ultra_blade

This was a really great chapter, this fic is the best ever! Great work, can't wait till Goku and Bardock have their match!!! It's gonna be great. =D

Xyex

And at last we begin to reach the plot of the saga. Took long enough, no? XD

And... where's everyone gotten to? Only one reader left. o.o

Chapter Twenty-five - When Visions Collide

The kids were making their way to the VIP box slowly. They knew that Hotaru was heading out with the Changeling queen to make an announcement and they wanted to talk to both her and Yamcha at the same time. "I guess I can see why they don't believe you." Cheri said as they walked to the Runner. "If I didn't know you guys so well I wouldn't either. But you know how adults are. They think they know so much more and better than we do."

"Well, they're right most of the time." Sakura admitted. "But it is frustrating that they wont listen to us just because we're kids. I mean, if it was Videl getting the visions instead of Akemi they'd be all over that."

"But your people have all kinds of mental powers." Trunks said. "So why don't they believe you just off of that?"

"Because." Akemi said, staring at her feet as she walked. "No one has ever seen the future before."

Sakura nodded. "She's right. Mom told us that. There's never been a Tanarian in all of history with the power to see the future. So she says it's not an ability we can have and that means what Akemi sees are just dreams, nothing more. But we've seen them come to pass. And Akemi has mental abilities far more advanced than any other Tanarian I know of."

"Maybe it's the halfling effect?" Trunks suggested. "That's what grandpa calls it with Gohan, Goten, and I."

"Thought of that." Sakura said. "And Human DNA does affect us. It's why Akemi and I can use our Ki already. But I have next to no mental abilities. The lowest of any Tanarian, actually. So mom and dad say that Human DNA reduces mental powers, not enhances them. Which means...."

"Another reason not to believe." Cheri said with a sigh. "Well, like you said this morning, they wont have a choice soon. Espeically if Akemi sees it again and can give more specific details so that they can't just call it a coincidence later."

The five kids climbed onto the Runner as they listened to the speech outside playing through the stadium speakers. They were silent the rest of the journey to the VIP box and when they got there the speech outside was only just coming to an end. They made their way to the VIP box to wait for Hotaru's return, they knew they'd not be leaving just yet as the grown-ups wanted to hold a quick meeting there before heading off.

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Galactic Games Arena, VIP box

"Are you sure?" Mijima asked. She currently had a cell phone up to her ear and was talking to the woman she'd left in charge of Capsule Corp. when she'd left Earth. "And still no idea what the cause was?" she continued a moment later. Finally she sighed. "Alright, keep looking into it, call me if you find anything." she said hanging up.

"What's wrong?" Bulma asked.

Mijima shook her head. "An explosion at the North City plant." she said. "Remember I mentioned the power issues we'd been having? Well apparently something just caused a massive backfeed of energy into the reactor and overloaded the entire thing...." She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. "Half of North City is gone."

"Half of... oh my...." Bulma said slowly. North City was a big city, at least four hundred thousand people lived there. "And they don't know the cause?"

The blonde shook her head again. "No idea. We still hadn't figured out what was causing the power issues."

"Power issues?" Vadora asked. "What kind of power issues?"

"The reactor was generating power but it wasn't going out to the plant." Mijima said. "We'd gone over it for months and couldn't find the cause no matter what we did. Maybe I should have just had them shut it down for good, until we'd figured out the cause...."

"I wonder...." Vadora said, thoughtfully.

"What is it?" Gohan asked.

"I'm wondering if that plant was having the same problem as us with the generator for the barrier." she explained.

Bulma's eyes widened a little as she sat up. "I hadn't even considered that. I suppose it's possible.... Mijima, call back to Earth later and have them run a full energy pattern scan with the satelite network. They're looking primarily for Transal Energy but have them scan for all kinds."

The blonde woman nodded as the door opened and the kids entered the room. The five of them moved over to a corner away from the others and took a seat. "So, how are we going to explain this anyway?" Cheri asked. "Just go 'Akemi saw the future again' or what?"

Sakura shrugged. "I'm not really sure. But I do know I'm going to make them listen." she said. "Especially with the differences to her vision this time. If those other scenes are related to what she's been seeing here...."

"Well if they don't listen we'll just tell them to!" Goten said, scowling. "We've already shown them there's more to us than they thought."

Sakura smiled and ruffled Goten's hair. "Yeah, who would have thought a little runt like you would be stronger than Trunks' grandfather?" Goten's scowl vanished and was replaced by grin.

"Speaking of that," Trunks started. "Sakura, do you think you could teach me the Kinryoku?"

Sakura laughed. "Sure." she said. "You know, I'm surprised the future you never learned it." she said after a moment. "In all the stories and videos we've seen he never once used it, but Goten's proven it can be used as a Super Sai-jin. And my future self knew it so she could have taught him."

"Probably didn't think it would work." Cheri said. "When mom was teaching me the Kaio Ken I'd said I wanted to learn the Kinryoku too, like dad. But she said Sai-jin's can't use the Kinryoku."

"But we can both use it!" Goten cried.

"We're half Sai-jin." Cheri corrected. "And until I used the Kinryoku for the first around mom she didn't think it made a difference but it apparently does. So my bet is the future Trunks never bothered to try it thinking it wouldn't work."

"Makes sense." Trunks said. "It's why I never bothered to learn it before."

The five of them stopped as the door opened again and those who'd made the speech re-entered the room. They all glanced at each other and nodded as they got to their feet and made their way over to where the adults were all gathered. "...it's going to be a long process, decades at the least." Nova was saying.

