A/N: Hey there, AntiHero here! And here's another chapter for this amazing fanfic you all know as Dragon Tail Z! Thank you to those who sent their reviews, just let tell this much, Trunks will appear in this arc but not until the final battle. There will be more DBZ Villians appearing in Earthland but not in this arc, later in the story. I won't tell you who they are yet, wouldn't want to ruin the surprise but I think you'll like it when it comes along with some other ideas I have planned, but until then, just sit back or lie down or whatever it is you do to get comfortable and enjoy this suspenseful chapter.
Last time on Dragon Tail Z, All the members of Fairy Tail were given assignments and partnered up with another member… all except the young Son Gohan, who had just recovered from his battle with Rancor. Before anyone could question why the Demi Saiyan would be alone, the guild received a visit from three officers of the Magic Council: Chief Tyson of the 3rd Custody Enforcement Unit and his subordinates, Lieutenant Hugo and Corporal Jillian of the Indian Knight Trio.
When he saw his visitors, he didn't recognize the two lackeys, but the Chief made Gohan's eyes grow wide. He saw the Chief lift up his trucker hat with the Red Ribbon symbol on it to reveal his western face with long silver hair and icy cold eyes. Tyson smirked as the surprise on Gohan's face increased.
"Howdy there, city boy, been a long time, hasn't it," Tyson greeted the boy.
Although some of the Fairies didn't recognize these Council members, there were others who did; however, Gohan seemed to recognize the Chief in a different way… and in a fit of fury, the Son of Goku attacked Tyson.
In an instant, Gohan's face turned into a glower, and faster than anyone could react, he dashed toward the Chief with his fist ready. The Saiyan's punch was grabbed by the Chief's hand just before it could hit his face, releasing an incredible force of wind that disoriented everyone. When they opened their eyes, the Son of Goku and Chief Tyson had moved to the outside of the guild hall. There were tracks dug into the ground to show that the half Saiyan's attack pushed Tyson, who tried to withstand it. Gohan's fist quivered within Tyson's grasp; the Fairies were shocked to see Gohan attack someone from the Magic Council and that there was someone on the Council capable of catching the Saiyan's punch. Hugo and Jillian stared in confusion as the boy's anger toward their Chief increased. "How?" he mumbled.
"Eh?" Tyson asked.
"How?" Gohan repeated.
"Sorry boy, yer gonna have to speak up," the Chief said.
"HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!" Gohan shouted as his Ki flared. "It doesn't matter, because you die RIGHT NOW, ANDROID 13!"
The Fairy Tail mages and the two Rune Knights watch in confusion as Gohan prepares to end Chief Tyson's life… now!
Disclaimer – I own nothing
Chapter 17
Gohan struggled to remove his arm from Tyson's grasp, but the Android held onto his wrist with no trouble. Gohan growled before tossing his other fist at 13 which was easily caught as well. "Heh! Yer gonna half to do better than that if you wanna take me down, City boy!" Tyson mocked the Demi Saiyan; in response, Gohan raised his power level even more, blowing the Chief's trucker hat off.
"I won't let your evil ambitions put any more innocent lives at stake! I'm gonna fry every circuit in your body!" Gohan declared.
"Ha! Let's see ya try, boy!" Tyson dared him.
"With pleasure!" Gohan obliged as he opened his palms and fire an energy blast that completely consumed the Red Ribbon Robot as he let go of his wrists. The Fairies on the sidelines stared with their mouths hanging at the sight of their Saiyan comrade completely vaporizing a person, while Hugo and Jillian, who were also confused, simply observed the scene with interest. When the smoke cleared, Chief Tyson was seen lying flat on his back at the end of a long trail dug into the ground that started at Gohan's feet. Although he took the attack point blank, there was no sign of damage done to the Chief, his clothes weren't even scratched or singed. The Son of Goku jumped at the Android as he opened his eyes and sat up; he struck 13 right in the face, creating a large crater from the force of his attack, but he didn't stop there and started pounding the Android with a barrage of fists.
"Uh, who is this guy and why is Gohan attacking him?" Gray inquired.
"Beats me, but the sure is giving him one heck of a beating," Gajeel commented.
"Does Gohan know him, too?" Lucy wondered.
"He seems to hold a lot of anger toward this man," Erza noted, "based on how he's trying to kill him."
At the same time, some other Fairy Tail members, specifically those who weren't on Tenrou Island for seven years, were staring at the scene with panicked looks on their faces. "This is bad! This is really, really bad!" Jet and Droy cried together.
"What's the matter, you guys?" Levy inquired.
"Yeah! I think this is great!" Natsu exclaimed. "Maybe this'll finally get those stuck-up Council nitwits off our backs!"
"No Natsu, this is seriously not a good thing! Nor will it get the council to leave us alone!" Romeo said.
"That's Chief Tyson!" Wakaba screamed.
"And if the council finds out that their top officer was attacked or killed by one of our members, they'll do more than just disband our guild!" a distressed Macao cried. "They'll have our heads for this crime!"
Gohan finally concluded his assault by channeling Ki into his right fist and throwing it at Tyson's head; the Android quickly tilted his head, allowing him to avoid the Saiyan's devastating attack, but just barely. "Nice try there, boy, but now it's my turn!" Tyson said as he grabbed the boy's shoulders and kicked him away. Gohan backflipped and landed on his feet; Tyson stood up and quickly phased in front of the half Saiyan and skull bashed him before he could react. Gohan winced before shaking his head and glaring at Android 13; he then gasped when he saw the Red Ribbon soldier's right finger forming a gun and aimed at him while glowing red. "Bang!" he said as he fired a blast straight at Gohan's chest, sending him flying until he crashed into the dirt where the blast detonated and buried Gohan several feet below under a large pile of rubble.
"Oh no! Gohan!" Mira cried in worry.
"Who does this guy think he is, coming here and picking a fight with our guildmate?!" Elfman demanded. "What kind of man would easily harm a child like that?!"
Natsu's fist suddenly lit on fire as he faced and glared at Tyson. "I don't know who you are, pal, and I don't care if you're with the Magic Council or not… NOBODY GETS AWAY WITH HURTING MY FRIEND!" he roared as he charged at Android 13, who simply smirked while facing him. Before he could reach the Chief, his body suddenly froze and he fell to his knees. "Wh-What the? Why can't I move?!" he thought before glancing up to see Hugo standing in front of him with glowing red eyes. "Is this guy causing it? What the hell kind of magic is he using?!"
