Title: The Invasion Saga
Author: AstroKender
Warnings: A bit more gore, a bit more sap, and the finale. Thanks for reading!
Spoilers: None.
Notes: Takes place between the Cell and Buu sagas. Gohan centric.
Feedback: Welcome. Please review
Disclaimers: DBZ belongs to Akira Toriyama and Funimation. This fic is for entertainment purposes and is not in any way meant for profit. Don't sue me.
In the last chapter of Dragonball Z, The battle raged savage and bloody as Garlic Jr. warred with the scattered handful of Z fighters that were determined to stop him. The first half of the skirmish left no warrior unscathed. Now round two has begun and only two fighters are standing. Garlic Jr....and Gohan. Who will win in the gruesome clash of identical powers? The final chapter is at hand.
Ch 10- Final Elimination
"MASENKO-HA!" Gohan cried, his golden hair phosphorescent against the backdrop of the dark sky. With a blaring roar, the special move learned from Piccolo flew rapidly towards the unsuspecting Garlic Jr.
"Wha--?" Garlic shrieked as the explosion overpowered him. Screaming, Gohan's duplicate was sent flying through the air and out of Gohan's range of vision.
Gohan staggered across the courtyard, knowing he didn't have much time until the enraged Garlic returned. Falling down next to the crumpled form of Dende, he carefully placed the senzu bean he had taken from Korin between the diminutive guardian's lips. Gohan kept one eye nervously on the sky as he waited for the god to awaken.
"Go-gohan?" Dende blinked.
"Dende," the half-Saiyan smiled grimly. "How are you feeling?"
The Namekian rose gingerly, expecting to be assaulted by pain. When nothing of the sort occurred, he jumped to his feet. "I feel fine."
"Good." Gohan nodded. "You have to move quick; the others need your healing powers." His gaze shifted to Vegeta's motionless form nearby. "I don't think they have much time left." He coughed, blood flecking his lips.
Dende's eyes widened and he stepped forward. "You're hurt too. Let me heal you." He started to raise his hands.
Gohan pushed him away as he saw a condensed blaze of light shoot forward from the horizon. "No time. Heal the others and get them out of here. I'm counting on you." He added, before taking off into the air. Dende watched fearfully as both he and the glowing light vanished into the clouds.
Swallowing hard, the Namekian hurried towards Vegeta. Placing his hands over the open wound through Vegeta's back, Dende closed his eyes and concentrated, causing a pale but radiant light to surround both he and the fallen prince. A few minutes later he was rewarded with a hardy groan.
Vegeta opened his eyes and leapt to his feet. "What happened?" he demanded. "Where is Garlic?"
"I don't have time to explain, I have to heal the others."
Vegeta snarled as he watched the Guardian of Earth step quickly over to the next body. Feeling a huge surge of ki from above, his eyes narrowed. "The battle is still going on," he murmured. Clenching his fists, he jerked his attention away and searched the area for the wounded.
In the process of healing Goten, Dende jerked in surprise as the bruised bodies of Trunks and Mr. Popo were dropped before him. Finishing with the youngest boy, the Namekian quickly switched his attention to the others.
Mr. Popo sat up, gazing around in confusion. Goten and Trunks looked at each other and then towards the sky above, where crashes of lightning and power intertwined in a thunderous cadence. Dende helped Popo to his feet.
"You must get the children away. Take them to Korin Tower if you wish but you must do so swiftly, before the battle returns here."
Mr. Popo's lower lip trembled. "But what about you?" Dende shook his head.
"I will not abandon this place. And besides, there are those who still need healed." He gestured to where Vegeta was dragging Krillin's bloody form forward.
Popo nodded and, grabbing the two protesting youths, ran to the brim of the Lookout and hopped over. Sighing, Dende wiped the rain from his brow and moved to heal his human friend. Raising his eyes to the impatient Vegeta, he frowned.
"Gohan looked to be badly injured. I'm not exactly sure what happened but he must have given me a senzu bean instead of taking it himself." The Guardian looked down to where the newly healed Krillin was beginning to stir. "He flew up to confront Garlic before I had the chance to heal him."
"That means he doesn't have a chance of winning without help." Piccolo growled, rising slowly into the air from a cluster of debris. The Namekian lifted his hand to slowly wipe the blood away from a gash on his cheek. Meeting Vegeta's eyes, he nodded gravely. In answer, Vegeta flashed into his Super Saiyan form.
Dende rose to his feet but Piccolo waved him away before he even opened his mouth. "I'm not hurt that badly. We're going up to help Gohan. If you're going to stay here, I suggest you find some cover."
"Wait up!" Krillin rose carefully to his hands and knees. "I'm going too!"
"You'll only get slaughtered." Vegeta barked out as he rose into the air. "Make yourself useful and protect the small fry there. If any of us die it will be comforting to know we can be brought back." The two warriors arced swiftly up and into the clouds, leaving Krillin behind, cursing.
