~*****~

The Eldest Namek's home stood atop a tall, spiral rock formation. It looked really impressive, to be honest. As soon as we landed, I collapsed onto my knees and slouched on the ground. My entire body was shaking violently. "C'mon, Mara, I'll carry you." Krillen hummed softly and curled his arms around my shoulders. I gave him a grateful nod and stood on my shaky legs. Krillen grasped at my hip gingerly and wrapped my arm around his neck as best he could, given his height.

"You-- You sure he's here?" I ask tiredly.

"Yes, I'm sure," Dende nodded.

"It's so quiet, though..." I murmur. The door opened slowly, and an older Namekian stepped out.

"Hey, Nail! Am I ever glad to see you're all right!" Dende exclaimed.

"Oh, wow!" I gasp. "He looks just like Piccolo!"

"Yeah, you're right," Krillen agreed.

"It's good to see you again, Dende," Nail greets Dende with a friendly smile. "You and your friends are most welcome. Guru has been expecting you for some time now."

"So, then Guru knows about everything that's been going on?" Dende asks.

"Well, that's some good news, at least." I sigh.

"There is much to discuss. Come with me." Nail urges and we follow him inside. "I will take the three of you to Guru now."

"Wait, Nail! If Guru already knows about what's happening, well then, shouldn't he try to move to a safer place?" Dende asks worriedly.

"Guru is very old," Nail explains. "He knows his time is drawing near, unfortunately. He's too weak to move. There is little more I can do for him, than stay by his side and protect him until the end."

"Oh, no," Dende whimpered. "I knew he was old, but... I-- I never thought he'd be leaving so soon."

"Please, come, Dende," Nail urged again. Following the two upwards, Krillen and I gaze upon an older, much larger Namekian sitting in a large throne. "Master. I 've brought Dende and his two friends from Earth."

"Welcome, friends," Guru hums gently. "It is my great honor to be in your presence. And I thank you for taking care of young Dende. Is there something I can do to repay your kindness?"

"Y-You don't really need to thank us..." I mutter shyly.

Guru starts snoring. "Um... Do you think he fell asleep?" Dende asked.

"I... have no clue, to be honest..." I mutter. "Excuse me?"

"Great evil has come to Namek," Guru hums softly, seemingly awake. "Frieza and his wicked men... Because of them, nearly all of my children have..." Guru lets out a soft cough. "Have been murdered. It seems they will stop at nothing until they have gathered all seven Dragon Balls..." Krillen and I nodded. "To Nameks, the Dragon Balls symbolize wisdom and power." Guru let out a scoff. "But this Frieza sees them only as a tool to serve his greed."

Krillen groaned a little. "Forgive me for being blunt, Mister Guru, but that's exactly why we came here... To ask for your Dragon Ball, so we can hide it from Frieza!" Guru hummed in thought. "I won't let him get his hands on it, and that's a promise!"

"I see... So, then you, too, are collecting the Dragon Balls?" Guru inquired.

"Yes sir," I hum politely. "But our motives are for good, and not evil, like Frieza's."

"Krillen and Mara lost several of their friends. They want to wish them back. They died fighting these evil men on Earth, and if they return, they may be able to help us drive them from our planet." Dende explained.

"How is it you know of the Dragon Balls?" Guru asks.

"We used to have a set on Earth," I explain.

"Impossible!" Guru retorts.

I shake my head. "Not necessarily," I hum. "A long time ago, when a terrible storm hit that devastated your planet, there was one Namek who managed to escape. He left Namek in a spaceship. It took him halfway across the galaxy to our planet. He was only a child when he got there, but he grew up to become the Guardian of Earth. He's the one who created the Dragon Balls."

"Ah, yes, I remember now. The child of Kataas... Kami." Guru hummed. "I'm pleased to hear he made the journey safely. He was a gifted child from the Dragon Family. He had the power to create the Dragon Balls."

"Kami was killed during our battle with the Saiyans," Krillen added. "And the one responsible, was Vegeta. The same one who's here on Namek."

Guru sighed in annoyance. "This Saiyan must be horrible, indeed. What an awful power. One who could defeat a Namek like Kami must've been a Super Saiyan."

"A... Super Saiyan?" I ask. "What's that?"

"You mean you don't know? You are an Empathian, aren't you?" Guru inquired.

I hum softly. "Sorry... I have no knowledge on my heritage." I explain. "I've only just heard about it when the first of Frieza's men appeared on Earth."

"Please, come close, and we will solve this puzzle," Guru gestured to his side. I gaze Krillen a skeptical look before stumbling closer to Guru. He placed his large hand atop my head. "Now, clear your mind, so I may feel your past."

"Okay..." I hum calmly and close my eyes.

"How terrible... A Namek at war with himself..." Guru hummed. "Before he could become Guardian of the Earth, Kami first had to purge even the smallest trace of evil from his heart... Thus, he split in two, and Piccolo was born. In doing so, his powers were also split equally between these two halves. If they had reunited, they would not have been defeated by any normal Saiyan."

"Really?" I hum curiously.

"Now, I have seen your mind. Your heart is pure, and your intentions are true. Your bravery and loyalty to your friends are beyond question. You have proven yourself, Empathian. You are worthy to receive this Dragon Ball." Guru chimed as the large, orange orb descended from above him.

"I'm sorry... but what exactly is an Empathian?" I ask softly as I take the Dragon Ball.

"The Empathian people were a peaceful planet, revered over the universe as saints. Each Empathian had a special ability to gather energy from other living creatures. They could heal others using this ability, but it came with a price-- Empathian's were frail creatures. So much so, the male of the species died out if they left their home planet." Guru explained softly. "The planet has been deserted for years, there hasn't been a sign of life. No one truly knows what happened." I remain silent and gaze at the giant orb. "I am very sorry for your loss."

