As much as I want it, DBZ isn't mine. Never was, never will be.
Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who helped and encouraged me on this, and most of all my beta-buddy Holly for all of her help!
**************************************************************************** ** Battle of the Heart by NansJns
Ch.7
Goku was jarred half-way awake a few hours later by the sound of pained, feminine screaming somewhere close by. He strove to wake himself up further so he could figure out what was going on, but as soon as he determined that the screams weren't originating from Chi-Chi, (whom he could feel was still asleep), his overtaxed body's need for rest forced him back down into sleep. Hours later, he awoke fully, and he could only assume it was morning. It was dark down in the dungeons, with only a few torches placed every three feet on the walls to give off intermittent patches of light. He definitely felt better after a full night's sleep. He thought back on the dream he'd had; it had been unusually quiet. In fact, all he could remember about it was that he'd been sitting on the couch at home holding Chi-Chi, who was worried about something.
**Chi-Chi?** he called out telepathically. Like in his dream, he could sense that she was fully awake and feeling anxious. **Are you all right, Sweetheart?**
**Goku! Yes, I'm fine! How are you? You slept so much later than usual. . .** Chi-Chi's inner voice answered him a moment later.
**I'm all right; I was just very tired. Oh, Chi-Chi, it's such a relief to talk to you again, to feel you. . .** Goku smiled to himself as Chi-Chi's love and concern washed through him.
**I know. Even when I couldn't remember you, I needed to feel you; it just felt so. . .so horribly lonely.** Chi-Chi, too, was savoring the feeling of her mate's love and concern in her mind and soul again.
**I know. Chi-Chi, I-**
**Shh! Wait! I think Davin's coming! He mustn't know about the bond! I never told him about it before, that's probably why he did nothing to try and get rid of it.** Chi-Chi's voice cut off with a feeling of panic, and Goku bit back a cry of frustration. Despite her memories being returned to her, as long as she was in this place, Davin still had Chi-Chi under his control. Who knew what he'd do to her now? Goku knew that he was still far too weak to break the damnable chains. He sighed heavily, and tugged ineffectually at his chains. He was well-rested now, but there was still one thing he needed in order to regain his fighting strength. His long-denied stomach growled louder than it ever had before, the noise echoing off the walls. Now that he knew Chi-Chi was safe and close at hand, his Saiyan appetite had returned with a vengeance.
"Man, I'm _hungry_!" he said to the cell wall. "I'm absolutely starved! I wonder if Maruberu or one of her friends could somehow sneak a meal down to me. . ." Goku stopped his train of thought as he remembered the screams from the previous evening, and realized who it must have been. "Oh, no. . ." he breathed. ((Davin must have punished them for helping me and Chi-Chi. . .)) he thought, as a small, guilty lump formed in his throat. Somewhere above him, he heard the sound of a door opening and closing, and then footsteps slowly approaching his cell. His nose picked up a faint smell of food suddenly drifting through the air as well. In response, his stomach growled even louder. After a few moments, the tall, blonde elf and the shorter, silver-haired elf came down the hall carrying two trays of food. He could see that the skin on their bodies was bruised and burned, and the smaller one walked with a pronounced limp. "I. . .I'm sorry," Goku said softly, as the two approached his cell.
"Don't be; if all works out and you get us out of here, it'll be worth it," said the blonde elf, giving him a small smile, despite her bruises. "I'm Aume, and she's Lilith."
"Where's Maruberu?" Goku asked, dreading the answer.
"In her room. I'm afraid that she won't be moving around on her own today," Aume answered, and then continued before Goku could speak. "We're all fast healers, so rest assured, she _will_ survive. Hopefully, Davin doesn't know that we've brought you some breakfast. Chi-Chi told us that you have quite an appetite. We hope this is enough."
"Thanks! I'm starv-" Goku started to move toward the cell door, only to remember that his arms were pinned behind him. "Oh, man! How am I supposed to eat like this?" he moaned.
"Ah. . .uh. . ." Aume stuttered. They'd forgotten he was chained up. Goku looked at the food longingly and, unable to stop himself, started to drool. "If we had the key, we'd open the door and help you, but Davin would never let us near it."
"There's gotta be a way. . ." Goku grunted as he pulled on his chains again - and to his great surprise, the chain grew longer, allowing his arms to be in front of him again. He could only move them about a foot in front of himself, but that was enough. Not questioning this fortunate turn, Aume slid her tray through the bottom slot in the door, and Goku worked his way over to the door (unlike the arm restraints, the chain on his legs remained tight and unyielding) and quickly took it. Lilith pushed hers through next, and he took it as well. He consumed the entire contents of the first tray in only a few moments, and then started in on the second tray. He suddenly stopped in the middle of his eating frenzy, when he picked up a plate full of a large, fancy omelette. A small, delighted smile appeared on his face.
"Chi-Chi made this, didn't she?" he asked, almost dreamily.
"Yes, she made everything on the second tray. . .how did you know?" Lilith replied.
"I can tell," Goku answered, his eyes closed pleasurably as he inhaled the smell of the food slowly and deeply. There was something in the smell, he could tell that Chi-Chi had made this for him. He quickly ate it and everything else on the tray with unrestrained gusto, and then pushed the trays back through the slot. "Okay, where's the rest?" he asked, ready for more.
"Huh? The rest? But you can't still be hungry-" Aume started.
"Well, no offense, but of course I am," Goku said, eyeing her cryptically. "I eat four to five times more than that at a normal meal, and I've barely eaten in a week! I'm still famished!"
"Uh. . .okay. . .we'll see about getting more," Lilith said slowly, and she and Aume retrieved the trays. Goku let out a surprised grunt as the chains suddenly shrank back to normal, pulling his hands back behind his back.
"Damn!" Goku muttered hotly.
"Apparently, those restraints will only loosen enough to let you eat," Aume observed thoughtfully. Then she shifted uncomfortably, wanting to leave before Davin discovered them missing. "We need to get back upstairs."
"We'll be back as soon as we can," Lilith promised, and the two elves hurried off as fast as their battered bodies would allow them.
"Don't do more than you can handle," Goku called after them. For the next hour, Aume and Lilith took turns sneaking more food down to him. Most of it was just fresh fruits and vegetables harvested from the gardens, washed but not cooked. All of which suited Goku's ravenous appetite just fine; he didn't care so long as it was edible. Though he seemed cheerful enough as he filled his stomach, he could sense that Chi-Chi was currently on the receiving end of Davin's ire. ((He probably caught her cooking for me. . .if he does anything else to her, I'll break his spine - one vertebrae at a time!)) Goku thought, his face becoming dark and frightening as he distractedly ate an apple. The taste of the lightly sweet fruit in his mouth reminded him of the second time he and Chi-Chi had met. He'd landed in an apple tree for some lunch, and heard her humming nearby while she picked flowers. ((Was Davin already looking her way back then?)) he suddenly wondered. ((Was he already fixated on her?)) He violently crushed what remained of the apple in his clenched fist as he thought of Davin chasing after his Chi-Chi all those years ago. For a brief moment, he wondered if maybe Davin would have moved on if he hadn't been under the book's evil influence. Poshun had mentioned something about it feeding off negative emotions and then returning them to its 'master' stronger than before. Not that any of that mattered now. Davin was mad, in possession of a great deal of power, and was holding Chi-Chi captive. He tossed the ruined apple aside; he'd had enough to eat. Physically, he felt better than he had in days, but emotionally he was still teetering on the edge. The chains shrank again, and he cursed aloud. In retaliation, he went Super Saiyan and tried to break the chains, but, to his great frustration, that tact didn't work. Growling, he went up to SS2, but even that didn't seem to budge them. He paused in his struggles when he heard the far-off door open and close again. This time, Davin's scent accompanied the sound, and Goku began fighting the chains' grip with more force. Before the human man came into view, Goku dropped out of Super Saiyan so he wouldn't have to explain his transformed state to Davin. Davin neared Goku's cell, his footsteps hitting the floor in a brisk, irritated walk, and the two men glared at each other through the bars with hate blazing in their eyes.
"Well, I hope you're happy," Davin finally said, his voice tight with anger and annoyance. "I'm going to have to redo the memory spells now. The process will cause Chi-Chi to feel dizzy, disoriented, and confused for days again."
