TITLE: Chapter One - The Beginning
AUTHOR: Rachel Wong
AUTHOR'S EMAIL: Hidden_Angel_83@hotmail.com
RATING: PG-13
PAIRINGS: None
WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: An evil and powerful human rises above all other huamns. He captures all the young boys and trains them to join in his army. He kills the parents of any boy who refuses to join.
NOTE: This is set in an alternate universe. Please do not read it if you do not like A/U's. This is about B/V and G/CC. Please read and review. I'd like to know what you guys think. And if you have the time, read my other fiction (my first ever fic) Clash of Destinies. If you guys have ever heard of or watched the Chinese movie Storm Rider, this is a bit similar. By the way, Goku and Vegeta are not Saiyan. There are no Saiyans. This is set strictly on Earth and everyone is human.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dragonball Z and am in no way connected to them. I only wish I was, than I'd have at least SOME $$$. I also do not own and am in no way related to the creators or producers or anything of Storm Rider. Seeing as how I am broke, sueing me would do you no good. =Þ



*****

Han woke with a start. The dream had seemed so real. Was it only a dream? No. It couldn't be. "Guard!" A nervous looking guard came running into Han's room.

"Yes your majesty?" The guard got down on his hands and knees.

Han smirked to himself. "I want you to send out special orders to my captains. Search all our territory for two boys, ages 8 to 10. Bring them all back here. Any boys named Vegeta or Goku are to be brought specially to me. I will personally train them myself." The guard waited to see if this was all. "Well, what the hell are you still doing here baka! Get going before I get mad!" The guard ran for his life and Han laughed hysterically, not caring who heard him or what anyone thought. It didn't matter what anyone thought. Anyone who disagreed with him would die. He was destined to be the supreme ruler of Earth. No one could ever match his power.

Han's dream was still vivid in his head. In his dream, he needed the assistants of two men, who at this moment were boys. One, Goku, the other Vegeta. Without them, his dream of becoming the ultimate ruler would never happen. He knew he was seeing the future. However, he was a bit agitated by the vision. Just as he had quenched the any last hopes of rebellion, he had waken up for absolutely no good reason. Why couldn't he just sleep a bit longer until the damn dream was over.

To calm his frustration, Han got out of bed and walked over to his collection of swords. Not only was he trying to be the supreme ruler of the Earth, but he had an undying desire to possess all the best swords ever made. Just looking at them calmed the moody dictator.

*****

Vegeta watched as his father and his men prepared for the approaching army. His father possessed a very powerful sword called the Sword of Saints. That was what Vegeta was presuming Han's army was coming for. He didn't understand why his father didn't just give it to them so they could leave him and his family alone. He had no idea that they were coming for him. They had found him. That was why his father was going to fight to the death with them.

Vegeta's father picked him up. "Listen son. I don't have much time left with you." This confused Vegeta even more. Why would his father say something like that? They were both still young. "I want you to know that I love you and I will always love you. No matter what you do, you will always be my one and only son, and I am proud of you. You must always remember that in order to use Sword of Saints to it's full potential, your blood and my blood must touch it. If not, it's full potential will never be realized. Always remember that my son." Vegeta felt his father kiss him on the forehead. "Take care of yourself." With that, he put the young, baffled Vegeta down in a far corner of his sword making factory.

Vegeta watched, uncomprehendingly as his father's small group of men tried to take on Han's army. They had taken down quiet a few men, but it was inevitable. Han's men outnumbered his father's group almost 30 to 1. Vegeta sat, where his father had put him down, watching with an emotionless face. He didn't flinch, didn't move, didn't talk, didn't protest. He did none of that when his father was stabbed through the heart with his own sword, Sword of Saints, in front of his eyes, or when his father's blood gushed out all over him, or when Han's men took Sword of Saints, or when he was picked up and thrown across someone's shoulder. He merely watched, unfazed, remembering every little detail, every little pent up emotion. This was a day he would not soon forget.

*****

"Daddy, where's mommy?" Goku asked his father.

Bardock turned his head to look at his son who was riding on his back. "Mommy's," he paused, unsure of what to tell his young son. How could he tell his son that his mother had left them for another man. "Mommy is in a place that she's happy."

"Oh! That's good. I'm glad mommy's happy. I want her to be happy." Goku continued innocently. "But I miss her daddy. When is she coming back?"

Bardock turned his face away from his son. "I don't know Goku, I don't know."

Silence followed this answer. Bardock gripped his world reknowned sword Destiny tighter. His mind couldn't forget the letter that he had received from his wife not long ago.

Dear Bardock,
As you have probably already guessed, I have left. You are probably very mad at me right now. Please, let me explain. I still love you, just not as much as I loved you before. Before we were married, you were one of the best fighters on Earth. Everyone feared you. Everyone gave you respect. They also gave me respect. Than, after we got married, you gave up fighting to start a family life. You were no longer famous, no longer feared. Now, when people visit us, they look at me as nothing more than a house wife. I don't want that Bardock. I want people to fear and respect me and my family. That's why I choose to leave. I hope you understand. Please take care of Goku for me.

Bardock grimaced. She hadn't even signed the stupid letter.

