CHAPTER ONE: THE BATTLE BEGINS

Okay Gohan you can do this. Dad has a lot of faith in you; you cannot let him down, again... The fate of the whole world is resting on your shoulders... No pressure...

Well, at least Dad did quite a lot of damage on Cell in their battle, I noted as I saw Cell with countless bruises and slices on his body while breathing heavily as he floated in the air, staring me down. I could use that to my advantage!

A glimmer of hope settled in my stomach, chasing the nervousness and doubt away. Maybe I can beat this overgrown grasshopper after all.

My mind reached out to where Cell was standing. I compared my ki to his and smiled confidently. We weren't that much apart, he is still a tad bit stronger than me but if I just strategise correctly, I can win. I really can do this! I can really beat...

"Cell!" My father was trying to get Cell's attention. "Here, catch!" He shouted and threw a bean with lighting speed at Cell. Cell caught it between his fingers and stared at it confusingly. The z-warriors wore horror-stricken expressions on their faces. "It's a sensu bean, eat it." He explained. My eyes widened in horror.

Wait! What is Dad doing?! I panicked. Is he seriously giving Cell a sensu bean? I felt my last glimmer of hope in winning this tournament disappear, as if it was turd being flushed down the toilet...

What is he thinking?! Does he want me to die?! I know I have let him down in the past, b... But allowing your son, your own flesh and blood, to be killed by a tyrannous villain? My mind went crazy. My brain was buzzing like a disoriented colony of bees, trying to find a logical explanation for my dad's illogical actions.

Maybe he has a plan; he has to have a plan! I contradicted my negativity. Maybe he wants me to serve as a distraction, bait if you will; so when Cell's attention is entirely focused on me, he will go in for the kill. Yeah! That must be it! Phew. I must just play along with this charade and it will be over before I know it!

I loosened my body and took a deep breath. Let's do this!

I released my power; not allowing Cell to have the first move. I smiled as I felt the familiar and warm feeling of my ki, pulsing vividly through my body. The earth shook a bit and a few pieces of debris were held in the air around my body as my power was uttered. I chuckled softly as I saw Cell and my other friend's shocked faces as they felt my strong power, a power even stronger than Dad's!

I am going to show Cell exactly what I am made of...

... _

"Playtime is over children." Cell exclaimed in a cheerful voice. "You can kill them now."

"Noooo!" I shouted and clenched my fists. Tears were streaming down my face freely now. I closed my eyes in despair. If only I were stronger! I tried locating the vault of my hidden powers, but I just couldn't reach it. I was mortified; if I don't tap into my powers soon, Cell is going to kill them all!

"Hurry up now." Cell's impatient screech interrupted my thoughts. "First one, who kills one of those pests, wins a prize." He exclaimed happily.

I flinched. How dare Cell treat their lives as a game! "Stop it!" I yelled at the grasshopper and aimed a punch at him. Cell easily dodged it and kneed me in the stomach. I doubled over in pain, gasping for air.

"Why... are you doing... this?!" I managed to stutter out through my gasps. "Just kill me and get it over with."

Cell scoffed. "Where's the fun in that?" He laughed. "Don't worry boy, your death will come soon enough; just unleash your hidden powers and you can pretend that this was all just a bad dream..."

Krillen's body fell lifeless to the ground; his ki was dangerously low. One of the Cell junior's kept kicking him in his side and I flinched with every blow connecting with his mangled body. A few tears flowed down my cheeks; I closed my eyes. "Krillen, I'm so sorry." I whispered.

Only Vegeta, Trunks and Piccolo were still able to defend themselves; not even my dad could keep up anymore: he was being kicked back and forth like a ragdoll.

Yamcha, Tien and Krillen were all lying on the ground, facedown; unconscious.

Why did you do this Dad, why did you count on me so much? If you are so sure I have these powers, tell me how to bring it out. I want to help. I want to save you Dad. B...but I can't; I don't know how. I am too afraid to do this alone. I am just a child! I am still supposed to watch cartoons and play games; not defend the earth. I...

"Gohan." I opened my eyes. I was surprised to see one of the remaining androids' head in front of me.

