Chapter 12: Countdown

(7 months until the saiyan arrival.)

Piccolo saw the house of Gohan and walked inside. "Is anyone here?"

Mystic and Majunior looked up from their seats. "Whats up Piccolo? What are you doing here?"

"I need to have a word with you. Is Gohan anywhere around?" Piccolo asked as he checked his surroundings.

Mystic shook his head. "He wanted to dream tonight, So he's not around. What do you want to talk about?"

Piccolo stood silent for a little while. "I've been having premonitions. Premonitions ...about my death. I have a very strong feeling that I will perish in this upcoming battle."

Mystic and Majunior both looked away avoiding eye contact.

Piccolo noticed and smiled slightly. "Its okay. I accept it as long as Gohan can stay safe."

"So you're saying no matter what happens to you, you'll protect Gohan at all cost?" Majunior asked.

"Yes." Piccolo answered without hesitation.

Mystic smiled sadly. "It doesn't matter which timeline or universe. You're still the same old Piccolo."

"I just want to know if I died in your universes as well?" Piccolo asked. "Considering how you two are acting I'm pretty sure I did."

Mystic and Majunior looked at each other like they were having a silent conversation.

Majunior nodded. "Apparently you died the same way in both of our universes. This time it might me different though. This Gohan is a whole hell of a lot stronger than we were."

Mystic nodded in agreement. "Yeah and he doesn't cry and complain nearly as much as we did. We were total scaredy cats at his age."

"I guess me dying in that battle is fate and you can't change fate."

"You are correct Piccolo!" The man with the cloak said from behind them. They all turned around and got into a stance.

Majunior and Mystic relaxed when they saw who it was.

"Don't sneak up on us like that. You almost gave me a heart attack." Mystic said.

"Sorry about that, but I wanted to tell you something real quick before I go. Piccolo is fated to die in this battle. You can try to change or prolong it if you want, but If its fate that he dies then he will die whether you like it or not. There is nothing you can do about that." The cloaked man looked at Mystic. "You might want to keep that in mind during the Cell games." He disappeared just as fast as he appeared.

Piccolo narrowed his eyes. "Who was that?"

"He's the one who tied our souls to the Gohan of this time. I don't know who he is, but he has to be someone powerful and important." Majunior answered. He looked over at Mystic to see him in deep thought. "We'll have a talk later about what he was talking about."

Mystic nodded absentmindedly.

"I guess I'll go now. Piccolo said. "Until next time." He disappeared leaving the future counterparts of Gohan alone.

(5 months until the saiyan arrival)

"HIYA!" Gohan said as he finished with a sweep of the feet. He held his fist up above his mothers face. "I finally got the move down!" He offered his mother his hand to help her up.

Chi Chi smiled. "You learned everything I can teach you Gohan. You did well in your training son. I still don't want you to fight in the upcoming battle though. I'm tempted to just lock you up in your room."

Gohan chuckled lightly. "I don't think there is a room that can hold me." His laughter went away with his smile as he made the most serious face he could. "I know you're worried mom, but everything will turn out fine. I'll be okay. I'm strong enough to take out two saiyans. I have your techniques and Piccolos. I'll be fine."

Chi Chi smiled sadly. "I hope so."

"I'm going to go play with Chiku now." Gohan ran away with an excited grin on his face.

Chi Chi sighed. "He's training for a battle and he's still so happy and fun loving. Hopefully that aspect will never change."

Gohan reached Chiku to see her sadly plucking grass. He walked up until he stood in front of her.

"Chiku is something wrong?"

Chiku looked up at her brother. "I miss daddy. How long will he be gone?"

"Not too much longer Chiku. Just give it a little more time."

"But I'm so bored. Daddys gone and you're gone too."

"I'm here now Chiku and I'll be back next month to spend another week here."

"But you only play with mommy when you come back. Mommy doesn't play those fighting games with me. She yells at me when I ask her too."

Gohan frowned. "I'm sorry Chiku. I wish I could stay more than a week each month, but its not going to be much longer. I promise. When this is all over I'll play with you all you want."

Chiku looked up at him with pleading eyes. "You promise?"

Gohan nodded with a smile. "I promise Chiku. Lets play now. We can play any game you want."

Chiku stood up with enthusiasm. "Lets play house! I'll be the mommy, you be the daddy and Icarus will be the baby!"

Icarus who was watching the siblings stood up and stretched his wings. He jumped in the air and tried to fly off. He flapped his wings as hard as he could, but for some reason he couldn't take off in the sky. He looked behind him to see Gohan holding his tail keeping him in place.

"Oh no you don't Icarus. If I have to be stuck playing this game then so do you."

(3 months until the Saiyan arrival)

Gohan ducked under a punch. He lifted his fist into Piccolo's stomach doubling him over. Piccolo swiped his hand at Gohan. Gohan leaned his head to dodge, but was hit in the stomach with a full force kick.