"How _dare_ you. . .!" Goku growled, his jaws clenched in anger. "_You're_ the one who kidnapped her! _You're_ the one who's forcing her to be something she's not, to go against her true nature! Where do you get off treating her like a doll?!"
"Shut UP!" Davin bellowed, his voice causing Goku's chains to tighten painfully. "You-you leave her alone all the time, and you have the gall to tell me that _I'm_ the one wronging her? You left her while she was _pregnant_, you bastard! What kind of 'loving husband' does that?!"
"I didn't know that she was pregnant at the time, and besides, I didn't have a choice in the matter!" Goku answered lowly. "Would it have been preferable to you if I had let Cell blow up the planet so we could all have been dead together?"
"Oh, _please_! You expect me to swallow that contrived story that you just came back from the dead after seven years?! Tell the truth for once! You just up and left her, didn't you?! You went gallivanting off somewhere, and conveniently forgot to come home because you really don't give a damn about any of your family! Isn't that right?!" Davin barked furiously, his face flushing a bright red. Goku growled back at him.
"The. . .truth? I. . .was. . .DEAD! I gave up my life to put a stop to Cell's diabolical plans, even though my sacrifice didn't really work!! And don't think for one second there wasn't any time I didn't miss Chi-Chi and Gohan with every fiber in my being! Everyday, every hour, that I was in the Other World, I wished I could've been home with them! You don't remember now, but another evil being named Buu went on a rampage two months ago, and another being gave up his life to me so I could help stop this creature! Afterwards, except for those of us who fought against him, all memory of Buu was wiped from everyone's minds! I was dead for seven years; I didn't know she was pregnant or that I had a second son until I came back! They're my family, Chi-Chi is _my_ wife, and I would never, ever_ forget_ them! Now _give her back_!!" Goku breathed deeply a few times to keep his anger in check. For the first time he wished he knew how to fire eye-beams. If he had that power at his command, he could attack Davin even with his arms tied behind his back. Davin continued to stare at him with conflicting emotions flitting across his face.
"You have no rights here," Davin finally said, his voice filled with quiet menace. "She'll be safe and happy here always; I won't ever leave her the way you did."
"She isn't a pet, you know! She has the right to choose the one she loves! And she chose _me_! Learn to deal with it!" Goku answered, his voice equally low and threatening.
"I've 'dealt' with it for far too many years! I've watched her fawn over someone who'd forgotten about her, marry a man who knew nothing about her - a man who purposely _hurts_ her and calls it _love_ - a man who leaves her behind whenever it so suits him! She has the right to choose, but she chose _badly_! I'm helping her see that she made a mistake in choosing you!" Davin said hotly. Goku could barely contain his rage; his golden aura began flickering around him.
"Perhaps, as a kid, I didn't think about her much; and maybe I _didn't_ know everything about her when we got married, but I _do_ love her, and I'd never hurt her on purpose! I only left my family when something very important came up and I had to see it through; to keep them and others I cared about safe from harm! And I always came back before long! And frankly, by the looks of things, with all my faults I'm still a MUCH better choice than YOU! I've grown to accept everything about her; bad temper, bossiness, and all! I love her just the way she is! _You_ felt the need to go in and change her into some kind of helpless, fairytale damsel in distress!" Goku's voice began to rise with his anger, his black eyes full of fire. How _dare_ this human man say Chi-Chi had chosen poorly when she chose him above all others! They made a great couple, they were very happy despite their occasional disagreements on how best to raise their sons. How dare he say she would be happier with a man who treated her like a thing instead of a person!
"You'd never hurt her on purpose? That would be a lot more convincing if you didn't leave deep, permanent scars on her!" Davin answered, smiling nastily again. "As you might have noticed, I erased that scar on her shoulder. I, for one, prefer to have her skin smooth and perfect, and when she and I. . .well, unlike you, I won't leave her hurt and blemished."
"Lay one hand on her and I'll rip off all of your limbs!!" Goku bellowed. "I'll have you know that scar is a Saiyan sign of belonging; and unlike wedding rings, the marks show that we are together forever! I marked her out of love, to show everyone that would ever see it that I wanted her as my own, for eternity! She returned the favor, you know!"
"Yes, that's what she said, but. . ." Davin said thoughtfully, and raised one hand and gave a small wave. Goku's shirt and weighted top tore open on his left shoulder, revealing the matching scar on his skin that Chi- Chi had given him. It wasn't as big or as visible as his mark on her had been, but it was undeniably there, in plain sight. Davin frowned, staring at the bite mark. "You Saiyans are something of a sick bunch, aren't you? Well, I can take care of that scar, too," he observed, the nasty smile returning to his face. He began chanting in a different tongue, and after a few seconds pointed one hand at Goku. Sensing Davin's intention to erase Chi-Chi's mark, Goku instinctively started to dodge away from the cast spell, but the entire cell began to fill with pale blue light. Surrounded by the strange glow, Goku wasn't sure which way to move and, in that split second of indecision, was struck from all sides by multiple beams of light. A burning pain tore through him and he watched in sorrow-filled horror as the mark on his shoulder faded away. Right after his scar healed, there was another pain, lower down, accompanied by a second ripping sound, but he hardly noticed it. "Much better," Davin said with satisfaction, as the lights faded away.
"_You son of a bitch, I'll_--huh?" Goku's infuriated words trailed off when he suddenly became aware of something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Muscles in his lower back that he hadn't used for years were moving again. He could feel hairs standing taut with anger, and not just on his head. For once, Davin had the grace to look more than a little surprised as his eyes dropped to Goku's waistline. Goku looked over his shoulder to confirm what he'd been feeling, and was rewarded by the sight of his adult Saiyan tail, fully restored! It had torn a hole through the back of his pants during the healing spell, and was swishing angrily back and forth behind him. "My tail!" Goku gasped in amazement.
"Huh, that spell really does undo all damage," Davin muttered, puzzled by this unexpected side effect. "Probably only worked because I wanted to make it sufficiently powerful so that the erasure of your scar would've hurt you more."
"I suppose I should be grateful to you for restoring my tail - but I'm still going to kill you," Goku said. "What you've done is unforgivable, Davin."
"Hmph. I don't recall asking for your forgiveness," Davin huffed. "Perhaps I should change out your memories too, turn you into my faithful servant," he mused aloud. He could feel Goku's stare boring into him and shrugged it off with forced ease. "No, I don't think so. . .memories or no, having you too close to Chi-Chi would be a bad idea. Can't have the Mistress of the house carrying on an affair with a mere servant, can we?"
"I swear to Kami, Davin, if you touch her again. . ." Goku growled, but Davin turned a scornful shoulder toward him.
"Yes, indeed; what should I do with you? I should probably just kill you outright; but subconsciously, Chi-Chi would never forgive me for that, even after her memory of it was removed. Gauging the way she behaved over the last week, I have the feeling she'd always harbor an anger and a hate for me if I ended your life, even though she wouldn't know why. I'm going to think long and hard on this dilemma. For now, I'll let you live so that you can continue to enjoy these _sumptuous_ accommodations," Davin said contemptuously, stepping back from the cell. "And you needn't worry, Chi- Chi's in good hands now!" he laughed mockingly as he walked away, and Goku scowled after his retreating figure. Once Davin was gone, Goku allowed himself a very Saiyan smirk.
"You obviously haven't heard all of the stories about me," Goku said casually, as his powerful tail wrapped around the chain and began to pull in tandem with his arms. The stress of being pulled in three directions at once was finally becoming too much for the magically-forged metal and, before long, Goku could feel it beginning to bend just the smallest bit.
"WHAT?! _None_ of you have seen Dad since last night?!" Gohan shouted, staring at the circle of his father's friends. They were all gathered in front of the Son house, and none of them looked happy at the news of Goku's absence. When they had all arrived asking for his father, Gohan could only tell them he hadn't come home the previous night. He'd assumed Goku was with one of them looking for Chi-Chi; only to find none of them had seen his father in hours.
"Sorry, Gohan," Yamcha said quietly. "I felt his ki spike for a moment in the early evening, and then it was gone." The others nodded in agreement, for they too had felt the same thing.
