A Father's Legacy

A New Reason

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DS: Yep, guess whose back, back again, Shadow's back, tell a friend.

Gohan: -rolls his eyes- Wow, you are such a copycat.

DS: Whatever, hey look, the faster you do this announcement, the faster we can move on.

Gohan: Yeah. So, the author of this story doesn't own Dragonball Z, or any of its characters (including me), we are owned by Akira Toriyama and Toei, respectively. There, you happy now?

DS: -Beams with pride- Yep! Now! On with the story! Oh, and sorry for taking so long guys! Hope you guys didn't think I had abandoned this story!

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Nine months has passed since the battle with the Cell Games ended. Gohan is currently sitting in a waiting room at a hospital a nervous wreck. Earlier that morning, his mother had gone into labor, and he barely managed to get a clear enough head to figure out the location of the nearest hospital. Fidgeting in his seat, the young demi-saiyan couldn't help yet wonder what he was going to have for a sibling. Was it going to be a brother, or a sister? The thought of having another girl in the house made him jittery, especially if she ended up having a personality similar to his mother's, his spine went cold at the thought of two Frying Pans of Doom smashing down on him at once. Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't realize the pitter patter of feet coming up beside him, however, he did notice the hand placed on his shoulder. He looked up to see the most beautiful pair of cerulean eyes, he swore he could've seen them somewhere before, and it didn't take long for his brain to click in, and realize that it was the champion's daughter, Videl Satan, whom he had saved before, he still remembered that newscast on TV.

Videl was caught in a similar trance as she looked into the Onyx eyes that had met her own, she couldn't help but notice the world of emotion behind them, and yet she also noticed the unsaid maturity behind the boy's eyes as well. They stayed like that, staring at each other for what seemed like eternity, before Videl finally got a sense of rationality into her mind, and decided to break the silence by speaking.

"Oh, umm, hi, are you alright? I noticed you seemed pretty fidgety a moment ago." Videl spoke up rather timidly.

"Oh, uhh, yeah, I'm fine, my mom's just going through labor right now, so I'm really worried about her," Gohan replied just as timidly, yet he was slowly growing accustomed to the girl's presence around him.

Videl nodded sympathetically at Gohan, and took a seat beside him, the silence once again ensuing for a short time. She wondered what it was about the presence of the boy that made her feel like this, she wasn't typically a shy person, but something about this boy sitting beside her was making her feel very unusual.

Breaking the silence, she once again spoke up as she asked, "Hey, what's your name anyway?"

Gohan blinked a little bit, "Oh, where are my manners?! I'm Son Gohan!" he replied chirpily and proudly.

Videl blinked a little bit, and nodded, before adding in, "I'm Videl Satan, but you probably already knew that."

Gohan turned to her and gave her a slow incline of his head, indicating that he did in fact know her.

Videl spoke up again, "It must be real uncomfortable, knowing your mother is pregnant and waiting agonizingly for the results, I wouldn't know, I never got to know my mother," she added the last bit rather solemnly.

A pang hit Gohan's heart at those last words, as he could understand perfectly what she was going through. After all, it had only been what, nine months now since his father had sacrificed himself in order to defeat Cell once and for all. Gohan wondered if he had the heart to tell her that her father never defeated Cell, but decided against that thought, he didn't think she was quite ready to hear those details just yet.

A young nurse barely out of her mid twenties walked over to the two, and looked at the boy, "Are you Son Gohan?" she asked.

"Yes, I am ma'am." Gohan replied smoothly, nodding his head curtly, inside he was a nervous wreck.

"Come with me please," the nurse replied, and Gohan nodded again, getting up and walking after the nurse, not before taking a look back at Videl though, she gave him a small smile, and waved at him, he waved back at her, and continued on his way.

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Chichi lay calmly in the hospital bed, cooing the baby that was in her arms gently, attempting to get him to calm down. Slowly, but surely her efforts were working. Just then, the door opened, and in walked Gohan, as he looked at his mother, and the newborn that was in her arms. The trademark Son Grin came across his face, and he strode over to his mother as gently as possible. Stopping beside the bed, he turned to look at his newborn brother, and noticed immediately how much like his father he looked.

