Chapter XIII

You're who?

I'm you, the power that dwells within you.

What? But you're a Super Saiyan! Like Daddy!

No, I'm a Super Saiyan Level Two, one of the many powers you hold within your blood.

Me? I don't have that kind of power! A level beyond Super Saiyan? No way, not me…

Yes, you. Your power is beyond what you give yourself credit for.

No way. Daddy can be that powerful sure but not me…no way.

You know better than that, Son Gohan.

The form stepped closer, looking right into the younger form's eyes. His own aqua ones sparkled with the same soul that Gohan's dark onyx ones had. However, there was a difference. These eyes shone with determination and a confidence that the little Gohan only dreamed about. This form was unafraid, willing to face any task, so different than him.

You can't be me. The younger Gohan reasoned. My eyes aren't the same.

No, but in time they will be. My eyes sparkle like this because Daddy has filled my heart with confidence, with belief, the same belief I know you desire. As hard as you work, your belief in yourself is your downfall. In a few short years, Daddy will eradicate that.

The younger child stared, awestruck. He grasped his upper arms and squeezed, trying to make sense of this situation. He wished he was curled up in Daddy's arms, safe and warm. A soft hand against his forehead made him look up. The older form knelt to his level, sitting right in front of him, on his knees, smiling gently with a look that to Gohan looked so similar to Goku's, it filled him with warmth he couldn't describe. He hadn't a clue his own face was already beginning to reflect that.

Gohan, you know as well as I do the type of power you carry. You're afraid to use it because you don't want to hurt and because you don't want to disappoint.

Disappoint?

You know what I speak of.

Mother's dreams…

Yes, but the fact remains, Son Gohan, it is your life to live, not hers. Yes, you should respect her and you always will but she has to learn to give as well and now is the time to start. Show her that you'll respect her wishes for you to study but you will follow your own path to happiness, not hers.

But…I want Mother to love me.

And she always will. As will Goku. You know that. You know it. Disappointed? Yes, she will be, at first. But she'll see in time, Gohan. She will.

I want to please them both.

You need to please yourself.

Myself?

Who are you, Son Gohan?

I'm a…

Are you warrior or scholar?

A scholar, he replied automatically. The older form shook his head.

No, you misunderstood me. I did not ask what Son ChiChi wanted you to be. I asked you who you were.

I'm…

Draw on your memories, Son Gohan. Who are you?

Gohan closed his eyes, thinking, drawing upon long forgotten memories that he now smiled at the thought of. His life was full of clues, full of answers that he had never dared to focus on. Even memories he wanted to forget, like the battle against Freeza had answers. Even times when he got himself in trouble with Mother or Father, they were all part of who he was. He shook his head.

Your Father needs you, Son Gohan.

Gohan looked up. The older Gohan smiled gently.

He knows you'll come through, he has no doubt of that. You know full well that he never doubts what you can do.

Yes…

A Few Weeks Ago…

"KAMEHAME.." Gohan lost the ball of power again, for the fifth time in an hour. He had the form and the position but the attack wasn't coming. Frustrated and pushed to him limit, the boy stomped his foot and flopped down on the ground, screaming at the top of his lungs, "STUPID, STUPID, STUPID THING! WHY WON'T YOU WORK!"

A faint chuckle behind him made him look back and pout. "Not funny, Daddy."

Goku helped his son stand and knelt to his level. "Don't get so frustrated, little man. It takes time to get that kind of attack."

"I wanna get it now." He complained, folding his arms. Goku lifted him up and set him on his shoulders.

"Let's go get some fish for lunch, little man. You need to take a break."

Gohan didn't deny the chance for one of Daddy's fish lunches but he laid his chin on Goku's wild hair, frustrated. He had picked up the manseko from Piccolo with almost no trouble. Why was Daddy's signature attack taking him so long to master? He always lost the ball of power before it had even grown large enough to make an impact and he could never say the phrase fast enough. His fingers or hands always slipped, messing up the stance. It was irritating! He wanted to be like Daddy!

Goku caught the feeling from his son's ki and he reached up and gently pinched his left cheek. "Ow! Daddy, don't do that."

"Then stop beating yourself up about this, little man. Just relax for right now, okay?"

Gohan pouted again but he nodded. "Fine…"

Goku set his son on the ground and stripped the boy's sweaty gi off. "Let's go catch us a fish, okay, kiddo?"

"Kay.."

Goku stripped off his own clothes and the father and son pair dove under the cool water. Goku took off in one direction while Gohan went in another. Gohan kept his young eyes wide and alert, ready for anything that came his way, hoping to catch himself a big fish this time. Lately, he'd only managed to get small fish and it took five or six of them to feed the family when Goku could snag a huge one that would last for weeks. He wanted to do that.

