BRAT!
The ground shuddered.
And the darkened nightmare of a figure emerged.
"No..." Piccolo whispered, taking a step back.
"Who are you?" Goku demanded.
The elder laughed.
The monster pointed, accusing.
YOU NEGLETED YOUR DUTY! YOUR DUTY TO OTHERS!
Not him...
"Not you..." Piccolo took another step back.
And another.
And another.
HOW COULD YOU FORGET YOUR FATHER!!
NO!!
Piccolo's head was driven into the dirt.
SELFISH BRAT!
Piccolo's heel caught on a rock, and he tumbled backwards to the dirt. He looked up in horror at the midnight-cloaked monster towered over him.
"Piccolo!" Goku yelled, pounding at the force-field the smaller one had errected. "Get up!"
Piccolo heard none of his friend's cries. All he knew was the nightmare that was above him. It reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him up and into the full force of the punch. Piccolo was powerless to stop the repeated blows to his face.
"Selfish brat!" It growled.
Goku looked on with confused fear building. Piccolo was stronger than the Namek in the cloak, one hit would knock him out! How is it the Super-Namek was so weak against this one man?
"Son Goku." The small one said behind the field. "My father has said much about you, but you're hardly what I expected."
Goku blinked, and in an instant it all made sense.
"SENIOR!!" He yelled out.
The old Namek turned, and lifted down his hood. Piccolo lay in the rubble, paralyzed with fear and pain.
"King Piccolo to you, boy." Despite the wish he had made thirty years ago, King Piccolo's face was as old and twisted with hate as it had been when he was released from his jar.
"Your fight is with me, not Piccolo. Let him go." Goku stared his old enemy in the eyes.
"That's where you're wrong." King Piccolo approached Goku. "My fight is with him. He is a traitor to my name and throne. He is a coward, a loser! He took my name and threw it into the dirt. Soiled it!"
"He's your son!" Goku yelled.
"What?" The little one yelped.
"No son of mine could disgrace me like he did!" King Piccolo hissed.
Piccolo's eyes cracked open. He looked around, and slowly began to prop himself up. His head turned to the skies, as he sensed the approaching prescence of the other Z.
Goku felt it too. "You're time's up, Old Man. You may be able to keep me behind this invisible wall, but what about the rest of them? All eight? It'll only take one to take you down!"
King Piccolo growled. "I admit I was unprepared for such force. But, be assured, I'll be back."
He turned and walked to a clear path.
"Come."
The smaller one ran to his side. A golden circle glowed around them, and they vanished.
Goku gaped.
"DAD!" Goku turned to see Gohan approaching, about a mile away.
Snapping out of his state, Goku waved to his son. He turned back to his companion, Piccolo, and ran to his side. How dare that old bastard...
"Huh?"
Goku sat next to his friend, confused. Piccolo was barely bruised. The Super-Namek sat, fear written all over his face, staring at the spot his father last stood.
"Piccolo... are you... okay?" Goku asked timidly.
Piccolo didn't say anything, but turned his head to the landing Gohan.
Gohan ran over. "Oh my god! What happened? Are you both alright?"
"I'm fine, Gohan, but I'm not so sure about Piccolo." Goku replied.
"Who could do something like this to Piccolo?" Gohan asked doubtfully.
Goku stared directly into his son's eyes.
"It was his father. Come on, help me get him up. He needs to lie down, he needs some care."
"Of course." Gohan and Goku picked the heavy Namek up.
"Ungh... maybe we should take off his weights?" Gohan huffed.
"He's holding them on." Goku pointed out.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?"
Gohan turned. "Mom?"
"Gohan!" ChiChi ran over. "What are you doing here my baby?"
"I'm an adult, Mom, and there was a fight." Gohan pouted.
"You should be at home, with Videl and Pan!" ChiChi scolded.
"Aw, ChiChi, he was trying to be proactive!" Goku said. "Ungh, can we get Piccolo to some help now?"
"Take him to Bulma, she could help." ChiChi suggested. "Gohan, you carry me."
"Bu-But I'm carrying Piccolo!" Gohan wheezed.
"Do I have to work everything out?" ChiChi sighed. "You don't need to. Goku can Instant Transmission!"
The father and son looked at each other.
"Oh yeah..."