The Book of Atlantis

by Lady-Ravenhawk

Fourteen years of peace have blessed the earth. But all good things must come to an end. A vengeful enemy reappears, shaking the Z-Warriors to their core when one of their own ends up murdered. Hellbent on revenge, Goten sets out with his nephew & Piccolo's daughter to track down the killer with nothing but a book to guide them on the most frightening adventure of their lives.

8. Unlocking the Book

Paige listened carefully that night, waiting until the telltale sounds that her parents were finally asleep, that Alice was asleep as well. She threw off the covers to her bed, fully clothed and carefully picked up the pack she had hidden under her bed. She held her breath as she placed her hand on the door knob and carefully twisted it open and poked her head out, looking around. She'd already left the note on her dresser. She hoped they wouldn't worry very much.

She tiptoed to the edge of the Lookout and looked behind her once more. She didn't dare raise her power level. Her parents were on high alert and sound asleep or not, they would feel that. She turned back and looked out over the dark world below and let herself fall off the edge, the wind whizzing by her ears, her pack flapping against her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling in her stomach before it passed and she opened her eyes, watching as she fell past the clouds and the lights from the houses below came into view growing closer and closer.

When she could hold off no longer, she powered up, a blue aura erupting around her and she leveled out, soaring back up into the sky and headed towards Goku's old house, where Gohan and Goten had grown up. She had been there when she was little, back when Goku and Chichi had still been married. She thought about what they were going to do to avenge Dende and Rose. Her parents were not going to be happy with her and she wasn't sure what Papaw would think of either.

"I feel her now," Goten whispered in the darkness. He and Phoenix were outside Goten's childhood home, waiting on Paige to show up. Goten was pacing, but Phoenix was lounging in the grass, his back propped up against his pack. This was crazy. He chewed his lip as he paced, the sting of Rose's and Dende's deaths still painfully fresh. He had to do this, he had to track down their killer, but he was nervous about taking his nephew with him.

"We're lucky mom actually went to bed early tonight," Phoenix commented as he stared up at the sky. His mother was usually a night owl and would often stay up later than any of them. But after they had learned of Dende's death, both she and his father had gone to bed early.

"Just cause she's all upset," Goten answered, thinking of his sister-in-law and his brother. Gohan had taken Dende's death pretty hard. They had been close since they were little kids. He scrubbed at his head. "What am I doing?" he muttered. "I can't take a couple of kids like you guys on a mission like this."

Phoenix bolted upright. "Hey! I ain't a kid!" he exclaimed in an offended tone. He narrowed his eyes at Goten. His uncle had never treated him like a tag-along and he wasn't about to be treated as such now. His tail swished irritatedly through the grass as he crossed his arms.

"You're sixteen!" Goten shot back.

"Yeah, and you're twenty-two," Phoenix said, flopping back against his pack again. "You ain't that much older than me." He drummed his fingers on his thighs, bouncing his head in time with the beat. "So where do we even start?"

Goten shrugged. "I don't have a clue. I'm hoping Paige might." That was the part that worried him the most. They had no clues to go on at all, except for the fact that they were looking for an Atlantian and probably the Saiyan who had accompanied her. But Dende and Rose hadn't mentioned the Saiyan. Still, that didn't mean that he wasn't an opponent to consider as well. That boy had been vicious in his attack on Phoenix.

"Alice coming too?" Phoenix asked.

Goten shook his head and turned towards the approaching energy. Alice would never agree to such a hairbrained scheme like this. He hoped Paige had been able to sneak out without alerting her sister. Alice would've stopped all of them, he was sure of it. He could see a faint blue aura flying his way fast. "There she is."

Paige saw the boys waiting around outside of the home. She slowed down and dropped down, falling down five feet to land in front of them. "Hey boys." She readjusted her pack and looked at them. "So, it's just us." She sighed, not sure what she was thinking. Maybe that they would have more people to help them, but everyone else was doing what they could to prepare for another attack instead of taking the fight right to the murderer. She closed her eyes as she remembered the horrific sight of Dende and Rose laying in a pool of their own blood on the tiles. "So, what's the plan?"

"We don't really have a plan," Goten admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "We were kinda hoping you might." He cringed at the look on her face. If nothing else, Paige definitely got her temper from Vegeta and he hoped she wasn't in a mood to take it out on him.

Paige shook her head at them both a moment before she looked around. "The way Rose and Dende described their attacker sounded exactly like the girl I fought at the tournament. I don't know where she would go or where she is now, but she definitely got my attention." She took a few breaths to calm herself. She could feel her energy starting to crackle around her. "She's out there. She knew where to find me. She knew I would see them, that we all would." She looked back at them, "I don't know how far we will have to go, but it's going to be one hell of a trip."

Phoenix jumped to his feet, snapping his fingers. "We should go see great-grandma!"

Goten blinked at him. "Arthusia? Why?"

"Maybe she could help us," Phoenix said. "I mean, she's the one grandpa goes to if he needs some advice! Mom does it, too! She knows all sorts of crazy shit. Maybe she would know a starting point for us. I mean, it couldn't hurt to ask her, right? Even if she said no and called someone, we could be long gone before they got to us."

