DragonBall Z

The Orion Saga

Epilogue

The commanding ship soared across the waves. The vibration of the vessel trek through the dark waters could be felt throughout the vessel. It passengers went about the ship without notice. All save for three. Two boys, and one lone warlock. The boys themselves had never once set foot on such a ship. The warlock had been on many in his past.

The ship itself was made of a wood completely unknown to the new passengers. It seemed to breathe and move as though it were alive. The crew either didn’t notice or didn’t care. It seemed as natural to them as mist that surrounded the vessel in a great circle.

It was this mist that Orion found himself staring at now. The mysteries of the ship long since replaced by a new, broader curiosity. Even in the darkness of night the mist could be clearly seen as a bright purple cloud. The water itself appeared to vanish as soon as it met them.

Orion sat on the rail of the ship, his face in complete awe as he tried to understand his surroundings. Never had he been in such a perplexing place.

“It is wondrous. Isn’t it?” Orion didn’t even have to turn around. He knew that voice very well. Yet he had only met its barer only days ago. He knew he hadn’t met Merlin before. But something about his voice made him feel safe.

Merlin leaned over the rail beside Orion and joined him in his wonder at the strange mist. “Even I can’t help but be dazzled by the beauty of the great expanse.” Orion shot him a curious glace.

“What is the expanse?” He asked

Merlin nodded. “The expanse is the space between dimensions. No life can exist there because it is made up of pure energy. The ship itself cannot travel through the expanse. So it generates a tiny dimension all around it. Meanwhile a special magic propels us toward our destination. Look above you.” Merlin motioned Orion to look at the stars overhead. Overhead he saw a wonderful yet alien makeup of stars and constellations.

Merlin lifter his hand and pointed towards a bright haze of stars. “That is where we just came from. Orion squinted both his eyes as he tried to tell where one dimension began, and another ended. “Which one?” Merlin chuckled as he brought his hand down.

“Technically all of them. That haze represents a massive group of one dimension. Your dimension has over a billion different timelines. It’s rare but not unheard of. A star represents each of them. If we were closer you could see that a single thread interweaves them all.”

Merlin looked down from the stars to see Orion staring not above, but below. His head was bowed in an expression of grief. Merlin sighed as he put a hand on Orion's shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault boy.” Orion merely shook his head.

“No... It was very much my fault.”

+ + + + +

Orion awoke in the small bedroom hours after Zouran left him. He looked around in confusion. Were was he? He quickly got up and walked around the house. He called out for anyone who might hear him. He got no reply.

Orion finally sat in the middle of the Main hall as he wondered where everyone had gone. The entire building was deserted. Whoever was there left in a hurry. All the lights were on. There was even some stuff cooking on the stove.

Orion’s thoughts were interrupted as the building shook violently. Orion sprung to his feet in time to see the right side of the building cave in to a thundering storm. Orion baked away as he watched the walls and furniture give in and hurl itself into a violent rush of blue energy and yellow mist.

Orion screamed out as the yellow storm continued its onslaught on the house and a spread further in. Orion scream was muffled as he heard a sharp shriek come from a nearby closet. With his heart pounding he quickly jumped to it and opened the door. Inside there was a slender girl who looked no taller than he was. He simply looked into her fear filled eyes for a second before scooping her into his arms and shooting them both out the roof of the once beautiful mansion of princess snake.

They both looked down in horror as they watched what was left shutter and explode into the biggest hurricane Orion had ever seen. In fact, it was the only hurricane Orion had ever seen. The girl’s eye’s sprinkled with tears as she watched her former home shatter. Orion looked outward to see that the extent of the hurricane was only about thirty feet up from the yellow clouds. However the center was filled with a luminous blue energy.

Orion gulped, as he finally understood what was happening. The great barrier that separated the realms of haven and hell were collapsing. But what could possibly have caused such a disruption?

His thoughts wavered as the girl in his arms clasped herself to his shoulder and began to sob. “I’m... I’m sorry...” Was all he could say. Whatever it was that caused this to happen. He would put it right.

He looked down to see snake way spiraling down away from the hurricane. It was in that direction he decided to fly. Soon he would be both thankful and regretful of that decision.

+ + + + +

Orion held his head low as he walked the halls of the Dale Valiant. His mind troubled with thoughts of the past. It seemed that no matter what happened. Those that knew him were made to suffer. His mother, Gohan, Goku, Mia. Oh how he missed Mia. She would have understood. She always had an answer. If she didn’t, she knew where to look.

Orion opened the door to his cabin and peered inside. Zouran was there, carving something out of a piece of stray wood he’d found on the deck. Orion slowly walked up to him to inspect the carving. “A flute?”

