Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball! Or DragonballZ! Or DragonballGT! Or any of the characters!
Author's Notes: Part IV of False Idols... now the battle that changed Mirai Gohan will finally be unveiled!
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Series: Legend of the Seven Swords
Saga: Mirai Gohan
Chapter: 13
Episode: 10
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False Idols (Part IV)
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We have to go back. We need to relive that day. Only then, will you gain salvation...and understand the real reason why you must fight. You must let go of your false idol. Stop worshiping him.
Stop, before you damn this time as well.
---
Are you ready?
'Of course not.'
You must let go of the past.
'I am perfectly fine.'
You have to relive your pain. It is the only way to obtain complete retribution.
'I...'
Look at you. You are pitiful. Some warrior.
'How dare you!' Mirai Gohan began powering up once again.
How do you plan to silence me?
'...'
You know...sometimes the greatest battles are not fought with fists.
'I recognize that from somewhere...'
Now is one of those times. I shall ask once more; are you ready?
'I am not...ready...yet...'
'NO! WE are ready! WE will do it together!'
'...Thank you.'
So? Your answer?
Mirai Gohan looked towards the heavens. He saw himself, in the sky. He saw the child...
'Yes!'
---
He was going home...
After three years of isolation, he was finally going home...
'Dad...Mom...Krillin...Piccolo...even you, Vegeta...' the fourteen-year-old Saiya-jin smiled for the first time in three years. He was going to see all of them. However, a part of his soul seemed to be bitter.
'You know...you should just destroy them all. They abandoned you,' the voice told him. However, the voice could not be heard, for the rest of his soul was filled with happiness.
'...You will be sorry.'
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What's wrong?
'...Nothing.'
Is this too hard for you? We have merely begun!'
'We will face this together!'
'I know...'
---
They were all waiting for him. Even the Prince of Saiya-jins. Piccolo, Dende, Tienshinhan, his Father, his Mother, Krillin...they were all there. Then he noticed someone else.
"Mom, who is that next to you?" Gohan asked. His mother merely smiled in return.
"Gohan, that is your younger brother, Goten," Chi-Chi explained to him. Gohan smiled.
"Hello there Goten. I'm Gohan!" he said, taking Goten's hand in his.
---
'Another soul I could have saved...'
Forget what could have happened and focus on what did happen. Mortal life is too short to ponder 'what ifs.'
'I understand.'
---
It had been one of the greatest days of his life. He caught up with everything that had happened. He even laughed when Bulma told him how much the Earth respected Mr. Satan [Hercule in the American dubs] because they thought he beat Cell.
"You're kidding? They actually believed him! No way!" Gohan burst out, laughing.
"I know! I couldn't believe it myself!" responded Bulma, also laughing.
"Woman, can you please shut up!?" yelled an all-too-familiar voice.
"Whatever you say Vegeta," Gohan responded.
Although the young Saiya-jin was enjoying himself, a part of him was still unhappy. This part of him still felt he was abandoned. This part of him remembered why he had trained for all those years.
'He's coming...'
---
A month passed.
An evil force continued its march through the universe. Nothing could stop them. His might alone was enough to make entire worlds collapse in fear. He installed a fear in the universe that had not been felt since the time of Frieza. Yet, they knew he was even stronger than Frieza. His attacks were well coordinated. He targeted specific worlds, and then cut a path through to them. After performing a hellish ritual that usually required sacrificing the entire race that inhabited the world, he would obtain his prize. Located in the core of the world, the power keeping it together. The legendary key that was stored inside.
Entire galaxies were erased from existence. The people longed for a savior. They remembered the old stories. The ancient legends from millennia ago, the stories of the Guardians. They remembered the recent stories. The stories of the Legendary Super Saiya-jin, and the vanquisher of Frieza. They remembered the newest tale. The great warrior who sacrificed himself to save the universe...
