My DBZ Adventure—Part 14
A/N: Sorry for the wait, guys. I had a writers-block and I just realized that I didn't post Parts 12 or 13, so I just did that. I would have posted sooner, but my computer was being a jerk. Hey, if you want me to continue this, please let me know in your review. The only person I'm getting good comments from right now is Sabrina (Miss Bad Ass). THANK YOU!!!! I really appreciate it! But it's gonna take more than her to keep this going, so if you want me to continue this, you have to let me know or else I won't, okay? If it's gonna just be Sabrina who likes this story I'll just send her an e-mail with this in it. But if it's a lot of people who make me feel loved I'll keep it posted. If not...it's goin' bye bye. Well, I think you get the point. Now, on with the story.
Disclaimer: Do I really have to do this? I think you all know what I own and what I don't.
"So, what'd you find out about Vaul?" I asked Gohan after dinner.
"Nothing. He didn't leave any traces of anything behind when he left. It's like he was never there! We don't know anything about him."
"Why don't we visit Dende? He should be able to tell us something," I suggested.
"That's a good idea. My Dad could take us there tomorrow morning. I'll talk to him about it tonight." He looked at Kat and me. "You should both go to sleep."
We knew better than to argue with him, so we said good night to everyone and went to bed.
~ ~ ~
When I opened my eyes I was in another place, not where I fell asleep. In fact, I was in, what looked like, a palace bedroom. But somehow I wasn't afraid; I was very much at home.
I looked toward the bed and saw someone sleeping in it. Looking closer at it I saw that the person was a slightly younger version of myself. Puzzled, I moved closer. Yup, it was me, all right. But how and why, I had no idea. I looked to be about thirteen or so and I was just waking up.
Okay, for sanity's sake I'll call her Jessica.
Anyway, I watched as Jessica woke up, got dressed and then I followed her to the courtyard. We waited for a bit until I saw three familiar figures running to the courtyard from three different directions.
Jessica ran forward and met all three with hugs. I recognized Kat, Jo, and Cassie, all as old as Jessica. "What took you all so long?" Jessica asked.
"Sorry, Princess," Kat said, sarcastically. It was then that I noticed Jessica was wearing a beautiful red dress. I looked at the others and found that they, too, were wearing similar clothes. Cassie had a cerulean blue dress, Jo a pale blue and Kat a green.
"Yeah, it's not as easy to get away from our parents as it is yours," Cassie said.
"Besides, you're the High Princess, Jess. You have free run of your palace," Jo put in. "We don't."
"You don't think my parents keep me on a tight leash?" Jessica retorted. "I may be the High Princess, but I'm still their child and my parents never treat me like anything else. If anything, they expect more out of me because of it."
Then I noticed what was hanging around my counterpart's neck. I looked down at my neck and saw the same thing. I saw a crystal, lightly glowing red, the same color as Jessica's dress. The others each had their own crystal, each glowing the color of their dress.
"So, we gonna play, or what?" Kat asked. At that everyone ran off laughing while I thought about what this whole vision thing was.
What does it mean? Why am I having it? Why was I called the High Princess? And what are Kat, Jo, and Cassie doing in my vision? All this thinking gave me a headache.
A sudden scream brought me out of my thoughts. I raced to where I saw the others go. What I saw almost made me faint.
"Vaul," I whispered.
"Monster!" everyone screamed.
Vaul looked over the four children and stopped when he reached Jessica. He seemed to smirk. "High Princess, what a surprise."
Jessica's eyes grew to twice their normal size. "How...?" Then she got defensive. "What do you want?"
"Your power. And your friends', too."
"No!" Jessica shouted.
"We'll see..." He advanced, but didn't get far, for he was hit from behind with ice spears and thunderbolts. He roared and whirled around.
I watched Jessica move her hands around in a pattern (if you've seen it, think Silphymon from Digimon.) that made her crystal glow bright red. Then she held out her palms in front of her facing facing Vaul and shouted, "Fire!"
The fireball was right on target and hit Vaul right square in the back. He roared again and turned toward Jessica, seeing the glowing crystal.
