Dragon Ball Next Generation
The Grey Saga
Part 2: The Sacrifice
Chapter 1
I took one last look at my former home, Satan City, and then left, flying on the kintoun. I felt like a new man. The sorrow I felt in my heart for those I had hurt seemed to have doubled, but also had my determination. The vow I had made ran clear in my head, and I would let it motivate me; let it guide me through the excruciating training I knew I was about to undertake in Karin.
Soon, all traces of the city were gone, and there were only trees and lakes underneath me. Soon, I felt the sorrow lift from my heart, and I was able to enjoy riding on the kintoun again. Then, I remembered the letter that Master Roshi had given me. I sat down on the kintoun, pulled the letter out, and inspected it. The envelope was open. I pulled the letter out and began to read.
Dear Dende,
As you requested, I have completed my training with Son Celic. He is a very gifted boy, and has surpassed me faster then any of my other students, even Goku. He has the determination of Vegeta and the work ethic and kindness of Goku. The ordeals that he went through in Satan City have matured him, and he is wise beyond his age. He has great potential, maybe even more then Gohan once had. He will grow strong under you, and I have no doubt that he will one day catch up with the rest of the Z senshi.
Underneath that was his signature with the sign of the turtle school.
My face beamed as I closed the letter. I never knew that Master Roshi thought so highly of me. To have a man I respected so much say that made me feel more confidant, and I couldn't help but grin as I flew to Karin. The name Dende sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.
I soon saw a huge pillar in the distance. I mean huge. Even though I was a few hundred feet in the air, I couldn't see the top. It seemed to defy physics just by standing up right. As I approached the pillar, the kintoun sloped down, flying just a few feet above the tops of the trees. I came to a clearing around the giant pillar, and the kintoun swooped down, and came to a halt before the great pillar. I assumed I was in Karin.
I looked around, and saw a large teepee in the middle of the pillar. There was a fire pit next to it, which was smoldering. At least there was someone living here.
"Hello!" I called, walking toward the teepee. I heard movements inside, and a figure immerged. It was a large woman, holding an equally large spear. Tight muscles bulged underneath her red skin. She looked down at me with her painted face, and stared at me for a moment, sizing me up.
"I am Kora, guardian of Karin's Tower. What business do you have here?" She asked, moving the spear level to my head. I bowed deeply to show respect, and so it would be easier to duck if she decided to use the spear.
"My name is Son Celic. My former sensei, Kame Sennin, sent me here to train. Here is proof." I said as I held out the letter. Her face brightened instantly upon hearing Master Roshi's name.
"There is no need for that," she said, waving her hand at the letter, "any student of Master Roshi is welcome here. But, if you seek training, then I am not the one to give it to you. If you are a student of the Turtle School, then you probably far surpass me in strength. You must climb Karin's Tower. On the top is mystical water that will increase your strength many times fold." She said.
I looked up at the impressive structure. It stretched up for miles, far beyond the clouds. How was I supposed to climb that? I walked forward, and examined the tower. I saw that there were carvings around that could probably be used as foot and handholds. I was about to start when I heard Kora's voice behind me.
"You are probably hungry, would you like to eat before you start your climb?" she asked. I was about to decline, when my stomach decided to rumble extremely loud at that moment. I turned around and nodded sheepishly, a little embarrassed.
We sat near the fire and ate after Kora prepared the food. I tore into it, and for a while we ate in silence. I finally realized that Kora seemed to be uncomfortable with the silence, so I swallowed my last mouthful of food.
"So, how high is Karin's Tower?" I asked. Kora looked up at the immense structure and said:
"Karin's Tower has never been measured, but it is said that it is taller then the largest mountains." She said, awe in her voice.
"Has anyone ever climbed it?" I asked, now seeing the tower as a formidable challenge then just a pillar in the ground.
"Actually, legend has it that three students of the Turtle School have climbed it, as has their sensei." So, Master Roshi climbed that thing. No wonder the old man was so strong.
