Chapter 12
The Center of Time
All Goku remembered was a flash. A blinding shine of white light that swallowed everything around him like a wormhole. And now here he was, back in his own time, so were Piccolo, Krillin, Gohan, Trunks, and everyone else Valdos had separated. But now, everything was barren, destroyed, and deserted. The skies were red with blood. The ground stained with death. Goku and the Z-Warriors only stood in awe, and utter horror.
Valdos had never left their time frame. He only made it look like he did. So he could discombobulate the Z-Warriors by separating them into different dimensions. And so he could go on an unbridled killing spree. Trunks Jr. cursed himself silently for believing he could ever beat anyone as strong as Valdos was. It was clear now that he was alive and well.
Goku finally sat up to address the confused warriors as they lay on the ground. Goku could sense hostility and anger among them, especially Vegeta. "Listen everyone, I don't know what happened here, but we better split up and find out. Everyone meet back at Capsule Corp. in one hour," Goku projected, as if giving a speech. The group had no choice but to agree.
Goku hadn't been flying but ten minutes when he came across Frieza and Cooler. Goku knew they wouldn't pose much of a threat, but had to know how they had gotten there. "Why are you here Frieza?" Goku asked, trying to hold in his anger and bury it beneath his skin. Frieza laughed callously and spoke in his high reptilian voice. "Why that's simple! Can't you see it happening? Valdos has interloped different time frames, making them flow forwards and backwards into each other. Different events that you and I saw or caused are happening all over again, every minute, every second, and at the same time, never." It was the most intelligent sounding thing Goku had ever heard from Frieza. As if he had derived an even deeper meaning from all of this chaos.
"You're not making any sense Frieza!" Goku growled while in the process of turning into a Super Saiyan. "Oh don't worry.you'll understand in time," Cooler hissed slyly. After saying this, Frieza and Cooler began moving rapidly in different directions with precise turns and movements. They were fusing.
What emerged from Cooler and Frieza's fusion was a being of unrivaled hideousness. It had three long tails, sharp and serrated at the tips. It had glowing red eyes and long protruding horns behind its skull, which was exposed. Its skin was a ghoulish white that seemed to glow if stared at long enough. Goku summoned a tremendous blast that transformed him into a Legendary Super Saiyan.
Goku flew right into the thing's face and kneed it so hard he could feel his knee cap shattering jaw. Goku spun in mid-air and roundhouse kicked the beast right in the neck. It flew backwards about twenty feet until Goku imbedded his iron fist into its spinal cord furiously. Goku moved through the air like a tremendous bolt of lightning, and this monster was the rod.
Goku dove under it and fired his fists into its sternum rapidly pummeling it into a bloody pulp. Goku curled himself into a fetal position and flew about thirty yards back. Goku stood upright and began charging an immense amount of energy into his palms. "Kaaa.meee.haaa.meee.haaa!" Goku shot a sapphire beam from his finger tips that was hotter than lava, stronger than a cannon, and more deadly than any weapon. The beam engulfed the demon and ate away until there was nothing left but a smoldering cloud of ashes.
Goku caught his breath and felt his cool hair fall to his face as it turned back to its familiar jet-black color. This was not good; the main question was where Valdos had gotten. Goku looked to his right side and saw a blue stream of light far off in the distance. That would be a good place to start.
Gohan tried as hard as he could to keep the astronomically large Kamehameha stable, but he was quickly running out of energy, and Cell was more powerful than ever. Gohan felt more blood seep from his already horribly mangled arm. Cell was going to get the better of him this time, he was sure of it. Until something came to his aid. A shining beacon of hope fired behind him, giving him power, helping his cause. A tall figure appeared beside him and lent power to his Kamehameha.
The combined powers were too strong for Cell. He could handle it no longer and finally the blast overcame him, destroying him. After all the smoke had finally cleared, Gohan had realized who came to his aid. It was Goku, his father. Gohan embraced his dad lovingly and cried until he could cry no more. But Gohan still didn't understand what exactly was going on. Goku explained everything to him, about Valdos, the situation they were in, and eventually where the young Gohan was. After a while, they left to go meet the others at Capsule Corp.
Apparently, Vegeta had found a past version of himself as well on the way to Capsule Corp. Future Trunks was also here, ready and willing to help out his friends if needed. The group met in a circle around where the Capsule Corp. building used to be. Now it was merely a smoldering crater in the dark, battered earth. Gradually, everything became silent. Too silent, almost unnatural. Just minutes before, the sounds of splitting earth, waves of unbearable heat, and molten lava churning filled the air. But everything had halted, the only audible sound, other than the group's breathing, was a low, howling wind.
Goku's eyes practically bugged out of their sockets when he realized what was happening. The entire area seemed to be slowly morphing. The cracked ground slowly melted back into solid pieces. The sky turned from a dark red to a light blue. Clouds gathered everywhere and rocky cliffs burst from the ground. Transparent images of clocks levitated into the air and revolved around the area eerily.
Everyone was frightened now. Even Vegeta. What had once been earth was now a seemingly endless surreal environment. A dark figure loomed over them in the distance. It sluggishly grew closer and closer, until the Z- Warriors regretfully realized who it was. Valdos paced towards them peacefully, almost casual. Valdos folded his arms around his chest and merely laughed.
"I though I killed you." Trunks Jr. growled through clenched teeth. Valdos turned his head towards him and his face contorted ever so slightly that you could sense only a hint of anger in it. "You came damn close!" Valdos hissed evilly. "Let's just leave it at that." Valdos moved his head back towards the majority of the group and projected his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Welcome everyone, to the Center of Time. The Center of Time is an endless parallel world that connects and intertwines every existing time frame, universe, and dimension. All you must do is merely imagine a certain point in history and the landscape will magically transform into that very place. The Center of Time also reacts to a person's feelings and emotions. If you are angry, the land becomes hard as a rock. If you are sad or in pain, it becomes the consistency of water. And, if you are neutral, it becomes more like a rubbery surface.
"This, the Center of Time, is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. This single world holds the key to the cosmos' destruction, or salvation. It is all the worlds of the universe, all areas of space, and all time, rolled in one. The perfect battle arena. Because every single thing we do here filters into each and every dimension, every living thing that currently, did, or will exist will see this battle. The fight to end all conflicts. Or, the fight to begin all catastrophes. Armageddon, the Apocalypse, damnation, or salvation will all be decided, right here, right now. So continue on with you various fazes of 'powering- up' and/or fusing, because this will be you final chance."
The master of all ultimatums. To aid in the universe's destruction, or try to save it, and die trying. The Z-Warriors, the defenders of this realm, had no choice. It was do or die, even though the outlook of their living was grim. They did what they had to do. Goku powered up to his Super Saiyan 5 state. Tien, Yamcha, and Chautzio reformed back into Zymax. Piccolo and Krillin fused using the Nanatarra dance, then fused with Zymax to create a warrior known as Zynamex. Goku proposed a suggestion to the two Vegeta's, Trunks,' and Gohan's. Ever since he had achieved S.S. 5, Goku suspected there was a level beyond Legendary. And two of the same people from different times may be able to achieve it.
After a few minutes, Vegeta had fused with his past form. The result was a tall warrior with long hair that was a sapphire blue, he was bare chested, wore golden pants, gloves, and boots. He also had a red scar embroidered around his right eye. Vegeta had become a Super Saiyan 6.
After the two Gohan's fused, the warrior was in between young and adult Gohan's size, with long blue hair, a scar on the right eye, and the same golden clothing. Gohan was a Super Saiyan 6.
Trunks with Future Trunks looked very different. He had long, sinewy violet hair instead of a shimmering blue. He had a scar around both eyes, and golden clothing as well. He had his usual sword scabbard, but it was misshapen. It was larger, and the sword concealed inside was that much more deadly. Trunks was a Super Saiyan 6!
The only fusion relic left was the diamond. So Brolly, Pan, Goten, and Ubuu were the best candidates. The outcome was only a white orb, constantly giving off tremendous bolts of energy. And if you looked close enough, you could see a transparent image of the four fighters inside.
After all of this, the Z-Warriors were ready to engage in mortal battle, to defend who they loved. For the last time.
End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 The Dark Agenda
Goku was the first to attack. He flew towards Valdos like a bullet and attempted to punch him, but Valdos only grabbed his fist and discarded it as if it was a rag doll. Zynamex shot up from behind and binded Valdos with his water-like body. Trunks leapt towards them and swung low and to the side with his sword. The blade sliced hard and fast. It became lodged on part of Valdos' spinal cord and grinded against it like knife being sharpened on a wheel. Valdos growled in pain and removed the sword from his side with his now free left hand.
Just as he did this, another hot blade plunged itself into Valdos' tender spine. He grit his teeth in frustration and turned to see Trunks Jr. forcing the blade deeper and deeper into the already gnarly wound. Valdos flared his power, firing all three warriors to the side, but this left him open to attack from Vegeta, who charged like a raging bull and beat the stuffing out of Valdos!
While Valdos was preoccupied with Vegeta, the white orb containing Pan, Brolly, Ubuu, Goshin, and Goten bounced off Valdos repeatedly with amazing force and accuracy. Valdos was growing angrier by the moment and attempted to free himself but was met by a mad Goku. Goku aided in the teams fighting by blasting Valdos consecutively with rapid-fire Kamehameha's. Amy leapt upwards and dropkicked Valdos in the jaw but didn't cause much damage.
Valdos began to lose his temper, and as soon as he would seal a wound, another, more significant one would immediately be opened by the likes of Vegeta or Goku. Gohan entered the fray soon after and took out Valdos' shins with a few well-placed jabs and kicks. "Curse you all!" Valdos hollered with immense rage emanating from his throat. Valdos received more blows from all possible angles, and in each crucial damage point. Valdos was beginning to think he had underestimated this bumbling group of fighters, he would have to remedy this.
Valdos then unleashed a variable typhoon of energy that blasted away every one of the fighters, giving a brief chance to heal. Goku was the only one left standing, Still in his S.S. 5 state. Goku upped his power and stared Valdos down. Valdos finished recuperating and increased his power as well. Valdos stepped closer to Goku, taking in the heat of the moment. The tension was thick like a fog between them. Goku couldn't accurately sense whether or not Valdos would attack.
"Isn't it wonderful Goku? Two forces of immeasurable power, striking down one another in mortal combat. The fate of every living thing in existence hanging in the balance. It's almost, sexual in a way. Do you not feel the invigorating sense of climactic battle about to take place?" Valdos lectured quietly. Goku narrowed his eyes and placed them on Valdos'. "I find nothing gratifying about it. All battles before this were merely a prelude to this one, Valdos. I don't understand you." Goku responded solemnly. "You do not know the pain I have had to endure. All my life I've wanted nothing more than to be truly happy. All this hatred, all of this anger, was spawned by him. Yes, perhaps I was destined to become the embodiment of evil. But I never wanted it to be this way. I never, really, hated you Goku. Even now, I can see no reason why we couldn't forget our pasts, perhaps become allies, even friends. But the fact of the matter is, you are the only one standing in my way of peace."
Goku blinked several times in utter confusion. "Peace? Peace! What the hell are you saying? If you wanted peace this whole time, then why did you fight me?" "You and I have different views on what peace really is. To me, peace is death, the cold, comfort of death. But not death in itself, but the releasing. If there were no Spirit Realm, all there would be after death is darkness. Almost like sleep, but you see and feel nothing. That is what I desire. That is why I have to do what I must do."
For a moment, Goku could sense true sincerity in Valdos' voice, and almost a tear in his eye. But that tear was soon replaced by a deep seeded insanity, one that could drive a normal man over the edge just by witnessing it. "I am going to detonate my Dark Spirit Bomb here, it will flow into all worlds, obliterating them. It will grow and grow until it reaches the universe's point of expansion, then it will flow backwards in time, bringing everything as we know it to a dark, destructive end. The Afterlife will die, giving me what I desire. And if that means sacrificing the cosmos.then so be it."
Goku himself almost sobbed at the thought of what Valdos was planning to do. Goku had to do everything in his power to stop Valdos, or else there truly would be nothing to protect from him anymore.