"No, it's okay," I shake my head and offer him a kind smile. "It happened a long time ago. I can hardly remember them, anyway." I turn to Krillen. "One down, six to go!"

"I only hope there is still time for you to make your wish," Guru mentions.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid I only have a few days left to live." Guru explained. "If your wish is to be fulfilled, you will have to gather all seven Dragon Balls before I go. However... if this cannot be accomplished, then..." Guru coughed again. "Then the Dragon Balls will disappear along with me."

"We'll do our best!" Krillen exclaims. "And I promise; whatever happens, I'll guard this Dragon Ball with my life! And if I can't get all seven in time to make my wish, then neither will Frieza or Vegeta!"

Guru smiled. "Thank you... You do my people a great service, young man..."

"Anytime!" Krillen exclaimed.

"Indeed, you are brave. And there is much strength in you. Even more than you realize for much of it is still sleeping..." Guru hummed.

"Still sleeping? Come again?" Krillen asked.

"Allow me to awaken this power for you." Guru places his hand on Krillen's head this time.

"R-Really, I've already trained myself to my limits," Krillen stammers. "I don't have any sleeping powers. And to tell you the truth, I'm amazed I even made it this far."

In an instant, Krillen's power skyrockets, causing me to buckle in the knees. "K-Krillen!" I exclaim.

"You see? This power has been within you all along." Guru hums.

"Oh, wow... S-So you mean... I've got..." Krillen burst out laughing. "Power! A lot of power! It's great! Ah man! You were right! I never knew I had it in me! Whatever you did, thanks a lot!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Guru," I hum curiously. "Can you release anyone's power?"

"If they have the power within them, it is possible. Unfortunately, Empathian's do not hold any inner power." Guru reminded me.

"No, no, not for me," I laugh. "But doesn't it drain from your own power?"

"Well, I appreciate your concern for me, but the short answer is no." Guru shook his head.

"Well, in that case, would your mind trying this trick on a friend of ours? He's a great kid, and if anyone I know has hidden powers, it's him." I explain.

"Bring him to me, and if I can, I will unlock his potential." Guru hums.

"Great!" Krillen exclaims. "But what should we do with the Dragon Ball?"

"I've entrusted it to you. It's fate, along with the fate of this entire planet now rests in your hands." Guru explains.

"Then... How about this, Krillen," I hum as I turn to him. "You and I will go back to the cave, and you'll come back with Gohan. I'll wait with Bulma and the Dragon Ball." I suggest. "Dende, he and Gohan will be back as soon as they can, okay?"

"Please, be careful, you two." Dende expressed.

Krillen and I shared a smile before taking off.

~*****~

"I'm sorry--" I gasp as I once again fall behind. "Sorry, I'm running-- running on empty--"

"That's okay, we're almost there anyway!" Krillen explained. "Need me to carry you the rest of the way?" I shook my head and nearly fell from the sky again. Krillen immediately flew below me and caught me. "Listen, it won't be good if you burn yourself out while we're here. If you need help, then tell me." Krillen stated firmly. "I don't want you to get hurt, all right?"

I nod helplessly and lean against his shoulder. "Yeah... thanks for carrying me." Bulma was extremely noticeable outside. She was sitting outside, reading a magazine when we arrived. She let out an ungodly shriek as we landed in front of her. She toppled backwards with her magazine flying up into the air. I stood on my shaky legs. "Bulma?" I hum curiously.

She peered over the rock and growled loudly. "How many times have I told you?! Don't do that!"

"B-But Bulma, you and I know both know that, it's far too dangerous to be out in the open!" Krillen exclaims. "They'll spot you for sure!"

"Hey! I'm a big girl, and I'll do what I want!" Bulma snaps. She finally takes notice to the large orange gem in my arms. "M-Mara, is that the-- The Dragon Ball?!"

"You bet! Isn't it beautiful~" I coo.

Bulma nodded eagerly. "The Dragon balls sure are big on this planet."

"It was a gift from the Eldest Namek. His name's Guru." I explain. "By the way, where's Gohan? Is he in the cave? Krillen wants to take him to meet Guru."

"Sorry, the little squirt went off to find another Dragon Ball." Bulma explains. "After you two left, we saw another one on the radar, near the village Vegeta destroyed."

"B-But do you think he's safe?" Krillen asked.

Like a lightning bolt coursing through my body, I whirl around with a yelp. "How did I miss that?!" I exclaim. "There's a huge power level-- coming right for us"!

"Stop your worrying! It's just Gohan!" Bulma chirped.

"No, this isn't Gohan!" I gape.

"It's-- Vegeta!" The others shout. He only stands an inch or so above me, but with his power level, it might as well be a few feet above me.

"Well, the surprises just don't stop, do they?" Vegeta sneered. "I've found a couple of Earthlings far from home with no one around to save them. And it appears that you have just what I'm looking for... Hand over the Dragon Ball, or die!" Vegeta orders. "Come on! Don't do anything stupid! Just hand it over. And I wouldn't attempt to escape either, because if you tried something like that... The Empathian race would come to an end." I swallowed thickly and curled my torso around the ball just a little more. "Now, hand over that ball!" Vegeta demanded once more before another man joins the scene. He has green hair, and light blue skin. It wasn't the best combination of colors, but he'd made it work. Except he's dressed like Frieza's men-- it's horrendous. "Looks like we have company."

"Wow! He's cute! I'll bet with his brawny good looks, he's come here to rescue me!" Bulma exclaims.

"That's so not what he's here for--" I mention.