"But it's a start." Hotaru replied. "I doubt it'll be at all smooth but it's something for them to chew on."

"Exactly..." the younger Vegeta said. Before he could say anything more he noticed the five kids standing just off to the side of their group and staring at them, fidgeting a bit. "What?" he asked them, drawing the attention of the others as well.

"Sakura? Is something wrong?" Hotaru asked, seeing the look on her daughter's face.

"Akemi saw it, again." Sakura said. "And more this time." Her mom went to say something but she scowled and interupted her. "I know what you've said but I know that you're wrong. I know what Akemi can do."

"What are they talking about?" Vadora asked.

"Akemi can see the future." Cheri explained.

Vegeta's eyes instantly darted down to the little girl and he stared at her. But it was Yamcha that spoke as he shook his head. "Hotaru's already explained that isn't possible." he said.

"What?" Trunks started. "Just like it isn't possible for us to be Super Sai-jins? Or it isn't possible for a Sai-jin to use the Kinryoku?"

"Or for someone to willingly transform into an Oozaru?" Cheri added.

Sakura glanced back at them both, smiling, and then turned back to them again. "She's been seeing it for months, she's been seeing this arena for months, since before we'd ever seen it. Only this time it was different because... well, we're not sure. Something... caused there to be more."

"More?" Bulma asked. She'd noticed Vegeta staring at Akemi and she knew why. She was the only one in their group that knew about Vegeta's recuring dreams. Dreams he'd become convinced were, somehow, visions of the future. And she knew that last night there had been more to his as well.

Akemi nodded. "Yeah... it was... different." she said slowly, scrunching up her face. "It felt like someone else was there with me but there wasn't anyone. And I wasn't here at first but in this city that was smashed and on fire." She turned her gaze up to Vegeta then and their eyes met. "He was fighting some guy with a tail and wearing red and black armor. And then it went dark and the tail guy was standing over these others saying..." her face scrunched up more as she tried to remember.

"And this is where it ends." Vegeta said, his voice barely above a whisper. The words had been burned into his mind as he'd poured over them, and the entire vision, most of the morning. "Your time has expired, your power has gone...."

Akemi's eyes widened. "That was it!" she cried. "That's what he said!"

"That was... you I saw..." Vegeta said slowly, as he thought of the small form that had and hadn't been there, at the same time, during his dream.

"What's going on Vegeta?" Yamcha asked.

The Sai-jin closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them he was still looking at Akemi. "What else did you see?" he asked.

Akemi stared at him for a moment and then smiled and nodded. Finally! Someone believed! "After the dark place I was at home on the beach but everything was on fire! And then I saw all these people and faces and heard all these voices... I couldn't make out a lot on that. After that... after that was..."

Sakura rested a hand on Akemi's shoulder as the girl started to tear up. "It was her normal vision after that." she said. "Here, at the arena, with a lot of fighting going on all around the place and me... dead."

Bulma turned to Vegeta and put a hand on his arm. He glanced back at her and nodded as he moved over to the com panel and pressed a button. A moment later a voice came over the line. "Rowan, palace operations."

"This is King Vegeta. I want the entire guard and defense force put on maximum alert status, now."

"I... yes sir." she said before he cut the line.

"Vegeta?" Hotaru asked, confused. "What...."

Vegeta glanced from her to the kids again and spoke to Akemi once more. "When you were in the city at the start." he began. "What did you see, exactly?"

Akemi frowned a little as she thought, trying to remember exactly what she'd seen. "The guy with the tail said something to you and made you mad." she said. "You attacked him but he knocked you away and he was walking toward you when two others showed up... they looked..." She shook her head a bit. "They reminded me of Goten." she said. "But they got knocked away too. They got up to do something and then it changed to the beach."

Vegeta sighed. He'd been hoping she'd have a few answers but she'd only seen what he usually saw, though a bit more of it.

"Would someone mind explaining to me what's going on?" Piccolo demanded.

Vegeta glanced at the Namek and then turned to Hotaru and Yamcha. "I don't know what you may or may not think about your daughter's powers but I can tell you this right now, she's right. She is seeing the future. At least, I believe she is."

"But... why?" asked Yamcha.

"Because what she saw, she just explained... I've been seeing it for years. Since before Namek. Since my battle with Nappa."

His father stiffened a little as he looked toward his son. "The nightmare you mentioned the night you... kidnapped Bulma... to go to Namek?"

Vegeta nodded. "One and the same." he said. "I don't know how far off it is, though. I do know that the destroyed city she mentioned is West City."

"What!?" Yamcha cried in shock.

"I've seen the ruins of Capsule Corp." Vegeta explained. "Since before I even knew what a Capsule was. And I believe that... the man she saw me fighting... is Raven's mate."

"But... this just isn't..." Hotaru said slowly. "It's not possible. It's just not possible, Tanarians don't have ability to see the future."

Sakura looked up to her mom. "It's like we've told you before, Akemi's got a lot of power. I mean, she can even leave her body! She's..." Sakura shook her head and then turned to her sister. "Show them."

"Show them what?" Akemi asked, a little confused.

"Remember what we talked about before we left the palace back home?" Sakura asked. "How we were going to try to convince mom and dad after the tournament?"