"S...Sixteen?" I stuttered confused.

"Gohan, let it go." He said in a gentle voice. "It is not a sin to fight for the right cause. There are those, who words alone, will not reach. Cell is such a being. I know how you feel Gohan." He smiled at me. "You are gentle; you do not like to hurt; I know, because I have also learned these feelings. It is because you cherish life, that you must protect it."

"Ugh." Cell scoffed in disgust. "This sentimental crap is killing me. It is very nice of you to help Sixteen, but I plan on doing this my way."

Sixteen's smile grew more sincere. "Please, drop your restraints. Protect the life I learned to love. You have the strength, my scanners sensed it. Just, let it go."

Cell stepped closer and crushed Sixteen's head. Mechanical parts and some blood flew in the air, some landing on my clothes. My mouth fell open in shock and despair. How can someone be so cruel?!

"Yet another fighter you could have saved." Cell stated smugly.

I stared at the bits and pieces, once belonging to Sixteen, longingly. His final words bounced wildly around in my skull.

Sixteen, you loved life; you gave everything up to save it, and you were just an android! I let you die! I can't do this; I can't watch anymore.

No! I have been letting people down my whole life! Flashbacks of the fights with Vegeta, Nappa, the Ginyu Force, Frieza and Garlic Junior raced through my mind. How many times have I let my friends down when they were counting on me? How many of my friends got hurt or, I cringed, diedbecause I was too weak or too scared to help them?

I frowned in despair. If only I were stronger! If only I could have done more! Whenever I get in trouble, every time I am in over my head and I don't think that I am going to make it, Dad, Krillen, Piccolo; one of my friends is always there to bail me out! But when the situation is in reverse, I just stand there like a little helpless child.

Dad, you have always been able to do anything you set your mind to. I envy you for that. There was never a challenge you couldn't meet. I sighed sadly. But Dad, I am not like you. I am so sorry. I just don't think I have what it takes. No! I have to be strong!If I can't do this, Dad, Piccolo, Everyone! I am going to lose them all!

I...I feel it slipping. I won't watch this anymore!The vault opened and I tapped into my hidden power; releasing every fragment of it...

..._

"You aren't a child, you are a monster!" Cell exclaimed as he looked at me with terrified eyes.

"A monster, huh?" I sneered. "What's wrong Cell? Isn't this what you wanted? I warned you! I told you what would happen if you pushed me too far, but you didn't listen! You forced me to awaken my hidden power, and now you cower in fear. You have no one to blame but yourself. After all, you unleashed this so called monster, and now you are afraid because you know that I am going to destroy you!"

"Noooo!" Cell stammered. "I am the ultimate fighter, I have no equal! No one can destroy me, NO ONE!"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't you have another speech yet?"

He growled. "I am tired of playing these childish games!" He yelled and created two destructo disks in his hands. He flung both of them at me simultaneously.

I shook my hed slowly. Pathetic.

I caught the disks without struggle in my own grasp and neutralized them with my ki easily.

Cell's eyes widened. "You little fool, I will show you what true power is!" He continued yelling arrogantly. "Special Beam Cannon!" He started laughing confidently. "Now what will you do?"

"Watch and learn; but in your case, just watch." I retorted and swept the blast effortlessly away with one hand.

He still was not giving up. "Rapid fire!" He yelled and fired thousands of mini blasts at me.

I didn't feel the need to dodge this poor attempt of an attack. My ki swallowed Cell's blasts, neutralizing them without effort, leaving him stunned. He actually shook out of fear as I walked towards him.

Cell blasted into the sky, not allowing me to get any closer. He gathered energy for a Kamehameha wave. "I will not be humiliated by a child!" He screamed at me "It is time for you to learn some respect." He laughed. "Here you go! Let's see you try and stop this. I am going to blow up the earth, and there is nothing you can do!"

I shook my head and sighed in annoyance; such a cowardly attack.

"Gohan get out of there, he's gonna do it!" Krillen suddenly panicked as he recognized Cell's stance.

I frowned in disbelief at my bald friend. Seriously? They are still doubting my power after all the have witnessed and felt during this battle. Wow.