"Natsu Dragneel, aka the Salamander. It is an honor to meet Fairy Tail's Fire Dragon Slayer," Hugo greeted the fire mage. Natsu glared at him and attempted to stand but Hugo returned the glare, forcing the pinkette back to his knees. "Don't bother trying to stand up; you can't escape my power." Hugo then noticed Erza and Gray rushing toward him.
"Ice-Make: Hammer!" Gray exclaimed as he created an ice weapon.
"Whatever you've done to Natsu, stop it at once!" Erza ordered as she changed into her Flame Empress Armor. Hugo didn't even look at them as his body released a red aura wave; in an instant, they found themselves in the same state as Salamander. "What magic power is this?! How can a Rune Knight possess such malicious aura?!" she inquired.
"What's wrong with me?! How is this guy doing this?!" Gray questioned. "It feels like the time we fought Master Hades at full strength!"
Lieutenant Hugo then stepped in front of the ice stripper. "Gray Fullbuster, the Ice Make Wizard. It is an honor to meet the disciple of a potential Wizard Saint. I wonder if you're as good as Lyon or Ultear." The Rune Knight then turned to the red-haired mage and his expression changed to disappointment. "The famous Erza Scarlet, aka Titania, Queen of the Fairies. I wish I could say that it is an honor to be in your presence, but then I'd be lying."
"Wh-Who are you? H-How are you doing th-this?" she asked as she tried to stand.
Hugo just glared at her. "Resistance is futile! Stand down!" he ordered.
"Oh man, it's Hugo Steelsoul!" Nab said.
"I've heard rumors about his Overpower magic, but I never thought it would be powerful enough to take down three of our strongest members," Max stated in awe.
"I ain't gonna stand here and let these Council punks do this to our friends!" Gajeel declared. "Iron Dragon Roar!" He took a huge breath and let out a hurricane of metal shards.
"Anyone who dares to harm my beloved will feel my wrath!" Juvia shouted as she waved her hand, creating a massive wave. "Water Nebula!"
The two ex-Phantom Lord Mages fired their attacks at the Knight, but his comrade suddenly phased in front of Hugo and deflected the attacks by twirling her staff rapidly. "I know your guild has a reputation for being reckless, but please do not push us!" she said playfully. "I don't wanna have to hurt any of you!"
"Only one about to get hurt is you, sweetheart!" Gajeel retorted as he formed a spear with his right arm and pointed it at Jillian. "Iron Dragon Lance: Demon Logs!" He fired a barrage of iron spikes at the female Rune Knight.
"You dare stand between Juvia and her darling?!" the Water Mage demanded while she quivered in fury. "That means you are another love rival that I must destroy! Water Slicer!" Juvia launched numerous blades of liquid at Jillian.
The Combat Healer sighed and said, "I warned you." She quickly waved her hand to form an energy barrier that deflected the attacks; she then created multiple Ki wires that surrounded the former enemies of Fairy Tail and bind them. The other Fairies prepared to join the fray when they saw that most of their guildmates were tied up or taken down with little effort.
"Gohan! Gohan, can you hear me?!" Warren tried to call the boy with his telepathy but received no reply. "This isn't good! We're getting our asses kicked here! Lucy! You and the others go and see if you can dig Gohan out!" Lucy nodded as she, Michelle, Wendy, and Carla raced over to where the Demi Saiyan had been buried.
"Don't worry, Gohan,we'll get you out!" Wendy assured.
"I hope he's alright," Michelle said with concern.
"Alright! Time to start digging!" Lucy exclaimed. "Open: Gate of the Maiden – Virgo!" The Celestial Mage turned Virgo's key and the Maiden Spirit appeared from underground.
"You summoned me, Princess? Is it time to receive punishment?" Virgo asked eagerly.
"Not now, Virgo! I need you to dig Gohan out from underground before he suffocates!" Lucy told her Celestial Spirit.
Virgo turned toward the rubble pile before turning back to Lucy. "That won't be necessary, Princess," she said, confusing Lucy before she explained further. "At the moment, I can feel vibrations deep in the ground; it seems that the boy is digging himself out rather quickly."
"Phew! For a second there, I thought you were gonna say that he was already dead," Lucy sighed in relief.
"If that were the case, then I would've offered to make a tombstone for him as this would be the perfect grave for him," Virgo replied, making the girls sweatdrop. Suddenly, multiple beams of light began to shoot out of the rubble as the ground began to shake. "It would be wise for you girls to take a few steps back," Virgo advised. As soon as they did, the pile of rubble exploded and a pillar of gold Ki shot into the sky; the Demi Saiyan shot out of the ground and ascended into the heavens, now in his Super Saiyan form. "I believe that Sir Gohan would make an excellent example of an angel passing on and entering the next life, don't you think?" Virgo joked.
"Thank goodness he's alright," Wendy sighed.
"And it doesn't look like he's ready to back down just yet," Carla observed.
The Demi Saiyan glared at Tyson, who just smirked at him and made the 'come on' gesture with his right hand. "RAAAAH!" the Z Fighter roared before he charged at the Android. Gohan tried to handchop Tyson, but his attack was blocked. The half Saiyan then tried to knee Android 13 in the gut but he easily blocked that attack as well. Gohan stayed on the offensive and unleashed numerous punches and kicks at his enemy, but every single blow was blocked or dodged. Tyson smirked before elbow bashing Gohan in the face and kicking him away; the Son of Goku slid on the ground before getting back on his feet. "He managed to counter every one of my moves," Gohan thought. "Of course he did! My fighting style's stored in his data! But… if I remember correctly, his power is only equal to that of a Super Saiyan, and I've far surpassed that level of strength. I'll finish him off in seconds!" Gohan charged at 13 again; he readied his fist to pucnh the Android before phasing behind him and kicking him in the head. He then elbow bashed the Chief before jumping away from him and hitting him with an energy blast.