Piccolo tried to take the advantage and swung his fist at his pupil. Gohan raised his hand and blocked the attack. He jumped with renewed vigor and kicked his mentor across the face.

Piccolo was sent skidding backwards. He stood up and and caught the fist of his pupil. He pulled him in and gave him a knee to the stomach and threw him away. Gohan stuck his hands out and hit a handspring to land back on his feet.

Piccolo held his hand in the air to motion Gohan to stop. "That's enough for now." He walked over to his cape and turban. "I was able to hit you too many times. You need to be more aware of your surroundings. You also need to know when an opponent uses feints."

Gohan crossed his arms and glared at his sensei. "You were only able to hit me because of all the weights I'm wearing. Its not fair that you get to take off your weights."

"You want to get stronger for the saiyans don't you?" Piccolo asked.

"Of course I do, but that has nothing to do with this. I won't get hit by them, because my weights will be off while I'm fighting them."

"Enough complaining and enough excuses. You sound like you need heavier weights. Increase your weights another two hundred pounds."

Gohans jaw dropped. "Heavier weights! Are you serious?"

"Oh I'm dead serious. We'll be sparring again in two hours. Get use too the extra weight." Piccolo said as he sat down and started meditating.

"Yeah just add more weight." Gohan grumbled as he materialized two hundred more pounds in his clothes. "Now I'm wearing five hundred pounds. He just wants to hit me in the spars. This is so unfair." He continued to grumble causing Piccolo to growl.

"You know I can hear every word you're saying right?" Piccolo said with a glare.

"You know I can hear every word you're saying right?" Gohan mimicked. "Of course you can hear me with those gigantic ears."

Piccolo turned to Gohan with fire in his eyes. "Screw the two hours. We're sparring now and afterwards you're adding another two hundred pounds to your weights.

Gohan groaned and struggled to get into his stance as Piccolo flew towards him with his fist cocked back.

(1 Month until the saiyans arrival)

"I think its time for us to show you the memories." Majunior said. "You're not going to like it though."

He put his hand on Gohans head and transferred the memories over to him. He showed him when the saiyans landed. He saw the saibaman kill Yamcha. He witnessed Nappa single handedly killing Tien, Piccolo, and Chioutzu. He saw his father beating Nappa and Vegeta killing Nappa. Vegeta turning into a great ape and the spirit bomb. The last thing he saw was a lizard like person with a tail and horns sitting in a floating chair."

Gohan was panting heavily after the transfer of memories. "Everyone is going to die. I can't let that happen."

Mystic put a hand on his shoulder. "I know you hate this, but Piccolo needs to die here."

Gohan shook his hand off of him and glared. "Piccolo isn't dying on my watch. I didn't train this hard to let him die purposely."

"Listen Gohan. As sad as it maybe, Piccolo needs to die there. Him dying gave us the need to go to namek. It fueled both of us to be braver and fight harder. It gave Piccolo the redemption he needed and It gave all of our friends a reason to whole heartedly trust and believe in him. I hate that it has to happen, but its important for him to go."

Gohan stubbornly shook his head in defiance. "I don't care what you say. I already let you take daddy, but you won't take Piccolo. No body will die if I can help it." Gohan disappeared from his mind.

Majunior sighed. "I knew he would over react. I can't say I blame him though. We trained him to fight off the threat to save his friends not watch them die."

Mystic pinched his nose. "I know we're asking too much of him, but we need this to happen. Its not like I want to see Piccolo die, but he'll be wished back soon enough. Its not a permanent death."

Majunior chuckled humorlessly. "If only he stayed long enough to hear us out."

"We'll have to reason with him when we see him again."

Majunior lowered his head. "That's if we see him before the battle. He has the choice to see us or to dream when he falls asleep. He might try to avoid us."

Mystic sighed. "So what do we do?"

Majunior smiled at his counterpart. "Its like you said. We do what we always have done. We learn to adapt and overcome.

(3 days until the Saiyan arrival)

"So whats the progress on the ship? Is he having a problem with the gravity machine?" Gohan asked.

Tights sighed. "You only call for updates. You know you can call to ask me how I am or to say hi."

Gohan chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry Ms. Tights. Its just that this is really important. I swear I will make this up too you."

"You're damn right you're making this up to me. You're going to have a play date with my daughter after you fend the aliens off." Tights replied.

"Of course. Of course." Gohan answered. "I'll have my sister tag along and we can all have a fun time. So how is the progress?"

Tights chuckled. "Its going okay right now. Its close to being finished. It'll only be a couple more days or a week at best."

Gohans eyes brightened. "Wow really? Just a couple more days and it can fly! That's terrific news!"

"Actually its ready to fly now. Dad just wants to add a cappuccino machine and other things like that."

