Chapter 20
The Last Match

Casey and Piccolo fell to the ground with a thud; as the dust rose from the ground a scream let out in the distance "CASEY!" Amy and Kate cried at the same time.
Suddenly Amy turned and grabbed onto Kate, "We have to get out of here!" she yelled.
Kate wrung her arm away before Cell turned immediately towards the two lifted his hands "Tri-beam! Ha!" he cried.
Tien and Yamcha dove in front of Kate and Amy causing them to be hit by the blast.
The two plummeted to the ground. Kate gasped as she dove down and grabbed onto Yamcha holding him above the air while Amy stopped Tien with her telekinesis. Tien's body floated to her arms and she grasped him tight as tears fell from his eyes "Tien…" she whispered looking down at his blood drenched body.

Kami's lookout…
Choutzu's hands lifted to his face "Oh no! Tien!" he cried as he looked down at his fallen comrade.

Kate let out a sob against Yamcha's chest, "I'm so sorry" she whispered against him.
Reaching down she sniffled as she felt over the wound on his abdomen, the gash was huge and hemorrhaged blood; she could feel it flowing out like lava against her hand.
Another sob let out as she looked down at Yamcha.

Meanwhile…
"You heard me Gohan!" Goku said "You're the only one who can defeat Cell! You have to key into your hidden power! I know you know what I'm talking about."
Gohan was taken aback by his father's revelation to him. Never had he thought that his father, the most powerful man in the universe, would turn to him to finish the battle with Cell.
"Goku have you gone crazy!" Trunks exclaimed "There's no way that Gohan can beat Cell!"
Gohan nodded "Y-yeah dad! I couldn't possibly defeat Cell!"
"Silence!" Vegeta told the two of them.
Goku turned in surprise at Vegeta. Vegeta turned away and crossed his arms, "Look," he said "Normally I'd tell the clown that he is insane as well. However, this time I think he's right."
Trunks' jaw dropped at his father's words. "What? You mean you believe him!"
"I more than believe him Trunks!" Vegeta retorted angrily, "I know for a fact that Gohan is the one that will defeat Cell. All he needs is to get angry enough to take his power to the next level."
"B-but how am I going to do that!" Gohan asked.
Vegeta turned "Haven't you noticed something?" He said "There is no one around us, not Casey or Piccolo. Neither Amy nor Kate, none of your friends."
Looking around Gohan, Krillin, and Trunks noticed the obvious. There was no fight going on around them. "Wh-what's happening?" Krillin asked.
"Fools!" Vegeta reprimanded them "You call yourself warriors and you don't even notice when you are being hidden! That blonde girl created some kind of shield around us the moment Cell took his eyes off of all of us!"
The three looked around "He's right!" Krillin said "She's completely hidden us! Wow that Amy is amazi…"
"Shut up you fool!" Vegeta shouted "Hiding us from Cell doesn't take away our ability to sense power levels! And if any of you had taken the time you would have noticed that 4 are missing!"
"Ah!" Trunks exclaimed "I can't feel Casey!"
"Or Tien and Yamcha!" Krillin agreed.
Gohan's heart leapt into his throat as he searched for the last power level not named. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand as he searched the entire area for it although he knew it would not be far from Casey. That Piccolo would never leave Casey so far behind.
"I," his eyes welled as his lip began to quiver, "I-I can't find Piccolo."
His throat contracted as he attempted to swallow but the moment he realized what was happening his mouth dried. A single tear escaped as his heart broke. Piccolo, his best friend. His mentor.
Goku sighed internally. This wasn't going to be pretty.
"They're not dead," Vegeta spoke up "But they will be if you don't do something about Cell now. You need to follow your father's advice! You need to get angry."

Goku turned to Vegeta "Thanks Vegeta," he said "I didn't think you'd back me up on this one."
Vegeta couffed at his rival "Normally you'd be right," he said "however while we were in that other world I got a glimpse of the future here through Tristal's technology. It is only because of that I will agree with you this one time."

