Chapter 2
Two whole years had passed since the loss of his mother and Gohan had been adapting to royal life with the same vigor as he had while training with his father during the Cell Games. Goten had grown from an infant to a petulant toddler, who's cries filled the halls of the great royal palace when the clatter of everyday life left room for it. His grandfather, the Ox King, had been growing steadily older as he kept up with his royal duties while also raising two half-alien grandsons. The once stout and energetic, joyful, and boisterous man who had done so much to support his family could no longer support himself without a cane.
Breakfast time was one of the few moments of the day when the family could be together, before their respective schedules threw them apart until the next. Gohan sat next to the Ox King, who was at the head of the table. Goten squirmed in his high chair, flustering the maids by whipping his pancakes to the nearby wall. The Ox King laughed.
"That boy has a strong arm, He's more and more like you every day", the old man mused, gesturing to Gohan. He sheepishly tucked his head towards the growing teenager. "What's his name again?" he asked, his finger pointing to the toddler.
"That's Goten. He's been here for two years, grandfather. Are you feeling okay?" Gohan asked calmly. This wasn't the first time that the Ox King's memory had shown signs of slipping.
"Oh, right. Yes", the old man agreed, pulling out a small flask and raising it to his lips. Gohan's Saiyan forehead wrinkled with concern. He had been over this with his grandfather dozens of times, no more drinking. But he either doesn't remember the conversation, or he just goes into a tirade of "I'm an old man, I can do what I want!". Gohan returned to eating his breakfast in silence as the old man finished draining his flask.
"I'm going to watch your lessons from this point on", the Ox King slurred. "Since things are getting more serious in your studies, it's a good time for me to supervise." He stared somberly at Gohan. "How do you like Orrin? He's been with the family for years. He has a son, you know. Doesn't talk about him much. But seems like a good father. I hope he's treating you like I would".
"No complaints", Gohan responded, his mouth full of bacon. "He's very good at being clear and concise in the lessons, and can answer my questions. He gives me breaks when I need them."
The old man's eyes lit up briefly. "Excellent!" he proclaimed. "But most importantly, has he taught you how to lead?"
Gohan was caught off guard. "I'm not sure. I think he's just trying to get me to master the basics first."
The Ox King nodded. "Those things will come in time, with experience. I should know. I'm very old…I mean, experienced. You can trust Orrin. I do."
Gohan nodded and glanced at his little brother, who was currently drenched in syrup.
After the meal, Orrin caught up with Gohan like he does every morning. He looked the prince up and down with amusement.
"Are you ready for today's lesson?" he asked.
Gohan straightened his back. "As always, sir."
"Good, good", Orrin replied. "Meet me in the ballroom in a half hour. And change your shoes into something more…comfortable".
Gohan did as he was told, and after 28 minutes he was standing in the ballroom, ready to begin the lesson. A solitary stereo sat on an old piano in the corner of the room. Odd, he thought. Orrin never really cared for music.
He was almost startled as the doors on the other side of the room creaked open, and Orrin stepped through, followed by an older servant woman whom Gohan had recognized from the gardens. He had talked with her a few times and was pleased with her work; the grounds have always been magnificent under her care. Gohan watched as Orrin took the woman's calloused hands in his own and struck a pose.
"Today, you will be learning…how to dance", Orrin instructed amusingly. "Many a time will come when you will need to prove your efficiency in the court, and for some reason this is one of them", he said with a sigh. "Anyway, this is Lily. I assume you two have met before?"
Gohan nodded.
"Excellent. Grab her hand, and do what I tell you. Mind your feet and try not to step on hers. Very good, stand up straight."
Gohan blushed briefly as he put his hand on her hip and started moving. Soon after, the stereo in the room came to life, playing an old classical song that his mother made him listen to once to "appreciate".
