A/N: First of all, I'm really sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I've had big problems
with my computer. I had to reset windows and so had to reinstall everything. It took
ages, and as yet i haven't got Word back up, so am therefore lacking spellcheck, so
sorry if there's any bad spelling or grammer mistakes.
Secondly, this is my first real go at writing a battle scene, so if there's anything you
think i can improve on let me know.
Thirdly, um...just enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of it's characters.

Chapter 12: The preliminary battle

Gohan stared in horror at his friend's pain-stricken face.
"You monster!" Gohan shouted at Bob, his rage surfacing.
Bob just laughed, waving his hand in front of Benny. Benny cried out in pain as the energy binds tightened.
Gohan yelled in anger, his energy increasing, a white aura surrounding him.
Bob finally stopped laughing as he realised how much Gohan's power level had shot up. He glared at the enraged child.
"So, you do have some strength. I bet that nosy, old witch of a woman gave you your power back. It was absolutely ingenius of my master to suck away your power." Bob said, smirking. "I had so much fun torturing you at that workhouse."
"You! You! Monster!" Gohan shouted again, before running at the well built man.
He aimed a kick at the man's stomach. Bob moved swiftly to one side.
"Nice try, kid, but you're gonna have to move faster than that." Bob said, a smug look on his face.
Gohan, spurred on by Benny's fading ki, charged at Bob again, but this time he moved quickly. He went in as if he was going to kick him in the stomach again, but quick as a flash he appeared behind Bob and kicked him in the back of the head.
Bob staggered forward, clutching his head.
"You little brat!" Bob shouted, increasing his power level until it levelled with Gohan's.
Gohan masked his shock at Bob's power increase, but inside was wondering what he was gonna do. He figured he could defeat Bob alright, but this Paradox fella had to be a lot stronger. How was he ever gonna defeat him?
Bob charged at Gohan, shouting curses at the young half-breed. Gohan fell into his fighting stance, his mouth set in a grim, determined line.
Bob aimed his fist at a spot between Gohan's eyes. Gohan moved to one side just in time and kicked the man in the stomach.
Bob doubled up, clutching his stomach. Gohan quickly pivoted and brought his hands, clasped together, down onto Bob's bent over back. Bob fell to the floor like a ton of bricks.
"I guess the saying 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall' is true after all." Gohan said, smirking.
Bob got back to his feet, snarling like an enraged bull.
"You'll pay for that, boy!" Bob shouted, charging up a ki blast in his hand.
Gohan looked up just as Bob released the blast. Feeling quite cocky, he stretched his hands out infront of him, ready to block the blast.
"I wouldn't block it if I were you, boy." Bob advised, smiling evilly.
Gohan just smiled back, his rage increasing his confidence in himself.
The blast crashed, full force, into Gohan's out-stretched hands, pushing the demi-saiyan towards the wall.
Woah! This is more powerful than I thought it would be, Gohan thought, upping his ki.
With his power increase, Gohan was able to push the blast away, forcing Bob to move swiftly to dodge his own blast.
Gohan stood his ground, his breathing slightly heavy.
"Is that the best you got?" Gohan asked, his confidence boosted because he'd blocked the blast with relative ease.
Bob looked up, his face flushed with anger.
"You won't beat me, boy. Your breathing is heavy. You can't take much more of this." Bob said, trying to sound convincing, his breathing even heavier than Gohan's.
Gohan laughed. "Get serious. It's quite obvious who has the advantage here." The confident, young demi-saiyan retorted, breathing normally again.
"Oh yeah!" The bull-headed Bob snarled.
He charged towards Gohan, his large, bulky fists raised, snarling even louder about how strong he thought he was. Gohan simply fell into his fighting stance and waited for the large man to strike.
Bob reached Gohan, punching madly and with little accuracy, so that the demi-saiyan could easily dodge each blow.
"You'll have to do better than that." Gohan mocked, before raising his foot and kicking Bob into the wall.
The wall crumbled on impact, and Bob lay half inside, and half outside, getting wet as the rain had decided to pour again.
Gohan walked towards the fallen man, his face grim, his eyes determined, as ever.
"I'm gonna have to finish you now." Gohan said, forming a ki blast in his hand. "Benny needs my help, but before I destroy you, tell me, how did you become to be Paradox's puppet?" He asked, pointing the ki blast at Bob, directly between the eyes.
"I'm not his puppet!" Bob growled. "He doesn't control me!"
"Whatever." Gohan replied, in a bored tone. "Tell me how you joined up with him. I'm interested." Gohan carried on.
"You sure you want to know?" Bob asked, a sudden sinister smile spread across his face.
Gohan gave a single nod, though a little doubt now crept into his eyes. What is he smiling about? He thought.