Suddenly the shield around them shattered. Immediately the group took in the carnage surrounding them. "Oh no! Casey!" Trunks called as he peered into the distance.
Krillin took in the sight of Kate and Amy weeping over Yamcha and Tien. He was amazed that Kate had been rational enough not to heal Yamcha then and there. However he would never understand the pain she must have been feeling, to allow the one you love to suffer and not be able to do anything about it.
Gohan gritted his teeth.
"So Goku," Cell sounded from above them, "Here you are. After letting your friends fight your battle you've finally decided to show?"
The group looked up at Cell's boistering form. The android looked completely pleased with himself as he crossed his arms in victory. "All threatening parties are gone now" he said "Shall I continue to kill more of your friends or have you finally grown the back bone needed to face a real warrior?"
Goku smirked against Cell's words. Although he didn't feel like laughing at all, if anything he felt like crying. The carnage that Cell had left was unforgivable. "I'm not the one you're going to battle" he said.
Cell couldn't hold back the surprise that accompanied Goku's rejection.

Gohan peered down at Piccolo's fallen corpse as he searched for any kind of light within the namek. It was fading quickly; almost as quickly as Casey's pulse which was dwindling like a candle. Looking at the two it was not hard to figure out how they had ended up that way. And he couldn't help but remember the last time that Piccolo had sacrificed himself for someone he loved.
"You can't die like this, not by saving me!"
"Damnit boy run away…while there's still have time…"
Piccolo had believed himself to be a monster for most of his life; however Gohan and his father had befriended the namek and shown him he could be a good person. It was that person that had many times without thinking saved Gohan, Goku, and the others…even Vegeta. It was that person that was lying on the ground passing into the next world…again.
"…Gohan, you're the only person I've ever known who didn't treat me like a monster."
When Tristal and the others showed up, Piccolo trained them and fought with them without a second thought. He saw them not as the enemy as he would have in the past but as allies. Friends even…
"It's ironic isn't it? After all my years of training to defeat your father I go out like this trying to save you; his son."
And Casey…watching Casey and Piccolo together, Gohan truly believed that Piccolo was getting his just rewards. He was going to become truly happy. But now…now it was just like last time. The last time that Gohan couldn't do anything to protect his friend.
"Thank you Gohan…"
Gohan's teeth grinded as his master was lying in a pool of his own blood, the thick fuchsia liquid seeped out from the wound on Piccolo's abdomen.

Cell frowned "You're still going to…what?"
He suddenly noticed the red head was holding her hand over Yamcha's stomach. His eyes widened in surprise as he watched the blood had been seeping out of the warriors' stomach retract as it was sucked back into Yamcha's body.
Amy turned "Kate get out of the way!" she yelled.
Kate ignored her friend. Cell's mouth fell open as he remembered Casey's wounds healing the same way, "You!" He cried "You were the one that healed her! And…wait a second!"
He suddenly remembered Yamcha's kame-hame-ha wave that destroyed one of his Cell Jr's. It was far more powerful than he believed the weakling had in him, and now he knew why. He growled as he lifted his hands. "You're the reason I've been having so much trouble!"
Suddenly the clouds darkened. The winds began picked up faster and faster before they started to blow like a hurricane, the ground shook and rumbled like an earthquake as a light began to swirl.
Cell felt an enormous power begin to grow that caused his insides to quiver. Thinking it was Goku he immediately turned towards the fighters left.
However his eyes didn't meet with the Saiyan he thought they would.
Gohan felt the rage make his blood boil and rise; he felt a break in his mentality as he thought over the bodies of Casey, Piccolo, Yamcha and Tien. Four people who sacrificed themselves for the good of the world, for protection of the earth. And Cell swatted them like flies for his own amusement, just to test his limits. Where was the honor in that? What good would that do?
Gohan had relied on his father and his friends to fight for him his entire life, they had sacrificed everything to keep him and his family safe. And now, they were giving the ultimate sacrifice.
He clenched his fists as he thought of Tristal. Even she had surrendered to fate to allow Vegeta and his father to be there to fight Cell; however this time it was them asking Gohan for help.
This time would be different, this time no one else would die. This time it would be him that saved everyone. This time.
His teeth clenched in frustration as he felt his power well and bubble over into rage.
Gohan let out a scream as light exploded around him.
The wind and rubble caused Cell and the others to hold up their arms against the explosion around Gohan.
"Everyone get back!" Trunks yelled.

