Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. Big surprise, huh?
Author's Notes: Finally, part three--would have been out sooner, but my disk ate the file. :-( So, this is a rewrite--I don't think its as good as it could have been. Anyway, some of you guys are gonna hate me. . . but you'll get over it. So, enjoy, and please remember to review--I love hearing from y'all. ^-^
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Vegeta stood, watching his son's chest rise and fall with the rhythm of sleep. "So, boy," Vegeta thought out loud. "I've finally gotten you alone. No one to protect you here." Vegeta stopped repressing his ki.
Trunks was violently torn from his slumber as he sensed his father's presence. He looked up, wild eyed and frightened, to see Vegeta looming aver him. The sayian knelt down beside his son. Trunks flinched violently as Vegeta lifted a hand. "What's wrong, Trunks," Vegeta heavily placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Aren't you happy to see your father?"
"Get away from me!" Trunks slapped his father's hand from his shoulder. The boy scrambled backwards, ending several yards from his father.
Vegeta stood. "Can't you do anything other than run?" The sayian began stalking toward Trunks. Trunks stood, taking a step back for every one Vegeta progressed. "You'll never be able to get away from me, brat." Vegeta bellowed. "I am your _father_!"
Trunks stopped retreating. He stood his ground. His father was right, there was no hope. No escape. He would find him. Always. The boy blinked back frightened tears, closing his eyes and awaiting his father's assault.
The attack didn't come. He open his eyes to see Goten standing before him, grasping his father's hand in his own. Goten had intercepted the strike meant for Trunks. "Not this time, Vegeta." Goten hissed dangerously. "You're never going to hurt him again." Goten twisted Vegeta's wrist towards the ground, forcing the older sayian to his knees.
"Goten?" Trunks questioned the figure before him, disbelieving his friend's actions. Goten turned, looking at his friend, affording Vegeta the moment's distraction he needed. Vegeta leapt forward, breaking Goten's grip and causing the boy to stumble backwards.
Vegeta howled as he rose several feet into the air. "You fool! You dare challenge me?"
Goten narrowed his eyes in answer, a golden aura enveloping him. He ascended to meet Vegeta in the dark sky. A look of surprise flashed across Vegeta's face as Goten joined him. "What's the matter?" Goten taunted. "The _prince_ isn't used to anyone fighting back?"
"Just surprised by your stupidity, brat," Vegeta answered. "But I should only expect as much, you _are_ Kakarott's son." Goten growled in response, his jaw tightening and his fists clenching as the air around him crackled with static energy as his power increased. "You must be joking boy," Vegeta scoffed. "You can't possibly hope to defeat me!"
"We'll see."
Goten's icy tone sent a chill through Trunks, who was still on the ground, watching the scene unfold before his eyes. "No!" Trunks shouted to his friend. "Goten, he'll _kill_ you!"
"Don't worry, chibi," Goten raised a hand to silence his friend. "I'll be fine."
Vegeta roared, launching an attack. Goten dodged, narrowly avoiding a fearsome punch. The two volleyed punches and kicks, chasing each other across the sky. Vegeta connected with Goten's face, sending him hurtling to the earth below. Goten stopped himself inches from impact, hovering above the ground. He glared up at Vegeta, wiping blood from his face. Growling, Goten charged at Vegeta. Vegeta disappeared, reappearing behind Goten, striking him on the back of the neck. The boy let out a startled yell as his head snapped up. Vegeta clasp his fists together and slammed into Goten's back, ending the boy crashing to the ground. As the dust from Goten's impact cleared, Vegeta hovered above him, preparing a ki blast. Trunks watched anxiously as his friend struggled to raise himself from the rubble. Vegeta snarled as he released his blast.
"No!" Trunks screamed, throwing himself in front of his friend, shielding him from the blast. Trunks was thrown backwards, landing unconscious on the soft grass.
"Stupid boy," Vegeta spat, grimacing at his son's still form. "You're always getting in the way." Turning back to his intended prey, Vegeta frowned to see Goten standing, nonchalantly brushing dust from his clothes.