I ignored his plea and stood there motionless as Cell launched the blast down towards me. My friends were freaking out hard-core by now; I can't believe they think that I cannot handle this puny blast.

I started charging my own Kamehameha wave under my breath as Cell's one neared. Just before his blast could connect with the earth, I launched mine. Cell was left powerless as my blast consumed his, and was heading straight in his direction.

"No! I can't stop it" he yelled and the blast collided with his body. I never took my eyes off him. When the smoked cleared Cell was barely alive: his left leg and arm were completely disintegrated and there was not much left of his head. I smiled, finding his damaged state amusing. Oh how the tables have turned,I snickered.

"Gohan!" My dad yelled. I turned my head to face him, annoyance clearly printed on my face. "You got to take Cell down right now, before he regenerates!" He instructed sternly.

"Take him down now?" I repeated, irritated. Hmmmm, nope I don't like the sound of that. I glared at my father, my eyes filled with hatred. I could see him flinch as his eyes connected with mine. A devious smile spread across my lips. "No." I turned my head towards Cell. "I think I'll wait. I am going to let him suffer for a little while."

"Gohan, listen to me!" My dad yelled again. "You got to finish him, do it now!"

Whatever.

"We all know you have the power, it is time to use it!" I ignored his pleas and turned my attention to Cell again; waiting for him to regenerate.

"If you won't finish him, I will!" Dad threatened.

I had enough of this. I flashed to my dad's side, rendering all the z-fighters speechless with my current speed. "Excuse me, what did you say?" I asked my dad politely. "I don't think I heard it right."

"You have to kill Cell nowbefore he regenerates, remember, he shares some of Piccolo's DNA." He stated with ernst. Piccolo grumbled something incoherently as my dad said that.

"Oh, I did hear right. And no, I am not going to do that." I stated emotionless. Dad looked a bit shocked at my refusal.

He frowned angrily. "Gohan, I am your father and you will do as I say!" He instructed.

That made me livid.

"So you are saying that I am obligated, no, forced, to do everything you wish because you are my father?" I sneered disdainfully.

Dad was shocked; he was not used to me talking disrespectful to him. "Son, I..." He started.

"No! You lost the right to call me your son when you tossed me into this fight, completely alone, like a piece of rotten meat! Your own son!? I am used to being abandoned by you, but this?!"

I flew up so I could look directly into his eyes. "You made this my fight." I stated maliciously. "And you are going to let me finish it." I grabbed him by his shirt; fright apparent in his eyes. "Or I am going to finish you." I threatened slowly. "Remember who the strongest one now is." I tossed him to the ground to prove my point. All the z-fighters gasped behind me. His stunned eyes followed me as I returned to the battlefield.

Cell was just done regenerating as I returned and was shaking with rage. "You little insect, you have made a fool out of me!" He yelled and began powering up. The earth shook as Cell doubled in size. I yawned, bored by his useless efforts.

"Now I will be the one who destroys you!" Cell yelled. He tried to land a punch on me, but he was waytoo slow; he may have gained a magnitude of power, but his speed decreased harshly.

I dodged his attempts effortlessly. He was no match for my speed. All his efforts were in vain.

I kicked Cell across his face and punched him in the stomach in one swift movement. Cell doubled over and clutched his stomach in pain. He fell to the ground, coughing up blood. I smiled, seeing Cell like this made me happy. He started to get sick and regurgitated 18. He was not in his perfect state anymore!

"You, w... what have you done?! I was perfect! You ruined everything you brat! My power, gone..." Cell whispered.

"I warned you." I stated simply in a mocked tone.

"ARRRGH!" Cell tried to land a punch on me again, but his speed has decreased even more than before; I dodged every blow. I jumped back a few metres, to get momentum, and rushed forward, head butting him in his chest. He skidded several metres away on his stomach. His arms were shaking as he tried to get on his feet again.

I took a few menacing steps toward Cell.

"N... Noo! Don't! Stay away from me!" Cell whimpered. He tried backing away, but stumbled over his own feet, and came crashing to the ground again, on his butt. He didn't try to get up this time. I looked at his pathetic figure as I stomped on his hand, crushing it.

"Give up" I instructed.

