A/N: Wowzers, it's been a REALLY LONG TIME since the last time I updated
this story! Too long. I guess I got caught up in my life, various games,
and anime (not to mention a majorly annoying writer's block rivaling the
Iron Curtain! -_-). My mother's death didn't help much. Add to that I
lost the thread, and you've got your chapter loss explanation. I'm sorry.
But anyway, here I am now. I want to finish this story because it's the first Dragonball Z story I ever wrote. It feels stupid to say, but I don't want to give it up, because it's special to me. Like my precious little baby. (Stupid, I know.) Soo.here I am, trying once more. If you like what you see, please say so in a review! Read and enjoy!
Ch 12: The Rivalry
That night, Goku found Gohan out looking at the stars again. He came up behind him with a grin. "Hey son! Am I the only one with déjà vu?"
Gohan gave a slight smile. "Hello, Father. No, I see what you mean. It's just that the stars seem to calm me."
Goku nodded. "Yeah, I know. What's got you today?"
"Nothing in particular, but mostly Tron."
"I thought you weren't worried about him!"
He snorted. "Oh, don't worry, I am. I simply cannot show it around the others, for I must be strong."
Goku regarded him with some surprise. "Really? I thought you were powerful enough to take him out."
"That's not why I'm worried."
"Why, then?"
"Well, I...had a dream. While I was sick."
"You're worried about a dream?"
"Well, yes. See, I have this ability that surfaces every once in a while to see into the future. Usually it only works before a huge battle, or an emergency. I had several dreams of that nature while I was sick, varying in content but sending the same message: Beware of Tron." He shuddered. "The last time I had so many of such disturbing clarity was..."
"Was when?"
"It was right before the Black Plague," Gohan whispered. His eyes were dull. "I was sixteen at the time. I began having terrible dreams, dreams of the people dying in internal pain and fire. I told the King about them, but he said it would be all right, that it could never happen." He shivered in the balmy air. "The next day, people began dropping dead all over the place. It was discovered that there was a nasty, potent, extremely contagious virus running around, but even the researchers were dying. No one was safe from it. It was nicknamed the Black Plague."
Goku stared at his son. "Kami! How'd you get rid of it?!"
Slowly, Gohan shook his head. "I'm not really sure. After about a year, the Plague suddenly disappeared. No one ever did figure out what caused it, or why it left. But it had already taken its toll; three fourths of the population was dead." He sighed. "Since then, I've always been cautious of my dreams. Most of the times, it's just premonitions of simple things. I dreamed before I met Hera, for instance, and not long before the twins were born." He glanced at Goku, and his eyes shook the older man to the core. "But the thing I'm worried about is I've yet to be wrong, Dad."
Goku nodded slowly. "Yeah, I see what you mean. How long has this been going on?"
"Ever since the Cell Games."
"So, you think that these dreams mean something terrible is going to happen, and you're worrying about what."
"Yes."
"Anything in particular that your dreams have been going on about?"
Gohan glanced at Goku with some respect in his eyes. "For someone known for being an idiot, you get straight to the heart of the problem."
"Yeah well, the reputation actually helps me. So?"
Gohan sighed and nodded. "Well, yes. It usually involves one of the children dying."
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me. Sometimes it's one of the twins, other times it's Goten or Trunks or Marron, or even Cyram. But always one of them." He looked back up at the stars. "I don't like the similarities."
"I see what you mean. But, if your dreams are warnings, can't we do anything to prepare or stop whatever will happen?"
"I don't know. The dreams have always been right, and I've never managed to change what will happen just from a bit of warning. Besides, the dreams don't say what the children die of, just that they die."
"Hm, hard to stop that, huh? Come on," and he laid his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "let's go inside and stop all this worrying. What will come, will come. So let's get some sleep and hurry it along!"
Gohan gave a small smile. "If you say so."
~*~
The next morning, Gohan led the way out to the empty, desert field that had been previously chosen for the conflict. As pre-agreed, Tron stood in the middle with his people behind him, and the Z Warriors landed in similar configuration with Gohan at the front. The tension immediately increased tenfold as the two saiyans glared at each other. At a glance, one could tell the relationship between them was worse then Vegeta and Goku ever were.
Tron was the first to speak. "And so the mighty prince deigns to come near me, a low class saiyan," he sneered.
"I've met a lot of free loaders and bakas Tron, but you take the cake," Gohan answered calmly.
"Oh, I don't think so, dear Prince. You see, it's not really my fault that the people enjoy my company much more then yours, or that the king died when he did."
Gohan barked a harsh laugh. "Give me a break. If I didn't think it was too low even for you, I would have said that you caused the king's death. As it is, the revolution was just a tad too timely. Care to tell me how it all happened?"
The Z Warriors glanced at each other. Egging Tron on didn't seem like the smartest action in the world, considering his power. So why was Gohan purposely doing just that?