"I haven't heard or seen from him since yesterday afternoon," Krillin added.
"Vegeta, you were with him, weren't you?!" Gohan turned on the Saiyan Prince, who actually looked bewildered by the latest turn of events.
"I only left him alone for less than twenty minutes. I heard him shout something about his mate when his ki spiked, and then vanished. I thought perhaps that hard-headed third class finally fainted from lack of food and sleep, but when I got back to where I left him, he was gone!" Vegeta answered, looking Gohan in the eyes as he did.
"And there was nothing else?!" Gohan pressed, his desperation becoming obvious to all.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Goten sniffled, fighting to keep his tears in check. Unfortunately, it was a losing battle, and the more he heard his brother and the grown-ups talk, the more ground he lost.
"There was. . .one thing," Piccolo said, moving a little forward. "I was at Kami's Lookout talking with Dende when we felt your father's last ki spike, and right afterwards, there was a small feeling of magic." Gohan and Goten looked at him in blank horror for a moment, and then Goten lost his fight to contain his tears and began bawling. Bulma quickly moved over to the distraught little boy and pulled him into a comforting hug. Trunks also moved in to comfort his best friend.
"Magic?! More magic?!" Gohan gasped, his chest constricting painfully. A worried Krillin moved a little closer, since it appeared as if Gohan's knees were going to buckle. Gohan managed to keep himself up, although he was shaking all over.
"Dende said it wasn't the same as the magic he felt when your mother disappeared; and Mr. Popo said it felt more akin to elf magic, for all that's worth," Piccolo added quickly, hoping it would be of some comfort to the two boys.
"When Kakkarot shouted, it sounded more like he was shouting _at_ someone, rather than just screaming his frustration to the air," Vegeta observed thoughtfully, trying not to watch as his mate held onto Kakkarot's youngest like her own son. Something about the way she was holding the crying boy bothered him greatly, although he couldn't comprehend why it did.
"Shh, Goten, shh," Bulma murmured into the small boy's hair as he continued to sob. Trunks wasn't sure what to do, and just kept his small hand placed on Goten's shaking back so he'd know he was there.
"First Momma, now Daddy! Where did they go?!" Goten sniffed and hiccupped between sobs. Bulma pushed him back from her a little to look him in the face.
"I believe that your father went to wherever your mother is, and he's going to bring her home soon," she said confidently. "He must have found someone who could take him to her, and went to get her."
"Y-you really think so, Aunt Bulma?" Goten asked, sniffing deeply, his wet eyes full of hope.
"Yeah," Bulma nodded, giving him a gentle, reassuring smile. "I really do! But I bet Davin is giving him some trouble, which is why he isn't back yet."
"But my Daddy can handle Davin! That guy might have magic, but he's a wimp!" Goten asserted, starting to smile.
"Absolutely! Now, dry those tears. Saiyans are big and tough; they never cry for long!" Bulma said, and pulled a tissue from her pocket and started drying his face. She got another tissue out and offered it to him, which he used to noisily blow his nose. "Now, you gonna be strong and not cry anymore?"
"Uh-huh. Thanks, Aunt Bulma," Goten said, as his eyes shone with gratitude.
"You know, that actually sounds like the most likely answer," Krillin observed.
"True. It makes no sense for Davin to have taken Goku away, too," Tien said with a nod.
"But from where would an elf have come? For that matter, how would he or she know where Chi-Chi might be?" Yamcha said.
"What's an elf?" Vegeta asked. The other Z-Fighters gave him the best definition they could, and he grunted. "Popo says it felt like the magic of a creature that doesn't really exist?"
"Elves _do_ exist, they just don't live on the same plane of existence as we do," Piccolo answered him. "They live on a parallel world very similar to Earth, and they used to visit this plane all the time, but as belief in magic became scarce here they eventually stopped coming altogether."
"That explanation still doesn't get us anywhere," Vegeta muttered unhappily. He was standing stiffly, arms crossed on his chest, one finger impatiently tapping on a bicep.
**Vegeta? What's bothering you?** Bulma asked through their bond. She could tell by his posture that something was eating at him.
**It's nothing, it. . .** he sighed as he knew how pointless his denial was; she knew he was lying. **Why did you hold Kakkarot's youngest brat like that? I'm not sure why, but it bugged me.**
**I held him the way I did because he needed it.** Bulma answered gently. **He needed to be comforted. This is all very scary for a little kid; he needed to hear from a grown-up he knew and trusted that everything will be all right.**
**I. . .actually understand that. I don't know why it bothered me. . .** Vegeta said, keeping his face outwardly straight and calm.
**Vegeta, it's bothered you for a long time that Goku knew me for so long; that he was the one who knew me first, hasn't it?** Bulma asked softly as she moved up beside him.
**Yes. . .** Vegeta's eyes slid closed with the confession.
**Vegeta, my heart belongs to you alone. Goku is like my kid brother. I've always cared about him, but not in that way. Gohan and Goten are like nephews to me. You heard Goten call me 'Aunt'. I reacted to his sorrow as a mother or good aunt _should_ react. That's all.** Bulma gently wrapped her arms around him, and he relaxed into her embrace. Even after all the years he'd spent on this planet, he was still learning about all of the kinds of relationships that could exist, and he was unsettled easily. Bulma was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he carried a deep, secret fear of losing her. He thought of how Kakkarot had been acting over the past week, and let Bulma know that he'd have been just as lost had it been her who'd suddenly vanished. Bulma couldn't help but feel flattered at the thought, for she knew that her Saiyan Prince's behavior would've been considerably worse. Her arms tightened around her husband, and she breathed a silent prayer that Goku and Chi-Chi would be back soon, for their sons' sakes.
Goku hadn't seen Davin since that morning's confrontation. There weren't any clocks around and no windows to let in sunlight, so he could only guess at the time, but he figured it had to be mid-to-late afternoon by now. His stomach signaled that it was time for his next meal, and he turned his head hopefully when he heard the distant door open and close again. Once again, a faint scent reached him before the visitor did, and he tried to leap to his feet the second he realized it belonged to Chi-Chi. The chains about his ankles caused him to topple over in his attempt, but nonetheless he quickly inched closer to the cell door to watch for her.
**Goku, where are you?** Chi-Chi's voice called quietly in his mind.
**Down here!** Goku answered. **You're getting closer!** A few moments later, she stepped into the light from one of the torches down the hall, saw him behind the cell bars, and ran over to him. He pulled himself up as close to the bars as he could manage.
"Goku! Are you okay?" she whispered worriedly as she reached through the bars to touch him.
"Except for being tied up, I'm fine. You? I haven't heard from you since this morning," he said, his concerned eyes quickly scanning over her body for injuries.
"I'm all right, but Davin is furious! We've been arguing for hours about what he did to me," Chi-Chi said, her shoulders shaking with unspent rage. One of her hands drew back from him and touched her shoulder. "He tried to take it all away from me; you, our sons, our whole life together. . ." Her hand clenched tightly on her shoulder. "He used his magic to erase your mark." she admitted sadly.
"I know, I saw that last night. He erased yours, too," Goku said, his voice equally sad, and his tail slid through the bars to wrap around her comfortingly. Chi-Chi jumped as the furry appendage touched her, and stared down at it in shock.
"Goku! Y-Your tail?!" she said, staring down at it.
"Yeah. Can you believe it? When he healed your mark on my shoulder, he inadvertently made the spell so powerful that my tail grew back! Incredible, huh? I thought it was gone for good!" Goku smiled as he wound it around her waist. His tail was the only part of him that could truly hold her at the moment. Chi-Chi continued to stare at it, as she thought of the stories she'd heard of Saiyans with tails looking at the full moon, and of the image of Vegeta in Baba's crystal ball when he went Oozaru. ((Time enough to worry about that later.)) she thought, and turned her attention back to her husband's face.
"Goku, you looked so ill last night; are you really sure you're okay?" Chi-Chi asked gently, placing both hands the sides of his face.
"I'm okay now. I wasn't eating or sleeping well while you were missing, but now that I've found you again, I'm feeling much better," Goku answered in a husky tone, and Chi-Chi smiled back at him, a light blush coloring her cheeks. Forgetting all else for a moment, they leaned in and kissed between the bars. The kisses were quick and heated, but the bars of the cell kept them from completely losing themselves in the moment.
