Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. I do own Jesse, Mirai Jesse, Zarvon, Grendel, and some of the attacks used.
Warning: Bit of gore fairly early in the chapter. Anyone who has seen Rurouni Kenshin will have a decent idea of what is about to happen. Because of this, this story ahs been upped to the 'R' rating. This will be graphic, though not gruesomely so.
It was a technique that had not been used for nearly six thousand years. Less than twenty others had ever used it. Thirteen of them were all named Hiko Seijuro, as the passing of the technique was accompanied by the passing of the name and title of the Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. One of the few others was named Kenshin Himura, sometimes called Battousai the Manslayer. The last one to properly wield this technique died six thousand years ago, and was currently about to finish his term as a guard in Hell and about to be allowed into Heaven to be with his family. The rest were in Limbo.
On a planet distant from Earth, lacking any native sentient life, the battle cry of this attack is heard once again. Two warriors, virtually equal in every detail, were battling it out, a fight to the finish. One was a warrior displaced in time, sent through a rip in Time and Space to end up ten years in an alternate future. The other was his counterpart, native to this timeline. They had been the last true students of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style, and were formerly disciples of the North Supreme Kai, Kamin. One was now in disgrace, having abandoned his former masters teachings. He was the native to this timeline. The other still adhered to the lessons of the man he had come to think of as a father.
Majin Mirai Jesse was a man who had seen far too much hardship in his life. His ideals were shattered and he had embraced the darkness within himself to get revenge. He was resigned to his fate, of becoming an inmate in Hell instead of a guard. But he did not care, as long as he killed Dabura. Now he was using the combination of two devastating techniques: the Shukuchi and the Ku Zu Ryu Sen. The Shukuchi was a technique that took a persons speed beyond the god-like speed of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. The Ku Zu Ryu Sen was the ultimate attacking technique, and one of the two final techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style.
Jesse was a man who aspired to better himself and to uphold the ideals of Kamin, the North Supreme Kai, Jesse's now-deceased mentor, friend, and teacher. In a fight with Majin Buu in his home timeline, Jesse and a Saiyan, Zarvon, were thrown through a rip in Space/Time and ended up in an alternate future. Now he was facing and older, bitter version of himself that had taken exception to his abilities. And now he was forced to try and test his skill with the ultimate attack of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style against an attack the likes of which he had never seen before, and hoped to never see again.
He only had one chance. He was in the stance for Battou Jutsu, the sword drawing skill. From the stance he was in, he could use the Hi Ryu Sen or the Sou Ryu Sen. But neither technique would be fast enough to stop this maddening technique. Even the god-like speed Battou Jutsu could not stop this.
But during his final year in Limbo, Jesse had seen the ultimate technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style in use against the ultimate technique of Watoujutsu. The user had explained what was needed to use the technique, but until now Jesse lacked the final piece of the puzzle.
Jesse opens his eyes. Within them, the desire to live is burning brighter than any supernova. Jesse grips the hilt of the Silver Sword, vowing to live. He had to fulfill his vow to Kamin to always live with honor and dignity. He had to keep his vow to Hiko to master the Hiten Mitsurugi Style in its completion and to make sure that it was always used with honor. And he was not ready to die.
Jesse was ready. He knew what he had to do. And what he had to do was kill his counterpart. This technique left no room for errors. Because he did not use a sakabattou, a reverse blade sword, like Kenshin Himura, his counterpart would not live through this technique. Hiko had because Himura used a reverse blade sword, and thus the technique was more like a clubbing attack than a killing attack. Hiko had still born the scar from teaching his first pupil the ultimate succession technique.
Jesse let himself be immersed in his resolve to live. He had to stop Majin Buu from being released, or destroy the monster should he be released. When he had met Majin Buu in the past, he had sensed a major weakness in the monster. Because it was an artificial creation, and because its creator had bestowed so much physical and ki power into it, it had little to no mental defenses outside of its mind. Meaning that psionic blasts could shred it with ease. But first Jesse had to survive.
During the normal Battou Jutsu, if you were right handed, your sword was strapped to your left side. Your right leg would be placed in front of the left leg to avoid cutting off your own leg. You would twist your body just right, virtually ripping your sword out of its sheathe in the god-like speed that was one of the trademarks of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. But god-like speed wasn't good enough against a god-like speed Ku Zu Ryu Sen, much less one using the god-speed of the Shukuchi.
But Jesse had a different technique to use. At the last moment, he placed his left leg in front of his right leg, moving into the Ku Zu Ryu Sen, and twisted his waist, the Silver Sword rocketing from its sheathe, slicing through the air so fast that the blade was barely visible.
"Ama Kakeru Ryu no Hirameki!"
crunch
Majin Mirai Jesse is stopped mid-air, a look of shock, pain, and horror on his face as the Silver Sword bites into his right hip. His face twists in agony as Jesse's Silver Sword cuts through him, going through his internal organs and through his chest until it exits right below his rib cage. The force of the attack knocks both halves of the Majin warrior back, skidding across the ground. Blood and gore seeped out of the severed halves as Jesse walks up to his barely-living counterpart.
