AN: Hi there! Long time no see! Since I enjoyed writing this chapter so much, the next one will probably be out sooner.
This is one of two Gohan fics I have bits of written (the other will be a standard G/V 'Gohan-torture-fic'),
but the two are so intertwined that I've been having to pry them apart with a crowbar.
I can almost tell which bits should belong with which fic by now.
Claimer: Kazyn is mine. So are Kalzor, Carmen, Storm, Ashe, and Sapphire (when/if she turns up). And the alternate timelines.
Disclaimer: Everything else isn't.
Review replies:
Crazed fanatic anime fan: My first review! My first Review!! My First REVIEW!!!!!
HowLong: Mmmm Homicide *looks thoughtful* No. I will resist the temptation this once and update anyway.
Sio: Thanks. Will do.
simba-rulz: Quality and quantity are not equal. You just want me to write more don't you? *bats eyelashes* Yay!
Bardock Deathstar: Explanation (sort-of) at bottom. Thanks for reviewing.
Luna's Meow: Sure thing kitty.
Chapter One: Doom, Gloom, Cell go Boom
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~ Frieza's Spaceship, Past-Vegetassei Timeline ~
"Let me go" Vegeta hissed, his anger outweighing the fear in his voice.
Frieza laughed. "Now why would I want to do that, child? You're mine now."
"I belong to no-one. And I promise you, for what you have done today you will die."
The icejin tapped the boy's cheek with one cold finger, "I don't think so little monkey.
You see, the next time we visit your home planet it will be because I am planning to use it as a fireworks display.
You don't even have a hope of stopping me."
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~ Nowhere in particular, but possibly Frieza's mind, (Past-Vegetassei timeline.) ~
The Saiyans had been one hundred percent loyal to their king - partly from respect, and part from the unspoken
understanding that without the unity a single ruler provided, they would tear each other to shreds.
With the death of the king they would have transferred that loyalty to the crown prince. Frieza knew
this of course, it was at least one of the reasons why he had taken the young prince Vegeta with him.
Vegeta's little brother was scarcely more than a baby, not a possible leader but a future enemy to whoever
succeeded in taking over the throne. Simply put, if Kazyn was ever found, he would die.
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~ Past-Vegetassei ~
Bardock despised the current civil war. It was vicious and bloody and glorious, but it would not help them to survive.
Their enemy was Frieza, and only Frieza. Who got to rule the planet was of little importance compared to ensuring
that that planet was not destroyed.
Most of his team had stayed with him, some had left to fight, others had joined him for reasons of their own.
The mountains Bardock had chosen as a home base kept them isolated - at least for the most part - from the war.
The child in Bardock's arms blinked up at him sleepily as the warrior put him down, then fell back to sleep still
cocooned in a nest of his own hair. Bardock made sure his charge was resting comfortably before turning his
attention to the four he had asked to join him.
Bardock studied his companions seriously. "Frieza can no longer trust us to be the perfect tool. He believes
we are a threat to his power - he would not have killed our king otherwise. It is only a matter of time before he tries
to destroy the rest of us. He believes us to be a threat, so we must become one."
"King Vegeta was an Elite, and Frieza beat him effortlessly. You don't seriously believe we can stop him?" Kalzor
sneered, sceptical as always. Bardock accepted the familiar mockery for what it was - a sincere question, and an
important one. Kalzor had a way of stating bluntly things that the others would have hesitated to say.
He answered his friend with a challenge of his own. "We're fighters. Saiyan warriors. Since when do we accept
that someone is stronger than we are?" He grinned at his friends. "We just have a little bit of training to do first, that's all."
"I'm with you." Carmen asserted, first as always.
"And I," agreed Storm. She looked stubborn.
"And I." Ashe echoed, only a moment behind his twin.
Kalzor smirked at him. "Whatever you say, General."
"Stop calling me that" Bardock protested automatically. "I'm not a General."
Bardock stared up at the stars. Two 'million to one' chances - if even one of us could become a Super Saiyan, if only someone
hears my call and answers - we might survive. I will not give up hope.
A hand on his shoulder stirred him from his thoughts. "Get some sleep, General."
