The Hidden Darkness
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I do not own Dragonball Z.

Hi! Nothing much to say here, but this is the third part of the series! I tried to be more descriptive and I hope it doesn't sound too corny. There is a sparing scene in the story. I am not good with THAT stuff yet, so just humor me when you get to it. Like I said, this is a different type of fic for me as I usually do humor. If you have any constructive criticisms, please tell me. I just want to become a better writer:). No flames please. Thank you!
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The Soul's First Trial

Panting with sweat and exhaustion, Goten ran warily through the destroyed Satan City. Everywhere he turned, he saw death. Bodies, broken, families killed. Chaos was everywhere. Goten ran and ran until he could no longer. Letting out a hurtful wheeze, Goten collapsed on the blood soaked ground. 'It's horrible' Goten screamed to himself as his fingers duged in to the blood soaked dirt.

"What could have done this?" Goten said to himself. Goten slowly rose of the ground and looked up into the sky. A cold chill slowly washed over him as he saw a darkness beginning to cover the blood red sky. "The darkness is approaching..." Goten said absent-mindedly. His eyes narrowed as the dark came closer and closer to where he stood. "...and you must learn to accept in you if you are going to defeat it...." Goten felt a voice say sweetly in his head.

The words made Goten shiver, for the words were evil. How could he accept the evil...the darkness in him? He was always taught to be good. To abhor the darkness and to embrace the goodness in his heart. The words were horrible. But the voice had a seductive lure to them. That voice made the words, though wrong, seem right. It made Goten want to shun everything he was taught by his parents and to listen to this...this...evil?

Goten shook his head and clinched his fist in anger. "I will not accept what you are saying!" he looked up at the darkness in defiance. "I have been taught to fight evil with the good. Not fight evil with evil. That is no way to protect this world!"

The voice laughed lightly. "You are actually listening to the teachings of the people who never really cared for you? You are truly misguided Son Goten." The darkness twisted and turned. "If you would listen to me, I can guide you on the right path. I can help you reach your full potential. But you must give me control of your soul. After that, anything is yours..."

Goten reeled away in disgust. "My soul? Are you crazy?" Goten began to unconsciously back away from the churning dark form. "If I actually wanted power, I would get it another way besides you way; like working for it!" Goten smiled bravely. "As for my parents, they are doing a good job raising me. If they weren't then I know I wouldn't be able to resist you!"

"But you have already begun to accept me Son Goten...and as time goes, you will accept me even more. It is, how do they say, unavoidable. So this conversation will end now. If you do not accept my offer," the voice paused.

Goten scowled. "Then what?"

"You die."

Goten's body stiffened as he felt something like a thousand hot needles penetrate every part of his body. He felt like his mind was going to tear apart any moment. He tried to scream, but the pain was too much. All there was was a voiceless grimace. The pain was horrific...why wouldn't it just end?

"NO!" Goten flew up from his bed huffing. Raising his hand to his head, he felt the beads of sweet popping up and rolling down his pale face. He felt the on coming of another headache as he sat panting on his bed. His heart was pounding irregularly as he sung his legs over the side of the bed. Placing his head into both of his arms, he sighed. "The same dream over and over again. Why won't it just stop?" Goten said as a sharp pain shot through his head. "And why won't this headache just leave me!"

Goten felt a light hit the corner of his eye. Looking over, he saw the early morning sun peaking in from the open crack in his window curtain. Goten rubbed his eyes with his arm as he rose and walked out into the hall towards the bathroom. Goten felt relief wash over him as he felt the horrific pain in his head subsiding.

Reaching there, he began his usual regime. Take a shower, brush his teeth, and wash his face. While scrubbing his face, Goten looked at himself in the mirror. "I look horrible!" Goten exclaimed as he turned the water to a hotter temp and began to splash that on him. Goten turned off the water and gazed back again into the mirror. His eyes had dark bags underneath him from lack of sleep. His face was pale. "The dark eyes and pale face sure don't compliment very well." Goten smiled sadly as he walked way from the bathroom counter and proceeded to dress himself for the day, still haunted by the reoccurring dream.

Walking down stairs, he was greeted with an unusual picture: His mother and father both at the table....eating and talking? Raising a questioning eyebrow, Goten walked towards the kitchen where he greeted his parents.