End of Chapter 13.
Chapter 14
God's Descendant
The Z-Warriors watched on in horror at the gruesome battle. Goku was fighting like a wild man, and Valdos was fighting back just as hard and determined. All of the work fusing had done the warriors no good. If anyone was going to defeat Valdos, it would be him. Goku fought as hard as he could, but nothing was escaping Valdos' line of defense, and Goku was getting worse and worse as the battle raged on.
One or two good hits were all that Goku could manage. Valdos was just too powerful. Nothing could stop him. Even with years of training no one could rival him. No one. Piccolo had not yet given up hope however. Since he was part of Kami, he had a small portion of his brain devoted to precognition. One phrase stuck in his mind like glue.
Someone will die today. Only one. Someone will die today. Alpha, omega, the prophecy is.Z.
What in all things that were holy did that mean? Did that mean the Z- Warriors were going to die? Alpha and the omega, which must've meant in the Center of Time, someone would die there. And what was this cryptic message about a prophecy? All questions that Piccolo did not have the answers to.
Another crushing blow and Goku was down for the count and out of the battle. "Stay where you are Goku. You don't need to suffer any longer, let me charge my Dark Spirit Bomb and your pain will cease, as well as mine," Valdos spoke darkly. Goku refused with every fiber in his body and attempted to attack again. Valdos shot a small electric beam that paralyzed Goku in his tracks.
"Fine Goku, you want to do things the hard way, then let's go," Valdos said as he stepped forward. He moved past Goku strangely. He closed in on the worried Z-Warriors. Valdos stopped short in front of them and silently counted with his index finger. He stopped on the increasingly terrified Amy. Valdos smirked evilly and emanated a small, but deadly beam of energy.
It passed Trunks Jr. on its way to her. Trunks turned and with all the speed he could muster, tried to beat the beam to her, but he wasn't fast enough. The wave pierced through her heart in one fell swoop. "Amy! Nooo!" Trunks Jr. literally cried out. Trunks reached out and grabbed Amy's limp body before it touched the ground. Trunks Jr. held her close to him and couldn't help but cry. "Amy please don't die on me! You can't go!" Trunks sobbed. Amy couldn't even talk; she was so badly injured. Amy's vision gradually began to blur and flicker. Trunks was the only steady image she could focus on. "Amy c'mon. Please." Trunks begged, knowing it wouldn't help. Amy could no longer feel anything, and everything started growing dark. Amy reached out with one twitching hand and Trunks Jr. grasped it in his own. "Amy.I love you," Trunks spoke weeping. With the last bit of strength in her body, Amy looked up at Trunks and whispered to him her dying words. "I.l-l-love, you.too, Trunks.with, all.my h-h-heart." Amy's head then rolled to the side, and she closed her eyes.
Every one of the Z-Warriors cried. All of them wiped their tears away at the site. Krillin especially mourned the loss of his daughter. Valdos himself only lay silent. Maybe regretting what he'd just done. Trunks Jr. was the one taking it the hardest. The ground he was sitting upon slowly took the consistency of water, and small droplets of cold rain lowered from the expansive sky. Trunks held Amy against his chest and cried. He cried until there was nothing wet left inside of him, yet he managed to force some more tears out. He yelled and cursed until his throat felt raw and painful. And he held his once beloved Amy cradled in his arms, lying on the ground, inconsolable.
Trunks stopped crying. He only sat, holding the cool corpse in his fingers. Nothing could heal the wound he'd just been dealt. Valdos finally smiled at his beautiful handiwork. Piccolo scratched his nose as some dust slowly floated into it. A small rock floated in front of Piccolo's face startling him. Valdos also saw one in front of him as well. He lifted his hand to crush it when without warning a small bolt of lightning shattered it for him! Valdos went wide-eyed and looked down at the young boy. Something was going on.and Valdos didn't like it.
Trunks couldn't think about anything but Amy. All the good times they'd shared together, all the wonderful days they spent with each other. The clean smell of her shimmering blonde hair, the trance he'd fall into every time he looked into her gorgeous blue eyes. Trunks couldn't bare living without her; it physically pained him to even think about it.
Trunks hardly noticed the thin aura of white light that had covered him. Everyone else had noticed though. Piccolo directed everybody to seek a place to hide, something big was going to go down, and it wouldn't help being right in the middle of it.
Trunks grit his teeth and growled with rage. He moved his fingers smoothly across the burned hole in Amy's back. Trunks felt the icy blood between his frozen fingers. Trunks closed his eyes and managed a few more tears. Trunks snapped his eyes open and looked upwards into the oncoming rain. Trunks bellowed a cry that couldn't possibly have came from human vocal cords. It was louder than a super nova; more powerful than a solar prominence, higher pitched than a dog whistle, deeper than thunder, and utterly terrifying. Valdos backed away in actual, cold, hard fear. Trunks' once violet hair sprung upwards and blew violently in the freezing wind. It flickered and flashed until it exploded into a bright golden sheen.
Trunks cried longer and harder. All the furies of Hell inside of him. His body temperature would have sent a normal man into hypothermia, but his burning rage kept him hot with anger. Trunks picked Amy up in his arms and stood up looking straight into Valdos' eyes. Trunks mustered up all the power he had in his body and emitted that cry once again. It sounded like the roar of a lion, the shriek of a banshee, the cry of a wolf, the churning of lava, the crack of lightning, and the tumbling of boulders. Trunks' hair grew longer and sharper until it was growing to the length of his knees.
Trunks wouldn't stop, he couldn't stop. Trunks' father and Future Trunks hovered in the air above them and watched silently in awe. Trunks Jr. felt his eyes twitching in their sockets. Moment's later Trunks went blind. But it was as if he could still see? Trunks let loose that cry one final time and this time it was so powerful that it bent the very fabric of reality. The entire area seemed to be curving around Trunks and giving him power. The sheer force of the blast sent Valdos into the rock wall of a cliff and knocked him unconscious.
Valdos finally awoke in the midst of a heavy fog. The source of the fog was an immense burning light. It was the deepest shade of gold that could possibly be seen by human eyes. Valdos immediately knew what had happened. He recognized the signs from his first battle with Goku.
Trunks merely watched Valdos quietly. A hatred filled look tattooed across his face. Trunks felt the body in his arms begin to move. Amy rubbed her eyes as if awakening from a deep sleep. "Huh, Trunks? Trunks! What happened? I thought I was dead!" Amy yelled confusedly. Amy took one look at Trunks and gasped. He had golden hair down to the small of his back; it was sharp and refined. He had pale, pupil-less eyes and a determined look on his face that was still wet from blood and tears. "Trunks! You're a Super Saiyan, and you're not struggling to control it, you did it!" Amy shouted happily. Trunks merely nodded. "Amy.listen to me very carefully, find the others and get the hell out of here." Amy face-faulted and refused ignorantly. "No! I won't leave you!" Amy rebutted. Trunks curled back his lips and made a fist towards Valdos' face. "Amy.please.get outta here! Now!" Trunks growled. After a minute or two, Amy realized there was nothing she could do to convince him to let her stay.
Amy took to the air and flew off. She felt her hand around a hole in the front and back of her shirt, yet her wound was healed. Amy had always suspected something odd about Trunks. And now she knew what it was without a doubt. God hadn't been entirely telling the truth when he told Pan he could bring her and her baby back to life. God had to give the baby some of his own life essence to allow it to live. Trunks had part of God inside of him, that's what gave him these magnificent powers, that's what would prove to be able to defeat Valdos, once and for all.
Valdos stood his ground angrily, but extremely cautious at the same time. Valdos saw pieces of a shattered sword scabbard littering the ground for at least three yards. Trunks JR's sword lay imbedded in the ground in front of him. Trunks tore the sword from the now rock hard ground and flung it at Valdos like a boomerang. Valdos easily dodged it by leaping to the side. Valdos gasped for air moments later when Trunks sent his knuckles flying into Valdos' stomach. Valdos couldn't believe how fast he'd just moved. There was still a perfectly clear after image of Trunks precisely where he was standing a fraction of a second ago!
Trunks turned with grace and kicked Valdos into the air with merely the heel of his boot. Trunks dematerialized and reappeared above Valdos and repeatedly pelted him with punches and jabs at break-neck speeds. Valdos couldn't even blow Trunks away with his energy; he didn't have any time. Valdos was soon practically soaked with blood. There were hundreds of bruises, breaks, cuts, and abrasions all over his body.
Valdos blinked and actually saw his face cave inwards as Trunks planted his fist right into Valdos' teeth! Valdos saw an opening and he took it. Valdos back-flipped to the side and flew off in another direction. Valdos thrust his palms outward and screamed. "Dark Kamehameha!" A towering blast of dark energy found its way towards Trunks and flew with an intent to kill. Trunks fazed right through the beam, barely noticing it, and went on the attack once again. Trunks attacked like a mad ape on fire. Every second brought at least fifty new hits on fifty different spots on Valdos' beaten and battered body.
Valdos was getting desperate, he had no way left of defending himself.except. That was it, his only chance. Valdos had to get far enough away from Trunks to begin charging his Dark Spirit Bomb. Trunks wouldn't let up though, and Valdos' chances of making it out of this alive were looking grim. Valdos quickly fired a new attack he'd been developing: the Dark Flare. An attack that was mainly like the Solar Flare, only instead of blinding the opponent with light, it would blind them with darkness. After envoking the attack, Valdos came to the painful realization that it would do no good, seeing as how strong Trunks' senses had become.
But it did by Valdos some time, and since this realm was connected to all others, it took seconds to gather enough evil energy for the bomb. Valdos released the ball in a fury unlike any other. This was one attack Trunks Jr. couldn't defend against. It hit him hard and badly. Trunks met the ground and fell tumbling into a deep cavern created by his and Valdos' fighting.
The Dark Flare finally passed and the Z-Warriors hopes were once again dashed and thrown to the ground. Would this ever end? Many of the tired fighters asked themselves and each other this question. Valdos knew when it would end, right now. Valdos raised his palm into the air and started to gather even more energy, this time for the Spirit Bomb that would make the cosmos extinct.
End of Chapter 14.
Chapter 15
One Last Chance
The Z-Warriors had failed. It was their fault that all of this was going to happen. If only they'd been stronger, if only they'd tried harder. It was of no use crying over it now; soon all of time would be no more. Nothing would exist; everything would be gone, forever.
Many of the fighters cried, others only watched and waited. Others blamed each other, and some blamed themselves. Many of them pined to be with their families in their last waking moments. Goku had tried everything, beating sense into Valdos, on one occasion torturing him, the only thing left was to try and reason with him.
"Valdos please, think about what you're doing! You yourself said that you want peace, but ending all life won't give it to you! Life can be a wonderful, beautiful thing. Even more so than death or the Afterlife. Please, listen to my words, there are so many joys of life: happiness, caring, and love." The word love must've struck a nerve in Valdos.
"What do you know of love! Love is nothing more than a disappointment, wasted energy spent on another being who doesn't even love you back!" Valdos roared. Goku shook his head in disagreement. "I know enough about love to see that it is a wonderful thing that should be cherished, nurtured, not destroyed!" Goku replied with desperation in his heart. "You can think what you want Valdos, but I know what's going to happen to you. You'll succeed in killing everything, including yourself! But when you feel the cold blackness of death, you won't be whisked off to a world of endless dreams like you obviously think! You'll be awake; you'll feel nothing but darkness and be alone. You'll lay, frozen with your own selfish, misguided emotions, wishing you could take back what you'd done, grieving so much you wish you could die! But you can't, because you're already dead, and you'll be alone, cold, and sad, for all eternity.
"I can't comprehend why you would want that, to die alone and cold by yourself with no one to be with you. But you go ahead and obliterate the most amazing thing God could have ever created, life. Go ahead and see for yourself what will happen, because you are unsure that what I said will happen but I know it will! You're just too proud to admit it. You're so afraid of the burdens and trials of life that you think you'd be better off dead. But you wont. You wont be better off, you'll do the worst thing you could ever, possibly do, and then you'll have to live with it in death forever, never being able to take it all back. Frieza hated all Saiyans and even feared them. Cell was programmed to destroy. So was Majin Buu. Bebi wanted revenge; Super-17 was only a pawn in a hideously insane doctor's grand design. What happened to you Valdos, what reason do you have for doing this? You're still human, deep down, beneath the cold, snow covered, icy surface. There's still some good inside of you I can sense it! Please, let me help you, let me show you the wonders of living, don't make a mistake that you'll never be able to undo, that I know you're going to regret.