Akemi thought for a moment and then suddenly smiled and nodded. "Yeah! I remember! Ok, I can do that!" Everyone watched in silence as Akemi closed her eyes and then just stood there, her face scrunching up slowly as she concentrated. Chi-Chi suddenly let out a gasp of shock as the chair she was sitting in, along with all the other furniture in the room, began to float into the air.

The furniture floated up a good two feet, stayed there for a moment, and then floated back down again until it touched the floor. Finally Akemi's look of concentration faded and she opened her eyes. "Hehe. It's getting easier Sakura!" she cried, looking toward her sister. "I didn't have as much trouble this time!"

Hotaru and Yamcha were just staring at their daughter in shock. It was a moment before Hotaru could find any words. "How is that...." Her mouth suddenly closed as one possibility, one big and incredible possibility, dawned on her. The Tanarians had a legend, something believed to be pure myth and fantasy, that was thousands and thousands of years old. "The Oracles...." she breathed softly.

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Planet Namek, Namek's Lookout

Azura opened her eyes and sighed. "So, at last, they know." she said softly. She had sensed it when Akemi was born. A birth like that... it was impossible for her to miss. The Kais still didn't know, and they likely wouldn't for a while. But more than Hotaru's realization, Azura was interested in what Akemi and Vegeta had spoken of.

Not even she or the Elders knew who Raven or her mate were, or where they were. In fact, they barely knew more about them than Hotaru or the others. That was something that had never before occurred. But that was a matter that would have to be resolved later. Right now there was something more pressing at hand. She closed her eyes again and contacted her counterpart on Planet Vegeta. -Tatamo, can you hear me?- she asked.

-Azura, what is it? Has something happened?-

-No, not just yet.- she replied. -But it seems like I was right. The child, Akemi, has the power to see the future, and she has seen a battle. All indications are that it will occur before the Galactic Games come to a close.-

-I already had that impression. I sensed... something, just a little while ago. Some... presence. An evil unlike anything I've ever felt. What should we do? The Kais should be made aware of what we know....-

Azura tought for a moment. She hadn't felt anything out of the ordinary. But perhaps she'd been so focused on those on Planet Vegeta and the gathering of the galaxies defenders that she had missed it.... -They know as well, to an extent.- she said at last. -I'm afraid there is nothing more we can do but wait and watch.-

-If this really is as big as you think...- Tatamo began. -I wont just stand by and watch.-

-No, I had expected not.- Azura replied. -Unfortunately I have... no other choice. But remember....-

-I know. I have not said anything for ten thousand years, I have no intention to do so now.- There was silence for a moment before he spoke again. -This Akemi you spoke of. She's the one Piccolo fought today, isn't she? Is what I feel from her what I think it is...?- he asked.

There was a long silence before Azura responded. -Yes.-

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Unkown Location

"Interesting." Ravenna said as she listened to the conversation in the VIP box on Planet Vegeta. "I hadn't known Vegeta was able to see the future."

"Nor had I." said Raven's mate. "Interesting that it started after his fight with Nappa."

"Do you think there's a connection?" Ravenna asked.

"I don't see how." said Raven.

"I do." replied Razor as he entered the room. "Do not forget that our manipulations of time can have an effect on those within the time stream still. We gave Nappa his power through my abilities, not one of the fruit. I unlocked in him his dormant powers through a transference by way of a temporal shift.

"As I explained before-hand, the temporal shift is not an exact thing. So it existed before and after I did it. It is entrirely possible Vegeta was influenced by some residual energy from that shift. I did say that it was an unreliable process. It's why we have only used it to kick start efforts or with those direct contact was not possible, such as Nappa."

"Do you think this could be a problem?" asked Ravenna. "I mean, if they know for a fact that they lose to us...."

"I thought you doubted they could even survive what is coming?" Raven asked, smiling a little.

Her daughter glanced at her for a moment and then turned back to the monitors again. "If Vegeta is seeing our attack then they must survive this... somehow."

"That explosion the Cyborg mentioned." Razor said, walking toward one of the consoles. "Let's see...." he glanced at the display on the screen and smiled. "Ah, seems I was right. That was the crystal shattering, the backwash must have caused the explosion when it entered the reactor."

"So, it's time." said Raven's mate. "Now we simply wait for him to make his move and the chaos to begin."

__________________
AH Saga 6:

Read Altered History: Saga I Saga II Saga III Saga IV Saga V

Lazlo

Have my babies?

But in all seriousness, this is one of the best things I've read in a long time. I found the first saga on fanfiction.net a few years ago and loved it, it took me until a few days ago to realize that you were here. (Yeah, I'm that unaware). All I can say is that I've read everything up to this point within about 5 days, and it's lived up to everything I remembered.

Keep up the good work.

raditz_saiyan_hero

Another great chapter, one of the your best chapters I think. I'm so excited for the rest of them I may just pee my pants. Please hurry up and write another fantastic chapter.

__________________
When I die, will they remember not, what I did, but what I haven't done..." - Rise Against




Thanks to Ulimate_Gohan for the sig

kiomori

I haven't posted here yet, but I found your other sagas a while back and now am caught up in this one. It's incredible, and I can't wait for more! You're doing a great job!

ultra_blade

Another awesome chapter, this was really great and I enjoyed reading it. Sorry I didn't comment earlier, but I was over at my Holiday House for a few days! =]

Xyex

Chapter Twenty-six - Unfolding the Truth

"I never dreamed any mortals would have that kind of power again." Mikomi said as Bardock left the ring. "Dead or not."

