"According to some of the newspaper reports I've scanned through there used to be some sort of camping resort that was popular with those that wished to see the dragon and dinosaur migrations but things have gone rather quiet. The ability to book visits has been closed down and many report that attempts to come here result in… issues. Ones that left them very scarred and frightened. And that isn't accounting for a string of disappearances…"
"I swear if we run into Jason…" I muttered. Knowing our luck we would run into him, Goku and him would fight, and eventually Jason would be on our side and transform into Uber Jason.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "So what else do you know?"
"Many things, sir, but I imagine you more concerned with the forest." Isco's 'eye' grew and than shrank before he projected out a holographic image of the forest we were in… or rather a very crude, created by a 3 year old image of the forest we were in, complete with stick figures of all of us. "Oolox Forest is noted for having many underground caves and tunnels, which is what made it so popular with the large reptiles that called it home. The Oolox Camp Ground, in fact, was partially underground so that visitors could see the dinosaurs and dragons in their natural habitat."
"Well, I think Goku can deck out a dinosaur so we should be safe."
"Deck out a what now?" Goku asked.
"A dinosaur. Apparently them and dragons like to make this forest home."
"Oh yeah, I can deal with them easily!" Goku raised up his arm and flexed.
"Except there will be no need to," Chichi stated. "Everyone knows that such creatures aren't dangerous. Worst you have to worry about is one hiding an egg in your bag… they love to trick people into taking care of their babies."
I stared at her for a long moment.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing just… surprised." I shook my head at that. "Anyhoo… Isco says we're about an hour away from the Dragon Ball."
"Wonderful!" Chichi said happily. "This might turn out rather easy! We could spend the rest of the day hiking, letting Gohan observe the fauna…"
Goku though had tilted his head, deep in thought. "Hmmm…"
"You can almost hear the squeaky gears turning in that head of his," Isco commented, floating out of reach when I tried to bat him for that comment.
"Well, if we are going to go for a hike… Gohan should have a walking stick!" Walking over to my bike (and it was mine, despite Bulma having only technically lent it to me; if she didn't want me to have it she shouldn't have let it out of her sight) he went over to one of the compartments I had set aside for him and rummaged through it a bit before pulling out a familiar red rod. "Haha!" He laughed, giving the weapon a twirl. "There you are! Gohan, come here son!"
Gohan hurried over, running with the same reckless abandon that so many children had, only to come to a stop and stare with wide eyes as his father knelt down before him.
"This is the Power Pole. Your Grandpa Gohan gave this to me when I was around your age and it helped me through a lot of troubles. And now…" he pressed the pole into Gohan's hands, "…I want you to have it."
"R-really?" Gohan whispered.
"Really," Goku confirmed only to let out a yelp when the Power Pole suddenly lengthened to three times its size, making Gohan wobble as he tried to adjust to the size difference. The boy cried out in surprised and Goku braced him before the pole then retracted to the size it had been only moments earlier, then shrunk down to a far more manageable size for him. "Heheh, sorry about that!" Goku said, embarrassed. "Yeah, that's what makes the Power Pole so special, son. It can grow to whatever size you want it to. Normally it is used to connect Korin's Tower to the Lookout but since I can fly up there now I really don't need it."
Gohan looked over the pole, sticking it out and letting out a delighted little gasp when it shot out an extra foot.
"Goku, are you sure that is safe?" Chichi asked.
"Of course it is! I'll train Gohan how to use it and it will be good for him to have something to defend himself with. At least until I can show him some really good moves!"
"You know that I don't want him spending all his day fighting," Chichi warned. "I want Gohan to become a successful businessman."
"Can't he do both?" I asked, causing the two to look at me. "I mean… nothing says he can't be a fighter and someone who works in an office."
"See, Kayos gets it!"
Chichi glowered at him. "You're only saying that because he's agreeing with you!"
"Well… yeah!" Goku said and even Chichi to pause, realizing that Goku did have a point. "Come on Chichi," he said, wrapping an arm around her, "its going to be fine. We're going to snag the Dragon Ball and then we'll walk around the forest and you can show Gohan all the animals and plants, and then after lunch I'll train with him for a bit. Then we can decide if we want to head to Capsule Corp or wait til morning."
"I… suppose you are right," she said with a small sigh before smiling slightly. "It does sound like a nice peaceful day."
It was only when I felt the roughly made stone spear touch the soft flesh of my throat that I realized those two idiots had jinxed us.