The Horse with No Name


Chapter Forty-Five

Borrowed Concord


The Son Family Home, Earth

Back pressed against the smooth white of the house, Goten stills as best he can. His breath is held. The burly logs are pulled against his chest and clunk together with a little too much noise for his liking. Still, they don't react. Nobody hears him. Collecting firewood had originally made Goten complain yet here he's stumbled onto something – once again – that he should not be overhearing.

Dusk's symphony throughout the forest masks some of what they're saying. Goten can't hear everything word for word, only that it's the Supreme Kai who is saying them - to another kai no less.

"Are you positive?" asks the Supreme Kai, the perfect cast of a shadow eclipsing over his expression. His shoulders are tightly knit, tense, as though waiting for the inevitability of being caught.

Not at all overwrought, the other kai nods. The white of his mohawk bounces, and then, they stand in silence, testing Goten's hold on his logs.

The next time the Supreme Kai speaks it's in a language Goten doesn't recognize. Urgent whispers pass between them in the nestle of trees. Birds caw overhead. Cicadas sing their lullaby. Goten can only crane his neck so far around the wall to get a better read of the situation.

"Excavate the site," the other kai eventually says, gesturing his head northwards. "The roots of a dead tree still hold water."

The Supreme Kai nods, looking grim. "Then I am the gardener."

"Indeed you are, Supreme Kai." The other guy silkily manoeuvres into the obscurity of the foliage. "Tomorrow I shall see you. Be well."

"…You as well."

Goten stays long after the Supreme Kai remerges back into the crowded garden. Whilst he knows the Supreme Kai meets with other kais and talks about the situation, there was something oddly dirty about this meeting; the way the Supreme Kai looked over his shoulder, how he fidgeted, how they hide in the literal shadows here on Earth.

Immediately, Goten goes to tell Trunks, but then remembers they're not friends right now.

When he returns to the burning fire pit in the clearing nearby the house, he drops the logs unceremoniously, eyeing the Supreme Kai as he returns to the gathering of people. The kai is now talking to Kibito quietly, away, alone, looking suspicious.

There's a scoff from the other side of the flames. "How do these situations always evolve into idiocy?"

"You mean a party?" Goten asks, wiping away the mouldy bark from his hands, turning to the namekian.

Piccolo hadn't left after Hezk's meeting, though he looks like he wishes he had. His nose crinkles. "We are not having a party."

"Don't you look at me like that. I didn't come to have a good time. I came by to get some things straight," Videl snaps. "Why wasn't I told about this Hezk lady coming by? I've been staring at my phone for days waiting for the invite."

"Jeez. It's not our fault you screwed up. At the last meeting you looked about ready to strangle Rixas," Goten replies, sparing yet another look at one most serious kai, "I think you made the Supreme Kai rethink his invite."

She clicks her tongue. Having come straight from work, she's kitted out in one of her pretty tight dresses and unfortunately chosen stilettos. They cleave into the soggy mud which suctions her downwards. Finally, Piccolo takes pity enough to make her some shoes.

Though she remains a brat through and through; unimpressed, she inspects them. "They look like carrots."

"Then sink into the dirt for all I care!"

Videl whistles lowly, watching as Piccolo goes to sulk elsewhere. "Wow, he's touchy today, isn't he? Did something happen?"

"I think so, yeah."

"I'm guessing Gohan finally told him what for."

"Yeah. I guess so."

Whatever did happen out there between them hasn't and won't be divulged to Goten despite however much he pesters. Even Rixas won't say anything.

That domain place messed them all up real bad, so much so that Dad's morose at the best of times. That forced dorky laugh of his certainly doesn't sound real anymore. The stare is long. He doesn't smile fully, and whatever's left of it dies on his lips as soon as the chance strikes.

It's obvious that any confidence he is peacocking is a bag of crap.

Goten smiles darkly in spite of it. "They – you know, Gohan and his merry men – are coming tomorrow evening for the dragon ball."

