Author Notes:
02/August/2020: Here's another revised chapter. Enjoy!
South Galaxy - A Desolate Planet
Only an ember candle flickered. Alone. The ghostly glow of the moonlight glared over the bed sheets, creeping over and submerging the sleeping Saishi. Her brow furrowed as a set of short breaths left her throat.
"Don't... d..do this..." Saishi mumbled, rolling over to her left side towards the darkness. "Please…" She gripped the thin blanket closer to her chest and hissed quietly, as though the air was squeezed from her lungs.
It was her again.
Those Demons; the ones who messed with her conscience. Her cold eyes and smooth laughter taunted Saishi, eating her from the inside.
"D..Don't leave...me..." Saishi mumbled, gripping the blanket closer to her face. Her brows creased, her jaws tightened and her face dampaned with silent tears.
Amaya. Saishi could only hope she was alive.
Thunk!
Saishi snapped her eyes open. The chilly fingers of the night air stroked her face. She sat upright and inspected the darkness ahead of her. A chilling shiver dashed down her spine. She clenched the blanket closer to her chest, observing the splinters left from the wooden door, or what was left of it.
What was that? Saishi thought, leaping up to her feet. She glanced to the blanket in het grasp for a moment. She tossed the blanket behind her, wavering like the dim candle in the corner.
Something watched her, like a prey in the wilderness. Something shifted from the corner of Saishi's gaze. She crouched, keeping herself as quiet as possible.
The shuffling of the creature's feet were heavy, each step masked with a metal tap.
Whoosh…
The single, flickering, candle-light vanished, drowning Saishi in the dark. Her eyes widened, her pupils thinned into slits. She closed her eyes and focused on any movement, any clues on who she faced. Her breaths fell silent as she tiptoed towards the nearest stone wall.
Thanks to the power of those Demons, Saishi's five senses were heightened. Though she closed off her sense of sight temporarily, her sense of smell, taste, touch and hearing were increased, increasing her alertness.
But one day, Saishi planned to return the favour to the one who blessed it. Towa… she will pay.
A beam of light shot towards Saishi's direction, illuminating the area into a bright hue of green. Saishi ducked to her right, only to have her right sleeve sliced off. The area faded to black. A close call.
Why is it the damn sleeves? Saishi thought, hissing as she held her arm, now stained crimson. "Who's here?" Saishi called, crouching towards the stone floor as everything became silent once more. Something stalked her, ready to strike her at any given time. Cold and lifeless, wait those eyes! She now knew who she was up against. That fear... it was- "Bro- urk!"
Grabbed by the throat, Saishi choked on her words as she was hoisted off her feet by several feet.
Broly's eyes were dark, his brows furrowed and his jaws clenched. He glared up at eye level with the girl. Growling, he raised another chaotic ball of energy to her face, which illuminated the darkness in a shroud of green. The green hue from the energy ball dared not to reach into the searing depths of his eyes.
Those eyes... why did someone who has such energy become so scared? Where was that power?
"Stop this." Saishi choked, grasping the golden band around his wrist. Her eyes gazed down into his searing ones. She searched for any spec of light in the clouded, crimson rage of his mind.
None.
I've got no choice. Saishi thought, gritting her fangs as she tightened her grasp. She must escape.
With a crackle of electricity, Saishi clicked her fingers. Diverting Broly's attention for a moment, she swiped her palms towards the Saiyan's face, striking the Saiyan's eyes. Broly roared. Easing his grip, Saishi fell to her bare feet. She sent a low sweep to his knees.
Thud…
His legs are as hard as steel! Or even harder! Saishi thought, her leg burned from the impact. She bit her lips and took in a deep breath, refusing to scream. Blood rushed to her face; that kick had no effect on him.
Lowering his hands from his eyes, with Saishi still in his sight, Broly swung his hand towards her.
With only a moment to dodge, Saishi rolled to her right, evading the heavy strike.
Stones and debris spewed into the air and filled the dark room.
"Broly!" Saishi yelled, landing on a wooden window ledge. "What's wrong with you? Why are you doing this?" She gripped one side of the window ledge as the moonlight crept into the room.
As the dust cleared, a silhouette of the towering Saiyan remianed; his eyes set on the girl. His fists clenched tighter as a low growl escaped his throat. "You... that insect." Broly snarled, his brows furrowing at her. "Father... I will kill every single one of you insect- AND DYE THE WALLS WITH YOUR BLOOD!" He lunged towards her.
With no room to duck, Saishi leaned back and evaded the wide punch, though the sharp nails of her toes dug into the wooden ledge for balance. Unable to fly with ki, the fear of falling clawed at the back of her mind.
Her nail broke.
Saishi slammed her hand into the wooden ledge and gripped it for dear life.With a throbbing pain sinking into her conscious, she glanced to her arm, realising blood seeping through the bandages.
Shit!
Saishi lifted her head, meeting the Saiyan's dark gaze as she dangled from the window. "I don't understand." Saishi kept her voice controlled. She raised her brows up at the Saiyan. "I don't want to fight you. Why can't you understand that?"
"Coming from an insect who will die just by falling, you have the nerve to question me." Broly placed one of his hands on her hand. He then applied force, slowly crushing every bone in her fingers.
In the time Broly spoke, Saishi used her tail to search for any gaps in the wall. For once, luck was on her side. Her tail was able to make out a hole in the wall, just big enough for her feet to rest in. Now she could be a little more confident against him, but...
"Paragus was right about you." Saishi winced as she beared through the pain. "You don't understand, do you?" She confirmed, her fingers gripping the wooden ledge as she met Broly's dark gaze.
Broly's eyes snapped wider, his jaws clenched tighter. The Saiyan shook with rage. "You're on my father's side!" Broly roared, the whites of his eyes cracked red with veins.
Feathers! Saishi thought, her brows shot up. "I'm not taking si-"
As Saishi pressed her feet against the narrow, stone ledge to jump, Broly rammed Saishi's hand into the wooden ledge, trapping her hand. As Saishi tried to free her hand from the wooden prison, Broly leapt from the window and swung his foot directly into her spine with a wide arc. Saishi gasped and lost her grip on both the wooden and stone ledge.
As Saishi fell, Broly pursued after her. He slammed his foot into her spine once more, hurling Saishi through several floors below and destroyed three levels of the building in one strike.
From outside the building, several Angol soldiers observed the sudden destruction. However, once they saw Broly from within the debris, the Angols fled. As they got a safe distance from the battle site, they immediately contacted Paragus.
Laying in the rubble from the aftermath of Broly's devastating blow, a stunned Saishi gazed up at the crumbling hole, peering with a crimson light. She soon became aware of what happened. He's too fast- Damn it! These weights are dragging me down. Saishi thought. She sat upright and rubbed her head, though it felt damp. She jolted her hand to her gaze, drenched in blood. Before she could do anything else, a sudden ki caught her attention.
"JUST ROLL OVER AND DIE!" Broly roared as his feet ripped through the stone wall from Saishi's left.
With a second to dodge, Saishi rolled over to her right. Dust erupted besides the girl, causing her to cough. She scrambled up to her feet. She must somehow stop this fight. Otherwise one outcome will be clear;
Someone will die.
As Saishi evaded the Saiyan's relentless fury, Saishi focused on escaping the closing gap between herself and the stone wall behind her. As Broly missed her head by a hair's width, Saishi darted to his right and raced towards the open crack in the stone wall.
However, Broly swung his foot, forcing Saishi to leap to her side. With the option of escape blocked, Saishi furrowed her brows.