Cell blocked his eyes from the light that exploded around Gohan. He then felt himself propel backwards against the wind pressure. He gritted his teeth as he attempted to control his body, however it was impossible.
Trunks covered Amy and Tien as Amy didn't have the speed to carry Tien too far. He gritted his teeth against the power Gohan was radiating.
Even at this moment he couldn't help but wonder what if Gohan had let loose this kind of power in his time? The androids would have been reduced to ash. But now it would be Cell reduced to ash.
If that.
The others cautiously looked up after the wind died down. Vegeta pulled his arms from around Nicole and made a sound of surprise as he looked upon the now Super Saiyan 2 Gohan.
Although there was not much change to his appearance his power was evident. It was so strong that electric currents were surrounding him in a dance of power. His jaw dropped at the picture before him. He knew now why Gohan was chosen as the one who would ultimately defeat Cell. His power was incredible! He'd never felt anything like it, it made Cell seem like an ant!

Cell lowered his arms as he peered down at Gohan. Looking over the boy resume his Super Saiyan form he smirked, however his body was much bigger than a moment ago. He laughed "So, that's it? You're making the same mistake Trunks did. Boy," He said "Don't think you can beat me just by powering up."
Gohan dove into Cell, Cell let out an "oof!" as Gohan's punch landed him several yards away.
He clenched his stomach against the pain that reverberated through his body. He landed hard against a pile of rocks that shattered into powder beneath him. Looking up at the powerful Saiyan he felt fear rock his core.
Gohan's cold eyes turned up angrily at the android "I can never forgive you for what you've done" he stated.
Cell growled as he rose to his feet "Why you little brat" he snarled "you'll pay for that."
When he rose to his feel Gohan immediately dove for him, he blocked but nothing happened. "What!?" he looked around before feeling a power behind himself.
Cell spun around and saw Gohan there, he snarled in anger. This boy was mocking him. Gohan dove for Cell again and once again as Cell blocked Gohan evaporated.
Cell spun around as Gohan repeated the move "Stop that!" Cell demanded.
He then turned to see Gohan coming towards him he growled as he stood straight knowing Gohan would evaporate again. However Gohan clenched his fist and hit Cell with full force throwing the android back several meters before Cell crashed into a pile of rubble that caused a large cloud of smoke to swirl around him.
Immediately after the others heard a cry of Cell's as his power propelled the dust from circling him "Damn you!" he cried as he dove towards Gohan.
He dove towards Gohan and attempted to hit the Saiyan however Gohan continued to evade the punches that Cell was throwing at him using simple speed. Cell's frustration climbed as he continued to try and hit the younger boy.

Krillin gritted his teeth "What is he doing?" he demanded "He has the power to kill Cell and he's just playing with him! He's only hit him twice now."
"He's wasting time!" Nicole replied.
"The boy is a Saiyan!" Vegeta smirked "He's teaching Cell a lesson before killing him. Letting him know how it feels to be played with before meeting his end."
Goku gritted his teeth. He understood Gohan's desire to humiliate Cell; however he also knew that Gohan had to get rid of Cell as soon as possible.

Trunks had managed to sneak behind the action and get to the bodies of Casey and Piccolo. He hauled each through the twists and turns of the mountain range as he attempted to make it back without being hit by Cell as the android was being pummeled by Gohan.
He had to admit that his thinking wasn't too clear, as he'd left the sensu beans with Nicole who had fed one to Tien. Kate was still healing Yamcha and would no doubt need a sensu bean of her own; she was using far too much energy already.
He sighed internally, where was Tristal? What had happened with Goku and Vegeta before they returned? When they had returned his heart leapt into his throat and he immediately began to look for the last warrior to arrive. However he had yet to feel even the slightest twinge of power from her.
Did that mean that she was left behind? And how did they get back in the first place? So many questions that had to be left unanswered; at least until Cell had been killed.
At this point however, he'd settle for knowing she was still alive.
"Trunks!"
He looked up to see his father standing before him "Father" he replied.
"Get your head in the game boy" Vegeta said "We will deal with that woman later!"
It wasn't hard to figure out why Trunks was dragging. But now was not the time or the place, and Vegeta had to remind him of that.
Trunks pushed the thoughts out of his mind as he nodded with a look of determination "Yes father" he replied as he lay down Casey and Piccolo.
Nicole rushed over with the sensu beans. She kneeled quickly and placed them in Casey and Piccolo's mouths. Leaning back she wiped the sweat from her brow.
Amy had never been in a fight in her life, now here she wasn't in the center of a war between worlds. When they spoke of the Cell games she'd never imagined it would be like this. Now she wished that she had watched the series with Tristal; it would have prepared her for the oncoming horror.
Looking over at Kate she recognized that glassy look in Kate's eyes. PTSD was something reserved for soldiers and neither she nor Kate were soldiers or warriors. She understood Kate's feelings; after all they had just watched one of their best friends being impaled. Not only that but their boyfriends had just sacrificed their lives.
She turned down to look at Piccolo's fallen form and shook her head.
How did it all come to this?
When they first discovered their powers it was like something out of a fantasy. The power to control things with one's mind, the power to heal, to fly, to shoot energy balls out of their hands it was amazing; but everything comes with a price and this was it. Yes she could tap into the minds of those around her and she could lift mountains with her mind but was that worth the cost of the man she loved?
She felt exhausted from the tears that she had cried, from the stress of not knowing when or where Cell would strike. But she would have to hold herself together until the end of this war for the sake of her friends.
She sighed "Tristal where are you?"

