Here's the next chapter, just since I feel like updating.
Thanks so very much to my reviewers, you people keep me going sometimes:
animeprincess1452 - Yep, interesting concept alright. I'm glad you don't find it too weird, because I almost thought it was when I first made some of the stuff up! Keep the reviews coming, I have a feeling you will though.
KitsuneAkai13 - Well I think it's cooler that his entire species is gay, plus that makes for some very interesting plot twists later in the story. I bet you can't wait to read the next chapter now. The answer to that pressing question, and some others (like the ones you listed ) are coming up soon, stay tuned!
Here we go, strap yourselves in!
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Chapter 4: December 1, 2002 - Making a Wish
This, I wasn't exactly expecting.
My first inclination was to turn around and address the Voice like he was some kind of idiot; I mean, sure the damn things are called Dragonballs, but I didn't think they actually had something to do with a real dragon, not that I believed any of this anyway.
"You want me to what?!" I asked, a little flustered at the moment.
'I said: summon the Dragon. It's a rather simple request.'
"Yeah, but I really don't know how!" I said, feeling foolish at asking for it.
'I expected as much, just say exactly what I tell you to say.'
But before he could tell me what to say, we got into a little argument, during which I told him that he was full of shit, dragon-shit maybe, and that I wasn't going to do it. After a few threats on his part, I finally gave in, not wanting to deal with it anymore, and frankly I wanted it to not work so I could laugh at him. Feeling very foolish, I went over that phrase I was told to yell to the sky in my head a few more times and prepared to say it.
If my neighbors hear this I'll be put away, I thought ruefully, wondering whatever possessed me to do anything that maniac told me to, but somehow also knowing. I knew what I knew, and what I knew was that something was happening. Something was happening that I both wanted to stop and simultaneously wanted no part in at all. But already I was up to my neck in it, and stopping something that has gone that far that fast is often impossible, like stopping a huge boulder rolling down a hill. Times like that it's best to just go with the flow, as they say, and try to stay at least one step ahead, or risk being crushed by the weight of your own destiny. I had to admit, I hated having to do that, but I of all people, or aliens, wasn't about to stand aside and see so many people killed. So many innocent children killed...
Steadying myself on the ground a few feet in front of the Dragonballs, which were blinking in sync with that same eerie yellow glow over and over, I yelled: "Eternal Dragon by your name I summon you forth…SHENRON!!!"
There was a pause, nothing happened.
But then I felt something emanating from the Dragonballs, glowing with an almost internal light, and raging with power that shook me to the core. A narrow pillar of light reached for the sky as the balls glowed so bright I could not look at them. Then all at once the beam of light reached the clouds and the sky mercilessly began to darken before my eyes. The sky went black, but strangely no stars were visible. Lightning zipped about the scorched sky with an unnatural sound, and bolts of electricity crackled about my house and around the Dragonballs which were bathed in a strange golden light. I was a bit frightened at first.
Oh SHIT! I thought. What if whatever dooms the Voice prophesized is what I have just unwittingly released? I'll be responsible for countless deaths!
I couldn't stand that thought, I didn't want it to be my fault! I don't care what that thing is, if it plans to try and destroy the planet, I would do my best to fight it. But even as I thought that to myself, I realized that this power was so incredible, I wouldn't be surprised if the entire universe could feel it.
. . .
Meanwhile on a distant planet...
"...rsfgurs'qr ghrs, deelmbc rsfgurs noiuvapq, ulmbc ijejkjk uvijursatuapq jkedea eqr jkaders ilm rsfgurs uvipqjkbc."
At that moment, eleven spacecraft streaked across space at an incalculable speed, their destination, unknown. Their intentions however, were for blood.
. . .
That was something else, another power, so faint I could barely sense it, and it was that same one I felt that one moment a year ago, that day I had seen what horrors might be released if I failed. I could feel it, and I didn't know what good could combat such evil. Not even the purest heart could stop it, so what was I against such a force?But the Voice must not have been paying attention, he went right on trying to parley my last fears, instead of concentrating on my present ones,
'Don't be ridiculous, you are going to save the world with this not destroy it.'
But nothing had changed except for the noise, which had reached such a din that I was certain half the city would hear it, it was as if all the power in the universe was being unleashed in my own backyard.
The bolts of lightning converged suddenly right upon the small pile of seven Dragonballs, and with a roar that shook the ground beneath my feet a gigantic gold figure emerged from the balls with such an incredible force that I went flying onto my rear. As I looked up I saw the huge shaft of light take form into a long slender shape that coiled itself about the sky.
"Holy Shit! That thing is fucking massive!" I screamed in awe.
'Will you just get your ass of the ground!' The Voice said, scorning me.
I can't say I didn't TRY to get myself off the ground but for some reason I lay transfixed upon what was happening right in front of me. I watched from the dirt, so amazed that I had to remind myself to breathe. The snake-like figure faded from brilliant gold to a muted green and brown and took the obvious form of a dragon.