Crish…
"You monster! Stay away from Saishi!"
Snapping their head towards the dim hallway, or what remained of it, Saishi and Broly saw the young Shamoian child. The broken, clay casket laid before her feet. Samoe's fists were raised to her chest; why was he after Saishi?
"Samoe get out of here!" Saishi shrieked, pointing at Broly.
The child... why was a weakling trying to stand up to him? If by all means he was a monster, why wasn't Samoe trying to run away? Broly could murder the child without much effort. His ears picked up the sound of Saishi's light footsteps.
"Samoe! No!" Saishi yelled, racing towards the child.
Broly vanished from view.
That smirk.
The Shamoian's eyes widened, trembling as she lost sight of the monster. That monster- the same monster who left her home in ruins. She knew what grave danger she was in now.
Now gripping the child by her throat; Samoe dangled in the air. The child gripped on for dear life as Broly tightened his hold on her throat. Samoe took short and shallow breaths as the Saiyan raised a green ball of ki to her face. Her lips trembled as Broly's dark eyes pierced into the Shamoian's ones. This monster, this savage monster will kill her for sure.
"Broly! Stop it! She hasn't done anything to you!" Saishi raised her voice, leaping up into the air. She rammed her fist into the Saiyan's face.
His head budged away, not phased by her strike.
"Please, let her go." Saishi landed onto the rubble. Her trembling eyes settled on the child. If anything happens to the child… oh how she feared the consequences.
Despair, fear and helplessness, yes. Those were the eyes that the Saiyan hungered for- but why did she hide that strength? Why was she afraid of him? Not once did the girl used her full power against him.
Unless…
"Take me seriously brat." Broly snarled down at Saishi, raising the ki ball closer to Samoe's face. "Otherwise I'll kill this insect; slowly, screaming in front of your eyes with all the horror unfolding before you." He sneered as the bridge of his nose creased.
Samoe whipped her head towards Saishi. Her eyes garnet eyes widened, her lips quivered.
Saishi hissed at Broly. Broly glowered back at her.
"Please put the child down, Broly." Saishi repeated with a calmer voice. She opened on of her palms up at the Saiyan as her thin pupils observed the child. "She has not done anything wrong to you."
"Why do you protect such trash?" Broly growled, tightening his grip on the child's throat. Samoe squeaked. "If you let them live, they will betray you eventually. They are only in it for themselves; once you let your guard down, they will stab you in the back and throw you out like trash." He raised his fist at Saish, "Don't you see that you'll be the one betrayed?" He held the energy ball towards Saishi. The green hue crept out into the darkness of the chilly room. "You'll be the one hurt, the one who will be forced to play by their rules, their twisted mind games." His voice became louder and rougher as his brows furrowed down at Samoe. "They are the ones will leave you to rot." His voice fell low, his breath scorching the child's skin with his piercing gaze.
"Or they can be the ones that can help you when you need it by helping them- an equivalent and reasonable exchange." Saishi replied, shifting towards Samoe in silence. She watched the Saiyan's actions, where his eyes seared at her now. This was a difficult task. "I don't agree with what Paragus is doing to you, but your power is dangerous." She raised her hands up to the Saiyan. However, sweat trickled down the sides of her brows.
"Your power is dangerous. I'm doing it for the good."
Those words... those were just like his father's words. Paragus said he was proud of Broly, and yet what did that pathetic waste of Saiyan blood do to him? The golden crown, the restraints locking away his birth-right and more importantly... those eyes. It made sense now. Broly knew what his father meant all along.
"You don't understand any of it do you?" Broly snarled lowly. He dropped Samoe as his dark gaze locked with Saishi's. His ki crackled around him, illuminating the darkness around him. His eyes, now cracked red with veins, glowered. His fists tightened to his chest. "This power belongs to me! ONLY ME! I'm not a puppet to carry out someone else's dirty work!"
A puppet, maybe Saishi could understand him now.
"Bro-"
"RAGH!"
Oh crap!
With a sudden flare of his ki, Broly roared towards Saishi and hurled Samoe at her as a projectile.
Saishi clamped her words shut. There was no way she could dodge this one, she refused to let Samoe fall to her death.
Catching Samoe, Saishi broke through the stone wall again and plummeted towards the navy ground once more, holding Samoe close to her. As Saishi frantically searched for an answer, Broly rapidly closed the gap, his face only a few inches away from hers.
Now.
Saishi lashed her tail at Broly. As Broly snapped his head away, Saishi's tail wrapped around his neck, choking and dragging the Saiyan along with her towards the stone ground below.
Straining his neck up, Broly dug his fingers into her tail. With a moment to breathe, he opened his mouth.
"Argh!" Saishi shrieked as a sudden prickling sensation of needles dug into her tail. She lost all feeling in her tail. "Let go!" Saishi yelled, jerking her numb tail in attempt to free herself. Her scales should not have shattered with just a mere bite.
Broly dug his canines into her scaly tail, letting out a primal growl as his hands remained firm on her tail- until Saishi and Samoe both struck the ground.
Crying out silently, Saishi's bruised back slammed into the hard ground. As a torrent of debris obscured their view, Saishi crouched over Samoe, like a mother wolf over her cub.
But a glint of green caused Saishi to freeze.
The green light pointed between the bridge of her nose, blinding Saishi. Samoe huddled besides Saishi, refusing to let the monster draw any closer.
The Saiyan's eyes did not change. They pierced the atmosphere, cutting off all worldly ties. Dark and empty.
"I'm going to ask again." Broly growled, holding the green ball of energy towards Saishi's face. He loomed over the girl and child, his eyes glaring down at them. "Why do you protect such trash?"
Samoe and Saishi exchanged looks. Saishi sighed. Trash... why of all words did he describe Samoe as trash? She was helpful more than anything; her medical ointments, providing resources and more importantly, an ally- a trustable ally. Maybe loyalty was a better word to describe the child...
"First of all, they're not trash; they're known as allies." Saishi answered, her voice trembling as the heat of the static zapped at her pale skin. "Unlike you, they can help when I need it."
Help you...
A grin grew across his lips.
"Help you?" Broly raised his brow. "Okay," The green ball of energy escaped onto the chilly air, "let's see what this insect will do if I was to knock your lights out. Hnn?"
Broly's palm reached out to Saishi's face. Aware of his malice, Saishi tried to move, yet her legs refused to budge.
Samoe!
"Get out of here Sa-"
Samoe's last word broke off as Broly's hand latched onto Saishi's face. Lifted off her feet, one of her cold eyes glanced between the gap of Broly's fingers, seeing only the darkness of his eyes. Her hands gripped around his wrists as she dangled in the air.
Samoe leapt away from the Saiyan.
"No one will come to save you." Broly said, grasping Saishi's head firmer, his fingers digging into her scalp. His eyes followed the pacing Samoe. He narrowed his eyes, piercing the child with all his hatred. "The strong only survives and the weak perishes. That insect will run to safety, leaving you behind to rot."
Samoe stopped.
"Th.. that's n.. not true!" Samoe yelled, lurching closer to the Saiyan. She raised her hands to her chest; even though her legs trembled. "Leave Saishi alone!"
"All you can do is scream and shout," Broly continued, "you have no chance against someone like me. Run while you still can insect!" Broly snarled, tossing a ki ball towards the child.
Saishi's eyes widened, annihilating her traces of doubt.
No... no, this can't be happening.
"Karu! Please!" Saishi shrieked internally as her eyes squeezed shut. "Give me energy!"
