The next morning was very quiet and completely opposite as to what the Son household should sound like. With one final hug and kiss from the kids and an extra whispered 'I love you' whispered in her year from Goku, the three fighters were gone leaving only behind a small speck until even that was gone.
As they flew towards Cell's tournament the saiyans were soon joined by Vegeta, Trunks, Piccolo and the other Z fighters. They all flew in silence knowing that they were quickly approaching the fight of their lives and prayed that at the end of the day they would all still be alive.
Soon they arrived and were shocked to see that other than Cell they were also greeted by other Earth fighters as well as a news cast ready to televise the whole fight competition.
"Who the hell are all these guys?" Tien asked looking around.
"I dunno but I think they mistook 'I'm going to destroy your planet' with 'friendly fighting competition where you get to walk away with your life," Yamcha replied just as shocked.
It seemed that all the people were huddled in one group looking very excited. They were surrounding one particular fighter with a black afro and a confident smirk who was more than happy to talk to the media that was present.
"Hercule sir over here! I'm with channel six news, can you tell please what chance do you think these other fighters have against Cell?" he asked eager to hear what the man had to say.
"Well as far as I can tell they all seem like good fighters but as we all know I, Hercule will be the victor today. Don't worry folks your champion is here to destroy the monster threatening Earth," the man replied confidently.
"He seems...nice," Nia said reluctantly earning her a weird look from everyone.
"Hey I didn't say he was a smart I just said he seemed nice," the saiyan princess replied with her hands on her hips.
…
Cell stood on the other side of the arena looking none too pleased. In fact he was downright annoyed by the fact that this stupid overly confident human was getting more attention than he was. This was his fighting tournament after all and these little insignificant insects should be bowing before the great Cell begging for their lives if you asked him.
"All right you squirming worms of puss let's get started. I fear I'm growing anxious as the minutes pass which only makes my urge to kill you grow stronger. That's bad news for you by the way so let's do begin," Cell said.
"I agree I'll go first and get this over with before any more people get hurt," Hercule said bravely.
With a confident strut the one known as Hercule began walking up to the green alien ready to plow him into the ground, or at least that's what he thought in his little Hercule world.
…
Up in the nearby cliffs both Eighteen and Nineteen were watching in hiding to see the outcome of the tournament. They had been watching their backs since the day Seventeen had been swallowed whole by the monster known as Cell.
"Who does that fool think he is trying to defeat Cell?" Eighteen asked Nineteen who was watching the battle alongside her.
"How much you wanna bet he gets himself killed within the first five minutes?" she added chuckling to herself.
"My money is on two. Five is just giving him way more credit than he needs to feed that ego of his," the red headed android replied chuckling along with the blond beauty.
"Eighteen are we going to go down there and fight for our lives or hide here and wait till someone kills him for us?" Nineteen asked.
The question had been eating at him for quite some time and he was now ready for an answer.
"Let me answer that question with another Nineteen. What the hell does it look like we're doing?" she replied.
"Hiding and watching it is then." he said and the two went back into a comfortable silence to watch the battle.
…
Cell watched in amusement as the overly confident human with the hideous hair came over and prepared for the fight. The stupid man stood before him grinning like the fool he was before stretching every part of his body as if it would help him win against him, the perfect being. Cell had to roll his eyes at the pathetic sight before him and shake his head, this fool was amusing but very pathetic. Perhaps he would teach him a lesson in a very painful manner, the very thought of this brought an evil grin to make its way on to Cell's face.
"You seem happy for a guy who is about to get clobbered you know that," Hercule said standing tall in front of Cell making himself perfectly parallel to his opponent.
"We'll see," was all the other man said as the fight began.
Hercule shockingly enough avoided all of his punches and attacks but unfortunately it didn't last long. When he went in for the attack he was quickly swatted away like a small fly causing him to crash at the edge of the arena Cell himself had built. This continued for several minutes as Hercule kept getting up and attempted to hurt Cell before the green monster would just flick him away.
Finally being sick of watching himself be made a fool of Hercule pulled a cheap move on Cell and tried to kick him in the balls to stun him. Unfortunately for Hercule, he ended up being the stunned one when Cell gave no reaction to the attack.
"Ha! Silly human that actually tickled a little," Cell said.
"No frickin' way is that possible," Krillen said in utter shock and amazement.
"Now watch what I can do," Cell said.
Pulling the same cheap move Cell kicked Hercule in his family jewels so hard that he went flying into a nearby cliff. When the debris was cleared Hercule was completely out cold on the ground looking like he was just barely alive. The fighters couldn't help but wince a little for the guy.
"So who's next? Now that he pest is out of the way I want a more worthy opponent," Cell demanded looking annoyed.
Goku stepped forward ready with determination in his eyes. He was going to destroy this monster that threatened everything that he cared about.
"I'm ready Cell let's do this," Goku said sternly making the android smile evilly.
