The Treasure of Power

Disclaimer:                Everything belongs to Akira and I'm just a poor girl who tries to get her mind off her final examinations by writing stories.

A/N:                           I just have to say one thing: Thank you for the reviews!
Oh, and did I already say that there will also be a bit K/18?

Chapter 2: "The new Assignment"

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

It was again a beautiful day at the western capitol. The sun was shining and it was warm outside. It was a normal working day, so men and women were already on the streets, going to the market or working otherwise. Children were running happily through the streets, playing and the clacking sounds of hooves on cobblestone could be heard everywhere in the city. Almost everyone was awake and busy.

Almost…

One young man was still lying in his bed, fast asleep, even though it was already nearing lunchtime. And even that was the reason for this young man to wake up, as the sound of his grumbling stomach tore him out of his sleep.

Son Goku sat up groggily in his bed. Was it just a dream or was he really hungry? At that moment the sound of his stomach was heard again. "Okay, not a dream…" he mumbled, as he swung his feet over the edge of his bed and shuffled over to the chair, where his clothes were lying on. He grabbed into the pocket of his vest and pulled out a fob watch, another thing his grandfather left for him. "WHAT? It's almost twelve! No wonder that I'm starving!" he almost yelled. Groaning he then went to his private bathroom, where he looked into the mirror over the sink. He still looked like he was half asleep. "Oh god, how drunk was I last night?" Goku asked himself, as he looked at his mirror image. He tried to remember the previous night, but everything was just a blur. He and his friends must have been really drunk. But at least he forgot her for a while.

Goku frowned. No, he didn't want to think about her right now. There were now more important things. For example the bad feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. No, it wasn't hunger. It was more like a feeling that something would happen soon.

Goku shook his head and splashed some ice-cold water in his face, trying to wash away the last remainders of sleep in his face. Maybe this bad feeling was just some kind of hangover. He tried to convince himself with that, but this feeling remained.

When he arrived downstairs for lunch, Goku saw that the General was having his meal on the terrace. He walked over to him and sat down in the chair across of him. "Good morning General," Goku greeted him.

General Kaiou chuckled. "Good morning? Shouldn't you rather say something else, like 'good afternoon'?"

"I know that I've slept in, but it could've been longer, if my stomach hadn't woken me up." Goku sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

"I guess you're hungry then, right?" His pupil nodded. "Okay. Gregory, please bring Goku his lunch," he told his butler, who immediately went off and came back with a huge plate for Goku.

"Thanks Gregory! That really looks good!" Goku said excited and started to eat.

General Kaiou just shook his head. He had never seen anyone eat as much and as fast like him. It almost seemed like Goku was always hungry, but at least they had managed to teach him table manners.

Just a few minutes later, after Goku had finished his fourth and last plate, General Kaiou used the chance to talk to him a bit. "Did you have a good time last night?"

"Well, yeah… I guess." Goku scratched his head again. "You see, I don't remember that much. I don't even remember how I managed to get home," he added grinning.

"At least you didn't wake up with a surprise like Krillin did this morning," they suddenly heard a familiar voice saying.

"Muten Roshi!" Goku said surprised, as he jumped from his chair and went to his old mentor, shaking his hand. "It's been a long time! How are you doing?"

"Hello Goku!" Muten Roshi answered. "I'm fine and how are you?"

"Well, except for the memory thing, I'm also fine. And now tell me, what was the surprise?"

The old man grinned. "As Krillin woke up this morning there was a girl in his bed… And I must say, she was really hot…" he drifted off.

Both Goku and General Kaiou stared dumbfounded at him. Some things never change. "Master… You're drooling…" Goku pointed out.

"What? Oh… Whatever…" he said, being lightly embarrassed. "But that's not the reason why I'm here. Kaiou, I need to talk to you, alone. It's really important."

"Yes, what is it?" Kaiou asked, but noticed that Goku was still there. "Uhm Goku, would you…?"

"Sure, General," Goku said smiling. "I wanted to go anyway. Chikyuu is waiting for me. Muten Roshi, it was an honor to meet you again. I'll see you later!" He waved to them and then ran to the stabling.

