CMG: I suppose I left everyone in suspense long enough. Very well. This is it. The last chapter and the climax leading to the conclusion on who will win the battle. For the final time, I invite you all to…

The Fear

Chapter 8

A heavy silence draped upon the battlefield as it seemed nearly deafening to those on the battlefield. The only sound that seemed to pierce this void of silence was the rush of energy that flowed from both Trepidation and Goku. They stood for a long time in the battle stances that seemed nearly flawless for two experienced warriors. Across the field, Vegeta finished bandaging the hurt Earthen wife of Goku as her eyes seemed clenched tight in pain and fear.

"Chi-chi, open your eyes," Vegeta said. Chi-chi cried out in more pain as Vegeta resisted the urge to slap her in the face. That was when he noticed it: a glowing mark on her neck and it seemed to burn a light like the sun itself. 'That mark must mean…' "Kakarot!"

"It's time we end this," Trepidation said as he lunged at the Earth-raised Saiya-jin who had ascended past the ascended Super Saiya-jin. Goku's eyes had trouble keeping track of Trepidation and before he knew it, he was sent flying into the sky before plummeting towards Earth. The once flawless ground had been scarred by the impact that looked as though the heavens themselves were lashing out at the Earth. There were no signs of Goku emerging from the crater he fell into. It was as though he couldn't rise again. "Hmph. About time…"

"Kakarot," Vegeta gasped in a mix of shock and horror as he looked at the still whimpering Chi-chi, then at Trepidation; a look of hatred crossing his face. Placing the Earthen woman down gently, he turned with pure rage in his eyes. "You'll pay for killing him!" With a flash of light, Vegeta ascended into a Super Saiya-jin 2 and flew at Trepidation out of pure rage.

"You fools don't understand," Trepidation said. "You cannot escape your fate of dying at my hands!" Trepidation and Vegeta started trading punches and kicks against one another as the heavens roared with thunder and the cold bolt lightning tore at the cloud-filled skies like the lightning itself was attempting to break free a tempest of rain upon the warriors.

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Half-buried within the earth inside of a crater, Goku stirred; no longer a Super Saiya-jin 3 after the impact and groaned in pain. At that moment, he no longer had the strength to stand as his once majestic clothes were reduced to nearly rags upon his body. Obsidian eyes flickered open as Goku heard the cries from his wife outside of the crater. Straining his body to stand again, he fell before catching himself and wearily lifted himself out of the crater. Outside of the crater, he saw Chi-chi laying there holding a sheathed knife against her chest. That very sight was enough to make the Earth-raised Saiya-jin find the strength within himself to run to her.

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'No more…' Chi-chi silently cried out in pain as she pulled the sheathed knife in her sash out and held it against her chest. 'This pain is worse than death itself. It's slowly killing what I am…' Her hands brought the knife from the sheath and aimed it at her heart. Just as she was about to shove it into her chest, two hands wrapped around hers and stopped it from happening. Her eyes flew open as she saw Goku there.

"Don't do it, Chi-chi," Goku commanded.

"Why? I feel so much torment and…" Chi-chi said before Goku jerked the knife from her hands and threw it over the wall.

"It's not worth ending your life," Goku said as he lifted her into his arms. "You need to be strong in order to resist this spell that Trepidation placed upon you."

"I can't!" Chi-chi cried as she grasped his arms. "He sent images of when you or my sons were killed by his hands and that fear drove me over the edge!"

"Hush," Goku quietly said, pulling her closer. "I'm here with you at this moment and I won't die trying to save you from him."

Chi-chi sobbed in his chest as he held her tight in his arms. Something foreign within the Earth-raised Saiya-jin was rising from within him as he held her close. As his tail wrapped around her waist, he suddenly jerked from the sensation building within him.

"G-Goku?" Chi-chi asked worriedly as Goku hissed in what felt like pain.

"Chi-chi…" Goku growled as his hair flickered unconsciously. "You need to get out of here…"

"Why? What are you going to do?" Chi-chi asked.

"I'm going to murder him for hurting you!" Goku hissed as his eyes became entirely red as he gently released Chi-chi and turned towards Trepidation who was at that time, finally sending Vegeta towards Earth with a slap. Just as Vegeta hit the ground, Goku teleported into the sky behind Trepidation and grabbed him by the throat.