"I want to be here for it."

"Noh-huh, Videl. It's too dangerous. He's not what you remember."

"Tch, I know that. I just want to talk to him. I'm his friend if nothing else."

"Friend? Really? After all the lying? The murder? He's …killed a lot of people."

She eyes him warily, eyes blazing a brilliant blue fire. "I know that. What do you want me to say; 'that I think he's a piece of shit now'? Is that what you want to hear, that I denounce him or something? I thought you weren't giving up on him."

"I'm not, it's just—" It's just not that simple though. She doesn't understand. Gohan is… He's… "I don't know, it's just..." The words lodge somewhere between his brain and tongue and so he instead sighs. "Whatever. I'm not gonna' tell you how to feel. I don't even know how to feel."

Videl gestures her stiletto in the direction of her jetcopter. "Haruto freaked when I told him, you know. He's been weirded out with all this power stuff – even though he says he loves it, but I think he's finally over the initial excitement of it. The reality isn't always superheroes and villains. Sometimes it's friends and semantics. Aliens and gods. It's life and death too when – oi, now. Don't look at me like that. I didn't say Gohan was going to kill us."

"He might."

A visible shiver runs along her spine. She purses her lips and the stiletto falls against her side loyally. "Yeah, well… I'll tell you what Haruto said after he came to terms with the fact that we'd been housing the literal God of Death. 'However confused we're feeling,' he'd said all good person-like, 'Gohan probably feels more confused about everything going on.'"

Oh, look at perfect, lovely Haruto with his wise bullcrap words. "So he wants us to give Gohan the dragon ball to cheer him up?"

"I don't know. Maybe? I mean, Gohan and Haruto have similar values."

"Tch…" Goten then smirks despite himself. "So you have a type?" Videl goes to slap him, missing dreadfully. "Ahhh. I see now. It'd been nothing to do with age after all. You rejected me because I'm not nice enough."

"Pft! Shut up!" Goten's smirk slips into an easy smile and she returns it. "Y'know, even though you're a little punk… I think you're doing really well despite all this crap," she then goes on to say after a pause, "You should give yourself credit. You're handling this better than the best of us. You're stronger than you think."

"Hopefully, strong enough for tomorrow. Though, I'm not sure metaphorical strength will be enough to bring down a couple of gods and their cronies." Goten is then reminded of his earlier discomfort from the Supreme Kai's meeting when he walks past; nodding politely, purple smile against the flames, forever mysterious. "Hey, so I just saw something real weird. When I went to get the firewood, I saw—uwah!"

Goten startles when a thick arm curls around his shoulder; Rixas, all six foot-something of him, lumbers his frame in full against Goten.

"Ooh. What's this?" Against his hair, Goten feels the vibration from the god's throat when he hums. "Making a move on your brother's ex? How dastardly of you."

Goten's face becomes fire, Videl's stone. "We were just saying how mixed up Gohan became because of all your godly crap."

Rixas pouts. "Not even a pretty face would have stopped him coming home. You think you two would be married with a little Mori on the way? I doubt that was in his stars, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that."

"If it's any consolation he pined insufferably so, practically waxed poetic in your honour. Did you two make up during his time here? I gotta' know. A date, maybe? A cheeky rendezvous in the moonlight?"

"I'm engaged!"

"That hasn't stopped him in the past."

Now Videl is beet red. "Y-You're an asshole. Gohan would never—"

Rixas laughs, and finally releases Goten from the prison of limbs. "The virtues of Earth – Mori wasn't kidding! Oh, you mortals will learn to relax in time. When something or someone takes your fancy then why deny yourself? I wouldn't reject a cheeky rendezvous with you."

Goten chokes on his own horror. "Rixas!"

"You pig!"

"I'm kidding!" Rixas throws his hands up, grinning like the world isn't ending tomorrow. "I'm kidding. It's a joke. Don't look at me like that! Mori would castrate me if I went near his precious Vi-del.

