Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Chosen One ❯ Chapter Twenty-Seven ( Chapter 27 )

The Chosen One

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"We're approaching the planet Arcturus," Bulma said. "Buckle your seat - hey!"

"What's wrong, Bulma?" Gohan asked.

"The planet is moving away from us!" Bulma exclaimed. "It's almost as if we can't orbit the planet!"

"Well, punch up the engines, and get us over there!" Raditz shouted.

Bulma tapped a few buttons, and the ship raced forward. Finally, Bulma caught up to the planet, and managed to enter an orbit. She then descended toward the planet.

***

Gohan stepped out of the ship and stood speechless at what he saw. The planet looked like something straight out of the Renaissance. The nearby town was alive with activity in the marketplace. Gohan, by himself this time, walked slowly into town. Everywhere he looked, he saw activity. He could see a blacksmith teaching an apprentice, a man haggling over the price of some round, yellow fruit, and a pretty young lady carrying her infant. The strange part was that none of these people looked to be any older than twenty-five.

Gohan walked up to a merchant. "Um, excuse me . . ."

"Aha!" the merchant exclaimed. "A customer! Looking for an anniversary gift? I have magically-protected diamonds!"

"Um, sir, I'm only sixteen," Gohan said. "I don't have a wife."

"Don't joke around with me, my friend," the merchant responded. "For your height and weight, you would have to be at least forty-eight!"

"Forty-eight?" Gohan responded, shocked. "How can that be?" Then it dawned on him. "Sir, I'm unfamiliar with the timekeeping on this planet. You see, I'm from Earth."

"Earth?" the merchant said. "Oh, I see! You're a traveler from the planet Earth! I assume this is your first time on Arcturus?"

"Yes," Gohan said.

"Well, you see, a year on Arcturus is the same length as a year on Earth."

"How can that be?" Gohan asked.

"Do you know of relativity?" the merchant asked.

"Yeah," Gohan answered. "That's where Einstein stated that time travels slowly at a higher rate of speed."

"Tell me, did you have trouble landing on Arcturus?" the merchant asked. "You couldn't keep up?"

"Yeah," Gohan said. Then it dawned on him. "I get it! The planet moves so quickly that time and the aging process slow down for you!"

"Exactly!" the merchant exclaimed. "Now, did you want something?"

"I'm looking for an Arcturian healer," Gohan said. "One of my companions has been afflicted by a magical illness, and we need a healer for him."

"Ah!" the merchant exclaimed. "You've come to the right person! The healer of this town is a personal friend of mine.

"My name is Nial. I will take you to the healer."

***

"Who's there?" the healer asked as Nial and Gohan entered. "Ah, Nial. It's good to see you."

"This is Lyle," Nial said. "He is our town's healer. Nial, this is Gohan, from Earth." Gohan bowed.

"A pleasure to meet you, Gohan," Lyle said. "What brings you to Arcturus?"

"Pardon me, but I have a companion who is ill," Gohan said. "He was hit with a magic attack, and seems to be really suffering."

"Well, bring him here, and I'll see what I can do," Lyle said.

***

Gohan and Trunks appeared carrying Vegeta between them with Bulma and Raditz. Gohan and Trunks carried Vegeta to Lyle's table. Lyle spent a few moments examining Vegeta, muttering every now and then. Finally, he stood up.

"Hm, this situation is grave," Lyle said. "It seems that your friend has been inflicted with a rare condition. You see, this can only be caused by a certain type of evil magic.

"What is happening to your friend is an internal struggle. Your friend is being accosted by the malevolent energy inside of him. Within a matter of days, he will become a heartless, merciless, almost soulless killer. He will kill anyone - even his friends and his family."

"Wait a second!" Gohan exclaimed. "Three other people, including myself, were hit by his attack. Why didn't anything happen to us?"

In response, Lyle walked forward. He placed his hand on Gohan's head and closed his eyes. After a moment, Lyle's eyes opened and he removed his hand from Gohan's head.

"You were unaffected because you have no malevolent energy," Lyle said. "Your soul is completely filled with benevolent energy. Malevolent energy has no place to take root, because there is no void. I assume the same is true with your boomerang-wielding friend. The two of you were merely knocked unconscious. Obviously, the android wasn't affected, because he is entirely mechanical. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about your other friend."

"Is there anything that can be done?" Trunks asked anxiously.

"There is a way," Lyle said, "but it requires three people. These people must share some relationship with the victim, and they have to be able to fight."

"Well, I'm his son," Trunks said.

"I have known Vegeta ever since he was taken aboard Frieza's ship," Raditz said.

"Well, my relationship to him is not obvious," Gohan said, "but we have fought together ever since our adventures on Namek. Also, I saved his life twice, once against Recoome, and once against Cell. He saved my life once, from Frieza, and ever since my father died, he has insisted on sparring with me once a week."

"All three of those will work," Lyle said. "Now, follow me, and bring Vegeta with you."

***

Lyle led Gohan, Raditz, and Trunks to a door. Lyle put his hand to the door and muttered an incantation. The door then slid into the wall. When they walked in, the door shut behind them.

"Wow!" Trunks exclaimed. "This is amazing!" Gohan, meanwhile, was stunned speechless. He looked around, but saw no floor and no ceiling. Instead, it looked like they had stepped into outer space, as there were stars everywhere. The only visible reminders of the room were the door they had just walked through and a table.

Lyle motioned toward the table. "Set Vegeta down there," he instructed the Saiyans. They did as they were told.

"This is a special room," Lyle said. "Even those who are not attuned to the flow of magic can feel its presence here."

"You know, there was something nagging in the back of my mind the whole time I was here," Gohan said. "Did any of you feel it?"

"Yeah, I did," Raditz responded.

"It feels stronger here than it did before," Trunks added.

"Hmm. I wonder . . ." Lyle began. "No, never mind. Anyway, this room has a main function. You see, it allows people to enter another person's mind."

"What?" Gohan asked, confused.

"Let me explain," Lyle said. "Even though Vegeta is unconscious, he can still dream. His subconscious mind is forming a world that will help the malevolent energy within him to take over his being. This room will allow you to enter Vegeta's world and interfere with the malevolent energy."

"Holy cow!" Trunks exclaimed. "You mean we will be able to see the inside of my father's dreams?" Lyle nodded.

Lyle walked to the door and opened it. "I will leave right now. The rest is up to you. I will be praying for your safety and success. Good luck." With that, he closed the door.