a white mustache.
"Hello young one. Can you tell me what's wrong?" The kind old man said in a soft tone.
Memories flashed through my head and I started to cry harder. I am an incoherent babbling mess. Then I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me into a hug. It was comforting and I ended up falling asleep in his embrace.
The old man looks down at the sleeping child in his arms in sadness, wondering what he went through. As he looks over the boy he notices a brown appendage hanging limply from underneath the jacket the child is wrapped in. 'Is he just like Goku?' He thought to himself.
Deciding it's time to get going he adjusts the boy in his arms and heads off towards his home.
I slowly wake up and notice I am laying on a soft bed. Opening my eyes to the ceiling above my head I wonder how I got here. Lifting myself up I look around the room I am in.
I then look at myself to see that I am clothed in a white shirt and shorts. Then I start to remember. I was in a forest and I somehow turned back into a child. But before that I died along with everyone else. Tears were gathering in my eyes again until I looked around and spotted something on a shelf. It was glowing a faint orange with four red stars held within, a dragon ball.
Before I could contemplate any longer the door opened and a boy about my age came inside. He had black spiky hair that seemed to defy gravity and was shaped in a familiar style that looked natural. His eyes widened as he looked over to me before he turned around and started to yell. "Grandpa Grandpa, come over here he is awake!" As he was turned around I saw a brown monkey tail waving behind him.
Everything about where I am started to click. I was in the world of Dragon Ball. Soon the old man who I now knew as Grandpa Gohan walked into the house. Both he and Goku walk over to the bed I am on then he starts to speak. "Hello young man my name is Gohan and this is Goku. I heard you in the forest. You sounded in distress, may I ask what happened."
An echo of panicked screams passes through my mind. "Th-There was an attack." I started. "Everyone I know is gone. Mom, Dad, my family. They're all gone." It was too fresh, too painful. "I-I-I don't know how I got here." I was crying again.
Goku climbs up on the bed and hugs me. Then it finally sinks in that this is all real and I just sit there and cry for the next 10 minutes. I hold onto Goku fearing if I let go the world would fade away.
Once I let it all out I did my best to compose myself. Gohan had left to go grab some water leaving me and Goku alone. As I was straightening myself out I finally noticed something sticking out from behind me. It was a brown monkey-like tail. A saiyan tail.
Goku also took notice of it. "Hey you're just like me!" He said happily.
Before I could ponder the implications of being a saiyan grandpa Gohan returned with some water and poured me a cup to drink. I gratefully took it and quietly thanked him.
"It's no problem. If you want to, would you like to stay with us?" I looked at him and thought of my situation. I had no money, no family, no foundation. I quite literally appeared out of nowhere so no Identification. And I didn't want to be sent to an orphanage.
I thought it over for about a minute until I answered. "Ok." Gohan gave a small smile and placed a hand on top of my head. Goku meanwhile was bouncing up and down in joy. The fact that he is so carefree and innocent made me smile.
"Oh my I almost forgot." Said Gohan with a bit of embarrassment. "But what is your name, young man?"
I wanted to say my name, I really wanted to. But I died and this was a brand new body. A brand new life. A name popped in my mind. Dakon is an uncommon species of ape, with a level of intelligence comparable to most humanoids. I remember reading it from some wiki I couldn't remember.
"My name is Dakon." I replied.
After I was practically adopted I took the time to look over myself in a mirror. From what I can remember from pictures of myself at the age of 4 back in my world I look a bit different now. The structure of my face is different, my eye color that was once brown is now a black onyx. My skin tone is still the same light tan color. And finally my hair, it was still black but was no longer curly. It was shoulder length and spiked out in the front and back. Some of the spikes were also defying gravity just like Goku's.
I then glanced down at my tail. Controlling it was weird but didn't really take much thought and it was surprisingly soft. When I gave it a squeeze I felt my entire nervous system get a jolt and I started to fall over. Then my hand relaxed on my tail and I regained my strength. I had always thought that the tail weakness was kind of stupid but now it made sense. The tail was a part of my spine and that any sort of pressure would send my nervous system out of whack.
Now that I am a saiyan I best go to sleep before the sun sets and not risk looking at the full moon. I put on some Kung Fu shoes that Gohan gave me and step outside.
