Chapter 2: The Pendulum Room

A/N: I'm gonna forego the disclaimers from now on. Chapter four isn't quite done but I feel like I've had enough time to look this over, so here it is! Next chapter will come towards the end of next week. Maybe Friday? I haven't decided yet.


As the sun began its habitual fall behind the horizon, Piccolo left the lookout. Gohan was staying for a few days to gain experience fighting other opponents. Becoming too used to fighting one person would be detrimental to his growth as a martial artist, and could even be fatal on the battlefield.

Krillin put his arm around Gohan's shoulder, "Alright, kid! How'd you like to get a little taste of the kind of training we do to prepare for the Saiyans?"

"Yeah! That'd be great!" Gohan exclaimed.

"By the way…" Krillin said, looking at the handle sticking over Gohan's shoulder. "What's up with the sword?"

Gohan grinned. "Mr. Piccolo made it for me! Isn't it cool?" he asked. He stepped away from Krillin and drew the sword, giving it a few swings.

Krillin gulped, watching the sword flash with every swing. "It certainly looks sharp." He coughed uneasily, "You, uh… you aren't going to use that when we spar, right?"

Gohan tilted his head and shrugged, "I guess not. If you don't want me to, I mean."

Krillin put his arms behind his head with a nervous smile, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. "It's not that I don't want you to. It's, Uh… it's just… YAMCHA! Right, Yamcha. He's deathly afraid of swords. I just thought it would be unfair to him, y'know?"

"Oh! Wow, that's really considerate of you, Krillin!"

"Eheh, sure is, isn't it?" He looked up, "Man, it's already dark, huh? Let's go inside." Gohan nodded in agreement.

Krillin led him through halls tinted yellow by glowing sconces. "Tien and Yamcha are in the lower levels sparring and I think Chiaotzu went to bed, so I guess it'll just be you and me." He stopped in front of a door. "Here we are; the Pendulum Room. Come on in."

He opened the door, leading to a dark room. There was a large swinging pendulum hanging from the ceiling and a glowing red circle with strange designs on the floor. Gohan tapped his foot against the outer circle cautiously, "What is this thing?"

Krillin shrugged, "Dunno. Probably something magical." He cleared his throat. "Now. Allow me to explain the purpose of this room." He cleared it again, more thoroughly, "Uh, well. Apparently, you can use this room to travel to the past or the future. Sorta. I mean, you can interact with people from the past, but it won't change the future or anything."

"Incredible," Gohan marveled. "Does that mean we can travel into the future and practice fighting the Saiyans before they even get here?"

Krillin was taken aback, "Uh, I don't actually know. That would be really useful." He placed a hand on his chin pensively. "Should I ask Kami about that? Surely, he would have done that if it was possible, right?"

He shook his head. "Let's worry about that later. The room is already set to take us to a place where we can fight two Saiyans. I should warn you that they're very powerful."

Gohan grinned viciously. "Good. I can learn more by fighting a strong opponent."

"Ehehe, yeah… right," Krillin said apprehensively. "This kid's kind of intense." He waved a hand reassuringly. "Oh, but don't worry about losing. Even if you die, you'll just be sent back here."

Gohan grinned broadly, "That's great! If I don't have to be careful, I can become strong even faster!"

"Uh… just stand in the circle and close your eyes," Krillin instructed. They both entered the circle. "Now, clear your mind."

There was a flash of green light and they disappeared.


When Gohan opened his eyes, he found himself in a red-skied war-torn city. The ruins of towering metal buildings loomed above him and in the distance. Heaps of rubble and metal scrap were ever-present. He stood on a dilapidated metal walkway; to the left was the sheer face of a skyscraper, to the right a field of cracked and barren earth.

"Morbid place, huh?" Krillin remarked solemnly. "Keep on your guard. The Saiyans are around here somewhere." He set off at a light jog. "Come on, kid!"

"Right!" Gohan followed him.

They passed a number of ruined buildings, broken fences, crumbled walls, and the skeletons of Saiyan warriors; their tails seemingly untouched by time. "Huh, so every Saiyan had a tail? I wonder why I don't?" Gohan wondered.

Finally, they arrived at the ruins of a marketplace. Storefronts lined up next to each other with shattered display windows, incinerated wares, and everything that survived caked with dust and grime.

"This is where we usually meet them. Get ready, kid. And don't be afraid to use that sword. You may need it."

Gohan nodded, curling his fingers into fists. They stood back to back, waiting and listening. Stale wind blew and buildings creaked. A quiet pitter-patter came from nearby, sending Gohan's hand to his sword's hilt. They both looked around frantically, searching for an attacker.

"False alarm, I guess," Krillin said, laughing nervously. "Man, no matter how many times I come here, the atmosphere always freaks me out," he thought.