"And… just so you know, sweetheart, I think… after all this, it'll be good for him to have a friend, whatever the result." Something sombre creeps in, gold becomes dour. "If you can look aside the bad shit he's done, and accept him regardless, then that'll be something he needs down the line. If you really mean it then, yeah, after all this, please be a friend to him."

Chest tight, Goten turns to Videl. The disgust has melted away into an earnest, open canvas of vulnerability. The blue ignites so very quickly.

"Of course," she says, nodding, "I'll be here for him, at the end of it all, I'll be waiting."

Rixas beams at her, gives Goten a ruffle against his hair and goes along his merry way, soon enough terrorizing Piccolo over by the forest.

By this point, Goten has long forgotten about what he'd witnessed with the Supreme Kai.


The family house has never looked so alive in years.

The fire rages into the night sky, swaying heatedly and performing its final encore. Around, clouds of breath rush towards the flames, disappearing entirely as the small group engages in chatter. It'd started off with Vegeta and Trunks dropping by, then Videl turned up, and soon enough Dad had invited Krillin and Yamcha. With Rixas, Hezk, Piccolo, the Supreme Kai and Kibito still here from the earlier meeting, it kind of evolved into a social.

Vegeta has been trying to leave for the better part of thirty minutes but keeps getting caught up by either Dad or Rixas. They must be conspiring or something because Vegeta looks about ready to pop from the constant conversational assault. He'd originally dropped by to talk about tomorrow but he's still here, definitely in violation of his own will.

On the left-hand side of the fire, Videl is having an in-depth discussion with Krillin and Yamcha, likely about Gohan. Goten'd recently left them to it because there's only so much he can retell from his time in the estate, that and because if he has to suffer their simpering any longer he might actually just jump into the fire and be done with it.

Hezk is talking with Piccolo, the Supreme Kai and Kibito and staying as far away as possible from Rixas.

That leaves Trunks.

He's standing close enough to the Supreme Kai to listen in but not close enough to look like he's doing as much. His phone is out but his thumb remains still on its screen, not scrolling. He's the epitome of disinterested and daring to look cool about it, dressing in workout joggers with one of Vegeta's jumpsuits beneath. The jerk is even taller than before now, nearly taller than Dad even, and muscle-lier. He looks older too, all mature-like and definitely much, much stronger than when Goten had last seen him.

He's outgrown me.

Goten scrunches his brows, hating the truth, knowing it's his own fault, wishing he hadn't swallowed that crappy orb.

What annoys him is that Trunks isn't so much as looking at him. Trunks doesn't even care – he doesn't give a damn that he's upset Goten.

"Boy!" Vegeta snarls, "We're going!"

Trunks becomes disgruntled, shoving the phone in his pocket and his hands along with it.

"No, don't gooo," Dad cries, "I wanna' hear about your Super Saiyan God form. It's really neat. Only the top bits go red – why's that?"

Well, now Vegeta's face turns equally rosy. "Don't mock me, idiot! You know the form is broken and so you choose to lord your bought transformation over me! It's impossible to achieve it without six saiyans and you damn well know it!"

"Ehhh, bought?"

"That turncoat brat of yours—"

"Hey, Vegeta, is it true that saiyans eat their own young? That's what Quell told me."

"W-WHAT?"

Dad looks about ready to be sick. "We do?"

"NO!"

"Quell says it so—"

"Then he's an idiot, too!"

Vegeta's too easy. The others are laughing, including Goten.

Trunks isn't.

He pulls his phone out again and stares at the black screen blankly with empty, older eyes. Goten knows Bulma has had to pull him from school. He's changed too much. In age, he looks closer to Gohan than he does to Goten now (if only because Goten still looks young for his age, but still) – people surely are going to notice. But Trunks doesn't care.

Goten swallows his pride and makes the first move.

"Hey," he says weakly, hands shoved in pockets.

Trunks stares up and then away. "What?"