"If it means anything to you, I'm sorry," Jesse says softly.
"It's...okay," Mirai Jesse rasps. His hair flickers as Babidi's magic flows out of him, his hair returning to its normal brown color as the "M" disappears. "I died an honorable death. Just avenge me, please."
"I can save you, you know," Jesse says, "I have a pair of Kai Earrings."
Mirai Jesse coughs. "No thank you. There is still a possibility of us separating if we used the Shirubaa Bufu Kijutsu. I would still die then. I would rather die with honor here and now than to die in shock."
"I'm sorry that it had to be this way," Jesse says, "if you want, you can try and get King Yemma to send you back. We may still need you."
"You won't," Mirai Jesse rasps, "now go. Cooler is about to destroy the Supreme Kai and Videl. And tell Videl that she was a worthy apprentice. Promise me that you will complete her training."
Jesse nods. "Promise me this: stay in Yemma's courtroom until this is all over. If Buu is released, have him get Baba to bring you back. Buu is weak against psionic power. Between the two of us and Videl, we can possibly destroy him. We can definitely destroy him if Shin helps."
"Okay," Mirai Jesse says, "any messages you want me to deliver while I'm on the other side?"
"Have a message sent to the Saiyans Gohan and Goku on the Grand Kai's planet, and to the Saiyan Vegeta in Hell," Jesse says grimly, "as well as the warrior Pikkon on the Grand Kai's planet. Have them readied to come to the living world if Buu is released. We may yet need the power of a trio of Super Saiyan 2's and a powerful warrior like Pikkon."
"Of course," Mirai Jesse sighs. He can feel the last vestiges of his life draining away. "At least I may get to see Olibu, Orzin, and Girin when I cross over."
"They will be excited to see you," Jesse says, "send them my best."
With a heavy sigh, Mirai Jesse closes his eyes and drifts off, letting death claim him after six thousand years of life. He died honorably, fighting to the very end. Jesse sends up a silent prayer for a peaceful journey for his counterpart into Otherworld.
An explosion in the distance reminds Jesse that there is still work to be done. He can sense that Majin Mirai Trunks has been knocked unconscious and that Zarvon is fighting the Changeling. But the Changeling is much stronger than he had been on the surface. Apparently the damn thing had a fourth form. He could feel that Zarvon had been knocked unconscious as well.
With a heavy sigh, Jesse uses the Instant Transmission to teleport to Shin's location.
"He's taken down Zarvon," Mirai Videl says, "and I can barely even touch him. A full mind blast may get him, but with Babidi's magic it will be iffy."
"We cannot defeat him in a physical battle, Videl," Shin says, "Cooler was quite strong even before becoming Babidi's slave."
With a small whirl of wind, Jesse appears in front of Shin.
"Jesse!" Shin cries out, "thank goodness your all right."
Mirai Videl notices the blood coating the Silver Sword that is also splashed liberally over Jesse's torso. "Jesse, what happened? Is my master okay?"
"He's dead," Jesse says a bit mournfully, "I had to kill him. But I can now claim the name and title of Hiko Seijuro the 14th, if I so desired."
"You learned the ultimate technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi?" Shin asks, impressed.
"More later, danger now," Jesse says as he creates a piece of cloth and cleans the blood off of the Silver Sword before changing it back into a broadsword, then sheathing it and returning it to his personal pocket dimension where he kept it and a few other things.
"Jesse, do you think you can beat the Changeling?" Shin asks.
"I am a bit tired from my fight with my counterpart, but I can still do enough damage to him so that you two will be able to beat him," Jesse says as he summons a pouch from his pocket dimension. He opens it and pulls out a senzu bean. He tosses one to Mirai Videl. "Find Zarvon and give this to him. Then the two of you can go and get Trunks and bring him back to here and then travel down to finish off Dabura, Grendel, and Babidi. Hurry. Majin Buu can be released at any moment now. Zarvon and Trunks put out an incredible amount of energy and Babidi's magic managed to absorb most of it and feed it to Buu."
"Will do," Mirai Videl says as she catches the bean, "kick that Changelings ass."
"Will do," Jesse says grimly. He had managed to feel Majin Cooler's full level of power, and while it was not more than his max, it was more than he could attain for a long period of time. His best chance would be the Geyser of Power and the Kaioh-ken Attack, perhaps at level fifteen. While in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he had mastered the Geyser of Power, and could now use it continuously in a pitched battle while flying. He wasn't sure how much power he could acquire on this planet, but from what he could feel through his psychic abilities, there was a comparable amount of life. He could gain a lot of strength.
A blast of wind heralds Majin Cooler's arrival. Jesse turns to face the large Changeling, eyes widening when he takes in Majin Cooler's new appearance.
"What do you think, boy?" Majin Cooler laughs, "like my new look?"
"It doesn't matter," Jesse shrugs, his voice cold, "you're still uglier than shit."
Majin Cooler's eyes harden. "Now now, there was no need for that. I was going to give you an easy death, but apparently you want to make things difficult."