"You said your name was Son, right?" I nodded. Kora smiled, "Then I am sure that you will make it to the top. Son Goku, your descendant, not only drank the sacred water at the top, but also brought my descendant, Bora, back to life after avenging his death. He was a great man, and if you have his blood running through your veins, you should have no trouble achieving your goal." I looked at her face, and saw that she was sincere. I stood up and bowed to her.
"Thank you for the food and your kind words. You have inspired me, and I am ready to climb the tower now." With that, I stepped back about a hundred feet from the tower, and began to run. Gaining speed, I leapt, and grabbed the pillar. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop myself in time, and my face was planted in the stone. Looking back, I probably looked like a cartoon, with my limbs sticking away from the pillar.
I grabbed a face in the stone, and got my footing. I looked down at Kora, who now looked quite a bit smaller.
"You'll catch me if I fall, right?" I called down to her. She stepped back from the tower, smiled, and waved. I guess that was a no.
I started my accent at a good pace. As long as I didn't look down, and I didn't think too much about how high I was, or what would happen if I fell, I moved up with relative confidence. Luckily, the stone was rough, and all the designs gave me plenty of holds. It was just so tall. I climbed for hours, and I still couldn't see the top. I felt like I could see half the world from where I was. But I kept on climbing, ignoring my aching limbs. It was far better then what awaited me if I fell.
I stared climbing when the sun was above my head, and it was just scraping the trees when I saw the top. Knowing that that there was actually and end to the tower gave me a second wind, and I climbed with speed I never knew I had. At the end was a ladder curving up the side of the structure that balanced on the pillar. I grasped the ladder and climbed up it with the last of my strength. I found myself on a circular floor, barren except the railing that kept whoever was on from falling and a few pillars. I collapsed on the stone floor, my chest rising and falling at an amazing rate. I closed my eyes, and felt the feeling of triumph compete against overwhelming exhaustion.
"Hello, Son Celic. I was wondering when you would get here. Surprised at hearing a voice in this strange place, I shot up, and glanced around. In front of me, I saw a strange looking cat. It was standing strait up, and was holding a staff. There was no one else. I looked at the cat, and it looked back at me. Its eyes seemed to be intelligent, and it seemed to be sizing me up.
"Well, you actually got here faster then I anticipated." The cat said. I yelled and jumped back, believing that I was going crazy.
"Wha... I mean who are you?" I asked the cat, while slowly backing away.
"I am Karin, keeper of this tower." He said. This cat was Karin! How was I supposed to train under a cat!?
"I understand that you have been sent here by Master Roshi, correct?" Karin said. I nodded weakly. "Then you must be going to train under Dende-sama."
"Yea, that's who this letter is for." I said, taking the letter from my belt and handing it to Karin. "Do you know where this Dende guy is?"
Karin finished reading the letter, and giving it back to me, he said, "He is above us."
"You mean on the roof?" I asked.
"No, he is far above the tower." The silver-gray cat said.
"What? How is that possible!? How am I going to get way up there!?" I yelled. It seemed unbelievable that there could be anything above this tower.
Karin turned around, and went down a set of steps, leaving me alone, far to stunned to follow him. He soon returned with a red, wooden pole in a sheath of the same wood hanging from his staff by a rope. Tied to the pole was a bell.
"These are the tools you need to get to heaven, where Dende-sama lives." Karin explained. I sighed and covered my eyes with my hand. Great, so this guy was dead, this couldn't possibly get any more weird.
"How am I supposed to train with a dead guy?" I demanded. Karin chuckled.
"Oh, Dende-sama isn't dead. He is the Kami of the Earth." Karin said. I guess I was wrong.
"You're saying I'm going to train with God!?" I exclaimed. This cat was definitely insane.
"Well, yes, Kami, the god of earth. There are higher gods, such as Kiao- sama, or the Dia Kia." He said. I nodded and let him continue. "Anyway, this is the Nyoibo, which will transport you to heaven." He said, holding up the wooden pole. "Once you reach there, ring this bell, and you will be attended to." He held the items out to me with his staff. As I reached for them, Karin pulled the staff back, and swung it at my head.