"Funny how someone like you wants nothing to do with the Demons, but yet you'll use anything to protect them…" Karu grinned as her crimson, reptilian eyes snapped open, like a crimson haze of a falling sunset. "Go on, unleash a small amount of your real power on him."
With a feral yell, Saishi struck the golden band of the Saiyan's forearms. Her eyes blazed crimson. A black aura erupted from her, lashing out at the surroundings like a vicious, wild fire.
Broly glanced back at Saishi as her fierce aura burned his palms.
Wresting herself free, Saishi vanished from Broly's firm grip.
This energy. There was no way this power was normal!
Broly glanced towards the ground of where the Shamoian child was. Only a plume of dust drifted from where the child was. A grin crept on the Saiyan's lips. His dark gaze followed the plume of dust to the window of Saishi's destroyed room, then up into the chilly, night skies above. Maybe he could have his fight now- a challenge he longed for.
That power, the Saiyan hungered for a worthy opponent.
Safe in a room far from the ruins of the building, Samoe opened her garnet eyes to see the ceiling of the dim room. A crackling, blue flame lashed at the darkness. The child leapt up to her feet. Her eyes glanced down to her hands. Trembling; she stretched and bent her fingers into her palms. Was she really alive? Wait- where was Saishi? She rolled off the bed, raced towards the window and slammed her small hands onto the wooden ledge.
Saishi, please don't take him on by yourself! I'm begging you! Samoe thought, scanning the starless skies for any signs of Saishi. What ever happens, she refused to witness her ally slaughtered in front of her, not like her parents.
Hovering up in the night sky alone, Saishi observed the misty, mountainous lands below with her crimson, reptilian eyes- eyes that did not belong to her. With her chin raised, the chilly winds brushed through her. With a burning shade of red hair, and black wings sprouted from her shoulders, she could only curse this prowess instilled into her. She shifted her searing gaze to her pale hands. She clenched them into a fist and hissed through her fangs.
This grotesque form… who thought this form would be used to save someone? Hopefully this form never surfaces again.
Whoosh!
Broly raced towards her from the ground below, laughing hysterically- a laugh enough to send a shiver down her spine.
I have to end this quickly. Saishi thought, gritting her fangs. She swerved to her right. Broly missed her face by an inch. Saishi rammed her knee into Broly's abdomen. Broly doubled over. Saishi cupped her hands and slammed them into his spine, sending him spiralling down towards the navy, jagged lands.
This pain; it has been so long since someone made the Saiyan brute feel something. Broly stopped midflight. Rubbing his lips, his own blood stained the back of his hands. A wide grin crept on his lips and his dark and frenzied eyes widened. He licked the blood off, savouring the moment. Broly looked up, watching the empty skies above. The adrenaline, his blood, coursed through his veins. His heart rattled against his rib cage. This was going to be an enjoyable fight to the Saiyan indeed.
Appearing before him like a phantom, Saishi landed a punch on his face. Her eyes locked onto Broly's dark ones. Pure hatred. He harmed that insect- her ally. Bloodlust- yes, that's what it was. Behind those eyes lurked an untamed Demon, a monster, a beast; wanting nothing but the pure devastation and the blood of their prey.
Budging back slightly, Broly blocked her next right hook, drew away from her left hand- claws in this case, like knives aimed at his eyes. There was no chance the girl will-
-His eyes snapped wider. Broly became paralysed. Saishi's armoured tail dripped with his crimson blood, deep into his abdomen. She wasn't playing around.Broly grasped her tail with his hands. Trembling. When was the last time someone stabbed him there? It must have been a lucky shot. Well, now she will pay... dearly; with her blood.
"Why don't I show you a glimpse of my true power?" Broly spoke, locking his stone cold stare with the girl's raging ones. He must rip out that tail of hers.
I'm not letting you harm her! Saishi thought, hissing as her tail dug deeper into his abdomen. Broly growled lowly. So what if he had more power? He was losing blood; much blood. This monster should be out of commission soon."You won't go near her! I won't let you win!" Saishi yelled. She threw another punch at his face.
He didn't budge.
Saishi's fist rested against his jaw. Something wasn't right.
"You honestly thought you had a chance against me, didn't you?" Broly grinned as Saishi drew her fist towards herself. "Let me show you what true horror is."
The air became scorched. Saishi jerked her tail from his tough hold. However, Broly's crushing grip made it impossible to break free. The air prickled against her skin, sucking out the liquid in her eyes and lips.
Crick…
"Agh!" Saishi yelled as the Saiyan crushed her tail, shattering the diamond scales. Did he hide his true power all this time? No- it shouldn't be possible! The crown should have restrained his power. She gritted her teeth as she glared back at the Saiyan.
Wait, his eyes-
A fierce aura lashed at the darkness, becoming more violent as Broly's growl grew into a roar. His hair shot up as electricity crackled around him. His hands dragged out her broken appendage. Blood seeped from his abdomen, but that didn't seem like that was going to stop him.
His teal gaze pierced through her. His hair spiked up into a silver-blue colour.
"My father must have told you that the Saiyans only transform into Ozarus, or in other words; Great Apes." Broly spoke, clenching his fist as he held a primal growl low in his chest. Saishi backed away, holding her broken tail, "Have you heard of the powers of a Super Saiyan?" He grinned, observing Saishi's shrinking confidence.
Super Saiyan... So this is his power? Tch, I'm running out of time! Saishi thought as her tail hung limp. She raised her hands up at the transformed Saiyan, her sharp nails pointing at his throat.
"Don't get so cocky!" Saishi hissed as the Saiyan hovered in the chilly sky. Beating her wings, she darted towards him, throwing a knee kick.
The Saiyan's ki rushed through her. However, Saishi still fought against his overwhelming strength.
However, she should have acted on her instinct than emotions.
Saishi rammed her knee into Broly's bloody abdomen. However, Broly did not react at all. Hearing a laugh from Broly, Broly crushed the girl with his arms, shattering the girl's spine. Saishi shrieked. It couldn't end like this! She tried to shove the Saiyan away from her.
It was futile. It was like being crushed in by several iron walls at once.
"Argh!" Saishi yelled louder, her hands giving way as the Saiyan continued to crush her. Her body; numb- as if searing iron rods were shoved into her spine and arms. "I'm not letting y... you beat me!" Saishi fought against the numbness, pushing back Broly with all she had left. Time was running out, her energy slipped by the minute, plummeting as the Saiyan guffawed.
Crick!
Snapping her head up at the skies above, her lower spine stabbed with a violent pain. Then nothing. Saishi's eyelids fell over her fading, crimson eyes. I can't lose to him... I don't care if he can level entire cities... I c..can't lose. Saishi thought as the last glimpse of the stars shining far away in the darkness faded from her sight. I have to… keep fighting, for Samoe… and Amaya...
Broly loosened his grasp from Saishi. Her head hung away from the Saiyan, her body hung limp. The demonic details faded from the girl; the scaly black wings and tail morphed back into her spine. Her power deminished- harmless like those insects now.
It was time to break her apart.
Grabbing her by the ankle, Broly raced towards the rugged lands below, dragging Saishi through the chilly air.
Opening her eyes barely for the second time, the clouds blurred as her hair whipped against her face. It felt unreal, like a dream- as if everything was flashing before her eyes. Was this how they felt in their final hours?
Tossing the girl forwards, Broly slammed Saishi into the stone ground. Saishi gasped as she rebounded against the firm ground, cracking on impact. As she crawled to her feet, Broly rammed both his hands over her knees, pressing his weight over the girl's calves.