"You will die!" he screamed, running for Jessica.
"VAUL!"
He stopped and looked beyond his target.
"You will leave this place and never come back," an authoritative voice commanded.
I looked up and gasped at what I saw. It was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and somehow I recognized he as my mother. She had long black hair and was wearing a red dress, but a lighter shade than Jessica's, that seemed to float about her in an angelic fashion. Atop her head was a sparkling diamond tiara and around her neck was a crystal. The crystal was glowing a brilliant red and floated between her hands.
"Vaul, if you ever return here and attack my people I will take care of you once and for all! Be gone!"
Needless to say, he turned around and left.
Jessica ran to the woman. "Mom!"
Kat, Jo, and Cassie bowed. "Queen Mary."
I didn't pay attention to anything much after that for I was deep in thought. That's what Vaul meant when he said he knew me. He knew me here! But where is...here?
I looked around only to find the scene around me fading into blackness. Then I heard a voice.
"You will remember this in due time...my Princess..." Then the voice faded with the scene.
"No, don't go! Mother! Mother!"
~ ~ ~
"Jessie! Wake up!"
I shot straight up in my bed and found myself in Gohan's arms. Then I remembered my dream. I buried my face in Gohan's shoulder. "Mother..."
Gohan stroked my hair slightly, whispering softly to me. I soon relaxed and just enjoyed being in his arms. "It was only a dream."
Reluctantly I pulled away from him. "I'm sorry. I know it was just a dream, but it seemed so real." No need to tell him just yet.
"What happened?"
"I just remember my mother and a monster." I looked up at Gohan. "It was Vaul."
"I'm sure your mother is fine. Vaul's here, not there."
I managed a smile for him. "I know. Is Kat awake?"
"No, she sleeps like the dead. I heard you tossing around and making distressed noises, so I came in to see if you were all right. Are you?"
I nodded. "I'm sorry if I woke you up."
"I was up already, so it was no big deal."
"That's good. Do you want me to go wake up Kat so we can eat and go see Dende?"
"Sure, I'll go tell Mom you're up." With that he got up and left.
I followed him with my eyes and sighed, remembering what it was like to be in his arms. I vowed never to forget no matter what.
After I got dressed I went in and woke up Kat. It took about ten minutes to get her up and about and ready to move. When she was dressed we both went to breakfast and found it waiting for us. Quickly we thanked Chichi and ate as fast as we could without getting sick.
"Mom, where's Dad?" Gohan asked.
"He's sparring with someone, I think. Either Piccolo or Vegeta," she replied crossly. "Why? Do you want to spar with him?"
"No, he was supposed to take us to Dende on Kami's Look Out this morning," he explained. "Oh well."
Kat and I had finished our breakfast, so we decided it was time to go. We said good bye to Chichi and left for Kami's Look Out.
"Dende?" Gohan called.
Dende came out to meet us looking very happy. "Gohan! I've been expecting you and your guests. Welcome."
"It's good to see you, Dende," Gohan said, smiling. But his smile faded. "We came here to talk about—"
Vaul, yes, I know." Dende sighed. "He's out looking for victims to steal power from."
Gohan looked puzzled. "But he didn't try to steal our powers."
"It's not your powers he wants," Dende replied, looking at Dat and me.
"Jessie and Kat?" Gohan asked. "But why them? Their power is no different than ours, right?"
Dende shook his head. "I'm sorry, that I cannot tell you."
"What else can you tell us about Vaul?" Kat asked.
"Not much, I'm afraid. I believe you—or at least one of you—" he looked at me, "Knows as much as I do."
"Dende, were you the one who gave Master Roshi that picture and the note?" I asked.
The little Namek looked puzzled. "What picture? Of who?"
"Never mind, then. It wasn't you."
"Well, thanks anyway, Dende," Gohan said.
"Gohan, stop by more often. It gets somewhat lonely up here with just Mr. Popo."
He smiled. "I will, Dende. Bye!"
"Kat?" I asked, flying on the way home. She looked at me. "Did you have any strange dreams last night?"
