For the first time that day, the wind began to pick up, bringing with it some granules of sand and flinging them across the lake and onto the sandstone stage. Goku stared at where his grandfather last was, and with a mixture of emotions, as well as battle fatigue, taking their toll on him he felt his legs weaken. Eventually, he had to place his hand on the floor to sit down. He only broke his gaze when he tilted his head forward and placed it into his hands.

Roshi adjusted his sunglasses as he, Krillin, and the others watched from the sidelines. He sensed Krillin's desire to get on stage and he placed his staff in front of the boy as he tried to climb on. "No Krillin now is not the time. We must wait."

"But master I-"

Roshi tapped him lightly with the staff and swayed it towards the stage. "Shh, look."

Gohan crossed his legs and sat beside Goku, keeping silent as he did so. He waited a moment before reaching into his gi and retrieving the four-star ball placing it just in front of his father. The wind gently rolled the ball until it touched Goku's leg, and Goku placed his palms on the floor in front of him, looking longingly at the reflective orb. He lifted a now sand-covered hand and picked up the ball, placing it carefully into his gi.

Gohan scooted closer and placed his hand on top of his fathers "I know how much you cared about him Goku. I-it's never easy losing someone you love." He paused and gave a light squeeze to Goku's hand. Goku looked up at him and Gohan could see how wet his eyes were. "But I know how it feels. You don't need to be so strong around me. You can cry if you need to."

Goku placed his other hand on Gohan's and squeezed lightly before releasing it and hugging him. "Not now Jack, I can't cry now. Not when we're so close to getting Upa's father back. I just need to be strong until then."

"Okay Goku, then let's go hear what Baba has to say."

Gohan helped lift Goku to his feet and walked him over to the old woman who, despite her earlier impatience, looked quite pleased while waiting for them to finish up their conversation.

"Baba?" Goku asked.

"Yes, Goku?"

"Could you show us where the last dragon ball is?"

"Why I'd be happy to. Gather everyone around and I will begin the telling." She said while attempting to shuffle off her crystal ball.

Goku waved for everyone to come up onto the stage and soon everyone was gathered around Baba, waiting for her message. She motioned her hands around the ball and the sphere grew cloudy as if it had a hundred rainclouds stored within its glassy interior. "Yes, yes I see. The final dragon ball is held inside of a red automobile traveling along a highway...Hmm...it's close... I'd say roughly sixty miles east."

Goku smiled and turned to Upa. "You hear that Upa? Only a little while longer until you get to see your father again. I promise."

The small native boy smiled back, the excitement radiating off of him was almost palpable.

"Well, how's Goku gonna know what car to look for? There could be dozens of cars along that highway. It'd take hours to hail each on over and check for the dragon ball. Not to mention the people who have the ball probably won't give it up so easily." Yamcha said doubtfully.

"Oh, finding the right car will be the least of his concerns, that highway is abandoned. It's been so for years. The only ones traveling along it would be people that don't want to be found."

"That's good," Goku said. "Jack and I will get the dragon ball and be back in no time."

"Are you sure you don't want Yamcha and me to come with you Goku?" Krillin asked. "You've lost your tail; are covered head to toe in bruises; and need Jack to hold you up, how well do you think you'll be able to fight?"

Slyly using Gohan to initially stay balanced, he pushed himself into a walk towards the edge of the stage and gave a thumbs up to Krillin. "I'm good, see? We've got this." He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Flying Nimbus!" And the cloud appeared in its usual timely fashion, lowering itself to the height of the stage so Goku could gently step, instead of having to jump, onto it.

Gohan joined him on the cloud and the two waved goodbye to the group, at least for the time being. Once they were within the safety of the air and heading east, Goku laid back on the cloud, both his spine and ribs were aching in long and nearly constant waves, and laying down on his silky cloud sounded appealing, to say the least.

"Goku, I have some senzu beans left from Korin, I think you should have one." Gohan said while reaching into the satchel.

"How many are there Jack?" he asked.

Gohan untied the bit of string that held the top of the pouch holding the senzu beans and said, "I've got...about seven."

"All right."

"Here you go," he said, dropping the bean into his father's palm. Goku ate it and immediately his wounds were healed, but Gohan noticed there was still something off with him. "D-do you want to talk about it Goku?"

