Author's note: Hey, guys, thanks for the reads, & the reviews. I love getting those alerts. Please feel free to keep them coming, & let me know your thoughts as the story progresses.
Written by: SparkerLightning & StevenBodner
Chapter 54
After leaving Videl with her father and alternate self, Gohan walked down the alleyway between the hotel and neighboring pay-day loan building. Once alone, he touched two fingers to his forehead and reached out with his senses. Videl stood out like a sore thumb, as did Master Roshi, Yamcha, Yajirobe, and Korin.
Taking longer than he expected, he finally found what he was looking for. Ox-King was strong for a typical fighter, but compared to what he was in the original timeline, where he trained alongside the others after Garlic Junior was dealt with, he was barely noticeable. But right beside him was who he really was looking for.
Popping away, he appeared outside his home. It had been years, but his memory was impeccable. Everything, from the smell of the grass to the feel of the ground under his boots, was exactly as it should have been. The crickets were chirping, and the moon was almost directly overhead.
Stepping forward to the door, Gohan touched the knob. It was his home, but they didn't know that. He should knock. Pausing for a moment, he knocked his knuckles three times against the door.
No reaction.
He felt his mother stir, as well as her father, but neither moved.
He knocked again.
Chi-Chi's limited power spiked. She wasn't going to be happy. From across the house Ox-King moved as well. Lights turned on, and Gohan realized how late it was… maybe he should have waited a few hours.
It was too late though, the door opened. Chi-Chi stood there in her night dress, frying pan in her right hand, and a glare on her face. She took the young teen in. He was visibly exhausted, his clothes barely fit him. They were in the middle of nowhere, and this boy was alone.
"Oh, honey." She said, setting the pan down. "Come inside."
She took his shoulder and guided him through the door. "Are, are you okay? Where are your parents?"
The inside was just as familiar as the outside. There were more family pictures, his father was more represented, but that's how it was before Namek, before the fight. Ox-King was still tying his robe when he entered the living room. He looked between Chi-Chi and Gohan.
"I'm okay." He said, finally turning to his mother. She hadn't aged a day in the last eight years. She was clearly tired, with bags under her warm eyes, but concern for a young stranger was all he could read.
"Can, we sit down?" He gesturing towards the kitchen, and the out of sight kitchen table.
"Of course." She insisted, walking in front of him. Reaching the kitchen, she immediately opened the fridge. "Are you hungry? I can make..."
"No, thank you." Gohan sat at the table. "I am, but I need to talk to you first."
Chi-Chi's heart raced a few beats, before calming down. Talk, then eat. He was going to eat. He came here on purpose. He doesn't need help. He needs to talk, or he needs help, but needs to talk first. Standing upright, she closed the door and walked to the head of the table. She rested her hands on the back of her seat. No, she's making herself big, intimidating, not approachable. She pulled her chair out and took a seat. Her father was in the house, but chose to stay in the living room.
"Okay?" She asked. "Let's talk." She yawned.
"Would you mind if Ox-King joins us?" Gohan looked towards the living room.
Ox-King stepped around the corner. He was waiting there… watching over Chi-Chi.
"Gladly." He sat between his daughter, and who he did not yet know was his grandson. He kept his mouth closed, but his eyes were asking for the boy to continue.
Gohan took a deep breath and ended up yawning as well. "First of all, Gohan is perfectly fine. He's on Namek right now, and is not in danger."
Chi-Chi's stomach sank. Something happened, she knew it. She left Gohan with Goku, and something happened to him.
"Second of all, I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I am a time traveler. I'm from eight years in the future, and… and… I am Gohan."
Chi-Chi swallowed. The boy in front of her was a stranger, but, he had her eyes. He was disheveled, clothes not matching, but he had Gohan's hair. He smelled like he hadn't showered in a week, but he almost smelled familiar. He was a teenager, but he, he was Gohan. "What?"
"I said I'm Gohan. Gohan, on Namek, is fine. He's alive, and in good health." He didn't know how much to share, but the cat was already out of the bag. "In my timeline, what happened on Namek set off a chain of events, which resulted in me coming back in time."
"What happened?" Chi-Chi demanded. He was Gohan, but he wasn't her Gohan. Not now but, he was. He was that little blind boy that… this kid's eyes were fine… She slipped a foot towards her father and stepped on his toes. She didn't know how he would read that as something being wrong, but she hoped he'd figure it out. This wasn't good.
They were nervous, and he hadn't even started sharing yet, what happened? "Bulma, who is safe in my timeline, was captured by Frieza's men. She was forced to work for his, Frieza's, father's empire." Ox-King relaxed slightly as Gohan continued. "Dad, as well as Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Turles, someone we met in space, went to rescue Bulma. They succeeded, but basically declared war on the Cold Empire."
Gohan was then tense again. "They attacked the Earth, and only a few of us, the two of you included, escaped. Bulma made a time machine, and here we are."
"Gohan?" Chi-Chi asked. "What happened with your eyes?"
He blinked twice, of course he should have started with that. "The Namekian Dragon Balls grant three wishes, not just one. After reviving Piccolo and, uh, the second wish, Dad wished my eyes back."
Okay, that, that made sense, if the Namekian Dragon Balls really did grant three wishes.
"You don't believe me, do you?" Gohan asked, shrinking into his chair.
"It's not that..." Ox-King said.
"Can you prove you are?" Chi-Chi asked with a hard swallow. "Prove you're my Gohan? I want you to be. Because I want you to be right, that Gohan is safe, but can you prove you're him?"