"Demon!" Trepidation choked out with a glare at the non-human warrior.

"You will die for hurting Chi-chi," Goku hissed as he slammed his fist into Trepidation's face and sent him flying. He hit the ceiling as two pillars went crashing down. Goku growled and rushed towards Trepidation as his eyes glowed again.

"Give me strength, my future queen!" Trepidation cried out to Chi-chi; expecting her to give her more power. Instead…

"Stop using her!" Goku roared as he slammed his fist into his back and sent him flying downward towards the ground. After Trepidation hit the ground, Goku sent a barrage of chi-blasts towards the ground as it fell like trucks themselves were hitting the ground. Flying down after that, Trepidation was emerging from the crater with torn armor when he looked up at Goku with the same glowing eyes and suddenly, everything around them morphed…

…into space itself. Goku, looking around, saw no signs of life anywhere as the faint stars twinkled many light-years away.

"What illusion is this now?" Goku said.

"This isn't any illusion this time around," Trepidation said. "This is a realm that I chose to create in order to destroy you."

"What?!" Goku hissed.

"You see, if you manage to kill me, you will only be killing yourself because we are floating in space itself," Trepidation said.

"Are you doing this to scare me again?" Goku growled.

"No, it's the truth," Trepidation said as he felt fear from Goku. 'Yes, give it to me…'

"Even so, I rather die than let you continue to hurt Chi-chi," Goku said; half-afraid of fighting the demonic figure before him.

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"What is he talking about?" Chi-chi said; looking at the warriors as Vegeta emerged from the crater in the ground; battered badly. "Vegeta!"

"Chi-chi, Kakarot's fallen into one of Trepidation's illusions where he'll drain his energy in the form of fear," Vegeta said as he walked over; holding the right side of his chest. The ribs in his chest were broken and it took everything it had to walk towards the former warrior.

"He did the same to me, but I need to help Goku!" Chi-chi said as she started to run towards him, but Vegeta caught her wrist with his other hand. "Let go!"

"I won't lie woman, but if you get involved, not only will Kakarot snap, but he'll also end up losing what's left of his sanity," Vegeta said. "You're better off staying back here and trying to wait for the outcome." Chi-chi stared before her as she seemed at a loss at what to do.

"What if he doesn't win?" Chi-chi said.

"Then we're pretty much screwed," Vegeta said bluntly.

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"Why did you bring us here?" Goku said; not knowing that this was an illusion.

"Because, I have decided that since you care about Earth and that woman of yours to give you a chance to fight at your fullest," Trepidation said. 'Yes, yes! Continue feeding me your fear! I love it!'

"Then ask me this," Goku growled as his eyes flickered between entirely red and normal. "If what you're saying is true, then wouldn't we be fighting against the gravity?"

"In the normal realm, but not this one," Trepidation said as he pointed to a nearby asteroid and looked at Goku with a 'well, are you ready to get started?' look. They both flew down to the asteroid and prepared to battle against one another again.

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"I need to tell him it's a trap!" Chi-chi said as she saw them both land on top of a giant rock near the edge of the stadium. If either would have fallen, then the lava beneath the rocky ledge would burn them alive.

"They can't hear us though," Vegeta pointed out.

"Is there anyway I can tell Goku though?" Chi-chi said.

"There is, but I doubt that it'll work," Vegeta said grimly.

"What is it?" Chi-chi questioned as Vegeta seemed to look very serious.

"You need to call out to him through your mind," Vegeta said.

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Trepidation and Goku traded blows against one another. Feeling weaker than he did a few minutes ago, Goku struggled against Trepidation as his blows rained down upon the warrior with no mercy. He was barely able to block as he went skidding across the asteroid. Strangely enough, Goku felt hotter near the edge as Trepidation's foot slammed into his chest; causing him to cry out in pain.

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"My mind?" Chi-chi said. "How will that help?"

"You two are bonded, are you not?" Vegeta said.

"Bonded?" Chi-chi said. "I don't know if…" Chi-chi felt pain in her chest as Goku cried out in pain. "Goku!"

"Shit!" Vegeta growled. "Do it, woman! Warn him before it's too late!"