Gohans face fell. "I don't need a cappuccino machine!"

"Well tell that to my father. He seems to think its needed as much as breathing."

"I guess I can't complain. He did build that ship for me. How did you convince him to do that anyway?" Gohan asked.

"Oh I just told him I needed it for my travels in space. I told him the gravity room was for Jaco." Tights explained.

"Oh okay that makes sense. Anyway thanks again for..." A ki blast hit Gohan in the back of the head making him fall forward. He put the phone back to his ear. "Thanks alot for all your help Tights, but I have to go. My sensei's being a jerk right now." He hung up the phone and stood up.

"Don't you think that was a little unnecessary Mr. Piccolo." Gohan said with a pout.

Piccolo crossed his arms. "You shouldn't be wasting your time talking on the phone. You need to be training. You're the one who said the saiyans should be landing in three days!

"I've been training hard just like you want me too. I mastered the materializing technique didn't I?"

Piccolo narrowed his eyes. "You can make swords, clothes and weighted clothes. I wouldn't call that mastering the technique. There's so much more that can be done with that technique."

"Well we were getting short on time. That's all I had time to work on. I had to train my body and raise my power too, so I could be ready for the saiyans."

"I know you can't tell me much about what will or could happen, but are we strong enough to face them?"

"Whether we are or not doesn't matter. We still have to fight in the end. Knowing that won't make a difference." Gohan answered carefully.

Piccolo nodded. "Okay enough with the talking. Lets go!"

Gohan sighed. "Can I at least take off the weights this time?"

Piccolo shook his head. "Not a chance. Now lets get down to it."

Gohan ran forward to start off the spar.

(The day before the saiyans arrival)

"I have to go now Piccolo."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow. "And just where do you think you're going?"

"I need to set my plan in motion. I'm preparing for the Saiyan attack." Gohan answered.

"You're being cryptic. Something you don't want me to know?" Piccolo asked.

Gohan looked away from his mentor. "Its not that I don't trust you. I just have to do some things on my own. I don't want to involve anyone with this."

"You're going to change something in this timeline that wasn't in your other counter parts timeline. I hope you know that I'm with you one hundred percent no matter what you choose to do." Piccolo answered.

Gohan smiled as he looked at his sensei. "That means a lot Piccolo, but I can't ask you to do that. If anyone gets in trouble it'll be me and me alone. I'm taking this trip alone. I'll be back soon."

"The saiyans are supposedly arriving tomorrow. Don't be late."

"Don't worry. I wouldn't miss this fight." 'This time things will go different. Piccolo won't die on me.' Gohan jumped in the air and flew off.

He started flying towards Kame house. He saw the sky turn black and cursed to himself. "They already summoned shenron! I need to hurry I can still make it." He flew full speed until he saw the flying dragon.

"You have summoned me from my slumber. I shall grant you one wish that is within my power." Shenron stated.

Everyone on Kami's Island flinched under the dragons mighty gaze.

Bulma walked up a little closer to the dragon to speak her wish.

"I wish that the two saiyan brothers named Goku and Raditz were wished back to life!" Gohan said as he flew in front of Shenron.

Shenrons eyes glowed red. "You're wish has been granted. Until next time!" The dragonballs rose up and scattered over the world confusing the residence on Kame island.

"Wh...What happened?" Bulma asked

"Someone made a wish, but who was it?" Roshi asked as he scratched his head.

Gohan was still floating in the air. He lowered himself so he could be seen by everyone. "Sorry for swooping in like this, but I wanted the honor of wishing my dad back to life."

"Is that Gohan?" Bulma asked.

Gohan smiled "Anyway I have to go now. I can't keep Piccolo waiting." Gohan flew off in the direction of Raditz's power level. 'I'm glad they couldn't hear my wish. They would've been either freaked out or pissed.'

He reached Raditz in no time. It was the same spot where he died. Raditz looked at his hands. He clenched and unclenched his hands a few times wondering if he was really alive.

"Hey! Uncle Raditz!" Gohan yelled as he landed in front of him.

Raditz looked wide eyed at his nephew. "What are you doing here and am I really alive?"

Gohan nodded. "I told you I would bring you back."

(Flashback)

Gohan pointed his hand towards Ratitz and charged a large ki blast. 'If you can hear me right now I want you to train as hard as you can in otherworld. You will die today, but I promise you I will revive you.' After sending this mental message to Raditz, Gohan fainted out of no where."

(Flashback over)

Raditz looked confused. "Why did you bring me back to life?"

"Well to be honest I think you deserve a fair chance at life and I thought you would like revenge on Frieza." Gohan answered.

Raditz glared and tensed up. "How do you know about Frieza!"

Gohan smirked. "I know about alot of things. Don't worry about my information network. I can't get to Frieza unless I defeat your two comrads first though. They should be arriving tomorrow."

