*Warning - mature scene at the beginning of the chapter*
This will be Goku's final chapter on Yardrat. I hope you have enjoyed the world I created. :]
Goku opened his bleary eyes, the room spinning, his brain unable to comprehend where he was. He squinted his eyes, then closed his one eye as he tried to focus on his surroundings. It took a few moments, but the room finally stopped spinning some and he focused on what was in front of him. He had to blink a few times in disbelief, but he was staring into the eyes of his wife. His very naked wife, who straddled his waist.
"Chichi?"
"Sh!" she gently whispered to him, silencing him with her index finger to his lips, "We have to be quiet". She immediately pressed her soft lips onto his, a blissful sigh coming from Goku's mouth at the contact. It had been way too long since he kissed his wife. The kiss intensified, Chichi's hands raking through his hair and massaging his scalp, Goku's hands snaking down to reach behind her and grab her rear, his large palms kneading the soft, tender flesh.
"Chichi, I missed you" he whispered against her lips when they broke for air.
"I missed you, too" she gently returned, her lips reattaching themselves back to his, her right hand wandering south and delving between them to take hold of his growing excitement. Goku moaned against her mouth, her skillful, familiar hand rubbing his throbbing need through his pants.
"Chi" he gasped as her warm, supple lips left his and sweetly kissed down his chin and neck.
"Don't forget about me, will you" she whispered to him.
"What?" he breathed out as her hand snaked into his pants.
"Please don't forget about me" she kissed him again, her hand going to work in his loose pants, his eyes clenching shut at the incredible sensations she was giving him.
"Chichi ... I could never forget about you" he groaned out.
"Then, come home to me" she murmured, her body shuffling down his thighs, "Come home to me, Goku".
"Chichi..."
"Come home to me, Goku"
"Come home to me" ...
Goku's eyes sprung open and he jolted up in bed, his wide eyes scanning the room, wondering where he was and what the hell just happened.
He was in Niiara's home, in the spare room ... with no Chichi.
Damn it ... it was just a dream.
He glanced down at the large tent in his pants and he groaned in annoyance. There was no way that was going away anytime soon. He huffed and peered out of the bedroom window, taking note of the darkness. It must have been early hours of the morning as it wasn't quite getting light yet. He dragged himself out of bed and paced the room for a short time, his hands running through his messy locks in frustration.
That was the first dirty dream that he'd had of his wife since being away from her. When they got married, Goku didn't leave her side, so he never had to figure out how to be on his own again or deal with missing his wife. It wasn't until he died and was away for a year, that he actually spent any time away from her and his son. He thought about her a lot on King Kai's planet, but it didn't get to the point of him having naughty dreams about her. He supposed he wasn't at King Kai's that long as he spent a great deal of his time running on Snake Way.
This time was different, this absence was different.
He really missed her.
He glanced down at his pants once again and whined at the unmoving bulge. God damn it! How was he supposed to get rid of that? He palmed his hard on through his pants, a quiet moan sifting through his parted lips, a lewd thought coming to his mind. Maybe ... he could get rid of it himself? He'd done it before, granted Chichi was there with him, encouraging him and touching and kissing him whilst he did. But ... it wouldn't hurt to take care of it himself, without her? Right?
After a few painful seconds of debating with himself, his desire won out and Goku decided to take a cold shower and relieve himself of his frustrations.
A few mornings later, Goku sat at the edge of the woodland, his eyes gazing at the rising sun in the distance.
He'd had another restless night, full of nightmares and endless thoughts.
Frieza and his army was defeated, and it was as if the whole Universe had come to a stand still. The chaos had ceased and there was finally peace, so why was he so restless?
Here he was, tense, anxious, just waiting for something to happen. And he wasn't quite sure what he was even waiting for.
Goku ducked his head, rubbing at his tired, red, frustrated eyes. He was at war with himself. It was Goku against the Super Saiyan.
And he had absolutely no idea who was going to win.
Goku let out a long breath. The tranquil woodland normally calmed him and soothed him, but right now it was just too loud inside his head.
His eyes suddenly caught sight of something glistening to his left, so he slowly clambered to his feet and walked over to it. He stooped over the edge of the lake, to see something shining in the rocky bank, so he crouched down and grabbed some of the earth with his hands, pulling out the shining rock. He slumped down onto the edge of the bank to inspect his findings and he was in awe as he rotated the lump of rock in his hands. There was a blue, luminous light coming from inside of the rock, nothing like he had ever seen before. It was so bright and beautiful.
That's when he remembered Shee telling him about moon rock and how it would fall from the sky and merge with the earth. He said it glowed as bright as the moon, and many Yardratian's would make prayers when a piece fell from the sky, as it was a sign of good fortune. Goku questioned whether it was good fortune when it fell on someone, but Shee simply slapped him up the back of his head, lecturing him for shitting on something so religious and meaningful to them.
Goku snorted as he recalled the conversation, his eyes still gazing at the piece of moon rock. An idea then immediately sprung to his mind, and he snapped the rock into a few pieces on the ground. He took a sharp piece of the rock and started to engrave something into one of the bits he broke off, his brows knitted together in concentration, his tongue sticking out as he carved away. He pulled back moments later, satisfied with his work, placing that piece of rock aside, before grabbing another. He carefully carved his idea into that piece of rock before nodding triumphantly once he was finished.
He placed both of the rocks together, side by side on the ground and he smiled. The one rock said Gohan, the other said Chichi, and both of them glowed where he had carved their names.
"Can't go back empty handed" he thought out loud, leaning back on his palms, his eyes still fixed on the rocks, "Gohan will love it. I can tell him all about the moon rock. Chichi ... heh, maybe I can tell her the glowin' rock reminded me of her eyes, maybe then she won't be so mad at me" he nervously laughed out.
His laughter ceased a moment later, and he found himself staring down at the rocks, his eyes lingering on his wife's specifically. She was going to be mad, he knew it. But he couldn't quite figure out how mad. And he couldn't blame her for it, he left the hospital without saying goodbye to her several months ago and she was probably left thinking he'd died when Namek exploded. And then, she must have found out he was alive and they tried to wish him back to Earth, and he refused to return. Shit, she was gonna be raging.
