Mr. Satan knew such confrontation would be inevitable, but had hoped he would have this controlled. Recently becoming the cult of personality, he took the world by storm with stories of how it was him who killed Cell. Such followers, known as Satanites, believed everything he said hook line and sinker. However, there were many skeptics, known as Roshists, whose memories of the students of the Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi, seemingly lead by Son Goku, were who really saved the world.
Many of these folk watching the Cell games recognized the fighters there, be it from seeing previous tournaments, previous battles against evil green men, both homegrown and from space, or just witnessed fights involving these people first hand during their travels when they were much younger. Even with what seemed to be a bleached look, some of these people recognized Son Goku. Others saw the armored man in blue spandex and remembered when he dealt the killing blow to the large man who blew up East City and the military (they never knew it was Vegeta who instigated the whole incided). Baseball fans saw their favorite power hitter Yamcha take to the field of battle once again after witnessing what seemed to be his demise against one of the large man's green minions. The monks of Orin Temple recognized one of their former brethren Krillin. And anyone who ever saw the three eyed man known as Tien recognized him instantly. And lastly seeing the green skinned man who looked eerily like King Piccolo brought back not so fond memories.
Be it from previous World Martial Arts Tournaments, or from the battle in 762 against the so called mystery men from space. Some lucky folk, witnessed fights involving these people first hand during their travels when they were much younger.
It was only when Mr. Satan began badmouthing these fighters, calling them tricksters, that the people who were on the fence became instant Satanites. After all, why can't everyone shoot beams out of their hands and fly around? Only 20% of the world remained firm in their Roshists beliefs, despite these fighter's lack of public statements or presence.
Mr. Satan thinks it was when he called Son Goku a coward that sparked his son, the so called delivery boy (and true savior of the world) to currently have the false savior scared for his life, with a hot ball of light heating up his face, and a warm puddle warming up his pants.
"You think this is a trick?" asked the angry blond holding Mr Satan floating 20 feet above the air in his new mansion's dining room. "How about I make your head disappear?" "What do you want?" squeeked out Mr. Satan. "I'll give you anything. Money. Fame. Women. You name it!"
Son Gohan looked into his quivering eyes, releasing the ball of ki. "You don't get it, do you? I don't require recognition of the masses, people to bow down to my feet. We never fought to save the world because we wanted to get rich and famous. We fought to survive. So we can live in peace without the threat of a tyrant trying to control the people, without the threat of a man who wants to rule over the world and destroy city by city, without the threat of an alien who wants to purge the planet so that it can be sold to the highest bidder, and without the threat of a monster, naturally or artificially created, who wants to kill because its fun. I learned once from a great man that pride is not obtained by recognition from others for the great things you do, but for recognition from yourself. The fact that you claim publicly that you killed Cell does not concern me. The fact that you call us cowards, more specifically my father a coward does. Especially after what you witnessed today." Mr. Satan gulped as he was reminded that just earlier as he was running and hiding from the space pirate Bojack and his gang, those same fighters from the cell games rushed INTO danger, not FROM it.
Gohan dropped Mr. Satan to the ground, causing a loud thud and breaking the table. "Tell the people to believe what they want to believe, but leave the good names of those who sacrificed their lives so you can live out of this. Son Goku lived as he died, a hero. And as for the money, I want you to donate most of the money given to you. Use it to turn the city which has now been given your name into a good one. Help those who have lost loved ones. Become the hero you claim to be."
Gohan turned and walked towards the front door. Suddenly he heard a young girl in pigtails who must have been no older than him enter the room, cry for her father, and rush to the disheveled man. "Wait!" Mr. Satan yelled out as Gohan paused at the door.
"Four years ago, when that large man from space and his associate destroyed East City, a month later it came back, but not all of the people who died...why didn't my wife come back?" he started to cry. "Why didn't Luci come back?"
Gohan sighed and turned the knob, opening the door. He noticed his rage may have inadvertently caused the current thunderstorm outside. Before he took off into the storm he said with a melancholic tone four words which represented their shared sadness for losing loved ones…
"Not everyone comes back."
A/N: Welcome to my first story. As you noticed I have taken liberties here and there. I want to note that in the story's canon, movies 1, 5, 6, and 9 happened. Slight changes are made so they fit in. For instance, Krillin was not surprised to meet Gohan at Master Roshi's before Raditz showing up. Both Cooler fights did happen in the three years (Kami sent them to New Namek, not Dende. And Vegeta was in a Capsule Ship, not a PTO Pod). Bojack's fight happened earlier today which was more or less six months after the Cell games. I want to improve on the Buu saga, bring back Future Trunks, and make Goten and Trunks more than just super saiyan 6 year olds.