The Legend of Gohan

Book The First

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own DragonBall Z or any characters that appear therein. This story is for no monetary gain and all characters, names, places, species and ideas etc belong to Akira Toriyama.

Proclaimer: Gohan is the BEST (enough said for now)

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The first sight that greeted Piccolo once his vision cleared from the Light was an enormous Dragon. It was a moment of intense awe for the warrior for before him floating meters above what he perceived to be the ground was the Eternal Dragon Shenron, a long cylindrical body of large emerald and jade scales over lapping and evincing an almost liquid visage of unceasing waves that seemed to flow with every sinuous movement. An elongated head with two tree like horns, a mouth with large, sharp teeth and most striking of all two blood ruby red eyes. It was the first time he had seen the Dragon and he knew that he would never forget this sight.

"The Child of Katattsu. Welcome" the Dragon said.

Piccolo did recognize the name the Dragon had spoken and he assumed that the welcome was directed at him, as it was he just shrugged off the name and nodded his acceptance. No matter what the situation the warrior in him would not loose his cool.

He then took a moment to survey his surroundings: They stood on a wide plain that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see and to what he thought was his west he saw a vast range of blue rocked mountains that had peaks that reared higher than any mountains he had seen on Earth. The peaks disappeared into white colored clouds that dominated that part of the alien sky, and what an alien sky it was, it seemed to have shifting hues of green, red, violets and oranges a collage of shifting colors that owned no particular pattern and seemed to be governed by a chaotic force. For an unknown reason he found the green hues oddly comforting reminding him of something he had seen in another life. And as he brought his eyes back to the mountain range he saw something what seemed to be the underbelly of a large being and just as it appeared it was quickly swallowed by the clouds and he found himself not trusting his own eyes. Could he have seen a Dragon just now? Shaking his head slightly as if to dispel any unpleasant thoughts he brought his attention back to the most relevant being in his current presence. He was a bit discomforted by Shenron's gaze, which had settled on him. It seemed to regard him with an unfathomable look.

He was slightly relieved when the Dragon shifted its regard to that of his other. Kami, the Kami of the Earth, a being with which he shared an unbreakable link, a link that bound their Fate's together and ensnared their Destinies. To his credit Kami held up better than expected under the gaze of The Dragon Eternal Dragon Shenron.

"Kami of Earth" The Dragon spoke in its deep, booming voice, addressing Kami with his title. "I know why you have come. Ask your question and I will answer as best as I can" Shenron stated.

Kami took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. This was it the moment he had been anticipating and dreading for a long time.

To see the long view, that was the task of the Kami. He had been The Kami of the Earth for a long time, having risen to the position as a young and headstrong warrior, physically separated from his negative part and ready to shoulder the burden of protecting an entire planet. He had seen the Earth through ages of crises and through ages of hope, and after a long while though he needed to confirm it he felt that something monumental was coming. Only a feeling and now what he needed were proofs. The Elder Gods had long since fallen silent, the Kai's concerned with Other World and The Kaioshin so far removed as to seem silent to those in the ORDER of the Pantheon. He had first come here in answer to a deep rooted feeling that compelled him to seek something beyond himself and the Earth and to create. That first time he had found The Dragon Shenron and speaking for humanity he asked for its help and so they had signed The Contract of Summoning and it had then been up to Kami to complete the necessary steps on his side according to his own power. He had created a True Model of the Dragon Shenron's Form and he had employed his own Magic to create the DragonBalls as a channel to Summon The Dragon and he had sent them into the world. It was up to humanity to prove worthy. Ancient history, The Dragon had told him it did not care what was asked only that it would grant wishes according to the power he had given and it would not refuse any who summoned him, any consequences would be shouldered by Kami and the results would be felt by the Earth whether good or ill. Ancient History, no need to recall what already was, Kami looked at the long view of events.

"I have read the Stars, seen the Signs and felt the Tremors in the very air, Shenron I am troubled and I have come to you to ask one question." Kami said in a troubled voice.

Piccolo waited for the question his interest having been raised by the tone of voice Kami had taken. He could not discern Kami's mind frame for it seemed to him that in this place they were separate in that it was their minds and spirits which had troubled to this place and therefore the link was satisfied with his presence just being here.

"What is coming?" He heard Kami say. A simple question, one Piccolo did not truly understand… revelation was soon to come though.