"I'm just checking in after the whole… Room of Spirit and Time thing, y'know, with your dad and all—"

"I'm not going to talk about it."

"I didn't ask you to."

"And I haven't changed my mind about what Gohan's doing," Trunks says, expression knotted into something icy. "I don't plan on getting in his way."

"Are you gonna' help him?" Goten challenges, fast. "Go against our dads?"

"I'm not stupid. I'm going to make sure no-one dies; earthlings, bystanders, innocents." There's a scoff. "I guess I'm going to do that protector role I've been shafted with. Now if you excuse me I want to be anywhere else but here."

Goten churns on the spot, suddenly spitting-mad. "Really, Trunks?! You're still pissed about me calling your mum on the lookout? And you make out like I'm the baby!"

Trunks presents a one finger salute and moves to the other side of the fire, and urged to punch his block off, Goten goes to follow until a hand clasps him and pulls him backwards into a circle of concerned faces.

"Don't be an idiot," Videl chastises.

Yamcha at least shares some of Goten's frustration. "He's getting too much like his dad with that shitty attitude of his."

Krillin sighs, saying nothing at all.

"There's nothing you can do so drop it," Videl continues, "He needs time. You're not the only one dealing with all this – there's pressure for him, too."

Later, long after Vegeta and Trunks do finally leave, Goten mulls over Videl's words but they never really sink in. Trunks wasn't the one who nearly died, he wasn't the one in that hospital, he wasn't the one in Hell – Goten's the one that's dealt with all that and he's not bitching about it. He'd help more if he could, whilst Trunks just wants to get in the way.

Through the embers of the fire, Dad is watching him. He smiles, weak, and as he looks to approach, Goten feels the shift of weight next to him on his log.

"So, Eighteen says I'm not to come tomorrow," Krillin says conversationally, now on Goten's left, "That Gohan could kill me or something."

"He might," Goten says not for the first time today.

"Heh. What's one more death for the collection? Say, I've never been killed by a friend before."

Goten hums, refusing to so much as smirk.

"Heh… So… um… Rixas seems decent, doesn't he?"

"Yeah. He's all right."

"And he's been with Gohan for years—"

Goten can't stop the bite in his tone. "Are you here to make me feel better or yourself? Ah! Oh, a-ah, I'm sorry. I—"

"Gohan is a good kid," Krillin says regardless, patting Goten's knee. "You're a good kid. Trunks is a good kid. Despite everything, you've all turned out good – but it doesn't mean you've gotta' be perfect, Goten. Gohan's showing that, huh? We had a joke growing up that on day he was gonna' pop and protest everything – your mum, school, your dad – but he never did. Gohan went through a lot and never so much as made a peep. Heh… Here's that peep, I guess." He breathes a laugh, not at all looking humoured. "I think tomorrow, things are probably gonna' get fiery."

Goten bites his lip, lowering his head.

"So… yeah, why don't you come to my place? I know Marron gets on your nerves sometimes but she might be a good distraction whilst everything goes down."

Goten jolts.

He's inviting me because he knows I'm useless.

I'm weak.

I'm like him and the other Earthlings now.

He stands and without another word leaves for the sanctuary of his room, or really anywhere away from this conversation.

"Lord Mori and I were friendly for a time," Goten hears Hezk say to Rixas as he passes their private huddle near the backdoor. "The mistrust grew when I used drugs without his consent."

Rixas sighs in understanding, eyes pressed.

Goten doesn't care what he has to say back to her. He just can't deal with any of them right now, especially not –

"Goten, hold up."

Dad.

His jog comes to a stop a few feet away. "How you managing, bud? You're looking peaky."

Goten swallows his scoff. Rixas had earlier said that this is his fifth doomsday party, so with that general mood to go off it's understandable why he might be a bit freaking glum. "I'm tired," he instead lies, "I'm gonna' get an early night before—"

"You're gonna' wanna' have a long lie-in tomorrow," Dad says, "They're not getting here until nightfall. So stay up a little longer – with me. C'mon. Let's go for a walk."

