Chapter Seventeen:
By Tonz82
Email: tonz82@yahoo.com
Author's Note: This chapter does contain spoilers toward the Dragon Ball Z series. In it I have mentioned scenes from the z-fighters past battles (Cartoon Network has already shown the whole cell saga thing so many times, I don't know how anyone could have missed it).
**Flashback**
Dark crimson, red blood dripped down Gohan's wounded arm and on to the desert ground. Every muscle fiber in his body ached and burned with exhaustion. The veins in his neck and arms throbbed and pulsated. He bared his teeth as he tried to summon more energy into his kamehameha wave blast.
"How long do you think that you can keep this up?" Cell laughed, "I can feel you slipping!"
Gohan was starting to wonder the same thing. Cell had the advantage and he was winning. He was strong, while Gohan was weakened. The only thing enabling Gohan to continue his fight was the strength of his will and the constant reassurance of his father's spirit from the otherworld.
Gohan blamed himself for letting it come to this. The fate of the world would be decided in only a matter seconds and the situation looked bleak.
"Oh, Gohan is this all you have to give me." Cell laughed as he exerted more energy into his kamehameha wave.
Gohan fought not to be blown off his feet and continued to exert his energy against Cell's blast. If he died then Cell would certainly destroy the earth, killing his friends, and every last being on the planet.
'Gohan push it higher! You can do this son!' Goku telepathed from the spirit realm.
"Dad, I don't think I can do this. Cell is so strong." Gohan responded.
'Yes, you can! Don't even talk like that!' Goku cried.
Gohan looked up to see his friends. Each one had positioned themselves around Cell on the ground. They exerted their energy, blasting Cell with their various signature ki blasts. Their attempts to help Gohan proved futile and only resulted in annoying Cell.
"Stop interfering!" Cell cried as he exerted energy blowing all of them away while at the same time maintaining his current battle with Gohan.
The z-fighters refused to give up though. Piccolo, Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha all forced themselves up for one last try. Unfortunately, the z-fighters valiant efforts were met with same response from Cell.
Gohan could feel Cell gaining the upper hand. He was giving all he had and nothing seem be to working. In matter of moments Cell's energy beam would overwhelm him.
Cell laughed. He could taste victory. He would now be the strongest being in the universe. When suddenly he felt a strong blast of energy hit him from behind. It caused him to stumble and take focus off of Gohan.
"Vegeta!" Cell yelled in surprise as he realized where the blast had come from.
Gohan eyes opened wide as he saw his sudden opening and last possible chance to win the battle.
'Now's your chance!' Goku 'pathed.
The glimmer of hope that Vegeta had provided gave Gohan renewed energy and he was able to dig deep down into the remainder of his being, exerting all of his energy. He held nothing back.
Cell turned back toward Gohan as he felt the sudden surge of awesome energy creep up upon him during the millisecond he had taken his attention away from the battle.
"NO!" he shouted.
He didn't have the strength to hold off the massive blast. It overtook him. Cell could feel his body begin to dissolve.
"NO! I…AM…PERFECT!" he cried as his entire being disintegrated into nothing.
Gohan watched to make sure that there was not a trace left of the evil abomination that had been known to the world as Cell. He powered down and his exhausted body fell limply from the sky. He landed with a thud as he hit the ground. When he opened his eyes he realized that he was surrounded by all of his friends. All of them wounded, but alive. They smiled down at him. Gohan's laughter filled the air with joy and relief.
****
Everyone turned away from the glowing orb as it went dark and then vanished. It had shown the last of the many battles that the z-fighters had been involved in.
Kala could sense that the vast amount of negative emotions in the room had vanished. She could no longer sense doubt or suspicion emanating from any of the groups. She had won them over with her story and the fighters no longer eyed one another suspiciously. If anything she sense some of the admiration and respect they had for each other. Although she did detect some dislike for certain members in the room. Mainly for the man named Vegeta.