A simple question yet profoundly relevant to the situation that was happening on Earth. A simple question that might warrant a simple answer: a name, an event, or something to answer such a simple question. Some simple questions could never have simple answers and this was one of them.

The Eternal Dragon Shenron was quiet for time, its visage unfathomable, and so Kami was unable to anticipate the kind of answer he would receive, either a positive or negative answer. Finally the Dragon spoke.

"I and my Brethren have existed long beyond Mortal understanding, and we have been content in our existence. Here in this realm where concepts of Time are not present we have been at Rest. Our Rest has only been disturbed by moments and events of great importance and of dull mediocrity, for those on the outside. We have never cared about Mortal affairs, only fulfilling our agreed upon duties and never lingering long in the Mortal realms in which we were summoned. This we have done ever since the ORDERED UNIVERSE Began, ever since chaos was subdued and order dominated the Great Scale. You must understand Kami, we are old and we are governed by different rules. Our Fates and Destinies have always been apart, and that is how it was and how it was to remain. Eternity, what is that? That is something no one being across all realms and all existences has ever known. The Dragons have never known it all we have known is our existence and that is all that counts. Why trouble ourselves with short lived beings whose impact upon each other and the other beings is insignificant?" The Enormous snake like Dragon paused as if waiting for its words to sink in.

"Why indeed" the Dragon continued "We do not impact greatly upon the Worlds and realms we have visited, we do not directly take action in the vast dramas that plague those existences, as I said we are content with our rest. We only perform what we are asked to do. Contracts such as the one you signed with your very blood are means for the Summon, but the impact of my presence on your World is subject to your own power, such as it was in your incomplete state. Do you understand?"

The rhetorical question was not missed by Piccolo, more was to come. He was beginning to grasp a small thread that would begin to help him get out of the deep pool of confusion he found himself in when he first set ethereal feet in this realm. Dragons, plural he would never have thought of such a thing. Realms and worlds, contracts and blood, this was a track he had never thought possible and to find out that his other had stepped foot on this track filled him with trepidation for it meant that one day he would have to walk the same track. Fate and Destiny, oh how he struggled against those two. The Fate his father had bestowed upon him to avenge him and the Destiny Kami that bound him to Kami. He would have nothing to do with them were the choice his.

He was brought out of his musings as the Dragon continued.

"In essence Kami, we do not care. Could a being completely removed from such a large part of your realms existence truly care whether his power brought suffering or happiness? The answer is no. That burden is carried by you, your kind and all who would travel here seeking their own goals. I reminded you of that when you wished to take your life and end the threat to the Earth, your previous burdens were weighing on contract and I could not abide that. In a contract there must be an even exchange, the good with the bad, there is no escaping that." Again the Dragon paused and his regard shifting to Piccolo.

Piccolo ignored the pressure of the Dragon and faced his other, shock running its course down his body. This was indeed a beaten track one which if he was not careful would lead him to a precipice that could spell his doom. He also realized that these words were in fact for him and what was said next confirmed that.

"Ancient History" The Dragon spoke as it turned to Kami "Is that not your favorite saying? But we will leave that for now. Time has no meaning but in your world it does and already a considerable amount has passed, so I must answer question, but some words needed to be said"

The words were indeed for his sake but they concerned and now Piccolo knew that the next words concerned the present and more specifically his present.

"The Eternal Dragons have awakened" The Dragon boomed "Power unveiled and manifest in all of its vast aspects to affect realms that had long since forgotten the very name of the Great Wish Granters, the World Shapers, Star Movers and other titles. Our movements have cast Shadow's into the Mortal realm. The very Stars you have read, Signs you have seen and the Tremors you have felt have been the result of these Shadow's disrupting the Flow. But we do not take sole responsibility for the phenomena affecting the Mortal realm."

If only he would get to his point Piccolo thought

"I am getting there" The Dragon responded in its deep rumbling voice turning from Kami and facing Piccolo with those piercing eyes. Kami shot Piccolo a sharp look hoping to convey his displeasure at this unseemly interruption, wholly caused by Piccolo of course.

Piccolo ignored him, not having access to each others thoughts and feelings was turning out to be quite useful, because Kami knows there have been times when he has been unable to escape Kami's constant displeasure. At any ate it seemed as if the Dragon did not mind.

