CMG: (snickers) Welcome back. I am surprised how many have reviewed. Now it's official. Goku and Trepidation start their battle. In the end, who will win though? Find out for I invite you to…
The Fear
Chapter 7
Darkness. Thick and dark, it weighed down the Earth-raised Saiya-jin as Goku hissed and looked around him. It was as though he was in an illusion, but he couldn't break free.
'Damn him,' Goku thought darkly. 'What is going on?'
Do you like this? Trepidation's voice echoed as Goku growled and looked around. You have no ways of protecting yourself from your very mind.
Trepidation's voice echoed as Goku growled and looked around."What?!" Goku said shocked as he suddenly saw a copy of himself appear.
You cannot win. The doppelganger's eyes locked onto Goku's as he smirked evilly and lunged at the warrior. Unable to block from his shock, Goku felt his stomach punched as he went flying into a wall that appeared out of nowhere and fell to the ground with a thud. Grunting, he hissed and pulled himself up.
"What is going on?" Goku hissed and coughed, some blood falling to the ground.
Your end. Goku felt Kakarot grab him by the throat as Goku tried to pull free from Kakarot's grasp. When his vision started to blur, he saw Chi-chi's frightened face from afar as it came closer quickly before blood splattered before his eyes.
GOKU!!!!
Cerulean eyes snapped opened as strength filled his body. Shoving Kakarot back, the illusion faded as Kakarot melted into Trepidation. The warrior dug his feet into the ground as Goku growled lowly.
"So, it seems you've broken free from the illusion I placed upon your body," Trepidation said. "Well no matter. I managed to drain some of your strength from your body."
Goku hissed and panted as he struggled to regain his breath. The rush that Goku felt in his body didn't help as it felt like his body was betraying his mind. As he looked up with the sweat running down his face, the cerulean eyes flashed with pain before he willed himself to calm down.
"Shut-up," Goku whispered. "Even if you took some of my strength, I still can fight."
"Really?" Trepidation said. "Then why do I see fear in your eyes?"
"That's not fear," Goku snarled. "It's anger!" Lunging at Trepidation, his body twisted as he aimed a kick at his head, but it didn't connect as he felt something trip him. Falling to the ground, he hissed and noticed the sword next to his throat.
"Do you really have what it takes to kill me or are you all talk?" Trepidation said as the neck cut a shallow wound on the Saiya-jin's neck.
"Damn you," Goku cursed before his power surged through his body and blew Trepidation away. Flaxen hair became more defined and pronounced and the cerulean eyes grew deadlier. The sword that Trepidation had flew into the air and fell next to Zealous with the blade sticking out of the ground. Startled, she stepped back.
"What?!" Trepidation said before he was slammed by Goku's elbow. Before he made impact with the wall, his feet hit the ground and he managed to use that momentum to lunge himself into the air. Goku followed and they began their duel in the air. Punches and kicks were traded as both warriors parried, blocked, or dodged most of the blows that the other threw. One or two punches hit Trepidation in vulnerable spots as he ran out of momentum to keep himself within the air and they began their descent. During the fall, both warriors continued to throw punches until they were a few feet from the ground. That was when they broke away and landed.
'Trepidation's holding back,' Vegeta thought as he watched. Goku was breathing hard from the last bout as it seemed as though he was struggling against something. 'What's wrong with Kakarot though? He should be fine unless…'
"Tell me, did those friends of yours help you get better from the poison one of the spiders infected you with?" Trepidation said.
"How… do you… know about… that?" Goku said in between breaths.
"Through my technology," Trepidation said. "The poison the spiders carry do two things. The first thing is to kill unless an antidote is created. And the second is to weaken. So even if Piccolo was able to create an antidote, your body will still feel the poison's effects for another 24 hours."
"Shit," Goku hissed as he felt his power dropping fast.
'This isn't good,' Vegeta thought.
"To make things fair," Trepidation said as he pulled out a gourd and threw it at Goku's feet, "you can drink that and get better."