"Phoenix, she's in America," Goten said uncertainly. "That's a long flight." He was already tired from the fights that day and the emotional exhaustion of crying for hours after they'd found the bodies on the Lookout. But his mind wouldn't turn off and he'd been unable to sleep at all before they left Gohan's house. He looked at the big pack he had sitting on the ground. It was the one Tien had made for him a long time ago, the same one he always took with him out to the forest when he would venture out there for a week or more at a time. He was suddenly grateful his father had made it for him. They would need it on this trip, he was sure of it. He'd helped Phoenix pack a bag as well, chastising him for trying to bring unnecessary things like his mp3 player and other crap like that.

"This whole thing is going to be long," Phoenix argued. "Paige just said so herself!" He threw an arm around his uncle. "C'mon, bro. You know you want to. That crazy old lady knows all sorts of wild shit. I'm telling you, I bet she could point us in the right direction!"

Goten debated it for a second. Phoenix had a point. "What do you think, Paige?" Goten asked.

She nodded and walked over to the men and threw an arm around the both of them. "Sounds like a good starting place to me. I've always liked her. Sassy." She smirked and rose into the air. "Going to be a long flight. Guess we'd better get started."

Phoenix and Goten shouldered their bags and took to the sky with Paige, flying as fast as their energy would allow. Goten couldn't shake the sound of Alice's scream when she found Dende. Nor could he get the image of Rose's dead body out of his mind. Even though Rose was not going to be wished back, he was going to avenge her death. She had saved him when he was too young to save himself and now he had his chance to pay her back. She did not deserve to die like that and neither did Dende. He would make sure that whoever had done this would pay dearly for it.

Paige and the boys flew on all night and well into the day. She took a back seat after they crossed the ocean, following as Goten lead them, following an energy signature he knew well. She blinked her eyes several times, her energy was starting to wane, but her anger fueled her on, Vegeta's words from training echoing in her head. Yes, you are frustrated, aren't you? Mad even? Channel that anger into your energy. Focus it or your opponents will beat you down every time. If you have energy enough to be angry, you have energy enough to fight. "Are we there yet guys!?" she shouted at them, she was exhausted and needed rest soon or else she would fall into the ocean.

Phoenix turned in the air to look at her, still flying in the same direction. "Almost!" It wasn't long after that they landed in front of the little house, the sun just beginning to sink over the horizon. Phoenix opened the gate and led the way up the stone walkway and knocked on the door.

Gramma blinked at the trio when she opened the door and smiled warmly at Phoenix. "Well isn't this a pleasant surprise?" she said as she hugged him. She ushered him into the house before she hugged Goten and Paige each in turn. She was expecting company that evening, just as she always did whenever any of them came to visit, but she hadn't expected to see those three. "Your father isn't with you?" she asked Goten as she closed the door behind them. "Don't tell me you flew all that way."

Goten nodded. "Yeah, we came on our own," he answered and shrugged his pack off, letting it thunk loudly on the hardwood floor. He rolled his shoulders and neck, trying to loosen the stiffness he felt there. It wasn't so much that the pack was heavy, really to him it weighed nothing, but flying all that way with it made his muscles stiff. "Gramma, we need your help. Dende and Rose were killed today and they don't want to be wished back. But we can't just let their murderer get away scott-free. We need help finding her."

Gramma's brows lifted at his words. Something panged in her heart to hear of their death. It was a sad day indeed that the last of the first humans were no longer on the earth. She swallowed and tried to press down the sadness she felt. There were bigger issues to deal with now and she would light a candle for their passing later. She looked around at all three of them, feeling out their emotions. "And so you snuck out here without telling your parents and expect me to help you figure out where this person might be," she stated, crossing her arms.

Paige nodded as she pulled a bottle of water out of her pack and eagerly drank down the contents, feeling a bit of her energy return slightly. "That's exactly what we were hoping you could do for us, but hopefully without all the summoning gods and that jazz. I think our group has had more than enough of those over the years." She remembered the fiasco when her Papaw had made the mistake of dealing with them in an effort to try and protect his family. It had been too much.

Gramma snorted. "Believe me, dear. We ALL learned our lesson with that one," she said, knowing exactly what Paige was referencing. She sighed and went quiet for a moment, fixing each of them in turn with a stern gaze. Goten and Paige were hellbent on finding the woman who had murdered their loved ones. She could feel their determination, fueled by anger and heartache. And Phoenix, well, he was determined to go on this adventure whether anyone wanted him to or not. He was sorry for the loss of Dende and Rose, but more than anything the only thing she felt from him was excitement. He really was too much like his grandfather. She finally sighed and uncrossed her arms. "Well I can see there's no point in trying to stop you," she said. "Alright. I'll help you figure out where to begin."

"Gramma, you're the best!" Phoenix exclaimed and hugged her tightly again. Even though he was tired, he felt like he could burst at the seams with excitement. He'd always loved listening to the stories his grandparents and parents told him of their battles. But most of his life had been spent in peace; there were no villains to fight, no dragons to slay. This was fantastic.

Goten gave a tired smile. "We really do appreciate the help, Gramma," he said and tried to stifle a yawn. He threw an arm around Paige's shoulders and leaned his head against her, blinking sleepily. He drew a sharp breath through his nose and stood up straight again. He couldn't sleep now. They had too much work to do.

