Chapter XIII: Regroup
Vegeta stuck the Z Sword in the ground and sighed, "That is all. It is finished. Send me to Earth now."
Shin and Kabito blinked. Goku stood up from where he had watched, "Mastered it? All right, that's some good news. Can I see it now?"
The Saiyan prince gave Goku a fierce look, but backed away from the sword. The Supreme Kai stepped in front of Goku, "Wait. Vegeta, you must use the sword to defeat Buu. It is said that the Z Sword-"
"Can it." Vegeta's mood soured even more, if it were possible, "I don't care what the legend behind this trinket is. It has increased my strength, I can feel that. No more good will come from wielding it. A Saiyan needs no weapon. I shall kill Buu with my bare hands."
Kabito stepped forward. Infuriated, he said, "Hold your tongue. You would do well to listen to the Supreme Kai, mortal."
Vegeta didn't know how much more he could tolerate from the two self proclaimed Gods, "And you would do well to back off. The sword means nothing, now. I can lift it with a finger! It would only be a hindrance in the battle."
"I am telling you for the last time, Vegeta," Shin felt his temper rising, "you must use that sword to defeat Buu. It is the most powerful object in all existence. The legend you so callously toss aside states that-"
"That's enough!" Vegeta whirled around and pulled the sword free from the ground. His power rose sharply, and a golden aura erupted from his body. Vegeta faced the Kais again as a Super Saiyan two, "The single most powerful weapon in the universe? Let's find out!"
The Saiyan prince held the Z Sword horizontally and gripped both ends of the blade. Grunting from the effort, he began to bend it. The Supreme Kai became horrified, and rushed to stop Vegeta from committing such a horrendous act.
He hadn't been fast enough. Vegeta winced as the blade snapped in two. Small bits of metal flew out as he threw the two halves away. A satisfied smile crept onto Vegeta's face, "Doesn't seem so strong to me." Neither Kai paid him attention. They only stared at the broken sword. Vegeta hated to be ignored, "I'm strong enough as it is! I am Saiyan! I don't need a silly sword to kill that tub of pink lard!"
Shin turned his attention back to the enraged Saiyan. He nodded, "I . . . suppose that maybe you were right. If the Z Sword were so easily broken, then perhaps it wasn't as powerful as legend stated." He let a smile come out, "That must be it! The sword itself had to have only been a means to gain power, not be the power itself."
Vegeta rolled his eyes, "What the hell do you think I've been trying to tell you?"
"Um, guys?"
"What is it, Kakarott?"
Goku pointed towards where Vegeta had thrown the sword, "Where did he come from?"
They all turned to see an old, wrinkled, purple man standing in the middle of the field. His dress was that of a Kai's, and wore the earrings the Shin and Kabito did. He grinned at their perplexed faces, "So nice to breathe air again. Though I must admit; I was hoping that a Kai would have been the one to break the sword."
* * *
Goten and Trunks ran to the edge of the Lookout as they felt Gohan's power approaching. Bulma and Chichi took their word and followed. Piccolo stayed next to Dende, keeping his focus on Buu. Without the possibility of Babadi's control, Buu could start a rampage that would decimate the planet. Piccolo only wondered why that hadn't started.
Videl appeared at the Lookout's horizon. In her arms hung a badly injured, but still conscious Gohan. She landed shortly, laying Gohan down on the tiled surface. Videl looked to Piccolo, "Do you have any Sensu beans?"
The kid's only just learned about all this, and already she's acting the part. Piccolo motioned to Dende, "Up here, we don't require Sensu beans."
Dende walked up to Gohan. He kneeled down, and placed his hand on his friend's chest. He smiled to Videl, "I'm Dende, the Guardian of the Earth. We didn't get introduced when you first came up. There was a lot on everyone's minds."
To Videl, Dende looked a lot like Piccolo. Gohan had mentioned him in his story, how the . . . Namekian had agreed to return to Earth and become its new guardian. Videl still had a lot to digest after this day.
Dende released some his power and enveloped Gohan in a gentle glow. Videl watched as Gohan's eyes lazily opened, but not abruptly as when Kabito had performed a similar act. Neither one moved as the healing process took place. A minute later, Dende stepped back.
Gohan sat up, blinking. He took a quick look at his surroundings, "I'm at the Lookout? Oh no! Where's Buu!?" The young Saiyan shot to his feet, looking ready to resume a fight.
Piccolo held out a hand, "Calm down. After his battle with your father, Buu left the stadium."
"So where's my dad now?"
"We don't know. I had hoped you could tell us all that was going on down there. My ability to track those events was somewhat hindered by Buu's power."
