"Dragonball AS: Ultimate Cell Saga"

Chapter 76- "The Merger"

By- Tiny

Goten didn't know where he was, nor did he particularly care, but he did know that he was most definitely not on Earth. The weird thing was that, despite knowing for a fact that all injuries are healed when you die, he was still just as bruised and broken as he had been after fighting Trunks, only he didn't really feel the pain. Something was most definitely going on and he was determined to find out as he set off into the endless white abyss he was in, only to be stopped by a soft, feminine hand just before he could get out of the room.

This woman who had stopped him was dressed in a very elegant green gown embroidered with many precious gems and lined in what look like pure silver, her golden hair tied up high on her head in a ponytail. She was very delicate looking, her jade eyes wonderfully matching the color of her gown, but Goten could sense some hidden strength radiating from deep within this woman. He figured that she must have something to do with his mysterious transportation and currently confused state of being, so he stood up as high as he could and glared down at this woman.

"I know what you are thinking Son Goten and trust me, this is not some wild delusion made up by your dying mind," the woman smiled, "This is what you mortals might call purgatory, the state of being that exists between the world of the living and the afterlife."

"Does that mean that I'm dead?"

"Well, not exactly," the woman giggled, "But you will be after too much longer and then there will be nothing we can do. Currently, we are keeping your soul in limbo so that we can talk to you about a few things."

"Talk to who?" Goten demanded, "And what is this we business? The only one here is you!"

"But before we go in, you'll need to get that mess cleaned up!" the woman continued, ignoring Goten's comments and waving her hand in the air, "There, that should do it for now. Are you ready?"

Goten didn't know what this woman was talking about as to how he was ready now, but that all became clear when he looked down and saw that he was completely healed of all injuries. Not only that, but his messy hair had fallen back into a style mimicking his father's and he was clad in a silver version of the classic Saiya-jin armor that Vegeta used to wear. He didn't know what to say, but merely looked blankly at this woman in front of him as though he had seen a ghost.

"We will enter through here," the woman spoke up before Goten could sputter anything out, "What you are about to see has only been seen by a precious few individuals, including the guardian of your people. They are going to ask you questions and you are to answer honestly. Do you understand?"

"Umm...I guess so," Goten gulped, straightening out, "Though I don't know what's going on here..."

"Very good," the woman grinned, "Then let us enter."

Goten was about to ask where they were entering somewhere at when the room warped all around him, fading back into a massive wooden auditorium from the looks of things, filled with beautiful tapestries and portraits all over the place. There were no windows in the entire place, so the only light was from a few candles lit all around five separate podiums. Behind some the podiums stood four figures, each looking remarkably young except in the eyes, which looked a lot like those you always saw on the old people who had seen many things in their lives.

The figures were all dressed in very intricate outfits, much like the woman who had led Goten in, save for one far to the left, who was dressed simply in a red and black version of the Saiya-jin armor. This one man had upswept, blonde hair that reminded Goten a lot of Vegeta except that he didn't have that widows peak. Next to him was a woman in a richly colored blue gown with gold trim, much like the one the other woman was wearing only different in coloration. She too had golden hair, though hers was cut short up to the back of her neck, just like Videl's had been when she was young.

To Goten's right, there were two men, one dressed in a black robe of sorts and the other in a matching red one, both with the same golden hair that seemed to be characteristic of this entire council. One of these men's hair was incredibly long, falling down to about his waist, while the other's was shorter, only reaching about his shoulders or so, but they were remarkably similar in facial structure. Goten figured they must be related or something, but quickly shook it off as he gazed ahead at the woman who had led him in.

"Son Goten, allow me to introduce you to the Council of Saiya-jin Divinities, the ones responsible for everything your people have done and will do," the woman smiled, moving her hand to the right, "These two men are, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, brothers, but they aren't just any normal brothers! The one in black is Nione, the Saiya-jin God of Knowledge and Arts, and the other is his brother Cumber, Saiya-jin God of Prosperity."

"Holy shit!" Goten gulped, "These are the one's Vegeta spoke of all those years ago! The five Saiya-jin Gods..."

"As for these two, the one in the armor is known as Sullion, the Saiya-jin God of War and Hardship, as I'm sure his attire has given away," the hostess continued on, "His counterpart there is Latta, the Saiya-jin Goddess of Love and Beauty. And I, my hybrid friend, am known to all those of your race as Saiya, the Goddess of Creation and Life."

"You are Saiya!?!" Goten gasped, his jaw nearly hitting the floor, "I heard Kimuchi tell stories, but this...wow..."

