Chapter Nineteen

Only two more trials remain.

After reaching the village which is tasked with the safekeeping of the six star dragon ball the locals don't waste a second taking you to their representative. The Namekians are clearly excited with your progress and cheer you on as you enter the house.

Inside a small child awaits you. "Welcome offworlder. Please, have a seat." Bowing you sit down at the table and the child sits on its opposite end. Bringing up a small, decorated stone slab he starts explaining the second to last trial. "This is an old game created by our ancestors to sharpen their minds. It's a game of tactics and forward thinking. Here, let me teach you the rules."

For a lengthy period of time the young child explains the objective of the game as well as all the rules associated with it. It's basically chess with the same objective but with a few pieces being placed differently and having different allowed moves. The rules are simple: Each player has one key figure with very limited movement options which they must protect while taking out the enemies with your other pieces.

You nod diligently as the intricacies are explained but it seems... fishy. "I used to be the best player on Namek... before the tournament. But now... I don't know. I guess I still am. But I don't know if I'm... me anymore.

You know what I mean?"

"I guess I do..."

"Great! Then... let's play!" And he gestures for you to make the first move. "Just remember. No rush. Think carefully about each move."

You try to sit back and think carefully through your moves. You've never really played chess before, not competitively anyway but you know the rules and the basic gist of it. So you know rushing things won't get you anywhere.

Taking your time you observe the board and keeping the rules in mind start calculating what consequences would certain moves have.

It was in this moment when you made your first move based on your foresight that you realized something... Up until now you barely realized your own progress. You're surrounded by gods and godlike beings all the time so your progress seemed insignificant when compared to them. But now... when you are tasked with something so mundane... you realize how far you've come.

Moving your front line slightly forward you decide to play more defensively and only extend your lines as much as needed to draw your opponent in. As it's now the small namekians turn to move you take the opportunity to speak with him. "Regarding your dilemma..."

"Hmmmm?"

"You being a different person... What would it change? The boy makes his move and looks up from the board at you. "Back where I came from... we have this theory." You make your move. "That we aren't necessarily the same person that we were ten years ago. Our personalities and memories change in subtle ways every day, and the changes are said to eventually stack up so much that we're essentially a different person. Even if we act or think similarly to before, it's not the same. Of course, like I said, that's all a theory."

"I see. What an interesting way to look at it."

The boy makes his next move and starts advancing on you.

"I know. Truth be told I asked myself the same thing. In such a short time I felt myself changing so much. Every now and then when I see my own reflection I start thinking...

Is this really me?"

"Change... can be difficult to adjust to."

"Yes. But change is good. It's what drives the world forward. If it's good change then it's all good, if it's bad you just have to make sure it doesn't happen again."

"True."

Your strategy was perfect, your execution impeccable. The little Namekian tried every single thing in his power to break through your iron defense but every time he thought he made some progress you were ready to punish him and make him regret his move.

For every piece he took he lost two.

You grin as the small child sweats in front of you. He lost this one already and he knows it. Trying to break through your well constructed defensive lines he lost too many pieces already. The only way he'd win is if you got suddenly greedy and broke your formation to attack him.

But you won't.

With a sigh he flicks over his own leader and gives up. "Well played. In all my years I've never encountered such a player. Are you sure this is your first time playing? Because it felt like you were three steps ahead of me all the time."

You nod. "I just happen to have a knack for playing games."

"Regardless... you've earned the right to use our dragon ball." He walks up to a wall and removes a segment of it to reveal a secret little hole in which the treasure lies.

"Thanks. But... tell me something. Was winning the condition for earning it? I assume not."

"Correct. Winning does not necessarily mean you earn the ball. Nor does losing mean you fail. It's a matter of mental acumen.

If you fight to your best ability and consider your moves, you earn it even if I defeat you.

But regardless if you won or lost, I think you proved yourself with that earlier conversation of ours... So all I'd like to say is... thanks."

Walking out you are greeted by the others who seem to be quite bored as you apparently spent hours inside that building. "What took you so long?" Kamin asks.