"Hi Mom. Hi Dad. How are you two this morning?"

Goku looked up from his meal and smiled at his son. "Wow! You seem to be in a better mood today! Did you get more sleep last night?"

'They never really cared for you...I can help you destroy those who dared not to believe in your power...'

Goten eyes narrowed as he shook the dark thought out of his head. "Leave me alone..."

Chi Chi looked up at her son, surprised. "Your father just asked you how you were doing. There is no reason for you to be so rude about it. Apologize."

Goten looked down at his mother and laughed nervously. "Heh, heh. Sorry Dad! I was thinking of something else! I didn't mean 'you' leave me alone!" Goten gave his parents a goofy smile.

Goku make a confused face. "Then who were you talking too?"

"Uh..." Goten blankly stared at his father. And idea popped up. "My line for...a...play I am doing in school!" Goten quickly struck a pose. "Leave me alone you evil doer!" Goten looked back at his parents and smiled. "What do you think?"

Chi Chi frowned. "When is the play? I want to see it..."

"No!" Goten said as his parents stared at him. "It is...um...won't be ready for a LONG time. Where is the Orange Juice?"

"I drunk it all!" Goku smiled as he stuffed another pancake into his mouth. "Sorfy."

Goten sighed as he walked towards the refrigerator and took out the milk. Gathering all his breakfast food, Goten sat down beside his mother at the table. "So, what is on the schedule for you two today?" Goten asked.

Chi Chi took a sip of her coffee as she regarded Goten. Goku gulped down his food as looked at his son. "I am going to spar with Gohan. He said that he actually has a day off and would like us to come over."

Goten nodded as he played with his food. "Mom. Are you going?"

Chi Chi placed her coffee down on the table as she nodded to her youngest son. "Yes. I already did a majority of the house work last night and it has been a month or so since that lovely get together." Chi Chi's smile turned in to a pout. "I really miss my little baby boy! Oh Goku! Let's go now! I want to see him!" Chi Chi reached over and grabbed his gi. "Hurry Goku!"

"Chi Chi, calm down. We'll go now! I'll drive. Goten, are you..." Goku frowned as he turned and regarded his son. "You didn't eat?"

Goten shrugged his shoulders. "Not hungry today...you ready to go?" Goten quickly jumped up from the chair and headed outside. "I'll be waiting by the car."

Chi Chi sighed as she too rose from the table. Waiting until she heard the front door shut behind Goten, she turned towards Goku. "Do you think Goten has been acting strange lately?"

Goku yawned and looked up at his wife. "Well, he has been kind of moody. I thought it was just stress. Other than that..." Goku shoved a donut in his mouth as he rose from his chair. "He...fine to...mufe...err...me." Goku sighed happily as he swallowed the donut.

Chi Chi frowned as she turned back towards the front door. "Call it mother's intuition, but...I feel that...Goten is...not..." Chi Chi sighed as she threw up her hands in the air. "Probably nothing. Let's head on out."

Chi Chi grabbed her purse as she followed Goku out the door. Though she dismissed it, she still had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't feel all was right with their youngest son...
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"For not training much, you are really doing a good job Gohan!" Goku complemented his son as he aimed his right fist towards his face. Gohan nicely dodged it as he fazed out from his father's view. Goku looked around and instantly kicked out backwards connecting with Gohan's torso. This surprised Gohan and distracted him for a second. This was all Goku needed.

Goku quickly grabbed Gohan's arm and threw him down on the ground, pinning him. "Not bad Gohan. I am surprised you did this well for someone who works all the time..." Goku put more pressure on Gohan's arm. "Do you give?"

Gohan mumbled under his breath as he looked up at his father. "I only give because, if I don't, you are going to break my right arm. Thus preventing me from doing my job efficiently...Dad!"

Goku laughed as he released Gohan and fell back onto the grass. "I win!"

Gohan stood up and brushed the grass off of his clothing. Squinting at his father, Gohan sighed. "We have been sparing for a while Dad." Gohan turned and looked at his kid brother who sat rather dejectedly underneath a tree. "Why don't we call Goten over? I am sure he would want to spar. He will give you a good fight!"

Goku still sitting on the ground looked over at Goten and shrugged his shoulders. "Goten can be a good fighter Gohan. But he never trains. All he does is go to the malls and hang out with his friends. If he keeps doing that, he will never reach is full potential."