"Goku's still likely the stronger of the two." the Grand Kai informed. "Though the gap in their powers has never been that great since they arrived seven years ago. At least the finals will be...." He trailed off as a sudden feeling swept through him. He quickly raised an arm and waved it through the air. The mirror hanging above where he and the other Kais sat shimmered and a view of the world outside his mansion appeared.

"What is...?" the South Kai started. The golden clouds between Otherworld and the H.F.I.L. were turning red in a few places. Then a red light washed up through the clouds and toward the view point on the mirror. And then the image went blank for a moment and when it returned all was as it had been.

"What was that?" asked King Kai.

"An ill omen, I fear." said Mikomi softly. "Come Kibito, we need to have a look around. Zenryou."

The Grand Kai bowed his head slightly and then the two powerful Kais were gone. After they had departed he turned to the lower Kais. "I think it best we not speak of this to those here until we know what it was we saw." he said. "But perhaps it wise you return to your worlds and make sure nothing is amiss in the Mortal Plane."

"Yes, yes, that would be a good idea." said the East Kai.

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H.F.I.L.

Nefaria gazed about at the infinite expanse of the H.F.I.L. in frustration. Ever since the Kais had caused her to lose her target she'd been unable to make further progress. She had found no trace of the Blood Crystal on her own and none of the rogues had surfaced. She stood now atop a tall mountain of stone hoping, in desperation, to see something with her eyes that her senses had missed.

But that hope vanished as she felt something that she didn't like. A presence that was growing. And then she saw the wave of red light racing up through the plane from the ground. It reached her a moment later and passed over her without issue as it proceeded toward the clouds above. But unlike the Kais she knew what had just occurred.

"Damn it." she muttered, closing her eyes. -I wasn't able to stop it.-

-The Blood Crystal is destroyed?-

-Yes. And the energy... it came from below the H.F.I.L. which means....-

-It was in Hell.- the other responded. -But how is that possible? The Kais could not have fought him there.-

-Perhaps the rogues moved it? Or their allies here in this realm did it.- Nefaria replied. -I should have looked into that possibility.-

-There's nothing we can do for now. Meet me in Hell, if he is truly free we must begin preparing to defeat him, somehow.-

-What about the Kais?-

-Those weaklings?- the voice scoffed. -There is only one Supreme Kai left. Trapping him is not an option now, the balance is already off enough. Besides, with the crystal in Hell he is already beyond their reach. Let the Kais deal with the mess on their end, we have our own problems.-

-Understood.-

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Planet Vegeta, Sai-jin Palace, Conference Room 14

It had taken a little time to get the kids to head off. They'd had Akemi go over what she'd seen until they thought they had it all and then had sent them off so they could discuss matters in greater detail. Sakura had been persistent about being told what Hotaru had meant by 'The Oracles' but had eventually given up after a glare from her mother following the tenth time being told to forget about it.

Now both Vegetas, Bulma, Piccolo, Raditz, Tien, Vadora, Yamcha, Hotaru, Krillin, Mijima, Gainin, Sango, Gohan, Videl, and Nova were gathered in one of the conference rooms. "So," Piccolo began as the last of them took their seat. "What had you meant by 'The Oracles' earlier?"

Hotaru was silent for a while before she answered. "There is a legend on Tanaria." she began. "A legend that was ancient even before our weakening. An alien ship crashed on our world, only three of those on the ship survived. At the time... my people were still very primitive, they couldn't grasp that these people were from another world, let alone another galaxy."

"Wait, another galaxy?" Krillin asked.

Hotaru nodded. "Yes, that is where we believe that they came from now, based on what we still have of where they said they were from. It's been at least seventy-five thousand years, though. Anyway, the three who survived came to be known as The Oracles and, for decades, guided my people. They avoided giving us too much too fast but they taught us much. Better methods of building, how to forge iron, the means to harness electricity, and so on.

"They also talked often of the Kais. More than just of their existence but of their nature as the protectors of the universe. They told us that the Kais haven't always existed, they were created by a higher power to watch over the universe." Hotaru bit her lip as she thought about the rest of what The Oracles had said. Now that she was talking about it she was beginning to doubt her earlier thoughts that it was possible.

Sango watched her friend for a while and after several moments of silence decided to continue the story herself. "The Oracles," she began. "They believed in a greater power than the Kais. A being that had single handedly created everything there is, the Kais included, and of which all life is a part of. They said that the creation of a Kai begins within this being and is then carried out through the living world."

"What's that mean?" asked Videl.

"It means they believed that all Kais were born, first, as living mortals." Hotaru explained. "That their life as a mortal was a means of training them to be their protectors later. They said that they had only ever experienced this event once, it had occurred in their own peoples thousands of years before. The Oracles said that because of this experience they knew how to tell who was destined to become a Kai."

Sango was watching her friend again as she thought about what had lead the Queen to connect Akemi's powers to the teachings of The Oracles. And then something Sakura had said clicked in Sango's mind. "No way...." she breathed softly.

"What is it? I'm completely lost...." Krillin asked, confused.

Hotaru glanced over to Sango and the two met each other's gaze. It was Sango that spoke, remembering Sakura's earlier words. "She can even leave her body...."

The Queen nodded. "'Spirit Walking' is what they called it."

"Spirit Walking?" asked Bulma.

Hotaru nodded again. "Yes. The ability for a person's spirit to leave their body and move about the world freely. It is said to be a...."

"Divine power." Piccolo finished for her. "It is. I know of it from Kami's memories. Only those with some connection to Otherworld have such an ability."