"Excellent I've been waiting all this time to fight you Goku. Now my purpose will be done and for that I must thank you," Cell replied in an eerily calm voice that made everyone paranoid.
The other fighters watched from their spot nearby as their comrade went to fight for all their lives. As he approached his opponent the other fighters couldn't help but feel like something bad was going to happen or somehow something would go wrong that would change all their lives.
"Do you think he has a plan?" Trunks asked Vegeta who was staring intently at the battle below.
"Who cares what he has planned as he long as he doesn't do anything stupid to get us all killed," the saiyan prince replied coldly.
Goku stood in front of Cell ready to defeat him but was as deep in thought concentrating on finding Cell's weak spots.
"Well are you ready Goku?" Cell asked when the saiyan warrior was standing in front of him.
"You better believe it Cell let's do this," Goku replied.
With the blink of an eye the two fighters flew at each other with unimaginable speed. Goku quickly began giving the monster everything he had. Cell was quick to retaliate by sending him flying across the arena. The saiyan quickly stopped himself just before he fell over the fighting area and looked to see the green murderer already attacking him once more. The battle raged on for what seemed like hours with the two literally kicking the day lights out of each other. Finally Goku got the upper hand and slammed the android up against a wall ready to finish him off.
Eighteen and Nineteen could see from where they were an emotionless look in the saiyan's eyes. It was not hard to see that the saiyan was out to destroy his opponent and he would enjoy for being responsible for the death of this creature. This went against everything the androids knew about Goku and the pair couldn't help but be fear that they had no idea who they had been messing with up until now.
Eighteen had been surprised by the sudden ability to feel since she met the bald human Krillen. She found that for the first time in her life she felt free to feel human and it was overwhelming. She looked to up to see that same bald human that caused her emotions to awaken slightly, worried for his friend who was currently in a rage of murderous intent. A sudden BANG brought her attention back to the fight below her there she saw the fighter forming a large energy ball in his hands.
…
"I've never seen him make one that big," Nia said watching Goku form the kamehameha wave in his hands as it grew larger and larger with every minute.
"There's no way he'll survive that and if Goku keeps making it grow he won't live through it either," Piccolo added surprised by the size of the attack.
They all watched in shock as Goku unleashed the attack on Cell sending the whole area into a bright light blinding them all temporarily until they looked to see where Goku was standing there was no longer a Cell lying there. Goku turned around smiling at them all and slowly started walking over to them.
However they didn't see what Trunks and Eighteen saw, which was Cell hiding in the shadows. The green monster was waiting until the saiyan was close to his friends before he would destroy them all.
The android suddenly flew over towards Krillen without a thought in her head and completely ignoring Nineteen cries to her. The blond screamed to them all to duck before she slammed her fist into the side of Cell's head.
"That was for my brother you asshole!" Eighteen cried as sent a kick flying at her opponent's head.
Krillen watched in horror as Cell caught the petite's woman leg smiling menacingly at her before he began chuckling. Holding Eighteen by her ankle Cell brought his tail around until the needle of his tail was at the blonde's throat.
"If you miss your brother so much then join him," Cell hissed before his tail opened up and sucked up the android.
Krillen screamed in rage as Eighteen disappeared from his view and Cell transformed into his perfect form.
"That's better," Cell chuckled in delight.
Before Vegeta had the chance to process what was happening Trunks quickly left his side and slammed into Cell sending the creature flying a few feet away. The teen sent blow after blow to his opponent but Cell took everything he had as if it were an itch on his chest. In a fit of frustration Trunks flew at Cell before landing a kick to the creature's face knocking his head back. Although Trunks had successfully caught Cell off guard he had also pissed off the green monster. Before the teenager knew it Cell had grabbed him and slammed him into the ground with tremendous force. Trunks quickly stood up to face his opponent but a large noise went off and the boy stood shocked as he looked down to see a large hole in his stomach.
Vegeta watched the whole event from Trunks attacking Cell to the blast going through the young man's body. As he watched his son falling to the ground the saiyan prince thought watched both of the boy's lives flash before his eyes. From the baby that was safe at home to the strong saiyan warrior before him. Vegeta screamed in rage before raining down energy blasts on the monster that was Cell knocking him back enough to pick up the teen and bring him back to where the others were.
He laid him down watching him struggle to breathe not hearing Nia run up and go to the other side of Trunks. The girl was instantly at his side waiting to see what she could do for the older saiyan to keep him alive. The girl waited for instruction but when she received none she looked up at her brother who was covered in Trunks' blood and staring intensely at the teenager.
This teenager, his son, he came back to save him and the rest of the world from suffering only to take all the pain himself. Now here he was lying there smiling up at him saying it was only a scratch but saw the fear of dying in his eyes.
"The hell it is boy now calm down and breathe," Vegeta said sternly with a hint of concern in his voice which convinced Trunks that the truth had finally come out.
"I'm sorry father," Trunks said knowing he wasn't going to be there much longer.
"For what?" the saiyan prince asked almost growling frustrated for the boy.
