Finally, the soul of the mighty female Saiyan is mine… Nightshade thought, staring down at the body of the unconscious Teagan, where it lay at his feet, before he bent down to grab her. His hand hadn't even touched her collar before he froze, his red eyes widening with shock as a massive power level appeared…right behind him.

What is this? He wondered, slowly retracting his hand as he turned his head and looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened again as he tried to figure out who was behind him.

The sight that greeted him was one that would have scared a smarter fighter into running for their life. The first thing he saw was a pair of black boots with a stripe running down the side, and his gaze followed the boots up until he saw the bottom of an orange pair of pants sticking out of the top of them. His gaze continued to rise, until a blue waist sash came into view, then an orange shirt, and he could see blue wrist guards on a pair of heavily muscled arms out of his peripherals. The edge of a blue undershirt poked out from under the fighter's collar, and then he saw his face.

For the first time in his long, evil existence, Nightshade felt his blood run cold. The face that stared back at him was as hard as granite, glowing gold hair waving and dancing despite the lack of a breeze, and glittering turquoise eyes that promised a swift, painful death to any that dared to oppose him. The fighter's eyes dropped to the body that Nightshade was crouching over, and for a fraction of a second, they widened with shock, before darkening with fury.

A snarl crossed the fighter's face, and he raised an arm, his hand right in Nightshade's face. Before the demon could process what he was doing, a glowing blue ball appeared in the fighter's palm, and he fired it point blank into Nightshade's face.

The demon knew nothing for several seconds, until he hit the side of a mountain some fair distance away from where he had been. Who IS that fighter? And what is Teagan to him? He wondered furiously as he dragged himself out of the hole that his body had created upon impact, glaring angrily at the two distant fighters. Whoever he is, I shall make him pay…and then both his and Teagan's souls shall be mine to claim…

Goku was angry. No, he wasn't angry, he was furious. He had finally met the demon that had terrorized Teagan's memories for the past few weeks, and he was ready to kill. Then his eyes dropped to Teagan again, and he felt his heart stutter in his chest.

"Teagan!" His voice was a hoarse, guttural rasp that was ripped from his throat before he dropped to one knee and pulled the bloody, unconscious female Saiyan into his arms.

"Teagan…" Goku whimpered, cradling her to his chest as he buried his face in her steel gray hair. Why did I let myself get so angry at her? I know she meant no harm… He thought, his mind reeling as agony tore through his soul. Even Goten knew she did not mean any harm…why didn't I trust him? Why didn't I trust them?

Goku could sense all the inbound ki signatures. He knew that everyone had sensed Teagan's sudden power drop. And yet…he didn't care. He didn't care that Nightshade was currently dragging himself out of the crater he made when he landed. All he cared about was the unresponsive fighter in his arms.

"Teagan…please…" He moaned, hugging her even more tightly. "Please wake up…you can't leave us, Teagan…you just can't…because I…I love you. I love you…"

Teagan didn't know where she was. The last thing she remembered was being at Nightshade's mercy, and then feeling only relief as the darkness had claimed her sight. Where am I? She wondered as she looked around, seeing only darkness around her.

Something made a sound behind her, and she whirled, a ball of ki charged and ready to fire as she dropped into a fighting crouch. The moment she identified her target, she let the ki dissipate, and her Oozaru companion emerged from the shadows to stand at her side.

"Where are we?" She asked aloud to no one in particular as the beast let loose with a rumbling growl in response.

You are where you need to be for the moment, Teagan. The voice shocked her and the Oozaru both, and she yelped aloud as the Oozaru snarled angrily at the unexpected interruption.

"King Kai, you have GOT to stop doing that!" Teagan howled angrily as the great ape rumbled menacingly at her side.

My apologies, Teagan. Do you know where you are? She let loose with a cynical laugh at his question.

"No, King Kai, I don't or I wouldn't have asked. So, just to get SOME sort of clarification, WHERE AM I?" The female Saiyan was roaring now, her fierce temper blazing nearly out of control as her eyes flashed dangerously.

A strangely insane sounding chuckle reverberated through the air, just before the darkness around Teagan began to fade. Give it a moment, Teagan, and you will see…

Teagan and the Oozaru watched as the darkness faded entirely, and slowly, it was replaced with light. Soon, the ground beneath their feet changed and turned into a familiar shade of light brown that became a type of desert dirt that was as fine as powder. The wind began whispering around them as rocks began to appear, then mountains, then a familiar blue sky.

Teagan looked around in confusion before turning around, then she stopped dead, her cobalt blue eyes widening in shock as the Oozaru picked up on her sudden distress and turned as well.