The people wondered what happened to him. They said his power was beyond measure. Yet, his heart was even greater than his power. He fought not only with his fists, but also with his mind and his soul. He preached the old way of fighting...unification of mind, body, and soul. The ancient arts known only by the Guardians...
They questioned if he was the last one. It didn't matter. There was no one who could stop this new threat.
He made his way towards Earth. Only one more left.
He was five days away. Five days away from making his fantasies reality. A few days away from enslaving the universe for all eternity...
For there was a song. It was sung by the elders. The ones who held the oldest legends in their minds.
An endless sea of stars,
Spread across the void.
The holy avatars.
All gone...
Evil spreads throughout the universe.
Seven fires are lit.
Seven screams are heard.
Seven worlds are dead.
Seven races cry.
Seven stars fall from the sky...
Fantasy becomes reality,
Reality fades away into fantasy.
The Seven Keys unlock the fate of the Universe...
Annihilation.
The End of Time.
Enslavement of the Universe.
Why do the Kais forsake us?
Why do the Chosen abandon us?
Why do the Saviors die on us?
Six fires were lit.
Six screams were heard.
Six worlds had died.
Six races had cried.
One star remained in the sky...
Five days left until they die.
---
There it is. Your Legend of the Seven Swords. The legend of death. The promise of destruction. Do you really want to become that what is feared? Do you want to become the very evil that destroyed your time? Do you want to be the cause of seven fires? Do you want to be the cause of seven screams? Do you want to be the cause of seven worlds' end? Do want to be the cause of seven races' tears? Do you want to be the cause of seven stars, falling from the sky?
---
|Goku, can you hear me?|
|North Kaio, is that you?| asked the Saiya-jin.
|Goku...he's coming. To Earth...five days left...until the prophecy is fulfilled,| the God said, urgency in his voice.
|North Kaio, what are you talking about?| Goku asked his former teacher.
|There is no time...you must train! You are the last ones left...| The bond transcending the world of the living and the world of the dead was cut. Goku knew what he had to do. Focusing on a memory of anger, he transformed into a Super Saiya-jin. All over the Earth, the heroes felt his Ki. They rushed to the Super Saiya-jin's home, hidden deep within the forests.
Piccolo, Vegeta, Gohan, Goku, Krillin, and Tienshinhan all decided to meet at Sky Palace. They would all spend one day in the Room of Spirit and Time. Vegeta would go in first, alone. Then Piccolo would be next. On the third day, Krillin and Tienshinhan would enter the room. On the fourth day, Goku and Gohan would receive their training.
Vegeta emerged from the Room of Spirit and Time as an Ascended Super Saiya-jin. He had finally discovered the trigger for reaching the second level.
Piccolo returned to the mortal realm stronger than ever. He had unified his mind and his body.
Krillin and Tienshinhan were both stronger than ever, but nowhere near the Saiya-jin's level. Still, they longed for the fifth day.
Although Gohan and Goku entered the room together, Goku emerged alone. He was shocked by how much Gohan had matured. It was as if he were...cynical.
Gohan emerged from the room a few minutes later. His body radiated pure power.
They were ready to confront the ultimate evil.
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'We weren't ready. We could never be ready.'
That is not true. There is a way...but you must trust me.
'...'
Gohan, you need to believe me. We need to relive that day!
'All right...I understand.'
Do you?
"...yes.'
---
They waited. Looking to the heavens, they waited for the enemy. It did not take much effort to feel their enemies approaching. One of their enemies' power was unspeakable. They could not put it into words. The other power was almost non-existent, yet it too radiated a fearful aura. Wasting no time, Vegeta ascended to the second level of the Super Saiya-jin. Goku and Gohan remained at their normal states. They patiently awaited their opponents' arrival. Minutes later, they saw the large object entering the atmosphere. It was headed straight towards them. As soon as it broke through the clouds, the large object ceased its decent. It looked to be a floating fortress of some kind. Then, the fortress opened. Looking down at them was the most feared of enemies, the greatest of villains.
It was Brolli, back from the grave.
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Do not stop now. We are almost done!
