Chapter 3: A Perilous Journey (Reboot)
"What do you want with us?" Chi Chi challenged Bardock once they had made it to their destination.
Bardock turned on her, an annoyed expression on his face.
"What did I tell you about being quiet?" Bardock said, threateningly. He then walked over to Goten.
"Goten, right?"
"Please don't hurt him," Chi Chi said, her voice rising.
"I have no intention in hurting your son. I do not hurt the innocent, I crush them," Bardock said, smirking.
Chi Chi gasped and gathered Goten to up to her chest protectively. Bardock smiled, and began to practice his martial arts. His movements were barely visible to the human and were incredibly powerful. Possibly even more powerful than Goku's punches and kicks. He walked over to a large rock that seemed impossible to move, much less break. Bardock grinned and crushed it with ease. I'm going to be ready for you, Kakarot. Let's see how much you've grown, Bardock thought as he allowed the rock to crumble into dust from his hands.
Bardock looked at Chi Chi and Goten from his peripheral. They were silently crying as they held each other. Bardock sighed and began charging up an energy blast. The entire wall on the other end of the cave came crashing down. Bardock yet again practiced his martial arts, his blows perfectly lining up. Soon, Bardock stopped practicing as his stomach growled.
"Hmph, hungry again? I'll just ignore it. Hunger is a weakness," Bardock said gruffly.
"I'm impressed he can say that, Goku wouldn't be able to stand five minutes," Chi Chi muttered to herself.
"How many times do I have to tell you, his name is Kakarot? Not 'Goku'!" Bardock growled, firing an energy blast at them. Chi Chi clutched Goten protectively. The blast barely missed, nearly singing their hair. "Next time, I'll make sure to kill you. You're lucky I'm in the mood to spare you. Otherwise, you'd be dead."
Bardock could see the visible shock on Chi Chi's face at the thought of being spared by the powerful Saiyan. Bardock sighed and began practicing his martial arts again, he could feel Chi Chi watching him, fascinated. Bardock ignored her and began punching and kicking faster, knowing that he would have to work hard to beat Kakarot.
"Goku, you moron! Do you realize what you have done? You have left your family to die at the hands of an Upper Class Saiyan!" Vegeta shouted in Goku's face, his eyes blazing.
"Do you think I want my family to die? Do you think I want to lose Chi Chi and Goten?" Goku shouted back, defensively.
"Maybe you should try instant transmission?" Tien suggested.
"Yeah, good idea. The problem is, I can't do this alone, I'll need help. Is anyone willing?" Goku admitted.
"I'll go." Piccolo said.
"I'll go too." Vegeta said, while Tien gave a firm nod.
"Count me in," Gohan said.
"Great, let's go!" Goku replied.
Vegeta and Tien nodded and grabbed Goku's hand as he used instant transmission. They soon arrived at the entrance to a dark cave. Soon Piccolo and Gohan joined them.
"Who knows what's down there," Gohan muttered. The group shrugged and began to walk around the perimeter of the cave. The cave went far down into the ground. "That's a long way down or up or -" Gohan began.
"We get the point," Vegeta interrupted.
"Yeah, now, let's go!" Goku said.
The group nodded and followed Goku down into the dark cave. Tien came to the front to walk beside Goku. A draft of cold air whistled out and whipped around the group. They shivered, but brushed it off and continued moving.
"This could be very dangerous," Tien whispered.
"Yes, we don't know who or what is down here," Goku replied.
"We'll find out soon enough..." Tien said, gritting his teeth.
"Is something wrong, Tien?" Goku asked.
"There's a monster coming our way," Tien said, pointing ahead of them, then there was a loud crashing noise that shook the entire cavern.
The group gathered and got into their individually unique fighting stances, steadying themselves. Just then, a large beast with one horn, red eyes, and a whip-like tail towered menacingly in front of them. Tien's eyes widened as the beast lashed him with it's tail. The group gasped as Tien was thrown down. They all waited for him to take control of the battle, but unfortunately it never happened. He was
knocked around helplessly at thd mercy of the creature before their widened eyes.
"That's it! I can't stand this anymore!" Goku shouted, then leaped at the beast and threw a powerful punch at it. The beast didn't even flinch.
"Wha?" Goku gasped.
The beast growled and brought its powerful talons and to shook the ground around Goku, who jumped up from the rebound of the powerful quake and attempted a roundhouse kick to the creature's jaw. His leg was ensnared in its dagger like teeth as he cried out and tried to struggle free from its jaws. The beast only shook him harder. Getting fed up with it, Goku focused all his energy and turned Super Saiyan. The beast let out a terrified howl and dropped Goku hard onto the ground. It then stormed off without looking behind it.
Confused, Goku looked behind him. Vegeta was standing, at the ready to shoot with the Galick Gun. Tien stood shakily, blood running from a long scratch in his leg.
"Are you okay, Tien?" Goku asked.
"Yeah, just hurt a little bit," Tien replied.
"Here," Goku said, throwing Tien a Senzu Bean.
"Thanks," Tien said, then ate the bean.
He smiled and stood up, feeling rejuvenated. With a curt nod, Goku led the group down the winding paths of the cave. Soon, they heard the trickling of running water. Goku led the group towards the promising noise. Just then, there was a loud shriek. The group turned around to see a huge wolf with glowing red eyes glaring at them. They sighed and got into their fighting stances.
"Why do you trespass in the Cave of Dusk?" The wolf snarled through it's deadly teeth.
"I'm trying to find my son and wife," Goku replied.
"Why would a child and a woman be down here? It's too dangerous, and I speak from experience," The wolf said, snickering.
"So we found the wrong cave then?" Goku asked, furrowing his brows.
"Well, now that I think about it... a young man with a woman and a child did pass through here a couple of hours ago," the wolf said, as it narrowed its yellow eyes on him.
"Goten, Chi Chi and Bardock... Wolf spirit, may we pass?" Goku said firmly.
"Very well, but the road ahead has many perils, I advise you watch yourself," the wolf said, disappearing.
Soon, the wolf was gone, leaving the group to walk the dangerous path that laid ahead.
Yet again, this was beta read by RoyalBlueRoses.