And it didn't help that things were already rocky between them before he left. They had talked in the hospital after his fight with Vegeta, but they hadn't talked about everything. He knew his friends had kept things from her and lied to her, which led her to believe things that weren't true. So, when she first saw him, his body broken upon the desert ground, she ignored him and jumped right over him. She wanted her baby Gohan who was unconscious in Krillin's arms and that was that.
He was really confused at first, and admittedly a bit upset by her coldness towards him. He'd been dead for a year, separated from her and Gohan, and she wasn't happy to see him. As he led in the back of the air ship, on his way to the hospital, his mind was soaring as he tried to understand her actions. That's when her behaviour was questioned by Yajirobe and how she was showing no concern for him and he heard his wife say "Concern? After he nearly got his own son killed?". That stayed with Goku for the entire journey to Wukong hospital.
It wasn't until she finally talked to him, that he was able to understand why she was so angry with him. And it left him angry. Not with her, but at his friends for how they treated her and what they had told her, or more specifically, what they didn't tell her. After his wife vented to him, things seemed a little better and she was at least glad he was alive again. But something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but things weren't quite the same between them.
She stayed by his side throughout his recovery, helping to feed him, making sure he was comfortable and calling for the nurses when he was in pain. She was constantly checking his hospital notes, making sure the staff were doing everything they could for him. When he was finally out of the recuperating bed, she would help with bathing him and she'd read to him and she would tuck him into bed every night before she went home herself. She even snuck him in some good old home made food, which honestly made his entire year! He had missed her cooking so much when he was dead.
She comforted him when he brought up the fact that he was a Saiyan, and although it was a brief conversation, and she didn't particularly air her feelings on the matter, she did hold him and assure him things would be okay. But things weren't okay. And it effected him more than he thought it would. He missed her. He missed hearing her laugh and seeing her smile, he missed them being playful together and just simply talking like they use to.
Things had changed and Chichi was unhappy and he had no idea how to fix it.
Goku sighed, his eyes still fixed on his wife's name, engraved in the rock.
He had no idea what he was going home to.
He was nervous.
He knew that much.
"So, what are we lookin' for again?" Goku questioned Niiara over his shoulder. She had him traipsing around the woods with her, looking for a flower, or something.
"A Juubuu flower" she reminded him for the third time, rolling her eyes, "It is the traditional blue flower of Yardrat which everyone places in their window with the changes of the season. It is said the Juubuu flower brings good health to those who nurture it" Niiara educated him.
"There's a lot'a things on this planet that brings good health an' fortune an' stuff. Does this stuff really work?" Goku wondered out loud. Niiara frowned.
"Are you mocking our traditions, Son Goku?" she firmly questioned him. Goku grinned and rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Eh-heh, no! I'm just sayin', there's a lot'a that here! If it's really true, I might take somethin' home with me to protect me from my wife" he laughed out.
"I don't even think a hundred Juubuu flowers will be enough for that" she told him. Goku let his mouth hang open.
"Hey, that's harsh!" Goku grumbled at her.
"You're not the only one who can make jokes, Son Goku" she winked at him, making him frown and pout. It was at that moment that little Jaak came bounding through the trees, a blue flower in his hands. He thrust it up towards his mother, a big smile on his face.
"Not quite, little one" she told him, bending down to his level, "you see the yellow on the stem? This is a Curarka, our healing plant" she told her son. She turned her head to look over at Goku, who stood with his arms crossed, engrossed in the flutter tails that flew around his head.
"This is what I used on your wounds" she told him, getting his attention, "Our healing plant only grows in certain places on Yardrat and can be very hard to find. Good spotting, Jaak" she praised her son who rocked back and forth on his heels shyly. Niiara cupped the flower in the palm of her hands and it began to glow. Goku's eyes lit up with curiosity as he ambled over to her.
"Wow, what are ya doin'?" he asked her inquisitively.
"I'm using my Ki to separate the healing dew from the flower"
"What? You can use Ki like that?" Goku was astounded.
"It is called fission control. One of the many ways in which Yardratian's use Ki. It took me a long time to learn this" she informed him, pulling out a small vial from her rucksack. She removed the lid and poured the sap from her hand into the vial, then secured the lid back on. She caught Goku's shocked expression and she chuckled.
"You never know when I might find another one of these, so I might as well take it now"
"That's amazing! Is that how ya learn instant transmission, too?" Goku wondered.
"No, that's a bit different. Spirit fission is about removing something, instant transmission is about shifting one self. It all comes under spirit control, but it is used in different ways. I never learnt instant transmission myself". Niiara shrugged.
"How come?"
"Just didn't feel the need to, I guess"
There was a sudden, loud snapping of twigs, causing Niiara to swing her head around in the direction in which it came. Jaak clung to her leg as they both watched as a giant creature slowly ambled towards them in the trees.
"Woahhh, what the heck is that thing?" Goku blurted out, craning his neck to get a better look at it.
The thing must have been 20 feet tall, with four thick, long legs and a long scaly neck. It reminded Goku of a brontosaurus from back home, but with scales more like a lizard, and it had spikes going up it's neck and a horn on it's head. It was also a beautiful red colour, with golden specs in it's scales.
"That is an iichaan, it is friendly and eats the vegetation" Niiara assured Goku, "But be careful, as they are blind, and may step on you". Goku was very intrigued and instantly elevated up by the trees where the iichaan was searching for food. Goku broke off a large branch from the tree, the leaves sprouting from it lush and green.
"Here ya go, big guy" Goku spoke to the creature, letting it munch on the rich greens. Niiara shook her head amusedly as Goku fed the iichaan, Jaak's wonderous eyes looking up at Goku.
"Is it a he or a she?" Goku wondered, after assuming it was a male.
"Oh, it's a he, alright. He even puts you to shame" she laughed. Niiara watched as Goku tilted his head to get a look underneath the creature and his eyes widened.
"Holy cow, you are a big guy! Ain't no hiding that" he chuckled out, making Niiara laugh some more. Goku noticed Jaak watching him, so he smiled down at the boy.
"Ya wanna help feed him?" he asked him. Jaak shyly hid himself behind his mother and she shrugged her shoulders at Goku, "I'll be right back" Goku told the iichaan. He landed gently in front of Niiara and Jaak and crouched down to Jaak's height.