The Queen let out a deep breath. "So then... if Akemi truly can do that...."

"Hey, Piccolo." Gohan started. "Is it true? That people become Kais?"

The Namek furrowed his brow in thought. "I don't know." he said at last. "My knowledge, Kami's knowledge, of the other planes, and of the way the afterlife works, is limited. Guardians are only granted the knowledge and powers needed to do their own duties."

"It's not that far fetched, I guess." Tien added. "I mean, we already know that Guardians are chosen from the living."

"But... Akemi's just a kid." said Vadora. "I think it's kind of early to be making such big assumptions as this."

They all stayed silent for a while after that, considering the possibilities and the implications to it. Many of them realizing they'd never really considered it before. Never gave a thought to a question that seemed... so obvious to them now. Where, exactly, do the Kais come from?

"I can probably make a few inquires." Piccolo said. "Someone in Otherworld should be able to tell us one way or the other."

He didn't get an answer for a while. Hotaru just stared at her hands not moving for several moments. Then she turned and looked toward Yamcha for a second before giving a single slow nod. "If you could, Piccolo..."

The Namek nodded. "I'll go speak with Dende and see if we can contact King Kai." he said moving toward the door. "I'll let you know what I find out. In the mean time you should organize a plan in case things go as badly as Akemi and Vegeta have seen."

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H.F.I.L.

Mikomi gazed about the H.F.I.L. as she and Kibito descended into the plane through the clouds. Nothing seemed particularly off at first glance. "It troubles me, that the disturbance came from down here." Mikomi said softly.

"It would seem that Zenryou was right." Kibito said as they landed. "It was not Majin Buu's return that we had been feeling."

"No, apparently not." she replied. "But there was some cause. Perhaps the imbalance has lead to more problems than we first believed." Mikomi sighed a little, her eyes turned toward the ground.

Kibito knew then that her mind had gone back to her friends and allies of old. All of them now gone. He was about to say something to comfort her when he sensed something behind him and turned to look. "What!?" he cried in shock. His voice got her attention and she turned as well catching only a quick glimpse of what he'd seen.

"Was that... a Demon!?" Mikomi wondered in surprise. "But... what would a Demon be doing outside of Makai?"

"Perhaps they are the cause of what happened?" Kibito suggested. "Could it be... would he go that far?"

Mikomi looked at her tall companion for a minute as she considered the same thoughts as him. "Dabura knows that balance is needed to maintain the realms." she said after a moment. "Surely he wouldn't consider...." She stopped as she remembered her last encounter with the Mazoku King.

"Previous Mazoku Kings have attempted invasions of the realm before." Kibito said.

Mikomi nodded. "Yes, intending to trap the Kais so as to preserve the balance while still taking control of the realm." she said. "But why would Dabura do this now? I have been the last Supreme Kai for nearly two thousand years and he has always been stronger than I. I believe that Neikan and Aku are both close to my power, if not stronger, as well. And he has aided us before...."

Kibito shook his head. "I do not know." he said. "What should we do?"

Mikomi stood in thought for a moment. "Kibito, return to Zenryou and inform him of this possibility. I will search the H.F.I.L. for any Demons that may have come through already and see if I can obtain some answers."

"At once." Kibito said before vanishing.

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Earth, The Lookout

Dende was standing on the northern edge of the Lookout, with Popo, gazing down at the Earth and off into the distance toward North City. Or rather, what was left of North City. Dende had felt an energy, a presence of some kind, something evil, and had moved to investigate. When he had reached where he now he stood he saw a flare of red light from North City and then an incredible explosion came from the plant there.

He could tell that whatever had happened had not been a simple mechanical failure as the people of Earth currently believed. But he was uncertain as to the cause. Now that the light had gone he could no longer sense the evil he had earlier. He had spent the last several minutes searching the surface of planet, along with Popo, in the hopes of locating some answers but... none were forthcoming.

He was so lost in his efforts that, at first, he missed the telepathic nudge of someone trying to contact him. It wasn't until the other Namek got a bit more forceful in his attempts to gain attention that Dende finally felt it. -Piccolo?- he wondered, recognizing the 'voice' of the thoughts in his mind.

-About time, I've been trying to reach you for the last ten minutes.- Piccolo said.
The young Guardian could tell the other was irritated. -Sorry Piccolo. There was an... explosion in North City.-

-I know. Mijima got a call about it about a half hour ago. But why are you looking into it?-

Dende sighed. -Because it wasn't natural. It wasn't a mechanical failure like they think. There was a red light and... a presence. An evil.- Dende went quiet for a moment before continuing. -And that feeling I've had the last few months, it intensified for a moment, just before the explosion. It's gone now, but....-

-Right.- Piccolo replied. -Then you have something else to ask King Kai about.-

-Something else?-

-Yes. How much do you know about Kais?-

Dende blinked as he turned from the edge of the Lookout. "Know about the Kais?" he asked aloud, gaining Popo's attention. "What do you mean Piccolo?"

-I mean about their creation. Where they come from.-

-I... never really considered it before.- he responded, returning to telepathic communication. -I mean....-

-Neither had I, but... something has come up here that has raised the question. There is a... remote possibility that... Kais begin as mortals. And that Akemi is a future Kai.-

-Akemi? Hotaru and Yamcha's second daughter?-

-Yes.- Even through the mental link Dende could hear the other Namek sigh. -Right now it's just a consideration based ancient legends and some rather... unusual abilities possessed by the girl. Possibly including Spirit Walking.-

Dende's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Spirit Walking!? Are you certain?" he cried, forgetting once again, in his shock, that he didn't need to speak.

