Why Can't I
I want to thank everyone who's commented on this story. I was very skeptical about doing this considering how long in time I have to cover.
Again if you have any questions, comments, or requests don't hesitate to leave a comment or E mail me! Thanks again for reading!
NOTICE: I just would like to say that if you're a DBZ fan and you haven't watched the original Dragon Ball yet you SHOULD! It's hysterical and just as adventure packed as DBZ.
Chapter 22: King Piccolo's Revenge
Rikku watched as Krillen ran into the distance for some reason her heart beating and aching watching him disappear into the sunset. He was only going to get her power pole and dragon ball. That was all he was doing she told herself. However, as she sat at she began to ache all over. For once hr stomach didn't grumble over the variety of plates and dishes served to them. Her head began to feel fuzzy and weird. She looked up at her friends their image distorted and warped. She could hear Krillen's cry.
"Rikku!"
He was in pain….
"Krillen!" She shot up from her seat running as fast as her legs would carry her. Her friends in the diner gasping at her behavior. She ran and ran her never feeling so heavy but she pushed through. The tournament hall came into sight and she dashed inside. She smelled something… it was so familiar… blood? No. Death. Krillen! Krillen!
"KRILLEN!"
Rikku screamed sitting up from her place on the floor of Korin's Tower. A bad dream? No, it was all real, and she was being reminded of her quest. A quest to get stronger and defeat King Piccolo. The menacing tyrant who unleashed his minions across the Earth destroying villages and killing Martial Artists. Krillen had fallen at the hands of one of them. Tambourine.
"Krillen…" She sobbed. She had never cried before. Her body shaking as the tears kept falling. No matter how much she hated to cry they wouldn't stop. Krillen had died trying to protect her four star ball. Her most prized possession and her grandfathers heirloom taken by the creature Tambourine and with it he took a list of martial artists and Krillen's life. She would never forgive herself for letting Krillen go out on his own and Letting him run to his death with that carefree smile.
For days now Piccolo and his men left only corpses and destruction in their wake. King Chappa, Pamput, Giran, all of the opponents and friends she had met at the tournament were being slaughtered one by one. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to do such things.
A sudden snoring caught her attention and she looked over to see the sleeping Yajirobe. What a character he was. Not to mention a formidable ally. She met him after her first saddening battle against Tambourine. She had been defeated due to the lack of food and exhaustion from her fight with Tien. He had left her for dead but she survived and found a fish cooking on a fire which she had immediately consumed.
Yajirobe was a man who enjoyed food more than company and had been angered by her but quickly forgave her. She remembered it had something to do with her being a girl…
~flashback~
Rikku stared at the strange mountain man. The skeleton of his fish resting on a spike at his feet while she had taken refuge on a stack of boulders.
"You! You're the one who ate my lunch." Yajirobe called out stepping toward her with an unwelcoming scowl.
"I'm sorry I didn't know it was yours. I thought it was just left here."
Yajirobe looked up at the girl. Her gi ripped here and there along the sleeves and ankles and she looked disheveled and softly bruised. "You're lucky you're a girl! Around here it's not polite to steal other people's things, especially their food."
"Oh and it's not rude to throw boulders at strangers?" Rikku retorted a little peeved from his attitude. "Why am I lucky being a girl? What difference does that make?"
"It just does!"
~Present~
My that had been an experience. She had also found out he was in possession of a dragon ball and fought him because she had made the mistake of believing he was in line with Tambourine. He was durable, taking in all her hits like a solid steel wall and quite skilled for a rogue.
The thought of their fight brought a little warmth to her heart. It made her feel better to know she wasn't alone. Together they defeated two of piccolo's minions, Cymbal, and Tambourine. Her second battle with Tambourine had been better prepared she approached him full and angry and gave him a taste of the pain she felt in her heart. She just hoped Krillen was resting peacefully now that he had been avenged.
The new problem now was defeating King Piccolo and preventing him from killing anymore people. She fought him once and lost miserably to his incredible power. Not even her Kamehameha had been sufficient enough. Her wounds still stung thinking about it. .
"Rikku," a familiar raspy voice caught her attention and she smiled seeing the white catlike man walk up to her grasping his cane and staring at her with squinted kitten eyes. Korin, one of the masters she had encountered on her journey around the world. Thanks to him she was able to defeat Mercenary Tao and attain a whole new level of strength and wisdom. After losing against Piccolo she asked Yajirobe to bring her here in exchange for a meal. "You should try and get some sleep."
"I can't… I've tried so many times but I keep seeing their faces." Krillen… Master Roshi… Chiaotsu. All of them dead. She hadn't even been aware of Roshi and Chiaotsu until Korin had given her the news on what Piccolo had been up to while she and Yajirobe had been climbing the tower.
