Chapter Seventeen: Powerful Persuasion
Kaykora attacked Caristo head on starting off with a punch that he dodged easily. She followed that by a series of rapid punches and kicks, which Caristo matched. They flew back from each other and Caristo smiled.
This time he took the offensive and Kaykora matched him. However, he liked to mix things up with a round house to the head area or a spinning heel kick. Still he was met with no success has he tried to land a blow on her. "Pathetic. I can't even crush this weakling without transforming." He thought as he gritted his teeth and picked up the pace. The Z Fighters looked on as the two zipped and zoomed across the ground in sky in this deadlock battle. It became apparent that this was merely a warm up.
Caristo broke away and landed softly on the ground. Kaykora landed several yards away. "Look kid. You're good but I know you're only toying with me. The truth is, I'm only toying with you. So why don't we make this fight definitive?" He said cockily.
"If you suggest we go all out then you're sadly more foolish than you seem." Kaykora responded mockingly. "But if that's how you wish to proceed then proceed."
"Good then that will at least make this fight worth my time." Caristo smirked and dropped into stance as he powered up. Kaykora did likewise and it wasn't long before their auras were competing for space. The ground under and between them gave way into a massive indented figure eight. Dust and rock shot away from them in all directions.
"Finally something worth watching." Vegeta said with a snicker. "I'm interested to see just how good a job I did."
"I'm surprise your not whining for not getting to take this fight and the glory." Piccolo said with a snicker of his own. The short man shot the green guy a death glare then turned his attention back to the light display.
"I wonder why she's holding back Dad." Gohan said tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"She's luring Caristo into a trap. She's making him believe that's all the more power she has so he gets cocky and careless." Goku said. He maybe an airhead but when it comes to fighting he's brilliant.
"But isn't that dangerous? I mean can't he beat her up before she has a chance to go all out and beat him?" Gohan asked still confused.
"That's a risk you have to take when trying to gain the upper hand in a fight Gohan. There's always give and take and you have to stay flexible for any surprises." Bardock responded to the young man's question.
"Are you sure we should be letting her do this though? I mean you are way stronger than her Dad." Gohan went on still concerned about his friend's well-being.
"She needs this fight Gohan. She needs the confidence boost more than we do. She thinks that if she depends on us it will undermine her own ability. But she doesn't do it out of pride like Vegeta; she does it out of what she thinks is necessity. She feels she has to be as strong as possible to protect threats to her people, Caristo being one of those threats. If we beat him for her, she'll only think she can't so it herself and think less of her ability." Bardock stated with an air of pride in his voice.
"It's that drive to protect those we love that gives all of us our power Gohan. The stronger that drive, the stronger we can become." Goku started. "And the with as much drive to protect as she has, she could very well surpass us all." Gohan looked on trying to digest this new information and revelation into the psyche of his friend.
Caristo disappeared and his afterimage faded. Kaykora knew she was in for some pain and braced her self as a knee contacted with her back. She flew forward and was met with a knee to the stomach, which sent her sailing back again. Caristo met her yet again and locked his arms under hers and flew up into the sky. He tossed her up higher and grabbed her foot and swung her around a few times for sending her plummeting to the ground. She flipped around and regained control inches above the ground and shot upward. Before her afterimage could fade, she sent Caristo down with a two blow to the head. He on the other hand connected with the ground.
"Almost impressive." He said getting up and dusting himself off. "But only what I'd expect from a weakling run away coward.
"What do you mean by that?" Kaykora said angrily.
"Suppose you are the rightful heir, what kind of heir are you? You ran off when things got tough and left you people to die. More importantly, you never came back and you never will. You a coward just like your Dad for running off." Caristo quipped.
He had no time to react. The next thing he knew, one foot gauged into his stomach and second sent him sailing into the air as Kaykora did a complete flip and shot up after him. She met him in mid air and flipped backwards planting a foot firmly in his shoulder and sent him back down causing him to hit the ground in the exact same spot only much hard this time.