***
"You're rushing towards death fighting me," Garlic Jr. hissed as he faced off with his twin likeness. "Be prepared to suffer an eternity of torment!"
"What?" Gohan smirked, trying not to show how truly injured he was. "Are you going to open up the Dead Zone again? That trick worked so well for you before."
"You dare mock me?" Garlic's eyes blazed as ribbons of lightning rushed towards him, surrounding his body in a glowing ball of crackling flame.
Watching him, Gohan fought to catch his breath. He could feel one of his lungs being slowly filled with blood from where it had been punctured by a shattered rib. His left arm hung useless at his side just as it had in his fight with Cell. The old wound roared with pain at being broken anew. Gritting his teeth, Gohan tried to at least move his fingers but to no avail. The possibility was there that he would never have full use of his arm again.
/But I have to survive to worry about that./ Gohan thought frantically, as Garlic deadly gaze pierced through him.
Grinning, Garlic disappeared, leaving Gohan blinking away the afterimages the lightning around him produced. On guard, he was nevertheless unprepared for the fist that appeared out of nowhere and crashed into his jaw. Gohan's head snapped backwards and Garlic swooped down after him, landing a ferocious kick right across the half-Saiyan's injured arm. Crying out in pain, Gohan dropped through the air a few yards before jerking himself to a halt.
"What's the matter?" Garlic taunted. "Did I hit a tender spot?"
Gohan clutched his broken arm, seething. He had to find a way to turn the fight around and fast. Closing his eyes, he pictured the scene that had greeted him when he reached the top of the Lookout. His friends lying around lifelessly, their bodies broken and torn. Growling, his eyes shot open, blazing with cold fury.
"You...made a big...mistake...hurting...my friends." Gohan gasped out past the thick liquid rising in his throat. Garlic's grin widened.
"Oh really? So sorry about that, especially when I think I might have killed one of the little ones."
"You-" Gohan choked. A red haze washed over his eyes as Garlic's figure blurred in his vision. "You monster!"
Charging forward, he attacked his double with a myriad of punches, kicks, and ki blasts. A dark elation filled him as every blow struck flesh and with a savage cry, he hurled himself at Garlic, grabbing him in a death-grip. Grinning fiercely at the look of shock that washed over the parody of his own face; Gohan blasted them both downward with lightning speed.
Piccolo and Vegeta halted in surprise as two entwined golden-haired fighters shot past them and back down towards Kami's Lookout. "What the blazes?" Vegeta swore as the backwash of power hit him like a physical blow.
"Come on," Piccolo growled as hi deftly switched directions, turning back to follow the two Gohans' mad descent.
They arrived back down to get a bird's eye view of a mammoth new crater punched into the center of the Lookout's courtyard. The two landed off to the side, surveying the wreckage. Piccolo watched as a tattered figure struggled to his feet from the center of the crater. Spying them, the figure stumbled forward.
"Vegeta! Piccolo! Quick; he's trying to kill me!"
"You're damn right I am." Came a growl off to the right as the second figure landed near Krillin and Dende. Vegeta look from one to the other before breaking into humorless laughter.
"You think you can fool me twice?" Vegeta roared. His face twisted with fury, the Saiyan flew towards the figure to the right before swerving at the last minute and raising his hands towards the boy inside the crater.
"Final Flash!"
Krillin jumped up and stood next to the Gohan nearest him. "Kamehameha!" He screamed, adding his blast towards the same destination as Vegeta's own.
"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo called out.
With a scream, the figure in the crater disappeared in a fiery explosion. Smoke billowed up into the sky and was quickly ripped away by the storms harsh winds. Gohan watched the blaze burn merrily for a moment, before falling to his knees. The others soon landed next to him.
Gohan put his hands on his thighs in an effort to keep himself upright. "How could you tell us apart?" he asked Vegeta.
Powering down, Vegeta smirked. "Simple. I just aimed for the ugly one."
Gohan stared up at him in shock and Piccolo rolled his eyes. "Dende told him that you were badly injured. Despite the new hole in the ground, the other Gohan looked barely scratched." The Namekian explained.
Gohan shook his head, repressing a shiver. All of them were soaked to the bone by the freezing rain. Noticing the movement, Piccolo frowned. "Let's get you healed and down to Korin Tower before you catch pneumonia."
"Bah," Vegeta muttered. "No Saiyan worth his tail would allow himself to fall victim to some stupid cold." Nevertheless, he carefully helped Gohan to his feet.
Dende ran forward and grabbed the half-Saiyan by the hand. "Will you let me heal you now, Gohan?" Gohan smiled weakly.
"Yeah, Dende. Heal away."
Head snapping up, Gohan pushed the little Namekian away just as a beam of energy struck him through the side, right where the guardian was standing seconds before. Cursing, Gohan fell face first onto the wet tiles below.