"I was asked to play a game with the local champion. Got a ball out of it."

Oren then snaps. "This is ridiculous.

Why are you wasting time with something so pointless when you could just take it!

If it's for a "Good cause" then they should just hand them over to you or you should take it by force!" The male twin voices his frustration.

You walk up to the boy and pat his head which he doesn't know how to react to. Ruffling his hair you begin to educate him. "Honor is only second to self sacrifice in terms of virtue.

And besides, these aren't just games nor are they just menial tasks, these trials have been put in place to ensure that the wish made won't be a malevolent one. They are tests of character. I have no wish to force those weaker than me to do my bidding, it's just wrong. Going in and destroying everything in your path just feels unnecessary if there's a peaceful way to do this. In the end this is just a day spent with added benefits of them not hating us and possibly coming up with a way to take revenge for what that would do. Establishing good relations for possible future interaction is valuable too. Plus I like them they seem like nice bunch."

"B-But-"

"Look Oren. The universe is what you make of it. Look at Hyssop over there. His universe is one where people chose what you suggested.

It didn't end up good for anyone."

Giggling in the background Kamin chastises her brother. "Someone's in trou~ble!"

Stepping over to her you give her a menacing look. "Nobody is in trouble missy!" And then you ruffle her hair as well. "Just so you don't feel left out!"

Seemingly understanding what you tried to explain to them you nod and leave the two alone. "Okay. Just one more. Be patient and once we're done here we'll do something fun, okay?" They exchange a glance before giving you a nod.

Making your way to the last village you are greeted not by a parade as you'd have imagined but the entire village lined up and bowing before you. One of them steps out of the line and starts explaining things to you.

"Greetings strangers... You are on the cusp of achieving what only the greatest of us has managed. But before you do... your last trial remains. I must warn you though that it will be... different."

"I've endured and enjoyed your previous trials. Except the trial of pain. That one blows. I'm sure I'll manage this one."

The Namekian frowns. "The difficulties of the last trial will be unlike any you've faced before. Only the strong of heart ever persevere and even they are oft affected by what they see. Be careful offworlder..."

You swallow nervously as the entire town remains in dead silence, not budging an inch, waiting for you to enter the shadowy room.

"I've got a bad feeling about this! Hopefully I won't meet my dad in there."

"Why? Is your father powerful?" The twins ask.

"No it's- never mind." You speak to the Namekians. "I'm ready!"

They allow you to enter the dark room and pull a curtain over the door so nobody can see or hear anything that goes on. Inside you find... nothing, strangely enough. Stumbling around the dark you struggle to figure out what the namekians want from you. Perhaps this is some sort of an escape room.

But just as you started having wild ideas about what the hell is going on you see lights blinking... in the distance? That can't be right.

Making a mad dash for it you feel like the insides of this building are impossibly large compared to how small it looked on the outside. Once you reach the lights however you're ABSOLUTELY sure that some fuckery is underfoot. Around you are dozens if not hundreds of lit, burning candles. Some smaller, some taller, all strangely still.

The lights continue to not flicker at all even when you wave your hand around them when a Namekian steps out of the shadows.

"Greetings boy." The word "boy" was appropriate. Even compared to their Grand Elder this one appears to be almost ancient.

"I've been waiting for you. It's not often we get a visit from the gods or their associates."

"I'm flattered but... who are you again?"

"I am the Guardian of Namek. I've been overlooking the development of my people for aeons now. Yet never in my thousands of years have I encountered a character like you..."

"Well I'm flattered and all but I have to ask again... Who are you?"

"You could call me an... intermediary between the planet and the lesser Kai overseeing our sector of the universe. Our job is to make theirs easier, to give them an additional pair of eyes overseeing planets when the Kai is occupied by other tasks."

"And is it customary for the last trial to be done by you?"

"Yes. My people are aware of me and my role.

But... I must admit it's not often anyone undertakes this ordeal. For many have tried. Most of them... failed. All walked out... different." Then the shadowy namek lifts his arm and the candles around you begin to flicker. "But let us not waste any more time. Let us begin!"

