I don't know if I'll turn this into a full fic, yet. Tell me if that's something you'd be interested in. For now, take it as a one shot.

Piccolo growled in disgust, running his hand down his misshapen face. His jaw tigthened, when his hand brushed over his bottom lip, ghosting above his large fangs that stuck out over his upper lip. The reminder of his bestial form only served to further sour his mood. Curse his ears, he could still hear that old man cry for help, in his dungeon. Perhaps he should have thought of that before trespassing onto his property and stealing what was his. Even if it was just a single rose, it was all that he had left. All he had left to do was wait and see how many more days it would take for him to finally be silent. Would he even make it that long before he marched down there and shut him up, himself? Only time would tell.

As he sat in his room, slumped in his chair, he heard the doors bust open. His head snapped towards the door, and he snarled. He was not in the mood to deal with another intruder. Whoever this one was would feel his wrath.

"Hello? Grandpa? Are you in here?" A pair of feet ran across the stone floors, echoing as they descended - to the dungeon, he'd bet. Quietly, as not to catch his attention, Piccolo left the room, taking off behind them. He let whoever it was get a head start, for now. Not that it mattered - once he got his hands on this intruder, it was all over for them.

"Goku," said the old man in his dungeon. "Is that you?"

"Grandpa! Are you okay? What happened?"

So that was why he came - to claim that old man. Piccolo thought for a moment to let them go - it would be one less problem to deal with, and he would return to his solitude. However, he quickly brushed that idea off. If they left together, they could have returned with reinforcements. No, he needed to put a stop to this right now before it caused him any more trouble. He continued to descend down the staircase, his cape billowing behind him.

"Goku, you must go now. It isn't safe for you, here."

"I'm not leaving without you! I can't leave you, like this! There's gotta be a key around here somewhere."

And he was a self-righteous hero, as well. He would enjoy this far more than he would have in any other circumstance. How fun it was to cut them down and force that innocent hopefulness out of them. As soon as he reached the bottom of the staircase, he swiped at the torch in his hand, and it fizzled out when it hit a puddle. Though they could not see, he still could. He could finally get a look at this trespasser.

He stood about a head shorter than him. His dark hair stuck out in all different directions and angles. He wore a blue shirt with a white sash tied around his middle and dark green pants to match. As soon as the light when out, he jumped into a guarded stance, as if he was a martial artist. He glanced around, turning his head as if he could see his surroundings. That was just precious.

"Who are you," he demanded. "And what have you done to my grandpa!"

The old man shook his head. "Goku, please. You mustn't provoke him."

Piccolo finally chose to speak. "Your grandfather trespassed onto my property, and stole what belonged to me. At his age, he should have known better."

"And you leave him down here to die for that! How could you be so cruel," he shouted back at him. He was unused to being talked back to, and was taken aback by his ferocity. "Release him! Now!"

"Give me one reason why I should not kill him now, Goku."

The old man tried to plead with Goku to leave him be, but he would not listen. Was he truly foolish enough to try his patience? Piccolo was close to killing them both and being done with it.

"You said that he's here because he stole something of yours." Piccolo did not dignify that with a response, but Goku continued. "What would you want, in return?"

He was trying to bargain his way out of this, was he? Perhaps he would humor him, just for a moment. He paced the room, circling Goku as he did so; he could only glance around and try to glare at him, though he could not see where he was. "As far as I am concerned, it's a life for a life. If you can find someone willing to die in his place, then I will let the old man go." He paused, letting him soak in the information. He could see the terror in his eyes, from that suggestion. "I would make your choice fast: if I lost my patience, you wouldn't like that." Piccolo stopped behind him, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Then let me stay in his place."

The old man shook his head frantically. "Goku, no! Please, I've lived my life! Don't give up yours!" Tears were forming in his eyes, not wanting to believe that he would be separated from his grandson.

A smirk formed on his face. He leaned over his shoulder. "You're sure of this. You truly want to suffer for him. Is that final?"

"As long as you let him go, you have my word."

He chuckled and snapped his fingers. The cell door creaked open behind them. "You have one minute, for your goodbyes." He stepped to the side, standing at the foot of the staircase, counting down the seconds as they passed. He would offer them this privilege, but not anything more.

Goku and his grandfather found each other in the dark. The old man was crying harder, squeezing him tightly. He did not want to say goodbye to his grandson so soon.

"Please, Goku," he pleaded, one last time. "Let me stay here, for you. I can't let you do this."

Goku shook his head. "I'm sorry, Grandpa. I can't break a promise."

The old man kissed the top of his head. "I'll always love you, Goku. Please stay safe."