"The reason we have awakened is because, there is an event that will occur that will shape the course of existence in all its definitions. The importance of this event has caused our awakening, we have joined our stake with all other beings and we now await the event to occur. For the first time the Dragons have become restless and we have felt unease, what is coming and why has it caused all of us to not only awaken but to take direct and independent action in the Mortal realm. Such a thing has never occurred and all we wish to find out what it truly is. We believe this event will have a profound impact upon all facets of existence. Across Space and Time: transcending Birth and Death, Existence and Extinction, chaos and order, reality and unreality, life and anti-life, mortals and immortals, sentience and instinct, all facets of existence which are reflected in small parts in the soul of every being."

"What comes…?. The Eternal Dragon Shenron said. "I do not know…" with as wistful a tone as could be conveyed in that deep, rumbling voice.

And further elaboration was to follow from The Eternal Dragon Shenron "But I am content to as must you. To see what is to be seen."

"Patience" The Eternal Dragon Shenron spoke in what Piccolo felt was a laughing tone "You both have your parts to play". This closing statement was emphasized by the increasing glow of the Dragons eyes which had bathed the two figures in their red Light.

"Now that was a long winded answer" Came Piccolo's sardonic remark "if I had known it was going to be that long I would have asked for a chair". His rough demeanor covering the overwhelmed feeling he had deep down in the pit of his soul, or part soul.

Something is important about to happen and somehow I'm caught up in it. How do I get myself in these things?

"Piccolo!" Kami shouted "Show some respect to the Eternal Dragon, you must learn that there are far vaster powers than yours and some of them will not be as forgiving of your nature as people like Goku" Kami finished.

The mention of his rival raised Piccolo's ire and the long enmity between him and Kami flared up. Between feeling overwhelmed by Existence changing events and getting into an argument with Kami Piccolo would gladly chose the latter.

"Listen here you old fool, I am the strongest fighter on the Earth, and once I get rid of that fool I will be taking it over. I won't have to worry about things like respect because I'll be number one. So if you don't want to offend the future ruler of Earth I suggest you shut up" Piccolo screamed back.

Kami's reply was cut short as the Dragon suddenly spoke

"Kami the time is near. Return at once and continue to watch. Your part will happen soon. Things grow clear. I am comforted for a familiar feeling has descended upon me and I am no longer uneasy. A feeling of…" The words were spoken in a lighter voice but towards the end they had been growing faint and it was then that Piccolo found himself phasing out of The Dragon Realm and back into his own. As it was he was unable to hear the last word the Dragon spoke.

Although the same thing had occurred to Kami through his memories of his last visit he perceived what that final word was even without hearing it.

It was…

Hope.

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A lone figure in a large desert opens his eyes looking upon the rising sun. His journey to that strange realm was not forgotten and import of the words spoken finally setting in once his solitude was restored.

"Wasted a night of training, hanging around Dragons and a wrinkled mirror image" he said to no one in particular.

As the warrior lifted higher into the he seemingly chose a random direction and flew in it, searching for a fresh water source. Flying high above the ground as to make the ground not easily visible the figure contemplated the past nights events.

Not noticing his direction and not focusing on the land below Piccolo, off spring of The Demon King Piccolo, The New Half of The Child of Katattsu, Demon Warrior, Avenger, Runner-up in the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budokai and unbeknownst to him a transplanted Namekian, was flying over a small house in the 439 East Mountain Area and it was then that a presence he felt 2 months prior washed over him. Its intensity unceasing and undeniable causing the warrior to pause…for a long while, to find what he was.

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The Kami of the Earth opened his eyes to be greeted by the rising sun and a very worried Genie.

"Kami" Mr. Popo said in a relieved voice "I am so glad your back"

"Yes Mr. Popo, I have returned. I hope I have not worried you too much" Kami replied "You had been gone for so long that I was beginning to wonder if you would return" Mr. Popo said.

"What do you mean 'Gone for so long' Mr. Popo?" Kami asked "I've only been gone for a few hours".

"Hours, oh no Kami you've been gone for nearly a month" Mr. Popo said surprised that the Kami of Earth did not know how long he was gone.