"Agh!" Saishi shrieked up at the empty sky above. Her legs; paralysed- thanks to that monster resting his elbows on her knees. "I won't give in to someone like you!" Her jaws trembled. As she clicked her shaking fingers towards the Saiyan, only a faint crackle of electricity left her fingers.
It was no use.
Broly's teal gaze observed her writhing, her squirming, her physical pain. She was annoyingly persistent. He pressed harder into the calf of her legs, only for her to squirm more.
"Kid, your an amusing one aren't you?" Broly rested his head on his arms. "Just give up. You can't win against me." His silver aura vanished in to the chilly winds, his teal eyes and silver hair faded to black.
"I'll try if it means laying down my li-"
Crick…
"Agh!" Saishi yelled, her face damp with sweat. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the twilight sky.
"What would you do if I break your legs?" Broly smirked as he gripped her knees. "Scream for my father? Try to counter with a kick?" Easing his hands on the girl, he rested his head on his arms. "Just know when to shut that trap of yours. If the enemy took you as a hostage, you would have died by now."
"I.. I thought you d..didn't c..care if I die." Saishi retorted, lifting her head up, trembling. Her elbows stabbed the ground, straining her arms from support.
Crick!
"Ngh!"
"Well I'd be called a liar if I disagree." Broly dug his fingers into the girl's knees. Saishi thumped back on the soil. "But my father expects you to stay alive. Life is pretty much a bastard, you can't tell whatever the Hell the future has waiting for you."
The future? Saishi thought, her teary eyes stared up at the dark sky.
"Well... I'll agree with that one, no one knows what the future has planned." Saishi sighed, resting on the ground. There was no point in trying to get back up if he continued to crush her legs. "Why haven't you taken my life yet? You're just casua- urk! AGH!"
"I have my reasons, but I'm not obligated to answer your questions." Broly rested his head on his wrists. "But as your mentor, you'll have to answer every question that I have for you. After that, I might think about answering to you."
Gritting her teeth, Saishi sighed. She could no longer feel anything in ber legs- she didn't want to imagine how much he weighed for someone of his height. Her head nodded, before thumping on the stone ground.
"Good. Here's the first question." Broly eased his grip on the girl's knees, stretching out his fingers. "That power that you have, was it given to you at birth?" His index finger pointed up at her.
"No." Saishi shook her head, her legs knotted with warmth. What did a birth had anything to do with power?
"If my father gave you Saiyan armour, why don't you wear that?" Broly ran his fingers down her navy, baggy trousers. He pinched the material between his thumb and index finger. Saiyan armour would have boosted her durability if the girl had known better…
"That's like asking why you don't wear a shirt! You said I had to wear something that didn't jeopardise my life." Saishi's face fumed scarlet with frustration. "I chose this because I find them comfortable, for your information!"
"Comfort you say? Then why are you wrapped up in bandages then? Like some kind of rotting corpse?" Broly rested his chin on his arms. "You're not dying anytime soon kid."
"That's not something you need to know Broly! You already left me half dead as it is!" Her head snapped up at the Saiyan, glaring at Broly with her lavender, circular eyes. "Nagh! I'm not gonna die anytime soon? How could you say that? After this convo-rck"
Crick!
"You're a feisty one today, aren't you?" Broly grinned, digging his fingers into her knees again. "Look, all I'm asking is a little conversation- Unless you really want to go to your grave." His voice fell into a growl.
"T… training? That was more of a b... beat up round." Saishi choked as tears streamed out of her raw eyes. "Don't you know how to train? You tried to kill me." Her hands gripped the dry soil, trying to relieve the pain searing through her legs.
"Kill you? No- if I was Hell bent on killing you, I would have annihilated this whole planet." Broly yawned, easing his grip on her. The adrenaline, it must have worn off. "I don't need to train, you do. I said before that I'm not responsible if my 'training' kills you. You lack the strength and stamina to survive an entire fight."
"You're still going to kill me!" Saishi yelped, digging her elbows into the dirt. Her body trembled. Her eyes locked onto him. "Before I even 'rot', you'll kill me by then."
"I'm not. You're a pushover. You're going to die at this rate if you continue on like this."
"And aren't you since your gut is wounded?"
Crick!
"Don't tell me what to do!" Broly snarled. His fingers latched onto the girl's knees, causing her to thump against the stone ground with a cry. His black gaze broke hers. "I am a Saiyan, I've been through much worse shit."
"You're g... going t..to break my l..legs at this p... point." Saishi squeaked, her brows furrowing up at the dark skies. "Please... stop it!"
The weight crushing her legs now left. Saishi raised her brows. Was he listening to her? No, she must be imagining it, it felt too cold; as if she was being frozen alive.
"What am I going to do with a weakling like you?" Broly rose to his feet. His back faced her, his eyes gazed up at the night skies. Only a thin glow from the crescent moon shone down on the arcane lands. At least there was no danger there…
"Weakling!" Saishi gritted her teeth. As if boiling water was poured over her, her eyes rolled to the back of her head. It felt as though all her energy was drained out of her, freezing her body over- no, scalding her body- drowning, slipping into unconsciousness. Her chest tensed under the dark hands of the night.
And she could only give out a silent cry as the Demon within her laughed at her pain.
"Never mind," Broly muttered, turning his head side to side. He turned his focus over to her. "Hn?"
Alive or was she just breathing? Her eyes were shut, as if she suffered no forms of pain a few moments before.
"You're not trying to trick me, are you?" Broly crouched besides her, poking her pale and bloody skin. "Tch, sleeping, are you?"
With no reply, he relaxed his face and observed her sleeping peace.
Sleep. When was the last time he slept?
Broly reached his hand to her face, then drew his hand to himself. He did this several times before shaking his head, as though agitated at himself.
The Saiyan ran his hands under her back before lifting her up close to himself.
Broly stood alone for a moment. His dark eyes observed Saishi's face; quiet and still- peaceful. Sleep, such a thing was far beyond his reach. The constant screaming and the cold, iron instrument shoved into his gut every slumber kept him awake. Damn it. Why did that still ring in his head to this day? Wait- what was the kid on about?
"Don't go. A..." The unconscious Saishi muttered, gritting her teeth. A hiss escaped her lips. Her head writhed weakly as her voice fell below hearing level.
Broly observed her until she stopped moving her head. He shifted his gaze to the destroyed section of the building, then to the pillar behind the building, untouched by the destruction. He flew up into the night sky and soared towards the untouched part of the building, away from the Angols and his father's quarters.
"You're not so bad after all- for a weakling." He shifted his dark gaze to her. "That power and that madness in your eyes... Why do you use it to save others than yourself?" He gritted his teeth tightly shut. "Those weaklings will stab you in the back one day. You'll be killed if you show mercy to them." He furrowed his brows. "It's a game of survival. The strong survives and the weak perishes." He looked away from her and squinted his eyes shut for a moment. "Why don't you understand that?"
Feeling a sudden tremble, Broly shifted his gaze back to Saishi. She cuddled closer to him, her pale skin cold and damp with sweat. Aware of the chilly atmosphere, Broly turned his attention towards the building that served as shelter. In a couple of minutes, that Shamoian bug can heal her back to health.
Whish…
A red, thin beam shot past the Saiyan.
Freezing in his tracks, the Saiyan whipped his head up at the dark skies. His dark eyes snapped wider.
"Show yourself!" Broly roared up at the empty sky. He bared his teeth at any person, daring to be foolishly murdered by him now. His hands grasped the girl tighter. He watched the land and sky for any movement- for any sign of energy. He raised his hand out towards the land below. A green orb of crackling ki erupted from his palm and drained the world into a shade of green. "Otherwise I'll destroy whatever refuge you have now! Grgh!"