"Yes, yes," Gramma answered, a tone of annoyance almost in her voice. "I'm just not looking forward to dealing with any of your parents. They're all going to have my head for this." She was feeling her own tiredness. Ninety-four years on the earth would take its toll on you after awhile and she was certainly starting to feel her age. It was creeping up on her whether she liked it or not. "All three of you look absolutely exhausted. Why don't you go upstairs and sleep for a few hours while I do some research and make you something to eat? We'll discuss your plans when you wake up."

Paige slung her arm around Goten's shoulders in return, both holding each other up. "Do you need any help with that? A few more bottles of water and I should be right as rain." It was a lie, she was still half human and she needed sleep as much as regular food instead of just water alone like her father. She looked at Phoenix and chuckled, "Though maybe I should help these two lugs up the stairs."

Gramma raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't you lie to me, young lady. You need your rest as much as the boys do." She smirked at the slightly surprised look in Paige's eyes. "Just because I can't read your thoughts like your uncle could, doesn't mean I can't sense when someone is lying to me. Now up to bed, all of you." She motioned up the stairs, shooing them away to the bedrooms.

Phoenix groaned, his exhaustion starting to hit him as he looked up the stairs. "So many steps," he grumbled and tromped noisily up the dark wooden staircase.

Goten chuckled and slid his arm around Paige's waist as they walked upstairs. "You should'a known better than to try to lie to Gramma," he whispered to her. He led the way down a hallway and bumped open a door with his toe. The bed looked squashy and inviting and he gave a groan of longing to just curl up in it and sleep for days. "Will you sleep with me?" he asked tiredly, totally missing the way the question sounded.

Paige gave the Saiyan a look, grinning at him despite herself. "Really? You want to go all the way in Gramma's house with your nephew right next to us? Kinky. I'm game, but can I top?" She laughed and helped him over to the bed, turning as she watched Phoenix head down the hallway to another bedroom as if he was moving on auto-pilot. "Actually, I think he's dead to the world, so if you don't mind Gramma knowing we are doing the nasty, let's do it."

Goten blinked at her through tired eyes as he kicked off his boots. "And people say I'm the whore in the family," he grumbled as he flopped back on the bed and sighed. "You're such a little shit, Paige." He smiled over at her as she closed the door and he reached out a hand for her, pulling her to lay down beside him. "I just wanna cuddle like we use to when we were kids. You're the only thing that can make me happy right now." He was afraid of lying there alone, lost in his thoughts. He knew the sadness of losing Dende and Rose would hit him all over again and he didn't want to deal with it. "Can we just go to sleep for a little while?"

Paige gave him a tired smile. "Yeah, we can do that," she said seriously as she curled around him, sliding her fingers into his hair and curling up next to his side. She nuzzled into his cheek. "I've got you. We're going to be alright, you know? We're going to make them pay for what they have done to our family. We are going to make this right," she said, though she knew nothing would make their deaths right. It would always be a violent, brutal murder and nothing done would change that. The only solace came from knowing that Dende and Rose were finally at peace with the knowledge they would always have each other in death.

---

"GONE! I've talked with Lindsey and she says that Goten and Phoenix are missing. You know how you said that they would be the inseparable band, so I know they have to be together! But they are so irresponsible! I mean, what could they be thinking going after Dende and Rose's killer! What happens if they are overpowered? We don't know what kind of forces they have or if they are planning something. What if they all end up kidnapped?" Jenny was panicking. A full blown do not pass go, go directly to panic mode.

Piccolo frowned deeply as he stared at the note in his hand, left by his daughter at some point in the night when she'd snuck out to meet up with Goten and Phoenix. He was going to beat all three of them to within an inch of their lives as soon as they were home. He'd stood by silently while Jenny had spoken to Lindsey, both of them on the verge of nervous breakdowns. He didn't blame them. His nerves were shot as well.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Vegeta growled, rubbing at his face with his hand. "Those idiots," he muttered and looked over at Tora, who he had shown up for training that morning. He sighed through his nose, feeling his temper rising. They knew better than to pull stupid shit like this. "And I'm guessing Kakarot has no idea that his son has run off with this wild plan to avenge their deaths?" He listened to Jenny shriek on the other end of the line; he could hear the tears and the worry in her voice. "Calm down. I'll send Tora out to the cabin. Kakarot can track them down quicker than anyone and bring them straight home."

Jenny felt a surge of relief washing through her and she drug a hand through her short hair. "Please tell them to hurry. I just, I don't think my heart can take this. First Dende and Rose and then they go running off to who knows where to try and avenge their deaths?" She bit her lip as she thought about what would happen if they died. She would lose it and nothing would bring her back. "Please," she pleaded again as she pressed the heel of her hand into her eyes.

"They'll be home before the wake this afternoon," Vegeta promised. "Now calm down, Jennifer. I'll handle this." He hung up the phone, shaking his head. They were supposed to be preparing for saying their last goodbyes to Dende and Rose, not tracking down the kids who'd decided to run off and play hero. "Tora," he said, turning to the taller Saiyan.

"I got it," Tora said. He couldn't help but to overhear Vegeta's conversation. He'd even been able to hear everything Jenny said, her voice was so loud and shrill in her panic. He'd never heard her like that before. He snapped his fingers, vanishing in a puff of dark blue smoke before he appeared at the cabin. The sun was just starting to climb into the sky and he could smell the breakfast Sabriena had prepared for her husbands that morning still lingering on the air. He trotted up the steps and knocked on the door, opening it when Tien hollered that it was open.