"Hey, little buddy, there aint nothin' to be scared of. He ain't gonna eat us, he just likes the leaves" Goku assured him. Jaak eyed Goku from behind his mother's leg.
"Ya know I would never put you in any danger, an' neither would ya mom" Goku reminded him. Jaak couldn't argue with that. He gulped and stepped away from his mother and Goku lifted him, settling him on his broad shoulders. Goku handed Jaak the rest of the leafy branch and took to the sky once one, halting right in front of the large creature. Jaak froze for a moment, the size of the iichaan up close was even more terrifying.
"You're okay, little one! Just feed it to him" he heard his mother shout up from below. Jaak nervously swallowed and extended his arm, allowing the iichaan to feed off the branch. And after a few seconds of eyeing the creature as he ate, he began to relax, and Goku felt his tense little body slump on his shoulders.
"See? There ya go! Knew you could do it!" Goku praised him. Jaak grinned.
Niiara could only stand proudly from below as she watched her son feed the iichaan. He had never been so bold as to do something like that before. It seemed Son Goku's sense of adventure was rubbing off on him.
The sky was darker than Goku had ever seen it before, with a strong wind picking up, the gust wafting at his woven shirt as he sat upon the broken tree in Niiara's garden. Above the ridge in the distance, heavy black clouds were gathering, casting long shadows over the desert land. He could feel it, he could smell it in the air, a storm was brewing. He'd been on Yardrat a few months, but he'd never seen a storm before, let alone rain. It was a rarity, he was told, but when it happened, it was supposedly ferocious.
As Goku continued to watch the skies, he felt a presence next to him, and Shee dropped down onto the tree wreckage beside him.
"It's been a long time since I saw a storm brewing" Shee told him.
"Looks like it's gonna hit real soon" Goku commented.
Shee eyed Goku from the side. It wasn't the only storm he could feel brewing. There was a tension inside of Goku, and it was time he let it out.
"What did it?" Shee questioned him directly. His strange question had Goku turning to look at him.
"What do ya mean?"
"On Namek. What made you snap?" He asked him, unsure of a response. He watched as Goku gazed ahead once more, a tightness in his jaw as he hesitated for a moment.
"Everythin'" Goku whispered.
"Define everything" Shee pushed.
"Just ... everythin'! Everythin' that led up to that moment! Everythin' that happened in that moment! I was so tired, I thought I had defeated him, but there he was, alive an' barely beaten at all. I felt like I had failed, like I had let everyone down. They were all countin' on me to beat him, an' I failed to do it. He pointed his finger at me an' I froze. I had nothin' left in me an' for the first time in my life, I just stood there, afraid an' I didn' know what to do! My son was standin' right there next to me, and I couldn' protect him! I felt like a weaklin'. I've never felt so ... so helpless before" Shee nodded, urging Goku to continue.
"He took a shot at me, but Piccolo pushed me outta the way an' took the hit. I remember hearin' my son cryin' out for him as he bled out on the ground next to me" Goku paused for a few seconds.
"That's when he took Krillin" he spoke quietly.
"Krillin?" Shee questioned.
"He was my best friend. I've known him since we was kids, we trained together under Master Roshi an' pretty much grew up together. An' Frieza ..." Goku trailed off, his hands now balling up into fists.
"I can still hear him screamin' my name, beggin' me to help him as Frieza elevated him into the sky! But with a click of Frieza's fingers, Krillin's body exploded an' he was gone. An' I still just stood there, like a fuckin' coward! My friend was cryin' out for me an' I did nothin' to try an' save him!"
Shee said nothing, knowing Goku needed to get this off his chest.
"All I could hear was Frieza laughin' that sickly, evil laugh of his as fragments of my friend's body dropped to the ground in front of me! I remember hearin' Frieza say that my son was next, an' that's when I felt it ... like this burnin' in my chest, an' my stomach churned. I could barely breathe, I couldn' think straight, I couldn' even get my words out properly, my voice shook along with my entire body! My body felt like it was on fire, I had this anger in me, this evil rage that I had never felt before! Krillin's scream kept runnin' through my head, I saw my son's terrified face an' Frieza's stupid laugh rang in my ears!" Goku's voice trembled, almost as if he was reliving the entire moment again.
"An' that's when that rage just exploded within me! I can't quite explain it, but it was agonising! I felt like all control had been stripped from me, an' all I was left with was this fury, boilin' in my blood! An' all I wanted was to rip him apart!" Goku growled out his last words, that sudden tension Shee was feeling, building inside of Goku. Shee watched Goku intently, feeling the pressure surging through Goku's body.
"An' I aint like that! That aint me! I don't fight to kill someone! Maybe when I was a kid, I saw things differently an' I didn't really care too much, but after meetin' Master Roshi an' Kami, my first two serious teachers after my grandpa, I learnt a lot 'bout fightin'. I learnt that winnin' isn't always 'bout killin' your opponent. I guess that's become a big part of who I am. I enjoy fightin', it gives me such a rush, it's hard to explain, but I'd rather come away from it learnin' somethin', or at least with the motivation to better myself, than take someone's life"
"So, this was huge for you. You had all these thoughts going on inside of your head, you just experienced horrific trauma and had to deal with this new transformation that you knew nothing about. On top of that, you were juggling your morals, trying to be true to yourself, but also conceding to this need inside of you to kill Frieza" Shee summarised. Goku nodded.
"It explains a lot. No wonder your head is all over the place. That's a lot for someone to deal with" Shee sympathised.
"I just wanna ... close my eyes an' breathe. Just breathe. An' then open them again ... an' everythin' just be how it was before" Goku admitted solemnly.
"I never asked for this. I never wanted this" he murmured.
"No, we never want these things to happen, but sometimes they just do because they are out of our control" Shee assured him. Goku shook his head, almost as if he didn't want to accept Shee's words.
"Burdens can be placed upon us, without our consent. We can wish things never happened to us, because they have hurt us, because they have changed our lives in a way we could never imagine, in a way we never wanted. But sometimes, we don't get to decide what happens to us. But we do get to decide how we deal with those burdens and we have the power to learn from it and grow from it".
