I am sorry for the long delay.  A combination of my previous harddrive crashing, and a very annoying writer's block is responsible for this.  Fortunatley, I am now past this and I am well on the way to completing Part II, which I think you will all either hate or enjoy.

            . . . or maybe enjoy and just hate me.

Chapter XVI: Hell on Earth - Part I

            For what seemed an eternity, it had finally ended.  Vegeta stood up, ready to test his new powers.  The Elder Kai retreated to where Goku, Shin, and Kabito stood.  They sat down, waiting for Vegeta to being.  The Saiyan Prince calmed himself.  Mentally, he prepared his body for the onrush of power.

            "Just do that thing when you become a Super Saiyan, and it should come right out."

            Vegeta gave a nod, and began his power up.  He triggered his ascension to the legendary warrior, and felt a grand rush of pure energy.  Only, there was no brilliant light.  His hair, his eyes, his body underwent no changes.  Vegeta's confusion became lost in the swelling of power that he felt within.  Within moments, he reached his peak.

            Goku whistled as Vegeta calmed down, "I can't believe what I'm sensing.  Vegeta, that's incredible!"

            "Yes." Shin agreed, "With such strength you should have little difficulty defeating Majin Buu."

            "I . . . I'm not even a Super Saiyan and I'm this powerful?" Vegeta again called out his transformation, determined to see what his limits were.

            It wouldn't come.

            Vegeta grimaced in concentration as he tried again and again.  He glare turned to the Kais, "Why can't I bring out my true power?"

            "As I said before, I manipulate and change your energy in order to increase it.  What you have there is your Super Saiyan power, only changed."

            Goku began to edge away from the three Kais.  Vegeta howled and roared his anger, making them jump back in fear.  He began to stomp his way towards them, "It is enough of a curse to carry power that isn't truly mine, but to have my birth right as an heir to the Saiyan race stolen from me!?  Damn you all!"

            Goku glanced down on the forgotten crystal ball, and blinked when it only showed the Lookout.  He called out, "Vegeta, wait!  Something's going on down on Earth."

            Vegeta halted his charge and joined Goku.  He frowned, "Where's Buu?  And where are all the others for that matter?  They're supposed to be on the Lookout, but I don't see them." His anger bled away as a quiet fear began to grip his heart.  Vegeta turned to Shin, "You, take me to Earth now."

            "Uh, very well." Shin took his place beside Vegeta and began to sense Earth's location.

            The Saiyan prince turned his eyes on the Elder Kai, "You and I shall have words when I return." Shin's eyes popped open as he found Earth, and the two vanished.

            Goku leaned in to the Elder Kai and whispered, "I think he hates you more now than he ever hated me."

*                                  *                                  *

            Vegeta squinted as the bright Earth sun blinded him.  He stood in an empty crater in the middle of one of the vast oceans.  No . . . there was something here once before.  Then it hit him; this had been the location of the World Tournament.  But it, and the rest of the city, was no more.

            "What happened here?"

            "I am not sure, Vegeta.  We neglected to watch the crystal ball as you neared the end of your training.  I can only surmise that Buu has taken to wanton destruction."

            Vegeta tried to sense out his mate, or anyone, but felt nothing.  Faint signatures of weakling humans were aplenty still, but he could not sense Buu nor any of the others.  That did not sit well with him.  Vegeta turned to the Supreme Kai, "Give me my Saiyan armor, and then you may leave.  I will take care of everything from here."

            Shin nodded.  He held out his hand and hastily materialized a new set of clothing identical to what Vegeta had been wearing.  With his presence no longer needed, Shin gave a nod of respect and vanished.

            Vegeta took in his surroundings and quickly determined the way to the Lookout.  He powered up, and shot into the sky.

*                                  *                                  *

            Videl walked out of the bedroom to find Gohan standing erect, and staring at the door.  He had been doing this for the past two days, and it unnerved her.  She wrapped herself around his left arm, "Gohan, its late.  Just come back to bed.  You know I can't sleep anymore without you there."

            Gohan didn't avert his eyes for a moment, "I keep getting these flashes.  It's as though I can sense something beyond to door, but maybe the time difference is interfering.  Videl . . . I think something terrible has happened."

            "Do you want to leave now?" Videl leaned over and rested her head on him.

            "No." His eyes glanced over to the giant hour glasses that marked the passage of time in this place.  The sand was nearly run out, "Our time left here doesn't amount to much outside.  We should use these last days, not waste them prematurely."

            He let Videl drag him back to the bed, "You want to train together for the rest?  Help improve my form and technique?"

            "Sure, sure.  Just get back in here.  I'm tired."