Tyson took the blast and received no damage at all; he then flew at the boy and kicked him in the face with both feet, making Gohan wince long enough for 13 to grab him by the leg and start slamming the Demi Saiyan on the ground repeatedly. Tyson then stopped and threw Gohan toward Fairy Tail's base. "Our Guild Hall!" some of the members cried. Fortunately, Gohan quickly changed his trajectory by tapping the ground a few times and then blasting himself upward. Tyson flew up to meet the Super Saiyan and the two were immediately looked in combat. Eventually, Gohan got the jump on the Red Ribbon Robot by skull bashing him, kicking him in the chin, and then punching him in the gut before flying above Tyson and blasting him back to Earth. Gohan descended to the spot where 13 landed and waited; a giant red sphere inside another red sphere came out of the dust and crashed into Gohan. The Saiyan Hybrid caught it with his bare hands and tossed it into space. He then looked forward to see that 13 was gone right before he got a blast to the back from Android 13. Gohan glared at Tyson, who was ascending to the skies and quickly followed after him; when both fighters were at the same level, Tyson smirked and said, "Not bad, city boy. You managed to learn your pap's shiny transformation and yer even stronger than the last time we threw down!"
"I'm done playing games with you Android!" Gohan stated. "I won't let your evil endanger this place like it did mine!"
"Oh, really? Well, let's see ya go ahead and try, boy!" Tyson responded.
Gohan got angrier and powered up to Super Saiyan 2. "Now you die, Android!" he yelled as he formed two large yellow blasts in his hands and charged at Android 13. (A/N: Like the move Goku used on Jamemba.) Tyson took a fighting stance as he braced himself for Gohan's attack when suddenly, a giant hand appeared and intercepted the Demi Saiyan's path. Gohan quickly reacted by powering down to base form and aiming his hands at the giant one. He fired a kiai at minimum power, allowing the Saiyan to slow himself down and reduce the damage it would've received from his impact on it. When he stopped in the air, Gohan glanced to see that the giant hand came from Master Makarov, who had a pained look on his face from Gohan's attack. "Master Makarov, what are you doing?!" Gohan questioned.
"I should be asking you that question so you can explain your reason for attacking a member of the Magic Council!" Makarov retorted as he retracted his hand and grasped it in pain. "Now if you would just calm down, I'm sure we can settle whatever misunderstanding this is."
Gohan kept his eyes suspiciously on Tyson. The Red Ribbon soldier descended to the ground and landed beside Hugo, who had released Erza, Gray, and Natsu from his power. Gohan followed afterward and stood with his guild as Jillian released them from her bindings. "Master, please don't ever do something like that again!" Gohan warned. "If I hadn't seen your hand and reacted in time, I could've flew right through the flesh in your palm!" The Fairies cringed at that thought while their 3rd Master massaged his injured hand.
"Noted," Makarov said. Jillian then appeared next to the old mage and held out her hand.
"Let me help," she offered. Her hand started emitting Ki and in a few seconds, Makarov's hand was completely healed. She was about to go over to Gohan and heal his injuries as well when she saw the Sky Dragon Slayer had already rushed to his side and healed him. "So she's the Sky Maiden with healing abilities comparable to my own," she thought. At that moment, Weinheidt, Lahar, and a newly refreshed Doranbolt/Mest appeared by the Guild hall. "Chief! They're here!" she informed her commanding officer.
Wiendeit placed his right fist to his chest to salute his leader. "Specialist Weinheidt reporting for duty sir! So, what did we miss?" he asked as he observed the battlefield.
"Just the Chief getting pounded into the ground by that boy over there," Jillian answered as she pointed to Gohan. "Why do you have to be so reckless, Chief?"
"Why did you engage that boy in combat? And why did he want to kill you sir?" Hugo questioned.
"Relax y'all, my little square dance with the boy was just to see if he's the same child I remember," Tyson explained as he picked his trucker hat up and dusted it off before putting it back on. "Now, that's definitely the boy I met a while ago, but he's far better than I reckoned for."
While the Indian Knight Trio were conversing amongst themselves, Lahar and Mest had approached the Fairy Tail members. The former spy's eyes grew wide when he saw that every Fairy he claimed to have left to die on Tenrou island was standing right in front of him. "Wendy… everyone," he muttered in disbelief. "But I thought… how are you all...?"
Gohan's attention was suddenly brought to the man staring at his friend. "Wendy, who's this guy?" he inquired.
"That's Mest Gryder or Doranbolt. He's a spy who infiltrated our guild for the Magic Council to disband it," Wendy explained, getting Gohan to look at her questioningly at how she could say that so calmly. "I know how it sounds, but he's actually a good guy," she defended the spy before addressing him. "Hey Doranbolt, it's nice to see you again."
Seeing that Team Tenrou was clearly alive and finally accepting it, Mest smiled at the Sky Maiden. "Hello Wendy, I'm glad that you're alright."
"Hey Mest!" Natsu greeted te spy. "Long time no see! How ya been? What brings you here?"
"Before we get to that, can someone please explain to me who these four are?" Makarov requested as he gestured to the Chief and the Indian Knights. "And why Gohan attacked one of them?"
"I'll tell you, 3rd master," Macao said. "The man in the cap is Chief Tyson Hammer of the 3rd Custody Enforcement Unit. He's an exceptionaly strong officer who has taken out many minor Dark Guilds of the Baram Alliance. His magic is unknown, but he's never been known to lose a fight to anyone so far." The Fire Mage then gestured to Tyson's lieutenant. "This guy in the helmet is Hugo Soulsteel, and he's Tyson's second in command. People say that he can make his enemies freeze before he takes them out. Whenever he faces a Dark Guild, they just lose the will to fight against him, and as you saw from what he did to three of our strongest mages, his maigc is more than just a rumor. They say that he was the one who ended the attack on the Cedar knight's home, singlehandedly."
"Cedar? That's Dan's hometown," Lucy thought. "He does look like a knight; maybe he knows Dan."
Max then came over and gestured to the female Rune Knight. "This lovely lady is Jillian Solaris, Corporal of the 3rd Custody Enforcement Unit," he introduced her. "She's a strong and fierce woman and one of the best amongst the Rune Knights. She's been known to take out numerous knights and mages solo. She's known as the Combat healer due to her incredible fighting skills and healing abilities, which we've seen are very effective. She is an inspiration to strong women everywhere."
Romeo then pointed to the hunter. "I know this guy. He's Philip Weinheidt, Specialist of the 3rd Custody Enforcement Unit," the boy stated. "They call him the Bullseye Bow. Whether it's long range or close combat, he's known to have always gotten his target. Together with Hugo and Jillian, the three of them make up Tyson's elite team: the Indian Knight Trio. Most of the Baram Alliance's remaining Dark Guilds were disbanded by them."
