A/N: Yeah, another chapter. What can I say, I enjoy this story. I'm updating real fast, and that only happens when I'm still inspired to do so. Please R&R, I'm beggin' you!!!

Ch 4 - Two Years

Life in Vale had not ended with the boulder. Two years later, the townspeople were still striving to pick up their lives from the disaster. A scholar named Kraden had moved in half a year ago because from some place or other he'd heard of Sol Sanctum and its connections to Alchemy. Gohan and Jenna had rebuilt their old house and were now living there, helping each other out. The siblings, along with Garet and Isaac, had been studying with Kraden. But not anymore.

As Vale tradition dictated, when a young man came of age, he had to leave Vale for at least one year and explore the world. Gohan would have gone with Felix if he had been alive, but since he wasn't, the hybrid saiyan was on his own.

Gohan followed Jenna to Kraden's cottage for his last visit with the old man. Ahead, he could see Garet throwing dirt clods at Isaac, who was serenely blocking them with a Psynergy shield. For some reason no one had yet figured out, both Isaac and Gohan had more Psynergy then anyone else. But while Isaac definitely leaned towards the power of Venus, Gohan's was much harder to figure - he'd shown signs of all the adept powers, which made no sense to anyone.

"Hello, Jenna, Gohan," Isaac greeted them in his usual calm manner. "Good day, I hope?"

"Pretty good," Gohan returned with a grin. "Why exactly is Garet throwing dirt at you?"

"Because he can't admit that I'm right!" the furious Mars Adept snapped, picking up a few rocks.

"What was he wrong about?"

Garet opened his mouth to reply, then blinked and closed it. "You know, I forgot."

Everyone fell over. Garet grinned sheepishly. "Well anyway, Kraden is inside, we were just waiting for you."

"Actually, what happened is Kraden made his lunch and Garet ate it without asking," Isaac said with a smile. "That's why he was throwing dirt at me; I had told him eating Kraden's food was a bad idea." Garet glared at him.

Jenna rolled her eyes. "Idiot."

Gohan smiled. "Well, let's head in, then."

The four friends entered the Alchemy scholar's lair. Kraden was in the back, throwing roots and herbs into a disgustingly green bubbly liquid being heated over a roaring fire. The flames illuminated his face, making him seem even older then he was. Hearing footsteps, he glanced up and smiled when he saw who it was. "Why, hello Gohan, Isaac, Jenna." Then he glared at Garet. "And what are YOU doing back in here?"

Garet gulped as the others laughed. "Um, I'm, um, sorry I ate your food, and I, um, um, hope you, ah, forgive me?"

Kraden studied him for a moment, then smiled. "Fine, just don't do it again. Now," and he pinned Gohan with his piercing stare, "I hear today's your last day in Vale."

"Yeah, it is."

"Hm. Are you going to come back?"

"He'd better," Jenna answered for him, glaring at him, "or I'm hunting him down."

Isaac smiled. "Sounds like you're gonna be in trouble if you don't, man."

Kraden nodded. "In any case, I wish you luck on your journey. I have two things that might be useful to you." He went over to one of the numerous bookshelves and pulled two things off. One was a faintly glowing purple gem cut in a diamond shape, inlaid with silver and hanging on a deceptively fragile thin silver chain. The other was a clear, empty glass bottle, into which he ladled some of the frothy green liquid from the cauldron. Both he held out to the amazed demi saiyan.

Gohan took the necklace first, wondering at its beauty. The light caught in the gem, sending rainbows about the room. He hung it around his neck, then reached out for the bottle. He looked at it for a moment, then put it in a pouch around his waist. Then he looked up at Kraden. "They're cool, but what do they do?"

Kraden smiled proudly. "This," he gestured grandly at the green stuff, "is a miracle potion that will keep you alive in even the gravest of situations. If you drink it at the moment of death, you will live beyond anyone's expectations."

"Um...cool," Garet said, blinking.

"That necklace," Kraden pointed at it, "contains a piece of the heart of the Psynergy Stone in the center of the village. At any time you may touch it to restore your lost Psynergy, and because it is from the very heart of the Psynergy Stone, it will never be depleted."

"Wow, thanks!" Gohan said, genuinely impressed. "You didn't have to go through so much trouble for me!"

"It was no trouble," Kraden replied dismissively. He glanced at the other three. "I know you were hoping to learn more about Alchemy, but today I believe we can take a break. After all, Gohan is leaving this afternoon."

Jenna smiled and whipped a tear from her eye. "Yes, he is."

"Are you gonna stay in that house?" Garet asked tentatively.

"No. It'll be...too empty." She glanced at her adoptive brother, then hugged him as hard as she could. "I'll really miss you."

Gohan hugged her back. "I know, sis. I promise, I will return. Just wait for me, all right?"

"I will!"

~ That Afternoon... ~

Gohan stood at the gates of Vale, preparing to take his first steps into the world he'd been dropped into six years before. Gathered behind him were the numerous citizens of the town, with Jenna, Isaac, Dora, the Great Healer, Garet, and the Mayor in front of the others. The Great Healer took a step foreword.

"Gohan," he began, "you are the sky's gift to this village. But you are also a citizen of Vale and are so subject to our traditions. Since you are now a man, it is your duty to explore as far as you wish and to return in one year. To aid you in your journey, I give you these." He held up bright red beads and gave them to him.

"Wow, thanks," Gohan said gratefully, recognizing them as the Healer's famed Catch Beads. He grinned over at Isaac and Garet. "When I return, I expect you two to grow up."

"Hey, I AM grown up!" Garet cried defensively. All Isaac did is smile and nod.

Gohan looked at Jenna for a moment. Her eyes shown with tears, but she grinned at him and shoved him in the direction of the gate. "Go," she whispered. "Go before I grab you and never let go."

Dora put a comforting arm around her. All the villagers laughed and grinned and waved good-bye to him, their present from the gods. Gohan smiled, his own tears hidden behind a happy face, and turned away from Vale. He watched the road for a minute or so, almost hating to leave.

Then he headed down the road and forced himself not to look back until his return. I'll come back to you, Jenna. I swear I will not leave you like Felix did. I won't abandon you!

After everyone else had left to go home, Isaac watched the road, a strange feeling in his heart, like he wasn't going to see the energetic saiyan again, or perhaps meet him again under less then desirable circumstances. Little did he know how right he was...

A/N: Haha, foreshadowing! See, I can do cliffys too! Anyway, see the blue button on the bottom left hand corner of the screen? Try pressing it and seeing what happens, and then I'll see what I can do about another chapter!