Desert Wastelands, Mountain Range
The wind whipped along the rocky outcropping, nearly drowning out the rhythmic crash of waves far below. Jagged cliffs dropped away dramatically into the foaming sea, while above, grey clouds scudded across the late afternoon sky.
Atop the windswept precipice, Master Roshi carefully picked his way over the loose gravel and tufts of scrubby grass. In the distance he could make out a lone figure seated at the cliff's edge, unmoving despite the powerful gusts.
As Roshi drew nearer, the form of Raditz came into focus. The Saiyan warrior sat with one knee up, leaning his arm on it, his long mane of hair waving like a banner behind him. His tattered armour barely clung to his massive frame.
Stopping a few paces away, Roshi saw Raditz's hands were clenched into fists and practically trembling. The Saiyan's face was clouded with emotion as he stared fixedly down at the churning ocean far below.
Raditz had sensed Roshi approaching – though he did not care. It wasn't worth expending energy on some senile old man. From what he had gathered upon his raid at the island, this man was rather important to Kakarot… a master of some sort?
Roshi hesitated, feeling the turmoil roiling within the dangerous warrior. Then he stepped forward and lowered himself gingerly to sit beside Raditz, his old joints creaking in protest.
For long moments only the sound of crashing waves filled the air between them. Then finally, Roshi spoke.
"Quite a view from up here, wouldn't you say?"
Raditz's stony facade flickered briefly with surprise at the gentle words.
Roshi continued. "I like to gaze myself when I need perspective," he explained. "It really clears your head, doesn't it?"
Raditz remained silent as he stared at the crashing waves down below.
Roshi stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You really did a number on Goku and Tien, eh? Good thing we have the Dragon Balls, else Earth'd be doomed!" He chuckled. "To think, it took the deaths of two of our strongest warriors to wound you… I can't even imagine what the other two are like…"
This earned a grunt from Raditz, who seemed to be listening to the old man despite his cold demeanour. Roshi seemed to smile at this response before he turned his gaze towards the vast horizon.
"Why are you here, old man?" Raditz spoke, practically spat. He still didn't care a single bit for Earthlings, but he was far too in his own head at the moment to be his previous, over-aggressive self. "You don't know me, nor do I know you. We have no connection. Why go out of your way in this pathetic attempt to console me?"
Roshi considered the question thoughtfully before replying.
"You're right. We share no history," he said. "But from what I can sense, and what I heard about your comrades, it seems like you're suffering. No good man should suffer alone."
Raditz scowled. "Spare me your platitudes. I am no good man – was that not made clear when I invaded this planet?"
Roshi chuckled. "Ho ho! There is a light in all of us, my friend. I've seen the most troubled men turn into saints during my many, many years on this planet. Besides, you're Goku's brother, no? There must be some good in you in that case!"
Raditz clenched his fists. He had always been different in comparison to all the other Saiyans he had known throughout his life. His entire life, he had been an outcast. He'd never fit in. He didn't like what he'd accomplished on his crusades, but it was all he had ever known… it was all he could do, else he'd be killed off – nobody wanted Raditz the weakling defying orders.
"You don't know what you're talking about," the Saiyan sighed. "Even now, the only thing I want to do is inflict pain and get revenge on those who wronged me. Is that the nature of a good man? No! I am a Saiyan. I don't care for any bullshit moral code. Quit whilst you're ahead, old man. I will kill Vegeta and Nappa with my own hands, or I will die trying. Nothing else matters." Raditz finished, standing up, preparing to fly away.
Roshi chuckled, causing Raditz to pause.
"Is that funny to you?" Raditz questioned, his anger now getting the better of him as he balled up his fists.
Roshi stood up, facing the much taller, much more imposing man with not even a hint of fear. Below, the waves crashed far more violently than they had been previously.
"To be honest with you Raditz? Yes, it is. No man is irredeemable! Even that Demon King or whatever he calls himself Piccolo joined forces with us to defend the Earth!" Roshi announced. "Now that I think about it, he's even training your nephew…"
Raditz snarled, lashing out at the martial artist. "I TOLD YOU TO QUIT IT!"
However, the old master deftly leaned away, watching the blow whistle past his face. Raditz struck again and again, overtook by his rage and conflicting emotions but every blow whizzed past the turtle hermit.