It's one of those 'Goten's not actually getting a choice' moments and so Goten doesn't fight the hand guiding him away from the house. They walk together to the woods and down the path they so often would take to the lake or to the neighbouring village. Without the blaze of the fire pit, Goten finds himself growing chill.

Dad hums, boots shuffling through the grass. "So you and Trunks still aren't talking, huh?"

"Nope."

"You guys'll figure it out."

"I'm not the one being pig-headed about it. He won't talk to me."

When Dad laughs Goten nearly socks him. "He's stubborn like his dad, and his mum for that matter. Trunks'll come around eventually. Just let him brood for a bit."

"He wants to help Gohan," Goten bites back. There's not so much as a flicker of surprise across his dad's face – the jerk already knows, of course he knows. "Damn it…"

"Gohan's argument is persuasive to some, I guess." Dad sighs, rubbing hands along his own arms. "Brrr… I can't believe it's winter already. It feels like it was only yesterday that it was the tournament—"

"And we just got Gohan home."

Dad smiles. "Yeah. Though, it was more complicated than what I'd thought at the time. Rixas says that Whis shouldn't have brought Gohan back in the first place… but I'm glad he did. It kinda' scares me to think what would have happened if things just continued and we didn't learn about any of this."

"Well, we wouldn't be worried about our lives," Goten says, dark, smirking in the most depreciated way he can muster. "We'd be happily oblivious to all this Revelation stuff."

"And you'd have your ki, right?"

Goten's stomach does an uncomfortable flip. "Yeah. Well, until Gohan would've—"

"You can still fly and do the fun, easy stuff," Dad points out, "You just can't transform, or fight as well."

Where's he going with this?

Dad halts, boots cutting the grass, and Goten stops with him with the weight of the world against his shoulders. "Goten," Dad starts, "If you don't wanna' fight no more then you shouldn't have to. I was wrong for trying to force you to be somethin' you're not."

Goten nearly falls where he stands. He trips over his own shock.

"I was cut up about you losing your ki but…" Dad pauses, staring hard into the ground like it might swallow them both up, "Goten, maybe it was a good thing."

"What? How can you say that?!"

"You don't want this—"

"It feels like losing something—"

"That aside, you've not wanted to fight for years, have you? You hate training. You don't want to be strong like me. I've never listened—"

"I didn't want my ki to be taken!"

"It wasn't taken," Dad says, stern, "You swapped it for your life. If they hadn't operated on you then you would have died. I'd rather have you without ki than not have you at all, Goten. You lost your own ki, and I'm happy you did in the end because the alternative... Well, heh, I don't wanna' think about it. I'm just happy I have you here at home. Sometimes, son, we need to look at these positives and move on with whatever small wins we can get."

"What are you saying?" Goten splutters. "God. I-Is this the speech you're gonna' give tomorrow after Gohan wins? Are you preparing to lose? Is that it?"

"I don't know what'll happen tomorrow," he admits, scaring Goten because uncertainty on Goku Son is a terrifying thing. "We could lose. Gohan's strong. Quell's strong. They're both smart and, well, the odds are against us. They have six dragon balls already."

"And what's our plan?"

Dad laughs, exhausted. "I don't do the planning."

"You sound like you've given up already."

"Never." He grins, and forces an arm around Goten's shoulders. "No way."

"And let's say we win this. Gohan is defeated. Do you think the kais will just let him live with us – as a big happy family again?"

"Rixas made a deal with them. He's helping so long as they promise not to hurt Gohan and Quell after everything."

"They're not gonna' stick to that."

"Shin made a pact. Rixas believes him so I guess that accounts for something seeing as he hates his guts. Besides, I wouldn't let them hurt Gohan. I don't give up on my boys, fighter or not."

Goten's fingers curl around his father's arm. This is something he's wanted to hear for a long time; acceptance, allowance for Goten to be just himself.

