A/N – good news! Good news! –quote Rosco P Coltrane- I've finally figurd out how to get from here to there, just gotta write it. So, updates will be more regular as I write out the scenes from my head. Thank you to the reviewers, I have over 60 reviews now. I had to count on my hands and toes three times! Anyway, thank you for voicing your opinions, they mean a lot to me.
Changing Faces
Part 2 – Choices They Make
Chapter 31 – Cavern of Death
The dinner ended, and it was nearly midnight. Gohan still hadn't talked to Videl, and he doubted he would until after the fight.
I must remain focused. I cannot allow this to distract me, he repeated to himself.
A large procession marched across the plane between the fortress and mount Laku Nori. From there, Gohan followed Queen Matiko down the labyrinth of tunnels to the main lava pits.
The heat rose dramatically as they neared a large underground fissure. A warm red glow emulated up the blackened rock walls, and there were no other light fixtures.
The room itself was as large and grand as the courtroom, yet completely Spartan and undecorated. There was a primitive ambiance about the cavern. Gohan could imagine uncivilized beings wondering about the red glowing sea at the bottom of the fissure, amazed at the warmth the melted stones that were so far below could provide. He smiled fondly; there was also a comfortable atmosphere surrounding the entrance and room, despite the sulfurous smell that pervaded his nostrils.
Along with the primitive aire of the room came a more somber note, as Gohan recalled the history he had been told of the cavern. Early executions had been held there, where the prisoner was tied in shackles of metal and dropped into the boiling rock. When slave revolts occurred, the unruly servants were corralled into the caverns and mass slaughtered by the hundreds. One could almost hear the voices screaming and crying as they realized they were beyond the point of no return. A sick sense of dread welled up in his throat.
He shook the feeling off.
Several beings entered on the other side of the cavern. Gohan watched them enter through a small and unnoticeable crack in the wall, most likely being the entrance they originally took to plant the dragon seed. They all paused about ten meters from the edge of the pit. One stepped forward.
Gohan turned to face Videl.
He waved her closer, "Videl, in case I don't make it out alive..."
"Gohan," she whispered his name, "Don't think like that. I believe in you. We all do. Now if the dragon hatches before you defeat the warrior, I'll take over that fight and you deal with the dragon."
Both hoped it wouldn't come to that, but they knew things could happen that were beyond their control. Gohan faced his opponent. A whisper from behind confirmed it was Duasha.
"Kick his ass," Videl spat, "And watch his claws."
Duasha hovered near the center of the pits. Gohan met him halfway.
"I am the Great Duasha, leader of the Ruani," he proudly stated, then added with contempt, "Who are you?"
"My name is.. Gohana," he said evenly, "We will fight for the fate of the planet. If you lose, you must agree to leave."
He sniggered, "Whatever you want. Now let's get this over with so I can go back to tending the dragon."
