Chapter 25

"Give me the damn bean," Broly growled, snatching the said bean from Bra's hand.

"Don't talk to me like that psycho. It's not my fault Falcon kicked your ass so easily," Bra growled back.

"One, I wasn't at full power, two, he caught me by surprise, and three, he had more power than when I battled him."

"Excuses, excuses."

"You're worse than Marron."

"You actually used her name. Is something going on behind my back?"

"I mean, you're worse than that tray-swinging whore."

Bra smirked but didn't say anything. She instead stood up and headed for her dad.

Vegeta wasn't far off. She knelt next to him. "You know the drill daddy," she said before pushing a bean into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed.

"Where is he!!!" he roared as he stood up.

"He ran off," Bra replied, absentmindedly rubbing her neck.

"In what direction?" Broly asked ready to rip Falcon to shreds.

"Over there," Bra replied; pointing in the direction Falcon disappeared.

Vegeta's eyes widened. "That's toward Capsule Corps."

The other two froze. If Falcon really were planning to leave, he would need his sword, which was still in his room. Without another word, the three took of toward CC.

At CC

Goten grinned as he waved to his girlfriend's retreating form. Another perfect date he thought.

He was about to head back inside, when Bra, Vegeta, and Broly arrived and landed in front of him.

"Hey guys," Goten greeted.

Broly walked up to him, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him into the air. "Where is Falcon?" he asked slowly.

"What?"

"I said where is he?!" Broly roared, shaking the poor half-breed.

"Broly," Bra said warningly.

Broly set Goten down but didn't let go of his collar. "Answer, now."

Goten gulped. "Well, Falcon stopped by here a few minutes ago. He looked like he was in a hurry so we assumed you all needed him fast."

"And you let him leave?!" Vegeta roared.

"Did I do something wrong?" Goten asked.

Bra pushed Broly away from Goten. "No, you didn't. Did Falcon say where he was going?"

Goten shook his head. "He just arrived, got his sword, and left."

Bra looked around, a worried expression on her face.

"Is Falcon in trouble?"

"Get the others. We've got something to tell you," Bra answered.

Not far off

Falcon watched the four from his hiding spot in a tree. He truly wished to go back. He only now realized he missed their company. Even though he rarely socialized with them, he still enjoyed watching them interact with each other. It reminded him of those happy days when he was alive. His grip on his sword tightened as he debated whether he should go back.

Then, Bra's hurt and puzzled expression appeared in his head, along with the bruises on her neck. He'd come so close to taking another innocent life. Not only that, someone who had tried to treat him as a friend for the first time in thousands of years. They had trusted him to help and protect them and he'd betrayed that trust. Not even their company had weakened the beast within him. All it took was being on the brink of death and he lost it. He was glad he didn't have his tail when it happened or else they'd have a huge Golden Ape to stop. He shook his head to clear his thoughts of that monstrous form.

He turned to CC and saw the four head inside, most likely to tell the others about today's events. He knew they'd come looking for him. They considered him a vital ally and friend. But, a life like that was lost to Falcon. He was just too dangerous to have around. So, with a heavy sigh, he jumped off the tree and ran away from CC, trying to put as much distance between him and the others as possible.

Later (much later)

Days passed, then weeks with no Falcon. The group had made it their number one mission to find him, though it was difficult with all the demon attacks. They knew he was still at large from the dead demons they found, all with a familiar sword wound. But Falcon was always long gone by the time they arrived on the scene. Still, they weren't going to give up on a friend.

Pan, Trunks, and Drake were now patrolling the area outside the north of West City, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of Falcon. The two boys, as usual, argued over which way they should search. Trunks insisted they head for the mountains to search the caves, but Drake argued the mountains were an easy place for the demons to set up an ambush and suggested they head for the forest where fleeing animals could warn them of any danger. In the end, Pan sided with Drake, the forest was the safer place and they would need a full Saiyan with them if they wanted to go to the mountains.

Trunks followed the two, grumbling stuff under his breath. The three landed and looked around.

"We should split up. Raise your power level if you find anything," Pan said.

Trunks and Drake nodded and headed off in separate directions.

Pan sighed. They wouldn't get anything done if those two wouldn't stop arguing. They're rivalry was becoming as intense as the one between Goku and Vegeta. If they couldn't get along, they may be more of a liability than help. I need to make them work together, but how?

Drake jumped from tree to tree, his eyes always darting around for any signs of movement. He liked going into the forest, the silence always made him feel relaxed. But, he knew this was no time for relaxing. Falcon was all alone and they needed him back for future battles. He had just jumped off a branch when he heard a scream. "Pan!!!"

Trunks had opted to search from the air, giving him a good vantage point over the forest. Of coarse, he worried that if Falcon were in the area, he would sense him and either run off or find a good hiding spot. And in a place like this, he would be able to simply disappear. Trunks also came to realize Drake was right. This place was safer than the mountains. He could easily see any trouble before it reached him. Then he heard a scream from below. "Pan!!!"