Dad pulls tighter, blowing his cheeks out. "And me accepting you not being a fighter doesn't mean I'm gonna' just let you become a lazy bones either. If you're not gonna' be a fighter then I expect you to do somethin' else – be a scholar, or a… a… I don't what else there is, to be honest, but I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"I like art," Goten admits quietly.

"Then do that!" Dad squeezes him, grinning like an idiot. "And think about it, if we all lose tomorrow then no-one'll have ki anyway. We'll all be in the same boat!"

The laugh is against his will. "Dad, that's awful to say."

"Maybe you can show me this art stuff. I might need a job!"

"Don't say that!"

"Heh…"

Dad drags him back over to the fire and the rest of the night passes with a peace that feels dangerous, like it's borrowed. Perhaps it is – and Gohan will come and remind them of that tomorrow. For now, Goten decides to take his father's advice and stay up and sleep-in late. He chats to the others, jokes, smiles and reminds himself that he's not alone, in victory or defeat.


Eastern Wastelands of West Capitol, Earth

The clearing is quiet and apprehensive, as if the land itself is holding its breath, waiting to welcome its guests. Goku surveys the desolate sprawl. It's one of Capsule Corporation's many purchased empty plots, happening to be miles from civilization and the ideal meeting point if things get messy, which Goku's sure is bound to happen. Because there are no nearby mountains, sky-scrapers or other tall obstructions, the wind cuts harshly, bringing forth a tirade of howls. It burns the ears, and the arms if exposed.

Piccolo already looks uncomfortably iced-over with his pale, blue-ish skin. His cape is gone, the first casualty of the weather.

Vegeta and Trunks stand together, more appropriately dressed in their Capsule Corporation fur-lined jackets, whilst, conversely, Rixas might as well be clad for summer. He's in gi bottoms and one of his preferred white t-shirts, and not at all fazed when shard-like spits of rain spray forth. Goku has his usual gi of course, but was smart enough to bring one of his waterproof jackets – though not smart enough to wear waterproof boots.

He squelches uncomfortably.

Last night had been the momentary lapse of peace needed to get him through today. It'd been the stilt between what will add up to some very difficult days back to back. Luxun's Domain had been bad enough – it's challenging to think what could top that as being an all-around crummy time. So last night with his friends had reminded him what he's fighting for. Goten being there had reminded him what he is fighting for.

Right now, Goten is back at Capsule Corporation where he'd promised to stay. He'd refused him here today. It's horrible to say but… he's too much of a liability. Goku doesn't know what Quell or the Zealites might stoop to.

Ideally, Goku had wanted Goten to go be with his mum, with Chi-Chi back at Fire Mountain, yet he couldn't bring himself to push it when he'd told Goku no. How could he expect to confront Chi-Chi when Goku himself refuses to do so?

They've spoken on the phone and…

Goku couldn't believe what he'd heard her say.

"I can't forgive him," she'd said over the phone in an excruciatingly raw voice. "I don't want to talk to him. I'm not doing it."

Shin had wanted Chi-Chi on-board, so Goku'd called just before the get together. He wished he hadn't.

"He left us."

Goku's left them before, time and time again. But suddenly Chi-Chi can't forgive Gohan for doing the same – how does she expect him to relay this Gohan without pushing him further away?

Honestly, for the first time, he'd been so infuriated with her that he'd slammed the phone down without so much as a goodbye.

She's supposed to be Gohan's mother.

It still makes him angry, noticeably so because Piccolo gives him a questioning glance. Goku shrugs him away and turns to look towards the last two of their group. Shin is stood in quiet conversation with Kibito a bit further back, more apprehensive than any of them.

Not only are they waiting for Gohan and Quell, but also for Beerus too.

"You sure he's coming, Vegeta?"

"Stop asking. I said he is."

"This is going to be messy," Rixas hums, about as restless as Goku. He rocks on his heels, head jittering left and right as though Gohan might jump out from behind an anthill. "I wish someone would get here already. The tension is killing me."