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"This is the end!" Trepidation said as he prepared to kick him off.

'Chi-chi,' Goku thought as he closed his eyes and prepared to be thrown into endless space…

'Goku! Watch out! It's a trap!'

"Huh?" Goku's eyes snapped open as he heard his wife's cry within his mind. 'What's going on? How are we…'

'There's no time to explain! He's about to throw you into lava!'

'Lava?' Goku thought as he hissed and cried out as the illusion around him faded.

"What?!" Trepidation cried as he felt the energy within the Saiya-jin return.

"You played your last card," Goku growled and kicked at his legs; causing him to trip and fall off the cliff. At that last moment, Trepidation grabbed the ledge.

"No! Spare me!" Trepidation cried out in mock-agony.

"After what you did?!" Goku growled warningly. "You deserve death!" With that, Goku stepped on Trepidation's hands and the evil Lord of Fear plummeted to his utter doom with the help of Goku's blast. His final cry sent a shutter into Chi-chi as the mark on her shoulder seemed to burn her and she screamed.

"Oh Kami! It hurts!" Chi-chi yelled before falling to the ground; writhing in pain.

"Chi-chi!" Goku gasped and flew towards her as her eyes looked like they glazed over.

"Kakarot…" Vegeta started to tell the warrior, but he seemed to ignore Vegeta.

"Chi-chi," Goku said as he pulled her into his arms again and looked at the glowing mark on her shoulder.

"Kakarot, the woman, Chi-chi, she's dying," Vegeta said as the words filtered into the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's mind.

"No!" Goku yelled as the carnal power within him flowed into his wife's body. Her condition didn't change as he continued in futile. 'I can't lose her again. I won't…'

Footsteps were heard behind them as Goku looked back and saw a woman with long white hair down to her ankles. She was walking towards them barefoot as her silver eyes looked at the limp form in Goku's arms. She wore robes made of the finest silk as they shimmered in a silver-white light. On her wrists were bracelets made of pure silver as they clanged together making a soft bell sound with every step she made.

"What's going on?" Vegeta said.

"You warriors have done well to fell Trepidation and the others who chose to reek havoc on Earth," the woman said.

"Even when it cost my friends their life and is costing my wife hers?" Goku yelled at the woman. Not once did she flinch at his words, but stared at Chi-chi in his arms.

"If you trust me, then follow me," the woman said as she turned towards the cave that they came from earlier.

"Should we follow?" Vegeta questioned Goku.

"…" Goku said nothing and walked behind the mysterious woman.

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Deep within the cave, they reached an underwater springs as the mysterious woman stopped at the banks. Goku and Vegeta stood there waiting for the woman to speak again.

"This spring will grant what you desire," the woman spoke. "For if your heart is full of hope, then the wishes you carry with you will be granted."

"I thought this was the Fountain of Youth," Goku said.

"It's called that, but the true name is the Fountain of Hope," the woman said. "Whoever gave it that name used it long ago to gain eternal youth."

"I see," Goku said as he looked at Chi-chi. Nearly all of the life had left her as he took a step and carried her into the waters. Closing his eyes, he kissed her and submerged into the waters themselves.

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Near the entrance of the cave, Krillin's eyes opened as Chou-su's face was beaming down at the former monk.

"Gah!" Krillin said as Chou-su laughed. "Where are the others?"

"I feel them! They're this way!" Chou-su cheerfully said as they ran deeper into the cave.

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"How are you alive, Yamcha?" Gohan said.

"I don't know," Yamcha said. "It's like the Kais themselves are reviving us now!"

"No, there's a reason that Trepidation chose this place as his hide out," Piccolo said. "This is where the Fountain of Hope is at."

"Fountain of Hope?" Tien said. "Wasn't that a fairy tale?"

"No," Piccolo said. "Omeus Island has many secrets, but the biggest is the Fountain of Hope."

"Where's daddy then?" Goten said.

"Yeah, my dad's not here either!" Trunks said.

"Hey everyone! Look!" Gohan yelled as they saw Krillin and Chou-su running towards them.

"Chou-su!" Tien cried out happily as Chou-su flew up and gave his long time best friend a hug.

"Krillin!" Yamcha said. "You're alive!"