She slowed and we let Gohan fly ahead of us so we could talk. "Yeah. Did you?"
I nodded and told her what I remembered, which wasn't much now. "Were you following your younger self around like I was?"
"Yeah, I did. Dude, this is really weird."
"I know. Let's go get together with Cassie and Jo. We'll get Cassie and head on over to Capsule Corps."
"She's probably at the Kame House today," Kat told me.
"Okay, we'll go there." With that we flew faster to our new destination.
I decided to test out my newly-formed mental bond with Piccolo. :Piccolo?:
It took him a moment to respond. :What?: was the loud, grumpy reply.
I yelped. "Piccolo!" Kat gave me a strange look. "Sorry."
:Piccolo, not so loud! That hurts.:
I sensed a mental sigh. :Fine. What do you want?:
:I need you to tell Gohan that Kat and won't be going home for a while, that we're getting together with Cassie and Jo.:
:Do I look like a delivery service?!:
I winced at the loudness of his tone. :Please, Piccolo? I don't want him to worry about us, and I don't think you want that, either.: I knew I got him.
There was a pause, then, :Fine. But you better not get used to this.:
I sent all my happiness through. :Thanks, Piccolo!:
:Can I go back to my training now?: he asked angrily.
:Oh, sorry. Thank you!: I could sense him grumbling something before he closed the connection.
Meanwhile when we're getting Cassie...
"Gohan, where are Kat and Jessie?" Chichi asked.
"They were behind me talking about something on the way here."
"And you left them?!" Chichi yelled. "Well, Mister, I suggest you go back out there and get them!"
Gohan hung his head and started to walk out when he heard Piccolo. His head shot up.
"Gohan?" Chichi asked.
:Gohan!:
Gohan yelped. "Piccolo!" Chichi looked angry.
:Piccolo, not so loud!:
:Deal with it, kid! I have a message for you from Jessie. She says that her and Kat are getting together with Jo and Cassie; they'll be back later.:
:Okay, thanks, Piccolo,: he said. :You just saved me a lot of trouble.:
:Yeah, yeah. It better pretty damn important if anyone decides to bother me again. Make that known:
Gohan smiled. :Okay, Piccolo, I will. Thanks.:
Chichi stood with her hands on her hips. "Gohan, what's going on?" she demanded.
"Jessie and Kat will be back later. Right now they're with Jo and Cassie. They relayed a message through Piccolo; he's not too happy."
Chichi eyed him. "And how do you know this?"
He tapped his head. "Telepathy, Mom. It's really handy, especially in a battle."
"I'm sure. So, what are you going to do in the mean time?"
Poor Gohan's smile disappeared. "Study."
"Right. Now go. I'll let you know when lunch is ready."
At C.C.
"Okay, so you're saying we all had the same dream?" Jo asked. Kat and I nodded. "How?"
"But I remember someone very clearly," Cassie said. "I just don't remember who it was. She had long black hair, a red dress, and a red crystal. She could have been..." She looked at me.
I was unaware of anything but her description. "My mother," I whispered, smiling. Then I came back to reality with everyone staring at me. "What?'
"Your mother?" Jo asked.
"Don't ask, I just know that's who she is. She has to be..."
"Yeah, whatever," Jo said. "Oh my God! I saw the hottest guy yesterday! Well, not as hot as Trunks, but still..."
Kat and I touched down in front of the Son House after leaving Capsule Corps and dropping Cassie off. Quietly we walked inside and into Gohan's room.
I knocked lightly on the door and waited for an answer. "Gohan?"
Gohan opened the door. "Jessie, Kat! You're back." He let us inside.
"I'm sorry if we were any trouble," Kat said.
"You got the message, right?" I asked.
"Yeah, just in time, too. Mom was about to send me out looking for you two." We winced. "It's okay," he assured us. "So, are you ready to train?"
Kat and I looked at each other. "We're ready."
~ ~ ~
"Gohan, how did you ever put up with Piccolo?" Kat asked on the way home from a vigorous day training.
Gohan chuckled. "He's not that bad once you get used to him."