"Wow, he's so tiny!" Gohan exclaimed, reaching out to pick his brother up, scooping him up gently, he cradled the tiny baby in his arms. Chichi chuckled at her Elder son's antics, and nodded lightly at him.

"Yes, he looks just like your father, I named him Son Goten, I thought it was fitting," Chichi replied, somewhat tiredly due to her experience.

"That's a great name, mom, and he'll make a great addition to our family," he said, looking down at his brother with a gentle and loving smile, "Hiya, squirt, my name's Gohan, I'm your older brother," he whispered gently at Goten, causing him to giggle slightly, which made Gohan's smile grow a little bit more. Never in his wildest dreams, had Gohan ever thought he'd become an older brother.

Keeping the smile on his face, Gohan spoke softly again, repeating his silent oath from before, "I promise I'll never let anything happen to you Goten, no matter what, I'll protect you."

The baby once again giggled, and Gohan finally handed him back to his tired mother, who took the baby up into her arms, and looked down at her newborn, a quaint smile on her face, one Gohan had never really noticed before, but a smile that held all the affection of a mother behind it.

'Come to think of it, I've never really watched my mom from up close before, nor have I ever paid attention to the subtle changes in expression on her face' He thought to himself, and a small grin crossed his face as he watched his mother's loving eyes gaze upon her newborn. Never before had he felt as close to his mom as he did right now, and he didn't know if he would ever feel that close again. Deciding it best to leave her alone until Bulma and the others arrived, he decided to waltz back out to the waiting room, where surprisingly to him; one Videl Satan was still sitting calmly in her seat.

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Videl was sitting quietly in her seat, for some reason, it suddenly felt lonely with Gohan's disappearance. Lost in her own thoughts, she barely noticed the sound of feet coming up to her, she did however notice the boy who took a seat next to her.

"Ah, Gohan," she spoke softly, unsure of what else to say.

Gohan smiled and gave her a curt nod, and then asked the one question on his mind, "Hey, what are you doing here anyway?"

Videl blinked a little bit, before a frown came across her face, and she replied quietly, "One of my friends got caught up in a fighting accident, I'm currently waiting to visit her."

Gohan frowned lightly, before a grin came to his face as an idea popped up in his mind, "Hey, you know, why don't we go visit her together when she's able to receive visitors?" he spoke softly, realizing the value of possibly having a friendship with someone his age.

Videl blinked a little bit, and then a small smile came across her face, she turned to Gohan with a nod, unable to really make up for words. This simple stranger whom she had barely met had offered to go with her to see a friend, a person he had barely known. How on earth someone could be so kind was beyond her. Just as this thought was protruded, another nurse walked up to them.

"Excuse me, but Erasa is ready to receive visitors now." The Nurse spoke coolly, as though she had known Videl her whole life.

'Wow, she's really famous, must be hard being the daughter of the champion of the world.' Gohan thought nonchalantly, trying to hide his surprised at having found out that bit of information. A small blush actually crept its way onto his face as he realized that he was actually giving the girl a once over, something he had never really done, and he quickly shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts he was having, though he had to admit she was pretty cute.

Videl, who was seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was just being looked over, got up and walked off, and Gohan quickly followed after her. A multitude of different thoughts were pounding her head right now, she had no idea exactly how Erasa was doing, but it was clearly obvious the closer they got the room, that she was fairly conscious. As they entered the room, a girl with blonde hair was sitting on the bed, her eyes mischievous looking and glancing at the many different sights, before she slowly laid her eyes on Videl, and they bristled with excitement.

"Videl!" The girl practically exclaimed in excitement, before grimacing in pain, she was covered in numerous bandages, and it was obviously that when she landed, she was cut in multiple different areas very harshly, including her head. Gohan actually had to flinch at the sight; he hadn't seen someone this bandaged up since the time he and his dad had finished fighting Vegeta.

"Hey Erasa," Videl replied, pausing for a minute to take in the sight of her friend, and continued, "How are you feeling?" She finished, slightly at a loss for words, and looking like she was about to cry.