The day wore on. Even with his Saiyan genes, the dance was taxing. The woman, though in her 40's, was surprisingly adept at spinning around, and had the stamina to keep doing it, even after Gohan had started to breathe heavily under the effort. Orrin winced as he saw the winded young man struggling to keep up with a woman twice his age. He walked briskly to the stereo and turned it off.
"Finally!" Gohan spouted. He was ready to take a bath and get back to his book.
Orrin shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Your grandfather was quite insistent on you learning how to…" Orrin rolled his eyes. "'Woo a princess'".
Gohan blushed again at the thought of a princess. He had never even seen one. His lessons had taught him how to use the proper fork, bows, greetings, and other various rules of the court, but if it all pivoted on his ability to dance with a "princess", he was in trouble. Orrin spoke up again, this time with more humor in his voice than Gohan remembered hearing before.
"Since this lovely woman", Orrin began, while bowing to her and whispering "thank you" before dismissing her, "is too much of a challenge for you, I have someone else who insisted on being your partner".
The next few moments mortified Gohan beyond belief. Orrin pulled back a curtain, and behind it was his grandfather in a beautiful sequined pink dress. Flask in hand, he motioned to Gohan and curtseyed, with much grace to be desired. The boy's embarrassment increased tenfold as he bit his lip and covered his eyes, wishing that he was fighting the Ginyu Force instead. He saw Orrin out of the corner of his eye, covering his mouth with his hand and snickering. I'll get you for this, Gohan thought as his grandfather, with surprising agility, literally waltzed up to him and held out a hand.
"I told you I was going to be in your lesson more often, kiddo!" The Ox King laughed.
"You said you were going to supervise, not dance with me!"
"Nonsense. Expect the unexpected. Didn't your father teach you that? Pinocchio must have. Or…what's his name? The green one. Pistachio?"
"…You mean Piccolo?"
"Gesundheit!" The Ox King said passingly, as he shifted his creaking feet. He took another quick drink from his flask and stuck it back in between what would normally be cleavage in the dress. He held out a hand.
"Ready?" the man asked.
Gohan rolled his eyes. "Let's get this over with".
The floor whisked out from under the unconventional dance partners as the Ox King continued to give Gohan instruction.
"Move your feet! No, not that one, your other right foot! Keep your hand up, I'm a pretty lady, you must woo me! Hand above the butt, not on it. Unless you feel so inclined…" The old man fluttered his eyebrows at the mortified youth.
"Please kill me", Gohan muttered under his breath. He rolled his eyes to check the clock, and noticed that Orrin was checking the time as well. Odd, he thought. He was checking the time more often than he usually does. He's always focused on the lesson.
The time passed by, Gohan finally found his rhythm. The old man nodded approvingly as his grandson led him spinning around the room with the grace of a debutante. During some footwork however, he couldn't help but noticing how his grandfather was suddenly sweating more than he had been.
"Are you okay?" Gohan asked. He pulled out a handkerchief, which the king gratefully accepted and stopped to dab his forehead.
"I'm…I'm okay. Just a little winded. I need to get back into more comfortable clothes. This thing rides up and chokes the ol' Sensu beans, if you know what I mean".
Gohan choked and blushed at the same time, taking back his hanky and watching the old man start to shuffle towards the door.
The old king had barely finished putting on his simple nightly robes when he suddenly stopped, grabbing his chest. Time slowed down as Gohan turned, seeing what was left of his family collapse into a heap on the marble floor. He rushed to his side, checking for a pulse, a breath, anything. But there was none. The body of the king laid still, sprawled out and empty of life.
Before he could even call out, Orrin was next to Gohan, phone already out, calling for medical assistance.
Gohan looked down in disbelief at the body of his grandfather. He was speechless for a time, then whispered quietly.
"What happened."
"It appears the dance was too much for him, My Prince, "Orrin responded gravely. "That, combined with the mental problems, old age, and alcohol…" Gohan glanced at the flask, barely sticking out of the robe's inner pocket. "It was just too much for his heart. I told him to let me do this, but he insisted on teaching you himself. He said it was a thing a father would do."