*                                  *                                  *

            Vegeta landed roughly on the top of the Lookout.  He still could not see or feel anything around.  As he walked closer to the main building, he noticed burns, holes, and cracks etched everywhere.  There had been a battle.  His pace quickened.

            "Interesting."             Vegeta halted before the entrance to the building when he heard the disembodied voice.  He had never heard it before, "Gohan had told all the others you were dead.  I thought for sure I had killed you.  I wonder where you have been."

            "Who are you?  Show yourself!"

            "Now now, bad bad.  No need for a temper here . . . Vegeta."

            He recognized that childish talk; "Buu . . ." Even with his heightened Saiyan senses, Vegeta couldn't determine the location of the monster.

            "Very good.  You are a bold man, Saiyan prince, for coming here without powering up."

            "Why don't you come out and see for yourself?"

            "Fine!!" Buu's pink fist shot out of the dark entry and rammed into Vegeta's right cheek.  Vegeta grabbed on to it with both hands and planted both legs firmly into the stoned floor of the Lookout.  The rest of Buu shot out and attacked Vegeta with a sweeping kick.

            Vegeta's left hand shot out and blocked the attack.  He then released Buu's arm with his other hand and shot out a beam of raw energy.  It blew through Buu's left shoulder and streaked out into the sky.  The monster retreated back, and quickly regenerated the wound.

            The Saiyan took this moment to reexamine his opponent.  Buu had changed a lot in just one day.  He was now thin, muscular, and adorned a white cape similar to Piccolo's.  His face was also thinner, with the antennae extending down to around a foot in length.  Not only that, but Buu's power had increased greatly.  Well over twice his previous strength.

            Vegeta rubbed the soreness out of his face, "Where did all this come from?"

            "This is most interesting.  You are far stronger than when I first faced you." Buu rolled his head around, stretching.  He grinned madly, "You could very well be my equal."

            "Where are my mate and son?"

            Buu laughed heartily, pating his trim stomach, "They are a part of me now.  You would be proud of your child.  He had quite the reservoir of energy to give me.  As did Goten, Piccolo, and Eighteen.  The power I have obtained is great indeed.  Though your mate made far better candy."

            Seeing his family a part of that vile creature infuriated Vegeta.  He rose his power, letting his anger diminish his limitations.  He gave Buu a stern look, "I shall kill you for this trespass."

            Buu brought a finger up and beckoned Vegeta, "Then try, mighty prince."

*                                  *                                  *

            Gohan grabbed Videl's fist and held it as he involuntarily spun to face the building within the Time Chamber.  Videl yelped from being dragged around, and then growled, "Damnit, I told you not to toy with me like this Gohan!"

            "Videl . . . I felt it again.  Something's going on out there." As hard as he tried, Gohan couldn't firmly grasp the power beyond the door.  He growled, "No use, this place is interfering too much.  We have to leave now!"

            Videl this time grabbed Gohan, "No.  Gohan, I don't sense anything.  There's no way Buu could know where the Lookout is.  If you are sensing something . . . then maybe it is Buu and he's having his way with the planet.  But like you said; we can fix everything with the dragonballs.  There's no point in just running out there for nothing."

            Her words hurt in a way, but he knew they were true.  Gohan mentally reprimanded himself for suddenly freaking out.  He shouldn't trust what he felt in this place.  He turned back to her, "Sorry.  How about we finish up and take the rest of the night off?"

            Videl wrenched her hand out of his, "Yeah, sure.  Right after I kick your ass for playing with me again."

            "Huh!?" Gohan held his hands up, "Wait, Videl, I wasn't toying with you!  Honestly, I . . . ah!" He ducked and dodged as Videl came at him again with a renewed fury.

*                                  *                                  *

            Vegeta gasped as he flew through the Lookout and crashed onto the floor of the interior.  This damned place didn't seem to obey any form of the laws of the physical world.  Buu didn't seem to mind at all.  The darkened innards of the Lookout provided the perfect spot for him to hide and taunt the Saiyan.

            Blook flew from his mouth as he roared, "I shall not be made a mockery!"

            "Poor poor prince.  Lost with no one to hold his hand along the way."

            Vegeta didn't know if he could maintain his mettle.  This thing not only absorbed their powers, but their minds as well.  I can smell the Namekian's cunning in the cretin's speeches.  I can not afford to lose my temper at such petty words.  Vegeta pushed himself up and began to power up again.  He wished the golden aura of the Super Saiyan were with him to light his way.

            Buu pressed himself against a pillar as he watched Vegeta's strength increase.  It puzzled the creature.  Will someone tell me where he is getting all this power?  At this rate he will be my equal.  It has only been a day, and already this Saiyan's strength nearly matches my own.  I must make sure to kill him and Gohan as quickly as possible.  This threat can not be allowed to exist.

