Chapter Text
Krillin flew through Other World, staying a few feet above Snake Way. The endless landscape of yellow clouds below and featureless pink skies above had already grown monotonous. The former monk focused on the winding path directly below him, and his ki. He knew the path to King Kai’s was 1 million kilometers long, and while he was stronger than he’d ever been, he wasn’t positive he could fly that entire distance in one trip.
In the few days between the battle against the Saiyans on Earth and the trip to Namek, he and Goku talked a lot. About their relative experiences training with Kami and the battle against Nappa. About what the Spirit Bomb felt like to hold, since they were the only one either could talk to about that. And about Goku’s experiences during his 11 months being dead. So Krillin knew very well what lay beneath those clouds, and he was not going to end up in Hell because he was daydreaming and fell out of the sky in exhaustion.
Goku might have made it out of there, but even having heard how his best friend managed it, Krillin had no confidence things would work out so neatly for him. They never did.
Krillin didn’t remember anything from his first time being dead. He attacked King Piccolo’s soldier – Tambourine, he thinks the name was – and his attacks had been dodged effortlessly. He barely registered the shadow of something descending towards the top of his head, and then darkness. Darkness and pain. Endless pain. Until he awoke in that special chamber Bulma cooked up to, he guessed, keep his body from rotting too much until he could be revived. Krillin didn't like to think how unpleasant it would have been to return to life in a body that was falling apart.
It might be a blessing compared to this go-round. He’d been all too aware of Frieza’s little dot of energy shooting towards him and entering inside his body. Only the size of a ember popping off the end of a sparkler, but it was enough to render him helpless. True, he’d been almost exhausted of energy by that point anyway, but he doubted it would have made a difference if he’d been at full strength. Frieza sent him hurtling into the sky while he flailed helplessly, then blew up him up from the inside out. Slowly, so he had enough time to register what was happening to him.
Then he was back in the afterlife. Waiting in an empty line, a single blue oni in a dress shirt and tie gesturing him forward. He'd supposed all the Namekians were already dead and moved on. He would've like to see Dende again. Thanked him for his help, for healing him when Frieza ran him through. Apologized for not being able to do more. Story of his life, there.
Walking past the oni, he stepped into King Yemma’s presence, craning his neck to see the one who determined your fate. Krillin still had his body, unlike the numerous tiny little clouds in the distance he guessed were spirits of other dead people. He imagined that was what he looked like last time. Maybe he was considered special now, like Goku. Hip hip hooray.
“Krillin, eh? What’s an Earthling doing dying on Namek?”
Krillin couldn’t help wondering what it mattered where he died, and if Yemma was going to decide his fate based on his past deeds, shouldn’t he already know?
“I do already know, wise guy, but I want to hear it from you. Now watch the sass in those thoughts, unless you want to experience my Yemma Lock!” The massive deity arched one eyebrow as he leaned over his desk to peer down at Krillin.
Krillin gulped, taking a deep breath (did he need to breathe) and in a rush said, “I went there with two of my friends to see if the Namekians would let us use their Dragon Balls to revive the people the Saiyans killed on Earth a few months ago. It turned out there was already someone there after a wish, a tyrant named Frieza.”
Yemma nodded. “Yes, I know of Frieza. Many souls have passed before me because of him, either killed by him or on his orders.”
“My friends were still in danger when I – when I died. Do you know if they’re alright? Goku, Gohan, Piccolo?” He remembered Bulma was out there somewhere as well. At least he was dead so she couldn’t yell at him for forgetting. Unless she was dead too. He hoped she wasn’t.
Yemma donned a pair of glasses to look over his book. “No, none of those people have come through today. Beyond that, I couldn’t tell you.” He looked back up, peering over the tops of his spectacles. “The North Kai has arranged for you to retain your body, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“North Kai?”
“Yes, the one your friends trained with. He is the Kai responsible for the North quadrant of the universe.”
Krillin hadn’t realized there was more than one. “Do I have permission to travel to his planet to train as well?”
“If you’d like. Or you can travel on to Other World if you’d prefer. You’ll still be able to retain your body, as many other great heroes and fighters have over the eons.”
That sounded interesting, but Krillin would rather hang out with people he already knew. Making new friends hadn’t ever been terribly easy for him. “I’d like to travel to King, er North Kai’s world then, if you don’t mind.”
Yemma nodded distractedly and scribbled something down in his ledgers. “Very well, wait over there." He jerked a thumb to his right. “I’ll have someone show you the way to Snake Way soon. Next!”