So, all in one day I have gathered seven balls from all around the world with a hunk of junkyard scrap, blown it up, and then released a dragon from nowhere that will help me save the world. Sounds to me like something for Ripley's Believe It or Not®, I thought in slight amusement.
"I don't understand why you need me," I said, shocked at the scope and power of the beast floating above my house, filling the black sky, "I think that thing can take care of the world all by itself!"
I got no response and then, without warning, the dragon bent its head toward the ground and spoke with an air of authority.
"YOU HAVE AWAKENED ME FROM MY SLUMBER, SPEAK NOW AND TELL ME YOUR WISHES. I WIIL GRANT THEM IF I CAN!!!" the Dragon roared in my direction.
I was completely and utterly speechless.
"Hiya, you must be Shenron. Uhh, sorry for waking you up, but…can you get rid of those aliens coming to destroy Earth?" I asked a little timidly, not sure how to approach the problem.
"THE DEATH OF MORTAL BEINGS IS THE HANDS OF ENMA DAIO, MY POWER IS NOT GREAT ENOUGH FOR THAT PROBLEM!" the Dragon boomed, "I AM SORRY BUT I CANNOT GRANT THAT WISH!" came the reply.
I hadn't the faintest idea who this Enma Daio guy was, but I guess he had to be important if his power was even greater than this dragon, but I didn't give much thought to it as I just muttered the next thing that came to mind.
"I wish I had a monkey," I said nonchalantly.
"IT SHALL BE DONE!" roared the Dragon from above and instantly a monkey appeared in the grass in front of me, out of thin air, gave a few ooo-ooo-aaa-aaa's and took off over the fence into the streets.
After picking my jaw off the ground, I grinned twenty feet wide, happy as could be because I was genuinely glad I did not try to test the wishing theory with my second thought...
Oh, I wish I was an Oscar Meyer wiener, that is what I truly want to be...
Satisfied with the results for my first wish, I immediately started thinking of what to wish for next, but that dammed Voice broke through my thoughts yet again.
'Now that you are certain that you can be granted wishes, ask Shenron exactly what I say.'
I listened carefully as I was given another phrase to recite, but this time I wasn't going to waste
the wish on something stupid and plainly refused.
"Now, why the hell would I say that? I can turn into a GOD if I wanted to!" I retorted.
'You have to!'
"Why did you make the wish all way-back-when if I have to make another wish?!"
'It seemed like a good idea at the time, double protection if you ask me...'
Meanwhile, the Dragon, probably a little confused with this strange boy in front of him who had just wished for a monkey and was having an argument with himself, decided enough was enough.
"I AM GROWING IMPATIENT, SPEAK NOW AND TELL ME YOUR SECOND WISH!"
I was about on the verge of telling the Eternal-whatever he-was to go to hell upon hearing that one, but luckily I stopped myself from doing so, lest the Dragon turn me into a box of chocolates.
'You are going to wish for what I tell you to!' the voice shot back at me.
"Fine, and we will just see that nothing happens when I say it!" I spat, getting rather impatient myself.
"Dragon," I yelled to the sky. "Grant me the power that was given to me from my very birth, and give me the strength to defeat the evil that arrives here in a short time. That power, vested in me from a wish long ago is now to be released, so that I can complete the destiny that lies before me and do exactly what I must to follow the path that is rightfully mine by my birthright!"
There was dead silence for a long time and the Dragon almost looked a bit confused by this request but quickly reacted with his seemingly-customary phrase.
"IT SHALL BE DONE!" said the Dragon again and its eyes glowed again and then faded.
I thought I felt something for just a second, like a gentle touch all over my body, but I couldn't quite understand it as it was a feeling like none other I had ever felt. It might have just been the wind, but I couldn't be sure of that either; I must be losing my mind, wishing for something like that.
"I HAVE GRANTED YOUR WISHES, UNTIL AWOKEN AGAIN I LEAVE THIS EARTH! FARE-THEE-WELL!"
With that, the Dragon streaked back into the Dragonballs, glowing gold again with another terrific roar. The Dragonballs rose into the air and with a crack, separated and flew across the sky in seven different directions. In an instant the sky lightened and became blue once again.
And everywhere around, dread silence permeated everything. It was almost too quiet. I couldn't say I wasn't a bit pissed that I could have wished myself into infinite riches or something like that, and had wasted it chanting some stupid thing, or something.
You know, I hope whatever you had me say will work, I thought to the Voice.
'Don't worry, it will,' came the response.
I looked around, it was already getting dark, and I could feel my stomach calling me into food mode. I walked into my house in silence, hoping that the phone in the local psychiatrist's office wouldn't be ringing off the hook for the rest of the year. I was certain that several people in town would call in insane after seeing that thing in the sky, I almost thought I should. At least I would probably wake up soon.
This was one crazy dream if anything.
End of Part One.
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The end of part one comes now, and with that one section of this epic tale has been concluded. The only question on everyone's mind is: what will happen next? Please review!