"Where are we going daddy?"

Bardock sighed. "I have some things to take care of." Goku caught the tone of impatience in his father's voice and decided that shutting up would be the brightest thing to do. So he did. They walked further up Fire Mountain before Bardock stopped. He got down on his knees so that his son could get off his back.

"Why did we stop?" Goku looked up at his father with eyes full of innocense and wonder.

"I want you to wait here for me Goku. I am going to a dangerous place."

"I want to go daddy! I'm not scared of anything. I'm a good fighter! Just like you!"

Bardock couldn't help but smile. "Yes Goku. You are a good fighter, but this is really important. Okay? Wait here for me. I'll come back for you as soon as I'm done with my task." Goku could tell there was no way of changing his father's mind so he merely nodded. Bardock was about to walk away when he suddenly wrapped his arms around his son, understanding that this may be the last time they ever saw each other again. "I love you Goku."

"I love you too daddy. Please hurry back."

Bardock walked away from his son to face his challenger. As the owner of the sword Destiny, he had to take up any challenge thrown his way. It had always been like that since the family had come to control the sword. No one who possessed the sword could turn down a challenge or the sword's power would never be fully realized by the weilder.

Bardock's body tensed as he saw his challenger. This would be his chance to rid the world of all evils. His challenger was none other than Han himself. Bardock stopped five feet away from Han. "I never thought you would challange me Han."

"You are one of the most famous warriors of all time you know. Of course I would challange you eventually." Bardock merely glared at him. "Oh, speaking of unexpected people. I don't believe you ever expected to see his person did you?" Bardock cocked his eyebrow in curiosity. "Come out now."

Bardock's mouth dropped open in shock as his ex-wife walked straight to Han and gave him a kiss while wrapping her arms around him. "You see Bardock, your wife came to me for what you cannot give her."

His ex-wife looked at him. "Bardock, I'm sorry. It's just that Han gets so much respect and fear from everyone. That's what I use to like about you. Now, you are nothing, just another old warrior."

Bardock felt his blood boil. "Han! You tricked my wife into this didn't you? You son of a..." Bardock launched himself towards Han, sword drawn and ready to attack.

Han snickered and pushed Bardock's ex-wife away, drawing his own sword at the same time. "Meet my sword, Sword of Death!"

The two warriors clashed, swords flashing in the sun's bright light. Both were equally matched in skill. Each sword, with a spirit of it's own, unwilling to give in. The two warriors fought stroke for stroke.

Han wasn't liking the way the fight was going. He wanted a quick fight. He had no time to waste with Bardock. The only reason he had challenged him was to get the sword. He would have to put his plan into action.

Bardock faught, oblvious to anything and everything else. Han smirked at this. That was good. Slowly, ever so slowly, he inched the pair over, closer and closer, towards Bardock's ex-wife. Without warning, Han broke away and pushed her off the top of Fire Mountain.

Bardock saw his ex-wife get pushed off the mountain and made a desperate jump for her. Despite everything that she had done to him, he still loved her. He managed to grab a hold of her hand, but an instant later, she was ripped from his grasp as the Beast of Fire came out it's cave, sensing blood and prey.

The Beast tore Bardock's ex-wife out of his grasp and dragged her back into it's cave. Just as Bardock was about to follow, it immerged again, this time, going after him. As hard as he tried, Bardock could do no damage to the Beast. It was a one sided battle that Bardock quickly lost as the Beast's heat enraptured him.

Han stood from the mountain top smiling. He had gotten rid of the little whore and Bardock all in one turn. He stayed, watching as the Beast tore through Bardock's body and began to eat him up. Finally, the Beast disappeared back into it's cave with Bardock's bones. Han's smile widened as he saw the sword Destiny. He had been right. The Beast had no interest in swords.

Han wasn't the ruler of the Han Clan for no reason. He was a smart man. He had choosen this mountain for that specific reason. If he wanted a quick fight, he would use the whore and the Beast of Fire to destroy Bardock, if not, he would have killed Bardock himself. He used his leviating power and drew Destiny to him, smiling at his new possession.

Goku was getting bored of waiting for his father. What could be taking so long? Suddenly, he spotted a happy looking man coming down the mountain. He approached him. "Excuse me sir, did you happen to see my father while you were up there? His name is Bardock. I'm his son, Goku."

Han stared at the young boy in amazement. What a stroke of luck. He was having a wonderful day. Not only did he manage to get rid of Bardock, he managed to get Destiny and now here was the boy that his vision told him he needed.

"Yes. I saw your father boy." He got down on his knees so that his eyes were on the same level as Goku's. "I'm sorry boy. Your dad died fighting the Beast of Fire." Goku was unfazed. Han was sure he didn't know what the word 'die' meant. "Your dad won't be coming back." The boy's face fell into one of sorrow. "Come with me, and I will take care of you."

Not knowing that this man had just been the cause of both of his parent's deaths, Goku went along.



NEXT TIME ON STORM RIDER: Goku and Vegeta are grown ups (for most parts of the chapter anyway) and Han's vision is beginning to look more and more like a reality. We are also introduced to Chi Chi, Bulma and some other people.