Gohan thought for a moment before nodding. "Dad taught me the Kamehameha. Would that prove it?"
"Yes." Ox-King said. "Absolutely."
Feeling a little silly, Gohan curled and uncurled his tail as he stood. Bringing his hands together, he focused as little energy as he could.
"Ka… me…" He said, a blue ball of ki forming.
"Ha… me…" It rapidly grew.
"And, uh..." He looked around for a target, and didn't find anything he could hit without angering is mother. Looking at the window, he found it closed. "And this is where I'd launch it, but..."
"That's good enough." Ox-King said, standing to his feet. Holding his arms open he approached Gohan, but Chi-Chi was already there.
"I'm sorry I doubted you." She said, wrapping him in a large hug. "Are you okay, Gohan?"
She cupped his chin and forced him to look up at her. He was so dirty, so smelly, and, and he was hurt. His long sleeves and thick pants covered most of his skin, but when he moved, bruises were clear to be seen on his arms and wrists. She pushed his cuffs up, looking at the half-healed injuries.
"I'm fine, Mom." Gohan wanted to pull away, as he always had, but he couldn't do that to her. "I was in a fight a few days ago, and I didn't get a Senzu Bean, so I'm recovering the hard way."
"And who were you fighting?" Her voice left no room to not answer.
"Cooler." He lowered his head. "Frieza's older brother. He's the one who hurt Bulma, and was a threat."
"And, and where is he now?" She let his shirt recover his arms. "Will Goku be home before he gets here?"
"Mom..." Gohan looked up at her. "He's, he's gone. I beat him. He's not going to be able to attack us again."
"Oh..." She said, loosening her hug for a moment. Gohan had killed. Gohan needed to kill. And… he did it. She then turned her gaze to the ceiling. "Where was Goku during the fight? Why wasn't he there? Or was he? And when will he, and Gohan, uh, you, be home?"
"Dad is on Namek." Gohan told a portion of the truth. His body was, and once the wishes were made, he would be as well. "He wasn't available, and, even if he was, he wouldn't have been able to fight at that level."
Chi-Chi's eyes widened as Ox-King smiled behind her as Gohan continued. "And it's going to be a while before they get back, but the others will be home much sooner."
"What do you mean he wouldn't have been able to fight at that level? Goku's the strongest out there." Slowly, she moved Gohan back to her seat, before sitting between him and her father.
"No, he's not." Gohan shook his head as he scooted in. "There is always someone stronger than you."
"Yeah, that's Gohan." Ox-King smiled as he put an arm on the back of Chi-Chi's chair. "Master Roshi drilled that into us."
Gohan nodded.
"But, even now, even without me coming back, Dad isn't the strongest." He yawned again. "Again, both myself, and the Gohan on Namek, are alive and in good shape, and Dad and Gohan will come home when they can, but I, Gohan, am, was, the one who fought Frieza on Namek." He quickly continued. "I don't know how much you know, but Frieza's the leader of the Frieza Force, and is incredibly strong. Dad tried to fight him, to save us all, but lost. In my rage, I won."
"He… he lost?" Chi-Chi asked. "And you saved him?"
It was either that, or…
"No." Gohan lowered his gaze again. "We wished him back using the Namekian Dragon Balls."
"That was the second wish? You left out earlier?" Ox-King asked, although he already knew the answer.
Gohan nodded, and Chi-Chi asked her next question. "And why won't you and your father won't be home with the others?"
Gohan kept his gaze low.
"Saiyans have the potential to transform into a Super Saiyan. It's quite a powerful experience, physically and emotionally. When Frieza, did what he did, I lost control of my emotions." He glanced up and his mother's eyes were still warm. "I transformed, and was powerful enough to defeat Frieza, but when I was transformed, I didn't have control of myself."
"And..." Chi-Chi thought for a moment. "You'll be home when you transform back to normal? What, what does a Super Saiyan look like?"
"Our hair turns yellow and our eyes turn green. Our facial features become more pronounced and our muscle mass increases a tad." Answer the easy question first. "And our power skyrockets."
And now for the tough part. "And I know more now than we did then, more than Dad and my past self know now."
And Chi-Chi was getting concerned. "Anger caused the transformation, the loss of control, and we were afraid I would transform again if I got angry, and lose control again. In space, on an empty planet, then only Dad and I would be in danger. If I was on Earth though, everyone would be in danger."
"And..." Chi-Chi's voice was half concerned, half angry, and somehow, half nervous. "Was the fear founded? Were you... were you unsafe to be around?"
Gohan thought for a moment. That was well over half a life ago, and he didn't remember that time nearly as well as he wished. But knowing what happened days ago on Arcosia, and what happened in the battle with Frieza, he had to assume.
"Yes." He nodded. "Super Saiyan isn't easy to control, and while honestly I don't think anything would have, could have, angered me that much."
He remembered what he had been told of Garlic Junior, and yeah, that could have been very bad if he was involved. "If I transformed on Earth, before I gained control over the state, there would have been nothing anyone could have done to stop me from, well, going berserk."
"And where are you and your father going?" She crossed her arms, both out of frustration, and self-defense.
"We ended up on a planet called Yardrat. The locals were nice, and with their help I was able to get better control over Super Saiyan, and Dad eventually..."
"And how can I get to Yardrat?" Chichi interrupted. This was Gohan, but not the Gohan she shared her life with. Well, he was, but he was another Chi-Chi's. Her boy, the one that only knew her, was up there, scared, angry, he needed his mother.
