<br />
The gift
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Part 4
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"The only thing missing is the one with the four stars," Piccolo said to himself in a low voice. He knew that this Dragon Ball represented something special for Gokou. The radar was clearly pointing southeast.
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Piccolo wiped his eyes. He hadn't given himself a break since starting his search for the Dragon Balls. Though he was reluctant to admit it to himself, flying and all other actions had taken quite a bit of strength.
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"Once I have them all, I can beat myself on the ear for a while," he thought and flew to the southeast.
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The ocean spread out below him, only now and then there were a few scattered volcanic islands.
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Judging by the radar, the last of the Dragon Balls was not found on an island, but in the sea itself.
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"Go on then!" Piccolo muttered, creating an energy sphere around him that looked like a diving bell.While observing the radar, he plunged into the warm waters. And really warm, not to say hot, underwater. Because the volcanoes on the islands were few compared to those that opened their throats below sea level. Clouds of oily black smoke billowed out of cracks and crevices. It boiled and boiled, hissed and steamed that one could become fearful and anxious. The last Dragon Ball had chosen the most geologically active place on earth to hide.
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Piccolo also called a fist-sized ball of energy as a light source, but the clear, blue glow was quickly swallowed by the darkness around. Little by little Piccolo sank lower. The Dragon Ball couldn't be far ... Up ahead, on the edge of a volcanic vent, it flashed orange-gold. Relieved, Piccolo steered his energy ball there, put his hand out for the last Dragon Ball, then the sea floor trembled, reared up and the Dragon Ball rolled into the viscous lava inside the crater.<br />
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"Damn it!" Piccolo swore. He sent a beam of energy into the lava and managed to expose half of the Dragon Ball. He dared not use more energy for fear of damaging the Dragon Ball. Now a little concentration ... Drops of sweat formed on his forehead as he used his telekinetic powers to lift the Dragon Ball out of the lava. It wasn't as strenuous as the action with the sand dune, but it was even fresher there and the lava wasn't ready to pull the Dragon Ball back out so easily. In addition, it was a difficult thing, because he didn't want to take the surrounding lava with him, but the sphere alone. Fully occupied with the Dragon Ball, Piccolo did not realize that the pressure was building up under him. Just as he had lifted the Dragon Ball high enough to grab it, the ground shook again and a fountain of lava and boiling water broke out from under him.It seized his energy sphere, which was not able to cope with this raw power, and shattered. Piccolo screamed in pain as he was thrown to the surface in the mixture of lava and water. Only by exercising all his discipline did he manage to create a new sphere of protection at the last moment, with the help of which he moved far enough away from the fountain. On the beach of one of the many small islands, he fell into the damp sand, panting in pain, and passed out. The Dragon Ball slipped from his scalded hands and rolled back into the sea ...
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Gokou materialized in the middle of the living platform of the Quince Tower.
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"Hello, Master Quince! Are you there?" he called and looked around searchingly.
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"Of course I'm there, Gokou," he heard the well-known, calm voice and the old cat stepped out of the shadow of a column with his staff.
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"You sound like something bad has happened ...?"<br />
"You really have a good feeling, Master Quince," said Gokou and quickly explained what had happened.
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"This is really bad. Hmm ..." Master Quince tugged at his mustache. “I'll give you a few magic beans, but I can't say whether they will help with a disease that affects the mind.” He went to the clay jug where the beans were in and took out a paw full of them put in a small bag. "This is Gokou, the beans. I really hope you can help Gohan."
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"Thank you, Master Quince," said Gokou and closed his hand tightly around the bag. Again he put his two fingers on his forehead, concentrated, and was gone.