"What? You thought you'd get these that easily?" Karin asked. I just clutched my head and cursed that damn cat.
I lunged at him, but as soon as I was in reach, he disappeared, leaving me grasping the air. I made several more attempts, but I had similar results. I figured I needed to use strategy, so I began zanzokening around the cat, surrounding him with images. I leapt from above him, hoping to catch him off guard. Instead, I met the end of his staff.
"You're strong, and fast, but you give off too many signals." Karin said, watching me clutch my head in pain. "You need to watch my movements and predict what I am going to do. Listen to my breathing, watch where I plant my feet, where is my momentum taking me?" He instructed.
"Alright, I'll try." I said, getting up and assuming an attack position. I studied the cat, who seemed to be standing perfectly still. He wasn't making a single movement! How was I supposed to guess his next move!?
I leapt at him, and he dodged to the side. I leapt after him, grasping only air once again. I saw a movement behind me, and turned and leapt. I went strait through Karin's image, and felt a sharp pain on the back of my skull.
"You don't listen." Karin said, his voice now sounded like a harsh instructor. "Your not watching your opponent at all. You're attacking the first thing that moves. If you fight like that, a person half your strength could defeat you."
I yelled in frustration and lunged for the voice. I missed. I tried again, I missed over again. I was getting angry, and just started to attack the cat. He dodged every single blow with ease, and knocked me back with a blow from his staff.
"You're letting your emotions do the fighting for you." Karin said. "You're attacking wildly, trying to vent your anger. Remember, on the battlefield, emotions can give you a great amount of strength, but they can also be twice as disabling. A calm warrior will almost always win the battle."
With that, Karin turned and sent down the steps again. He soon returned with a small satchel.
"I think it's time we take a break." He said, tossing me something from the satchel. I grabbed it from the air and looked at it in my hands. It was a small green bean.
"What is this?" I asked.
"It's a senzu. If you eat it, you will be filled for ten days." He explained. I remembered that Master Roshi used them. But, looking at it now, I was a little skeptical that such a little thing would do what they said. Figuring to at least give it a shot, I popped it in my mouth. It was crunchy, and had a dry, bland taste. I swallowed, and almost instantly I felt my stomach was satisfied, the dull pain in my head dissapeared and my weariness of climbing the tower and trying to get the nyoibo was lifted off me.
"Wow! These things really work!" I exclaimed.
"Well, what did you expect?" Karin demanded.
"I dunno, it just looked so small, you know?" I replied. "Any way, I'm ready to get the nyoibo now."
"Well, well, aren't you confident." The cat said with a smirk. "Just remember, watch your opponent, try to guess what I'm going to do, and stay calm."
I took a deep breath and assumed an attack position. I studied the cat, watching for any slight movement, listening intently for any change in his breath. Slowly, almost unnoticeable, he shifted his weight slightly to his right foot. I leapt at him, but instead of reaching for him, I stopped just in front of him, and hopped right, just as I knew he would do. He seemed shocked that I was still in front of him that he didn't even make and effort to get away as I grabbed his staff and wretched it away from him. I took the nyoibo and the bell and tossed his staff back to him.
"I wasn't so tired this time." I said, smirking at him. Karin's shocked expression faded as he spoke.
"Good job. You're training with me is complete." He said. "You will now go on to your next stage, which will be training with Dende-sama. On the center of the roof is a place where you can place the nyoibo. Once you do that, say 'nyoibo extend', and it will take you to heaven. Once you reach it, ring the bell, and you begin training. Good luck." He said, bowing to me. I bowed back.
I stepped on the railing, and leapt up on the roof. On the center was a small hole, just like Karin said. I took the nyoibo from its sheath and stuck it in. Tying the bell to my belt, I grasped the pole, and yelled, "nyoibo extend!" Immediately, I was sent strait up at an amazing speed. I wrapped my legs around the nyoibo and held on for dear life. Then I realized then what my life had turned into. I was going to train with the god of Earth!
