I'm sure I've got quite a few people upset at me that there were no updates over the holidays… I'm sorry but I'm hoping for a little holiday grace and forgiveness on this one. I was out of town visiting family, and I always seem to overestimate my family's Internet capabilities. Anyway to make it up to you all I wanted to have a rather dark chapter. Consider that fair warning, haha! This probably wouldn't have made a good Christmas chapter anyway. Hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 35: Faith in Ruin
The scene around Gohan immediately faded into darkness leaving just Gohan and Ru facing each other in the abysmal black expanse.
"What did you see?" Ru asked quietly.
Gohan stiffened slightly. He wanted to say the right thing, but the words were having trouble forming, "I saw… that you're hurt…"
One of Ru's eyes quirked, "I'm hurt?" He laughed darkly, "I don't think you really understand…"
"I mean things have happened in your life… and you've allowed the events to consume you…" Gohan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, "You could have been so good… You have so much… potential… You could have turned the things that have happened in your life into motivation for becoming something more… something beautiful."
"You saw now how unjust the universe is!" Ru's emotions flared, "After seeing what I've gone through do you really think I was left with a choice as to what actions I could have taken?"
"There's always a choice!" Gohan shot back immediately. "That's the difference… it really is the only difference… between a hero… and a villain."
"That's what you don't understand yet Gohan… I am the hero here," Ru approached Gohan with utmost seriousness on his face, "A true hero knows when to make sacrifice. A hero knows when to let some die so that many can live. You've had to deal with that decision haven't you?"
Gohan stared with his mouth hanging open. He wanted so bad to say that there's a way around that mindset, but watching so many people on earth die so recently while he recovered in preparation to fight Majin Buu left Gohan with weakened resolve.
A subtle smile crossed Ru's lips, "The only issue here is that you're still young and naïve and haven't come to accept reality for what it is. Why don't I show you?"
"There's nothing you can show me that would make me change my mind!" Gohan shouted in protest.
"How about we take a little trip first then you can decide?" Before Gohan could say anything more the scenery around them expanded from the deep black and molded into a green landscape. The ground, the sky, the water, it was all formed from different shades of serene green.
"Bang," Gohan turned around with a start and watched as Frieza fired a death beam from his finger that flew past Piccolo, Krillin, himself, Vegeta, and hit Dende behind them all.
The scene replayed in slow motion, Gohan's eyes widened as he watched the beam tear through his little friend. His green skin burned as the beam bore through him until it tore through the other side bursting the namek child's back open from the force of the exit.
The younger Gohan turned around in horror, "No, Dende!" The heat wave of the blast caught up with the death beam and practically incinerated the small body by the time Gohan was able to react.
In anger, the small Gohan leapt at Frieza to counter attack, however each move the boy made was easily dodged by the powerful tyrant.
Knowing he was only watching his own memories, Gohan still couldn't help himself as he took a few steps closer to Dende's fallen form and kneeled down beside him, "I'm so sorry..."
"Doesn't it drive you mad that you didn't have the power to do anything about that?" Ru asked as he approached again.
"Stop it…" Gohan demanded darkly.
"This time you won't come back!" Gohan could hardly look at what was coming next. Frieza had hit Krillin with an energy beam. Rather than directly afflicting Krillin, the energy nested itself within Krillin's body. Frieza manipulated it to suspend Krillin against his will thrusting him into the sky.
"Frieza, stop this!" Goku demanded. Frieza only laughed as he began to expand the energy. The pressure built up within Krillin, bloating his body from the inside causing his tissues to painfully expand and stretch. Krillin screamed in pain unable to do anything to stop Frieza from contorting his body in such an excruciating way.
Blood secreted from Krillin's pores as his skin stretched the point it was no longer able to keep Krillin's body intact. "Help me!" Krillin cried only a moment before the expansion was too much and his body literally burst from the pressure littering the area with fine segments of the man they had called their friend.
Gohan grit his teeth, his power spiked as anger began to consume him. It pained him so much to watch his friends suffer.
"Together we could stop this. We could see to it that atrocities like these cease in every world," Ru came closer to Gohan and tried to appeal to him in a comforting manner, "You want to make that difference I can see it! And together we can make all the difference needed in the whole of infinity."
Gohan took a few breaths and turned his head only slightly to look at Ru through the corner of his eye, "You're not like this though… The decisions you've made have been selfish… I'd never merge like this with someone like you."
