Chapter 7

It hadn't taken long before Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaoutzu had fallen. Only Piccolo, Krillin, and the children had lived to await Goku's arrival. Piccolo turned to the other three.

"We need to devise a plan, or we'll end up just like the other three. Krillin distract him. Whatever you do, keep his attention off of me. While he's occupied with you, I'll grab his tail from behind. Kaia, while they're distracting him, you charge up a Special Beam Cannon like your life depends on it. Gohan, you fire up for a Masenko. As soon as I've got a hold of him, you two hit him with all you've got." The others nodded in understanding and then broke apart to follow through with their part of the plan. Unfortunatly, as Piccolo grabbed ahold of Nappa's tail, the Saiyan just smirked coldly.

"Please, is that the only strategy you've got?" He easilly tossed Piccolo aside and dodged the children's attacks. Kaia glared up at him angrilly and fired a Masenko at him. It hit dead on, but did little damage. Gohan fired at him as well, and was able to knock him into a cliff, causing a pile of natrual debris to fall upon the enormous Saiyan. This enraged Nappa, and he emerged from the debris and began charging at Gohan with an intent to kill. Kaia bolted in front of Gohan to prepare to use a technique she had been *secretly working on with his help. (*Kaia and Gohan only thought they were doing this in secret, but Piccolo had seen them practicing each day they did so.) She closed her eyes and braced to try to stop the Ki technique Nappa was preparing to fire at them. Seeing this, Piccolo rushed to their aid.

Kaia, you fool! You cannot bounce an attack that powerful back at this opponent! he thought. Kaia's eyes were closed as she concentrated, but her focus was broken as she heard a cry of pain from Piccolo. Her eyes shot open in horror as she saw him fall to the ground.

"Piccolo, no!" she and her brother cried in unison. Piccolo laughed strainfully.

"Heh, what a pathetic fate. Me, the mighty Piccolo throwing down my life to save a couple of brats. . . .Heheh, Gohan. . .Kaia. . .you two were the only ones who have ever treated me like a friend. Th-thank you. . . . . l-look after eachother, okay? And promise me. . .promise you won't cry. Goodbye, my friends." As he spoke his final words, Piccolo closed his eyes, his life leaving him. Despite Piccolo's last request, as Gohan tried to avenge him, a fourth death was too much. Every tear Kaia had held in for Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaoutzu began to come forth along with the tears for Piccolo that she could not contain. She laid over his chest and sobbed. She sobbed for moments until Gohan cried out,

"Remember what ever he told you in the forest!" Her eyes widened as his words returned to her:

"What is your problem? Are you going to give up and run away crying like a baby everytime an opponent gets the better of you? Life's not a bowl of cherries, kid! But that doesn't mean it's the end of the world if you can't get every single freakin' victory! Did I give up just because your father beat me in the Martial Arts Tournament? NO! I kept training! I kept improving my fighting style so I could beat him! Just because you lost to your brother doesn't mean you're weak, you idiot!"

To most, these words echoing in her heart and mind would have had little to do with the situation at hand, but to Kaia, it mean that Piccolo would never want her to give up, and neither would the others who had fallen. As she watched her brother fight, though he had little strength left, she then knew why it was he who was truly the strongest of the two, and she knew that somehow she had to help him.

"MASENKO HA!" Nappa wheeled on her as her attack hit him between the shoulder blades.

"You little brat! I'll kill you both!" He swiftly grabbed her by the throat and tossed her into Gohan, knocking them both to the ground. As he was about to finish them off, someone or something swiped them out of harm. Gohan looked up and gasped in relief.

"Dad!" he greeted. Goku grinned his signature goofy grin and waved at Krillin and the children.

"Hey there. Sorry I'm late." he said.