"But I feel like such a failure, an' that's all I can hear in my head, day an' night! I can't shake the feelin' that I let everyone down! It took for me to fail an' lose my friends an' nearly lose my son, to become a Super Saiyan! That's how I was able to beat Freiza! An' I hate it! An' now I'm struggling to even be a Super Saiyan!" Goku spat.
"Life's greatest lessons are usually learnt at the worst times, but this is your opportunity to do something great with it, Son Goku. You have the power to turn yourself into something better than you were before" Shee spoke wisely.
"I dunno" he mumbled to himself. Shee placed his small hands on Goku's broad shoulders, encouraging Goku to look at him.
"You had no control over what happened to you, Son Goku. You did everything you could, with everything you had. And maybe you were a failure for a brief moment, but we learn from failure, not from success. Learning from your failure is healthy, but living forever in the emotions of your past failures will only drag you down. The only mistake here, would be to not learn from this and move on. That is your choice to make". He still wasn't getting through to him.
"You want to go home to your family? Then fix up, Son Goku! Stop wallowing in what was and embrace what is now!" he raised his voice.
"You are Son Goku, the Super Saiyan! You are strong! You are worthy! And you can do this! And don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!" Shee shouted, snapping his fingers, calling Goku to attention. Goku jumped to his feet and clenched his fists readily at his sides, a determination suddenly bubbling in his stomach.
"I believe in you, kid" Shee finished with a proud smile, making Goku smile in return.
"Okay, let's do it!" Goku beamed.
A few days later, Goku found himself in a mess once again, frustrated and angry at himself as he failed to transform into a Super Saiyan.
He'd admitted his fears, he'd opened up to Shee about what happened to him on Namek, so why was he still struggling?
"You have to stop detaching yourself from this other entity you have forged in your mind. It is not you and the Super Saiyan. You are the Super Saiyan! You are one person, and until you get that into your head, you will continue to struggle!" Shee advised him firmly.
"I just ... I dunno how to. It just aint me!" Goku tried to explain.
"But it is you! It has always been you! This power has been laying dormant inside of you, just waiting for the moment to unleash itself!"
Goku grit his teeth as he tried to take in Shee's words, but his mind kept telling him no! Shee was wrong!
"Go back to that moment, Son Goku! Remember what made you snap! Remember how you felt! Remember the rage!"
Goku felt the beads of sweat upon his forehead, his breathing becoming ragged as he took himself back to that moment.
"Remember the need and the desire that surged through your blood when Frieza killed Krillin!"
Goku felt the breath leave his lungs as he remembered that moment. Everything went quiet, everything stilled around him, and all he could hear was his heart pounding in his chest.
And that's when he heard Krillin. His terrified scream like a fog horn to Goku's ears, his cry for help almost ripping Goku's heart from his chest, the shattered pieces of Krillin's body falling and hitting the ground directly in front of him. Goku desperately covered his ears, Krillin just wouldn't stop screaming! He couldn't make him stop! Why wouldn't he stop?!
A boiling hot anger roiled in the pit of his stomach, his once relaxed expression turning into a hostile glare, his jaw clenched and his teeth bared. The room began to tremble around him, the ground buckling beneath him, his temperature soaring, sparks of electricity shooting from his body erratically in all directions. Shee and Pybara put some distance between themselves and Goku, their eyes wide as they observed the Saiyan completely change before them.
He clenched his fists so hard, his nails cut into his skin, his pupils completely vanishing, his muscles bulking up and tearing at his gym clothes.
There was a pulsing in his ears, a flash of light and he released it all, screaming at the top of his lungs! A golden glow engulfed the room, blinding everyone in the vicinity, tiles crumbled beneath their feet and surged up into the air, Goku's ear shattering scream echoing loudly around the room.
Shee and Pybara gaped at the Golden warrior before them, his once pure, warm dark eyes now a cold teal that leered at them.
"Son Goku ... you did it" Shee gasped. But he could see his struggle, he could see Goku fighting to keep his power at bay.
"Son Goku, listen to me! Listen to my voice!" Shee shouted at him, "Keep it together! Do not let that power go! Feel it coursing through your veins! Feel as it fills your body, from your fingers to your toes!"
"I-I'm ... try-ing" Goku's voice trembled as he tried with all his might to control the incredible power rushing through him.
"Let it be at one with you! Because it is you! This is all you! Embrace it!" Shee continued passionately!
"I-I ... I can't!" Goku strained out.
"Hear me, Son Goku! Close your eyes and breathe!" Pybara instructed him. Goku did as he was told and took a shuddering breath and closed his eyes.
"Do not lose yourself to the chaos of the wrathful sea! Just breathe! Let the calm waves of the ocean wash over you and guide you back to shore!"
Goku shut himself off for a moment, Pybara's words filling his mind. He could smell the sea, feel the breeze and hear the waves. He felt so small, as he floated upon this imaginary ocean.
"If the ocean can calm itself, so can you!" Pybara bellowed once more.
His heart slowly calmed, the blood pumping in ears quieting, his body stilling, his breathing slowing.
Goku's eyes flung open.
The monster that was running wild inside of him, was subdued.
Goku stood quietly, checking himself out in the mirror opposite him. There was no denying what he had done. His hair was golden and his eyes were teal.
He'd done it. He'd finally done it.
As he calmly exhaled, his body relaxed and his hair and eyes returned to their normal state.
He did it. He actually did it! He transformed! He got it under control! And he was able to let it go!
Pybara and Shee exchanged looks, both of them smiling at Goku's success.
"You are almost ready" Pybara's voice boomed, "A few more practices and I think you will have it"
"Woo! I feel like I can take on the entire Universe!" Goku exclaimed as he made his way over to Pybara and Shee, pumped by how he was feeling.
"Alright, reign it in, let's not get ahead of ourselves" Shee warned. Goku smirked.
"Just 'cause I could kick your ass, old man". Shee frowned and hopped up to flick Goku's temple, hard.
"Ow!" Goku howled, rubbing his head soothingly.
"Stop being an idiot" Shee threw at him. Goku chuckled.