The Grey Saga
Part 2: The Sacrifice
Chapter 1
I took one last look at my former home, Satan City, and then left, flying on the kintoun. I felt like a new man. The sorrow I felt in my heart for those I had hurt seemed to have doubled, but also had my determination. The vow I had made ran clear in my head, and I would let it motivate me; let it guide me through the excruciating training I knew I was about to undertake in Karin.
Soon, all traces of the city were gone, and there were only trees and lakes underneath me. Soon, I felt the sorrow lift from my heart, and I was able to enjoy riding on the kintoun again. Then, I remembered the letter that Master Roshi had given me. I sat down on the kintoun, pulled the letter out, and inspected it. The envelope was open. I pulled the letter out and began to read.
Dear Dende,
As you requested, I have completed my training with Son Celic. He is a very gifted boy, and has surpassed me faster then any of my other students, even Goku. He has the determination of Vegeta and the work ethic and kindness of Goku. The ordeals that he went through in Satan City have matured him, and he is wise beyond his age. He has great potential, maybe even more then Gohan once had. He will grow strong under you, and I have no doubt that he will one day catch up with the rest of the Z senshi.
Underneath that was his signature with the sign of the turtle school.
My face beamed as I closed the letter. I never knew that Master Roshi thought so highly of me. To have a man I respected so much say that made me feel more confidant, and I couldn't help but grin as I flew to Karin. The name Dende sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.
I soon saw a huge pillar in the distance. I mean huge. Even though I was a few hundred feet in the air, I couldn't see the top. It seemed to defy physics just by standing up right. As I approached the pillar, the kintoun sloped down, flying just a few feet above the tops of the trees. I came to a clearing around the giant pillar, and the kintoun swooped down, and came to a halt before the great pillar. I assumed I was in Karin.
I looked around, and saw a large teepee in the middle of the pillar. There was a fire pit next to it, which was smoldering. At least there was someone living here.
"Hello!" I called, walking toward the teepee. I heard movements inside, and a figure immerged. It was a large woman, holding an equally large spear. Tight muscles bulged underneath her red skin. She looked down at me with her painted face, and stared at me for a moment, sizing me up.
"I am Kora, guardian of Karin's Tower. What business do you have here?" She asked, moving the spear level to my head. I bowed deeply to show respect, and so it would be easier to duck if she decided to use the spear.
"My name is Son Celic. My former sensei, Kame Sennin, sent me here to train. Here is proof." I said as I held out the letter. Her face brightened instantly upon hearing Master Roshi's name.
"There is no need for that," she said, waving her hand at the letter, "any student of Master Roshi is welcome here. But, if you seek training, then I am not the one to give it to you. If you are a student of the Turtle School, then you probably far surpass me in strength. You must climb Karin's Tower. On the top is mystical water that will increase your strength many times fold." She said.
I looked up at the impressive structure. It stretched up for miles, far beyond the clouds. How was I supposed to climb that? I walked forward, and examined the tower. I saw that there were carvings around that could probably be used as foot and handholds. I was about to start when I heard Kora's voice behind me.
"You are probably hungry, would you like to eat before you start your climb?" she asked. I was about to decline, when my stomach decided to rumble extremely loud at that moment. I turned around and nodded sheepishly, a little embarrassed.
We sat near the fire and ate after Kora prepared the food. I tore into it, and for a while we ate in silence. I finally realized that Kora seemed to be uncomfortable with the silence, so I swallowed my last mouthful of food.
"So, how high is Karin's Tower?" I asked. Kora looked up at the immense structure and said:
"Karin's Tower has never been measured, but it is said that it is taller then the largest mountains." She said, awe in her voice.
"Has anyone ever climbed it?" I asked, now seeing the tower as a formidable challenge then just a pillar in the ground.
"Actually, legend has it that three students of the Turtle School have climbed it, as has their sensei." So, Master Roshi climbed that thing. No wonder the old man was so strong.
