Disclaimer: Dragonball is copyrighted by Akira Toriyama and Toei and licensed to FUNImation. I had nothing to do with it's creation; if I had, you wouldn't be reading this. Anyway, all non-Toriyama characters are my original creations and I would be extremely displeased if anyone used them without my permission. This story is provided free of charge, so FUNI, if you're reading, please leave your lawyers to people who are actually infringing your copyrights for profit.
And now, our feature presentation...
Heart of a Warrior
Prologue
The moon shone in all its glory, casting its silvery glow over the thickly forested mountain. The nocturnal creatures howled, welcoming the rays of their "sun". They ran about in the forest, causing the very trees to almost seem alive. The woman trudging up a dark, narrow path through those very woods tried earnestly to ignore the activity. She was frightened but knew that it would be ten times as frightening if she turned back. He would make certain of it...
The infant in her arms murmured softly in response to the various noises but, thankfully, did not awaken. She smiled sadly as she hugged the child closer and kissed it on the head. After another half hour of brisk walking, the forest began to thin out. She could see the moonlit monastery's walls a hundred yards ahead. Her pace quickened till she was almost running as she neared her destination. She rushed through the main entrance of the monastery and headed directly towards the main dormitory that housed the Head monk and the disciples. She finally stopped when she reached the short flight of steps that lead up to the building. Her breath was quick from exertion and, perhaps, from
apprehension of what she had travelled to the monastery to do.
The child in her arms, jostled awake by the running, began to cry softly. She slowly sat down on the steps and she began to rock back and forth to comfort her child.
"Shhhh...shhhh...it's ok Krillin" she whispered in soothing tones. She fought hard to keep her emotions from welling up but failed. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed and hugged her child tightly. "I'm sorry to do this to you Krillin, but it's for your own good..."
She removed the pack that hung on her back and took a small basket from it. She placed the child into the basket and attached a note to the blankets with a pin. Sobbing, she picked up the basket and walked up the stairs, placing the basket directly in front of the large double doors of the dormitory. Taking the large brass doorknocker in hand, she pounded on the door to awaken the monks. She bent over to kiss him for the last time and was startled when his eyes fluttered open and looked directly into hers. They almost seemed to say "I understand". She kissed his brow, then rose and ran down the stairs, towards the monastery's entrance. The infant Krillin began wailing as soon as his mother was out of sight.
Inside the dormitory, people were stirring in response to the knocking. As was customary, the first to arrive at the door waited respectfully for the Head monk to arrive. Before long, all the monks were assembled before the door. Even through the thick wooden doors they could hear the high pitched wail of Krillin. Surprisingly enough, none of them seemed surprised by it.
The Head monk finally arrived and opened the door, knowing full well what he would find. He bent over and picked up the basket containing the baby Krillin, then walked back into the building. He handed the basket to another orange-robed monk, then unpinned the note and read it aloud.
"To the benevolent monks of the Orinji temple, I leave my child, Krillin, here in the hopes that you will care for him in my stead. I am unable to fulfill my duties as his mother due to circumstances that would mean sure death for him. I beg you, please protect his life and raise him as one of your order. God bless your kindness."
The Head monk sighed deeply, ignoring the sharp cries of the infant. It sometimes amazed him that, despite the remoteness of the Orinji monastery, mothers still managed to bring infants here to abandon. Fortunately the monastery was always ready to raise infant children, even if they only arrived every three or four years. The order was also bound by their oath to help anyone in need. He sighed again.
"I'm getting too old for this." he said to no one in particular. The other monks looked at him intently, many hoping that they would get passed over for the duties that were clearly about to be assigned.
"Brother Kenjo, Brother Mikail, you will be in charge of the care for Krillin. Your training and teaching schedules will be adjusted accordingly so that you may have more time for him."
"But master..." the two monks in question exclaimed.
"But nothing. Despite what you may have thought before becoming monks, our order is about more than fighting and ceremony. We are bound to protect the weak and innocent and to help those in need." he scolded. "This will be a good learning experience for you both. And it is your duty to the order. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes master." they responded with little enthusiasm. Kenjo took the basket and looked at the still crying child. He smiled despite himself and the piercing cry.
"Come on, Brother Mikail, the child is surely hungry. Maybe some food will quiet him."
Mikail nodded and followed the Kenjo to the kitchen. The other monks, glad to have escaped the responsibility, began returning to their quarters under the watchful eye of the the Head monk and his advisors.
"Master," one said, scratching at the six dots above his nose nervously, "Is it wise to harbor this child?"
"We are in no danger, Brother Coto." the Head monk replied.
"Are you sure? He will be angry." the other monk asked.
"Yes, I'm certain he will be Brother Toco. However, he can pose no threat to us. Where our monastery begins, his power ends. God is on our side, brothers."