Tell them what happened? Gohan wasn't sure where he should start. There was nothing to tell but bad news. He owed it to them to tell the worst of it, "Vegeta is dead. Along with the Supreme Kai and Kabito."
"V-Vegeta's . . . dead? No . . . no, I would have felt something. I would have felt . . . something." Bulma sank to her knees, not fighting the tear that came out.
Trunks ran up to Gohan and grabbed his leg, "You're lying! My dad's the strongest guy in the universe. He wouldn't lose to that thing. He . . . it's not true!" Trunks let go and punched Gohan as hard as he could, "Tell me where he is!"
Gohan grabbed Trunk's wrist as another punch came around, "I'm sorry. I really am, Trunks." Gohan saw his mother conseling Bulma. He looked down on the lavender haired child, "You're mother needs you right now. Why don't you go to her?"
Trunks nodded. His eyes burned as he went to his mother. Gohan let the two have their time. He spoke again to Piccolo, "I don't know what happened to my dad. It's possible that with that last attack, Buu destroyed his body. Speaking of which, where's that freak now? I owe him and his master some pain."
Piccolo's eyes wandered downwards. They seemed to pierce the Lookout's floors, "Babadi wasn't much of a master. He drove Buu over the edge with his whining, and was killed for it. Buu's now wandering around. He hasn't done anything since the fight."
Gohan snarled as he felt the monster's much higher power level, "This isn't good. No matter what we did, Buu raised his power to the occasion."
"So Buu was holding back this whole time."
Gohan shook his head, "I don't think so. Buu probably doesn't even know his true strength. His power seemed to rise instinctively, whenever he met someone stronger. My dad came really close to beating him, but Buu recovered and matched him."
"Yes, the Super Saiyan three. I swear, Gohan, you Saiyans always have something up your sleeve."
"Well, I would have transformed as well, but by the time my dad started fighting Buu I didn't have the energy I needed to do so."
Piccolo blinked, "Gohan, are you saying you can also transform to that level?
All eyes on the Lookout turned to start at Gohan. He didn't understand the skepticism, "What? I really can transform to a Super Saiyan three."
"Show us." Piccolo demanded.
Gohan nodded. He placed a hand on Videl's arm and pushed her away gently. She distanced herself from him, waiting next to Dende. Gohan's eyes narrowed as he called out his power. The transformation to Super Saiyan two was instantaneous, engulfing Gohan in an aura of gold. His hard gaze met the others, "This transformation differed a lot from the other two. Anger only hindered bringing it out. The hard part is finding it. Then all you have to do is . . . bring . . . it . . . out!"
Gohan's muscles bulged and his energy rocketed outwards in a shockwave. The others watched awestruck as his eyebrows faded away. Gohan's hair began to grown. The front spikes lengthened outwards, hanging far over the front of his face. The rest grew down, reaching all the way to his mid back. Gohan's brilliant aura vanished as he completed the transition.
"G-Gohan. You're just as strong as Goku."
"Stronger, actually. This is just above two-thirds my maximum."
Goten walked up to his older brother. He poked Gohan in the leg, and jumped as an energy bolt hit him. Goten laughed, "Wow, you're really strong! And funny looking."
Gohan relaxed his hold and returned to his normal state, "You wouldn't say that if you could do it."
Piccolo could see how hard Gohan fought to keep his breath under control. He frowned, "What's wrong with you?"
"Huh? Oh. Well, that level of Super Saiyan takes a heavy toll on my energy. It burns it up like there's no tomorrow. I can only hold that form for so long."
"But how did you become so powerful? You have far surpassed your father."
"Well, I did keep my promise to keep training after Cell. Thing is, I was becoming so strong that I felt out of place. All my life I was always falling behind you guys, but suddenly I surpass you? By several times at that. I was just . . . a little scared I guess. I think that's why I kept it a secret for so long."
Nodding, Piccolo turned his eyes back in Buu's direction, "I can understand, I suppose. At least you're not hiding anymore. With that kind of strength you should be able to beat Buu."
"I don't think so."
"What?"
Gohan sat down to give himself a more relaxing posture, "My dad almost beat Buu, but that was because he suddenly showed up with a great deal more strength. After our last fight, I think Buu's power has gotten a little too high. He could easily match mine in a fight. No, if I want to beat Buu, I need to have overwhelming strength right off. This has to be a quick finish."
That seemed rational to Piccolo, but also severely flawed. He shook his head, "That's all good in words, Gohan, but Buu is down there right now. He could blow Earth apart at any time. What you want requires training, and that will require a lot of time."
Gohan grinned, "I know. I already have a plan for that."
* * *
"I said no!"