Kaykora landed and waited for the smoke to clear and her opponent to emerge. Upon deciding he was taking to long she shot up into the air and powered up a ki blast. "Kia Ny Caru!" She shouted letting out the most massive ki blast she ever had. But it wasn't enough. Caristo ploughed right through it and caught her off guard as he hammered her over and over again.
He grabbed leg when she attempted a kick and sent her flying down again this time he blasted her with a stellar attack ensuring her dirt pie was delivered this time.
A massive smoking crater lay before the Z fighters who stood in shock and disbelief. The smoke cleared and Kaykora lay in the bottom still and untransformed. It became obvious he was much more powerful then he was letting them know. Vegeta and Goku instantly went level two and tag teamed Caristo who defend himself easily from the both of them.
Kaykora lay half-conscious hearing the sounds of the battle but not fully acknowledging them. Gohan rushed over and picked her up moving her out of harm's way. He laid her down behind the others who watched in disbelief, as their two strongest fighters couldn't even get one hit between the two of them.
Through all this a voice entered Kaykora's mind. It was one she had never heard before but it rang with familiarity. Whoever it was and instant feeling of trust came over her.
"Kaykora... Kaykora, What are you doing? Why have you given up so easily?" The women's voice said in a soothing tone.
"Because I'm a weak failure. A failure to my friends, my teachers, my people, and myself. I deserve to die." Kaykora responded forlorn.
"If you give up and succumb to death now, yes you are a failure. But you are far from weak m dear. Please listen to me. Get up and win this battle and we will guide you far better than anyone. Please dear, so much hangs on this fight. I promise you after this peace and serenity for much time in your life and answers you so desperately seek."
"What's the point?"
"I am offering you the chance and the power to make up for your past shortcomings. I am here to help you Kaykora if you'll let me. You are not as far fro forgiveness as you think and no one here but Caristo who doesn't matter and yourself think you are a failure. But you will not failure if you trust me."
"What do I have to do?" Kaykora spoke with renewed confidence.
"Just get up and trust in me." The voice said as a massive winged tiger became visible before her.
A wave of emotion came over Kaykora and she instantly recognized the creature. "You're one of the Ancients..." She choked out.
The creature nodded. "Now trust in me." Kaykora stopped trembling and nodded resolutely.
Kaykora's eye snapped open and she flew from Gohan's arms and over the other Z Fighters. She landed on the field of battle in time to see Vegeta fly over her head and Goku soon follow.
"Down but not out I see." Caristo mused playfully as he rubbed his hands together.
"Not by a long shot." Kaykora said smiling. She suddenly let out a powerful scream that mixed and turned into an even more power beastly roar. She started growing vertically as her feet ripped through her black boots tipped by huge talons. Her fingers elongated and became tipped with equally long talons. Her long straight hair became blonde as she went Super Saiya at the same time and laid as it always did straight as board down to the middle of her back. Two rips formed where her shoulders were and wings sprang forth. A third rip formed near the base of her back and a long black and white striped tail emerged. When it was all said and done, she had tripled in height and had also developed a vicious set of fangs.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!!" Vegeta said pulling himself up and staggering to the front. Goku followed close behind.
"I think it's our transformed state..." Dalina said in awe and unsure.
"You mean you don't know what it looks like?!" Goku said in shock. Dalina shook her head.
Kaykora turned to look at her friends. "I suggest you leave. This could become very ugly." This only sent everyone into a deeper awe seeing the full extent of the transformation.
Goku snapped to first. No way we're in this for the long haul." He responded in a serious tone.
"Suit yourselves." She said turning and facing Caristo. "Still think you can take me?" She said with a smile.
"Of course." Caristo said with a cocky smile.
Kaykora's smile broadened as she took her stance and held her hands in a circle in front of her chest. A bright and powerful ball of ki formed and expanded as she slowly moved her hands away. She held her arms perpendicular from her body as the key ball continues to grow. "HEART OF CHAMPIONS!" She screamed swinging her arms in front of her. The ball shot forward in a beam and hit Caristo dead on. He held out his hands his a sorry attempt to hold off the attack but failed and was sent careening thousands of feet back, stopped only by a tall hill.