"Broly! What have I told you about going over your limit?"
That old man!
Broly clasped his hands over his head, trying to block out the searing pain electrocuting his mind. Snapping one of his eyes open- wait, wasn't he holding something before?
Crap! The kid!
Shaking his head, Broly raced after the falling Saishi towards the rocky ground. He caught her in his arms, his boots planted against the stone ground. Close call. Knowing how weak she is now; the girl had no chance at surviving the fall.
Saishi still trembled; her skin flooded with sweat. Her head tucked close to his chest as her breaths became wild gasps.
"What's wrong with you now?" Broly observed Saishi, raising his chin away from her. I preferred it when she kept her distance like those insects. Now she's just clinging onto me like a parasite… He thought, his brows twitched.
"C... cold." Saishi whispered as her faint breaths faded. "...I can't-"
Broly ignored her and focused on sensing her ki.
He got his answer.
Her ki was dangerously low- as if she was going to-
"Die?" Broly growled lowly as he furrowed his brows. No... no, this wasn't happening, she must be bluffing. This must be another one of her tricks. This was just an illusion, she must still be trying to beat him somehow. The girl must be stubborn- that must be the reason right now.
"Saishi! Wake up!" Broly yelled, shaking Saishi, snapping her head back and forth. His eyes widened. "Damn it! Stay alive!" He gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes shut. "Don't do this, damn it!" His eyes glanced to his crimson fingers, sticky with blood. When? How? No, no, no, she can't be losing more blood- not because of him. This couldn't be happening right now.
That power, her power. His Saiyan blood craved to challenge that power. If she died here, how would he curb his Saiyan hunger? It drove him mad just thinking about when the next opportunity for another worthy challenger would appear.
Saishi remained silent. Her cold body laid against his. Her eyes sunk into their sockets and her breath became nonexistent.
Broly snapped his head left and right, scanning the colourless lands below. His mind slipped- no, this shouldn't be happening right now.
Red. Only blazes of red tore apart the colourless, jagged lands below him. Water- no, blood seeped out of those cracks, wounds of the barren lands. Weeping, screaming, laughing, those sounds... His unending and wild hunger for chaos and destruction.
Death and ruination.
Those iron chains crept up on the Saiyan. His arms, his neck and up to his mind. It dragged him down to the seas of sanity, restraining his uncontrolled Saiyan blood from consuming him into the abyss of his madness.
How could someone throw away their life? She should be crying, begging to live-
But nothing… just company with silence once again.
Nothing tortured Broly more than his father's words.
"RAGH!" Broly roared up at the skies. He blasted off towards the building faster than before. The child, that insect, that ally- whatever the hell that alien was to this girl, she better be there. The strong aren't supposed to die!
Elsewhere high up in the sky, they hovered; observing the lands like silent ghosts from the shadows. One rested on her black staff, like as if it was some sort of throne. The other pointed his index finger, leaving a faint trail of crimson.
"This timeline, it seems as though someone's already tampered with it... and there's no sign of that annoying half-breed Saiyan or The Supreme Kai of Time. So, in the meanwhile, should we pay the girl a visit?" The blue-skinned Demoness smiled. She sat back tall, resting her hands on either side of the staff.
"The girl should be dead. She should have died back there with that Earthling brat. She is a waste of the finest Demon's blood." The Demon said, crossing his arms over his chest. "This timeline is different. This male, he's a Saiyan, isn't he?"
"Oh Mira, you're not going to challenge him, are you?" The Demoness giggled, closing her eyes. Oh, how his blood yearns for a challenge... He was indeed her perfect warrior.
"No... There were only two full blooded Saiyans and three half-breeds, unless you count the half-breed that's a Time Patroller, then it would be six in the timeline that was saved by Trunks." Mira said, curling his finger under his chin. "Now count Bardock and King Vegeta, that would be eight."
"What are you trying to say Mira?" The female leaned forwards on her staff, cupping her hands on her knees.
"This Saiyan... why haven't we seen this Saiyan before?" Mira snapped his red eyes to the female's lavender ones. "Frieza eradicated the Saiyans, but there's still this specimen this girl found. Could there be more of them?"
"Probably so... this timeline has diverged long before we got here- and there's still numerous other timelines we haven't thoroughly inspected yet." She shrugged, leaning back on her staff. "I came here just to find out if my suspicions were true. Subject X-498 is still alive Mira, I couldn't care less about the Saiyan."
"Towa," Mira gazed at Towa with his still eyes. "He can transform into a Super Saiyan, just like Son Goku. Don't you think that he can-"
-"No." Towa intervened, snapping her head back at Mira. She hovered up in the sky with the staff held between her thumb and index finger. "Not yet, we must find out what he's capable of, then maybe. This Saiyan does seem to have a dark heart after all, unlike Goku."
"Then it's settled. We will wait until our opportunity opens-"
-"Wait, hold on Mira." Towa held out her hand towards Mira. "This Saiyan may be a troublesome one to deal with. If I'm correct, the Saiyans had many myths passed down, thanks to Vegeta's knowledge." She raised her index finger. "There's a Super Saiyan legend, which Son Goku achieved, as well as countless other offspring's he, including Vegeta, had raised with their Earthling mates." She raised another finger."Then there's the Super Saiyan God legend, but he's been dead for a long time." She held up one last finger. "Finally, there's the Legendary Super Saiyan legend, which is a Saiyan who has a power level of ten thousand born every millennia."
"Are you telling me that there's a chance that the last one is possible? Considering that he already possesses the Super Saiyan state." Mira shifted his gaze towards the green streak of light seeping through the thick layers of clouds below them.
"Considering that we've travelled to too many timelines, it's a possibility." Towa ran her slim fingers through her white and wavy hair. "The reason why I think it's that Saiyan down there is that he's more... well, unstable compared to all the other timelines we've been to. Have you not sensed his power level? He's a disturbed one indeed."
"Hmm... to think that X-498 would lose to a Saiyan like him. If she chose to side with the Demons, victory would be guaranteed. What a shame..."
"Come on Mira, we need to get a move on otherwise those nuisances are going to find us." Towa gripped her staff as she clenched her other hand into a fist. "Remember this timeline, because we still have some unfinished business with the girl. Even if she dies, at least we'll know which timeline she resides in."
Nodding, the duo vanishing into the chilly airs. The navy clouds crawled across the skies, blocking out the last rays of the yellow glow from the crescent moon.
Planet Earth - Wastelands
Three hours passed. The remaining fighters were in turmoil. Yamcha. Chiaotzu. Tien. They were all gone, only a memory for the fighters; a memory that served as a strong driving force to stop those monsters from conquering their home... Earth.
Crunch. Crunch.
Nappa's footsteps trudged on the dry, yellow grass. He approached the last hopes- the last lights of Earth. He shifted his gaze to Piccolo, who panted as his wavering gaze barely met his. What a fool! Why the Namekian even bothered to target his tail was beyond him. The Saiyan weakness, their tail, Nappa refused to make the same mistake Raditz made.
"How disappointing, Earth's best fighters can't even stand up to one blow from me." Nappa sneered, clenching his fist towards the worn-out fighters. "Doesn't matter, I'll just have to eliminate your sorry asses off the faces of the universe." He shifted his gaze to the little Saiyan halfling. "You're Kakarot's son... I'm expecting a challenge from you." Nappa's whole body faced the tiny child.
