~The Calm Before Saga~
Chapter 28 – Videls Secret 1
"Please don't go daddy!"
"I have to honey … I really do."
The room was a sterile white. The door was shut, leaving those inside nearly shut off to the outside world. A single small TV was their only link, and on its screen…?
Cell.
Today was the day, D-Day. The very day the Cell Games were to be held and the fate of the world to be decided. Hercule knew the score, he had seen what had happened to Ginger Town, to the news station, to the planet. This Cell was a monster no one could beat, not even him. That thing was as strong as the devil itself. But … but he was the people's hero, the real life rags to riches story. It was his job to entertain the world, to give it hope. If the world was destined to die, it was his responsibility to give people hope right to the very end. He had to go…
He had to…
The teary eyes of a young girl looked up at him from the side of a white bed. The hospital room was silent save for her sniffling. Her eyes bore into him, pleading that he not leave her. Her small hands gripped the bed sheets before her, as if what they covered would leave as well if given the chance. Hercule painfully looked up to his wife, her skin just as pale as the room. The electrical equipment had been pulled from her the day before, to be moved to another victim of the deadly heart virus most likely.
Word was Capsule Corp. was closing in on a cure they could mass produce, but it was too late for this family. Hercule closed his eyes, letting go of a breath that had been caught in his throat for far too long. Could he really do this to his daughter? Just leave her here alone as the world ends? What was more important? Giving the world hope until the very last minute? Or staying with his now motherless daughter and watch as Cell destroys the planet when no one shows up for his games?
Gods … Hercule silently gave a prayer that no one else would ever have to make such a choice before returning his gaze to his grieving daughter. "I know it's hard Videl, and I know it hurts, but if I don't go who's going to save the world?"
"Someone else will show up…" protested the girl. "All those meanies you fight should go instead…"
Hercule forced a smile. "Are you saying those meanies are stronger than me?"
"No!" quickly responded Videl. It brought a much warmer smile to Hercule's face.
"It's just … what if … you don't come back?"
Hercule took his daughter into his arms, giving her his best … and likely last … hug he could give. "I'm Hercule Satan, remember? I'm the strongest there is! … I promise you Videl, I will be back. So … can you be strong for me too?"
Videl clearly wanted to cry, but with a will that both surprised her father and made him well up with pride, she held back her tears. Her lips curled up, yet even so, Videl gave her father a single nod.
"That's my girl."
Standing, Hercule turned to leave the room. The noise from the hospital filled the room as he opened the door. Giving into weakness, Hercule turned around to have one last look at his daughter. She had buried her face into the sheets that covered her mother, and her small body shook almost violently, but Hercule couldn't hear neither a whimper nor a peep.
So with what strength he still had, Hercule stepped out and shut the door behind him. The sound of whaling was almost instant, and it forced the world champ to freeze in place. His Videl was so strong, so much stronger than he ever could be…
Tears began to fall down his own face as he fell down against the door behind him. She had held back her tears for him, gods she was strong. So so strong…
"Sir … are you okay?"
Hercule blinked away his tears as quickly as he could, looking up to find a nurse leaning over him. A quick rub of the face, and Hercule was back on his feet.
"Duh-yes yes. Thank you for asking…"
Silence filled the hallway, as the nurse looked on skeptically. Yet suddenly, her expression changed. "Wait, you're Mr. Satan right?! The world champ?"
"Yes, uh, yes I am. Say … can you look after my, uh, daughter while I go to the Cell Games?"
Shock filled the face of the resident nurse. "Oh my, y-you're actually going to go then?"
"As long as you can promise to look after my daughter, yes."
The nurse quickly gave a nod and moved past Hercule, opening the door to the hospital room and closing it behind her. The Champ winced as the sounds of crying from his daughter loudened and then softened with the opening and closing of the door, but he couldn't linger. He had to get the red out of his eyes.
He wouldn't be able to inspire much hope if his eyes were bloodshot from crying.
…
It was over.
It was really … over.
