Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Inadequate ❯ Chapter Ten: ( Chapter 10 )

Goten sat on the cold temple floor with his eyes closed. His mind was surrounded by blackness. Goten had had very little training in meditation, but what Piccolo has taught his was to find a calm place. This was the only time Goten had a chance shape his nirvana. At first he found himself walking down a grassy path in the middle of a field. The wind blew the grass so that the blades were nipping at his boots. His mind cut out on the image for a moment, and he found himself once again in another place. Goten frowned to himself for he knew that his mind wasn't supposed to do that in meditation. Around him he saw a tall Cedar tree. It sat next to a small rocky burbling brook. This place seemed as close as he would get to a nirvana so he sat down and began to think to himself.

`Why do I fight?' Goten asked his subconscious mind. The fictional world around him was silent except for a few occasional chirps from a bird.

`To be stronger' His mind answered.

`It cannot be that simple'

`To be stronger than your father'

`I absolutely refuse to except that!'

`If you don't except my answers, I leave it to your conscious mind to find one.' Goten stopped and stood up. This was frustrating, he could think of nothing more boring than this. He went over and dipped his hands in the fictional brook. He was even more frustrated when he remembered that he couldn't feel. He couldn't feel the coolness of the stream, not even the pressure of the water on his skin. He thought for a moment about trying to make up an answer. Who would know? Every time he tried to think of a good excuse he got nothing. The only thing that pooped into his mind was his father's ugly Super Saiyan 4 face. Goten remembered the first time he ever saw his father in that transformation. Power practically oozed out of every pour. Such power it was, it could've even made Broly shake in his boots. Goten realized what he was thinking, was he jealous? Did he really want people to fear his power? No, he did want power. But he didn't want to obtain it so that flaunt it over all others.

`Do I…Do I want the power to protect others?'

`Maybe…it is not my decision'

`I think it is clear to me now…' Goten started so realize that his nirvana was slipping away from him. Patches of black replaced the once green grass. His eyes snapped and he found himself in the cold depressing temple. Goten got up and jogged to the camp. When he reached the edge of the forest he was surprised to find the sky almost pitch black. The fire by the camp was now reduced to a smoking pile of ashes. As Goten neared his tent he saw Spyre leaning against the pitch pole. Goten found it slightly funny that the usual card players that sat in front of the tent had strangely vacated the area.

"You have an answer?" Spyre said simply.

"I think I do. I fight to be stronger, but I don't want that power to make someone jealous. Or to make people fear me. I want to be strong enough to fight so I can protect those who can't." Goten announce strongly to his teacher. Much to his surprise Spyre started to laugh. His laughter frightened Goten it was loud, deep, and sounded somewhat ominous.

"What a clichéd reason…but if that is what you deceived yourself into thinking you want then I will help make it so." Spyre said smirking at his student after his laughter had died down.

"Was it really that funny?" Goten said bashfully.

"Go eat and get a good nights rest. Between battles and my training your lucky if you have a chance to breath!" Spyre left and went into the tent. As Goten was about to enter he ran into him. He looked less than pleased at this, but shoved a book into Goten's chest.

"This is your textbook, bring it with you tomorrow and study it." Spyre walked off further into the camp's slums. The title of the book that was handed to Goten read

"Geijutsu No Genso" (Japanese for "Art of Elements" the grammar might be off though.)