-Not entirely. Sakura claims that Akemi can do it but I have yet to witness it. She also apparently has the ability to see the future, something she seems to have in common with Vegeta. She also displayed telekinetic abilities more advanced than Hotaru's ever seen.-

"I see...." Dende said softly. "I will attempt to contact King Kai and ask about Akemi, as well as what occurred here. But I believe he has gone to the Grand Kai's world for a tournament occurring in conjunction with the Galactic Games."

-All the better. If King Kai doesn't have answers maybe the Grand Kai will.-

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Otherworld, King Kai's Planet

King Kai was still checking his galaxy for anything unusual, as he had been for nearly forty minutes, when he felt Dende's 'call'. At first he didn't know what it was, because of his focus, but as he cleared his mind curiosity overcame him. He'd scanned over the Earth just a few minutes ago and hadn't noticed anything.... "Dende?" he asked, turning to face the Earth's direction.

-Ah, King Kai. I thought you were on the Grand Kai's world?-

"I had been, but I needed to check on some things." the Kai replied, clasping his hands behind his back. "What can I do for you?"

-A few matters.- the young Guardian replied. He was uncertain as to which to bring up first. Finally deciding he continued. -The first of which involves an explosion that occurred here on Earth a little over a half hour ago.-

"Explosion?"

Dende sighed. -I had been sensing something was off for some time.- he said. -Then, just a little more than a half hour ago, the sensation intensified greatly. I looked to investigate the source and saw a red light come from North City only seconds before whatever energy it was caused the reactor of a plant there to explode.-

"A... red light, you said?"

-Yes.-

"Hmmm." King Kai's antennae twitched as he zeroed in on the Earth and took a much closer look at the planet and North City. The time frame matched up and the light... it definitely warranted investigation. It only took a moment to locate the damage done by the blast. Buildings still burned, thick black smoke was rising into the air, and... something felt off.

He focused more on the location and the sensation until what he was feeling came into focus. "So, it is related." King Kai said softly.

-What's related?- asked Dende.

"Not long ago, shortly after the recent matches ended on the Grand Kai's world, we saw a red light washing up from the H.F.I.L. and through Otherworld." the small Kai explained. "Apparently there is a small tear between Otherworld and the Mortal Plane in North City. So the light we saw was likely the light you saw. The explosion, though.... I will bring this matter up with the Grand Kai when I return to his world and let you know what I find."

-Thank-you, King Kai.-

"You said you had a few matters you wished to discuss?"

-Ah, yes. There is one other thing. Piccolo contacted me just a few moments ago to ask an... interesting question....-

ultra_blade

Another great chapter, man I wish if I can write the way you do. I mean it's all balanced and well written, your fic IS THE BEST!!!

raditz_saiyan_hero

Great chapter! You got me curious about the kais, which is impressive cause I'm not a fan of the kais. Great job

__________________
When I die, will they remember not, what I did, but what I haven't done..." - Rise Against




Thanks to Ulimate_Gohan for the sig

kiomori

So I guess we'll be getting a "Kai history lesson?" It is getting even better! Can't wait for the next chapter!

Xyex

This has one of my favorite non-action scenes so far in this fic. Having King Kai and the West Kai together just makes for some awesome interactions. <3

Chapter Twenty-seven - Not Quite Mortal

King Kai wasn't watching where he was going as he walked through the halls of the Grand Kai's mansion. His eyes were staring straight ahead but they weren't seeing anything, his mind was too busy on other matters to spare any processing power for something as unimportant as vision. Dende's question had... thrown him. It had been completely unexpected.

The answer was yes, though. Kais started their existences on the Mortal Plane. All of them had. Him, his fellow lower Kais, the Grand Kai, the Supreme Kai. Even Kibito, a future Supreme Kai. But he hadn't known that anyone in the Mortal Plane had known this. It wasn't really something that came up often and only the dead ever met the Kais. And the dead typically remained dead, with the obvious notable exceptions now and then.

But the reason Piccolo had even brought up the question with the young Guardian had caught King Kai off guard even more. As soon as he'd broken the connection with the Earth's Guardian he'd turned his gaze toward Planet Vegeta and located the young girl in question. As far as he knew no one had ever discovered a future Kai before they actually became a Kai. So the possibility had drawn him instantly.

When he found her he could tell that something was definitely different about her energy. There was something about it that was familiar and yet not. He figured the Grand Kai would be able to tell better than he and so he had instantly gone back to the Grand Kai's world to speak with him. But his mind was still contemplating the possibility.

If the child truly was a future Kai... which? Kai's rose almost directly to their intended post. That meant a 'to be' lower Kai would spend only a hundred years 'in transition' between being Mortal and being a true Kai. During this time they would study under the Kai they were to replace and learn the ropes of the job. After their hundred years passed they would take over that Kai's post and the Kai could then pass on to Heaven or become one of the many fighters 'living' on the Grand Kai's planet.

The Grand Kai was the same. The Mortal to become the next Grand Kai would spend four hundred years in transition and then take the post. The former Grand Kai would then have the options of moving on to Heaven or staying to train. For the Supreme Kai the transition period was eight hundred years. Kibito was currently four hundred years into his transition.