"Where's Goku and Vegeta though?" Krillin said.

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A soft illuminating light surrounded Goku's body as the wounds upon him healed up from the previous battle with Trepidation. In his arms, Chi-chi's wound from the snake that Trepidation used to control her faded away as her eyes fluttered open. Vegeta, who was outside of the springs, felt his body mend magically.

"My body…" Vegeta gasped in pure surprise. Then, a tingle was felt down his spine as he saw what he had longed for since he lost it on Earth thirteen years prior. "My tail!"

Coming out of the water, Goku set Chi-chi, who was completely healed and alive, onto the bank. No sooner did he do that for her that she turned and embraced him; sending them into the water again. She cried into his chest as he held her confused.

"Chi-chi, it's alright now…" Goku said calmly.

"You need to know that I'm sorry for hurting you," Chi-chi said as the tears ran down her cheeks. "Up until I was kidnapped, I thought you didn't love me enough and always fought for the fun of it. I know now that you were doing it for everyone on Earth, including me. I was always too selfish and too blind to see that until now."

Goku said nothing and held her in his arms and closed his eyes. Tears were in them as they steadily ran down his face and fell into her hair. For the first time in his life, he didn't want to wake up and worry that in the morrow, his wife would be gone again.

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"Goku!" Krillin's voice cried out. "Vegeta!"

"Goku!" Piccolo yelled. "Vegeta!"

"Daddy! Where are you?" Goten cried. "Mr. Vegeta, are you around?"

"Dad!" Trunks said. "Mr. Goten's Dad!"

The warriors suddenly heard footsteps as Vegeta walked out with his tail wrapped around his waist. Trunks happily ran to his father and smiled at him.

"Dad!" Trunks chirped as he noticed his tail. "Wow! When did you get that back?"

"A little while ago," Vegeta said.

"Where's my mommy and daddy?" Goten said teary-eyed.

"They're a bit preoccupied," Vegeta said.

"With what?" Goten said, curious as Gohan slapped his forehead.

"Well, they're probably having an interesting conversation," Gohan said nervously as his face became slightly tinted with a hint of pink.

"By themselves?" Goten said confused.

"Yeah," Gohan said.

"That doesn't sound like fun at all!" Goten said.

"Actually," the woman said behind Vegeta, "they're coming this way."

"You're the Guardian of the Fountain of Hope, Washama," Piccolo said.

"Indeed," Washama said. "And you must be the former Kami of Earth."

"That's correct," Piccolo said.

"Once everyone leaves, I will make it so that no one else will use the Fountain of Hope ever again," Washama said sadly. "Like the Dragon Balls, they have been used for evil and I wish to destroy this place to prevent anyone from returning ever again."

"Why?" Chi-chi questioned as Washama turned and looked at both her and Goku.

"If the springs were used by anyone else, then more pain would take place," Washama said as her eyes glowed. "You see, my duty is to protect this island from outsiders, but since the arrival of both Trepidation and his followers and you warriors, the creatures inhabiting the island have been wounded or killed."

"Most of that was my fault though," Goku said, remembering everything that happened. "I had no idea that I was making it harder for you to protect the springs."

"It doesn't matter anymore," Washama said to Goku. "However, I do want to do one thing for you both before you leave."

"What is that?" Goku questioned.

"I want to make you both aware of the bond between you both," Washama said. "If it wasn't for Vegeta, then you, Goku or Kakarot, would have been dead right now."

"I see," Goku said.

"Now please, leave this place," Washama said before she disappeared; leaving behind a single silver bracelet. Chi-chi picked it up as the earth trembled. She nearly fell over, but Goku grabbed her just in time.

"Washama's going to make the volcano explode! We need to go!" Piccolo yelled.

"Everyone form a chain and I'll teleport you all out," Goku said as they did as he commanded. With a flicker of light, the eleven people vanished in thin air.

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That night after Gohan and Goten went to bed, Chi-chi walked into her room with her hair still out of the bun and saw that Goku wasn't in bed. Slightly alarmed, she closed her eyes and concentrated upon the bond that Vegeta pointed out hours earlier to her.

'Goku? Where are you?'

'I'm right behind you.'

Turning around, she saw Goku standing in the doorway with a box in his hands. It was too small to be anything too expensive as Goku knelt down in front of her.