Zouran slowly looked up at Orion with a deadly scowl. It was obvious that whatever friendship they had once shared had long since been gone. Orion didn’t blame him. After all. It was his fault....

+ + + + +

Orion flew for what seemed like days. Even the girl he carried in his arms lost track. At first Orion thought that the tiny world he saw in the horizon was a mere illusion. It soon became apparent it was no illusion when Orion finally saw the end of snake way. The instant he went past the tail end of the path he felt the indescribable tug o the tiny planets gravity.

Orion gasped as he found himself unable to counter the massive force that pulled him down. His body landing painfully on the hard ground quickly stifled it. After a few seconds he opened his eyes and saw the one face he never expected to see. The face of Gohan.

“O... Orion. Orion is that you?” Gohan said as he held out his hand. Orion tried to nod. But the great gravity on the planet restricted his movement.

“No way. It can’t be.” Came another familiar voice. “Wow it is!” Goku stepped up to Orion holding his hand and helping him to his feet. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it here after a while. Just ask Gohan.” Orion nodded painfully as he suddenly noticed something. Both Gohan and Goku had halos. That meant..

So it was true. What he experienced in hell wasn’t just a bad premonition after all.

“STOP!” Came a loud shout from behind them. Goku and Gohan suddenly let go of Orion sending the boy back to the ground. “Don’t you guys get it? He’s the one who caused all this. The fabric that separates heaven and hell is all but gone! If it weren't for this kid it wouldn’t be happening!” Orion instantly recognized this voice. It was a voice that he once had thought to call friend.

Zouran stood with several others. He had been talking with them for several days now. What had happened, how, and most importantly, why. He stood with King Yamma, Kaio shin, King kai, and Princess snake. They all too wore the looks of distain and distrust.

Everyone stood in complete silence as Zouran's words rung through they’re ears. Finally it was king kai who broke the calm. “It doesn't matter now who's fault it is. All that matters is repairing the damage that has been done. If we don’t do something soon... There could be serious problems ahead.”

“Problems don’t quite cover it I’m afraid.” Everyone gasped at the new voice that came from beside the red car parked just outside King Kai’s house. Only Goku and Gohan knew who this new person was.

“Merlin!” They both exclaimed in unison. Merlin merely nodded in they is direction.

“The Seal that separates what you call heaven and hell is something like a lone pillar in a vast dome. If you knock it down there is little to stop the dome from caving in. I’m afraid if you don’t do something soon ... that your entire realm will perish.” His voice loomed throughout the entire group.

At last it was the boy who started it all who spoke first. “I will not let that happen.” Everyone turned to see him standing on his feet, the gravity no longer a problem. “I started this. Now I have to find a way to finish it.” With that he surrounded himself with a bright aura of blue energy and took off back down snake way.

Goku looked at Merlin in dismay. “Is there really anything he can do?” Merlin shook his head.
“Orion is a very gifted child. His power in both chi and mana is unparalleled. But in the end, he is still far too young and inexperienced.” Goku nodded his head as he held his son to him. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so helpless. “What about you.. Is there anything you can do to help?”

“Perhaps...”

* * * * *

Orion screamed out as he flew directly into the eye of the great storm of blue energy. If there were a way to reseal this barrier, he would find it. He stopped himself when he fully reached the middle. All about him searing gusts of energy whipped about him. Despite his desperate state, there was something familiar about this.

He closed his eyes and let his mind wrap around and attune itself to the chaotic flow of energy around him.

* * * * *

“I truly believe there is no hope for this dimension. I strongly suggest that we evacuate those that we can.”

King kai looked up at the blue robed mage. “Evacuate.. How? We don’t have the power to send everyone to the living world.”

“Even that would not suffice. You have a very strange dimension here. In most dimensions. There is only one plane. Here you have two. I’m afraid that once one plane is gone the other won’t survive without it.”

“Then how do you plan for us to evacuate. And where to?” Said the short Mohawk child who called herself Kaioshin.

“I have a way. However those who are dead won’t be able to make the trip. the instant they set foot outside of this plane they would join with the expanse.” Everyone looked at him quizzically.

Goku cringed as he held his wife and son in his arms. “I guess that means we won’t be going anywhere.”

Merlin gave a feint smile as he touched Goku on the forehead. “Sir if I may say so.. In all my travels across the multiverse, I have never found a character like yourself. If anyone deserved to live, it is you.” With that Merlin raised his hands outward. Holing his staff in one hand he began to glow a pearly white. “Des mana cor geainter fe massa toeain!” His voice boomed in a brilliant echo. “Des mana nec geainter fe horsn toeain!” As soon as the last word came from his mouth he pointed his staff at Goku and his family.