As Gohan raised his fists close to his chest, and Okome raising one of her hands to her side, Piccolo stood on front of the young duo.
"I want you two to attack as soon as he comes towards me." Piccolo panted as he exchanged a look at Nappa. "Then I want you Krillin to hit him with your Kienzan. Got it?"
Knowing this could be their final chance to defeat Nappa, the remaining fighters nodded.
Nappa zoomed towards the Namekian.
Without much time to react, Okome dashed towards the Saiyan giant with Gohan following swiftly behind. Just metres away from the giant, Okome slammed her hands onto the dry ground, casting a huge plume of dust to erupt.
"Not trying to blind me again, are you?" Nappa bellowed, heading straight through the dense dust. Arriving to the other side of the dust storm, Nappa stopped. "Where'd the Namekian go?" Nappa searched the arid wasteland. "You can't hide from me!"
Bzzt!
Nappa turned his head towards the source of that sound.
Krillin stood on a boulder. One of his hands was raised above his head. It seemed as if he was holding a glowing disk.
"What a usele-" Nappa's feet were glued to the ground. Glancing down to his feet, the behemoth's lower half of his own body was frozen. "That kid! When I'm done with you, I'm going to get rid of that little, annoying water brat!" Nappa yelled as the rubble and dust levitated into the air around him.
Vegeta smirked, observing the bald monk charging his attack.
"Now!" Piccolo yelled far from the battlefield.
Catching the Prince's attention, Vegeta whipped his head towards the Namekian, but those brats were nowhere to be seen.
"Kienzan!" Krillin yelled, tossing the glowing disk towards the behemoth, buzzing louder and louder as it zoomed towards Nappa.
The giant smirked.
"Fools!" Nappa roared as the rocks around him vibrated. The ice cracked on impact. Nappa broke out of his frozen prison and dodged the disk to his right. He fired a ball of ki towards Krillin.
"Oh cr-!" Krillin ducked, clasping his words shut as the light shot past him. Close sho-
A searing burst of light exploded behind Krillin, sending the monk spiralling towards the scorched lands below.
"THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL DIE!" Nappa thundered, charging up another ball of energy in his right hand. Before launching his final attack, a beam of light shot into the behemoth's back, causing his skin to become burnt and black. The behemoth reached his hands over his back. His skin: rough and broken.
Who had the balls to do that! Nappa thought as he whipped his head away from Krillin. How dare a weakling shoot an Elite! From the back! What a cowardly move. Nappa glared into the clearing dust cloud, revealing the young duo standing behind the Namekian.
Piccolo's hands aimed at Nappa, his green palms steaming with smoke.
"So, the Namekian used the multiform technique?" Vegeta mumbled, looking from the vanishing carbon copy of the Namekian from the boulders that Krillin was knocked into. "What's the matter now Nappa? Having a hard time?" The Prince smirked whilst folding his arms.
Nappa continued to glare ever so furiously at the Namekian.
"I won't let Earth go down so easily." Piccolo panted. Though his legs gave way, the Namekian knelt on his knees. I must somehow weaken them, Goku had a tail which was the primary weakness of a Saiyan. Piccolo thought, gritting his fangs as his brows creased. But that's useless now, considering Nappa was completely unaffected.
"Mister Piccolo!" Okome and Gohan exclaimed, supporting Piccolo to regain his balance.
"YOU'VE MADE ME MAD!" Nappa thundered, glaring at the remaining fighters. "I WAS TRYING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE FOR THE SAKE OF THE dragon balls, BUT NOW I AM GOING TO-"
-Piccolo snapped his head away from Nappa. It felt as though the sky was on fire, as if two meteorites headed towards the battlesite.
Catching on immediately after; Vegeta observed the cyan skies. This should be interesting; was Kakarot here with the help of an ally?
"That's him! That's got to be him!" Gohan exclaimed, raising his hands towards his chest with a smile.
"Yay..." Krillin mumbled as he laid in the rubble. His prayers had finally been answered.
I could feel it, what a tremendous power level! Piccolo thought, scanning the clear skies. His eyes narrowed. But the other one... The Namekian's black eyes snapped wider, his jaws loosened to the realisation of the other power level. Goku! Why?
"I'M SICK OF YOUR GAMES!" Nappa bellowed at the remaining fighters. How dare they ignored an Elite.
"It's him!" Piccolo smirked at Nappa.
Nappa stood there. There was no sign of Kakarot. This had to be a bluff, a trick that the Namekian pulled.
It seems like they can detect power levels... Vegeta thought, reaching for his scouter from within his chest plate and placed it over his left eye. "Let's see now..." he mumbled, tapping a button of his red scouter.
I hope Goku is what he seems to be... Okome thought looking west; where everyone now looked. How strong has the champion of the Twenty Third World Martial Arts Tournament become?
Elsewhere on Planet Earth
"Two big energy levels, two even bigger, one small and..." Goku noted, his voice trailing off as he raced on the Nimbus alongside Raditz over the barren lands.
"The two big ones must be Nappa and Vegeta." Raditz mentioned, folding his arms as his long, wild hair whipped in the wind. "The others must be your comrades."
Comrades... what exactly did Kakarot see in those weaklings? They were nothing more than disasters waiting to happen. What exactly did the upbringing of Earth do to his younger brother? Where was his Saiyan pride? Raditz must wait before he could get his answers- hopefully before his time ran out.
"There's another that I don't recognise... but I'll have to worry about that later, I just hope they're alive!" Goku flew towards the barren wastelands ahead. Whoever this extra fighter is better be on Goku's side.
Elsewhere on Planet Earth- Wastelands
Beeping from Vegeta's scouter, Nappa snapped his head towards Vegeta's direction. A smirk crept on his lips. So, it was true, it wasn't some sort of trick if the Prince agrees. It was finally time.
"I hope that's Kakarot." Nappa chuckled, ripping his eye contact away from the fighters. It was his time to take down that fool for taking so long... After when he had his fun.
"There's two power levels... no... I can't tell who's who, they both seem to be evenly matched." Vegeta mumbled, pressing the button on his red scouter. The arrows on the left of his scouter stopped fluctuating. The two circles appeared on the centre. Then a beep emitted from the tiny machine. Vegeta smapped his eyes wider. "Nappa!" Vegeta yelled towards the giant, "They both have a power level of around five thousand!"
"FIVE THOUSAND!" Nappa bellowed at Vegeta, flicking his trembling eyes towards the Prince. "BOTH? There must be... Some kind of... mistake!" Wasn't Kakarot the only fighter to arrive? Unless they were buying time to get another partner... yes, maybe Kakarot wasn't as strong as he seemed.
However, no reply came from the silent Prince. This silence, this was a grave sign that the Elite warrior recognised. Was the Prince frightened? No- he, an Elite warrior, shouldn't think of the Prince like that. The Prince must be thinking of a plan. Yes, it had to be a plan to tackle Kakarot and this unknown fighter.
If these weaklings could manipulate their power levels... Vegeta thought as his eyes trailed from Nappa to the fighters, then Kakarot and this other fighter could very well do the same thing... this could be a portion of their entire strength...
"Nappa!" Vegeta yelled again, clenching his fists up at Nappa, "Kill all of the fighters! Kakarot and Co may become a challenge if he receives any help!"
No! Okome thought, gritting her teeth. Looking over to her mentor and friend, their brows creased, their jaws clenched shut.
"What about the dragon balls?" Nappa shouted, looking past the Namekian. This was the main reason why they came here. Why was Vegeta so keen on giving it up?
