Disclaimer: Same old stuff…

This chapter jumps around a lot from person to person. So, don't get confused. It goes between the fight and what different people are thinking, doing, ect. ect.  Just, try not to get confused. I'm sorry if you do, but I'm not perfect…

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Chapter 9: The Final Cut

   Both Trunks and Vegetaa were equal in power. The seconds were turning into minutes, and their stamina were thinning. Soon, Vegetaa was overtaking Trunks, and it was only time until every ounce of energy had been taken out of Trunks.

    "It's not ending this way." Trunks thought to himself. He screamed, putting out more energy. He started to overtake Vegeta…

~*~

   The rest of the gang look on. Everyone of them had a worried look on his face.

   "He's not going to make it." Goku said, his head hanging low.

   "What do you mean dad? Of course he'll make it! I won't let it happen any other way!" Goten started to scream at his father. "Do you have no faith in Trunks? Of course he'll win! He has to! He's Vegeta's son, and Vegeta won't accept anything less of him! So you see, he has to win!"

   Goku looked sympathetically at his son. "I'm sorry Goten. I'm so sorry."

~*~

Trunks let out his last ounce of energy. He started to rapidly overtake Vegetaa, making his ki ball smaller. With a little more energy, Trunks would have had him. Would have had him…

~*~

   Vegeta smirked and crossed his arms. Trunks was going to win, he was sure of it. For once it wasn't Kakarott or either of his sons that saved the day. It was his own son this time. Now, maybe he would get the respect he deserved.

~*~

   Vegetaa let out even more energy. It started to slowly overtake Trunks. Trunks had no more strength. He used it all. There was no more left. Finally, the ball of energy had reached Trunks, fully swallowing him…

~*~

   Gohan watched Cell dissolve into the air as every part of him was destroyed. Cell was gone…but he lost something more. He lost…

   "Daddy? Daddy?" Gohan felt a small hand pulling at the bottom of his pants. He looked down, and smiled.

   "Hello Pan." He picked her up and put her on his shoulder.

   "Are you okay, daddy? Why were you crying?"

   "Yes, I'm fine little one. I just thought of an old memory. We'll be home soon, okay?"

   "Okay!" Pan giggled, not knowing what was going on.

   "Daddy?"

   "Yes…"

   "What's happening to Unkie Trunks?" Pan stopped herself. "I mean, Uncle Trunks? Why is he fighting? You always say that fighting is bad."

   "He's trying to protect us all. Fighting isn't bad when you protect the ones you love." Gohan took Pan off his shoulder and hugged her. "You don't need to be worried. How about you go over to Mommy and give her a big hug?"

   "Okay!" Gohan put her down, and she ran over to Videl. Gohan's eyes saddened as he looked back at the battle.

   "It's not supposed to happen this way." He whispered to himself. "It's not supposed to end like this. We always win. It always turns out for the better. Always." Gohan felt a hand on his shoulder.

   "Put the past behind you Gohan. None of it was your fault."

   "Dad, how did you…"

   "You have the same look on your face every time. It wasn't your fault. You were only 11. I don't know how you've held onto it this long…"

~*~  

   "TRUNKS!"

   Goku and Gohan looked up. There laid Trunks, seemingly dead.

   "Trunks no!" Goten sped off towards his best friend. He quickly landed next to Trunks and started to shake him. "No Trunks, you can't go, no Trunks!" Trunks slowly opened his eyes. He could barely speak.

   "Goten…tell dad I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose. Goodbye Goten, You'll always be my very best friend." Trunks closed his eyes and never woke up.

   "Come back Trunks! Come back! You can't die on me! We need you! Come back!" Goten pounded the ground with his fists, leaving indents. "It's not fair! Why did he have to do that? Why?"

   Vegeta watched Goten's fit. "Trunks is dead." Vegeta growled. Bulma heard him and fell to the ground. "No, my son…he's gone." Tears started to run down her eyes as she looked up at Vegeta. His fists tightened as the anger burned in his eyes.

   Both Goten and Vegeta went Super Saya-Jin. Without even knowing it, they both whispered to themselves, "I'll kill him." They both took off towards Vegetaa.

~*~

   "Mission accomplished." Vegetaa said to himself, smirking. "What an easy pushover. I wonder if there's anyone else who could be the slightest bit of a challenge." He looked ahead, and watched two Super Saya-Jins fly towards them. "Oh look, my pitiful excuse for a brother and another kid."

   Vegeta and Goten were about to attack Vegetaa when a figure materialized out of the air.

   "Watch out! I'm going to finish him off once and for all!" The person screamed. Vegetaa was caught of guard, and he felt something cut through him…

   Goten and Vegeta were stopped in their tracks. Who was this mysterious person who dared to stop them? It was only time until they found out.

   Goku ran over to the person. "Latke! It's you! Where did you get the sword?"

   "I have connections." He said, looking up at the sky. Goku understood perfectly at what he meant.

   "I need to finish my job now." Latke looked down at the now sliced Vegetaa with cold eyes.

   "P…please, spare m…my life." Vegetaa pleaded, coughing up some blood.

   "Why should I?"

   "I'll change. I promise."

   Latke laughed, "I've heard that before. Never seen it happen."

   "Please…"

   "No! You've destroyed innocent lives and you destroyed complete cities. You even killed your own men." Latke put the sword up the Saya-Jin's neck. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you."

   Vegetaa fell silent. Latke lifted the sword from his neck, bringing the hilt far above his head.

   "Now you die!" Latke screamed, bringing the sword down, plunging it into Vegetaa's neck. He died on contact.

   Latke turned to Goku. "It's over now. Thank you, Goku."

   Goku put his hand behind his head and smiled. "But I didn't do anything. Thank Vegeta and Trunks." Goku bowed his head, "Only that we lost Trunks. I wouldn't bother Vegeta right now."

   "Al right" Latke said, turning around.

   "Where are you going to go now?"

   "I don't know. I guess I'll look for some survivors so we can start to rebuild the city as soon as possible." Latke started to walk away.

   Goku walked over to his family and everyone else. "Latke?"

   "What?" Latke turned around.

   "Thank you." Goku said, putting two fingers to his forehead.

   "For what?"

   "Finishing off Vegetaa. It was you, not us who did. So, thank you Latke. We'll never forget you."

   And with that, Latke was left standing alone. Smiling, he walked off into the distance.

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The end is near! AH! NO! I'm ending the story at 10 chapters, 'cause I ran out of ideas. Now, I'm going to need a new fic to write, since this one has only one more chapter to go. ::tear:: If anyone has any good ideas (I'm fresh out!) and is willing to let me use them, please, let me know!

Make sure you read the final chapter of "Saving Yardrat" right here on fanfiction.net!