'Cooler, be careful,' Babidi's voice rings through Majin Cooler's head, 'his power is more fearsome than we thought. Be extremely careful of him. If he is as good with his fists as he is with a sword, then he will overwhelm you.'
'What did he do to his counterpart, master?' Majin Cooler replies.
"I cut him in half," Jesse says coldly, interrupting the telepathic conversation and surprising both wizard and servant. "What, surprised? I am a telepath, you know. Your rudimentary abilities in that regard and your pathetic magic cannot compare to the power of a true telepath, even one so weak as me. My power may involve the telekinetic more than the telepathic, but even I can listen in on an unwarded conversation. Especially one controlled by an irate little toad."
'Toad?!' Babidi screams, 'Cooler, kill him! Kill him now!'
"You are welcome to try, Cooler," Jesse says as Shin and Mirai Videl take off to heal Zarvon, "but be prepared to die, because you may have to kill yourself to stop me."
"I think not," Majin Cooler laughs as he rushes Jesse.
"Kaioh-ken x20!" Jesse yells, a bright dark red aura surrounding him, and he disappears in a burst of speed. He appears behind Majin Cooler, raising his arms to gather in some energy, the bringing his hands forward like firing a Kamehameha, the gathered energy shooting out in a focused beam of pure white. "Aurabolt!"
The blast hits Majin Cooler in the back, the pure life energy searing his skin. Majin Cooler spins around and fires a strong ki blast at Jesse, but Jesse just knocks the blast away and move sin, driving his fist into Majin Cooler's gut. He follows up with a spinning back kick to the side of Majin Cooler's head, and finishes up the combo by driving his knee into Majin Cooler's face, sending the Changeling flying.
Majin Cooler rights himself, and vanishes in a spurt of speed. He reappears just before driving his fist into Jesse's jaw, driving the young paladin into the ground. Jesse counters by slugging the big Changeling in his own jaw, followed by several rapid-fire punches to the chest and finishing up with a spinning backhand to the throat. Cooler staggers a bit, but then shrugs off the damage and pounds Jesse again, this time creating a crater from the force of the punch.
Jesse leaps out of the crater and delivers a crushing punch aimed at Majin Cooler's head, but the evil Changeling blocks and counters with a fierce kick to Jesse's head, sending the human warrior skidding across the ground, tumbling head over heels. Jesse gets back to his feet just in time to avoid a bone-shattering punch. He rolls along the ground and back to his feet before leaping into Majin Cooler and delivering a fierce flying kick to the Changeling's back, sending the Changeling stumbling.
Majin Cooler spins and sends several strong low-level ki blasts at Jesse, but he merely swerves his body around like an acrobat to avoid them before stretching out his left arm and holding his hand in a claw position, aimed at Majin Cooler. "Guu Mahouteki!"
It was one of Jesse's best, and most favored, attacks. He had developed it during the Demon Wars, and while it was very effective against anything evil like Majin Cooler, it was exceptionally effective against Demons. He had shredded a quarter of the Demon Court with it. Olibu, Girin, and Orzin each had their own attack that did the same. Jesse's attack had been based around simple goodness. Olibu's had been based around honor. Orzin's around spirit. And Girin's around life itself. Each attack was devastating in its own right, but through a freak accident they found that they could merge their attacks.
They had been fighting the Demon Lord Asterix, a Demon with power similar to Demos' own. However, he was not as strong as Demos and had a limit that he could not surpass. Asterix had been slain, and the four of them had discovered a vital new attack.
The Guu Mahouteki slams into Majin Cooler, burning through flesh and biting into his muscle, searing as it goes. Energy slashes all over the Changeling as the attack assaults every inch of his body, setting fire to every nerve in Majin Cooler's body. The attack ends with an explosion of blue-white energy engulfing Majin Cooler's body and lacerating the evil minions skin violently.
Jesse lands and takes a breather, allowing the excess energy from the Kaioh-ken x20 to be reabsorbed. He hadn't expected to do so well against Babidi's third most powerful minion. He hadn't even had to summon up his maximum power to do it, either!
Before he can react, a pain of thin energy beams lance through his left shoulder, cutting through flesh, muscle, and bone to render his left shoulder inoperable. He looks in shock as Majin Cooler steps out of the explosion. He looks decidedly worse for wear, but it is apparent that he is not that hurt in his energy levels. With a loud yell, his power level begins to rise. It rises a considerable amount, nearly a quarter of Majin Cooler's previous level. The strain in the purple and white Changelings muscles tells Jesse that the Changeling was now at his maximum unless he had another transformation, and that was unlikely.
"You think you can defeat me, the strongest Changeling in existence!" Majin Cooler roars, "I will crush you, and then I will kill the human girl and capture the East Supreme Kai for Master Babidi to do with as he wishes!"
"You and what army, bub?" Jesse growls, "Geyser of Power!"
The pure, natural energy of the Geyser of Power slightly speeds up the healing of Jesse's left shoulder, healing it enough that he can use it, though not for a precision sword match. Jesse's hair and eyes flash white as the pure energy fills his body, supercharging him with incredible power.