Cell flew back several feet as Gohan punched him in the stomach once again. He spit out green bile as he attempted to refill his lungs with air. His frustration was peaking as he looked up at the young boy who was making a fool of him. He growled.
Gohan approached Cell slowly again.
Cell cried out and dove towards Gohan once again in a panic. Gohan didn't move until Cell was centimeters before him, and then he disappeared and reappeared behind Cell with his hands clasped above his head. He then struck Cell hard in the back making Cell fold backwards. Cell let out a gagging noise as he hit the ground hard.
Suddenly he felt a large object traveling quickly against his stomach. He attempted to swallow however could not find the breath.

"Whoa looks like Cell's in a bad spot," Krillin said looking onto the fight.
Suddenly Cell hunched over and began to gag. The surrounding audience gasped out loud when Cell then regurgitated Android 18 from his stomach.
Kate's face twisted in disgust as she felt her own bile begin to rise.
Turning her head she made a gagging sound. A hand reached up "Don't look" Yamcha told her.
Her eye popped open as she peered down at Yamcha who had opened his eyes for a moment. "Let Gohan handle it," he said before he closed his eyes again.
Kate nodded as tears welled in her eyes.

"Whoa Cell just regurgitated Android 18!" Yajirobi called out "Can you believe that Choutzu! I mean I thought Gohan had gotten stronger but this is amazing! I just hope he isn't stupid and kills Cell soon. He's taking things a little too slow for my…hey…Choutzu!"
Yajirobi turned around to see only Puar floating there. "Choutzu left when Tien was injured" Puar told him "He took the last of the sensu beans too."
"What!" Yajirobi's hands flew up "But I was supposed to guard those! Why didn't' you stop him!?"
Puar twittled his paws "He said he would give two to Yamcha."
Yajirobi let out a cry in frustration.

Cell looked down at the unconscious android in disbelief. He then reached out towards the android.
Krillin's teeth clenched "Don't touch her!" he demanded.
"Krillin!" Vegeta yelled in warning which caused the human to retract his stance.
Meanwhile Cell stared in disbelief.
"Looks like you've downgraded Cell," came Gohan's voice.
"What!?" Cell demanded as he looked down at his hands.
He then realized that he had retracted into his imperfect form; the reality set in and his confidence shattered "No!" he exclaimed.

