Thanks to DemonVidel, DBZ Chick1, zeynel, Quail Bro, December Jewel, and rimera (and any I might have missed) for reviewing Chapter 2!

NOTE: Any anonomous reviewers out there, zeynel, has alerted me to enable anonomous reviewing (smiles sheepishly), I really didn't know about that. So now all you anonpeople can also review!

Quail Bro: I'll get back to you soon.


Last time...

In the elastic tree wasteland a man had just watched as Gohan took the exit through the opening. The man muttered to himself, "He is the one..."

Chapter 3: Two Saiyans and a Namek

After Gohan had finished talking with Vegeta the Saiyan prince just nodded and walked out. Gohan didn't know what to make of it. He didn't look as though he thought Gohan was crazy. But then again, Vegeta was highly accomplished in hiding what he truly feels. That fact made him worry a bit. Was Vegeta going to tell his mother? He hoped not.

That night Gohan had a tough time sleeping. Every time he closed his eyes he would see the wasteland. When he finally fell asleep he had the strangest dream. Or at least that was what it was until the chocolate pudding turned into a wasteland. Gohan then realised the dream he had been having the previous nine nights were related to this place somehow. Then he saw the man from his dream.

Gohan could not see his eyes. The man was covered by a black hooded cape. Beneath that he wore a dark purple skin-tight shirt and black skin-tight pants. He had black boots with very dark red straps. His skin was a weird tint of grey that looked purple from different angles. His white, greyish hair came down to his shoulder blades.

"Who are you?" Gohan asked as he transformed to the second level out of reflex.

"That is not important now." The man simply stated. He did not flinch or make any move when Gohan transformed. He only stood there, on the cracked soil, like a statue.

"Okay, why am I here?" Gohan asked as he wondered how this guy could be so calm.

"That is not important now." The man replied again.

"Then, what is important?" Gohan knew he was there for a reason. "This is not a dream, is it?"

"Smart boy. No, it is not a dream, and yet it is not real either." The man finally moved as he took a step towards Gohan.

"What do you mean?" confusion was clearly audible in Gohan's voice.

"This is a place between what is real and what is not. I was quite impressed when you found your way here so soon. The dreams were to prepare you. However, much pain could have been prevented if you allowed the dreams to finish. And I also wouldn't have to answer as many questions."(1)

"I can't control the moment I'm supposed to wake up, at least not consciously!" Gohan said, now getting a little angry. Blue and white sparks of energy crackled around the young boy's body as his anger flared. This guy somehow managed to get under his skin very quickly.

The man's calm demeanour didn't change at Gohan's display of power. "Very well, you are young, and yet you've reached this place without dying. And you were even able to leave on your own. That is quite remarkable. This place is the boundary where good and evil meets. Only a select few is able to come to this place. And you are one of them."

"If good and evil meets here, then what am I doing here? And what did you mean by 'Embrace It'?" Gohan was slowly beginning to calm down.

"You recognise me? Well, I should've known you were smart. You have to embrace the power that you have been granted."

"And what power is that?" Gohan asked curiously.

"It is the power of positive energy, the power of good. Every few thousand years someone with extraordinary power finds their way here, to me. I am the guardian of this place, the Keeper. I am neutral and the balance of good and evil must be maintained. An incredible evil is on the way and a powerful force of good is needed to maintain the balance. That's where you come in. The balance can only be maintained by defeating the evil forces. You see in this scale very little evil is needed to overpower the good, and much good is needed. If I had to put it in numbers there has to be one evil person for every four good people, any less good and evil wins. And I MUST maintain balance for the universe to survive.

"In a couple of month's time a great evil will reach Earth. You must stop it." Keeper explained to the young Saiyan standing before him. "I was not sure if you were ready, but since you were able to survive the shift to the Neutral I'm certain that you are ready."

"So, I'm gonna have to fight again, huh?" He said as his face fell.

"Yes, indeed. I will bring you here again when the evil draws near. For now you must train and embrace your power." As Keeper continued with these strange instructions Gohan could hardly believe that this was real. Keeper saw his doubt and said, "You shouldn't doubt yourself. Go now and prepare, there is not much time."

Keeper turned to leave, "Wait, I have a couple of questions." He stopped to listen as Gohan continued. "First question, what are those trees...uh...things?"

"Well, you see, those 'trees' as you call them are a combination of positive and negative energy. When you escaped this place on your own you threw an energy blast at one of them and it turned white. The positive energy you added overpowered the negative energy, and you were granted safe passage out of this place." As he explained his hands twitched. Gohan found this a little disturbing since he was so calm just a moment ago, but decided to ignore it.

"So, what would happen if negative energy touched it?" Gohan was very curious about this place.

"If negative energy were to touch it, it would turn completely black and rigid and the passage to the outside would close down. And before you ask, while the 'trees' are in their neutral state they attack all who approach, denying passage until it either touches positive or negative energy." This guy was becoming more impatient by the second. He clenched his fists and paced around.

Gohan decided to ask one last question, "Why did I see a vision while I was fighting Cell?"