"We can just ravage that fool's home planet." Vegeta pointed at Piccolo "Besides, if Kakarot has truly came back from the dead, it's true. We can destroy Earth and go to that Namekian's home planet on our merry way."
This was the only best option the Saiyan had left. If the Namekian dies, Earth can go without leaving any evidence of the dragon balls being here, just so that he- that tyrant, couldn't get his wish.
"It's a good excuse to start killing right away." Nappa smirked, observing the remaining fighters. Let's see how this Kakarot was going to react to the massacre of all those he protected... and who this other fighter was.
Krillin laid on the scorched lands for some time now. There must be something he could do. He couldn't just stand here and watch Earth be reduced to a barren wasteland. He trained for this moment, so why was it now that he couldn't do anything but witness his allies suffer and die in front of him?
Gohan's eyes looked up to his mentor, before glancing to Okome. Maybe a tag team tactic could work…
"Piccolo!" Gohan yelled at his mentor, throwing his hands to his side. "Me and Okome will hold him off, you have to get away from here otherwise if you die, Kami and the dragon balls will-"
-"Don't be foolish!" Piccolo cut off Gohan from finishing his sentence. "You both can't hold them off on your own!"
Far too young and inexperienced. If only he had more time.
"Well, we have to try until Goku to gets here!" Okome stood besides her mentor, holding her fists up in defiance. If Goku was their last hope, then the girl had no choice but to side with Gohan, especially when he spoke so strong of him.
"If you're so confident in stopping me brats, why don't you try it now?" Nappa yelled, lunging towards Okome and Gohan. His massive hands reached out at the duo.
Something bad is going to happen... Krillin thought, gritting his teeth. His head barely had the strength to stay up. His hands gripped the earthy soils before slamming his clenched fists into the grounds. But... darn it! I can't move! I can't be this weak! I have to try to help. His head bowed down to the dry soil, his eyes squjnted shut. Whatever the costs, he must help any way he can, even if there was a growing gap between his prowess compared to the enemy's prowess. He must protect whatever his lifelong friend had left, it was unforgiveable if he couldn't protect them. Yamcha, Chiaotzu and Tien. He already failed three times. No more. No more dying, it must stop.
As Nappa closed in on the small fighters, Piccolo dashed in front of both his students. He refused to let Gohan and Okome fight any longer. They were inexperienced, they were just children. He refused to lose them, his students, to die to such a monster like Nappa. Gohan, he wanted to be a scholar, he had the passion to do so. And Okome, she had to find her sister, that passion also burns too in her eyes. The silent Namekian refused to let it crumble to those wretched Saiyans.
Whoosh…
The two children shot past him, like bullets; towards the speeding freight train Nappa. Their knees both collided with the behemoth's face, hurling him towards a low-lying boulder.
What power! Piccolo thought, stopping dead in his tracks. He studied his students. His still eyes followed Nappa laying in the rubble. To think that they were out of energy… He smirked a thought of his arch-nemesis.
"RAGH!" Nappa thundered, erupting up from the rocks as plumes of dust blasted up into the scorched atmosphere.
Someone's very pissed right now... Okome thought, clenching her fists as she landed with a crunch on the dry land.
Serves him right for speaking of my dad like that! Gohan thought, landing back to back with Okome. They stood in front of their mentor.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH! SAY GOODBYE!" Nappa thundered as he held his right arm behind him. Immediately, a crimson light exploded from the giant's hand. It didn't matter now, everyone was going to die! A Saiyan Elite will never lose, never losing their only survivor of the Saiyan race; the Prince. He refused to die nor, will he ever beg for mercy from those weaklings. The Prince will live no matter the costs.
"KIENZ- Urk!"
Snapping their head; Gohan, Piccolo and Okome saw Krillin collapse to his knees.
Damn it! Krillin couldn't help at all, his body finally gave up on him. Only one attack, just one attack that could have severed at least one of that behemoth's arms. His hands gripped the soils, his eyes squinted shut at his defeat.
Sorry Goku... I couldn't keep that promise. Krillin thought as his head bowed down at the grounds, before falling with a thud.
"DIE!" Nappa yelled, launching the ball of electricity towards the two youngest fighters.
There was no time to react.
I won't let them perish! I must protect what I value deeply!
Whoosh!
Piccolo's arms were outstretched.
"Piccolo! No!" Okome and Gohan cried. Her eyes quivered. His jaws clenched.
Blood and flesh ripped from the Namekian warrior's body, crumbling off into the wind. He yelled, taking the devastating impact to his body for the sake of his students.
So, this is what it feels like to protect the ones you value deeply…
Everything faded to white as the blast consumed the fighters.
As the blast faded, Piccolo stood tall. His body was severely battered; his body shook; his arms twitched, and his legs trembled- his eyes could barely stay open.
"R... run my stu... students." Piccolo's voice trembled. Feeling like as if a drill knocked into his head, Piccolo crashed on to the arid ground with a thud.
"Teacher!" Okome screamed, widening her navy eyes. She collapsed next to her mentor's side. Her hands gripped his bloody wrist, frantically searching for his pulse.
"Mister Piccolo!" Gohan cried, his trembling eyes witnessed his teacher laying on the ground. He
slumped to his knees as tears streamed from their eyes.
Why did this happen?
"I t..told you t..to r..run." Piccolo repeated, his wavering, dark eyes observed the duo. His body felt cold- numb and empty. His eyes blurred; the details of their innocent faces faded away.
"Please hold on, my dad's going to be here soon!" Gohan yelled, shaking Piccolo out of shock. Yet, Piccolo raised a small smile to the boy.
No- this couldn't be happening! Piccolo, Piccolo couldn't be possibly-
"He won't make it." Okome spoke gently. She drew her broken hand on her mentor's chest, just barely moving with every breath. She bit her quivering lips.
Why wasn't she able to save anyone?
Gohan's eyes snapped open, his brows shot up. Something burned deep inside him, growing wilder. He gazed down at his mentor's fading smile.
A smile he never seen before.
"Those idiots are making me kill them in the wrong order." Nappa sneered, looking over to the trio. "Well, it's all going to end the same! " He trudged on the dry earth towards the trio. Serves them right for not accepting their defeat.
Elsewhere on Planet Earth- skies
"No..." Goku's voice dropped as he raced on the Nimbus towards the battle site. It felt as though the strongest energy, the brightest flame, had finally blown out. It couldn't be-
"What is it Kakarot?" Raditz asked, looking over to Goku. His arms crossed over his chest.
Raditz still could not grasp the ability to detect power levels fully yet. However; a faint drop in energy could be felt. He could not rely on his scouter as his former comrades may hear everything he and Kakarot planned out.
"Someone's chi is falling dramatically... I think they're dying!" Goku exclaimed, whipping his head towards his brother. "Hurry!"
Elsewhere on Planet Earth - Kami's Lookout.
"My time has come..." Kami panted, leaning on his wooden staff. "It seems that Goku and Raditz couldn't make it on time." He smiled. "At least I can now die pleased, knowing that Piccolo has developed far stronger than me... not physically but mentally as well..." He closed his eyes.
At least Piccolo no longer pursued that goal anymore, and that foul heart like his previous incarnation, Demon King Piccolo.
With his last breaths, Kami became fainter, like a ghost vanishing into the soft breeze. "Popo... I leave everything up to you..."
"Kami!" Popo gasped. He grasped the staff Kami held and supported the Guardian of Earth's final moments.