"You, uh, you can't." Gohan told a partial truth. She couldn't get there herself. Maybe when Bulma and the rest landed they could use their ship to head to Yardrat, but he didn't even know where it was, so he doubted the others did either.
"So, how can I help Gohan?" She narrowed her eyes before softening her expression once more. "I mean, the Gohan, that's out there. How can I help him?"
Gohan made eye contact with his mother. "Actively? You can't. They're going to do what they need to do, and I'm sorry, but there's nothing you can do there. But… there are other things you could do, here."
Chi-Chi didn't like that. Her son was on some strange planet, with a bunch of aliens, and, and Goku was there, but she wasn't. "Such as?"
"When, when we came home, things, things changed at home." He didn't want to get specific. He wouldn't ask his mother to deny her feelings, but he wouldn't plant that seed either. "It was a rough situation, for all of us, and the stress got to us, as a family."
He looked at her left hand, and the ring was still there. "If you want to help, I'd suggest doing what you can to make the transition back to normalcy as easy as possible."
"So..." She thought for a moment. "There's nothing I can do until you get home?"
Gohan shook his head. "In my timeline, you didn't know where we were. You didn't know if we were safe. You didn't know anything. It's, it's going to be a while, and just know that Dad is safe, and I am safe. We will come home, and we will both be excited to see you, and so happy to be home."
"So, don't worry? That's all I can do? Not worry?" Her eyes began to narrow again.
"For my past self, yes. It's as simple as that." He shook his head. "I know it won't be easy, but, you have concrete proof that everything will turn out fine, and the only thing I would change if I could, which I'm trying to, is leaving you in the dark. You were justifiably very unhappy with us, and, before those emotions can build up, I want you to know, that it all works out for the best, and for yourself, for Dad, and for me, please, don't worry."
She couldn't be mad at that. She didn't like it, not one bit, but he was right. Everything would work out, at least that far. It was bad for her, but for the best overall. Gohan had to fight, unfortunately. Goku actually died. And while she couldn't be on the front lines with them, shouldn't be anyway, she could support them. She didn't like it. She was traditional, she was a homemaker, but these were unusual circumstances, weren't they? She'd bring it up with Goku when he was home. "And when will you two be home?"
"I don't know exactly." Gohan said. "But, about a year or so from now."
She really didn't like that. She let out a long, overworked, tired, frustrated, done-with-the-day sigh. "When, when you go back to the future, what are you going to do? I mean, since the Earth was attacked."
Gohan swallowed, and bit back a yawn. "I don't think we can get back to the original timeline. I'll need to talk to Bulma when she's home, but I think we're staying here."
She sent Gohan back in time, or she at least allowed it. She cut herself off from him completely. How bad were things, that a life without her was a life better than they had? Or… was it a life without her? No, it was a life without him. She'd miss her Gohan, but her Gohan would have her, here and now. She didn't know exactly what happened, but she knew herself, and she knew she'd trust herself to take care of her boy. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Gohan's room was big enough for two, they'd just need a bunk bed. Or they could clear out their bonus room. It was Gohan's nursery, and it wouldn't take much to make it his bedroom now.
"You said what we could do… wait, 'we'?" She coughed. "You said 'we', not 'I'. You didn't come back alone?"
A smile crossed Gohan's face. Now that was a far more comfortable subject, although he really had no idea how his mom would react to knowing Videl was a girl…
"Yeah. I came back with, a friend, Videl. I brought her back to her family, well, her dad, and her past self." Quickly reaching out, he felt her. Her energy was as tranquil as it could be, she, like any reasonable person, was likely asleep. "She lives in Orange Star City."
Chi-Chi's eyebrows shot up.
"She? I, I'll ask about that one in the morning. It's getting late." She glanced at the oven, 2:18. "But, you said that's what I can do for your past self, not worry. What about you? You're my son, but you have years of life that I have no idea about. I, I don't know how I can offer you support."
"We can talk about it in the morning." He said, rubbing his eyes. "But do you think I could go to school?"
"Let me guess." She said, standing. "Orange Star Junior High?"
"Well, uh, that would be nice..." He stood as well. He looked and his grandfather, and his hands were resting on his belly, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady. "But if that's not possible..."
"We'll talk about it in the morning." Chi-Chi said, gesturing for Gohan to follow her. Down the hall and on their left, Chi-Chi opened the door. "I'm thinking I'll turn your old nursery into a bedroom for you. Until then, are you okay sleeping here?"
It was his room, and while it was a little childish for him these days, with the too small chair, stuffed animals, and basic algebra books, he felt at home.
"This will be more than fine." He stepped into his room, turning in place and taking it in, he couldn't help but smile. Again, it was exactly as he remembered. Taking another step he felt paper slide under his foot. Lifting it, he found the braille flashcards his mother created. He'd forgotten all about them…
With another hug, Chi-Chi wished the stranger, her son, her new son, a good night, and instructed him to shower before going to bed. Gohan didn't refuse, not just because he knew how ripe he was, but also because he couldn't refuse his mother. Just like that, less than half an hour, and he already felt at home. Hercule and Videl spoke extensively about the upcoming time travel, but Gohan avoided the subject whenever possible. He knew his parents loved him endlessly. He knew they could love each other just as much. He knew how lucky he was to have his mother, and his father.
Deep in space:
King Cold slowly sipped a purple liquid out of an overly large wine glass. Sitting atop his throne, he gazed through a large window at the infinite expanse of his territory. All that the light touched, all that any light touched, was his. With his two hands, he would mold the universe, clean it of filth, and make it perfect. All war, all famine, all disease, would be nothing but a distant, dark memory. Death was the great equalizer, and until they could defeat it, it would be the only suffering allowed in his utopia.
