Silver fire enveloped Videl as she powered up. Vegeta was already in ascended form and waited expectantly for her attack. Two months had gone by since he showed her what the saiyan bond felt like and since then she pressed him with more questions about it. The only response she was given was to wait and find out for herself. She tried contacting Gohan every day to no avail, and it was seriously affecting her training. Vegeta, in a rage, nearly killed her with a high-powered Final Flash attack for her lack of attention. Another week of bed rest followed, giving her time to heal and to refocus her attentions on her training. Now her instructor loomed before her in a defensive stance she knew well. He wasn't just training her in martial combat and ki strikes, he was also teaching her tactical combat as well. "The ability to out-think an opponent is just as crucial as being able to match your opponent blow-for-blow", he told her. Then again, he was now the King of his race and bred for combat. None of this was new to her but she took it into account as she regarded his defenses.


He's left his lower guard down, she thought. She smiled, I know he expects me to strike there. Well let's see what he thinks about this! She blurred to super-speed and took to the air. Striking at a downward angle toward his face, she charged two ki bolts and sent them flying toward him. Undaunted by her speedy attack he jumped backward a few feet to dodge the ki bolts. They struck the ground where he stood and exploded, sending shards of dust and debris out in all directions. The moment his feet touch ground he knew he was in trouble. He was barely able to lower his arm to his rib cage in time to block her kick there. Turning about he hurled his other fist out and felt them graze the tips of her hair as she dodged under his attack. Vegeta raised his leg and intercepted her kick before it could strike its mark. The pair held there for a second, straining muscle against muscle until they disengaged and both leaped backward to regard each other again.


"Are my abilities 'sorely lacking' now?" she asked smiling.


"Humph," he said returning her smile. "You've grown quite strong under my wing. Your speed and agility are almost on par with mine, and your tactical knowledge is improving. But," he said as his smile turned darker," you'll have to do better than that!" If she blinked, she would've missed it. In a blinding flash of ki, Vegeta went beyond his current form and now stood across from her in his long-haired form, lightening struck out from his body and left dark imprints where it struck the ground.


"Oh boy," she said wide-eyed and tensed for the onslaught she knew was coming.





"Are you sure it's down here?" Yaumcha yelled from the bottom of the cavern.


"Yes," was Bulma's reply from high above.


"Well I don't see anything," he called back.


"Stop whining and look," she fumed. "The tracker says it's down there so hurry up and get it!"


"I still don't think this is such a good idea," he replied shakily, "being inside the maw of an active volcano isn't my idea of a good time!"


"Don't let the heat get to ya, kid!" Master Roshi called out. "It's the lava I'd worry about!"


"Thanks for the warning," he replied sarcastically.


Suddenly the volcano began to rumble and lurch. Yaumcha powered up using his ki to push back the heat. I'm going to have to do this quick, he thought...





The days went on the in the Room of Spirit and Time. Vegeta stepped up her training to a fever pitch. He stayed in his long haired super saiyan form constantly now using his enhanced strength and speed to his advantage. Videl couldn't keep up with the pressure but she didn't complain, she was actually starting to enjoy this! Lightening discharged when they came into contact with each other, and the ground showed plainly the amount of destructive forces they hurled at each other. Her back, arms and legs were bruised like hell and she hurt bad, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of giving up or backing down in the least. She moved constantly, trying to deflect and dodge his attacks that came from everywhere. She used her ki to soften the blows when they hit, which was often, but he kept at her with such fury she simply didn't have time to strike back. Eventually she was sent sprawling to the ground from a vicious kick.


"You're learning to anticipate my moves," he said evenly.


"Ugh...," she groaned as she stood up shakily and assumed a defensive position, "you're still...too fast!"


"Then how do you expect to beat me?" he countered.


"I don't know," she shot back glaring at him angrily.


"Well, you'd better think of a way!" he said dangerously as he raised his ki even higher. His golden aura blazed around him and he charged her.