Not far away from where she currently was, Teagan could see Goku, in his Super Saiyan state, and he was kneeling over…something. No…someone. She thought as, step by step, she slowly approached the whimpering fighter. She finally reached his side, her Oozaru companion halting behind her, and then she felt her mind stutter in shock as her heart squeezed painfully at the sight before her.

Goku was weeping…because of her. What…is this? Am I…dead? Teagan wondered stupidly as the male Saiyan's tears dripped onto her bloody face, following the awful scar that was her reminder of her first encounter with the demon that had, once again, torn her apart.

Her attention was abruptly derailed when, in the midst of his heartbroken whimpering, a few of Goku's words caught her attention. "Teagan, please…please come back to me. You have to…Teagan, you have to come back because…I…I love you. Please, Teagan…please come back…"

Teagan stared at Goku in utter shock, her cobalt blue eyes comically wide with shock as her analytical mind instantly analyzed his body language, his tone of voice, and the strength of the emotions she was picking up on. He's being sincere…every indicator I'm picking up from him…he means every word he says. He loves me…he actually loves me…

Another chuckle rippled through Teagan's mind as, once again, King Kai came butting in. Of course he does, Teagan! He always has! Ever since he was a little monkey-tailed forest kid. Ever since the moment the two of you met, he's loved you. He just never really understood just how much until very recently. It was only then that he realized what it was he was really feeling. Took a little nudging from me to really make him understand, but he got it. He got it.

Teagan barely heard him; she was too busy staring at Goku, and thinking about how she felt as she heard his words play over and over and over again in her mind. Goku loves me…he really loves me…

Beside her, the Oozaru growled softly as it sensed Nightshade recovering. Immediately, Teagan's attention was redirected, and she snarled aloud before asking, "King Kai? What now? How do I…erm…return?"

There was a perplexed silence for several seconds before the blue god answered in his typical cryptic way of speaking. You will return when you are ready, Teagan. Not before.

The female Saiyan let loose with a vicious, rolling growl that transitioned into a snarl before she barked, "King Kai! Now is NOT the time for your jokes and your riddles! Goku is going to need me! What do I do to go back?"

Again, there was silence, and again, King Kai side stepped the question. When you are ready, Teagan. When you are ready.

Goku didn't raise his head as Vegeta and Gohan hit the ground nearby before his eldest came running up to him. "Dad! Are you oka-oh no…Lady Teagan…" At Gohan's sorrowful tone, Vegeta hurried over as well, dropping to a knee next to Goku and the wounded female Saiyan as his black eyes darkened with rage.

"Kakarrot…where is he?" The Prince snarled as he surveyed the injuries dotting the unconscious female's powerful frame as Goku sat numbly, still holding her to his chest.

"She…I found her…he was about to…she was just…" The male Saiyan just rambled, having no idea what he was saying at all. Vegeta lost his temper, backhanding the other Saiyan across the face before he asked his question again.

"Kakarrot! Where. Is. Nightshade?" Before Goku could gather his thoughts and answer, a cold wind blew over them all, and a quiet, sinister voice echoed through the suddenly still air.

"I am right here. You, warrior…you will be the first to die." Goku's gaze slowly lifted from Teagan's bloody face, until he met the eyes of the demon that had so badly injured her. Moving without even processing it, Goku gently passed the wounded female Saiyan to his eldest son, not breaking eye contact with Nightshade as he slowly rose to his feet and turned to face him.

In a stunning show of power, Goku powered back up, going from Super Saiyan up to Super Saiyan 2 as his eyes flashed before erupting like twin pools of blazing turquoise fire and his gold hair stood straight up in aggression. A blood chilling roar of anger erupted from his chest as he finished powering up, his golden aura crackling with blue electricity as he dropped into a fighting crouch and glared furiously at Nightshade before speaking with deadly clarity.

"You were the one that hurt Teagan so badly before, and you have injured her again. That was the last mistake you will ever make…and as for me being the first to die…we shall see." The two fighters faced off, then Goku launched himself forward, throwing the first punch in what would he would later call the fight of his life.

Gohan and Vegeta watched as Goku and Nightshade went at it, exchanging a stunning series of punches and kicks that would have broken a lesser fighter's bones as the ground shook from the power of the strikes.

"This demon, Nightshade…he's fast. Kakarrot's anger will only sustain him for so long." Vegeta said as Gohan cradled Teagan a little more closely, his turquoise eyes filled with sorrow as he stared at the unconscious female sadly.

"Lady Teagan has always been the fastest out of all of us, Vegeta, and if Nightshade could do this to her…then what will he do to the rest of us?" The demi-Saiyan wondered aloud as the Prince's eyes came to him for a moment before going back to the fight.