For the next 3 months, Goku continued his training and gained full control of his Super Saiyan transformation. It took him some time, and there was a few hiccups where he lost control and pretty much destroyed the place, but he was finally able to transform at will and return to his normal state with no issues. He was able to partake in a variety of physical activities and still almost perfectly maintain the transformation. Shee had explained to him, that through regular use of this transformation, Goku would get more confidence with it and eventually he would be able to use it without even trying.
For so long he wasn't where he wanted to be, he felt like a failure, but he was no longer where he was. And that what progress in every sense of the word.
For the first time since he arrived on Yardrat, he felt proud of himself. And that was the best feeling in the Universe right now!
There was only one thing left to do. Something he really wanted to do, since Shee mentioned it to him, and that was to learn Instant Transmission, a technique which the Yardratian's specialised in using spirit control. He'd seen many of them use it, and was curious about it from the offset. Shee explained how it wasn't an easy technique to learn, and with Goku's struggles at the time, he didn't feel it would be possible for him to learn it.
But things had changed. Goku had moved past a lot of his issues and felt he was ready to learn it now. There was only one thing that was putting him off. Learning this technique would mean he would have to stay on Yardrat a little longer. Maybe another 2-3 months if he really worked hard at it. But it was an opportunity he didn't want to let pass him by. He would likely never get this chance again, and this technique had a lot of advantages to it.
IT would enable Goku to instantly travel great distances just by concentrating on a particular individual's Ki signature, and feeling that's being's location. It would also prove a very useful move during battle, as Goku would be able to escape attacks which would be otherwise too fast to dodge. In Goku's mind, it was another tool at his disposal and he liked the idea of being able to teleport himself instantly to his family if they were in danger.
He decided he would stay and learn the technique. It wasn't going to be easy to learn and it wasn't going to be easy to be away from his family any longer than he needed to be. But he needed to do it. He wanted to do it. Just the thought of it brought out this excitement in him, similar to how he felt when he mastered Super Saiyan. It was hard to explain, but it was like a hunger he'd never had before, and he needed nourishment.
"It's not going to be an easy technique to learn" Shee warned him as he stood with Goku and Pybara outside Pybara's temple. Pybara had a large outdoor area, which was made of mainly concrete type material, covering hundreds of acres. This is where Pybara would train techniques such as instant transmission. Pybara had educated Goku on spirit control and he learnt that instant transmission was only one of the many techniques you could achieve. But, learning anything else would take Goku even longer, and for Goku, that wasn't an option. IT seemed the most useful and quickest to learn, so he was going with that.
"I'm ready" Goku spoke confidently to his teachers.
"Are you sure, Son Goku? Because to learn this technique, one must have a clear mind" Pybara reminded him.
"I'm sure" Goku replied confidently.
"As you please" Pybara's voice boomed, "Come sit with me" he instructed, motioning for Goku to sit beside him. Goku quickly jogged over to Pybara and sat beside him on the hard ground. Pybara spent some time with Goku just focusing on his own energy and how his energy feels. Goku manipulated his Ki, creating a ball of energy in the palms of his hands and he was told to hold it for a while and really concentrate on the feeling.
"Now, I want you to close your eyes and focus on Shee's Ki" Pybara directed him.
"I already know his Ki" Goku informed him with a smile, the ball of energy in his hands disappearing.
"Just close your eyes and focus on his Ki" Pybara repeated himself more firmly. Goku did as he was told and closed his eyes, focusing on Shee's energy. Shee relaxed his body, allowing a perfect balance of control for Goku to feel out.
"We just talked about this. It is not as simple as knowing his Ki signature. You have to really feel it and delve deep into the center of his life force. Take two fingers and place them to your forehead, like so " Pybara demonstrated, "Then concentrate, feel the balance between his body and spirit, the perfect control of his energy, just like you did with your own" Pybara educated. Goku took a breath and really focused on Shee's energy.
"You need to feel it, to be able to lock onto it and teleport yourself to that person" Pybara added.
"Okay, I think I can really feel his energy, so what do I do now?" Goku wondered, his one eye open and focused on Pybara. Pybara nodded to Shee, who smirked, put two fingers to his forehead, and disappeared instantly.
"Now, you go find him" Pybara simply told him, "Feel his Ki, lock onto it and teleport to him" Goku nodded and closed his eyes, putting two fingers to his forehead. He concentrated deeply on how Shee's energy felt when he was right in front of him, and tried to hold onto that. He found himself gritting his teeth, a drop of sweat forming at his temple as he tried with all his might to focus.
"Feel it ... delve deep into the center of his life force ... feel the balance between his body and spirit"
Goku kept trying, his face contorted into one of frustration, his frown becoming deeper. Pybara simply stood back and observed Goku quietly.
Goku growled, "God damn it! Why can't I do it?"
"You aren't concentrating on it properly. You need to feel his Ki, just like you felt your own" At that moment, Shee reappeared in front of them.
"Struggling?" he assumed as he looked over at Goku who frowned in annoyance.
"Shee, manipulate your Ki, create a ball of energy, just like Goku did earlier". Shee nodded and after a few seconds, he formed a ball of Ki in his hands, "Come over here and let Goku feel your energy up close". Shee sauntered over to Goku and Pybara and sat himself on the floor in front of Goku.
"Place your hands around the ball of energy" Pybara told Goku. Goku exhaled and raised his hands, almost cupping Shee's energy ball in his palms.
"It feels different, doesn't it" Pybara commented. Goku's eyes were closed as he concentrated on the ball of energy.
"Yeah ... it feels kinda ... warm" Goku tried to describe it. Shee chuckled.
"See, now remember that warm feeling" Pybara instructed as the ball of energy dissipated in Shee's hold, "That is what you need to lock onto". Goku nodded at Pybara and put two fingers to his forehead. Shee disappeared in front of them once again, allowing Goku a moment to lock onto his Ki. Goku focused long and hard, several beads of sweat now forming on his brow, his fingers shaking slightly against his forehead. But suddenly, his face relaxed and his eyes were almost twinkling.
"I got it!" he announced, his body vanishing from Pybara's yard. Pybara smiled.
Less than a second later, Goku opened his eyes, and all too quickly he yelped and fell into a pile of trash on the outskirts of the city. He lay amongst the heap of rubbish, frowning hard and cursing at himself.
Damn it, he failed. He didn't teleport to Shee. And holy shit, the trash stunk! He gagged as he climbed out from the garbage, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. He took a moment to compose himself, his hands resting on his hips.
