A/N: My dear readers and reviewers, I'm soooo sorry to have let you wait this long, but as for everything there was, or rather were several reasons. First the operation at my knee, then school, where I had to study a lot (at least the studying was worth it – I have only straight As in my tests), and then also other random things that kept me from writing. Hopefully you're still reading this fic, because I won't abandon it. I always finish what I start, no matter how long it takes!

So now, have fun!

Chapter 35: Only the Beginning

Earlier that morning a smaller, but still rather impressive ship, decorated with many carvings in the wood and a beautiful figurehead, entered port and berthed on Frieza's Island. After all hawsers had been fastened, the plank was let down and Mr. Satan arrived on deck. He looked around with a fake smile on his face, not noticing the incredulous looks he was getting from the dockworkers and traders, as he tried to walk down the plank with an air of importance surrounding him. Unfortunately, he slipped halfway down the plank and almost slid off the plank, if he had not gotten hold of a rope. Laughing loudly to hide his embarrassment, he flashed them a toothy grin and continued his, now very careful, walk down the wooden plank. He looked around, but the people at the dock had dismissed him already, having gone back to their work.

Satan sighed with relief, as he went to the nearest stabling to buy a horse for his mission on this island. The villagers of Ginger Island had talked him into challenging Frieza, after the festivities about the victory over Cell had ended. Who else would be able to defeat the Beast, if not the conqueror of the being that had terrorized their island for years?

He sighed, once again, only this time not with relief, more with worry. He remembered all-too-well how easily Cell had whacked him aside to face a small boy, who, if he was not wrong about this, had defeated the Jinzoningen. However, Satan did not want to lose his fame, so he had no choice but to face and fight Frieza. No one could say that he had not tried, when he failed and Frieza killed him. He only hoped that his fame would then be enough for the villagers to take in his daughter and raise her with everything she needed. After her mother had died, he was afraid that no one would feel responsible for her and that she would have to grow up on the streets.

Only a couple of minutes after entering the stables, he rode off on a grey steed, hoping against hope that luck would yet again be on his side and get him through this alive.

That very same day, General Kaiou had invited his two friends, Muten Roshi and Gyuu Mao, to lunch, as he had done every Sunday since the departure of the Kintoun. He had also invited Lord Briefs and his wife, but they had always declined. Kaiou was not sure if this was about the fact that they could not bear talking about her missing daughter or if they were just too busy. Maybe it was a bit both.

"So, still no word?" Muten Roshi broke the almost uncomfortable silence.

Kaiou shook his head sadly. "Still no word. The last message from Goku came from Namek, telling me that they were bound for Ginger Island. But I told you that already."

"It's been close to seven weeks already…" Gyuu Mao muttered. "I should have never allowed ChiChi to go with them or I should have paid more attention to Gohan. I have a bad feeling about this..."

"It's probably not the best moment to tell you this, but word reached me that something is brewing in the north for quite some time already. Frieza is planning something and we all know that Ginger Island is only an one week's travel from his island." Muten Roshi looked at them thoughtfully. "I might be wrong, but knowing Goku I think that he would not back down if he met Frieza."

"As hard as it is to admit, but you're right, old friend." Kaiou did not want to tell his friends that he had the same worry ever since Goku had left. Ever since their argument. He truly felt remorse for having put a man – a man he almost saw as a son – through this. Son Goku had trusted him as long as he knew him. And then, with one lie that changed Goku's life completely, this trust had been broken. The General hoped that Goku would come back safely with Lady Bulma and the sphere, so that there was a chance that the sailor might forgive him for what he had done, although a part of him did not know what to do or to say, when the Kintoun and its crew returned safely to the Western Capitol.

Gohan hurried through the crowd of fighting and running soldiers, now and then taking a glimpse of his father's friends, who were surprisingly holding their own against the mass of Frieza's men. Whenever one of the soldiers was advancing, his sword slashed through the air, killing them almost instantly. Gohan desperately tried to block out their screams or the feeling of blood on his hands, whenever this happened, otherwise he was sure he would get sick. His main target was to get away right now.

He was aware that Frieza had ordered Radditz and Nappa to follow him and he knew that it would be almost inevitable to fight them. He only needed a secluded spot, where no one might interrupt them and which he could use for his advantage. The boy knew that he probably needed every advantage he could get, since he was not so sure if he could take both of them at once. At this moment, Gohan somehow wished he knew how to unleash that power that killed Cell once again, no matter how scared he was that it might consume him once more.