He stepped inside, giving them a nervous look as they sat at the table, drinking coffee. It seemed they had just finished their meal. "Hey," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, ah, got something to tell you all. I guess Goten, Paige, and Phoenix decided to run off sometime in the night. Piccolo found a note from Paige. Seems they decided to take it upon themselves to track down Dende and Rose's killer. Vegeta sent me out here to tell you."

Sabriena's coffee cup slipped from her fingers, spilling all over the table and clattering to the floor. It felt like her heart had stopped in her chest. "What?!" she shrieked and Tora cringed. "The hell are they thinking?! They can't go after her! They'll be killed! And without Dende, there aren't any more dragonballs! We won't be able to wish them back! Alice hasn't made any new ones. No. No, no, no, no," she whimpered, tears welling in her eyes and she covered her face with her hands, leaning over her knees. This was exactly what she was afraid of; Dende and Rose hadn't even been dead for twenty-four hours and already her world was being turned upside down. She didn't know what she would do if she lost her son.

Goku was on his feet the next minute, his hands banging down on the table as he looked at Tora in shock. "They did what?!" He grit his teeth together, feeling his world spinning as he listened to Sabriena breaking down. This was too much; hadn't he raised his son better, to think things through? At the very least, he knew Tien had. He looked up at Sabriena, reaching out and pulling her to him. "Don't worry. I'm going to go get them right now," he said before he gave her a light push towards Tien. He could see the worry in his husband's face as well and he reached out, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "Nothing is going to happen to them, I swear to you." He looked over at Tora. "Come with me, in case they try to run from us," he said as he closed his eyes, pinpointing Goten's energy.

It was far away and it was faint.

"Bring them back, Goku," Tien said as he pulled Sabriena into his lap. His mind was spinning. Goten should've known better than to pull something stupid like this. He was going to have a serious talk with that boy as soon as Goku got back. But for the moment, he needed to keep Sabriena calm. She was starting to hyperventilate as it was.

Tora grabbed onto Goku's shoulder. "I can't sense their energy," he explained. He'd tried to just briefly before Vegeta had hung up the phone with Jenny. He thought perhaps he could go get the kids himself and spare Goku and his mates the worry, but he hadn't been able to do it. He hadn't spent enough time around Goten, Paige, or Phoenix to be able to pick up on their energy from that far away. Especially if it was low. He watched as Goku pressed his fingers to his forehead and the next thing he knew, they were standing in the dark outside a huge victorian house. He blinked at it, recognizing it instantly. It had been a long time since he'd been there, but he knew the place. Everyone in their family did. "Arthusia's?" he asked in surprise, looking at the younger Saiyan. Judging by the expression on Goku's face, he was just as shocked to find themselves standing there as well.

Goku couldn't believe his eyes; this was the last place he thought he would find them. He half expected them to be some place that he associated more with the Atlantians, but it made sense that the kids would come here first. They were probably hoping that Arthusia could point them in the right direction or maybe make it so that he couldn't find them. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "They must have flown all night to get here," he said before he hopped up the steps and knocked on the door quickly before he opened it up and walked in. He could smell food cooking and the warm scent of incense wrapped around him. "Arthusia?" He winced; there was too much anger in his voice, but he didn't know what to think.

Arthusia cringed at the sound of Goku's voice and the feel of his emotions as they hit her. She sighed and set down her book as she got to her feet, leaving the book open on the kitchen table. She could see the look of worry and anger on Goku's face as she entered the living room. "So I'm guessing everyone knows what the children did," she stated and sighed. "They're asleep upstairs. Come on in, they're not going anywhere any time soon."

Tora shut the door behind them and followed Gramma back into her kitchen. He always did like this old house, the feel of it. He was glad that this was where they found the kids. "At least they're safe," he said quietly to Goku as they sat down at the table. "It could've been a lot worse." Now he understood why no one could feel their energies. Being on the other side of the world and sound asleep, he was amazed that Goku was able to track them down at all.

"I am sorry to hear about the death of your friends. It's a great loss, losing the last of the ancient ones," she said as she poured each of them a cup of tea. She slid a cup to Goku and Tora, then sat down in a chair across from Goku and watched him over the rim of her cup with that piercing stare. "You intend to take the children home with you."

Goku nodded, looking at the tea cup, trying to calm himself down before he picked it up. He didn't want to break the pretty thing, "I have to. It's not safe. We don't know what they are up against. If it's a trap and they are walking right into it..." He sighed; they were safe up stairs, he could feel their energies upstairs, all safe and sound. He looked up at the grandmother and reached out, taking the delicate tea cup in his hands and took a sip. It was hot and comforting, soothing almost. He rubbed a hand on his face. To be completely honest with himself, he had wanted to go after the killer himself, but then he was torn. He didn't know where to start and he wanted to stay and protect his own family. If he came to the cabin and saw Sabriena and Tien laying like that in a pool of blood, he didn't know what he would do. And there would be no dragonballs that could bring them back.

He didn't know what he was going to say to the kids. Irresponsible. Selfish. He was still hurting and hearing the kids were missing just put the cherry on top of an already horrible twenty-four hours. "I don't know what to do."