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The sun was already deep in the west when Piccolo opened his eyes. The muggy wind drove the sulphurous stench of the volcanoes. The Namek got to his feet, coughing. Its regeneration had healed the burns and other injuries.So far, so good, but where was the Dragon Ball? Piccolo frowned and tried to remember. He'd grabbed the Dragon Ball, then the explosion, and then ...? The radar was also swallowed by the ground. Perhaps the force of the explosion had ripped both out of Piccolo's hand? At least the sack with the other Dragon Balls was still there. What now? Piccolo bit a curse on the lip, then collected himself. If only he could remember exactly how and where he lost the Dragon Ball ..... It wasn't his style to simply pull his (nonexistent) hair out of desperation, so he took up his meditation posture and moved himself in a trance. Gradually he sank down into the deeper layers of his consciousness and began to concentrate new forces. The involuntary rest had done him good, his exhaustion was blown away and he succeeded in reconstructing the events until he passed out.<br />
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When he opened his eyes again, he knew where to look. The energy sphere that surrounded him this time consisted of several layers, just in case one of the vents out there should get hiccups.
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Piccolo waded through the waves, on and on, until the water collapsed over the sphere. The visibility was unfortunately not the best, the water was still clouded by the consequences of the eruption, but Piccolo was not deterred. His eyes searched every crevice of coral, every moraine hole and finally, the first stars were already in the night sky, he found the Dragon Ball in a large sea anemone. The tentacles covered with highly poisonous stinging cells did not frighten him, he reached lightning fast and before the anemone could twitch he had already got hold of the Dragon Ball. At last he had all seven. Piccolo rose to the surface and put the Dragon Ball with the others, who began to glow.Now he just had to make a few small preparations and then he would express the wish that he must have already formulated twenty times in his mind ...
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The best place for the wish was definitely God's palace, so high above the clouds the darkening that accompanied the appearance of the dragon would not attract too much attention and the palace was far enough from Gohan's home and the mountain of frying pans that the kid wouldn't notice Shen Long's invocation. Not dissatisfied with himself and his plans, Piccolo flew with the Dragon Balls towards the Quince Tower.
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Gokou and ChiChi sat by their son's bed and watched every movement in Gohan's pale face with fearful concern. Gokou in particular was torn from the fact that he just had to watch so helplessly as his child suffered.
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The beans hadn't worked and now Gokou didn't know what else to do.He had already informed all of Gohan's friends except Piccolo, who could not be found. Whatever consumed Gohan's mind, he would have to conquer it alone. It was getting dark outside and there was still no improvement.
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ChiChi clasped Gohan's hand as if she could give him some of her strength. Her loud wailing had long since ceased, her face, with the red weeping eyes, was even paler than that of her son.
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"We mustn't give up hope, ChiChi!" Said Gokou and put his arm around her shoulders.
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At that moment the door opened quietly and Kililyn stepped in, balancing a tray with two mugs. "I think you two could use a sip of coffee," he said. "Any changes?"
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Gokou just shook his head. He took the two cups from the tray and handed one of them to ChiChi. She reluctantly let go of Gohan's hand and took a small sip.<br />
"There has to be something we can do," said Kililyn, equally frustrated with the helpless waiting. "When I think that tomorrow is Gohan's birthday ..."
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"Have you already thought of the Dragon Balls?", Muten Roshi asked from the door. His face was much more serious than usual.
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"It's about a disease," said Kililyn, "and the dragon can't help, as far as I know."
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"But there is an evil force behind it," replied the Lord of the Turtles. "We also scored points with the Senior Elder of the Namekians with this argument.
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Gokou's face brightened a little again. "It's worth a try. If we all help together, we should find the Dragon Balls quickly. We can't do anything here anyway. What do you think, ChiChi?"
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ChiChi slowly put down the mug of coffee. Her pale face got some color. "Will you be able to find her that quickly?"she asked doubtfully." The doctors say that it will be decided in the next four hours.
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"We won't know until we've been to Bulma's," said Kililyn. "Only with a Dragon Ball Radar can we find out how far the balls are."
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At that moment the door opened again and Bulma came in quietly. "How is Gohan?" She asked worried. "I came as quickly as I could."
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"No change," replied Gokou, "but we were just thinking that the Dragon Balls might be Gohan's salvation."
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"Oh you ...", Bulma began and quickly pressed her hand to her mouth.
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"What is it?" Muten Roshi asked impatiently. "If you have bad news, you'd better say it now."
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Bulma shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I guess this