Raditz took a step out of his pod and took in a mouthful of the disgusting gaseous fumes that made up the planet's atmosphere. He tasted many different things in the air but sulfur was the most familiar to him. The humans, according to the records his pod had scanned from the Earth databases, called the planet 'Venus', after a forgotten goddess of love and beauty. It was hot, coated in poisonous air, and threatened to kill all that stepped foot there.

'They named it well,' he thought to himself. 'This planet is a proper saiyan bride made into stone and gas.'

He began to walk around his pod, letting his lungs get used to the atmosphere. He could already feel the burning deep in them, the fires growing, but he knew after a day or so at most they would adjust and he'd truly be able to begin training. No, first he would take his time, learn the lay of the land and prepare his camp.

Earth had been far too… clean. The air fresh and crisp. The sky too bright and cheerful. And it had been so quiet; unpolluted and unspoiled. He didn't know how Kakarot could stand it. The air should have been filled with the stink of blood and half cooked flesh, bloating in the sun. The sky should have been filled with dark clouds, acid raining down all around the ruined cities thanks to all the smoke that was rising into the air. And the quiet should not have brought anyone a sense of peace… no… it should have brought foreboding and terror that a place once full of life was empty of it save for the Saiyans.

'No wonder you couldn't stand against me, Kakarot,' He thought in disgust as he looked around the sickly yellow surface of the planet. 'Earth made you soft. Weak. It will be up to me to ensure that the damage is undone and you are ready for what comes next.'

Because he knew that if he didn't prepare his little brother… Vegeta would kill him where he stood. And most likely Raditz as well for wasting his time. The Prince of All Saiyans wasn't known for his patience when it came to others, always demanding more and sooner from those he saw as below him. For himself? Oh yes, he could be patient. Raditz had seen Vegeta prolong the suffering of rebels and so-called freedom fighters, delighting in how he gave them glimmers of hope only to tear them away. A beast playing with his food, that was the Saiyan Prince. And if he couldn't get Kakarot to a level that would impress Vegeta then he would be seen as nothing more than something for the Prince to test his knuckles against.

'No… as much as I might not want a hard fight… I need to hope Kakarot at least has enough pride to train. To grow stronger. That will make my job all the easier.' He looked up at the sky, a breeze blowing a cloud of noxious fumes into his face. For a lesser being it would have left them gagging and choking, clutching at their throat as they struggled to breathe only for those desperate breaths to bring their death. Raditz though merely snorted before he set about removing bits of his armor. 'But no matter how hard you train… you'll never be better than me, brother. I will defeat you again and when I do you will submit. And then… we will begin the work needed to be done. The universe will learn the fear the Sons of Bardock!'

~MC~MC~MC~

"Remember that the only limit is yourself."

The words of Kami echoed in Yamcha's head as he continued along the winding path of Snake Way, though not as quickly as when he had started. He hadn't truly understood how long it was when he'd been told of the opportunity to train. Kami and King Yemma had warned him that it would be a long and difficult journey but he had laughed and said that he could handle it. He'd told them that he'd get bored hanging around Heaven or helping out King Yemma by fetching him coffee. No… better to run on Snake Way and have a chance to grow stronger!

Yamcha slowly slid down onto the road and took in several deep pulls of air.

When he'd reached the beginning of Snake Way and seen it stretched out before him, zigzagging about so that it would take 10 times as long to reach the end than if it were simply a straight line he'd still believed that it would be fine and he'd be able to get through it. Kami had warned him of the dangers. While there would be no wind and the road level, it had no guard rail so if he slipped and fell he would plunge straight to hell, trapped there until his friends wished him back. Assuming he survived the wait. He'd assured Kami that it would be fine, that he could handle it.

"Just… a minute to… catch my breath…" Yamcha muttered to himself as he laid down on the road, staring up at the sky.

