Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball, Dragonball Z, or Dragonball GT.
Pain. It felt as if that was all he ever knew. White hot, searing pain. He tried to open his eyes but his body wouldn't let him. He heard a muffled voice, almost sounding like someone was yelling at him from far away. He couldn't make out the words, but the voice soothed him, eased his pain. He opened his eyes slowly and tried to look at the figure above him. It was just a silhouette. A faint shape of something that could be a person maybe if it tried really hard. But the more he looked at it, and the more he listened to the voice, the less the pain felt like giant waves hitting a cliff, and the more it felt like smooth ripples, lapping at a shore. He forced a smile, then sank beneath the surface.
-DBZ-
Gohan bolted up and ran his hands over his body, feeling for anything wrong with it. 'It was just a dream. A dream.' A dream that felt more real than anything that had happened in the past five years. Gohan swallowed hard as he thought of that day again. As he thought of the day that his cockiness and arrogance had cost his father his life. He had felt numb ever since then. Goku had told him that he was proud of him, that everything would be okay. He said that they were safer without him. And it was true. Nothing had happened, it was the longest time of peace that he could even remember. A part of him almost longed for some kind of catastrophe, maybe some enemy so strong that his father would have no choice but to return to Earth. Gohan shook his head. He needed to get up. It was almost dawn. He had one day left before embarking on what would prove to be his most perilous journey yet. High School.
-DBZ-
Videl rubbed her eyes and yawned before promptly resting snooze on her alarm clock and rolling back over. 'Why? Why can't school happen just two hours later?' Videl knew that she had gotten into a bad habit of staying up way too late over the summer, but she had no clue it would be this hard to get back to her routine. 'Tomorrow will be easier, right? Yeah of course it will. And if not, oh well, I'm Videl Satan. I can handle mornings.' She smiled as she lied to herself. Mornings were her greatest weakness. Beep beep beep. "Oh whatever! It has not been ten minutes!" she groaned into her pillow as she willed her body to get up. If she really wanted to train before school every morning, she would've had to woken up an hour ago. 'Life is cruel. Why can't it be nice like sleep?' Videl threw her legs over the edge of the bed and prepared to pull the rest of herself up. 'Once I do this, there's no going back. Am I ready?' She didn't even need to answer for herself as she heard her police comm watch start to go off. Videl let a low groan. 'Whoever has done this to me is getting a Satan Punch to the dick.'
-DBZ-
Gohan touched down softly at the edge of Satan City. He had decided that he would take the day to familiarize himself with the city he was going to be visiting almost every day for the next nine months. He whistled to himself as he walked, not really thinking about much. He was trying to keep his head clear after his pretty harsh awakening. A big smile found its way to his face as he saw the massive "Welcome to Satan City" billboard. He remembered how irate Vegeta had been when Orange Star City changed its name to honor "Earth's Savior." 'Eh, it's probably for the best. "Gohan City" just sounds stupid.' He couldn't help but grin at the thought of his face on the boisterous sign. Moving on from the sign, he looked at all the shops and businesses lining the streets. He stopped in front of a toy store, not quite believing his eyes. There was an action figure set of the Cell Games. 'Do these people not realize that the world almost ended?' Gohan thought. 'Why would anyone buy a Cell action figure for their child?' Then Gohan remembered. They thought it was all fake. Hercule had the world convinced that everything they saw was just smoke and mirrors. Gohan's fist clenched. 'Ignorance is bliss, I guess.' His thoughts were interrupted by a dull roar as a yellow jetcopter zoomed over the street. He saw people pointing at it and whispering to each other. 'Hm. Something's up' Gohan looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention to him, then jumped up to a rooftop to follow the aircraft.
-DBZ-
Videl finished up her coffee as she jumped from her jetcopter. Apparently there had been some kind of bank heist which had turned into a hostage situation. She was asked for by name to come mediate by the robbers. 'This can't be good. They're not after the money, they're after me.' Videl knew that she had to be wary, more lives than her own were on the line here. She walked up to the police barricade and turned to the chief. "So I'm assuming you know what they're planning?" She asked him. The chief nodded. "Be careful in there, something tells me these guys aren't the normal half-wits we usually get." Videl smirked. "They're still nothing I can't handle."