"Goku?" Chi-chi questioned; wondering what he was going to say.

"Chi-chi," Goku started, "I know I abandoned you during most of your life since we were married and I want to make it up to you." He opened the box as Chi-chi gasped. Inside, she saw a plain golden ring inside the box. "That's why I want to make a commitment and remain with you for the rest of our days on Earth."

"Oh Goku!" Chi-chi cried as she threw herself upon her. "I don't care about that. Here and now is all that matters and if you have to save the world, know that I'll be waiting here at home for you when you're done."

"Yeah, but I always left you and I want you to know how much I love you," Goku said as he dropped the box and wrapped his arms the middle of her stomach. His right hand touched behind her left shoulder as she gently touched his face with her left hand. His tail wrapped around her thigh as he closed his eyes.

"I know," Chi-chi said. "And that's why I love you just as much. Just promise me that if you do leave that you'll tell me where you're going and when you'll come back to me."

"I promise," Goku whispered. "As long as I live, I'll hold that vow sacred."

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Nine and a half years later at the World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku met a young boy that he hoped would be his successor. The boy by the name of Ubuu, was happy to hear that Goku planned on training him as Goku flew up to tell Chi-chi.

"What?!" Chi-chi cried. "You're leaving?" 'He forgotten the vow he made to me!'

"I have to, but I'll return," Goku said as he flew down to tell the others.

'No,' Chi-chi said as her eyes watered up. 'He can't leave! He just can't!' Seeing him fly away, she saw that it was true. "Goku!"

CMG: Okay. Whoever said I didn't have an idea to end this story happily is mistaken. However, I will continue with a sequel that will involve Chi-chi finding her husband and making him remember the vow he had given to her. It won't be easy though, so I hope you come back for more. Now onto the only two reviews I've gotten due to going down and not getting the adequate reviews I was hoping for:

Chi-chi: Yes you were. Sorry for the confusion, but I love keeping people wondering about what's going on in the story. If I gave away my secrets so easily, then we wouldn't have such a suspenseful fanfic, now would we? Hope the scene where Goku and Chi-chi were together alone in their room wasn't too fluffy. I got inspired by a wonderful piece of fanart to write out that scene, except I added in the said tail and ring to make it sound more enjoyable.

Courtney: Yes and no. Yes, she was trying to fight against Trepidation in order to break free and no, some of those scenes were actually in a place where she took refuge and cried without prying eyes to let Trepidation know that she was fighting against the spell. I guess you can say it was a mix of both.

The chapter summed up the butt-kicking, but through it all, Chi-chi almost died because Trepidation cursed her body with a mark that would make it impossible for her to live in case she decided not to kill herself. There will be a sequel since the story ended on a rather sad note with Goku leaving Chi-chi after he met Ubuu.

CMG: So with that, I invite you back to the sequel of this fic that will come out in mid-December or whenever I get finished with my current humor fic coming out along with this last chapter of this fic. The title of the fic is called Fear's Revivification. Now for the first time, I shall give you a small teaser (evil smile):

They thought that it was over…

"You mean that he's alive?" Chi-chi asked the dynasty before her.

"No, he's returned from the dead." Kabito-shin said with a rather gloom look on his face.

…but one hero was captured…

"You will not be able to save them this time." Trepidation said to Goku, who is in chains.

"What do you mean?!" Goku growled as he looked with eyes worried and confused.

"You will be their downfall." Trepidation smirked.

…a family was left grief-stricken…

"No, not again." Chi-chi wept.

"We'll save him," Gohan comforted.

From the producer who brought you the original series of The Fear…

"If we don't stop him…" Vegeta growled, leaving the threat hanging there.

"Then all humanity will be destroyed." Kabito-shin said

…comes an epic that will leave you coming back for more. Coming this mid-December and this time, there will be more on the line.

Goku and Vegeta are standing on a battlefield in their Super Saiya-jin forms. Vegeta stepped off the ground slightly and lunged at the Earth-raised Saiya-jin.

So with that, I invite you back to the sequel called…

Fear's Revivification

CMG: Hope to see you then. Until then, I thank everyone for reading and reviewing and will see you for the sequel! (waves)