"Is that the best you can do?" Majin Cooler asks critically, "more impressive than the other technique, certainly, but not enough to defeat me."
"Then its good that I can do this, isn't it?" Jesse asks with a smirk, "Kaioh-ken x15!"
Jesse is surrounded by the red aura of the Kaioh-ken Attack, though his hair and eyes continue to remain white from the Geyser of Power. His power level jumps, up even higher until it is dead even with Majin Cooler's. The evil Changeling blinks in amazement, then laughs.
"So, the boy has some real fight in him after all. How long can you keep this up, boy? I know these strength increasing techniques wear down on the body and its energy."
"Come and see, you slimy bastard," Jesse snarls. With a growl, Majin Cooler rushes Jesse and the two begin fighting at a high-speed, high-pitched free-for-all of fists, feet, knees, and elbows.
"Where is he?" Mirai Videl huffs, "I don't know how much longer Jesse can hold up against that monster."
"Feel his power level," Shin says, "he is holding his own. And I am sure that this is not the limit to Jesse's power. He always had great potential. Olibu may have been the best fighter among them, Girin the quickest, Orzin the best with tactics, but Jesse was the smartest. He was crafty, mixing his abilities in swordsmanship with his hand to hand combat abilities, though he almost always used his sword instead."
"He has some techniques that create energy blades," Mirai Videl says.
"I know," Shin says, "Kamin, the North Supreme Kai, taught him some of them."
"He developed a few more a few years ago," Mirai Videl says, "I developed some as well."
"Come, we must find Zarvon," Shin says.
The two continue to search, but they cannot find Zarvon. They do, however, find Majin Mirai Trunks, still under the control of Babidi and still unconscious. He is battered and bruised, but both Shin and Mirai Videl know that if he woke up he could take them both out easily.
"What do we do with him?" Shin asks.
"Well, with him being unconscious, his mental defenses are down," Mirai Videl says, "I may be able to break Babidi's hold on him."
"Give it a try," Shin says, "I'll keep a lookout in case Babidi tries sending another of his minions.
Mirai Videl kneels beside Majin Mirai Trunks and places her hands on his temples. Her Jagaan eye opens up and glows with indigo light. A beam of pure white light shoots from the Jagaan's iris and hits Majin Mirai Trunks' forehead.
Inside of Majin Mirai Trunks' mind, she can see Babidi's dark magic entrenched into his thought processes. She could see the defenses that Mirai Trunks had prepared, but Babidi's magic had been more than he was a match for. She could tell that these defenses would have been much stronger had Mirai Trunks even been slightly psionic. As it was, he could receive telepathic messages, and send during a mental link, but that was it.
Mirai Videl grins. The defenses the demi-Saiyan had were good. Very good, in fact, but she could tell that he had been taught how to erect them by Jesse. He knew how to erect proper psionic defenses, but he did not know how to erect his own. Even her sensei did not know how. But she knew, because she did not have a strong enough natural telepathic power to erect true barriers. Not ones that could completely stop magic this powerful. Nothing short of true psionic defenses could, and against power like Babidi had, it would take someone crafty and experienced to withstand his evil magic. Or someone with enough true goodness in their heart She could tell that he had enough goodness in his heart to resist Babidi's commands if he didn't agree with him, but it would be a near thing. With his subconscious help, she could erase Babidi's control and free the young demi-Saiyan from the evil wizards grip.
With iron discipline and grim determination, Mirai Videl slowly burns away Babidi's magic from Mirai Trunks. As Shin watches, he can see the stylized "M" that represented those under Babidi's thrall slowly disintegrate. He sighs in relief. Mirai Videl was succeeding in freeing the young demi-Saiyan. A few moments later a soft golden glow is flowing from Mirai Videl's hands and over Mirai Trunks' body. His wounds heal and his Saiyan armor fixes itself as the young woman heals him.
When Mirai Videl finishes healing Mirai Trunks, he groans and sits up, wearily opening his eyes. "What happened?"
"Babidi possessed you," Mirai Videl says softly, "he had you fight Zarvon and you gave him a pretty tough run."
"How could that happen?" Mirai Trunks demands, "Jesse trained Zarvon and I how to defend our minds!"
"Jesse cannot properly teach someone without psionic how to erect the barriers that they can use," Mirai Videl says, "he can teach you some, but your mental defenses had some serious gaps in them. I know from experience. Despite having a Jagaan, I still had to erect normal barriers for someone without true psionic potential. And I had to learn the hard way. I placed some barriers in your mind to prevent him from taking hold again, though you still have the power boost he gave you."
"Power boost?"
"You are now a Super Saiyan 3, and a little bit stronger than Zarvon," Mirai Videl states, stunning the lilac-haired demi-Saiyan.
"That's great," Mirai Trunks says, "though I don't feel one hundred percent right now, I'm sure I can be of some help."
"I wasn't able to restore all of your energy," Mirai Videl says, "though I was able to completely heal you physically."
"Whats going on right now?" Mirai Trunks asks.