Piccolo grabbed the old man, by the back of his shirt and dragged him out of the dungeon. As Goku tried to get up and run after him, Piccolo put his hand out behind him, hitting him with a pulse to knock him off of his feet. The old man had not put up a fight this time, only solemnly looking down.

"Find your way back to where you came. Never think of coming back here, again."

"Please," he pleaded one last time. "Just don't hurt my boy. Please at least grant me this."

He threw him outside, leaving him lying face down in the dirt. As he stepped backwards into the castle, a malicious grin formed on his face. "He is no longer of your concern." The door slammed closed, sealing behind him.

Goku could only lie there in shock, as his grandfather was ripped away from him. He slammed his fists down onto the floor, shutting his eyes tightly and shaking with both fury and sorrow. The man who raised him and made him into the man he was today was gone, and he'd never get to see him again. Tears stung his eyes, as he tried hard not to break down into a sobbing mess.

Not even three days ago, his grandfather had left their home to visit a friend. He promised that he would be back by the next day, but he never returned. Concerned, Goku tried to trace his steps and go after him. Upon searching, he discovered that he had taken a wrong turn and ended up at a dark and foreboding palace. It was in disarray. The grounds and gardens were overgrown and unkempt, and the palace walls were crumbling and yellowing. The ornate decorations throughout the palace were unsaturated, almost completely in black and white. He might have looked the other way on a different trip, but he was desperate to find his grandfather - he needed to know where he was.

Now, just as soon as he found him, he lost him, once more.

"Stop your sniveling - it's pathetic."

Goku never thought it was possible for him to hate someone, but this monster was proving him wrong. He glared into the darkness, still not knowing where he was.

"I gave you the kindness of saying goodbye to your old man. You won't receive any more of that, from me. Now, get into that cell - I still need to decide what your punishment will be."

He stood back up, but did not move back into the cell. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, but his glare did not falter. His grandfather was safe, and that was what mattered. He didn't owe any sort of loyalty to him - it would take more than just idle threats from a faceless voice to get him to bend to his will.

"Don't make me repeat myself," he hissed. "Get in the cell."

"Give me one reason why I should," Goku said back.

His aura pulsed around him, as he slowly stalked towards him. "Perhaps you don't understand: your fate is in my hands, now. You will do as I say."

Goku planted his feet firmly, even as he got closer. He could hear a growling sound coming from him, as he hovered above him. "Who are you? Shouldn't your prisoner get to see the one keeping him here?"

There was a pause. Then, he started laughing. "As you wish..."

A blinding light appeared out of nowhere, blinding him. As his eyes adjusted, he saw it formed into a ball, while a hand with large claws on its fingers curled around it. Slowly, he lifted it into the air, illuminating his body. His clothes were warn and tattered, including the white cape that hung over his shoulders. His skin was a dark and dusty green, and his physique was thick and bulky. Two teeth on his lower jaw jutted out from under his bottom lip, curled into a terrifying grin. His ears and brow were misshapen. And his eyes - cold, black eyes stared down at him with a crazed sadistic glee. This was no man - this truly was a monster. Goku was never one to scare easily, yet he was terrified.

He grabbed onto his wrist, before he could step back. "What's the matter? This was what you wanted."

Goku kicked his knee into his gut, and his grip loosened enough for him to free his wrist. The light dissipated, leaving him in pitch black darkness once more. He stood on guard, now more tense than ever, waiting for him to strike, again. As the seconds ticked by, there was no change. However, he could still feel his heavy presence lingering - he was still in the room with him.

"I doubt the old man has gotten far. Maybe he'd be more compliant than you, after all."

"No," Goku shouted. "You promised!"

"Then get in that cell and fill your end of the bargain."

Goku tightened his fists. He had less bargaining power than he thought. Finally, he turned around and tried to find the cell door. He was promptly pushed in and the door closed behind him, locking him inside.

"If you even try to escape, you're dead. This is your life, now - start getting used to it."

Piccolo left Goku sitting in the dark cell, alone, ascending the staircase back into the palace. It had surprised him that he was willing to sacrifice himself, like this: most weren't nearly as selfless. While he would regret not being able to punish the old man from before, perhaps this was for the best. This one was younger and more lively, to be certain; not frail and passive. He might not end up killing him, after all. Perhaps it would be more interesting to keep him around, for the time being. He might prove to be useful. He would have to stamp out that defiance first, but after that, the possibilities were endless.

He hadn't met anyone who had gotten his blood pumping like this in such a long time; he wouldn't have tolerated such behavior if that weren't the case. He felt something deep within him think twice about just doing away with him. It was probably nothing more than a passing curiosity. If it faded, he'd kill him and be done with it. For now, he was at least interesting to keep around.

Who knew how much time he had left? He might as well enjoy it while it lasted.