"I watched as that witch of a woman, along with her sisters, locked my master away. Although he wasn't my master then. I was but a boy of about seven or eight years. The portal into limbo was about to close, when I got a bit to close to it and I was sucked in too. My Goddamn witch of a mother didn't do a thing to save her only son." Bob paused, waiting eagerly for Gohan's reaction to his words.
"Wait! Did you just say Emerald's your mother?" Gohan asked, completely taken aback.
"That's right, boy. Didn't she tell you?" Bob said, sneering
Oh Kami! What should I do? I can't kill Emerald's son! Gohan thought, losing his concentration.
Bob, seizing his opportunity, jumped up and kicked Gohan in the stomach, causing the young hybrid to sprawl across the floor, winded.
Bob advanced on the fallen boy, laughing evilly.
"Ha Ha! That surprised you, didn't it? You didn't think old Emerald would have an evil son did you." Bob said, basking in his small victory over the demi-saiyan.
Gohan looked up at the worn ceiling. What was he gonna do?
As Bob got closer, Gohan jumped to his feet. He had to keep him talking. It would give him more time to figure out what to do.
"What happened once you were inside limbo?" Gohan asked, ready to defend himself if Bob didn't take up on the conversation.
Bob carried on walking until he was but a metre in front of Gohan. He then adopted a very arrogant tone of voice.
"Well, my master saw the potential of my powers immediately and, instead of destroying me like others with potential, he decided to train me. Teach me to focus my power. Now, magically, I'm as powerful as my mother, and when I've carried out my master's wish to kill you, i shall have revenge on her.
Gohan looked up at the large man, confused. Hw could he hate his mother so much? Hadn't he stopped and thought that maybe she was unable to do anything to save him?
"How do you know she didn't try everyting within her power to get you out of the time limbo?" Gohan asked, looking at the enbittered man, sincerely.
Bob looked down at the small child he was supposed to be disposing of. Was it possible that the boy was talking some sense? He shook his head and scowled.
"Yeah right. The old bag did absolutely nothing. She just forgot about me." Bob replied, bitterly.
Gohan stood stock still, at a loss for words.
"Anyway, I've got a job to do. Say your prayers, boy." Bob threatened, regaining his composure.
Okay, Gohan thought, and fell into his fighting stance once again.
Bob started laughing.
"I'm not fighting like that anymore." He declared, his eyes dancing madly.
Gohan was about to ask him what he meant when Bob started chanting a strange incantation.
Oh Kami! Gohan thought. Magic! What am I gonna do?
Flames suddenly erupted all around Gohan, licking menacingly at his clothes.
Gohan, completely unfazed by the fire, flew up and out of his firery prison.
"You'll have to better than that." Gohan said, regaining his confidence once more.
Bob scowled and pointed his index finger at the flames, chanting a spell at the same time. The flames spread, but not towards Gohan. They moved in the opposite direction, with tremendous speed, ready to engulf the small boy secured to the wall with energy binds.
"Benny!" Gohan cried, flying after the flames.
Benny stared at the approaching fire, his eyes wide with acceptance rather than horror. So this was how it ended for him. He was gonna be burnt to a crisp. He shut his eyes and thought of his dead mother.
Gohan suddenly, unwittingly, shouted out a spell of his own. The flames were swallowed up by a wave of clear water, just as they were licking at Benny's worn out shoes.
Benny opened up his eyes and gasped in shock. Where had the fire gone?
Bob growled at Gohan in irritation.
Gohan just gaped. Where had that come from? Then he remebered. Emerald had said she'd given him something along with his abilities and that he'd find it useful in his upcoming battles. She must have given him some of her magical ability.
Gohan looked up at Benny. He looked like he was in a real bad shape and his ki was extremely low. He'd have to finish Bob now so that he could help Benny.
With a determined look and his mind made up, Gohan charged towards Bob and aimed a punch at his face. Bob didn't react quickly enough and the demi-saiyan's fist made a full connection with the spot between the big man's eyes, and he fell back, crashing heavily into the wall.
Gohan stopped a couple of metres away from Bob and cupped his hands together.
"Ka Me Ha Me!" Gohan yelled, raising his ki even higher.
"Haaaaaa!" With a triumphant yell, Gohan released the blast.
It crashed full force into the fallen man, leaving no trace of him or the wall supporting him.
Gohan sighed. He did it. Bob was dead.
The energy binds holding Benny disappeared and Gohan caught his falling friend just before he hit the ground.
"You did it, Gohan" Benny said, weakly, before losing consiousness.
"Hang on, Benny." Gohan said, in barely a whisper.
He was about to fly out of the crumbling warehouse, when a mocking voice stopped him.
"I am impressed, but are you leaving so soon? After all the fun is only just beginning."

End chapter.

Okay, sorry about the cliffy, but you know how much I like writing them. Please let me know what you think. Lol. R&R and i'll update soon (As long as my computer doesn't play up again). ^_^