---
The Legendary Super Saiya-jin descended upon them. Overlooking his opponents, Brolli began to laugh sadistically.
"Kakaratto!" he yelled, somewhere in between his laughs.
Goku and Gohan tensed. Krillin and Tienshinhan began to shake in fear. Piccolo's expression did not change. Vegeta froze, only to regain his composure a moment later.
"Look who we have here! The greatest asshole to grace the universe with his presence!" Vegeta yelled. Brolli stopped laughing, and stared into the Prince's eyes.
"What's wrong? Too stupid to understand what I just said?" the Prince mocked. It was the greatest mistake he could have made.
To Gohan and Goku, it seemed as if time had slowed down. Brolli powered up to the second level of the Super Saiya-jin, mimicking Vegeta's power. Then, he ran over to Vegeta. The Saiya-jin Prince stared into Brolli's eyes. They were the last things he saw before the Legendary Super Saiya-jin pounded him into the ground. One punch was all that he needed.
Goku was not going to play any games. He knew the strength and ferocity of his opponent. He tensed himself, and pulled all of his power from the deepest recedes of his body. Then, he concentrated on a memory of deep anger. Focusing hard, he amplified it until the anger consumed him. Exploding in a flash of fury, Goku's power enveloped the battlefield. When the light receded, a new man stood before Brolli. His eyebrows were gone, and his eyes reflected the wrath of the Saiya-jins. His golden hair flowed behind him, extending down to his waist.
"I won't hold anything back," he explained in a cold, firm voice. Completely unlike the Goku they once knew. No, before them stood a warrior, a true Saiya-jin. Bolts of pure energy surrounded him. His golden aura raged with fiery passion. Goku's power could not be contained. Every moment that passed, his power just continued to rise. Piccolo, Krillin, and Tienshinhan watched in amazement. Brolli stared at his hated enemy in amusement. Gohan looked at his father in horror.
'You fool! We both know that although the third level of Super Saiya-jin is a level that is unmatched, it drains too much energy! Your energy has already been halved! You can't win at that stage!' Gohan silently screamed.
Brolli began laughing again.
"Kakarotto..." he mumbled. Goku seemed to blink his eyes. When they were opened again, he had already knocked Brolli to the ground. Grabbing him by the neck, Goku flung Brolli into the sky. Raising his palm, Goku quickly gathered his Ki and shot it at the Legendary Super Saiya-jin. Brolli stopped himself from continuing his ascent, and knocked the energy attack away. Goku appeared behind Brolli and unleashed a flurry of six punches. Brolli turned around in time to block the first two, but let down his defenses in an attempt to launch a counter attack. Goku hit Brolli in the torso with his next two punches, and his final two each contacted both sides of Brolli's face. Then Goku brought his head back, only to ram it into Brolli's forehead. Drops of blood floated, suspended in the air, as Brolli once again fell towards the ground. Goku moved behind Brolli and kneed him in the back. A large crack was heard as Brolli's back was arched. Super Saiya-jin 3 Goku then jammed his elbow deep into Brolli's stomach. Blood and vomit left the Legendary Super Saiya-jin's mouth. Goku finished his assault with a roundhouse kick that sent Brolli through a chain of mountains. Krillin cheered his friend, while Gohan looked on in disgust. Unbeknownst to Krillin, Tienshinhan, and Piccolo, Goku was weakening. Gohan noticed it immediately.
'Already you are losing your strength, and it isn't even a minute into the battle! You won't be able to sustain that form for long.'
The rubble of mountains were quickly vaporized with a large, golden beacon that reached for the heavens. An enraged Brolli emerged from the rubble. His muscles began to bulge slightly. He flew at his hated rival. Goku attempted a punch to the head, but Brolli flipped in the air and connected with a drop kick. It hit Goku square in the shoulder. However, all he did was move back a few inches. Goku retaliated with a ramming attack. The Legendary Super Saiya-jin felt Goku's shoulder blade in his chest. Goku followed with a chain of punches and kicks. After about 30 or so blows, Goku knocked Brolli back into the ground. Raising his palm, Goku fired a ray of energy that forced Brolli deep into the ground. A crater with the diameter of a football field formed as Brolli collided with the ground. Piccolo, Krillin, and Tienshinhan flew back to a more secure distance to resume watching the fight. Gohan was still angry with the tactics his father was using.