"You said your name was Son, right?" I nodded. Kora smiled, "Then I am sure that you will make it to the top. Son Goku, your descendant, not only drank the sacred water at the top, but also brought my descendant, Bora, back to life after avenging his death. He was a great man, and if you have his blood running through your veins, you should have no trouble achieving your goal." I looked at her face, and saw that she was sincere. I stood up and bowed to her.
"Thank you for the food and your kind words. You have inspired me, and I am ready to climb the tower now." With that, I stepped back about a hundred feet from the tower, and began to run. Gaining speed, I leapt, and grabbed the pillar. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop myself in time, and my face was planted in the stone. Looking back, I probably looked like a cartoon, with my limbs sticking away from the pillar.
I grabbed a face in the stone, and got my footing. I looked down at Kora, who now looked quite a bit smaller.
"You'll catch me if I fall, right?" I called down to her. She stepped back from the tower, smiled, and waved. I guess that was a no.
I started my accent at a good pace. As long as I didn't look down, and I didn't think too much about how high I was, or what would happen if I fell, I moved up with relative confidence. Luckily, the stone was rough, and all the designs gave me plenty of holds. It was just so tall. I climbed for hours, and I still couldn't see the top. I felt like I could see half the world from where I was. But I kept on climbing, ignoring my aching limbs. It was far better then what awaited me if I fell.
I stared climbing when the sun was above my head, and it was just scraping the trees when I saw the top. Knowing that that there was actually and end to the tower gave me a second wind, and I climbed with speed I never knew I had. At the end was a ladder curving up the side of the structure that balanced on the pillar. I grasped the ladder and climbed up it with the last of my strength. I found myself on a circular floor, barren except the railing that kept whoever was on from falling and a few pillars. I collapsed on the stone floor, my chest rising and falling at an amazing rate. I closed my eyes, and felt the feeling of triumph compete against overwhelming exhaustion.
"Hello, Son Celic. I was wondering when you would get here. Surprised at hearing a voice in this strange place, I shot up, and glanced around. In front of me, I saw a strange looking cat. It was standing strait up, and was holding a staff. There was no one else. I looked at the cat, and it looked back at me. Its eyes seemed to be intelligent, and it seemed to be sizing me up.
"Well, you actually got here faster then I anticipated." The cat said. I yelled and jumped back, believing that I was going crazy.
"Wha... I mean who are you?" I asked the cat, while slowly backing away.
"I am Karin, keeper of this tower." He said. This cat was Karin! How was I supposed to train under a cat!?
"I understand that you have been sent here by Master Roshi, correct?" Karin said. I nodded weakly. "Then you must be going to train under Dende-sama."
"Yea, that's who this letter is for." I said, taking the letter from my belt and handing it to Karin. "Do you know where this Dende guy is?"
Karin finished reading the letter, and giving it back to me, he said, "He is above us."
"You mean on the roof?" I asked.
"No, he is far above the tower." The silver-gray cat said.
"What? How is that possible!? How am I going to get way up there!?" I yelled. It seemed unbelievable that there could be anything above this tower.
Karin turned around, and went down a set of steps, leaving me alone, far to stunned to follow him. He soon returned with a red, wooden pole in a sheath of the same wood hanging from his staff by a rope. Tied to the pole was a bell.
"These are the tools you need to get to heaven, where Dende-sama lives." Karin explained. I sighed and covered my eyes with my hand. Great, so this guy was dead, this couldn't possibly get any more weird.
"How am I supposed to train with a dead guy?" I demanded. Karin chuckled.
"Oh, Dende-sama isn't dead. He is the Kami of the Earth." Karin said. I guess I was wrong.
"You're saying I'm going to train with God!?" I exclaimed. This cat was definitely insane.
"Well, yes, Kami, the god of earth. There are higher gods, such as Kiao- sama, or the Dia Kia." He said. I nodded and let him continue. "Anyway, this is the Nyoibo, which will transport you to heaven." He said, holding up the wooden pole. "Once you reach there, ring this bell, and you will be attended to." He held the items out to me with his staff. As I reached for them, Karin pulled the staff back, and swung it at my head.
