Chapter 1: My first egoistic wish.

Son Goku was sitting lonely on a rock in the desert, watching the sky in the east as it went bright, sunrise wasn't far ahead. He had been sitting there for hours, like countless times before since Vegeta had died. They had fought hard combats at this place, only to take each other's hands afterwards and be glad about the good fight. Now all that was left was this place and the memories it awakened in him. 

He hated this desert. Vegeta had died here. No memory could be more hurtful. But at the same time he couldn't escape from it. After Vegeta had died, Goku had realized that there were no photos, nothing in memory of Vegeta. The prince had never owned much and there was nothing personal he had left behind.

So Goku could not hold on to anything but this place.

When Vegeta had died, Goku had finally learned what it was like to be lonely. Years, eternities ago, after his grandfather's death he had lived alone, but back then things were different. Now, even though his sons and his granddaughter were still visiting him sometimes, he felt the emptiness and the loneliness like never before. It was an awful feeling.

He had realized, finally, how important the last Saiyajin's company had been to him. How much Vegeta had filled the emptiness within his heart after Chichi's passing. And Goku had realized how much more than the death of his wife the prince's death had hurt him. But he'd understood too late what Vegeta had meant to him. He had never managed to tell him.

Never in his entire life had Goku thought of himself. He had always fought for others, and he'd been happy with that. But, for the first time, he now had a wish which wasn't selfless: to see Vegeta again. Ironically though, this was the only wish Shenlong couldn't grant him. He had tried, although he had already known it would be useless, but it hadn't worked. Shenlong couldn't revive those who had died of a natural death.

Goku had understood that Vegeta would never come back to him. Therefore, he had decided to choose the other path. If Vegeta couldn't return, then he'd have to come to Vegeta!

In the loneliness of the rocky grave he stood up and looked around himself for a last time. Vegeta had died here, right on this spot, and he had decided to let this be his grave too. He closed his eyes and whispered: "Vejita, I'm coming." Goku turned into SSJ3 but instead of stopping now he gathered his powers until the moment when no more resources were left. And he directed these powers against himself. With a howl he rose from the ground when his own strong, uncontrolled energies turned against him and then it was like he was falling.

And he was embraced by darkness.

Instantly he found himself in front of Enma Daio, King of the Underworld. Well, he knew this. Enma stared down at him angrily. "Goku, why are you here? Your time hasn't come yet! As far as I remember this is the third time I see you here."

Son Goku couldn't suppress a grin. Enma shook his head disapprovingly. "You're always in trouble, aren't you? Ah well, you know the way, don't you? I bet your wife is already waiting for you."

"Enma Daio-sama, I didn't come here to go to heaven. I have a request", Goku said, suddenly feeling nervous. This thing was so incredibly important for him.

"A request? Okay what is it, boy?"

Goku inhaled deeply and then simply said: "I want you to let Vegeta go to heaven."

Enma was visibly surprised. It was most likely only the fact that someone like Goku had asked for this, that Enma took out his book and started to search. "Vegeta, Vegeta…. Isn't that the Saiyajin who… ah, yeah, there he is! Hmmm…!" He read in his book and then said: "He did a lot of bad things. I know that he changed for the better in the end, but…", he shook his head, "I'm sorry, I can't help you. He has killed too many innocent beings."

Even though he had expected this answer, Goku stared at Enma angrily. "He doesn't deserve to be in Hell! He helped to save the Earth, without him Boo would've destroyed the universe! Vegeta has changed, he should be with his wife now, and…" And with me. Son Goku fell silent, when he saw the stern look on Enma's face. "This is not fair.", he muttered sadly.

Enma sighed. "You don't know the things he did, Goku. Such evil things can't just be undone!"

Becoming angry, Goku yelled: "Then do it for me! I have saved the earth, even the universe countless times! And I never asked for anything in return, you know that! Now I have just this one wish and you want to reject it?" He calmed down somewhat and added sadly: "This is my first and only egoistic wish, Enma Daio-sama. Give him back to me, I beg you!"

"I'm sorry, Goku, but I can't do that. Hell is not what you think it is. He won't have to suffer. He was even allowed to keep his body. But you can't help him. Go back to your family." Enma pointed over to the huge gate which led to heaven, and when Goku looked at it, he saw Chichi there, his grandfather, Bulma and many other old friends. They were waiting for him.

Son Goku made a step towards them. Chichi smiled. But then he stopped. He couldn't do this. He couldn't just forget about Vegeta and let him stay down there in Hell for all eternity. He was a Saiyajin and he never gave up. Vegeta wasn't allowed to go to heaven. But no one had ever said that Goku wasn't allowed to go to Hell! Right? "Enma Daio-sama!", he said. "I cannot go to heaven! If you can't bring Vegeta back, then I will go look for him myself. Please send me to Hell."

"WHAAAAAAT??", Chichi shrieked. "Goku, what did you just say??"

Goku ignored her and looked over to Enma questioningly. Enma nodded slowly and replied: "You're free to go wherever you want. But I wouldn't recommend it."

"I was there once and found the way back. I'll go and look for him. And when I find him, I'll bring him back!" He looked over to Chichi and bent over. "Gomen, Chichi. I have to do this. I hope you understand that."

After looking at his friends once more, he turned away and went through the gate which led to Hell. He passed it and entered Hell.

Next Chapter: "In search for the prince"