A small boy who couldn't have been much older than his own daughter had defeated Cell. Hercule had been absolutely useless against the monster, just as he had figured. But those other fighters, the ones with the strange clothes and hair … they did it! They had actually managed to defeat that thing!
"Please wait Delivery Boy! I HAVE to have an interview with you!"
Hercule glanced over at the reporter by his side. He had been the only one there, besides his camera man, who had the gall to show up and commentate on the games. For the first time that day, it seemed like the man had figured out to detach from Hercule's hip and talk to some of the other people there. As far as Hercule could tell though, the fighters weren't quite used to being on camera. Infact it looked like they had been walking closer to him and the other spectators just to find a place to sit down and rest, rather than an interview.
The short bald one was bracing the Delivery Boy against his shoulder, it didn't look like the boy could stand under his own power anymore. Who could blame him though? Hercule himself was on his hands and knees, his body to weak from the relief that he and the rest of the world would live to see another day.
It was then that the Delivery Boy glanced over to Hercule, and gave the man a kind smile. "I think he should get the credit for beating Cell."
"…WHAT?"
Hercule's mind had gone blank the moment the words left the boys lips, but it seemed the Delivery Boy's friends were a little quicker to shake off the shock and react.
"Are you kidding Gohan? Him? …Why?"
"Well cause, I don't want reporters all over me like they are all over Mr. Satan, and my mom probably hurt them if they came around and interrupted my studies... and besides, I wouldn't have been able to do it without him anyway..."
The Delivery Boy's friends clearly were still in protest, though they couldn't argue with the Chi-Chi point, and it didn't seem like the young hero cared all too much anyway. He turned to the reporter, and with a slightly pleading face he asked again. "So if you'll all agree to keep quiet about it, I think Mr. Satin should take the credit."
A sudden realization hit Hercule as the others tried to talk the Delivery Boy out of his plan. These fighters, really, hadn't needed him to be here. No matter what the boy said, he would have found a way to defeat Cell. Hercule knew that in his heart. Which meant … he could have … he SHOULD have stayed with Videl. His stomach turned upside down with guilt. He had put his daughter, his baby through so much, and for what?
Silently, Hercule resolved his will. He couldn't tell Videl the truth, the truth that he had put her through hell for nothing. He couldn't admit to it, not in a million years. No father could…
-DBZ-
Hercule fell from his chair, waking up just as he slammed into the floor below him. "Uhhhh…."
Slowly, the Champ found his feet and picked himself up. A rather large bump began to form on his head, causing him to grumble as he opened his eyes to try and find his bearings. He was in the living room by the looks of it, or at least one of them. Fallen asleep infront of the TV again. Hercule began to make his way towards the kitchen for what he hoped would be breakfast as he recalled the events of the dream again.
"Been a while since I had that dream…"
As Hercule wandered through his mansion, it became obvious to him that he wasn't heading towards the kitchen any more. Rather, he soon found himself outside infront of a dull gray grave stone surrounded by the brightest flowers the world had to offer.
Juda Satan.
The Champ let a sigh escape his lips. Spring was already here, and the flowers were coming in again. How she would have loved to see them. A smile crossed his lips as he thought back to countless memories.
"I'm so sorry Videl. I truly am."
-DBZ-
Videl sighed haphazardly as she looked out her bus window to the snowy ground passing by. They had only just left the school, but the hoverbus had already gotten so close to Mt. Snowdor that what little green of spring that had been visible was long behind them. She had been slightly dreading this day, yet even though it was now here she couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Just a little though.
She had been to Mt. Snowdor countless times. It was one of her father's resorts that they were going to be staying at. Just that this time, however, she was going with her classmates rather than her dad.
Her senior field trip was upon her, anyone would be excited. She, of course, was just a little excited though. Just a little.
