"Dragonball AS: 32nd Budokai Saga"

Chapter 42- "The Son Also Rises"

By- Tiny

Sanil had never felt so bad in his entire life, not even when they had faced Pride and his minions years earlier. After Ice's transformation it had only taken three kicks and a quick elbow to the head to end the Nameksei-jin's Budokai dreams, sending him to the infirmary for extensive internal and external injuries. Now, after his recovery, all he could do was curse himself for not training more when he had the chance.

"You shouldn't be so down on yourself," Piccolo advised, "You did pretty good up until he transformed. If anything it should be motivation to do better in the future."

"The son of this planet's guardian defeated by a relative of one of it's most feared enemies!" Sanil growled, "I'll never live this one down..."

"Perhaps not for a while, but one day you'll look back on this defeat and laugh," Piccolo smirked, "It may take many years, but I doubt Ice will always be the stronger of you two."

"Whatever you say Piccolo," the younger Nameksei-jin grumbled, "So, do you even think Pan stands a chance in the next match?"

"She's fighting Goten, so it's hard to tell," Piccolo pondered, "Pan is younger and has considerable stamina to go with her power. Goten, on the other hand, is much more experienced than his niece."

"So, do you think she has a chance then?"

"Not a snowballs chance in hell..."

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, Ice has just secured his spot in the quarter finals against whoever wins this second bout," Bardock smirked, "So, without further adieu, let's get this match underway! In this bout, we will have Goten, son of the legendary Son Goku, and Pan, Goten's niece!"

The crowd was filled with hushed whispers amongst itself, nobody understanding why two relatives would look so eager to fight each other. And excited they were, as both had gone to the second level of Super Saiya-jin before even stepping into the arena together. Turning finally to face each other on the tiled ring, both fighters fell into stances that greatly resembled each other, as did their facial expressions.

Goten hadn't changed much appearance wise over five years, still looking almost exactly his father because of his hair. If it weren't for the fact that he was wearing black gi pants and a blue shirt, most people would probably mistake him for his legendary father on the spot! Not that he minded all that much, as anyone would want to be like the greatest fighter in the cosmos.

Pan, as opposed to her uncle, had changed quite a bit after only five short, uneventful years. She was now in her early twenties and a radiant beauty in whatever she wore, be it a mock-up of her grandpa's gi or a nice dress, and had very many male admirers. Not one of them got a chance at the raven-haired Saiya-jin, however, as Yuno was certain to chase off any gawkers wherever they went.

"Alright kiddies, try not to destroy the ring," Bardock whispered, "Ready FIGHT!!!!!!!"

Goten jumped out of the way just in time to avoid a kick aimed for his groin, retaliating with a fist into his niece's face. Pan slid back a few inches, but quickly recovered and fired a ki blast point-blank into her uncle's face. Goten didn't seem to notice the attack as it brushed over his features and came back at the younger fighter, ramming his knee into her stomach.

Blood dripped out of Pan's mouth as she lurched forward, just in time to have Goten connect a blow to the underside of her chin. The young Saiya-jin flew into the air from the force of impact, followed by her uncle, and managed to recover with enough time left to dodge Goten's kick. While the more experienced fighter was sailing overhead from his failed attack his niece drove a fist into his exposed stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

As Goten gasped for air in midair, Pan delivered a barrage of punches and kicks to her uncle's backside and followed it all up with an elbow to the back of his head. Goten sailed down into the ring, knocking some of the tiles loose and shaking the stadium up a little bit. Pan smirked with satisfaction as the dust kicked up all around the ring, firing a large ki blast into the center of impact just for good measure.

The blast would've been enough to knock Goten out had it hit, but Pan was shocked to see her attack fly right back at her from below. The raven-haired Saiya-jin jumped up and flipped around, just barely avoiding the blast as it zoomed past, then righted herself just in time to see a mass of long, golden hair appear next to her.

""Nice try kiddo, but you should've known it wouldn't work on your old uncle Goten," the hybrid chuckled, "Clearly you've been training with your husband too much lately. Can't remember how to fight like a Saiya-jin?"

"You'd be surprised what I remember how to do," Pan grumbled, her hair starting to grow longer, "It might just be enough to take you down, old man!"

"We'll see about that," Goten smirked, whipping around to face his niece, "Right now, all your doing is talking trash. If that's all you know how to do, then you really have no place in a fighting arena."

