Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ just my own characters.

: : -denotes character's thoughts

Wherever You Will Go by Shelly

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


"So, what's this plan of yours?" Vegeta asked, getting his first view of Karik in years. He looked human in shape, but he also shared the traits of a white tiger. His skin was covered in short white fur, striped like a tigers, but he chose to cover it with a leather outfit similar to Shira's: black vest and pants. The only difference was he wore a long jacket of the same material that was tailored from the waist up and flared from there down. His long snowy hair reached past his shoulders, framing ice blue eyes that were just as cold.

Shira drew her sword and held it by the blade so that the pommel end faced her with the blade pointing down. "I already know you won't like it, so I'm not telling you. You'll just have to watch." She closed her eyes and concentrated, pulling energy from deep within the earth and channeling it through her and into her sword. Piccolo watched, surprised, as he saw the strange markings on the blade of her sword suddenly flare, the light from the energy that coursed through the blade striking outwards and blinding them. And still she fed the lightstorm, bringing the energy to a level that surprised even Vegeta.

She suddenly shifted her grip to the hilt and plunged the still glowing blade into the earth. For a few seconds nothing happened, and Vegeta began laughing only to grow silent as the ground beneath them began trembling.

Suddenly the ground beneath Karik erupted in a blinding flash of energy that screamed upwards into the sky, striking their opponents full force. Shira, Piccolo, and Vegeta held their arms in front of their eyes to keep the dust from blinding them.

"Shira, how did you do that? You didn't even have to use any of your own energy, you gathered it all from the earth. How?" Piccolo asked.

"I'll explain later. It seems there are some survivors." True to her word, only three had survived.

"Impossible!" Piccolo growled.

"Now do you believe me? Look, Karik isn't even singed." :Great,: she thought. :Now what am I going to do?:



Karik growled as he slowly made his way over to Shira. "She's beginning to irritate me. You two, take out the Namek and Vegeta. I'll take care of Shira by myself."

The two guards nodded and blasted towards their targets. Karik floated down to the ground and walked towards Shira. "How nice it is to see you again. I have missed your presence upon my ship. It was so much easier to keep discipline when you were there."

"I'm all choked up with emotion," she replied. "It all ends here, Karik. I won't let you destroy this planet or its people."

"Shira, do you really believe that you can defeat me after what happened at our last meeting? You weren't strong enough then and you're still not."

"That's where you're wrong. You never allowed me to train because you feared I would become stronger than you one day. Since I've left, I've done nothing but train. I've gotten alot stronger since then, and it may not be enough to defeat you, but I will die if necessary to save this world from destruction."

Karik laughed. "Enough talk then. Let's see this new power of yours."

Shira braced her feet and unleashed her pent up energy, feeling it course through her veins and into every muscle in her body. The energy swirled around her, encasing her in a tornado of power, growing faster and larger as her cries echoed through the desert.

Vegeta and Piccolo sensed Shira's incredible energy and stopped their battle to stare in awe. "There's no way," Piccolo whispered. "She's even stronger than Vegeta."

Vegeta clenched his fists, not believing what he was sensing. "There's no way a female could have this kind of power. But then again she is half saiyan."

The tornado slowed its raging speed, eventually dissapating altogether. Shira stood calmly facing Karik, her pale blue aura glowing brightly as did her eyes. "Karik! Show me what you got!"

Karik smiled, pleased that she had indeed grown stronger. When he had first arrived, he hadn't planned on wasting his time fighting her, but with this increase in power she would make a fine opponent. "Very well then," he answered, removing his coat and throwing it to the ground. The sunlight flashed off the pommel of the sword strapped across his back. He braced his own feet and summoned his own energy in a whirlwind of dust and debris.

Shira crossed her arms in front of her face, her confidence fading as Karik's power rose steadily above hers. :Shit, what have I gotten myself into?:



"Goku, where are you going?" Chi-Chi demanded, her fists planted on her hips.

Goku paused in the doorway. "I'm going to Korin's to get some senzu beans. There's a battle starting and we might need them."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "You don't have to come up with these excuses, Goku. I know you're only going to train, so why didn't you just say so?"

He smiled. "Whatever you say, babe. Gotta go!"

She watched him blast off into the air. "Don't even think about it, mister!" she warned the shadow at her side.

Gohan winced. "But mom, Shira's in trouble."

"No way, young man! You're going upstairs and hitting those books!"

"Yes, mom," he said, hanging his head in defeat.



Trunks streaked through the air, the wind whipping his hair out behind him. He sensed Piccolo and Vegeta were already engaged in battle, but Shira finally gave free rein to her enormous energy, showing Trunks just how strong she really was. :Wow! I can't believe she's this strong! If she's powering up, then her battle can't be far away. I better step it up then.: His energy flared as he increased his speed, hoping he would get there in time.

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Poor Gohan, he never gets to do anything! Can Shira defeat Karik? Keep reading and find out! And please review!