Gohan took deep breaths to calm himself, "I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I can't be scared. I have to win, so I'm not scared. Raditz was a Saiyan and I hurt him, so I can hurt these guys, too. No, I'll beat them! It won't be like the fight with Raditz. I won't give up halfway. I won't!"

Krillin tensed, "They're here!" A green beam of energy burst out of a half-collapsed sky-scraper, descending towards them. "Watch out, kid!" he yelled, pushing Gohan out of the way with a dive. The beam exploded against the ground behind them, sending up a cloud of dust and smoke and clods of dirt.

"Get up. We've gotta fight back!"

"Right!" Gohan said. He stood, a trembling hand grasping the hilt of his sheathed sword. A person dropped to the ground in front of them. He was short, partially bald, and had a vicious scar on his face; the lens of a scouter resting over one eye. He wore the same armor as Raditz, but the parts that ought to be brown were gray-blue instead. A brown tail wrapped around his waist like a belt.

"What do we have here? Two little rats skulking around? Having fun, are we?" the Saiyan said, a malevolent jeer sprawled across his face. He tapped the side of his scouter and the device began to beep. "Let's see. A weakling and… another weakling. Ahhh, boring! I was hoping for a challenge."

Gohan's hands slowly stilled. He drew his sword in a graceful arc. "I'm not weak!" he snarled. He trained his eyes on the evil looking man, "Krillin, you go find the other one. I can take this guy!"

Krillin gaped, "A- Are you sure? This is your first time here. It might be better if we took him on together…"

Gohan shook his head, eyes never leaving his opponent, "You said I'd be fine, even if I died, right?"

"Well, yeah! But, it's still... unpleasant."

"Would you two quit yapping. If you're gonna run, then go. I'll kill your friend and then have fun chasing you down later," the Saiyan said.

Krillin gulped, "Alright, kid. If you're really sure."

"I am."

Krillin took off.

"Hah, finally! Now, let's get down to business, shall we?" the Saiyan said, cracking his knuckles.

Gohan adjusted his sword. It gleamed a dull red, reflecting the sky. He jumped, aiming an overhand slash. The Saiyan dodged to the side, aiming a punch as Gohan landed. Gohan swiped his sword in the attack's path, causing the Saiyan to pull his arm back.

"Oh-ho-ho, dangerous rat, aren't you? I could lose a hand or two. If you can hit me!" He vanished and appeared behind Gohan, kicking him through the broken window of a building. Gohan slammed into the back wall, sending a myriad of cracks through it. A ball of green energy followed him in. Gohan flew up, through the roof. The ball of energy exploded, sending up shrapnel and causing Gohan to shield his face.

He felt a hand grab his hair. The world spun as he was sent to the ground. He pushed himself out of the rubble, reaching for his sword, only to realize it wasn't there. He looked around frantically, before spotting it. Up in the air, the Saiyan tossed it around playfully.

"This is a nice toy! Mind if I try it out?" the Saiyan yelled.

Gohan felt a pit form in his gut. "I was already struggling with the sword! I have to get it back somehow!"

The Saiyan descended like a meteor, sword pointed in front of him. Gohan dodged frantically, fear welling up as he realized how much faster his opponent was than himself. The Saiyan plowed into the ground, carving a furrow into it, then stood and brushed himself off. Gohan realized with a jolt that he should have attacked before he got up. "I have to take advantage of every opportunity. Even if I mess up, I won't die, so there's no reason to hesitate!"

Gathering up his resolve, he powered up to his maximum, white aura flaring wildly. The Saiyan charged at him, and Gohan followed suit. Gohan focused all his senses on his opponent, looking for the tells that would give away his next attack. After dodging a few swipes by the skin of his teeth, he finally saw an opportunity. "Downward slash!" he thought. He twisted to the side, gathering energy into his hand. The sword swished past him, cutting the air with its speed. "He's fast but clumsy. He doesn't know how to use a sword!" Gohan realized.

He released the energy into the man's face, causing him to grunt in pain and take a step back. Gohan capitalized and struck the wrist of his sword arm, making his grip loosen. A kick to the stomach made the blade fall out of his hand entirely. Gohan picked it up triumphantly, taking a moment to relish in the feeling of its weight, the texture of its grip. That was a mistake.

Burning green energy washed over him, pushing him forward before it exploded. As the light faded Gohan lay on newly upturned dirt, feeling as if he had just had an encounter with the frying pan and the fire. His breath came in short, wet rasps. He lifted his head carefully, trying to grasp his surroundings with bleary eyes, but it was too painful. He set his head back down, feeling the soothing hot soil against his cheek. It almost made the pain bearable.