And here he was, traveling Snake Way. Goku said it took him almost two days at full speed, and Krillin knew he was much stronger now than Goku had been then. That thought momentarily brightened his mood, but it faded fast. It hadn't done him much good. Even with Guru unlocking his potential, he still felt hopelessly outclassed the whole time on Namek. By the time he met Guru, Vegeta’s power had increased by so much, Krillin still couldn’t hope to beat him when he demanded that Dragon Ball. The big goon from the Ginyu Force dropped him with one kick. The best he managed against Frieza was cutting off part of his tail and pissing him off long enough for Dende to heal Gohan. Which hadn’t really ended up mattering, either.
Krillin always seemed behind the curve. If he’d been as strong as he was now when Vegeta came to Earth, he could have handled the so-called “Prince of all Saiyans” (yeah, all two of them, plus Gohan who was half-Saiyan) and his lackey no problem. If he’d been as strong when Raditz arrived as he was when Vegeta showed up, he could have defeated Goku’s brother without Goku needing to sacrifice himself.
Krillin reflected sometimes that Goku had a knack for being either just in the nick of time, or a little too late. Two minutes earlier showing up on Nimbus, and Piccolo might not have died protecting Gohan and the whole Namek trip would have been unnecessary.
(Although that probably means Frieza wishes for immortality, and then it’s just a matter of whether Krillin dies of old age before Frieza comes to Earth. Unless all the Namekians go to their graves without telling him he’ll need to summon Porunga in their language. In which case, since Frieza learned of the Dragon Balls from Vegeta blabbing about them, he’d probably come to Earth looking for Kami.)
At least Goku was usually able to do something. Krillin always seemed too weak to win an important fight. Too weak to protect his friends. Which is why he was making this trip. He wasn’t sure if they could bring him back. If Piccolo wasn’t dead, then Earth’s Dragon Balls still existed, which meant the Namekians could be revived. In which case, he and Chiaotzu still had a chance. But it wouldn’t come soon.
Until then, Krillin wanted to try and push himself as far as he could. He didn’t think for a second the dangers would stop, whether Frieza was beaten now or not. There’d be someone or something else. Red Ribbon Army, King Piccolo, Piccolo, Raditz, Vegeta, Frieza. On and on. For the next one, Krillin wanted to be able to actually do something.
He was tired of dying, but he was more tired of seeing friends die and feeling like he let it happen.
* * *
Before too long, Krillin reached the end of Snake Way. He landed on one small flipper at the end of the tail, pausing to catch his breath before his gaze traveled to the small planet floating above. He could sense Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu there, their powers all increased dramatically. Krillin floated gently towards King Kai’s world, bracing himself for the moment when its gravity took hold and dragged him to the surface.
(Goku mentioned what a surprise that had been, and Krillin didn’t want to faceplant in front of all his friends and his future teacher.)
He was able to land under control, in spite of the increased pull. It wasn’t debilitating; he was strong enough to move without too much difficulty, but he could tell it was going to take time to adjust to how much his speed and movement were restricted.
“Krillin! Hey man, are you just gonna space out, or you gonna say hello?” His three friends stood a short distance away beneath a lone tree. Yamcha rushed over with a big grin on his face.
“Hi Yamcha. Is this the place for the “Battle Against the Saiyans” Reunion?”
Chiatozu laughed. “Yeah, this is the place. Way to keep us waiting!”
“Sorry, I had a hard time finding any snacks. King Yemma didn’t have much in his vending machines.”
Tien’s greeting was shorter and to the point. “Krillin.”
“Tien, Chiaotzu. How’s it going?”
“The training’s been incredible, although I’d say the battles you experienced on Namek might have been even better training.”
“You saw those?”
Tien nodded, but Yamcha cut in. “Yeah, King Kai was able to see what was going on, and we were able to watch through him!”
Which meant they’d seen how he’d died. Blown up, screaming for Goku to help him. Swell.
“That’s hardly a proper way to think of it,” stated a nasal voice behind him. Krillin whirled to find himself face-to-face with King Kai. Could everyone read his thoughts now? “I recall your actions saving young Gohan’s life more than once. And you protected Dende, whose healing abilities were able to keep all of you in the fight until Goku could arrive.”
“Is the battle still going, King Kai? King Yemma told me none of the others had died yet.”
The Lord of Worlds shook his head. “Goku unlocked a legendary wellspring of power within him and was able to defeat Frieza, although that tyrant did manage to deal a deathblow to the planet before his end.”