Risking one look back, Gohan noticed that the two Saiyajins were closer than he had thought, but even this was a great mistake. With his head turned, he had not seen the person in front of him, until they collided, sending Gohan crashing to the ground. He wondered for a second who had built that brick wall in the middle of his way, when he heard a somehow familiar snort. Gohan raised his eyes and met Vegeta's, as he got up again.

Vegeta glanced at the boy scrambling to his feet, before looking at his two pursuers, who came steadily nearer. So, the brat had not changed sides after all, and now Frieza obviously wanted him to pay for that. "What are you staring at, boy? Get out of here!"

Nodding more or less numbly, Gohan ran past Vegeta to a small assembling of trees, almost a small forest, behind the gallows and disappeared there.

Radditz and Nappa had seen the sudden change of direction the boy had taken, having not recognized yet the man they had tried to kill, and wanted to follow him, but a voice that they had never thought they would hear again, stopped them. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Vegeta?" Nappa muttered, astonished. "That's not possible."

"Not probable." Vegeta smirked. "Just as I already told Zarbon and Dodoria before they died. We Saiyajins are survivors. You should have considered that before making me walk the plank."

The two Saiyajins looked at each other, torn between following Frieza's order to capture the boy and fighting Vegeta. A quick look of understanding passed between them, before Radditz ran off after Gohan, but not before scowling at Vegeta, while Nappa remained where he was, with a smug grin on his face.

"So, you really think you can beat me, Vegeta?"

"Try me." The smirk on his face grew wider. He knew that he would be able to kill Nappa within a few seconds, but he wanted him to suffer first. He had to pay for the mutiny that had cost Vegeta his ship and his crew. "Prove to me that you're not a coward like Radditz, who'd rather fight against a small boy than against me."

Vegeta watched with satisfaction, how a furious Nappa pulled out his sword and lunged at him. This should be fun.

As soon as Gohan had disappeared in the thicket of the trees, he searched for a good hiding place. Either Radditz or Nappa or maybe both of them were most likely still behind him, so he needed the surprise effect on his side. In addition, he needed a place from where he could survey everything that was happening on the ground. After running a bit further into the small forest, he spotted a tree that might be suitable for his plan and climbed it until he was resting comfortably on a branch.

Now that he had the chance to calm down, he felt his heart thumping hard against his chest. If it was because he had been running so fast or if he was afraid, he had no idea. Fearing, as unbelievable as it might sound, that someone might hear the hammering of his heart, he tried to even his breathing and to relax.

Only about half a minute later, Gohan heard the shuffling of feet through the grass and tensed. He could not say how many they were, but he was ready. Ready to attack and ready to stay hidden, if there were too many for him to handle. He just wanted to grab the hilt of his sword, when he saw a group of people approach the small clearing beneath him. His breath caught, as Gohan recognized them. "Mom…" he mumbled, when the black haired woman stepped into the clearing, along with Bulma, Dende and a man that bore an amazing resemblance to his father. Bardock, he remembered. His grandfather, who had been imprisoned in Frieza's dungeons for twenty-five years.

His mother sank down on a small rock, burying her head in her hands. What were they doing? The middle of a clearing was definitely not a good place to hide. Bulma and Bardock seemed to think the same and said so. Bardock looked around warily, while Bulma helped ChiChi up, but it was already too late. Gohan could hear the heavy footsteps of his pursuer draw nearer and within seconds, Radditz appeared and stopped directly under the branch Gohan was sitting on, as he took in the scene in front of him.

Using his chance, the boy drew his sword and let himself fall from the branch, toppling Radditz and slashing his side with the weapon. Much to the surprise of the others, they tumbled to the ground with Radditz crying out in pain. Gohan rolled to the side and got up again, giving his mother a quick smile as she recognized him and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Gohan!" she called out and wanted to run up to him, but Bardock's hand on her arm stopped her, shoving her and Dende behind him for protection.

Momentarily distracted by his mother, Gohan barely managed to dodge an attack of Radditz, who had gotten back on his feet. It was then that Bardock noticed the brown furry belt around the man's waist, his tail, and recognized his long lost son. "Radditz…" he mumbled, not really knowing what he should think or make of the emotions running through him at that moment. On the one hand, he was glad that his son was still alive, but on the other hand, it hurt deeply to know that they were not fighting for the same side.