Without thinking, Videl blurred to super-speed and took to the air. She powered up as high as she could her own silvery aura blazed to life as she flew around in a zig-zag pattern, trying hard not to be a target. Suddenly, she slammed into a brick wall, but she knew too well that it was Vegeta. The force of his punch sent her reeling, but she got her arms up in time to stop his second rush. His strength and speed were to much for her and he backhanded her viciously, sending her crashing to the ground.


"That was pathetic!" he taunted. "It seems that all that time I spent training you here was a waste! I would have had better luck training alone. Obviously you will never be able to take on Gohan!" I'll have to be careful here, he thought. She is not a saiyan, but a human. If I push her too hard...


His thoughts were interrupted by a silver explosion that was Videl and she struck him head-on in his chest. Her fists were pulsating with the power of her ki and she used them to full effect while he was caught off-guard. She pressed on, her eyes glowing silver with rage. Her flurry of punches struck him from all angles and she made sure they hurt where they hit. Vegeta found himself on the defensive for once and was impressed by her furious barrage. She was actually able to hurt him! Contrary to his taunting, she was shaping up to be a great warrior. His musings became garbled as her fist connected squarely in his face. That's it, he thought. Using his arms and legs to block her attacks he floated down toward the ground. Videl followed, not letting up on her attacks. When his feet hit the ground he pushed upward and raised his ki at the same time. Videl had to shift her weight to meet her opponent and that put her on the defensive. Now she was the one who was blocking and dodging.


"Is that the best you can do?" he taunted smiling.


Videl didn't answer back, too focused on trying not to be hit. Vegeta blurred to super-speed, still wearing that damnable smile. She could barely follow where he was going but she blurred as well and gave chase. She's reached her limit, he thought. Now to push her beyond...





Yaumcha clutched the last dragonball in his arms as he flew toward the top of the exploding volcano. His ki was keeping most of the heat at bay but the air was already thick with sulfur and other toxic gases. Red-hot magma chunks spewed forth and he had a time dodging them. Lava rushed up behind him, threatening to consume him in an instant. He dared not look back lest he lose his nerve. The open maw of the volcano was so close, all he needed was another second and he'd be free! His lungs threatened to burst and he closed his eyes to concentrate. He felt the searing heat of the lava just behind him and then he felt a rush of cold air, he was out! Breathing deeply he replentished his depleted oxygen supply and opened his eyes to the welcoming morning sky. The rumble and explosion behind him completed the angry volcano's eruption, sending shards of hot rock and lava out in all directions. A safe distance away, Yaumcha took some time to catch his breath and relax. He looked down at the now torn and burnt clothes he wore. "That was too close," he breathed. "Oh, look at this! This suit cost me a fortune!"





Vegeta threw a ki ball at Videl, but she nimbly dodged it. She sent one of her own at him, but he caught it and crushed it in his hand causing it to explode. The smoke cleared and Videl regarded her instructor. His clothes were a bit singed, but he showed no other signs of damage. She on the other hand wore her scars and bruises proudly. Their time in the Room was quickly coming to an end. Over the last month Vegeta had gotten dirty. He taunted her and her techniques every chance he got. In training she couldn't do anything right and he berated her constantly. She never hated someone more than now. She wanted to kill him a hundred times over!


"Are you going to hover there all day, you're boring me to death," he said, his face betrayed no emotions aside from his usual frown.


Damn him! He knows I don't stand a chance here. Arrogant bastard! She powered up as high as she could go letting the fire of her aura envelop her. She screamed as she flew at him with all her fury. He moved his head to the side to dodge her clumsy attack, not even needing to lift his arms up in defense. He brought his knee up to her mid-section forcing all the air out of her lungs. Slowly he brought his arm up and then backhanded her toward the ground. The ground exploded where she hit, leaving a large crater as testament to Vegeta's great strength. "This is pointless," he said, crossing his arms across his chest. "A newborn babe could dodge that attack! You're useless, you know that?"


"Bastard!" she muttered through clenched teeth. Blood flowed from her chin and nose, and her left eye was swollen shut. Her left arm tingled and hung limply at her side.


"You'll earn yourself a quick death at this pace," he said, "being absolutely no help to anyone."


