Disclaimer: Kid Golden in no way claims ownership of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or Dragon Ball GT, or the characters that are featured in those series. I do however own all characters not seen or mentioned in the series, namely Tarra, Shinji, Sakana, and Kirikuzu.

Thank you all for the positive feedback! Glad people are liking this one… I like it myself!

Senzai: Of course you do, you wrote it.

Oh, you're definitely not getting in it now.

Senzai: Wait! I was just kidding!

No, its too late now. Onward to the newest installment!

Darkness and Shadows

The soft chirping of birds filtered through the dense cloud of green overhead, coarse, brown bark trees encircling a fairly large clearing. At the heart of the clearing sat a small lake, the calm, crystalline water shimmering in the golden sunlight.

A lone, dark haired figure sat in the clearing, his back resting against the tallest tree of the surrounding forest. His legs, spread apart, lay outstretched and flat against the ground. The tree cast a shadow, his body enveloped by the darkness of the shade.

He sat there staring at the water dully, not really focusing on anything in particular, his mind silent of thought. His eyes were slightly reddened, faint trails of wetness clinging to his cheeks. His breath had been ragged just moments ago, but it had calmed, his body weak from extreme exertion.

Gohan… Called a voice from nowhere.

The call elicited no response, and the half-Saiyajin continued to sit there, his body still drained from his energy battle with the clouds.

Son…Called the voice again.

Gohan's eyes lifted almost instantaneously, looking to the sky above.

Why were you crying?

He didn't answer the voice, only staring at the slow moving clouds above.

Aren't you going to talk to me?

"Is it true?" Gohan finally asked.

Is what true?

"Don't play with me dad… I have to know."

Gohan, I don't know what you're talking about.

"You mean to tell me…" Gohan started, slowly climbing to his feet. "That you don't know anything about what's going on?"

Son, if I knew, why would I act like I didn't?

"I don't know dad… Why would you?"

Gohan, what's wrong with you?

"There's some nut running around claiming to be your son," Gohan said bluntly.

What? What on Earth are you talking about?

"Just what I said dad."

He's lying to you Gohan. You have to know that.

"Then explain why he looks exactly like you."

Well… When Bebi took over your body you looked exactly like you… But it just wasn't you.

Gohan nodded a little. "Yeah…"

You of all people should know how tricky and evil aliens can be Gohan.

Gohan fell quiet for a few moments, then came back with, "But dad… did you ever… get close to another woman besides mom?"

Yeah, of course! Bulma, Launch—

"That isn't what I meant."

Well, what did you mean then?

"Did you ever… Love someone else? Like the way you love mom?"

Oh… Of course not! Chi-Chi told me that you're only supposed to love the one you marry.

"I know that… But did you?"

I just told you no, Gohan.

"Well… Did anyone love you the way mom loves you?"

No Gohan, only your mom loved me that way. Why are you…The sky suddenly fell silent.

"Dad?"

Well… I think… I'm not sure… But there was this one lady… Terra I think her name was… No, it was Tarra! Yeah, Tarra… I remember her acting all weird around me… a lot like when me and your mom got married.

"What happened with this… Tarra?" He asked venomously.

Well, I trained with her for a while and I got a lot stronger. Then I left the planet after she started getting too weird.

"What do you mean?"

She started…Trying to kiss me and things like that. But I kept pushing her off until I had this strange dream… After I had the dream… I just left.

"Dream?"

She did something in the dream that Chi-Chi said only married people should do… It was then that I decided that it was too strange there.

"Are you sure it was a dream dad?"

Of course it was a dream! I dreamed that I was in a field, and I woke in my bed. It had to be a dream. But it did feel so real…

"You're not sure?"

Gohan, I am sure. I know it was a dream, but… His voice started to fade away, the clouds swirling above him. The soft white clouds swirled faster and faster, slowly becoming a small, black cloud. The cloud fell to the earth and struck the lake, water splashing out everywhere.

Gohan immediately lowered his gaze to the lake, and saw a figure dressed similarly to Goku, save his gi was red and blue, instead of Goku's traditional orange, and his skin was a bit darker. The figure emerged from the lake, completely dry.

He wore a sinister grin. "What's the matter Gohan? Don't you trust your own father?"

Gohan's eyes narrowed. "You aren't my father."

"Oh, but I am." His grin broadened, and his eyes narrowed in a way Goku's never did, giving him a dark, menacing look. "It is just you that isn't my son."

"What?" Gohan asked in confusion.

"You heard me boy…" He said, his voice taking on a Vegeta-like tone. "My son is strong… My son is Shinji. It is you who have no place in this world."

"No! I'm your son, not Shinji!"

"But I thought I wasn't your father?" Asked the Goku look-a-like. "Isn't that what you said earlier, Gohan?"

"Shut up!" Gohan cried.

"Why? Don't you love your daddy Gohan?" He asked, his voice resembling Goku's once more.

"Stop sounding like my father, you aren't him! My father is a great man!"

"Is that so? But weren't you just interrogating him? Wasn't it you who believed Shinji? Is your father truly all that great in your eyes?"

Gohan growled, clenching his fists tightly. "Shut up, shut up!"

"Oh, do you mean to fight me Gohan?" He grinned. "That'd be great son, I'd really like to see how strong you've gotten."