"Thanks, Vegeta," Goten regarded the man before him. "I was wondering how I was going to do this with him underfoot. You've just made this unbelievably easy for me."
"Quit stalling, brat! You're words are getting you nowhere." Vegeta charged Goten, unleashing an onslaught of kicks and punches. The boy easily countered the attack. Vegeta stood facing his unscathed opponent, his brow wrinkled in frustration, his voice quiet. "How?" The boy gave no answer. Suddenly, Goten was before Vegeta, grasping his shoulders. A blinding white pain shot through Vegeta's being, he screamed.
Vegeta found himself on the ground, a foot upon his throat. He was having difficulty breathing. Goten grinned down at him. "What's wrong, prince? Having trouble catching your breath?" Vegeta clawed at the boy's foot, trying desperately to move it, to breathe. Goten knelt down, foot still on Vegeta's throat. "Hmmm, didn't expect this, did you?" Goten put a little more pressure on his captive. "Who knew I was so powerful, huh?" He winked at Vegeta playfully, "Well, you should have seen it coming, I mean, I _am_ Kakarott's son." Vegeta cursed Goten weakly, his eyes burning with rage. "Ah, Vegeta," Goten stood, releasing his hold on the sayian. "I know what this is all about," he said darkly. "I know what you're afraid of."
Goten turned to look at Trunks, leaving Vegeta on his knees, rubbing his throat and fighting for air. "Him. Trunks. You're son." Goten admired the form a moment before returning his attention to Vegeta. "I know you're scared of his power. You think he'll surpass you, if you give him the chance, if you don't hold him back and keep him under control." Goten crossed him arms. "You're right. But you're too late. He's already more powerful than you. Hell," Goten laughed grimly, "He's more powerful than _me_." Goten noted Vegeta's surprise. "He's afraid to show it, Vegeta. He's afraid of what you'd do to him if you ever found out." Goten met the gaze of a now standing Vegeta, powering up once again. "Well, I'm here to make sure he isn't afraid anymore." Goten stepped closer to his prey. "I mean, who could hold me responsible? It was an accident, ya know. You got sloppy, and I got lucky." Goten looked innocently at Vegeta. "Who would believe that I actually killed you of my own accord anyway? After all," Goten smiled sweetly, "You _are_ the all powerful prince."
"You're insane," Vegeta mumbled venomously.
"Well," Goten sighed, "Love does strange things to people." Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh," Goten smiled. "You didn't know?" Goten peered amusedly at Vegeta's stunned expression. "Heh. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your son."
*****
Gohan woke suddenly with a start. He sat up in bed, looking around. Beside him, Videl stirred. She placed a hand sleepily on Gohan's arm. "What's wrong?" she mumbled.
"I don't know," Gohan answered, turning to place his feet on the cold floor. Something wasn't right. It seemed something was--what? He stood, walking to the large window across the room. Something was--missing?
"Gohan?" Videl called from under the covers. "Gohan?" Videl sat up, looking around. She was alone in the room except for the white curtains dancing around the open window.
*****
Gohan sensed someone. Goten. And Trunks. The clearing soon came into view. He spied three forms below him. That was it--something _was_ missing. 'No," he thought, 'Not something, but someone.' The eldest Son boy lighted in the clearing, looking around. Trunks lay unconscious a fair way from the other two figures. Gohan slowly approached. He gasp as he saw Vegeta. The prince was laying motionless, his eyes staring blankly at the night sky and whirling stars. Goten sat beside him, his knees drawn up to his chest, rocking back and forth and mumbling incoherently. "Goten," Gohan knelt beside his little brother. "What happened?"
Goten looked up at his brother with red, tear soaked eyes. "Gohan," his voice was a whisper. "I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I didn't mean to." The younger Son grasp his brother, weeping forcefully in his arms.
"Shhh," Gohan soothed, holding his brother tightly and stroking his dark hair. "It's ok. It's ok. Everything is going to be ok."