"Yes, your cousin is quite an intelligent one as Saiya-jin tend to go," Saiya giggled, "But we are not here to discuss your family, rather this is a business affair. I'm certain you are aware of the situation on Earth?"

"Yeah, how can I forget?" Goten growled, "Trunks and I killed Janemba, then fought together against the Sins just so he could kill all of our friends, his sister and my niece among them, for no reason whatsoever!"

"Trunks is not acting entirely on his own, as his mind has been possessed by the sorcerer's Babi-di and his father, Bibi-di," Saiya explained, "The combination of those two's magic is most dangerous and can be overwhelming, especially to someone who was so anxious for revenge as Trunks. He hates his future counterpart, you see, and saw this as his only way to claim revenge."

"Then why am I here?" Goten asked sternly, "Shouldn't you have the one he wants to face here instead of the one he 'killed'?"

"Mirai no Trunks is currently engaged with the upgraded form of Cell, so he is beyond our reach at the moment," Sullion coughed, "We chose you for the task at hand because it is in your blood to be the better warrior and we believe that you are best for the job."

"The job of doing what?" Goten inquired, "Killing Trunks? Someone who, despite what he has done to us, was under some else's influence?"

"No, we do not wish for you to kill him," Nione spoke up, "It is not yet his time to go, but there is a way to seal the evil within your friend away and then destroy it forever, but the risks are tremendous."

"Indeed, only some of the most powerful Legendary warriors have survived the procedure," Cumber nodded, "What Saiya sees in this...half-breed is beyond me!"

"He may be a half-breed, but he comes from what is perhaps the strongest Saiya-jin bloodline to ever exist, even surpassing the royalty," Latta argued, "That besides he has much untapped, hidden potential just waiting to be brought to the surface."

The deities were busy arguing back and forth about something that Goten really had no clue about, but he hated being talked about as though he wasn't there and it caused him to snap suddenly. His body became engulfed in a silver aura as the top portion of his new armor burst completely off, shattering on the floor and drawing the attention of the whole room as he stood there within his powerful aura. The hybrid's silver hair waved wildly by the wind his aura created, startling some of the deities and simply causing others to smirk.

"Look, I may not know that much but I am smart enough to know that I don't like being insulted by those who think themselves my betters!" Goten snapped, charging a blue ki blast, "I demand to know what the hell you old, high-and-mighty bastards are talking about right now or I'm going to blow all of you to Kingdom Come!"

"Such spirit, that of a true warrior," Sullion smirked, "This one is indeed a warrior of great strength, as well as overwhelming bravery. I volunteer to perform the merger with this one with no protests whatsoever, if that be the almighty one's will."

"Very well, then let it be so," Saiya smiled, knowing that this was bound to happen, "Goten, do you understand the merger that Sullion speaks of and what it entails?"

"No."

"The procedure itself is painless, but the mental stress that it puts upon you can cause a great deal of conflict within you consciousness," Saiya explained, "The merger is basically something where Sullion's power, knowledge, and even physical being are passed on to you, increasing your own strength and skill to their maximum."

"Really?" Goten grinned, his eyes sparkling, "That doesn't sound so bad..."

"There is a downside, young one," Saiya sighed, "With Sullion gone, the one who he merges with must step up and take his place once his mission is completed. Are you, Son Goten, son of Son Goku, willing to take this burden upon yourself, knowing that you will never be with your family again until they pass on?"

Goten looked slightly concerned now, his face hardening as he stood in the middle of the room, clearly in a deep state of thought as he tossed the options around within his mind. He now knew how his father must have felt every time he was faced with a similar predicament, to leave all that he knows for the good of everyone or ignore that option and see what happens. It was a heavy burden being placed on the Saiya-jin's shoulders, one that he inwardly wished his father or brother could carry, but the choice was, for once, his and his alone.

The young hybrid thought of his mate, Paresu, and son, Goken, and how devastated they would be if he were to just up and leave them, never to be seen again for what could be years, decades even! He didn't know if he could bring himself to do that to his family, as had been done to him as a child, but also knew that if he didn't then Trunks would probably kill them both. That was something that Goten was not willing to allow, no matter what the consequences were, and he stood tall and proud in the middle of the room, his face more closely resembling Vegeta's than his father's.

"Goten?" Saiya asked, approaching the hybrid, "Have you made your decision?"

"Yes, I have," Goten nodded, "Do it..."

NEXT TIME: Goten has been face with a tough decision, to gain the power he needs to save everyone and leave his family behind, as Goku did to him, and has accepted for the good of his loved ones. Now, with Trunks still on Earth and slowly tormenting those who stand against him, can Goten find the courage it will take to defeat the man who has been his best friend since childhood? Find out in the next Dragonball AS!!!!!!