"You stupid fool!" A bloody Garlic Jr. staggered forward. "You're dead!" A second deadly beam of ki shot from his hand and towards Gohan's prone form. Throwing himself in front of the blast, Piccolo blocked it with a snarl.
With a bellow of anger, Vegeta shot towards Garlic, followed closely by Piccolo and Krillin. The three fighters attacked in unison and were thrown backwards as Garlic's ki flared up around him. Cackling, multiple bursts of ki shot from his body, homing onto the triad of fighters with lethal accuracy.
Krillin was flung back towards where Gohan lay. Groaning, the human crawled over to his friend, shaking him. "Come on, Bro. We need you."
Vegeta crashed into a crumbling wall and instantly jerked himself free; headed towards Garlic Jr. once more. Swooping up above his target, Vegeta called his ki forward. "Rapid Fire!" He screamed, firing shot after shot down on Garlic's head.
The blasts were easily deflected off of Garlic's invisible shield of power and the body snatcher hurled his own blast upwards, striking Vegeta in the chest and throwing him far up into the clouds. Turning, Garlic fired a beam of energy at Piccolo, who had come in to attack from the side. Swearing, the Namekian dodged the blast and pulled back, regrouping.
"Damn you!" Vegeta plummeted from the sky and into Garlic, sending them both into the ground. With a cry of rage, Garlic flung the Saiyan Prince away. Vegeta crashed into Piccolo and together they skidded across the ground not far from Dende's crouched and frightened form.
Clutching his bleeding side, Gohan rolled painfully onto his back. "We're never going to win...." He coughed. "He's immortal, remember?" his eyes slid closed as his breath came in ragged gasps.
Krillin stared him for a moment before laying his head on the wet stone in defeat. "Damn it...."
/You're wrong./ A voice in Gohan's head intoned.
"Father?" Gohan whispered. Krillin raised his head in alarm, fearing that his friend was dying all over again.
/Garlic Jr.'s soul is sealed inside a mortal body now./ Goku's voice thundered in his son's skull. /He can die!/
Krillin jumped up as Gohan's body floated up into the air and shifted upright. His eyes met Garlic's across the distance and his one working fist clenched.
It's just like in the battle with Cell, Gohan thought. Where my worst enemy wasn't Cell himself, but the fear of my own powers. But this area is much smaller than the deserted land of the Cell Games. Kami's Lookout might not survive.
Turning his head, he stared at the battered forms of his friends. It doesn't matter, he thought. I have to stop Garlic no matter what. No one else must suffer because of the powers he stole from me! I won't let him hurt anyone else!
Krillin stumbled backwards as a wave of power enveloped the half-Saiyan. The storm above intensified as Gohan attracted its energy like a lightning rod. The Human fighter cried out in horror as a gigantic thunderbolt crashed into Gohan's body. The shock threw Krillin a few meters away, where he lay, stunned and momentarily blind.
Vegeta rose up to his elbows as he stared at the apparition before him. Sparks danced crazily around Gohan's body as he stood in the center of a blackened scorch-mark on the courtyard's tiled floor. His blond hair stuck straight up into the air and crackled with static electricity. For the second time in his life, Vegeta stared at the form of an Ascended Super Saiyan.
Cold green eyes gazed dispassionately at Garlic's surprised face as the one working hand slid smoothly backwards. Gohan's voice thundered mysteriously loud through the wailing of the storm above. "KA-ME...."
Shaking his head, Piccolo rose quickly to his feet, Vegeta only a few seconds behind. Gohan's eyes met Piccolo's as he passed along a silent message. Growling in helplessness, Piccolo turned away.
"Vegeta! We've got to get out of here, now!"
"HA-ME...."
Vegeta nodded swiftly. "You grab the green bean and I'll get Shorty." He ordered as he jumped into action, not waiting to see if Piccolo obeyed.
Flashing over to Krillin, he picked the groaning fighter up by the collar and flew off the Lookout, trying to get as far away as possible. Piccolo quickly picked Dende up and, with one final look at Gohan's glowing form, quickly followed suit.
"HAAAAAAAAA!" Gohan screamed, letting loose a wave of energy that rivaled the one that erupted during the fight with Cell.
The blast tore its way through the debris separating it from its target, totally disintegrating anything in its path. Garlic stared at his oncoming death in horror. "No! It can't be! I cannot die!" He raised his hands uselessly.
"We all die, Garlic." Gohan shouted. "It's time you took your turn!"
The blast hit Garlic Jr. and detonated, vaporizing him along with half of Kami's Lookout.
***
"I told you to let me go!" Goten screamed, biting down hard on the arm that held him. Yajerobi jerked back with a yelp, releasing his charge.
Free, the small half-Saiyan rushed towards the balcony, regardless of the fact he didn't know how to fly. At that moment a devastating shock wave hit the tower and sent everyone in it tumbling to the floor. Hissing in pain, Goten covered his head as bits of plaster began raining down. "Brother!" he cried.
