Kami's Lookout

To put it mildly the Saiyans were disgruntled. They WASTED 3 days running up a tower only to be told by a cat and a fat man that they had to keep going until they reached the sky. If it had not been for Yamcha and Krillin, there would have been a massacre. Finally at the end of the 4th day, the exhausted team trooped up to Kami's Lookout. Angry, tired, in need of serious hygiene, and most of all hungry, the Saiyans plopped down on the smooth white surface each with a distinct groan of displeasure.

"Why the fuck could we not have flown here?" queried a very surly Raditz. He was particularly pissed off as Yamcha and Krillin looked not all bothered by the unnecessary manual effort. Yamcha ever the cocky badass leaned over to be nose to nose with the bushy Saiyan. "Because, dipshit, you" he pointed hard in his chest "need the fucking exercise. You're slow and ponderous. In battle you'd get us all killed. So suck it up" as he punctuated his statement with a smug smile.

Raditz was itching for a fight with this brash bullshit artist. He began to dig in to the surface with his nails as he showed very sharp teeth. He reared back to headbutt the fool, but in a flash Yamcha was gone, further exacerbating the situation. Yamcha let out an insultingly obnoxious belly laugh aimed to egg on the scene. Raditz was about to take the bait when a new figure walked in.

He was close to average in height with skin as black as night. He had red lips, a snow white turban, and eyes that could stare into your very soul. "Now, now children, Kami would not like you to tear up his Lookout with useless fighting" he giggled.

Krillin stepped forward and greeted his friend. "Mr. Popo, how good it is to see you. Will Kami join us?"

Mr. Popo paused thoughtfully as he always did. "No, I do not believe so. He is meeting with other planet protectors. I don't expect him for quite a while." He turned. "Yamcha, you are well I hope?" As usual Yamcha gave a two fingered salute as he was too cool for his company. Moving to the newcomers he bowed deeply. "Welcome to Kami's Lookout."

Vegeta drew breath ready to give him a tongue lashing for the ages when his host held up a large hand indicating silence. "Let us eat, you may yell at me later" he said with a smile. Popo turned on his heel and walked into the building. The group followed and were aptly rewarded with a sumptuous banquet. A large table laid before them with fragrant fruits, sizzling meats, and tantalizing desserts waiting to be sampled. The Saiyans sat and feasted like they hadn't eaten in years. Yamcha and Krillin blanched at the atrocious manners of Nappa and Raditz. Noticing, Vegeta cleared his throat and his subordinates immediately toned down their raucous behavior.

After being properly sated, the team returned outside where Vegeta questioned why they were there. "What could you possibly do for us that years of fighting endless warriors have not? You do not seem like a trainer of fighters and I am so tired of wasting my time here" he finished with a bite of anger, and a look of disrespect.

Popo smiled. "Well things are never as they appear. Would mind trying to hit me please?"

Vegeta was stunned. He would turn this weakling into paste with one blow. It was not a challenge for him. "Raditz," he barked. "Hit this weird looking genie and wipe that smile off his face while you are doing it." A sadistic smile crept across the face of the third class fighter. He stepped up to his smaller, dark skinned target and launched a meaty paw in the direction of his face with a fair amount of speed and malice.

Air-he actually just hit air. That has never happened before. Mr. Popo shimmered the instand before his attack, and appeared a few feet back from his original position out of Raditz reach. The stunned Saiyan looked at his hand as if it somehow malfunctioned. Raditz quickly adjusted and advanced his attack again only to miss completely. Mr. Popo seemed to wait until Raditz attacked, then his form shimmered as he simply moved away every time. Over and over he missed. His scowl increased as each swing failed to hit the target.

Nappa looked on his compatriot with disgust. From behind, he began his own attack on Mr. Popo in concert with Radtiz's efforts. Both were attacking with dizzying speed-and still missing. Each on connected with air as Mr. Popo seemed to phase into and out of material form, he was moving so fast. Raditz and Nappa were breathing heavy and sweating buckets. Never had they engaged with an enemy with such speed.

If Vegeta's pride would have allowed it, he would have hung his head in shame. Aside from the Ginyu Force, no one had ever humiliated them so completely. Full of rage, he flew into battle intent on doing as much bodily harm to this clown as possible. Punches and kicks flew through the air as the caretaker dodged with grace and calm. To Krillin it was beautiful but Yamcha on the other hand laughed his ass off - LOUDLY. Krillin looked at his friend with disgust. "Everyone has to learn, Yamcha. I remember when you learned..." Yamcha immediately stifled his giggles. Memories of that dark time were littered with countless failures that he never talked about. Chagrined, he continued to watch the Saiyans have their turn with this lesson.

Meanwhile the Sayians were still frustrated with their inability to lay a finger on Popo. "Move!" yelled Vegeta as he gathered all his remaining energy. The Sayian's scattered as they knew what was coming next. Popo's eyes became wide as saucers. He waved his hands yelling "NO!" in a feeble attempt to stop Vegeta's angry actions. Fear gripped the genie as he had never felt something so powerful that was so near to his person. Vegeta was filled with a hateful glee as he read the terror in Popo's eyes. 'Finally,' he thought, 'the respect I deserve'. He rose high into the air and shouted "Galic Gun!"

Krillin and Yamcha moved to block the release. It was as if they were running in quicksand. They were too slow-they weren't going to make it. Popo was going to die.