The two literally ran into each other when they arrived at the source. "Watch where you're going!!!" the two said at the same time.

"I heard Pan scream," Drake said.

"Me too," Trunks replied.

The two looked around for any clues as to where their love interest had gone.

Trunks noticed Drake pick something up. "What you got there?"

"Her bandana," Drake replied, showing the half-breed the orange bandana in his hand.

"That's not a good sign."

"Yeah, I've never seen her without it. Except when she's bathing."

"Yeah."

The two realized what they just said. "You peep on her!!!" they both said simultaneously, pointing at each other. "I do not!!!"

They glared at each other, sparks visible between them. Another scream brought them out of their thoughts.

"Pan's in trouble. Stop copying me!!!" said again at the same time.

"Okay, that's enough. We both need to stop arguing, Pan needs us," Trunks said looking at Drake.

"Yeah, some things are way more important than a few petty arguments."

"Truce?" Trunks asked holding out his hand.

Drake smirked and grabbed Trunks' hand. "Truce."

"Okay then, I'll ask Pan's animal friends around here if they've seen her," said Trunks.

"I'll search from the air," Drake replied.

"We'll meet back here in ten minutes."

Drake nodded and the two set off to find the tomboy quarter-breed.

Pan peeked out from her hiding spot in a bush. Her plan had worked perfectly. The two bitter rivals had put aside their rivalry to search for her. Though she was rather peeved they both peep at her when she's bathing. She'd have to have a serious discussion with them.

She realized that it was becoming more and more difficult to choose between them. At first, she'd stayed loyal to Trunks but as she got to know Drake, she started to like him to. Now she worried she might fall in love with both of them, making it difficult for her to decide. With two boys like Trunks and Drake vying for her, she was one lucky girl.

After a nearly an hour of searching, Pan finally showed herself and explained a few woodland animals had startled her and that she was fine. The three had then set off to continue their search for Falcon and, as Pan had hoped, Trunks and Drake didn't argue anymore for the rest of the day.

Days later

"It's hopeless," Goten said, falling onto the couch.

"We shouldn't start saying that," Goku replied.

"But it's almost been two months. You know how good Falcon is at staying hidden.

"I'm sure we'll find him son."

Goten frowned.

In an adjacent room, Bra and Marron listened in.

"Goten does have a point," Marron said, turning to Bra.

Bra shook her head. "For once, I disagree with Goten."

"I've never known you to be so forgiving, especially to someone who tried to hurt you."

"You weren't there Marron. You didn't see the look in his eyes. It was like he was possessed or something."

"Possessed?"

Bra nodded. "It may have been his hands that hurt me, but he wasn't in control."

"Creepy."

"I know," Bra replied. She turned and leapt out the nearest window, wanting to continue the search.

Elsewhere

Gohan rubbed his now aching head as he took a seat on a bench on the sidewalk. He'd been searching all day for Falcon, as had everyone else, but as usual, they had no luck. He was starting to think maybe they should end their search. If Falcon wanted to be alone then what right had they to change his mind. Gohan quickly shook away that idea. They needed Falcon. He may not have been social but his mere presence helped boost moral.

Gohan stood up with new determination but froze in place when he looked across the street. Walking on the sidewalk, an ice cream cone in hand, was Falcon. His sword had been tied to his back though no one noticed since many people walked around armed these days for fear of demon attack. Falcon hadn't noticed him yet, to busy ignoring the looks various women were giving him.

Gohan hurried forward, not even bothering to stop for traffic. The beeps and honks from various cars earned Gohan many odd glances from others, including Falcon. Gohan had reached the sidewalk Falcon was on, when the Saiyan leapt to the top of a building. Gohan followed closely behind, intent on not letting Falcon get away.

They leapt from rooftop to rooftop, Falcon sometimes diving into alleys to lose Gohan. But the half-breed persisted and stayed on Falcon's tail. They had reached the outskirts of the city when Gohan lunged forward and tackled Falcon to the ground. Falcon managed to roll around and kick Gohan off but the persistent half-breed managed to grab Falcon's sash.

"Falcon, stop. I just want to talk," Gohan said, blocking Falcon's kicks.

"We've nothing to talk about."

"Oh believe me, we do. Like why you refuse to come back."

"I've no place with you all."

"Of coarse you do. You're a friend."

"Even after what I did? I almost killed Bra."

"We've all forgiven you. Now stop kicking me and let me talk. You can leave afterwards if you want."

Falcon relaxed and stood up. Gohan, after confirming it was safe, stood next to him.

"Falcon, why?"

"I'm to much of a danger to all of you. That may not be the last time I lose control."

"It's happened before?"

"Many times," Falcon replied, taking a set on a nearby boulder. "Sometimes, a part of me takes over, a darker part."

"The Golden Ape half?"

