Skyborn

Chapter XX: If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me

They traveled by nimbus, three days straight, heading for the north valley, following the Dragon Radar's directions. Goku had been against it at first, but now he was glad he had brought Chichi along. The norther they went, the colder it got, and he didn't have winter gear. He relied on Chichi to keep him warm – and she did a marvelous job at it.

The snow was a great shock when he first saw it. He thought Chichi would laugh or sneer at his enthusiasm, like Bulma would've done, but she shared it instead. She had never seen snow in person before either. For whatever reason, Goku loved learning that, enjoying that they were having that first experience together.

They were staying in a hoi-poi house that Master Roshi had gifted Goku with. Goku was nowhere near used to the capsules, no yet anyway, always amazed by how crafty and helpful they were. They were on a mission, it was true, but they still had fun together, he and Chichi. She was funny, lovely and kind. She had stories to tell, and she loved hearing his stories too. They both knew how to cook so they soon made it into a competition.

On the third day, they reached the outskirts of what seemed to be a military village. From the looks of it, the Red Ribbon Army had made base here. The people were being kept doing slave work, and General Blue was returning to stay at a big tower protected by sentinels.

Goku had an inkling of what was going on. He checked the Dragon Radar to make sure his suspicions were right. Yes. There were three Dragon Balls hidden inside that rook. That was the reason for General Blue's return. This was where the RR kept their acquired treasures. This should be a highly secure construction.

They formulated a plan to break in. Goku would use Kinto'un to approach the structure during the darkest part of the night so that he could count the guards and check for more elaborated security traps. Chichi would wait outside the village where it was safest. The following night they would get inside that tower.

But the plan didn't work.

Goku underestimated his enemy. He thought he could approach the tower without being found out, but that didn't happen. It must have had movement detectors because as soon as he got close enough, he heard a gun being fired. Air caught in his throat when he felt the bullet, and he fell; down, down he went, until his body hit the snow and his vision gave out.

The blue-eyed woman was pacing outside in a pretty balcony. Judging by the look on her face, something heavy rested on her shoulders. The sun was high in the sky as she moved impatiently from side to side, waiting for someone to appear.

The man. Her mate. 

At the sight of him, she stopped.

What are you still doing here? he asked, in that strange language they used.

I'm not leaving without you.

You don't have a choice. A big party would surely attract unwanted attention. Take the boys and go.

No.

The man let out a growl. You're not listening to me. I told you what's coming. I've seen it. The whole world will collapse. No survivors. Nothing.

Unless you kill him, she said, and her voice was low but firm. Don't look at me like that, Bardokk. I know that's why you want me to leave without you. You're planning to stay and fight him.

The man sighed. I'm... I'm trying. Nobody will listen to me. They don't believe. What the Kanassan gave me... this gift... this curse... These visions are designed to haunt me alone. I can't use it to save the world.