            "I hope you don't bruise easily Buu!" Vegeta held a fisted hand high over himself, and encased it in a ball of white energy.  Buu frowned at the odd attack, seeing that such a mass would move very slowly.  The ball flashed, and streaks of light shot out in all directions, filling the great void of the Lookout.  Only these weren't made of light.

            Buu screamed as one of the beams lanced through the pillar and nearly cut him in half.  Vegeta threw himself forward, and placed a series of earth shattering punches onto Buu's head.  Phasing behind him, Vegeta followed up with a kick, sending Buu back up towards the main floor.

*                                  *                                  *

            Shin jumped up and shot a fist into the air, "Its working!  Vegeta is going to win!"

            "I'm not so sure about that."

            The Elder Kai glanced at Goku, "You see it too?"

            "What are you talking about?  Vegeta has clearly made contact with his attacks more than Buu has.  The outcome of the fight is obvious."

            "You're wrong." Goku pointed back to the crystal ball as Vegeta and Buu continued their battle back on the top, "I know Vegeta quite well.  He tends to deal as much raw damage from the onset as possible.  It burns through his energy, and usually his opponent's as well.

            "Buu is different.  His body can absorb the blows and take less damage.  Vegeta isn't catching on to this, and it will cost him in the end." Goku slammed a fist into the ground, causing the area to shake, "I can't believe I spaced off.  Everyone's gone, and Gohan is nowhere to be found.  Everything is riding on Vegeta."

            "You could go to Earth and assist him, Goku."

            Goku blinked.  Me, go back to Earth? "But, Elder Kai, I am unable to return to the mortal world in this form ever again."

            The Kai waved a hand, "Nonsense.  All that is required is for a still living being to give up their life in exchange for your own.  Granted that they know how to, of course."

            Goku shook his head, "I'd rather not if I didn't have to.  I've had enough second chances as it is."

*                                  *                                  *

            Vegeta howled, flashing forward and ramming Buu with a powerful punch.  Buu blanched for a moment, and then grinned.  His upper body stretched, wrapping around Vegeta in a tight grip.  The Saiyan prince snarled.  He tried to flex his power, tried to force the creature off of him.

            Buu laughed, "You'll make good candy.  Though I think your personality will bear sour sweets better." The antennae came around, and began to snap with pink energy.

            "You . . . will do no such thing!" Vegeta turned his head and widened his mouth in a scream.  Raw power seared out, cutting through Buu like the air and decapitating him.  Its body went lax, and Vegeta quickly removed himself.

            He cringed as Buu's hands groped around for his missing head.  Vegeta spit blood, "That's disgusting.  Doesn't a cretin even as low as you have a shred of self pride?"

            Buu halted his movements and flinched as a new head regenerated in place.  He grinned, "What's the point to life without a little fun."

            "There isn't much for yours since it won't last much longer!" The infamous grin of the Saiyan prince returned as he phased out.

            The creature's smile turned to a gnashing sneer as he jerked his head around, trying to determine Vegeta's location.  Where is all this speed suddenly coming from? A fist burrowed into his right eye, and the foot sharply slammed his torso.  Vegeta released a flow of power directly into Buu, and let it explode.

            Buu's body erupted in light and dust.  Vegeta planted himself firmly on the ground as his opponent's remains stumbled backwards.  A mess of pink jelly lay scattered about the tiled floors of the Lookout.  The visuals were hardly what mattered.

            What is this?  Where is all that energy coming from!?  I've unleashed everything I can into this thing and I have hardly dented it!  Vegeta picked his foot up and slammed it through the stone, "Stop mocking me, damn you!"

            A sinister laugh came from everywhere around him.  The pits and pieces of Buu goo came to life, and flew to an area several meters before the lone warrior.  The throbbing puddle began to swirl, and the stretched up, taking on a humanoid form.  Buu's pants and cape took form, and his face became defined once again.

            Buu grabbed his right shoulder and began to rotate the arm, "Poor, foolish Vegeta.  All this time wasting his strength against an opponent who he can hardly hurt." Vegeta flinched at the words, "What do you think you've accomplished?  I have lost power, certainly, but you have wasted much of yours.

            "The knowledge that came with Piccolo's mind has been most useful.  He told me of how you fight.  Such rash, aggressive postures and attacks.  You expend much of your strength hoping to crush your enemies.  All I have done is use it against you.  You are now too weakened to pose a threat to me."

            Buu's hand came up, "Let me show you."

            The energy wave expanded and rushed out so fast that Vegeta hardly had time to raise his arms in defense.  The overwhelming force knocked him down, and he skidded across the surface of the Lookout.  He uncrossed his arms only to see Buu's face grinning down on him.