"I don't know if there's much to talk about Jack. Grampa raised me, ever since he found me in the woods. He took me, just a random little boy with a tail, to his home, and gave me everything I have. My name, my power pole, my training, he gave me everything." Goku reached around his back feeling where his tail should be. "After he died, I lost my only family. Maybe that's why I want to help Upa so much. I want to help him because no one deserves to be left alone; because Upa deserves his family just like everyone else does."

Gohan couldn't even begin to explain how much he agreed with him. He wanted to explain just how much he understood the loneliness and the need to help others, the hope that someday if you help enough people it will make being alone at least bearable, but he knew he couldn't. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't come clean.

"What about yours Jack? When are you going to go back to your family?"

"My family?" Gohan asked. "I-I don't know if I want to go back Goku."

"Why not?"

Gohan rested his palms in on one another and twiddled his thumbs. "I don't think they miss me, Goku," he said. "My mom has been forcing me to study since my dad died and my grandpa doesn't come around too often, he's always busy with his hobbies, or shopping, or some other thing." He stopped moving his thumbs and held his hands tightly together. " I think they loved me at one point but I don't think they do now. I don't know if I've ever felt loved since y... since my dad died."

"Don't say that, of course they love you. I don't know how anyone couldn't. You're the kindest most caring person I've ever met besides my grampa. I'd be happy to have a brother like you."

"R-really? I mean that much to you?" Gohan asked unsurely.

"Absolutely. And, Jack?"

"Yes, Goku?"

"I think after we bring Upa's dad back to life I'm going to go back to my Grampa's, and if you really don't want to go back to your family, then you can come stay with me."

"That sounds great Goku I-"

Goku raised his hand, extending his pointer finger out at Gohan. "But only if you talk to them first."

"What?"

"I think that if you talk to them, Jack, they'll tell you how much they love you. But if they don't, then I would be happy if you'd come stay with me."

Hardly ever did Goku say anything so rational and sensible. Gohan, despite knowing his father all of his life, kept finding himself astounded by his ability to be completely oblivious one second and entirely knowledgable the next. He figured he could probably just disappear for a few days, snoop around Gero's abandoned lab, and then pop back in claiming they didn't want to see him; in fact, that plan sounded really good, he had been wondering why Gero would up and leave his headquarters so randomly. Perhaps in the time that he's gone he could figure out where the mad scientist plans to journey next.

"I'll talk to them Goku...I just don't think they'll really listen to me." Gohan said.

"I hope they do Jack, but in case they don't I'll make us a really big fish dinner when you get to Grampa's house."

"Thanks, Goku, that sounds wonderful." Gohan said just before spotting the dark remains of a long stretch of highway "Hey look that's it!"

Goku quickly guided the nimbus over to the highway and continued following it east, Gohan sensed the three tiny energies and told Goku that whoever had the dragon ball were probably smart enough to go away from the six others.

It didn't take them long before the desert gave way to rocky soil and hilly terrain which made the long highway more winding and less straight-forward. The two hovered high above the hills so visibility wasn't a problem. Up there they could see every single bend and curve of the decaying asphalt road and sure enough, they soon spotted a little red car pulled off to the side just a mile ahead of them.

As they traveled toward them, they lowered the cloud down to the height of the car and stepped off of it just as they reached the trunk. When they walked around the side of the car, they saw a dog in a purple jumpsuit struggling to remove the rear left tire from the vehicle, apparently, they had a flat and were in the process of changing it. Before getting the chance to ask him anything, the back left door swung open and the dog was knocked to the ground.

"What is taking you so long Shu?! We've got to get the ball back to the base before those nit-wits at Baba's figure us out!"

Shu sat up while holding onto his snout and spotted Goku and Gohan standing just behind the car. Goku obliviously waved hello. "E-Emperor Pilaf I think it's too late. I-It's those kids again."

Pilaf slid off of his leather seat and stepped out of the car "What are you talking about you imbecile? There's no way anyone could have found us yet!"

Shu averted his eyes from Pilaf and simply pointed at the two boys, prompting the little emperor to turn around. He made no sudden movements and backed away from the car slowly. "Oh, Goku, it's you. W-what might you be needing from us?"

"Hey Pilaf, Jack and I just need the dragon ball so if you could give it to us I would like that a lot."

"Mai step out of the car." Pilaf commanded. The long black-haired woman stepped out of the driver's seat of the vehicle and stood to the right of Shu. "N-now Goku, I think you should know I am not going to just hand the ball over to you..."

"Why not?" Goku innocently asked.