"So different are we?" Ru backed up a bit.
"I'm not like you… I don't hurt others to get what I want," Gohan defended.
On the outside, Gohan was surrounded by both the Sovereign and Supreme Kais, Phips, and Vegito, "Master Kai, please tell me, what are our options?"
The Sovereign Kai sighed at the Supreme Kai's question, "No change has occurred as of yet, this means that Gohan is struggling against the merger from the inside… this is a good thing. It gives us time…"
"Time to do what?" Phips grew impatient watching over his friend and feeling the unreal energy fluctuations happening within him, "If we're going to do something we need to do it now otherwise even the great hotel in the sky will be lit up with no vacancy."
The Sovereign Kai closed his eyes in thought, "There is but one guaranteed chance that we have to prevent a new Harmony from forming and decimating the whole of creation…"
"You know of a way? What is it, hurry!" Shin asked excitedly.
"Currently and partially due to the unstable nature of the void, both Gohan and Ru are in a state of physical flux. The merger has begun but is suspended due to their ongoing mental struggle. There is nothing we can do to aid what is happening within. From the outside however…"
"Enough with your cryptic banter, what are our options?" Vegito asked clearly annoyed.
The Kai looked as Vegito as if he didn't want to say anything at the moment, but gave in and finished his statement, "As Gohan and Ru are struggling internally they are defenseless on the outside. Ru is immortal; however… if we were to end Gohan, then a merger would no longer be possible…"
Phips's eyes widened hardly comprehending that the Kai would even suggest such a thing.
"That's not going to happen!" Vegito shouted angrily.
"You wanted options… I'm not saying it's a favorable one, but it is the only action we have available to take… and is an action we must take should it become apparent that Gohan is losing the struggle," The Kai's words were spoken softly, yet with deathly seriousness.
"You'd have to do it over my dead body," Vegito rose against the impending order immediately.
"I know how you must feel, believe me I know better than you could possibly imagine, but I am telling you that should the moment come that we no longer have a choice… you will not defy me," The Kai replied to Vegito without any sign of fear in the face of the powerful saiyan.
Shin looked back and forth from Vegito to the Sovereign Kai. It was a terrible balance to weigh in. On one side ending Gohan would stop the disaster of a new Harmony forming, but on the other hand they would lose one of the universe's greatest champions.
Vegito continued to stare down the Sovereign Kai, neither of them blinked as their intimidating presences pushed against each other. Finally Vegito snorted, "It's a good thing for you then that such a decision will not be necessary…" he crossed his arms and turned his back on the Kai, "Gohan will prove himself again by defeating this enemy without assistance."
The Sovereign Kai nodded and kneeled back down by Gohan, "I hope with all my heart you are right… In the names of all the heavens I hope you are right…"
Ru crossed his arms as he took a few wobbly steps around their mental arena. The memory around them had faded and they once again found themselves in the blackness, "Amazing how you continue to condemn my actions and decisions as if you are free of guilt in your life."
There was no reaction from Gohan. His head was cast slightly down; his bangs cast a dark shadow over his eyes as he watched Ru's continued mockery.
"You're not completely innocent, even you have a dark side… don't you?" Ru leered dangerously, "Oh yes… there are moments when you thirst for power, and chaos… it's part of who you are, you'd be miserable living a life of absolute peace."
"I…" Gohan grit his teeth deciding he had no reason to defend himself against Ru's words.
"Gohan! What are you waiting for? Finish him!" Gohan saw himself looking identical to his current state, standing in front of Cell who was staring at his other self with a look of almost sheer terror.
"No…" Gohan took a few steps forward staring menacingly into Cell's eyes, striking more chords of ire, basking in his own intimidation factor, taking pleasure from the fear reflected on the android's face, "I want him to suffer…"
"Spoken like a true savior…" Ru stood by Gohan as they watched. Gohan had deliberately struck Cell hard enough to cause as much pain as he could without killing him.
"It's true… I've made mistakes…" Gohan turned to Ru, "But the difference between us…" The memory skipped forward a few moments, Cell was on the verge of self destructing. Gohan encased Cell inside an energy shield and floated them up high into the atmosphere. Up and away from everything, Gohan ignited Cell within the confines of the shield, "I took responsibility for the trouble I caused!" The explosion within the shield tore at Gohan's body, together both Gohan and Ru watched as the blast ripped away at Gohan's clothes, then skin, making Gohan scream as his body charred. The shield collapsed and with a shockwave of finality what remained of Gohan's body was ground down, burnt into a fine ash dust, and blown away.