Darting past Mr. Popo, Trunks bent and hauled his friend to his feet. "Let's go!" he cried, launching them both into the air.
"Hey you brats! Stop!" Yajerobi screamed, running after them.
"Let them go." Korin ordered.
Yajerobi stared at him like he had suddenly grown two heads and had begun to bark. "Say what?"
"It's over."
***
Gohan opened his eyes, the world slowly swimming into focus. Four heads came immediately into view.
"Thank goodness," Dende exclaimed, lowering his hands from above the half-Saiyan's body. "We thought we lost you!"
"Again." Krillin supplied helpfully before grabbing Gohan in a bone-crushing hug. Laughing, Gohan lifted two fully functioning arms to clasp his friend back. Once again, Dende's powers worked miracles.
"Get your dirty hands off him, Shorty." Vegeta growled, kicking Krillin away. Crouching down, the Saiyan Prince glared into Gohan's dark eyes. "Don't you ever pretend to be dead again!" he ordered.
Gohan blinked at him in confusion. "Wha--?"
Snorting, Vegeta rose and stalked away, fuming silently. Piccolo gazed thoughtfully down at Gohan, as if trying to memorize his ever feature. "We really thought you were dead. You had lost so much blood...and you weren't breathing." Piccolo's brows furrowed at the memory.
"But Dende here wouldn't give up on you." Krillin growled, winking at the blushing Guardian. Gohan smiled.
"Thank you all." He whispered.
Dende lifted himself to his feet. "It is you who needs to be thanked, Gohan. Because of you Garlic Jr. is finally dead."
Gohan looked at the devastation around him, unable to believe that it was finally over. Kami's Lookout was unrecognizable, what little that remained. Gohan picked a fragment of stone up and shook his head. "I'm so sorry for destroying your home, Dende. If it wasn't for my powers-"
"Gaaaaarrr! Damn it!" Vegeta screamed, striding over and slapping Gohan across the face.
"What do you want, kid? Pity? A time will come when people will stop consoling you and start agreeing with you. If you keep insisting it's all your fault people will believe it. Your actions cannot be reversed so get over it! Stop living in the past and look towards the future for Kami's sake! You're still a friggen child! Act like it!"
"But-" Gohan stammered, clutching his bruised cheek.
"Stop being so damn weak! You are a Saiyan! Power comes with responsibility and with greater power comes even greater responsibility. You can't go around second-guessing all of your actions; you have to stand behind them, knowing that you did the best that you could at the time, And that you made everyone around you very proud." Vegeta's hand rested on Gohan's head for a moment, so briefly that the half-saiyan might well have imagined it. Flustered, Vegeta turned away just as Goten and Trunks landed before him.
"Dad!" Trunks called out, waving. His eyes widening, the purple haired youth surveyed his surroundings. "Wow! This place got trashed!"
Goten rushed past him and into his brother's arms. "I knew you'd be all right!" Gohan grinned and tousled his hair. "Thanks to you, Kiddo. You helped wish me back."
Goten beamed with pride. Looking up, Gohan noticed Piccolo walking away. "Can you give me a second, Goten?" His little brother nodded and Gohan gently sat him down, before rushing off after his green friend.
"Piccolo!" he called out, grabbing the Namekian's arm. "Why are you leaving?"
"Don't touch me!" Piccolo jerked away, leaving Gohan staring at him, stunned.
"Piccolo?" he whispered.
Piccolo clenched his fists tight enough to drawl blood. "Why are you even talking to me?" he demanded. "I killed you! I deliberately blasted a damn hole through your heart!" The Namekian began to shake. "You shouldn't even want to look at me."
Gohan stared at his best friend for a long moment before smiling ruefully. "I think we both need to take Vegeta's advice." Piccolo turned towards him questioningly.
"Life's just too short to worry about the mistakes we might have made in the past. We have our whole futures to look forward to." Gohan reached over and slowly clasped Piccolo's hand. "And my future wouldn't be much to look forward to with out you in it, Mr. Piccolo."
Piccolo stared in wonder at the pale hand enclosing his own. Raising his head, he smiled faintly. Above them, an echoing gagging sound was heard.
/I swear Goku, your son is entirely too mushy!/ The ghostly voice of King Kai exclaimed.
/Aww...King Kai! Why'd you have to go and interrupt them?/ Goku's whining voice echoed in their heads. /I think they were going to kiss!/ A faint sound of crunching popcorn could be heard.
"WHAT?" Piccolo yelled. "I swear Son, if your weren't already dead, I'd kill you!"
"Kakkarot?" Vegeta called from a distance. "Where?"
The Lookout erupted in tumult as everyone began speaking at once. Smiling, Gohan turned his face towards the faint rays of sunlight poking through the clouds. Yes, the future looked bright, indeed.
***
And so the last chapter draws to a close, not with and ending, but with a beginning.