Gohan's eyes welled up with tears. First his father, then mother, now this? Why? Why couldn't he have more time? Why does everyone have to be taken?
Orrin gasped and stepped back as Gohan's body began to flash, his black hair flickering gold. The boy let loose a tormented wail that shook the walls of the great hall, dust falling from fixtures and hanging lights swinging as if in an earthquake. Orrin put his hands on Gohan's shoulders, which calmed the storm and his cries turned to a wracking sob. A few moments later, the medical personnel burst through the door. They ran to the body of the fallen king, but were quick to call what Orrin and Gohan had already perceived.
The Ox King was dead.
"There, there", Orrin cooed soothingly. "It's time to be strong now. That's what he would want." He embraced the boy tightly, then pushed him out to arm's length, looking him square in the eyes.
"You are now the King of the Ox Kingdom. Your people will need your strength to move forward…"
He stopped as the body was lifted into a gurney, covered in a sheet.
"Even during this troubling time."
Gohan wanted to be with his grandfather as they started rolling him away, but Orrin held him close. "Don't look, my King", he whispered, as Gohan fell into his arms.
**TIME SKIP**
Gohan was still getting used to a world without his grandfather, and his jolly presence had been replaced by the weighty mantle of a king. He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the pressure of dealing with the court's daily duties.
"My Lord", Orrin spoke up abruptly. "Are you feeling alright?"
Gohan continued to stare at the floor beneath his feet.
"I'm just not getting used to this. It's a tough transition. It's odd…"
Orrin looked at him quizzingly, intrigued.
"Before, when I had a problem, I just studied. Or trained with my father, or went fishing with grandfather". He looked at his hands, still reeling with an inert Saiyan strength. "But now, I barely have a chance to go outside".
The new king sighed. "I thought I would at least have the support of my friends, but since my mother died…I haven't heard a single word from any of them."
Orrin coughed. "It's for the best, my King. You are far too busy to spend time with such people anyway. And your grandfather took you away from them for that exact reason."
"It doesn't make it any easier…." Gohan lamented. "I'm going to be in the gardens for a while. As you were."
Orrin bowed dutifully as Gohan pushed open the palace doors, stepping into the sun-lit gardens.
The young king walked through the flowers and vines of the palace estate, soaking up the sun. He looked upon the mystifying foliage, remembering the walks with his grandfather, how his mother made him memorize all the scientific names for each plant. She had an old botany book she kept in the house. Some brightly-colored birds caught his attention, as they frolicked near a small pond. Gohan smiled as he sat down at the water's edge, closed his eyes, and reached into his mind in a desperate search for peace.
Before, he could sense anyone with even a minute power level from a half a planet away. Now, he couldn't sense anything past the Kingdom's walls. Vegeta was constantly training, he should have been the easiest to locate, but nothing. This worried him greatly, as he furrowed his brow, he continued to reach out to the others. Piccolo, Krillin, Dende…It was like they had never existed.
A hand startled Gohan as it touched his shoulder, bringing him out of his meditation. The young man was slightly surprised that someone could sneak up on him, and even more so that hours had passed; the sun was setting.
Orrin quickly sat next to Gohan on the ground next to the pond. Gohan looked, saw the weariness in his violet eyes. The angles of his face had become sharper in the time Gohan had been at the palace, his jaw noticeably trying to relieve stress through clenching and grinding.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, Your Majesty", Orrin began hesitantly. "But I believe that it's now time to take care of one more lesson. Something that your grandfather wanted you to wait for until you were older, when he was officially ready to retire his crown to you."
Gohan looked at his grandfather's old friend, who's fingers were subconsciously wringing with distraught. "What could he have possibly left out? And you've been addressing me as your king since the night of his death".
