Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ

Author's Note: Still trying to get this uploading to ff.net thing down, so until then formatting might be a bit choppy. Sorry about that.

Darker Essence: An Alternate Universe

Prologue

It was a beautiful, clear sunny day. The sun had nearly completely climbed up the horizon. The sound of sea gulls could be heard in the distance along with the crashing of the waves on the shore. It was a perfect day on Kame Island. For whatever one might have in mind be it training, sun tanning, a picnic, a romantic walk, or reading as Master Roshi was.

Or for a reunion of friends... Krillin gleefully thought. The entire gang hadn't been together since the fateful day of both the 23rd Tenkachi Buduokai and Goku and ChiChi's wedding. That was nearly five years ago now that Krillin thought about it. Not everyone was coming though; Yamcha was busy as baseball season was in full swing. Tien and Chaotzu were no where to be found as usual. The odd duo probably wouldn't make an appearance until the next Tenkachi Buduokai.

Actually now that Krillin thought of it, only two people were actually coming to visit them on Kame Island: Bulma, who had arranged this whole reunion, and of course Goku. Krillin gave yet another gleeful jump for joy.

Looking at the clock on the porch, Krillin noted the time to be 11:58. Bulma and Goku had both agreed to show up at noon. Looking about almost idly, the monk noted that the only three occupants of the island were him, Master Roshi who was looking at one of his infamous magazines giving an occasional, delighted chucked and Unigame, the giant talking turtle who was sunbathing on the sand.

Krillin heaved a small sigh of frustration, but it wasn't heard as the roar of a jet engine drowned it out. Before Krillin could blink there was a large thud as a bright yellow jet set down. Krillin knew immediately who it was too (who else would be flying a yellow jet with Capsule Corp written all over it?).

"Bulma!" he shouted as the hatch of the jet shot open, and sure enough the blue-haired genius hopped out, with a grin on her face. She was wearing her hair shorter than he remembered, and the white lab coat she was wearing suggested she'd been up to her usual inventing.

"Hey there Krillin!" Bulma said, "watcha been up to?"

"Oh nothing much.." Krillin said rubbing the back of his head in a nervous manner, "other than training, and cleaning up after that guy back there."

Krillin jerked a thumb in the direction of Master Roshi, who was giving a chuckle at what he was 'reading' in his magazine.

"Hey old man!" Bulma shouted, anger swinging into her voice as she glared intently at Roshi. "You could at least get off your lazy bum and say Hel-Lo!"

"Ack!" Roshi shouted before falling out of his lawn chair, the magazine falling on his head. Shrugging the magazine off on to the chair, the old Turtle Master hobbled on over to the two.

"Well how have you been Bulma?" Roshi said with a grin, and even behind his sunglasses it was painfully obvious his gaze wasn't quite reaching hers.

"Oooh!" Bulma fumed before smacking the old martial artist in frustration. "Still as perverted as ever I see!"

Roshi made an indignant snort, before rising to his feet. But before the conflict could escalate they were interrupted. Dropping in (quite literally) from the middle of no-where was an orange-clad man.

"Goku!" Krillin shouted in recognition before running up and engulfing his friend in as best a hug as he could managed.

"Hey... who's that?" Unigame, who had finally managed to catch up with everyone, said nodding towards a raven-haired child resting in Goku's left arm. He was dressed in a ridiculously silly yellow surcoat, and a red hat capped with the four-star Dragonball.

"Oh well..." Goku said shyly, "this is Gohan.. my son."

"Your wha?!" Krillin gaped. Krillin supposed it shouldn't have surprised him, as ChiChi and Goku had married all these years, but having children was particularly an adult thing. And the worlds Goku and adult just didn't mix, even if Goku had physically grown up.

"Gohan... these are my friends" Goku said with a smile to his son, setting him down.

"Hi..." Gohan said shyly, before hiding behind his father's leg.

"Hey there Gohan!" Bulma said with a smile, "I'm Bulma, though I'm sure you know that, as your father has told you all about me!"

"No." Gohan said almost bluntly.

"Well humph!" Bulma said, glancing in Goku's direction.

"Hello!" Unigame said in a loud deep voice, having creeped up right behind the young child.

"Aaah!" Gohan screamed, as he turned around seeing the giant turtle, "It's a monster! Help me!"

"Gohan, it's okay" Goku said, kneeling down next to the shy boy, "That's just Unigame... he's harmless, trust me."

"Well... alright." Gohan said slowly.

It was just then Krillin saw it, something that he hadn't seen in years. A furry brown tail had swung into plain view of everyone.

"Um Goku... he has a tail.." Krillin stammered out nervously.

"Yeah... he does, doesn't he?" Goku admitted scratching the back of his head, giving his trademark goofy grin.

"Um Goku..?" Bulma nervously squealed, "Gohan... hasn't seen a full moon has he..?"

"Hmm... now that I think about it..." Goku said thoughtfully, "No he hasn't. ChiChi insists we all go to be pretty early."

There was a mutual sigh of relief from Krillin, Bulma and Master Roshi. Goku gave a confused look before his trademark statement.

"Well... I'm hungry!"

Krillin laughed, and fired up the grill. He had a lot of cooking to do if he was to feed Goku. But he didn't mind. It was a perfect day.