A ways off, Gohan spied the perfect fish. It looked about the size of Goku's average fish so the child sped up, slowly, urging his way toward the marine animal. As he neared it, he realized that his first impression had been wrong; this fish was much bigger than the usual fish Daddy caught. Still, Gohan pressed onward, determined to have a catch of the day.

The fish turned, eharing the water swish and seeing what appeared to be a small monkey in the water. It sped over with a velocity that was to envied. At closer glance, no it was a human child. No matter, human flesh was just as tasty as monkey and in the case of children, even more so because of the tender baby fat that had yet to disappear.

Gohan screeched once he realized that this fish was way out of his league. He turned to dart away only to have the fish's mouth enclose around him. Panicking, he drew into a ball and rolled backwards so the fish's razor sharp teeth missed him. He was unharmed but he was going to drown in a few minutes if he didn't do something! The child gagged at the horrible smell that invaded his nose and unfortunately, that cost him precious bubbles of air. The smell invading his mouth and nose nearly made him vomit but he fought it down, knowing if he opened his mouth again that water would rush into his lungs and belly.

The child beat on the top of the fish's mouth, trying to gather enough strength to get out. No good. It was getting hot, his lungs were starting to burn and he was starting to feel heavier and claustrophobic. The fish must be going lower into the lake. Further out most likely. Daddy always told him to go to far out because then the lake got really deep. The boy slammed himself against the fish's side as hard as he could, which managed to get a slight change in the fish's course. The animal could feel him and judging from the slight noises Gohan heard from deep beneath him, it caused it pain. He kept it up. Occasionally he got a spurt of blood but he was getting somewhere. The pressure he felt outside was diminishing. The fish didn't squirm as much. Finally, success! The fish no longer puffed oxygen in through its gills. Gohan wasn't out of the hole yet though. A swift jerk sent him sprawling down the back of the fish's throat. He screeched.

Gohan, where are you? Did you snag this monster of a fish, little man?

Daddy's voice! Daddy musta seen the fish and pulled it out of the water. Daddy, get me out! He gurgled in the water filled gut. This is disgusting!

Whether Goku heard him or felt his ki, he didn't know but the next thing Gohan knew he was flipped upside down and the jaws opened and he spilled out onto soft, sandy shore and fresh air filled his lungs as shrimp, moss and who knew what else spilled over him in a waterfall. He made a face and picked a dead crab out of his hair. "EW!"

Two strong arms hoisted him up. Goku checked him over without a word for a moment and then the Saiyan burst out laughing. "Looks you got eaten, kiddo."

"That's gross!"

"I'd say. You need a bath."

"Maybe but I caught the fish!"

"I'd say it caught you."

"Hye, I still caught it didn't I?"

Goku smirked and ruffled his son's wet hair. "yeah, yeah you did, kid."

Gohan grinned and Goku lifted Gohan under the arms and held him over his head. "You're crazy you know that?"

"Like Daddy, like son."

Present

Who are you, Son Gohan?

The child's eyes flashed without a moment's delay. I'm the son of Son Goku.

Yes..

Gohan's ki fluctuated and the older Gohan looked down at his wrists happily. Chains around his wrists and ankles appeared, vanished and then appeared again. The chains that were the child's self doubt. He had reached the child. He was fighting the constraints he had put on himself. The elder Gohan stared at his younger, knowing full well that the time had come. He was the child's power embodied and he felt his own ki fluctuate with the boy's soul's. Gohan's ki went through the roof.

I'M MY FATHER'S SON!

The chains snapped and the older Gohan's body exploded with power. No longer restrained by the child's self doubt, he grinned.

Now, you're awake, little warrior.

OOO

Gohan sat up, his hair flying into his eyes. He looked around, sweating. He was at Master Roshi's. He was naked, save for something around his waist. He winced and ripped it off, making a mental note to ask his father about that later. He stood, despite the pain in his chest that was even stronger that before. He was determined now. He stumbled to his father's old room, when he'd been training here.

There were still quite a few old gis in the closet. The child donned one, pulling the black belt firmly about his waist. He walked to the window, biting his lip to keep from screaming from the pain. He closed his eyes and felt the pain of his father's ki. He was fighting and he was losing. The boy's eyes flew open and anger cut through his heart. His thoughts turned only to his father, to his father's well being and any thoughts that were on his pain were instantly gone.

"Don't die Daddy!"

His young onyx eyes flashed, turning a dark aqua. His wild black hair flew up, turning golden as the sun. Waves of ki flew off his body and his muscles pulsed with anticipation. He jumped through the open window and took to the air. Turning his eyes towards the source of the fighting kis, his hand went over his heart and he screamed

"I'M NOT LETTING YOU DIE DADDY! STAY ALIVE!"

In a flash of golden light, he was gone.