"But we're not training to fight against Saiyans. You'd think he'd lighten up a little."
"Not Piccolo," Gohan replied, then he sobered. "Besides, we have Vaul to deal with and he's more than a handful. We can't even sense where he is and that's not good. So we always have to be on our toes."
The thought of not being able to sense Vaul struck a nerve inside me. How many people—innocent people—were going to get hurt or die if they get in his way? We had to put an end to him, and soon.
The days went on as usual for a while and Vaul had not struck once. Some people thought that he had been scared off, but something inside me told me that he was just waiting for us to get careless, then he'd move in for the kill.
One day that feeling was proved right when I sensed something was terribly wrong. Gohan had been helping me study when I suddenly bolted right out of my chair.
"Jessie?"
I clutched my head. "Something's totally wrong. Someone...someone's hurt."
"Who? Where?"
"Vaul," I whispered.
Then Kat came bursting in. "Jess..." She was quite shaken and afraid and ran over to me. "What is that?"
I put an arm around her. "It's Vaul. I know it is. He's attacking someone, but I don't know who!"
We all looked at each other and flew out Gohan's window. I closed in on Vaul's feeling and led the others to him.
(Okay, while we're flying to the rescue, let's do a background check. It's been a month, remember? ~Dreamy sigh~ Gohan and I are together! Yay! My dream come true! Kat's working on Piccolo and Jo's almost there with Trunks. I bet soon those two will be as in love as Gohan and me. :) Poor Cassie...all she wants is 17...Oh, look, here we are!)
"Down there!" I shouted, pointing below us. Gohan immediately flew down to Vaul while Kat and I went down to help Vaul's victim.
We rolled the victim on his back and gasped at who it was. (Are you sitting down?)
"Gohan! It's Android 17!" I yelled to him.
"Take him to Krillin! Hurry!"
"Okay!" Kat and I replied.
Kat and I each put one of 17's arms around our necks and set out for Krillin's. We flew as fast as we could, but couldn't get there fast enough for me. I just didn't feel right leaving Gohan to fight Vaul alone.
I decided to call Piccolo, but I talked aloud because it was easier for me. We had worked on this technique earlier. "Piccolo!"
I startled Kat. "Piccolo, what?"
"Piccolo, answer me, there's no time to waste!"
:What, Jessie?: He sounded annoyed.
"Gohan needs you and all the help he can get. He's fighting Vaul!"
:What?!:
"Piccolo, go to him and get Goku, Vegeta, and Trunks. Hurry! I don't know how long he can last against Vaul!" I felt no more Piccolo so I guessed he closed the connection.
"What was that all about?" Kat asked.
"Never mind, we're here."
We landed and I shot into Krillin's house and literally dragged him out of the house. I ordered him to watch 17 and I flew back to Gohan as fast as I could, not waiting for anyone. But I felt Kat close behind me.
I got back just in time to see Gohan get vaulted up into the air by Vaul. He didn't seem to have any control and looked to be unconscious.
"Gohan!" Piccolo and Goku shouted, arriving.
I flew directly into Gohan's path, hoping to slow him down. He rammed into me and I wrapped my arms around his middle and stopped his ascent. Piccolo and Goku saw this and went to fight Vaul.
Gohan slowly opened his eyes. "Jessie?"
"Shh, don't talk, it's okay." He put an arm around my shoulders and I lowered him to the ground. I looked up and saw Trunks, Vegeta, and Jo enter.
"Go get 'em, Trunks!" Jo shouted, then came over to Gohan and me. I had Gohan's head cradled in my arms and was wiping away blood from his face.
Kat's sudden scream brought our attention back to the fight. Everyone was lying on the ground and Vaul advanced on them.
The scream triggered something and it all came back to me. The scream, monster—Vaul, crystals, fire...the vision! I remembered exactly what happened. Suddenly fighting like this seemed natural, and I knew what to do. It was like my past was becoming one with me again.
"Vaul! Leave them alone!" I yelled.
He stopped his advance and looked at me. "High Princess, what a surprise."