"What? You thought you'd get these that easily?" Karin asked. I just clutched my head and cursed that damn cat.
I lunged at him, but as soon as I was in reach, he disappeared, leaving me grasping the air. I made several more attempts, but I had similar results. I figured I needed to use strategy, so I began zanzokening around the cat, surrounding him with images. I leapt from above him, hoping to catch him off guard. Instead, I met the end of his staff.
"You're strong, and fast, but you give off too many signals." Karin said, watching me clutch my head in pain. "You need to watch my movements and predict what I am going to do. Listen to my breathing, watch where I plant my feet, where is my momentum taking me?" He instructed.
"Alright, I'll try." I said, getting up and assuming an attack position. I studied the cat, who seemed to be standing perfectly still. He wasn't making a single movement! How was I supposed to guess his next move!?
I leapt at him, and he dodged to the side. I leapt after him, grasping only air once again. I saw a movement behind me, and turned and leapt. I went strait through Karin's image, and felt a sharp pain on the back of my skull.
"You don't listen." Karin said, his voice now sounded like a harsh instructor. "Your not watching your opponent at all. You're attacking the first thing that moves. If you fight like that, a person half your strength could defeat you."
I yelled in frustration and lunged for the voice. I missed. I tried again, I missed over again. I was getting angry, and just started to attack the cat. He dodged every single blow with ease, and knocked me back with a blow from his staff.
"You're letting your emotions do the fighting for you." Karin said. "You're attacking wildly, trying to vent your anger. Remember, on the battlefield, emotions can give you a great amount of strength, but they can also be twice as disabling. A calm warrior will almost always win the battle."
With that, Karin turned and sent down the steps again. He soon returned with a small satchel.
"I think it's time we take a break." He said, tossing me something from the satchel. I grabbed it from the air and looked at it in my hands. It was a small green bean.
"What is this?" I asked.
"It's a senzu. If you eat it, you will be filled for ten days." He explained. I remembered that Master Roshi used them. But, looking at it now, I was a little skeptical that such a little thing would do what they said. Figuring to at least give it a shot, I popped it in my mouth. It was crunchy, and had a dry, bland taste. I swallowed, and almost instantly I felt my stomach was satisfied, the dull pain in my head dissapeared and my weariness of climbing the tower and trying to get the nyoibo was lifted off me.
"Wow! These things really work!" I exclaimed.
"Well, what did you expect?" Karin demanded.
"I dunno, it just looked so small, you know?" I replied. "Any way, I'm ready to get the nyoibo now."
"Well, well, aren't you confident." The cat said with a smirk. "Just remember, watch your opponent, try to guess what I'm going to do, and stay calm."
I took a deep breath and assumed an attack position. I studied the cat, watching for any slight movement, listening intently for any change in his breath. Slowly, almost unnoticeable, he shifted his weight slightly to his right foot. I leapt at him, but instead of reaching for him, I stopped just in front of him, and hopped right, just as I knew he would do. He seemed shocked that I was still in front of him that he didn't even make and effort to get away as I grabbed his staff and wretched it away from him. I took the nyoibo and the bell and tossed his staff back to him.
"I wasn't so tired this time." I said, smirking at him. Karin's shocked expression faded as he spoke.
"Good job. You're training with me is complete." He said. "You will now go on to your next stage, which will be training with Dende-sama. On the center of the roof is a place where you can place the nyoibo. Once you do that, say 'nyoibo extend', and it will take you to heaven. Once you reach it, ring the bell, and you begin training. Good luck." He said, bowing to me. I bowed back.
I stepped on the railing, and leapt up on the roof. On the center was a small hole, just like Karin said. I took the nyoibo from its sheath and stuck it in. Tying the bell to my belt, I grasped the pole, and yelled, "nyoibo extend!" Immediately, I was sent strait up at an amazing speed. I wrapped my legs around the nyoibo and held on for dear life. Then I realized then what my life had turned into. I was going to train with the god of Earth!