"Well, that sucked" he uttered.
For three weeks, Pybara had Goku repeatedly follow the same instruction. Focus on Shee's Ki and teleport to him. For three weeks, Goku failed to teleport to him, and would land somewhere else instead. Goku was really starting to get impatient, and really tired of landing in the trash.
It was his fourth week in when he finally succeeded in teleporting to Shee. Granted, he didn't land on his feet, but on his face, but he finally teleported directly to him! He was thrilled! Goku repeated this day in and day out for another week, concentrating on Shee's spirit and teleporting to him. Pybara then took it up a notch, having Goku follow Shee as he teleported to different locations around Yardrat. Goku managed to follow him quite easily.
But nothing prepared Goku for the after effects of using instant transmission. He was warned that it would tire him out, but holy cow, he was exhausted. And he had a constant thumping headache from it. There was also the aftermath of teleporting, where by he felt quite dizzy and it would take him a moment to adjust to his surroundings. He hoped that it would get easier the more he used the technique.
He was almost 2 months in when Pybara decided to change it up a bit.
"You have done well so far, Son Goku. But you have yet to lock onto anyone else's Ki. Let's try something different" Pybara suggested, "Shee, who do you recommend?" he asked, peering over at Shee who crossed his arms over his chest.
"Hmm, let's see" he thought, "Oh! I know, Niiara! You should know her Ki well enough by now, so it shouldn't be a problem to feel her out and teleport to her"
"Okay" Goku nodded before closing his eyes, putting two fingers to his temple.
"Now, remember to concentrate on that warm feeling, just like you did with Shee. Focus and transfer yourself to her location" Pybara told him.
Goku stood in silence, focusing for a few moments, but he smiled and vanished.
When he opened his eyes, he cocked an eyebrow in confusion as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. It was a bit steamed up and that's when he realised he was in the bathroom at Niiara's home.
"Why am I in here?" he said out loud. A piercing scream soon startled him and got his attention, his body spinning around to find Niiara laying in the bath tub.
"Son Goku! What are you doing in here?!" She screeched out, gathering up some of the bubbles and holding them to her naked chest.
"Ahhh, I dunno! I didn' mean to! I was just focusin' on your Ki, like Pybara said! I didn' know you was in the bath!" he shrieked. For a moment they both just stared at one another.
"You're still here, Son Goku!" she shouted at him. He shielded his eyes with his hands and panicked, making a run for the door, only to smack into it with quite some force, making a Goku sized hole in it.
"Oops" he nervously uttered.
"SON GOKU!" Niiara screamed at him.
"Sorry! I'll fix it later! Bye!" he wailed, before concentrating back on Shee and disappearing. When he materialised in front of Shee and Pybara, they looked at him oddly.
"Everything okay?" Shee questioned the Saiyan. The man looked rather disheveled and flushed in the face.
"Yeah! why wouldn' it be? Never been better, heh-heh!" he grinned, blushing furiously, his one hand behind his head.
"Are you sure?" Shee pushed.
"Get off my case! I said I was fine!" Goku snapped back.
"You don't seem fine" Shee frowned, folding his arms again. Pybara laughed and patted Goku on the back.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me" he whispered to Goku.
"Huh? How did you-"
"I think that's enough for today! We'll practice some more tomorrow!" Pybara announced.
Thank God for that, Goku thought.
"Where are ya takin' me?" Goku questioned, his blindfold blocking his view, but his senses told him they were walking through the woodland. It was getting late at night and Jaak was tucked up in bed, Goku was about to retire to bed himself when Shee and Niiara told him they had something to show him.
"Keep walking and you will see" Shee told him as he walked beside him, Niiara just behind Goku. They continued their walk for another 10 minutes, Goku's curiosity really getting to him. Where could they possibly be taking him at this time of night?
"Watch your step" Shee advised, as they started to walk up a rocky terrain.
"Is this the part where ya kill me an' hide my body?" Goku suddenly joked. He yelped as Niiara slapped him at the back of his knees, nearly making him lose his footing.
"Hush and just keep walking" She ordered him. Goku sniggered as they continued their climb. When they reached the top, Shee ordered Goku to stop and Niiara told him to crouch down.
"Close your eyes" she whispered to him, to which he complied as she reached for his blindfold, "And when I say open, look up at the sky"
"Okay" Goku uttered unsurely. Niiara and Shee peered at one another, smiles on their faces at what was about to happen. Niiara untied Goku's blindfold and let it fall from his eyes.
"Look up, Son Goku" she reminded him gently. Goku slowly rose to his feet and opened his eyes, his head tilting up to look up at the dark sky. But it wasn't dark, it was filled with what looked like hundreds of stars. And that's when he found himself breathless as he realised what he was looking at.
It was a bunny.
It was a bunny in the stars.
He gawked at the sight, his jaw nearly hitting the floor, his eyes in complete disbelief. His eyes darted down to face Niiara and Shee, his expression absolutely priceless.
"H-how?..." Goku trailed off.
"Let's just say I called in a favour with a friend of mine, who can work a bit of magic" Shee told him. Goku gazed up at the stars again, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"It won't last for long, maybe 20 minutes or so, but we thought we would bring a little bit of home to you" Niiara added softly. They both watched in utter delight as Goku's smile lit up his entire face.
"It's a bunny" he croaked out, his voice think with emotion, "it's a bunny" he repeated before his smile dropped from his elated face and he burst into a fit of tears, a gasping sob escaping the depths of his throat as the stars held his gaze. Niiara let her hand rest against her beating heart as she watched Goku break down, a sight neither of them were expecting from him. He really missed his home, and it showed.
Goku lay himself down on the grass, so he could stare aimlessly at the stars above him, the tears gently falling down the sides of his face.
"We will see you back at the house" Shee told him, ushering Niiara to leave with him and allow Goku some privacy. Goku was too entranced in the shimmering skies above him, to notice they had left. He tried to catch his breath, his hands coming up to palm his stinging eyes as he continued to cry. As he pulled them away, he sloppily wiped away his tears and the snot from his nose as he continued to stare in complete bewilderment.
