Author's note: Here's the next chapter! Hope you like it!

: : -denote's character's thoughts

Wherever You Will Go by Shelly

CHAPTER NINETEEN


No matter how hard she tried, Shira couldn't shake the fear and doubt that gnawed at her. Karik's energy had finally reached a plateau, and it was higher than hers but just enough to make it interesting. All she knew was that she faced a long battle, one that could quite possibly claim her life.

She glanced at Vegeta and Piccolo. They were doing well but barely. Then she sensed a familiar energy drawing near, and she thought of every expletive she knew. :Damn you, Trunks. Why'd you have to come here?:

Drawing her sword, she rushed Karik, going for his head and expecting him to block it with his own sword. He did just as she thought and they exchanged a flurry of blows, the ring of blade on blade echoing through the desert. They both managed to score one another as they were evenly matched, at least in swordplay. She was beginning to tire and she made more than a few mistakes, but she was always able to work her way out of any danger.

Then he suddenly advanced on her in a furious attack that threw her to the ground, her sword flying from her hand. He thrust his blade close to her heart, not ready to give the killing blow just yet. "Give up, Shira. You can't win," he sneered, looking down his blade at her.

She lay there, breathing heavily, trying to pull her thoughts together. Vegeta and Piccolo were finally able to destroy their opponents, but they were too drained to be of any help. Which meant it was up to her to shut Karik down. "I'll never give in to you!" she cried.

Karik's sneer turned into a scowl. "I had hoped it wouldn't have to come to this, Shira. But if you wish to die then so be it." He drew the blade back, preparing for the killing blow, but stopped when he felt another powerful energy approaching.

Shira looked over, seeing Trunks floating to the ground. She also noticed Karik's distraction and used the opportunity to kick the sword from Karik's hand. She leaped to her feet and raised both her hands in front of her, unleashing an enormous energy wave directly at his chest. Her eyes widened when she realized he had disappeared and she was unable to sense him. She soon sensed him back in front of her, but it was too late as the wind was knocked out of her from a punch to her stomach, sending her down on her hands and knees.

She had no time to catch her breath before he kicked her in the same place, sending her soaring into the sky. He appeared behind her, punching her in the back and sending her crashing back down to the ground. She tried to get up, but lacked the energy as she coughed to try and get some air back into her lungs.

Karik chuckled. "You're so pathetic, Shira. And to actually think I thought you would be worth fighting against. You weren't even worth my time." He held his hand out and began charging an energy blast.

"Shira, get up!" Trunks shouted, but knew that she couldn't when he felt her energy fading. He saw Karik release his energy, saw it screaming towards Shira. "NO!" he cried, launching himself to cover Shira's body with his own.

She felt an enormous weight crash upon her, pressing her into the ground. Whatever it was, it wasn't moving, and she pushed the weight off of her, tears coming to her eyes when she saw Trunks lying there. She crawled over to him, unable to sense his energy, and tried shaking him, but he was out cold.

"Trunks, don't do this to me," she pleaded, brushing his hair away from his face. "Trunks, answer me," she nearly screamed as she shook his body again. "Why? Damn you, Trunks, why did you have to risk your life for mine?" she demanded then broke down as the tears started flowing, leading her to throw her head back and scream like she never did before, taking what little energy she had and bringing it forth in her anger. She would make Karik pay for what he did to Trunks, and make him pay dearly. She thought of all the lives he had taken, all the lives she had taken also. She took the burning rage inside her and let it consume her, suddenly feeling as if a dam had broken inside of her, flooding her body with a power she had never thought she had. She saw a golden aura surrounding her, and her mouth dropped open in surprise. :Am I a super-saiyan?:



Korin and Yajirobe stood by, sweat beading on their faces as they watched Goku wolfing down a ten course meal. No sooner had he finished one bowl before he began another.

"Goku, you're a bottemless pit. How does your wife ever manage to feed you three times a day?" Korin asked.

Goku's response was a thunderous belch. "Wow, Korin, that was delicious."

"Didn't you have another reason for coming here besides stuffing your face?" he asked.

"Oh yeah! I came up here to see if you had any senzu beans."

"It's a good thing I'm so observant. Here you go," he said, tossing a pouch to Goku. "There's four in there. Just remember to use them wisely."

"Thanks, Korin. I don't know what we'd do without you." He leaped over the railing, blasting off towards the battle. He sensed Trunks' energy there as well as those of Piccolo and Vegeta, the last two he could barely sense as their energy was depleted from their own battles. Then Trunks' energy all but disappeared, but then Shira's jumped up to an amazing level that almost surpassed his own, and he smiled as he sensed she had achieved what no other saiyan female ever had.

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It was bound to happen sooner or later that she would go super. Let's see how Karik fares against her now. MWAHAHAHA!!!!! Oh, and please review!