Picking it up, Goku sniffed it cautiously and pulled the cap off of it. In one swig, he drank down the substance and threw the bottle away. No sooner did he do that, his hair flickered as he fell to the ground clutching his throat.
"Of course, I forgot to warn you that it will draw upon the strength you already have to get better," Trepidation carelessly said. Goku glared at him as his hands dug at the tiled ground. He passed out on the ground from the strain his body was fighting against.
"Kakarot, you're a fool!" Vegeta yelled. "You're too trusting!"
"Since you're unable to fight, I shall finish this…" Trepidation said as he walked over and grabbed his sword and lunged towards the fallen warrior on the ground. It was then that Zealous grabbed him from behind.
"Zealous! What's the meaning of this?" Trepidation yelled at the woman.
"Don't kill him," Zealous said. "He is not worth killing."
"Is it because if I do, you will belong to me forever?" Trepidation said.
"That and the warrior fighting for the sake of his love for his wife will be a meaningless sacrifice!" Zealous said.
"Quiet!" Trepidation yelled as he pushed Zealous to the ground.
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
"Help me…" Chi-chi said as Goku's eyes opened.
"Chi-chi?" Goku said as he saw Chi-chi in a cage.
"You have to fight with everything within yourself in order to save me or else…" Chi-chi said before Trepidation appeared in her place.
"You will never get her back. Ever!" Trepidation said.
"No!" Goku yelled.
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Goku's eyes snapped open; already cerulean and pupil-filled as he saw Zealous shoved away from Trepidation. The paralysis upon his body faded as the power coursed through his veins.
"Stop this!" Goku roared as he yelled and allowed himself to reach the power beyond an ascended Super Saiya-jin. Pale hair ran down his back as his brow less eyes glared at him.
"Kakarot…" Vegeta whispered in shock as lightening flickered upon his form. The cerulean orbs were now complete with pupils that would seem to read one's mind with a glance. If that same look could kill, Trepidation would probably be choking at that moment and begging the Earth-raised Saiya-jin to spare his life.
"I'll release Chi-chi from whatever prison you trapped her in," Goku growled.
"You're free to try, whether she's dead or not," Trepidation said smugly as though the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's Earthen wife wasn't worth the salt of the earth.
"She's not dead!" Goku cried out and rushed at Trepidation angrily.
Trepidation managed to avoid Goku's punch and grab at the tail around the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's waist as he hissed in surprise and pain. Unable to maintain the power that flowed through him like water in a river, his hair shortened and returned to the raven color he was born with and the cerulean eyes became orbs of obsidian once more.
"It seems I stumbled upon your weakness," Trepidation slyly said; crushing Goku's tail as he cried out in pain.
"Stop it!" Zealous yelled to Trepidation; somewhat worried about the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's life rather than enjoying Trepidation's gloating.
"Quiet, woman," Trepidation yelled to Zealous as a hand came to the mouth of her mask. "You weren't the one who was imprisoned for a millennia in a volcano!"
"Then how are you still alive," Goku moaned in pain; wondering why he asked that. Yet, he secretly wished to divert his attention to focus on numbing the pain within his tail and preparing to attack him again when his guard was down.
"Ah, an easy answer," Trepidation said. "Which begins a thousand years ago…"
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Flashback…‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
"A thousand years ago, we were explorers who were seeking the Fountain of Youth to remain young forever…"Five explorers arrived to Omeus Island on a ship as they seemed rather excited. As they traveled through the non-dangerous jungles of that time, they soon reached the cave…
"It was from deep within this cave that we have found the Fountain of Youth, but there was a price to pay…"
"You mortals shall be cursed with a great and terrible power," a woman's voice said.
"I don't care!" one of the men said. "We came here for the Fountain of Youth and we won't leave before we get it!"