Tron echoed their thoughts. "You of all people should know that it isn't a good idea to mess with me, Prince Seerow, Gohan of Bardock. Why are you?"
Gohan smirked and closed his eyes. "Why not? We both know that you are no match for me. Anyway, as the true battle being fought here is obvious, I have a deal for you."
"I'm waiting."
"You tell all your men to leave, with one staying behind to guard the prince. I will tell my friends to go home and wait for me, allowing one to stay here. You and I will fight for the various fates resting on the outcome of this battle, with the agreement that those who stay will not interfere."
"Why should I do this?" Tron asked suspiciously.
"If you win, you can take the young Prince Cyram, go back to the homeworld, and do what you will with it with no interference from me. However, if I win, you give up and let Cyram take the throne. I promise that, in that case, I will hunt you down for any treachery that you attempt." He looked Tron in the eyes, not letting his own gaze falter. "You know you want to fight me one-on-one. Well, here is your chance. I doubt my friends will allow you the luxury of fighting me otherwise."
Tron was visibly thinking about it. He couldn't see anything wrong with it, and yet he still felt Gohan had to have some reason for pushing this deal. Searching his own mind and finding no answer, he sighed and nodded. "Fine, Seerow. I will do this. But I hold you to your word!"
"I know." Gohan turned back to the Z Warriors, who were either glaring at him or just plain staring, depending on the inclinations of the people. Goku was one of the glarers.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Gohan?" he demanded.
"I'm making it possible to beat him, Dad," Gohan answered calmly, as though he was mentioning how to use ki to a ki expert. "You remember what I told you last night."
Goku caught his breath. "Oh. You don't care about power, you care about-"
"That's enough," the younger man cut him off. Gohan glanced significantly at his children, and Goku realized that he hadn't said anything to them. This made him even more uneasy then before, and he went foreword to try and help.
Gohan stopped him with a look in the eye. "No, Dad. Let me handle this. It is not your problem."
"But-"
"You made no promises to a dying king. Go now. If.if anything happens, take care of them." He looked at the twins again. "Please, Dad. Go."
Father and son stared at each other for a long moment, and finally the elder relented and went to his grandchildren. "Come along, you two. We don't want to be in your father's way."
"But Grandpa, we can't-" Apollo cried, desperation coloring his young voice.
Goku cut the boy off with a wave of his hand. "Let's go."
The Z Warriors left quickly, all except Vegeta. Gohan gave a little smirk, then turned back to Tron. In his turn, Tron gestured for his men to leave, and told one of the bulky guys to guard the prince.
Tron and Gohan glared at each other.
And suddenly, Tron attacked.
A/N: So how's that? Like I said, review! Be nice, even if you hate it, please!
But anyway, here I am now. I want to finish this story because it's the first Dragonball Z story I ever wrote. It feels stupid to say, but I don't want to give it up, because it's special to me. Like my precious little baby. (Stupid, I know.) Soo.here I am, trying once more. If you like what you see, please say so in a review! Read and enjoy!
Ch 12: The Rivalry
That night, Goku found Gohan out looking at the stars again. He came up behind him with a grin. "Hey son! Am I the only one with déjà vu?"
Gohan gave a slight smile. "Hello, Father. No, I see what you mean. It's just that the stars seem to calm me."
Goku nodded. "Yeah, I know. What's got you today?"
"Nothing in particular, but mostly Tron."
"I thought you weren't worried about him!"
He snorted. "Oh, don't worry, I am. I simply cannot show it around the others, for I must be strong."
Goku regarded him with some surprise. "Really? I thought you were powerful enough to take him out."
"That's not why I'm worried."
"Why, then?"
"Well, I...had a dream. While I was sick."
"You're worried about a dream?"
"Well, yes. See, I have this ability that surfaces every once in a while to see into the future. Usually it only works before a huge battle, or an emergency. I had several dreams of that nature while I was sick, varying in content but sending the same message: Beware of Tron." He shuddered. "The last time I had so many of such disturbing clarity was..."
"Was when?"
"It was right before the Black Plague," Gohan whispered. His eyes were dull. "I was sixteen at the time. I began having terrible dreams, dreams of the people dying in internal pain and fire. I told the King about them, but he said it would be all right, that it could never happen." He shivered in the balmy air. "The next day, people began dropping dead all over the place. It was discovered that there was a nasty, potent, extremely contagious virus running around, but even the researchers were dying. No one was safe from it. It was nicknamed the Black Plague."
Goku stared at his son. "Kami! How'd you get rid of it?!"
Slowly, Gohan shook his head. "I'm not really sure. After about a year, the Plague suddenly disappeared. No one ever did figure out what caused it, or why it left. But it had already taken its toll; three fourths of the population was dead." He sighed. "Since then, I've always been cautious of my dreams. Most of the times, it's just premonitions of simple things. I dreamed before I met Hera, for instance, and not long before the twins were born." He glanced at Goku, and his eyes shook the older man to the core. "But the thing I'm worried about is I've yet to be wrong, Dad."