"Who knows, Gohan? Who knows?" Came his quiet reply as they both watched Goku battle the armored demon, both wincing as Nightshade landed a kick that they could both tell cracked one of Goku's ribs.

The Saiyan was undeterred as he returned with a punch that broke Nightshade's nose, the demon roaring in pain as blood spewed from his nose. Gohan continued watching silently as his father took blow after savage blow, but returned each time unfazed. Father…how long can you hold on? You have done so much in so many fights…but this…this is something none of us have ever faced. How long will you be able to take this before he catches you as he caught Lady Teagan? How long will you hold on?

Goten sensed that his brother and Vegeta had reached Teagan and his father. Thank Kami…at least Lady Teagan is no longer alone… He thought as he sensed Piccolo increasing his speed, and not far beyond him, Goten also sensed the rest of the Z fighters inbound.

"How is it that they're all so much faster than us? We're half Saiyan! We should be there already!" Trunks complained as Goten continued to focus his senses on the fighters in front of them.

"It doesn't matter, Trunks. We just gotta get there. Lady Teagan needs us." Goten said calmly, and upped his speed as a grumbling Trunks did the same.

Hold on, Lady Teagan…we'll be there soon. Please hold on…

Teagan couldn't help but cringe as she watched Goku taking a beating at the hands of her mortal enemy. Nightshade can hit so hard…Goku's faced down so many hard hitting fighters before, but this…this is something new for us all. How long can he last against that?

She was relieved when Piccolo arrived, swiftly followed by Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Krillin. Thank Kami…they're all here.

Teagan watched as they all crowded around her for a moment, before they turned their attention to Goku and the fight at hand. She was puzzled when she realized they weren't all going to strike. Why? He needs help…

For several long minutes, Teagan watched the other fighters watching Goku fight Nightshade, and finally losing her temper, she snapped, "King Kai, why aren't they helping? Goku needs help!"

This time, the blue god had no answers. All he could do was sigh sadly and watch as well. Then Teagan felt her heart stop when two more fighters showed up. "Kami, no…why did they come?" She said aloud, her voice filled with dread as Trunks and Goten landed with the rest.

Gohan looked up as his little brother and his best friend arrived. "Good, you're both here. Watch Lady Teagan; we have to help dad." Ignoring the two boys' cries of outrage, Gohan powered up and charged into the fight, with all the rest of the Z fighters hurtling in his wake.

Now you die, Nightshade. Now…you…die…

Goten watched his older brother go charging into the fight before turning his attention back to Teagan as Trunks protested volubly. "No fair! Why do they get to fight and we don't?"

The young demi-Saiyan cradled his wounded sensei's head in his lap as he brushed some bloody steel gray hair out of her eyes before answering his friend's question quietly. "Because she needs us more, Trunks. She needs us more."

Goten's quiet words redirected the other boy's anger, and he calmed down before sitting next to the wounded female Saiyan as well. "Yeah…I guess you're right. Lady Teagan needs us more."

Both demi-Saiyans sat with their mentor, caring for her as best they could as the fight raged above them, neither of them knowing whether or not they would live to see the sun set that day.

The fight had been raging for well over an hour. Teagan was pacing like an animal, her uneasiness becoming more and more pronounced as the fight went on. She knew all of the fighters, she knew how they all fought and how long each of them could hold on. And she knew, deep in her soul, that they were losing strength and hope with every second the fight dragged on.

"They need to end this. They NEED to kill him quickly…Nightshade has endless energy…they have to find a way to finish him before he starts inflicting serious damage. King Kai, are you SURE there is nothing you can do? They need my help!" Teagan said, still pacing as the Oozaru watched her sadly.

Hmm…I guess I can give you a small hint…I know. Teagan, you have done exceptionally well in figuring out two of the three challenges you must face in order to awaken your power once again. But the third is eluding you, and right now, it is critical. So I must ask you now…what is it that you fear, not as much as fighting Nightshade, but what do you fear? The Kai's voice echoed through her mind, leaving her astounded and infuriated.

"That's just it, King Kai! I don't know! There is nothing else I believe I fear!" Her bellow of rage echoed across the landscape, leaving an astounding silence in its wake.

You do know, Teagan. I'll put it this way…you never feared it before, because you never had reason to. Nightshade's soul stealing ability left you with the realization that you do have something to fear, if only that fate comes by his hand. The Kai's cryptic speech blurred in the female Saiyan's mind as she struggled to figure out what he meant.

"King Kai! Damn you, can you be any more cryptic? I fear nothing but Nightshade…soul stealing…wait…" It suddenly came to her, and her cobalt blue eyes lost focus as she shot back into her memories of her first terrible meeting with the demon she so feared…

She lay bleeding on the ground, stunned, half-dead, and unable to move. Nightshade stood over her, laughing as he prepared to do…something. She wasn't sure what. The subtle whimpering of the lost souls he contained suddenly transitioned to a howl as, all at once, the damned souls cried out to her, in the hopes that she may escape the fate they were suffering.