Kaykora slowly floated down and waited for her prey to gain his composure. "I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY A CHILD!!!" He screamed lunging forward with all his speed. Kaykora held up her right arm as her talonous claws glowed and extended. At the last second she lurched forward. For a moment it had seemed they both had missed but it became clear Caristo was in pain. Kaykora turned and with a single finger pushed him forward. Instead of falling as one being he fell in a pile of bits and pieces. In one last act of self-assurance, she flew up into the air. "NIA NY CARU!" She shouted and sent a massive ki beam down where the pieces of Caristo lay.
When the incinerary cloud lifted and the ground settled, she floated down facing the Z Fighters who stood stunned and confused. With a smile on her face she spook with a voice aged and full of wisdom; sweet and compassionate. "The Ancients are no legend and I am proof. Through them, my people are free for now. And for now I can be at peace."
A bright beam shot up into the air from around Kaykora a blue sparks flowed out of it. Wherever there was devastation, they gathered and swirled around; upon parting all was well again. They swirled around each of the Fighters then became absorbed by them; make them stronger and healing those in need.
The beam dissipated and with it Kaykora slowly de-transformed. When the beam was completely gone, she fell face first to the ground dead.
"Kaykora!" Gohan screamed running to her side and scooping her up in his arms; Heroli not far behind. "Wake up! Come one wake up!" He said shaking her gently as tears welled up in his eyes.
"She's not dead I can still feel her!" The little Archesaiya said pushing up to her. "Here put a hand on me or a hand on someone with a hand on me. I need the energy this is going to take some doing..." She said placing both hands on Kaykora. She closed her eyes and started chanting some unintelligible language. A bright purple glow formed around her and slowly began drifting down her arms into Kaykora. A few minutes after the glow had gone completely in her, the two jumped and started gasping for breath.
Kaykora attacked Caristo head on starting off with a punch that he dodged easily. She followed that by a series of rapid punches and kicks, which Caristo matched. They flew back from each other and Caristo smiled.
This time he took the offensive and Kaykora matched him. However, he liked to mix things up with a round house to the head area or a spinning heel kick. Still he was met with no success has he tried to land a blow on her. "Pathetic. I can't even crush this weakling without transforming." He thought as he gritted his teeth and picked up the pace. The Z Fighters looked on as the two zipped and zoomed across the ground in sky in this deadlock battle. It became apparent that this was merely a warm up.
Caristo broke away and landed softly on the ground. Kaykora landed several yards away. "Look kid. You're good but I know you're only toying with me. The truth is, I'm only toying with you. So why don't we make this fight definitive?" He said cockily.
"If you suggest we go all out then you're sadly more foolish than you seem." Kaykora responded mockingly. "But if that's how you wish to proceed then proceed."
"Good then that will at least make this fight worth my time." Caristo smirked and dropped into stance as he powered up. Kaykora did likewise and it wasn't long before their auras were competing for space. The ground under and between them gave way into a massive indented figure eight. Dust and rock shot away from them in all directions.
"Finally something worth watching." Vegeta said with a snicker. "I'm interested to see just how good a job I did."
"I'm surprise your not whining for not getting to take this fight and the glory." Piccolo said with a snicker of his own. The short man shot the green guy a death glare then turned his attention back to the light display.
"I wonder why she's holding back Dad." Gohan said tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"She's luring Caristo into a trap. She's making him believe that's all the more power she has so he gets cocky and careless." Goku said. He maybe an airhead but when it comes to fighting he's brilliant.
"But isn't that dangerous? I mean can't he beat her up before she has a chance to go all out and beat him?" Gohan asked still confused.
"That's a risk you have to take when trying to gain the upper hand in a fight Gohan. There's always give and take and you have to stay flexible for any surprises." Bardock responded to the young man's question.