"I don't suppose you have the key to this door?" Goku asked lightly when they paused in between kisses to catch their breaths.
"No. I've tried to look, but Davin's been keeping his eye on me. I don't know if he knows I'm down here, but I don't care if he does," Chi-Chi said, airily. "How are Gohan and Goten?"
"They're okay; worried sick about you, of course, but otherwise. . .oh no!" Goku's eyes widened when he realized what he'd done the previous evening.
"What? What is it?" Chi-Chi's hands fell to his shirt and gripped the material in her two tight fists.
"Last night. . .I was by myself when Maruberu found me, and the moment she said she knew where you were, I immediately made her take me to you. . .I never told anyone I'd found help, or that I was going anywhere! None of them know where I am!" Goku explained. "Gohan and Goten must be in an absolute panic by now!"
"My poor sons!" Chi-Chi said, biting her lower lip at the thought of her worried sons. "Well, we'll be home soon, and everything will be all right!" she said, as her mood quickly changed to one of confidence. "Say. . .I have a hair pin, maybe I can pick the lock! . .where _is_ the lock?" They both looked at the cell door, but there was no visible lock. Chi-Chi moved away from Goku with a small feeling of regret and impetuously grabbed the bars of the door. She let out a hard grunt as she pulled on the cold metal bars, but they didn't budge. Somewhere above them, they heard the door to the dungeon slam open.
"Davin! Chi-Chi, hide!" Goku instructed quickly as Davin's scent hit his nostrils. Chi-Chi started to run, but before she got more than three steps, her feet were lifted off the floor and she floated backwards to Davin's waiting arms.
"Let her go!" Goku snarled at him.
"Before I decide your fate, Goku, I'm curious about something," Davin said, ignoring Goku's outburst. There was a sudden, blinding flash, and the three of them were all in the courtyard of Davin's palace. Davin put Chi-Chi down, but continued to hold one of her arms in a tight grip. Despite his calm appearance, his blood was boiling. He'd been watching the two of them through one of his spy-spells as Chi-Chi went down into the dungeon; he'd vainly hoped she'd actually gone to tell Goku goodbye. He hadn't been able to eavesdrop on their conversation, but their touching and kissing was enough to show him she was still dedicated to Goku.
"Night sky, come early; I beckon the stars to appear," Davin chanted, and the sun dropped down the horizon and the sky almost instantly darkened.
"What are you. . .?" Goku started slowly, wondering what he was conjuring up next.
"Let's have a look at this so-called transformation of yours," Davin said casually. "Sister Moon, shine brightly. Show thy full fair face. . ."
"Are you insane?!" Chi-Chi demanded as Davin waved his hands and caused a false moon to shine brightly overhead. Goku quickly tore his gaze from the artificial moon, feeling his new tail involuntarily twitch in response to the brilliant orb.
"I'm quite sane. I'm just curious, that's all. If this man can transform - well, I want to see it. Maybe if he turns into something useful, I'll spare his life," Davin answered, and snapped his fingers. Against his will, Goku felt his head get jerked over and he looked directly at the moon before he could close his eyes. He felt his mind slip away, while his body began to grow. Within seconds, he broke through the shackles Davin had placed on him as if they were nothing. Davin and Chi- Chi ran from the now-Oozaru-Goku, as he tilted back his head and roared his fury to the sky.
Chi-Chi screamed and ran as the giant Oozaru-Goku roared again, stomping across the landscape. All of a sudden, the massive monkey face looked downward and seemed to sniff the air. Chi-Chi shrieked again as his huge shadow fell over her, and suddenly two massive monkey hands clapped around her. As she felt herself being lifted into the air, she wondered what Goku would do when he awoke in the morning and found her blood all over his hands. The hands gently opened and Chi-Chi stared upward at her husband's large ape-face.
"H-huh?" she choked faintly. The huge nose leaned in and delicately sniffed at her, stirring her clothes and hair with his inhales. Once, twice, three times, and then his bright red eyes seemed to light up.
"CHRIIICHRIII!" he growled, and his monkey-mouth curled into a semblance of a smile. He sat down with a hard thud onto his backside, all desire to destroy completely forgotten as he studied the tiny woman in his hands. Chi-Chi gasped softly.
"Did you just say. . .Chi-Chi?" she asked wonderingly. She slowly stood up in his opened palm.
"CHRIIICHRIII!" he repeated, as his big red tongue came out and licked her twice.
"Ick, ape spit. . ." she muttered, then beamed up at the Oozaru-Goku. "You _do_ know me, don't you?" She leaned forward to give his immense snout a small hug. "I should've known you'd never hurt me," she sighed contentedly. He purred deeply at her touch and nuzzled her as best their size differences would allow.
"Well, would you look at that! You can _control_ him!" Davin observed, sounding very relived, as he floated up to their level. "I will admit, Chi-Chi dear, that you were right, this was not a good idea." Chi- Chi glared at him hatefully.
"I told you before - _don't_ you _ever_ call me _dear_!" she snapped, and then turned to her husband. "Goku, it's Davin! Get him!" Goku looked at the hovering Davin with his big red eyes, sniffed once, and then roared once the human's identity registered. Holding Chi-Chi securely in one hand, Oozaru-Goku stood up and chased after Davin, swinging at him with his other hand. Davin's spells barely kept him ahead of Goku's ever-nearing blows. Goku stopped in his tracks to open his mouth wide and fire a Godzilla-style ki blast at the flying human. The blast engulfed Davin, but his magical shield held - although just barely.
"Sister Moon, I now ask thee to depart! Shine thy silver light away from here; hide thy face until it is your time again!" Davin chanted quickly, and the moon vanished as swiftly as it had appeared. Oozaru-Goku continued to charge after him, although without the moonlight, he was already starting to shrink in size. "Sleep!" Davin ordered, and the dazed monkey-beast fell onto his massive knees, and then began to wobble backwards. Chi-Chi let out a scream as Goku dropped onto the ground, though he still held her securely within his hand. He continued to shrink, smaller and smaller, and the long, brown fur retreated back into his skin. Within moments, Chi-Chi found herself lying on top of a normal-sized, unconscious, and very naked Goku, one of his arms wrapped around her.
"Goku?" she cried, anxiously shaking his unresponsive form.
"Whew! That was _way_ too close!" Davin panted as he landed beside them. "By Kami, that man's a menace! And do stop shaking him, Chi-Chi. He won't wake until I tell him to."
"Wake him up right now, Davin!! I've had just about enough of you and your lousy spells! Wake my husband up and let us go home, or so help me I'll kick your sorry ass into next week!" Chi-Chi reared on him in a fury; she was going to have his head on a pike for everything he'd put them through! Davin frowned unhappily at her words and stance. The sheer improbability of his situation was becoming overwhelming; she loved Goku with everything in her being, and nothing Davin could do would sway her from this monkey-man; no words, no spells, nothing. Davin felt his heartbeat rise to frenzied rhythm, as he looked at her standing in front of her husband, ready to attack to protect what was hers. The woman he'd loved his entire life, but would never have. . .all because of some stinking, lost alien who thought he was human and, as a child, had a helpful attitude!
Having mentally planned out her full assault on his person, a fed-up Chi-Chi charged at Davin, but before she reached him she was pushed back and to the ground by a powerful wind as Davin's eyes blazed a brilliant silver. His hair and clothes began to float as a pale green aura surrounded him. Chi-Chi pushed herself back onto her feet, but wisely didn't resume her attack. He'd never looked like this before. She could feel something powerful coming, and a faint coolness surrounded her limbs.
"What are you doing?!" Chi-Chi demanded, trying to keep her voice strong and forceful despite the rising nervousness in her body. **Goku, please wake up! Davin's up to something. . .!**
"I've had enough, too," said Davin, his voice dark and threatening. Chi-Chi didn't even have a chance to scream before the cold light engulfed her and Goku. Up in Davin's room, the pages of the Ahdicionious were glowing green and flipping over with great speed, back and forth, the frenzied flapping of the ensorcelled papers almost sounding like ancient, dusty laughter. **************************************************************************** ** Play time is over. . .