Kami had warned him that he wouldn't be able to cheat his way across. "Snake Way… well, it isn't alive in the sense that you and I are but there is something there. Something that understands the task ahead and does not look kindly on those that attempt to bypass it. Attempt to fly and you will find your ki drained at a rate far beyond what you are used too. Attempt to leap and the distance will grow as the coils shift, leaving you plummeting towards Hell. Try and find someone to carry you and Snake Way will shift and you will find yourself throwing from their arms. It knows what you want and it makes you to earn it. "

They had taken nearly a day going over every possibility and Yamcha had found there simply were no outs. He had to run Snake Way. The whole thing.

He felt his chest rise and fall as he sucked in mouthfuls of air, waiting for his heart to stop pounding.

But it was the last warning that Yamcha knew he should have listened to the most. Not dismissed and laughed at. The others? About how hard it would be and the inability to cheat? Both were still true but he knew that he could fight through those and make it through. He'd done it before. All his life had been people telling him he couldn't do anything and him proving them wrong.

"The reason all but King Yemma have failed to complete Snake Way is not the distance. Snake Way beats you not through the body but the mind. Tales are told in Heaven and Hell of the greatest warriors, with bodies like stone, mind like steel, and determination like diamonds, who were found sobbing wreaks upon the way, begging to be brought back here. Hell is full of the prideful who chose torture over spending a moment more on the path."

Yamcha understood now what Kami meant. He had been running for what felt like days yet all he saw was the clouds, the sky, and the path. He had no idea how far he had gone and how much remained. The sky never changed; there was no sun rising or setting so he honestly couldn't even SAY how long he'd been running. It felt like days and he'd slept twice so far but it could have only been hours. Or perhaps longer as he'd run until he'd been exhausted. And because everything kept curling in on itself it was easy to become disoriented. The first time he'd prepared to go to sleep he's suddenly jolted awake in terror that he'd get mixed up in the morning and begin running back the way he'd come, returning to King Yemma's and losing all his progress. He feared that. If he got back to King Yemma's… he wasn't for sure if he could start again.

'My friends are counting on me to get stronger,' he thought to himself as he struggled to catch his breath. 'I told them that I was going to train with King Kai… they are expecting me to return having learned all sorts of new moves that will help us deal with that bastard Raditz. If I am wished back and have to admit that I did nothing… I couldn't live with it.' He squeezed his eyes shut. 'I'd tell Kami to tell them to not both and use their wish on something else.'

Letting out a sigh Yamcha kicked off his shoes, setting one near his head and the other a yard past his feet. After that first time sleeping, when he'd had a panic attack about not be able to remember which way to go, he had tossed and turned until finally coming up with a solution. By pointing his shoes in the right direction, and keeping them far enough away that there was no chance he might bump into them, he could always know which way to continue going.

'Though,' he thought with a yawn, 'would be nice to have someone to talk to… or some music to play…'

He pulled off the top of his gi, draping it over his face to block out the cheery sky, and finally allowed himself to go to sleep.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Here we are!" Bulma declared as the boat's ramp lowered down and all of us stepped onto the beach. "Welcome to Spoodo Island!"

It was a nice island, tropical but not so oppressively hot that we were all going to roast. Honestly it would have worked well as a tourist destination if it weren't out in the middle of nowhere. Sandy white beach followed by a grassy plane and then a jungle with a few mountains in the center of the island. It was a bit too quiet at the moment, seeing as the only wildlife that made it onto the island were sea birds and they'd been scared off by our arrival, but I knew that would change when we actually began training.

"So, your family owns a place here, Bulma?" Krillian asked, adjusting his hat. He was wearing a windbreaker and had a baseball cap on, a duffle bag flung over his shoulder. All of us had brought bags, some more than most, and for some reason had decided to have them all gathered up right at the ramp even though we were supposed to explore the island first, get the lay of the land, and then get settled in.

"Oh no," Bulma said with a grin, decked out in a t-shirt and jeans along with trendy sandals; she had spent half the flight debating about what color to paint her toenails, even asking PICCOLO what he thought. It had been… a long trip. "We own the whole island."