Goku stood up and walked over to his son. "I wish that he will do a little more." Goku shook his head and called out to Goten. "Hey! Goten! Let's spar!"
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Goten sat against the tree staring at his father and brother's sparing match. Goten watched as his father complimented Gohan on his abilities. 'Something he never does much with me...like I deserve it..." Goten muttered as he drew his legs up to his chest and rested his arms on his knees.

'Gohan has always been the pride and joy of my family. It is like he was the only one to actually accomplish something in his life...he is actually when I think about it.' Goten thought sadly as he began to reflect on what others said about his brother when he was younger.

Krillian had said that his mother was really strict with him and was constantly on him about studying. As his brother put it, "Mom wanted me to become a scholar..." And in fact, he did. It had seemed that both his mother and father put out a lot of energy on Gohan, though in different ways. Dad fighting while his mother focused on his studies. He was the first born...the best child...he was special because he was the first...

"But I am the second born..."

Goten sighed as he stretched his legs out in front of him while he began to reflect on his childhood.

As he remembered it, Mom didn't real fuss over him not studying all the time. At times, it seemed like she really never cared about him doing that at all. When he was younger, he thought that was the greatest thing in the world. But now...it seemed to him that she didn't care about his future at all.

Dad on the other hand was...unknown to him...even now with him being older. He had first met his father when he was 7 years old.

Goten smiled at the memory. He was afraid of him at first...well shoot...he looked like an exact copy of me. But the meeting turned out well.

After his father was given his life back by Kaio, he thought that he would have a better change of getting to know his father.

Did not happen the way he wanted it.

Though his father had been around, he still never developed a close relationship with his father as his brother did. Shoot, even Krillian who wasn't even related to his father, was closer to him that he will ever be...I guess. Goten closed his eyes when a sad though entered his head. "It's like when I came around, they lost all energy on me. It was all spent on Gohan...

Goten smirked as another ridiculous thought came up in his head. 'Perhaps that is why I don't train anymore...why bother with that. I can never be as good as Gohan or my father...hmm...not so ridiculous'. Goten bent his head back and looked up into the sky. "Perhaps that is why I don't train as much anymore. Shoot, I have better luck with girls than I do fighting it seems...

"Hey! Goten! Let's spar!"

Goten turned to see his father waving at him.

Goten made a face. "Sparing...again? And he said that we were going to do something different for a change."
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Goku watched as his son slowly got up from the ground and walked over to where he stood. Goku frowned as his son came closer. "Goten. Show some energy. Don't walk around like you are half-dead."

Goten's eyes narrowed as he heard his father's chastisement. Suddenly, the anger he had felt during the previous sparing session had begun to rise again. He felt the rage and adrenaline rush through his body. Goten made a face at feeling this sensation. 'Every time we spar, this happens...he makes me so angry? But why?' Goten thought. Sensing it almost getting out of control, Goten pushed it down until he felt calm again.

As Goten came up to his father, he smiled. "Sorry Dad. I was stiff from sitting under that tree for so long." Goten lied as he began to stretch out. "So, are you ready to fight?"

Goku's frown turned into a smile as he regarded his son. "Yeah, I am ready to spar." Goku crossed his arms. "The question is, are you?" Goten quickly looked up at his father and gave him a goofy grin. "As ready as I'll ever be!"

"Good. Have you been training lately? You're not being lazy are you?"

Goten gazed up at his father. 'He already knows the answer, so why does he keep asking the obvious?' Goten though. "Uh...I tried Dad, but...it just didn't work into my schedule."

Goku face formed in to a frown. "Goten," he sighed " I though we went over this earlier..."

"Look Dad. I said I am sorry. Now let's get this over with." Goten snapped angrily as bent down into his fighting stance. 'I am ready. I am going to show him how good a fighter I actually am. I am sick and tired of being underestimated all the time.' Goten raised his hands as he glared at his father. "I can do this Dad. C'mon, hurry up and attack."


Goku's eyes narrowed. "Well, from your attitude, it seems like you don't want to spar in the first place." Goku stared as Goten before he turned his back on him. "Forget it."