"Father," Radditz acknowledged coldly. "I never knew that it was you down there in the dungeons, not that it would have mattered." He barked out a cruel laugh that sent a shiver down Bardock's spine. "You should have accepted Lord Frieza's offer, father. I'm sure you would have come to greatness under his commando, just like me and Nappa."

Bardock spat on the ground. "And become the Beast's lapdog like you and Nappa? No, I'd rather spend another twenty-five years down there. You have nothing of a Saiyajin in you, Radditz. You betrayed our race, what we stand for. But you're my son and therefore I would forgive you, if you defy the Beast and fight for our cause."

"You're a fool, father. Fighting for your cause would mean to die a gruesome death. No, thank you, I'd rather live. Soon Frieza's empire will spread and he will need administrators for the other countries and islands. Who do you think is better suited for this than one who has been in his service for twenty-five years?" he asked. "Don't look so disappointed, father. Look at the bright side of things – you'll then meet our dear mother again, after the wish of seeing her again had been declined for you for such a long time."

"I'm sorry," Bardock whispered, barely audible.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for, old man?"

"For having to kill you…"

"Oh, don't be sorry about this. Because I honestly don't think that you'll even be able to touch me."

Without hesitation, Radditz lunged at his father. The older Saiyajin reacted quickly and shoved ChiChi and Dende to Bulma, before sidestepping to the other side. However, his weak body did not want to respond to that quick change of direction and he overbalanced. The memory of training of many years ago set in just in time for him to roll as soon as he hit the ground, so that none of his bones broke due to the impact.

Radditz smirked, seeing his chance at finishing his father off once and for all, but Gohan intervened. The boy came rushing from one side, knocking the wind out of the Saiyajin and pushing him away from Bardock. Growling, Radditz got up again, swaying slightly. His grey shirt was drenched with blood, where Gohan had hit him with the sword and more blood was flowing out of the wound with every passing second. "Bloody brat." Those and other curses left Radditz's mouth, as he clenched his fist around the hilt of his sword and swung it at Gohan, who parried it almost easily with his own.

In the meantime, ChiChi and Bulma had helped Bardock to his feet and were now watching how Gohan seemed to win this fight seemingly without any effort at all. He parried each swing, blocked or dodged each punch or kick and inflicted wounds on his opponent at the same time. Radditz was already bleeding heavily out of several wounds and was getting weaker and weaker with each blow until he dropped on his knees only a few minutes later. Gohan was standing in front of him, almost on eye-level, sword raised, poised to strike.

But then Gohan remembered the sickening feeling after he had killed the Jinzoningen, Cell and the soldiers. He hesitated. All the people he had killed until now had been strong and healthy enough to fight back. But Radditz was already heavily injured and could barely move. He was defenseless. Was it right to kill someone who was not able to defend himself anymore? What would his father do?

Radditz noticed this moment of hesitation and used this opening – he quickly closed his fist around the hilt of his sword and embedded the blade in Gohan's abdomen. A look of triumph crossed his face, as the boy's eyes widened in surprise, but not even a second later the same surprise was visible in his eyes, as a sharp pain shot through his chest. The Saiyajin looked down and saw the handle of a knife protrude from his chest. He felt warm blood trickle out of his mouth and down his chin, as he looked up and met the gaze of his father, whose arm was still stretched from throwing the knife. Wanting to say something, he opened his mouth, but no sound came out of it, however, his eyes showed everything – he could not believe that his father had actually killed him. It seemed like minutes at least until the eyes became empty, the limp body hit the ground and Radditz, son of Bardock, died.

Gohan was not even able to scream, when he felt the blade pierce the skin of his stomach, slide through the flesh until it emerged from his back. The look of surprise on his face was almost mirrored by the one on Radditz's face, when the older Saiyajin noticed the knife in his chest, before he dropped dead.

Gohan self fell to his knees and closed his eyes, as his hands closed around the hilt of the sword. He heard the footsteps around him, but did not open his eyes. He concentrated hard on controlling his suddenly ragged breathing, when he tightened the grip, gritted his teeth and pulled the sword out with nothing more than a grunt escaping his lips.

Radditz's sword hit the ground with a soft thud, as Gohan let it go and fell over, catching himself with his hands. He already felt the warm blood seeping out of the wound, but he could not give up now. Pushing himself back up into a kneeling position, he opened his eyes and saw everyone staring at him with worry on their faces.

"Gohan!" ChiChi cried. "Are you okay? Say something? Dende, can you heal him?"