NansJns@sa-tech.com
Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who helped and encouraged me on this, and most of all my beta-buddy Holly for all of her help!
**************************************************************************** ** Battle of the Heart by NansJns
Ch.7
Goku was jarred half-way awake a few hours later by the sound of pained, feminine screaming somewhere close by. He strove to wake himself up further so he could figure out what was going on, but as soon as he determined that the screams weren't originating from Chi-Chi, (whom he could feel was still asleep), his overtaxed body's need for rest forced him back down into sleep. Hours later, he awoke fully, and he could only assume it was morning. It was dark down in the dungeons, with only a few torches placed every three feet on the walls to give off intermittent patches of light. He definitely felt better after a full night's sleep. He thought back on the dream he'd had; it had been unusually quiet. In fact, all he could remember about it was that he'd been sitting on the couch at home holding Chi-Chi, who was worried about something.
**Chi-Chi?** he called out telepathically. Like in his dream, he could sense that she was fully awake and feeling anxious. **Are you all right, Sweetheart?**
**Goku! Yes, I'm fine! How are you? You slept so much later than usual. . .** Chi-Chi's inner voice answered him a moment later.
**I'm all right; I was just very tired. Oh, Chi-Chi, it's such a relief to talk to you again, to feel you. . .** Goku smiled to himself as Chi-Chi's love and concern washed through him.
**I know. Even when I couldn't remember you, I needed to feel you; it just felt so. . .so horribly lonely.** Chi-Chi, too, was savoring the feeling of her mate's love and concern in her mind and soul again.
**I know. Chi-Chi, I-**
**Shh! Wait! I think Davin's coming! He mustn't know about the bond! I never told him about it before, that's probably why he did nothing to try and get rid of it.** Chi-Chi's voice cut off with a feeling of panic, and Goku bit back a cry of frustration. Despite her memories being returned to her, as long as she was in this place, Davin still had Chi-Chi under his control. Who knew what he'd do to her now? Goku knew that he was still far too weak to break the damnable chains. He sighed heavily, and tugged ineffectually at his chains. He was well-rested now, but there was still one thing he needed in order to regain his fighting strength. His long-denied stomach growled louder than it ever had before, the noise echoing off the walls. Now that he knew Chi-Chi was safe and close at hand, his Saiyan appetite had returned with a vengeance.
"Man, I'm _hungry_!" he said to the cell wall. "I'm absolutely starved! I wonder if Maruberu or one of her friends could somehow sneak a meal down to me. . ." Goku stopped his train of thought as he remembered the screams from the previous evening, and realized who it must have been. "Oh, no. . ." he breathed. ((Davin must have punished them for helping me and Chi-Chi. . .)) he thought, as a small, guilty lump formed in his throat. Somewhere above him, he heard the sound of a door opening and closing, and then footsteps slowly approaching his cell. His nose picked up a faint smell of food suddenly drifting through the air as well. In response, his stomach growled even louder. After a few moments, the tall, blonde elf and the shorter, silver-haired elf came down the hall carrying two trays of food. He could see that the skin on their bodies was bruised and burned, and the smaller one walked with a pronounced limp. "I. . .I'm sorry," Goku said softly, as the two approached his cell.
"Don't be; if all works out and you get us out of here, it'll be worth it," said the blonde elf, giving him a small smile, despite her bruises. "I'm Aume, and she's Lilith."
"Where's Maruberu?" Goku asked, dreading the answer.
"In her room. I'm afraid that she won't be moving around on her own today," Aume answered, and then continued before Goku could speak. "We're all fast healers, so rest assured, she _will_ survive. Hopefully, Davin doesn't know that we've brought you some breakfast. Chi-Chi told us that you have quite an appetite. We hope this is enough."
"Thanks! I'm starv-" Goku started to move toward the cell door, only to remember that his arms were pinned behind him. "Oh, man! How am I supposed to eat like this?" he moaned.
"Ah. . .uh. . ." Aume stuttered. They'd forgotten he was chained up. Goku looked at the food longingly and, unable to stop himself, started to drool. "If we had the key, we'd open the door and help you, but Davin would never let us near it."
"There's gotta be a way. . ." Goku grunted as he pulled on his chains again - and to his great surprise, the chain grew longer, allowing his arms to be in front of him again. He could only move them about a foot in front of himself, but that was enough. Not questioning this fortunate turn, Aume slid her tray through the bottom slot in the door, and Goku worked his way over to the door (unlike the arm restraints, the chain on his legs remained tight and unyielding) and quickly took it. Lilith pushed hers through next, and he took it as well. He consumed the entire contents of the first tray in only a few moments, and then started in on the second tray. He suddenly stopped in the middle of his eating frenzy, when he picked up a plate full of a large, fancy omelette. A small, delighted smile appeared on his face.
"Chi-Chi made this, didn't she?" he asked, almost dreamily.
"Yes, she made everything on the second tray. . .how did you know?" Lilith replied.
"I can tell," Goku answered, his eyes closed pleasurably as he inhaled the smell of the food slowly and deeply. There was something in the smell, he could tell that Chi-Chi had made this for him. He quickly ate it and everything else on the tray with unrestrained gusto, and then pushed the trays back through the slot. "Okay, where's the rest?" he asked, ready for more.
"Huh? The rest? But you can't still be hungry-" Aume started.
"Well, no offense, but of course I am," Goku said, eyeing her cryptically. "I eat four to five times more than that at a normal meal, and I've barely eaten in a week! I'm still famished!"
"Uh. . .okay. . .we'll see about getting more," Lilith said slowly, and she and Aume retrieved the trays. Goku let out a surprised grunt as the chains suddenly shrank back to normal, pulling his hands back behind his back.
"Damn!" Goku muttered hotly.
"Apparently, those restraints will only loosen enough to let you eat," Aume observed thoughtfully. Then she shifted uncomfortably, wanting to leave before Davin discovered them missing. "We need to get back upstairs."
"We'll be back as soon as we can," Lilith promised, and the two elves hurried off as fast as their battered bodies would allow them.
"Don't do more than you can handle," Goku called after them. For the next hour, Aume and Lilith took turns sneaking more food down to him. Most of it was just fresh fruits and vegetables harvested from the gardens, washed but not cooked. All of which suited Goku's ravenous appetite just fine; he didn't care so long as it was edible. Though he seemed cheerful enough as he filled his stomach, he could sense that Chi-Chi was currently on the receiving end of Davin's ire. ((He probably caught her cooking for me. . .if he does anything else to her, I'll break his spine - one vertebrae at a time!)) Goku thought, his face becoming dark and frightening as he distractedly ate an apple. The taste of the lightly sweet fruit in his mouth reminded him of the second time he and Chi-Chi had met. He'd landed in an apple tree for some lunch, and heard her humming nearby while she picked flowers. ((Was Davin already looking her way back then?)) he suddenly wondered. ((Was he already fixated on her?)) He violently crushed what remained of the apple in his clenched fist as he thought of Davin chasing after his Chi-Chi all those years ago. For a brief moment, he wondered if maybe Davin would have moved on if he hadn't been under the book's evil influence. Poshun had mentioned something about it feeding off negative emotions and then returning them to its 'master' stronger than before. Not that any of that mattered now. Davin was mad, in possession of a great deal of power, and was holding Chi-Chi captive. He tossed the ruined apple aside; he'd had enough to eat. Physically, he felt better than he had in days, but emotionally he was still teetering on the edge. The chains shrank again, and he cursed aloud. In retaliation, he went Super Saiyan and tried to break the chains, but, to his great frustration, that tact didn't work. Growling, he went up to SS2, but even that didn't seem to budge them. He paused in his struggles when he heard the far-off door open and close again. This time, Davin's scent accompanied the sound, and Goku began fighting the chains' grip with more force. Before the human man came into view, Goku dropped out of Super Saiyan so he wouldn't have to explain his transformed state to Davin. Davin neared Goku's cell, his footsteps hitting the floor in a brisk, irritated walk, and the two men glared at each other through the bars with hate blazing in their eyes.
"Well, I hope you're happy," Davin finally said, his voice tight with anger and annoyance. "I'm going to have to redo the memory spells now. The process will cause Chi-Chi to feel dizzy, disoriented, and confused for days again."