"Now listen closely Son of Earth... These candles... are lives. Each and every single one. When the flames of their lives eat away at their bodies, the candle disappears. When that happens fire dies and with it their lives are snuffed out. Some are longer, some are shorter, the cruelty of nature."

Looking around you begin to shudder as you start seeing glimpses of faces in the flames.

The Guardian then steps over to a small, flickering one. The fire is about to die out.

"This one... was short. Too short.bSo young, so innocent... it saddens the heart knowing that sometimes those who have done no wrong... die and there is nothing we can do about it. While there are some that are long even though they deserve nothing more than an early grave."

Slowly the decrepit Namekian walks over to you and as he leans in your face stares into your soul. "I'd like to ask you a question."

He walks back to the small candle and... lifts it up by its base. "This candle is that of a young child, innocent and pure, she hasn't committed any sins and it's unlikely she ever will!" He then walks over to a particularly tall one. "While this... this candle is despicable.

Its flames have snuffed out many others just so it could burn longer. This belongs to a criminal who committed many atrocities. Too many to name them all. Yet he's still in his prime, ready and eager to cause more evil."

The Guardian shuts his eyes. "Tell me... son of man." He raises the small candle over the tall one. "If I drop this... the life of the man ends then and there. But the small girls is extended. Should I do it?"

You pause and stare at him in silence...

"I don't know... This feels wrong somehow.

Playing with people's lives seems wrong, no matter what good it might seem to do."

"Hmmm?"

"Do you claim to know the future? That evil man could go on to repent for his sins and make great strides towards making up for his failings. Or he couldn't.. Either way that choice is not mine to make."

The Guardian frowns and carefully sets down the candle at his feet and walks up to you.

When he's right in front of you again he seems to grow... angry. "Yet you did just that!

You've taken a life in the past in order to save another! There is already blood on your hands! Are you saying that this is different somehow?! That you have the right to decide who lives and dies when it's convenient for you but as soon as it comes to responsibility you'd rather be morally good?!"

"Yes. I don't claim to be morally untouchable, I admit that I have blood on my hands. When it comes to the situations I've been presented with I did the best I could. That is to say, you're ignoring a lot of context!"

"What sort of context?"

"In the first case I witnessed a woman about to be violated! I stepped in trying to defend her, I got shot at. That man tried to kill me and ruin another life! So I retaliated! When I met the warriors from Universe 9 I did what I could to help them! Hop, Sorrel and Hyssop are living proof of that! But the others? They were ready to ruin other lives! I SAW them ruining other lives! So I stepped in and got my hands dirty! Every time it was to protect someone from another. All those guys, they made their choice to attack just like I did, there was always a connection between the attacker and their victims. This is.....not that, this is me imposing my will on two separate people before they've even made their choice.

Who says this man can't be redeemed, who says this girl will grow up and wish someone hadn't died for her, who says another can't choose to save her. Even if you find it hypocritical or lame, I'm sorry but I stand by what I believe. Sometimes people need to make tough choices, but going by that as a default is callous and takes away mortal agency and freewill, like an arrogant god."

You clench your fist, angry at yourself.

"And when it came to the tuffles....well I'm trying to do my best for the twins they deserve that much."

The guardian steps back and waits for a moment, mulling over what he heard from you. Then with a whisk of his hand he wiped out all the candles at once. Your jaw hit the ground and you stared in disbelief. "W-Why?"

He smiled. "I told you that I am the guardian of this planet. I don't have any authority over other planets."

"W-Wha?"

"And there are no female Namekians. I thought we told you that!"

"T-Then-"

"All theatrics. For someone who has seen so many movies you still seem to fall for it.

What? Do you just get swept up in your little space opera?"bThen as the room lights back up the guardians cheerfulness disappears and he becomes serious once more. "Killing is an ugly thing. But... there is nothing wrong with that. To kill is to live, to live is to kill. It's just nature. It's only different with mortals is... well because of that context of yours."

