Graveyard of the fallen (Kotan)

[Geurin]

~Several months have passed since the heroics of a one Kotan Walker, and the mysterious Komatsuna. Word of their good deeds had spread around Satin city, however the rumors quickly became dust in the wind. Heroics like theirs simply didnt occur in Satin anymore. Maria Rios having been inspired by the actions of the young Kotan Walker, became the ambassador of the small colony. Wanting a better life for her children, and for the rest of the world. This is her story~

"God bless the road that brings us to posterity. God bless the broken hearted for they are weakened by pain. God bless the heroic for it is there courage that brings us together, and God bless the mother who grieves..."

The priest continued on with his benediction, but Maria couldnt listen anymore. The leaves had fallen from the tree's around them not from the natural change into autumn, but by the crippling power that was the destruction of man. From the ape who took her husband, to the meteors that crushed their new home, and now this. A dark new chapter in what was already a twisted nightmare.

The casket was lowered slowly into the Earth, and the priest concluded verily...

Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust

Jackson Rios was not long for this Earth, and so they did lay his small body to rest. Fighting for survival the boy contracted a case of salmonella from the poor rations they were fed, and like so many others his immune system simply couldnt handle the pressure. He passed away in his sleep, leaving a cruel and dark world behind him, and bringing only greater pain to his Mother.

Brenden grabbed his mother's hand tightly as the casket was lowered, he found himself rather stuck to his mother. Fear of leaving her side, to upset to even think of doing so. His little brother had passed away and Brenden blamed himself. He had spoon fed the child when he was weak, he had been the last one to see him alive, and the first to see him lost from this world.

Maria had cried, for hours she couldnt speak, or eat, only cry. But it was not the time for crying any longer. Jackson would forever hold a place in Maria's heart. And would forever haunt her conscience with memories and blame. But it was not for her to cry over, not anymore.

Jack was not the only casualty of this fight for humanity, no she was but one of many grieving mothers being forced to part with their children. One of many mothers to be condemned to a life of dread and fear. But she could not allow this to stop what she was doing now. Not for her, not for Brenden.

As the ceremony concluded Maria found herself accepting condolences from the entire congregation. Each member of their community bringing dead flowers, or poetry. It was a nice gesture, but Maria couldnt bring herself to thank them, or even speak. This was something they didnt understand, and if they had even the slightest idea of what Maria was going through, they wouldnt speak to her, or try and comfort her.

Brenden knew of only one way to cope with this. His baby brother gone within a blink of an eye. He knew exactly how to handle this, it was clearly the only way...
_____________________________________________________


~The following would come to Kotan in the form of a vision during his every day activity, either while he was training, or possibly sleeping. A figure would appear to him. In a dark robe covering his entire body it would speak hurriedly and with a sense of urgency. A life or death tone that was unmistakeable.~

"Kotan Walker, go now to Satin City, you are needed there, it is your destiny. Go to Satin City, Maria needs you."

~With that the image would fade, as if it had never existed at all. Kotan would have to decide how to handle it, or what he would make of it, but for now the object was clear. Maria was in danger.~

[kotan]

Several months had passed since Kotan had heroically saved a woman called Maria Rios and her son Brendan Rios. He hadn't done it for glory, or to prove himself. He had done it because he was a good person, and he had always been like this. Trying to inspire people to be the best that they could possibly be, and try and save other people. It was the best thing that someone could do, and Kotan always tried to help more people. This is where his story takes place from.

Throwing a kick forward, Kotan continued with his training. He needed to keep this up. In the last few months alone, he had become quite powerful. He was able to increase his power further through the use of the Kaio-Ken technique. Continuing his training, he said “Kaio-Ken times three!” His entire body turned red, and a red aura ignited around him. Flying towards a giant rock formation, he punched at it, breaking it completely with his thrice raised power level. However, he came out of the Kaio-Ken after a few minutes, as it could kill him if he stayed in it for more than a minute or five.

However, just then, Kotan's eyes glossed over and he began to see something. It was not the landscape around him, but a figure in a dark robe, around him. The figure said “Kotan Walker, go now to Satin City, you are needed there, it is your destiny. Go to Satin City, Maria needs you.” Kotan's eyes returned to normal, and he dropped to his knees.

He had not dropped because he was hurt. It was because of the message. “Maria....the woman I saved....her son, he was dead but he's alive now.... Why does she need me? But even if I don't have the reason why I need to do this, I need to do this.” Standing up properly, Kotan pondered everything that had happened in the last few months. His power had steadily increased to a level where he felt confident that he could take on most low powered threats that attacked Earth.

