Chapter 1: Into the Past
It was a beautiful spring morning. The trees were and plants were in full bloom and birds sang from seemingly every branch. Gohan smiled as he walked through the woods south of his home. It was the perfect day for a gathering, and they had taken advantage of it. The entire gang had gathered in a clearing several dozen miles south of his house. His mother was intelligent, she knew when you put six saiyans together you'll get some form of sparing and fighting so to that end she had made sure the gathering wasn't anywhere near her house.
The undergrowth here was in full growth and bloom, but hadn't had time to hamper passage through the forest. Small animals, and the occasional small dinosaur, scurried across Gohan's sight or could be heard to either side in the forest.
Gohan wore an outfit like his father, except it was black with a dark blue undershirt and blue belt. A brown tail was wrapped around Gohan's waist as he hummed a tune.
Gohan wasn't worried about the animals. He had been strong enough at age five to handle them, now he was infinitely stronger then before. The animals would break their teeth on his skin before he felt anything. He smiled broadly as he entered a small clearing. There was a small pool of water in the center of it with several plants growing out and around from it. The sunlight beamed down into the clearing causing everything to come aglow as if they had a fire burning within. The place was truly majestic.
Gohan soon left the clearing and continued on his way south. He had stopped to pick up an especially beautiful flower. He was aware of his mother's fondness for flowers that grew in the wild and this would be just the thing for excusing his late arrival.
Several minutes later voices drifted up and pierced Gohan's ears. Another smile graced his face. He was approaching his destination, and fashionably late. The voices he was hearing was his mother, apparently she was not happy at his being late. He had his reasons, although he doubted anyone would like them, especially Videl. He was aware of her feelings for him, feelings that were not returned.
Gohan's smile faded from his lips. He was not looking forward to this gathering. Sunlight filled Gohan's vision as he left the shadows of the forest and entered the large clearing that had been prepared for the gathering. Gohan smiled again at the sight in front of him. The Buu incident hadn't left any scars on those two little kids. They were just as joyful and playful as ever. They were currently chasing a poor lizard across the ground in an attempt to capture it. They had special plans for it.
At the far side of the clearing his father and Vegeta were talking to one another; or rather it was Vegeta beating saiyan history and language into Goku's head with little success. Vegeta had given up trying to be better then 'Kakkarot'. Now all he wanted was for Gohan's father to act like a saiyan. Chichi was preparing lunch for everyone on the large barbeques that Hercule had provided. He had also provided several helpers which Chichi took gladly. She always accepted help when it became feeding time for saiyans. Hercule himself was seated on the ground beside one of the picnic tables as he listened to his daughter. Now that he realized those tricks and light shows were actually real he had put a lot of time and effort into learning them. He hadn't quite been able to grasp the use of them, but he understood the concepts behind them. Buu was hopping around behind him giggling and laughing like a little child and giving Hercule a hard time. Needless to say Hercule would have little success at mastering ki techniques today. 18, Krillen and Marron were talking quietly at the tables themselves. They had decided to seat themselves early so they could beat the saiyan rush. Tien, Yamcha and Chiaotzu were all talking to one another about the old days and how glad they were that the Buu incident was over. They had been badly out classed there and they never wished to enter a conflict like that again. Puar and Olong were off somewhere but he couldn't spot them immediately, but that didn't matter. They would show up as soon as the food was ready. Piccolo was meditating like usual and nodded at Gohan as he entered the clearing before he went back to meditating.
There weren't any reporters here thankfully. Goku had teleported everyone to the clearing to prevent the reporters from learning where they were. When Hercule had asked for help to defeat Buu, when his face and voice was projected to the masses, many people had noticed Goku floating behind him. More importantly they recognized the former world champion and the huge ball of energy he was holding over his head. Whether or not Gohan, and his family, wanted fame, they had it now. It was hellish for him at school but because relatively few knew where he lived reporters weren't flocking to his home, and he wanted to keep it that way.
Vegeta was the first, aside from Piccolo, to notice Gohan and smiled down at Goku. "Now THERE is a saiyan worth my time!" Vegeta said loudly, catching everyone's attention, as he waved his hand in Gohan's direction. Everyone followed the direction of his hand and soon spotted Gohan.
Smiles bloomed on every face, except Chichi. She was upset at Gohan being late, and she wanted a good explanation for it.