"Sir." A massive, green haired, brute of a soldier knelt in front of his lord. "I have… news."
"Speak, Chiz." Cold rotated his wrist, swirling his wine.
"I received a report from Lord Frieza's support team. The report states that he engaged in battle on planet Namek with a Saiyan, and the Saiyan, reported as a Super Saiyan, killed Lord Frieza, before also dying."
A smile creased Cold's lips. "Execute whoever filed such a blatantly false report, and open a communication channel with my son."
Chiz lowered his head, touched his hand to his scouter, and spoke quietly into it. A moment later he lifted his head.
"He is being executed now." He waited for a moment and took as deep. "And… I am being told Lord Frieza's scouter, and ship, is registering as unreachable. And… I'm afraid there is more news, sir."
King Cold lowly growled in frustration. The best technology, that is what he demanded, and he knew that is what he had, but it failed. Someone had some explaining to do, and some upgrades to make. "And what is that?"
"Reports indicate that Cold Planet 0 has, has vanished." Chiz began to sweat. "And from what I'm hearing."
He kept two fingers against his scouter, pressing it further into his ear.
"It looks like Lord Cooler was battling someone of similar power, shortly before the planet vanished. Lord Cooler has been unreachable since." He turned his head slightly, activating his microphone, snarling into it. "I don't care if he's on vacation, I needed this information DAYS ago."
Cold ignored Chiz's last words. "Vanished?"
Chiz was immediately aware of just how tight his armor was. The expandable suit, which was normally like an additional layer of skin, felt confining. He didn't know if he was leaking through it, but he was glad the material was dark enough to hide his perspiration.
"Its satellites have scattered..." He listened for a moment. "Where the planet should be, there is a large amount of debris."
He paused for a moment. "It looks as if the battle Lord Cooler engaged in, resulted in the destruction of the planet..."
"Can Cooler be reached?" A vein throbbed in Cold's forehead.
"No, sir."
The glass shattered in Cold's hand as purple liquid spilled over him and his throne.
"No."That is incorrect." He stood, and slowly walked to the far end of the room. Pacing back, he clutched his hands behind his back, thinking. "I do not know what is going on here, but someone is going to die for this."
He continued to pace, not dismissing Chiz.
"I am going to address my people. Prepare to broadcast."
Cold returned to his throne and Moments later, two more soldiers were in Cold's chambers. One held a large camera, and the other a directional microphone. They knelt in front of their king, as they should, and Chiz stood behind them.
"Are you ready, sir?" He asked, receiving a nod in return. "Alright, we're live in five, four, three, two..."
The brute lowered his fingers as he counted down, dropping his last digit as he reached zero.
"I am not happy." King Cold said, resting his chin on his woven fingers as he glared into the camera. "I just received reports that Lord Frieza, has been killed, and that my home has been destroyed. It is said that a Super Saiyan was responsible."
"Let me assure you." He began to raise his power to the surface. "There is no such thing, as a Super Saiyan."
Chiz's scouter exploded.
"If there was, I would kill him. If there was, Lord Cooler would kill him. If there was, Lord Frieza would kill him. Your lords are currently out of range of communication, this much is true. However, they are both in good health, and will likely be returning shortly."
Reaching the maximum output at his current level, he allowed his aura to burst into life around him. "And whoever is caught spreading rumors of the destruction of Cold Planet 0, the existence of Super Saiyans, or the death of either of my sons, will face my directly."
His aura flared and he relaxed into his throne. "And treat this as an invitation. To anyone who would like to work against our cause, anyone who thinks they could do better than I. I will fight you, anywhere, anytime, and you, and your supporters, will die."
He took a deep breath. "For generations, my clan has devoted our lives to the perfecting of the universe. We have almost completed Step One. And if anyone would like to try to drag civilization backwards, please, make yourself known, your termination will be just one more step forward."
Cold subtly gestured with his hand, and the transmission was cut. He then shot to his feet.
"Now." He demanded. "Find my sons, and bring them to me."
Chiz and the two underlings did not respond. They stared at Cold, beyond Cold, to the boy that appeared behind him. With his fists clinches and his teeth bared, he was the explanatory image of rage. He stood on the back of the king's over-sized throne.
Gohan studied the back of beast for a moment. He'd never seen his father's killer before. He asked King Kai to show him, but was declined. He asked his father to describe him, and the descriptions did not do the Arcosian justice. He was tall, broad, and thick.
Slowly King Cold followed his subordinates gaze, turning around. Spotting the boy, a curious smile crossed his lips. Spotting the boy's anger, it grew chillingly warm.
"Get off of my throne." He instructed.
Gohan obeyed, flipping over Cold's head and landing at his feet. His back was to the others, the nonfactors in the fight.
"King Cold?" He fought to keep his aura suppressed.
"Present." King Cold loomed over the small boy. "And who might you be, who breaks into my chambers so brazenly?"
"My name is Son Gohan." He immediately regretted identifying himself. Sure, he was almost certain the empire had no idea who he was, or who his father was, but anything that could tie him, his actions, to Earth was to be avoided.
"Well, Son." Cold glowered down at him. "I have no idea what has you in such a tizzy today, but I am in the middle of a very important meeting. Leave."
"A tizzy!?" Gohan snapped. "I am in a… tizzy!?"
He began to slowly rise into the air and glared into Cold's eyes as he rose.
"You killed my father and uncle." He growled under his breath. "You destroyed my world! You destroyed my life!"
