Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ.

Darker Essence: An Alternate Universe

Chapter Three: The Fight Ends?

Krillin anxiously paced the small interior of Bulma's CC jet. Already even he could clearly feel Goku and Piccolo's ki signatures colliding violently with each other. And the scary thing was, they were both getting higher as the fight progressed. Master Roshi was sitting quietly in seat in the back end of the jet, his head tilted down towards the ground. Bulma's attention was diverted to flying the jet.

"Ugh, Bulma can't this thing go any faster?" Krillin complained, "By the time we get there the fight's gonna be over!"

"Hey can it crome dome!" Bulma shouted over her shoulder, "I'll have you know this is state of the art technology here!"

"Well if it's state of the art, how come I could fly faster than this...?" Krillin mumbled under his breath. Granted by the time he would actually get to the battleground he'd be horridly tired and of little use (save perhaps as a distraction to pummel into the ground). Krillin let a sigh and shook his head, before resuming his restless pacing.

Gohan was scared. That could hardly sum it up, he was more terrified than he had been in his entire life. He had curled up on a ball on the small ledge he had been kicked down on. His side hurt really bad were he hit the ground, along with a sorted collection of painful bruises and scrapes he'd received by being tossed here and there like a rag doll. His daddy was getting beat up by that green monster thing Piccolo. That wasn't supposed to happen.

"Hurry up daddy... I wanna go home..." Gohan whined to himself.

It was just then the young child saw the two again. On a somewhat distant mountain formation, somewhat cylinder shaped. They seemed to be staring each other down a moment, Gohan noted that Piccolo took off his cape for some reason. Then the two charged at each other again, and were moving so fast that he couldn't even see them.

Gohan just hugged his knees tightly, and hoped for the best.

The battle between Piccolo and Goku was quite possibly the fiercest the Earth had ever seen. Piccolo knew Goku had to be lying. After all the training he'd put himself through after the last Tenkachi Buduokai there was no way Goku would be able to match him unless he'd been through intense training of his own. Piccolo had been kicked by this point, being on the defensive it was inevitable that a strike of Goku's had gotten through, but the counterstrike was always to his advantage.

Try this one on for size Goku... Piccolo dramatically brought his hands from over his head, into a cupped position before him and let out a cry of "Masenko!" A yellow-orange nova flared in his hands in a starburst pattern before a massive strike, rivaling even the Kamehameha shot forth at the Earth warrior.

To Piccolo's displeasure Goku was narrowly able to avoid the blast, the massive attack doing little more than causing a large explosion bellow the two warriors. Piccolo pressed his advantage coming down, and bringing a moccasin clad foot down into Goku's cheek, sending him flying down as well. Goku flew down unhindered and slammed down into the side of a cliff, his muscular form wedged into the gray-white stone quite solidly.

Piccolo grinned in triumph, his white fangs showing themselves. It's time to finish this now. Piccolo thought. He had just the move too, he'd been saving this one to finish off Goku. He brought his right hand to his forehead, extending his first two fingers, a spark of energy flickering at sharp tips of his nails, as Piccolo gathered his energy.

Goku began wedging himself out of the makeshift hole he was in, but Piccolo didn't care, by the time Goku got out, it'd be too late for him. The flickering ball of energy at Piccolo's fingertips grew even brighter, indicating his attack was nearly ready. Goku must have sensed his building energy because his efforts to wedge himself free became even more frantic.

Too late Goku, you're too late... the Demon King thought to himself, as he extended his two fingertips pointing them at the Earth Warrior.

"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo shouted, as he sent a massive orange-yellow energy beam at Goku. The attack was in the shape of a corkscrew, small but extremely powerful. The attack would slice right through Goku of course. Goku had managed to just finally tug his head free, but it was to no avail. No way Piccolo would miss at this range. But Piccolo hadn't taken all things into account.

"Leave my daddy alone!!!" was the massive scream, and before Piccolo could even turn to face it's direction, the son of Goku, surrounded by a fiery blue-white ball of energy slammed into the Demon King sending him reeling.

This move had saved Goku's life, as it diverted the corkscrew beam enough, where it only grazed his shoulder and went through the mountain (and the one after that) before exploding in the distance. Still the cut was deep and painful. Goku let out a grimace, grasping the now bleeding wound painfully.

Another scream from Gohan was heard, the sound of it echoing through the valley, as the enraged child attacked the Demon King again, slamming forcefully into him, sending him reeling once more before he realized what was happening.

Goku couldn't fathom it. Here his five year-old son had just done more damage to Piccolo in ten seconds than he had the entire fight. Such power, Goku suppressed a grin vowing that he had to get ChiChi to let him train his son now! Goku pushed those thoughts aside, as he flew in pursuit of the two. Despite his berserker rage, Gohan wouldn't last long against Piccolo once he went back on the offensive.

Sure enough, as Gohan screamed and charged a third time, Piccolo was ready sending a dangerously fast spinkick to the side of Gohan's face sending him swiftly to the ground. The young child hit the ground with a solid thud, and knocked unconscious that easily.

But just as quickly as the Demon King dispatched one foe, another was upon him. Goku charged and immediately brought a kick into Piccolo's face, which would have sent him back, had Goku not firmly grabbed Piccolo's right arm. Digging his nails into the flesh, Goku let out a cry of rage, and gathered a bit of energy, and brought down his other hand, now glowing brightly, into Piccolo's forearm. With a spray of violet blood the limb was completely severed. Goku discarded the severed limb, tossing it to the ground. Piccolo, growling now with both pain and rage, brought his left hand around, brutally clawing Goku in the face, making some deep scratches in his face.

Goku retaliated bringing both his hands down on Piccolo's head, hammering him down towards the Earth. Piccolo slowed his decent, and despite the lack of an arm and the beating he'd received he still had plenty of fight in him. Goku cupped his hands down at his side, his jet eyes revealing his intent to finish this here and now.

"Kame..."

Goku easily closed the gap between himself and Piccolo. His cupped hands were glowing with an intense white-blue energy ball.

"Hame..."

Piccolo's eyes widened with realization, as Goku placed his cupped hands right on his battered chest. Piccolo brought his left hand forward as it to strike Goku, but the Earth warrior didn't hesitate.

"HA!!!!" Goku shouted as he let lose a massive Kamehameha right into Piccolo's chest. The massive energy blast propelled Piccolo earthward quickly, and before long a massive blue explosion was all that Goku saw.

As Goku descended towards the ground, he let out a sigh of relief. This battle had taken everything out of him. But he had won it. He wiped the sweat of his brow as his feet hit the ground. With a quick scan of his onyx eyes he located Gohan in good time and made his way over to his son. Beaten, battered and unconscious, but alive. Goku picked up his son and cradled him in his arms.

Looking himself and Gohan over, noting the similar sets of wounds they both had Goku shuddered.

"Oi... ChiChi's gonna kill me..."

~~~

Is this the end of Piccolo? Will ChiChi kill Goku? Find out next time. I'll try and keep a chapter coming out everyday, though I can't promise how long I'll keep that pace up. =)