"Never" he yelled and tried to lift himself. I watched him get to his knees and kicked him back down. He let out a frustrated cry. "I will kill you, boy, I swear I will!"

I laughed without a trace of humour in my voice. "Oh really, Cell? Aren't we past the empty threat stage yet?"

"Nooooooo! I am perfect! Doctor Gero designed me to be indestructible. I am not going to be defeated by a lowlife like you. I will not allow it!" Cell began powering up again. "If I'm going down I'm taking you, and this pathetic planet, with me!" Cell grew bigger in size as he unleashed more power. I sighed, not this again.

"Oeh, I am really scared." I mocked in a baby-ish voice.

"Hahaha! I'm not joking boy!" He laughed. "I'm going to destroy the earth!"

"Well Cell, you surprised me yet again. I am so sorry, but I cannot compete with thispower." I said sarcastically and got into my signature fighting stance. "I can't say that this hasn't been fun Cell, but I'm afraid your time is up. It's time for me to end this."

"Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you." Cell smirked. "I'm in my second stage, remember? Doctor Gero installed a bomb inside of me, strong enough to kill any threat, no matter his strength." Cell let out a menacing laugh. "The fight is over boy. I won." He exclaimed victoriously.

"I'm not going to let that happen, freak! I will kill you before that bomb goes off!" I countered.

He snickered wildly. "Oh, that's not going to work my dear boy. If you touch me, I will explode, taking you and all your pesky little friends with me. The earth will be no more." Cell threatened.

"You're bluffing." I retorted, unsure.

"Maybe so, but will you take that risk?" He asked smugly.

My arrogance vanished. Crap, he's right; I have no way of knowing if he is lying or not. My eyes widened. No... What have I done? I fell to my knees, defeated. Cell really won. If I had just killed this bastard when Dad told me to; this will have never have happened. I let the power go to my head. Why didn't I listen? I let them down again! I am a failure. Dad trusted me. He believed in me. "Why, why, why was I so stupid?!"

"Don't blame yourself boy. There was no way you could have defeated perfection anyway." Cell mocked.

I beat my fists on the ground, cracking it. Cell won; there is nothing I can do to stop this monster now. "How could I have let this happened?!" I scolded myself aloud. Dad was counting on me. Everyone was counting on me! I started sobbing uncontrollably; I couldn't help it. Piccolo's teachings of "crying is only for the weak" played over and over like a broken record in my mind, but that just made me cry harder. I raked my brain, searching for a way I can turn this around, but my mind was clouded with hatred and rage; I couldn't think straight. Dammit! I rested my head in my fists and continued to weep.

I felt my father's ki coming closer. I slowly raised my head and stared at him with a puzzled expression. "D...Dad?" He smiled down at me. It was not a happy smile.

"I am so proud of you Gohan." He said. "Take care of your mother for me."

He put one hand on Cell's balloon-like body and rested two fingers on his forehead. My eyes widened. I recognized this stance... "Dad, don't!" I pleaded.

"Goodbye, my son." He greeted with a smile.

I jumped up with a magnificent speed, trying to stop him from sacrificing himself for my mistake.

But I was not fast enough...

I instinctively threw my arms in front of my face, shielding it from debris flying from where Dad was standing. I frantically searched for my father's ki, but I couldn't even locate his life force. My heart sank.

Dad and Cell were gone.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" My cry echoed across the battlefield. I stared at the place Dad had stood just a few moments ago. I fell down on my knees and continued crying.

"It's all right bro. Let it all out." I flinched as I heard Krillen's voice next to me. I didn't even notice his approach. Krillen allowed me to cry on his shoulders for a few minutes.

"I didn't have time to apologize." I suddenly realized. The last thing I ever said to my father was a death threat. "Dad I am so sorry! Please forgive me!" I yelled desperately at the sky. I sank slowly down on my knees. "Please, I didn't mean it..." I begged incoherently.

"Come on Gohan. Let's go home." Krillen encouraged.

"No." I was horrified. "What am I going to tell my mother and Gomih?!" I thought in horror as realization set in. "How am I going to tell them that I am the reason their husband and father is dead? That I am the one who killed him?" I was starting to hyperventilate. Tears streamed down my face. "Forget Cell; Iam the monster."