Gohan lost what little composure he had left and reached shouting levels. "YOU WILL PAY!"
Frieza was dead, a thing of the past, not even worth thinking about. Cooler was vindictive, sadistic, and cruel for the sake of cruelty. Furthermore, Cooler was strong, but Gohan was stronger. He could afford to take his time, to toy with him. Cold though was on a level of his own. He was too powerful to toy with. He was behind everything as Frieza and Cooler's father. He was the murderer of his father. Cold would die, and Gohan wouldn't waste a second in making that a reality.
In an instant Gohan's hair snapped from black to gold, standing on end.
"First I killed Frieza on Namek." His voice seemingly came from all directions. His eyes brightened to a poisonous green. "Then I killed Cooler on Arcosia."
His aura raged to life, throwing the kneeling subordinates against the far wall, and forcing Cold to cover his from the blinding light and powerful blast of energy. "Now it's your turn!"
'Lies, lies, lies.' Cold told himself.
The boy was strong, that much was clear, but his sons were fine. They were missing, but that was all. The report said a Super Saiyan killed Frieza. This boy, he had a tail, but plenty of species had a tail. But then again, Cold Planet 0 was reported missing, destroyed right after Cooler was battling someone of equal power… and this boy clearly had an incredible amount of power… if there was truth to those reports, then the boy's claims had to be taken seriously.
"What happened?" Cold demanded. "Who the hell are you?"
"The time for talk is over." Gohan reared back before shooting forward. His fist slammed into Cold's jaw. The king fell backwards, catching himself on his throne.
As Gohan prepared his follow up attack, Cold rubbed his jaw. That hurt. That actually, legitimately, hurt. And if this boy could hurt him, then, he could have killed his sons. That's it. He had to capture this boy, learn who he is, what he is, and, and make him suffer for his regicide.
As Gohan charged in for another attack, foot flying, Cold shot his open palm out. The boy's boot bounced off of the heel of his palm, knocking him back slightly. Spinning with the force of the kick, Cold landed a powerful swing into Gohan's side, sending him flying.
As Gohan flew threw the air, he crossed his arms over his head.
"Masen..." He powered his attack as he shot towards the far wall that the nobodies were still pulling themselves out of. Spinning at the last moment he planted his feet in Chiz's torso, cutting right through to the metal wall behind him, and coiled himself down. "…ko!"
He shot the massive blast.
King Cold knelt down in front of his own throne, crossing his arms to shield his face. The blast hit him like a ton of bricks, forcing him to skid backwards, until his back foot and knee were planted against the foundation of his seat. As the beam began to fade, he chopped outward, dismissing it altogether. Looking forward, he saw a mangled Chiz clutching at a gaping wound in his chest, and two underlings unconscious on the floor. His foe was nowhere to be seen.
Attempting to snap his head to the left, then the right, attempting to find his target, Cold found that he couldn't. Pressure grew in his horns whenever he tried. He was stuck…
Gohan flipped down over Cold, not letting go of his prey. Quickly landing on his feet, back to Cold, he snapped the tyrant's head forward, rolling him and throwing him into the air, exposing his back once more.
Quickly. Cold regained control of himself, spinning in the air. He was fast, pinning him down would be tricky. As he contemplated his next move, a knee drove into his stomach. Followed by a fist to the sternum, and a barrage of pulverizing, tenderizing, strikes.
Lashing out frantically, Cold managed to grab Gohan's fist as he pulled back from a punch. Lashing out frantically with his other hand, with a hastily prepared ki ball, Cold managed to strike the floor of his own ship. The attack was weak, completely under-powered in a match like this, but it was enough to puncture the hull, to break atmospheric containment, to pull the air from the Saiyan's lungs.
Unfortunately for Cold, he was still grabbing Gohan. Thinking quickly, the boy tapped two fingers to his forehead, and they were on a small, isolated planet, surrounded by pink clouds. Thinking a little slower, a little more cautiously, Gohan tapped his forehead again. This time they appeared on a nearly dead planet. The thousand-foot-tall burnt husk of a tree loomed over the fighters as confusion filled Cold's mind.
Yanking his fist back Gohan struck out again, but was too slow. Cold snatched Gohan's fist once more, this time between his arm and his torso. Latching onto it with his free hand, he whipped Gohan around and into the remains of the mighty tree.
As rage continued to build in Gohan, how dare the bastard resist, how dare he inflict even more pain… Cold charged in, knee flying.
He didn't know where he was, he didn't know who this Son Gohan was, but he did know that fair was fair, and a knee to the gut deserved a knee to the gut. Cold drove his blunt kneecap into the boy's stomach, drove the boy further into the tree. Wood splinters shot out around them as Gohan's breath was forced out of his body.
"You're strong." Cold growled through gritted teeth. "But I am in an entirely different league."
Reaching up, he wrapped his massive hand around Gohan's throat. "Now, tell me, who the hell are you?"
Summoning a ball of ki in his other hand, he threatened to implode the boy's head.
"My name is Son Gohan!" He screeched, not bothering to worry about his impending death. Curling up and lashing out, Gohan smashed both feet into Cold's face. One foot crunched into his nose. The other smashed into his eye.
Cold dismissed his ball of ki, using the hand to clutch his face. Blood gushed from both nostrils, and his eye felt like it was on fire. Tightening his grip on his captive, and pinching his nose equally tight, he began to strangle the attacker.
Gohan's eyes widened in panic. He hadn't thought that one through. He gasped for breath, unable to get any air. Deciding to try it the other way focused his ki in his chest, pulled it up, felt it burning through his throat, and as it passed his uvula he fired the mouth blast at point-blank range.