Gramma fixed Goku with a stare as she lit one of her cigarettes. "So you're here to drag them home and tell them how stupid their plan is," she stated. She dragged on the clove and exhaled slowly, considering the situation for a moment. "I can't say I blame you. It seems they have no real plan at this point. Obviously they don't or they wouldn't have shown up here." She paused for a minute, sighing again. "And what is your plan? You know if you take them back now, they're just going to try again. You planning on locking them in a closet until they come to their senses?"

Goku frowned and rubbed at his head. "You say that like it's a bad idea." He pouted, but moved to sit down across from her. "I have half a mind to join them, but everyone is hurting back home. To wake up and find them missing this morning after what we found yesterday, we all didn't know what to think. Maybe if we had laid the bodies to rest, given us all some time to think clearly we wouldn't have panicked. I don't know." He rested his head on his hand, "What do you think?"

"I've been thinking on this for a few hours now," Gramma answered. "And I think that taking them home or joining them is a bad idea. First of all, they are just going to try again and they're going to resent you for setting them back. This is something they need to do. Those children are not going to take no for an answer. Especially Paige." She paused for a moment, sipping her tea. "You've trained those boys. I know you have. And if you're worried about them going up against the witch that killed your friends, remember that Paige and Phoenix have their own magick, even if they haven't discovered it within themselves yet. There are lessons here that they need to learn on their own. All three of them. I mean it, Goku. If you interfere now, you could screw up a lot of things down the road that are even bigger than this. This is a lesson for ALL of you, your whole family. You have to let them test themselves and see what they can do. And YOU have to learn that sometimes you have to sit on the sidelines. I know that's not your nature, but you can't always be the hero, darlin'."

Goku pressed his lips thin. "Heh, sitting on the sidelines has never been my strong point." He thought that if Chichi knew, she would be laughing at him now. "But you've never steered us wrong before." He gave her a smile. He couldn't believe how young she looked for her age. He'd forgotten her true age, any birthday they celebrated she said she was the same age as the year before. "But, I think we will stay until they wake up and let them know they could have done this a bit more responsibly. Sabriena is worried sick about Goten, same as Jenny. Jenny thinks her little girl's been kidnapped again. I can't say I blame her for thinking that."

"They have a right to be worried. They're mothers. That's their job," Gramma answered. She was surprised he'd agreed so quickly, but she was pleased about it. She really didn't feel like getting into an argument with him. She was tired. "They're not going to be happy with you when you come back empty-handed. I imagine Lindsey won't be pleased either. If those girls give you any shit, come get me. I'll handle them." She sat back and ran her fingers over the pages of the book, sighing. She felt overwhelmed. She leaned forward and held her head in her hands, her elbows resting on the table. The earth was no longer under the guardianship of the first human. Big things were on the horizon that affected every last one of them. What those things were exactly, Gramma didn't know. But she did know that the children needed this. "I mean it, Goku," she said without looking up. "It's important for them to learn these lessons without the interference of their parents. And Alice, too. She's the guardian now. She needs experience without her father hovering too much. I know she's only seventeen years old, but remind him that his brother was much younger than that when he became guardian."

Goku knew she spoke the truth. Paige had held her own against the supposed murderer the day before, Goten and Phoenix were both excellent fighters; they could hold their own. Paige had also been trained by Vegeta and Piccolo and her mother since age two. He gave a weak smile at the grandmother. "You're right. You're always right." He sighed. Well at least this way he knew that his kids would be able to track down the killer, and he could stay behind to protect the loved ones back home. "Guess I should help them out. They'll get home faster." He smiled at her again. "So, um... How have you been? Anything new since Gohan and I visited last week?"

"Oh, fine. Nothing new, really. Just doing the same thing I always do," she smiled. "Fixing everyone's love lives," she explained at his questioning look.

Tora was itching to get his hands on the big leather-bound book in front of her. It looked fascinating to say the least. He could smell the ancient parchment. The charts on the pages before her intrigued him. "Ma'am?" he asked and winced as she looked up, a fierce stare in her eyes. "Sorry. Gramma?" he tried again and she gave an approving nod. "What is that book? I don't think I've ever seen one like it before. And that's saying something cause I read a lot."

Gramma gave him a soft smile. She could feel his excitement and his anxiousness to look at it. She appreciated that. "It's a book of shadows. A spellbook that has been handed down for generations, mother to daughter. It has been in my family for as long as anyone can remember." She looked down at it again and sighed. "I was hoping to find some clarity, to figure out where to send the children first. Oh, but my head is hurting. Here, you may look at it if you like. I need to work on dinner anyway. It's way past my dinner time. Are you two hungry?" She smiled at their nods and slid the book over to Tora as she got up to return to the stove.

Tora handled the book as if it were made of glass, carefully turning the pages as he drank in the information there. "This is amazing," he breathed. It looked handwritten, the charts and references drawn with painstaking precision. It was beautiful. He looked over his shoulder as he heard heavy footsteps tromping down the wooden stairs.