"THE WHOLE ISLAND!?" Krillin exclaimed.

I glanced at him. "You forgot she was rich, didn't you?"

"Well… maybe," he said with a huff, refusing to look at me; even with helping him with the scroll he still was standoffish, refusing to trust me.

Bulma, not noticing the tension, grinned and motioned for us to follow her. "Come on now! I want to show you guys everything."

I patted my pocket to make sure that I had the capsule with my hovercycle (Bulma had finally told me, when Krillin had brought it up to most likely try and get me in trouble, that I could keep it as it was too 'girly' for her; I endured the jokes because it was a flying motorcycle) before putting on my baseball cap and throwing out my hand, casually catching the Scroll of Knowledge as it flew to me.

"I hope there is a good charging station," Isco stated. "I have the horrible vision of you trying to power me up with potatoes and wire."

"We can eat the potatoes afterwards," I reasoned.

"Ooooo!" Goku said with a beaming smile. "I could go for some potatoes! Fried. Mashed. Baked."

I rolled my eyes at that as Bulma led us down onto the beach, it clear that she was enjoying the chance to play tour guide. "So this island doesn't have much in terms of large wildlife. There was a sickness that spread through here that took out a lot of animals."

"Sickness?" Chichi asked, coming to a stop barely off the ramp and looking about nervously. "Should we be here then?"

"Oh, its long cured!" Bulma assured her. "Happened when my dad was still in school. But no one wanted to spend the money putting new animals on the island so its mostly just bugs and plants and some sea birds. That's honestly why dad bought it; this way he could do tests on stuff without disturbing local wildlife."

"That was considerate of him," Tien stated, shifting the duffle he had slung over his shoulder.

"Plus you never know how they might affect an experiment. You want to remove all the variables."

"And there it is," I said with a snicker while the others just stared at Bulma, confused. I leaned over to her and whispered, "Do you ever get tired of being the only person in the group who went to college?"

"College? I don't think any of them went to high school." Bulma began to point out other items of interest. "So if you don't want to swim in the ocean there is a pool at the research facility. That's where we'll be staying unless you want to rough it."

"Normally I'd say getting back ta nature is good for ya!" Master Roshi said before leaning back, his spine cracking. "Eh, but there are benefits to a nice bed!"

"I'll stay there sometimes," Goku stated, "but there might be days where I tire myself out and just sleep where I land-AAA!" he cried out when Chichi grabbed his ear.

"And by that you mean you are going to make sure you have JUST enough energy to get back to our room, right?"

"Yes! Yes!" Goku pleaded. "It will be good training!"

"Good," Chichi said, letting him go.

Bulma merely continued on. "So that path leads to the research facility. We'll be the only ones on the island so you don't have to worry about bumping into anyone."

"And she just jinxed us, I just know it," Oolong commented to Chiaotzu. While they wouldn't be officially training with us it had been decided that there might be uses for Oolong, Puar, and even Turtle, so they had been brought along for the trip. "Now we're going to find some cult living underground.

"We already did that," I commented.

"Yeah!" Goku proclaimed. "That's where Gohan got his cool shield!"

Tien shook his head at that. "You are always getting into fights, aren't you?"

"Hey!" Goku complained. "Its not like I tried to get into that fight. We were captured. And Chichi took out most of them!" He wrapped his arm around his wife and she smiled at his praise.

"ANYHOW!" Bulma said, annoyed that people had become distracted. "There are a lot of really nice places to explore here. The forest, of course. There is also the freshwater lake if you don't want to swim in the ocean. And there are a series of caves and tunnels near the research station-"

"You might be treating this as a vacation," Piccolo said coldly, "but I haven't forgotten that we are here to prepare for Raditz returning. So just point me to the nearest field where I can begin working on getting stronger while the rest of you frolic. Seems like I have to be the one to save this planet."