Cold released Gohan as he recoiled in pain. Ignoring his nose, and cupping one hand over his injured eye, he clinched his fist. How dare he, how dare he come onto his ship, kill his sons, and try to end his legacy. This couldn't stand, this wouldn't stand… he wouldn't stand…
Taking only a moment to recover, Gohan focused his ki into his foot, into momentum, and spun like a top as he shot towards Cold's back once more. This time though, he made contact. The heel of his boot smashed into the base of the giant's skull, dropping him to his knee. Letting himself continue spinning around the point of contact, Gohan braced himself on Cold's knee, and donkey kicked his other boot into Cold's jaw, laying him out on his back.
Pushing off of the Arcosian's knee, Gohan launched himself into the air, landing heavily on Cold's chest. Cold was driven into the ground, and Gohan bounced back up, landing heavier, and again, and heavier, and again, and heavier… driving Cold into an unmarked grave.
When Cold was low enough, when Gohan was high enough, he stomped one last time while charging a closed fist full of energy. Upon reaching the highest point in his jump, he overhand threw, launched, the fist of energy down at Cold. The small, bullet-sized spheres, expanded as they closed into the crater, scattering to completely cover Cold, as well as the ground around him.
"Hellzone Grenade!" He pulled his fist back as he clenched it, detonating the ki bombs and throwing up a massive pillar of dust. Opening his palm, and touching it to his other hand, he began to rapidly gather ki once again.
"Ka… me." He chanted, the blue sphere of energy appearing instantaneously. "…Ha… me!"
It burst from the size of a marble to the size of a baseball, and from the size of a baseball to the size of a basketball. It was too big, it would destroy the planet if he missed, but that was okay. This planet was dead anyway.
"HA!" He shot his hands forward, into the pit, into where he felt Cold… he felt Cold, but Cold was gone. He couldn't be dead, not yet. No, it was too soon, he was too weak… Gohan was enraged, Gohan needed to fight, but…
As the blue wave burrowed into the surface of Bothawui, setting off the first stage in a chain reaction that would destroy the planet, as well as the remaining life within the Tree of Might, a Death Beam pinged off of his right shoulder blade.
Whirling around Gohan summoned a small energy ball. Flicking it over his back he seared his own wound shut. That was sloppy, that would leave a scar...
As the smoke cleared, Gohan hovered backwards. No, no no, no no no. This was bad, this, this was bad.
Cold was no taller than before, remains the same, but he was far slimmer than before. His muscle build was similar to Goku's, similar to Frieza in his final form… Red gems appeared on the center of his torso, on his forehead, along with his elbows and knees… Gohan knew this wasn't the form Cold was in when he killed his father, but he instantly recognized that this was a transformation, and a massive step up. He didn't just visually change. No, his aura was massive, dwarfing anything he had previously felt. If his aura wasn't blazing as hot as it was, as furiously as it was, he would have felt urine trickle down his pant leg. Instead, it just turned to steam as it exited his body.
He could have killed him, he had the chance… Just a Kienzen through the neck, or a Special Beam Cannon to the back of the head… he should have just done it, had it over with… he didn't want to toy around with Cold, but he didn't go for the kill… He was going to die, and it was his own fault… no, he could flee, he could Instant Transmission to safety, but Cold would just begin his rampage, and it'd happen again, his world would fall, again, except this time, it would be his fault ...
"It's been ages." Cold flexed his body. "Since I used my true form."
Unaware of Gohan's internal turmoil due to his stoic exterior, Cold floated down to Gohan's level. "You know, Son Gohan, you remind me quite a bit of my youngest son."
For a moment electricity ran through Gohan's aura.
"NO!" He shouted. "Do not compare me to that bastard! We are nothing alike!"
Cold reflexively sneered before slowly smirking. "I meant in your sheer talent for fighting, your raw potential for combat. Frieza was remarkable, since the day he was born I knew he'd be a powerful ruler someday. You, in a similar light, have completely shattered what it means to be a child, a Saiyan, a subject of my empire."
He took a deep breath. "In another world, I think I would have enjoyed getting to know you. I could have taken you under my wing, you could have been a top advisor to my sons. It's a shame I'm going to have to kill you."
Suddenly, Gohan coughed up blood as he doubled over. He looked down as Cold instantly closed the gap between then, having pulled his fist out of his stomach. Slicing through thin air, Gohan delivered a decapitating knife hand chop, only to hit air as Cold shifted away. Smashing into the ground, a simple smack to the back of his head forced Gohan into the dirt. Blood oozed from a shallow, long cut on Gohan's cheek.
As Gohan lifted himself up, spat out dirt, he struggled to catch his breath. Before fully extending his arms, he was forced back down. Cold's foot smashed into the back of his skull once more, burying the boy's head underground. For a moment, Gohan heard thick bubbling, distant rumbling, as the core of the planet grew unstable.
Reaching down and pulling Gohan out of the dirt by the back of his gi, Cold shook his head.
"The only reason you are still alive." He began. "Is because I have questions, questions that you will answer, before I allow you to die."
Before Gohan could answer, Cold shouted in pain, releasing his grip on the boy. Gohan retracted his two fingers from the smoking hole that his Special Beam Cannon burrowed into Cold's flesh. Cold grabbed his wound, focusing ki into his hands to heal it over.
"That's what you get!" Gohan shouted, pulling back from the now raging bull.