"I know it's hard Rikku especially since they were your friends. However you need to be ready mind. Body, and spirit and that requires a good night's sleep."
"Do you really think this water can help me Master Korin?"
"Yes indeedy. You say you do not fear death and you want to be stronger. This is the only choice I can give you to attain the amount of strength you're looking for in a short time."
The source they referred to was the Ultra Divine Water. Water which contained magical properties in order to give the drinker great strength and foresight. However the task would be difficult and perilous and she had to be prepared for it.
"Alright then. I'll try and get some sleep." She bows to Korin before returning to her place on the floor and curling up. She felt Korin's soft paw pull the blanket over her and it made her smile at his kindness. "Good night."
Across the Earth where the night was just beginning Tien Shinhan meditated replaying the events of Master Roshi's death over and over in his head. The Evil containment wave… the same force which had sealed King Piccolo away many years ago was the only way to defeat him again.
Years ago when Roshi had been young he had studied under the great Master Mutaito. This man had battled Piccolo once, lost, then returned again with knowledge of the Evil Containment Wave. This wave had sealed Piccolo away for years. Master Roshi had tried to mimic the technique and nearly succeeded/ Unfortunately, made a critical error and it cost him his life.
Tien had been unable to stop him or do much more since Roshi had paralyzed him with sleeping spray. When King Piccolo tried to make his wish Tien tried to stop him by having Chiaotsu call out to the dragon for their own wish. It was a mistake Tien would regret the rest of his life. Chiaotsu was killed before he could finish his wish to banish King Piccolo from their world and Piccolo received his wish of eternal youth.
Shortly after making the wish he killed the dragon so no one could best him by means of the balls. Tien couldn't believe what kind of vicious monster he was… This man gave evil a terrible name, his own former Master Mercenary Tao had been angel fish compared to Piccolo.
"I must learn the secret of this wave. If I don't more lives will be lost and Piccolo will banish this world to darkness. I cannot allow that to happen!"
Piccolo was already beginning his reign of terror. With his youth restored Piccolo started his assault on the Chow Castle. With swift force and terror Piccolo forced the king out of power and claimed the throne as his.
The once tall towers that had surrounded the great castle had fallen to crumbles at Piccolo's mighty evil and he laughed from the destruction. His only minion left, Piano, ruled the slaves with a swift tongue and a nasty disposition. Forcing tem to complete gruesome and near impossible tasks. All the while Piccolo lounged on his throne admiring his new kingdom with a hearty smirk.
The villagers scattered for safety, a friend of Rikku's cowering and praying for her to return. Suno, a young girl who lived in a snowy village had come to visit the king for his celebration and had been caught in the uproar. She remembered Rikku, so brave and strong defeating The Red Ribbon Army's muscle tower and befriending the large Android, Eighter.
"Rikku... wherever you are we need you!"
The following morning Rikku stood in front of the pot where Korin said laid the doorway to the ice labyrinth that held the Ultra Divine Water. She had looked for Yajirobe hoping he would come along but the man had vanished and probably went home leaving her on her own.
"Just hop in the pot Rikku and when you get the water come straight back to your starting point and I'll help you back up. However Beware Rikku. This labyrinth may hold perilous traps and obstacles but there is one entity which you must be wary of most. That is Darkness."
" Don't worry I've never been afraid of the dark before."
"Oh trust me you will this time Rikku. Now go and remember be careful."
"
Thanks master Korin." She leans in then pauses looking back at the cat. "Oh and if you see Yajirobe tell him thanks for meeeah!" Falling too far she fell deep and deep through the warp. Her skin welcomed by an icy cold wind and her body landing on a solid path of Ice.
Rikku's vision felt distorted and she rubbed her eyes straightening it. All around her sparkled diamonds of ice. It was quite cold, her body already shivering, and at the same time very beautiful.
"Rikku! Up here!"
Rikku glanced up to see Korin's face hovering above her in a water like image. "When you get the water don't forget to come back to this exact spot."
"Got it!" She smiled and waved dashing into the maze unafraid.
Korin smiled and chuckled under his breath. "To be young and impetuous… Sure glad I'm old."
What dangers await our young hero in the Labyrinth? Where did Yajirobe disappear to? This and more in the next chapter… "Ultra Divine Power!"
Author's Note: Sorry if this was a little short I was having a hell of a time trying to figure out where I could skip and start again with this chapter. Hope you liked it anywayz and pLZ PLZ PLZ give me comments, questions or concerns you have concerning this or any of my other fics. I appreciate the critiques and suggestions.