'You'll be lucky if you can sustain that form for another five minutes. Super Saiya-jin 3 is just too energy consuming to be useful for battle,' Gohan commentated. He saw his father's uneven breathing. Goku looked over at his son. He knew what he was thinking.
'It's the only way...' Goku reasoned. He looked back towards the crater and began powering up once again. His golden hair waved behind him, and sparks of energy flashed around him.
Vegeta finally regained consciousness. He was amazed at the sight before him.
"What...is that!?" he yelled, staring at Goku. Gohan smirked at him.
"If it isn't the Prince of all Saiya-jins himself," he said. Vegeta shot a glare at him. Looking back at Goku, he studied his features. Upon careful examination of his face, Vegeta came to a revelation.
"K...Kakarot? B...but how? He ascended to another level to Super Saiya-jin yet again? Impossible!" Vegeta let out a mighty scream. "Damn it all!" He was once again an Ascended Super Saiya-jin. He was about to rush into the battle, but Gohan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"They are way beyond your league," he stated calmly. Vegeta sighed and returned to his normal state. Although he didn't want to admit it, the boy was right.
'Oh well,' he thought. 'At least I get to see Kakarot beat the shit out of the Legendary Super Saiya-jin.'
Goku stared down at the crater for another moment before he brought his arms across his chest. Suddenly, Brolli appeared in front of him and attempted elbowing Goku. Having been blocked, Brolli disappeared, only to reappear behind his opponent. When he attempted to punch Goku in the back, Brolli noticed his opponent was no longer there. He looked down, only to see a golden beam of light traveling at him. Brolli spun out of the way, before charging the ground. He extended his leg and attacked Goku on a diagonal, but Goku caught the Legendary Super Saiya-jin's leg. He took it and slammed Brolli into the ground.
"Kakaratto..." Brolli mumbled as he stood up. He began to smirk. He began backing away from Goku. Piccolo watched Brolli back away, and mistook it for an act of fear.
"That's it Goku!" he yelled. "He's afraid of you!" However, Goku merely ignored Piccolo's comments. It was then Piccolo noticed the large spike in Brolli's Ki. His hair was waving in the artificial wind created by the Legendary Super Saiya-jin's power. The dark golden aura erupted like a volcano, quickly engulfing the battlefield. The sound of electricity vibrated within everyone's ears. Brolli's hair began to grow longer, just had Goku's had done. His eyebrows slowly disappeared. The Legendary Super Saiya-jin's muscles bulged greatly, and in a final scream, the aura disappeared. Brolli looked up towards the heavens, his eyes closed. He brought his head back down to face Goku's, and opened them. Goku stared at him in disbelief. Now both combatants were in the third level of the Super Saiya-jin.
The once prosperous field had long been destroyed. Where there once were trees, there now were craters. Where there once were mountains, there was now rubble. The grass was engulfed by wildfire, ignited by stray Ki attacks throughout the fight. Goku looked down and saw a rose. Probably the last sign of nature left on the battlefield.
'I will not allow you to destroy my home!' the Saiya-jin thought. A surge of power rushed through him, and he charged Brolli once again. A right punch, a left punch, an elbow strike. Brolli moved to the left, blocked with his own punch, and caught the elbow. Screaming, the Legendary Super Saiya-jin knocked his rival back with his aura. Goku spun around and launched three quick flying kicks. Brolli side stepped the first two and knocked away the third. Goku felt his spine hit the jagged boulders that were once a mountain. He saw the murderous look in Brolli's eyes as he flew even closer, bringing his fist back for a fatal blow. Goku jumped up and flipped, using Brolli's head as a springing board.