A flash of brilliant light barreled down on its target with fantastic speed. The scorching heat could be felt on Popo's skin. He knew the end was near. Popo closed his eyes to accept his fate when an instantaneous force interposed between him and his anticipated demise. When Mr. Popo opened his eyes, he saw the back of a tall muscular man with haphazard hair and a red gi, who seemed to easily block the fearsome attack. This man defected the energy away from the group with a flick of his wrist, as the scream of the energy whistled off into the distant sky, dissipating into the atmosphere. Offering a friendly gesture, he held out his hand to Mr. Popo, helping him to his slipper-ed feet.

"Are you alright?" he gently asked.

"Oh yes. Thank you! I-"

Not far away, a voice boomed, "Who the fuck do you think you are?" Vegeta was incensed with rage, "No one interrupts The Prince of all Saiyans in battle!" he yelled as he stalked up to the man who towered over him by at least one head.

Vegeta locked eyes with the man, who obviously had a confused look on his face. "This wasn't a battle, as I understand. This was supposed to be a lesson." His voice was confident and clear. Vegeta looked mutinous. He opened his mouth to vent his spleen but was knocked on his royal ass by the energy radiating from the figure. Nappa would have rushed to help his Prince but he was having trouble staying upright himself.

Raditz couldn't move. He was stupefied at seeing the absolute replica of his father standing in front of him. His father had died 20 years ago in an attempted coup on Frieza. This must be his brother... but how is this possible? He was supposed to be weak...he was supposed to be dead.

"...K-Kakkarot..." Raditz stuttered.

Vegeta's head snapped to the third classed soldier. "What do you mean 'Kakkarot'? That weakling is dead-killed the day he was born. Power level was 1. Bardock was so ashamed he had the brat killed on the spot" he finished.

The man bowed his head as his cheeks were stained red with humiliation. Slowly, he opened the front of his gi. Radiz gasped as he began to reveal a devastating scar from his sternum to his navel. "...you're right...I should be dead" he whispered. Raditz fell to his knees breathing heavily "How...how are you here, Kakkarot?"

Yamcha and Krillin flanked the taller man seeming to lend him moral support while casting disapproving glares towards Vegeta. The man turned his eyes on to his brother. "It was Father. He put me in a pod after it looked like he killed me. He knew I was hurt bad but I could still heal. He left a video telling me to be the best warrior I could be and to stay away from Frieza as he's dangerous" Bulma's dad intercepted my pod and brought me to live on Earth." After a breath, he added, "And my name is Goku, if you don't mind."

Krillen gave him a couple of pats on the back for comfort.

"I have been trained by the best martial arts masters in the-"

"World?" Vegeta interjected in disbelief. "This backwater mud-ball? Pathetic and completely useless"

"Is he always this stupid?" asked Yamcha with a smug grin.

Vegeta was about to lose his patience when he heard a strong female voice say "Yamcha, you are not helping. Shut up or Leave." Bulma walked closer to the group while fixing Yamcha with a stare that could melt titanium. He threw up his hands and walked back to the entry way. Bulma stepped in front of Goku. "Thank you for coming when I called" she said softly.

"Woman, why didn't you tell me a Saiyan warrior was already here? As the Prince of Vegeta I should be made aware of such details! Kakkarot you will come kneel, and pledge your loyalty to the crown" he raged like a spoiled brat.

Bulma spun on her heel and looked Vegeta right in the eye. "You act as if I give a shit about your rank. I don't-so deal." she said smoothly. "Do not test me on this or your last visit to the infirmary will look like a vacation." "Now, if we can move on to the lesson" she said with a smile and turned back towards Goku who was closing his gi. She couldn't help but notice the slightly sad look that was always present on his chiseled face. "How would you like to proceed?"

After a few minutes contemplation, the wild haired warrior had an idea. "Well I have my opinions but I would like to hear what Mr. Popo has to say about their abilities"

"Then that is what we will do. Mr. Popo, you have the floor" Bulma encouraged.

Mr. Popo turned his attention to the Saiyans. "After reviewing your styles I can confidently say that you have potential. Unfortunately you have countless unnecessary moves. Like the wings of a fledgling bird. They can flap, but they cannot fly." Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz all snickered. They knew what he was saying was bullshit. They had been trained to be killing machines. But realization began to dawn on them. As skilled as they were, they couldn't even graze this being no matter how hard they tried.

Vegeta took a few moments, and realized his anger was like a giant wall, and he got an epiphany; and really began to understand. "Stop fortifying yourself behind walls, simply be like stone. Let your mind be calm and still, and the wind cannot possibly move you". Vegeta felt a finale relaxing exhale of anger leave him.

Nappa was still not convinced. "What the hell will that give us?"

Mr. Popo smiled broadly. "You will gain abilities you never knew were possible. But you must be willing to lay down your anger and see past yourselves. When you are ready to commit to that, we can begin." He nodded to the group and padded through the door way.

Vegeta approached Bulma and the taller Saiyan. "Was this your training regimen?" he asked

Goku raised his power level to what he considered 50%. "Do you feel that? That increase came from the time I spent listening and learning in this place." he said staring the Prince in the eye as he struggled to withstand the immense ki crackling around him.

Vegeta nodded stiffly. He turned to address his solders. "We will do what ever the genie says. No questions" he followed as Nappa opened his mouth to protest. Vegeta knew that it was time to set his ever present pride aside and get to work.

**Popo's findings taken from Dragonball**

Goku: Mr. Popo, are you sure this will make me stronger?

Mr. Popo: Even you asking is wasteful. Countless unnecessary moves. Like the wings of a fledgling bird. They can flap, but they cannot fly.

Goku: Uh... okay.

Mr. Popo: You must be like a stone.

Goku: A stone?

Mr. Popo: Calm and still, so the rain and wind cannot move you. You see?

I'm calm as the sky and still as a stone.