"One of Babidi's minions, a Changeling named Cooler, attacked us but Jesse intervened," Shin explains as Mirai Trunks gets to his feet, "he was fighting his older self, who had also been taken over by Babidi's magic. You and Zarvon fought and he knocked you unconscious. He fought Cooler but apparently Cooler was able to take him out as well. We don't think he is dead, just unconscious. Jesse gave us a senzu bean to heal Zarvon and restore his strength, then go and hunt down Babidi and put an end to him."
"That's a good plan," Mirai Trunks says, "I feel violated having that little toad in my mind."
Mirai Videl nods. "Toad is an accurate description of him. I could see him through the magic he had placed in your mind. If we can get rid of his minions, Dabura and Grendel, we can take care of him easily."
"Jesse said that I was about as strong as Dabura," Mirai Trunks says, "though we have no idea how powerful Grendel is."
"We'll beat him," Mirai Videl says, "and we'll eliminate Babidi and rid the threat of Majin Buu for good."
"Come on, we'll need Zarvon if we're gonna be able to do anything," Mirai Trunks says, "between me and him we'll surely be able to take down Grendel."
Mirai Videl and Shin nod and the three take off to find their large Saiyan friend.
"You are impressive, for a human," Majin Cooler says as he blocks one of Jesse's punches, "very impressive. It's a pity that you won't join us. Master Babidi could always use a good warrior like you."
"Sorry, but I think I'll pass," Jesse says as he leaps over one of Majin Cooler's kicks, "I'd rather be castrated than let that little toad take over my mind."
"Its not so bad," Majin Cooler says, "he lets us do whatever we want as long as we also do what he says and our own goals do not conflict with his."
"Your not planning anything against him are you?" Jesse asks.
"Why would I?" Majin Cooler asks, "I get to torture, maim, and kill to my hearts desire, Babidi doesn't have Dabura kill me, and I get whatever I want when we visit a new planet. Besides, who would even think of defying Master Babidi?"
"In my home timeline, Dabura was merely using Babidi, planning to use the Demon Fusion technique to merge with Majin Buu and then use his newly acquired power to conquer the universe," Jesse says, "and he succeeded because Babidi was a gullible idiot who believed that he had Dabura completely under his thrall."
"Dabura," Babidi says, his voice low and menacing. Dabura was worried. How had the boy known?! He really must have been from an alternate timeline where what he said happened had happened.
"He lies, Master," Dabura says, "I am loyal to you and only you."
"Yet you are also a Demon, and even my father could not completely subvert a Demon of the Demon World," Babidi says shrewdly, "and while my own power is great, I am not the wizard that my father was. But I need you and your son if I am to release Majin Buu. Even if what that boy said was true, you want him released just as I do. So you had best protect me because I am the only one left in the universe with the spells to release Majin Buu!"
"Yes, Master Babidi," Dabura says, "Grendel and I will protect you from the Saiyans."
"See that you do, or you won't have to worry about the Saiyans killing you," Babidi snaps.
"You are indeed powerful, human, but you cannot last against me!" Majin Cooler yells, "no mere human can last against the full might of a Changeling!"
"It's a good thing I'm no mere human," Jesse says savagely, "I am much more than any other human on this planet."
"What are you, then?" Majin Cooler demands.
"I am a Warrior," Jesse says solemnly, his aura blazing up like a small hurricane.
"Nonsense!" Majin Cooler retorts, "there are no more Warriors. No being in the universe is capable of being a true Warrior anymore."
"So you think," Jesse says, his brown hair beginning to shimmer. Solid streaks of silver begin to descend down his hair, making him resemble the way he was when he had first stepped out of Limbo. Majin Cooler watches in fear, knowing that such natural streaking was the sign of a true Warrior. And he and his brother had feared ever facing a Warrior even more than they ever had facing a Super Saiyan. Super Saiyan had been a legend. True Warriors had been cold hard fact. Their grandfather had been slain by a Warrior from a planet that was subjugated by his father after the Warrior had passed away from old age. Before that Warrior, they had not known of another in the last several thousand years.
True Warriors, like this human claimed to be, had an innate sense of battle that surpassed even the Saiyans. Should a Saiyan ever become a true Warrior, then no force who opposed him in his mission would survive. A true Warrior gained power like a Saiyan, but only when they were at one with themselves and training to protect those that they cared about. Majin Cooler found this to be a disgusting piece of information, but it was cold hard fact. And if he was facing a Warrior, here and now, then he may not live. And Babidi's plans would be for naught, because if this boy was a true Warrior then not even Grendel would be able to stop him. Not even the great Majin Buu that Babidi planned to release.
"So, you are a Warrior," Majin Cooler says, proud that his fear did not reach his voice, "even so, it will not help you!"
Majin Cooler charges Jesse, determined to put an end to the boy before he has a chance to unleash his full power. Jesse disappears, then Majin Cooler can feel Jesse's foot impacting with the back of his neck, sending him stumbling before he regains his balance.
"How did you move that fast?" Majin Cooler demands.
"Instant Transmission," Jesse replies, "the only way to travel."