"How _dare_ you. . .!" Goku growled, his jaws clenched in anger. "_You're_ the one who kidnapped her! _You're_ the one who's forcing her to be something she's not, to go against her true nature! Where do you get off treating her like a doll?!"
"Shut UP!" Davin bellowed, his voice causing Goku's chains to tighten painfully. "You-you leave her alone all the time, and you have the gall to tell me that _I'm_ the one wronging her? You left her while she was _pregnant_, you bastard! What kind of 'loving husband' does that?!"
"I didn't know that she was pregnant at the time, and besides, I didn't have a choice in the matter!" Goku answered lowly. "Would it have been preferable to you if I had let Cell blow up the planet so we could all have been dead together?"
"Oh, _please_! You expect me to swallow that contrived story that you just came back from the dead after seven years?! Tell the truth for once! You just up and left her, didn't you?! You went gallivanting off somewhere, and conveniently forgot to come home because you really don't give a damn about any of your family! Isn't that right?!" Davin barked furiously, his face flushing a bright red. Goku growled back at him.
"The. . .truth? I. . .was. . .DEAD! I gave up my life to put a stop to Cell's diabolical plans, even though my sacrifice didn't really work!! And don't think for one second there wasn't any time I didn't miss Chi-Chi and Gohan with every fiber in my being! Everyday, every hour, that I was in the Other World, I wished I could've been home with them! You don't remember now, but another evil being named Buu went on a rampage two months ago, and another being gave up his life to me so I could help stop this creature! Afterwards, except for those of us who fought against him, all memory of Buu was wiped from everyone's minds! I was dead for seven years; I didn't know she was pregnant or that I had a second son until I came back! They're my family, Chi-Chi is _my_ wife, and I would never, ever_ forget_ them! Now _give her back_!!" Goku breathed deeply a few times to keep his anger in check. For the first time he wished he knew how to fire eye-beams. If he had that power at his command, he could attack Davin even with his arms tied behind his back. Davin continued to stare at him with conflicting emotions flitting across his face.
"You have no rights here," Davin finally said, his voice filled with quiet menace. "She'll be safe and happy here always; I won't ever leave her the way you did."
"She isn't a pet, you know! She has the right to choose the one she loves! And she chose _me_! Learn to deal with it!" Goku answered, his voice equally low and threatening.
"I've 'dealt' with it for far too many years! I've watched her fawn over someone who'd forgotten about her, marry a man who knew nothing about her - a man who purposely _hurts_ her and calls it _love_ - a man who leaves her behind whenever it so suits him! She has the right to choose, but she chose _badly_! I'm helping her see that she made a mistake in choosing you!" Davin said hotly. Goku could barely contain his rage; his golden aura began flickering around him.
"Perhaps, as a kid, I didn't think about her much; and maybe I _didn't_ know everything about her when we got married, but I _do_ love her, and I'd never hurt her on purpose! I only left my family when something very important came up and I had to see it through; to keep them and others I cared about safe from harm! And I always came back before long! And frankly, by the looks of things, with all my faults I'm still a MUCH better choice than YOU! I've grown to accept everything about her; bad temper, bossiness, and all! I love her just the way she is! _You_ felt the need to go in and change her into some kind of helpless, fairytale damsel in distress!" Goku's voice began to rise with his anger, his black eyes full of fire. How _dare_ this human man say Chi-Chi had chosen poorly when she chose him above all others! They made a great couple, they were very happy despite their occasional disagreements on how best to raise their sons. How dare he say she would be happier with a man who treated her like a thing instead of a person!
"You'd never hurt her on purpose? That would be a lot more convincing if you didn't leave deep, permanent scars on her!" Davin answered, smiling nastily again. "As you might have noticed, I erased that scar on her shoulder. I, for one, prefer to have her skin smooth and perfect, and when she and I. . .well, unlike you, I won't leave her hurt and blemished."
"Lay one hand on her and I'll rip off all of your limbs!!" Goku bellowed. "I'll have you know that scar is a Saiyan sign of belonging; and unlike wedding rings, the marks show that we are together forever! I marked her out of love, to show everyone that would ever see it that I wanted her as my own, for eternity! She returned the favor, you know!"
"Yes, that's what she said, but. . ." Davin said thoughtfully, and raised one hand and gave a small wave. Goku's shirt and weighted top tore open on his left shoulder, revealing the matching scar on his skin that Chi- Chi had given him. It wasn't as big or as visible as his mark on her had been, but it was undeniably there, in plain sight. Davin frowned, staring at the bite mark. "You Saiyans are something of a sick bunch, aren't you? Well, I can take care of that scar, too," he observed, the nasty smile returning to his face. He began chanting in a different tongue, and after a few seconds pointed one hand at Goku. Sensing Davin's intention to erase Chi-Chi's mark, Goku instinctively started to dodge away from the cast spell, but the entire cell began to fill with pale blue light. Surrounded by the strange glow, Goku wasn't sure which way to move and, in that split second of indecision, was struck from all sides by multiple beams of light. A burning pain tore through him and he watched in sorrow-filled horror as the mark on his shoulder faded away. Right after his scar healed, there was another pain, lower down, accompanied by a second ripping sound, but he hardly noticed it. "Much better," Davin said with satisfaction, as the lights faded away.
"_You son of a bitch, I'll_--huh?" Goku's infuriated words trailed off when he suddenly became aware of something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Muscles in his lower back that he hadn't used for years were moving again. He could feel hairs standing taut with anger, and not just on his head. For once, Davin had the grace to look more than a little surprised as his eyes dropped to Goku's waistline. Goku looked over his shoulder to confirm what he'd been feeling, and was rewarded by the sight of his adult Saiyan tail, fully restored! It had torn a hole through the back of his pants during the healing spell, and was swishing angrily back and forth behind him. "My tail!" Goku gasped in amazement.
"Huh, that spell really does undo all damage," Davin muttered, puzzled by this unexpected side effect. "Probably only worked because I wanted to make it sufficiently powerful so that the erasure of your scar would've hurt you more."
"I suppose I should be grateful to you for restoring my tail - but I'm still going to kill you," Goku said. "What you've done is unforgivable, Davin."
"Hmph. I don't recall asking for your forgiveness," Davin huffed. "Perhaps I should change out your memories too, turn you into my faithful servant," he mused aloud. He could feel Goku's stare boring into him and shrugged it off with forced ease. "No, I don't think so. . .memories or no, having you too close to Chi-Chi would be a bad idea. Can't have the Mistress of the house carrying on an affair with a mere servant, can we?"
"I swear to Kami, Davin, if you touch her again. . ." Goku growled, but Davin turned a scornful shoulder toward him.
"Yes, indeed; what should I do with you? I should probably just kill you outright; but subconsciously, Chi-Chi would never forgive me for that, even after her memory of it was removed. Gauging the way she behaved over the last week, I have the feeling she'd always harbor an anger and a hate for me if I ended your life, even though she wouldn't know why. I'm going to think long and hard on this dilemma. For now, I'll let you live so that you can continue to enjoy these _sumptuous_ accommodations," Davin said contemptuously, stepping back from the cell. "And you needn't worry, Chi- Chi's in good hands now!" he laughed mockingly as he walked away, and Goku scowled after his retreating figure. Once Davin was gone, Goku allowed himself a very Saiyan smirk.
"You obviously haven't heard all of the stories about me," Goku said casually, as his powerful tail wrapped around the chain and began to pull in tandem with his arms. The stress of being pulled in three directions at once was finally becoming too much for the magically-forged metal and, before long, Goku could feel it beginning to bend just the smallest bit.
"WHAT?! _None_ of you have seen Dad since last night?!" Gohan shouted, staring at the circle of his father's friends. They were all gathered in front of the Son house, and none of them looked happy at the news of Goku's absence. When they had all arrived asking for his father, Gohan could only tell them he hadn't come home the previous night. He'd assumed Goku was with one of them looking for Chi-Chi; only to find none of them had seen his father in hours.
"Sorry, Gohan," Yamcha said quietly. "I felt his ki spike for a moment in the early evening, and then it was gone." The others nodded in agreement, for they too had felt the same thing.