"Hold on a minute!" Gajeel interjected. "I've been arrested by basically every Council Knight there is! And I've never heard of these guys until now!"
"I've also never heard of these Rune Knights before, which is surprising considering if our guild's record with the Magic Council," Erza mused. "How can these four be so famous and yet we've never encountered them in the past?"
"They actully became public seven years ago, sometime after you guys disapppeared on Tenrou Island," Macao revealed.
"7 years ago? How can that be?" Gohan thought.
"These guys are said to be the greatest four person team in all of Earthland!" Romeo said. "They're feared by many guilds; their strength is unmeasurable, their accomplishments are unbelievable, and their magic, even though it's unknown, is said to be limitless!"
"That's because they don't use magic, they're using Ki," Gohan spoke up.
Everyone turned to look at the Demi Saiyan with wide eyes. "Wait, you're saying that these Council guys can use Ki?!" Gray questioned. "Just like you can?!"
"Gohan, are you about this claim?" Erza asked.
The Son of Goku nodded. "I can sense the life forces of those three and they're exceptionally high, especially for someone from Eartland. I'm pretty sure that's because they can use Ki just as freely as I can," Gohan explained as he pointed to the Indian Knight Trio. He then turned his attention from the Rune Knights and to their Chief. "Although I don't know this Indian Knight Trio, I do in fact know their Chief!"
"Wow! Never would've guessed that the amazing Chief Tyson and his surbordinates were capable of the same type of power as Gohan," Wakaba mused.
"I never would've thought that the Magic Council had managed to recruit someone who doesn't use magic!" Macao admitted. "Man, life sure has a funny way of doing things."
"So, that kid knows about Ki, and from the way he fought the Chief, it seems that he's very versatile in using it himself," Jillian noted. "I've never seen anyone take so many of the Chief's attacks and shrug it off, let alone go toe to toe with him when he's trying."
"I can sense his energy; it's nothing like I've ever felt before," Hugo stated. "In that moment, when he changed into that golden form, I could feel his overwhelming power. It was so much greater than ours and he wasn't even at full strength."
Weinheidt nodded. "Yeah. I can tell just by looking at him that he's been fighting his entire life. He's probably been through the most brutal training you can imagine, even more intense than ours. That kid… is a true warrior!" he said.
"Do you think he could be stronger than the Chief?" Jillian wondered.
"Without a doubt," Hugo answered.
"That could be a problem," Weinheidt said. "The Chief's plan was to work with that boy and his guild, but we may have to fight them if that kid tries to kill him again. Why does he want to kill Chief Tyson, anyway?" he asked, but received no answer from his comrades.
"Wait a minute, Gohan!" Romeo exclaimed, getting the Saiyan's attention. "You weren't with us for those seven years, so how do you know Tyson Hammer?"
"Tyson Hammer… is that the fake name you made up for yourself, Thirteen?" Gohan asked the Android.
"Fake name?" Jillian repeated.
"Chief, what does he mean?" Weindeit inquired.
"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your so-called Chief isn't who he claims to be," Gohan said while jabbing a finger at Tyson. "You may be able to hide your identity from these wizards, but you could never hide it from me because I'll always remember what you've done… Android 13!"
"Android 13?" Natsu parroted questioningly.
"He called him that earlier when he attacked that guy," Happy recalled.
"But what the heck is an Android?" Gray asked.
"An Android is a mechanical man or a machine designed to look like a human," Gohan answered. "Though in my case, they're artificial humans built specifically for battle."
"So, you're saying that Chief Tyson isn't human?" Erza asked, recieving a nod from the Saiyan.
The Indian Knight Trio glanced at their Commanding officer with surprised looks."It can't be… the Chief… is a machine?" Weinheidt questioned.
"That can't be true!" Hugo argued. "Chief Tyson was the one who taught us how to use our Ki for combat! There's no way a machine could be able to use this same kind of power!"
"Where I come from, Androids are designed with the ability to manipulate Ki just as well as an organic being. Even though they didn't acquire this the same way we did, their control over it was adequate," Gohan explained. "However, even though they can use their energy, their life forces cannot be sensed. Since their Ki isn't awakened or acquired naturally and they're inorganic, their life forces give off no signal to organic beings… or have you ever sensed your Chief's energy before now?"
The Indian Knight Trio could not bring themselves to answer the Z Fighter. They began to remember all the times they witnessed Tyson's display of power, yet they never picked up his energy signal even though he was using his Ki right before them. "No matter how many times we tried to sense the Chief's power, his energy was just… undetectable to us. But it can't be true, I've always been able to heal his injuries. That wouldn't work if he was a machine… would it?" Jillian thought.
"Hold on! That machine Rancor you fought was also able to use Ki," Pantherlily stated. "Are you saying that this Tyson is connected to Rancor?"
"I'm pretty sure the only connection between the two is that they're both heartless killing machhines," Gohan replied.
"Actually, I'm a Cyborg, city boy," Tyson corrected him.
"Whats a Cyborg?" Michelle wondered.
"A Cyborg is someone who's half human, half machine," Gohan supplied. "Meaning Tyson used to be an organic being before he was given cybernetic enhancements; that's why he can use Ki so well. Not that it really matters to me." The Demi Saiyan glowered at the Cyborg.
"So the Chief is human, or at least part human!" the Indian Knight Trio thought, though it didn't fill them with much relief.
"So he's not completely human, but that doesn't explain why you tried to kill him, child," Carla stated.
"Yeah Gohan. Just because he's not a human doesn't mean that…" Wendy started to say before she was interrupted.
"Believe me, I didn't want to kill him for what he is," Gohan said sternly. "It's for what he's done!" The Son of Goku took a quick glance at Tyson as his Ki flared and his eyes changed to teal; he then took a deep breath and calmed down, but still clenched his fist in anger. "This machine, this monster… tried to kill my father!"
"What?!" everyone shouted.
"No, that can't be… it's not true," Jillian muttered.
"Heck yeah, it's not true!" Weinheidt agreed. "Chief Tyson must've hit 'em real hard!"
"Perhaps you are mistaken, boy," Hugo suggested. "Maybe you think Tyson is some old enemy of yours due to his appearance."