Roshi dodged and evaded every attack with minimal effort, not once did fear or anger cross his face. These untrained attacks were far too slow to strike the turtle hermit – even in his old age, his reflexes were still sharp. He had skills Raditz had never had the time nor effort to learn.
Little by little, Raditz's assaults grew slower, more laboured. The Saiyan was still weakened from the battle against Earth's strongest warriors, his body rebelled against the exertion. With a final shout, Raditz lunged… only to stumble and fall to one knee, panting heavily.
Finally, Roshi approached instead of evading. Reaching into his shirt, the turtle hermit produced a senzu bean, offering it to the exhausted Saiyan. "Here. This will heal your injuries and replenish your strength."
Raditz eyed him wearily. Roshi watched the gears turn in his head before the Saiyan accepted the bean, chewing it slowly, his gaze remaining on the old man. Raditz's eyes widened as he felt the effects take hold – the old coot wasn't lying, whatever that bean was, it was practically magical.
Roshi grinned at the Saiyan before slowly walking away without a word. Raditz stared at the man's back in silence as he paused to speak.
"You know where to find me Raditz. Training with a partner is far more efficient than training on your own."
And with that, the turtle hermit had leapt away, down the mountain, leaving the conflicted Saiyan on his own once again. Below the crashing waters had come to a still.
Grassy Fields
Piccolo soared through the cloudless blue sky, the wind whipping his weighted cape behind him. Cradled under his arm was the sleeping Gohan, son of Goku.
The pair had been airborne for some time after Piccolo took off with him. The Namekian scanned the terrain below, seeking a suitable place to begin the boy's training.
Spying a remote meadow nestled between forested hills, Piccolo descended rapidly as he landed next to a rather large but shallow pond, dropping Gohan onto the floor.
"This will do," Piccolo remarked as he looked around. In contrast to the Demon King's attitude, the meadow was like something out a fairytale; dotted with brightly coloured wildflowers across a beautiful landscape riddled with hills and ponds and lakes.
"Wake up brat. You've been sleeping for far too long," Piccolo spoke, staring down at the still sleeping boy.
Piccolo paused, continuing to stare. He didn't stop for a while, before eventually picking the boy up and throwing him into the pond. Piccolo sat cross legged at the edge of the lake, waiting a few moments as he watched Gohan wake up, struggle, struggle a little more before finally managing to get his head out of the water.
Piccolo groaned and rolled his eyes as Gohan saw him and began to wail.
"WAHHHHHHHH! DAD! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"SHUT IT! We don't have time for this!" Piccolo snarled, picking the boy up by the back of his shirt and throwing him onto the land.
"Quit whining!" Piccolo commanded as he stood in front of the boy, towering over him. Gohan quietened, but continued to sniffle. "I'm series. Quit whining or I'll break your neck."
Gohan immediately silenced himself, despite being very visibly teary.
"Good. Listen up," Piccolo said, sitting on a rock nearby. "Your dad is dead. He died protecting you from the one who abducted you. The man who abducted you is still living, and I'm sure you know he's your uncle – that man is Goku's biological brother," Piccolo explained, before frowning as he saw tears streaming down Gohan's face.
"Stop it. Don't you dare let out a sound."
Gohan sniffled.
"I'm sure you know about the Dragon Balls, regardless, your father and the other man that died with him, Tien, will come back to life next year," Piccolo paused as he stood up, causing Gohan to step back in trepidation. "That's not what we're here to talk about, however. We managed to settle one conflict, but next year, we'll face an even harder one! Even after we resurrect your father and Tien, the three of us alone won't stand a chance!"
Gohan stared up at Piccolo, wondering where he was going with all this as he timidly avoided holding eye contact.
"That's why I'm going to train you. Even if you are unaware of it, you have some sort of power hidden within you – I'm going to train you so that you can realize your full potential!" Piccolo announced.
"You're… y-you're lying!" Gohan argued back, wiping the tears from his face in an attempt to seem more confident. "I don't have any power!"
Piccolo smirked. "Alright brat, I'll show you some proof," he spoke, grabbing Gohan by his head, despite the boy's protests, and throwing him head first into a nearby mountain.
Now… show me that power, Gohan! Let's see if you have what it takes. Piccolo thought, watching as the boy flew towards the cliff face.