It was getting close to noon and my saiyan appetite decided to rear its ugly head with a loud noise from my stomach. Goku was nearby when he heard it. "Hey Dakon, are you hungry?" He asked with his tail waving behind him and a big goofy smile.
"Yeah, do you know when we'll get lunch?" I asked.
Goku's own stomach started to growl. "Grandpa will be back soon with some fish." He then looks behind me then points. "Look, here he comes now!" I look back to see Gohan walking up the trail dragging with him 3 giant fish. My eyes actually bug out at what I am seeing.
Gohan soon got the fish over to where the campfire was and started shoving poles into their mouths. Once that was done he placed one of the skewered fish over the fire. "Goku, Dakon, would you both be so kind as to grab some more firewood?"
"Sure Grandpa!" Goku said enthusiastically while I gave a small nod.
We went around the side of the house and grabbed a bundle to bring back.
"Thank you boys, lunch is almost ready." I could smell the cooked fish and I just realized I was drooling. Wiping it from my face in small embarrassment I looked over to Goku who was also drooling but with little restraint.
Soon the food was ready and we all began eating. Gohan was taking his time unlike Goku who was practically inhaling his fish. I was eating mine normally but when I got to the point where I would have been full I found myself still hungry as if I hadn't eaten anything. So I kept on eating. Then soon about 20 minutes passed and I finally felt full. I looked at my fish and there was only bone left. I think that the saiyans have an overclocked metabolism.
I thanked Gohan for the meal and started helping him clean up the remains.
"You're welcome Dakon. Though I must say, you eat as much as Goku, but at least you have table manners." He says with a laugh.
After disposing of the bones I was sitting under the shade watching Gohan train Goku in martial arts. Goku was on the offensive throwing punches, kicks, and jabs. While Gohan was blocking, dodging, or redirecting all of Goku's attacks. I knew Gohan was holding back to keep on Goku's level. Not relying on strength to take Goku out, but skill.
This lasted for a few hours before it was time for dinner. After we ate, Gohan came to talk to me. "Dakon, I hope you enjoyed watching me and Goku's sparring session."
"Um, yeah. I saw you were flowing around Goku's attacks and it was amazing." I said.
"Would you like me to teach you? I am sure you would make a fine martial artist one day."
I had been thinking about this all afternoon. Should I get involved with future events? I dare not say plot because these are real people with real lives. This world is full of endless possibilities. I could be a hero if I wanted. But this isn't my world.
"No thank you." Gohan looked a bit sad at that. "I don't think being a martial artist is for me." I said turning away.
"That's alright, you are free to be whatever you want to be. You don't have to choose now." I nodded and gave him an appreciative look. I was about to head inside before he spoke again.
"Oh I need to ask you one more thing before you head off to sleep." I look over, giving him my attention. "Have you ever looked upon a full moon?" I had a feeling this question would come up. So I decided to alleviate his fears.
"Uh, no I haven't. I usually go to bed early. It makes getting up in the morning easier." I said tilting my head to the side. "Why, what's the problem?"
"Oh nothing. It's just a legend that on nights of a full moon a monster roams Mount Paozu." He said with a nervous laugh.
I turned in for the night and stayed near Goku so I can be aware if he decides to get up during the night. If there was one thing I would change it would be Gohan's death.
4 Years Later (Age 745)
As time passed I got into the flow of things living in the isolated region of Mount Paozu. I gather firewood, clean the house, and cook. I also forage, farm, and fish to feed the three of us. I also started calling Gohan Grandpa one day. It took time to accept but they were my family now. I really got to know them. Grandpa even told me stories of his time under the great Master Roshi and his best friend the Ox King. Me and Goku would listen in amazement of all the adventures he went on.
There are times where I spend the day relaxing under a tree or in a clearing near the house. Other times I am watching Goku and Grandpa spar. Recently Grandpa has been teaching Goku how to use the Power Pole. Seeing that thing expand and shrink was mind boggling. And watching them go at it leaves me on the edge of my seat, but there has been a longing within me to join in, urging me to have fun, to experience the thrill of combat. But I hold back not wanting to enjoy myself. And I think Grandpa knows this.
I also spend a lot of time with Goku. He really brings out the kid in me. We play tag, hide and seek, and just about anything normal kids do. He always has a way to make me forget my troubles. But when it ends I feel hollow inside.
My birthday is coming up soon and Grandpa goes out to the nearest town like he does sometimes to get a cake for the celebration.