Majin Cooler grins beneath his face guard. He knew that technique. From the Yardrats. He had spared them in exchange for teaching him the technique. He wasn't above generosity in exchange for new techniques every now and then. Especially one as potent as the Instant Transmission.
"Ah, that is one of my favorite techniques as well," Majin Cooler says before he vanishes in the Instant Transmission.
Jesse's eyes widen in shock. "One of your favorites?"
Before he can finish speaking, Majin Cooler's fist is buried in his gut. He backs away, choking for breath. Jesse fights to regain his breath, using the Instant Transmission to get pretty far away, far enough so that he would have enough time to catch his breath. Surprisingly, he ended up beside his future selfs corpse. Apparently the body still held a faint aura. Why, Jesse did not know.
He could sense Majin Cooler coming for him. He wasn't bothering with the Instant Transmission, he was just plowing through anything that came between them. Well, Jesse had a plan to even the odds.
Jesse quickly prepared his Drain Cannon attack, knowing that he would have to work this perfectly if it was to succeed. If he could hit Majin Cooler with it, he would not have to stress so much power through his body to match his high power level. Jesse had felt Frieza's power level when he arrived on Earth. Majin Cooler was more than three times as powerful. If his power level was cut in half, then Jesse could barely even need a power-up technique to overpower the large Changeling.
Majin Cooler closes in, intent on tearing his cursed opponent limb from limb. He barely sees the small beam of light that strikes him in the chest. Seconds later an orb of energy hits him, blasting through to his very soul, sapping away his strength. What the Hell had just happened?
Majin Cooler stops mid-air, shocked and confused. Half of his power was just blown away in a single shot, and yet he was physically unharmed. He was experiencing a small amount of vertigo at the sudden loss of strength,
"Wh-what happened?" Majin Cooler wonders as he tries to push his power level back up, but to no avail. Half of his power has been drained. And he could feel that the boy was still equal to his max. Uh oh.
Majin Cooler looks in the direction of Jesse. He could see the faint outline of a pool of blood and a corpse. It was the boys other self. The one Master Babidi had managed to enthrall. This was not good. At his current level, he could not defeat the boy, Warrior or not. And if Babidi took them back to the ship, he would die even faster. Even the Supreme Kai could kill him now. Though perhaps not the girl, or the whatever-it-was that didn't have a ki signal.
Jesse lifts up into the air, letting the Geyser of Power drift away. He then powers down out of the Kaioh-ken x15 and smirks at Majin Cooler. The large Changeling blinks in disbelief. The boy had just given away his advantage! But they were still very close in power, and the boy was skilled enough that the small difference in strength did not matter. If he was to win, he would have to play this just right.
Majin Cooler uses the Instant Transmission to move between his location and Jesse's in an instant, but Jesse blocks his punch. The two combatants flicker in and out of the Instant Transmission, fighting tooth and nail.
"Did you just feel Jesse and Cooler's power levels drop by half?" Shin asks.
"That would be Jesse's Drain Cannon Cannon attack," Mirai Trunks says, "it drains away half of the targets power. He hit me with it once and tore me apart. Of course, until I reached Super Saiyan 2 he could still beat me, if not always easily."
"Then why did Jesse's power level drop by half?" Mirai Videl asks.
"He let go of his power-up techniques," Mirai Trunks replies, "he is fighting at his best without them. He's a little weaker than the Changeling, but he is skilled enough so that it won't matter."
"But he's not a hand to hand fighter, he's a swordsman!" Mirai Videl protests.
"Jesse met with the Saiyan Goku in a visit to Otherworld before we entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to train for this day," Mirai Trunks says, "he needed to learn the Kaioh-ken Attack and some of Goku's other moves to train me and Zarvon in. Goku gave Jesse all of his fighting knowledge in exchange for just a few power-up techniques. Goku would have given all of that knowledge for nothing if it was to defend the Earth, but Jesse was adamant."
"I have talked with the Grand Kai about Goku and Gohan once," Shin says, "they are strong fighters with the heart of a Warrior in each of them. If Jesse had not come and told me of the threat of Babidi, when I came with Kibito I would have brought them with me."
"I wish you had brought them anyway," Mirai Trunks says, "they would have been excellent help."
"And you would have liked to see your teacher again," Shin adds.
"Gohan was more than a teacher to me," Mirai Trunks admits, "he was my big brother. I didn't have a father growing up, so he gave me the next best thing: an older brother."
"Sounds like a great guy," Mirai Videl says, "then again, so are you."
"Not a great enough guy to keep Babidi from using his magic to take over my mind," Mirai Trunks grumbles.
"Its not your fault," Mirai Videl says, "you just weren't properly prepared. Babidi's magic is powerful, but Jesse, for all he's a strong psychic, cannot teach a non-psychic to do anything involving mental defenses."
"So, can you teach me how to erect proper defenses?" Mirai Trunks asks hopefully.
"Sure," Mirai Videl shrugs, "I also put up some temporary defenses while freeing you from Babidi's control."
"Thanks," Mirai Trunks says, then perks up. "Hey, you feel that?"