Gohan smiled sadly. Vegeta was right in his assumption that he'd make a good saiyan. It had happened right after Buu was destroyed, although no one noticed it right at first. The mystic power had not only released his hidden strength, but his saiyan nature. During the battles with Buu he had been to focused on destroying Buu to notice his change, although change he had. Even during the battle he had shown some of his hidden saiyan nature: the toying with Buu, the enjoyment of the battle and other little things. He could have prevented Buu from absorbing Gotenks and Piccolo, but he hadn't. He wanted a challenge. He could have even destroyed Buu before he had the chance to absorb Gotenks and Piccolo, but likewise he didn't. He wanted his fun, and it cost him a lot.
Unlike with the Cell games when he had been able to regain control of himself, he hadn't been able to after Buu. He was no where near Vegeta's level of arrogance and pride but he had more then a healthy dose of both. Ever since the destruction of Kid Buu he had trained himself every day, to become stronger and better, not that there was anyone capable of beating him. He could take out Gotenks and even Gogeta although they trounced him when they teamed up.
"Hey everyone." Gohan said with a grin and quickly turned to his mother with a flourish, "And this is for you M'Lady!" Gohan said as he 'magically' pulled a wild flower out from his sleeve and handed it out to his mother. He wanted to pacify her before she had a chance to break the eardrums of all those present.
Chichi took the flower and smiled, "Why thank you Gohan. How thoughtful, I suppose you can be forgiven, especially seeing how you took your time for me." She said in a sweet voice as she looked the flower over.
Gohan sighed with relief on the inside, that's one explosive situation turned aside, the next one won't be nearly as easy.
Videl stomped over to him with an angry look on her face, "Hey Gohan... Aren't you forgetting something?" Videl asked in a dangerously soft voice.
Gohan scratched his head in confusion before clarity struck him, "Oh yes, I remember now. That's something we need to talk about Videl." Gohan said softly.
The clearing went dead quiet with that statement. All eyes became trained on Gohan and Videl and the two became quite conscious of their gaze. Videl kept a cool front but on the inside she was beginning to tremble slightly, "Oh... and what may that be about Gohan?" Videl asked calmly.
Gohan sighed and took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy, but better now then later. "It's about you and me. I know how you feel about me and..." Gohan paused to comb his hand through his hair. Videl became increasingly nervous, almost scared about what was to come next, "I wish I could feel the same way about you but... I can't." Gohan said softly.
Collective gasps were heard throughout the clearing as everyone expressed their surprise, with the exception of Vegeta. He knew this was coming. He could almost feel Videl reaching out towards Gohan but he felt nothing reaching back. Gohan regarded Videl as nothing more then just a good friend. Also Gohan revealing it to him during one of their many lessons of saiyan history and social status had helped to enlighten him.
Videl stumbled back a step as if she had been struck a blow. He eyes began to tear up as she choked out one last question, "Wh-Why not?" She asked in a trembling voice.
Gohan shrugged, a shrug is a powerful weapon, and it's quite possible to tear someone apart with a single shrug, as he responded, "Because there is no feeling. No matter how I look at you all I see is a friend. I cannot see a future with you, I don't know why. I did before Buu but now... I do not. I suppose it may have to do with the unleashing of my mystic power but I don't know for sure."
Videl backed away from Gohan, one trembling step at a time, with eyes wide with shock and hurt. Swiftly she turned and bolted away from Gohan. After a few steps she took to the air and flashed across the sky, leaving a trail of tears. Gohan stretched an arm out after her but let it drop with a sigh. There were no words that could help Videl, only time will dull the pain.
"That was a trifle blunt." A voice said as a familiar figure entered the clearing. Kibitoshin had finally decided to join the gathering.
Gohan nodded, "I know... but I didn't know any other way of saying it while still getting the meaning across correctly. Any lighter and there could be room for misinterpretation. Any blunter and it would have crippled her permanently." Gohan said sadly.
Kibitoshin nodded, "I wouldn't know. I've watched over this universe for a long time and I still don't understand love." He said, "It's one of the universe's great mysteries."
Chichi stomped over to Kibitoshin and glared at him angrily, "So YOU are responsible for turning my Gohan against Videl?" She screeched.
Kibitoshin shook his head, "No not me. It was a combination of many things. It was mainly his saiyan side, the old kai unleashing his mystic ability, and one other factor which he will find out soon enough." The supreme kai answered.
Chichi glared at Gohan and the supreme kai, completely enraged. Her perfect picnic had just been ruined. Gohan sighed, "I know this is hard to accept mother, but it's the real reason I took so long. I wanted to figure out my true feelings for Videl. They were confusing and it took me awhile to sort through them. My human side was reaching out to Videl, but that side is no longer. My humanity was ripped from me after the unleashing. You didn't think my tail grew back for nothing did you?" Gohan asked curiously.