"KAKARATTO!" he screamed as he fell face first into the rubble. The rubble soon disintegrated under the Legendary Super Saiya-jin's golden aura. Brolli leapt once again at Goku. The two began moving faster then the speed of sound. Flashes began filing the air as the sound of flesh on flesh followed shortly thereafter. Goku threw a volley of punches at Brolli, who dodged or blocked them all. Reacting quickly, the Legendary Super Saiya-jin took the offensive. Goku blocked several of Brolli's punches with his left knee, and he brought his right leg up, intending to kick Brolli in the gut. However, Brolli disappeared and rammed his shoulder into Goku's back. However, before Brolli made contact Goku ducked down and flew upwards, his fists raised. The Legendary Super Saiya-jin kicked downward, and Goku's fists cracked against Brolli's heel. Goku flipped backwards, his legs extended. Both of them hit Brolli under the chin. Like a bullet, Goku flew towards the earth. He raised his hands, and as soon as Goku's fingertips touched the cold soil, he flipped back into the air. Brolli gathered a large amount of Ki in his hands and launched scores of energy blasts at Goku. However, many of them hit the ground below Goku, as he deflected each Ki blast that came near him. As Goku flew towards Brolli, he began preparing a Chou Kamehameha. Brolli brought his arms in front of him, crossing them over his chest. Goku saw the whites of Brolli's eyes as he brought his arms forward, and blue light emerged from them. However, Brolli heard a mysterious sound and felt Goku's energy beam pushing against his back. The Legendary Super Saiya-jin screamed in pain, and allowed himself to break his concentration. Brolli began dropping towards the ground as the Chou Kamehameha continued through the sky before finally dissipating. Brolli bent his arm around his neck as he continued falling towards the ground where Goku had just reappeared, his fingers at his forehead. Goku widened his eyes in shock when he saw Brolli bring his arm forward, swatting him away.
Gohan continued to watch as Brolli overwhelmed his father. It was obvious that Brolli was much more comfortable at fighting at the third level of Super Saiya-jin than Goku was, who was nearing exhaustion.
'He'll remain in his state for another minute,' Gohan predicted. 'Then it will all be over.'
At this point, Piccolo and Vegeta had noticed Goku weakening. They quickly gathered their Ki, ready to intervene the moment Goku slips out of Super Saiya-jin 3. Vegeta had observed the large amount of energy it was siphoning from Goku, and knew he could not keep that level much longer. Brolli was also losing power, but at a much slower rate than that of his opponent. Smirking, the Legendary Super Saiya-jin looked over to the Ascended Super Saiya-jin and the Namek. Brolli stopped flying towards Goku and stopped. His hair, instead of falling down back to his hip, began waving to the sides. Veins began bulging out of Brolli's body as he began unleashing even more power.
"What!? Is he ascending passed that level of the Super Saiya-jin?" Vegeta roared. "It...it isn't possible!"
Gohan also looked at Brolli fearfully.
"There...is no way..." he mumbled. "There is not another transformation passed the Super Saiya-jin level 3! It can't be!"
Goku began struggling back onto his feet. He felt Brolli's Ki rising to impossible levels.
"He...mastered the Super Saiya-jin 3 transformation. That is the only explanation. There is nothing beyond level 3!" Goku stated as he stared at Brolli in awe.
Gohan then realized what Brolli was doing.
"He's not ascending to another level!" Gohan screamed. Piccolo and Vegeta stared at him.
"So what the hell is he doing, brat?" Vegeta yelled. Gohan swallowed.
"When dad and I mastered the Super Saiya-jin four years ago against Cell, we had come to the point where all of our potential power from that state was accessible to us, and it was natural to be a Super Saiya-jin. It was the Ultimate Super Saiya-jin. Brolli must discovered away to use that same principle with the Super Saiya-jin level 3!"