Gohan was on the roof of the bank listening to the exchange. 'Who is this girl? And why are the police just letting her walk in?' He leaned over one of the skylights looking into the bank. There were at least twenty people tied up on the ground. He also saw around five heavily armed men. He froze as he desperately tried to sense their energy. Nothing. 'This can't be good.' Gohan watched as the girl walked into the bank, looking like she owned the place. 'Where have I seen that attitude before?' One of the robbers spread his arms as she walked forward. "Videl Satan! We're so glad you could join us." Videl looked around at the bound and gagged men and women looking toward her hopefully. "I know you're here for me. Just let them go and let's get this started." She was hoping that if they really were just after her they wouldn't keep the civilians in the crossfire. The ringleader smiled and bowed. "Of course." He snapped and all the others cut off the restraints around the hostages' legs. "Get out all of you. The police are right outside." Gohan watched as all the people filed out. 'This is really bad. She's strong. Stronger than anyone else in this city, but these guys might be more of a problem than she realizes.' He took a deep breath as he powered up, going Super Saiyan just in case he needed to intervene. He could tell she was full of pride, and wouldn't accept help from him unless she had no choice. He smirked. 'Vegeta would find that admirable.'
"Why don't you drop the guns and fight like men? Don't think you can handle a little girl?" Videl smirked, hoping they would take the challenge. "Drop 'em boys. The little lady wants a fair fight." He laughed. Videl almost laughed as well. "If you think this is going to be fair, bud, then maybe you are as stupid as all the other lowlives around here." The strange man smiled. "Oh you're so right." Videl was barely able to dodge the punch one of the men on her right sent at her. 'Okay. They're fast.' She thought as she once again was nearly hit. 'Really fast.' She saw the next punch coming and dodged right into a sweep from one of the others. She jumped up only to see the leader drawn back and about to fire off a haymaker. Everything seemingly went into slow motion as a tall figure with golden hair phased behind him and caught his arm. "Duck." Videl ducked as the gold fighter threw the man over her into one of the others. "Don't try to attack them. Stay on the defensive and counter. They're too fast for you to try to hit." "What do you mean 'for me'?" She said as she dropped into a stance beside him. "I mean that you're in over your head on this one, Videl." Gohan said as he easily dodged everything thrown at him. "What are you talking about? I'm the strongest person around here." She smiled as she threw a robber across the bank. "Well I'm not from around here. And neither are these guys." Gohan spat back at her as he stopped another deadly punch from connecting with Videl. "Jump." Videl did as he said and saw all the men fly away from them as the fighter swept his leg around. "We're going to have to end this fast. They're not losing any energy!" Gohan yelled as he kept pushing back attack after attack. "How is this even possible?" Videl said, mostly to herself, as she breathed heavily. She wouldn't last much longer. Gohan noticed this and shouted to her. "Grab my arm get ready for a ride." He smirked. Videl nodded and gripped his wrist. Gohan spun her around, transferring energy to her as she kicked out at their enemies. "Throw me!" Gohan smiled and nodded before throwing her at the ringleader. Her kick connected with his face and she watched in horror as the skin shed away from metal and wires. "What are you!?" She screamed. She felt herself get lifted up and thrown straight into the air. She heard the gold fighter scream before a huge explosion rocked the bank. Gohan caught her as she fell back down and looked at her. Videl almost shrunk back at the intense expression on his face. "I'm sorry. If I knew they were androids I would never have let that go on as long as it did." He could almost kick himself. He couldn't sense their energy. What else could they have been? "Somebody wants you dead, Videl. And they're not messing around." Videl just smirked at him. "This wouldn't be the first time, okay? I can take care of myself. Now let me down." Gohan blushed as he realized he was still holding her bridal style. He set her down and looked at her. "I'm guessing there's no chance that I can convince you to stay out of trouble." Videl shook her head. He sighed. "Well you're lucky I was here." "Whatever, I could've taken those guys. Thanks for the help though." She said softly. Gohan nodded and was about to fly out the way he came in when Videl stopped him. "You're him aren't you? You're the delivery boy." Gohan smiled at her. "It's Gohan, but yeah. That was me." Gohan stopped again and added. "Please don't tell anyone I was here." Videl nodded and saluted. "Your secret's safe with me, Gohan."
[A/N]: So, obviously a little different from the canon, but whatever, it's my story. Please feel free to give me some constructive feedback. It really helps.