"C'mon, don't do it. Besides, killing yourself, no matter what you do, will not bring Sarah back! She's gone, but if you stop this madness, if you join us, help us, we can help you. We can use the Dragon Balls and bring Sarah back! I know you wish you could take back what you did to her, but being rejected doesn't merit murder! But all things can be forgiven, I know if she was here, she would forgive you for what you've done. And if you change your ways, if you stop this now, God will forgive you too. But killing all life, creating non-existence, I think, is the one thing that cannot be forgiven. Please, redeem yourself Valdos, end this.stop it now, before it's too late."
Valdos hung his mouth open in awe of Goku's wise words of wisdom. Everything Goku had said was brilliant. Valdos even cried at Goku's speech. Valdos hung his head down in shame. He thought long and hard about what he'd heard. Maybe Goku was right; maybe there were unforeseen beauties of living that Valdos couldn't even begin to imagine. Maybe, just maybe, if he stopped this now, Goku could show him the path to changing, the road to happiness.
The possibilities hung on Valdos' shoulder like his conscience. An angel, preaching to him to listen to Goku. And a devil, telling him to forget everything he'd heard and destroy. Valdos thought, he pondered, he contemplated. Valdos remembered that night, all those years ago. How he'd brutally murdered his true love. Sarah. How could any God forgive him for doing such a thing? And moreover, how could any God let him do such a thing? Valdos' mind started to play tricks on him. There was no God, no reason, no such thing as happiness, only the cold, hard, facts that life was nothing but a putrid stench on the rotting dumpster of death.
"Life is nothing but a prelude to death. Life is every bit as terrible as I see it to be. Life is only a long, tedious torture of emotions and feelings that prey upon your feeble mentality like an infestation. Hate.anger.pain.those, are the only parts of life that have meaning, a crash course to prepare the mindless souls for what is to come. Death is the release! Death is life! Life is death! There is no difference! If you are alive you wish you were dead if you are dead you wish you were one of those drones who walk the earth 'thinking' they are happy but they are not because happiness does not exist! And if you ever mention that name again I will tear every part of your body away, piece by piece, shred by every last shred! I will Rip your bones from their muscles and beat you with them until you are nothing but a bloody pulp laying upon the face of this retched, stinking, filthy, rotten existence! Oh, wait a second, I'm about to do that right now aren't I? Along with everything you hold dear, everything you 'think' you care about, but you don't really care, you only 'love' them for the steaming piles of shit that they are! Your 'God' stole everything from me! Anything and everything I ever loved he ripped from my bare hands like a rag doll! I had everything; I had a woman who loved me! I had command, I had power! But he took it from me! I hate him, I hate you Goku, and I hate being alive!"
Goku was stunned. He had failed, he really thought that his final attempt had gotten through to Valdos somehow, but he was wrong, dead wrong. "But before we all pass from this disease-ridden dimension of festering life, I want to show you something that will haunt you well after you are dead." Valdos reached behind his back and undid a golden hoop around his waist, and held it in the air so all could see it. It was the Ring of Fusion. The granter of unlimited strength. That's where it had gotten to, Valdos had gone back in time and stolen it from the Nameks so that the Z-Warriors could never use it against him. But it was physically in his hands; therefore he hadn't used it. Valdos was teasing the warriors with which they could not have.
Goku had had enough. All this time Valdos had been taunting them with the enclosing end of all living. Where right here, in his own hands, was the key to stopping him. Goku could feel his blood heating beneath his skin. His muscles burned and twitched at the sudden rise in blood temperature. Goku narrowed his eyes and crouched slightly. "No.I.wont, let you.do this, to anyone, else!" Goku growled fearsomely. Goku exploded with rage and power, perfectly mimicking the primordial roar Trunks had shouted earlier. Goku's hair grew to Super Saiyan 3 length and flashed a glowing sky blue. The center of his hair looked as if it was chipping away and cracking, soon the entire center of Goku's hair shattered and reformed only in a silver stripe. Goku's eyebrow ridges were forced forward and the eyebrows immediately disappeared. Goku's eyeballs grew darker until they were a shimmering black. The only thing distinguishing his pupils was a silver ring around each of them. Goku had become a Super Saiyan 6!
Valdos was virtually unimpressed. Valdos had told Goku that if he could snatch the ring from his hands, then he was welcome to it. Whether Goku knew it or not, his power level was extremely close to matching Valdos', but Valdos was winning the fight purely on determination, not even needing power.
Finally, Goku had done all he could do. Goku fought until he could barely move, all the while, not even getting close to apprehending the ring. Goku had nothing left to give, he was finished. Valdos had won. There was nothing more to do. Valdos finished charging up his Dark Spirit Bomb. Pan and Trunks embraced lovingly and did nothing but hold each other for their last moments together. Amy sobbed, wishing Trunks Jr. were there with her, so that he could hold her, and she could hold him back before they departed. Valdos readied the beam that would detonate his bomb, and wage genocide unlike any other.
Valdos laughed like a maniac in his last moments of living. He laughed at the thought of what he was doing, he laughed at what he'd accomplished, and he laughed at everything as if it were a game he had just won. "What's wrong Goku? Do you not wish to view the Ring of Fusion in your last moments of life?" Valdos cackled insanely with pure madness in his voice. Goku wasn't paying close attention to Valdos at the moment. He was fixated on something beneath their feet. Something underground was radiating power readings. Valdos paid it no mind and only basked in his ominous glory.
"It's almost ready!" Valdos yelled loud enough for all to hear. A golden aura flourished around Valdos mysteriously. Particles rose from the ground as if a large magnet was situated above them. Valdos hollered one last string of laughter that ended with something that no one expected except Goku. What came next was an attack Valdos wished he had been prepared for. What happened was a startling revelation that indirectly decided the outcome of the battle.
End of Chapter 15.
Chapter 16
Z
Valdos, too rapped up in his own vainness and cruelty, he suspected nothing. At the last instant, Valdos expected Goku to lunge at him for one final attack. But when it appeared so, a large object obstructed Valdos' view? Trunks Jr. burst from the ground, inches from Valdos' face, clad in Legendary Super Saiyan power. Valdos had absolutely no time to react, no time to defend, no time to do anything but witness his grand, master plans crumble beneath his feet. Trunks reached out and grasped the Ring of Fusion with one bloody hand, and with the other, delivered an earth- shattering blow right to Valdos' left temple. To Valdos, the hit felt like two rock planets the size of Jupiter plummeting towards each other and impacting with his head between them.
Blood spewed from Valdos' nose, mouth, and temple like a geyser of skull and bone fragments, for a few moments he could not see, hear, talk, move, or even breath. After the initial impact of the punch, Valdos soared through the air like a comet, careening away at least twenty miles! It took five minutes before the Z-Warriors heard the sound of an incredibly fast moving body collide with a solid mountain and hear an explosion of rock and boulder.
Trunks only hovered in the air about a foot off the ground, panting heavily, and holding the Ring of Fusion between his cut fingers. A palm- shaped swipe of blood still seeped around the ring, Valdos really did not want to let it go. Trunks finally dematerialized from Super Saiyan and turned to the startled group.
"Guys! Quick, we need to use this stupid ring before Valdos knows what hit 'em! We have to hurry, I used up all the power I had left in that punch!" Trunks Jr. yelled to get the group's attention. Goku nodded and stepped forward. Trunks handed him the ring. Goku instructed everyone to gather around in a circle around the ring and join hands. Trunks flinched a little in pain as Amy gripped his left hand, and Pan the other.
"Alright, listen everyone. To use this ring, we all have close our eyes, and picture the strongest emotion in our bodies. Whether it is good or bad, selfish or otherwise. We have to bring out that deepest feeling, amplify it, and manifest it in the ring." Everyone nodded in agreement and began a meditation like trance.
Five minutes had gone by. Nothing was happening. What if Valdos really did use the ring? Maybe that's why he was seemingly unstoppable. Not so much as a jiggle from the ring. And then the Z-Warriors heard the most horrible sound any of them had ever heard all at once. Valdos was back. He stood facing them up above on a cliff face. He was covered in filth and blood. He looked like Hell. "Now, before I destroy the cosmos, I am personally going to kill every single last one of you with my bare hands!" Valdos screamed in complete rage and frustration. Valdos raised his one good arm and began gathering power once again. They were so close. But the ring appeared useless. They had almost done it.
I could've done so much more!
If only I was stronger!
Why did I have to get Amy involved in all of this?
No, I can't let it end this way!
I can't believe I've been beaten by this moronic egomaniac!
Pan, I love you so much, I'm sorry it had to end this way.
I was the guardian of earth! Why couldn't I have done more?
Tien, I can't believe this is happening.
Stay strong Chautzio.
Bulma, I'm sorry for everything I did to you.
Pan, Videl, I'll miss you all so much.
This is all my fault!
Mom, if only I was stronger, maybe I could've protected you.
Mom, dad, I'm sorry.I tried.
Oh crap!
No, master Goku, after all you've taught me it was still no use.
I'm sorry, everyone.
Trunks, I love you.
Good-bye, everyone.
All these thoughts and more passed through the minds of the Z- Warriors in their last waking moments before their ultimate demise. The ring moved! A clanging sound reverberated across the entire area. The ring tossed and turned in place before it soon began hovering into the air. "No!" Valdos gawked. Soon the whole group of fighters levitated into the air and started to spin around in a circle around the golden ring. The Z-Warriors spun so fast a hurricane of wind swarmed around them and lightning struck the ring until it shattered in an ominous cloud of golden dust. The fighters gradually shrunk and grew tiny, until they were nothing but an orb of glowing white light. The orb slowly grew larger and as it did so, took on detail and more of a refined shape.
The once white ball was now human shaped. It soon gathered color and sculpted features. It wore a navy blue fusion vest; the fighter was bare- chested underneath, obviously a male. He had baggy white pants and hard metallic boots. There was a small loop to his side, hiding a menacing looking sword. He was tall, over six feet; his hair was in the shape of Vegeta's, only slightly longer and more upright. He also bore two large angel-like wings folded against his back. He had dark eyes, blue hair, and a bold Z imprinted on his chest and forehead.
The warrior stood completely still. Valdos trembled in fear. The Dark Spirit Bomb still hung overhead, waiting to be detonated. Valdos stepped back and spoke in a cowering voice. "Who.what, are you?" Valdos gulped loudly. The warrior fixated his eyes on Valdos and focused.
"I, am the blowing winds of justice. I am the carrier of hope, on a vessel that sorely needs it. I am the gaping voice in the cosmos that cries out for peace. I am truth. I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, and at the same time I am neither. I am God, and I am also the Devil, and yet I keep them both in check. I am Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. I am an ally to good, nightmare to evil. I am both warrior and pacifist. I am the combined thoughts, feelings, emotions, and hearts of all of the Z-Warriors. I am Grandulas, in his purest form; I am guardian, angel-warrior of God. But you Valdos, creator of evil, lord of darkness, king of fear.you may call me.Z," the man spoke in a deep, wise voice.
Valdos bared his teeth in anger. "Well then, 'Z', let us see what a warrior of unlimited strength can really do!" Valdos sprinted towards Z and attacked. Z grabbed Valdos' deadly fists and shook his head from side to side. "I pity you Valdos, you are the disease. You are the plague that has overtaken this existence, you are the one that must be destroyed!" Z yelled and fired a steaming fist into Valdos' face. Valdos barely dodged it and twisted his body in mid-air, followed by a spinning kick to Z's face. Z bent his body in half under the kick and grabbed Valdos' still spinning feet. Z spun around and released Valdos soaring through the air. Valdos righted himself and flew on the attack again.