"Gramma! Something smells awesome!" Phoenix exclaimed as he entered the kitchen, looking sleepy with his hair stuck out at odd angles as he stretched his arms over his head. "I'm starving. Are we almost ready to-" He froze midsentence as he caught sight of his grandpa and Tora sitting at the table, both of them looking less than impressed with him. "Shiiiiiiit," he hissed, taking a step back, wondering if he should run or if that would only get him in more trouble. He knew he was in a heap of trouble as it was. Obviously Paige's parents had found her letter and his own parents would be aware of what they'd done now. "Uh, h-hi Grandpa," he stammered, a nervous giggle in his voice as he spoke. "Fancy meetin' you here."

Goku sat up straighter, feeling a protectiveness settling over him and he gave his grandson a stern look. "Phoenix," he said in greeting. "Don't bother running, I'll just catch up to you again." He said before he pointed to a chair next to Tora, "Why don't you have a seat and eat some 'breakfast' while I tell you just how upset your mother is."

He watched his grandson nervously sit down before he sighed and shared a look with Tora. He knew Goten could sense him the moment he got up. His son's power level dropped low, but it was too late. "You two might as well come down here. I know you two are listening in, so why don't you stop hiding and just join us? I could sense Goten from halfway across the world while he was sleeping, do you think I can't sense you now that I'm five feet from him?"

Goten and Paige were crouched at the top of the stairs. "Dammit," Goten hissed. "Nothing to do now. We can't run; he'd just follow us again." He stood and grabbed Paige's wrist. "Even if he takes us back, we'll try again. I swear it," he whispered in her ear as they tromped down the stairs. "Hey Dad," Goten said uncertainly, releasing Paige's wrist and scratching nervously at the back of his neck.

Paige cursed under her breath and stood up, giving Goten a look before they made their way down into the kitchen. She gave the two full blooded Saiyans a defiant look. "We aren't going back until this is made right," she said, daring them to tell her otherwise.

Goku rested his head on his head, breathing a sigh of relief to see Goten unhurt. He tried to hide the smile on his face as he watched them squirm. He didn't take pleasure in that. Much. "Of course not, but you are going to need your strength if you are going to do this, so come eat up," he said to her. "Your note didn't do much to make everyone feel at ease. And Goten, you know how your mother is when someone close to her passes away. She cared more about Dende than most people realized. Then for you to go off and do this without so much as a heads up?"

Goten lowered his head as he sat down. "Sorry, Dad," he muttered, not daring to look up. He suddenly realized how foolish it was to sneak away in the night like that. Of course their parents were going to be upset. He squirmed in his chair; he felt like a child who'd been caught doing wrong. And he hated that feeling. He hoped his mother wasn't too terribly upset with him. He cringed on the inside; it was hard to predict how Sabriena would react, but death was not something she handled well. He hoped she wasn't closing herself off against everyone. It always bothered him when she did that.

Phoenix looked up hopefully, his eyes searching his grandfather's. "You mean you're not going to stop us?" he asked, the excitement bubbling up in his chest again. He grinned at Gramma as she set a big bowl of soup in front of him and he eagerly dug into it. "Hot damn, Gramma, this soup is fantastic."

"Thank you," she answered. "Watch your mouth, young man." She served everyone at the table and set down a breadbasket in the middle before she sat down in her usual chair. Her expression remained politely calm, but secretly, she was amused to see how this was going to play out. She could feel the way Goten's stomach was coiling with nervousness. It served him right for sneaking off and scaring his parents like that, even if his intentions were good.

Paige rubbed the back of her head. She had been positive Goku was going to drag them back to Japan kicking and screaming, but now he was saying he was going to let them go? She looked at Gramma then back to Goku, "Okay then. When do we leave?" She paused as she saw Goten grab a plate and pile it high with food. "Right. Bottomless pits." She shook her head and sat down next to Goten, stealing a bite off his plate and popped it into her mouth.

He glared at her, disbelief all over his face. "Woman, you know better than to take food off a Saiyan's plate," he said through a mouthful of food. "Get your own."

Paige narrowed her eyes at him and grabbed a second piece, chewing it slowly, leaning towards him and closing her eyes, moaning as if it was the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted.

"That's it," Goten growled, banging his hands on the table. He threw an arm around her neck, choking her. Phoenix sat back and laughed loudly, trying not to choke on his food. Paige dug her nails into the inside of Goten's thigh, pinching him harshly. His teeth clenched and his back stiffened.

"That's right," Paige said calmly. "Let go of me."

Goten released her neck and slowly placed his hands back on the table.

"Aw, Goten!" Phoenix teased, "You're such a good little bitch!"

Goku looked at Phoenix disapprovingly. "Language, kiddo." He chuckled at the exchange between his son and Piccolo's daughter. "Careful son. She's got spirit in her," he warned before he looked at Paige, "You steal Vegeta's food?"

Paige shook her head, "Nah, I don't have a death wish." She grinned at Goten and patted his thigh before reaching for his glass of water and drank it down.

Tora reluctantly closed the book and set it in a safe spot on the counter. He was so picking it back up just as soon as he was done eating. His stomach rumbled and he sat back down at the table with a laugh. "Cause, you know, Eighteen didn't already make me a huge meal this morning or anything," he said sarcastically, knowing full well his wife had served him pancakes until he thought he might burst. He fixed Phoenix with a look before he turned to Goku. "The other two you can't stop," he said. "But this one, I don't know if you should let him go, Kakarot. He's still young and he got his ass handed to him at the tournament. I don't know if he's ready for something like this." He ignored Phoenix as the young Saiyan tried to protest and got choked on his food, sputtering incoherently at him.