"Shut up!" Gohan roared, a golden flame exploding about him, his hair lightening into a brilliant gold, and his onyx eyes becoming emerald green. Blue bolts flowed erratically through his aura as he glared at the figure. "Or I swear I'll kill you."

"Oh my," said the creature with mock fear. "Gohan makes death threats? Daddy isn't pleased!"

"You aren't my father!" Boomed the enraged Gohan, his aura bursting about him with a greater intensity, cutting through the air like an arrow released from a taut bow.

The figure simply grinned as Gohan swung on him, the half-Saiyajin's fist passing right through him.

Gohan pulled back. "What?"

"Fool!" Shouted the figure as he drove his elbow into Gohan's abdomen. He grunted loudly and doubled over. "You really are an idiot, Gohan." He withdrew his elbow, letting Gohan fall to the ground.

Gasping for air, he slowly rolled over onto his back, staring up at the Goku look-a-like. The figure's face slowly darkened from its light brown to a shade of blue so dark it resembled black, and his gi slowly transformed into a dark black robe decorated with navy blue symbols. Goku's mane slowly fell off of his head, leaving him bald.

"Who… are you?"

"When you know my name boy… Death is assured you… And that is all you need know… For now." He threw his head back and a mad cackle escaped him, the world around Gohan slowly going black.

---------------Scene Change---------------

Goten slowly opened his left eye, looking over to his green mentor. A light blue aura clung to the Namekian closely, his body suspended in mid-air in a cross legged sitting position.

"Piccolo—"

Quiet! Snapped Piccolo mentally. Focus on your meditation!

"But the fight is in four days and we haven't trained at all yet! How are we going to be read—"

Be quiet Goten! Stop talking and focus on your meditation!

"Fine. But you have to prove to me that this actually works."

The blue aura surrounding Piccolo slowly faded, and he touched down on the marble surface of the Lookout, opening his eyes. "You want proof? Fine. A quick spar, then back to meditation."

Goten grinned. "Alright!"

Piccolo simply crossed his arms over his broad chest, staring Goten down. "Well? I said a quick spar, we can't be here do this all day. We have meditation to get back to."

Oh boy… I can't wait for that…Thought Goten sarcastically. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, spreading his feet into a fighting stance.

Piccolo uncrossed his arms and spread his feet as well, although he did not clench his fists, nor did he even make fists.

Goten looked at his mentor a bit confusedly, and blinked. In that instant, a leathery green elbow banged against his nose bone, breaking it, knocking the boy backward onto his bottom.

"Hey!" Cried Goten, blood oozing down his nostrils. "No fair!"

"There is no 'fair' in a fight," responded Piccolo, reaching his hand out to the half-Saiyajin. Goten took the Namekian's hand, clenching tight. Piccolo scowled and returned the clench, and hauled Goten to his feet and flung him over his shoulder in one fluid motion.

"Ah!" Shouted Goten in surprise as he slammed into one of the potted trees on the Lookout, his body cracking it in half.

"Oh my," said a deep voice, witnessing the destruction of the tree. "Do be more careful Piccolo!"

"He has to learn Popo," responded Piccolo in his gruff voice, crossing his arms back across his chest. "Victory requires a total mind and body effort. If the body is alone it its fight, it will most surely lose."

Goten groaned, climbing to his feet. "That was a cheap shot Piccolo…" He dusted himself off, standing upright. "And you know it!"

"There are no 'cheap shots' Goten," snapped Piccolo. "The fight with Shinji isn't going to be a little play fight where you can just end it by saying 'That's enough for today.' If you do, Shinji will kill you. That's what he's here for Goten. To kill you and all the rest of us. And I'm going to train you in the art of combat so you can survive."

Goten stood there shocked, his mouth agape.

"Are you aren't mentally ready for that just yet. Which is why you need—"

"You mean you're going to train me to kill people," Goten said quickly, cutting Piccolo off. "Train me to be a murderer."

"If you kill someone—"

"Dad didn't always kill his opponent, and he was—"

"Your father was a fool. He let Frieza survive, and that little monster came back to haunt us. He let Dr. Gero survive, and the world was nearly destroyed by Cell. Letting your opponent survive in these types of battles is a mistake. Your brother Gohan learned that, and it was he who killed Cell. He killed him. Not hurt. Not injured. He killed him. And if you don't kill Shinji, he will most certainly kill you."

Goten averted his gaze, looking to the ground.

"A honorable warrior doesn't like to hear that murder is the only option, but in this case—"

"I've heard enough!" Roared Goten, golden sparks flittering about his form. "You mean to tell me that because my father chose not to kill, that he was weak? Well, let me tell you something Piccolo. If you want to be a murderer, go ahead. But I'm not going to have any part in it." With that, he turned around and leapt off the platform, flying down to the world below.

Piccolo shook his head and sighed.

"Aren't you going to go after him?"

Piccolo shook his head. "No. I have a strong feeling that he'll come back soon enough." With that he again crossed his legs, returning to his meditative state.

I hope that was enough Gohan for you guys… lol. I had intended to make this a Gohan solo chapter, but… nah. I think its good enough as it is… What do you think? Don't be shy… you can tell me… Just leave me a review, that's alls I ask.

Senzai: Roux… Perhaps this alliance would work… prepares to plot with my rival

Hey! What did I tell you about plotting! Holds up a red fish

Senzai: Ahh! Get that thing away from me! Runs off, screaming about evil fish

Okay guys, until next time, thanks for reading. Golden's outta here.