"Its Zarvon," Mirai Videl sighs in relief, "good, he's alive."
Mirai Trunks nods in agreement. "I'm thinking Cooler wanted to get you two killed, so he didn't bother with finishing off Zarvon."
"I'm worried about how close Majin Buu is to being released," Shin says, "you and Zarvon fought for quite a while at an extraordinarily high level of power. You expended a large amount of energy."
"Meaning that Majin Buu could almost be ready to be released," Mirai Trunks says, "this is not good. I hope Jesse finishes off Cooler, because we'll need the Kai earrings for me and Zarvon to Fuse."
"Um, aren't you wearing a pair of Kai Earrings?" Mirai Videl asks Shin.
"I am," Shin replies, "hopefully it will be enough."
"It should be," Mirai Trunks says, "me and Jesse were a bit stronger than Zarvon as a Super Saiyan 3 when we were Fused, and we were only at the second Super Saiyan level."
"That's perfect," Shin says, "though I do not know if it will be enough."
"Well, Zarvon can always become a Golden Oozaru," Mirai Trunks adds, "he's unstoppable then."
"We can only hope," Shin says, "come, let us go and revive our companion."
"Dabura!" Babidi shouts, "go and stop them! If they revive the big Saiyan, we may have some trouble. Trunks was injured enough so that he cannot reach the third transformation, and he isn't at his best in the second transformation, so you can kill him. That meddling girl put up barriers that block my magic."
"I shall do as you command, Master," Dabura says. Dabura exits, leaving Babidi alone with the Buu Egg and one large cloaked individual. Babidi walks over to the Buu Egg, admiring it before noticing something.
"Whats this? Its almost full! Those two Saiyans by themselves almost produced enough power to release Majin Buu! This is incredible. Dabura had better eliminate Trunks before he can rest and restore his power. If he doesn't, then Trunks may achieve the fourth level. I remember my father mentioning that level in his notes. He had said that even his greatest creation, Majin Buu, was no match for a fourth level Super Saiyan. They are vicious, unbelievably powerful, and perfectly in control of themselves. And they are true engines of destruction."
A low, rasping laugh reaches Babidi's ears. He turns to face the cloaked figure, who was slightly shaking from his laughter.
"This is not a joking matter!" Babidi screeches, "if Trunks or the large Saiyan achieve the fourth level, they can wipe me, you, Majin Buu, and your father out with a wave of their hand! We wouldn't stand a chance!"
The cloaked figure continues to laugh, obviously not worried at all.
It was an intense fight. Neither the weakened Majin Cooler or Jesse would give the other any quarter. They traded punches, kicks, chops, gut shots, head shots, and ki blasts with one another without stopping at all. They moved in and out of the Instant Transmission the way other fighters would simply use speed. If anyone had been able to follow them, they would be transfixed in awe at the brutality of the fight.
'Better end this fast,' Jesse thinks, 'the more energy I use, the more that is fed to that fat pink blob.'
Majin Cooler aims a punch at Jesse's head, but the human Warrior ducks under and delivers two gut-wrenching punches to the Changeling's torso. He follows up with a spinning back kick that drives the Changeling back. He then charges Majin Cooler, delivering a powerful shoulder thrust that stuns the big Changeling. Using the Instant Transmission, Jesse teleports a fair distance away and raises his arms. He holds his hands a few inches apart from one another, his hands cupped towards one another. Hundreds of tiny lights appear within the space between the two hands. He then moves his hands to his right side, the pushes them forward as if he was performing the Kamehameha Wave, his fingers now spread wide and curved inward.
"Kienzan Nami!" Hundreds of small Destructo Disks erupt from Jesse's hands, slicing into Majin Cooler, cutting a bit of him off at a time.
Moments later, Majin Cooler is dead, cut up like a piece of salami. Jesse floats down to the ground, a little disturbed at how he had just killed the Changeling. He had planned on using that attack as a diversionary tactic if Buu was released, but he didn't want to drag out the fight with Cooler.
With a satisfied smile, Jesse pulls the bag of senzu beans from his subspace pocket and pulls one out, then eats it before sending the bag back. Feeling his strength restored, Jesse uses the Instant Transmission to join Mirai Videl, Shin, and Mirai Trunks.
"There he is!" Mirai Trunks exclaims, spotting the body of his large Saiyan comrade. He rushes over and turns Zarvon onto his back.
"He's still alive," Mirai Trunks breathes a sigh of relief, "quick, where's that senzu bean?"
"Here," Mirai Videl says, "open his mouth. The senzu bean will completely heal him and restore his strength."
"I think not," A deep voice says from behind them. The trio whirls around to see Dabura standing there. Shin recognizes the spatial vibrations that are coming off of Dabura as the result of one of Babidi's teleportation spells.
"Guys, give Zarvon the senzu bean," Mirai Trunks says as he sets Zarvon down, "I'll distract him."
"I think not," Dabura says, spitting on Mirai Trunks, hitting him square in the face.
