Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.

The Long Road

Chapter 10: Transformation

Four Months Later: The Time Chamber

The world had grown to be as hot as fire, two figures flew through the air at blinding speeds above it exchanging blows. Of the two, it was clear that the Namekian still possessed the advantage. With a sharp kick, Piccolo sent Gohan's frame descending into the blazing flames below. Barely able to pull up in time, Gohan's body edged across the surface of the bright world, fire exploding around him. It was so hot, he couldn't even think straight except to head away from the fires, blasting in the distance as a golden trail followed after him.

Once clear, pain shot through his face was Piccolo appeared and landed another blow on him, sending him slapping into the surface of the Time Chamber. That was it.

Getting up and letting his hair fall back down to it's black colouration, he motioned he was done. Fresh burns were clearly on his body and would need to mend, as well as the myriad of other injuries which Piccolo had inflicted. Turning away, he started to walk towards the safe haven of the entrance. By the gods he was hungry.

"You're still sloppy," Piccolo told him gruffly, hovering to his side. "You should have seen that punch coming from a mile away, whoever trained you before did a pathetic job."

There it was again, blaming men who couldn't defend themselves to him. What did this Namek know about his training? He knew nothing except it was clearly 'poor'. There was no time for the in-depth training he was now experiencing, that wasn't how it worked. It was fight and live, or be idle and die. Black eyes turned towards his teacher with a sneer on his face.

"You don't even know what you're talking about. My training wasn't perfect, but it was the best I could get. I'm only alive because he trained me at all," Gohan finally snapped. "You are just like my father, or Vegeta, you don't get it either."

To say Gohan was angry at the moment was an understatement, he was so mad his hobble became a walk, just to appear defiant, ignoring the pain in his leg as he forced himself forward. The first person to train him at all was Paragus, and Piccolo was right, he did a poor job. He showed him how to form an energy blast and fly, after that it was 'you are on your own, don't get in the way'. Killing Paragus had been one of the higher points in his life. When he broke his neck it was liberating even, after a few years of his abuse and rambling.

But his primary teacher hadn't been Paragus, when he was six he'd been taught everything he really knew by Turles. The man who so resembled his father. When he was younger Turles always felt very recognizable, as if he'd known him. The familiarity perhaps made Gohan give him more credit than he was due. But Turles was the only one who tried to improve him as a fighter. He showed him how survive a fight, when to know his opponent's body language. Better energy techniques were displayed later, he showed him how to stand right and how to block attacks far more effectively.

It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't meant to be. All Turles was doing was giving him the tools to survive on his own, the rest was up to him. If he was sloppy, it was because he hadn't improved enough on his own. How dare this Namek blame his mentor?

"I don't need to get it," Piccolo started. "Because whether I get it or not, it doesn't stop the fact that your training was inadequate."

That was finally enough to get Gohan to stop walking, looking ahead defiantly. When Piccolo came into view, landing across from him, he almost dared him to counter the claim.

"You aren't learning Gohan, because you won't give up the bad habits you've learned. Yea, you've gotten stronger, but you still glaringly expose your left side, and you favour your right too often when you are attacking. Your predictable and sloppy. If to break you out of this habit I've got to point out whoever trained you was a terrible teacher, then I will."

There was something inside Gohan, something he'd not felt the need to ever feel or say before. But he couldn't hold it anymore. This planet had worn him down more than he'd ever realized.

"You don't know anything. The only reason I'm here, the only reason I'm alive, is because that man trained me at all," Gohan finally snapped back. "And I will not have you insult him further, do you understand me Piccolo? If I'm not a good enough fighter, it's because I didn't advance enough. Don't you bring other people into this. You know what? I'm done talking to you about this."

Gohan shoved past Piccolo, only to be grabbed by his shoulder and forced back in front of the Namek.

"I'm not your father, Gohan. I expect things to be explained. You wanna have that kind of attitude? Fine, but you're going to explain yourself, or you are going to fight me until one of us can't walk anymore." Piccolo said dangerously. "You're terrible for that, half starting things and never finishing. You wanna make this personal? Do it, but don't you walk out on it. How did this guy do such a good job training you?"

Batting Piccolo's hand off his shoulder, Gohan seethed angrily at the Namek. The Saiyan's eyes flashed dangerously, but he kept his composure enough not to launch into an unwise attack. Slowly, the words built up in his throat, pressing against the dam that was his pride. Finally however, the words had to come out.

"His name was Turles. He was a Saiyan," Gohan spat. "He trained me when no one else did. He taught me to defend myself. If it wasn't for him I'd have died up there. He's the only one who ever stuck his neck out to help me. He was the greatest fighter I've ever known, and I was proud to have served along side him."

The Namek crossed his arms, listening while he spoke but hardly looking impressed.

"Proud to serve with him? What made him a great fighter exactly? If you are the product of his abilities, I'm not that impressed. Now, stop being stubborn in your training. Let go of what he taught you, so you can actually learn."

That was it.

"Of course I was proud to serve with him," Gohan finally spat angrily. "He gave his life to save me. One of you killed him."

The air between the two of them became still as his words came out.

"He was the closest thing to a father I ever had," Gohan followed up, but seemed to almost realize the words in that moment.

