//------------------------------// // Trouble's Afoot // Story: Blooming Talent // by Griffin Productions //------------------------------// "Goten," Apple Bloom called over to the half-saiyan. "I have a plan to catch Bubbles!" Goten excitedly kneeled down to hear her plan as she whispered it into his ear. "If you toss me up into that tree there, I'll wait for you and Applejack to chase him over here. Then, I'll jump down on him!" She proudly stated. "Great idea!" Goten exclaimed. "Does Applejack know the plan?" The mare nodded, a big smile on her face. "Eeyup! I told her a few minutes ago." The two started to snicker uncontrollably like children who had a big secret. Apple Bloom then motioned for them to enact the plan; hopping into his outstretched palms, she jumped up with all her newfound strength assisted by Goten's strong toss. She mamaged to grab onto a low branch that was just high enough to be hidden in the leaves. This plan was gonna work smooth as silk, she thought. As if on cue, Applejack appeared chasing the primate across the yard; the simian was headed for the house, but Goten quickly cut him off, making a fake attempt to grab him so he'd turn toward the tree. The duo continued to corral Bubbles around until he was within range of Apple Bloom. The young mare from Ponyville launched herself at the monkey with a yell, startling him into staying still long enough to be nearly flattened, as Apple Bloom landed atop him. She looked down at the monkey, and smiled. "Gotcha!" "I see you managed to catch Bubbles." The voice of King Kai came from behind them all. "Impressive. This is a new record for the Bubbles test." The three of them laughed as they celebrated their completion of the first phase of training; Goten throwing a celebratory fist pump into the air. "Well, guys, now the training gets serious." He continue, a slightly darker tone coming to his voice. "It's time for me to teach you the Kaioken attack." Apple Bloom and Applejack stopped their celebrating at the name. "Kaio-what?" Apple Bloom asked. "Kaioken." Goten answered for King Kai. "It's an attack my dad used to use a lot before I was born. Gohan always told me stories of how fast dad beat big tough guys with the Kaioken." The rotund kai nodded his head to confirm. "It's an attack that's like a double-edged sword. It will boost your speed and strength; and even smaller things like sight and hearing are increased in efficiency. But there is a big risk to using it." "What risk is that?" Applejack asked, stepping forward. King Kai motioned for everyone to head over to the more open end of his yard. "You three go over this way and prepare yourselves. I'll explain fully in a few minutes." As he watched the two ponies and the half-saiyan follow his instruction without complaint, he started to think to himself. Normally, the next phase of training was to hit his grasshopper friend Gregory with a hammer to improve speed and strength naturally; but he sensed something dark down on Earth. Something was afoot, and he didn't like it; the training would have to be sped up a bit to make sure he could teach them the important things as soon as possible. He tried to reach Goku, but that same dark energy was blocking his telepathy. It looked like the saiyan born on Earth and his companions were on their own until further notice; maybe if he could get them to master the Kaioken at the very least, they would be able to help out back on Earth. Maybe. * * * Out near Mt. Paus, in the lush forests surrounding the area of Goku's house walked a familiar face; his flowing white cape billowing even in the soft breeze as he walked through the trees, the pointed shoulder pads swaying with his movements. His green skin and pointed ears were unmistakable, and were he not wearing his trademark turban atop his head, his two short antennae would've been visible from his forehead. As he brushed off some pinecone needles from his dark purple gi, Piccolo thought that today would be a good day to visit Gohan and take some time off of training. Afterall, he wasn't getting any younger, and his body wasn't able to handle the long hours he had been used to of training these days. As he made his way down the path in the forest, he stopped; sensing a power level he was pretty sure wasn't supposed to be anywhere around here if what Vegeta had told him was true. But there was no mistaking this one; afterall, he'd trained this one years ago, he never forgot one of his student's power levels. "Trunks?" He called out. "Trunks, are you there?" When no response came, the namekian warrior cautiously proceeded into the brush. Following the power level, he searched for the young half-saiyan with his eyes. After a few moments of walking, he happened across a sight that made him recoil in disgust. There was a pod-like growth hanging upside down from one of the trees branches. It was glowing with a slight green hue, and looked slightly insectoid in nature. As he took a closer look at it, he saw through the foggy transparent shell around the front of it. "Trunks!" The half-saiyan son of Vegeta was stuck inside this sickly and mucus covered sack; his seemingly sleeping form looking like it was in some sort of hibernation. There was a chance that if he cut Trunks out of there, he might suffer some kind of trauma from awakening from such a state. But Piccolo had to take the risk to get an explanation. With a quick chop, he cut through the soft membrane, and a slimey substance fell out along with Trunks, who immediately woke up screaming. The namekian quickly rushed to hold the young half-saiyan in place so he wouldn't hurt himself in his thrashing; Piccolo hoped Trunks wouldn't bite his own tongue off in this state. He held him still for a good half-minute; the slime from Trunks' black, form fitting shirt and blue handkerchief around his neck dripping onto Piccolo's arms. As Trunks started to calm down and quit thrashing about, Piccolo released his hold on him. Trunks tightened the belt holding his tan shorts to his waist before speaking. "Piccolo...?" He managed. "Trunks, it's me..." Piccolo answered. "what happened...why were you in that shell in the tree?" Trunks shook his head, and rubbed his eyes, looking up at his now vacant prison. A look of remembrance crossed his face, and it was frantic remembrance at that. "Oh no! Piccolo," Trunks shouted, grabbing the namekian by the shoulder pads. "where's dad?! Where's Goku?! ...Where's Goten?!" Piccolo was taken aback by the sudden reemergence of panic in his former student. "Trunks..what's going on?" "Piccolo...we need to get to my dad and the others...they're in trouble! Big trouble!"