"I... wha-"

"You know what killing is, what it means. And sadly that means you are under much more scrutiny. It is inevitable that you'll eventually kill someone. However as you said the how's and why's are what really matter in this case.

You understand what you did. And it clearly left a mark on you. But that's okay. So long as you kill with a heavy heart, knowing the full weight of what you do is acceptable. But I could never allow the Dragon Balls to fall in the hands of a cold hearted murderer who can't... won't take responsibility for his actions!"

"So does that mean that... I... pass?"

"Correct. But I won't give you the Dragon Ball..." You pause, not making a move.

"Hmmm... bummer. I wanted to see your reaction... Anyway, I'll hold onto this. After all you'll need a Namekians help to summon the dragon!" Walking out of the door the Guardian is greeted by his people in utter silence... until he raises the dragon ball. After that the crowd erupts. "Children of Namek! Feast your eyes for today... we shall see the Dragon of Dreams once more!"

"HURRAY!" The crowd cheers as the Guardian walks over to Vados, around whom the rest of the balls levitate.

"Your ladyship... If you would!" With the balls finally gathered everyone falls silent once more as they watch the Guardian do his work.

He clears his throat and shouts at the balls.

"Takkaraputo Popurunga pupirittoparo!"

There was nothing. "Erm sir... are you sure you didn't forget how to do this-" Hyssop asked him but before he could finish the balls began to glow...

As the orbs began to glow the sky blackened until it was darker than the purest void and the world went still. Suddenly from the spheres a light shot up in the air and as it expanded into a strange form you nearly shat yourself. The thing that popped out certainly wasn't like any dragon you've ever heard of as it looks like it's been lifting since the beginning of time and space it's so jacked.

The massive creatures eyes glowed blood red as it spoke in an alien language. The Guardian was kind enough to translate for you.

"He is the Dragon of Dreams, Porunga. State your three wishes."

"T-Three?!"

The Guardian nods. "But do bear in mind that the Dragons power is limited. It can not grant any wish beyond my power. That is to say, if you ask it to affect a person it won't work if they are stronger than me... unless they want it to."

You look over to Hyssop and nod to him.

"Go ahead."

Slowly twiddling his fingers the large iceberg walks up to the Guardian. "Master Guardian sir... I'd like to ask your dragon to... resurrect my family. My wife and my son!"

"I'm sorry... but that will be two wishes. One for each person.

Is that alright with you Eric, son of Earth? I can not grant this wish unless you agree to it."

You nod. "Of course. That's why we're here in the first place."

The Guardian then speaks in Namekian once more and after receiving an answer from Porunga turns to you with a nervous sweat on his face. "Erm... He says he's sorry but... your family is fine. They are both alive and well."

Hyssop looks like a weight has been lifted off his heart. "T-Then... would it be possible to... bring them both here?"

"That can certainly be arranged. *ahem*

PORUNGA-" The Guardian spoke his wish and the dragons eyes glowed with red light once more.

Suddenly a lightning bolt hit the ground and lingered. From the light two figures stepped out and just like when you met him you saw Hyssop crying. "I-Is this- Are you-"

"Yes dear..."

"Papa!"

The three rushed together and embraced each other, now all three of them crying with joy. It was so heart warming you barely even had time to be amused by the fact that Hyssops wife looks just like him but with lipstick on her mouth plus boobs and his son is a carbon copy of him. Perhaps there are subtle differences between them but for the love of your life you can't see it.

But sadly this touching moment is cut short by the Guardian who turns to you. "I hate to bother you but the time of the Dragon is limited. I require you to state your remaining two wishes."

You look at Hyssop who snivels a bit and looks up at you. "Go ahead friend! I can never repay you for this!"

With a heavy heart and a stone in your throat you step up and swallow nervously.

You rub your nose and think through all the possibilities but it proves too much.

Spoiled for choice would be an adequate description, if you are told could get everything you can't come up with anything.

So you turn to Vados for some outside help.

"Hey Vados!"