"Trust me, I'm not mistaken!" Gohan said. "I considered that maybe Tyson wasn't Android 13, but his appearance, his trucker hat, his undetectable Ki, and his fighting style; they all match the murderous machine I fought perfectly. So I know I'm not mistaken when I say that Tyson is the Android that tried to kill my dad right in front of me!"
"Gohan," Makarov called to the boy. "If you wouldn't mind explaining, what is your history with this man?"
Gohan took another deep breath, not liking the story or the memory but brought himself to talk about it. "Chief Tyson is a cybernetic super soldier built to complete the Red Ribbon Army's dream of world domination."
"What is this Red Ribbon Army?" Erza inquired.
"A powerful organization whose strength, resources, and numbers were unmatched!" Gohan explained. "They went around conquering villages and harming innocents to get what they wanted. For some time, no one could bring themselves to stand against them… until my dad did. He singlehandedly stormed the Red Ribbon base and decimated it, defeating every member he faced and crushing the organization."
"Whoa! Your dad took on an entire army and won?!" Lucy questioned in shock. "That's insane!"
"No, that's totally awesome!" Natsu cheered. "Your dad must've been super strong! Wish I could've met him!"
"Aye! So that you can challenge him to a fight," Happy said.
"Of course you would think about that, flame brain," Gray commented. "Still, it's pretty cool that your old man was able to defeat an entire criminal organization on his own."
"Your dad sounds amazing, Gohan!" Wendy exclaimed. "And heroic!"
"If he's anything like you, he must've been quite the great warrior," Erza said with a smile.
"Indeed," Makarov agreed.
Gohan smiled for a moment before frowning again. "But even though the army was no more, its head scientist, Dr. Gero, escpaed and spent years spying on my father in order to plot his revenge and reawaken the Red Ribbon's dream. He spent his time collecting data on us and programmed them into his tools of revenge: the Androids." Gohan explained before glancing at 13 again along with everyone else. "Gero managed to build up to twenty different Androids/Cyborgs, the 20th being himself, and a Bio Android. After my father befriended the 8th Android and defeated the army, all other Androids were created for one purpose: to kill him! 3 years prior to the Androids' release, we were warned about them and spent the time training. Eventually, the Z Fighters went to confront the Androids."
"The Z Fighters?" Romeo inquired.
"It's the name of our group. It composes of me, Trunks, my partner, my mentor, my dad's rival, and his childhood friends, with my dad as the leader," Gohan said. "We were told that the Androids we faced, which were 19 and 20, would kill us if my dad wasn't with us. My dad almost beat 19 but he was fatally ill from a heart virus and nearly died on the battlefield before his rival saved him. After he was taken home to recover, we faced the Androids without him. At first we thought we were winning when Vegeta defeated 19 and my mentor proved too strong for 20, but then Trunks came and told us these weren't the Androids he warned us about. Dr. Gero then revealed the existence of 17 and 18 and hurried off to his lab to awaken them; we tried to stop him but we were too late. After they killed Gero for making them fighting machines, they awakened another Android, 16, and went to fulfill their programming by killing my dad. We stood in their way and challenged them to a fight. The Androids had no interest in us but still fought and beat us so easily. Though we were at their mercy, the Androids spared us since they had no reason to kill us or anyone else aside from my dad. They said they only wanted to fight the strongest and that it was like a game to them, one they intended to win."
"That's a nice story and all but what does that have to do with the Chief?" Weinheidt questioned.
"I was getting to that!" Gohan said. "Anyway, after our defeat, we spent the time training to get even stronger and my father joined us as soon as he rcovered from his illness. Some time later, the city we were cruising through was attacked by another pair of Androids: 14 and 15. We led them away from the city and faced them in an icy area. Pretty soon, they were joined by another Android… 13!" The Indian Knight Trio looked at their leader in shock; he just kept his face hidden with his trucker hat. "13 told us that Gero's self-programmed supercomputer completed him and the other two and made it very clear that they intended to give in to their programming to kill my dad and anyone who stood in their way. We managed to defeat 14 and 15, but 13 absorbed their powers and grew even stronger, too strong for any of us! He beat every single one of us who tried to fight him, completely letting himself be a slave to his foul programming. Eventually, my dad managed to defeat 13 with an ultimate attack; we all thought he died that day, but he clearly survived and came here!" Gohan clenched his fist again as his anger at Tyson rose.
The Indian Knight Trio continued to stare at their their trusted leader; the more they looked at him, the more they couldn't believe that their trusted leader was a ruthless war machine built for killing, fighting, and conquering. "Chief Tyson," Hugo said to his teachher. "Tell me this isn't true, sir. Look me in the eye and say that this boy is wrong or lying."
"Yeah, Chief! You've gone around taking out Dark Guilds to help people, right?" Weinheidt asked. "No way could someone like you could ever harm good people or try to kill them, right?"
Tyson still gave his students no answer but just continued to hide his face with his trucker hat. "Chief," Jillian whispered as she approached him. "Please… say it isn't true. Tell us that you never did any of that," she pleaded.
Android 13 slowly lifted up his cap to show his saddened face. "Sorry darling, but I done did all those things. I am… was… Android 13," he answered. Jillian backed away before looking down in disappointment and hurt, as did her comrades.
"Now you understand why I wanted to kill him," Gohan said. "I saw his brothers tear up a city to fish out my father. I watched him pound my friends into a pulp! I saw him beat my dad to near death, intercepted the blast he fired at my dad, and almost died from it! Even though he's taken refuge here, he can't be trusted!"
"But I ain't the same Android your daddy defeated boy," Tyson assured. "I've become a different person."
"People change, but a machine can't change what they truly are!" Gohan said.
"How would you know that, city boy?!" Tyson demanded. "There's no way you could understand how it feels, to be human and something else! When I first awoke, I had no memory of my human self; just my programming and images of your father's life! It felt like I had no purpose and that your pap's very existence was the reason why I was turned into this Cybnertic psycho! 'Kill Goku! Goku must die!' That's all my brian kept telling me; it drove me mad, and I couldn't fight it! I had no choice to do whatever it took to kill your old man; it was the only way I could be free! It was either that or risk that blasted computer setting off that darn nuke they put in me!"
Gohan turned away from Android 13. "If what you're saying is true… then Android 16 would've felt the same way you did!" he stated, getting a surprised look from Tyson.