"Don't work yourself up," Piccolo advises.

"They're always late. Quell operates on his own schedule."

"Beerus seems that way, too," Goku says.

"Oh, for sure. He brings out the worse in Quell. When two egos clash they just grow and grow." Rixas rubs his chin. "Maybe let them hash it out again when they're both here – that'll make Quell feel better – he might even kill Beerus if we're lucky."

"Rixas."

"Oh, Piccolo, don't tell me you actually like Beerus."

"I don't have an opinion," he says, ignoring the scoff, "But I would hate for any divine drama to happen on Earth soil. If Earth still stands after all this then I'd consider that lucky. Lord Quell and Lord Beerus can take it elsewhere for all I care, like they did last time."

"That's if Gohan doesn't take down Beerus first," Goku puts in, "I think he's stronger."

"Gohan is not stronger than Beerus," Vegeta bites out.

"Quell is the strongest of us all," Rixas says, "But he's not the most efficient. Mori doesn't play with his food like Quell does. He'd take Beerus out before the cat even has time to monologue. You hear that, Middle-Parting? Your boyfriend isn't gonna' take any chances. If you get in the way he might even kill you."

Trunks somehow swallows his rage, and likely whatever spiel of bad words Goku certainly wouldn't know. He turns away, the bounce of fur obscuring his face.

"I don't know why you brought him," Piccolo says to Vegeta, "He's in danger here. You're being reckless."

"I'm educating my son. Stay out of it, Namekian. We've been through this before."

"It doesn't change the fact that this entire scenario is perilous to his well-being!"

"I don't think Trunks should be here either," Goku says, and then to Trunks, "Uh, no offense."

Trunks goes to speak when Shin dashes forward, rigid. "The wards have been tampered with. Prepare yourselves, gentlemen. This is it."

It's not Quell and nor is it Gohan who manifests first, but instead a small army of Zealites encircling them. Whether or not they're just the copies of the leader, Goku's yet to distinguish. He looks around, spinning on his heal as they form the perfect prison around them. Already, it's not looking good.

"Stay calm," Shin warns, "But do remain vigilant. This isn't unusual when gods are to be received."

"'Can't say I've ever had this treatment," Rixas hisses. "Watch each other's blind spots. Don't trust the Zealites – I certainly never have."

Eyrelle and Zamasu appear next, both wearing contrasting moods. Eyrelle's nose is high in the air, eyes distant, whilst Zamasu saunters along the dirt as if he owns it. He makes eye contact with Goku and gives him a knowing smirk – Goku doesn't react, he won't give the jerk the satisfaction. What he does notice is how that attention turns on to Shin, something unsaid is communicated between them, giving Goku the impression that perhaps they're talking telepathically.

No, one look is enough to know that Zamasu's up to something. Even Goku can tell that much.

But what about Shin?

He turns to Goku, caught in the action of doing something he shouldn't be.

"What?" Goku mouths. What have you done?

Shin pats Goku's arm. Don't worry is communicated, but Goku does worry. This sort of scheming is above him. He understands none of it.

Gohan does, as soon Goku will come to realize.

There's blossoming of smoke behind Zamasu and Eyrelle, throwing forward two masked individuals. Of course, the smoke carries off into the wind instantly, growing thin and wispy and so weak that it might have been imagined. Still, smoke or none, Quell and Gohan manage to strike an imposing front. They're most certainly dressed for the weather, all robed-up and fancy.

Goku tenses, and beside him he feels Piccolo still.

Quell's mask is unsurprising; gold and white and lovely, Goku supposes. It's pretty in a way Chi-Chi or any woman would like, but Goku thinks it's kind of pompous. Admittedly, Gohan's mask would be really cool if he didn't hate it on principle.

"Hello," Rixas greets with open arms, jovial. "What a fine evening."

Quell lowers his mask first. "Be quiet, you idiot."