Life has been peaceful for the most part. At times I get nightmares of that day that on more than one occasion I find Grandpa or Goku holding me as I cry myself back to sleep. But last night's episode was especially bad. Grandpa wanted me to talk to a therapist, but I didn't want to. Who would ever believe that I died and got transported to a different universe. I got angry at the prospect and blew up at Grandpa. I don't know what I said but I knew I regretted it. And I wouldn't get a chance to apologize.
I went to bed angry, tired, and confused. The emotional rollercoaster I went through today was mentally taxing, and soon I fell into a dreamless sleep.
"ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAR"
My eyes snap awake and I immediately look over to where Goku usually sleeps to see he was not there. My eyes widen in horror and I run outside. What greets me is a giant monkey smashing up the forest. "G-Goku." I utter quietly but somehow the giant monster hears me.
It turns to look at me and starts walking towards me. I stare at the oncoming Oozaru and my mind keeps flashing back to that day. My body locks up automatically as it is not the great ape I am registering but a nuclear warhead. I can now see myself back at that park waiting to die as the missile gets closer.
The great ape now looms over me, raising his foot over my small form. He brings it down ready to smash me to paste, when I am knocked out of my trance as something violently pushes me out of the way.
SMASH
I pick myself off the ground and look over to what pushed me. I wish I didn't. On the ground in the crater the monster made was Grandpa, and he was severely injured. "No." I whispered as I rushed over to him. "No no no." I am right next to him holding him close. The Oozaru gets distracted by the wildlife and ignores us as its tail hits our house destroying part of it.
"Grandpa, it's going to be fine, we'll get you to a doctor and you will be all better." I said as tears started to fall from my eyes.
Grandpa turns his head to look at me. "Dakon, I think we both know I won't make it."
I just start crying harder, I was losing my loved ones all over again. "Please don't go." I can feel his life slowly slip away.
"I am sorry Dakon, but it seems that this is my time." I bury my face into his chest, holding him close and not wanting to let him go. He places his hand on top of my head. "Take care of your little brother." He breathed his final breath and he was gone.
Son Gohan has passed away.
It was too much, the anger and the rage that had left me so long ago returned. I raised my head from my Grandpa's corpse and stared at the back of the thing that took him away from me. As I stood, a power within me made itself known as my rage clouded my thoughts.
Then it all came rushing back as I was at that park screaming to the heavens. Energy formed in my right hand as I thrusted it towards the turned back of the great ape. The beam that fired out of my hand soared true and hit its target. The result blasted its tail off.
"ROOOOOOOOOOAaaaaaaaaar."
Without its tail the beast began to shrink until all that was left was a naked sleeping Goku.
I make my way over to him as I was going to finish him off. Anger, rage, and hatred for the one who killed my Grandpa dominated my mind. I loomed over him about to strike when a voice popped into my head. 'Take care of your little brother.' My hand stopped as these thoughts registered in my mind.
I look down at Goku. "Little brother." All my anger faded away as did the power. I grab Goku and pull him close in a hug. It dawned on me that I was about to do something horrible to someone I care about. I started to cry again. "I'm sorry." I whispered. "I am so sorry."
I found discarded blankets near our wrecked home and used one to cover Grandpa's body. I wrapped the other one around Goku, and held him till morning. During the rest of the night I began to think.
Goku awakens to a devastated forest and a destroyed house. I give him a change of clothes and I bring him to Grandpa's body.
"G-Grandpa what happened to you?" He starts crying over his body.
Throughout the night I was wondering if I should tell him the truth or not. And not just the truth of last night, the truth about everything.
"Goku." I said loud and unwavering. He gave me his full attention. "I am from a different universe."
From there I told Goku about my life and how I got here. I told him his origins as a saiyan and his parents plan for him to survive. Then I ripped the band aid off and explained the Oozaru transformation along with the concept of a TV and anime. I didn't spoil any future details.
Goku was devastated that he was the one who did this. But I told him I blamed myself for not keeping an eye on him like I usually do. I told him that this happened in the show and I failed to prevent it. We went back and forth on this until we hugged and cried it out.
We soon buried Grandpa and I carved his head stone. We gathered flowers, offered our prayers, and spouted our apologies.