"Yes, your highness. I was doing that out of respect for your grandfather. This has been a bereavement period before you fully took on the duties as king. I've been taking a large part of the royal duties onto myself, to relieve you of the burden crashing down on you all at one time."
Orrin cleared his throat, and he stood up, brushing the debris from his pants. He extended a hand and pulled the young king up onto his feet. He began directing Gohan towards his chambers.
"It's a matter of the Trials of the Ox King. There's a room dedicated to it, and each king has had to face their own unique task to complete the trial. Your grandfather did it, his father, and so on."
Gohan perked up at the thought of learning more about his heritage. "What kind of trials have there been?"
Orrin adjusted his glasses, looking down. "I do not know, your lordship. It's forbidden for anyone other than the heir to enter, and your grandfather didn't speak about what his trial included, only that it impacted him greatly. He believed that it helped to mold him into a righteous king".
"That seems like a big thing to not tell me about", Gohan pondered.
"Like I said, your majesty. Your grandfather wished you to wait. To get older, to have a real childhood, to learn. Sadly, he was taken from us too soon."
Gohan saw a lone tear barely escape from beneath Orrin's glasses, before a gloved hand wiped it away.
"It must be done tonight", Orrin continued. "Because of the position of the stars. Taurus is in the perfect alignment".
Gohan looked up. He was annoyed with himself, because astronomy was never something that he cared about. At all. No matter how many times his mother sat him in from of a star chart.
"Uh…yes. Of course,", Gohan nodded in approval. "Should I go get changed into something more comfortable? I assume I'm going to be fighting something."
"I do remember seeing your grandfather's clothing tattered upon his exiting the Trial, that wouldn't be a bad idea. I'd hate to see your royal robes destroyed."
Gohan nodded, looking at his royal uniform.
Orrin spoke up again. "Of course, the Trial requires you to be both physically and emotionally ready.
Gohan noticed that they had already arrived at his rooms.
"I'll be out here, to escort you to the Trials when you are ready, but remember the hour is late", Orrin stated, pulling out his pocket watch. Gohan turned to open the door.
"Why can't I sense them?" Gohan muttered to himself, turning on the light and entering his room.
Gohan rummaged through his drawers, trying to find a suitable sparring outfit. He reached with nostalgia for the purple Gi that Piccolo had given him so long ago. The thought of wearing that special garment quickly diminished, as Gohan remembered that it had been worn heavily, and was a little too small for him now. He settled on a black tank top with the royal crest and khaki shorts.
The old Gi made him miss his old friends. He wondered where they were, what they were up to. Maybe a new big bad guy had come around, and Vegeta was toying with them before getting pounded into the ground like he always did. He wished Piccolo was here, to give him wisdom for this trial. He exited the room, turned off the lights, and found Orrin standing just outside, attentively waiting for him.
"My liege", shall we be going?" Orrin asked.
"Yes", Gohan said with a nod. He followed the thin man down the hallway.
While he was looking at the various portraits that told of his family and their previous kings, he contemplated his own trial and what he could possibly expect. The hall was quiet, and his mother's family reminded him of his other family, his friends.
"Orrin, I've been meaning to ask you. Why haven't I been able to sense my friends?"
The steward slowed his walk for a moment, then stopped and turned to Gohan.
"Your grandfather ordered a device". He spoke quickly. Then continued walking.
Gohan caught up with him. "What kind of device?"
Orrin signed, coming to a complete stop in front of a great oaken door, with ancient-looking handles.
"A shield. More specifically, a shroud. To prevent anyone from your past life from finding you. Your grandfather insisted on it". Orrin glanced at the door, swallowing hard.
Gohan balked. "You mean to tell me that I could have had my friends visit this entire time? They helped raise me! They helped my father to save the world countless times! I've been alone here with a toddler and nameless servants, day after day of hoping for familiar faces!"
Orrin sternly replied. "Are they the same ones who weren't strong enough, so your father had to die? The ones that stood as you were beaten to a pulp time and time again?"