"Because I don't want to! And even if you tried to take it from me you couldn't!" He said. "Not when we have our secret weapon. Mai, Shu, now!"

Pilaf reached into his pocket and retrieved a small green-labeled capsule which he threw over his shoulder. He ran into the smoke just as Mai and Shu did and once it cleared they were all in their own large, custom-made mech suits.

Gohan was thoroughly unimpressed with their 'secret weapon'. It was obvious that the suits were meant to combine together based on their different sizes and shapes, which meant that while they were separated, they were much weaker. Not that they would pose much of a threat even if they were combined, he knew both he and Goku could smash through them with ease.

Goku took only one step forward and wagged his finger at the group. "Pilaf I'm asking you nicely, please give us the dragon ball or we're going to break your robots!"

"You can try but you won't break a thing." Pilaf replied confidently.

"All right then." Goku said before turning to Gohan "Hey Jack do you want to fight?"

Gohan thought carefully, he knew if he got his father busy with two he could probably rip the one he's working on apart before he would notice. "It's up to you Goku, I'm pretty sure I can handle one of them if you get the other two."

"Okay Jack, sounds good to me." Goku said as he stretched his legs.

Gohan decided that he'd go for the pink one on the left, the other two weren't as large as it but they looked faster and might provide more of a challenge for his father. The machine charged towards him with its claws extended hoping to grab onto an arm or a leg, but the systems were far too slow to keep up with Gohan. He dodged the robotic limbs and grappled onto the back of the machine. He tapped around the metal feeling for the thinnest part, and when he found it, he repeatedly hit it, eventually exposing some of the more delicate electrical components. He ripped out circuit after circuit causing the machine to lose control of its arms and legs. When it eventually toppled over, he ripped off the cabin door to see a frightened Mai still gripping tightly to the controls.

"Pilaf has the dragon ball doesn't he?" asked Gohan.

Mai, completely speechless, only nodded yes. Gohan sighed and by the time he looked up from the mech, Goku had defeated the other two. He walked over to inspect his father's work, it was a bit more brutal than his, most of the spherical outside of the machines had been dented inwards and both Shu and Pilaf were removed from their cabins.

Pilaf sat on the ground, his small hat had fallen off his head and rested on the dirt just as he did. He gave one good look at the black briefcase he held within his grasp before typing in the code and opening it. He reached into the case and reluctantly took out the one-star ball.

"I guess I should have given you the ball, maybe then I'd at least still have my mech suits."

"I told you, didn't I?" Goku said with a sly grin.

Goku handed the ball off to Gohan and he safely stored it away in the satchel. The two hailed the nimbus and made it back to Baba's in hardly any time at all. Once they arrived they hovered at the edge of the stage where everyone gathered around to greet them.

"So did you guys find that red car and the dragon ball?" Yamcha asked.

Gohan flipped open the satchel and reached inside. "Yep, we got the one-star ball right here."

Upa stood next to Gohan and looked happily at the little orange ball. "That means we have all seven right? And I can see my father again?!"

"That's right, Upa, just hop on and we'll go!" Goku said.

Bulma tilted her head. "Wait where are you guys going?"

"Back to Korin's Tower, Upa's father is buried near there and we can't bring him back to life while he's by himself," Goku explained.

"Right, that makes sense. When will you guys be back?"

"Not too long from now, I don't think the dragon likes being awake very much. We'll see you guys soon!"

The three waved goodbye to the rest of the group and headed on their way. Gohan could see the excitement plastered on Upa's face as the nimbus raised up and shot towards Korin tower, he knew Upa could hardly wait.

Soon enough they had reached the tower and began laying the dragon balls out. In no particular order, Gohan took out each ball and formed a hexagon with the six he had in the bag. "All right Goku, the rest is up to you."

Goku nodded, reached into his gi, and took out the four-star ball. He hesitated for a moment; it had taken them so much time to find all the dragon balls and he could hardly believe they were finally going to get their wish. Though it wasn't really their wish was it?

He held the four-star ball out in front of Upa, believing that because it was his wish, he should be the one to place the final dragon ball. "Upa, are you ready to see Bora again? All you have to do is put the ball in the center and I'll call the dragon out"

"Okay Goku, I can do that!" He said, and then gently lifted the ball from Goku's hand. He placed it carefully into the center of the hexagon and then stepped back behind Goku.

Goku took in a deep breath and yelled, "Shenron the Eternal Dragon, I have a wish!"