Never in the Supreme Kai's long life had he met any being as stubborn as the self proclaimed Saiyan prince. Goku sat off to the side, content with watching the war of the words. Kabito stood next to him, having long given up trying to convince Vegeta otherwise. The Old Kai, who had recently finished his life story and offer, sat under a tree reading . . . certain magazines he had conjured.
Shin didn't give up, "You have already undergone training with the sword! He has offered to raise your power to even higher levels. Why refuse?"
"A Saiyan needs no help from others."
"But, Vegeta, you've accepted help from us before."
"Shut up, Kakarott!!"
"Very well then." Shin turned to face his predecessor, "Elder Kai, I ask that you extend your offer to Goku, as he would be willing to undergo the ordeal."
Vegeta began yelling again before the Old Kai could speak, "Forget it! I'll not let Kakarott become stronger than I on the whim of some geezer!"
"I don't believe you have a say in it, Vegeta. If you'll not submit to the Elder Kai's power raising, then Goku will. Either way, we will have a warrior capable of fighting Majin Buu."
It was maddening. First the Kai had insulted Vegeta's pride by telling him to let his power be manipulated by a decrepit old man. Then he further insulted it by trying to give it away to his rival. The final straw had been insinuating that Vegeta would be unable to fight Buu.
His pride demanded restoration, "Fine, damn you! I'll let the old man perform his trick."
The Old Kai stood up and stored his magazines underneath his arm, "Good. Now then, sit down and get comfortable. Power raising is a very difficult process. This will take thirty hours to complete."
Vegeta regretted his decision already.
* * *
The sanity of Gohan's plan escaped Piccolo. It would give him the time he needed, but could Gohan endure it? Piccolo didn't believe so, "You can not go into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber without someone else. I have already used my two days, and would be unable to go with you."
Gohan stood his ground, "I can handle myself for a year. You did. It's no big deal."
"And I'm telling you your mind won't be able to take it. Not even Goku would dare such a thing. Another way will present itself."
"We don't have the time!" Gohan couldn't beat Buu by himself. If he went now, and Buu matched his power, if not exceeded it, the resulting fight could put a permanent hole in the world. Not to mention risk losing one of the dragonballs in the process. He knew they would need them after this day.
Gohan looked around at the group of people, "Krillin? Yamcha? How about you guys come with?"
Both shook their heads, "Sorry, but I don't think I could just leave my family for a years. Well, a year to me at least."
Yamcha smiled an apology, "Sorry, but I don't think I could handle that place. I would have nothing to do but train, and I don't do that anymore."
"Um . . . what if I went with him?"
Gohan looked over his shoulder to Videl, who had stayed close to him since they reached the Lookout. He could feel a blush coming on at the thought of a year with her. Alone. He shook his head, "I don't think that'd be such a good idea. I mean, the Time Chamber is really . . ."
"Well, I for one think it is a fabulous idea!" Chichi exclaimed.
As a child Gohan had learned to be wary of his mother whenever she thought something to be a good idea. There were double meaning when she was involving herself in his life, "Mom! This isn't your decision! Videl can't go in there with me."
"And why not!?" Videl grabbed Gohan's black tunic and pulled him towards her, "If you need someone to be in there with you, then why can't that be me?"
Because I don't want to think of what could happen if the two of us were alone, with no restrictions, for over three hundred days. Gohan could feel how tempting the thought was. In this one day he had realized, and accepted his feelings for Videl. He just didn't want to ruin anything, "Videl . . . fine. You can come with."
She could hardly believe he had said it, "Are you sure?"
"No, but no one here will let me go in without someone who can also handle the stresses. I suppose that leaves only you." Of all the rotten luck.
Videl didn't think Gohan was entirely enthusiastic about their spending time together, even if it was a very long period of time. Perhaps he wasn't as close to her as she thought, "Well, let's go then. No point wasting time, right?"
Gohan nodded. His eyes swept through the Lookout. He didn't remember where the Time Chamber resided. Piccolo caught on and motion for the two to follow him. After a brief walk, they came to a door. Gohan looked to Videl, and swallowed.
It feels like I'm getting married! I can't believe I agreed to this. He grasped the handle and pulled it out. Neither of them could see beyond the doorframe, "All right, let's go."
Piccolo watched the two teenagers step through and vanish. The door clicked shut, and would not open again until their time had run out. In his hand, Piccolo conjured a small hour glass. Sand began to trickle from the top to the bottom. It measured a twenty-four hour time span.
That is how long the Earth had to survive.
That is how long Gohan had.
Author's Notes:
This changes nothing. I am not going back full swing. I had this chapter finished, so I thought I might as well post it (I actually have several done). It's short, but it is also a set up chapter. Most everything between everyone will happen next time. However long that takes.
Take care all.