Goku nodded slowly. "Yeah, I see what you mean. How long has this been going on?"
"Ever since the Cell Games."
"So, you think that these dreams mean something terrible is going to happen, and you're worrying about what."
"Yes."
"Anything in particular that your dreams have been going on about?"
Gohan glanced at Goku with some respect in his eyes. "For someone known for being an idiot, you get straight to the heart of the problem."
"Yeah well, the reputation actually helps me. So?"
Gohan sighed and nodded. "Well, yes. It usually involves one of the children dying."
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me. Sometimes it's one of the twins, other times it's Goten or Trunks or Marron, or even Cyram. But always one of them." He looked back up at the stars. "I don't like the similarities."
"I see what you mean. But, if your dreams are warnings, can't we do anything to prepare or stop whatever will happen?"
"I don't know. The dreams have always been right, and I've never managed to change what will happen just from a bit of warning. Besides, the dreams don't say what the children die of, just that they die."
"Hm, hard to stop that, huh? Come on," and he laid his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "let's go inside and stop all this worrying. What will come, will come. So let's get some sleep and hurry it along!"
Gohan gave a small smile. "If you say so."
~*~
The next morning, Gohan led the way out to the empty, desert field that had been previously chosen for the conflict. As pre-agreed, Tron stood in the middle with his people behind him, and the Z Warriors landed in similar configuration with Gohan at the front. The tension immediately increased tenfold as the two saiyans glared at each other. At a glance, one could tell the relationship between them was worse then Vegeta and Goku ever were.
Tron was the first to speak. "And so the mighty prince deigns to come near me, a low class saiyan," he sneered.
"I've met a lot of free loaders and bakas Tron, but you take the cake," Gohan answered calmly.
"Oh, I don't think so, dear Prince. You see, it's not really my fault that the people enjoy my company much more then yours, or that the king died when he did."
Gohan barked a harsh laugh. "Give me a break. If I didn't think it was too low even for you, I would have said that you caused the king's death. As it is, the revolution was just a tad too timely. Care to tell me how it all happened?"
The Z Warriors glanced at each other. Egging Tron on didn't seem like the smartest action in the world, considering his power. So why was Gohan purposely doing just that?
Tron echoed their thoughts. "You of all people should know that it isn't a good idea to mess with me, Prince Seerow, Gohan of Bardock. Why are you?"
Gohan smirked and closed his eyes. "Why not? We both know that you are no match for me. Anyway, as the true battle being fought here is obvious, I have a deal for you."
"I'm waiting."
"You tell all your men to leave, with one staying behind to guard the prince. I will tell my friends to go home and wait for me, allowing one to stay here. You and I will fight for the various fates resting on the outcome of this battle, with the agreement that those who stay will not interfere."
"Why should I do this?" Tron asked suspiciously.
"If you win, you can take the young Prince Cyram, go back to the homeworld, and do what you will with it with no interference from me. However, if I win, you give up and let Cyram take the throne. I promise that, in that case, I will hunt you down for any treachery that you attempt." He looked Tron in the eyes, not letting his own gaze falter. "You know you want to fight me one-on-one. Well, here is your chance. I doubt my friends will allow you the luxury of fighting me otherwise."
Tron was visibly thinking about it. He couldn't see anything wrong with it, and yet he still felt Gohan had to have some reason for pushing this deal. Searching his own mind and finding no answer, he sighed and nodded. "Fine, Seerow. I will do this. But I hold you to your word!"
"I know." Gohan turned back to the Z Warriors, who were either glaring at him or just plain staring, depending on the inclinations of the people. Goku was one of the glarers.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Gohan?" he demanded.
"I'm making it possible to beat him, Dad," Gohan answered calmly, as though he was mentioning how to use ki to a ki expert. "You remember what I told you last night."
Goku caught his breath. "Oh. You don't care about power, you care about-"
"That's enough," the younger man cut him off. Gohan glanced significantly at his children, and Goku realized that he hadn't said anything to them. This made him even more uneasy then before, and he went foreword to try and help.
Gohan stopped him with a look in the eye. "No, Dad. Let me handle this. It is not your problem."
"But-"
"You made no promises to a dying king. Go now. If.if anything happens, take care of them." He looked at the twins again. "Please, Dad. Go."
Father and son stared at each other for a long moment, and finally the elder relented and went to his grandchildren. "Come along, you two. We don't want to be in your father's way."
"But Grandpa, we can't-" Apollo cried, desperation coloring his young voice.
Goku cut the boy off with a wave of his hand. "Let's go."
The Z Warriors left quickly, all except Vegeta. Gohan gave a little smirk, then turned back to Tron. In his turn, Tron gestured for his men to leave, and told one of the bulky guys to guard the prince.
Tron and Gohan glared at each other.
And suddenly, Tron attacked.
A/N: So how's that? Like I said, review! Be nice, even if you hate it, please!