Chichi looked at him in confusion, as did everyone else. Vegeta became thoughtful; this explanation may clear a few peculiarities he had been noticing about Gohan lately. Gohan took a deep breath, "You may want to tell Videl this later, and I don't think she'll be all that receptive to me. In the past my human side and my saiyan side have been in balance. There were times where one would be slightly more dominate then the other, for example my saiyan side was more dominate during the cell games but in the 7 years following my human side was the dominate. Well the unleashing completely tipped the balance in favour of my saiyan side. To bring it down to a genetic level, it's like cancer. Both my human and saiyan cells are trying to convert each other to their side and have been relatively in balance my entire life. But because of my mystic power and the influx of life force combined with saiyan instincts and personalities... Well my brain changed first but it quickly spread through my body. The saiyan cells began to overwhelm the human cells until it got to a point where it was unstoppable. I'm now completely saiyan." Gohan finished.
Eyes were bugged out all over the clearing. Only Goku, Hercule and Goten were clueless. Vegeta was the first to speak after the speech, "I knew we'd make a saiyan out of you yet." He said in surprise, although his eyes should more approval then surprise.
Gohan eyed him, "Ha ha, very funny, that was a bad pun you know." Gohan said.
Chichi stared at Gohan in shock, "My baby..." Chichi started before her eyes rolled back and she fell. Before she had a chance to hit the ground Goku was there catching her. He wasn't to sure what was going on, but whatever it was, it was big.
Kibitoshin sighed and shook his head, "Have you done what I have asked of you?" he asked as he looked Gohan straight in the eyes.
Gohan nodded, "Yes I have. I can still feel it, it's there, it's just further away then it was before." Gohan responded.
Krillen looked a little worried, "What are you two talking about? We really don't need any more surprises today." He said.
Gohan chuckled, "Oh it's nothing. Kibitoshin just asked me to learn if I still possessed the ability to go super, and I do. It's just a lot harder to reach." Gohan answered.
Again eyes bugged out and several more people fainted. Gohan scratched his head and grinned sheepishly, "I think I ruined our little get together..." Gohan said apologetically, "I'm sorry. With Videl gone and my mother, Olong, Puar and Yamcha all unconscious... heh... sorry." Gohan said.
Vegeta shook his head and grinned, "Don't be sorry! You truly are a saiyan now! There is no reason to be sorry of anything at all, they're all just weaklings... Well... everyone except Videl and the banshee." Vegeta said quickly as Gohan's eyes narrowed.
A resounding whack was heard as Vegeta got hit over the head by Bulma, "Shut up Vegeta. This is serious and we don't need your silly comments!" She yelled.
Vegeta turned and glared back "WOMAN! Do you know who I AM?" Vegeta roared for the millionth time since they met.
Bulma glared at him, "Yes I do! You only tell me every day! AND THAT MAKES ME YOUR QUEEN SO SHUT UP!" Bulma yelled back silencing Vegeta where he was. He had never thought of it like that before. Technically Bulma held just as much authority and power as he did, more, considering he was thoroughly pussy whipped.
Vegeta grumbled to himself but he let off and became quiet. Bulma nodded in satisfaction, "That's better!" Bulma said and turned to look at Gohan, "Are you sure about everything you just said? Never mind, I know you are. Whatever you may become, you'll never become a liar. I don't suppose you'd let me run some tests on you?" Bulma asked curiously.
Gohan laughed, Bulma was back to her old self. Chichi was coming around, her eyes slowly opened and she blinked many times to clear them. When she focused on Gohan tears began to develop in them. "What happened to my baby boy?" Chichi sobbed.
Gohan stepped forward and kneeled in front of her, he knew how to handle this, although he didn't know how he knew. "It's alright mother. You're baby boy is still there, in your memories. He's just grown up, into me. You must have realized that I would leave sometime, that time is now. You still have Goten." Gohan said softly.
Chichi looked up at Gohan for a second before she brought him into a fierce hug, "My poor baby boy has all grown up." She said and dropped the embrace. She still held him at arms length, pride in her eyes.
Gohan sighed, "Mother, I want you to explain to Videl. I don't hate her, it's just I don't love her. I've tried but I can't. I want you to tell her I hope we can still be friends. Knowing her she won't want to have anything to do with me for awhile." Gohan said sadly.
Chichi nodded, "Don't worry, I'll handle everything." She said compliantly.
