Prophecy
Chapter 13
Chi-chi appeared upon the Lookout, much to the surprise of Piccolo, Goten, Trunks and Gohan who were startled by her sudden appearance. She stood alongside Solace who had folded her wings behind her body. The youngest Son didn't waste time running up to his mother and jumping into her arms.
"Mommy!" Goten cried. "Why did you leave us?"
"I'm sorry Goten, I didn't know what I was thinking at the time," Chi-chi held her son close; her own tears spilling.
"Promise you won't leave again mommy! I didn't like it when you left!"
"I won't Goten…" Chi-chi cradled her son almost though he was the most precious thing before she noticed Solace walking up to Piccolo.
"How did you find her?" Piccolo asked.
"A trade was committed and she was released on a false promise…"
"What? By who?"
"Goku gave himself to her to save her, but also surrendered himself as a sacrifice…"
"Sacrifice…"
"Father…" Gohan seemed angry at how these matters were escalating out of control now. If this kept up, it wouldn't be long before their family as well as the entire cosmos was wiped out.
"There's still time to save him, but only if we leave now." Solace beckoned.
"Wait, isn't there time to get my dad?" Trunks asked. Solace nodded. "Great! Let's get him!"
The candles hovered over the altar and Kismet chanted something in an alien tongue. Kenin stood beside his mistress while the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's body floated slightly above the top of it; affected by the magic that swirled around the chamber. His skin was deathly pale and he was plagued by visions that were unreal. His unfocused eyes seemed to be staring upward.
"He seems convinced," Kismet spoke finally. "All that is left is to prepare the gate."
"Excellent, soon, his awakening will be at hand," Kenin smiled darkly.
"Indeed…" Kismet stroked Goku's cheek. He flinched almost though he had been slapped by his wife's hand again.
"I don't want to live anymore…" a broken and defeated Goku spoke in pure grief.
"It'll be alright… soon, nothing will matter," Kismet promised while pulling out a dagger from her belt. She raised it over her head and was poised to stab him. Before she could follow through, a blast knocked the knife out of her hand and it fell to the ground near the edge of the void. "Who dare interferes?"
"We do," Vegeta growled angrily. "Let go of Kakarrot!"
"Have you peons learned anything from your last visit to oblivion?" Kismet chuckled darkly while looking at the warriors that gathered to rescue the Earth-raised Saiya-jin. Chi-chi stood closer to Solace who seemed to shield the weakest fighter amongst their group. "None of you were meant to exist and this man who no longer lives will untie the cords of fate…"
"Dad wouldn't have wanted this…" Goten yelled at Kismet.
"Son's life isn't yours to take and utilize for your own deeds," Piccolo added. "Now let him go."
"You want him so bad that you would rebel against fate. Then by all means, you have only prolonged your suffering…" Kismet smiled while she raised her hands. A large blade appeared in her hands stained with darkness. "I would sooner prove this universe's flaws if you are all truly blind to see them."
"Mistress…" Kenin muttered.
"Stand down my son," Kismet looked lovingly towards the man. "The last thing I need is for these pitiful mortals to dare imprison you like the ones before their existence…"
"The existence of these mortals has been tested enough," Solace spoke in a regal tone. "They had survived intergalactic wars, ancient magic, even their own planet's self-destruction… How much more must they prove themselves worthy of being here?"
"Ah, Solace, after I am done with them, I will ensure that even you are in more pieces than you were originally…" Kismet vowed. "I made a mistake allowing your counterparts to exist and will see to it that every last part of you will never again defy my order."
"Even if you were my mother, I would sooner be willing to die than to remain loyal to you…" Solace replied in such a saddened voice. Chi-chi's eyes widened by the angel-like creature's words.
"M-mother? Kismet's your… mother?" Chi-chi nearly fell to her knees hearing this revelation.
"Yes, but unlike myself, she was blinded by the hatred of mankind, the power they sought and wishes to undo the very thing that the gods themselves had created," Solace explained.
"I had no idea and I…" Chi-chi looked earthward, "I accused you of taking my husband away from me… I am no better than they are…"
"No, you are just concerned of your husband's loyalty…" Solace reminded the earthen woman. "The same loyalty which has been torn asunder because of Kismet's lies…"
"Hmph, lies are not lies if it's merely a representation of the bitter truth…" Kismet smiled darkly before lunging at Solace. The angel-like being did not move nor attempt to defend herself when the sword pierced her body.