Cold pulled his fist away from his wound, and charged Gohan. He dodged left, and right… there were two of them… Realizing that Gohan had cloned himself, Cold decided to attack the one on the left, the one on the right spear kicked him off balance. Opting to go for the one on the right, the one on the left kneed his head hard enough to knock his punch off course.
Frantically dodging bone crushing blows, blocking and countering only with their legs, the two Gohans charged their Kamehamehas. A moment later, what seemed like an eternity to the boys, they were ready. Firing from either side, they pinned aimed to have their beams meet on the tyrant…
Extending his arms and rotating halfway around, Cold swatted both blasts away. Continuing his rotation he prepared a pair of Death Cannons, which he shot at either boy. Without having a chance to really aim, he knew neither attack would hit, but it would knock them off balance, put them on the defensive once again.
Both Gohans dodged to Cold's rear. Without communicating their plan, they both charged behind the Arcosian. One went high, and one went low. They rained blows down on Cold, who quickly spun to fight back. With two enemies though, he couldn't keep his movements straight, they were landing strike after harmless strike, and he was unable to counter.
As Cold continued to block the limited number of blows he could, one of the Gohans brought his fifth limb into play, smacking Cold in the face, on the nose, with his tail. Quickly moving to bite it, Cold snapped his head to the right. The other Gohan's fist smashed into his already bloody nose, this time fracturing it. Cold covered his face once more, curling in to shield his face from further blows. First his eye, now his nose… he'd make this slow…
The first Gohan swung around, landing a forceful punch into Cold's gut. It didn't penetrate, likely didn't do much, but it did make his defensive curl into a proper doubling over in pain. The second Gohan, the nose breaking Gohan, delivered an equally powerful blow to Cold's chin, knocking him into the air.
As the two Gohans charged forward, a glimmer of golden energy began to surround them. As they reached the tyrant, they were encased in a translucent ball of ki.
"Welcome to my Imprisonment Ball." He smiled. "If anything touches, aside from me, it goes boom. You go bye bye."
He hovered down to be level with his foes. "Now, you have spirit, so this will be a lot more satisfying than normal..."
Taking control of an Imprisonment Ball with each hand, he began to infuse them with more and more energy, until they were completely opaque. Spreading them apart, he rocketed them towards each other. As they collided, a single held both hands touching his forehead, releasing a Solar Flare directly into Cold's face.
While Cold recoiled in agony, the two Gohan teleported to safety and remerged. Gohan appeared behind Cold, driving his knee into Cold's neck. The Imprisonment Balls collided, causing a violent shock wave to roar out in all directions.
"You deserved that one as..." Gohan's taunt was cut short, as a fist closed around his leg, not for the first time.
"Your tricks are getting old." Cold hissed as he reoriented in the air. He couldn't see the planet below, but he could feel its gravity. Guessing, incorrectly, how far up he was, Cold swung Gohan around to hit the ground first. Gohan did impact the ground, but a fair bit of the potential impact was missed due to the bad timing.
Quickly getting to his feet, still holding Gohan, he pulled the boy into the air before releasing him. Lashing out with his foot, he sent Gohan flying once more. A successful drop kick, applauded by the shaking tectonics underneath his feet.
Cold tried opening his eyes. It was painful, but possible.
"You have gone from impressive, to annoying!" He shouted after him.
Gohan skidded across the ground, and Cold was there immediately. As he pushed himself back to his feet, he coughed up blood.
"Contrary to what you think you know about me." Cold crossed his arms. "I am actually a reasonable man."
He noted a tooth was missing from Gohan's grimace.
"Surrender." This boy knew something, was something, he was useful. "You will be locked up, but you will not be killed. If, and only if, you surrender."
Chiz was dead, his sons were dead, due to this Saiyan… but, he had potential… he was young … "If you prove yourself, I may even allow you to join me."
Gohan's eyes widened. Looking up at King Cold, he felt small, he felt fearful, he felt his anger climbing once more. "Do, do you expect me to believe that?"
Cold thrust his hand out, grabbing Gohan by the throat and lifting him into the air. With his other hand he delivered a heavy blow to the boy's core, shattering a rib.
"To elaborate, I am reasonable, but I only have so much patience." He pulled his fist back, preparing another strike. "Answer me, now."
Gohan let his jaw swing open. He moved his tongue, exhaling, mumbling. His voice was quiet, low…
He must have a collapsed lung, Cold assumed. He pulled Gohan closer, lowering his head to hear the boy's words.
In that moment Gohan released a swelling pressure inside him, forcing ki into both his palms. As his attack was being prepared, he screamed, an angry, agonized howl. Across the planet, if any sentient being was alive, it would have heard the wale. As Cold's eardrums joined the boy in agony, Gohan smashed his palms into his ears, amplifying the pain.
Holding on tight, Gohan bent his elbows, pulled Cold's head down and shot his own forward. Smashing the thickest part of his skull into Cold's nose, he was released. Grabbing the arm that had him held aloft, Gohan returned the gesture, flipping Cold over his head and onto his back. If Cold would squeeze his throat, Gohan would crush his.
Leading with an elbow, Gohan landed on Cold's throat. Smashing his fist down, again into Cold's face, Gohan shot himself backwards, landing on his feet and launching a barrage of blasts at the dazed foe.
Ignoring the onslaught, Cold burst from the smoke. Delivering a hammer fist to Gohan's face, he sent the boy tumbling backwards. In a hoarse voice, he panted. "That, was very, rude."
Summoning a Death Beam with two fingers, he split them down the middle, shooting through both of Gohan's knees.