"Oh, I'm doing alright, they have me on some awesome pain killers, so I can't feel a thing!" Erasa said cheerfully, then her eyes moved over to Gohan, and she practically squealed with delight, "Oh my, who's this cutie Videl?" Erasa exclaimed mischievously, causing Gohan to blush and find the tile floor interesting.

"H-hi, my name's S- Son Gohan." He replied to her comment timidly and shyly, never before had a girl called him cute.

Erasa giggled at the shyness of Gohan, and Videl just shook her head. In all her years as a kid, she had never met anyone before who was quite as modest as Gohan was.

"He's a new friend I've met, but it feels like we've met before." Videl said, somewhat timidly, and wondering why it felt like she had met Gohan before.

Gohan closed his eyes, he was struggling internally with whether or not to tell her the actual truth, about his heritage, who he was, and that he was the one who had saved her. He wondered if it was really worth it to hide everything from this girl, who was being misled by her father. Finally, he came to a decision; it was worth it to get it all out, besides, what reason did he ever have to hide anything from the girl.

"Hey Videl, could we talk outside the hospital, privately, like in a park?" Gohan said, realizing that the moment was now or never, there wasn't any turning back the moment those words left his mouth.

Videl blinked, noticing the serious expression on his face, "Umm, sure, why not, do you mind?" She replied, and looked back at Erasa as she asked that last question.

Erasa shook her head to indicate that she did not mind at all, and with that Gohan and Videl were out of the room and walking down the hallway again. Videl wondered what it was that could have made Gohan so serious, then again, he had been mysterious since she first met him, and it was though he was hiding something, but she couldn't sense exactly what it was.

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Arriving at the park, Gohan strode over to a nearby bench and Videl followed suit. He had wondered if this was the best scenery to explain his life's story in, but deciding that it didn't matter much, he took a deep breath, then he turned his eyes to the girl, all the seriousness in the world held in them, which startled Videl extremely, why had the boy suddenly taken such a serious attitude when she had. Gohan was actually wondering why he was telling someone he had just known his life story, and he hesitated at first, wondering if he should even do this. Wouldn't the girl think of him as a freak if he told her he was a half-alien who had been to other planets, wouldn't she yell at him and call him a liar, and say that her father defeated the monster known as Cell?

'Give her a chance; maybe she's not as bad as you would think.' A voice in the back of his mind seemed to say, calming the raging emotions that had thrown his heart into turmoil.

"What I'm about to tell you is something I wouldn't normally tell anyone, Videl, so I need your word that you won't tell anyone this information." Gohan spoke, almost cryptically.

Videl gave him a nod, "You have my word, I won't tell anyone."

Gohan gave her a small smile, and then proceeded to tell of her of his life's story. He told her about how Raditz had first come to the Earth and kidnapped him, claiming his father to be a mysterious alien known as a Saiyan. He told her about the battle that they had with Raditz, how two years later the Saiyans known as Nappa and Vegeta came to Earth, and they battle them to protect the planet. He told her about their trip into space, how they had landed on Namek and came face to face with Frieza, how they fought against Frieza's men, the Ginyu Force, and the long hearted battle they had with Frieza, which lead to his father transforming into a Super Saiyan. He then told her about the Arrival of Trunks, how he warned them about the oncoming Android threat, how they had met Dr. Gero in South City, how his father battled with Number Nineteen and came down with the dreaded heart virus, and how the others were ultimately side tracked by Androids Seventeen and Eighteen, who was now officially married to Krillin. He told her about how the monster Cell had came to be, how he and his father went into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and trained for the entire year, how his father had fought Cell, how he had fought Cell, he told her about how he transformed, and that his father sacrificed his life against Cell, and even how he had finished Cell off. The whole story took about two long hours to get out, but Gohan made sure not to leave out any detail.

Videl blinked a little bit, not sure what to make about the story of this person she had only just met. Could he really be telling the truth? Well, the look in his eyes certainly seemed to suggest he was, but she was still uncertain.

"So, you're half alien, right?" Videl asked, unsurely and timidly.

Gohan merely nodded as a response, unable to really usher any words out as Videl questioned what he said, he was sure he had screwed himself over into a big hole.

"I-I guess it makes sense, I mean, I always wondered how my father would have been able to defeat that monster, it didn't seem right for him to have been able to do so." Videl said, finally taking Gohan's story to be true. After all, who could make up something like that?