"A month!" Kami exclaimed "That's impossible it only felt like…" He paused mid sentence as his senses picked up various fluctuations in the Earth, a restless that had not been so intense when he had left but which now seemed to reach a high point. Even as the Earth moved the Stars blazed brighter than he had ever seen, their view not obscured thanks to the Look-Outs unique position at the Top of the World. It seemed the event was occurring.

I wonder what it is. Could it be G… The thoughts of Kami, The Original Half of the Child of Katattsu, Kami of the Earth and unbeknownst to him a transplanted Namekian were interrupted as a presence he had felt 2 months before, correction three months before engulfed him. It was now more directed, more intense and it compelled him to pause and to look within himself and to see what was to see in the depths of his incomplete soul. Not a judgment something above definition. He paused for a long time

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On a small island in the middle of the Great Ocean of Kame, two figures were outside even as the sun rose. One of the two a short, bald, man wearing an orange fighting gi had just finished going through a set of advanced training techniques that the other figure had suggested. He was just about to perform an energy blast when he felt an unfamiliar presence press itself against his awareness. So Krillin, Kame Sen'nin Martial Arts Practitioner, best friend of the current world champion, former monk and Tenka'ichi Budokai competitor paused. He stood very still and he suddenly the reflected on his life, seeing it play out as if watching a movie. He paused for a long time.

The figure that had also been out on that morning had also paused, but for an entirely different reason. "It begins" the white full bearded man, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts along with a pair of expensive sunglasses said. Muten Roshi, an enigma himself, had watched events unfold over a long time and he had even taken direct action in the shaping of the future. Now it was time for someone to begin anew and create a future that could go in any direction and that was just as it should be.

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The Three Eyed warrior who was meditating in a secluded glade in the Western Continent, he was already in a heightened state of awareness when the presence passed over him and Tenshinhan he was able to experience it on a whole new level. Warrior, Crane Martial Arts Practitioner, Adept Psychic, 22nd Tenka'Ichi Budokai Winner stood still. He was able to see his growth and to appreciate his own position in the hierarchy of powerful warriors. The rivalry he experienced with Goku was something that pushed him to his limits and he would not change it. When the first thoughts of Lunch filtered through they changed his whole perspective and for the first time fighting came second.

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In the most prestigious area of West Capitol City a large yellow domed building that housed three of the most brilliant scientific minds on the world, a small black cat, numerous Dinosaurs and serves as the headquarters of the Capsule Corporation, the worlds most revolutionary company that was responsible for all capsule technology. DR Briefs had created technology years before and had created a technology could not be matched. It was unclear as to who Bulma Briefs took after the most, her father or her mother, because she had aspects of both in various degrees. She had inherited her mother's strikingly beautiful features and her father's intelligence. Combining her beauty and her brains she formed a complete package. She had beautiful big bright sapphire blue eyes that were her most striking feature followed closely by her hair which was a shade of blue that was closer to turquoise, a funny feature was the fact that when she was born her hair was purple but as she grew up the color seemed to change to acquire the natural blue color that turned heads wherever she went. A genius inventor who had created the dragon radar a device to accurately locate Dragonballs based on the electromagnetic field they emitted. And recently she had been working on a device to try and track the energy emitted of her many friends. It must be noted that Bulma Briefs called the strongest warriors in the world her friends and the strongest of them all was her closest friend. Although she did not have any martial arts training she could apply her enormous intellect to any problem and come up with an effective solution in record time. She had been in her workshop when the device she was testing to try and detect the energy of her best friend Goku, started to go crazy, she looked at the monitor to try and understand she was picking up and so in a way she was not unprepared for the presence that engulfed her. Unfortunately the jolt of coming into contact with the presence caused her to accidentally drop the device which she had picked and thus setting back her work for a while, but at that moment that was the last thing on her mind.

Unlucky in love from a young age Bulma was surprised to feel that all her past relationships were passing through her minds eye. Though she had only kissed one man in her life and that was Yamcha she had still had a lot of suitors she had spent time with when she was younger but as reviewed them in her mind she was able to get a clear picture of what was wrong having been a prodigy no one had been able to capture her heart when she was younger. Meeting Goku and their subsequent adventures introduced for the first time people who exceeded her in a field. But seeing as fighting was never something she did, it sort of did not count for her. For a time she had gone out with Yamcha but even then he was witty and sharp and that was good for a while but in the end she had known it could not last long and so for now they were in a rough patch. She still held out for the hope of finding a Prince Charming for herself, her best friend Goku had married a Princess making him a Prince and so she hoped the same would happen to her. But there were no eligible Princes around who could hold her attention and challenge her completely and so she had resigned herself to wait, but still holding a hope that it would change. Something in her thoughts touched the presence for she suddenly saw felt herself freed from her mind and in a place that was alien yet still comforting and she stood still.