Then, all of a sudden, in a flash of pure, golden light, Gohan surrounded himself in an almost ethereal golden aura. His face contorted into one of extreme determination as the boy exerted his aura into a beam that destroyed the mountain before he could come into contact with it.
I-incredible… it's even greater than I imagined…!
Piccolo stared at the boy with a shocked yet determined smirk. He would be training the boy that would grow to become his greatest adversary… this was going to be thrilling, to say the least.
Kami's Lookout
Kami stared into space, in his own head as he sensed all of that which was occurring on his beloved planet. He could feel the emotion of each and every being, but he was focused on one, particular being.
"What is it, Kami?" Mr. Popo spoke, the genie looking up at his friend. "There seems to be something on your mind, no?"
"Come on, Mr. Popo. You know it as well as I do. It's our Piccolo… something's changed. The malice and evil I once felt in his heart is weaker, more controlled. He isn't acting like the villain I've been coming to expect." Kami responded.
Mr. Popo thought for a bit before nodding. "You're right. No matter what the circumstances were, I could never imagine the old King Piccolo training Son Goku's son, let alone aid him in battle…"
Kami nodded. "On top of that, where his thirst for power once scared me, it is now a form of comfort – he came rushing to defend the Earth against Raditz, and now, he is prepared to take on an even greater threat without even being asked. Perhaps he may have realized that we may both die in one year – that or, I may succumb to old age before then…" he paused. "As we are two halves of the same being, my death would result in his, and vice versa… he must sense it as well. Heh… that ego of his… he must want to pass on his ways to someone else, even if that someone is his greatest rival's son."
Mr. Popo mused for a bit, taking it all in. "Then, the Dragon Balls have only one use left. One wish."
Kami shook his head. "I believe it's time to upgrade those Dragon Balls…" he spoke, before closing his eyes, sensing something. "Bulma, Krillin and Yamcha should be gathering them as we speak. Oh, that reminds me! We must prepare the rest of Earth's warriors for this coming battle. Will you inform Korin, Mr. Popo?"
Mr. Popo nodded, the hint of a smirk creeping onto his face. This next year was going to be very fun for the genie.
An Active Volcano
"So… what you're telling me Yamcha… is that you're too scared to enter an active volcano to retrieve a Dragon Ball to revive two of your best friends… but you weren't scared walking into that DUMB BROAD'S APARTMENT?!"
Yamcha winced at Bulma's shrill voice. "We weren't together at the time Bulma! Besides, that apartment didn't have lava!"
Bulma's eye twitched menacingly. "Keep talking like that and you'll have more to be worried than just lava…"
"Alright alright!" Yamcha gulped as Krillin secured the rope around Yamcha's waist before lowering into the volcano. Though he was amongst the most powerful men on Earth, he still wasn't sure how resistant he would be to something like lava. He shot a pleading look at Krillin, who just grinned and gave a thumbs up.
"Have fun! Make sure you get that Dragon Ball!" He called out, to which Bulma nodded furiously.
"Better yet, don't come back without it!" The scientist added.
Yamcha whimpered slightly. He regretted signing up for this – all he wanted to do was win Bulma back, but now, he was risking his life. Though he steeled himself. This was for Goku and Tien. He had to do it. He sighed as he looked down into the orange abyss, and then back up at Bulma.
Bulma was by far and large the scarier of the two.
Author's Note
I believe with that the setup chapters are done. From here on out it'll be serious plot and development for everyone, yes, including Chiaotzu – I realise I've not written a single word about him. Though I do like Chiaotzu, I fear I won't give him as much as a role as I plan to with Tien and Krillin – though this isn't to say he'll be entirely useless.
What do you guys think of Roshi and Raditz's relationship? I personally think it'll be great for Raditz's development – but don't worry, he'll also have scenes with some other characters.
Now to answer questions from last chapter…
Q: Will you give the humans transformations?
A: Whichever way I answer this question is a spoiler, so I won't. Though you should definitely expect something big for the humans.
Q: Will Nappa turn good?
A: I'm not too sure on this one. I was on the fence about it before, but this question has made me think about how to incorporate him. I guess we'll see.
Q: Will you include Heroes and Xenoverse elements?
A: If I do include these elements it'll be far later into the story once we've run out of canon content.
Thank you for reading! Please leave reviews, I love reading them!