It seemed they were both at equal power. Every hit Valdos would send towards Z would either be dodged or stopped. Every attack made by Z would also be blocked or dodged by Valdos. The two unstoppable forces fought for hours on end, neither of them gaining the upper hand. They fought until the land was wracked and destroyed, they fought until all clouds in the sky were nothing but scattered vapor and they fought until the stars in the sky flickered off into non-existence.
Valdos was growing weary, his power beginning to fade. He needed to land at least one hit; one hit would mark some sort of turning point in his favor. Valdos focused all the remaining power he had and flew towards Z. His train of thought led him to believe that Z would duck under the kick he was preparing. Once he did this, Valdos would flip over behind him and double-kick him in the backbone. It was a flawless plan, nothing could go wrong.
Valdos flew into the air at Z. But Valdos' plan wasn't as foolproof as he'd thought. Z merely gripped Valdos' leg as it swung through the air to kick him. Valdos tried to break free, but before he could, Z planted his fist into Valdos' face at least twice as hard as the hit Trunks Jr. had given him earlier. Except this time, Valdos didn't go soaring off in another direction; he only collapsed to the ground.
"Come on Valdos, I know you are hiding your power. Transform, show me your true form," Z said next to Valdos as he desperately tried to recover from the hit. Valdos growled in pure hatred and started to focus his power. The resulting transformation was not a complete shock or disgust. Valdos' muscle bulk tripled, his back sprouted two large, dragon- like wings. That was the main occurrence. His power grew dramatically, but it didn't matter. Valdos had already lost, Z was too strong even for him. He was just too proud to admit it.
"Valdos.do me a favor before we engage in battle once again. Please, remove your hood; let me see your face. Let me see what gives you so much pain." Valdos grew furious at the request, but then thought better of it. "You wanna see my face huh? Fine." Valdos hissed angrily. Valdos slowly unraveled the torn, blood soaked hood draped around his face. When it was gone, Valdos had to hold back his tears.
"Is this what you wanted? Is it you bastard?" Valdos shouted in a croaked voice. Z only closed his eyes and sighed. Not at the hideous site before him, but at what was behind it. Valdos had thin, wet strands of white hair around the base of his scalp and the back of his earlobes. He had dark eyes, like Z himself, but they seemed tired, pain-filled. His lower lip looked as if it had been torn from its roots, he had bulging cuts, scrapes, and festering scars across his bald forehead, cheeks, and neck. His Adam's apple was practically breaking from the skin, and his teeth were chipped and left in shards.
"This is what those monsters did to me! This has been a large portion of my suffering. Even if I had taken up your offer of living, no one would love me with a face like this! This is why Sarah rejected me, after the mutiny, my face was in shambles, she thought I was ugly, disgusting. So I killed her. I killed her!" Valdos could no longer hold his tears and began openly sobbing.
"Please! I just want to die.leave me here, let me destroy myself, let me be free," Valdos begged. "I don't want to fight you any more, I just want to sleep, I want to be alone, I want to suffer in eternal blackness for what I've done! I deserve it!" Z opened his mouth, it was not his voice that came out, but Goku's.
"Valdos, you don't need to die to experience peace, it doesn't have to end this way. You can make it happen, all you have to do is trust me," Goku spoke quietly. "No.no! Do not deny me the last and only thing I desire! I'm going to destroy you, myself, and everything!"
Valdos rose into the air and grit his teeth evilly. "Say good-bye!" Valdos screamed, his words echoed throughout the entire realm. He charged-up a Dark Kamehameha and fired it directly into his Dark Spirit Bomb! The bomb warped and withered, it faded and crackled until a huge explosion occurred. Valdos cackled at the upcoming macabre he would be the direct cause of. Valdos flew off in another direction so he could watch his bomb swallow up and kill Z. Nothing could stop Valdos this time, no even the limitless power of Z.
End of Chapter 16.
Chapter 17
One Will Die
This was it; it was now or never. The huge cloud of fire swarmed in all directions and gathered strength, power, and size as it moved. Z put an energy shield around the explosion to try and contain it, but it wouldn't hold for very long. Z needed to push against the walls of the barrier to shrink it and maybe neutralize it. Z pressed his arms against the hard wall of power as hard as he possibly could, but as if the explosion was alive, it pressed back harder and faster, getting the better of Z. This wouldn't last long, no energy attack Z could manage would be strong enough to stop it, except maybe the Spirit Bomb, but he didn't have nearly enough time. And even if he did, he would need to use the Holy Spirit Bomb, and just gathering that amount of energy would probably kill him, and would still do the same thing Valdos' Spirit Bomb would do. Total devastation.
Earthlings, Nameks, Konats, Changelings, Arlian's, and other alien beings all over the universe, in billions of different timelines watched the battle eagerly. The majority prepared for their imminent and painful doom. Others kept their faith in Z, hoping he would be able to save them all, but at this point, things weren't looking good.
Valdos was extremely proud of himself. He'd finally done it. There was nothing left for him to do but watch Z die a horrible death, and then welcome his own. But, somehow, for some reason, Valdos wasn't nearly as happy as he thought he'd be. Something was wrong. Valdos remembered Goku's speech he'd given, before he'd maliciously threatened to kill him. Goku had made some good points. No, no, Goku was wrong. No one would forgive Valdos. No one would welcome his friendship; no one would love him. Valdos cried again. He didn't want to, he didn't choose to, but he did. Valdos couldn't understand what he had to cry about. Everything had gone according to plan.death, his only wish, was finally coming to him.
Valdos, don't do it, I forgive you for what you've done, please, help Z save the universe you and I loved so much.
"Sarah.?" Valdos hollered. Was he going insane? Valdos collapsed onto the ground and clutched his head screaming in mental pain and anguish. Valdos continued to hear her voice inside his head, reverberating through his skull, absorbing into his brain. Valdos finally could take it no more. He couldn't just stand here and watch. What had he become? He had become a horribly disfigured shadow of his former self. He used to love, to command, to care, to be human. He couldn't do this anymore, he had to help Z, and he had to try and redeem himself. There was still some time left; it wasn't too late.
Z felt a tremendous blast hit the side of the Spirit Bomb. But who or what was it? Z turned his head slightly and almost fainted when he saw Valdos floating beside him, trying as hard as he could to help him.
"Valdos?" Z shouted very perplexed.
"Shut-up and help me do this!" Valdos roared with an annoyed tone to his voice. Z nodded and pressed harder against the wall; so did Valdos. But even together they were not strong enough to contain the bomb. Valdos could only see one way out of this, he didn't like it, but he did what he had to do.
"Grandulas! Leave me here, I can handle the bomb, create a Holy Spirit Bomb attack and aim it at me, the Holy Spirit Bomb only destroys things that are evil! It'll be strong enough to stop my bomb, hurry!"
"But Valdos, you'll be killed!"
"Just do it! It's my punishment for what I've done." Valdos pleaded. Finally Z agreed and flew off of the energy wall. The wall pushed Valdos backwards another hundred yards since it was only him holding it now. But he remained gripping the bomb.
Z gathered the energy quickly and aimed the ball at the festering explosion. But before he could fire it, Z hesitated, still having Goku's heart in him, he didn't want to kill Valdos. Valdos looked up and saw Z just standing there. He started to have second thoughts, but then he remembered Sarah's words.
Valdos, don't do it, I forgive you for what you've done, please, help Z save the universe you and I loved so much.
"Goku! Do it!" Valdos screamed at the top of his lungs. Z regained his common sense and nodded his head. He threw the ball with tremendous force. The two explosions collided.with Valdos between them.
End of Chapter 17.
Chapter 18
Peace Has Been Restored
Smoke covered the Center of Time for endless miles. Moments before, a bright explosion lit the expansive sky. Now there was only a dim light, almost identical to earth's twilight. Trunks Jr. picked himself up off the ground and looked around dazed. Amy sat up as well. One by one all of the Z-Warriors arose, very tired and weary. Apparently they had somehow unfused. Piccolo turned his head and spotted Goku kneeling down beside a small boulder. Something was cradled in his arms.
Goku looked down into Valdos' dying face. All that was left of him was a head and torso. His arms and legs were missing and he was bleeding unstoppably. "I'm.sorry, G-G-Goku, I'm sorry.for, everything. You were.right. There is a b-b-b-beauty to l-life, which I, could.never have.imagined. I wish, I hadn't been.so blind to the truth," Valdos croaked through a blood- clogged throat. "Valdos don't be so hard on yourself. Without you we all would have died. You saved us, you met the error of your ways and faced them before it was too late." "M-M-aybe so, but I was s-s-still, the one.who caused all this.I'm sorry." "I know, I'm sorry that you had to do what you did." "I'm not.it felt good, to purge myself of my.s-s-s-sins. I just hope God forgives me." "I know he already has.and so have I," Goku smiled at the beaten warrior. Valdos smiled back at him, then stopped moving. His last breath of air hissed slowly as it escaped his body, Valdos slumped downwards, and died, for good. Goku gulped loudly and quivered a little for an unknown reason. Goku then lightly placed his hand over Valdos' face and closed his eyes.
None of the Z-Warriors could believe what Valdos had done. No one expected that he could've made such a noble sacrifice. Krillin approached Goku, who seemed a bit more saddened by all of this than anyone else. "Hey it's okay Goku, he did what he had to do. Plus, maybe God will reincarnate him, like he did to Ubuu!" Krillin said to try and cheer Goku up. Goku turned to Krillin, with a bit of a spooked look on his face. "Nah, it's not that Krillin.it's just, well.never mind. Let's just go home and celebrate."
End of Chapter 18. Epilogue Many Years Later
All of the Z-Warriors had gathered at the Capsule Corp. building to give Amy and Bra a baby shower. They were both pregnant; Amy and Trunks Jr. were expecting a baby boy who they were planning on naming Goku Jr. Bra and Goten's son was going to be named in honor of Vegeta who sadly had passed away only a few years before of a fatal heart attack. They'd name their son Vegeta Jr. Goku had also died only a year before of undetermined causes.
Ten years later, a very old Pan happily watches her grandson Goku Jr. battle against Vegeta Jr. in the championship match of the World Martial Arts Tournament. Something down in the stands caught Pan's attention. She looked down and could have sworn she'd seen her grandfather, Goku. She ran down the stadium ramp and followed the slowly fading shadow until it disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Goku was very proud of his great grandson Goku Jr. He was a spitting image of himself when he was a child competing in the tournaments. Goku turned to his side and watched Vegeta standing on a yellow cloud, shouting cheers for his great grandson to beat the stuffing out of Goku Jr. Goku and Vegeta both had golden halos above their heads and a set of angel wings. God loomed above watching all he surveyed. God was very proud of his children; they had done him well. God was very old as most suspected. And just as the Dark One had so long ago, God was preparing and training Goku to someday take his place among the Heavens.
Goku noticed something odd about Vegeta Jr. that obviously Vegeta hadn't. Goku felt as if.he knew him. There was a very familiar look to his face that didn't seem to be human, Saiyan, or otherwise. It just seemed, different. Then, suddenly, Goku knew what the feeling was. Goku briefly smiled happily, a hint of pride in his face. Goku had always wondered what had happened to Valdos' spirit.and now he knew. Goku stood, turned, and walked along the endless field of grass that covered God's sanctum. "Kakarot? Don't you want to see who wins the fight?" Vegeta asked him puzzled. "I don't need to Vegeta. I've had enough fighting for a thousand lifetimes.it doesn't mean all that much to me anymore," Goku smiled back at Vegeta curiously. "So does that mean we wont be fighting tomorrow in the Other World Tournament?" Vegeta asked a little disappointed. Goku shook his head. "No, you can count on us fighting tomorrow Vegeta!" Goku shouted excitedly. Vegeta smiled and nodded back to him.
"I just need a rest.a long, long rest."
And the cosmos never saw evil again. And the universe remained in peace, finally, and forever.