Powering up fully, Kotan flew into the air, and his aura flared around him. Turning into the direction of Satan City, Kotan unleashed a yell of power as his power peaked, without utilizing the Kaio-Ken technique. Utilizing the full extent of his power, he propelled himself forward, going at his full speed towards Satan City. As he did this, several thoughts raced through his head. Is Brenden okay? Why does Maria need me? What's my destiny? What does it have to do with Maria, and Brenden possibly?”

Flying right into the city, Kotan flew down and landed on his right knee. He had accidentally created a crater in the middle of the city, and he stood up. Looking around, he yelled “Maria?! Maria?!” Jumping out of the crater, he yelled at the top of his lungs “MARIA, ITS KOTAN! WHERE ARE YOU?!”

[Geurin]

It wouldnt be difficult to locate her

Maria was running about the complex asking every person she knew. She was panicked, and understandably so. In her had was a 4X8 inch picture of her one and only son, Brenden.

"Have you seen my son...Excuse me have you seen my son...Dammit...Excuse me...Mame...Sir...Anyone!?"

The crowd had come to recognize such attempts as futile. Kidnappings were common, and runaways even more. What Maria was doing could only be seen as tenacious, but ultimately ineffective. No one had seen her son, and nobody could help her.

Nobody that is...except for...

(Sorry for short, Work just called in so I have to leave, feel free to post )

[kotan]

Looking around, Kotan sighed. Maria wasn't in the streets, and his roar for her hadn't called her out. He knew that she was somewhere in the city, and he wondered why he needed to find her. Walking down the street, he looked around. Looking through the windows of empty shops and buildings, he didn't see Maria anywhere.

Walking towards a building complex, Kotan walked in. He needed to immerse himself with humans again, as he'd been staying in the wild on his own, training recently. Twisting his neck a bit as he walked, he thought about the last few months once again. He'd become a lot more powerful, almost bringing his strength up by a multiple of ten from his powerful since his first encounter with Maria. As well as that, he could multiply his power further.

Walking forward, he almost fell down as he accidentally walked into someone. Managing to stay upright, he looked at the woman who he had walked into, and gasped a bit. “Maria? Is everything okay?” He asked, and then he noticed the picture. Her son, Brenden. “What’s happened? Where's your son?”

[Geurin]

It was then that Maria saw him. The same boy whom had saved her so many months ago. She hadnt the heart to tell him about Jackson's passing, nor was that important to the moment. She briefly hugged him as the two were so close anyway, and as she let go began to speak, so quickly infact it might have been hard to understand her.

"Brenden is gone, he said something about going back to his father's office in central city, but that area is still quarantined, I cant find him anywhere so that must be where he went. But thats dangerous he could get hurt"

She was only stressing herself out further as the wind began to blow. Maria couldnt bare the thought of losing another child, not Brenden.

[kotan]

Kotan briefly hugged Maria back when she hugged him. She seemed to be a good deal distraught, and he was very certain that her son was either lost, or hurt. And he honest to god hoped it was neither of those, because he didn't want Brenden to be hurt or lost. He was a good kid, and he seemed to respect Kotan as well. And that was something that made Kotan care about the boy a good deal, as well as the fact Kotan had saved him and his mother.

When Maria said that her son was gone, Kotan's heart felt like it had been stopped momentarily. “No....He can't be gone....” This was the only thought running through Kotan's head. However, he listened to what else Maria had to say. She said that Brenden was quite possibly back in central city, going to his fathers office. Kotan knew that those ruins were still unsafe, and he knew he'd have to go there to find him.

“Where's his fathers office? I can go there, and check if he is there. If he is, I will bring him back. If he isn't, I will search the entire ruins of central city to find him. I promise you that I will not let anything happen to him.” Kotan said this with a sincere, and kind voice. He wasn't lying, or stretching the truth. He was going to try and find Brenden and bring him back to his mother.

[Geurin]

Maria knew the boys words to be true, he had no reason to deceive her, and had done nothing but help from the very beginning

She put her right hand into her back jean pocket, and out of it came a business card, it was to a large sky scraper, or rather Was to a large sky scraper. She handed him the card saying...

"It was the police headquarters off main and first. It was the first building to get destroyed in the battle."

She handed him the card, it had the exact address, if Kotan had any knowledge of central he would know where to go, although streets and addresses were not exactly relevant anymore. He would have to look carefully for the building, and more importantly for Brenden.

What could that boy be thinking

She thought, stepping back to give Kotan a chance to leave. Brenden had never done something like this before, he was always well behaved and responsible, but since the death of his brother, Brenden had acted strangely, this was only the most recent of several outbursts, but this one could prove dangerous.