Gohan clenched his jaw in rage. "Don't you dare speak of them that way! They lead me to where I am today. I will not have you speak another bad word against them!"
Gohan breathed out, realizing that he had grabbed the steward by the lapel of his coat, lifting him off the ground.
"I'm…sorry", the young man muttered as he gently placed Orrin back on solid ground. He straightened his coat and tie, and dusted himself off.
"Very well, my lord. I was out of turn. I just wish for your best interests, and I have never met them before. I was only going off what I have been told, which wasn't good."
Gohan relaxed, nodding. "It's okay."
He looked up the door. "Well…I guess this is it?"
"Indeed, young King", Orrin affirmed. "Beyond this ancient door lies your destiny. Are you ready?"
He nodded.
"Excellent". He pulled out the pocket watch again as he motioned to the door in an offering gesture. "Good luck, sire".
Gohan took a deep breath in and out, then walked towards the dark room.
The door closed behind Gohan, and the action caused a gust of stale air to hit him in the face. Old torches on the walls flickered to life, illuminating a long, stone hallway.
He walked, touching the walls as he stored this moment is his memory. This is me, he thought. This is my heritage, my family. I'll be what my grandfather wanted me to be. The hallway opened into an enormous room.
"I just wish I wasn't so alone".
After giving the room as much of an inspection from the narrow passage as he could, he stepped in. Nothing happened.
He stepped closer to the center of the room. A sudden scraping noise startled him, and was followed by a giant ox, that appeared from behind a pillar.
Gohan's wrists and ankles burned with fire as chains came from nowhere and bound him where he stood. The ox trotted up to Gohan, then stopped 10 yards away.
"Are you a family spirit"? Gohan asked, trembling through the pain. "I am here to fight you! Or…whatever trial you would have me complete".
The ox stared at the youth for a moment, its red eyes sublimating a wispy flame as they seemed to burn into his very soul. Then he heard a subtle chuckle from the beast. It became more humanlike as the ox shapeshifted into a huge man. The shadowy figure stood several feet above Gohan. The only identifiable features were horns protruding from his skull, a ring in his nose, and cloven ox legs from the waist down. The now humanoid face glared at the trembling young king, then shook his head.
"No boy…I'm not some family spirit. And you are late."
Gohan looked up at the beast with pain and confusion. "Late for what?"
The form laughed again. "Well, I guess that Orrin must have been running behind schedule…serves me right for taking a human at his word. He had better hold to his end of the bargain."
Gohan continued to struggle through his bindings. He looked bleakly at the dark enemy. "What does Orrin have to do with this?"
"Everything!" the evil entity replied with a bellow. His energy began to form in his hands as he walked closer to Gohan.
"He agreed to free me from this prison if I do him one...small…favor." He started pointing his clawed fingers at Gohan's temples. "I'm going to make you a puppet. He thinks that he should be king. None of my concern, if he follows through with our deal. It's unfortunate that you were the one in our way".
Gohan struggled harder at his chains, trying to unleash energy but found that he could not access his reserves.
"Just accept this", the demon said smoothly, as a blinding force spread through Gohan's mind like a toxic smoke. He felt every moment, as he screamed and yelled for help. He was watching his memory though the pain.
"Enjoy those", the demon scoffed. "You will never have them again. All you get are the important ones. It'll leave you just human enough to follow orders, and just Saiyan enough to be a weapon."
His name, gone. His family, gone. His friends, all gone. Suddenly, one memory of Goten's smiling face triggered Gohan to finally tap his energy reserves and break free of his chains. He screamed with a full force of rage, energy surrounding him. The blast knocked the demon away, but not before it was able to claw him across the eyes.
"That will have to do", the demon growled as he regained his footing. Gohan continued to escalate his power, lighting surrounding his form, which was now topped with golden hair.
