Author's Note: Oops…How long has it been since I updated? 3 months? That's better than it normally is…anyway here's the chapter!
Growling as pain lanced his body from his bleeding shoulder, Gohan concentrated his ki into a single point in his hands. Shining blue ki illuminated the area, as Goku's signature attack was prepared one more time by his son. Unruly black hair waved haphazardly in the gusts, coal eyes stared his opponent down.
Gohan watched as Cell readied his own defensive ki wave. Like it would matter. Never once had Gohan been this sure they were going to win. But he wasn't going to let this monster destroy his friends, family, or planet. It would be over his dead body.
"Prepare yourself, Gohan! Your end is near!" cackled Cell.
The young Saiyan refused to satisfy the green android with a reply. Instead, Gohan finalized his attack, honing in on his nemesis. With a grunt, Gohan narrowed his eyes; they were almost there.
"Hhhhhaaaaa!" Gohan released his Super Saiyan ki just as Cell released his. A supersonic boom traveled through the cliffs as the two immense ki blasts collided. Both warriors planted themselves firmly in the rocks, unwilling to give an inch.
Ki poured from his open palms, fueling the monstrous bubble of ki. Cell pushed every last remaining ounce of ki he possessed, bent on beating the poor hybrid. His elbows bending slightly at the pressure, Gohan freed his ki in response.
'Come on Gohan! You can do it!' Goku watched proudly, as his son battled to bring peace back to the world. Smiling faintly, he let out a deep breath, relieved that this horrifying event was almost to an end.
The battle seemed to stall as neither Gohan or Cell could find an advantage. The young hybrid dug deeper into his power, clawing out down to the bottom. Pushing more out into the blast, Gohan's attack slowly started to overtake Cell's.
"No! You will not beat me!" Cell bellowed. Was there nothing he could do? Was he really going to lose to this brat? As despair sent in on Cell, it quickly left. His violet eyes spied Gohan, who was losing the progress he had made.
Blood dripping into a maroon puddle, Gohan struggled to hold the lead he had over Cell. Unfortunately, Cell was seriously injured like he was. Pouring more ki, Gohan grasped futilely at the advantage he had, but he found that Cell was gaining everything back and then some.
No! His shoulder had to hold on a little longer! Just enough for him to destroy the android terrorizing the planet. Shaking his head, Gohan emancipated all his remaining energy, hoping to end this. Hoping that his shoulder would hold out. Wrong.
Gohan snarled as he felt his injured shoulder start to give way. Apparently it was damaged more than he thought it was. Blood seeped from the open wound, staining the cloth of his fighting gi. The advantage he had over Cell was slipping away fast and nearly nonexistent.
'Dad! I need your help!'
Startled as his son's hoarse voice resounded through his head, Goku cautiously responded.
'Gohan? What's wrong!'
Frowning in apprehension, Goku observed as Gohan faltered against the evil tyrant. Goku struggled to figure out why Gohan was fading, when his sharp eyes rested on his son's right arm. Gaze traveling upward, the father stopped on the son's shoulder. Cold recognition struck Goku as he realized his son was fighting out on the battlefield seriously injured.
'Dad! I need you now!' Gohan's mental voice carried the searing pain he was feeling at that very moment, knocking Goku out of his thoughts.
'I'm coming, Gohan!' Sprinting out toward his son, Goku focused only on one thing, reaching his son to aid him. Goku skidded to a stop next to Gohan, glancing briefly at his son's marred shoulder and pain-filled face.
"Ka…me…ha…me…HA!" Gohan's wavering ki was joined by his father's sturdy ki. Pressure was taken off of Gohan as Cell now had to push against two Super Saiyans, not to mention an ascended one at that.
"Hang in there, Gohan. Just a little longer," urged Goku. His son seemed to be overwhelmed by his energy shortage, harmed shoulder and blood loss. Crimson droplets continued to make their way down Gohan's gi to the ground, each one sapping more and more of Gohan's strength.
"I-I'm trying, Dad," Gohan replied hastily. The only thing keeping him from passing out was sheer willpower. Cell was starting to wane, but it was taking too long. Gohan squeezed every bit of ki he had inside of him into his attack, not willing to let the sadist android win.