Pan roared with anger as her transformation to the third level ended, swinging an elbow at her uncle's unprotected head. Goten ducked under the blow just in time to have Pan's boot dig into the front of his face, causing blood to trickle from out of his nose. The older Saiya-jin smirked for a second, wiping the blood away, then rammed a fist into his niece's gut. The younger fighter reeled over in agony, not even going to defend herself as Goten brought his hands down on her spine.

The young woman hurtled into the ring below, righting herself just before landing so as not to leave a crater in the center of the ring. Goten floated casually down to face his seriously perturbed niece, his features calm and emotionless despite the overwhelming desire to fight that was surging through his veins. Pan could feel the sensation as well, but hers was fueled by anger not excitement, and she was now more determined than ever to beat her uncle.

"Still moving I see," Goten smirked, "I guess this means I'll have to up my game if I'm going to win, huh?"

"You're not going to win this time!" Pan growled, tightening her stance, "I plan on going all the way to the top this year."

"Then I hope you can do a whole lot better than you are," Goten laughed, "I'm not even at full power yet and you seem a bit overwhelmed. Or is it that you're holding back as well and plan on taking me out when I least expect it?"

"Not at his full power!?!" Pan gulped, "But...he's at level three!"

"Well, little one, I'm waiting," Goten mocked, "Are you going to finish this little squabble or am I going to end it for you?"

"Why you!" Pan snarled, "I'll show you!"

Pan launched herself at the older fighter faster than most people could follow, charging a yellow ball of energy in her left palm as she moved, while Goten merely watched with an amused tone on his face. Just as Pan reached where her uncle was, the older Saiya-jin disappeared from view entirely, his power spiking tremendously just before hand.

"Where did he go now?" Pan mused, losing her grip on the ki blast.

Just as the Saiya-jin female allowed herself to relax, a rapidly moving red and gold blur moved over her head. Pan looked up just in time to see a tightly muscled arm come down on her face, knocking her down on the ring before bouncing back up. Faster than anyone could accurately follow, Pan's assailant threw a kick to the back of her neck which sent the Saiya-jin girl soaring into the wall just outside the ring. The crowd was deafly silent, waiting to see what would happen and if the granddaughter of their beloved Hercule would pull through.

Three minutes passed without anything happening other than a red-gold blur zipping around the ring without stopping for a break. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to the fans, Pan collapsed to the ground near the stands with a loud and resounding thud. No sooner did she land on the ground then the blur finally stopped moving, revealing Goten in the Super Kaio-Ken form invented by his brother. Everyone was severely shocked, not that he had won but that he had learned the difficult transformation and mastered it!

"Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we have a winner!" Bardock cheered, "Goten is the winner by ring-out, going on to face Ice in the next round. Let's hear it for this great warrior!"

Goten waved to the crowd quickly as he hopped down to his niece's side, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small, green bean. Pan could hardly even move her head to look up at her uncle but knew from experience what it was he was holding out to her and instinctively ate it when the bean was close to her mouth. As if on cue all of her injuries faded away and the young woman jumped up to her feet, smiling warmly at her uncle as he did the same in return.

"Good fighting today, sweetheart," Goten smiled, ruffling her hair, "You've improved quite a bit in the last few years. It makes us all very proud."

"Thanks Uncle Goten," Pan beamed in classic Son fashion, "I'll just have to increase my work load, huh?"

"Nah, you're still young," Goten laughed, "It'll come to you with time. While we wait though, what's say we go and catch a bite in the mess hall? My treat."

"Since you put it that way!" Pan giggled, "But we'd better get a move on. Grandpa might've eaten them out by now!"

Goten patted his niece on the back, laughing in an almost childlike manner as the two fighters walked back into the waiting area together, not bothering to watch the next match. After all, they already knew who was going to win...

NEXT TIME: Goten has mastered his brother Gohan's Super Kaio-Ken technique and used it to edge out his niece in the first round of competition. The young hybrid will now move on to face Ice in the quarter finals, while the other fighters moving on have yet to be decided. Will Bra win as easily as her two fellow Saiya-jin believe, or does Roshi have something up his sleeve that could be the deciding factor in this little game of strength vs. skill? Find out in the next installment of Dragonball AS!!!!!!