Goten glared at his father as he turned his back on him. The anger that he thought was dormant suddenly began to show itself again. "It's true..." Goten squinted his eyes together in anguish. "That voice was right...no one believe in me...I...will not have it!" Goten whispered harshly to himself. Snapping his head up Goten focused his dark eyes on his fathers back. Throwing all caution aside, not thinking of the consequences, Goten exploded in to SSJ.


"Damn you Dad! Why do you always treat me like I am nothing?" Goten screamed at the top of his lungs. Clinching his fist, Goten began to charge up even more. "I will show you what I am capable of doing!"


Goku was shocked to feel the waves of anger and hatred emanating from his son. Usually, he was fun loving and according to his oldest son, goofy. Goten was generally good natured and kind. But lately, he had been sensing something was wrong with Goten. Though he told Chi Chi he didn't see anything wrong, he just didn't want to worry his wife. He thought it would all just blow over. But when he turned around to see his son transformed into the SSJ stage glaring angrily at him, he knew he had made a mistake ignoring it.


Goku was about to question Goten, when Gohan rushed out in front of him. "Goten? What are you talking about? What are you doing? You need to calm down!" Gohan shouted at his brother. Goten merely looked at him and frowned. "Leave me alone Gohan. This is between me and my 'so-called-father'" Goten snarled.


Goten's words hit Goku like a ton of brick. He was hurt by the way Goten had described him. 'His so-called father?' Goku thought as he looked with confusion at his son. "Goten. I know you can be a capable fighter...and I thought that I was being a good father towards you..."


"But your are not!" Goten stated coldly. 'But...but...it is my fault in a way...' Goten thought as he stood there facing down his father. 'I should have trained more...he...Dad...made me train...forced me when I didn't want to...I could have been the best...my fault...'. Goten grimaced and shut his eyes. The thoughts were too much to comprehend. One hand he could have done more...but on the other, he blamed BOTH his parents for how he was today; he blamed them both for all this confusion he was feeling presently.

Goten slowly opened he eyes and looked at his father. Goku stared at him. No emotion crossed his face as he gazed upon his son. This sparked more anger in Goten, but it quickly subsided. "Nothing I can do about it...at least now."

Goten sighed as he powered down. "Sorry Dad. I..." Goten flinched inwardly. "...Out of line. I apologize. I am taking off. See you at home." Goten turned and quickly ran from the spot where his brother and father stood. After he was a couple of feet way, his ki flared up as he took off into the air.

Gohan watched as his brother disappeared. Frowning, Gohan was about to take off after him, when he felt his father's hand on his shoulder. "Gohan. Let him be. We will find out more in the morning."


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Walking quietly into his room, Goten closed the door behind him and leaned up against it. Gazing sadly at the floor, Goten cried out. "What is going on with me? Why am I acting like this?" Goten turned his head right and gazed at his reflection in the mirror. He studies every detail of his face...something looked...different. "Is this the real me? Have I been living a lie?"


Goten pushed himself away from the door. He quickly changed his clothes, then walked over to his bed and collapsed on it. Clinching the soft pillows in his fist, Goten began to shake with anger. "This is insane! I want it all to stop!"


'It can stop....'


"Oh, no..." Goten whispered.


'Just sleep Goten. Let me take your mind off those who continue to torturer you mind...your soul...trust me...'


Goten's eyes stared blankly at the wall as he listen to the voice that had been haunting him for the last few weeks. "You said you were going to hurt me...I cannot trust the darkness...you" Goten mumbled helplessly.


'But you can...just relax Goten...you can trust me...'


Goten was in a state of confusion. He should not trust this...this...thing. But he wanted to. Was that so bad? Goten turned away from the wall and pushed his head deeper into the pillow as he muttered, "Will you allow me to sleep for once?"

'Yes...let me help you...'


Goten was wary, but he had not had a decent amount of sleep in weeks, and he knew his parents would not help. But still there was something in him that resented what was happening...a part that was angered by the constant badgering that this...thing was doing to him.

Goten flipped around on his bed and stared at the ceiling. "It's not worth it. I have enough willpower to defy you for this long. I know I can keep it up." Goten waited a couple of moments before he closed his eyes. 'Tomorrow, I need to talk to Trunks...perhaps he can help me...I hope.' Goten thought to himself as he began another night of restless sleep.
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