"I must not have heard you right, boy, 'cause it done sound like you knew little brother 16!" Tyson said. "And that can't be right, 'cause Pa never wanted him awake!"
"You heard right, 16 was activated." Gohan clarfied. "16 had the same programming as you, so he likely suffered from the same mental problems you did! But unlike you, he was never human; Gero built him from nothing! He was a full Android, 100% machine! 16 was also solely devoted to his mission and he planned to fulfill it to the end. But he was different, because he cared about life while you didn't! He wanted to protect the innocent while you and your brothers tried to snuff it out! Even when it came to those who stood against him, he refused to harm anyone. But when humanity was endangered by Cell, he set aside his programming, his mission, his purpose, to fight for what's right!" The Demi Saiyan started to get a little teary-eyed as he remembered how 16 died. "He was even willing to use that same bomb you have. It was meant for my father, but he tried to use it on Cell, and when he failed, he sacrficed himself to help me. He encouraged me to use my true power to fight for good and not to fear it. When he was killed, he only had one request. He cared deeply about the animals of the wildlife and wanted to protect them; he begged me to do it in his place. He was built by Gero just like you, he was programmed to kill Goku like you, so why was it that a total Android had the will to reject his programming to kill Goku even when he was right in front of him but you couldn't?" Tyson looked away as he could not answer the boy's question. "I'll tell you why, because he was more human than you ever were! You probably weren't any different when you were fully human; that's why you followed your programming even when you knew you didn't have to. Both you and 16 had a choice, and you made yours!"
"Whoa, that was a little harsh for Gohan, wasn't it?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah, it's like he really doesn't like that Tyson guy," Gray said.
"I sense the same amount of hatred Gohan had toward Rancor," Erza noted.
"He always seemed like a sweet, innocent, and shy little boy," Michelle remarked.
"I never knew there was so much anger deep inside him," Mira said. "It's probably the greatest I've ever felt."
"Who could blame him?" Natsu reasoned. "If what he said is true, then that Tyson guy had it coming for what he did to Gohan's father."
"I'm not sure I like Gohan when he's upset or angry," Wendy confessed. "It doesn't suit him."
Tyson looked like he wanted to something back, but before he could, Lahar stood in front of the young half Saiyan. "Forgive me, but we didn't come here just to find out about Chief Tyson," he said. "Something urgent has come up and we request Fairy Tail's assistance."
Makarov came beside Gohan and asked the Marshal, "What does the Council want from us?"
"I'm sure you're all aware of the Church halls that have been burned down and that the Neo Oracion Seis were the ones responsible," Lahar stated. "The Council is aware that you attempted to stop those criminals from gathering the pieces of the Infintiy Clock, so we know you plan to confront them again. This is why we need your help, since you know more about the Oracion Seis than we do."
"What sort of help are you requesting?" Erza asked.
"Before coming here, Chief Tyson has requested that the Council operatives form an alliance with Fairy Tail," Hugo explained, "and it was granted. Now we ask you the same request."
Most of the Fairy Tail members' faces turned into scowls aimed at the Custody Enforcement officers. "Sorry pal, but I think you'd better turn around and leave cause you're asking the wrong guild to back you up!" Natsu said.
"Fairy Tail and the Magic Council aren't exactly buddy-buddy and we ain't gonna start now!" Gray agreed.
"Like we'd ever work with a bunch of stuck-up pests like the Council," Gajeel stated. "Thanks but no thanks, we can handle the Neo Oracion Seis ourselves." Other members nodded their heads in agreement.
"All of you be quiet!" Makarov ordered, surprising his children. He faced the officers with a hard look. "As you can see, my guild has some mixed feelings about the Council's request. So if you would, please tell me why your Chief would dare make such a request. I'm sure the Council didn't like it any more than we do."
Jillian stepped forward. "We know that the Legion Platoon is also a part of this and their leader has made it clear to Marshal Lahar that they will handle the situation independently. However, we believe that they cannot succeed, as many of their churhces have already been lost to the demons and it will only get wosre unless they are stopped."
"The Council has already had Rune Knights go up against these monsters and we have yet to stop them," Weinheidt added. "Especially that Red Giant covered with emeralds that the Chief had trouble fighting."
"You're talking about Rancor," Gohan told him.
"Who?" Weinheidt inquired.
"Rancor is an old enemy of Gohan's and a new addition to the Oracion Seis," Erza replied. "He's a machine built for battle that can use Ki proficently."
"I see. Do you know if he has any weakness?" Lahar questioned. "Is there a way we can stop him?"
"No, there isn't!" Gohan responded. "So don't bother trying! I'm taking down Rancor myself!"
"You? By yourself?" Doranbolt questioned. "No offense, but you're just a kid; how can you hope to stand a chance against this Rancor?"
"Don't underestimate Gohan!" Happy spoke up. "He's super strong!"
"Yeah! He almost destroyed that hunk of junk the last time they fought!" Nastu added. "So if anyone can handle Rancor, it's him!"
Lahar nodded. "I see. In any case, it's clear that we must work together if we wanna stop the Neo Oracion Seis," he declared. "With the fate of the world at stake, we ask that you cooperate and lend us your strength. Will you do it?"
Some of the Fairies still expressed their dislike with this alliance, but none of them refused it again as they knew the stakes. "I still say it's a bad idea," Natsu muttered.
"Yeah, the Council tends to give us nothing but trouble," Gray stated. "I doubt they'll be any help to us now."
Before more Fairy Tail members could attempt to protest against the alliance proposal with the Council for dealing with Neo Oracion Seis, Tyson retorted, "Now, I would like to remind y'all that the once great Fairy Tail just took an ass whoopin' from Hugo and Jillian, who weren't even trying. If you ruffians can't even handle the Indians, why bring out the Chief? Even if ya did, ya couldn't even touch me, much less Rancor, who we know stole all them clock bits from ya."
Natsu, Gray, and Erza gritted their teeth at their helplessness before Hugo's Overpower Magic while Gajeel and Juvia felt ticked off at being easily taken down by Jillian, and the rest of the Guild was gloomy due to how Rancor easily took the Infinity Clock pieces they were guarding. After another moment of thought, Makarov finally spoke. "Although my children and I have never been fond of the Magic Council, we know the danger that awaits Earthland if not stopped immediately!" the 3rd Master stated. "We will do all we can to help, even if it means working alongside the Magic Council."