King Kai knew that he wasn't the one to be replaced, he was too young. Only a little over a hundred and six thousand years old, the youngest Kai currently in place. At least until Kibito's transition finished. The West Kai was about fifty thousand years older than him while the South and East Kais were around four hundred thousand each. The Grand Kai was just over five million and the Supreme Kai was about fourteen million.

"She is the oldest but Supreme Kais usually last for around twenty-five million years. Grand Kais for around ten million and lower Kais for about two million." King Kai said to himself as he continued to walk. "No one is close to passing on yet. At least, not close enough to warrant a new Kai to come along. Unless...." King Kai came to a stop then and blinked behind his glasses.

It had almost slipped his mind! Kibito wasn't replacing an existing Kai, he was replacing one of the ones lost to Majin Buu over twenty thousand years ago! When he'd first come along four hundred years ago they all figured the next replacement for the other Supreme Kai killed by Buu wouldn't be too far behind. Was it possible that....

"Oh, oh, oh...." King Kai said quickly, as he started walking again, far more hurriedly than before. As he still wasn't paying attention to where he was going this proved to be an issue as he ran right into someone and fell over. Blinking a few times and rubbing his sore bottom he looked to see who he'd hit. It was the West Kai.

Before he could say anything, though, the other Kai spoke up. "Watch where you're going North Kai!" he cried. "Geez, why were running anyway?" he asked, getting to his feet.

"Running? Was I running?" King Kai asked, rather surprised. He'd not realized he'd even started moving again.

"You getting senile?"

"I... no, I am not getting senile!" he retorted. "I was just... thinking.... I need to get going." he said getting back to his feet. "I must speak with the Grand Kai, it's urgent! Very, very urgent!"

The West Kai blinked. "Was there something wrong in your galaxy?" he asked. "Other than an inexplicably destroyed planet nothing seemed off in mine...."

"Hmm? Oh, no, no. Well, yes, sort of. But no, that's not why I'm rushing." King Kai said as he brushed himself off and then hurried on his way again. "You should come too!" he called back. "Because... well, if it's true it's big!"

The West Kai blinked after him a few times before following after him as quickly as he could. "What's this about?" he asked as he finally caught up with him. King Kai didn't answer, he was lost in his thoughts again, contemplating things. Only this time his mind wasn't on Akemi and the possibilities she presented but on what the West Kai had said about an inexplicably destroyed planet. "Are you going deaf as well as senile?" the West Kai asked.

"Wha? No, I am not!" King Kai cried. "That planet you said was destroyed. Was there a tear near it?"

"A tear?"

"You know! Between there and Otherworld!"

"I don't know, I didn't check."

"What do you mean you didn't check!? The Grand Kai told us to see if anything was wrong and you didn't take the time to...."

"In case you've forgotten the West Galaxy is the biggest one in the universe!" West Kai shouted. "It's nearly twice as big as your dinky little North Galaxy!"

"Well excuse me for having nearly half of my galaxy destroyed by a rampaging wad of bubble gum!" King Kai huffed. The two Kais kept quiet for the rest of the trip to the stadium where the Grand Kai was still at. King Kai could also sense Kibito there as well and that caused his mind to return to Akemi again.

A few moments later they walked in to the room where the Kai and future Kai were located. "Ah, West Kai, North Kai, finished with your checks then?" he asked.

King Kai nodded. "Yes, and I found something. West Kai may have as well if he'd bothered to investigate enough."

"What! Why you..!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa there. Settle down now, settle down. What's all this about now?"

King Kai clasped his hands behind his back as he spoke. "While investigating my galaxy I discovered that there was an explosion on Earth. Further checking revealed that a tear between Otherworld and the Mortal Plane existed at almost the exact epicenter of the blast radius." he said. "I spoke with the planet's Guardian and discovered that he witnessed the same light as us, and felt the same presence."

The Grand Kai rubbed his beard as he thought. "My, my, my, this is getting interesting indeed." he said. "What was it the West Kai found?"

West Kai blinked. "I, er, didn't really find anything...." he said. "There was a planet that had exploded but...."

"But he didn't bother to check for a tear." King Kai finished for him.

"Hey!" West Kai shouted. "I said I've got a big galaxy! How was I supposed to know that...."

"Relax, relax." Zenryou said waving his hands. "I get it, I get it. I'll take a look." He lowered one arm and then waved the other above his head causing the mirror to shimmer again and the West Galaxy to come into view. The image faded and was replaced by a cluster of stars, then again it faded away and a star system appeared, then once more it faded and the rubble of a destroyed planet appeared.

The view then began to pan around and sift through the rubble for a few moments until, at last, it zeroed in on a small blue light that occasionally sent out flashes of blue or gold light. "Ah, there's the tear." he said. "Hmmm, this would have been about dead center in the planet's core.... North Kai, you said an explosion occurred on Earth from a tear there?"

"Well, sort of." King Kai replied. "Based on the reports from the Humans who worked at the facility at the epicenter of the blast I believe the energy caused an overload in a reactor plant and the plant caused the explosion."

"Ah, yes, I see." said the Grand Kai thoughtfully. "A planet core and a reactor are much alike in energy production. An influx of energy would have easily caused a meltdown and planetary explosion like this. Hmmm, I can't say as to these being directly related to the incident but at the very least the explosions were the result of it.

"We'll have to wait a little while for the South Kai and East Kai to return yet and I'll see if they found anything similar. With luck the other tears spread through the galaxies wont be in such... unfortunate locations."