It was a bunny in the sky! Just like the one Chichi had showed him so many years ago. He couldn't believe it.
He found himself laughing through the tears, still in absolute shock and awe at what he saw above him. He raised his right hand, his index finger trembling as it pointed up towards the sky. And just like he did many times before, as he star gazed with his wife, he began to draw the bunny in the stars. After he finished his drawing, he let both hands rest on his chest as he gazed up at the night sky.
He lay in silence for some time, just admiring the view above him. He felt somewhat calm, and probably the closest to home he'd felt in so long. He wondered if Chichi was watching them too, just like she told him before. That warmed his heart some.
"How long have I been away? I don't even know what month it is" Goku uttered to the stars.
"I wonder what you guys are up to right now? Is it even day time there? Yeah, I bet it is. I bet Chichi is cookin' somethin' yummy right now. Mmm, Gohan you're so lucky". Goku thought, his stomach suddenly rumbling lightly as he thought about his wife's delicious food.
"I miss you guys". He murmured to the night sky. His family were everywhere except right there with him. And it hurt.
"I promise I will be home soon, though. I promise I will be ready".
"I won't let you down" he whispered gently, the stars above him starting to fade, just like Niiara said they would.
"Think I done enough of that" he trailed off quietly.
He didn't move from that spot, not until every last star vanished from the midnight sky.
Goku had control of Super Saiyan and he had mastered the art of IT. Ultimately, Goku's stay on Yardrat had come to an end. And Goku had mixed feelings on the matter. He was undeniably happily to finally be able to go home, but he was also dreading it.
Goku sat down on the training bench, his eyes on his reflection in the large floor mirrors. He was clad in a pair of training shorts and a tank top, his bulging muscles almost breaking free of them, even he couldn't help but study his body.
He looked so different. He felt ... different. His eyes suddenly caught sight of Niiara waltzing into the room, a basket of fruit and a jug of water in her grasp.
"What is on your mind?" she asked as Goku stared at her through the mirror then back at himself once more. He almost smiled, the woman could read him like a book.
"A lot" he told her honestly.
"You are worried about going home to your family?" She asked him outright, reaching him and placing the items on the bench next to him.
"Well, I ain't worried 'bout Gohan, I think he'll be happy to see me, especially after everythin' that happened on Namek".
"Then, you are worried about seeing your wife?"
Goku paused for a few seconds.
"Yeah" he spoke just above a whisper, his fingers fumbling and picking at his training shorts.
"Why?" She asked him.
There was another pause from Goku as he gazed at the floor, almost as if he was hoping it would give him the answer.
"'Cause of what I am". He uttered out, his voice clouded with shame.
"But you have always been a Saiyan" she reminded him.
"But we didn' know I was"
"Does that really matter? You are still you, aren't you?" She pushed.
"I guess … I've changed"
"What has changed? apart from maybe your body and your hair when you do your little trick?" Goku chuckled lightly.
"I dunno, I've grown up a bit, I feel different, but I s'pose i'm still me".
"So, why are you worried? If you are still you?"
"I … don't know". He said honestly. Niiara placed her hand on his, stopping him from nervously picking at his clothes.
"You are worrying over nothing. Your wife loves you and will be waiting for you with open arms" Goku continued to stare at the floor, but humoured her with a small smile.
"I hope so" he whispered.
After speaking to Niiara, Goku decided to take a shower and change, taking his fruit and water with him to the lagoon where he spent a great deal of his time when he needed to think. As he munched on a piece of Luu fruit, which he decided tasted just like strawberries, his mind drifted somewhere he hadn't really been yet.
Krillin.
Sure, he'd thought about Krillin, and it was what helped him to finally transform at will. But, what he hadn't thought about, was the fact that his friend was dead and they never got to talk about things before he died. He hoped his other friends had wished him back, when they were trying to wish Goku back. He was holding out for that.
He'd shouted at Krillin in the hospital, just a few days before Krillin left for Namek. He was angry at Krillin, he was supposed to be one of his closest friends, and yet he was in on the lies that were told to his wife. Krillin had apologised to Goku, but Goku didn't accept his apology. He was angry at all of his friends, but he felt more let down by Krillin. After what they had been through as kids, and how close they had become, he was really disappointed in Krillin.
Goku thought Krillin might stop by a the hospital with Chichi and Gohan, before they left for Namek, but he didn't. He met Gohan at Kame House instead, where Kami's ship was waiting to depart. As much as he was angry at Krillin, he didn't want them to part ways like that. But, it seemed he wanted to avoid him and it was too late, Krillin had left for Namek. When Goku finally made it to Namek, he was instantly thrown into battle, and there was no time to talk to Krillin about the way in which they left things. And then Krillin was killed.
Goku left the remaining fruit in the basket and leant back on his palms, his bare feet dangling into the cool waters of the tranquil lagoon. Guilt weighed heavily on his heart. He blamed himself for Krillin's death, and even after Shee and Niiara drummed it into him that it wasn't his fault, he still couldn't let go of the feeling that it was. It was the kind of guilt that initially drowned him until he was useless. Now, it wasn't as much as a burden, it helped motivate him to become better, to become stronger. But the guilt still hung there.
Goku hoped Krillin was alive and that they could talk things through when he returned to Earth. He had a few amends to make when he went back home.
The day had finally come.
It was finally time for Goku to go home.
It had been a long journey on Yardrat, mentally and physically exhausting. And although Goku was apprehensive about returning home, he was glad to be.
Goku smiled as he walked through the city with Niiara, Shee and Jaak. It appeared the entire city had come to see him off and it was overwhelming. He beamed as he glanced down at his attire. He was sporting their Yardratian armor, gifted to him the night before, hand made in his size. As itchy and annoying it was around his neck, he felt awfully proud wearing it. He really felt accepted by the Yardratian's, and that meant a lot to him.
The four of them reached the outskirts of the city, where his space pod waited for him, all ready to go. Goku stood silent, staring at it for a few moments, almost in disbelief that this was actually happening. He'd really accomplished everything, and he was really going home. He peered down at Jaak, who's little hand was encased in his. Jaak caught him staring and smiled up at him.
Goku bent down to the little boy's level and dug his hand into his sash, pulling out a rock. He held it out in front of Jaak, smiling amusedly at the little boy's curiosity as he inspected it.