"Aw, don't be like that, Piccolo!" Goku declared. "You know that I'm always up to train! And I can't wait to train with you!"

"hmmmpf," Piccolo said, arms folded over his chest and eyes closed. "Fine… but the rest of you better not get in our way."

"Well," Master Roshi stated, "if you are going to be that narrow minded then I guess we can count you OUT of being able to defeat that Raditz."

The comment made Piccolo snap a single eye open. "WHAT… did you just say old man?"

"Only that you lack creativity if you are so dismissive of what Bulma was telling us about. A smart warrior uses everything to their advantage."

"Laying on a beach getting a tan, snorkeling in the ocean, or spelunking is going to help people get stronger?" Piccolo mocked.

"How does he know about all that stuff?" I asked Isco who gave his version of a shrug.

"I'm disappointed in you, Piccolo," Master Roshi said, moving to stand in front of the group. Despite the fact that he was wearing his customary Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sunglasses I was suddenly struck by the remembrance that Roshi was one of the greatest martial artists that had ever lived. The man had forgotten more about fighting than most of us had ever learned. "The beach will help you learn how to fight on unstable terrain." He tapped his walking staff against the sand, making several small divots. "Far too many people are only used to hard surfaces or training mats. But sand? Oh, that can shift and make you slide suddenly and that is a big benefit for anyone who needs to learn better foot placement."

Suddenly Master Roshi threw down his walking staff and inhaled, his rail thin body going ramrod straight, causing him to gain about 3 to 5 inches in height as his chest broadened and his arms exploded with muscles.

"Allow me to demonstrate!" he declared and I watched with wide eyes as he tensed. "Ah, a volunteer!"

I looked about to see who he was going to demonstrate his lessons with… only to find everyone had leapt back, leaving me all alone.

"…you cowards!" I screamed right before Roshi was on me, using a palm thrust to send me stumbling back. "GAAAA!"

"See how I am able to adjust to the sands moving?" he asked even as he began to force me away from him with a rapid set up attacks. I found myself twisting and spinning about wildly, making all sorts of pained and panicked sounds as he moved about me. "This will help you better understand how your body works!"

Roshi grabbed onto my wrist and smirked before he spun me wildly before sending me flying through the air; I flailed my arms and legs, hoping maybe, just maybe, Kami loved me and when grant me flight.

He didn't love me.

I slammed down into the ocean hard, sinking rapidly, and just as I began to kick back towards the surface I opened my eyes and found Master Roshi bobbing in front of me, hands glowing.

Bubbles burst from my mouth as I screamed right before he fired off a ki blast that send me back out of the water, body bouncing a few times like a skipping stone before I landed on the beach once more, weakly twitching.

"Fighting in the ocean helps build up your muscle. The water acts as a resistor, making your movements become slowed as you fight against it. Its like practicing in weighted clothes but for every part of your body and not just pressing down but from all directions."

"Oh!" Goku said, stepping over me without a care. "And I bet it also would help with your lungs. You'd need to hold your breath down there so you'd have to get by with less oxygen. As you learned to fight like that getting more oxygen later on would leave you energized! And when you were fighting and began to pant it wouldn't affect you as much! It's like training on Kami's Lookout."

"As for the dark-"

Isco, bless him, cut in. "Miss Brief, I should inform you that if my partner dies I will not finish the documentary on my own. He handles editing."

"Oh my god Kayos!" she screamed, finally remembering that I was lying there utterly wrecked. She hurried to my side and looked me over. "Master Roshi you idiot! You could have killed him!"

"What?" Roshi said and my head lulled to the side as he came up to me. "Oh… heh, I forgot that this here fella ain't a fighter. Don't have much ki either. Wondered why he didn't try and fight back." He nudged my burning chest with his foot.

"Mommy, is Mr. Kayos okay?" Gohan asked as he toddled over with my glasses, which had flown off my face after Roshi's first attack.

"He will be," Chichi said, walking over and forcing something past my lips. I chewed and swallowed and instantly the pain was gone.