Author: AstroKender
Warnings: A bit more gore, a bit more sap, and the finale. Thanks for reading!
Spoilers: None.
Notes: Takes place between the Cell and Buu sagas. Gohan centric.
Feedback: Welcome. Please review
Disclaimers: DBZ belongs to Akira Toriyama and Funimation. This fic is for entertainment purposes and is not in any way meant for profit. Don't sue me.
In the last chapter of Dragonball Z, The battle raged savage and bloody as Garlic Jr. warred with the scattered handful of Z fighters that were determined to stop him. The first half of the skirmish left no warrior unscathed. Now round two has begun and only two fighters are standing. Garlic Jr....and Gohan. Who will win in the gruesome clash of identical powers? The final chapter is at hand.
Ch 10- Final Elimination
"MASENKO-HA!" Gohan cried, his golden hair phosphorescent against the backdrop of the dark sky. With a blaring roar, the special move learned from Piccolo flew rapidly towards the unsuspecting Garlic Jr.
"Wha--?" Garlic shrieked as the explosion overpowered him. Screaming, Gohan's duplicate was sent flying through the air and out of Gohan's range of vision.
Gohan staggered across the courtyard, knowing he didn't have much time until the enraged Garlic returned. Falling down next to the crumpled form of Dende, he carefully placed the senzu bean he had taken from Korin between the diminutive guardian's lips. Gohan kept one eye nervously on the sky as he waited for the god to awaken.
"Go-gohan?" Dende blinked.
"Dende," the half-Saiyan smiled grimly. "How are you feeling?"
The Namekian rose gingerly, expecting to be assaulted by pain. When nothing of the sort occurred, he jumped to his feet. "I feel fine."
"Good." Gohan nodded. "You have to move quick; the others need your healing powers." His gaze shifted to Vegeta's motionless form nearby. "I don't think they have much time left." He coughed, blood flecking his lips.
Dende's eyes widened and he stepped forward. "You're hurt too. Let me heal you." He started to raise his hands.
Gohan pushed him away as he saw a condensed blaze of light shoot forward from the horizon. "No time. Heal the others and get them out of here. I'm counting on you." He added, before taking off into the air. Dende watched fearfully as both he and the glowing light vanished into the clouds.
Swallowing hard, the Namekian hurried towards Vegeta. Placing his hands over the open wound through Vegeta's back, Dende closed his eyes and concentrated, causing a pale but radiant light to surround both he and the fallen prince. A few minutes later he was rewarded with a hardy groan.
Vegeta opened his eyes and leapt to his feet. "What happened?" he demanded. "Where is Garlic?"
"I don't have time to explain, I have to heal the others."
Vegeta snarled as he watched the Guardian of Earth step quickly over to the next body. Feeling a huge surge of ki from above, his eyes narrowed. "The battle is still going on," he murmured. Clenching his fists, he jerked his attention away and searched the area for the wounded.
In the process of healing Goten, Dende jerked in surprise as the bruised bodies of Trunks and Mr. Popo were dropped before him. Finishing with the youngest boy, the Namekian quickly switched his attention to the others.
Mr. Popo sat up, gazing around in confusion. Goten and Trunks looked at each other and then towards the sky above, where crashes of lightning and power intertwined in a thunderous cadence. Dende helped Popo to his feet.
"You must get the children away. Take them to Korin Tower if you wish but you must do so swiftly, before the battle returns here."
Mr. Popo's lower lip trembled. "But what about you?" Dende shook his head.
"I will not abandon this place. And besides, there are those who still need healed." He gestured to where Vegeta was dragging Krillin's bloody form forward.
Popo nodded and, grabbing the two protesting youths, ran to the brim of the Lookout and hopped over. Sighing, Dende wiped the rain from his brow and moved to heal his human friend. Raising his eyes to the impatient Vegeta, he frowned.
"Gohan looked to be badly injured. I'm not exactly sure what happened but he must have given me a senzu bean instead of taking it himself." The Guardian looked down to where the newly healed Krillin was beginning to stir. "He flew up to confront Garlic before I had the chance to heal him."
"That means he doesn't have a chance of winning without help." Piccolo growled, rising slowly into the air from a cluster of debris. The Namekian lifted his hand to slowly wipe the blood away from a gash on his cheek. Meeting Vegeta's eyes, he nodded gravely. In answer, Vegeta flashed into his Super Saiyan form.
Dende rose to his feet but Piccolo waved him away before he even opened his mouth. "I'm not hurt that badly. We're going up to help Gohan. If you're going to stay here, I suggest you find some cover."
"Wait up!" Krillin rose carefully to his hands and knees. "I'm going too!"
"You'll only get slaughtered." Vegeta barked out as he rose into the air. "Make yourself useful and protect the small fry there. If any of us die it will be comforting to know we can be brought back." The two warriors arced swiftly up and into the clouds, leaving Krillin behind, cursing.