"I haven't heard or seen from him since yesterday afternoon," Krillin added.
"Vegeta, you were with him, weren't you?!" Gohan turned on the Saiyan Prince, who actually looked bewildered by the latest turn of events.
"I only left him alone for less than twenty minutes. I heard him shout something about his mate when his ki spiked, and then vanished. I thought perhaps that hard-headed third class finally fainted from lack of food and sleep, but when I got back to where I left him, he was gone!" Vegeta answered, looking Gohan in the eyes as he did.
"And there was nothing else?!" Gohan pressed, his desperation becoming obvious to all.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Goten sniffled, fighting to keep his tears in check. Unfortunately, it was a losing battle, and the more he heard his brother and the grown-ups talk, the more ground he lost.
"There was. . .one thing," Piccolo said, moving a little forward. "I was at Kami's Lookout talking with Dende when we felt your father's last ki spike, and right afterwards, there was a small feeling of magic." Gohan and Goten looked at him in blank horror for a moment, and then Goten lost his fight to contain his tears and began bawling. Bulma quickly moved over to the distraught little boy and pulled him into a comforting hug. Trunks also moved in to comfort his best friend.
"Magic?! More magic?!" Gohan gasped, his chest constricting painfully. A worried Krillin moved a little closer, since it appeared as if Gohan's knees were going to buckle. Gohan managed to keep himself up, although he was shaking all over.
"Dende said it wasn't the same as the magic he felt when your mother disappeared; and Mr. Popo said it felt more akin to elf magic, for all that's worth," Piccolo added quickly, hoping it would be of some comfort to the two boys.
"When Kakkarot shouted, it sounded more like he was shouting _at_ someone, rather than just screaming his frustration to the air," Vegeta observed thoughtfully, trying not to watch as his mate held onto Kakkarot's youngest like her own son. Something about the way she was holding the crying boy bothered him greatly, although he couldn't comprehend why it did.
"Shh, Goten, shh," Bulma murmured into the small boy's hair as he continued to sob. Trunks wasn't sure what to do, and just kept his small hand placed on Goten's shaking back so he'd know he was there.
"First Momma, now Daddy! Where did they go?!" Goten sniffed and hiccupped between sobs. Bulma pushed him back from her a little to look him in the face.
"I believe that your father went to wherever your mother is, and he's going to bring her home soon," she said confidently. "He must have found someone who could take him to her, and went to get her."
"Y-you really think so, Aunt Bulma?" Goten asked, sniffing deeply, his wet eyes full of hope.
"Yeah," Bulma nodded, giving him a gentle, reassuring smile. "I really do! But I bet Davin is giving him some trouble, which is why he isn't back yet."
"But my Daddy can handle Davin! That guy might have magic, but he's a wimp!" Goten asserted, starting to smile.
"Absolutely! Now, dry those tears. Saiyans are big and tough; they never cry for long!" Bulma said, and pulled a tissue from her pocket and started drying his face. She got another tissue out and offered it to him, which he used to noisily blow his nose. "Now, you gonna be strong and not cry anymore?"
"Uh-huh. Thanks, Aunt Bulma," Goten said, as his eyes shone with gratitude.
"You know, that actually sounds like the most likely answer," Krillin observed.
"True. It makes no sense for Davin to have taken Goku away, too," Tien said with a nod.
"But from where would an elf have come? For that matter, how would he or she know where Chi-Chi might be?" Yamcha said.
"What's an elf?" Vegeta asked. The other Z-Fighters gave him the best definition they could, and he grunted. "Popo says it felt like the magic of a creature that doesn't really exist?"
"Elves _do_ exist, they just don't live on the same plane of existence as we do," Piccolo answered him. "They live on a parallel world very similar to Earth, and they used to visit this plane all the time, but as belief in magic became scarce here they eventually stopped coming altogether."
"That explanation still doesn't get us anywhere," Vegeta muttered unhappily. He was standing stiffly, arms crossed on his chest, one finger impatiently tapping on a bicep.
**Vegeta? What's bothering you?** Bulma asked through their bond. She could tell by his posture that something was eating at him.
**It's nothing, it. . .** he sighed as he knew how pointless his denial was; she knew he was lying. **Why did you hold Kakkarot's youngest brat like that? I'm not sure why, but it bugged me.**
**I held him the way I did because he needed it.** Bulma answered gently. **He needed to be comforted. This is all very scary for a little kid; he needed to hear from a grown-up he knew and trusted that everything will be all right.**
**I. . .actually understand that. I don't know why it bothered me. . .** Vegeta said, keeping his face outwardly straight and calm.
**Vegeta, it's bothered you for a long time that Goku knew me for so long; that he was the one who knew me first, hasn't it?** Bulma asked softly as she moved up beside him.
**Yes. . .** Vegeta's eyes slid closed with the confession.
**Vegeta, my heart belongs to you alone. Goku is like my kid brother. I've always cared about him, but not in that way. Gohan and Goten are like nephews to me. You heard Goten call me 'Aunt'. I reacted to his sorrow as a mother or good aunt _should_ react. That's all.** Bulma gently wrapped her arms around him, and he relaxed into her embrace. Even after all the years he'd spent on this planet, he was still learning about all of the kinds of relationships that could exist, and he was unsettled easily. Bulma was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he carried a deep, secret fear of losing her. He thought of how Kakkarot had been acting over the past week, and let Bulma know that he'd have been just as lost had it been her who'd suddenly vanished. Bulma couldn't help but feel flattered at the thought, for she knew that her Saiyan Prince's behavior would've been considerably worse. Her arms tightened around her husband, and she breathed a silent prayer that Goku and Chi-Chi would be back soon, for their sons' sakes.
Goku hadn't seen Davin since that morning's confrontation. There weren't any clocks around and no windows to let in sunlight, so he could only guess at the time, but he figured it had to be mid-to-late afternoon by now. His stomach signaled that it was time for his next meal, and he turned his head hopefully when he heard the distant door open and close again. Once again, a faint scent reached him before the visitor did, and he tried to leap to his feet the second he realized it belonged to Chi-Chi. The chains about his ankles caused him to topple over in his attempt, but nonetheless he quickly inched closer to the cell door to watch for her.
**Goku, where are you?** Chi-Chi's voice called quietly in his mind.
**Down here!** Goku answered. **You're getting closer!** A few moments later, she stepped into the light from one of the torches down the hall, saw him behind the cell bars, and ran over to him. He pulled himself up as close to the bars as he could manage.
"Goku! Are you okay?" she whispered worriedly as she reached through the bars to touch him.
"Except for being tied up, I'm fine. You? I haven't heard from you since this morning," he said, his concerned eyes quickly scanning over her body for injuries.
"I'm all right, but Davin is furious! We've been arguing for hours about what he did to me," Chi-Chi said, her shoulders shaking with unspent rage. One of her hands drew back from him and touched her shoulder. "He tried to take it all away from me; you, our sons, our whole life together. . ." Her hand clenched tightly on her shoulder. "He used his magic to erase your mark." she admitted sadly.
"I know, I saw that last night. He erased yours, too," Goku said, his voice equally sad, and his tail slid through the bars to wrap around her comfortingly. Chi-Chi jumped as the furry appendage touched her, and stared down at it in shock.
"Goku! Y-Your tail?!" she said, staring down at it.
"Yeah. Can you believe it? When he healed your mark on my shoulder, he inadvertently made the spell so powerful that my tail grew back! Incredible, huh? I thought it was gone for good!" Goku smiled as he wound it around her waist. His tail was the only part of him that could truly hold her at the moment. Chi-Chi continued to stare at it, as she thought of the stories she'd heard of Saiyans with tails looking at the full moon, and of the image of Vegeta in Baba's crystal ball when he went Oozaru. ((Time enough to worry about that later.)) she thought, and turned her attention back to her husband's face.
"Goku, you looked so ill last night; are you really sure you're okay?" Chi-Chi asked gently, placing both hands the sides of his face.
"I'm okay now. I wasn't eating or sleeping well while you were missing, but now that I've found you again, I'm feeling much better," Goku answered in a husky tone, and Chi-Chi smiled back at him, a light blush coloring her cheeks. Forgetting all else for a moment, they leaned in and kissed between the bars. The kisses were quick and heated, but the bars of the cell kept them from completely losing themselves in the moment.
