A/N: This chapter took longer than most, sorry! I haven't been feeling super good lately :(

I honestly had no idea where I was going when I wrote this chapter, but I think I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

What do you think?

Chapter 10

The World Champ

Particles rushed through the air, molding once again with one another to build themselves into the person they belonged to. Gohan appeared in the presence of the energy signal he'd chosen to target for his first Instant Transmission outside of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber: his mother and still forming baby brother. Their energies were extremely distinct to the young boy who was highly devoted to his pregnant mother. He'd been sensing the power level from her abdomen for a month or so now, being oblivious to it before. He was almost certain it was going to be a boy, that Gohan was going to have a baby brother. Chi-Chi was sitting on a couch watching the television in the living room nearest to the largest kitchen in the residential building of Capsule Corporation. She looked tired, and like she'd been cooking recently... Ah. Gohan smiled a small smile when his senses filled with the aroma of his mother's cooking. She was definitely waiting for him, hoping her son was coming home now.

So as not to startle her, Gohan knocked on the wall he stood in front of. Chi-Chi turned her head around to the noise in confusion but her eyes easily widened and a smile dawned her lips when she saw her son.

"You've grown!"

Gohan blushed, "Uh, he he, yeah, you age in the time chamber..."

"You're almost as tall as me now Gohan! I bet a growing boy like you is very hungry. Good thing I cooked. I knew you'd be home soon!"

Gohan looked strangely at his normally moody mother who was being unusually calm and sweet. He didn't really have anything to complain about, but he would definitely be paying attention...

"Yeah mom! Thanks!"

They walked together to the kitchen both with grins, but their minds on very different things. When Gohan started mauling the file of food she's set out for him, she went back to the couch and started paying attention to the television once more.

"The press conference with the World Champion Martial Arts King on his defeat with Cell is merely minutes away folks. Don't touch your remotes! We'll be right back!"

Gohan lifted his head, noodles hanging from his mouth.

"WHAT?! WHO IS TRYING TO TAKE MY SWEET BABY'S GLORY! WHAT A FRAUD! WAIT 'TIL I GET MY HANDS ON HIM!" Chi-Chi was foaming at the mouth, but remained seated due to her discomfort caused by her swollen belly.

Gohan dropped his food and ran to his mother in attempt to calm her fury. He waved his hands in front of her, "Mom, mom, it's alright! I don't want any glory. It wasn't exactly a day to remember for me..."

Understanding Gohan's reference to the death of her beloved husband, she closed her mouth and thought through her emotions. When she heard from Bulma that Gohan had to be locked away in that chamber just to regain real control over his emotions, her heart broke knowing that she'd not only let her precious baby become so stressed, but that it was also partly her fault. She hadn't really needed Bulma's help yet, but she decided it would be better for Gohan to be around more people he knew than just her...especially when the new baby did come. She'd even thought about his request to go to a public school with other kids in the city... But she decided she just wasn't ready for that, even if he was.

"I'm sorry Gohan..." But something seemed to catch both of their attentions now.

"We are live as the Champ himself, Hercule Satan, is taking his place at the podium to make his official statement to the press about the long awaited end to the horrifying Cell Games and his triumph over evil that day."

The screen cut from the announcer to Hercule behind a stand with at least twenty microphones surrounding him.

"Hello people of Orange Star City and all over the world. I am Hercule Satan and I merely want to announce that I gave that poor excuse for a martial artist, Cell, exactly what was coming for him! It was easy really, I did it with one hand behind my back! The monster could have never taken my full power if I had really been trying... So, there can now be peace! Know that the world is safe again. I will be your guardian forever, good people of earth! Thank you!"

Applause sounded layered with screaming fans and reporters screaming questions for the man who cheesed a smile out as he absorbed his excruciating amount of fame, visibly insane with all his self obsession. The camera switched back over to the original announcer.

"Wow! What a statement! I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm grateful to our Champ here for our peace and freedom! He went from being hero only to his little daughter, Videl, to now being the symbol of a hero for the world. Now a special World Martial Arts Tournament will be held and sponsored by Mr. Satan himself, where in the top three finalists will receive the first three memberships to his new gym opening soon. But he has told us that he is taking students only! Which means for all you aspiring heroes out there between the ages of seven and eighteen, here is your chance for teaching from the Champ himself. Thank you for tuning in."

Gohan was frozen in thought. He needed to collect everything he just witnessed.

-Hercule Satan openly took credit for his accomplishment.

-He was holding his own World Martial Arts Tournament in order to advertise for him new gym where he was planning to teach his style of fighting.

-His mother seemed on the verge of fainting.

-Videl. The girl from the lookout, without her memory, was Hercule's daughter.

Gohan started to add these things to his list of things to stress over until a new thought crossed into his mind. Instead of trying to manage the many things that seemed to pile up to stress and worry him, why didn't he ever just fix them? Because alot of situations needed to be treated much more gently than to just chase after the easy answer... But suddenly his old logic didn't seem to add up. Maybe he wasn't supposed to serve the stress that fed on his livelihood, maybe he was supposed to prove his power and control the situations. Maybe he had a few new things he needed to start doing. Maybe something good, no great, could come out of this... Maybe he just needed to shove all his fear out of his mind and follow his instincts. With a calm mind, he decided to never again to back down or bow down to anyone or thing that didn't deserve respect. Scared Gohan was dead. Scared Gohan died with his father.

Chi-Chi contained herself and turned to look at her son. In this moment, she hardly recognized him. He was standing tall, with confidence burning in his eyes. Though he remained calm, his smirk did seem so out of character on her innocent little boy's lips. It was like he was planning something pure evil. Before she could speak up about her worries, living rage entered the room.

"How did you beat me here brat?! I'm sick of your nonsense! I want this settled now! FIGHT ME!" Vegeta stormed in, with all his fury.

Gohan turned his head slightly to look at the man, and with a menacing taste he spoke, "Gladly."