Goku gave Tora a look before he considered Phoenix. "Well at his age, I didn't have anyone telling me that I couldn't go out on wild adventures. In fact, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have discovered my true potential. Phoenix has a lot to learn that I can't teach him in training." He gave Gramma a wink, "Desperation is a teaching method that can't be duplicated in a classroom." He looked back over at Phoenix in all seriousness, "But you had better promise me that you will NOT look at the full moon. I was going to have Vegeta and Tora train you to control that side, but I've been a bit reluctant to do so. I'd rather you not transform at all. It's dangerous."

Paige could barely believe her ears, that Goku was going to let them go out on their adventure. She knew full well that if she had told her parents about her plans, that she would have been locked into her room. No, she didn't regret the way this had played out. Though, at the moment, her attention had caught on the book Tora had set aside. The ornate lock at the back caught her eye and had her digging into her pocket for the key she had. The one Tien had found in the pool of Dende's blood.

"I won't look at the moon, Grandpa," Phoenix promised. "I know better. Dad reminds me all the time not to. He said if I did, he'd have to cut off my tail." He nearly whimpered and curled it tighter around his waist. He couldn't imagine how painful that would be.

"He's your grandson, it's your call, Kakarot," Tora said and left the subject alone. Sixteen wasn't too young as far as he was concerned, but he imagined that Gohan wasn't going to be too pleased about it. He sat back with a stretch and a sigh before he reached over and grabbed the book to look at it again, completely missing the way Paige was looking at it. He hadn't noticed when he set it down, but the wind through the open window had caught a couple of the pages and blown them over, revealing a secondary cover that was locked. He gave a little tug on it and frowned when it didn't pop open. Oh, that was going to drive him nuts to not know what was behind that cover. "Gramma, do you have the key for this?"

Arthusia shook her head. "That key has been missing for an eternity. No one in my family seemed to know when the key was lost. There's supposed to be incredibly powerful spells locked away in that section, but a lot of good that's done anyone. Don't get me wrong, the spells I can access are powerful, too, but curiosity has driven me nuts for years trying to get into that section. But there it is. Passed down from mother to daughter for generations."

Tora tipped his head curiously at the book. "You know," he said slowly, "This all sounds sort of familiar." Goosebumps made the hair on his arms stand straight up and a thrill of fear and excitement shot up his spine. "When I came to this planet, our mission was to find this old book the Atlantians wanted. They said it had been stolen from them centuries ago by one of their own. A female of their kind who fell in love with a human male. They ostracized her for it. Somehow, she stole their book as a sort of vengeance before she fled with her lover. But she left the key behind. They told me they still had the key."

Gramma narrowed her eyes at him as she listened to the story. "You think this is the book they were looking for," she stated. She had to admit, it was an interesting theory. "I wish there was a way to know for certain," she mused to herself, lighting a fresh clove cigarette as she stared at the lock. She gave a jump as Paige's emotions hit her. She looked at the young Namekian, "What is it, dear?"

Paige looked at Gramma a moment before she held up the key and deftly stuck it into the exposed keyhole. "Dende was holding this when we found his body. The Atlantian that killed them must have had it on her."

Goku blinked at the key that now stood proudly up from the book. "Antonia had it?" He scratched his head. "But why?"

"Well I guess that settles that," Gramma said, her heart pounding against her ribs. All her life, she'd tried to get into that locked section. And NOW it finally decided to open. Just her luck. "Well, go ahead. Open it."

Phoenix leaned in curiously, trying to understand. "Wait, so if this book belonged to the Atlantians, and the woman who stole it was one of them and passed it down, then does that make you part Atlantian too, Gramma?" he asked, looking up at the old woman.

"I suppose so," she answered, her brow creasing. She mentally cursed herself. She wondered now just how much further she could've pushed her magick, how much more she might've been capable of in her youth if she'd known this before. And now she discovered it at the end of her life. The Fates had a cruel sense of humor. She watched as Paige turned the key and the lock clicked open. The ancient pages crackled as the cover was opened, revealing spells and incantations, complicated charts, and a section on the history of the most dark, dangerous, and magickal places in the world and the creatures to be found within. "Well, there's your starting point. Pick one of those places. If the Atlantians had any knowledge of them even without the book, and I imagine they did, that would be the most logical place to start."

Paige looked over the places listed, the list had areas from all over the world, "Haunted forests, pyramids, Bermuda triangle... I don't know where to start." She looked over at Goten and Phoenix, "What do you boys think?"

Goku was looking at the areas as well. "Hopefully I can take you guys to the first place you need to go, but then you'll be on your own. Better pick carefully."

Goten chewed his lip as he looked over the pages and illustrations as Paige thumbed through them. "I guess just flip through and wherever you land is where we'll start. I can't pick a place. Any is as good as the next, I suppose," he said and sat back a little. "We need a notebook so we can copy some of this down to take with us."

"Just take it with you," Gramma said and nearly snorted with amusement at the looks she got. "Just be careful with it. Like I said, it's been in the family for a very long time." She looked at Paige, "And when you get back, that book is to go to Lindsey. And she is to hand it down to Scarlett. I'm trusting you with it."