"Guess they're not a completely reckless guild after all," Jillian thought.
"Alrighty, y'all! First you lot need to tell us your little scheme against these devils and then we head out!" Tyson said.
Gohan glared at the Cyborg before addressing Makarov. "Excuse me, Master, I need some time to think. I have to mentally prepare myself for my rematch against Rancor. I already know the location of where I'll engage him, so just send someone to let me know when we're ready to go and I'll catch up with my… teammates." And on that note, the Demi Saiyan flew to the back of the guild hall while his guildmates watched him with looks of concern.
"Wendy," Mira said, getting the Sky Maiden's attention. "Why don't you go check on Gohan, see if he's doing alright."
"Y-Yeah. Okay," Wendy agreed before hurrying after the Z Fighter.
As the others explained their plan to Marshal Lahar and Doranbolt, the Indian Knight Trio stepped aside to speak with their Commanding officer. "Chief," Jillian spoke first. "We just want you to know that we respect you and we owe you everything for helping us become the people we are today. We just never dreamed that our leader and teacher used to be such a…"
"A rapscallion? A scamp? A scoundrel?" Tyson joked.
"A villian!" Hugo corrected. "A brute who did things his own way without any regard for human life!"
Weinheidt placed his hand on the Knight's shoulder before speaking. "Look Chief, maybe we don't understand how you were before we met you. Even so, that doesn't change anything; we'll still serve as your indians."
Hugo then glared at the Cyborg. "But if it turns out that you're still the enemy that boy claims you were, then it won't if you're our Chief or not! We'll personally stop you, using everything you taught us, no matter what it takes!" he promised; the other two nodded before walking away from their Chief.
With Gohan, the Sky Dragon Slayer found the Saiyan Hybrid behind their guild hall; he was sitting cross-legged in midair, with his hands together and his eyes closed, channeling energy while deep in thought. Inside his mind, he saw images of flames expanding around him; he looked around for the enemy until he spotted Rancor. He quickly powered up to Super Saiyan and prepared to attack, but then he felt a prescence behind and turned to see Super Android 13 there with his old devious grin. The two machines pounded the Son of Goku continuously, overwhelming him in his own space. He separated from them and channeled energy into his hands before charging at them full speed. "Gohan," a voice called for him, snapping him back to reality. He opened his eyes and turned to see the Sky Maiden.
"Wendy, did you need something?" he asked her as he descended to the ground.
"I, um, I just wanted to see if you were alright," she replied.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine," he said while smiling.
"Um Gohan… don't you think you were a little mean to Mr. Tyson?" she inquired. "I mean, he doesn't seem that bad."
Gohan then frowned before looking away. "You don't know him the way I do, Wendy," Gohan answered. "I'm sorry if I came off as mean, but that's just how I feel about him."
"Are you sure you're not still upset about losing to Rancor?" Wendy asked.
"I am still upset about that, but that's not just it," Gohan said. "I almost lost you to Rancor, just like I almost lost my dad to a lot of other enemies. I just wanna protect my friends, and Tyson could still be trying to hurt them."
"But he's on our side, and he wants to help us," Wendy stated.
"I'm not rejecting his help, I just can't trust him yet," Gohan said. "I can see that he's acting differently from when we last met, but words aren't enough compared to what he did. I need to see that he's trying to be different. Before I forgive him, he needs to prove himself to me. So I'll give him a chance for now, but I won't let my guard down."
Wendy nodded before something came to her mind. "Um Gohan," she said.
At the same time, Gohan said, "Hey Wendy." They both waited for the other to talk before he said, "You first."
"Do you really think we can stop the Oracion Seis?" she asked.
"I was about to ask you the same question," Gohan laughed. "I guess we're not as confident as our friends. What do you think they'd say?"
"Probably something like 'we managed to beat them before and we can do it again,'" Wendy answered. "Which is true. Fairy Tail has stopped the Oracion Seis before and you stopped Rancor before, too. If we don't give up and have hope, we can pull it off just like before. We just need to work together."
"About that, are you sure these are the best teams?" Gohan inquired. "I saw how everyone acted toward those they were partnered with, and it seemed like these kind of matchups haven't happened before."
"Well, Cana's divination said these would be the best teams that could stop the Oracion Seis," Wendy reasoned. "I'm sure it'll work out. Plus, those who were paired together were all on Tenrou Island for seven years, so maybe this'll help their bond grow like it did then."
"Must be nice to have a bond like that," Gohan mused.
"It is, and you'll get to experience it for yourself," Wendy assured him. "Just like the challenges we overcome bring us closer together, this crisis will bring you closer to us, I'm sure of it." The two child Fairies smiled at each other just as they were intruded on by Bickslow.
"Hey there, kiddies, snuggle time's over! We got bad guys to bust and a world to save!" he exclaimed.
"World to save! World to save!" his dolls repeated.
"All the other teams have already gotten a head start, so we need to get a move on!" Bickslow said. "Oh yeah, and we got another person joining us; a real hottie!"
"Please refrain from calling me that," Jillian requested as she appeared.
"Sure thing, sweetheart, welcome to the team!" Bickslow said.
"Go team!" the dolls cheered.
"It's nice to have you with us, I look forward to working with you," Wendy said to the Corporal.
"Likewise, Sky Maiden," the Combat Healer replied before she addressed Gohan. "My comrades have already left with your guildmates. Hugo is with Titania, and Weinheidt left with two other mages with a mission from your master."
"And what about Android Thir-I mean, Chief Tyson?" Gohan asked.
"He'll be going with you, along with Marshal Lahar and Doranbolt," she answered. "We should get going." She then turned and walked away with Bickslow and his dolls following her.
"Be careful out there, Wendy," Gohan told the Dragon Slayer.
"You too, Gohan, and good luck!" she bid the Demi Saiyan before hurrying after her teammates. Gohan then went over to where Doranbolt, Lahar, and Tyson were waiting for him.
"Time to hightail it, city boy!" Tyson said.
"Then let's get going," Gohan said before grabbing Doranbolt. Chief Tyson picked up Marshal Lahar and the four flew over to where they would encounter the members of the Neo Oracion Seis.