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Ok, end of part three. But not the end of the story. It looks like my little story has a mind of its own and I don't know when it'll stop growing! I'll post part four soon--if my disk dosen't decide to eat that one too! Thanks for reading and reviewing!! ^-^
Author's Notes: Finally, part three--would have been out sooner, but my disk ate the file. :-( So, this is a rewrite--I don't think its as good as it could have been. Anyway, some of you guys are gonna hate me. . . but you'll get over it. So, enjoy, and please remember to review--I love hearing from y'all. ^-^
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Vegeta stood, watching his son's chest rise and fall with the rhythm of sleep. "So, boy," Vegeta thought out loud. "I've finally gotten you alone. No one to protect you here." Vegeta stopped repressing his ki.
Trunks was violently torn from his slumber as he sensed his father's presence. He looked up, wild eyed and frightened, to see Vegeta looming aver him. The sayian knelt down beside his son. Trunks flinched violently as Vegeta lifted a hand. "What's wrong, Trunks," Vegeta heavily placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Aren't you happy to see your father?"
"Get away from me!" Trunks slapped his father's hand from his shoulder. The boy scrambled backwards, ending several yards from his father.
Vegeta stood. "Can't you do anything other than run?" The sayian began stalking toward Trunks. Trunks stood, taking a step back for every one Vegeta progressed. "You'll never be able to get away from me, brat." Vegeta bellowed. "I am your _father_!"
Trunks stopped retreating. He stood his ground. His father was right, there was no hope. No escape. He would find him. Always. The boy blinked back frightened tears, closing his eyes and awaiting his father's assault.
The attack didn't come. He open his eyes to see Goten standing before him, grasping his father's hand in his own. Goten had intercepted the strike meant for Trunks. "Not this time, Vegeta." Goten hissed dangerously. "You're never going to hurt him again." Goten twisted Vegeta's wrist towards the ground, forcing the older sayian to his knees.
"Goten?" Trunks questioned the figure before him, disbelieving his friend's actions. Goten turned, looking at his friend, affording Vegeta the moment's distraction he needed. Vegeta leapt forward, breaking Goten's grip and causing the boy to stumble backwards.
Vegeta howled as he rose several feet into the air. "You fool! You dare challenge me?"
Goten narrowed his eyes in answer, a golden aura enveloping him. He ascended to meet Vegeta in the dark sky. A look of surprise flashed across Vegeta's face as Goten joined him. "What's the matter?" Goten taunted. "The _prince_ isn't used to anyone fighting back?"
"Just surprised by your stupidity, brat," Vegeta answered. "But I should only expect as much, you _are_ Kakarott's son." Goten growled in response, his jaw tightening and his fists clenching as the air around him crackled with static energy as his power increased. "You must be joking boy," Vegeta scoffed. "You can't possibly hope to defeat me!"
"We'll see."
Goten's icy tone sent a chill through Trunks, who was still on the ground, watching the scene unfold before his eyes. "No!" Trunks shouted to his friend. "Goten, he'll _kill_ you!"
"Don't worry, chibi," Goten raised a hand to silence his friend. "I'll be fine."
Vegeta roared, launching an attack. Goten dodged, narrowly avoiding a fearsome punch. The two volleyed punches and kicks, chasing each other across the sky. Vegeta connected with Goten's face, sending him hurtling to the earth below. Goten stopped himself inches from impact, hovering above the ground. He glared up at Vegeta, wiping blood from his face. Growling, Goten charged at Vegeta. Vegeta disappeared, reappearing behind Goten, striking him on the back of the neck. The boy let out a startled yell as his head snapped up. Vegeta clasp his fists together and slammed into Goten's back, ending the boy crashing to the ground. As the dust from Goten's impact cleared, Vegeta hovered above him, preparing a ki blast. Trunks watched anxiously as his friend struggled to raise himself from the rubble. Vegeta snarled as he released his blast.
"No!" Trunks screamed, throwing himself in front of his friend, shielding him from the blast. Trunks was thrown backwards, landing unconscious on the soft grass.
"Stupid boy," Vegeta spat, grimacing at his son's still form. "You're always getting in the way." Turning back to his intended prey, Vegeta frowned to see Goten standing, nonchalantly brushing dust from his clothes.