The General watched, as Goku left and finally turned to his friend. "So, Roshi, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

The hermit sat down in the chair where Goku had been sitting just a few minutes ago and began to talk. "An informant told me that something is going to happen. The situation is deadly serious…"

~*~

Goku smiled, as he was riding through the landscape with an incredible speed. He just loved how the wind went past his face. He felt as if he was flying. Chikyuu never ceased to amaze him. She was the most loyal 'person', if he could call her that, he had ever met. No matter how long he was gone, she would always recognize him.

She was born as Goku was twelve, but her mother died during the birth. This birth was the most terrible and at the same time wonderful thing Goku had ever seen. It was a wonder to see how the filly tried to do her first steps. But then suddenly he was torn out of this wonderland, as a loud howl emitted from the filly's mother. He didn't exactly see what had happened, because he was pushed back, but he could make out the cries of pain of the mare. There had been complications at the birth and the mare had lost too much blood. Chikyuu's mother had died that night. No one had thought that the filly had a chance to survive, but Goku didn't want to give her up. Her mother Gaya had been his grandfather's horse and he didn't want to lose another part of him, so he took care of her. He fed her and gave her what she needed, and much to everyone's surprise, she grew up to be a strong and healthy mare and the fasted horse in the stabling of the General.

Goku stopped on a hill. He could look over the whole countryside in front of him and not far away he could see a small house. The Kame House. He clicked his tongue and Chikyuu stormed off.

Just a few minutes later, he arrived at the house, just to see his childhood friend lying outside in the grass. "Hey Krillin! What's up?" he asked, as he jumped down from his horse.

Krillin opened his eyes and looked at the young man. "Hey Goku! What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to take a ride with Chikyuu and wanted to ask you, if you wanted to come with me," he said grinning, "And I want to know about your visitor last night."

Krillin groaned. "You talked to Muten Roshi, right?"

"Yep. So what is it? Do you want to tell me, or not?"

Krillin stretched his arms and legs and then got up. "What about this? We're taking a ride to the lake and there I'll tell you, okay?"

„Okay..."

It didn't take long for them to reach that lake. They had already been there, as they were still training under Muten Roshi as kids. They let their horses graze on the green and fresh meadow and laid down in the grass, eyes closed, letting the sun shining down on them.

"Goku? Have you ever been in love?" Krillin asked after a few minutes of silence.

Goku suddenly sat up. This was a question he hadn't expected at all. "I- I… Why do you ask?" he tried to avoid this question.

Krillin opened his eyes and looked at his friend. "This girl, Marron is her name, you know the one Muten Roshi told you about; I just met her last night on my way home from the bar and maybe it was just the alcohol, but as I first saw her, I thought she was perfect. She was so beautiful with her long blue hair and the deep red dress she was wearing. I remember that I talked to her and that she was so nice and cheerful. Together we went to another bar and had a few more drinks, but from that moment on, everything is just a blur. I don't even know how we ended up here. All I remember is the last kiss she gave me this morning, as she left and alone the thought of it gives me a funny feeling in my stomach. Could it be that this is love?" While he was talking, he had narrowed his eyes to the floor, but did now look back at his friends, expecting an answer. But Goku was somehow zoned out, a thoughtful and sad look on his face. "Goku?"

Hearing his name tore him out of his thoughts. "Huh? Sorry Krillin, what did you say?"

"Goku, are you sure you're okay?" Krillin asked worried. "Since we're back, you're so… I don't know… distant and kind of depressed."

Goku put on a smile. "Sure, everything's fine," he lied.

Krillin sighed. "Okay, then, I asked you if my feelings for Marron could be love."

"I don't know Krillin," Goku answered honestly. "I think that you'll know when you're in love. Being with her must just feel right. Believe me, you'll just know when you're in love with someone…"

"Fine, then I guess I just have to wait until I know for sure."

~*~

"Are you really sure?" General Kaiou asked worried, as he paced in his office, where he and Muten Roshi had gone to have more privacy.

"Yes I am," Muten Roshi said seriously. "My informant had never been wrong."

"Do you have any idea what we should do now?"

"I suggest you to send your best man to the palace to watch over it."

General Kaiou sighed. "There's just one problem. My best man is Goku and the others, who are almost as good as him, are not available at the moment."

"I know what you mean, but I think that you have no other choice. You can't leave it and the palace unprotected. And Goku is the only one who is able to protect them. You know that as well as I do."

"I guess you're right," Kaiou said defeated. "I just hope that he doesn't recognize him."

"How should he? His father was a third class among them. I don't think that the Prince would recognize him as one of them."