"That was your choice." He slowly said. "A decision has been made."
Cold worked his way towards the prone boy. Standing beside him, he thought for a moment. This boy really was like Frieza, in all his glory, and all his faults.
Gohan gathered a bit of blood in his mouth, spitting it onto Cold's face.
This boy was nothing like Frieza, not where it counted. Raising a foot, he stomped on Gohan's already shattered knee. The shout he let out previously was powerful, forceful, purposeful. The shout he let out now, while far more agonized, was pathetic by comparison.
"Are you ready to answer my questions?" Cold asked the wounded animal.
Gohan quickly tapped his forehead, vanishing. A moment later he reappeared, rocketing himself towards the tyrant's belly. Effortlessly Cold sidestepped the attack, turning to face his target. Levitating into the air, he crossed his arms once again.
"My offer has expired." He told the once more prone boy.
Lifting a single finger he powered up a massive Death Ball. Far larger than anything his sons could manage, and created far quicker as well, he held nothing back for this final attack. Flicking it forward, he prepared for victory. He'd have to restart now, he'd have to get a new queen, create new children, raise them better, raise them to be true emperors, and not let them trifle with such matters as individual planets. No, there were galaxies to be ruled, a universe to be shaped.
Quickly regaining his bearings, Gohan hovered slightly into the air. Throwing both hands up, he caught the Death Ball. Forcing his ki out he tried to push forward, to push up, to resist… but slowly, surely, he was losing ground, losing precious seconds for counters...
Then again, perhaps there wasn't a universe to shape. Perhaps there were multiple. Perhaps there were infinite. Cold let his mind wander as the boy was surely being killed. It was his full power, he didn't need to hold its hand while it did its job. He knew of one man, Master Zuno, who he would need to reach out to for guidance. Perhaps this time he'd join the empire, he if was lucky.
Then suddenly, the Death Ball vanished. Gohan vanished.
Cold's eyes shot open. "What? WHAT?"
The boy could teleport, fine, but, but his entire attack?
Appearing behind Cold, Gohan used Instant Transmission once again, appearing on the far side of the attack. Throwing caution to the wind he threw his hands together, preparing a Super Kamehameha. Wordlessly he fired the attack into the already massive Death Ball.
Cold spun as the attack reached him, throwing his hands up against it.
"No." He braced himself in midair with his ki. "No, no!"
He shouted as he began to slowly lose ground. The angle was off. It wouldn't push him through the planet, but it would bury him before glancing off into space.
"No, no, no!" He summoned every ounce of his energy, "You were mine!"
He screamed as his feet hit the rocky ground behind him. "I had you on the ropes!"
His arms gave out and he was pushed bodily into an exposed cliff.
No longer able to speak, he waited, in horrible pain, for the attack to push him through the mountain, where he could ride it into orbit before escaping… he'd blow the planet up… he'd fire a Death Beam through the boy's forehead, so he couldn't flee, then destroy the entire planet… As he raged, the red ki ball slowly faded to purple, and then, in the center, a blue sphere appeared.
Gohan detonated his Super Kamehameha. The combined might of both his attack and King Cold's was unleashed underground, halfway through a mountain. There was silence for a moment, followed by complete chaos as a chunk of the planet was vaporized. The dead world appeared to be an orange, with a bite missing from its side. Juicy lava burst out into space as the planet itself began to collapse under its now unevenly distributed mass.
In the bottom of the crater, unable to move, the king of all cosmos, Cold, lay on the ground. Unsteadily, using only his ki sense for direction, Gohan flew to his side. Black smoke filled the air, raging eruptions surrounded them, and massive boulders rained down around them.
"You're finished." Gohan said, holding his hand over his head.
"You, you think you're the hero, don't you?" Cold tried to cough up blood, choking on it instead. Turning his head to the side, he forcefully vomited. "I don't know what I did to you, boy, but the universe is chaotic. War and death is a fact of life, with or without me, or my family. I may be a monster to you. I may have killed your family, destroyed your world, but it was worth it!"
He coughed, struggling to take in a last breath. He didn't need to breathe, but the act always felt right. "The ends justify the means. Our universe is a phoenix, Son Gohan, from the ashes would have risen a glorious age of prosperity."
"You can't force people..." Gohan began to spin his hand. "You can't force us to accept your ideas. That's not peace. That's slavery."
A Kienzen formed over his head, thicker, sharper, than ever before.
Cold scoffed.
"If slavery is what it takes." He grinned. "Then slavery is what I am willing to do."
He closed his eyes for a moment. Distantly he heard his sons, both of them, bickering over who his favorite was…
"Tell me, Son Gohan, remind me, who are you? Who were your people? Why do you hate me so much?"
He would never tell, never tell them that, while they were his sons, while they worked towards the ancient goal, he knew they didn't believe in it. No, he believed the end justified the means, they, they believed the means justified the end… he truly, whole-heartily…
"It doesn't matter." Gohan slashed the Kienzen down in an arc.
Cutting through the top of his skull, the blade continued down through his neck, finally exiting out of his chest. Cutting down again, making sure the job was done, Gohan cut through his neck in the other direction, detaching what remained of his head from his body.
Tapping two fingers to his forehead once again, he appeared on King Kai's planet. With another tap, he was at Korin's Tower, stealthily taking a single Senzu Bean. A third tap, and he was chewing the bean as he appeared in his bedroom. He was tired, he was ready for bed.
Author's note: Gohan doesn't mess around, and since it was out of the blue, he was just barely able to hedge out a victory over Cold. Next chapter, time passes...