The ring destroyed from the climactic battle between Goku and Cell, the ring out rule removed to allow the whole earth to be their arena. Now Gohan landed down on the ground, trying to breathe slowly as he felt his heart race. The whole planet's fate rested on his shoulders, He could feel that Tarble was not as strong as his own father. To call him in would just to allow a longtime family friend to perish. Cell gladly ate the Sensu bean given by Goku, and a rush of power could be felt. Gohan breathed in deep once more, and summoned forth his own power as well. Even Tarble was surprised by the power he felt, if only because it was hard to imagine it held by such a small body.

Cell mused about how his next opponent had the power, but did not have the battle experience needed. Cell opened up the start of their battle with a kick, easily blocked by the child. Then a swipe of his hand which Gohan simply dodged away from the attack. Cell then followed up with another kick, but Gohan retreated into the air. Cell grew more upset that Gohan was just dodging and retreating, he appeared overhead and tried to strike Gohan to the ground but the boy just shifted to the side. Cell annoyed with the quick little boy, instead rushed forward and grabbing his Gi.

Now Gohan was locked in with Cell, unable to pull away. Gohan struck hard with a headbutt that caused his vision to blur and to get his thoughts focused on the pain. This was not like training, it was like when he fought Nappa! Soon punch after punch rocked his head to the side, He could feel each impact threatened to knock out teeth and sunder his jaw. If he didn't keep conscious and his Ki up to increase his durability, the punches would easily cave in his head. He could feel each strike threatened to take him out of the fight, and could only feel a moment of joy when Cell seemed bored of it and let him go. Cell then sent a blast into his body, and rocketed him through a rocky hill and buried inside of it.

Cell stood proud of how easy it was to defeat the hope of Goku, and demanded that the superior warrior eat his Sensu bean and not waste his time. Goku instead called out Cell for being an idiot, Gohan pushing himself out of the rubble and walking toward Cell. The bio-android both glad that Gohan was not as weak as he though, but also annoyed that he would have to deal with a punching bag before getting back to a real fight.

"Let's not do this…" Gohan suddenly spoke as he stood before Cell, catching the menace off guard by Gohan's statement. "This battle is pointless."

"Pointless? Of all the things to say, the cell game had no point?" Cell mockingly questioned. "The point is I get to have fun, and you all try to save your world."

"But I don't like fighting, I never have. I don't mind training, but I never liked the idea of taking someone's life." Gohan's eyes stared into Cell's pleading for him to listen. "Not even if they are as terrible as you."

"Oh? And you believe you're capable of killing me? I understand not wanting to fight me, I am quite the pill to swallow. But killing me. That is a bit out of your league." Cell continued to mock the young Hybrid.

"I know why my father sent me out, it happens from time to time. I get so angry, that I lose control. I go completely berserk. I think my father is counting on me doing so?" Gohan said, he could feel a bit of anger but for some reason he could not will himself to hate Cell.

Cell's brow perked up in interest. "Oh? Well that just means I will have to get you mad." He commented, Gohan's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh don't think your childish plan would be enough for me to back down. Instead I really want you mad now!" Cell suddenly impacted gohan with another punch.

The battle soon continued, Gohan and Cell trading blows over and over. Cell then turned to an old enemy attack, the Death Beam. He began to fire several blasts and keep Gohan on the defense, forced into a corner and made to be desperate. Gohan's focus was on dodging the blasts over and over, and unprepared for the sudden bear hug Cell provided. Cell's grapple was beginning to crush the young boy.

Goku forced to watch as his son was made to endure such pain and punishment. Piccolo remarked he was going to join in, and Goku had to stop him. The argument between the two makes Goku realized slowly that Gohan himself is not mentally ready for the responsibility his father thrust onto him. Goku calling for a Sensu, Nappa pulling out a bag.

In the same instance, Cell dropped Gohan and appeared before the saiyan, and stole the bag of Sensu with a smile. "I don't need you all spoiling my fun." He said before returning to Gohan who laid on the ground. Cell saw the worry in his eyes when he had gone after Gohan's allies. "I see… you don't want them hurt do you." Gohan leapt from his prone position and was easily kicked away. "With the small amount of anger in you, you're nothing! Get in the game… or I will make sure each one of them dies slowly." Cell grinned. "But of course I shouldn't dirty my hands on the worthless ones… you are the real prize after all right?"

Cell's Ki surged, and formed at his tail. "Only about eleven are needed." He said as the point of his tail expanded suddenly, masses of Ki flew out from behind him. Soon stood blue imitations of Cell, eleven in all and grinning and laughing in a strange 'ke ke ke' method. The miniature Cells looked to the group of fighters waiting in the side lines. "Go on my Cell Juniors, Rip apart the Defenders of Earth. And drag their lifeless bodies to me." Cell announce to his children, the Cell Juniors did not have to wait as they took off.

"Take them out!" Vegeta roared as he powered up to Super Saiyan. The Cell Juniors already on the group. Luckily, many super saiyans were present and showed impressive resistance to the small beings, but the Cell Juniors showed themselves more than the fighters' equals. Even Kaio-ken for the humans proved little difference. Goku already weakened from his own fight, was slowly being beaten down himself. Gohan having to look on as he watched his friends and father all get beaten with little chance. Tarble, who offered to trade with him, even showed little resistance against the Cell Junior.

~It is impossible. I can't do this. I… I don't want to do this. Please, someone… make him stop. I am not able to do this! ~ Gohan thought to himself as his anger did increase, proving that Cell was doing everything right to provoke Gohan. Tears fell from Gohan's eyes as desperation and fear kept overriding his anger every step. ~What if I can't control it… what if I hurt everyone else? ~ Doubt clouded his rage, shielded his need to get stronger.

~Gohan! Do you need me to switch! ~ Tarble's mind echoed into Gohan's, making the young boy look at the saiyan fighting so hard to barely survive.

~You are not strong enough, no one is. ~ Gohan's mind screamed out to his ally.

~That is not what I asked. Do you need me to switch. Don't think, I can't or you can't. Do you think you can continue, because where I am standing… your will is lost. ~ Tarble reprimanded the boy slightly.

Gohan looked at his father who was being beaten currently, Piccolo barely holding himself up, Yurin falling to the ground, Yamcha and Tien being kicked while they was down, Chichi being saved by Ashe and Vegeta who now have more of a fight on their hands. Gohan could feel his body heavy as Cell turned with a upset look.

"What are you doing? I can feel your power dropping once more. You dare tell me this was it." Cell said his eye twitching in a small fury. "That's is it. CHILDREN! Kill them all."

Gohan's eyes widened. "Please! NO!"

~Gohan! ~ Tarble's voice called for the young boy again.

~Switch with me! ~ Gohan called out in his mind.

A Cell junior rushed toward Tarble, throwing a punch that the Saiyan caught. His body grew large suddenly as he gripped the fist. Cell Junior attempted to pull away but could not, wide eyes watched as Tarbles body grew more massive and took the Grade 3 state. "My turn." Tarble said as he placed his hand to the chest of the demented deviant. A blast of energy erupted and killed his opponent almost instantly. His eyes quickly shifted to Cell, intense and ready to kill. "Gohan, help the others." He called out and rushed forward as he returned to grade 4 to keep from draining his power to much.

And so, the battle between Gohan and Cell ends, without an innocent life calling to protect the world to be taken, Gohan did not have the needed push to break through his barrier. Instead Tarble is now taking a stand, against Cell. Will his plan be enough? Or will he have to die to bring out Gohan's true strength. Let's see what happens in the next chapter!