"I found a piece of ya moon rock by the lake an' decided to carve a little somethin' into it" Goku told him, turning the rock over in his large hand and showing him what he had carved.
"This is my Kanji, which is the symbol that I wear on my Gi. It means wisdom" Goku educated Jaak, who inspected his craftmanship, "I made it for you, for you to remember me by"
Jaak took the rock from Goku's hand and held it protectively against his chest in his two small hands, a smile on his face as he gazed up at Goku again. Goku watched curiously as Jaak handed the rock to his mother, then turned back to Goku, about to sign something to him. Goku observed as Jaak became nervous, holding his hands out ready to sign. Goku waited patiently for what he was about to tell him. Jaak swallowed, his mouth opening, a sound emitting from his lips.
"G-Go" he strained out, before finishing it a few seconds later, signing it with his hands as he did, "k-k-ku"
Goku, Niiara and Shee gaped at him in silence, all of them in complete shock. Jaak ... said Goku's name! Niiara had told Goku that Jaak could say some words, although there was only a handful he could say, but it was rare that he did, and normally only in the presence of his mother. But, here he was, speaking Goku's name, as clear as day. Goku wondered how long Jaak had been practicing that for and could only imagine how nerve-wrecking it must have been to say it out loud.
Goku returned the sentiment by signing Jaak's name in Yardratian, which made Jaak beam and jump at Goku, wrapping his little arms tightly around Goku's large neck. Goku smiled warmly and closed his eyes, embracing the child back gently.
"Gonna miss ya, little buddy" he told the child. Jaak pulled away a few moments later, his sad eyes peering up at his friend.
"Take care of ya mom an' pops, okay? An' don't forget to check in on our iichaan friend" he reminded him, poking his little nose with his index finger playfully, making him giggle. Goku winked at him before standing and turning to face Niiara. Her glassy eyes gazed up at him, sadness conveyed in them, but her smile was warm and inviting, as it usually was.
"You will be leaving a big void to fill, Son Goku. And a full fridge" she mocked, making him chuckle.
"You won't forget about us, will you?" she asked him. Goku smiled warmly down at her.
"I could never forget. You guys mean more to me than you'll ever know. I can't thank you enough for everythin' you've done for me" Niiara felt the tears forming in the corner of her eyes.
"No, we are the ones that are thankful. Because of you, Frieza and his forces are gone. You have brought us peace, you have given us back our freedom. We have learnt so much from you, Son Goku. You restored our faith, you showed us how to laugh again, you reminded us that the Universe is great, and that life is truly beautiful, and we should embrace every moment we have. You will never know how much you mean to us" she croaked out.
Goku instantly crouched down to embrace her, her words hitting him somewhere deep inside.
"Ah, come on, ya know I ain't good with this stuff" he told her, trying to lighten the moment. Niiara snorted into his armor. She was really going to miss this silly man. She pulled back from his embrace and cupped his one cheek in her palm.
"Don't forget what you learnt here, Son Goku. Not just about us and Yardrat, but what you have learnt about yourself. You are a good man, with a pure heart. This power you have within you is greater than anything in this World. Let it guide you, let it protect you. Be proud, Son Goku. And don't ever stop being who you are" she told him gently. Goku felt a lump in his throat as he raised his large hands, taking her small ones in his palms and squeezing them lightly.
"I won't forget" he whispered. They exchanged one last smile before Goku rose to his feet and faced Shee.
"How do you feel?" Shee asked him.
"I feel good" Goku answered.
"Your journey isn't over yet, Son Goku. You still have a long path to walk in finding yourself"
"I know" Goku murmured.
"You will be just fine. Have faith in yourself, as I have faith in you. Your only limitations are the ones you set upon yourself. Jump, Son Goku, remember to always jump. Don't hold back" Goku felt his throat closing up at Shee's words.
"I am very proud of what you have already accomplished, and so very proud of you" Shee told him. Goku smiled as he swallowed down the lump that resurfaced in his throat. He crouched down once more and scooped Shee into his arms in a bear hug, Shee hanging limply in Goku's embrace. Niiara giggled as Shee rolled his eyes. He wasn't one for physical touch like this.
"Thank you" Goku whispered to him. Shee smiled and gave him a tap on the back in return, knowing just how thankful Goku really was. Goku set Shee back on his feet and stood back up again, his eyes still on the incredible man before him.
"You will always be welcome in our home" Shee told him gently, "but I am glad to say I won't have to deal with seeing your bare ass again" Goku cackled at Shee's words, all of them soon joining in, laughing at Goku's brazenness.
"Thank you" Goku told them gently one last time. And he would never be able to thank them enough. He would never be able to express the extreme gratitude and appreciation that he held for these 3 wonderful people before him. He would never have gotten to this point without them. Thank you wasn't enough for the kindness and understanding they showed him.
Goku turned and was about to climb into his ship, when he felt a familiar Ki. He turned back around and caught the eye of Pybara amongst the busy crowd, a smile on his face. Goku nodded his head at Pybara, who returned the sentiment. Goku sat inside his pod and pressed the button to close the door. As the door slowly closed, his eyes remained on Niiara and her family, smiles on their faces as they watched him almost disappear behind the pod door.
The coordinates had already been set for him, he just needed to press the green button to launch himself into Space. He dithered for a moment, his eyes on the family through the red circular window. He raised his right hand and signed 'goodbye' to them, to which the family returned without hesitation.
He grinned from ear to ear, a twinkle in his eye as he saluted to them with that charming wink of his, before holding down the green button. Within seconds, his ship soared up into the sky, his stomach already falling out of his ass.
"Ah, crap! Forgot 'bout this part!" he groaned, gripping the edges of his seat once again as the ship rapidly ascended into Space. Once safely in the never ending darkness of Space, Goku slumped back in his seat, his eyes catching his reflection in the pod window.
As Goku stared at his reflection, he found himself reciting how he was going to greet his wife. She was the one he was most anxious to see in every possible way.
"Hey, honey, I'm home!" he chirped to himself.
"Sorry I'm late, what's for dinner?"
"I missed ya, Chichi" he said more gently.
And then he paused.
"Chichi ... I dunno who I am" he quietly trailed off.