Suddenly Goku felt alive as he looked up and saw his halo disappear. He looked over to his wife and son to see they’re halo’s gone as well. He almost fell to tears as he embraced them both.

“Excellent. Very impressive. Now how do we go about evacuating?” Kaioshin asked. “Leave that to me.” Merlin said as he walked to the other end of the planet. “Des Mana Cor Bulva fe massa solin. Des Mana Eva fe hrorsn Toeain. Des Mana TriColve!” Merlin shouted across the yellow landscape.

At first every thing stood still. Even the subtle breezes that sometimes frequented the planet seemed to stop entirely. Just as Kaioshin opened her mouth to speak, She was immediately silenced by something she had never expected. In one instant the far landscape burst open in a violent ripple of purple fire. In the ripples wake a gigantic portal opened. Kaioshin and most of the others found themselves grabbing onto something less they be swept away by the horrendous winds that flew from the portal.

Suddenly a ship almost to big to fit through the portal emerged from the portal. It looked to be a sea going vessel save for the wing like sails that stretched out from it’s sides. it flew through the air like that was all it was meant for. Goku and the others looked in awe as the saw humans on board looking back at them in the same manner.

Finally the ship came as close to the tiny planet as it could without being pulled by the gravity. Goku flew his family and Merlin to the deck of the ship, with Kaioshin and the others flying behind.

A small stocky man walked out from the top room of the ship and walked up to them. “You always find the most interesting places old man. Ain’t see a place like this since I last visited Newhaven. Ah now there was a sight. Angels every where. Not once did me eyes see one fully clothed. And They had...”

“That’s quite alright captain. We need your services. How many can fit on this ship.”

The captain seemed very taken back by the question. “Don’t really know. Me never had more than six hundred on board at once, and that was when we were fight’n off the phex’s. Never really tried to jump with more dan a hundred. How many we talkin about?”

“as many as possible. We’re evacuating this entire dimension.”

The captain’s eyes grew as big as saucers. “Are you daff you old coot! This dimension isn’t even solid. the instant we took some perp from here bouts there’d be notin left o dem.”

“Then take them from the living world.” Kaioshin pleaded

The captain looked at her with suspicion. “Aye kiddy.. whats that supposed to mean. You sayin captin tigger here be coutin his daisy’s.”

“This dimension has two planes. You’re on the second. The other is more than solid enough to take survivors.”

* * * * *

Orion felt himself changing. His mind body and energy was becoming apart of the violent maelstrom that whipped about him. Soon.. very soon he’s be able to understand it, and shape it to his desires. How much of him would be left was another question.

* * * * *

The Dale Valiant burst through reality as it came across the open sea’s of the new planet namek. Though some kind of luck it was undamaged from Vegita's lack of control. It took only seconds to get the inhabitants off and onboard. The ship then disappeared through another portal, just as easily as it came.

+ + + + +

Orion Climbed up to the mast at the top of the main sail. Merlin had given him a star chart. hopefully from here he could see the dimension they had left the survivors of his home dimension.

Wide eye’s he opened the telescope case the captain had given him. It was covered in brown leather with gold rims. It was definitely old. Inside it the telescope looked even older. It’s edges were cracked and left flakes of golden rust. Orion didn’t care. If it would help him get his mind off the past.

As Orion began to assemble the telescope he began to think of his friends. Even after he had caused so much trouble they had com back for him. They saved his life an started a new one. He only wish it was Gohan instead of Zouran who was destined to follow him. He still thought of Zouran as a friend. But it would take a lot of time to mend the bridge of trust he thought they once had.

+ + + + +

Orion finally had it. His mind now reached as far as the boundaries of the ever increasing hole. Clenching his teeth he stretched his mind to it’s limits. using all of his power and concentration he began to turn the chaos into something that resembled order.

* * * * *

Piccolo stood at the bow of the ship as it slowly loaded the last inhabitants of what Kaioshin described as a peaceful race. He had been picked up by the ship along with Krillan and the others. Merlin had graciously restored they’re lives. Even Vegita's. Although it took some convincing from Goku.

Piccolo couldn’t put his finger on it but there seemed to be something different about Vegita. It was as if the arrogant power hungry man that he was died in that terrible cataclysm, and all that remained was the poor boy within.

Piccolo completely dismissed it. He neither worried nor cared about Vegita. What was on his mind this moment was that while they were all tucking tail and running, the poor innocent boy that caused all this was probably sacrificing his life in a vein effort to save them. He didn’t like it. More than that, he hated it. He wasn’t used to running while other fight his battles.