Gohan nodded and stood up. It was then he realized something odd. His mother had been a little too understanding. He shrugged it away though, as long as everything worked out fine he didn't care about the why.
Chichi stood up, pulling her mate with her. She looked at him for a moment before he nodded. Suddenly the two vanished as Goku teleported to Videl. Gohan smiled a little, if anyone could bring Videl around, it was his mother. Suddenly he was barrelled over by two little bundles of energy.
"I'm not sure what is going on brother but let's play! I wanna have some fun!" Goten said as he bounced up and down on Gohan's stomach. Trunks grinned up at him from his position grappled around the right leg.
Gohan sighed in mock exasperation, "Oh alright, I suppose I can play with you." Gohan said and laughed as cheers erupted from the kids. He may be a full blooded saiyan, but some things will never change, no matter his race.
Talking started up once more, albeit a little less raucous and energetic as before. About a half hour later, when the sun stared straight down upon the clearing identifying the time of day as noon, Goku and Chichi reappeared, with Videl.
Gohan ceased playing with the two children and slowly stood up. Goten started to complain but Trunks hit him on the head to silence him. Goten glared at Trunks with a pout on his face. Videl approached Gohan slowly, her eyes were puffy and red, making Gohan feel awful for what he had done, although there was no other way.
Gohan was the first to speak, "I'm sorry Videl, for any pain I have caused you but. I felt it was better to say it now, before your feelings progressed any further."
Videl held a hand up to silence him, "I-I know Gohan. It's just hard... I... I truly did love you; you will always have a place within my heart. I... thought this may happen but I didn't want to believe it. You'd been acting differently towards me ever since Buu... I-It's just hard to actually hear it, to hear the confirmation of your fears." She said sadly.
Gohan nodded and hugged her, catching her by surprise, "I know. It was hard to find the right words to tell you... We can still be friends right?" Gohan asked quietly.
"Just one thing Gohan... You're not leaving me because of another woman are you?" Videl asked.
Gohan shook his head, "No, I'm not. You're the best this planet has to offer so I doubt anyone else could even interest me a little. I don't think I'll find my special someone on Earth." Gohan replied.
Videl nodded and broke out of the embrace, she had a little smile on her face, "Well alright then, I accept the friendship, if I can't have all of you, I'll settle for what little I can have." She said in a light tone.
Gohan put on an expression of mock pain, "That hurt Videl... what am I to you? A slab of meat?" Gohan whimpered.
Videl laughed and everything was alright. The gathering re-continued from where it left off. Hercule was upset and was going to confront Gohan but Videl persuaded him against it, saying it was all right. Videl resumed her fathers training while Goten and Trunks pounced upon Gohan once more.
The rest of the day proceeded without any major events. The saiyans ravished the food that was placed upon the table almost before Chichi and the servants had finished removing their hands. The others wisely decided to wait until the saiyans had eaten their fill before they dared to stick their hands into the central parts of the tables. After lunch the sparring began, much like Chichi had predicted. Nothing could have prevented it from occurring, nothing short of the end of the world, but that may not have been enough. As usual Gotenks and Gogeta teamed up against Gohan. No one, singularly, or fused, could stand toe-to-toe with Gohan. The humans, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu teamed up against Krillen while 18 and 17 spoke quietly with 16 about life. Androids 17 and 16 had joined the gathering just after the meal, 16 not needing food, and 17 not wanting to be anywhere near eating saiyans, had opted to join the group after the midday meal. Kibitoshin just watched Gohan the entire time while Piccolo meditated in the middle of the clearing.
After the Gotenks and Gogeta fusions wore off for the third time they decided to call it quits for the day. Several factors made the saiyans come to this conclusion. One, the sun was beginning to set, and two, dinner was ready. The five of them landed on the west side of the clearing and bolted for the table. After dinner Bulma and Chichi enforced no more sparring, insisting that they should just enjoy the rest of the night without fighting amongst one another.
It was during this time of contemplation that a thought occurred to Vegeta. The King of the Saiyans glanced over at Gohan and thought for a second before he phrased his question. "Gohan. You said you were capable of becoming a super saiyan. Could you show us?" Vegeta asked, bringing up the question that Kibitoshin would have if no one else voiced it.
Gohan shook his head, "I can't. The power that would be unleashed would destroy this planet. The elder supreme kai said that." Gohan replied.
Kibitoshin smiled, "True, you would destroy the planet... but not if there was a shield around you preventing most of the energy from escaping." He said.
"Is that possible?" Gohan asked.