"Then may Kami have mercy upon your souls," the woman's voice said as suddenly, the men cried out in pain. Their bodies shape shifted as symbols flashed upon their shoulders. "You are no longer the men you were, but demons."
the woman's voice said as suddenly, the men cried out in pain. Their bodies shape shifted as symbols flashed upon their shoulders."It turned out we were cursed with the power to drive humanity to their knees after the power corrupted our souls. We didn't care though since we were planning world domination by wiping out the weak. That was until…"
"What is this?" Trepidation said as he saw a woman standing there in white robes with her hands glowing. The others looked on in horror at the woman that looked like a monk with her raven hair running down to the small of her back. Her hands grabbed a wooden staff as the small hands channeled the power into the staff and she aimed it at them.
"You have harmed many and taken enough lives to satisfy your greed," the woman spoke. "By my power, I sentence you to the place to be sealed there from which you came!" A bright light blinded them as they screamed.
"The female monk, who was known as Shinsei, betrayed our kind and sealed us away. Our plans for world domination were delayed because of her and I never forgiven her for it…"
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ End flashback… ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
"So, when the seal was weakened, the five of us were able to break free and rise up again," Trepidation finished as he felt Goku's tail go slack in his hands. "About time you- OOMPH!"
"Rule number one," Goku growled, feeling his tail finally released, "never underestimate your opponent when he's down."
"Curse you…" Trepidation hissed in pain as Goku stood over Trepidation with a confident stance.
"Before I kill you," Goku growled, "tell me where Chi-chi is."
"You'll never know since the only other person who knows is Kami himself," Trepidation said as he got up.
"Then I'll search the ends of the Earth for her," Goku hissed as he charged up a chi-blast.
"Kakarot! Watch out!" Vegeta yelled before Goku realized that Trepidation appeared behind him and was aiming a knife to his back. It was at that moment that Zealous jumped in and pushed Goku out of the way as he fell to the ground. The knife cut along the back of her right arm and diagonally down her back. She fell to the ground on her knees as her hands braced the ground beneath her. Goku turned around in pure shock at the woman who saved his life yet again.
"Zealous! I told you to stay out of this!" Trepidation yelled at the woman as the mask finally falls off and shatters when it hit the ground. Her head was downcast as the shadows covered her face.
"I'm not your slave," Zealous said and her head rose to meet Trepidation's eyes. Vegeta gasped in pure surprise; shock rendering him from doing anything as he stared at the woman before her. The woman that Goku himself vowed to save from Trepidation.
"Chi-chi!" Goku said; his eyes flickered with sadness and anger at that same moment. Seeing her alive made him feel so much relief. However, the thought of running towards her and grabbing her was forbidden since he knew that Trepidation could easily kill her in this state at this moment.
"Why are you betraying me?" Trepidation said to the woman he vowed to take as his future queen.
"Up until my husband showed up, you had brainwashed me and kept me from being able to escape," Chi-chi said as she winced in pain and grabbed her right arm.
"Why did you push me out of the way?" Goku said to Chi-chi; worried about her state over his.
"I did it to protect you because you always protected me," Chi-chi said with tears in her eyes. "I wanted to return the favor because I always felt weak in your shadows."
"Chi-chi…" Goku said as he stared in the utmost shock that she would sacrifice herself in order for him to be safe.
"Yuck," Trepidation interrupted. "As much as I hate love itself, I hate reunions much worse."
"Vegeta," Goku called out to the Saiya-jin Prince in a commanding voice. "Grab Chi-chi and get out of here."
"Kakarot, I don't think we can leave," Vegeta said as he noted the door was nowhere to be seen.
"You are so right, Vegeta," Trepidation said as his muscles budged. "Up until Zealous, or you precious Chi-chi got involved, I was holding back a great deal of my power."
"What?!" Goku said in a shocked state.
"You see, she gave me the strength I needed thanks to her giving into her own fears," Trepidation said as he picked up Chi-chi by the back of her collar. She winced in pain at that movement as he turned her face towards his.
"Don't hurt her!" Goku yelled at Trepidation.
"She's mine and will feed me her emotions," Trepidation said as his eyes glow. On her shoulder, a symbol glowed as Chi-chi's eyes went completely blank.