The mass of people finally covered the entire deck. they had gone to over 20 planets now. Picking up over 14 different races. The total head could was a guess but he thought he could make out well over two thousand men women and children, plus others of some sex he wouldn't even begin to understand. He still thought of the idea of man and women to be perplexing.

Finally he made his way to the bridge. There the captain was ranting about in fury. “We’ve got over two thousand creatures on board! The engines are already hard pressed! we can’t take on any more! I’m sorry!” He screamed at Kaioshin. Piccolo winced. He found it hard to believe a supreme god like Kaioshin had to put up with this.

“We have to take on one more..” Came a sullen voice from the back of the room. It was Goku. “Orion.” The captain looked at him like he was nuts. As piccolo looked about the room he could tell everyone was thinking the same thing.

* * * * *

The Dale Valiant screeched across the skyline as the ship soared through the heavens. Its engine could obviously take a lot more than the captain was willing to admit. Goku and the others lines up along the side rail as the looked on at the impossible. The massive hurricane of energy was residing. It was actually pulling back.

“Orion.. He’s actually doing it!” Yelled Gohan as he watched the clouds slowly drift back towards the center point. At this rate, the hole should be sealed in less than an hour.

“No..” Merlin said in a grim voice. “He’s doing very well, yes. However he’s seriously taxed. I doubt that he has enough to finish the job. If anything he’s making things worse. If he let’s go now the hole will completely open again. I give this dimension five minutes after that happens.”

“Then we got to get him out of there before that happens!” Goku shouted as he instantly transformed and shot off in a bright flash of golden energy.

Goku shot through the energy that encompassed the insides of the hole. He could barley detect Orion. Merlin was right. It was fading. -=Why are you here=- Goku heard Orion's voice in his head. -=You can’t save us.=-

-=I know=-

-=So why are you still trying=-

-=If I let go now, everyone will die=-

-=If you don’t you’ll eventually lose control and everyone will die anyway=-

-=But at least they will have those few seconds=-

-=Come with us=-

-=Where... where is there to go=-

-=Merlin found us a way out. We’ve gotten as many survivors as we could. Now we’ve come back for you=-

-=You did that... for me. you could have gotten out safely.=-

-=Perhaps. But we couldn’t live with ourselves if we left you here to die. Please come with us.=-

Goku’s face brightened as he finally saw Orion in the distance. With every once of his speed and agility he raced towards him. As he grabbed hold of him he heard one final message from Orion’s mind. Had he been totally paying attention he could have sworn it wasn’t Orion at all -= He’s already doomed..=-

A giant wake of energy followed they’re trail as Goku shot out of the chaos, Orion held unconscious in his arms.

As soon as they left the hold of energy burst outward again. In seconds it formed into a massive tidal wave of energy. As it did everything Merlin said would happen came to light. All around the ship reality itself seemed to melt away. Goku landed directly on the ship as it shot through the last portal, and took the survivors to they’re new home.

* * * * *

“I swear. I’ve never seen anyone who goes unconscious like he does. How long do you thin It’ll be this time. I’m taking bets!” Krillan mocked. Everyone gathered around a single bed in the medical room of the Dale Valiant. In the bed lay the unconscious body of Orion.

“Unlike yourselves, Orion’s life force is base off of mana. In your dimension mana is rare. So when he expends his energy like he has, it will take him a while to recover. However we are now the abundance of mana, so I doubt he will be out very long.” Merlin said as he walked over to the one figure that didn’t seem very interested in Orion’s well being.

“Your name is Zouran right?” Merlin asked. It wasn’t a question really. Zouran sensed this and continued looking thought the porthole at the marvelous mist that was even visible below the water. “You and Orion share a kinship. Your paths are very closely linked. I would like for you to stay with us after we drop the other survivors off in Newhaven.”

Zouran merely bowed his head and nodded. He hadn’t said a single word since Orion had left King Kai’s planet. It would be a long time till he would say one again.

+ + + + +

Orion woke just hours after they departed Newhaven. He was very sorry he didn’t get to say goodbye to Gohan. Yet he didn’t seem to have any idea as to what happened after he left King Kai’s. Merlin dismissed this easily, so Orion did too. If he was meant to remember he would. All in it’s own time.

Orion took the telescope and looked outward into the night sky. He could faintly see the star Merlin had said was Newhaven. One day he would go there again. He would see his old friend Gohan.

Orion put the past behind him and looked in the direction of the ships heading. He wondered weather he would like his new home. He wondered what adventures he’d have when he got there. He wondered if Zouran would ever trust him. He wondered what it would be like... On the isle of Avalon.