Run, young one! They all screamed. Run before he takes your soul! Before he can leave you with the fate we have suffered with for so long! Go now, before it's too late!

Their beseeching pleas made her eyes widen in shock. Oh Kami. I don't want to die…not like this…please, someone help me… Terror filled her blood, so strongly that she felt her blood turn to ice as her entire body went cold with sheer, mind-numbing fear. She had never been that terrified in her entire life. She was so afraid to die.

"That's it!" Teagan's bellowing roar actually caused King Kai to fall straight on his ample rear as the female Saiyan celebrated the fact that she had found the final piece to her power puzzle.

Focusing her energy deep in her mind, Teagan immediately went to work, seeking out her fear of dying. She found it rather quickly; that portion of her mind was quite cold and lifeless. Prowling out of the darkness to face her was none other than the Grim Reaper of legend, a tall skeleton in a black hooded robe wielding a massive scythe.

Eye to eye and toe to toe with him, Teagan stared at the specter that was Death himself, feeling her fear of the creature in front of her diminishing with every breath she took. He made no move. Neither did she. Finally, the Saiyan chose to speak, finding that the words she needed to say were coming to her far more easily than she ever imagined they would.

"I know why it is I learned to fear you, Immortal One. I was facing a terrible end at the hands of a demon that has no conscience, no soul to call his own. And even then, I would not have had the kindness of having you take me away from the mortal plain and sending me to have my soul judged by the great King Yemma. I will not say my fear of you is untrue. With how strongly I felt, it could not have been. I realize now, though, that I have no reason to fear you. You do not choose souls at random to be reaped and sent away from those they love. You take all, all in their own time. No one and nothing can escape you. So now I realize that there is nothing to fear from you. You are…merely a necessary step, a chasm between two journeys, but all on the same path. You are the end of one existence…and the beginning of another. I understand this now, as I did once before. And I fear you no longer."

Teagan finished speaking, and a great calm came over her. Had he been able to, she was certain that Death would have been smiling. As it was, he lowered the scythe from the threatening position he had been holding it in so that he held it in one hand, the butt of the staff resting on the ground as he nodded in approval of her words.

At once, the cold, icy grip of fear faded from her mind entirely. The air around her shimmered before beginning to lighten, and the Oozaru growled softly before fading away as Teagan slowly came back to consciousness.

Well done, Teagan. Well done. I hope that everything you have worked for and everything you have done will be enough. Goku and the others need you now…do not fail them. King Kai's voice echoed quietly through her mind, then with a growl, Teagan opened her eyes, sitting up slowly as Goten and Trunks both greeted her awakening with a combination of surprise and joy.

"Lady Teagan! You're awake! Thank Kami!" Goten said as Trunks nodded vigorously in agreement. But she ignored them both, getting to her feet slowly but with deadly intent as she studied the sheer chaos of battling fighters nearly a quarter of a mile away before she let out a deep breath of air and closed her eyes.

Focusing inward, Teagan reached out, and for the first time in nearly a month, she felt the calm, reassuring flow of power as it raced through her blood, and as Teagan opened her eyes to study the ongoing battle once more, her eyes glowed turquoise, her golden hair spiked and waving from the wind created by her golden aura. She had conquered the second level of fear. The power of the mighty Super Saiyan was hers to command once more.

Both Trunks and Goten fell back in shock as a wave of sheer energy left Teagan's frame, her aura blazing as hot as the sun as she took in a deep breath and howled, "NIGHTSHAAAAAADE!"

Instantly, the battle ground to a halt, and as one, every fighter turned to face her, staring in shock as she disappeared before reappearing right in front of the demon. He was stunned as well, watching the female Saiyan almost stupidly as she effortlessly slammed her fist into his stomach, making him cough up a mouthful of blood as she stared straight into his eyes and spoke, her voice soft but deadly.

"Time to die, Nightshade. This ends now." With that, the female Saiyan tore into him, every fighter present knowing that her return to the battle was the beginning to the end. But what none of them knew was which side would emerge triumphant.

A/N: So...this one was a long time coming. My apologies...the real world has had a good grip on my attention of late. Hopefully I will be able to get back on some semblance of a posting schedule soon.

As always, to my wonderful readers, reviewers, favoriters, and all my stalkers and lurkers, my thanks for your readership. I love you all.

Make sure to give Unspoken by faded colors a read. The tale is nearly done but it's a great read and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Until we meet again...

Kani