***
"You're rushing towards death fighting me," Garlic Jr. hissed as he faced off with his twin likeness. "Be prepared to suffer an eternity of torment!"
"What?" Gohan smirked, trying not to show how truly injured he was. "Are you going to open up the Dead Zone again? That trick worked so well for you before."
"You dare mock me?" Garlic's eyes blazed as ribbons of lightning rushed towards him, surrounding his body in a glowing ball of crackling flame.
Watching him, Gohan fought to catch his breath. He could feel one of his lungs being slowly filled with blood from where it had been punctured by a shattered rib. His left arm hung useless at his side just as it had in his fight with Cell. The old wound roared with pain at being broken anew. Gritting his teeth, Gohan tried to at least move his fingers but to no avail. The possibility was there that he would never have full use of his arm again.
/But I have to survive to worry about that./ Gohan thought frantically, as Garlic deadly gaze pierced through him.
Grinning, Garlic disappeared, leaving Gohan blinking away the afterimages the lightning around him produced. On guard, he was nevertheless unprepared for the fist that appeared out of nowhere and crashed into his jaw. Gohan's head snapped backwards and Garlic swooped down after him, landing a ferocious kick right across the half-Saiyan's injured arm. Crying out in pain, Gohan dropped through the air a few yards before jerking himself to a halt.
"What's the matter?" Garlic taunted. "Did I hit a tender spot?"
Gohan clutched his broken arm, seething. He had to find a way to turn the fight around and fast. Closing his eyes, he pictured the scene that had greeted him when he reached the top of the Lookout. His friends lying around lifelessly, their bodies broken and torn. Growling, his eyes shot open, blazing with cold fury.
"You...made a big...mistake...hurting...my friends." Gohan gasped out past the thick liquid rising in his throat. Garlic's grin widened.
"Oh really? So sorry about that, especially when I think I might have killed one of the little ones."
"You-" Gohan choked. A red haze washed over his eyes as Garlic's figure blurred in his vision. "You monster!"
Charging forward, he attacked his double with a myriad of punches, kicks, and ki blasts. A dark elation filled him as every blow struck flesh and with a savage cry, he hurled himself at Garlic, grabbing him in a death-grip. Grinning fiercely at the look of shock that washed over the parody of his own face; Gohan blasted them both downward with lightning speed.
Piccolo and Vegeta halted in surprise as two entwined golden-haired fighters shot past them and back down towards Kami's Lookout. "What the blazes?" Vegeta swore as the backwash of power hit him like a physical blow.
"Come on," Piccolo growled as hi deftly switched directions, turning back to follow the two Gohans' mad descent.
They arrived back down to get a bird's eye view of a mammoth new crater punched into the center of the Lookout's courtyard. The two landed off to the side, surveying the wreckage. Piccolo watched as a tattered figure struggled to his feet from the center of the crater. Spying them, the figure stumbled forward.
"Vegeta! Piccolo! Quick; he's trying to kill me!"
"You're damn right I am." Came a growl off to the right as the second figure landed near Krillin and Dende. Vegeta look from one to the other before breaking into humorless laughter.
"You think you can fool me twice?" Vegeta roared. His face twisted with fury, the Saiyan flew towards the figure to the right before swerving at the last minute and raising his hands towards the boy inside the crater.
"Final Flash!"
Krillin jumped up and stood next to the Gohan nearest him. "Kamehameha!" He screamed, adding his blast towards the same destination as Vegeta's own.
"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo called out.
With a scream, the figure in the crater disappeared in a fiery explosion. Smoke billowed up into the sky and was quickly ripped away by the storms harsh winds. Gohan watched the blaze burn merrily for a moment, before falling to his knees. The others soon landed next to him.
Gohan put his hands on his thighs in an effort to keep himself upright. "How could you tell us apart?" he asked Vegeta.
Powering down, Vegeta smirked. "Simple. I just aimed for the ugly one."
Gohan stared up at him in shock and Piccolo rolled his eyes. "Dende told him that you were badly injured. Despite the new hole in the ground, the other Gohan looked barely scratched." The Namekian explained.
Gohan shook his head, repressing a shiver. All of them were soaked to the bone by the freezing rain. Noticing the movement, Piccolo frowned. "Let's get you healed and down to Korin Tower before you catch pneumonia."
"Bah," Vegeta muttered. "No Saiyan worth his tail would allow himself to fall victim to some stupid cold." Nevertheless, he carefully helped Gohan to his feet.
Dende ran forward and grabbed the half-Saiyan by the hand. "Will you let me heal you now, Gohan?" Gohan smiled weakly.
"Yeah, Dende. Heal away."
Head snapping up, Gohan pushed the little Namekian away just as a beam of energy struck him through the side, right where the guardian was standing seconds before. Cursing, Gohan fell face first onto the wet tiles below.