She stood up and clenched her one good fist. Anger and rage threatened to overwhelm her. Involuntarily, her ki started to climb. Vegeta noticed. "What? Ready to go at it again? You can barely stand!"


"SHUT...UP!" she screamed as she charged at him.





It was nearly mid-day at Kami's Lookout. Piccolo, Pikkon, Olibu, and King Kai stood out on the balcony and waited. Yaumcha and the others found the last dragonball and were on their way. In a few hours Vegeta and Videl would be finished with their training and then the assault on the enemy's compound would commence. Master Korin was able to cultivate a few more senzu beans and Dende had healing potions prepared. King Kai and Piccolo went over their battle strategy earlier and they agreed that an all-out assault would be the way to go. The warriors King Kai brought from the Otherworld were powerful almost beyond belief, but Piccolo doubted if it was going to be enough. Maybe Vegeta and Videl would be the deciding factor in this, he thought. Leviathan wasn't a force to be easily underestimated, neither was Goku or Gohan. Plus Goku, Goten, and Trunks knew the technique of Fusion, and no one was especially happy about fighting Gotenks or possibly a Fusion between Goku and Gohan. He shuddered at that thought and put it out of his mind. Some thoughts were better left never thought at all!





Videl fought for her survival on an hourly basis now. She lost all concept of time, her sole focus being the evil monstrosity that was Vegeta, her tormentor. If not for her quick thinking she'd be dead now a thousand times over! He even refused to stay in the compound, saying it was beneath a true warrior to stay in the same place with someone so obviously inferior. He wouldn't leave her alone either! She tried training by herself, only to be attacked by him. Today's battle was no exception. She was already down to one knee and her ki was steadily dropping. She looked up and there her tormentor was in all his arrogance. He floated about thirty feet above her with his arms crossed over his chest. He had that same emotionless stare that angered and terrified her all the same.


This is it, Vegeta thought. It's now or never. "Get up," he commanded.


Slowly, she stood and assumed a defensive stance, but her ki kept dropping. "I've reached a decision," he said.


"Huh? What...decision?" she asked, wincing through the pain in her side.


"I've decided that this was the wrong idea from the start."


"What...what do you mean?"


"I was in error wasting my time here to train you. You wouldn't last a second against the likes of Goku or your precious Gohan. You have failed," he stated accusingly.


"What do you mean I failed?" she shot back. "How the hell do you expect me to go up against the likes of your kind? I'm only a human, damnit!"


"Is that supposed to matter?" he countered.


"Hell yes! There's no way I could ever reach the level of you guys!"


"Is that what you truly think?" he asked louder than last time.


"Yes," came her shaky reply.


He took a moment to consider it, then he spoke "Very well." He clenched his fists and began to raise his ki.


Videl shuddered involuntarily as she felt the violence in his ki. "What...what are you doing?"


His ki continued to rise, but it was sky rocketing higher than ever before! "You've proven to me that you are weak." He clenched his fists as his gold aura blazed around him. The ground started to shudder and break up from the vast amounts of ki he was expending. "You lack the convictions of a true warrior! Not even the thought of your precious Gohan in peril is enough for you to truly stand up and fight. No! You would rather lie down and die like the rest of the weaklings on Earth! That is why you are weak and that is why you have failed!"


"Now wait a minute!"


"No! The rest of us are willing to fight but you are not!" The amount of ki he was expending went beyond anything she had ever seen before, even Gohan's! The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she became very, very afraid. "Gohan would not think twice of the dangers if he knew you were in trouble. Is this how you repay him, by running away and doing nothing?"


"It's...it's not like that..." she said fearfully.


"IT IS! YOU started the bond with him, YOU professed your feelings about him to me when we first started. Was that all a lie?"


"No," she breathed quietly, tears began forming.


"Of course it was," he bellowed. His face was as angry as she had ever seen it and she backed up a few steps. "That is why it will be I who will kill him."


"What?" she asked wide-eyed.


"He may be a half-breed, but he has the blood of true warriors in his veins! If he knows what I do about you it would kill him inside, and I will not allow that to happen! I would never allow some weakling to dishonor one of our lineage."