In the seat infront of her, Gohan was also looking out his window while to his left Sharpner was pulling a deck of cards from his pack. Gohan had to admit, he really didn't want to be here, but not for the reasons one would expect. His secrets were currently going viral on Z-tube, not much was going to keep that under wraps. In actuality, Bulma was due with her baby in two days and this trip was supposed to take three. She could always go overdue, but that really put the safety of the others in Forlorn Hope x2 at risk and Gohan didn't want that. If it came to it, he figured he would fly to Capsule Corp to be there. Heck, all his close friends knew how to fly too, maybe he should invite them to come? It'd be nice to just fly there with Videl though…
Shaking his head free of that thought, Gohan glanced back to find Sharpner starting to pass cards to Erasa and Videl, and then to him as well. Gohan really didn't want to play Old Maid, he was just so bad at it. Not that he didn't know how to play, he had picked up the rules while playing it in the first Forlorn Hope, right before the Incident of Month Seven. Now he always got flashbacks whenever he tried to play … really … horrifying flashbacks…
"Buck up Books, you're playing whether you want to or not."
Erasa giggled, siding with Sharpner by trying to coax Gohan into playing. "Ya, come on Gohan! It isn't fun if you just watch."
He knew when he was beaten, but Gohan still put up a defiant front. "All right, all right. I'll play, but go easy on me!"
"No way Books, knowing you, you'll probably start counting the cards or something," grumbled Sharpner, who seemed to be a little sore about always losing to him, noted Videl.
Smirking confidently, Videl moved her feet under herself to gain a little more height against her opponents from her bus seat. "I'm watching you Gohan, no cheating."
Smiling nervously, Gohan rubbed the back of his head with his free hand. "Come on guys, you know me. I'd never cheat!"
"Suuuure," rolled Erasa, smiling the whole while. "Of course you wouldn't…"
"I wouldn't!"
His friends finally burst out laughing, not being able to keep the gag going any longer. Gohan laughed as well, happy that everything seemed normal for at least a moment in his life. Sharpner was the first to compose himself, and as such he returned everyone's focus to the matter at hand.
"Alright Gohan, hurry up and pick a card already. We might have time for another game after this if we hurry."
"Right right," agreed Gohan, who looked at the cards in Sharpner's hands.
Gohan's eyes's suddenly went white, the pupils disappearing nearly instantly. His body went limp, falling forward into his seat and then sliding off to the side till he came to an awkward stop face first into the chair and his feet flailed wildly behind him.
The three friends at first jumped back, but then quickly jumped up to their feet. "Gohan?!"
"…please no mom…" mumbled the out cold Gohan, "…please don't hurt me … mom please … nooooo…"
Up in the front of the hoverbus, Krillin chuckled as he leaned over the back of his own seat. "Well that didn't take long."
-DBZ-
Gohan came to in a room he did not know. His heart skipped a beat or two, but eventually his brain caught up and he remembered. The fieldtrip! Had he … passed out or something? What on earth would make him pass out? His body must really have been out of it, which is understandable given the circumstances. Deadly monster alien thing in his body, missing his right arm, constant night attacks from countless people who have no business in his dreams.
"I'm way too stressed out, jezz. I hope I didn't worry anybody."
While getting up Gohan glanced out the window and found it dark already. How long had he been out? Putting a hop in his step, Gohan rushed to the door to try and catch up with everyone. He didn't want to be in his room for the entire fieldtrip!
When he opened the door however, he nearly ran into someone much much shorter than himself.
"Oww! Watch where you're going Gohan!"
Okay… maybe he had hit her. Whups. Nervously smiling, Gohan did his best to apologies. "S-Sorry Videl. I didn't mean to. I was just in a hurry to catch up with you guys."
"It's fine," grumbled Videl. "Sharpner and Erasa just sent me to check up on you, and it looks like you're fine now, so let's go back."
Gohan nodded, and the two began to make their way to what Gohan guessed was the main rec area for the snowy resort. "So uh … what happened to me anyway?"
"You passed out right as we began to play Old Maid. I have no idea why, but Krillin seemed to know. He wouldn't tell us no matter what though…"
Old Maid huh. Gohan was smart enough to put two and two together. No doubt Krillin was going to tell everyone back home too … maybe he could talk the short monk out of it somehow? "Heh, I must have been … hungry or something."