"You got Senzu Beans?" Oolong commented.

Chichi nodded as I felt my body instantly knit itself back together. "Yes. Goku got a bag from Korin before he came home. I decided I should be the one to hold onto them… knowing all of you they'd be gone already as you pushed yourselves to the limit. And I'm glad I did. Kayos? Would you do the honors?

"Gladly," I snarled before, without bothering to get up from where I was laying, slammed my fist right into Roshi's balls. At once the old man deflated, falling to the ground and whining as he cupped his crotch. "Oh man up you pansy, its not the first time someone struck you like that, I'm sure!" I eased myself up, expecting to feel even a twinge of pain but honestly there was nothing at all. Not even the dull ache that came from a sudden pain that went away but the memory of it remained, like when you pulled a muscle and even a week later remembered what it had felt like to have that sharp stabbing sensation suddenly hit you. "Admittedly I'm probably the first dude to do that… Bulma, Chichi, scale of 1 to 10 how was that hit?"

"8," Chichi stated.

"7 for me. I like to grab and twist myself if I can," Bulma replied.

"Right." I looked at the others. "Also Piccolo?"

"…yeah?" he asked, clearly wondering if I was going to find some way to make him a sobbing curled up blob like Roshi for starting this mess.

"The caves can be used to heighten your other senses. You and Goku are left in there and have to sense each other with just energy, hearing, smell, and touch. I'd say taste but… ew."

Piccolo considered that for a moment before nodding. "Right. I suppose that will work."

"I believe," Isco stated, "that we should use today to get a better feel of what the island is like." Goku and Krillin helped Roshi up, my punch having dropped him back into his normal old man form. "Then we can begin working on regiments for all of you."

That made Tien frown. "I'm sorry but… you are a camera robot. What do you know about training?"

"Other than the fact that balloons of blood and fat are doing it wrong?" Isco asked sarcastically. "Oh, not much."

"Hey!" Chiaotzu cried out, flying right up to Isco and getting into his… face? "Don't talk to Tien like that!"

"Ah, so you wish to be lied to. Very well." Isco shifted slightly so he was looking past Chiaotzu. "You are brilliant at training and it makes sense why you never finished learning from your master how to do it."

Chiaotzu gave Isco a shove.

"Heh," Krillin snickered, "maybe we just found a new sport: Robot vs. Person Boxing!"

Bulma frowned. "Wait, how do you know about Tien and his training and his master?"

"It seems that Master Shen is a vindictive old man. He set up an entire page on his school's website about how much Tien and Chiaotzu suck."

"Shen has a website?" I asked. "Wait… he knows what the internet is?"

"Apparently," Isco stated, turning to Tien. "There is an entire section about how you once got your foot stuck in a poop bucket and another about how your third eye is clearly painted on and people should poke it."

Tien pressed his lips together in a fine line. "He did claim he'd get his revenge…"

"If that's his revenge I would like to request he be my eternal enemy!" I called out.

"But that doesn't explain what you mean by my training being poor," Tien said, glaring at the drone.

"Do you train in a similar way to Goku?"

"Yeah…" Tien said slowly.

"Then you are as bad at it as him."

"HEY!" Goku exclaimed in a panic. "Why am I getting brought into this!? I didn't do anything wrong."

"On the contrary," Isco stated, "you have done much wrong. You bragged how you would practice day and night, working yourself to utter exhaustion and then pushing through the pain. That you would repeat moves over and over until your arms and legs felt like they were going to fall off. That you dedicated yourself fully to training."

"That's right!" Goku said only for Master Roshi, having recovered from my testicular attack, to smack him in the side with his staff. "Owowowowow!" Goku whined. "Master Roshi, what was that for?"

"Is that flyin' egg tellin' the truth? Are ya makin' all your trainin' just be ya workin' till ya collapse with no breaks?"

"Well… I eat," Goku said only to get hit again. "OW! Master Roshi stop!" Goku pleaded.