"Chi-chi!" Goku yelled as he powered up unconsciously and returned to an ascended Super Saiya-jin. "Get off of her!"
"Go… Goku…" Chi-chi said quietly before she screamed.
"Yes! Feed me your fear! I love it!" Trepidation said as his muscles bulged.
"Kakarot," Vegeta growled. "We have to do something."
"Vegeta, I need you to grab Chi-chi the minute I start my attack against Trepidation," Goku growled. "I won't let her use her anymore."
"How are you going to attack him with her being his hostage?" Vegeta said before he realized it and saw that Goku had planted two fingers upon his forehead. "Of course…"
Goku vanished with a flash of light as Vegeta rushed in. Trepidation, confused, suddenly felt something strike his neck as Chi-chi fell out of his grasp. Vegeta caught her in his arms as he landed with his left foot and right knee skidding against the ground backwards. Trepidation turned and saw Goku standing above him with a feral snarl at the evil Lord of Fear. Gathering himself up after he was sent flying to the ground, he lunged at the Earth-raised Saiya-jin.
"Chi-chi, woman, snap out of it!" Vegeta said; gently shaking her as she clutched Vegeta's clothing for support. The mark on her neck was still glowing as he hissed. Taking off his shirt, he tore it up and started making her a makeshift bandage to cover her back and right arm so that the bleeding stopped.
In the meanwhile, Goku and Trepidation traded punches and kicks against one another as the ground was torn apart by the energy that flared up around them. Trepidation sent Goku flying into a pillar that caused a column that held up part of the ground above the stands collapsed and fell upon the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's body. Dust and debris rained down and seemed to take an eternity to settle before Trepidation saw no signs of the warrior that dared oppose him. However, that did not mean that he was dead. Unless Trepidation had proof of that, he couldn't consider him dead yet.
"Come out, you monster!" Trepidation yelled at the pile of rubble.
"I'm not a monster," Goku's voice carried from beneath the rubble as he powered up and sent the rubble from on top of him flying. Once more, he had ascended into a Super Saiya-jin 3 and was angry at Trepidation for hurting his wife not once, but twice during the recent events. The final showdown was about to begin and whoever won would have what their heart desired: peace or the end of humanity itself.
CMG: Sorry everyone that this chapter was late. Was really busy with the first week of my term and just got a small break to update rather late tonight. Anyway, onto reviews:
Psy: Whatever cookies you like. Thanks for not telling and the end is near.
gokugirl9: Hm. That's going to be a hard word to keep. Especially what happens next.
Chi-Chi: (feels bad for updating late) Well at least I made up for it and didn't put too bad of a cliffy at the end. The next chapter will be interesting and you were right. Sorry for getting you confused, but to reveal that Chi-chi was Zealous in disguise could ruin the story for the others. After all, now all that's left is for Goku to defeat Trepidation. However, it's not going to be as easy as it looks.
Kinoha: (laughs) You know, I don't know what provoked me to write that tournament scene where Piccolo, Tien, and Yamcha were surprised to see Kakarot there. The way you say it does sound kind of funny and sums it up in a nutshell. Too bad Kakarot's return was a short-lived one, but heck, I had to keep up a pretty good idea while I had the chance.
Jessica C: Besides family, he has a fear for needles. Though it sounds like a dumb fear, I almost thought about using that, but then again, it wouldn't be so dark and dramatic. So I thought about how he would hate the idea of killing his own friends and family if he remembered his programming. So pretty much, if he did remember his programming, then no one would be able to stop him. (laughs evilly)
super saiyan 4 chi-chi: Well ask and thou shall receive (a day late again). Hopefully, you got a chance to read this and I apologize for making you wait.
CMG: Anyway, come back sometime next week for the final installment. Will Goku manage to defeat Trepidation or will Trepidation win and overpower Vegeta in order to achieve total global conquest? Well you'll have to see for yourselves. See ya next time!