"Kalzor." Bardock recognised an order when he heard one. He nodded. "Thanks."
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~ Mirai Timeline ~
"Er mum" Trunks said awkwardly, "you might want to go back inside for a while. There's something I have to take care of."
"Girlfriend?"
"No mum. Not a girlfriend. Please just go inside. I'll be with you in a moment."
~I'll still be able to see - technology has to be good for something.~ "Okay" she agreed reluctantly, "just don't be too long."
The moment Bulma was out of sight, 17 slipped out of the time machine and Trunks capsulated it.
Watching unnoticed, Bulma thought that the young man with shoulder-length black hair looked somehow
familiar. ~Boyfriend?!~ His back was towards her as he stepped up behind her son and said something she couldn't make out.
"You ready?"
"Of course."
They seemed to be waiting for something.
Juunanagou smiled grimly. "He owes both of us"
"Right." The time-traveller nodded.
Their combined blast speared Cell through the chest and exploded. When the glare of light finally faded the evil grasshopper
might never have existed.
Bulma fainted.
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~ A few weeks after the Cell Games, Planet Earth (Guardian timeline) ~
"I have to go mother," Gohan stared stubbornly at the ground. "If I don't start training again and soon I won't be strong
enough next time I am needed. I can't train here." Chichi was still crying, softly now. Her son waited miserably. It was a decision he
had made years ago, when he chose to train with Piccolo to defend the Earth from the Saiyans. ~Duty doesn't call; it binds.~ He
could not stay, no matter how desperately he wanted to.
A gentle command called him from his memories. "Gohan. Look at me." He did, startled because this wasn't the tirade he had
been expecting. The certainty in Chichi's voice sounded more like his dead father than like his mother. "Goku almost got killed –did get
killed- many many times being a hero. I could never stop him. That's why I wanted you to become a scholar; I was afraid you would get hurt."
"I will, but..."
"I haven't finished." Chichi swiftly cut through Gohan's objection. "Goku would always do what's right, no matter what the
cost, and you're just the same. It's part of what makes you special." She sighed; letting go was always hard. "I wouldn't change that
even if I could. Do what you have to Gohan, with my blessing."
Gohan's face lit up in delighted relief. "You mean it? Really?" Chichi nodded unsteadily and burst out sobbing. "Oh Gohan,
where will you go? I've already missed so much of your childhood. You've grown so fast."
"I was never young." For a moment the ever present shadows in his eyes deepened. "The lookout first. Tomorrow. Piccolo
and Dende still have so much to teach me. Healing too, not just fighting." The young warrior turned away, blinking back tears that
threatened his resolve, and Chichi wailed and embraced him tightly.
Tomorrow came too soon for both of them. Gohan stood resignedly as his mother loaded him up with everything he could
possibly need and a good many things that he couldn't, then –most importantly- a cooked lunch. Chichi stood back and looked at
her eldest child seriously. "Come home sometimes Gohan, just to play with Goten and have fun. You need to know in your heart the
happiness and innocence that you would fight to protect."
"Of course I'll come. I would miss you both too much to stay away forever." Gohan let himself float up until he stood high
in the air, waving. He didn't speak his last thought aloud, but Chichi heard it anyway. ~I love you so much mom. Maybe I couldn't
have done it without you, I'm glad I didn't have to try. Farewell for now.~ Neither of them let their tears fall until Gohan was far out of sight.
TBC
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AN: I don't know, it all makes perfect sense to *me.*
In clarification, this fic is suffering from multiple universe disorder. We have:
1) Guardian timeline: splits off from 'canon timeline' at the end of the Cell Games. Gohan leaves for training.
2) Mirai timeline: the future timeline that Mirai Trunks is from.
3) Past Vegetassei timeline: instead of blowing the planet up Freiza kills the King, kidnaps the Prince, and plans to come back and destroy
it later. Kakkarot/Goku has been sent off to Earth, and Raditz might show up later.
4) Phoenix timeline: Should not be in this fic. Gohan grows up normally, during highschool he spends some time in the hyperbolic
time-chamber and gets denerdified.