Gohan stared at Ru, almost challenging him to find something else to make Gohan doubt himself. Ru pressed on, "You accuse me of making poor decisions, yet the decisions you made had all the potential to turn out just as poorly. You were lucky enough to have the opportunity to correct your mistakes before they affected others. But you would have continued to make poor decisions if they presented themselves."
"There's no way you can justify that claim," Gohan retorted.
"I don't have to; you did it for me…" Ru smiled, "It's been here the entire time."
"What are you talking about now?" Everything around Gohan changed, he found himself inside a narrow chute. There was a loose tile under him that he was able to move out of the way and climb down from the space above the ceiling.
The room below was an elegant bedroom, decorated with fine paintings, gems, and gold. Lying in the bed against the far side of the room was a boy, maybe seven, possibly eight years old. Gohan had always heard rumors that the bandit king might have bore a single heir to his kingdom of thieves.
Gohan slowly drew his kunai dagger from the holster at his side; the opportunity seemed too great to pass. The perfect chance for revenge… the bandit king obviously loved his son, keeping him adorned and surrounded in such lavish fashion. If he killed the boy then the bandit king would feel that pain too… the same pain Gohan felt after that man slaughtered his family.
With a light press, Gohan centered his blade over the boy's heart. The boy began to stir feeling something odd in his sleep. His eyes fluttered slightly open not fully comprehending what was happening around him.
With both hands on the knife Gohan lifted it slightly before forcefully bringing it down and driving it through the boy's chest. The boy yelled in bed as the dagger pierced him and blood from the arterial wound spurted out splashing Gohan's face.
The doors to the bedroom swung open as Saixis ran in and gasped seeing the knife protruding from his son's chest. Gohan turned his head only slightly, a glint of sinister delight on his blood stained features as he regarded Saixis's horrified expression, "How does it feel?"
Gohan ripped the knife out of the boy causing his body to spasm before falling lifeless back to the bed.
"NOOOOO!" Gohan hid his face in his hands as tears broke through the spaces between his fingers. His body trembled with emotion, "I didn't do that… I didn't do that!"
"Are you sure you didn't?" Ru asked calmly and only elicited more sobs from Gohan.
The Sovereign Kai moved his hand from Gohan's forehead, "His defenses are failing…"
"Give him time…" Vegito spoke lowly.
"There is no time left!" The Sovereign Kai shook his head to sort through his own emotions.
"I… I don't believe…" Phips stumbled around wishing for something, anything to come and save them.
"This isn't fair…" The Supreme Kai gazed mournfully down at the boy.
"It really isn't…" The Sovereign Kai agreed.
Vegito treaded softly to Gohan and kneeled down to look into his face and stroke his hair, "There has to be a way…"
"I'm sorry…" A bright glow overcame Gohan's body. His physical features were beginning to melt away, "It has begun… We must move quickly or all is lost."
The streams of universes surrounding those gathered began to pulsate in different and bright colors, "The universes themselves are reacting to the merger taking place," Shin pointed out while staring at the ethereal energy in awe.
"Gohan was always connected to this place somehow, it makes sense that it would reflect such a grand transformation about to take place if we allow it," The Sovereign Kai stood above Gohan's body and held out his hands.
Vegito watched the Kai move. Although it was apparent he was in deep concentration trying to focus on a definite faraway place. He placed two fingers together at his side ready to act in the right moment.
Breaking both the concentration of Vegito and the Sovereign Kai, Phips jumped onto the Kai's back, "Master Kai! Master Kai!"
"Blast it Phips! What?" The Sovereign Kai's stress field was ready to overflow.
Phips grabbed onto the Kai's head and turned it in another direction, "LOOK!"
At first not sure of Phips's antics the Sovereign Kai did see something far off caught in the energy stream of the nearby universe. It gave off a multi-colored shimmer and seemed to be glowing in relation to Gohan, "My word…" The Kai looked to Vegito with a panicked look on his face, "HURRY! Retrieve the Realis and bring it here!"
