Chapter Eight
Piccolo and Gohan stared up in the sky, knowing that the Dragon was being summoned. At the edge of the cave, Rideria, Rikola and Rhyne stood.
"Father, don't send us away." Rhyne said softly, as if she understood the significance of the darkening red sky.
Piccolo looked into her black eyes and his heart broke. "Stay with them." He said to Gohan and then he left.
Piccolo flew as fast as he could toward the Lookout.
WHY HAVE YOU SUMMONED ME, GUARDIAN OF EARTH?
"I humbly request that a wish be granted to me." Kami spoke. "It is such that can only be granted to one in my position."
THEN SPEAK YOUR WISH.
Kami took in a deep breath. "A few weeks ago, three Namekian children were hatched on this planet. The legacy of evil is too great to risk their presence. It is my wish, and the wish of their sire, that the deed be reversed…..wiped from existence as if it never occurred."
The mighty Dragon looked thoughtful for a few moments.
THE SIRE OF THESE CHILDREN ALSO WISHES THEIR EXTINCTION?
"Yes, he does." Kami said sadly.
ONCE SUCH A WISH IS DONE, IT CAN NEVER BE UNDONE…YOU DO REALIZE THIS?
Kami nodded.
Again, the Dragon looked thoughtful, as if he were searching through a rulebook to see if this wish could be granted.
THIS WISH CAN BE GRANTED.
The Dragon's eyes glowed red as if filled with fire. Kami held his breath and closed his eyes, silently saying goodbye to the little girls.
Piccolo landed on the Lookout just as the Dragon's eyes returned to normal.
"NO!" He shouted like a wild man. "IT IS NOT MY WISH!! I DO NOT WANT THEM TAKEN AWAY!"
Kami was in shock. "It is too late! The wish has been granted!" He said, suddenly feeling the same heartbreak as Piccolo.
"NO!" Piccolo screamed again. "TAKE IT BACK! TAKE BACK THE WISH!"
"I cannot!" Kami said, trying to remain calm. "We agreed! I did what we agreed upon!"
Piccolo looked up at Earth's Dragon. "PLEASE, I CHANGED MY MIND! I DO NOT WISH FOR THE GIRLS TO HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN! CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING? ANOTHER WISH?"
"It can not be undone." Kami tried to explain to Piccolo. "A wish like this is sealed in time! Never to be changed!"
Piccolo was so very angry. And so very hurt. He had been too late. "No….." He said. "What have I done?" As if struck from behind, Piccolo fell to the floor on his knees.
Kami had never witnessed anything like what he saw. Never thinking he would live long enough to see Piccolo to the point of tears. Although his eyes were dry, his heart was crying buckets at the loss of the girls. Kami felt each and every emotion that Piccolo was feeling. Kami never knew that his emotions ran so deeply.
THE WISH WAS NOT COMPLETED.
Piccolo looked up from the tile floor at the Dragon. "What? What do you mean?"
"But it was made…" Kami said, hoping that what he heard the Dragon say was indeed the truth.
YOU STATED THE SIRE OF THE CHILDREN ALSO WISHED THAT THEY BE REMOVED FROM EXISTENCE. BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE SIRE DESIRES THE CHILDREN TO REMAIN AS THEY ARE, THEREFORE, I COULD NOT GRANT YOUR WISH.
Kami smiled an enormous smile.
Piccolo could not believe his ears. They weren't gone? Would he return to the cave and find them there? Save? Alive? "How did you know?" He asked the Dragon as he rose up from the floor.
I SEARCHED YOUR HEARTKami continued to smile. "You mean, he has one?"
Piccolo found himself almost wanting to laugh out loud at Kami's remark.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER WISH? OR CAN I RETURN TO MY SLEEP?
"No more wishes." Kami said. "Thank you, great Dragon."
"WAIT!" Piccolo shouted, looking from Kami to the Dragon. "I have a wish."
Gohan knew the Dragon was still there, but so were the girls. They were sitting at the edge of the cave, watching as the sun was slowly rising over the mountains.
He wondered what was happening at the Lookout.
"Is Father coming back?" Rhyne asked shyly.
Gohan smiled. "Yes. He is ….."
Suddenly, Gohan saw as Rideria and Rikola grabbed their heads and screamed out in pain. He jumped up, rushing to the girls' side, but did not know what to do. "He must not have made it in time!" Gohan shouted out loud. "NO! Don't go!" But after about a minute of tearful pain, it stopped. And the girls had not vanished.
Slowly, Rideria and Rikola looked around. "What happened?" Rideria asked.
Gohan shrugged his shoulders, thankful that Piccolo had managed to save them. Within minutes, Piccolo arrived back at the cave.
"Piccolo!" Gohan shouted. "I knew you'd do it!"
He shook his head. "I did not make it." Piccolo explained. "If it had not been for the Dragon's ability to do no wrong, they would be gone." He offered no more excuses, but knelt down closer to the girls. "Come here." He said. Rhyne did not need any encouragement. She went running to her father's open arms. Rikola hesitated only a moment, but smiled as she too accepted Piccolo's spontaneous affection.
Rideria stood back, looking at him confused.
"It's alright." Piccolo told her. "The voices are gone."
She looked startled that her father knew. "How did you get them to stop?" She asked.
"I called in a favor from a friend." Piccolo smiled.
Slowly, she walked forward. Rideria stopped just a foot away from her father and sisters. It was Piccolo who reached out his hand and took hold of her arm, pulling her forward.
For the first time, Rideria smiled, hugging her father.
Gohan smiled as well. Whatever had happened, it obviously changed things for the better. "I guess I better go before mom has a cow!" He said. "I'll see you as soon as I can!"
The boy left, feeling enormously happy. He knew Piccolo would be all right….he knew that Rideria, Rikola and Rhyne would also thrive. Secretly, he wished that he could stay with Piccolo for a while. He missed his friend desperately and hoped to have a big role in the lives of the girls.
For now, Gohan quietly entered his bedroom window. The room was empty and he was thankful that he had not been discovered. He took off his clothes and crawled back into bed.
Kami also wanted rest. He told Mr. Popo not to disturb him while he was in meditation. He walked toward the back of the Lookout, hoping to have peace and solitude. Sitting in an overstuffed chair, he relaxed. It was over, the girls were staying and Piccolo………yes indeed, Piccolo. By now, the same stubborn and hateful Piccolo had returned. But, for just a few moments, the man that Piccolo was destined to become, showed his face on this Earth. A man who was proud and determined, but able to love as well.
"You surprised me, my son." Kami said out loud, allowing his eyes to close in slumber.
THANKS FOR READING!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, should it end here? Nice and peaceful? Or do you want some action? Some romance? Or more of Piccolo's life as a single father? HEHEHEHEH!!! Just wait….I do have a major plot twist planned….no real romance…but some definite action and a villain that enters the picture….so, sit back and relax…Rideria, Rikola and Rhyne are about to show that you don't mess with Piccolo or anyone else that they care about….----HINT: Major influx of Nameks on the way!
Sherri