"Funny, I thought for sure you were going to say cause you had to go to the bathroom." Videl had a huge sneer on her face, and Gohan just knew he was in hot water.
"I really am bad at lying, aren't I."
"Yes. Yes you are."
The two laughed, choosing to spend the rest of the trip in silence from that point on. Gohan waved to Erasa and Sharpner once he caught site of them, whom seemed to be finishing up a game of table tenis at a rate no normal human should have been able to. Gohan smiled, thinking to himself at how far they all had come since they had met.
"About time you got up books! It's kinda pathetic for a man to pass out and miss the first day of a field trip ya know."
"Be nice Sharpner! I was really worried about Gohan…"
Gohan raised his arm up to reassure them. "Hey guys. Sorry about worrying you Erasa. I'm not sure what happened…"
Gohan glanced over to Videl, who was giving him a slightly playful if not evil eye.
"…but I'm feeling better now, so what I miss?"
Erasa giggled, pointing her thumb over towards Sharpner as she set her ping pong pattel down. "Well, you missed Sharpner here rolling down the hill as a giant snowball and crashing into the side of the building...!"
"Hey! You promised you wouldn't' say anything!"
Gohan laughed as he tried to imaging what it must have looked like. Videl walked over, jabbing Sharpner in the gut with her elbow as well.
"Just like a man, huh?"
"Ya ya, rub it in while you can," grumbled Sharpner. "I'll get the hang of it tomorrow, and then you'll all just have to live with eating my snow."
Gohan smiled, nodding his head. "Sure ya will."
Everyone laughed quite plainly at Sharpner's expense, and he went on defending himself as Erasa continued the teasing. Gohan however turned his attention to Videl, glancing down to meet her short stature… not that he'd ever say that aloud.
"So Videl, have you ever been on a snowboard before?"
Videl gave a quick nod. "Oh ya, lots of times. This is my dad's resort, remember? We always used to come here for New Years."
An awkward silence filled the void between the two, as they both knew that this last New Years had been a little different.
Forcing the words out of his mouth, Gohan did his best to ignore the butterflies floating around in his stomach. "W-Well, I've never been on one before, so I'll probably end up like Sharpner if I'm not to careful."
Videl laughed, thankfully to Gohan's stomach. "I doubt that. You'd have to try and put in effort to be as bad as Sharpner is."
"Hehe, if you say so," nervously agreed the teen. "Still, it'd be nice … if maybe … you'd teach me how it's done tomorrow?"
Videl felt like she was about to protest, when another idea popped into her head along with a rather wicked grin. "So … the pupil has finally surpassed the master?"
"Heh, seems like it! So do we have a deal?"
Videl poked her chin as she thought. She rather enjoyed watching Gohan squirm around, she doubt it would ever get old to be honest, but she thought better and gave a single nod.
"As long as you listen to whatever I say, then it's a deal."
Gohan quickly nodded his head as well, though it was probably too many for both their likings. He really did feel way too nervous for this to be a good thing. "Works for me, for sure."
And so the two went back to watching Sharpner and Erasa duke it out in a battle of wits Sharpner was doomed to lose. Gohan smiled to himself, quite proud with his effort to get back on solid ground with Videl. He could hardly contain his excitement.
Videl 's face was much more straight, not having to constantly try and hide a goofy grin helping with that, but even so she was a little excited herself.
Just a little.
AN:
Haha! Get it? Juda Satin? Snowdor? Z-Tube? Eh? Eh? Eh….
Anywho, hope you enjoyed the chapter. If I did my math right, we should be just over 100k words. Wowzers that went fast, least for me anyway. Maybe not so much for you guys.
Ah yes, the field trip. It's hard to deny that this couple has become tied with the things so I figured why not. It's a lot different than most though, cause … well, Gohan's secrets are pretty much out in the open. It's Videl this go around with the secrets to hide, so it should be pretty fresh.
Hope to see everyone again soon with the next chapter!