"No! You will not beat me! I am perfect!"
"You're wrong, Cell! We can beat you! This ends now!"
Ki finally began to reach Cell, shredding away at his skin. Violet blood spilled out in rivulets in air. Cell twitched uncontrollably as the two Kamehameha waves reached their targets.
"Nnoo! Aaarrgghhh!" Gohan and Goku continued to push forward, intent on destroying every reviving cell that kept the bio android alive. As Gohan at long last began to give out, Cell's light was burning out. Permanently.
Ki shot outward as the blast detonated, sweeping up father and son in the backlash. They were helpless to defend themselves as ki tore at their skin, blood oozing out; already severe injuries worsening.
Goku reached out for Gohan to somehow pull him closer, to protect him, but his hand merely brushed his son. Rocks crumbled beneath them, scratching their skin ruthlessly. Trees became uprooted and disintegrated in the air.
The Z Fighters were forced to shield their peering eyes, only able to hope that Goku and Gohan would make it through. Smoke and dust hung thick in the air, kicked up by the blast.
Their vision clearing, the fighters peered out at the battlefield, searching for a sign of life. They had to make it. Eyes scanned every crack for Goku or Gohan.
"There! I see Goku!" shouted Krillin. Running full speed toward their best friend, they halted next to him. Goku was knelt down at the side of his son, gently picking him up.
Gohan's body lay tattered in his father's arms, his blood mixing with Goku's. His gi blew softly in the wind, torn beyond repair. The once proud orange was a sickening brown, painted with its wearer's blood.
A nasty gash on Gohan forehead bled slowly, trails of red liquid running leisurely down his face. Cuts littered Gohan's well-built body, blood forming a puddle underneath him. Bruises marked themselves on him, evidence of a cruel beating.
His breathing was shallow, breaths slowly coming in and out. The assault on his body had left his lungs over capacitated and stressing to breathe. Blood trickled from his slightly open mouth, hinting toward internal bleeding.
Goku shifted Gohan, trying to get him more comfortable, but he was fighting a losing battle. His son's rib cage had been shattered; there was no way he could be laying in a comfy position.
"Gohan? Come on, wake up," Goku shook Gohan faintly. Getting no response, Goku frowned. This wasn't good. Probing for his son's ki signal, he was startled to find it almost gone. He was sitting next to him for goodness sake!
Placing one calloused hand on his kin's forehead, Goku transferred ki to Gohan. As he did, a groan escaped Gohan's parched lips and his raven eyes fluttered open. Gohan's eyes worked to focus, colors swirling together, in and out of focus.
Bright light penetrated his eyelids, causing him to involuntarily flinch. His entire body hurt, but especially his rib cage and shoulder. He was caked in his blood. Forcing open his eyes, Gohan spotted his father to his right side and Piccolo to his left.
"Gohan?" asked Goku worriedly. Gohan looked really out of it. He had to be ok! Goku's fears were sat aside as his son responded shakily.
"Dad?" Trying to push himself up with his good arm, Gohan nearly buckled under the stress. Goku caught him, propping his arm up behind his son's back.
"Careful, Gohan. Take it easy," laughed Goku softly. Gohan attempted to laugh in return, but a coughing fit seized hold of him. His body shook as blood speckled his lips and the ground.
Looking on anxiously, his friends exchanged concerned glances. Goku grabbed Gohan gently. Focusing silently, Goku positioned two fingers on his forehead.
"We'll met you up there," Goku said, before disappearing with Gohan. Seconds later, they felt Goku's ki at Dende's. Gohan's ki suddenly reappeared at full strength; all worry ceasing for the Z Fighters.
"Let's go. We need to make some wishes," Piccolo blasted off into the sky. The others nodded solemnly, before following suit. Flying faster than the others, Piccolo stared straight ahead. The joy he felt was well masked, but he couldn't wait until he saw his best friend's face. At last Gohan was safe.
It's done! I actually had fun doing this chapter! Please don't ask why. I hope ya'll enjoyed it! I'll try to update faster! Thanks for the wonderful reviews!