[kotan]

Kotan took the business card that Maria had pulled out of her pocket, and began to read the address. He knew where it was, and he could get there within the space of five minutes at full speed. He'd be able to get there in three if he tapped into the Kaio-Ken. Ever since learning it, his ability to stay in it had increased. While he could only stay in it for five seconds at one time, he could now stay in it for up to two minutes, and three if he pushed himself.

Nodding to Maria, Kotan said “I'll make sure I am extremely careful when locating Brenden. Especially if he is in the police headquarters.” Kotan gave her a small, sincere smile and walked two steps backwards away from Maria. Then, he turned and left the complex quickly.

Cracking his neck while exiting the complex, Kotan powered up, his blue aura flaring around him, and the wind picking up slightly. Powering up to full, he leapt up into the air, and then flew forwards. He was going to go as fast as he could to Central City. And he would do this without supplementing his speed or power with the Kaio-Ken power up. Besides, there was no need to go into Kaio-Ken right now, and unless Kotan was in danger, he powered up into this form.

The air rushing past him as he flew at a frightful speed, Kotan looked forward. Central City was rushing into his line of sight, and he was determined to find, and help Brenden with whatever it was. He also had a hunch that Maria hadn't told him something, but he wasn't going to say it to her when he came back. Landing in Central City, Kotan ran directly towards the police headquarters. Well, what was left of it, that was. Carefully going into it through a broken window, Kotan called out “Brenden? You here?”

[Geurin]

The city was truly in ruins, no effort had been made to revive the city, and so the buildings were destroyed. Smoke rose from small fires that came from trash piles, and pillagers. Central was the definition of chaos, and Kotan was right in the middle of it.

The headquarters was no different, and as Kotan descended on the pile of rubble it wouldnt be long before he located the young boy, who luckily hadnt been hurt. He was crouched over holding something with both hands and muttering to himself.

"This is it, Dad told me it would be here, he was right! he was right!"

What the boy was talking about would be a loss to Kotan, but it obviously had something to do with what was in his hands.

[kotan]

This place used to be beautiful. Now, it's in ruins due to that damn Majin. Maybe if I had been as powerful as I am now back then, I could have helped to fight him. But I can't think like that, because if I do, I will upset myself, and right now I need to be in a stable, calm mindset and emotional state. Any wild emotions, or flare of my emotions could be catastrophic now.This was the only thing that Kotan was thinking as he surveyed the damage that had been caused by the Majin creature months ago.

Surveying the damage to the police headquarters, Kotan noticed how the place looked like it was damaged severely, but teetering on by a thread. He just hoped that it was not going to collapse any time soon, possibly crushing him and Brenden if it did. Carefully, and lithely stepping through the wreckage that had fallen from the exterior. He needed to find Brenden, and find out why exactly he had come here when this place was pretty badly damaged.

And then, Kotan saw the young boy he was looking for. Walking towards Brenden, he said “Hey Brenden. How've you been?” Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked at his feet. He then said “What's that you've got there?” His curiosity was getting the best of him, and he knew that sometimes, secrets were easier kept than revealing them.

[Geurin]

They say that miracles occur to those who need it most, and to those who seek them in a most dangerous fashion. They say that Passion, mixed with a small amount of hope can create these miracles out of nothing.

Perhaps it was just luck, or perhaps something more, but as Brenden turned around, the object in his hand became more clear. The legends that Kotan had been told as stories as a child, and the dragon that he had seen many months ago all became relevant. Yes indeed Brenden held in his hand a small orange orb that held 7 stars. The orb shined brightly, as if reflecting the struggle of its people, and it was then that Brenden spoke once again.

"My dad, he came to me in a dream, he said I would find it. I think its a dragonball Kotan, I think this is the seventh ball. Kotan I think dragon balls are real! And if they are...then...then we can bring back central! We can help all these people. Just like the stories of Son-Goku, he brought cities back before!"

Brendens face lit up as he held the ball tightly, it truly was a dragon ball, the magical orb that when fully collected would grant the user one wish of their choosing. Power, money, life, immortality. The possibilities were endless. The orb that this boy held was without a doubt the most valuable artifact in the world, it was one of seven wonders that would grant them the wish they seek.

[kotan]

Kotan was only a moderate believer in miracles. He believed everyone made their own fate, and that if there was pre determined fate, it only worked sometimes, and was not always reliable. Despite this, he did believe that in desperate times, when everything seemed at its most bleakest, and when only the hope of a miracle was left, a miracle would happen. Because only in desperate times, would a miracle happen and save people.

Walking forward and crouching down beside Brenden, Kotan's eyes widened a bit. He was beholding an orange ball, which had seven stars on it. He had been told legends of these balls. The balls that could resurrect the dead, grant immortality, and possibly even make someone omnipotent through a single wish. Balls that had been used by the great warrior Son-Goku to help save the Earth several times. And Kotan knew these were the balls of those legends, as he could see the reflection of the light, which seemed to symbolize the struggle that these balls allowed. He listened to what Brenden had to say, and then decided to reply with his own little speech.

