Chapter eleven - The training begins

Goku looked around him a bit confused as Bardock did the same. They were standing on a long walkway surrounded by little white cloud like puffs. Then he saw Kami standing off to the side. "Kami? Where are we?"

"Otherworld."

"WHAT!" Bardock cried. "What happened? I don't remember getting killed."

"You were unconscious." Kami said. "Goku tried to shield you from the attack but... it didn't work. I've brought your bodies here so that you can receive some special training before being revived. It should give you a better chance against Zarbon when he arrives on Earth."

"But... what happened after we died?" Goku asked. "Is everyone else okay?"

"Gohan... handled it." Kami said. "Rather quickly in fact. Now please, follow me. We'll have to talk to King Yemma, he's in charge of judgment, to get you guys past the main gates. We may have some trouble with you Bardock but I should be able to convince him."

The two Sai-jins nodded and followed Kami into King Yemma's chamber. The large man was looking over an equally large book and didn't seem to notice them until Kami cleared his throat. He looked up for a moment then smiled when he saw Kami. "Kami my friend! What's it been, two, three hundred years?"

"About that King Yemma. I know you are busy but I've a favor to ask of you."

"Oh? What's up Kami?"

"It's these two. Goku and his father Bardock."

"Why, they still have their bodies..."

"Yes. That's what I wish to talk to you about. These two need to receive some training from King Kai, they've only got about a year to get ready."

"A year? They going somewhere?"

"My friends are going to wish us back." Goku said with a smile.

"Wish you... oh that's right! The Dragonballs!"

Kami continued. "Anyway King Yemma, could you skip ahead to them to give them more time to train?"

"Hmm, well... I don't see why not. Just give me a moment to look them each up." Yemma waved a large hand and the book on his desk vanished and was replaced by another. He ran his finger down the page before him and read off a quick list of what Goku had done. "My word Goku, you've saved Earth at least eight times already. I say you're more than qualified to be let through. At this rate you'll keep your body when you die and be allowed to train on the Grand Kai's planet.

"Now let's see about you Bardock." He waved his hand again and a new book replaced the last. "B... B... B... Bobidi, no, no, to far." He flipped the pages back a few times, "Let's see... ah, here we are, Bardock." He looked over the page and frowned slightly, then glanced up at the three people before him, then back down at the page. "Hmm.... well, you said the both of you are going to be revived right?"

Goku nodded. Yemma reached up and rubbed his chin. "Well... I'll skip over you for now, give you a chance to fix up some of these... bad spots, since your life isn't technically over."

Bardock nodded. He knew what Yemma was talking about. He may have spent his life protecting the Sai-jin empire and his people as best he could but he'd killed even when he knew it wasn't needed. It was the Sai-jin way yes, but that still didn't change the way it would be viewed here. Not when there were people like his son around at least.

"Thank you King Yemma." Kami said. "I must return to Earth, I can sense the others approaching the lookout."

Yemma nodded as Kami vanished. A moment later a blue ogre walked over to them. "You're the ones going to see King Kai right?" he asked. Goku nodded. "Alright, this way please." The ogre led them out through I side door and Goku saw a golden cloud layer below them. In front of them they saw a large stone snake head behind which stretched a winding and twisting bridge of sorts.

"This," the ogre said. "Is Snake Way. This leads to King Kai's planet. To train with him you'll have to make it to the end of Snake Way."

"How long is it?" Bardock asked.

"Not sure really... the only one to ever make it to the end was King Yemma and that was about five hundred years ago. By his estimates... it's long."

"Well that was helpful." Bardock frowned. "Come on, grab hold...." /Even Yemma's book has him down as Goku... I guess that's as official as you can get./ "Goku." Bardock said. "We can get there faster if I fly. If I tire out then we can switch and you can fly for a little while."

Goku nodded and climbed onto Bardock's back. An instant later they were a blue streak of light flying off into the distance. The ogre stared after them in shock. "Wow... he could be faster then King Yemma..."

************

Kami walked out from his small palace as Yamcha, Tien, Krillin, Vadora, and Hotaru all landed on the lookout. "I've been expecting you." he said looking them over. "I assume you are ready to begin you're training now?"

"Of course." Tien said cracking his knuckles. "We've got a big fight ahead and little time to get ready."

Kami nodded. "Indeed. Is someone gathering the Dragonballs?"

"Yeah." Yamcha said. "Bulma, Master Roshi, and Chaotzu are going after the last three, we've already got the other four."

Tien nodded. "I didn't think Chaotzu would stand much chance in the coming battle so I told him to stay behind."

Kami nodded. "I agree with that. He's got heart but that wont be enough for this battle. Before we progress to the more intense training we'll begin with some sparring. Vadora, I'd like you to run the training. You've got plenty of experience." She nodded. "As for sparring partners, Tien, you're with Hotaru. Yamcha and Krillin are the other pair."

"Right." they all said.

************

Piccolo and Appla landed on the edge of a large cliff. Below them a forest spread out with a scattering of open fields here and there. "This area will do nicely." Piccolo said looking it over. "There aren't any homes in this sector so we wont get distracted."

Appla nodded in approval. "This world is so much like Planet Vegeta yet... it's not. The colors here seem so dull compared to Vegeta."

Piccolo glanced at her then held Gohan up to his face. A couple quick taps to the boys face and he was awake again. "Come on kid, we've got some training to do."

"Training?"

"Yep, you've got a lot of power kid, more than Goku and I had thought. Heck, you're more than six times our strength. We've got a real bad guy coming, stronger than the last two, and we need all the help we can get."

"Wh... what happened to dad?" Gohan asked.

Appla reached out and rubbed his hair. "He's off with you're grandpa getting some special training." she said. "They'll be back when we need them."

Gohan looked at him and nodded. "Okay."

Piccolo nodded. "Alright kid, let's get to work. You still have some of those enhancer rings Appla?" She nodded and pulled out two rings.

"These are the only ones I've got, but they're all we'll need."

Piccolo smiled and took one sliding it onto his finger. "Alright, let's go!"

*********

Chaotzu watched the dragon radar as Bulma piloted the air boat across the ocean. He's rather be training with the others but Tien was right, he'd not last long in the battle to come. So instead he was helping Master Roshi and a seemingly upset Bulma find the Dragonballs. "We're there." he said as the blinking light indicating one of the balls stopped under them.

"Alright, I'll sit us down." Bulma said brining the air boat down on a small island.

Chaotzu and Roshi got out to track down the ball while Bulma waited in the car. "Does she seem a little more..."

"Yep." Roshi said stretching. "Her and Yamcha had another argument just before they left for the lookout. Couldn't make out much of it but it got pretty heated. I think the last thing she said to him was to never show his face around Capsule Corp again."

Chaotzu nodded as he spied the Seven Star ball under a bush. A moment later they were in the air again tracking down another ball. "You know... someone's going to have to talk to Chi-Chi..." Roshi said after a moment. "She's going to get suspicious that Goku and Gohan haven't returned from the tournament, especially after a few days have passed, not to mention an entire year."

"I know." Bulma sighed. "But it's not going to be. I'm not going near her for a week at least."

"I think you should be the one to do it." voiced Chaotzu.

"Oh really? And why is that!?" Bulma nearly yelled.

"Calm down Bulma." said Roshi. "I agree with Chaotzu. She'd probably take it better from you than either of us, she knows you better than she knows us."

Bulma sighed watching the islands go by below. "I guess you're right... But I'll wait till we have the last two Dragonballs."