"As you will it, master." they replied, bowing. They turned and headed for their quarters, leaving the Head monk to his own thoughts.
"Little Krillin, there is much ahead for you, God willing."
And now, our feature presentation...
Heart of a Warrior
Prologue
The moon shone in all its glory, casting its silvery glow over the thickly forested mountain. The nocturnal creatures howled, welcoming the rays of their "sun". They ran about in the forest, causing the very trees to almost seem alive. The woman trudging up a dark, narrow path through those very woods tried earnestly to ignore the activity. She was frightened but knew that it would be ten times as frightening if she turned back. He would make certain of it...
The infant in her arms murmured softly in response to the various noises but, thankfully, did not awaken. She smiled sadly as she hugged the child closer and kissed it on the head. After another half hour of brisk walking, the forest began to thin out. She could see the moonlit monastery's walls a hundred yards ahead. Her pace quickened till she was almost running as she neared her destination. She rushed through the main entrance of the monastery and headed directly towards the main dormitory that housed the Head monk and the disciples. She finally stopped when she reached the short flight of steps that lead up to the building. Her breath was quick from exertion and, perhaps, from
apprehension of what she had travelled to the monastery to do.
The child in her arms, jostled awake by the running, began to cry softly. She slowly sat down on the steps and she began to rock back and forth to comfort her child.
"Shhhh...shhhh...it's ok Krillin" she whispered in soothing tones. She fought hard to keep her emotions from welling up but failed. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed and hugged her child tightly. "I'm sorry to do this to you Krillin, but it's for your own good..."
She removed the pack that hung on her back and took a small basket from it. She placed the child into the basket and attached a note to the blankets with a pin. Sobbing, she picked up the basket and walked up the stairs, placing the basket directly in front of the large double doors of the dormitory. Taking the large brass doorknocker in hand, she pounded on the door to awaken the monks. She bent over to kiss him for the last time and was startled when his eyes fluttered open and looked directly into hers. They almost seemed to say "I understand". She kissed his brow, then rose and ran down the stairs, towards the monastery's entrance. The infant Krillin began wailing as soon as his mother was out of sight.
Inside the dormitory, people were stirring in response to the knocking. As was customary, the first to arrive at the door waited respectfully for the Head monk to arrive. Before long, all the monks were assembled before the door. Even through the thick wooden doors they could hear the high pitched wail of Krillin. Surprisingly enough, none of them seemed surprised by it.
The Head monk finally arrived and opened the door, knowing full well what he would find. He bent over and picked up the basket containing the baby Krillin, then walked back into the building. He handed the basket to another orange-robed monk, then unpinned the note and read it aloud.
"To the benevolent monks of the Orinji temple, I leave my child, Krillin, here in the hopes that you will care for him in my stead. I am unable to fulfill my duties as his mother due to circumstances that would mean sure death for him. I beg you, please protect his life and raise him as one of your order. God bless your kindness."
The Head monk sighed deeply, ignoring the sharp cries of the infant. It sometimes amazed him that, despite the remoteness of the Orinji monastery, mothers still managed to bring infants here to abandon. Fortunately the monastery was always ready to raise infant children, even if they only arrived every three or four years. The order was also bound by their oath to help anyone in need. He sighed again.
"I'm getting too old for this." he said to no one in particular. The other monks looked at him intently, many hoping that they would get passed over for the duties that were clearly about to be assigned.
"Brother Kenjo, Brother Mikail, you will be in charge of the care for Krillin. Your training and teaching schedules will be adjusted accordingly so that you may have more time for him."
"But master..." the two monks in question exclaimed.
"But nothing. Despite what you may have thought before becoming monks, our order is about more than fighting and ceremony. We are bound to protect the weak and innocent and to help those in need." he scolded. "This will be a good learning experience for you both. And it is your duty to the order. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes master." they responded with little enthusiasm. Kenjo took the basket and looked at the still crying child. He smiled despite himself and the piercing cry.
"Come on, Brother Mikail, the child is surely hungry. Maybe some food will quiet him."
Mikail nodded and followed the Kenjo to the kitchen. The other monks, glad to have escaped the responsibility, began returning to their quarters under the watchful eye of the the Head monk and his advisors.
"Master," one said, scratching at the six dots above his nose nervously, "Is it wise to harbor this child?"
"We are in no danger, Brother Coto." the Head monk replied.
"Are you sure? He will be angry." the other monk asked.
"Yes, I'm certain he will be Brother Toco. However, he can pose no threat to us. Where our monastery begins, his power ends. God is on our side, brothers."
"As you will it, master." they replied, bowing. They turned and headed for their quarters, leaving the Head monk to his own thoughts.
"Little Krillin, there is much ahead for you, God willing."