Paige looked over at Gramma in alarm, "What? Why don't you want it back? Didn't you just say you've been wanting to look at this for the longest time? It's open now, you can spend all the time you want with it." She insisted.

Goku looked at Arthusia, "I can bring the book back and forth between you two if you want? After they get back, of course and maybe once a week. Too many times in a day and it wears me out!" He chuckled.

"No, that's okay," Gramma insisted. "I won't be needing it." She gave a tired sigh as she sat back in her chair, dragging on her clove. She gave a sad smile as she looked at the newly opened section of the book. "I'm just glad to know that there really was something of value in that part. Can you imagine if we'd opened it and all it was was blank pages?" she asked with a laugh. "That would've been a kick in the teeth. No, it's time for me to pass it on. I've had this book for a very long time. It's part of my family history. But I see now that it is no longer mine. You take it with you. Protect it. Use whatever information you can get out of it." She fixed each of them with a hard stare before she slid the book to Paige. Her hand lingered on it for a moment before she sat back and sighed. She lit another of her cloves, staring at the book. Gods, it hurt to let it go. But she knew that it was time. It had served her well for many, many years and now these kids needed it. She ran a hand through her long, dark hair and got up to go to the cabinet. She withdrew a bottle of tequila and a two shot glasses, then plunked them on the table. "Damn tea isn't enough for me tonight," she muttered and sat back down.

Paige nodded and closed her eyes, blinding flipping the pages until she stopped and looked down at the place that was on the parchment. It looked like an old castle, crumbling walls set on a cliff. "Ireland," she said, grinning. "I'm game." She read over everything. "Banshees? What are banshees? Wailing spirits? You think those things really exist?"

Goten leaned in closer, peering over Paige's shoulder, and he shrugged. "I dunno," he said in a soft voice. He didn't know what to think of any of this. The entire past twenty-four hours was a strange blur to him and he wasn't even completely sure that he wasn't dreaming. "Ireland sounds as good as any place to start, I guess," he said. He was almost nervous to accept his father's offer of taking them wherever they wanted to go, half-expecting it to be a trick and for them to find themselves back home. But not having to fly all that way was worth the risk to him. "I guess we'd better get our stuff together and get going."

Goku watched as the three finished up their meals and hurried off upstairs to grab their things. He had spotted the survival pack that Tien had given Goten so long ago sitting by the front door. Those items had become well used over the years and it gave him some measure of peace that Goten had it. He rubbed at his hair a moment before he looked back down at the book, the horrible drawing of a ghostly woman with her mouth open in a silent scream looking back up at him. He looked over at Arthusia, seeing how tired she looked. "Are banshees real?"

Gramma gave a slight snicker. "Darlin', after everything this family has seen and done, do you doubt the existence of anything? I don't even bother trying to separate myth from reality anymore." She gave him a soft smile. "I'm glad you're helping them. They need this, to learn these lessons. You all do. Trust me."

Goku nodded, sparing a look at Tora. "They are going to kill us when we show up back at home empty handed." He let his head thunk down on the table, groaning "Piccolo is going to skin me alive when I not only tell him Paige isn't coming back, but that he needs to give Alice some space as well." He pouted over at Arthusia, giving her puppy dog eyes. "You sure you don't want to come back with us and explain everything?"

Gramma chuckled. "No, I think I'd rather sit this one out," she answered. "Although if they do give you too much trouble, you bring them here. I don't care who it is. Especially if that prince gets all pissy about it. I'll handle him." She laughed again and gave Goku a wink.

Tora shook his head slowly. "Yeah, good luck with that, Kakarot. When we get back, I'm running like hell. YOU can be the one to tell them all that you let the kids go. I was just here to help round them up if they tried to run for it." He snickered to himself and took a sudden interest in the overhead light fixture when Goku shot him a look.

Goku stuck out his bottom lip as he pouted. "You guys are no fun at all," he whined, turning his head as the kids came back downstairs. Well, they were hardly kids any more, were they? He thought he could understand it now, that perhaps now was the time to pass the torch. To give the younger generation a chance to prove themselves, that they could do what it took to protect this world and their loved ones on it. Though, he was still a parent and parents would always worry about their child's safety. He looked back at Gramma, getting up and going around to hug her tightly and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks for everything," he said, looking back as Paige carefully tucked the book into her pack.

Gramma hugged him back tightly. "Any time, dear." She pulled Phoenix into a hug next, followed by Goten and then Paige. "Now you three take care of each other. Be careful. And get back here as soon as you can so poor Goku doesn't have to hear it from your parents for very long." She slipped the necklace holding the key around Paige's neck and looked at the book once again. "Take care of it. And hopefully on your journey, it'll take care of you."

The Namek nodded, smiling warmly at Gramma. "Thank you for everything. I'll make sure the book gets to Lindsey." She worked her lip a moment before she looked at the older woman confidently. "Don't go anywhere before we get back," she said.

"I think I can manage that," Gramma said and moved to sit back down in her chair. "Just don't take too long, dear."

Goku blinked wide eyed between Gramma and Paige. "Where would you go?" he asked, confused, but his mouth snapped shut with the look that the young Namek shot him a moment later. He held up his hands, "Okay, don't ask. I got it." But he still didn't quite understand what they meant. He gave Arthusia a smile, "Now, does anyone have a picture of Ireland? Or I suppose I could always just wing it."