A lone figure stood before seven black dragonballs, seeming much like mist.  Blackness swirled around what looked like human-like figure, some of it floating off away from it.

           

" Come forth, dragon," the mist hissed. Immediately, the balls glowed and exploded outwards, sending out waves of gold and black light.  A gold dragon formed from the swirls of light and stretched out among the sky.  Black scales littered his yellow body and the once large black mist looked like a mere dot to the giant dragon.

" You have summoned me," the golden dragon boomed.  His voice was soft but demanding, filling the sky with terror. " You have three wishes.  Make them now."

" Of course," the mist said and it grinned- if that was possible.  " My first wish is this."

*******

Goku lay sprawled out under the afternoon sun, in the curving green grass.  It rolled around his body, tickling it, as the wind blew over the valley.  It was one day to him, to think and remember.  He lowed his power level to a mere peck so family or friends wouldn't find him.  Sure, he loved being with them but for just one day, he wanted it to be just him and the warming sun.  To not worry about saving the earth from destruction, even if it had been peaceful for years.  For him anyway.  Gohan's life hadn't though.

Goku still remembered the night he found Gohan outside, in the middle of the night, staring up at the stars blankly.  He didn't know what woke him up or why he had looked outside to see his son, but he had.  And when he had approached his son and asked him what was wrong, he said nothing for the longest of moments.  Goku could remember the seriousness in his features, the concentration but relaxation, as he looked up at the lights in the sky.  It had made no sense to him but Gohan did speak to him that night, simple words but very complex at the same time.

" A race was destroyed years ago," Gohan said softly. " But that doesn't mean people let it go."

Goku opened his eyes to watch the floating clouds.  The next morning, Gohan had not mentioned, nor remembered, their meeting outside under the black sky. At first he thought Gohan was keeping something bottled up inside of him, not letting anyone know.  But Gohan carried on, spirited as usual and Goku let go of his concerns and carried on himself.  But as Goku remembered that night, he wondered what Gohan meant and why he had said those exact words.  What people was he talking about?

Goku sighed softly.  It didn't matter either way.  Maybe Gohan was sleeping all in all.  The boy indeed didn't remember at all saying those words, or getting up for that matter, when Goku asked him.

Deciding that he had stayed long enough, Goku stood up and brushed his orange gi slowly.  Besides, he was pretty hungry.

*******

Gohan was sitting outside when his father landed in front of the house, reading quietly from a red book under the tree that sat in front of their front yard.  Black hair that was cut short was taking an incredible liking to Goku's style on one side of his head and went this way and that.  Black bangs hanged over his forehead and over his coal eyes, dark with knowledge and understanding but stained with innocence.  He was wearing his house clothes, a white buckled up shirt and pants, made mainly for his studying.  Unfortunately, he was getting a tad bit big for the white suit for his muscles begged to be released from it's tight confinement.

" Hey Gohan," Goku greeted and walked towards his son.  Gohan looked up and grinned brightly, always happy to see his father.

" Hey Dad," Gohan greeted in return and scooted some to give some sitting room for his father.  Goku sat down next to Gohan, bending his knees to rest his elbows on them and dangle his long and strong arms.

" What are ya reading?" Goku asked, looking at the book.

" Nothing much," Gohan said closing the book and setting it aside.  " Where did you go?

" Just went out to be by myself for awhile," Goku answered honestly.

" I know what you mean," Gohan commented, smiling once again.  Goku grinned and rubbed Gohan's hair affectionately.

" I'm hungry," Goku said and Gohan laughed.

" Oh so that's why you're back," Gohan said.

" Um, pretty much," Goku answered, honest once again.

" I'm sure Mom has lunch ready," Gohan said.  " Lets go eat."

*****

" I want him.  Capture all who are close to him.  Then bring him to me.  I want only him."

Gohan opened his eyes slowly and stared at the ceiling.  The memory of the dream was forgotten as soon as he peeled open his eyes and now he wondered what had woken him.  Looking around, he saw nothing amiss in his clean and spotless room.  A desk sat next to his bed, pencils neatly in their place in a jar.  Books sat upright and straight on the shelves.  Shoes lay side by side with unwrinkled clothes hanging above them.  So what wakened him?

Gohan's eyes trailed over to the open window and out at the star glittered sky.  The drapes of the window fluttered restlessly on the warm night wind.  Maybe the rustling of the curtains woke him up.  Sighing, but not at the least bit tired, Gohan pulled back the blankets and swung his legs over to touch the cold wooden floor.  Making a soft padding sound with his feet, he walked over to the sill of the window, past his desk, and looked outside.  The soft whistling of the wind and the song of the crickets filled the night air but nothing else disturbed the silence.  But Gohan felt, just a tinge, that something was wrong.  Maybe somebody watching him.  Gohan looked out farther, straining his sharp eyes to see well out in the dark.  But nothing moved nor caught his attention.  Just the strange feeling of eyes staring at him.

Suddenly very chilled and…slightly afraid, Gohan closed the window quickly.  The drapes to the side stilled immidately and Gohan turned around-and let out a small cry.