The End
Well, that's that, I hoped you all enjoyed reading Dragon Ball AF as much as I enjoyed writing it. It took me a little longer than I had planned, more like six months! Please email me your thoughts, opinions, questions, sequel predictions or hopes, flames, anything you want! madms@worldnet.att.net
All Goku remembered was a flash. A blinding shine of white light that swallowed everything around him like a wormhole. And now here he was, back in his own time, so were Piccolo, Krillin, Gohan, Trunks, and everyone else Valdos had separated. But now, everything was barren, destroyed, and deserted. The skies were red with blood. The ground stained with death. Goku and the Z-Warriors only stood in awe, and utter horror.
Valdos had never left their time frame. He only made it look like he did. So he could discombobulate the Z-Warriors by separating them into different dimensions. And so he could go on an unbridled killing spree. Trunks Jr. cursed himself silently for believing he could ever beat anyone as strong as Valdos was. It was clear now that he was alive and well.
Goku finally sat up to address the confused warriors as they lay on the ground. Goku could sense hostility and anger among them, especially Vegeta. "Listen everyone, I don't know what happened here, but we better split up and find out. Everyone meet back at Capsule Corp. in one hour," Goku projected, as if giving a speech. The group had no choice but to agree.
Goku hadn't been flying but ten minutes when he came across Frieza and Cooler. Goku knew they wouldn't pose much of a threat, but had to know how they had gotten there. "Why are you here Frieza?" Goku asked, trying to hold in his anger and bury it beneath his skin. Frieza laughed callously and spoke in his high reptilian voice. "Why that's simple! Can't you see it happening? Valdos has interloped different time frames, making them flow forwards and backwards into each other. Different events that you and I saw or caused are happening all over again, every minute, every second, and at the same time, never." It was the most intelligent sounding thing Goku had ever heard from Frieza. As if he had derived an even deeper meaning from all of this chaos.
"You're not making any sense Frieza!" Goku growled while in the process of turning into a Super Saiyan. "Oh don't worry.you'll understand in time," Cooler hissed slyly. After saying this, Frieza and Cooler began moving rapidly in different directions with precise turns and movements. They were fusing.
What emerged from Cooler and Frieza's fusion was a being of unrivaled hideousness. It had three long tails, sharp and serrated at the tips. It had glowing red eyes and long protruding horns behind its skull, which was exposed. Its skin was a ghoulish white that seemed to glow if stared at long enough. Goku summoned a tremendous blast that transformed him into a Legendary Super Saiyan.
Goku flew right into the thing's face and kneed it so hard he could feel his knee cap shattering jaw. Goku spun in mid-air and roundhouse kicked the beast right in the neck. It flew backwards about twenty feet until Goku imbedded his iron fist into its spinal cord furiously. Goku moved through the air like a tremendous bolt of lightning, and this monster was the rod.
Goku dove under it and fired his fists into its sternum rapidly pummeling it into a bloody pulp. Goku curled himself into a fetal position and flew about thirty yards back. Goku stood upright and began charging an immense amount of energy into his palms. "Kaaa.meee.haaa.meee.haaa!" Goku shot a sapphire beam from his finger tips that was hotter than lava, stronger than a cannon, and more deadly than any weapon. The beam engulfed the demon and ate away until there was nothing left but a smoldering cloud of ashes.
Goku caught his breath and felt his cool hair fall to his face as it turned back to its familiar jet-black color. This was not good; the main question was where Valdos had gotten. Goku looked to his right side and saw a blue stream of light far off in the distance. That would be a good place to start.
Gohan tried as hard as he could to keep the astronomically large Kamehameha stable, but he was quickly running out of energy, and Cell was more powerful than ever. Gohan felt more blood seep from his already horribly mangled arm. Cell was going to get the better of him this time, he was sure of it. Until something came to his aid. A shining beacon of hope fired behind him, giving him power, helping his cause. A tall figure appeared beside him and lent power to his Kamehameha.
The combined powers were too strong for Cell. He could handle it no longer and finally the blast overcame him, destroying him. After all the smoke had finally cleared, Gohan had realized who came to his aid. It was Goku, his father. Gohan embraced his dad lovingly and cried until he could cry no more. But Gohan still didn't understand what exactly was going on. Goku explained everything to him, about Valdos, the situation they were in, and eventually where the young Gohan was. After a while, they left to go meet the others at Capsule Corp.
Apparently, Vegeta had found a past version of himself as well on the way to Capsule Corp. Future Trunks was also here, ready and willing to help out his friends if needed. The group met in a circle around where the Capsule Corp. building used to be. Now it was merely a smoldering crater in the dark, battered earth. Gradually, everything became silent. Too silent, almost unnatural. Just minutes before, the sounds of splitting earth, waves of unbearable heat, and molten lava churning filled the air. But everything had halted, the only audible sound, other than the group's breathing, was a low, howling wind.
Goku's eyes practically bugged out of their sockets when he realized what was happening. The entire area seemed to be slowly morphing. The cracked ground slowly melted back into solid pieces. The sky turned from a dark red to a light blue. Clouds gathered everywhere and rocky cliffs burst from the ground. Transparent images of clocks levitated into the air and revolved around the area eerily.
Everyone was frightened now. Even Vegeta. What had once been earth was now a seemingly endless surreal environment. A dark figure loomed over them in the distance. It sluggishly grew closer and closer, until the Z- Warriors regretfully realized who it was. Valdos paced towards them peacefully, almost casual. Valdos folded his arms around his chest and merely laughed.
"I though I killed you." Trunks Jr. growled through clenched teeth. Valdos turned his head towards him and his face contorted ever so slightly that you could sense only a hint of anger in it. "You came damn close!" Valdos hissed evilly. "Let's just leave it at that." Valdos moved his head back towards the majority of the group and projected his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Welcome everyone, to the Center of Time. The Center of Time is an endless parallel world that connects and intertwines every existing time frame, universe, and dimension. All you must do is merely imagine a certain point in history and the landscape will magically transform into that very place. The Center of Time also reacts to a person's feelings and emotions. If you are angry, the land becomes hard as a rock. If you are sad or in pain, it becomes the consistency of water. And, if you are neutral, it becomes more like a rubbery surface.
"This, the Center of Time, is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. This single world holds the key to the cosmos' destruction, or salvation. It is all the worlds of the universe, all areas of space, and all time, rolled in one. The perfect battle arena. Because every single thing we do here filters into each and every dimension, every living thing that currently, did, or will exist will see this battle. The fight to end all conflicts. Or, the fight to begin all catastrophes. Armageddon, the Apocalypse, damnation, or salvation will all be decided, right here, right now. So continue on with you various fazes of 'powering- up' and/or fusing, because this will be you final chance."
The master of all ultimatums. To aid in the universe's destruction, or try to save it, and die trying. The Z-Warriors, the defenders of this realm, had no choice. It was do or die, even though the outlook of their living was grim. They did what they had to do. Goku powered up to his Super Saiyan 5 state. Tien, Yamcha, and Chautzio reformed back into Zymax. Piccolo and Krillin fused using the Nanatarra dance, then fused with Zymax to create a warrior known as Zynamex. Goku proposed a suggestion to the two Vegeta's, Trunks,' and Gohan's. Ever since he had achieved S.S. 5, Goku suspected there was a level beyond Legendary. And two of the same people from different times may be able to achieve it.
After a few minutes, Vegeta had fused with his past form. The result was a tall warrior with long hair that was a sapphire blue, he was bare chested, wore golden pants, gloves, and boots. He also had a red scar embroidered around his right eye. Vegeta had become a Super Saiyan 6.
After the two Gohan's fused, the warrior was in between young and adult Gohan's size, with long blue hair, a scar on the right eye, and the same golden clothing. Gohan was a Super Saiyan 6.
Trunks with Future Trunks looked very different. He had long, sinewy violet hair instead of a shimmering blue. He had a scar around both eyes, and golden clothing as well. He had his usual sword scabbard, but it was misshapen. It was larger, and the sword concealed inside was that much more deadly. Trunks was a Super Saiyan 6!
The only fusion relic left was the diamond. So Brolly, Pan, Goten, and Ubuu were the best candidates. The outcome was only a white orb, constantly giving off tremendous bolts of energy. And if you looked close enough, you could see a transparent image of the four fighters inside.
After all of this, the Z-Warriors were ready to engage in mortal battle, to defend who they loved. For the last time.
End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 The Dark Agenda
Goku was the first to attack. He flew towards Valdos like a bullet and attempted to punch him, but Valdos only grabbed his fist and discarded it as if it was a rag doll. Zynamex shot up from behind and binded Valdos with his water-like body. Trunks leapt towards them and swung low and to the side with his sword. The blade sliced hard and fast. It became lodged on part of Valdos' spinal cord and grinded against it like knife being sharpened on a wheel. Valdos growled in pain and removed the sword from his side with his now free left hand.
Just as he did this, another hot blade plunged itself into Valdos' tender spine. He grit his teeth in frustration and turned to see Trunks Jr. forcing the blade deeper and deeper into the already gnarly wound. Valdos flared his power, firing all three warriors to the side, but this left him open to attack from Vegeta, who charged like a raging bull and beat the stuffing out of Valdos!
While Valdos was preoccupied with Vegeta, the white orb containing Pan, Brolly, Ubuu, Goshin, and Goten bounced off Valdos repeatedly with amazing force and accuracy. Valdos was growing angrier by the moment and attempted to free himself but was met by a mad Goku. Goku aided in the teams fighting by blasting Valdos consecutively with rapid-fire Kamehameha's. Amy leapt upwards and dropkicked Valdos in the jaw but didn't cause much damage.
Valdos began to lose his temper, and as soon as he would seal a wound, another, more significant one would immediately be opened by the likes of Vegeta or Goku. Gohan entered the fray soon after and took out Valdos' shins with a few well-placed jabs and kicks. "Curse you all!" Valdos hollered with immense rage emanating from his throat. Valdos received more blows from all possible angles, and in each crucial damage point. Valdos was beginning to think he had underestimated this bumbling group of fighters, he would have to remedy this.
Valdos then unleashed a variable typhoon of energy that blasted away every one of the fighters, giving a brief chance to heal. Goku was the only one left standing, Still in his S.S. 5 state. Goku upped his power and stared Valdos down. Valdos finished recuperating and increased his power as well. Valdos stepped closer to Goku, taking in the heat of the moment. The tension was thick like a fog between them. Goku couldn't accurately sense whether or not Valdos would attack.
"Isn't it wonderful Goku? Two forces of immeasurable power, striking down one another in mortal combat. The fate of every living thing in existence hanging in the balance. It's almost, sexual in a way. Do you not feel the invigorating sense of climactic battle about to take place?" Valdos lectured quietly. Goku narrowed his eyes and placed them on Valdos'. "I find nothing gratifying about it. All battles before this were merely a prelude to this one, Valdos. I don't understand you." Goku responded solemnly. "You do not know the pain I have had to endure. All my life I've wanted nothing more than to be truly happy. All this hatred, all of this anger, was spawned by him. Yes, perhaps I was destined to become the embodiment of evil. But I never wanted it to be this way. I never, really, hated you Goku. Even now, I can see no reason why we couldn't forget our pasts, perhaps become allies, even friends. But the fact of the matter is, you are the only one standing in my way of peace."
Goku blinked several times in utter confusion. "Peace? Peace! What the hell are you saying? If you wanted peace this whole time, then why did you fight me?" "You and I have different views on what peace really is. To me, peace is death, the cold, comfort of death. But not death in itself, but the releasing. If there were no Spirit Realm, all there would be after death is darkness. Almost like sleep, but you see and feel nothing. That is what I desire. That is why I have to do what I must do."
For a moment, Goku could sense true sincerity in Valdos' voice, and almost a tear in his eye. But that tear was soon replaced by a deep seeded insanity, one that could drive a normal man over the edge just by witnessing it. "I am going to detonate my Dark Spirit Bomb here, it will flow into all worlds, obliterating them. It will grow and grow until it reaches the universe's point of expansion, then it will flow backwards in time, bringing everything as we know it to a dark, destructive end. The Afterlife will die, giving me what I desire. And if that means sacrificing the cosmos.then so be it."
Goku himself almost sobbed at the thought of what Valdos was planning to do. Goku had to do everything in his power to stop Valdos, or else there truly would be nothing to protect from him anymore.