"I don't suppose you have the key to this door?" Goku asked lightly when they paused in between kisses to catch their breaths.
"No. I've tried to look, but Davin's been keeping his eye on me. I don't know if he knows I'm down here, but I don't care if he does," Chi-Chi said, airily. "How are Gohan and Goten?"
"They're okay; worried sick about you, of course, but otherwise. . .oh no!" Goku's eyes widened when he realized what he'd done the previous evening.
"What? What is it?" Chi-Chi's hands fell to his shirt and gripped the material in her two tight fists.
"Last night. . .I was by myself when Maruberu found me, and the moment she said she knew where you were, I immediately made her take me to you. . .I never told anyone I'd found help, or that I was going anywhere! None of them know where I am!" Goku explained. "Gohan and Goten must be in an absolute panic by now!"
"My poor sons!" Chi-Chi said, biting her lower lip at the thought of her worried sons. "Well, we'll be home soon, and everything will be all right!" she said, as her mood quickly changed to one of confidence. "Say. . .I have a hair pin, maybe I can pick the lock! . .where _is_ the lock?" They both looked at the cell door, but there was no visible lock. Chi-Chi moved away from Goku with a small feeling of regret and impetuously grabbed the bars of the door. She let out a hard grunt as she pulled on the cold metal bars, but they didn't budge. Somewhere above them, they heard the door to the dungeon slam open.
"Davin! Chi-Chi, hide!" Goku instructed quickly as Davin's scent hit his nostrils. Chi-Chi started to run, but before she got more than three steps, her feet were lifted off the floor and she floated backwards to Davin's waiting arms.
"Let her go!" Goku snarled at him.
"Before I decide your fate, Goku, I'm curious about something," Davin said, ignoring Goku's outburst. There was a sudden, blinding flash, and the three of them were all in the courtyard of Davin's palace. Davin put Chi-Chi down, but continued to hold one of her arms in a tight grip. Despite his calm appearance, his blood was boiling. He'd been watching the two of them through one of his spy-spells as Chi-Chi went down into the dungeon; he'd vainly hoped she'd actually gone to tell Goku goodbye. He hadn't been able to eavesdrop on their conversation, but their touching and kissing was enough to show him she was still dedicated to Goku.
"Night sky, come early; I beckon the stars to appear," Davin chanted, and the sun dropped down the horizon and the sky almost instantly darkened.
"What are you. . .?" Goku started slowly, wondering what he was conjuring up next.
"Let's have a look at this so-called transformation of yours," Davin said casually. "Sister Moon, shine brightly. Show thy full fair face. . ."
"Are you insane?!" Chi-Chi demanded as Davin waved his hands and caused a false moon to shine brightly overhead. Goku quickly tore his gaze from the artificial moon, feeling his new tail involuntarily twitch in response to the brilliant orb.
"I'm quite sane. I'm just curious, that's all. If this man can transform - well, I want to see it. Maybe if he turns into something useful, I'll spare his life," Davin answered, and snapped his fingers. Against his will, Goku felt his head get jerked over and he looked directly at the moon before he could close his eyes. He felt his mind slip away, while his body began to grow. Within seconds, he broke through the shackles Davin had placed on him as if they were nothing. Davin and Chi- Chi ran from the now-Oozaru-Goku, as he tilted back his head and roared his fury to the sky.
Chi-Chi screamed and ran as the giant Oozaru-Goku roared again, stomping across the landscape. All of a sudden, the massive monkey face looked downward and seemed to sniff the air. Chi-Chi shrieked again as his huge shadow fell over her, and suddenly two massive monkey hands clapped around her. As she felt herself being lifted into the air, she wondered what Goku would do when he awoke in the morning and found her blood all over his hands. The hands gently opened and Chi-Chi stared upward at her husband's large ape-face.
"H-huh?" she choked faintly. The huge nose leaned in and delicately sniffed at her, stirring her clothes and hair with his inhales. Once, twice, three times, and then his bright red eyes seemed to light up.
"CHRIIICHRIII!" he growled, and his monkey-mouth curled into a semblance of a smile. He sat down with a hard thud onto his backside, all desire to destroy completely forgotten as he studied the tiny woman in his hands. Chi-Chi gasped softly.
"Did you just say. . .Chi-Chi?" she asked wonderingly. She slowly stood up in his opened palm.
"CHRIIICHRIII!" he repeated, as his big red tongue came out and licked her twice.
"Ick, ape spit. . ." she muttered, then beamed up at the Oozaru-Goku. "You _do_ know me, don't you?" She leaned forward to give his immense snout a small hug. "I should've known you'd never hurt me," she sighed contentedly. He purred deeply at her touch and nuzzled her as best their size differences would allow.
"Well, would you look at that! You can _control_ him!" Davin observed, sounding very relived, as he floated up to their level. "I will admit, Chi-Chi dear, that you were right, this was not a good idea." Chi- Chi glared at him hatefully.
"I told you before - _don't_ you _ever_ call me _dear_!" she snapped, and then turned to her husband. "Goku, it's Davin! Get him!" Goku looked at the hovering Davin with his big red eyes, sniffed once, and then roared once the human's identity registered. Holding Chi-Chi securely in one hand, Oozaru-Goku stood up and chased after Davin, swinging at him with his other hand. Davin's spells barely kept him ahead of Goku's ever-nearing blows. Goku stopped in his tracks to open his mouth wide and fire a Godzilla-style ki blast at the flying human. The blast engulfed Davin, but his magical shield held - although just barely.
"Sister Moon, I now ask thee to depart! Shine thy silver light away from here; hide thy face until it is your time again!" Davin chanted quickly, and the moon vanished as swiftly as it had appeared. Oozaru-Goku continued to charge after him, although without the moonlight, he was already starting to shrink in size. "Sleep!" Davin ordered, and the dazed monkey-beast fell onto his massive knees, and then began to wobble backwards. Chi-Chi let out a scream as Goku dropped onto the ground, though he still held her securely within his hand. He continued to shrink, smaller and smaller, and the long, brown fur retreated back into his skin. Within moments, Chi-Chi found herself lying on top of a normal-sized, unconscious, and very naked Goku, one of his arms wrapped around her.
"Goku?" she cried, anxiously shaking his unresponsive form.
"Whew! That was _way_ too close!" Davin panted as he landed beside them. "By Kami, that man's a menace! And do stop shaking him, Chi-Chi. He won't wake until I tell him to."
"Wake him up right now, Davin!! I've had just about enough of you and your lousy spells! Wake my husband up and let us go home, or so help me I'll kick your sorry ass into next week!" Chi-Chi reared on him in a fury; she was going to have his head on a pike for everything he'd put them through! Davin frowned unhappily at her words and stance. The sheer improbability of his situation was becoming overwhelming; she loved Goku with everything in her being, and nothing Davin could do would sway her from this monkey-man; no words, no spells, nothing. Davin felt his heartbeat rise to frenzied rhythm, as he looked at her standing in front of her husband, ready to attack to protect what was hers. The woman he'd loved his entire life, but would never have. . .all because of some stinking, lost alien who thought he was human and, as a child, had a helpful attitude!
Having mentally planned out her full assault on his person, a fed-up Chi-Chi charged at Davin, but before she reached him she was pushed back and to the ground by a powerful wind as Davin's eyes blazed a brilliant silver. His hair and clothes began to float as a pale green aura surrounded him. Chi-Chi pushed herself back onto her feet, but wisely didn't resume her attack. He'd never looked like this before. She could feel something powerful coming, and a faint coolness surrounded her limbs.
"What are you doing?!" Chi-Chi demanded, trying to keep her voice strong and forceful despite the rising nervousness in her body. **Goku, please wake up! Davin's up to something. . .!**
"I've had enough, too," said Davin, his voice dark and threatening. Chi-Chi didn't even have a chance to scream before the cold light engulfed her and Goku. Up in Davin's room, the pages of the Ahdicionious were glowing green and flipping over with great speed, back and forth, the frenzied flapping of the ensorcelled papers almost sounding like ancient, dusty laughter. **************************************************************************** ** Play time is over. . .
NansJns@sa-tech.com