"Solace!" Chi-chi's eyes widened and the figure fell to the ground. "Why didn't you try to do anything?"
"I was fated to die when I saw my mother again… you are not…" Solace looked up at the earthen woman. "Save him…"
"Solace…" Chi-chi looked away from the dying woman and saw Goku rise from the altar. His eyes held emptiness and walked over to the discarded knife before picking it up.
"I can't… I can't live anymore…" Goku's voice was heard speaking. Chi-chi found the strength to run past Kismet, Kirin and everyone else and she found herself knocking the knife away from her husband.
"Goku, I won't let you kill yourself!" Chi-chi pleaded.
"It's no use, he's no longer the same husband you've known… his love, his spirit is no longer the same because you ran away…" Kismet chuckled darkly. She felt a hand touch her chest just then and saw Solace was staring at her barely alive. "You dare try to interfere even now?"
"Yes…" Solace muttered something before Kismet's eyes widened. She tried to pull away, but it was in vain.
"With the last bit of my life, I seal Kismet away…" Solace muttered. Kismet's screams of anguish were heard echoing before she was encased in stone. Moments later, Solace's eyes closed for the last time and a peaceful expression was on her face.
"No, mother…" Kenin growled and looked at Chi-chi who was still trying to break her husband out of the spell. He grabbed the female as Chi-chi was torn away from Goku's side. "It's your fault she's dead! I should just kill you so I could use your blood to free her from my half-sister's spell!"
Chi-chi felt the oxygen fleeing her body while he choked her, but he was knocked aside when Gohan plowed right into him. She fell to the ground attempting to regain her breath and saw that Goku had gone for the knife again. She rose to her feet wearily and ran to his side.
"You can't die…" Chi-chi grasped his hands in hers. He started to push her away, but she clung to him helplessly. "I love you…"
"You… you lie…" Goku muttered. He attempted to push her away when he saw the tears run down her cheeks. "Why should you even cry for me? You said it yourself that I shouldn't exist anymore!"
"No Goku," Chi-chi shook her head; the tears falling. "That was Kismet implanting those false memories in your head… I wouldn't want the father of my children, my unborn daughter, to vanish and leave me a broken widow…"
"Nngh… no… this is a trick… you said that before, but you broke my heart anyway…" Goku groaned. Chi-chi felt him finally push her aside and she fell to the ground. He lunged for the knife and she grabbed his ankle and tripped him. He rolled over and she pinned him to the ground with her body.
"I won't let you disappear…" Chi-chi leaned down and pressed her lips to his.
"Child, you know this is a futile effort to save your father," Kenin boasted.
"My father would sooner ensure that Kismet's ambitions were stopped before he sacrificed himself again," Gohan growled.
"The seal will be undone whether he dies or not," Kenin smirked. He grabs his sword around his waist and looked towards the mural. "I, Kenin, sacrifice my own life, my existence, to free the destruction that will lead to Oblivion…"
"No!" Gohan saw Kenin shove the sword into his chest and moments later, every iota of his being vanished, leaving the sword that clanked against the very ground. The halls quaked and the very window that had once shone a radiant light shattered. Beyond that was a black abyss and Gohan seen his mother holding down his suicidal father when her lips met his.
Suddenly, a light poured from Chi-chi's body as a heavenly light surrounded both her and Goku's forms. While a figure was coming towards the entrance, the light kept the looming threat at bay. Goten and Gohan both saw fragments appear before those two flew off and joined what was growing within the light.
"Mommy…" Goten called out as the light dulled down.
Chi-chi was still on top of her husband, tears running down her cheeks; her lips still connected to her husband's. His eyes slowly opened and there was life now within them as he gently touched the back of his wife's head. The earthen female pulled away from the kiss in surprise as the Earth-raised Saiya-jin looked away from her.