Gohan blinked, his eyes slightly widened in surprise. He half expected to girl to flip out and run away from him scared, but here she was, as perfect as day, completely calm about it.

"You- You mean you're not freaked out by that at all?" Gohan's voice spoke in a small squeak.

"Gohan, there's no way someone could make up a story like that if it weren't true, I believe you." Videl said, calmly and reassuringly, which caused a bright smile to appear on Gohan's face.

"Thanks, Videl, I honestly thought I'd never get anyone to take my word for it." Gohan replied.

Videl nodded, "Hey, I'd better get going back to Erasa's room, she's probably worried sick about me."

Gohan nodded, "Yeah, I should probably get going back to Mom's room, before she gets worried sick about me as well."

With that, the two new friends had said their goodbyes, and Videl began to walk back to the hospital. Gohan stood there, staring at the sky for a moment, thinking about what he had just done, and how it probably changed his life completely. A small smile came across his face, and slowly, but surely he began to make his way back to the hospital. As he got to his Mom's room, he stopped for a moment, and looked down at the floor. His mind was flashing back to an event that had occurred so long ago, he almost shoved it out of his head, but now it seemed as clear as day to him.

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He was standing there on the battle field, in front of him, was the green and black speckled monster known as Cell. Above them, on the cliff, the Z Fighters were all there, fighting several miniature cells. All of the Z Fighters were on the brink of losing, and his mind was racing. How could he do this? How could he unlock his hidden power and finish this fight once and for all?

That's when the sudden noise of three clanks followed by a rolling sound occurred, which ended up in Android Sixteen's head stopping right in front of him. He looked down at the Android's head, as did Cell.

"Android Sixteen." He choked out, his voice hoarse from the fact that tears were streaming down his face, then that's when it happened.

"Gohan, let it go." The head spoke, which caused Gohan's eyes to widen in shock.

"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." The head continued, not distraught in the slightest.

"I know how you feel, Gohan, you are gentle, you do not like to hurt, I know because I too have learned these feelings, but it is because you cherish life, that you must protect it." Sixteen continued, reading his mind like a book.

"Ugh, this sentimental downpour is killing me. It's so nice of you to help Sixteen, but I plan on doing this my way." The menacing voice of Cell sounded as he walked over to the Android's head.

"Please, drop your restraints. Protect the life I loved, you have the strength, my scanners sensed it, just... let it go."Sixteen finished, undeterred by what Cell said.

The gentle Android's life was ended however, when Cell crushed his head, causing Gohan's eyes to widen even more, as his mind nearly went numb at the sight.

"Yet another fighter, you could have saved." Cell said, amused by this little accomplishment of his.

'Sixteen, you loved life, you gave up everything to save it, and you were just an Android. I let you die, I can't do that, No, I feel it slipping, and I won't watch this ANYMOREEEEEEEE!'

Gohan felt all the rage boil up, and explode in an overwhelming amount of power, and there was only one thought on his mind, finishing off Cell once and for all.

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Gohan shook off the flashback, remembering what happened back then was still hard on him, but, he had to face his fears at some point, he couldn't shake them off after all. Gohan opened the door to his mother's hospital room, and walked inside. Krillin, Bulma, Yamcha, Ox King, Master Roshi, Puar, and Oolong were all present. Even the Mighty Prince himself, who wouldn't normally be bothered by such a sentimental event, was convinced by Bulma to come. Even the Namekian warrior Piccolo had come. Chichi however, was still asleep at the time.

"Hey, kiddo, where the heck have you been?!" Krillin spoke in a quiet voice, which caused Gohan to smile.

"Oh, I was just out making a new friend, that's all." Gohan said, which caused the others to chuckle a little bit.

"So, is this friend your age?" Bulma asked, causing Gohan to nod.

"Well I bet as you two get older, he'll eventually rival Piccolo's spot for your best friend." Krillin chuckled, and his joking comment even plastered a smile on the Namekians face.

"Actually, it's a she, Krillin, and if she were as strong as you, I'd call her a better fighter." Gohan said smugly, which caused everyone's eyes to widen, making Gohan blink as he suddenly spoke up, 'What, what did I do?"