"Thanks, Vegeta," Goten regarded the man before him. "I was wondering how I was going to do this with him underfoot. You've just made this unbelievably easy for me."
"Quit stalling, brat! You're words are getting you nowhere." Vegeta charged Goten, unleashing an onslaught of kicks and punches. The boy easily countered the attack. Vegeta stood facing his unscathed opponent, his brow wrinkled in frustration, his voice quiet. "How?" The boy gave no answer. Suddenly, Goten was before Vegeta, grasping his shoulders. A blinding white pain shot through Vegeta's being, he screamed.
Vegeta found himself on the ground, a foot upon his throat. He was having difficulty breathing. Goten grinned down at him. "What's wrong, prince? Having trouble catching your breath?" Vegeta clawed at the boy's foot, trying desperately to move it, to breathe. Goten knelt down, foot still on Vegeta's throat. "Hmmm, didn't expect this, did you?" Goten put a little more pressure on his captive. "Who knew I was so powerful, huh?" He winked at Vegeta playfully, "Well, you should have seen it coming, I mean, I _am_ Kakarott's son." Vegeta cursed Goten weakly, his eyes burning with rage. "Ah, Vegeta," Goten stood, releasing his hold on the sayian. "I know what this is all about," he said darkly. "I know what you're afraid of."
Goten turned to look at Trunks, leaving Vegeta on his knees, rubbing his throat and fighting for air. "Him. Trunks. You're son." Goten admired the form a moment before returning his attention to Vegeta. "I know you're scared of his power. You think he'll surpass you, if you give him the chance, if you don't hold him back and keep him under control." Goten crossed him arms. "You're right. But you're too late. He's already more powerful than you. Hell," Goten laughed grimly, "He's more powerful than _me_." Goten noted Vegeta's surprise. "He's afraid to show it, Vegeta. He's afraid of what you'd do to him if you ever found out." Goten met the gaze of a now standing Vegeta, powering up once again. "Well, I'm here to make sure he isn't afraid anymore." Goten stepped closer to his prey. "I mean, who could hold me responsible? It was an accident, ya know. You got sloppy, and I got lucky." Goten looked innocently at Vegeta. "Who would believe that I actually killed you of my own accord anyway? After all," Goten smiled sweetly, "You _are_ the all powerful prince."
"You're insane," Vegeta mumbled venomously.
"Well," Goten sighed, "Love does strange things to people." Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh," Goten smiled. "You didn't know?" Goten peered amusedly at Vegeta's stunned expression. "Heh. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your son."
*****
Gohan woke suddenly with a start. He sat up in bed, looking around. Beside him, Videl stirred. She placed a hand sleepily on Gohan's arm. "What's wrong?" she mumbled.
"I don't know," Gohan answered, turning to place his feet on the cold floor. Something wasn't right. It seemed something was--what? He stood, walking to the large window across the room. Something was--missing?
"Gohan?" Videl called from under the covers. "Gohan?" Videl sat up, looking around. She was alone in the room except for the white curtains dancing around the open window.
*****
Gohan sensed someone. Goten. And Trunks. The clearing soon came into view. He spied three forms below him. That was it--something _was_ missing. 'No," he thought, 'Not something, but someone.' The eldest Son boy lighted in the clearing, looking around. Trunks lay unconscious a fair way from the other two figures. Gohan slowly approached. He gasp as he saw Vegeta. The prince was laying motionless, his eyes staring blankly at the night sky and whirling stars. Goten sat beside him, his knees drawn up to his chest, rocking back and forth and mumbling incoherently. "Goten," Gohan knelt beside his little brother. "What happened?"
Goten looked up at his brother with red, tear soaked eyes. "Gohan," his voice was a whisper. "I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I didn't mean to." The younger Son grasp his brother, weeping forcefully in his arms.
"Shhh," Gohan soothed, holding his brother tightly and stroking his dark hair. "It's ok. It's ok. Everything is going to be ok."
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Ok, end of part three. But not the end of the story. It looks like my little story has a mind of its own and I don't know when it'll stop growing! I'll post part four soon--if my disk dosen't decide to eat that one too! Thanks for reading and reviewing!! ^-^