"I'm guessin' the rest of ya think that's the smart way ta train?"

"Not me," Piccolo said with a huff. "I often meditate."

"Good!" Roshi declared. "I don't need ta waste time teachin' ya the basics!"

Gohan chose that moment to speak up. "I don't understand, what's wrong with how daddy trains?"

Roshi turned and spoke, in a softer voice, to the boy. "Its well and good to train but you need to give yourself time to rest. And eating and sleeping don't count."

"Its like how I allow you times to go play after you get some of our studying done," Chichi told him. "It lets your mind process what you learned."

"Aw come on!" Goku exclaimed. "That just means I have less time to train!" Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu all nodded at that.

I for one huffed. "All I do is basic weight training and speed walking and even I know you can't lift iron every day. Doesn't let your muscles heal up properly."

Roshi pointed right at me. "And he's the weakest of you all!"

"…fair," I admitted, not bothering to argue.

"Hmmmpf," Piccolo said with a huff, "no wonder you barely have a chance to stand against me if that is how you have been training."

Goku pouted at that. "But when I train I get into the zone…"

"There are other ways to train though," Chichi stated. "Mental training."

"Mental?" Goku asked and I could practically see the thought bubble above his head that had him boxing a large cartoony brain.

"Okay, so we need to defeat Raditz, right?" I asked. "So you saw him fight… based on all that what would you do differently? What are his weaknesses?"

Goku pondered that. "Well… I know when I had my tail it was super sensitive so I'd probably attack that first and foremost. Oh, and he didn't do well with surprises that took him suddenly so I'd work on stuff like that. Maybe different Ki blasts…"

"That's what we're suggesting, Goku," Chichi said. "You can still be training as you relax… just use that time to think of new ways to defeat Raditz." She paused. "Or think of other things so you aren't consumed by that fight."

Roshi sighed, glancing at me. "I see why ya suggested I come. I have a lot of work gettin' these boys out of their bad habits!" He shot a look at Goku and Krillin who both stood a bit taller. "Ya forget how I trained ya? It wasn't all just sparrin' matches! I made ya learn how ta run properly, how ta be light on yar feet! Use them brains of yours…" He let out a huff. "Something ya still have problems with. So I guess I have ta make gettin' ya both back inta fightin' shape my main focus!"

"And I have something else that will help," I told him, taking my backpack off and pulling out a children's tablet. "If you are good, Master Roshi, and focus on teaching them and NOT peeping on Chichi and Bulma… you get one hour each night to watch all the internet porn you want."

Roshi frowned as he looked at the tablet. "I don't see-" I nodded to isco who used his wireless connection to unlock the device, Roshi's eyes going wide as the Dragon Ball version of Porn Hub popped up. "OH! OH!" Blood burst from his nose before he slammed down to the ground, twitching.

"Why did I never think of that?" Bulma wondered.

"I have taken the liberty of already complying several training regiments you can employ," Isco stated. "Ones that will allow you to switch up fighters… even someone who is currently weaker than you can teach you control."

"And Krillin might not be the only one who needs to leave for a while," I reminded them, thrusting out my hand and summoning the Scroll of Knowledge from where it had fallen.

"We can take a look at that later!" Goku said excitedly. "I want to check out the island so we know all the best places to train!"

"Finally!" Bulma declared. "Let's get going then!" She motioned for us to follow her along the path. "Now I'll admit it isn't much… not a grand resort or anything but I think people will be fine…"

~MC~MC~MC~

The group stared in shock at the main entryway of the research facility. Rather than the cold and Spartan-style set up they'd been expecting it instead looked like the entrance to a grand mansion. The ceiling was three stories high with a chandelier dangling overhead, the walls were a light cream color with expensive looking artwork, and there was even a red carpet that led to the grand staircase.