"So...you are telling me that Brolli has become an Ultimate Super Saiya-jin 3? That means...he can use all of the power from that form, and not lose any power while fighting!" Piccolo said, before realizing what Brolli could do. He froze.
'If that's true...we don't stand any chance.'
Gohan powered up to Super Saiya-jin 2. His golden-blond hair was sticking straight into the air, and his eyes were green. Sparks of electricity danced around him.
"You are going to fight in that stage?" Vegeta asked. Gohan nodded to him.
"It is the only way," he stated in a monotone voice. "When I was training with Yajen, he taught me a way to focus not only to manifest my physical power in the form of Ki, but also my mental power. Coupled with the fact that I have reached near mastery of this stage, and I will beat Brolli!" Gohan vowed. His golden aura doubled in size, and his hair turned into a pure, shining gold. His hair grew slightly longer in length, and began to curve back.
"The Ultimate Ascended Super Saiya-jin." Vegeta and Piccolo nearly jumped when they saw Goku, now an Ascended Super Saiya-jin as well.
"Listen Gohan, although you have mastered the Super Saiya-jin level 2, its power dwarfs in comparison with the third level of the Super Saiya-jin! Especially an Ultimate Super Saiya-jin level 3! I do not care what training you have had with Yajen. You will not fight. I will deal with Brolli," Goku commanded. Gohan continued raising his Ki.
"No father," he said. "I will not back down, not now. Your power is depleted, and even if you return to the third level of the Super Saiya-jin, you will not be able to hold it for long! I am the only one who stands a chance now."
Meanwhile, Brolli's hair had also changed into pure gold, illuminating a light that rivaled the brightness of the stars. His hair was now in several long, thick strands, instead of large, thick clumps. It was flowing behind him, even though there was on wind. The Legendary Super Saiya-jin's hair length reached his waist. His pupils were a dark blue, and they had a teal outline. Brolli's eyebrows were still gone. The Legendary Super Saiya-jin was slimmer, although his strength was still as great as ever.
"KAKARATTO!!!" he screamed, as three golden flames wrapped around him.
"It is time!" Goku yelled, as he focused his energy. He brought it all out in a flash of light, and once again, he was beyond the level of an Ascended Super Saiya-jin. Bolts of energy flashed from Gohan's eyes as he was forced to look on. Piccolo put his hand on Gohan's shoulder, only to be subjected to the awesome power the boy was giving off. Concerned of his own safety, Piccolo withdrew his hand.
"Gohan, you are a brave fighter, but right now we have to trust in Goku. He is the only one who can stop Brolli." Vegeta crossed his arms and turned sideways towards Goku.
"As much as I'd hate to admit it, the Namek is right, kid," Vegeta growled.
Gohan could not believe what he had just heard.
'Did Vegeta just admit my father's superiority?'
However, rather then continue thinking in silence, Gohan snapped back at the older fighters.
"No! I must stop Brolli! He cannot fight him in his current state!" Gohan pleaded.
"But you cannot do any better in your state, and Goku's a more experienced fighter!" Piccolo countered. Gohan looked down at the floor.
The two warriors stared into each other's eyes. Green eyes met blue eyes. A hero's spirit clashed with a destroyer's spirit. Goku's aura grew even bigger than before. His power began to climb until it could not climb any longer. He lowered himself into a fighting stance. Closing his eyes, the Saiya-jin searched his mind. It was then he realized what he himself must do.
|No! Don't...you can't...|
'My son, I must! I will do this for the Earth! I will do this for the Saiya-jins! Most of all...I will do this for you!'
The hero smiled at his opponent.
"If I must die, then so be it. But this I vow...if I die, I shall not be going alone. You will come with me, and we shall both burn for eternity!"
To be continued...
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Easily my longest chapter yet. One more chapter left until the end of "False Idols." And that means only about three more or so after that until the next saga begins!
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Next Chapter—
The battle draws to its conclusion, and Mirai Gohan must decide his fate. Will he reject his humanity, or embrace it? Will he atone for his sins, or add to them? It is time for his true ideals to emerge...