At first, the balls did nothing, they were completely motionless with no indication that anything had happened at all; then, suddenly, the sky grew dark and the dragon balls' usual light orange glow began to intensify. The sky darkened further and the orbs began to float. Their collective light grew and grew until they were each like a mini-sun, burning so hot with energy that they turned completely white.

The ground shook beneath the boys' feet and a blinding yellow streak of light shot into the sky. As it flew through the air, the light twisted and thickened in areas while thining and curving in others; eventually, the light dimmed and the green scales of the dragon became visible. A low growl came from Shenron and he looked towards Goku.

I AM THE ETERNAL DRAGON AND FOR YOUR SUMMONING OF ME, I WILL GRANT YOU ONE WISH. ALL YOU MUST DO IS ASK AND IT WILL BE.

Upa cowered behind Goku, he wasn't expecting Shenron to be so intimidating. He certainly didn't look like any kind of dragon that would be willing to help bring his father back.

"Don't be scared Upa. I know he looks like he's not very nice but he will grant you your wish."

"A-Are you sure?" the little boy asked.

Goku smiled. "I'm super sure. Remember what I said about Oolong and his wish?"

"Okay, w-what should I s-"

I GROW TIRED OF WAITING. DO YOU HAVE YOUR WISH?

Upa hid further behind Goku, prompting him to turn around and place his hands on Upa's shoulders. When the boy opened his eyes, Goku, with calming confidence, said, "Just tell him you wish for your father back."

"Okay" Upa responded.

Goku moved to the side and the dragon lowered itself, twisting its head to better see the small native boy.

"S-Shenron, could you bring my father back to life for me?! Please!" he asked.

A SIMPLE MATTER.

Shenron looked toward the dirt grave they had dug for Bora and his red eyes emitted an even more powerful red glow.

YOUR WISH TO BRING YOUR FATHER BACK TO LIFE IS GRANTED.

Upa ran over to the grave just as the dirt began to move. They had dug the grave very shallow for this just occasion, and he eagerly moved as much off of his father at a time as he could. Bora's legs were the first thing he could see and they pushed off against the earth revealing the rest of his body. The towering native man took his time sitting up, his muscles were very stiff after not moving for so long.

I WILL NOW TAKE MY LEAVE.

The large dragon transformed back into the yellow light and shifted quickly back into the balls. Goku took his time in eyeing which one was the fourth and, just as they were about to be spread across the globe, he leaped into the air and caught it before they could disperse. When he landed he saw that Bora was now back on his feet, wiping the dirt from his clothing, and Upa was hugging his leg tightly.

Bora bent over to pat his son's head and to look at the two boys, who risked everything for him, in the eye. "Jack...Goku...I can't thank you enough. You not only protected and cared for my son but you also brought me back to him as well. I don't know how I could ever repay you, but if you are ever in danger, or if you ever need me I will be here to answer the call."

Goku extended his arm to shake the man's large hand. "Thank you Bora, maybe Jack and I will stop by sometime soon to say hello!"

"Wait, you mean you're leaving already? Could I at least feed you first? After everything you've done you deserve that much."

"I'm sorry but we really can't stay sir, we have friends waiting for us at the moment." Gohan said.

Bora nodded. "I understand..." He paused, lowering his head to his son and raising it back to the two. "Thank you. For everything."

"Oh and I almost forgot," Gohan said, removing the senzu beans from the satchel and holding it out for Upa. "Here's your satchel Upa, thank you for lending it to me."

Both Upa and Bora pushed Gohan's hand carrying the satchel away. "Jack, please take it. Upa and I have plenty of leather to make a new one. Consider it a small gift from us to you for all that you've done."

Gohan placed the beans back into the satchel, he hated to admit it but he actually liked having it around, especially because it seemed to be useful in the short time that he had carried it. "Thank you." he said.

Gohan placed the strap over his shoulder again and Goku called for the nimbus. The two stepped on and waved goodbye to Bora and Upa before beginning the trip back to Baba's. When they arrived the sun was just beginning to set and the temperature in the desert was rapidly falling, so much so that Baba had her ghostly companion fetch her coat from the main building as she patiently waited for Goku and Gohan to reconvene with the rest of the group. Very quickly, the topic of training burrowed its way into their discussion.

"So Master Roshi, now that everything's all wrapped up you think you can find the time to make me your pupil?" Asked Yamcha.

"Well...I suppose I could make the time, especially since I am only actively training one student now." Roshi replied hesitantly.