Gohan was free of emotion, all that was left was raw instinct and rage. He lunged forward blindingly, yet was able to grab the demon with his arms. The fiend dissolved, and reappeared behind him. Again, Gohan punched where he felt the demon was, but his fists hit air. The demon mocked him from the shadows, the echo of the room making it impossible to focus on his location.
"The fool didn't tell me about this", the demon spoke shakily. "You're not a child, or a king. You're a monster!"
Gohan's face was swept in a primal grin.
"Yes, I am."
The now shell of a boy held his hands behind his back, facing the direction of the rest of the room. Light began to hum in his hands as he focused.
"KA…ME…HA…"
The demon cowered at the light, seeking futile refuge behind a stone column.
"ME…HAAAAAAAAA!"
A broad, blue beam ripped from Gohan's hands, enshrouding the entire room with a searing light. The demon shrieked as his phantom limbs were torn away, like smoke cut with a sword.
Gohan stood, rubbing at his eyes as he heard a large metal ring drop to the ground, clattering noisily. A wry smile touched his face, and he could suddenly hear the door behind him creak open. Orrin popped his head in.
"Creature!" called the thin man into the darkness. "Is the job done? I thought you were going to bring the castle down. I told you to wipe his memories, not kill him!"
Gohan turned slowly at the voice to face Orrin, whose face was now white with fear.
Orrin stuttered. "Oh…my Lord. I see you've finished your trials. Congratulations!" He straightened up and offered his hand to the young king.
Gohan growled softly. "…Orrin…"
Before the man could even react, Gohan's hand flashed forward and grabbed him by the throat, pinning him against a wall.
"A deal…" Gohan spat, then shook his head. "A…traitor…you…to make me a puppet?"
Orrin, in a vain attempt to protect himself, tries to summon some kind of magic from his hand. Gohan's eyes darted to the offending hand and promptly ripped it off at the joint.
The bespectacled man screamed in pain, unable to bring his other hand to his now bleeding stump.
Gohan brought his face within an inch of the quivering man's tear-strewn visage. A dark shadow was cast over his face, and his now-destroyed eyes.
"I have no need for a traitor in my kingdom", Gohan slowly proclaimed. He increased his grip on the man's neck, as Orrin choked and begged.
"My Lord, I have a son! Please forgive me! I have served your family for years! I can help you build your perfect kingdom!"
Gohan stared at the squirming man, whose face was turning blue.
"No."
Bones cracked as Orrin's neck broke, his body going limp. The Ox King let his servant crumple to the ground, a traitor no more.
Gohan started to walk further out of the room when his servants came scrambling up, responding to the shaking and noise. They looked at the body, then to their king.
"My Lord, what happened?" asked one of them.
He raised his head, still shaking from rage, energy still coursing through his Saiyan body. The servants struggled to be near the awesome energy, and were fearful due to the blood streaming from their King's face.
Another servant woman came running, Goten in her arms.
"My King!" the woman cried. Then, she stopped, stunned by the king's bloody appearance.
"What is it, servant?" he demanded.
She held up a crying Goten, averting her eyes. "He won't stop crying, my Lord".
The Ox King turned his face towards the noise, the toddler's cries somehow calming his rage. He released his energy, reverting back. He stood with his hands behind his back, rigid and regal. He gestured towards Orrin's body.
"This man was a traitor. He set a trap that stole from me, in a hope that I would become his puppet".
The servants gasped.
"As my first royal decree, I order Orrin's family, confidants, and neighbors executed. This is to be the fate of all traitors in my kingdom." The blind man turned on his heels and moved towards the crying boy, taking him. He thought hard, then shook his head.
"This…is my son? It must be", he gave Goten back to the servant. They all looked nervously at each other, then nodded. "Yes, your highness. He's…your heir."
Gohan staggered. "I will require assistance in my chambers. Call for a doctor, immediately. It appears that something is wrong with my eyes."
The servants quickly accepted the orders, then lead him to his chamber.