Across thousand miles on a planet far from the Milky Way a 5 foot 3 inch warrior was having a restless dream. The warrior had an extremely pronounced widow's peak and hair that resembled a lit flame with the way it went straight up flaring out slightly at the sides and then coming back to form a peak that was recognized in most parts of the North Galaxy. The hair itself a dark ebony that reflected the cold reaches of deep space. He was currently tossing and turning, caught in an unknown nightmare when he felt something fleeting pass over him, it was there one minute and gone the next. The presence though not fully felt was realized on an unconscious level and the nightmares stilled and the warrior stilled in his sleep, his mind transported to a colorless place he could not even fully comprehend. He saw a figure emerge from the darkness and it became clearer as it approached banishing the darkness around and as she got closer for he could clearly see it was a woman, his heart raced. When she reached him the darkness around him was gone and he perceived her fir the first he looked into her eyes and he was moved. Feelings thoroughly buried threatened to break to the surface in an outpouring of emotion but that was not to be as he suddenly woke up. The last thing he remembered were those eyes, sapphire blue…. In that moment the warrior knew peace and he thanked the figure for banishing the dark if only for a little while.

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In a modest house in a nice suburb of Orange Star city a young woman was sitting a small rocking chair facing the rising sun that was flooding the house with its warmth and light. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and porcelain skin and she seemed to glow with an inner radiance which her husband attributed to her angelic nature and the state in which she was currently. Her small delicate mouth and smooth button nose were enhanced by her large lavender eyes. She had been gently rocking in the chair when she felt something pas through her but this feeling was forgotten as she suddenly felt a movement that originated from in her body but could be clearly felt by placing a hand on her swollen stomach. She was very excited and called her professional wrestler husband.

"Hercule, the baby moved" she called out

A large man sporting a large afro and a smooth jaw line walked into the living room after hearing his wife's call. He rushed to her and placed his hand on her stomach and promptly felt what his wife had called him for. The look of intense joy on his face was priceless.

"It seems that the little one is excited" he said and for an unknown reason they both stood still just enjoying the moment.

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In the 439 East Mountain Area, in a small house, an exhausted Son Chi-Chi sat up in her bed holding a small bundle wrapped in a gold blanket. The soft knock on the door announced a visitor and after a small bit the door was opened and a head of spiky hair appeared in the doorway son followed by the handsome face of her husband, with the biggest smile Chi-Chi had ever seen on his face. He carefully made his way to Chi-Chi and when he arrived by the bed she moved to the side to allow him room to get on the bed. He then leaned closer to her and placed a tender kiss on her forehead and she smiled softly, enjoying the feeling of love and contentment. The small bundle in her hands suddenly squirmed slightly and she looked down at what was the most precious being in the world to her. The feeling she got when she looked down at her new born son was overwhelming, she suddenly felt a Goku reach out to her and she felt the mental hug he sent her, that showed how he encompassed by of them with his strength and she appreciated the secure feeling that washes over her.

Chi-Chi moved the gold blanket slightly to reveal more of the bundle and Goku looked upon his son and the feeling that came over him was something he could understand. The love he felt for his family was overwhelming, a beautiful wife and a son, what more could he want, his instincts were telling him that the circle was complete fine and Goku always followed his instincts.

"Goku say hi to your son… Gohan" Chi-Chi said and tears came to his eyes. The circle he understood, he had felt it first with his instincts before Chi-Chi confirmed for his mind. The Circle was complete.

Grandpa…

The small baby looked up to the two holding him and he smiled.

The smile on their babies face caused both parents to also smile. They stayed like that for a while still and quiet and it seemed the forest was also obliging them for the animals were not creating any noise. The baby was moving though his eyes looking at the two figures confirming a lifelong bond. Though thoughts were not formed instinct had made the connection that this was safe, and for the others well, they were felt and that was good enough for now….

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