General Kaiou turned to the window. It had just started raining and the water was beginning to lash against the windows. He didn't like the situation; he didn't like it at all. "I hope you're right…" he muttered under his breath.

~*~

Goku had gotten home just before it had started to rain. He had cleaned Chikyuu and was now lying in her box, his head resting against her stomach. He thought back to his conversation with Krillin that afternoon. Yes, he has been in love and he still is. But unfortunately this love wasn't meant to be. Goku sighed, remembering the wonderful night he had spent with her. He had to sneak out of her room before dawn, so that they wouldn't be caught. It would have brought shame over her family, if they found out that she had lost her virginity before the marriage. Just as he arrived back at the General's mansion, he got a mission, which forced him to leave within a few hours. He didn't even have the time to say goodbye to her.

Did she leave him and marry another man because of that? Of course. He had abandoned her, but didn't someone tell her that he had to leave for another mission? He was so sure that she had waited for him, just like he would have waited for her. But maybe this was just his ignorance. He should have known that she wouldn't wait for him to come back, after he left so sudden.

He snuggled deeper into the warm fur of his mare. "Chikyuu, promise me that you'll never leave me, okay?" The mare snorted contently and nudged him with her head. A sigh of relief escaped Goku's mouth. "Thank you…"

Suddenly his head jerked up, when he heard footsteps in front of the box. It was the General. "Here you are, Goku. A servant told me that you're back. Can you please clean up and then come into my office? There's something I have to tell you," he told the young man seriously.

Goku got up and dusted himself off. "Sure…" He looked back at his horse and smiled. "See ya tomorrow, Chikyuu. Sleep well." She snorted again and Goku left the stabling.

He did as he was told and stood about half an hour later in front of the General's desk. General Kaiou himself stood with his back to Goku and looked out of the window. "Okay, General, what's up?"

He turned around and faced him. "Goku, I'm sorry to tell you, but I have a new mission for you." Goku wanted to say something, but Kaiou stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Please, don't interrupt me. See, for this new mission, you don't need to go to sea. You'll have to go to the palace to protect the Lord, his wife and their daughter. And there's another thing. Have you ever heard of the so-called Treasure of Power?"

Goku nodded. "My grandfather told me about the legend, but I never believed it really does exist."

"Well, it does. And a part of it is at the castle. It's an orange sphere with a special number of stars in it. There are exactly seven of them…"

"And when one person got all seven of them, he'll have an unbelievable power," Goku continued. "That's exactly the legend my grandfather told me."

"Just that this legend is true and that someone is after those seven spheres. His name is Vegeta, Prince of the almost exterminated race called Saiyajins. I'm sure you've heard of him. He's a ruthless pirate, working for Lord Frieza," General Kaiou told him.

"Yes, I've heard of him during my missions. Everyone fears him."

"They have their reasons. He's extremely dangerous and that's the reason why I wanted my best man to be the one at the palace. Will you go?"

"Of course," Goku answered seriously. "And besides, I haven't seen Lady Bulma for years. It would be nice to meet her again. Shall I tell the others?"

"No, you will go there alone," Kaiou said. "Let them get a bit rest. I'm really sorry to send you, Goku, but I have no other choice. I already sent a letter to the palace, so that they will expect you tomorrow."

"Nah, I understand. You know that I don't need much rest. A bit action wouldn't be that bad," he told the General grinning. "Is there something else, or can I go now?"

"You're dismissed Goku," the General said.

After Goku had left the room, Kaiou sighed and sat down in his chair. He was extremely worried about the young man. He hoped that the information Muten Roshi gave him was wrong, that the Prince wasn't on his way to the palace. He knew that Goku wouldn't back down from a fight. Saiyajins were known to have the fighting spirit in their blood and they were also known for their incredible strength. So Goku would probably be the only one, who might have a chance to win a fight against Vegeta.

But at what price?

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

So, Goku got a new assignment to protect one of the seven spheres and the family of the Lord from the evil Prince Vegeta. (I guess you already found out that it was him at the beginning of chapter #1).

In the next chapter ("Surprise") Goku will move in the palace and there's waiting a huge surprise for him! To find out, what it is, you just have to wait until I post the next chapter. But I don't know yet, when I'll have time to write, because of my final examination next Thursday, Friday and Monday.

Please review and tell me what you think of this chapter!

Eternally yours

ChibiChibi