"ewww," Mirai Trunks says, then freezes as he remembers what Jesse had told him about Dabura's spit. He can do nothing as he is turned to stone, a look of shock and revulsion on his face. Mirai Videl and Shin turn to face Dabura.
"Videl, take care of them, I will deal with Dabura," Shin says, "I am protected against his spit, and I am stronger than you so I will last longer."
With that, Shin launches himself at Dabura, but stops mid-air as Jesse appears.
"Whats up?" Jesse asks cheekily, then frowns when he sees Mirai Trunks. "Well, this isn't good. I guess I'll just have to kill you to free him, Dabura."
"As if you could, boy," Dabura sneers, "you may have defeated Cooler, but I am wise to your tricks and am far stronger than that mere Changeling. I am Dabura, the King of Demons!"
"Shin, Videl, get Trunks and Zarvon out of here and heal Trunks," Jesse says, "do not come and help me. Go down and stop Babidi from releasing Majin Buu. That is what matters. I'll join you after I kill Dabura."
Shin moves over and lifts Zarvon up, supporting him while Mirai Videl picks up Mirai Trunks, being extra careful as not to damage him. If the statue was damaged, then the young demi-Saiyan would die. They fly off, trying to gain as much ground as possible between themselves and Dabura.
"So, it is down to you and me again, isn't it boy?" Dabura jeers.
"Dabura, I am far stronger than I was when I faced your counterpart in my own timeline, and far more powerful than the me of this timeline," Jesse says evenly, "I will never forgive Babidi for forcing me to kill him. I will avenge his death by killing you, your son, and Babidi. Majin Buu will not be released, and the threat of the Demon World will be extinguished forever."
Dabura smirks, summoning his sword. "You still are not powerful enough to defeat me."
"You want to test my mettle sword to sword?" Jesse mocks, "you are not as smart as I thought you were. I am the Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style, a master of Watoujutsu, and I know several other techniques that you do not want to be on the receiving end of."
"I won't be on the receiving end of them," Dabura promises, "I will tear off your head and devour your brains."
"Oooh, graphic," Jesse taunts as he summons his own sword, morphing it into a katana, "this is gonna be fun."
"Is he gonna be all right?" Mirai Videl asks worriedly.
"Trunks or Jesse?" Shin asks.
"Both."
"Jesse can take care of himself," Shin says confidently, "he has trained for six thousand years for this moment, and he is far stronger than your teacher was. Young Trunks will be fine. He will return to normal as soon as Dabura is slain."
"Good," Mirai Videl says, "now lets restore Zarvon to health."
Shin uses some of his power to awaken Zarvon, then puts the senzu bean in the Saiyan's mouth. Zarvon chews and swallows the senzu bean, then opens his eyes.
"You can let go of me, Supreme Kai," Zarvon says, "I'm doing okay now."
Shin lets go of Zarvon, who stays aloft by his own restored power. He notices what has happened to Mirai Trunks.
"Damn. Where is Dabura?"
"Fighting Jesse," Mirai Videl replies, "Jesse defeated his counterpart and Cooler. I have confidence that he will take care of Dabura as well."
"Of course he will," Zarvon scoffs, "he trained almost nonstop in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for that very same purpose. He's the most powerful human ever by a long shot."
"That he is," Shin agrees, "now, we must find a safe location for young Trunks so we can go and take care of Babidi before Majin Buu is released. If we kill Babidi, we can eliminate the risk of Majin Buu because with Babidi's death the spells that will release Buu will become unpowered, and thus keep him from being released."
"Then lets hurry," Zarvon says, "we don't have much time."
You know, I actually got sick when I finished writing the end of the Jesse/Majin Mirai Jesse fight. Those who talk to me over AIM and a few others know why, though if you have read some of my other stories, you can probably discern the reason.
That bit on Majin Cooler using the Instant Transmission is my favorite scene from Return of Cooler.
A note to all. I forgot to mention it before, but I do not own the Aurabolt attack. It is one of the Blitz techniques of Sabin Rene Figaro from the video game Final Fantasy VI. Sabin is my fave FF character of all time, and that attack just fits in with DBZ, does it not?
I appreciate everyone's remarks about the swordfight scene. I just hope that you like the end of it. But, I'll do anything to further a story, even kill a favorite character or a character of my own creation that I love.
AdvertisementThe Return
By: The Smooster
StoryID: 479303
Summary: Set 500 years after the end of DBZ, a descendant of both Goku and Vegeta learns how to be a hero... and might just find love along the way.
My opinion: Okay, I cannot stress how much I love this fic. It is easily the best DBZ fic I have ever written, even if the only canon characters that are more than mentioned are Goku and Dende, who are little more than a pair of guiding lights to the two main characters, and Kabito Kai and Mr. Buu, with a few small appearances by the Old Pervert, er, Old Kai. I would advise you to review each and every chapter, because a basic overview of what you like and give that at the final chapter will be well-nigh impossible.
I have another story up that I hope everyone will take a look at if you haven't already. Its title is Time Traveling Saiyans and the storyID is 1752546. So far only the prologue is up, but soon the rest of the chapters will be posted as they are written.
Anyway, please review. I enjoy feedback.