By Calathea
Author's Notes: Well here it is, my first Dragon Ball Z fanfic for your amusement and, hopefully, enjoyment. Before I begin, I'd just like to say a big "Thank You" to Neko-chan, for her inspiration and for beta-reading this thing for me, and to my sister Steph for prodding me into writing it in the first place. That said, on with the fanfic! Don't hesitate to leave a review or, if you feel so inclined, send an e-mail of your opinions, comments and criticisms. I don't bite!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Dragon Ball Z series, or any of its' characters. I just 'borrow' them for my own entertainment.
Prologue
The dark cavern offered no welcome to the stranger stalking through its' depths. For more than a year the cavern had known no other sign of life other than the lowest of rodents. Even now it seemed to try and deny the existence of the intruder by swathing his form in shadows, the walls absorbing the slight sound of the creatures' mumbling.
"...Thought he was so smart...that no one would ever find it..." he muttered to himself, voice rising and falling with irritation.
He moved purposely over the floor of the treacherous passage, and never missing a step, despite the lack of light. Finally he slowed, face set in a mask of concentration as he studied the wall alongside him. Eventually he found a narrow crevice in the rock, and with a short cry of triumph, reached in to flick the switch hidden there.
A harsh grinding noise filled the air, and a section of the wall slid open to reveal a small chamber. Grinning in anticipation, the creature stepped into the room, calling fourth a ball of light as he did so. Inside was the strangest collection of items one could ever hope to find, a collection that had been amassed over the impressive lifetime of their former owner.
A collection that now belonged to him.
With an expression that was half glee, half wonder, he walked around the room, hands caressing every object. Statues made from solid gold, fine jewelry, gems of unimaginable wealth... he could hardly believe his good fortune. Having explored all the treasure, he was then drawn to the far corner of the small room. There the darkness had hidden one last object, which he approached with confusion. Unlike the lavish treasures that adorned the rest of the room, it was a simple wooden chest. Strange symbols adorned its' sides, but otherwise it was simple, even crude, in appearance.
Curiosity overtook him. Kneeling down, he carefully pushed back the lid, expecting at best more gold and riches, and at worst a clever trap designed to kill anyone who opened it. He found neither.
"Books," he said in disgust, fully opening the lid. What use were books compared to the other treasures in the room?
Idly he picked one up and scanned its' title, and froze in surprise. He read it again just to be sure, then frantically flipped through its' pages to see if they verified the claim. Hastily he picked up another, and another, each increasing his excitement. Finally he set the books down and laughed, a laugh that edged between hysteria and madness.
This was the true treasure of the chamber, and it was all his.
***