"I'm sorry Chi-chi," Goku spoke softly. "It's my fault that you were…"
Chi-chi put a hand to Goku's mouth. "No, it's my fault… I should have known better than to be jealous… you mean so much to me… I couldn't bear losing you again…"
"Ah, the sentimental rubbish people sprout about…" a foreign voice echoed. Both husband and wife looked up at the portal and saw a figure wearing a black cloak, pale as the moon and wearing obsidian armor. His crimson hair fell to his thigh and his pure black eyes were trained on the two indirectly responsible for his return. "No matter, soon, nothingness will rule and not even yours will survive extinction…"
"Extinction?" Goku growled, gently rising to his feet while Chi-chi remained at his side. "You don't have the right to kill everyone…"
"So bold the claim, but Solace is dead and her very spell cannot rebind me," the figure spoke. "I am Oblivion and the end of all existence. You mere mortal are not enough to stop me from destroying the cosmos."
"That will never happen," Chi-chi exclaimed. "As long as there is life and love, you cannot erase it…"
"Pitiful mortal," Oblivion chuckled. "Had you remained loyal to Kismet, you would have understood the reason why life should perish… you will be the first to die…"
"Goku…" Chi-chi looked at her husband in confusion while she was pushed behind him. His power began to rise without warning.
"I won't dare allow you to hurt her…" the Earth-raised Saiya-jin growled. He powered up further; the golden aura gathering around his form…
…but it dispelled completely as he stared in horror at the idea of the legendary power becoming void.
"You fool… you honestly lost more when you were willing to die…" Oblivion chuckled darkly.
"Kakarrot's lost nothing," Vegeta yelled at the figure as he stood up to the man.
"I beg to differ…" Oblivion's power rose and the very foundation of the place began to crumble. The walls collapsed and Goku shielded Chi-chi as parts of the ceiling fell upon them. Moments later, there was nothing left besides the ground that they all stood upon. There was a wide expanse of stars within this void and oddly, it felt utterly surreal. It was akin to the time they faced Chi-chi while she was possessed by Morana.
"Stupid trick," Vegeta scoffed.
"You are the one who's foolish," Oblivion spoke. "Foolish enough to go against the one who will only be the bringer of destruction."
"Kakarrot, stand aside," Vegeta glared at the Earth-raised Saiya-jin while he powered up. "It's not like you could do anything right now anyway.
"Vegeta!" Goku watched as his comrade rushed at Oblivion and peppered him with blasts. Yet, he did not move in the slightest inch. When Vegeta broke formation, the dark being lunged and easily dispatched the Saiya-jin Prince; forcing him into the ground. Vegeta flew back, completely spent and no longer transformed.
"Dad!" Trunks cried out. "Goten! We need to fuse!"
"Pathetic… if this is all you mortals have to offer, then you all deserve to die…" Oblivion summoned a javelin and slammed it into the ground, creating a shockwave. Goten and Trunks were blown away. Gohan and Piccolo flew up and grabbed the boys. Goku held onto Chi-chi and during this distraction, Oblivion lunged. Goku, sensing danger, pushed his wife aside and felt the javelin pierce his right shoulder.
"GOKU!" Chi-chi screamed in horror. The Earth-raised Saiya-jin fell to one knee while holding the injured arm.
"Are… you alright Chi-chi?" Goku looked down at his Earthen wife. Tears sparkled in her eyes again and she nodded. It was then felt something lace throughout his body and he fell forward. He would have fallen completely had Chi-chi not caught him in her arms.
"What did you do to him?" Chi-chi yelled at the dark being.
"What should be happening to you if he had not intervened," Oblivion replied. "He's starting to succumb to the soul eraser…"
"Soul… you erase souls with that thing?" Chi-chi yelled; realization setting in.
"Yes… soon, nothing of him will remain…" Oblivion spoke with such twisted promise.
"No…" Chi-chi moaned sadly.
"I won't… let myself be erased…" Goku hissed. He gently pushed off of his wife and held his uninjured arm out. Power gathered into his hand.
"Noble effort, but once infected, it will continue… the only one who could have neutralized it is dead thanks to Kismet's efforts…"
Goku threw his arm forward; attempting to defy his fate and Oblivion allowed the blast to hit him without even bothering to move. When the smoke cleared, he stood unscathed; mocking the warrior's abilities.
"It… it didn't work…" Goku was breathing hard.
"Yes, surrender to the inevitable…" Oblivion laughed darkly.
'This… this can't be the end…' Goku thought.
'I didn't come this far to lose my husband again…' Chi-chi clung to her husband from behind.
"Prepare yourselves for nothingness!" Oblivion roared and aimed his javelin into the air. A white blast was on the tip and it was aimed directly at the warriors.
To Be Continued…