Meanwhile, Natsu, Elfman, Lucy, and Michelle were quickly approaching their destination. "Come on, you guys, let's pick up the pace! We gotta beat those Oracion jerks before they wreck everything!" Natsu exclaimed. "Plus I wanna hurry up and rub it in others' faces that our team completed our mission first!" The Salamander then started running at high speed.
"A real man knows that you gotta slow down and not watse all your energy before a big fight, Natsu!" Elfman stated as he ran to catch up to the Dragon Slayer.
"Then why the hell are you trying to outrun me?! What kind of man does the exact opposite of what he's saying?!" Natsu demanded.
"A man who wants to win!" Elfman retorted. The two glared at each oter as they started to go even faster.
"Hey, you guys, calm down! You're getting worked up over nothing!" Lucy cried as she chased after the men while franctically waving her arms. Pretty soon, all three fairies had ran off, leaving Michelle by herself. Lucy's sister carried an expressionless face as she placed two fingers to her forehead.
"Michelle, reporting!" she said telepathically.
At the same time, another telepathic message came through. "Cardinal Lapointe also reporting," the Cardinal of Zentopia spoke.
"Must you both use those pitiful names when you're speaking to me?" Midnight questioned through the link. "They're merely covers for your missions, but it is your true names that define who you are, don't forget that!"
"As you wish, Lord Brain," Michelle replied.
"Hmph, if you would like us to use our true names, then shouldn't you use yours, Midnight?" Lapointe asked.
"My name is Brain II, to symbolize that I have inherited my father's dreams, his ambitions, and his desire to bring about the ultimate destruction: the inevitable chaos born from the Holy War!" Midnight stated. "That is who I am now. Now tell me your reports, Zero, Imitatia."
"Yes, Lord Brain. The teams of Fairy Tail have been chosen and are now headed toward different locations where they'll hope to encounter anyone from the Neo Oracion Seis," Imitatia reported.
"The Legion Platoon has also been dispersed to complete their assignments," Lapointe said.
"Excellent. Do you think our comrades will have any trouble against the Guild or Zentopian mages?" Midnight inquired.
"If the teams of Fairies' cooperation is anything like my team's, then they are no match for the Six Demons," Imitatia answered.
"Whether the Legion Platoon fights against or alongside Fairy Tail, they won't be able to stop the end that is coming," Lapointe said. "Our plan is flawless."
"What about the Saiyan Gohan?" Midnight inquired.
"He has fully recovered from his wounds and is ready to engage Rancor again," Imitatia answered. "He almost won the first battle, and I do not believe he'll make the same mistake twice."
"What should be done about that boy? He may very well put an end to our plans if hr defeats Rancor or the Neo Oracion Seis," Lapointe stated.
"Not to worry, comrade Rancor has told us that he has a plan for this Saiyan child," Midnight assured them. "A little gas blast from the past he calls it, and he says it ensure Gohan's demise. Niether him nor Fairy Tail will be able to stop us when we're manipulating this game."
"Lord Brain," Imitatia called to the dark mage. "I should inform you that the Magic Council has sent a few of their best officers to ally with Fairy Tail."
"Who?"
"Two members of the 4th Custody Enforcement Unit and Chief Tyson of the 3rd Custody Enforcement Unit along with his subordinates, the Indian Knight Trio," Imitatia replied.
"Interesting," Brain mused.
"Should we be of concern?" Lapointe asked.
"Of course not, it's too late for those Council fools' interference to have any effect on our plans," Midnight answered. "No matter who stands against us, we will bring this world to its knees and show the true power of the Neo Oracion Seis! Now go and make sure everything continues to proceed as planned, until there is one final piece we need… Lucy Heartfilia."
"Soon, I will have my sister back, and I won't let anything separate us again!" Imitatia declared.
"By the way, Imitatia, Jackpot has something for you. A little gift from Rancor that may come in handy; be sure to use it." Brain II gave his final instructions before the link was severed. Imitatia then changed her expression as she ran after the Fairies.
"Oh, Michelle, there you are," Lucy said when she noticed her sister. "Sorry we left you behind like that."
"It's ok, big sister Lucy," Michelle assured while smiling. "We all want to get our missions over with pretty quickly."
"Yeah, so let's stick together and finish our mission! Time to teach those Oracions a lesson!" Lucy proclaimed before heading off again.
Michelle hurried after her as her face became neutral again and she thought, "Don't worry, big sister, I'll make sure we're together… even when the world finally ends."
Elsewhere, a young girl in a small white dress stood on top of a big hill in front of a large tree; she watched as the wind blew the leaves off the tree with a grief stricken face as though she were awaiting something. In her arms was a small green creature, a Nikola, wearing its own stern look. "I'm afraid we're getting to the end," she muttered to the Celestial Spirit. "Hey Nico, how long do you think this tree will live?" Although Nico gave no official response, it let out a low grunting sound. A man in church clothing soon came running up the hill.
"Miss Katja!" he called to the girl. "What in the world are you doing up here?!"
"I was just looking at this tree," the girl named Katja replied without facing the man.
"It's far too dangerous for you to be outside on your own like this," the man told her while catching his breath. "Haven't you heard about what's been going on?"
"Of course I've heard. I know there aren't that many left," Katja said.
"That's true," the man agreed.
"That's why I came out here, in the hopes that this tree would remember me," Katja continued. "Just a hope."
"Miss Katja, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Fabrizio was discovered and taken away," the man reported.
"I see, then it is very likely that I will be next," Katja mused before addressing the Nikola in her arms. "If you get too scared, you can always just run away, ok Nico?" The Celestial Spirit once again grunted to her.
In another location… "As far as Fortunetelling goes, Cana's the best there is, and she's almost always dead on!" Lucy thought as she, Natsu, Michelle, and Elfman stood near a local church sight. Staring down at them was the wicked grin-wearing Jackpot from on top of one ledge and the stern-looking Lord Byro on top of another. The Mages of Fairy Tail stood fearless and ready as they prepared to settle the score with the Legion Platoon and the Neo Oracion Seis.
A/N: Done! Well, this didn't take too long! Now onto the next chapter, and I'll keep working on this fanfic till I'm through with the Key of the Starry Heavens arc. Next we'll see some of the fights between the teams with Fairy Tail members and Custody Officers against the Neo Oracion Seis; plus you'll learn what Rancor's combat drug is for and how it works. Things are getting more and more exciting, wouldn't you agree? I'll see ya next time, until then, TTFN AntiHero out!