"Gohan calm down. You couldn't have known that this would have been the outcome. It's not your fault." Piccolo tried to comfort.

I looked at my hands. I hated what I saw. I resented the fact that I knew martial arts. "These are the hands responsible for the death of the greatest hero earth has and will ever see." I looked at my friends, seeking some comfort. But I saw it: behind their encouraging smiles and sympathetic eyes I saw the blame. I backed away, slowly at first, but blasted off into the sky when Piccolo tried to come closer.

I had no sense of direction, I just flew into the horizon at full speed in my SS2 state; guilt being my compass. In a matter of minutes I was hundreds of miles away from that graveyard. Then I felt it. I froze, not sure if my mind was playing tricks on me.

My eyes widened in terror. It was him. And he was stronger than ever...

I spun around and sped back to the battlefield. I felt Cell firing a beam, and a split second later Trunks' ki was nowhere to be found. The horror won't end. "No! You bastard! Leave my friends alone, I am coming!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

I arrived in record time at the scene. I perceived the situation from where I was floating in the sky; it was nauseating. Trunks laid on the ground a few feet away from the other Z-fighters with a gigantic hole in his chest; dead. And Vegeta was hanging from a mountain side near Trunks' corpse, with a lot of damage: blood was gushing down his face and his right leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. I flinched at the sight.

"Ah Gohan, I am glad to see that you have returned. I was just telling your friends about my perfect design; you see, doctor Gero created me with..."

I tuned his awful voice out my head. I clenched my fists. I saw red. Cell just killed another one of my friends. I was shaking out of anger. Killing countless innocent people, 16 and my father was not enough. My breathing became heavier; rage was filling my body rapidly. This was the last time Cell will ever kill someone on my watch. I swear!

A deathly scream bounced from the ground as I released even more power. All the Z-fighters were blown away by my sudden display of power.

I punched him through the face, not allowing him to continue that repugnant speech. He crashed to the ground, creating a massive crater. Cell laughed and wiped his purple blood from the corner of his mouth with his arm, not impressed. "Still as stubborn as ever I see. When will you realize that I cannot be defeated? Can't you sense that I am twice as strong as I used to be? I thought I was perfect before, but now!" Cell laughed again. "You will never be able to defeat me now. Even if by some miracle you do kill me now, I will just regenerate again and become stronger and stronger every time I am killed. Thanks to your dear friends Piccolo and Vegeta here."

I grimaced. I was disgusted that my friends' DNA were mixed in with this monsters'. "You know what Cell? I am glad you survived, because we never really had the chance to finish our fight. And now I can avenge my father's death! You will be sorry you came back." I sneered.

"T...Trunks is not dead you guys, he is moving!" Yamcha exclaimed behind me.

I looked back at the place where Trunks was laying. Yamcha was right, Trunks is still alive. His feet were twitching and he was coughing up blood violently. It was a nasty sight. I couldn't bear to look at it. I spun around facing Cell again. "You ready?" I got in a fighting stance.

Our fists connected countless times, we are evenly matched, I thought in despair. I have to think of something. There must be a way to destroy this monster. Think Gohan, think! I urged myself.

Pain shot through my body as one of Cell's punches connected with my upper torso. Cell's menacing laugh bounced around in my skull. "This is not a good time to get distracted, boy." Cell powered up; ready to deliver another blow. I caught his fist and spun him around, sending him flying towards a nearby mountain. Cell regained himself and was punching away at me once again.

My mind was still running at full speed in search for a solution. Then it hit me. I thought back to the time we fought with Garlic Junior; Piccolo's entire body was disintegrated in the battle with one of the goons, but he was still able to regenerate himself. When I asked him about it later, he told me that as long as his head was still intact, he could regenerate; probably where his lead regenerator cell is located.

Cell must have one too, and no matter the vastness of his power, he will not survive or be able to regenerate if that cell is destroyed. Doctor Gero must have programmed him so that the cell stays protected somehow when his 'suicide bomber mode' is activated.

All I have to do is destroy that cell, and then all this horror will be over.

I knew what I had to do...