"Vegeta and Nappa will come tomorrow? How do you know I won't turn on you. I did get stronger in other world."

"Then I'll just end you." Gohan disappeared from view and appeared behind Raditz with his sword pointed at his neck. "See its that easy for me. Just so you understand I didn't revive you to fight on my side. I brought you back so you wouldn't have to waste away in other world. Everyone thinks you're dead so you can leave the planet and start over somewhere else."

Raditz still looked confused. "So you don't want anything from me in return?"

Gohan shook his head. "No not at all. I modified your space ship for my own travel into space when I go after Frieza. After we land on the same planet as him you can take the ship and go where ever you want."

"So you'll just let me go after killing your father?" Raditz asked astonished.

"Well I wished you and dad back at the same time so no harm no foul right?"

"You are a weird little kid."

Gohan pouted. "Well you're not normal yourself."

"What about when Vegeta and Nappa arrive. They'll find me with their scouters and kill me for being defeated by you weaklings."

"Don't worry I have a plan for that. They won't even notice you're here." Gohan responded.

Raditz raised an eyebrow. "You seriously will just let me go. Just like that."

"Are you hard at hearing or something?" Gohan asked.

Raditz growled in annoyance. "I'm just skeptical. It feels like a trap to me. Why would you do this for someone who tried to kill you and your father. It doesn't make any sense."

Gohan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think its that hard to understand. I guess you're just not use to kindness. Its not your fault. I really have no ulterior motive in play. Just accompany me when I leave the planet in search of Frieza. Once we hit the planet you take the ship and go where ever you want. As long as you don't kill or take advantage of the innocent. Start over in life and be who you want." Gohan held his hand out to Raditz. "Is that a deal?"

Raditz thought over what his nephew said. He couldn't find a flaw with the plan. He shook Gohans hand firmly. "I accept these terms. I have a warning though. Don't underestimate Vegeta and be careful. If you really plan on taking on Frieza you're a fool. None of us are even remotely close to his power. Its a death wish. A suicide mission."

Gohan smirked. "Awe look at you acting like an actually uncle."

"Shut up!" Raditz lashed out. "I'm trying to tell you facing Frieza means death you moron!"

"Then I'll go out with a bang." Gohan simply stated.

Raditz sighed. "You are a reckless little idiot, but you have the heart of a saiyan. Good luck nephew."

Gohan smiled. "Thanks." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a vile. "Now drink this. It'll lower your powerlevel so Vegeta and Nappa's scouters don't detect you."

Raditz took the vile and sipped it all down. "It has a weird...taste... " Radtiz passed out shortly after drinking the vile.

Gohan walked over and threw him over his shoulder. "Sorry uncle Raditz, but I technically didn't lie. Your power level is down. You'll be knocked out for the entire battle hopefully." He flew into a nearby cave and put his uncle down. "You should be okay here. I'll come back when the battle is over."

He walked out the cave and flew back to Piccolo. Piccolo was meditating when his pupil arrivied. "You're back earlier than you said. Did you finish what you wanted to do? "

Gohan nodded. "Yeah its done. You could sense his energy couldn't you?"

Piccolo nodded. "Only for a brief moment. I doubt the others will sense it. They didn't even sense him the last time he landed." Piccolo locked eyes with his pupil. "I don't know why you brought him back, but I'll trust your judgement. I won't ask why."

Gohan smiled. "Thanks Mr. Piccolo. The saiyans will be here at dawn so lets try to get some rest."

A/N: End of chapter. We're finally going to start getting into the good stuff. This chapter has been done for a while now, but I didn't want to upload it until I had a solid direction to take this story in. I narrowed it down to two different directions. I can stay a little closer to the canon story or go totally away from it. Most likely I'll find a good in between and stay close to canon as much as I can. I hope everyone liked my Raditz bit. I have some pretty good plans for Raditz in the future, but for now he won't do much. Same with Chiku. I plan to make her really important in later chapters. Anyway Thanks for the Views, Reviews, Favs, and Follows.

P.S I had some people ask if I actually read the reviews and the answer is yes. I read each one I get and If you asked me a question in a review that I didn't respond too I apologize. I may not respond to every review, but I make sure I read each one. I love reading ideas from you all as well. I actually implemented some of the ideas I got into this story and other stories I've written. I like the criticism as well whether it is positive or negative. It helps my writing ability when my flaws are pointed out. Anyway I think I've blabbed on long enough. Have a good day everyone!

Oh and before I forget. If you read my other story 'The Road Less Traveled By.' I will be uploading it sometime in December. I'll either upload one huge mega chapter or break it into two or three chapters. I'm also thinking of doing a Christmas chapter for that story as well.

My other story 'A New Chance at Life' will also be uploaded in December. Okay thats seriously all this time. Thanks for taking the time to read my stories! You guys are awesome!