Falcon turned to him, visibly surprised. "How did you know?"

Gohan sat next to him. "After you told me, how long ago and how you died, I figured out who you were."

"Who?"

"Throughout Saiyan history, there's been a legend. A legend that tells of a Saiyan so powerful, he had to contain his rage in the transformed state. He had no equal in the universe and destroyed many planets and civilizations. But he couldn't control his power. One day, his rage erupted, and he was destroyed by his own power. That's the legend of the Super Saiyan. And you are that Super Saiyan."

"So I'm a legend now. I'm sure everyone feared me."

"Actually you became every Saiyan child's hero. Your legend was passed down from generation to generation and every Saiyan dreamed of having the power you possessed."

"Believe me Gohan. I wouldn't wish this power upon anyone else. It's a curse, not a gift."

"That may be so, but you gave the Saiyans' something to be proud of. They knew they had the potential to become the most powerful race in the universe and that got them through a lot of tough spots. Heck, you were Vegeta's role model when he was under Frieza's command. He dreamed of having power like yours so he could take Frieza down."

Falcon raised an eyebrow "Vegeta's role model?"

Gohan nodded, the Son grin on his face.

"They never knew the truth of my power. I'm no role model Gohan. I should be something they'd want to avoid becoming."

"But you're a Legendary Super Saiyan."

"You've seen what Broly has become. His anger turned him into a monster. The same thing could easily happen to me. In fact, it almost got Bra and the others killed."

"So you feel guilty for all the lives you took when you transformed."

Falcon nodded.

"I know how that feels. Knowing you have the power but not being able to control it and getting others hurt or worse destroyed."

Falcon looked at him, obviously interested.

"When I was little, I wasn't much of a fighter. My mom insisted that I become a scholar. But sometimes I got dragged into my dad's fights and during those fights something inside me snapped. I don't really remember what happened but the others tell me my power went through the roof. I tried to deny it, I was a scholar, not a fighter, but that all changed when my uncle, Raditz, arrived. He revealed my dad was a Saiyan, and I was half Saiyan. As usual, I refused to believe it, but during my dad's battle, when he was being hurt, I snapped again and my power awakened. As usual, I had no control and my dad was killed. But then, Piccolo made it his mission to help me. He taught me I had a hidden power deep inside me and I would have to control it. I didn't want to believe it, in fact I almost ran home, but I had a responsibility now and I couldn't turn my back on it. So I trained and learned to control some of my power, but the ultimate power was still out of my grasp. When Vegeta and Nappa arrived, I was helpless to stop my friends from getting killed, all because I couldn't control it. Over time, it happened again and again but I refused to use it. I thought it was to much of a danger to use. Then during my battle with Cell, someone told me to just let it go. I had to embrace my power, not deny it. That's how I attained Super Saiyan 2 and stopped Cell. The same goes for you Falcon. You try to deny your darker power but instead, you should embrace it. Then, you'll have power you never imagined before and use it to help those you care about."

"That may work for you Gohan, but I'm different. You're talking about controlling a power within you; I have to control an entity, a part of my soul. And on top of that, it desires only to destroy."

"Then take control. Show it who's boss."

"No, the best coarse is to deny it. Just as I've done for three thousand years."

"Maybe that's why you're still fighting it."

"What?"

"You try not to show emotions because they control your power. The negative emotions give power to the beast but positive ones give you more control. With that control, you can use its power without worrying about going on a rampage. You just have to let yourself be happy."

"I've nothing to be happy about."

"You're still alive. And you've got friends willing to help."

"The only reason I'm alive is because the energies in a portal to Demon World revive the dead."

"Wait, you've been alive all this time?"

"I've lived for over three thousand years in Demon World."

"Then shouldn't you have aged?"

Falcon shook his head. "The ground of Demon World is covered in a mineral that emits a strange energy. If you're constantly exposed to it, you're given eternal youth. But now that I've left it, my ageing has picked up where it left off."

"So you're over three thousand years old."

Falcon nodded.

"Never would have guessed."

Falcon remained silent.

"Like I said, you've got friends here willing to help. If you'd just open up to us, then you'll have a reason to be happy again."

"I've lost to much in life to ever be happy again. That's the cold truth."

"Could you at least come back to us? Things haven't been the same without you."

Falcon didn't reply. He only stared at the sky in thought. "On one condition."

"What's that?"

"Should I ever lose control again, especially if I go ape, you and the others will kill me."

"Falcon?"

"Or I'll simply head for another city, and you'll never see me again."

Gohan sighed. What other choice did he have? "Alright, but only if there's no other way."

Falcon stood up. "Then let's head back to Capsule Corps."

Gohan smiled. "Let's."

Neither had noticed the narrow onyx eyes watching them from the shadows. As they flew off, Vegeta walked out of his hiding spot. He'd heard the entire conversation, including the part where Falcon was revealed to be the Super Saiyan of legend.

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