He saw Dende coming nearer, but waved him off. "No time," he grunted, already hearing more footsteps running towards them. Bardock seemed to hear the same, because he helped Gohan up. "There're more."

Now the others also noticed some noise coming towards them. Wavering slightly, Gohan picked up his sword, while Bardock took his son's and pulled the knife out of Radditz's chest, giving it back to ChiChi.

"Gohan, you need help," his mother insisted.

"I'm fine. It just stings a bit." He tried to flash his mother a reassuring smile, but assumed that he failed miserably, as another jab of pain shot through his stomach. "I need to fight," he continued, as his mother wanted to open her mouth again.

"Spoken like a true Saiyajin," Bardock said, just as about fifteen soldiers, armed with swords, appeared in the clearing, surrounding them. The soldiers only spared at quick glance at the fallen Saiyajin, thinking that two women, two children, of whom one was wounded, and an old man could not have possibly been Radditz's downfall.

"What are we going to do now?" ChiChi asked, barely audible, as she took in the sight of the soldiers.

This time, it was Bulma, who answered. "We're going to fight." The determination in her voice was not lost to any of them and Bulma thought wryly that Vegeta must have rubbed off on her. Besides, if a five years old boy, who had just had a sword stuck through his abdomen, could say with conviction that he needed to fight, why couldn't she?

As if Bulma's words had been the cue, the soldiers rushed at them.

At the same time in the middle of the battlefield, Vegeta and Nappa were still at it. They were trading blows, kicks and their swords clashed incessantly, though Nappa looked like he would collapse any second now. His whole body was littered with cuts, stabs and bruises and his moves were getting careless.

"What's this? Is that all you've got?" Vegeta mocked him, as he kicked him to the ground.

Nappa rolled over and got to his knees, but could not go further – his body was too exhausted and too weak to continue. Panic appeared in his eyes, as Vegeta raised the sword. "Please don't!" he suddenly begged. "Don't kill me! I'll do everything you want me to… Just please, don't kill me…"

"Why should I spare a traitor like you?" Vegeta's voice was full of revulsion and hate.

"It was Radditz's idea… He was afraid of Frieza, I swear, I just did what he told me to do…"

"So you only wanted to rape the woman, because Radditz told you to? You only led my whole crew into a mutiny, because Radditz told you to? You only wanted to kill me, because Radditz told you to?" His voice rose, as the anger built up in his body. It only became more, when Nappa nodded eagerly. "Truly pathetic."

Fortunately, Nappa never saw the blade coming that separated his head from his neck.

Without sparing one last glance at his former protector, Vegeta looked around, searching for more soldiers who dared to fight him, but what he found was far more interesting. Near the podium, where Frieza had been standing just about half an hour ago, he and Kakarotto were facing each other. A scowl appeared on his face. This was his fight. He had wanted to kill Frieza for the last twenty-five years and now that he finally had the chance, he would not let some low-class Saiyajin fulfill his destiny.

Frieza and Goku had stopped, when only about fifteen feet still separated them. For the first few minutes they only stared at each other, none of them saying a word. While the look on Frieza's face could only be described as delightful and wicked, the look on Goku's face was one of determination and concentration.

"Kakarotto," Frieza acknowledged him finally, after what seemed like hours. "Finally we meet, properly, if I may add. I hope you'll prove to be a challenge for me, otherwise it would have been wasted to let you live this long."

"You really think you're unbeatable," Goku stated. "But that's where you're wrong. I have come to kill you."

"No, you're not. This isn't your fight, Kakarotto," they heard suddenly Vegeta's voice. The Prince of the Saiyajins stepped up to them, head held high and surrounded by an air of pride. "It's mine."

Frieza laughed, a laugh so cruel that Goku could not help but shiver. "Are you really that desperate to die, princeling?"

Vegeta remains completely calm - only the hint of a smirk tugged at his lips. "I may die in this fight. No, I'm quite sure I will die, but I might as well try to take you with me."

Upon seeing this determined and at the same time accepting look on Vegeta's face, Goku remembered what Kyna had told a bit more than a week ago. Vegeta was right, first and foremost this was his fight, for all that Frieza had put him through. First when he failed, it was Goku's turn. Nodding at the Prince and suddenly finding that a small part of him started to respect him, he stepped aside.

Vegeta walked up to Frieza, but stopped shortly next to Goku, without ever breaking the eye contact with the Beast. "Tell the woman I'm sorry I put her through this." Straightening his back one more time, he took a few more steps until he was standing only a few feet in front of Frieza.