Redemption

I do not own any rights to Drabonball Z, or any characters and ideas, except my own.

"..." talking

'...' thought

mind speech

Chapter 1: Pain

7 years ago, the world lost hope. 7 years ago, on that fateful day, a rival and a friend was lost. 7 years ago, a wife lost a husband. But for one young child, a best friend, a father was lost.

" Good-bye Gohan, good-bye my son" Goku's final words swept over the young demi-saiyajin causing him to drop out of his ascended form, and onto his knees. As Gohan looked up at his father, streams of tears flowed down his face, mixing with the dirt and blood to fall on the dry ground. With a final wave, Goku, earths greatest warrior, vanished. The Z fighters all rushed to Gohan's side to give what comfort they could. The grief was evident on Krillen's face as knelt down next to Gohan. He just couldn't believe it. Goku couldn't be gone. As the rest of the Z fighters tried to register what they had just seen, they were jolted out of their shock. Their heads snapped up, as they tried to comprehend what their ki senses were telling them.

As their minds tried to get over this new development, a massive ki blast slammed into, and through Trunks, knocking him to the ground. As the other rushed forward to see what could be done for the fallen warrior, Vegeta, Prince of the Saiyajins, snapped. He had stood by and allowed Cell to become stronger, for the sake of pride. He then had that same pride shattered when he couldn't beat Cell afterwards. Watching his rival's son ascend to the next level of power had shredded what little remained of his pride. But now three things now stood out in his mind. One, he was the last of a dying breed. Two, after looking at Trunks, he knew that his son was dead. And three, it was all for naught. Despite Goku's sacrifice, Cell was still alive. And thanks to his saiyajin cells, he was stronger than before.

All this flashed through his mind in an instant, and was replaced with the rage and pain of loss that brought on the super saiyajin transformation. With a primal scream, that echoed across the canyon, Vegeta ascended to the second level. He quickly rose into the air, and his hands and arms became invisible blurs as he fired ki blast after ki blast at the android. A large cloud of dust rose obscuring Cell from sight, and he allowed himself a slim hope that he might have destroyed the monster. But it was not to be. One moment the Z fighters were stunned at the shear brute force of Vegeta's attack, but their hopes were dashed as Cell appeared before the prince and backhanded him to the ground. Cell fired a single ki blast at Vegeta, and in his weakened and exhausted state, it would kill him. The brightness of the explosion caused everyone but Cell to turn away. Shock quickly gave way to awe, when the they looked and didn't see what they had expected. For instead of a larger crater marking Vegeta's grave, stood Gohan. Piccolo winced inwardly when he saw the damage done to the young boy's left arm. It was useless, as it dangled from his shoulder a twisted and bloody wreck.

Pain. Physical, emotional, and mental pain assaulted the young warrior. Pain like nothing he had ever felt before ran through his body. Pale blue lightning flashed around his body, and the earth began to moan and tremble, small pebbles rising into the air. Large cracks appear on the ground and spread away from the epicenter of the calamity that was Gohan. He slowly looked up at Cell, and began to slowly stalk towards the monster who had landed close by to observe his handy work.

"So young Gohan. It seems you can save someone after all. To bad you couldn't save poor Trunks and the relic, let alone your own father." laughed Cell, oblivious to the look of rage on Gohan's face, as the boy walked towards him. " Now lets see, who are you going to let die this ti-" His words were broken off as he felt...violation, and a severe sense wrongness. Something wasn't right. He looked down to see Gohan's right arm buried elbow deep into his chest. With ease, Gohan ripped his arm out of Cell's chest and opened his fist, showing Cell what it contained. Green ichor dripped from his arm as he showed Cell the explosive device that was formerly housed inside the androids chest. It was one the few components of the androids that they couldn't regenerate. The look of horror on Cell's face deepened, as finally, Gohan let go.

All the anger and pain he had been holding inside himself finally exploded, and escaped his body in a scream that could be heard many miles away. Everyone watched in awe and fear as Gohan's monstrous ki kept rising. Gohan's hair had slowly started to lengthen, but it quickly grew to almost reach the ground, just stopping at mid calf. He had held his head back, but as his scream died away to just echoes, he lowered it, and utter horror registered on Cell's face. Gohan's face had become a mask of pure fury, aided by the lack of eyebrows upon the ridges that now stood out upon the face of the young demi-saiyajin. His cold eyes, emerald green, now with the blackest of pupils burned into Cell, and he knew fear.

Pain. At that moment it was all Gohan knew, and as he stared at the one responsible for his pain, he knew beyond a shadow of doubt, that pain would be all that the gave.

"KAAAA MEEEE HAAAA MEEEE HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The light blue ki attack raced from the cupped right hand of Gohan towards the android, who barely got his own attack off, barely managing to stave off the massive attack. Before Cell knew what had happened, he was flying towards Gohan's ki blast. It was then that he first felt pain blossom along his spine from the kick Gohan had given him. 'How is he so fast?!?' Cell thought to himself. He tried to stop himself, but only managed to twist his body to the right, as Gohan's Kamehameha attack flew past, taking Cell's left arm with it. Before Cell could even think to start the regeneration process, he felt the fury of a super saiyajin at the third level. Ki powered kicks and punches greeted Cell, leaving him in a stupor, as his body tried the repair the damage it had received, unable to block any blows, let alone launch any of his own.

Gohan jumped back, and with a look of hate, he cupped his right hand by his side, and said the words of his fathers trademark attack. "KAAAA MEEEE HAAAA MEEEE HAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Cell, fully expecting another deception, was caught by the full blast of the Kamehameha. Agony even worse than the self-destruction seared his brain. Gohan put as much ki as he dared into his Kamehameha, but not enough to endanger the planet. He didn't let up until he felt the very last trace of Cell's ki vanish. As he stood there, his hair returned to the normal unruly mess that it always was, no matter how hard he tried. It was then that the exhaustion finally caught up with him, and he collapsed onto the ground...

A/N: Just so you know, there is a reason why I have Gohan at the third level, and why I had Vegeta go to the second this soon. Please don't just pan this fic because of this fact. I will gladly take all reviews good or bad. You never, know someone may just have a better idea than I do.

Well, this is the first chapter so read and review. Later.