Ah, Vegeta. Obviously a man who makes friends wherever he goes, Utori 'pathed, He just a regular ray of sunshine.
Kala held back a smile.
"I guess that just leaves our answer then." Gohan said.
"Yes," she nodded.
"Z-fighters, just as all of the other warriors standing in this room your strength is needed, of body and mind. Almost every member of your group has faced the darkness within himself and has chosen good. Therefore each of you possess a true understanding of evil and its nature. I don't have to tell you anymore of what is at stake. Do you accept this mission?"
"Well guys?" Gohan said looking back at his friends.
"Let's see what is this our fifth or sixth apocalypse?" Yamcha said counting on his fingers.
"Man, I've been lost track." Krillin said shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah really." Tien laughed.
"Gee, I don't know." Krillin said, "Save the earth or don't save the earth." He said using the palm of hands like scales.
"No kidding, Its not like it's a hard decision. I'm with you." Yamcha replied.
"Me, too." Krillin added.
"Count me in as well." Tien replied.
"I guess I won't be going home as soon as I thought I would." Trunks answered.
"Piccolo? Vegeta?" Gohan asked looking at the two warriors.
Both wore serious expressions.
"You won't be able to pull this off without me, kid." Piccolo finally spoke.
"I stand with you," he replied with a slight smile.
Everyone turned to look at Vegeta and prepared for some type of cynical response.
Gohan noticed that Vegeta's face for moment had bared a look of dread. Almost fear if he wasn't mistaken
"Yes," he said simply.
No more and no less to everyone's surprise. Everyone's mouths dropped open.
Vegeta had weighed the pros and cons of this mission. If this Daisan person succeeded he would destroy all life and there would be no place to run from the plague of death that would follow. If he accepted this mission he would have an opportunity to gain more power, face a challenging opponent, and beat the unbearable boredom of every day life on earth. Plus he didn't think he could stand another day of Bulma nagging him to stop scowling at the baby or to take out the garbage. Most of all, the thought of baring through another excruciating, touchy-feel conversation about him sharing his feelings with her made him cringe. How was it that the prince of all Saiyans had become more afraid of facing his wife, then fighting in a battle that could mean certain death?
"Well, I guess our answer is yes." Gohan answered the guardian.
Suddenly the whole cavern began to shake. Four balls of light appeared in front of each group of warriors. A swirling mass of energy was given off by the balls of light and filled the entire chamber.
Serena's tried to turn away from the light, but felt as though it called to her. Her two blonde pigtails blew in the wind like streamers.
"What is this?" Hamara cried.
The rest of the Sailor Scouts had their eyes closed in pain.
Instinct told Hikaru to protect her eyes from the blinding light emitted by the ball of light. She squinted her eyes and then opened them completely as she realized that light wasn't hurting her eyes. Although she couldn't say the same for Umi or Fuu, they both had their eyes closed tightly.
Gohan felt as though he had been shot in the eye with a Solar Flare. The light was so bright yet surprising enough he realized that it did not sting his eyes. Instead he was mesmerized by its radiance. He looked at his friends. They all had their eyes shut completely.
"I can't see a thing!" Krillin cried.
Ryo took a step forward as he stared up at the ball of light. It was beautiful. His friends covered their eyes with their hands unable to look to into the light.
"What's happening?" Rowan cried.
Kala stepped forward
"Mistress Fate bestow your chosen champions with the power of the Chrono Shards. Grant them new strengths and abilities. Give them the power to fight the devourer of worlds. CHRONO SHARDS REFRACT!"
The four balls of light suddenly turned into what looked like broken chips of a diamond. Serena, Hikaru, Gohan, and Ryo stared at the four shards. They were full of awe, fear, and confusion. Commonsense told them to run; yet they did exactly the opposite.
Suddenly the four shards powered up with energy and shot forward a beam of light into the four leaders of the four groups. The beams of light exited through them refracting into separate beams of light and entered into the bodies of rest of the members of their parties.
The light lasted a few more moments and then suddenly died out.
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