Goku interjected, "One student? But Master Roshi I'm your student too, with Yamcha included wouldn't that be three?"

"You're right Goku, it would; however, I have nothing left to teach you. You have conquered and surpassed every challenge I have ever thrown at you. The only way for you to become stronger now is to travel the world, learn from life as I said before."

Bulma had heard enough of Roshi's ramblings and halted the conversation. "Well you don't expect him to just wander off to some random place, do you?! I mean where do you think he's gonna go?"

"I think I'm just gonna go home for now." Goku said.

Roshi wrinkled his brow. "Hmm, I'd recommend against that."

"Why Master?"

"Let me answer in the form of a question: How do you expect to get any stronger if you're just training around Mount Pouzu? As far as I know, hardly anyone lives up there and the creatures that do are practically harmless."

"Well, I don't know if I'll be alone. Jack might come stay with me and we could train together if he did."

Roshi turned to Gohan. "Jack, did you agree to this?"

"He offered after I talked with him about my mother and my grandpa. I said that they probably wouldn't miss me very much if I left and that's when he offered for me to stay with him. He also said that I'd have to talk with them first because he didn't believe they wouldn't miss me."

"That's awful Jack," Bulma said. "I'm so sorry."

Baba took a good look at the sun, it was clear that they only had a few short moments of light before the real cold begins. "Look it's getting dangerously chilly out here and the night is just beginning. Would you please move this conversation off of my palace? I've already arranged transportation for all of you, excluding Jack and Goku...I assumed they would be taking the nimbus cloud."

Roshi waved his hands defeatedly. "All right, all right. Goku, train well at your home. The next time I want to see you is at the World Martial Arts Tournament three years from now."

"Three years?! But Master that's so much time away from you guys!" Goku said.

"I know and the reason for the large separation is because I want you to train harder than you ever have before, which includes no flying nimbus. That cloud is a handicap that will only slow your progress down. And if Jack comes to stay with you I encourage at least twice daily sparring. You know the turtle hermit way so embrace it, use every second as wisely as you can."

"Okay, Master I will!" Goku replied enthusiastically.

"Good, I'm pleased to see you're excited." Master Roshi turned around and motioned Krillin and Yamcha to follow him and Baba.

"I'll see you around Goku!" said Roshi.

Baba tightened the coat around her robe and stared at Roshi. "I assume you know I didn't call the cars for free, little brother."

Roshi waved his hand in dismissal. "Eh, put it on my tab."

The group waved and quickly shuffled away across the bridge without noticing Bulma wasn't tagging along. She decided she wanted a minute to say goodbye and no old lady was going to be able to stop her from having it. "You know Goku, I'll definitely make some time to drop by. Just because those guys can't come to visit you doesn't mean I can't. Hey, and maybe I'll get the staff at Capsule Corp. to whip you up a feast!"

"Really Bulma, that sounds great!" Goku replied.

Bulma smiled, she didn't want to say goodbye to the two of them but eventually, she did. She gave them their proper goodbye hugs and reluctantly ran across the bridge to catch up with the others and start her long journey back to West City.

The sun had finally dipped below the horizon and the stars lit up the sky. Goku and Gohan were the only ones left on the stage, Baba had retired to her quarters without bothering to kick them out, she knew they'd leave soon.

"So Goku, I guess...I'll be seeing you." Gohan said before turning to walk towards the palace exit.

"Jack wait," Goku said, grabbing his shoulder just before he could leave. "You don't have to walk home Jack, you can still take the nimbus. At this point, with how much we've been needing him lately, he probably likes you just as much as me."

"Okay Goku, but don't be surprised if I return him soon."

Goku frowned, "I hope that doesn't happen. I hope that as soon as you get back home your mom is the happiest she's ever been. She should be after you've been gone for so long."

Gohan appreciated his father's optimism although his investment made the lie more unbearable. But then again it technically wasn't a lie, he really did feel like if he went home that day, his mother would shuffle him off to his room without so much as a word and he'd be right back to studying, just like always.

"Thanks, Goku." Gohan said, and then he took in a deep breath. "Flying Nimbus!"

The cloud appeared obediently before him and he climbed onto it. He waved goodbye to his father and commanded the cloud to go north, but while flying away from the palace he sat backward to watch the palace and his father shrink off into the distance and into the darkness of night.

Now that he was alone he could finally investigate what made Gero leave his lab in such a hurry.