Gohan doesn't waste time either. His mask disappears next, revealing those unnaturally golden eyes. It'll never fail to get a reaction. They're still foreign to Goku, and so bright like gemstones, comparable to abnormally luminous stars in a sky that should remain bare.

Goku watches the others drink it up. Vegeta and Trunks are witnessing this for the first time after all.

"Gohan…" Trunks whispers, looking to have beheld his personal hero emerge from the beyond.

The admiration will soon turn to ash.

Gohan steps forward, slowly, step by step.

"You're not wasting time," Rixas spouts off, "Never fail to be dramatic, huh?"

Then, a hand raises up in gesture of Shin. A black glove dangles, the gold thins dangerously. The wind itself feels to have suddenly stopped, the bite breaks, the howling sleeps, and so fast does a golden whir of energy beat to life. The glow stings. Whirring, round and round, the sharp edges are akin to razors.

Goku pulls Shin behind him, but it was for nought. The ki flies, soaring atop the wind, surfing it with lightning speed and precision, aiming true. Ultimately, it strikes.

Goku's hand moves on its own accord. "Gohan, st—!"

BOOM!

Wind charges out, electric. Dust carries upwards, and the smell of singed kai fills the space between them like burnt meat.

"I don't suffer traitors," Gohan says, soft.

Goku loosens his hold on Shin, who immediately succumbs to his own shock and drops to the floor, watching where Zamasu had once stood.

The charred, unrecognizable remains aren't even strong to hold themselves up against the wind, and now they batter across the wasteland, a blackened parody of the knowing, smirking deviance that stood before them only seconds ago.

Even Rixas doesn't know how to react. He's shocked, horrified even, and that alone makes Goku feel all the more sick.

"I wanted you all to know," Gohan adds simply, and then turns to stand aside Quell.

"Supreme Kai, stand up," Goku hears Kibito say, over and over. "You can't – sir, please—"

Numb, Goku barely registers Piccolo nudging his shoulder. He turns to where his friend is urging him to look.

Quell.

If there is one person more disturbed than Goku then it's him.

Eye contact is made.

And for the first time, they share an understanding.


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Sorry for the delay - and it's a "short" chapter to boot too. I cannot whatsoever stretch this one out as this is the (as the title suggests) final bout of peace before it all goes down. Expect some chunkier/split chapters down the line. A lot is coming. This break of mine has been to also cement the last bit of plotting (which takes longer than writing the chapters) and so, I can say, with a saddened heart, the last arc is 99% plotted out. The end is nigh! So, let's start it off with a bang - quite literally! - with Zamasu's demise! More will come to light on the whats and whys but, man, doesn't it feel good to wipe a smirk away?

So yeah, thanks for your patience - and your lovely reviews! And of course, thanks to Kags for beta-ing this chapter. She's definitely happy that it's a shorter one, haha.

As to answer the question from a guest reviewer about the name of the story, let me divulge the origins. "The Horse with No Name" was the working title for a long time as I penned out the outline. It is indeed inspired by the song of a similar name "A Horse with No Name" by Bunnell. This story covers themes central to the song - escapism, not as much from the mundane but from personal issues relating to the main cast. The original song also has misconceptions related to drug use (which I like - not the drugs, mind, just the connotation), and with Gohan's relationship with addiction I thought it would fit well. There's of course the blanket reference to horses, which is symbolic in this fic to its relationship to the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Basically, I used it for a jumping off point and didn't look back (I'm also a huge fan of Bojack Horseman and when I heard it there I was in love).

Lastly, I received a fantastic fanart from a reader - hugurii - and it's just lovely! It's of Gohan and Piccolo from Chapter 42 (Luxun's Domain). Check it out!

imgur a/xgX7NFM

There are some other art links on my profile page too. : )

Alas, I'll catch you on the next chapter. I am in the process of moving countries temporarily (Aus, I'm coming!) so no promises on when it'll be out. I'll try my best!

Cheers for sticking with me this long. Please drop a review if you're feeling generous. Ciao!