"You stupid fool!" A bloody Garlic Jr. staggered forward. "You're dead!" A second deadly beam of ki shot from his hand and towards Gohan's prone form. Throwing himself in front of the blast, Piccolo blocked it with a snarl.
With a bellow of anger, Vegeta shot towards Garlic, followed closely by Piccolo and Krillin. The three fighters attacked in unison and were thrown backwards as Garlic's ki flared up around him. Cackling, multiple bursts of ki shot from his body, homing onto the triad of fighters with lethal accuracy.
Krillin was flung back towards where Gohan lay. Groaning, the human crawled over to his friend, shaking him. "Come on, Bro. We need you."
Vegeta crashed into a crumbling wall and instantly jerked himself free; headed towards Garlic Jr. once more. Swooping up above his target, Vegeta called his ki forward. "Rapid Fire!" He screamed, firing shot after shot down on Garlic's head.
The blasts were easily deflected off of Garlic's invisible shield of power and the body snatcher hurled his own blast upwards, striking Vegeta in the chest and throwing him far up into the clouds. Turning, Garlic fired a beam of energy at Piccolo, who had come in to attack from the side. Swearing, the Namekian dodged the blast and pulled back, regrouping.
"Damn you!" Vegeta plummeted from the sky and into Garlic, sending them both into the ground. With a cry of rage, Garlic flung the Saiyan Prince away. Vegeta crashed into Piccolo and together they skidded across the ground not far from Dende's crouched and frightened form.
Clutching his bleeding side, Gohan rolled painfully onto his back. "We're never going to win...." He coughed. "He's immortal, remember?" his eyes slid closed as his breath came in ragged gasps.
Krillin stared him for a moment before laying his head on the wet stone in defeat. "Damn it...."
/You're wrong./ A voice in Gohan's head intoned.
"Father?" Gohan whispered. Krillin raised his head in alarm, fearing that his friend was dying all over again.
/Garlic Jr.'s soul is sealed inside a mortal body now./ Goku's voice thundered in his son's skull. /He can die!/
Krillin jumped up as Gohan's body floated up into the air and shifted upright. His eyes met Garlic's across the distance and his one working fist clenched.
It's just like in the battle with Cell, Gohan thought. Where my worst enemy wasn't Cell himself, but the fear of my own powers. But this area is much smaller than the deserted land of the Cell Games. Kami's Lookout might not survive.
Turning his head, he stared at the battered forms of his friends. It doesn't matter, he thought. I have to stop Garlic no matter what. No one else must suffer because of the powers he stole from me! I won't let him hurt anyone else!
Krillin stumbled backwards as a wave of power enveloped the half-Saiyan. The storm above intensified as Gohan attracted its energy like a lightning rod. The Human fighter cried out in horror as a gigantic thunderbolt crashed into Gohan's body. The shock threw Krillin a few meters away, where he lay, stunned and momentarily blind.
Vegeta rose up to his elbows as he stared at the apparition before him. Sparks danced crazily around Gohan's body as he stood in the center of a blackened scorch-mark on the courtyard's tiled floor. His blond hair stuck straight up into the air and crackled with static electricity. For the second time in his life, Vegeta stared at the form of an Ascended Super Saiyan.
Cold green eyes gazed dispassionately at Garlic's surprised face as the one working hand slid smoothly backwards. Gohan's voice thundered mysteriously loud through the wailing of the storm above. "KA-ME...."
Shaking his head, Piccolo rose quickly to his feet, Vegeta only a few seconds behind. Gohan's eyes met Piccolo's as he passed along a silent message. Growling in helplessness, Piccolo turned away.
"Vegeta! We've got to get out of here, now!"
"HA-ME...."
Vegeta nodded swiftly. "You grab the green bean and I'll get Shorty." He ordered as he jumped into action, not waiting to see if Piccolo obeyed.
Flashing over to Krillin, he picked the groaning fighter up by the collar and flew off the Lookout, trying to get as far away as possible. Piccolo quickly picked Dende up and, with one final look at Gohan's glowing form, quickly followed suit.
"HAAAAAAAAA!" Gohan screamed, letting loose a wave of energy that rivaled the one that erupted during the fight with Cell.
The blast tore its way through the debris separating it from its target, totally disintegrating anything in its path. Garlic stared at his oncoming death in horror. "No! It can't be! I cannot die!" He raised his hands uselessly.
"We all die, Garlic." Gohan shouted. "It's time you took your turn!"
The blast hit Garlic Jr. and detonated, vaporizing him along with half of Kami's Lookout.
***
"I told you to let me go!" Goten screamed, biting down hard on the arm that held him. Yajerobi jerked back with a yelp, releasing his charge.
Free, the small half-Saiyan rushed towards the balcony, regardless of the fact he didn't know how to fly. At that moment a devastating shock wave hit the tower and sent everyone in it tumbling to the floor. Hissing in pain, Goten covered his head as bits of plaster began raining down. "Brother!" he cried.
