DRAGON BALL Z
AT ANY COST
CHAPTER VI: GRIEF AND HOPE
BY
Sgamer82
LOCATION
Paozu Mountains
Son Goku stood in front of a cave in the Paozu Mountains behind his home. He knew Goten was inside, he could sense his son's ki. Goku also knew this was a place Goten and Trunks often went to. Their own secret place. Goku entered the cave and used his senses to try and find Goten. The cave was fairly large and had several twists and turns.
Goten and Trunks had to have learned this place inside and out. Thought Goku as he tried to navigate the maze-like cavern. Goku was starting to get impatient. He hadn't planned on using his Instantaneous Movement, Goten often got angry when Goku showed up and surprised him. But Goku just couldn't figure out where in the world he was going. Goku put his index and middle fingers to his forehead, located Goten's ki, and teleported to him.
When Goku materialized he saw Goten sitting by himself in a corner deep in the cave. Goten's face was buried in his knees and Goku could hear him sobbing. Goku kneeled down and rested his hand on his son's shoulder. Goten jumped in shock at Goku's touch and looked up.
Goku saw Goten's eyes were red from crying. Goten just looked at Goku for a minute. Then, without a word, just embraced Goku, buried his face in his father's chest and continued sobbing.
"Goten," Goku began in an attempt to console his youngest child, "I know it's hard. Trunks was your best and closest friend."
"He was like a brother to me." Goten muttered.
"And now that he's gone you feel like you've lost a part of yourself." Goku said, knowing Goten's feelings all to well, "I've lost friends before. Krillin, Yamcha, Piccolo."
"They were all brought back to life with the Dragon Balls." Goten said.
"True, but Krillin had died before too and was brought back to life with..." Goku suddenly stopped himself. He realized what he could do.
"The Namekian Dragon Balls! That's it!"
"Huh?" Goten asked, looking up at his father.
"Goten," said Goku with a smile, "there's no limit to how many times Porunga can revive somebody. We can use the Namek Dragon Balls to bring him back!"
"Really!?" Goten said with a shout that echoed through the caves and hurt Goku's ears.
"Yes! We can do it, Goten. We can get Trunks back!" Goku said, holding up Goten. Normally, Goten resented this kind of childish treatment, but right now he was too excited to care.
"Can we go to new Namek now?"
"Sure, I guess so." Goku responded. Goku wasn't totally sure he could find the New Namek without a little help from Kaiou-sama or Bulma, but he didn't want to disappoint Goten. Who looked hopeful for the first time since Trunks' death. He put his fingers to his head, held on to Goten with his free arm, and teleported.
* * * * *
LOCATION
New Namek
Goku and Goten materialized in the middle of a Namek town. The Nameks around them stared in surprise at the two Saiyans that had just appeared out of nowhere in their town.
"Excuse me!" Goku called out, hoping the leader of the town was present.
"I was wondering if you could help us out."
"What do you need?" said an old Namek who appeared in the group.
"I'm trying to find the Namek Elder. We need the help of the Dragon Balls." Goku said before explaining the situation to the Namek. Goten stayed silent but kept his eyes on the Namek leader. After the story was finished, the Namek Elder looked down solemnly.
"I'm sorry, we cannot help you." he said.
"What!?" shouted Goten, "Why not!?"
Goku put his hand on Goten's shoulder and held him back, worried that he would accidentally make matters worse.
"Why can't you help us?" Goku asked, more calmly then Goten.
"It is not that we do not wish to help you." said the leader, "But a Dragon Ball was taken recently."
"What!?" Goku and Goten both exclaimed.
"Yes. Our seven-star Dragon Ball was stolen. Witnesses reported the thief took the Dragon Ball off of the planet. Our Elder was already working on a plan to send out an expedition to get it back."
"Any idea who took it?" Goten asked.
"No, though the witnesses also said that whoever took it was very strong and fought off everyone that tried to stop him. He was described as being all black except for some armor. He also had..."
"Cold, blood-red eyes." Goten interrupted.
"Yes!" said the Namek, "How did you know!?"
"Yeah, how did you know?" Goku asked.
"It's the same person..." Goten said, "...the same one that killed Trunks. He took the Dragon Ball."
"Goten, we don't know that." said Goku.
"I know it!" said Goten, barely below a shout.
"Well, either way," said Goku, "Why would somebody take only one Dragon Ball off the planet and leave the others?"
"I do not know. But, if you're returning to earth, could you inform Dende and your Namekian friend of what's happened. Maybe they can help us find it."
"I will." said Goku, before taking his son's hand and Instantaneously Moving back home to Earth.
END OF CHAPTER VI