Chapter Twenty Seven- Rocks

Mirai Trunks stepped in front of Gohan once the beast had finally showed himself. It was a huge towering rock monster. Its empty eye sockets focused in on the two people in front of him. It let out a high pitched roar that cause both Gohan and Mirai Trunks to cover their ears.

Chibi Trunks and Vegeta both did the same. Videl couldn't hear anything. She was blinking in surprise as Chibi Trunks collapsed at her side. Vegeta kept his eyes closed and his emotions to the pain hidden.

"MAKE IT STOP!!!!" Chibi Trunks cried.

His voice rang out into the empty silence. The Monster, or as the Ewoks had called him, Shinda had stopped and was just standing there mocking the Z team. Gohan stepped out from behind Mirai Trunks and whispered, "I think I can take him."

"Wait…" Mirai Trunks protested.

Gohan lept forward before Trunks could make any notation to stopping him. Gohan kicked off the ground and flung his fist clear into the beast's chest expecting a quick kill. Gohan found his fist frozen against the beast's hard skin unable to penetrate into it any further. An after wave of pain rushed up Gohan's arm causing him to pull back gripping his fist in agony.

"His skin is as hard as… as.." Gohan cried nursing his throbbing fist.

"Rock?" Trunks finished helpfully.

The rock monster issued what could have been a possible cold laugh from its shapeless mouth. Gohan found his anger raising slightly. He was mocking them, Gohan could tell by the monster held himself. The Sayian inside him screamed for the kill… But Gohan secrete the voice with his own.

"Trunks… Let me handle this. You don't need to worry," Gohan said softly to his friend.

Mirai Trunks cocked a eyebrow. Obviously, he thought Gohan had lost it.

"Gohan, that's insane. Let's fight together…"

"No," Gohan said simply.

Mirai Trunks had a perturbing flashback to the Gohan of his own timeline. It stuck Mirai Trunks' heart agonizingly that the two were so alike… and that he missed his mentor even though his past self was standing right at his side.

"Go-"

Before Trunks could say anything to stop him, Gohan swung out at the monster once more. Mirai Trunk fell backwards almost being hit by the punch the monster had flung at Gohan.


Videl bit her fingernails as Gohan began to fight the monster. It was so tall that the tips of its head almost reached up to the bridge they were upon.

Chibi Trunks was watching the fight anxiously, perhaps hoping for something to happen to Gohan so he could fight the monster himself.

Vegeta on the other hand was quiet. It seemed he wasn't even truly interested in who one or lost. But once or twice when Gohan was stuck back by the beast, Videl caught Vegeta flinching slightly.

Gohan lifted himself higher so that he was face to face with it. He charged with all his strength at the monster. Shinda saw this as a suicidal move and prepared the squash Gohan by clapping his hands together with his body in between. At the last possible second, Gohan twisted about in the air avoiding Shinda's assault just narrowly. He arched in a backwards flip over its head while powering two powerful ki blasts in his palms. He swung them at the monster ripping its head clear off. Gohan handed his back to the monster as Shinda collapsed into a dusty heap. Gohan smiled to Mirai Trunks in front of him and gave a friendly peace sign.

"See! I told you I could handle it! Piece of cake!"

"Where?" A voice called from above them.

"Dad!" Gohan grinned waving up to his father, "It's okay now! We took care of Shinda."

Chichi and Goku both landed carefully on the bridge next to the rest. Chichi, once again, collapsed from the flight.

"I'll never get used to that…" She sighed miserably.

"We took care of the wolves. They ran off after you and Trunks left," Goku called back.

"Gohan's better, I'll admit… He could have been a bit more focused though," Vegeta grumbled a slight scolding tone. "He finished the monster before Trunks got a hit."

Goku shown that smile of his and called back down to Gohan.

"Gohan! You hog! You didn't even let Mirai Trunks have a punch?"

"Whoops!" Gohan smiled sheepishly. "You don't mind, do you, Trunks?"

Suddenly a shiver shot up Gohan's spine. A horrifying feeling slipped into his soul. Everyone went silent at this feeling. Gohan didn't need to turn about to know what was happening behind him.

Shinda wasn't dead.

Gohan spun about in a panic reaction just be hit hard with Shinda's rock arm. Excruciating pain filled Gohan's breath when he found himself flung across the dirt. Mirai Trunks screamed out for his mentor while dashing forward. Shinda caught Trunks in the chest and sent him hurling into the bridge. The impact of Trunks' body tossed Chichi and Videl off the bridge. Chichi grabbed onto the rope instinctively while Videl caught herself inches from the ground with her gift of flight. She hesitated before getting back to the bridge… Gohan was in trouble.

Mirai Trunks hit the ground hard but he was able to heave himself up to his feet again just as Gohan had. The two glared at the monster angrily. It somehow had regeneration powers… strong ones. Gohan felt his heart pounding painfully. It had been awhile since he felt this outmatched in a battle.

He went over in his head some sort of plan he could rely on. It was point blank that Shinda was strong despite the fact he had no ki level. There had to be some weakness… just one. What beat rock? Paper? No, that was the stupid rock, paper, scissor game… He had to think… think.

Mirai Trunks landed at Gohan's side. Gohan had the faint impression that Mirai Trunks was trying to protect him… For what reason? He didn't really even know Trunks all the well. Maybe, it was in his gut to do so since Gohan had been his mentor in his timeline… It made sense. Gohan felt a spot of pity for Trunks like he usually did…

"Now you die!" Mirai cried taking the offensive.