Me and Goku were clearing the wreckage of our destroyed home when I found something under the rubble. It was a present signed to me. Goku turned to me. "You should open it. Grandpa and I made it for you." My eyes widened at that and the present felt a little heavier. I opened it to find a familiar blue gi. It was the one Goku would wear in The Path to Power movie or GT. Damnit I was crying again.
"Grandpa said that you should listen to your heart and that everyone has the right to happiness."
I think back to the 4 years I had spent with Goku and Grandpa. To all the times I watch them spar as it reignited my love of the Dragon Ball franchise. Back to a time in my first life as a kid trying to do the Kamehameha.
A glare of orange catches my eye. I look over to find the four star ball under some debris. I reach over and grab it. I look down at both the ball and the gi. I made a decision.
I walk out from behind a tree. "So Goku, how do I look?" I gestured to myself.
"You look awesome!" He said with his goofy smile.
We got into a clearing. "Ok Goku, show me the basics." I say with a small smile on my face.
Goku then starts showing me the stances I should take.
1 Year Later (Age 746)
It took a while but 2 months later we rebuilt our house, and soon after I committed myself to training. Over this year Goku has taught me katas and techniques to get me up to speed. During our spars my blood sang at finally getting to let loose. I also wrote everything I knew about the Dragon Ball franchise so I wouldn't forget anything important.
Goku's tail grew back about 8 months later and it was decided we would train that weakness away. It was painful but totally worth it in the end. But before that Goku wanted to cut it off so he wouldn't turn into that monster again. I told him that the Oozaru transformation can be controlled but it would take great effort. Along with the fact he would be running away from the problem and not confronting it.
So now every full moon we would be out in the forest taking quick glances trying to control the beastial rage within us.
September 1st Age 749
Me and Goku are sitting down meditating. I think back to all we accomplished in the years we've spent together. We mastered the Oozaru transformation to the point we can transform at will. It was surprisingly easy to figure out. The blutz waves are just a trigger that sends a signal from our brain to our tails. The tail contains a gland that constantly releases something in our bloodstream forcing all facets of the body to grow. Once we've felt where the transformation came from we focus on it and trigger it. Now we can enjoy the full moon and not turn into a giant monkey.
We tried the Wrath State but I don't think our bodies can handle it. Plus the pain was unbearable.
Another thing I did was give Goku a proper education. He didn't like it but tolerated it with bribes of food. The one thing I hated but had to do was give Goku "The Talk" along with how to act socially with other people. Especially girls. I swear I will die of secondhand embarrassment if Goku starts patting other people's crotches like in the show.
I hear a distinctive noise.
I open my eyes and look over to the dresser that contains the four star ball. It is glowing for a brief moment before dimming.
"Today's the day."
A/N:
I hope you all enjoyed this. I am just stretching my creativity on this one.
The name Dakon I will admit is kinda overused. Unless anyone else can come up with something original that makes sense.
I will not continue this until I finish "To Follow Your Heart".
Ok so a little bit of lore explanation. Goku was born and placed in a nursing pod in age 734 like in Dragon Ball Minus/Broly. But the nursing pod kept him young looking like an infant. And by saiyan standards you are really "born" once you are let out of the nursing pod.
Bardock the father of Goku still kinda happens. Planet Kanassa still happens. Bardock gets future visions and he is injured. Once he recovered, he and his team split up. Tora and the others go to Planet Meat while Bardock and Leek go to another planet. The saiyans get ordered to go back to Planet Vegeta. Bardock and Gine send Kakarot to earth. Bardock grabs his own pod and heads to Planet Meat to find his team dead. Tora dies in his arms and he gets thrashed by Dodoria. He goes back to Planet Vegeta and confronts Frieza. He gives his speech and dies trying to stop the supernova. Hope you like this take on those events.
Lastly, I didn't name drop real people or places because I wanted to keep it vague enough to feel like this could have happened to the readers. Hope that helped to suck you into this story.
Power levels:
Dakon 5
Dakon (Rage Boost x25) 125
Dakon (after training) 15
Dakon (Oozaru x10) 150
4 year old Goku 5
8 year old Goku 10
8 year old Goku (Oozaru x10) 100
Goku (after training) 15
Goku (Oozaru x10) 150
Grandpa Gohan 86
Thank you for reading, and just like everything I write please leave your criticisms in the review. They help me go back and fix mistakes and improve my writing.