A New Perspective

By Mayumi Takanashi

Gohan sat up slowly, rubbing his aching head. As his vision was focusing, he looked around at the blurry landscape. As it became clearer, he noticed that he was in an incredibly massive library. Bookshelves were lined up side by side in neat rows that stretched across the room. As he looked out the glass windows, he could see a beautiful sunset, and the stars were slowly appearing, twinkling in the colored sky. He gazed above his head, and in the middle of the ceiling, there was a glass dome, which let the little light that there was into the building. Glancing around, he noticed two spiral staircases lead up to a second floor, which was also filled with wooden bookcases.

He crossed the room to a circular desk, which held four computers and other technical equipment, which he assumed were to check out books to people. Scattered throughout the room beside the rows of bookcases, he saw tables with four chairs to each table. On the tables were blue marble vases with blood red roses within them. Wondering what the second story looked like, Gohan climbed up a staircase. This was the same as the first story, except it was not as illuminated as the first, which had glass chandeliers. Gohan strode over to the balcony, and his eyes scanned the beautiful library. It was quiet, calm, and no other person was in here. He had a whole building of books all to himself.

"Good evening, Mr. Gohan," called a kind female voice from the bottom story. He looked down to see a woman in her late twenties looking back at him. As he traveled back down the staircase, the woman's features became more noticeable. Her dark red hair was tied into a tight bun, and her bangs hung into her eyes. She was wearing a forest green kimono, tied together with a gold obi. Her kimono was made of velvet, and her sandals also had a gold tinge to them. She wore black-framed glasses over her bright green eyes. Gohan thought she looked slightly Irish.

"Let me introduce myself," she said as her scarlet red lips moved smoothly. "I am Mai, the Goddess of Philosophy."

"It's nice to meet you, Princess Mai," replied Gohan. "Do you mind telling me where I am, and why I am here?"

"Ah, you like to ask questions! I like that," said her warm, smiling face. "You are in the Olive Branch Library, on the Planet Dyas. Do you know the story of the olive branch?"

"No, but I would like to know!" exclaimed Gohan. She laughed heartily.

"I think I like you! You are thirsty for knowledge," Mai told him. "The olive branch is a symbol of peace. It is often used when a group or party wants to send a peace offering to another group or party."

"That's very interesting," replied Gohan.

"I can tell you are a man who loves to learn. You can never get enough, and that is a very respectable quality in a being, whether they are human or not," she said.

"My mother wanted me to become a great scholar, even though I really prefer martial arts," Gohan said, his face reddening.

"Like an education, martial arts requires hours of training and diligent study," she replied warmly. "You are truly blessed to have a mother that cares deeply for your schooling."

"Thank you, I never really thought about it that way," said Gohan thoughtfully. "I always felt it was unfair, because while my friends were off on adventures, I was cooped up in my room with my books."

"Well, I doubt anyone could ever feel cooped up here," she said chuckling as her voice echoed throughout the hall.

"You have an amazing collection of references here," he complimented.

"My goal in life is to provide readers with the kind of material they need, whether it is for research or for pleasure."

"It's really wonderful," said Gohan.

Mai and Gohan started to stroll through the rows of bookcases, looking around.

"Knowledge is the very principal of civilization. No man could possibly live without any basic skill. It's quite sad, but did you know that 80 percent of what you learn in one day, you forget when you fall asleep that very night?" Mai explained.

"No way!" he said with surprise.

"Yes, it's true," she sighed. "It's quite a shame, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but is that why I'm here, to learn a little fun fact?" asked Gohan, slightly irritated.

"No! Of course not," said a frightened Mai.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Princess, but I kind of feel like I'm wasting my time on some far off planet," he said apologetically.

"It's quite all right, but it is always worth one's time if they learn something, no matter where you are or how you got there," she told him.

"Well, while we're on the subject, why am I here?"

"I wanted to tell you that you should become a scholar, Mr. Gohan," she said in a pleading tone.

Gohan looked at Mai with a shocked look in his eyes.

"But, why? I already told you I don't want to," Gohan said surprised.

"Sometimes, one must do what is best, not what they want. Becoming a scholar is what's best for you and your family, Mr. Gohan," she explained giving him one of her warm smiles.

"But I want to be able to fight, to be able to save and help people!" he said defensively.

"With your knowledge, you can help others. I know you desire power, but knowledge is power," she argued. "Do you understand me?"

Gohan simply stared at the woman's face. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"I cannot stand by and let your mind go to waste! It saddens me to see intelligent minds throw it all away!" she cried.

Is this what his mother had been trying to tell him for all these years? Mai's words touched him. She had turned on the light in his head. He understood the importance of her wisdom. He could use his knowledge to help people. Helping others was what he had always wanted to do all along, and he thought that the only way to do that was through fighting evil villains. Mai had shown him that.

"I will do what the princess asks me," he resolved.

Mai's face lit up with happiness.

"Thank you, Mr. Gohan," she said, clapping her hands together. "You will not regret this decision, I promise you that!"

Gohan smiled at her, and she smiled back. In his mind, he made a silent oath to turn his own house into a great library, just like the Olive Branch Library.

"Before I forget, I have a gift for you!" exclaimed Mai as she scurried to one of the bookcases in the next row. She came back with a small, leather book in her hand.

"Just because you have chosen the path of knowledge, does not mean you can't tune your skills as a warrior," she said to him.

She handed the book to him, and Gohan read the cover title. It read: Special Techniques for the Martial Artist.

"Thank you!" he said as he looked up at her. But all that was left of her was a light breeze. She had disappeared.