King Kai nodded and went silent for a moment, his thoughts on the current situation and what could have caused it. He'd never known in all of his time as a Kai of such an occurrence as this. A disruption in Otherworld could have disastrous ramifications through out all of the Mortal Plane, especially with the tears in place allowing for things to pass between the planes much more easily than normal.

The Supreme Kais functioned in a set of four, much like the Lower Kais. Each Supreme Kai had a specific plane in the Afterlife that they ruled and watched over. The Kai Plane, Heaven, Otherworld, and the H.F.I.L. were their jurisdictions. The one remaining Supreme Kai oversaw the Kai Plane. Without a Supreme Kai to watch over Otherworld there was no way to repair the current damage. Mikomi had no powers over the workings of Otherworld.

It was unknown which position Kibito was to fill, and wouldn't be known for another 400 years. It could be a while yet before any repairs could be done. Until then... things could still get worse. But this was the first real sign of damage from the current imbalance. With any luck no further signs would surface and it would remain business as usual. If not....

King Kai shook his head. There was another matter he needed to deal with while they waited on the other two Kais. "Grand Kai, there is something else."

"Oh?"

"When I spoke with the Earth's Guardian I was presented with... a possibility." he said. "Piccolo had contacted him to speak with me on behalf of him and the others currently on Planet Vegeta about a question they have. They were curious if mortals became Kais." He paused there and let the fact that the question had even been posed sink in to the three present.

"Why would they ask something like that?" the West Kai asked after a moment. The surprise evident in his voice.

"Apparently the Tanarians have legends that speak of it." King Kai said. He'd done a little investigating into those legends. He wasn't sure where The Oracles had come from any more than they were but he had a feeling the Kai they had known in the Mortal Plane had either been him or the West Kai.

Nothing concrete in that, just a guess, but the other Kais were all much older than either of them and for such knowledge to persist that long was unlikely. "This, coupled with some information presented to them, lead them to bring the matter to my attention." he continued. "It's unconfirmed but... the girl Akemi and her sister have made claims that Akemi can... Spirit Walk."

"Akemi?" the Grand Kai asked, leaning back into his seat. "Ah, the young Tanarian girl in the tournament." he said after a moment.

"But, is it even possible to locate a future Kai while they are still a mortal?" asked Kibito. "No one knew of me until after I had died and come to Otherworld."

"This is true." Zenryou said. "However, even as mortals Kais have some of their abilities, such as Spirit Walking, and heightened minds and mental attributes. No doubt this would be highly apparent in a Tanarian as they already have well developed minds. They also possess an aura that should have enough of a Kai energy to it to be noticeable as such...."

King Kai nodded. "I checked before coming here." he said. "I couldn't place it but there was something to her aura."

The Grand Kai raised an arm and waved his hand before the mirror again. Once more the image changed to that of a galaxy. Then it shifted to a star system, a planet, and then an open field. There, in the field, were the children, Akemi among them. "Hmmmm." the Grand Kai said softly as he gazed at her. "I do sense something unusual." he said. "I can't quite place the energy but it does feel connected...."

He trailed off then as the Supreme Kai appeared behind him. "Good timing." he said, glancing back at her. "North Kai may have come across something that should interest you. Sense the energies of those children."

Mikomi gave him a glance before looking up at the mirror. She'd been about to say how her search in the H.F.I.L. had gone before the Grand Kai had spoken. As she looked at the kids, quickly recognizing them as the children from the tournament in the Mortal Plane, her mind reached out and felt their energies. "I'm not sure what you expect me to find..." she said slowly.

"Concentrate on the youngest one. The smaller of the silver haired girls."

She nodded and narrowed her focus to just that girl. As soon as she did she felt it. It was an odd familiarity to her power and as soon as she attempted to place it she knew what it was. "Incredible...." she breathed. "North Kai, how did you...?"

"It was brought to my attention by Earth's Guardian." King Kai said. "And brought to his attention by Piccolo after he learned she supposedly has the ability to Spirit Walk."

West Kai looked from the kids and over to the Supreme Kai. "So, she is...?"

Mikomi nodded slowly. "The energy is... unmistakable to me. She is, or rather, she will be a.... Supreme Kai."

"We knew, once Kibito appeared, that another would follow before too long." Zenryou said, steepling his fingers. "The universe is finally catching up to the events of twenty plus thousand years ago, restoring the balance. And none too soon it seems."

"Yes, about that." Mikomi said, turning her gaze back to the other Kais. "Has Kibito informed you of what we found?"

"He has." replied Zenryou.

"I tried to track the Demon we spotted but I lost it." she said with a slight shake of her head. "Near a tear between the H.F.I.L. and Hell. No doubt it used the tear to go down into Hell, possibly to return to Makai through the passage between the realms." She sighed. "This also explains how the energy we tracked before passed into the H.F.I.L. from Otherworld."

"The Demons are using the tears in the planes as transportation lanes." Zenryou said with a small nod. "That is not good. Tears exist in all planes but the Kai Plane. A Demon invasion now is... the worst possible time."

"For us." Mikomi said. "But not for them. I had wondered earlier why Dabura would have waited this long to attack if he had intentions to. I have been the only Supreme Kai for nearly two thousand years. But this makes it clear. They must have been monitoring the tears, waiting for them to develop enough to use as passage between the planes here."

"Another war with Makai..." Zenryou said softly. "It's been over fifty million years since the last. They are... never good things. Especially with us under manned now."

"I worry that this is one we will not win." Mikomi said. "Muzai was stronger than Dabura but I... do not compare."