"There is a disturbance…" Kami continued, "please, watch over Earth. There is a greater evil, an evil that one cannot see with a naked eye…"
Before Popo could ask, Kami vanished from his grasps, leaving the genie alone on the sacred grounds. Just what did Kami mean by those words?
Elsewhere on Planet Earth - Wastelands
"Piccolo, the great, incorruptible evil... saving two children..." Piccolo laughed as each slow breath passed. "It must have been you and your father's softness that infected me. But Gohan, boy- you were the only one who could really talk to me..." His sight was now robbed from him, his face damp with what the Earthlings must have called 'tears'. Those tears trickled down his face as his body laid numb on the emerald grass. "Who knew what a tiny, burning light could do…" Piccolo continued as a smile left his lips. "Those couple of months that I've spent with the both of you... weren't really so... bad... Please... don't die..."
With his last breaths, the Namekian warrior smiled for one last time to his students. His head fell to his right side. His blind eyes closed partially, aware of the heartache and pain his students must have felt.
Until we meet again... my students...
Okome mourned over her mentor's death as tears flowed from the child's navy, sullen eyes. She drew her hands over her mentor's eyes and fully closed them in respect and memory.
If only I didn't rush in like a fool... Tien and Piccolo would have been alive... Okome gripped the dry dirt, I caused a chain reaction and caused everyone else to suffer! She slammed her fist into the ground. If only I was stronger! She shook her head side to side as she refused to cry any longer.
M... Mister P..Piccolo... I won't let them... I won't let them get away with this! Gohan thought as he rose to his feet, clenching his hands into a fist. Tears flowed from his dark eyes, which now glared at the two monsters standing before him.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Vegeta turned his head, his brows snapped up towards the child. Even Nappa widened his eyes at the child.
"NOOO!" Gohan howled, throwing his hands above his head.
Snapping Okome from her sorrow, Okome whipped her head up at the boy. Those eyes, even for a child, they were extremely dangerous- as if the abyss of death waited for anyone who dared rob him of his values. Snatching away his values and turning him into a monster that would scare away the vilest creatures to the depths of Hell. Was this truly the kind-hearted child Okome knew during those months that had passed?
"Is that Gohan's energy?" Krillin mumbled, laying in the rubble, agitating his worn muscles. "Holy cow! I better get there and help... ugh…" He lifted his head. "I feel like we're are going to be severely outmatched in power soon..." Krillin crawled closer towards the battle site, using his last ounce of strength to see whatever laid ahead.
"Nappa! Two-thousand-eight-hundred! GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THERE!" Vegeta warned, grasping both of his fists towards his chest. As I thought... their power fluctuates tremendously... but what about the girl? Vegeta thought as chi gathered up in the palms of the furious child. Not once has her power increased... this is very strange...
"TWO-THOUSAND-EIGHT-HUNDRED?" Nappa shouted as he dropped his grin. That brat has such a high power... I guess this is what happens when Kakarot has a kid. Nappa thought as Gohan glared at him.
"MASENKO!" Gohan screamed, launching a yellow beam of light towards the colossal giant. The beam zoomed towards the giant, ripping the land to shreds.
An energy beam, how adorable! Nappa thought, snarling. He back-handed the furious energy beam. However, something else startled him.
Okome landed a knee kick towards his abdomen, knocking the wind out of the Saiyan giant. She leapt up and landed a sharp blow to his head with her elbow, slamming Nappa's head downwards.
Stunned for a second, Nappa shifted his gaze at Okome, his mind throbbing with a sharp pain.
"WHY YOU!" Nappa bellowed, his hand reaching towards Okome's ankle. However, Okome leapt back, evading his wide reach. In retaliation, Nappa hurled an enormous ball of crimson ki towards the duo.
Oh fangs! Okome thought, trying to twist her body in mid-air from the incoming blast. However, it was intercepted by another blast. Looking towards her left, the laying Krillin panted as his hands were raised above his face.
I have to at least contribute something. Krillin thought. He collapsed once again. He now had no more energy to spare, not enough to defend himself or his allies. I'm sorry Goku man… I wasn't strong enough to protect your kid like I promised, or do anything to keep Earth safe. He squinted his closed eyes and collected the dry dirt into his palms.
That pathetic fool can be dealt with later... Nappa thought, turning his attention back towards the duo. "Not bad for two tiny brats... that stung a bit." Nappa smirked, rising up to his feet. He rubbed his hands, one bruise and blackened.
His powers gone all the way down... looks like he's used up all his energy... Vegeta thought as he tapped his scouter. If Kakarot's son was able to put that much energy into that blast, how was Kakarot going to be like? Especially this other fighter following him. No matter, everything was going to go, just like the endless planets before Earth.
Dang it. Okome thought as she landed besides Gohan. It's like hitting an iron wall... Her arm trembled, shaking. She slapped her other hand over it. She refused to let this sensation cripple her ability to continue longer. She refused to lose to this behemoth, especially when she knew her sister was out there to be found.
"I'm sorry Piccolo... I failed." Gohan sighed, the corners of his lips twitched a slight smile. Weak. Far too weak to defend his mentor's honour, inexperienced to anticipate the next move and that blast; every part of his soul was poured into it.
Death… was this what those who failed experienced? A slow creeping feeling, a feeling of suffocation, paralysis- then a snatch of the sight to darkness and despair.
Gohan collapsed onto his knees. Okome stood beside him, supporting him by holding his arm. There must be something she could do, some distraction to buy time to beat this monster.
"I can't wait to see Kakarot's face when I crush his son and that weakling." Nappa loomed over the tiny duo. The sun glared behind him, his shadow drowning the duo. "You brats should've never left your home." His smirk stabbed the duo. It was such a shame they must die, Kakarot's son could have been an excellent warrior.
Goku! Where are you? Krillin thought as he gritted his teeth at the sight of Nappa towering over the young duo. The monk buried his head in the dirt as his hope slowly left his grip. It wasn't true. His lifelong friend couldn't have abadoned him. He must be there, he just had to!
Gohan and Okome bowed their heads in defeat as the behemoth raised his enormous feet above their head. They had no more energy to escape, let alone move.
"It was nice knowing you Gohan." Okome smiled to Gohan. Was this really the end?
"I wish it didn't have to end this way." Gohan smiled back as the giant brought his foot down.
Crunch…
After a moment, Nappa's smirk vanished.
"Huh?" Nappa lifted his foot.
Those weaklings… where did they vanish to?
Aware of Nappa's confusion, Vegeta scanned the wastelands with his scouter.
Spotting Gohan on a yellow cloud, and Okome beside many boulders, Nappa stared- frozen. What just happened?
"What the Hell is that thing?" Nappa glanced at Gohan, furrowing his brows.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Vegeta followed the arrows on his scouter.
"Nappa! Look above!" Vegeta yelled once he knew what the danger was.
Nappa snapped his attention to the sky.
Two forms hovered, one wearing bright orange and blue, and the other wearing a combination of brown and black. They descended, landing on the arid ground with a small crunch. Their dark gaze remained on Nappa and Vegeta.
Gohan slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the back of a familiar individual. "Daddy!" Gohan exclaimed, his eyes widening as his brows dipped.
Though Gohan was happy, Krillin was not.
"Raditz!" Krillin hissed, clenching his right hand into a fist. He squinted up at the wild-haired Saiyan. Why? Why was that malicious Saiyan teamed up with someone like Goku?
"Well, look who it is..." Vegeta smirked as he folded his arms over his chest. "A low-class warrior and a traitor."
Both brothers exchanged looks before observing the two Saiyans before them. It was time to settle the score.
Until next time.
-ClumsyPigeon Signing out