“Yes, these are the balls of the legends Brenden. The dragon balls. They allow someone to make a wish for anything. But you need to understand that relying on them too much could be dangerous. If we overuse them, how will we progress? We won't understand how to protect the earth and everyone if we use them too much. Do you understand Brenden? We can't use them too much. And if someone is at peace in the next world....Then I think the person who's in that world would not want to come back. Please try to understand Brenden.”

[Geurin]

Brenden didnt particularly like the response Kotan had given, and that was evident by him scrunching his nose. He held the Orb tightly, to him it was the soul of his father whom had led him here. If what Kotan was saying were true, it would mean that his father didnt want to come back to life, and that was simply not true, it couldnt be, and Brenden wouldnt accept that.

"No...your wrong...He sent me here to find this...And now I have to find the others!"

Brenden said this standing up, grabbing a small napsack that was behind him, and putting the dragon ball in it. Slinging it over his shoulder he began to walk out of the rubble pile and into the street where he would turn back and speak to Kotan again.

"If you want to help me, I know you can! Your the strongest guy I know, and with my dad guiding me, we could find those dragon balls in no time!"

This was a fairly juvenile thought process, for even if his dad had indeed spiritually guided him here, who was to say it would happen again, but more importantly what about his mother Maria, and what about the danger behind finding these. If Brenden found one, certainly others out there would be finding them as well, which meant not only finding them, but taking them from where they lay.

This was a life altering decision Kotan was about to make, and one way or another it would effect the course of Humanity.

What will he do?

(Find out next time on Dragon Ball Resurrection!....Or whenever you post again )

[kotan]

Kotan noticed that Brenden had scrunched his nose, and held the Dragon Ball tighter. This was not a good thing, as it could mean that Brenden was either disappointed in Kotan's response, or just missed his father. Whatever it was, Kotan would get an answer soon, and it would shock him. Despite his belief in miracles, his sense of logic could cause problems with this. It was a complex thing, and while Kotan was able to handle this complexity, sometimes he couldn't and got
flustered over both beliefs.

“You don't know that Brenden. You're dad could have just been telling you that the dragon is real, that the Dragon Balls are real. And that using them isn't wise, as we don't know if the wish will even happen.”

But the little boy didn't even seem to care about Kotan's argument about the morality of using the Dragon Balls, and how using them could lead to an even bigger mess. Letting the boy finish completely, Kotan knew he'd have to stop Brenden from going to after the Dragon Balls or the boy would end up dead again. And this time, there was a chance he would not return. But, he couldn't think like this, as it was too depressing.

“Brenden, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you can't go after the Dragon Balls. Don't interrupt me, and when I am done talking just take a few minutes to think of my words, completely think about them. You are putting yourself, and others like your mother in danger just by going after one of the orbs. Your mother and friends would be targeted by the people who are hunting the Dragon Balls, and they will have no problem over trying to kill you. And understand this as well Brenden."

Kotan took a deep breathe, and clenched his fists. He knew this might hurt the little boy, but he wanted him to understand. He then continued "This will alter lives, change you for the worst possibly and make you thirst the power the orbs grant you. Please, I am begging you Brenden. Your father may have guided you to the ball, but it was probably just so you could find it, and use it to remember him. Keep it as a reminder of him. Think of this orb as something to remind you that your father will always be there for you. Not physically, but in spirit.”

Kotan wasn't just saying this because he was afraid for the boys sake. It was because he was afraid of what damage the Dragon Balls could cause if someone stole them from Brenden. He was trying to help the boy, but also the world. And he just hoped Brenden would take his words seriously.

[Geurin]

Brenden did listen to Kotan, at this point he had to, but his response was not that of understanding. He simply began to shake his head and once Kotan finished he immediately retorted.

"No your wrong, it doesnt make sense, he wouldnt show me if he wanted me to sit back and not look for it, I never would have thought to look for it if he hadnt told me... Kotan I am going after these, Mom is strong, and think of how much stronger she will be when Dad is back...And if your so worried that someone will take the dragon balls from me, then why dont you come with!"

The boy had posed a reasonable idea. Kotan had a genuine fear of the power these balls possessed, and his time could very well be spent locating them. Brenden was stubborn like his mother, and was determined to find these balls, so would Kotan join him on this quest, or did he have other plans that didnt involve the boy.

Not waiting for an answer Brenden threw the backpack back over his shoulder and began to walk down the streets of the destroyed central city. If Kotan so chose, he would follow the boy, and if not, then perhaps he would be there bearer of bad news to his mother.