"Hmmm?"

"Could you tell me what's the current status of Planet Plant?"

"Hmmmm... let's see-" Vados peers into her crystal ball. "It appears that Planet Plant is currently undergoing civil war between two opposing factions. One which embraces the new ideas brought up by their superintelligence and the other which rejects these new paradigms."

Good. That's one thing to consider. Then you turn to the twins. "Kamin, Oren! Do you want anything?" They quickly exchange a look and give you a collective shrug. Looks like they are at a loss just as much as you are. "Great... How about you? Traditionally the sons of Namek use the dragon balls when they are in need. Well? Do you need anything currently?"

The Guardian pauses and tightens his grip on his staff, clearly struggling to form his thoughts into words. "Well.. It doesn't sit well with me to say this, after all you earned the right to use the Dragon Balls. And I don't like to beg or Kais forbid steal your wish... but if you could aid our repopulation effort-"

"Got it... So you do need something." You start counting on your fingers and realize that's two already. "Well... now to think over mine...

Space travel... Hmmm... maybe a ship? But... I wanna learn a way to fly on my own. Wouldn't want spaceship taxes. Recipes from all over the universe... But my head would probably explode from all the knowledge... maybe a cookbook..." You mumble to yourself until you manage to formulate a few decent ones.

With a sigh you resign yourself. "Fuck me and my good nature. Why couldn't I be a selfish dickbag?" You look at the dragon and speak up. "First I wish you to aid the Rebels of Planet Plant so they may triumph over their evil nature and brethren!"

The Guardian translates your wish and then conveys the dragons message. "It is done! Now state your last wish!"

"And lastly... I wish to aid the sons of Namek in their repopulation effort!" The Guardian seems to be at a loss for words. "What are you waiting for? Phrase it however it's best for you. I don't care."

"I... Thank you!"

"Don't mention it. Just do it before I change my mind and ask for two stories tall golden schlong statue!"

The Guardian speaks his wish and the great Dragon Porunga disappears in a flash of brilliance and the dragon balls turn to stone. Looking at them you ask the Guardian.

"I-Is this normal?"

"Hmmm? Oh yes. Now we must wait one Namekian year before they can be used again."

"Cool. So how did you do it?"

"I asked for Saonel and Pirina to be capable of creating eggs much faster. That way we can repopulate our planet much faster."

"Neat... Now I'd love to stay on your... lovely planet some more but I believe we should get going. I believe we have a million other things to do and probably you do as well."

"Wait! Before you go... Someone just requested your presence."

"H-How do you know that?"

"I'm the Guardian I know everything that goes on on this planet."

"Well if it's that important then sure.

But I'm gonna leave my friends here. Hyssop needs some catching up to do."

"Of course. It shouldn't be more than a few minutes."

The Guardian then lead you to the place where this individual resides. It's not much of a surprise that it's a place you've been to previously. The Grand Elders house.

Landing in front of the door the warrior keeping the elder safe greets you.

"Congratulations on summoning the dragon offworlder. From this day onward every son of Namek will look upon you as kin."

Rubbing the back of your neck you giggled awkwardly. "Well that's a bit too much but thanks for the compliment!"

"Hmph... Now come inside. The elder is waiting for you."

Entering alone as the Guardian claims he has no business being in there you meet the Grand Elder once more. "I'd... congratulate you... but I believe you've heard that enough already. Instead... I'll cut to the chase. The Guardian told me what you did."

"Ho-"

"Telepathy. You should learn it. It has many uses. Like watching TV through someone elses eyes."

"Free cable!"

"Indeed... But now... come here my child."

Swallowing nervously you do as he asks.

"What you did for us is a great service. It is unbelievably rare to see someone sacrifice a real wish to help others. But to sacrifice both... is unheard of. And on Namek... we don't like leaving good deeds unrewarded."

"W-What do you have in mind Grand Elder?"

The large, fat Namekian then reaches out and ruffles your hair. Now you start to understand why it makes the twins uncomfortable.