"Are you sure we should be letting her do this though? I mean you are way stronger than her Dad." Gohan went on still concerned about his friend's well-being.
"She needs this fight Gohan. She needs the confidence boost more than we do. She thinks that if she depends on us it will undermine her own ability. But she doesn't do it out of pride like Vegeta; she does it out of what she thinks is necessity. She feels she has to be as strong as possible to protect threats to her people, Caristo being one of those threats. If we beat him for her, she'll only think she can't so it herself and think less of her ability." Bardock stated with an air of pride in his voice.
"It's that drive to protect those we love that gives all of us our power Gohan. The stronger that drive, the stronger we can become." Goku started. "And the with as much drive to protect as she has, she could very well surpass us all." Gohan looked on trying to digest this new information and revelation into the psyche of his friend.
Caristo disappeared and his afterimage faded. Kaykora knew she was in for some pain and braced her self as a knee contacted with her back. She flew forward and was met with a knee to the stomach, which sent her sailing back again. Caristo met her yet again and locked his arms under hers and flew up into the sky. He tossed her up higher and grabbed her foot and swung her around a few times for sending her plummeting to the ground. She flipped around and regained control inches above the ground and shot upward. Before her afterimage could fade, she sent Caristo down with a two blow to the head. He on the other hand connected with the ground.
"Almost impressive." He said getting up and dusting himself off. "But only what I'd expect from a weakling run away coward.
"What do you mean by that?" Kaykora said angrily.
"Suppose you are the rightful heir, what kind of heir are you? You ran off when things got tough and left you people to die. More importantly, you never came back and you never will. You a coward just like your Dad for running off." Caristo quipped.
He had no time to react. The next thing he knew, one foot gauged into his stomach and second sent him sailing into the air as Kaykora did a complete flip and shot up after him. She met him in mid air and flipped backwards planting a foot firmly in his shoulder and sent him back down causing him to hit the ground in the exact same spot only much hard this time.
Kaykora landed and waited for the smoke to clear and her opponent to emerge. Upon deciding he was taking to long she shot up into the air and powered up a ki blast. "Kia Ny Caru!" She shouted letting out the most massive ki blast she ever had. But it wasn't enough. Caristo ploughed right through it and caught her off guard as he hammered her over and over again.
He grabbed leg when she attempted a kick and sent her flying down again this time he blasted her with a stellar attack ensuring her dirt pie was delivered this time.
A massive smoking crater lay before the Z fighters who stood in shock and disbelief. The smoke cleared and Kaykora lay in the bottom still and untransformed. It became obvious he was much more powerful then he was letting them know. Vegeta and Goku instantly went level two and tag teamed Caristo who defend himself easily from the both of them.
Kaykora lay half-conscious hearing the sounds of the battle but not fully acknowledging them. Gohan rushed over and picked her up moving her out of harm's way. He laid her down behind the others who watched in disbelief, as their two strongest fighters couldn't even get one hit between the two of them.
Through all this a voice entered Kaykora's mind. It was one she had never heard before but it rang with familiarity. Whoever it was and instant feeling of trust came over her.
"Kaykora... Kaykora, What are you doing? Why have you given up so easily?" The women's voice said in a soothing tone.
"Because I'm a weak failure. A failure to my friends, my teachers, my people, and myself. I deserve to die." Kaykora responded forlorn.
"If you give up and succumb to death now, yes you are a failure. But you are far from weak m dear. Please listen to me. Get up and win this battle and we will guide you far better than anyone. Please dear, so much hangs on this fight. I promise you after this peace and serenity for much time in your life and answers you so desperately seek."
"What's the point?"
"I am offering you the chance and the power to make up for your past shortcomings. I am here to help you Kaykora if you'll let me. You are not as far fro forgiveness as you think and no one here but Caristo who doesn't matter and yourself think you are a failure. But you will not failure if you trust me."
"What do I have to do?" Kaykora spoke with renewed confidence.