Vegeta clenched his fists; the boy was taking too long. "Gohan!" he yelled "You have to kill Cell right now before he has a chance to blow himself up!"
That caught Gohan's attention and he turned towards the Saiyan prince; "What?" he called
"All the androids have bombs inside themselves!" Vegeta called "If you give Cell the chance he will kill himself and take your father with him!"
It was dangerous information to reveal. However if Goku died then Vegeta would never have the chance to defeat him. He had to let Gohan know the consequences of his actions. Cell had to die here and now.
He then formed energy balls in his hands "If you don't kill Cell within the next 10 seconds I'm going to do it for you!" he threatened.
Cell stumbled back in fear as Vegeta turned his power on the android.
Gohan stared at Vegeta as the news sunk in "If you give Cell the chance he will kill himself and take your father with him!"
How could Vegeta possibly know that? A revelation suddenly hit him as he thought over the disappearance of his father, Vegeta…and Tristal!
They had always wondered how Tristal and the others knew so much about them. Was it possible that information about Saiyans, Nameks, and the dragon balls were available in Tristal's world? That had to be it! If that was the case then it was possible that they had information on the future of this world as well. Just like Trunks.
If that was the case…
Gohan turned and immediately took form "For the planet I will destroy you!"
He then placed his hands at his side. "and I'll do it using my father's technique! Ka-"
"W-w-wait!" Cell reached out his hands "D-don't! Please!"
"Me-"
"I-I can change! I promise! I'll even give you Android 17 back!" came the desperate cries of the once powerful adversary.
"Ha-"
Cell covered his face "Stop! I promise! I swear I will change my ways!"
"Me-"
Goku watched the android beg "May be we should…"
Vegeta slapped Goku over the head "Shut up Kakarot! He's doing what needs to be done!"
The power ball beside Gohan grew larger and larger, and just as Cell lifted his arms Gohan let it loose "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Cell watched in terror as the blast came straight for him and he could do nothing as it hit him full speed.
A light exploded before the warriors. "Everyone get out of here!" Trunks yelled as he picked up Tien.

Vegeta, Nicole, and Goku shielded their eyes from the blinding light as they felt Cell's power dissipate and disappear. Dust clouded the area as the light faded and gave way to clouds.
Sensing nothing but the Saiyans around him Gohan let down his guard cautiously; however he continued to scan the area for any sign of life.
As the dust settled it became apparent that Cell was gone. Gohan let out a sigh of relief.
Vegeta and Goku landed beside him as Krillin and the others came into view. Gohan looked to Vegeta as the others landed "Vegeta" he said "How did you know that Cell would kill himself?" he asked.
Vegeta pointed towards Kate and Amy who were currently healing Casey and Piccolo "While I was in the other world that they belong to I was able to research what they knew of this world," he stated "It seems that we are some kind of cartoon where they are from, for entertainment. But that's beside the point. While I was there Tristal gave me information on the possible end to Cell. I knew that if we did not kill him ourselves that he would blow himself up and of course Kakkarot would attempt to save us all by transporting him somewhere else, thus killing himself in the process."
Turning towards Gohan he smirked "I can't let that happen. If Cell kills Kakkarot my chance at defeating him in battle will be gone forever."
Gohan didn't like Vegeta's reasoning, however his explanation was acceptable. He turned towards the others "How is Casey and Piccolo?" he asked.
"They're alive but still injured" Amy replied "It's going to take awhile for them to wake up but they will."
Gohan smiled and nodded looking down at Piccolo. "This time it was me that protected you Piccolo" he thought to the namek.
Tien rubbed his neck as he sighed and sat up "Did I miss it?" he asked.
Amy sniffled and nodded "Pretty much" she said as she reached down and wrapped her arms around him "I'll never let this happen again" she promised.
Tien smiled as he placed a loving arm around her.

The warriors rose to their feet and looked at the area which Cell had disappeared from "Is it over?" Gohan asked his father.
Goku nodded "Yes son, I think it is."
"We need to get Piccolo and Casey to somewhere safe" Yamcha said.
"Wait," Amy said "I want to know what happened to Tristal."
Goku seemed surprised at the question, no doubt he had forgotten about his trip. He then looked down. Vegeta grinded his teeth as he thought of Tristal walking into the building. He let out a frustrated growl "I'll tell you what happened…"
"Vegeta please!" Goku turned with a stern look.
"Keh!" Vegeta spat as he crossed his arms "Fine, you tell them."
Goku turned back and relayed the story to them about Tristal, Kami and the dragon balls. The group stood in awe at the tale of travelling to another world.
When they told of Tristal's descent into the building and her lack of return Trunks lowered his head as he felt his heart begin to break. She had sacrificed herself so that Vegeta and Goku could return. 'Another loss' he thought bitterly. Amy reached over and squeezed his hand, he looked up into her pitiful eyes "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Another hand reached out and he turned to see Nicole standing beside Kate who wore the same pitied look.

"Don't be too upset yet."
Before anyone had time to react an energy blast flew towards the group.
Hitting a target there was a gasp of pain and a scream of horror.