"You're a good boy Eric, son of Earth.

But I believe you can be more... much more.

For you see... actions like yours tend to attract a certain crowd of people... not necessarily the good kind. And when that time comes... when you have to face them... being a good boy is simply not enough. You must become... the best boy."

As he says that you feel something...

Almost as if your bowels were set on fire you feel a terrifying amount of heat bubbling up from deep within, risking to blow you apart as it erupts violently. Such a thing does not happen but you do feel... power.

Incredible, unbound, UNLEASHED POWER!

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

You can't help but scream to the stars as torrential amounts of ki erupt from within your body and tear the building around you asunder. The pillar of light shoots up to the sky, alongside the bits that remain from the ceiling like a beacon of power.

"Oh my goood! NATURAL LIIIIGHT!"

Guru wails in terror.

As the door behind you is also obliterated in the blast you see the Guardian and Ney the bodyguard of the Grand Elder look at you in abject horror. "SERIOUSLY! WHAT THE FUCK IS EARTH?!" They shout in confusion.

You can't control yourself anymore.

With your body brimming, no... overflowing with power you can't keep it together any longer. Your psychic powers go haywire as well with all the excess power, causing your hair to flail around wildly before they settle down only... no longer affected by gravity.

Standing up and flowing like water your hair, as well as your entire body is enveloped in a palpable aura. Grunting and shaking you look up at Guru who sits back in his chair.

"And with that... the dregs of power that welled up within you have been unleashed.

All that wasted potential realized. Stand proud son of man. And kick evils ass..."

With the uncontrollable surge over your body settles back down and you put your hands together as if praying and bow before the Namekian. "Thank you for your aid Grand Elder... I will not waste this gift!"

"You better not... Now go..."

You look in the direction where your friends are and smile. "Hey Guardian... you won't mind if I go back without you."

"N-No... of course not."

You crack a smile upon hearing that.

Still wearing that cocky grin like a mark of pride you swipe the air with your hand and space ripples around it until it bends in the shape of a hole. On the other side you see a pretty samey yet clearly different vista and hop through it.

Landing feet first you dig two little trenches where your heels touched the ground as you're still not familiar with your newfound strength. When you look around you see people, people who are incredibly confused as to where you came from.

"Oh my..." Vados speaks up in her surprise.

The twins in the meantime lower their fists.

"We thought you were an enemy." Oren tells you.

"We detected an abnormal power reading.

Thought it was trouble." Kamin then finishes what her brother started.

"E-Eric?" Hyssop speaks up. "A-Are you okay? What happened?"

"Never felt better! Got a little parting gift from our green friends, feel like I just snorted a mountain of cocaine! Feels good! Feels like I can bench press a planet! Also my heart races like crazy. Feels like I'll get a stroke. But I doubt that. Strokes are forweakpeopleandI'mnotweak!"

Vados then pats you on the back as you get slightly jittery. "I think that's enough adventuring for one day." Then she promptly karate chops your neck and you get knocked out for your own good. "Okay everyone! Time to clean up and leave. Gentlemen! It's been a pleasure visiting your planet! I wish you only the best!" She then turns back to her "companions". "Everyone, grab on and make sure you don't let go! All aboard!"

As each and every one of your friends grab onto the nice angel lady Hyssop carries you in one of his big, strong hands. And as you soar through the cosmos his little boy looks up to him and asks this. "Papa... Who is that man?

Is he a friend of yours?"

"I'd like to think so Lamiaca... I owe this nice man much. It's thanks to him that we are here today, as a family. I... hope to repay him one day..."

"So he's a nice guy? Are there many like him in this universe?"

"Oh I doubt that. But there are many nice people here." Hyssop then exchanges a quick little hug with his son.

Meanwhile the twins observe them carefully.

"Is this what family is Oren."

"I guess... And I guess this is why he went along with all that. But... why help planet Plant? That place is better off dead and forgotten."

"I dunno. But he seems to know what he's doing. As ridiculous as he is."

"But... I don't understand. I don't... understand..."