End of Chapter 13.
Chapter 14
God's Descendant
The Z-Warriors watched on in horror at the gruesome battle. Goku was fighting like a wild man, and Valdos was fighting back just as hard and determined. All of the work fusing had done the warriors no good. If anyone was going to defeat Valdos, it would be him. Goku fought as hard as he could, but nothing was escaping Valdos' line of defense, and Goku was getting worse and worse as the battle raged on.
One or two good hits were all that Goku could manage. Valdos was just too powerful. Nothing could stop him. Even with years of training no one could rival him. No one. Piccolo had not yet given up hope however. Since he was part of Kami, he had a small portion of his brain devoted to precognition. One phrase stuck in his mind like glue.
Someone will die today. Only one. Someone will die today. Alpha, omega, the prophecy is.Z.
What in all things that were holy did that mean? Did that mean the Z- Warriors were going to die? Alpha and the omega, which must've meant in the Center of Time, someone would die there. And what was this cryptic message about a prophecy? All questions that Piccolo did not have the answers to.
Another crushing blow and Goku was down for the count and out of the battle. "Stay where you are Goku. You don't need to suffer any longer, let me charge my Dark Spirit Bomb and your pain will cease, as well as mine," Valdos spoke darkly. Goku refused with every fiber in his body and attempted to attack again. Valdos shot a small electric beam that paralyzed Goku in his tracks.
"Fine Goku, you want to do things the hard way, then let's go," Valdos said as he stepped forward. He moved past Goku strangely. He closed in on the worried Z-Warriors. Valdos stopped short in front of them and silently counted with his index finger. He stopped on the increasingly terrified Amy. Valdos smirked evilly and emanated a small, but deadly beam of energy.
It passed Trunks Jr. on its way to her. Trunks turned and with all the speed he could muster, tried to beat the beam to her, but he wasn't fast enough. The wave pierced through her heart in one fell swoop. "Amy! Nooo!" Trunks Jr. literally cried out. Trunks reached out and grabbed Amy's limp body before it touched the ground. Trunks Jr. held her close to him and couldn't help but cry. "Amy please don't die on me! You can't go!" Trunks sobbed. Amy couldn't even talk; she was so badly injured. Amy's vision gradually began to blur and flicker. Trunks was the only steady image she could focus on. "Amy c'mon. Please." Trunks begged, knowing it wouldn't help. Amy could no longer feel anything, and everything started growing dark. Amy reached out with one twitching hand and Trunks Jr. grasped it in his own. "Amy.I love you," Trunks spoke weeping. With the last bit of strength in her body, Amy looked up at Trunks and whispered to him her dying words. "I.l-l-love, you.too, Trunks.with, all.my h-h-heart." Amy's head then rolled to the side, and she closed her eyes.
Every one of the Z-Warriors cried. All of them wiped their tears away at the site. Krillin especially mourned the loss of his daughter. Valdos himself only lay silent. Maybe regretting what he'd just done. Trunks Jr. was the one taking it the hardest. The ground he was sitting upon slowly took the consistency of water, and small droplets of cold rain lowered from the expansive sky. Trunks held Amy against his chest and cried. He cried until there was nothing wet left inside of him, yet he managed to force some more tears out. He yelled and cursed until his throat felt raw and painful. And he held his once beloved Amy cradled in his arms, lying on the ground, inconsolable.
Trunks stopped crying. He only sat, holding the cool corpse in his fingers. Nothing could heal the wound he'd just been dealt. Valdos finally smiled at his beautiful handiwork. Piccolo scratched his nose as some dust slowly floated into it. A small rock floated in front of Piccolo's face startling him. Valdos also saw one in front of him as well. He lifted his hand to crush it when without warning a small bolt of lightning shattered it for him! Valdos went wide-eyed and looked down at the young boy. Something was going on.and Valdos didn't like it.
Trunks couldn't think about anything but Amy. All the good times they'd shared together, all the wonderful days they spent with each other. The clean smell of her shimmering blonde hair, the trance he'd fall into every time he looked into her gorgeous blue eyes. Trunks couldn't bare living without her; it physically pained him to even think about it.
Trunks hardly noticed the thin aura of white light that had covered him. Everyone else had noticed though. Piccolo directed everybody to seek a place to hide, something big was going to go down, and it wouldn't help being right in the middle of it.
Trunks grit his teeth and growled with rage. He moved his fingers smoothly across the burned hole in Amy's back. Trunks felt the icy blood between his frozen fingers. Trunks closed his eyes and managed a few more tears. Trunks snapped his eyes open and looked upwards into the oncoming rain. Trunks bellowed a cry that couldn't possibly have came from human vocal cords. It was louder than a super nova; more powerful than a solar prominence, higher pitched than a dog whistle, deeper than thunder, and utterly terrifying. Valdos backed away in actual, cold, hard fear. Trunks' once violet hair sprung upwards and blew violently in the freezing wind. It flickered and flashed until it exploded into a bright golden sheen.
Trunks cried longer and harder. All the furies of Hell inside of him. His body temperature would have sent a normal man into hypothermia, but his burning rage kept him hot with anger. Trunks picked Amy up in his arms and stood up looking straight into Valdos' eyes. Trunks mustered up all the power he had in his body and emitted that cry once again. It sounded like the roar of a lion, the shriek of a banshee, the cry of a wolf, the churning of lava, the crack of lightning, and the tumbling of boulders. Trunks' hair grew longer and sharper until it was growing to the length of his knees.
Trunks wouldn't stop, he couldn't stop. Trunks' father and Future Trunks hovered in the air above them and watched silently in awe. Trunks Jr. felt his eyes twitching in their sockets. Moment's later Trunks went blind. But it was as if he could still see? Trunks let loose that cry one final time and this time it was so powerful that it bent the very fabric of reality. The entire area seemed to be curving around Trunks and giving him power. The sheer force of the blast sent Valdos into the rock wall of a cliff and knocked him unconscious.
Valdos finally awoke in the midst of a heavy fog. The source of the fog was an immense burning light. It was the deepest shade of gold that could possibly be seen by human eyes. Valdos immediately knew what had happened. He recognized the signs from his first battle with Goku.
Trunks merely watched Valdos quietly. A hatred filled look tattooed across his face. Trunks felt the body in his arms begin to move. Amy rubbed her eyes as if awakening from a deep sleep. "Huh, Trunks? Trunks! What happened? I thought I was dead!" Amy yelled confusedly. Amy took one look at Trunks and gasped. He had golden hair down to the small of his back; it was sharp and refined. He had pale, pupil-less eyes and a determined look on his face that was still wet from blood and tears. "Trunks! You're a Super Saiyan, and you're not struggling to control it, you did it!" Amy shouted happily. Trunks merely nodded. "Amy.listen to me very carefully, find the others and get the hell out of here." Amy face-faulted and refused ignorantly. "No! I won't leave you!" Amy rebutted. Trunks curled back his lips and made a fist towards Valdos' face. "Amy.please.get outta here! Now!" Trunks growled. After a minute or two, Amy realized there was nothing she could do to convince him to let her stay.
Amy took to the air and flew off. She felt her hand around a hole in the front and back of her shirt, yet her wound was healed. Amy had always suspected something odd about Trunks. And now she knew what it was without a doubt. God hadn't been entirely telling the truth when he told Pan he could bring her and her baby back to life. God had to give the baby some of his own life essence to allow it to live. Trunks had part of God inside of him, that's what gave him these magnificent powers, that's what would prove to be able to defeat Valdos, once and for all.
Valdos stood his ground angrily, but extremely cautious at the same time. Valdos saw pieces of a shattered sword scabbard littering the ground for at least three yards. Trunks JR's sword lay imbedded in the ground in front of him. Trunks tore the sword from the now rock hard ground and flung it at Valdos like a boomerang. Valdos easily dodged it by leaping to the side. Valdos gasped for air moments later when Trunks sent his knuckles flying into Valdos' stomach. Valdos couldn't believe how fast he'd just moved. There was still a perfectly clear after image of Trunks precisely where he was standing a fraction of a second ago!
Trunks turned with grace and kicked Valdos into the air with merely the heel of his boot. Trunks dematerialized and reappeared above Valdos and repeatedly pelted him with punches and jabs at break-neck speeds. Valdos couldn't even blow Trunks away with his energy; he didn't have any time. Valdos was soon practically soaked with blood. There were hundreds of bruises, breaks, cuts, and abrasions all over his body.
Valdos blinked and actually saw his face cave inwards as Trunks planted his fist right into Valdos' teeth! Valdos saw an opening and he took it. Valdos back-flipped to the side and flew off in another direction. Valdos thrust his palms outward and screamed. "Dark Kamehameha!" A towering blast of dark energy found its way towards Trunks and flew with an intent to kill. Trunks fazed right through the beam, barely noticing it, and went on the attack once again. Trunks attacked like a mad ape on fire. Every second brought at least fifty new hits on fifty different spots on Valdos' beaten and battered body.
Valdos was getting desperate, he had no way left of defending himself.except. That was it, his only chance. Valdos had to get far enough away from Trunks to begin charging his Dark Spirit Bomb. Trunks wouldn't let up though, and Valdos' chances of making it out of this alive were looking grim. Valdos quickly fired a new attack he'd been developing: the Dark Flare. An attack that was mainly like the Solar Flare, only instead of blinding the opponent with light, it would blind them with darkness. After envoking the attack, Valdos came to the painful realization that it would do no good, seeing as how strong Trunks' senses had become.
But it did by Valdos some time, and since this realm was connected to all others, it took seconds to gather enough evil energy for the bomb. Valdos released the ball in a fury unlike any other. This was one attack Trunks Jr. couldn't defend against. It hit him hard and badly. Trunks met the ground and fell tumbling into a deep cavern created by his and Valdos' fighting.
The Dark Flare finally passed and the Z-Warriors hopes were once again dashed and thrown to the ground. Would this ever end? Many of the tired fighters asked themselves and each other this question. Valdos knew when it would end, right now. Valdos raised his palm into the air and started to gather even more energy, this time for the Spirit Bomb that would make the cosmos extinct.
End of Chapter 14.
Chapter 15
One Last Chance
The Z-Warriors had failed. It was their fault that all of this was going to happen. If only they'd been stronger, if only they'd tried harder. It was of no use crying over it now; soon all of time would be no more. Nothing would exist; everything would be gone, forever.
Many of the fighters cried, others only watched and waited. Others blamed each other, and some blamed themselves. Many of them pined to be with their families in their last waking moments. Goku had tried everything, beating sense into Valdos, on one occasion torturing him, the only thing left was to try and reason with him.
"Valdos please, think about what you're doing! You yourself said that you want peace, but ending all life won't give it to you! Life can be a wonderful, beautiful thing. Even more so than death or the Afterlife. Please, listen to my words, there are so many joys of life: happiness, caring, and love." The word love must've struck a nerve in Valdos.
"What do you know of love! Love is nothing more than a disappointment, wasted energy spent on another being who doesn't even love you back!" Valdos roared. Goku shook his head in disagreement. "I know enough about love to see that it is a wonderful thing that should be cherished, nurtured, not destroyed!" Goku replied with desperation in his heart. "You can think what you want Valdos, but I know what's going to happen to you. You'll succeed in killing everything, including yourself! But when you feel the cold blackness of death, you won't be whisked off to a world of endless dreams like you obviously think! You'll be awake; you'll feel nothing but darkness and be alone. You'll lay, frozen with your own selfish, misguided emotions, wishing you could take back what you'd done, grieving so much you wish you could die! But you can't, because you're already dead, and you'll be alone, cold, and sad, for all eternity.
"I can't comprehend why you would want that, to die alone and cold by yourself with no one to be with you. But you go ahead and obliterate the most amazing thing God could have ever created, life. Go ahead and see for yourself what will happen, because you are unsure that what I said will happen but I know it will! You're just too proud to admit it. You're so afraid of the burdens and trials of life that you think you'd be better off dead. But you wont. You wont be better off, you'll do the worst thing you could ever, possibly do, and then you'll have to live with it in death forever, never being able to take it all back. Frieza hated all Saiyans and even feared them. Cell was programmed to destroy. So was Majin Buu. Bebi wanted revenge; Super-17 was only a pawn in a hideously insane doctor's grand design. What happened to you Valdos, what reason do you have for doing this? You're still human, deep down, beneath the cold, snow covered, icy surface. There's still some good inside of you I can sense it! Please, let me help you, let me show you the wonders of living, don't make a mistake that you'll never be able to undo, that I know you're going to regret.