He was jerked upward, a hand grasping his tattered blue undershirt; what was left of the orange gi top hung from his belt. A rugged, ugly face came into view, adorned by a cruel sneer. "You're not bad, kid." Rancid breath on his face. "If I didn't know any better, I might've thought you were a Saiyan." He dropped Gohan on the ground. The impact seemed to clear Gohan's mind. He searched for his sword once more, hoping he could still turn the battle around and, if not, at least holding it would give him some comfort.

It was there, just a few feet away. He reached for it desperately. Hand and metal nearly met. Then a booted foot crashed down, shattering the blade. Gohan gaped, eyes wide, at the pieces. He scrambled up, despite the pain, picking up the shards of metal, as if he could simply put them back together. His heart thundered in his chest; his hands clenching around the metal pieces, causing beads of blood to drip into little puddles on the ground.

The Saiyan laughed raucously, "Look at the little rat, is your heart broken? Are you angry now? Oh, please tell me you're angry!"

Gohan stood, slowly, raising one leg at a time and letting the metal fall from his hands. He faced the man with shadowed eyes.

"Oh, he is! Absolutely infuriated, aren't ya? Ah, man, this is my favorite part!"

He could feel heat welling up; not the warmth of the blood on his hands, or the prickling pain of his burns, but the familiar heat of anger writhing in his chest. In the fight against Raditz, he had learned that anger meant power. Right now, he wanted power, so he let the anger fill him up.

He bit his lip, clenching bloody fists... and the ground shook. One by one, pebbles rose and the air writhed. Brilliant white fire burst from him, sending his hair and tattered clothes aflutter.

The Saiyan's scouter beeped, symbols flashing by as it calculated the new power level. His face went from cruel amusement to astonishment and then fear. "What!? NO! You can't be- how could you have such strength!?"

He turned on his heel, trying to flee.

Gohan shot forward as a white line, driving his fist into his back, shattering the armor like porcelain. There was an audible crack before he went flying, smashing through building after ruined building, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He burst through one more, then landed in a patchy field of dead grass, bouncing across the ground.

Gohan rose into the air, watching as his victim landed. Teeth grit, he held his hands up, forming spheres of ki in each. With a growl, he tossed them down, then formed new ones and tossed them down too, starting a volley of blasts; faster and faster. They burst against the ground in clusters, like a carpet bomb. Once he was finally satisfied, he lowered his hands, letting the anger fade. His aura evaporated, the power once again fleeing with the absence of rage; body dull with fatigue.

"Is he dead?" he asked himself, chest heaving. He brought up a hand and grimaced, pulling his fingers from his palm; made sticky with blood. He gazed at it, noticing that the blood had already begun to dry. "Did I kill him?" He felt the pit in his stomach deepen and shut his eyes tight. "This isn't real. Nothing that happens here matters…" His eyes opened and he wound up his courage. "I should go check. Just to make sure."

Sharp pain sparked in his back, traveling forward through his chest. Gohan gasped at the piece of metal sticking through his shirt. The edges were even, but the end was jagged. It was his own sword. Rather, what was left of it.

He turned his head laboriously, blood welling in his mouth, finding an unfamiliar face grinning at him. "The other one? But, I didn't sense him," he thought weakly, "how did he sneak up on me?" His eyes widened momentarily, "When I was angry. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings at all."

The other Saiyan released the sword and Gohan fell to the earth. Then everything went black.


Gohan jerked up, eyes blinking open. He was back in the pendulum room, on the red circle. He looked down, finding his clothes intact. His hand reached for the buckle on his chest, lifting the scabbard off his back. He drew his sword, sighing in relief at the fully intact blade. His reflection in the blade caught his eye; clean, no burns, no bruises or cuts. No hole in his chest. It was as if nothing had happened.

He looked around, "Krillin?"

The door cracked open. "Over here, Gohan," Krillin said, gesturing towards the hall. Krillin led him to a room just a few doors down. It was well lit; a couch and two chairs sat on a lush carpet with a coffee table in the middle, facing a roaring fireplace. There was another door on the far side, though there was no indication where it led. "Go ahead and have a seat. It's good to unwind after using that room," Krillin said, moving into a portion of the room that was sectioned off into a small kitchen.

Gohan nodded and took a seat. He noticed a steaming cup on the table. "That's for you. I don't know what you like, so I just warmed up some milk," Krillin said, as he came back into the main room.

"That's okay," Gohan said. He blew on it gently, before taking a sip. Warmth spread in his belly and he leaned back into the chair's cushions.

Krillin sat across from him, holding his own cup. "So… how did it go? Did you beat him?"

Gohan pursed his lips, rubbing the smooth cup with his thumb. "I think I did. I didn't get a chance to check."

"Great job! Especially for your first time!" Krillin exclaimed. He coughed into his hand, "I kinda... got caught off guard," he admitted. "That's how I ended up here sooner than you."

Gohan nodded silently.

Krillin gave him a scrutinizing look. "You alright there, kid? Maybe that was a bit much for you."