"I wasn't strong enough I tried to make you proud of me I swear I did...should have been faster," the younger saiyan replied struggling to stay conscious.
Vegeta felt like he had just been punched in the face when he heard that. The kid was bleeding out and all he cared about was whether or not he made his father proud.
"You fought like a saiyan…now shut up and rest," Vegeta said clutching his son tighter.
He watched as the boy smiled up at him brightly before he slowly closed his eyes and his short life slipped away. Vegeta held Trunks in his arms, holding him tightly to his chest until finally the teen's body went limp with a smile still on his face. The saiyan prince gently laid the boy on the ground while Nia burst into tears at the sight of dead Trunks. After a few minutes both of the saiyan siblings looked over at the monster who was laughing at what he had just done.
"What's wrong saiyan? The boy get a boo boo? He deserved to die he was weak! It does not surprise me that he's your son saiyan; the whole lot of you are weak," Cell said between laughs.
He was cut off by Vegeta blasting him. The saiyan prince then flew up high in the sky and began shooting at Cell over and over again. He blasted him with everything he had wanting the monster to endure the same pain he had just experienced. When he finally finished and the debris disappeared, Cell was still standing wearing a smug expression on his face.
"Are you finished?" Cell asked before preparing an attack.
"Now it's my turn," the green monster added before releasing the enormous blast and aimed it straight at Vegeta.
Fortunately for the saiyan prince, Goku was faster than the energy blast. Vegeta was more than happy to accept his fate but was quickly pulled from the blast's path by his long-time rival. Goku grabbed the other fighter by his arm before he ripped him out of harm's way. After dragging him back to the others and dropping him on the ground, Goku turned an angry glare towards Vegeta.
"Vegeta you know better than to run blindly into a fight you know you can't win. Calm yourself because this is not your fight nor was it Trunks'. Be brave for him this one time and stand down," he explained sympathetically.
At first Vegeta did nothing but stare at the ground lost in his own grief. Goku couldn't say that he blamed him, after all if that had been either one of his children he probably would have done the same. Soon the saiyan prince lifted himself off of the ground and stared Goku dead in the eye.
"Kill him slowly and painfully Kakarott. He doesn't deserve a quick death for this," Vegeta said coldly.
After saying his peace Vegeta walked back towards his sister who was currently in tears from the sight of losing Trunks so suddenly and violently.
"Well Goku, are we going to continue this or not?" Cell asked impatiently.
Goku only shook his head shocking them all," No this isn't my fight either. This one belongs to someone who is the strongest among us and that person is not me," he explained before turning his gaze and pointed towards Gohan.
"Him? A child?" Cell said in amusement.
"Mark my words Cell that boy will destroy you here today," Goku said seriously before leaving the green monster to fetch his opponent.
Goku landed in front of the Z fighters who were either looking at him horrified or furious for what he had just done.
"Goku you can't be serious he's just a kid," Yamcha said in complete shock.
"Are you insane?" Piccolo hissed through gritted teeth and clenched fists.
Goku ignored them all and only focused on his son as he walked towards him with a confident expression. As he kneeled down in front of the boy he could see the fear and uncertainty dancing in Gohan's eyes. It was so strong that Goku was almost reconsidering his decision but decided against it and hid his doubts behind a mask of confidence and pride.
"Dad I can't fight him there's no way. He's twice the size of me," Gohan said desperately praying his father wouldn't make him do this.
"It's alright son you can do this trust me. Everyone keeps telling me to push you more, that you are truly special and you know what Gohan they are right. You are the strongest fighter I have ever met son and I have complete confidence in you. All you need now is confidence in yourself," Goku said squeezing Gohan's shoulders comfortingly.
Gohan bit his lip lost in his own thoughts as his saiyan blood and human blood battled for dominance inside of him. Finally he decided that if his dad really thought he could do this than he would.
"Let's do this," Gohan finally replied looking up to his father with that proud, confident Son grin.
…
Nia looked on confused with the rest of her comrades as her father sent her brother out to fight the monster that none of them had even made a scratch on yet. The saiyan princess couldn't help but fear for Gohan's sake.
"What's dad thinking sending Gohan out there? Does he know something we don't?" Nia asked her brother who was by her side looking angry.
'That stupid clown just watched me lose my son and now he is sending his own to die as well!' Vegeta thought furiously.
As much as he liked to say he could care less about his little sister's adopted family, he didn't entirely hate them. The brat was the one out of that entire moronic family that he hated the least and yeah he'd admit it, right now he was worried for the boy's life. However he could not let a seed of doubt grow in his sister about the brat's victory against the creature nor could he lie to her.
"I hope so," was all he said as he continued to watch for the battle to start.
Inside her head however voices were telling her to prepare herself for something terrible would happen and she needed her strength to fight it. Watching Gohan walk closer and closer to Cell the feeling to prepare grew stronger and stronger. Without anyone noticing she climbed down closer towards the arena gathering her power as she did so.
All done for now don't forget to review.