"C'mon, don't do it. Besides, killing yourself, no matter what you do, will not bring Sarah back! She's gone, but if you stop this madness, if you join us, help us, we can help you. We can use the Dragon Balls and bring Sarah back! I know you wish you could take back what you did to her, but being rejected doesn't merit murder! But all things can be forgiven, I know if she was here, she would forgive you for what you've done. And if you change your ways, if you stop this now, God will forgive you too. But killing all life, creating non-existence, I think, is the one thing that cannot be forgiven. Please, redeem yourself Valdos, end this.stop it now, before it's too late."
Valdos hung his mouth open in awe of Goku's wise words of wisdom. Everything Goku had said was brilliant. Valdos even cried at Goku's speech. Valdos hung his head down in shame. He thought long and hard about what he'd heard. Maybe Goku was right; maybe there were unforeseen beauties of living that Valdos couldn't even begin to imagine. Maybe, just maybe, if he stopped this now, Goku could show him the path to changing, the road to happiness.
The possibilities hung on Valdos' shoulder like his conscience. An angel, preaching to him to listen to Goku. And a devil, telling him to forget everything he'd heard and destroy. Valdos thought, he pondered, he contemplated. Valdos remembered that night, all those years ago. How he'd brutally murdered his true love. Sarah. How could any God forgive him for doing such a thing? And moreover, how could any God let him do such a thing? Valdos' mind started to play tricks on him. There was no God, no reason, no such thing as happiness, only the cold, hard, facts that life was nothing but a putrid stench on the rotting dumpster of death.
"Life is nothing but a prelude to death. Life is every bit as terrible as I see it to be. Life is only a long, tedious torture of emotions and feelings that prey upon your feeble mentality like an infestation. Hate.anger.pain.those, are the only parts of life that have meaning, a crash course to prepare the mindless souls for what is to come. Death is the release! Death is life! Life is death! There is no difference! If you are alive you wish you were dead if you are dead you wish you were one of those drones who walk the earth 'thinking' they are happy but they are not because happiness does not exist! And if you ever mention that name again I will tear every part of your body away, piece by piece, shred by every last shred! I will Rip your bones from their muscles and beat you with them until you are nothing but a bloody pulp laying upon the face of this retched, stinking, filthy, rotten existence! Oh, wait a second, I'm about to do that right now aren't I? Along with everything you hold dear, everything you 'think' you care about, but you don't really care, you only 'love' them for the steaming piles of shit that they are! Your 'God' stole everything from me! Anything and everything I ever loved he ripped from my bare hands like a rag doll! I had everything; I had a woman who loved me! I had command, I had power! But he took it from me! I hate him, I hate you Goku, and I hate being alive!"
Goku was stunned. He had failed, he really thought that his final attempt had gotten through to Valdos somehow, but he was wrong, dead wrong. "But before we all pass from this disease-ridden dimension of festering life, I want to show you something that will haunt you well after you are dead." Valdos reached behind his back and undid a golden hoop around his waist, and held it in the air so all could see it. It was the Ring of Fusion. The granter of unlimited strength. That's where it had gotten to, Valdos had gone back in time and stolen it from the Nameks so that the Z-Warriors could never use it against him. But it was physically in his hands; therefore he hadn't used it. Valdos was teasing the warriors with which they could not have.
Goku had had enough. All this time Valdos had been taunting them with the enclosing end of all living. Where right here, in his own hands, was the key to stopping him. Goku could feel his blood heating beneath his skin. His muscles burned and twitched at the sudden rise in blood temperature. Goku narrowed his eyes and crouched slightly. "No.I.wont, let you.do this, to anyone, else!" Goku growled fearsomely. Goku exploded with rage and power, perfectly mimicking the primordial roar Trunks had shouted earlier. Goku's hair grew to Super Saiyan 3 length and flashed a glowing sky blue. The center of his hair looked as if it was chipping away and cracking, soon the entire center of Goku's hair shattered and reformed only in a silver stripe. Goku's eyebrow ridges were forced forward and the eyebrows immediately disappeared. Goku's eyeballs grew darker until they were a shimmering black. The only thing distinguishing his pupils was a silver ring around each of them. Goku had become a Super Saiyan 6!
Valdos was virtually unimpressed. Valdos had told Goku that if he could snatch the ring from his hands, then he was welcome to it. Whether Goku knew it or not, his power level was extremely close to matching Valdos', but Valdos was winning the fight purely on determination, not even needing power.
Finally, Goku had done all he could do. Goku fought until he could barely move, all the while, not even getting close to apprehending the ring. Goku had nothing left to give, he was finished. Valdos had won. There was nothing more to do. Valdos finished charging up his Dark Spirit Bomb. Pan and Trunks embraced lovingly and did nothing but hold each other for their last moments together. Amy sobbed, wishing Trunks Jr. were there with her, so that he could hold her, and she could hold him back before they departed. Valdos readied the beam that would detonate his bomb, and wage genocide unlike any other.
Valdos laughed like a maniac in his last moments of living. He laughed at the thought of what he was doing, he laughed at what he'd accomplished, and he laughed at everything as if it were a game he had just won. "What's wrong Goku? Do you not wish to view the Ring of Fusion in your last moments of life?" Valdos cackled insanely with pure madness in his voice. Goku wasn't paying close attention to Valdos at the moment. He was fixated on something beneath their feet. Something underground was radiating power readings. Valdos paid it no mind and only basked in his ominous glory.
"It's almost ready!" Valdos yelled loud enough for all to hear. A golden aura flourished around Valdos mysteriously. Particles rose from the ground as if a large magnet was situated above them. Valdos hollered one last string of laughter that ended with something that no one expected except Goku. What came next was an attack Valdos wished he had been prepared for. What happened was a startling revelation that indirectly decided the outcome of the battle.
End of Chapter 15.
Chapter 16
Z
Valdos, too rapped up in his own vainness and cruelty, he suspected nothing. At the last instant, Valdos expected Goku to lunge at him for one final attack. But when it appeared so, a large object obstructed Valdos' view? Trunks Jr. burst from the ground, inches from Valdos' face, clad in Legendary Super Saiyan power. Valdos had absolutely no time to react, no time to defend, no time to do anything but witness his grand, master plans crumble beneath his feet. Trunks reached out and grasped the Ring of Fusion with one bloody hand, and with the other, delivered an earth- shattering blow right to Valdos' left temple. To Valdos, the hit felt like two rock planets the size of Jupiter plummeting towards each other and impacting with his head between them.
Blood spewed from Valdos' nose, mouth, and temple like a geyser of skull and bone fragments, for a few moments he could not see, hear, talk, move, or even breath. After the initial impact of the punch, Valdos soared through the air like a comet, careening away at least twenty miles! It took five minutes before the Z-Warriors heard the sound of an incredibly fast moving body collide with a solid mountain and hear an explosion of rock and boulder.
Trunks only hovered in the air about a foot off the ground, panting heavily, and holding the Ring of Fusion between his cut fingers. A palm- shaped swipe of blood still seeped around the ring, Valdos really did not want to let it go. Trunks finally dematerialized from Super Saiyan and turned to the startled group.
"Guys! Quick, we need to use this stupid ring before Valdos knows what hit 'em! We have to hurry, I used up all the power I had left in that punch!" Trunks Jr. yelled to get the group's attention. Goku nodded and stepped forward. Trunks handed him the ring. Goku instructed everyone to gather around in a circle around the ring and join hands. Trunks flinched a little in pain as Amy gripped his left hand, and Pan the other.
"Alright, listen everyone. To use this ring, we all have close our eyes, and picture the strongest emotion in our bodies. Whether it is good or bad, selfish or otherwise. We have to bring out that deepest feeling, amplify it, and manifest it in the ring." Everyone nodded in agreement and began a meditation like trance.
Five minutes had gone by. Nothing was happening. What if Valdos really did use the ring? Maybe that's why he was seemingly unstoppable. Not so much as a jiggle from the ring. And then the Z-Warriors heard the most horrible sound any of them had ever heard all at once. Valdos was back. He stood facing them up above on a cliff face. He was covered in filth and blood. He looked like Hell. "Now, before I destroy the cosmos, I am personally going to kill every single last one of you with my bare hands!" Valdos screamed in complete rage and frustration. Valdos raised his one good arm and began gathering power once again. They were so close. But the ring appeared useless. They had almost done it.
I could've done so much more!
If only I was stronger!
Why did I have to get Amy involved in all of this?
No, I can't let it end this way!
I can't believe I've been beaten by this moronic egomaniac!
Pan, I love you so much, I'm sorry it had to end this way.
I was the guardian of earth! Why couldn't I have done more?
Tien, I can't believe this is happening.
Stay strong Chautzio.
Bulma, I'm sorry for everything I did to you.
Pan, Videl, I'll miss you all so much.
This is all my fault!
Mom, if only I was stronger, maybe I could've protected you.
Mom, dad, I'm sorry.I tried.
Oh crap!
No, master Goku, after all you've taught me it was still no use.
I'm sorry, everyone.
Trunks, I love you.
Good-bye, everyone.
All these thoughts and more passed through the minds of the Z- Warriors in their last waking moments before their ultimate demise. The ring moved! A clanging sound reverberated across the entire area. The ring tossed and turned in place before it soon began hovering into the air. "No!" Valdos gawked. Soon the whole group of fighters levitated into the air and started to spin around in a circle around the golden ring. The Z-Warriors spun so fast a hurricane of wind swarmed around them and lightning struck the ring until it shattered in an ominous cloud of golden dust. The fighters gradually shrunk and grew tiny, until they were nothing but an orb of glowing white light. The orb slowly grew larger and as it did so, took on detail and more of a refined shape.
The once white ball was now human shaped. It soon gathered color and sculpted features. It wore a navy blue fusion vest; the fighter was bare- chested underneath, obviously a male. He had baggy white pants and hard metallic boots. There was a small loop to his side, hiding a menacing looking sword. He was tall, over six feet; his hair was in the shape of Vegeta's, only slightly longer and more upright. He also bore two large angel-like wings folded against his back. He had dark eyes, blue hair, and a bold Z imprinted on his chest and forehead.
The warrior stood completely still. Valdos trembled in fear. The Dark Spirit Bomb still hung overhead, waiting to be detonated. Valdos stepped back and spoke in a cowering voice. "Who.what, are you?" Valdos gulped loudly. The warrior fixated his eyes on Valdos and focused.
"I, am the blowing winds of justice. I am the carrier of hope, on a vessel that sorely needs it. I am the gaping voice in the cosmos that cries out for peace. I am truth. I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, and at the same time I am neither. I am God, and I am also the Devil, and yet I keep them both in check. I am Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. I am an ally to good, nightmare to evil. I am both warrior and pacifist. I am the combined thoughts, feelings, emotions, and hearts of all of the Z-Warriors. I am Grandulas, in his purest form; I am guardian, angel-warrior of God. But you Valdos, creator of evil, lord of darkness, king of fear.you may call me.Z," the man spoke in a deep, wise voice.
Valdos bared his teeth in anger. "Well then, 'Z', let us see what a warrior of unlimited strength can really do!" Valdos sprinted towards Z and attacked. Z grabbed Valdos' deadly fists and shook his head from side to side. "I pity you Valdos, you are the disease. You are the plague that has overtaken this existence, you are the one that must be destroyed!" Z yelled and fired a steaming fist into Valdos' face. Valdos barely dodged it and twisted his body in mid-air, followed by a spinning kick to Z's face. Z bent his body in half under the kick and grabbed Valdos' still spinning feet. Z spun around and released Valdos soaring through the air. Valdos righted himself and flew on the attack again.