"You don't understand," she cried, tears streaming down her face. Despair overwhelmed her. "I..."


"Enough! You are not up to the task so it falls to me. But don't worry," he said smiling suddenly. "You won't have to see me kill him...you'll be long dead before that."


Her shoulders slumped in total defeat and she cried.


"You may defend yourself if you wish," he said smugly as he cracked his knuckles, "It matters not to me."


A white hot anger started to burn within her chest. All the pain he put her through during their training was coming to the fore. He ki began to rise of it's own volition and her silver aura flared to life. That's it, he thought. Now release it, Videl! He clenched his hands into fists, "Ready to die, Videl? All of your problems will be over in a few moments."


"No," she whispered as her hair began to move by itself.


"DIE!" Vegeta, fully powered, charged the slumped form of Videl.


"No," she said more firmly as she began to shake from the anger and rage held within her.


Vegeta screamed as he charged toward her, a murderous look in his eyes. "No!" she yelled. There was a blinding flash of light in her mind as all the memories of Gohan flooded her. The time they spent at their little island retreat, the goofy way he'd smile at her. The way his skin felt against her, the hardness of the muscles on his arms and chest that she loved to trace with her fingers. The way he smelled coming out of the shower. The feelings she had when his powerful arms would gently wrap around her in an embrace. All of the memories and sensations of him attacked her at once.


"NO!" she screamed as her ki spiked beyond her own limits. Her normal dull-silver aura suddenly changed to a pure shiny silver as her body was suffused with the power of her love for Gohan and the anger she felt toward Vegeta. He was going to stop her from saving Gohan! She couldn't let that happen! She closed her eyes, screamed, and leapt toward her attacker.


Vegeta closed his eyes with one thought on his mind as she shot toward him. This is going to suck! Her extended fist connected to his chest. The sound of the hit sounded like thunder and the shock wave ripped up a five mile radius of ground. Blood shot from Vegeta's mouth as he felt his rib-cage nearly cave in. The power radiating from Videl was staggering! Time seemed to slow to a halt as his eyes became blurry. He felt Videl's ki dropping at an alarming rate and she was already unconscious from the ki she had expended. His was dropping as well, but not as fast as hers. Gently he took her into his arms as they floated to the ground. He laid her to the ground and took out a small pouch that contained the last senzu bean from their initial battle with the others. He opened her mouth and made her eat it. Within seconds she was breathing normally. Then in a shock, she opened her eyes.


"V...Vegeta?"


"Congratulations," he said spitting blood and clutching his sides. It was getting harder for him to breathe, probably from that collapsed lung, he mused. "You...passed." Then everything went dark for Vegeta.





Vegeta awoke to a concerned looking Videl inside the compound. She smiled at him as she saw his eyes come into focus. "Vegeta! You're alive!"


"Of course," he said gruffly as he attempted to get up. He winced as his sides exploded in pain. He laid back down on the bed.


Videl put her arms across his bandaged chest. "Careful. You've been out for nearly a week. You're not fully healed yet. Luckily I was able to find one of Dende's healing potions in my stuff. If it wasn't for that I don't know if you would've made it."


"Humph," he said grumpily. "I would've healed on my own, thank you very much."


"Sure Vegeta," she said sounding relieved. Then she dropped her head down to the floor. "Vegeta," she began.


He looked up at her with his scowling face. "I know why you did what you had to do," she explained. "Thank you." She took his hand and squeezed it.


"It was the only way for you to reach your full potential," he said. "I had to become your enemy. I wasn't sure if your body would be able to handle that amount of energy, but you were."


"Thanks all the same."


"Don't mention it," he answered irritably.





The door to the Room of Spirit and Time opened, sending light from the Earth in. "Ready," Vegeta asked as he looked at her.


She nodded and stepped forth back onto the Earth. Nothings going to stop me from rescuing Gohan, she thought to herself. Love was a powerful motivator, and woe to any who got into her way!





Next Chapter: The assault begins! Videl and the others finally confront their enemies and she faces off against her love, Gohan.