            "Peek-a-boo." Buu's stomach spilled down and wrapped itself around Vegeta.  The Saiyan struggled to break free, but this time found the hold too strong to break.  For a moment, Vegeta thought he could feel fear.  Buu laughed at the hatred that overcame him, "Scared?  You should be."

            Vegeta gasped as Buu's fist barreled down on his face.  Buu then brought the other down.  A steady pace picked up, with Vegeta crying out in pain, and Buu laughing throughout it all.

*                                  *                                  *

            Shin collapsed backwards as he witnessed Buu's torture of his one hope.  He shut his eye in disgrace, "I've failed.  Nothing can stop him now."

            Goku got to his feet and shook his fists in anger, "No!  I refuse to let it all end this way, and I refuse to allow Vegeta to die!" He turned to the Elder Kai, "Please, you said there was a way to send me back?  I've changed my mind; I want to fight."

            The Kai smiled, "So nice to once again see the vigor of a heroic man." He sat down cross legged, "Do not worry, this will require no effort on your part.  I shall cut what remains of my life, and I shall transfer that to you.  Once that is done, you will no longer be bound to the Other World."

            "No!  Elder Kai, you mustn't do such a thing!" Kabito looked ready to faint at the idea.

            "Your sentiment is greatly appreciated.  But I am old, and despite being a Kai I believe there are responsibilities we hold that go far above our immortal privilege.  Let the young live so that they may protect those that we are powerless to." His eyes closed, and his body crumpled to the ground.

            Goku felt a sudden rush go through him, and he looked up to see his halo fade away.  He lived, once again.  He bowed to the body of the Kai, "Thank you.  I won't let your sacrifice be in vain." Without wasting another word, Goku brought his hand up to his forehead, searched for Earth, and vanished.

            "Wait!" The Eldar Kai jumped up just as Goku's Instant Transmission carried him away.

            Both Shin and Kabito jumped backwards, "A ghost!"

            "Spare me!" The Elder Kai pushed himself back up to his feet, "Where else am I going to go?  I'm already in Other World!"

            "Oh." Shin blinked, "That . . . that does make sense, actually."

            "I can't believe he took off like that!  This new generation; they have strength, for sure, but not a wit to them.  Had he spared another second, I could have given him a useful tool to aid in his battle."

            "What instrument do you speak of, Elder Kai?" Kabito inquired.

            The Elder Kai flicked one of the two earrings he wore, "I don't suppose it matters now."

*                                  *                                  *

            Buu felt a wild thrill of using the greatly feared and respected Saiyan prince as a punching bag.  Vegeta's face lay in a small, cracked depression.  He was bloodied, bruised, and weary.  Buu felt invinclible.  Here a warrior had appeared with strength far greater than he should have possessed, and Buu had triumphed with overwhelming force.

            "I wonder what we should do next.  Do you have any-" Buu twitched as a new presence suddenly entered his mind.

            "Destructo Disc!"

            Buu withdrew from Vegeta and tried to move out of the way of the energy attack, which proved fruitless.  A circular disc of yellow energy cut through Buu at a diagonal, slicing off the monster's left arm and shoulder.  He flew to the side, stopping a short distance away.  Buu spared to time in regenerating his arm as he beheld his newest opponent.

            "Vegeta, are you all right?" Goku knelt down and studied the figure of his Saiyan kin.

            One of Vegeta's eyes opened, "Kakarott?  I'm almost glad to see you . . . but don't you dare lift one finger to help me up." Goku backed away as Vegeta pushed himself off the ground.  His eyes turned on Buu, "I hope you enjoyed that."

            He spoke to Goku while maintaining a watch on Buu, "How are you here?  You have already spent what time you had here."

            "The Elder Kai gave up his life and transferred it to me." Goku flexed his arms and legs as he began his transformation to the third level of Super Saiyan.

            Vegeta found himself basking in the familiar and warming glow that was his race's legacy.  He spat blood onto the floor, "I really do hate that miserable old Kai.  I still own him a reckoning once this thing is dead."

            Goku breathed as the final touches of the transformation finished.  Buu looked on with curiosity, He isn't as strong as Vegeta, and considerably weaker than I, but I can feel from Piccolo's memory that this Goku is a considerable threat none the less.  Buu raised his hands and beckoned to his enemies, "Come to your deaths."

            Vegeta and Goku spared each other a glance, a knowing grin, and charged with the fury of the last of the pure blooded Saiyan race.

Mild or heavy fans of Gundam please take a look at the newly posted Mobile Suit Gundam Destiny fanfic found in the "UC Gundam" section of "Anime."