"Just get up and trust in me." The voice said as a massive winged tiger became visible before her.
A wave of emotion came over Kaykora and she instantly recognized the creature. "You're one of the Ancients..." She choked out.
The creature nodded. "Now trust in me." Kaykora stopped trembling and nodded resolutely.
Kaykora's eye snapped open and she flew from Gohan's arms and over the other Z Fighters. She landed on the field of battle in time to see Vegeta fly over her head and Goku soon follow.
"Down but not out I see." Caristo mused playfully as he rubbed his hands together.
"Not by a long shot." Kaykora said smiling. She suddenly let out a powerful scream that mixed and turned into an even more power beastly roar. She started growing vertically as her feet ripped through her black boots tipped by huge talons. Her fingers elongated and became tipped with equally long talons. Her long straight hair became blonde as she went Super Saiya at the same time and laid as it always did straight as board down to the middle of her back. Two rips formed where her shoulders were and wings sprang forth. A third rip formed near the base of her back and a long black and white striped tail emerged. When it was all said and done, she had tripled in height and had also developed a vicious set of fangs.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!!" Vegeta said pulling himself up and staggering to the front. Goku followed close behind.
"I think it's our transformed state..." Dalina said in awe and unsure.
"You mean you don't know what it looks like?!" Goku said in shock. Dalina shook her head.
Kaykora turned to look at her friends. "I suggest you leave. This could become very ugly." This only sent everyone into a deeper awe seeing the full extent of the transformation.
Goku snapped to first. No way we're in this for the long haul." He responded in a serious tone.
"Suit yourselves." She said turning and facing Caristo. "Still think you can take me?" She said with a smile.
"Of course." Caristo said with a cocky smile.
Kaykora's smile broadened as she took her stance and held her hands in a circle in front of her chest. A bright and powerful ball of ki formed and expanded as she slowly moved her hands away. She held her arms perpendicular from her body as the key ball continues to grow. "HEART OF CHAMPIONS!" She screamed swinging her arms in front of her. The ball shot forward in a beam and hit Caristo dead on. He held out his hands his a sorry attempt to hold off the attack but failed and was sent careening thousands of feet back, stopped only by a tall hill.
Kaykora slowly floated down and waited for her prey to gain his composure. "I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY A CHILD!!!" He screamed lunging forward with all his speed. Kaykora held up her right arm as her talonous claws glowed and extended. At the last second she lurched forward. For a moment it had seemed they both had missed but it became clear Caristo was in pain. Kaykora turned and with a single finger pushed him forward. Instead of falling as one being he fell in a pile of bits and pieces. In one last act of self-assurance, she flew up into the air. "NIA NY CARU!" She shouted and sent a massive ki beam down where the pieces of Caristo lay.
When the incinerary cloud lifted and the ground settled, she floated down facing the Z Fighters who stood stunned and confused. With a smile on her face she spook with a voice aged and full of wisdom; sweet and compassionate. "The Ancients are no legend and I am proof. Through them, my people are free for now. And for now I can be at peace."
A bright beam shot up into the air from around Kaykora a blue sparks flowed out of it. Wherever there was devastation, they gathered and swirled around; upon parting all was well again. They swirled around each of the Fighters then became absorbed by them; make them stronger and healing those in need.
The beam dissipated and with it Kaykora slowly de-transformed. When the beam was completely gone, she fell face first to the ground dead.
"Kaykora!" Gohan screamed running to her side and scooping her up in his arms; Heroli not far behind. "Wake up! Come one wake up!" He said shaking her gently as tears welled up in his eyes.
"She's not dead I can still feel her!" The little Archesaiya said pushing up to her. "Here put a hand on me or a hand on someone with a hand on me. I need the energy this is going to take some doing..." She said placing both hands on Kaykora. She closed her eyes and started chanting some unintelligible language. A bright purple glow formed around her and slowly began drifting down her arms into Kaykora. A few minutes after the glow had gone completely in her, the two jumped and started gasping for breath.