By the time the four warriors got to Nikki Town it was already too late. Bodies and limbs littered the street like bloody leaves. The pavement and walls and posts and trees were dripping red as if it had rained blood from the clouds. It had not been an attack; it was a massacre.

"Shit." Vegeta whispered.

There was silent agreement. Their eyes soaked up the horror in front of them, took in the extreme gore that covered the city, with total disbelief.

A loud, blood-stained scream rang out, echoing off the reddened buildings.

"Over there!" Gohan pointed.

They took off in the direction of the scream.

King Piccolo dropped what was left of the young woman, shaking his hand clean of the red chunks left behind. He chuckled, and turned to his younger partner in crime, still hidden behind the dark hood, who was sitting on a bloody bench, chin in hand.

"Can't we do something else now?" The younger whined, sitting back. "This is no fun."

"And it never will be!"

Goku descended down to touch his feet on the pavement.

"Killing and murdering like you have is wrong and hurtful! Something that causes so much pain is never to be enjoyed!"

Vegeta rolled his eyes.

Goku glared at King Piccolo while his three fellow fighters lowered themselves from the sky to stand next to him.

Senior smirked, and set a thoughtful gaze on his son. "Hello."

Piccolo took a deep breath, and tried to strengthen his resolve.

"It's him again!" Breathed Senior's young friend, sitting up.

Senior frowned. This was obviously not the reaction he'd wanted.

"We're going to stop you!" Goku declared.

"I doubt it." Senior grinned evilly.

Piccolo felt suddenly drained.

The next thing anyone knew, Goku was smashed into the side of a building.

Piccolo stumbled backwards, as Senior turned to Gohan. Gohan had just enough time to raise his arms to block, and was thrown back by the attack. Vegeta had been given enough time to transform to Super Saiyan.

It was a very even match.

Echoes of the past flew through Piccolo's mind. He could barely concentrate on the fight long enough to know what was going on. Thoughts were hardly heard past screams and images.

Piccolo brought his hands to his head and tried to breath deeply, tried to clear his head.

Gohan had recovered from Senior's attack and transformed to fight with Vegeta. Goku still had not returned from the wall, the only visible parts, his legs, not moving.

"I thought you lot said he was weak!" Vegeta snapped at Gohan, already out of breath.

"I don't know where he got all this power!" Gohan yelled, blocking a barrage of punches.

Piccolo stared helplessly up at his friends.

"Who are you?"

Piccolo turned. The little one was standing near him, hood still on, looking up, arms by his side. His head was tilted slightly, like a curious child.

Piccolo frowned, his head still swirling and confused. He gripped his head, struggling to stay focused on the present.

The little one put his hands on his hips impatiently. "Hey, are you listening? How do you know my Father?"

Piccolo felt like the world had turned upside down under his feet.

"Y-your father?" He asked in disbelief.

Piccolo dropped to his knees in front of the little one and slowly, in total shock, lifted his hood.

It was like looking into a mirror, a mirror that reflected an image from twenty-eight years ago.

"What's up with you?" The little one asked, frowning and scrunching his nose like a first-grader.

"W-what's your name?" Piccolo practically whispered.

"I'm Piccolo." The kid replied, and then pointed to Senior. "Like my Dad."

Piccolo's head was turning more than ever, trying to comprehend the kid in front of him. What had his father done?

"So who are you?" Piccolo the third asked.

"I'm-" Piccolo paused, trying to find the right answer. "I'm your big brother."

"Brother?" Piccolo looked at Piccolo like he was crazy. "I don't have a brother. Father said it's just me and him."

Piccolo could feel tears emerging. "I always thought it was just me."

Piccolo pulled Piccolo into a light embrace, the tears finally spilling out as the sweet realisation came over him. He had family...

"What are you doing?" Piccolo asked.

Piccolo pulled back. Piccolo's arms were still by his side, and he was looking up at his older brother with curiosity and annoyance.

"Nothing." Piccolo gave a weak laugh and patted Piccolo on the shoulder.

Piccolo turned from his little brother back up to the ferocious fight that was going on above the city. Goku had awoken while the two Piccolos had been talking, and had joined the fight. There were no signs of any of the fighters slowing.

"That looks like it could go past sunset." Piccolo commented.

"Sun... set?" Piccolo the third frowned.

"You've never seen the sun set?" Piccolo stared at his brother in disbelief.

After a moment's consideration, Piccolo grabbed his brother's hand and flew off to the east, for the moment leaving the fight and his father far behind.

In the process of writing this chapter, I was met with a rather unusual obstacle. The warm, loving cat that had been purring softly in my lap hopped down, and decided that under the computer was the best place to chuck an enormous hairball. Since the owner of said cat was out, I was forced to deal with this myself. I was lucky; my house has slate floors all through it except the bedrooms. Of course, I was very annoyed: She's not even my cat!! Urgh, I still smell like cat stomach.