Kibitoshin nodded, "Yes it is possible, but I would need to borrow energy from anyone who would be willing to spare me some." Kibitoshin replied.
Vegeta stood up, "You can have mine; I want to see the brat go super. I'm extremely curious as to how much power he will have, and how far I have to go to catch up." Vegeta said.
Goku stood up beside Vegeta along with Goten and Trunks, all three voicing their agreement.
Kibitoshin rose and nodded, "Alright, I want the four of you to stand around me with your hands stretched out towards me. I want you to focus your life force through your hands and into me; I will then use it to strengthen the shield I will create around Gohan." He said.
The saiyans nodded and stood around him. Gohan took to the air, figuring the further he was from the planet the better. Everyone was curious as to just how powerful Gohan could become. Mixed emotions swept through the group, from fear to excitement, from nervousness to anticipation. Everyone was, aside from perhaps Vegeta, worried about Gohan, wondering if he was capable of even withstanding that much power while at the same time curious.
When Gohan judged he was far enough away he stopped and waited for the signal to begin. Soon the saiyans down around the supreme kai began to power up as they channelled their energy into Kibitoshin. It was relatively easy for them, especially considering Kibitoshin did most of the work. Other channels of energy flowed into the supreme kai as some of the others decided to join in as well. Soon a large shield developed around Gohan and sound ceased to pass through the barrier. Gohan kept his eyes trained on the supreme kai, waiting for the signal, and then he had it, the slight nod of the head.
Gohan bent over in concentration. He reached down into the depths of his being and called upon all the horrible, sad and devastating memories he had encountered in his life. Before he knew what was happening his power was sky rocketing. The air around Gohan turned white as his aura expanded swirled around Gohan. The more he focused upon his past, the more power that flowed through him.
Gohan's earth shattering voice was heard, even through the barrier that had been put up around him. The supreme kai strained to maintain the shield. He knew it was impossible to contain the entirety of the unleashing but he wanted to hold in as much as possible. Bolts of lightning crackled out from Gohan's body to lash against the barrier in rapid succession. It looked like a plasma sphere, without the base and electric rod. The only difference aside from that was this plasma sphere was being generated by a mortal being, and was destructive enough to take out the planet.
Suddenly Goku and Vegeta noticed something, something they had witnessed before. The reality around Gohan, the reality inside the sphere, was beginning to warp and tear. Like Buu, Gohan was unleashing more power then reality could withstand.
"NO!" Goku and Vegeta both yelled at the same time and tried to cut off the flow of energy into Kibitoshin but couldn't. "Stop this Kibitoshin! Reality is tearing apart!" Goku yelled.
Kibitoshin smiled, "I know, this is supposed to happen. Gohan has something to accomplish, in a different time, in a different dimension." He said sadly, "A being more powerful then me is directing the course of this event."
Everyone stared at him in horror when loud crackling was heard from above. They looked up just in time to see a giant incandescent hand reach out from the rift behind Gohan and pull him in. As soon as Gohan was gone the barrier dropped and the rifts in reality snapped shut. Cries of horror echoed across the clearing as the strongest being in that universe, in that timeline was taken away.
Chichi crumpled to the ground as the enormity of the situation overwhelmed her. For the second time that day she lost consciousness. Cries of sorrow were heard throughout the clearing that day. Everyone still conscious turned their baleful gazes upon the supreme kai. He merely smiled and disappeared as he went back to his world.
Goku stood up, enraged at being tricked. He was about to instantly transmit himself to the supreme kai when everything went black.
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Outside of time and space...
Gohan screamed in agony as he was pulled through the emptiness of the void. The journey seemed to last ages to Gohan but it was really a matter of minutes. Suddenly Gohan found himself thrown through another rift into a different time and place then where he had come from. Gohan fell from the sky to land in a heap upon a rocky desert.
Gohan slowly rolled off his back and slowly lifted himself off the ground. He was completely exhausted. The trip through time and dimension without the aid of magic or technology had drained him entirely. It was all he could do to stand. When Gohan finally stood erect he took stock of his surroundings. He was in a rocky desert with little to no shrubs. The sky was a reddish color, hinting at an extremely dust filled atmosphere.
Another thing Gohan noticed was that the gravity was a good ten times that of Earth's, and that the weakest person on this planet was as strong as Videl. Gohan sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair, knocking the dust out of it.
"Something tells me I'm not on Earth anymore..." Gohan trailed off.
To be continued...
A/N: Grr... I hate this site, it changes ... into . if you let the document you are using it format it into 1 character.