It seemed they were both at equal power. Every hit Valdos would send towards Z would either be dodged or stopped. Every attack made by Z would also be blocked or dodged by Valdos. The two unstoppable forces fought for hours on end, neither of them gaining the upper hand. They fought until the land was wracked and destroyed, they fought until all clouds in the sky were nothing but scattered vapor and they fought until the stars in the sky flickered off into non-existence.
Valdos was growing weary, his power beginning to fade. He needed to land at least one hit; one hit would mark some sort of turning point in his favor. Valdos focused all the remaining power he had and flew towards Z. His train of thought led him to believe that Z would duck under the kick he was preparing. Once he did this, Valdos would flip over behind him and double-kick him in the backbone. It was a flawless plan, nothing could go wrong.
Valdos flew into the air at Z. But Valdos' plan wasn't as foolproof as he'd thought. Z merely gripped Valdos' leg as it swung through the air to kick him. Valdos tried to break free, but before he could, Z planted his fist into Valdos' face at least twice as hard as the hit Trunks Jr. had given him earlier. Except this time, Valdos didn't go soaring off in another direction; he only collapsed to the ground.
"Come on Valdos, I know you are hiding your power. Transform, show me your true form," Z said next to Valdos as he desperately tried to recover from the hit. Valdos growled in pure hatred and started to focus his power. The resulting transformation was not a complete shock or disgust. Valdos' muscle bulk tripled, his back sprouted two large, dragon- like wings. That was the main occurrence. His power grew dramatically, but it didn't matter. Valdos had already lost, Z was too strong even for him. He was just too proud to admit it.
"Valdos.do me a favor before we engage in battle once again. Please, remove your hood; let me see your face. Let me see what gives you so much pain." Valdos grew furious at the request, but then thought better of it. "You wanna see my face huh? Fine." Valdos hissed angrily. Valdos slowly unraveled the torn, blood soaked hood draped around his face. When it was gone, Valdos had to hold back his tears.
"Is this what you wanted? Is it you bastard?" Valdos shouted in a croaked voice. Z only closed his eyes and sighed. Not at the hideous site before him, but at what was behind it. Valdos had thin, wet strands of white hair around the base of his scalp and the back of his earlobes. He had dark eyes, like Z himself, but they seemed tired, pain-filled. His lower lip looked as if it had been torn from its roots, he had bulging cuts, scrapes, and festering scars across his bald forehead, cheeks, and neck. His Adam's apple was practically breaking from the skin, and his teeth were chipped and left in shards.
"This is what those monsters did to me! This has been a large portion of my suffering. Even if I had taken up your offer of living, no one would love me with a face like this! This is why Sarah rejected me, after the mutiny, my face was in shambles, she thought I was ugly, disgusting. So I killed her. I killed her!" Valdos could no longer hold his tears and began openly sobbing.
"Please! I just want to die.leave me here, let me destroy myself, let me be free," Valdos begged. "I don't want to fight you any more, I just want to sleep, I want to be alone, I want to suffer in eternal blackness for what I've done! I deserve it!" Z opened his mouth, it was not his voice that came out, but Goku's.
"Valdos, you don't need to die to experience peace, it doesn't have to end this way. You can make it happen, all you have to do is trust me," Goku spoke quietly. "No.no! Do not deny me the last and only thing I desire! I'm going to destroy you, myself, and everything!"
Valdos rose into the air and grit his teeth evilly. "Say good-bye!" Valdos screamed, his words echoed throughout the entire realm. He charged-up a Dark Kamehameha and fired it directly into his Dark Spirit Bomb! The bomb warped and withered, it faded and crackled until a huge explosion occurred. Valdos cackled at the upcoming macabre he would be the direct cause of. Valdos flew off in another direction so he could watch his bomb swallow up and kill Z. Nothing could stop Valdos this time, no even the limitless power of Z.
End of Chapter 16.
Chapter 17
One Will Die
This was it; it was now or never. The huge cloud of fire swarmed in all directions and gathered strength, power, and size as it moved. Z put an energy shield around the explosion to try and contain it, but it wouldn't hold for very long. Z needed to push against the walls of the barrier to shrink it and maybe neutralize it. Z pressed his arms against the hard wall of power as hard as he possibly could, but as if the explosion was alive, it pressed back harder and faster, getting the better of Z. This wouldn't last long, no energy attack Z could manage would be strong enough to stop it, except maybe the Spirit Bomb, but he didn't have nearly enough time. And even if he did, he would need to use the Holy Spirit Bomb, and just gathering that amount of energy would probably kill him, and would still do the same thing Valdos' Spirit Bomb would do. Total devastation.
Earthlings, Nameks, Konats, Changelings, Arlian's, and other alien beings all over the universe, in billions of different timelines watched the battle eagerly. The majority prepared for their imminent and painful doom. Others kept their faith in Z, hoping he would be able to save them all, but at this point, things weren't looking good.
Valdos was extremely proud of himself. He'd finally done it. There was nothing left for him to do but watch Z die a horrible death, and then welcome his own. But, somehow, for some reason, Valdos wasn't nearly as happy as he thought he'd be. Something was wrong. Valdos remembered Goku's speech he'd given, before he'd maliciously threatened to kill him. Goku had made some good points. No, no, Goku was wrong. No one would forgive Valdos. No one would welcome his friendship; no one would love him. Valdos cried again. He didn't want to, he didn't choose to, but he did. Valdos couldn't understand what he had to cry about. Everything had gone according to plan.death, his only wish, was finally coming to him.
Valdos, don't do it, I forgive you for what you've done, please, help Z save the universe you and I loved so much.
"Sarah.?" Valdos hollered. Was he going insane? Valdos collapsed onto the ground and clutched his head screaming in mental pain and anguish. Valdos continued to hear her voice inside his head, reverberating through his skull, absorbing into his brain. Valdos finally could take it no more. He couldn't just stand here and watch. What had he become? He had become a horribly disfigured shadow of his former self. He used to love, to command, to care, to be human. He couldn't do this anymore, he had to help Z, and he had to try and redeem himself. There was still some time left; it wasn't too late.
Z felt a tremendous blast hit the side of the Spirit Bomb. But who or what was it? Z turned his head slightly and almost fainted when he saw Valdos floating beside him, trying as hard as he could to help him.
"Valdos?" Z shouted very perplexed.
"Shut-up and help me do this!" Valdos roared with an annoyed tone to his voice. Z nodded and pressed harder against the wall; so did Valdos. But even together they were not strong enough to contain the bomb. Valdos could only see one way out of this, he didn't like it, but he did what he had to do.
"Grandulas! Leave me here, I can handle the bomb, create a Holy Spirit Bomb attack and aim it at me, the Holy Spirit Bomb only destroys things that are evil! It'll be strong enough to stop my bomb, hurry!"
"But Valdos, you'll be killed!"
"Just do it! It's my punishment for what I've done." Valdos pleaded. Finally Z agreed and flew off of the energy wall. The wall pushed Valdos backwards another hundred yards since it was only him holding it now. But he remained gripping the bomb.
Z gathered the energy quickly and aimed the ball at the festering explosion. But before he could fire it, Z hesitated, still having Goku's heart in him, he didn't want to kill Valdos. Valdos looked up and saw Z just standing there. He started to have second thoughts, but then he remembered Sarah's words.
Valdos, don't do it, I forgive you for what you've done, please, help Z save the universe you and I loved so much.
"Goku! Do it!" Valdos screamed at the top of his lungs. Z regained his common sense and nodded his head. He threw the ball with tremendous force. The two explosions collided.with Valdos between them.
End of Chapter 17.
Chapter 18
Peace Has Been Restored
Smoke covered the Center of Time for endless miles. Moments before, a bright explosion lit the expansive sky. Now there was only a dim light, almost identical to earth's twilight. Trunks Jr. picked himself up off the ground and looked around dazed. Amy sat up as well. One by one all of the Z-Warriors arose, very tired and weary. Apparently they had somehow unfused. Piccolo turned his head and spotted Goku kneeling down beside a small boulder. Something was cradled in his arms.
Goku looked down into Valdos' dying face. All that was left of him was a head and torso. His arms and legs were missing and he was bleeding unstoppably. "I'm.sorry, G-G-Goku, I'm sorry.for, everything. You were.right. There is a b-b-b-beauty to l-life, which I, could.never have.imagined. I wish, I hadn't been.so blind to the truth," Valdos croaked through a blood- clogged throat. "Valdos don't be so hard on yourself. Without you we all would have died. You saved us, you met the error of your ways and faced them before it was too late." "M-M-aybe so, but I was s-s-still, the one.who caused all this.I'm sorry." "I know, I'm sorry that you had to do what you did." "I'm not.it felt good, to purge myself of my.s-s-s-sins. I just hope God forgives me." "I know he already has.and so have I," Goku smiled at the beaten warrior. Valdos smiled back at him, then stopped moving. His last breath of air hissed slowly as it escaped his body, Valdos slumped downwards, and died, for good. Goku gulped loudly and quivered a little for an unknown reason. Goku then lightly placed his hand over Valdos' face and closed his eyes.
None of the Z-Warriors could believe what Valdos had done. No one expected that he could've made such a noble sacrifice. Krillin approached Goku, who seemed a bit more saddened by all of this than anyone else. "Hey it's okay Goku, he did what he had to do. Plus, maybe God will reincarnate him, like he did to Ubuu!" Krillin said to try and cheer Goku up. Goku turned to Krillin, with a bit of a spooked look on his face. "Nah, it's not that Krillin.it's just, well.never mind. Let's just go home and celebrate."
End of Chapter 18. Epilogue Many Years Later
All of the Z-Warriors had gathered at the Capsule Corp. building to give Amy and Bra a baby shower. They were both pregnant; Amy and Trunks Jr. were expecting a baby boy who they were planning on naming Goku Jr. Bra and Goten's son was going to be named in honor of Vegeta who sadly had passed away only a few years before of a fatal heart attack. They'd name their son Vegeta Jr. Goku had also died only a year before of undetermined causes.
Ten years later, a very old Pan happily watches her grandson Goku Jr. battle against Vegeta Jr. in the championship match of the World Martial Arts Tournament. Something down in the stands caught Pan's attention. She looked down and could have sworn she'd seen her grandfather, Goku. She ran down the stadium ramp and followed the slowly fading shadow until it disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Goku was very proud of his great grandson Goku Jr. He was a spitting image of himself when he was a child competing in the tournaments. Goku turned to his side and watched Vegeta standing on a yellow cloud, shouting cheers for his great grandson to beat the stuffing out of Goku Jr. Goku and Vegeta both had golden halos above their heads and a set of angel wings. God loomed above watching all he surveyed. God was very proud of his children; they had done him well. God was very old as most suspected. And just as the Dark One had so long ago, God was preparing and training Goku to someday take his place among the Heavens.
Goku noticed something odd about Vegeta Jr. that obviously Vegeta hadn't. Goku felt as if.he knew him. There was a very familiar look to his face that didn't seem to be human, Saiyan, or otherwise. It just seemed, different. Then, suddenly, Goku knew what the feeling was. Goku briefly smiled happily, a hint of pride in his face. Goku had always wondered what had happened to Valdos' spirit.and now he knew. Goku stood, turned, and walked along the endless field of grass that covered God's sanctum. "Kakarot? Don't you want to see who wins the fight?" Vegeta asked him puzzled. "I don't need to Vegeta. I've had enough fighting for a thousand lifetimes.it doesn't mean all that much to me anymore," Goku smiled back at Vegeta curiously. "So does that mean we wont be fighting tomorrow in the Other World Tournament?" Vegeta asked a little disappointed. Goku shook his head. "No, you can count on us fighting tomorrow Vegeta!" Goku shouted excitedly. Vegeta smiled and nodded back to him.
"I just need a rest.a long, long rest."
And the cosmos never saw evil again. And the universe remained in peace, finally, and forever.
The End
Well, that's that, I hoped you all enjoyed reading Dragon Ball AF as much as I enjoyed writing it. It took me a little longer than I had planned, more like six months! Please email me your thoughts, opinions, questions, sequel predictions or hopes, flames, anything you want! madms@worldnet.att.net