~MC~MC~MC~

"The kitchen is lacking in a few things…" Bulma said as Chichi, Master Roshi, and Kayos all stared in shock at the professional restaurant set up that stretched out before them. Pretty much every kind of appliance could be found there, waiting to be used. Chef-grade knives hung on the wall. There was a full grill with smoke fan in one part of the kitchen and over at the other end was a pastry chef's workstation with everything needed to make graduation cakes and fancy French desserts.

"Whoa!" Goku declared, head stuck in the massive walk in freezer. "Look at this grub!"

Chichi and Gohan both sighed as they grabbed Goku and began to pull him away.

"Aw, let me just look a little while longer!" he bemoaned. "It can birthday present."

~MC~MC~MC~

"I wish we had been able to get the pool retiled," Bulma bemoaned as the gang darted about the large pool area. Not only was there an Olympic size swimming pool but there were several hot tubs, a smaller wave pool, and even ice baths that already many of the fighters were eyeing up as being perfect after a long day of training.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Sorry about the small size," Bulma said even as Gohan and Chiaotzu happily bounced up and down on the massive king size bed that hardly made a dent in the massive bedroom. It was larger than Goku's entire house, something the Saiyan warrior kept muttering, while Chichi was focused on the amazing view of the jungle below them.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Okay, I have to admit… this is the main reason I chose this place." Bulma shrugged as she led them to the underground workshop and lab where she'd been spending much of her time. "But trust me, it will be worth it when I get done making us all sorts of amazing new gear to help out against Raditz!" The lab stretched out for at least the length of a football field and already there were robots moving about on treads preparing different tables for Bulma to begin work on.

"Don't start a revolution," Kayos asked Isco.

"No promises."

~MC~MC~MC~

After the tour everyone began to break up to go explore the island, wanting to know more about it on a personal level for their individual training that would begin the next day. Tien had decided to wait a bit before asking the Scroll what he could do to improve, wanting to get back into a full training mindset before he asked the question. Krillin on the other hand was planning to head out the next morning to find the Temple of the Repentant Miser in hopes of learning the secrets held there that would allow him to better take on Raditz. Goku of course was planning to train with Piccolo but Chichi had also mentioned wanting to help him; she had noticed how he enjoyed her company during his warm ups.

'And I think she missed training herself,' I thought as I sat on the roof-top balcony of the research center, watching the sun set. Isco had gone to film some stuff with Bulma (hoping most likely to also convince her to give him some upgrades) leaving me all by myself. 'Need to consider that for myself,' I thought as I looked down at my arms. They weren't stick thin by any means but I was aware that I wasn't the strongest guy in the world and it wouldn't hurt to get in a bit of training myself.

"You truly are the weakest one here."

I started, nearly falling out of the lounge chair I was in, before turning and staring at the new arrival. "…what the?" I said, catching myself before I blurted out Baba's name. The squat little witch was standing behind me, an arrogant and condescending smirk on her lips.

"You aren't an unfit blob, which is probably the only nice thing I can say about you," she commented as she floated over to me on her bubble. "But you'll never be a fighter like the rest of them. Even the toddler is stronger than you… and will only grow more stronger as time goes on. The gap will grow ever wider and your pathetic behind will be left in the dust. Pathetic, really."

"…that is mildly ego deflating but also accurate," I admitted. I took a step forward, staring down at her. "But I would think you of all people would know that there is more to this world than throwing punches."

"Heh! Of course I do! Though nearly all you fools can't see that!"

I continued to look down at her before finally asking, "So… want to join me in watching the sunset?"

"I've seen thousands of them. They are boring and only enjoyable to boring people. So perfect for a limp noodle like you." She cackled at that but I merely continued to stare at her. "Aw, don't like that? Too bad! It's the truth!"

"Dentists are a wonderful thing," I pointed out.

That made her scowl at me. "Watch your tone. It isn't wise to insult someone that can alter your future."

"Apologizes," I said, giving her a mocking bow. "Also I'm not paying for any fortunes to be read."