Mirai Trunks' hair spiked upwards into a golden hue as his eyes deepened into a more dangerous cerulean. Gohan stayed on the sidelines trying hard to observe instead of joining in. He hadn't been training for a while. He knew that he was likely to make tons of mistakes. He couldn't afford that…

Mirai Trunks charged his burning attack and flung it at the monster. It had blow his left arm clear off but as soon as Trunks had moved to aiming for the other it had grown back. Shinda swung his arm out at Trunks once more knocking out of the air. His hair fell limp back in its normal stance as he was flung hard into the earth. A trivial amount of blood slipped from his lips barely touching the beast's arm. Although it was hardly noticeable, Gohan detected Shinda's composure change slightly. The blood had weakened him slightly. But why?

Gohan found his excitement rise as a clue to the supposedly undefeatable monster unraveled. Water! That's it! Gohan scanned the forest about him catching sight of a small creek behind Shinda. Perfect. Now to get him in there…

The monster's empty eye sockets turned upon Gohan. Gohan froze. His blood chilled over. The Monster didn't want anyone else. He wanted Gohan… He wanted him bad.


"Gohan!" Chibi Trunks cried in shock, "He can't fight it alone!"

Vegeta gripped Trunks by the back of his collar to keep him put. He seemed worried although his voice didn't indicate it.

"You won't do much better then you future self down there… Gohan can handle this."

"I don't know, Vegeta," Goku said vexed. "Maybe, I should help him…"


Gohan carefully clasped his two palms together and curved his fingers inward. He tucked his hands behind him breathing deeply as he chanted…

"Kaaaaaaaaaaa….. meeeeeeeeeeeee…… haaaaaaaaaaaaa……"

Suddenly the beast fastened his hand about Gohan's throat. Gohan dropped his beam and clanged his hand against the monster's wrist hoping to free himself. He heard the voices of his family and friends not to far away frightened to help him.


"Gohan!" Goku cried out trying to save his son.

Vegeta held him back just has he had held his son back. His face was contorted in one of incredible rage but not towards Goku.

"It won't do any good, Kakarot," Vegeta hissed. "Shinda has it in for Gohan. You are nothing but a fly to him."

Chichi fastened herself about Goku's waist weeping. Goku blinked as he noticed someone was missing…


Mirai Trunks squinted opened his eyes to see Gohan being choked. He came to his senses ignoring his pain and pulled his sword from his sheath. Trunks swung his sword in a downward thrust. Shinda didn't realize the blow headed to set Gohan free. Trunks' sword clanged hard against the arm of the monster… the whole top of the sword fell off.

Everyone's jaws dropped. Even Gohan who was in a awkward position was shocked that it didn't free him. How had Shinda gotten stronger in such a short time?

"Blast! The sun is making him stronger!" Vegeta shouted in anger, "He is getting his energy from that nearby star!"

Mirai Trunks didn't have time to morn over his sword. Shinda was quite done with Mirai Trunks. He slammed his free fist into Mirai Trunks' stomach sending him flying into the forest crashing through many trees. He gave out coughing sound as some more blood escaped him and then laid on the ground inanimate…

Gohan felt his lungs screaming for air. He could no longer find the strength to keep his eyes opened. Gohan let out a small gasp of pain as Shinda tightened his grip. Gohan's arms went numb and fell to his side…


"GOOOOOOOOHAN!!!!!" Videl screamed out a battle cry as she lunged out at the monster.

She kicked it square in the face only doing more damage to her own foot. She ignored the pain and landed carefully on her other foot. Shinda had been taken by surprise and dropped Gohan to the ground. Gohan fell in a heap. Videl was glad to see he was still breathing in sharp intakes of air. The pain he was in didn't save him from the nothingness that filled him. He was out very shortly leaving only Videl on the battle field…

Shinda turned his baleful glare upon Videl who stood protectively in front of Gohan. She knew she stood no chance what so ever…

"KAMEHAMEHA!!!!" A scream sounded from her side.

Goku had come to help after all, along with everyone else. Although, Chichi and Chibi Trunks' beams didn't affect the monster as nearly as much as Vegeta's and Goku's did they were helping out for the shear joy of helping. Videl wished suddenly she could do such an attack…

"We have to get him to that creek! That's what Gohan was aiming for!" Goku cried sensibly.

They all aimed the beams in that general direction fling the monster straight into the small river's depths. It let out a horrible yell and crumbled into nothing. This time it did not return.

The Crystal which had fallen out of Gohan's pocket at his fall glowed a light blue and then died…


Gohan woke up to find Videl standing over him. He sat up quite suddenly sending pain rushing straight to his head. He fell back down again his eyes yearning to shut…

"Relax, Gohan," Videl smiled, "Shinda was taken care off."

"Really?" Gohan said slightly confused. "But who saved me? I was in the way for any attacks…"

"I did," Videl said blushing slightly. "And I know exactly how you can repay me."

"Hey wait," Gohan muttered. "You owe me. So I shouldn't do anything for you."

"Oh come on, Gohan," Videl smirked, "That doesn't count. You weren't going to die from a Rock Monster."

Gohan rolled his eyes. Videl was such a pushy tom boy. He didn't believe he had ever met anyone so stubborn.

"So what is your request?" Gohan muttered.

"Teach me how to shoot those blasts from your hands."

"Figures it would be something like that…"


To Be Continued…
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