"Don't you 'High Princess' me, Vaul. You will leave this place and never come back," I quoted.
His eyes widened. "High Queen Mary said that...you couldn't possibly..."
"Vaul, if you ever return here and attack my people I will take care of you once and for all!"
Vaul roared his rage. "You will die!"
Gohan struggled to rise. "Jessie..."
"No, stay. It's all right." I closed my eyes and saw Jessica (my other self) doing the attack. I mimicked her and felt the power inside me and suddenly some instinct took over; I knew exactly what to do and when to do it. I felt like I was complete with this new power—I felt whole.
I was so far into the trance, I didn't notice my crystal glowing a brilliant red.
Vaul stopped. "That crystal..."
"Fire!" I yelled. I held my hands out, making an X, right hand in front of left.
My fireball hit its mark—right in Vaul's chest. He fell backwards and ran off when he saw Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Trunks, and Vegeta get up and advance. Goku walked behind Vegeta and Trunks and Piccolo walked behind Gohan.
Once Vaul was out of sight, Gohan dropped his pose and swayed as his knees buckled. (Now you see why Piccolo was there?) Piccolo was at his side in an instant and caught him as he fell back.
Gohan opened his eyes. "Piccolo...I don't feel so good. I hurt all over, but especially here..." He pointed to his left side. Piccolo took the hand that covered the spot and looked at it. What he saw made his eyes widen. "Piccolo?" Everyone gathered around. "What is it?" Gohan's hand was covered in his blood.
"Gohan..." Piccolo's eyes were full of sorrow and anger. "What did he do to you?"
Gohan squeezed his eyes shut and gripped Piccolo's hand tightly as a wave of pain swept over him. "He...hit me with something...I don't know what...Piccolo it hurts..."
"Be strong, Gohan," Piccolo replied, squeezing his hand back.
"Tell me the truth; am I dying?" Piccolo and Goku looked at each other, then Goku knelt by his son. "Oh, damn...Dad, Piccolo, I don't wanna die!"
I stepped away from the crying Kat and Jo and knelt by Gohan's head. "Shh, it's okay," I soothed, stroking his hair. "You're going to be just fine, Gohan. Just fine." I smiled at him and wiped away his tears.
"Jessie..."
I shook my head. "No, you're going to be fine, Gohan. Piccolo, I need his hand. Quickly if you want him to live." Piccolo and I switched spots and I took Gohan in my arms.
"Gohan, do you trust me?" I asked. He nodded. "Then you'll be fine."
Gohan suddenly drew in a sharp breath and clutched his side with the hand his father had been holding. He curled up in a ball and buried his face in my arms and sobbed. "Gods, it hurts!"
I held him. "It's okay." I kissed the top of his head and he relaxed. I sent some of my healing power through that kiss and the others looked at me strangely.
I shifted so I was more comfortable, but still held Gohan the same way. I closed my eyes in concentration and put my left hand over his wound while holding him with my right. The power inside me knew what to do and flowed out of me and into him in a soft red light.
When the wound had woven itself back together I stopped and watch Gohan's eyes flutter open, all pain in them gone. I smiled and kissedhim after Piccolo and Goku helped him to his feet.
Still in my trance-like state I moved Jo and Kat aside and raised both my arms in the air. "These two before me and one away have always done their best to protect me," I said to the sky. "Give them back what they lack!"
There was a flash of light and two crystals appeared on their necks. They looked down at them. "Whoa..."
That done, my new power left and I was significantly weaker than I was with it. I swayed and fell into strong arms who belonged to Piccolo. He steadied me and I stood up again.
I was very confused. "What...just happened?"
"You don't know?" Trunks asked.
I shook my head. "Not really." I looked as Gohan approached me. "I remember drawing Vaul's attention and throwing a fireball at him. After that it's kind of hazy." I narrowed my eyes and looked at Gohan. "You were wounded. I...can't remember!" I was so frustrated I could have cried.
"It's okay," Gohan said, taking my hand. "I'll take you home now." I nodded and went up with him, Kat following. I guessed the others stayed to talk about what just happened, even though I wasn't exactly sure what.