Krillin sniggered a little bit, "So, little Gohan is growing up and making girlfriends us, is he now?" He spoke in a sly voice.

Gohan blushed deeply, "N-no, it's not like that, Krillin, I only just met her!"

Krillin laughed a little bit, "Yeah yeah," he paused, turning to look back at the new born, and a smile came across his face, "He looks just like Goku."

Gohan smiled and nodded, "Yeah, he does, one day, he might become as strong as we are."

Vegeta gave a snort at that comment, but said nothing about it, which caused Gohan to grin.

As the day wore on, Chichi finally woke up, and her first task of action was locating her eldest son, which didn't take long to do, as he was sitting on the chair right there beside her. There was a lot of laughter to be held from jokes about how much Goten looked like Goku when he was little. Eventually though, evening came around, and it was time for everyone to leave and get back to their own respectable homes. Gohan however, had decided to spend the night with his mother, something that was only allowed because he was her son after all, and he couldn't stay at home by himself, or so the hospital officials said, in truth, the kid wouldn't leave, no matter what. Piccolo had agreed to stay as well, and keep an eye on both of them, since he was the only adult supervisor around.

Gohan was just getting ready for bed, when he turned to look at his old mentor.

"Hey, Mr. Piccolo?" Gohan asked, surprising Piccolo since he had never expected Gohan to use that part of his name again.

"Yeah, what is it Kid?" Piccolo looked back at his student.

"Do you think if another threat were to come, I would be able to stand up to it?" Gohan asked, uncertainty dripping from his voice.

Piccolo gave his student a reassuring smile, and nodded, "Of course you would, Gohan, you're the strongest person on this planet, and you're only going to get stronger."

Gohan smiled, and nodded, then finally laid down on the capsule pallet he had put down on the floor, as he closed his eyes, the words of his father and Android Sixteen ran through his mind.

'Gohan's so strong now, I have nothing left to teach him.'

'It is not a sin to fight for the right cause.'

As Gohan drifted off to sleep, one last thought ran through his mind as well.

'I have a little brother, and I've made a new friend. If one thing is for sure, I definitely have a new reason to train as hard as ever. No matter, I'll protect them both."

Then Darkness once again consumed the young hybrid, and as he drifted off, the Namekian watched him in wonder, and then looked up at the sky out the hospital window, a smile on his face.

'Goku, if there is one thing your son gets from you, it's your personality. He's like you in every way, and when the time comes, I'm sure he will give us hope as well. It's almost as though you were right here in front of us all along.'

With that thought in mind, Piccolo pushed himself into a deep meditation for the night.

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DS: Well, holy crap, that wasn't quite as long as my previous chapter, but it was still pretty long.

Gohan: Hey, what was that anyway? Why did I tell Videl all my secrets so quickly?

DS: Instead of going through the trouble of making you guys meet up in high school or college, I thought it would be better to settle your differences as kids. Besides, it emphasizes on the bond you two are going to be sharing

Gohan: I guess so. I can't believe how long it took you to make this chapter, school really gets in the way, doesn't it?

DS: Yeah, tell me about it. If anyone's wondering, I'm doing a little foreshadowing, can you guys guess what it is?

Gohan: Here's a hint: It has something to do with my dad, there were two focuses on it, one in the last chapter, the other in this one.

DS: If you catch on, there might be a special treat involved.

Gohan: Onto the chapter summary?

DS: Yes of course, well, Goten has finally been brought into the world, and while I could have made a more comedic scene of Gohan rushing his mom to the hospital, it didn't quite fit what I was going for, my emphasis this chapter was the theme for Gohan's new reason to train, and Videl and Goten are going to play an important role in that. What that role is, I can't tell you.

Gohan: I wonder what dad is thinking right about now…

DS: I don't know, I guess we'll just have to find out in the next chapter. By the way guys, sorry if this seems like it is going so slow, I'm using these early chapters to set up some pretty important bonds, the action should be starting soon though.

Gohan: Can't wait for that, hope you guys don't miss it! Until then, chow! –once again flashes the famous Son Grin as he waves to everyone-