Darting past Mr. Popo, Trunks bent and hauled his friend to his feet. "Let's go!" he cried, launching them both into the air.
"Hey you brats! Stop!" Yajerobi screamed, running after them.
"Let them go." Korin ordered.
Yajerobi stared at him like he had suddenly grown two heads and had begun to bark. "Say what?"
"It's over."
***
Gohan opened his eyes, the world slowly swimming into focus. Four heads came immediately into view.
"Thank goodness," Dende exclaimed, lowering his hands from above the half-Saiyan's body. "We thought we lost you!"
"Again." Krillin supplied helpfully before grabbing Gohan in a bone-crushing hug. Laughing, Gohan lifted two fully functioning arms to clasp his friend back. Once again, Dende's powers worked miracles.
"Get your dirty hands off him, Shorty." Vegeta growled, kicking Krillin away. Crouching down, the Saiyan Prince glared into Gohan's dark eyes. "Don't you ever pretend to be dead again!" he ordered.
Gohan blinked at him in confusion. "Wha--?"
Snorting, Vegeta rose and stalked away, fuming silently. Piccolo gazed thoughtfully down at Gohan, as if trying to memorize his ever feature. "We really thought you were dead. You had lost so much blood...and you weren't breathing." Piccolo's brows furrowed at the memory.
"But Dende here wouldn't give up on you." Krillin growled, winking at the blushing Guardian. Gohan smiled.
"Thank you all." He whispered.
Dende lifted himself to his feet. "It is you who needs to be thanked, Gohan. Because of you Garlic Jr. is finally dead."
Gohan looked at the devastation around him, unable to believe that it was finally over. Kami's Lookout was unrecognizable, what little that remained. Gohan picked a fragment of stone up and shook his head. "I'm so sorry for destroying your home, Dende. If it wasn't for my powers-"
"Gaaaaarrr! Damn it!" Vegeta screamed, striding over and slapping Gohan across the face.
"What do you want, kid? Pity? A time will come when people will stop consoling you and start agreeing with you. If you keep insisting it's all your fault people will believe it. Your actions cannot be reversed so get over it! Stop living in the past and look towards the future for Kami's sake! You're still a friggen child! Act like it!"
"But-" Gohan stammered, clutching his bruised cheek.
"Stop being so damn weak! You are a Saiyan! Power comes with responsibility and with greater power comes even greater responsibility. You can't go around second-guessing all of your actions; you have to stand behind them, knowing that you did the best that you could at the time, And that you made everyone around you very proud." Vegeta's hand rested on Gohan's head for a moment, so briefly that the half-saiyan might well have imagined it. Flustered, Vegeta turned away just as Goten and Trunks landed before him.
"Dad!" Trunks called out, waving. His eyes widening, the purple haired youth surveyed his surroundings. "Wow! This place got trashed!"
Goten rushed past him and into his brother's arms. "I knew you'd be all right!" Gohan grinned and tousled his hair. "Thanks to you, Kiddo. You helped wish me back."
Goten beamed with pride. Looking up, Gohan noticed Piccolo walking away. "Can you give me a second, Goten?" His little brother nodded and Gohan gently sat him down, before rushing off after his green friend.
"Piccolo!" he called out, grabbing the Namekian's arm. "Why are you leaving?"
"Don't touch me!" Piccolo jerked away, leaving Gohan staring at him, stunned.
"Piccolo?" he whispered.
Piccolo clenched his fists tight enough to drawl blood. "Why are you even talking to me?" he demanded. "I killed you! I deliberately blasted a damn hole through your heart!" The Namekian began to shake. "You shouldn't even want to look at me."
Gohan stared at his best friend for a long moment before smiling ruefully. "I think we both need to take Vegeta's advice." Piccolo turned towards him questioningly.
"Life's just too short to worry about the mistakes we might have made in the past. We have our whole futures to look forward to." Gohan reached over and slowly clasped Piccolo's hand. "And my future wouldn't be much to look forward to with out you in it, Mr. Piccolo."
Piccolo stared in wonder at the pale hand enclosing his own. Raising his head, he smiled faintly. Above them, an echoing gagging sound was heard.
/I swear Goku, your son is entirely too mushy!/ The ghostly voice of King Kai exclaimed.
/Aww...King Kai! Why'd you have to go and interrupt them?/ Goku's whining voice echoed in their heads. /I think they were going to kiss!/ A faint sound of crunching popcorn could be heard.
"WHAT?" Piccolo yelled. "I swear Son, if your weren't already dead, I'd kill you!"
"Kakkarot?" Vegeta called from a distance. "Where?"
The Lookout erupted in tumult as everyone began speaking at once. Smiling, Gohan turned his face towards the faint rays of sunlight poking through the clouds. Yes, the future looked bright, indeed.
***
And so the last chapter draws to a close, not with and ending, but with a beginning.