“Is everybody OK?”
“Yes. Kami was able to use Earth’s Dragon Balls to resurrect all the Namekians, who then used their last remaining wish to transport everyone on Namek to Earth, except Goku and Frieza. Goku was able to find one of the Ginyu Force’s ships to escape himself.”
“It does mean Vegeta is alive again." From his tone and the dark look on his face, Tien wasn't thrilled with that.
For all that they had worked together on Namek, Krillin wasn’t sure how he felt about that either. Especially if Vegeta was on Earth while Goku was somewhere in space. He hoped Piccolo and Gohan would be enough if Vegeta got any ideas. In the meantime. . .
He bowed at the waist before the ruler of the planet he stood on. “King Kai, I request training in the martial arts from you!”
He made sure to stress what he wanted training in. Goku explained King Kai originally thought he was there for training in delivering jokes. Krillin didn’t need any help there, thank you very much.
The North Kai lowered his head slightly, as if deep in thought, before responding. “You know you have to pass a test before I will accept you as a student, correct?”
“Of course.” Krillin spent the time on Snake Way deciding on a joke, just in case, and was sure he had a good one. “What do you call a no-eyed fish?”
“I don’t know, what do you call it?”
“Fssssh.”
Yamcha and Chiaotzu groaned. Krillin could picture the confused look on Tien’s face, but watched the reaction of the deity in front of him. King Kai frowned at first, sparking momentary panic in the monk. Then he started to shake, and in seconds, guffaws echoed around his world.
“No “i”s! ‘Fssssh’! Hahaha!” He gradually got his laughter under control, readjusted his glasses and attempted to resume his solemn posture from before. Krillin, well-accustomed to masters looking less than dignified, waited patiently with a blank look. King Kai finally spoke. “All right. You can train under me. Let’s begin!”
* * *
Catching Bubbles was no trouble, as Krillin found his body already adjusting to the higher gravity. His first attempt to hit Gregory with the mallet was a whiff, prompting mocking laughter from the bug. He underestimated the firefly’s agility. His second swing brought success, as he knocked the cocky insect into the dirt. After a moment, Gregory hauled himself out, muttering curses.
“Sorry,” Krillin said earnestly. “I misjudged my strength on that one. I hope I didn’t injure you.” Krillin had been hurt enough by the older students at the monastery to form the opinion it wasn’t the right way to work with a training partner. Injuring someone who was trying to help you grow stronger was counterproductive.
Gregory scoffed. “Hah! A puny hit like that is nothing for me! I’ve taken strikes from King Kai himself!” He floated a wobbly arc towards the Kai’s house, still muttering as he went inside.
“Not bad, but you missed pretty badly on strike one,” Yamcha commented from beneath the tree where he was watching.
“Guess I won’t be able to pursue a career in the big leagues then,” the former monk replied drily.
“I don’t know,” the former bandit replied with a lazy smirk, “with your strike zone, you could draw a lot of walks. And you might make a good pitcher.”
“You can worry about your career prospects once you’re alive again,” King Kai said. “Let’s get started on your training.”
“Are you going to teach me the Kaioken and the Spirit Bomb?”
“Certainly, if you wish. I have to admit, they haven’t been as effective in battle as I’d hoped.”
“I guess that depends on what you were hoping they’d accomplish. They definitely helped Goku, and we wouldn’t have beaten Vegeta if the Spirit Bomb hadn’t injured him so badly. If they can give me a better chance of making a difference. . .” He trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence with, “that’s the best I can hope for.”
He couldn’t read King Kai’s expression behind those glasses, but had the feeling the deity was reading something in him. “That’s fine, but don’t think that’s all you’re going to be doing. I know Guru unlocked your potential, and you certainly haven’t finished drawing it out yet. There are other ways you can improve as a fighter, you know.”
Krillin nodded. “Whatever I can do.”
* * *
The training was difficult, but Krillin enjoyed it. Much of it focused on learning to better control and harness energy, whether his own or some external source. Manipulating energy was something Krillin considered himself pretty good at. Controlling a sudden massive increase in his ki while it was inside his body wasn’t quite the same thing, but it required a similar level of focus.
