Chapter 13: Hide and Seek

The kids circle above Kami's Palace in their ship...

Vegeta: I guess this is it.

Jeri: Let's do it!

They land the ship and walk around for a bit.

Gill: Dragon Ball detected!

Gill points into the building that is there, and the group starts walking towards it. A black man with a turban walks out to greet them.

Man: We've been expecting you.

Goku: Kami?

Man: No. I am called Mr. Popo. Kami-sama will only see you after you pass my test and obtain this from me.

Mr. Popo shows them the Six Star Dragon Ball.

Vegeta: Get that from you? Fine.

Vegeta grabs the Dragon Ball in one swift motion.

Mr. Popo: You're fast, but that was not my test.

The Dragon Ball glows and pulls itself out of Vegeta's hands and into Mr. Popo's palm.

Vegeta: What the...

Goku: What is the test?

Mr. Popo: Hide and seek.

The Kids: What!?

Mr. Popo: You don't know how to play?

Jeri: We know. But what's the point?

Mr. Popo: That is the test. You hide, I seek. If I can find you, you lose. If you manage to hide from me, you win. And if you lose, you may try again if you wish.

Goku: So if we win, you give us the Dragon Ball and we get to meet Kami right?

Mr. Popo: Correct. But inside the building is off limits. None of you are not allowed to enter. And don't wander off too far...

Pakku: Do I have to do this too?

Mr. Popo: No. Only these three.

Pakku: So I'm allowed in?

Mr. Popo: No.

Pakku: Dang... Oh well, I'll just wait in the ship then. Have fun!

Mr. Popo: Shall we begin?

Vegeta: Let's get this over with.

Mr. Popo covers his eyes and starts counting to ten. The kids disappear from sight immediately and hide in various locations, like in the bushes, behind the building, hanging off the side, etc. Mr. Popo finds each of them immediately each and every time. This goes on for a while.

Vegeta: Damnit. Screw this.

Vegeta makes a run for it into the building but just as he reaches the doorway, he is bounced back by a powerful force field.

Vegeta: Owww... What was that?

Mr. Popo: I told you not to go in there. Shall we continue are do you want to quit?

Vegeta: I ain't quitting...

Goku: But how are you finding us? And so easily too?

Mr. Popo: Your ki is easy to sense.

Goku: Our ki?

Jeri: But we aren't even using it.

Mr. Popo: You have ki inside you.

Vegeta: Hmph... So you're sensing our ki... Then there's no way we can pass your stupid test...

Mr. Popo: You can still pass.

Goku: How?

Mr. Popo: You must learn to mask your ki. Learn to empty your spirits so your ki can't be detected.

Goku: Empty our spirits...

Jeri: Wow. So that was the whole point of this?

Mr. Popo: Do you want to continue?

Kids: Yes!

They continue with their hide-and-seek game, each time Mr. Popo takes longer and longer to find them. Until....

Mr. Popo: All right. You may pass.

The kids reappear instantly in front of Mr. Popo, all smiling. Mr. Popo gives them the six-star ball. Pakku and Gill comes back out.

Pakku: Finally. Took you guys long enough. So we can go in now?

Mr. Popo: Yes, but they've decided to come out to greet you.

From the doorway emerges a tall muscular green man with pointy ears and antenae.

Goku: A Namek?

Jeri: Is that Kami?

Mr. Popo: No, that is Nail. Kami-sama's first offspring.

Jeri: Son of Kami?

Nail helps an elderly looking Namek in a white robe walk out.

Mr. Popo: That is Kami-sama. The one behind him is Kappa, the second offspring.

A small Namek pokes his head out from behind Kami looking at the kids with curiosity.

Kami: My name is Dende. It's good to finally meet you. This is what you came for right?

Dende hands them the Five Star Dragon Ball.

Goku: Don't we have to do anything?

Dende smiles.

Dende: No.

Vegeta: All right, let's go then!

Goku: Umm... Kami-sama... About the Nameks.

Dende: I already know. From here I can see everything that happens on the Earth. With the power of the Dragon Balls, all this can be fixed.

Goku: I see...

Jeri: Ok! Gill, where's the next ball?

Gill: No Dragon Ball detected.

Jeri: What? We only have 5 of them. There are seven right?

Goku: That's what grandma said.

Vegeta: Now what are we going to do? There's no way to find the missing two.

Goku: Kami-sama. Do you know where they are?

Dende: Yes. They are not on Earth.

Kids: What!?

Vegeta: Where are they then?

Dende: Don't you see? You kids have been sent on a journey, meeting specific people to get the Dragon Balls.

Goku: So who are the last two Dragon Balls with?

Dende: Come. I can take you to them.

Voices from Above: You kids aren't going anywhere!

To Be Continued...

Chapter 14: The Brothers