"I do not have the answer to that question. I do not know. What I do know is that if you hadn't had the vision I would never have found you and the universe would have been doomed." Keeper then turned around and flew away into the red sky.

Gohan took one last look at the strange place and then hit one of the trees with an energy blast, it became pure white and he walked through the portal in its base. He then felt that strange sensation in his body for the second time. When he awoke Gohan had a lot to think about. But what disturbed him more than anything was the feeling he got from Keeper. Even though it sounded as though he was a good guy he seemed...cold and...empty...

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Is that everything he told you Vegeta?" A green man with pointy ears asked a man with black flame-shaped hair.

They stood on the strangest structure. When viewed from the side it looked like half a ball, and when seen from the top it was one giant circle. What made it strange was the fact that it was floating in the air.

The green man was leaning against a wall of a palace like building that stood on top of this strange structure. He was wearing a dark blue fighting gi with a light-blue sash. He also wore a white and purple turban on his head and a white cape. His left arm was folded across his body while his right hand was holding his chin as he had a serious look on his face.

"Yes Namek. To me it sounded like one of the Saiyan legends. But I've heard the same legend apply to other races as well. And I need to hear what you make of the situation." The man with the flaming hair replied curtly.

He was standing in front of the Namekain with his feet shoulder width apart. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and had a scowl on his face. The short man wore a blue spandex suit, white gloves as well as white boots with golden toe-tips. His upper body was protected by armour, coloured white and gold. Vegeta was dressed as the Saiyan he was.

"Hmm..." Piccolo was thinking. "I think we should wait and see if anything else happens that would either confirm or deny these suspicions."

"But if it's true Namek, don't you think we should start doing something about it!" Vegeta's voice was rising.

"Why don't you ask Gohan if it's true? He's almost here." Piccolo stated calmly with closed eyes and folded arms, leaning against the wall of the lookout palace.

Gohan landed next to Vegeta. "Hey Piccolo." He said nervously with his arms at his side.

"Hey kid. So? Have you come to tell me about your most recent experiences."

"How'd you know. Oh wait. Vegeta told you. So, did you tell my mother too!" Gohan was getting angry.

"Calm yourself brat! I only told the Namek."

"So, are you going to tell us or what?" Piccolo pressed on. He was worried about his student and needed to hear everything. And so, the long explanation began.

"…I don't even know what his real name is, so I call him Keeper." Gohan said as he finished his explanation.

When he fell silent Piccolo said, "This is not good Gohan."

"Yeah, I know. That evil sounds powerful."

"No that's not what I mean. This guy, Keeper, he's trouble." Piccolo said in a gruff voice as he looked straight at the boy before him.

"What do you mean Piccolo?" He asked naively.

"Vegeta and I agree. We've both heard the myth from different sources and it's the same." Piccolo was silent for a moment.

"What is it?" Gohan asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"Hmmm. When you had that headache Keeper was trying to kill you." Piccolo said while still looking at Gohan.

"What! No Keeper appears to be a nice guy." He answered while waving his hands in front of him.

"Brat, you are so naive! Keeper saw he couldn't kill you by taking you to that place, you escaped! He is the one who will be sending the evil forces. And once you've destroyed enough evil Keeper will be set free and destroy the universe!" Vegeta was now yelling at Gohan.

"I don't understand. Why would he do that?"

"Let me explain. The myth goes like this." Piccolo started with a calm voice. "Millennia ago a being was created. No one knows how exactly. It was probably a question of balance. In any case nothing could destroy this evil. It brought with it chaos and destruction. Finally the Kai's brought together the strongest and purest warrior of every race and sealed it in a place called the Neutral. In that place neither good nor evil could reign. It is the only place where perfect balance is always maintained. A seal of pure good energy was placed around the Neutral, that's why only good people can leave that place. No evil can escape it unless the seal itself becomes neutral. And that can only happen by sending pure evil there."

Gohan just stared at Piccolo. He finally found his voice. "But who would be stupid enough to add evil to the seal?"

"Gohan I believe the evil spoken about in myths is the one you know as Keeper. I also believe that he has found a way to bring evil to him, to the seal. That's why he didn't kill you. He could easily have killed you in the Neutral. But after he wasn't able to kill you in the shift or with the dreams he then realised that if he killed you he would lose a strong warrior capable of defeating enough evil for him to harvest and to set himself free. Since his imprisonment many warriors 'disappeared'. He was most likely testing their strength. As far as I know he only ever went after the most experienced men. It's ironic that he would find the strength needed in a boy. So, now, he will be sending all sorts of evil monsters after you." Piccolo finished sadly.

"But if I don't destroy the monsters they're gonna hurt innocent people, and if I do it will set Keeper free." Gohan sank to his knees as this new revelation hit him harder than Cell ever could. It was a no win situation. And the first evil was already on the way...

TO BE CONTINUED...


(1) It basically means that if Gohan allowed the dreams to finish he would have died. Therefore Keeper wouldn't have to answer his questions.

Chapter 3 done! I had such a brainstorm while writing this, I kept changing things. But I think it turned out pretty good.

Please review! I'd love to hear/read your thoughts!