Even so, the Kaioken was as grueling as Goku said. Using it left Krillin’s entire body feeling bruised internally. He'd been trying to practice only using it on one body part. His left leg, or his arm. If he sped himself up at the right moment, that might do the trick. Learning to cope with that, to keep from hurting himself so badly he couldn’t function, made the Spirit Bomb seem easier by comparison. The amount of power it drew into Krillin’s body, even on the Kai’s minuscule world, made the Kaioken’s seem manageable. But the influx was gradual, easy to control and maintain. Gentle, even. The patience and focus it required would pay off in other ways down the line, he was sure of it.
It was nice to train with his friends again. True, it hadn’t been that long since they were on Kami’s Lookout, preparing for two Saiyans, but that had been different. An air of desperation loomed then, the knowledge they would be lucky to survive even if they trained their hearts. With Frieza dead, there wasn’t any immediate threat to worry about. It was more like when the four of them traveled the world after the King Piccolo was beaten. Each measuring his progress against the other three, using that as motivation.
There didn’t seem to be a day or night as such on King Kai’s world. At least, the light level never changed, and Krillin couldn’t figure out where the light was coming from anyway.
‘Maybe dead stars travel to Other World, too.’
There was no a set schedule. They would train for a time, stop to eat, train some more, maybe eat again, or take a nap. Krillin wasn’t sure they actually needed to eat or sleep, but there were definitely times he felt like a nap would be a good idea. King Kai didn’t seem to mind. The four of them ate less than Goku, and showed more gratitude to boot.
During one of their breaks, the four fighters took a seat under one of the two trees on the planet. King Kai was busy driving the road (more like a driveway) that circled his world, Bubbles dancing on the roof while Gregory stuck his head out the window.
“Do you think there’s any point to what we’re doing?” Yamcha asked suddenly from where he sat, propped up on his hands.
Tien was in a meditative posture and responded without opening his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“This,” he gestured to their surroundings. “Training. Are we gonna be strong enough to make a difference the next time?”
Krillin flinched at the question and lowered his head. Chiaotzu looked troubled as well.
“We won’t know unless we try,” Tien said firmly. “I know Goku’s moved further beyond us than ever, and Gohan has immense power as well, but I don’t see that as a reason to stop pushing myself. I’m convinced there’s further I can go.”
Tien had been working hard at harnessing King Kai’s training with his own techniques. Specifically, reducing how much his power dropped when he used his Multi-Form technique. There hadn’t been much progress yet, but if he could have four of himself at close to full power, instead of one-quarter. . .
Krillin looked at the grass poking up around his weighted boots (King Kai had been nice enough to make him a set of his Turtle School training gear, so he could ditch the Saiyan armor). His work on controlling the Destructo Disc’s flight without weakening it was also a work in progress. “Tien’s right. Besides, Goku’s not on Earth right now, and may not be for a long time. Gohan’s just a kid. It shouldn’t be on him to protect the world if something goes wrong. He asked for this even less than we did.”
He paused, thinking. “There’s Piccolo, I guess.”
“Not sure how much I want to rely on him,” Tien muttered. Chiaotzu nodded.
“Even if he does end up being like his father, we know he doesn’t want to blow up the planet, right? If he takes it over, we can always take it back.” Krillin supposed that didn’t sound very comforting, if the former Crane students’ expressions were any indication.
“I guess,” Yamcha said. “But you and Chiaotzu have died twice already. The Namekians’ Dragon Balls are gonna bring you back, but we may not be able to rely on them after that. I wouldn’t blame ‘em if they wanted to go someplace nice and quiet after what Frieza put ‘em through. Shenron won’t be able to help any of us the next time.”
“If the opponent is that strong, Yamcha, they could destroy the entire world.” Tien was resolute. “It wouldn’t matter whether we fought or not, we’d still be dead. I’d rather die fighting.”
Chiaotzu spoke up for the first time. “Even if we can’t save the world, we can still do some good. Remember that volcano? We only saved one village, but it was a big deal for them.”
Krillin remembered trying so hard to impress that girl. Mostly just made a fool of himself. Still. . . “Chiaotzu’s right.”
“So we become superheroes?” Yamcha joked. “Go out on patrols?”
Krillig shrugged. “I don’t know about that. That alien armor I wore came with tights. I didn’t care for that part much.” Yamcha and Chiaotzu laughed, while Tien at least smiled. “I just mean that’s the right way to look at it. We’ve all died. If we can keep that from happening to someone else, that’s something, right? For them, it might be huge.”
“You never know what saving a life could mean,” Tien said thoughtfully. “I’m still not his biggest fan, but I can’t argue that Goku sparing Piccolo hasn’t made a difference.”