Gohan shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I was just thinking, is all."

Krillin shrugged, taking a sip of his drink.

"Will I ever be strong enough?" Gohan wondered. "I've been training with Piccolo for a few months now, but I'm still struggling against opponents much weaker than the Saiyans that are on their way here."

He thought on it for a while and finally came to the answer. The only way he could level the field against opponents stronger, smarter, and more experienced than him. Anger. But not the way he used it now. It was too dangerous; a double-edged sword. He became stronger but, at the same time, far more careless. This fight had taught him that pure power wouldn't be enough against a cunning opponent.

"But what can I do about it? I can't get angry on command and I can't seem to control myself when I am angry." He frowned in contemplation. "I need help. Maybe Piccolo can teach me how to control anger? It's worth asking."

His thoughts wandered back to the fight. He grimaced, hands tightening their hold on the cup. "Speaking of double-edged swords..." He sighed. "I can't believe I got disarmed twice and had my sword broken. Was I wrong? Are swords really not suited to fights at this level?"

He lowered his head, frowning, then bit his lip, "No. I just wasn't good enough! If I had been more careful, it could have been a huge advantage. After all, he did seem afraid of getting hit by it. I'll just have to practice more!"

He drained his cup and stood, marching towards the door. "Hey, kid, where're you going?" Krillin asked.

Gohan looked at him over his shoulder. "I'm going back in! And I'll keep going in until I defeat them both!" he declared.

Krillin hopped up, "Well, count me in!" he exclaimed. He rubbed the back of his head, blushing, "Maybe we could work together this time, though?"

"With Krillin watching my back, I can focus entirely on one of them, improving my chances of winning." He smiled. "Yeah. Let's do that!"


It was a dejected Gohan that sat at the edge of the Lookout, feet dangling over miles of empty space. He sighed and rested his head in one hand. Clouds blanketed the world like wispy cotton below, only scant few gaps to show the land or water underneath.

He heard clicking behind him, rhythmic and growing louder. "A wonderful view, isn't it?"

Gohan straightened and half-turned. His eyes found white and blue robes, wrinkled green skin and a wooden staff. "Oh, it's you, Mr. Kami." He turned back, looking over the horizon, "Yeah, I guess it is."

Kami sat beside him, staff clattering as he set it down behind him. "You seem troubled. Perhaps some wisdom from an old man can help?"

Gohan glanced up at him nervously, taking in the hard lines of his face. Hard, but not unkind. His hands rubbed together as his eyes fell into his lap. "How do you… make yourself angry?"

Kami frowned, "I'm afraid I can't see the merit in doing such a thing. Is there a reason you wish to be angry?"

Gohan nodded, "When I get angry, my power skyrockets. I need to use that power when we fight the Saiyans! It's the only way we'll stand a chance!" He took a moment to calm himself. "But, I just can't seem to make myself angry again. I've gone in the pendulum room four times, but I keep losing! I can't even get angry when my sword is broken anymore, because I know it's not real!"

Kami took a deep breath. "I think I see your dilemma. You see this power within yourself as a way to protect those you care about, and it frustrates you that you cannot use it freely."

Gohan nodded.

Kami's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, "I think you should not seek this power overmuch, lest it distract you from the path to true strength." Gohan looked at him quizzically. "True strength," Kami explained helpfully, "Comes from tempering oneself, body and mind. It comes from effort, perseverance, and understanding. This hidden power of yours is fleeting, unreliable. Who can say when it might choose to desert you?"

Gohan's eyes widened as he recalled the way the power always disappeared when his anger left. "But, what if I need it? It could be the difference between life or death!"

Kami furrowed his brow, "I would hazard to say that this power does not appear from thin air, correct?" Gohan thought about it for a while, then nodded hesitantly. It had to come from somewhere, right? "Then, surely, there must be another method of awakening it? Perhaps a way to master it, and make it truly your own?"

Gohan gaped, "I- I don't know. How would I do that?"

Kami placed a hand on his shoulder, "You will likely have to discover that yourself."

"But... what if I can't? What if there's not enough time?"

Kami stood and smiled, "You still have much time left. And remember that you do not fight on your own. You needn't the power to defeat the Saiyans single-handedly." He turned to leave but paused. "Also, you might consider going to see your mother. I'm sure she misses you dearly. It could do her a world of good to see that you are well."

Gohan blanched. "I'm not sure how well that'd go…" Images of being crushed to death by a hug or grounded for eternity flashed by in his head. He gulped, "I guess I could… stop by?"

Kami sighed in relief, "Thank you." He walked back into the building. "Now, perhaps she'll stop praying to me half of every day and cursing me the other half," he muttered to himself.


A/N: We get a proper fight scene, yay! Also, some sage advice from Kami (I can't help but feel he's underappreciated in DBZ. He seems like he'd be a font of wisdom).