Vegito looked also and saw the glowing weapons and quickly teleported to grab it and bring it back. Vegito gripped the massive object firmly, "Can this help Gohan?"
"We're inside the void, and the Realis is an ultimate artifact of infinity… anything is possible!" The Kai hurriedly tried to think, "We just need to use it correctly…"
"What do we do?" Vegito gazed into the sword willing the answer to strike.
"We have no time… and I'll be honest that this may work or it may not. You are the only one capable of attempting this as no one else possesses the strength to even lift that weapon, you must try!" The Kai practically begged Vegito hoping for a favorable answer.
"Just tell me what do I do?" Vegito asked hurriedly.
The Kai instructed, "Take the sword… concentrate on your son Goku… focus your saiyan pride toward him Vegeta… channel the mystic energies of the sword… and stab it through him."
"You want me to stab him with this sword?" Vegito asked disbelievingly.
"There's no time, we must do this now!" The Kai implored.
Vegito stared at the sword. The part of his mind that was Goku just couldn't bring himself to hurt his own son… not again… The part of his mind that was Vegeta acknowledged that this could be a trick of the Kai's to kill Gohan as originally planned without them being able to interfere.
The group of them heard a grunt and turned to see Piccolo lifting Gohan up and holding him steady in front of them. He looked into Gohan's diminishing face for a moment before turning to Vegito, "Do it!"
Vegito nodded and readied himself. He held the Realis before him, pointing the blade straight up and did as the Kai told him and concentrated on both channeling the essence of the weapon and freeing Gohan's spirit.
There was something unnatural about the weapon in Vegito's hands. It felt like more than an object, more than a piece of forged metal. As if it exuded a life force all its own; as if the weapon itself had a soul. Vegito silenced all thoughts in his mind save for one, the wish to save Gohan.
The Realis burst once again into energy in Vegito's hands. The universes surrounding them blended in with the energy matching the sword in intensity of light. As Vegito held the sword a new sensation over took him. He could feel within the Realis, as the blade gave off its light he felt as though the sword itself were… singing… A hymn touched his own soul and threatened to overwhelm him. He somehow understood though. The sword and Gohan were connected. The only reason Gohan had been able to remove the weapon was because the weapon itself had allowed it to happen. The reason Vegito was able to wield the weapon now was because it wanted something… A whisper echoed across his mind saying only "He is not awake…"
Taking a strong hold, Vegito pointed the Realis downward and yelled as he thrust it into Gohan's body.
Gohan's eyes opened wide as the sword pierced through him. A long trail of energy connected him with the Realis and began to swirl all around them. His body shook and heaved trying to draw energy to deal with the pain.
"Help him… please help my brother…" Goten and Trunks stood by each other on top of Kami's tower holding onto the green prism Gohan had left with Goten. The two of them had their eyes closed in concentration as they channeled their energy into it.
"Gohan!" Vegito called as he concentrated harder on his desire to have Gohan back; to keep Gohan safe forever.
The light surrounding Gohan shone brighter and began to concentrate at Gohan's back. The light formed mass, and as a ball of energy it separated from Gohan and was repelled away. The light fell and reformed Ru's physical body.
Vegito pulled the Realis back from Gohan's abdomen. Both the sword and Gohan immediately lost their glow as Gohan threatened to fall forward, but Piccolo kept him firmly grasped. The area of the void returned to its normal state as Piccolo gently set Gohan down.
"Is he?" Vegito asked as everyone gathered around.
Piccolo placed a hand over the hole in Gohan's stomach. He applied his own energy, but it seemed to already be closing on its own, "He's alright… he's going to be alright…"
The Sovereign Kai breathed a sigh of great relief and smiled again at his star pupil, "How you never cease to amaze me…"
"Oh my head…" With a hand clutching his forehead, Ru was slowly pushing himself to his feet, "Oh… it was you sorry lot… you're the ones that just had to go and interfere again…"
With a flash like burst of energy, Vegito teleported in front of Ru and with his arms crossed stared the warrior down, "Things have come far enough… You've endangered us all for the last time… Now you have to deal with me and let me give you fair warning… I am very angry…"
End Chapter
And now we're approaching the climax! Does Vegito have what it takes to stop Ru? Is Gohan really alright? Don't miss the Ru saga finale next time on ZAT!
Thanks a lot everyone, please leave a comment or review! Hope to see you next time!