"Now you are being cruel," she huffed in annoyance. "Give me your hand."

"I just said-"

"Not that you dimwit!" she snapped, her bubble rocketing forward so she could grab my right hand with her leathery fingers. "Yes… yes… very interesting." She continued to stare at my palm as she spoke. "I watched you when you summoned the dragon. When the wish to bring back that scar faced buffoon didn't work you stepped forward to claim the wish as your own. I was hoping you'd do that. What one does with the chance for power tells all there is to know about a person. You could have chosen many things, Avo Kayos… to no longer be a weakling. To be taller and stronger. For a bigger dick." I glowered at that but Baba continued on. "But you wished for knowledge. And not just one time either… you were clever. That Scroll of yours… designed to only work for you, though I doubt the cotton headed fools that you have around you realize that yet."

"It's the wish that keeps on giving," I stated. "Its like… why wish to return someone back to life when you could wish for a ring that would allow you to do that over and over?"

Baba raised an eyebrow at that. "You aren't as dumb as I thought." She went back to studying my hand. "Still an idiot."

"Of course," I said dryly.

"You surround yourself with dolts who only know of fighting. How to throw punches and the like. Better than mindless thugs, I'll admit, but only just." She glanced up at me. "What do you know of the other powers of this world?"

"Considering who is asking I assume you mean magic," I commented.

"Indeed!" Baba said, pleased with my answer. "Ki is far more physical, though don't assume that it means all you can do it punch and kick with it like those fools downstairs believe. It can do far more as my idiot brother learned. Magic… magic is far different. Ki is the stone… magic is the ocean."

I nodded at that as she grabbed my other hand, not even bothering to ask me if it was okay for her to do so.

"There are many different methods of magic. Schools, as some call them. Paths to others. Divination, of course." She smirked at that, clearly enjoying bragging up her own chosen path. "Elementals. Mind magic. Physical magic. Those that can turn one thing into another or who can pull objects from one place to the next. They grant great power to objects… or leach it away. Healers and destroyers. Some who are jack of all trades, learning to perform bits from all areas… and others who are masters in but a single type while novices in all others.

"What is accepted though is that there are two types of magic. Good Magic or 'Light' Magic… and Evil Magic or 'Dark' Magic." She looked up at me, making sure I was paying attention. "Usually these forces can only be wielded one at a time. Magic is fed by our actions… a hero can not slaughter the innocent, just as a villain can not save a damsel in distress. It is a scale, sliding back and forth."

I felt a jolt in my finger and tried to yank my hand away as Baba sliced my index finger with her nail. But she held firm, refusing to let go, instead squeezing my finger so more blood oozed out of the cut and began to trickle down my finger to my palm. She stared intently, watching as it began to run along the lines in my palm.

"But every once and a while… there is a person who can balance on the edge. Who can wield both Good and Evil Magic. And to them… all things are possible." She reached with her free hand into the folds of her cloak before just as quickly bringing her arm back up, hovering her hand over my own before sprinkling powder down.

I let out a yelp when there was a flash… and black and white smoke drifted from the now burned blood on my palm.

"Don't be a baby," she scolded, releasing my hand and pushing away from me. "Get some sleep, Kayos. We begin training tomorrow."

I didn't bother to ask her what training she was referring to.

Instead I waited until she left before grabbing the Scroll of Knowledge, slowly unfurling it and staring at its blank surface.

'It would have been nice to learn how to fight,' I admitted mentally to myself. 'One can't help but want to be able to fire of Kamahamahas and do the aura power up. Its Dragon Ball, after all!' I looked down at my hand, brushing the burnt blood away. 'But… if what Baba is saying is true…'

I looked at the scroll.

"If I follow this path… what will I become?"

The scroll remained empty for several long moments and just as I began to believe that I needed to ask a different question it began to write out in glowing golden letters:

Good and Evil

Light and Dark

You will be the one

In the Middle

The tainted white

The purified black

United at last

The Silver Sorcerer