Feeling weak and drained, as well as now emotionally drained, Gohan took several lumbering stumbles forward, pushing Piccolo aside as he did. Turles looked exactly like his father, making the reminder all the more painful. It was Turles who should have been his father. The Saiyan who had trained him, who'd kept him alive, who'd largely raised him, was the man who he wished was his father in that moment. His own father was much of what Saiyans weren't supposed to be.

When he finally reached the station, Gohan sat down at the steps, just choosing to let his body relax, though this showed him just how much pain he was in.

Quietly walking in front of him, Piccolo didn't say a word for several moments, knowing it was wise.

"Don't start something you can't finish, Piccolo," Gohan fired back at his trainer. "If you have something else to say, say it."

Seeming to gather his thoughts, the Namek remained quiet for several more seconds before nodding.

"So he gave his life for you Gohan?" Piccolo finally asked.

Quietly, Gohan nodded in response. He remembered it all too well. Slug had been dominant the entire fight. Knowing they were dead unless he did something, Turles had blown Gohan back with his energy to prevent him from interfering. It wasn't long after that Slug had killed the other Saiyan with an energy attack. The last words Turles had said to him were simply "stay alive". He knew Turles had never intended on dying, but he did. It made Slug's death all the more meaningful. It cost him his arm, and it cost him the life of the only man who ever showed him how to be a Saiyan.

"Do you think this mentor of yours would want you to improve, or do you think he'd want you to lag behind?" Piccolo questioned.

Looking up quietly, Gohan felt himself almost cringe at the remark. "He'd expect me to try and be the strongest fighter in the universe."

"Then you've got a long way to go."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

The Next Day:

Gohan's body shifted, slowly sitting up in the bed. Well, it was time for another beating today he was sure. So far he'd learned more than Piccolo had given him credit for. For instance he could now sense energy levels. Another point was he'd started to anticipate his enemy's movements more easily. He felt stronger and faster of course.

And right now he felt a presence in his room. His eyes looked up and saw Piccolo standing there, his arms crossed looking down at him. It nearly caused him to jump out of his skin when he saw it.

Shit! What the Hell is he doing here?

"Get up, we're going to train," Piccolo said bluntly.

"Namek, I'm eating before we do anything. And have you heard of personal space?"

The blunt glance he received in response said it all. Sighing, Gohan rose from the bed, feeling stiff and sore still.

"I'll be waiting outside," the Namek told him bluntly, walking from the room.

When Gohan pulled himself together and walked outside, it was very clear his body needed more time to recover after the last few days of training. Gohan knew it, and Piccolo knew it, so why the Hell was he out here?

Standing across from Piccolo, Gohan felt himself try and ready for battle.

"We'll be finished our training in about eight months now, Gohan," Piccolo said, slowly starting to circle his pupil. "In that time, I need you to be strong enough to at least keep up with me."

Glaring, Gohan could almost snarled as his body shifted into it's still relatively new Super Saiyan form.

"Part of that will mean ascending past what you are right now," Piccolo then added. "Both Goku and Vegeta are able to reach a level past a Super Saiyan, they call it an Ascended Super Saiyan."

An Ascended Super Saiyan? Something even past where he was now? Even as a regular Super Saiyan, Kakarot was stronger than him. If he could go yet another step past that... Just how powerful were these people?

"My body is in no condition to train right now. You saw to that yesterday," Gohan responded, sounding irritated.

"Yea, I know. Which is why today we are going to meditate. My training often involves a great deal of this, and it will increase your power," Piccolo said. "It also gives you better control."

Crossing his legs and sitting down in front of Gohan, Piccolo rested his head forward, and crossed his arms as well.

Are you kidding me?

"For the record, Gohan, if this looks ridiculous to you, remember who is stronger here. Maybe that alone is a sign that what I'm doing works."

Within a few seconds, Gohan was sitting down, crossing his arms and legs, and trying to meditate.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Three Months Later:

Quietly, Gohan stood across from Piccolo, energy surrounding him as he stared down his enemy. To say he was learning would be a dramatic understatement. The rough start had been worked through, and now the Saiyan was more than able to understand what Piccolo had taught him. The resistance to new ideas, and new methods, had bled away with his beatings. Most important of all however, he'd learned to couple Piccolo's methods with the fighting style he'd been taught as a child. Even Piccolo had been surprised he'd managed to make his 'sloppy' methods work.

The most important thing however was he learned to stop favouring one side on defence, and one side on offence. It was important to keep his head together, and try to control his anger. Equalizing his stance as well as equalizing his attack and defence opportunities meant he could more easily handle a close quarters situation. Added to that, the Namek, he had to admit, was teaching him more and more how to pick an opponent of similar power apart. Clearly the fact that the Namek was the third strongest fighter on the planet, meant that he had to learn how to cope with situations where he was the inferior.

Still, the two stood silently, preparing for their next confrontation.

Slowly bracing himself, Gohan looked Piccolo in the eyes, taking on the stance he'd developed by combining his techniques, his golden hair flowing above him as energy swirled around him. Seconds later the Namek assumed his own pose. In those seconds Gohan was already analyzing every motion the Namek made, looking for any telltale weaknesses that could be seen. It was annoying because Piccolo was exceptionally good at not presenting an opportunity.

Neither of them moved, trying to find all the weaknesses in their opponent's stance. It felt tense, and both of them looked as if they were tense as well. Gohan carefully shifted his left hand back, trying to present an opportunity to lure Piccolo in.

C'mon, think I'm being an idiot.

Every time his stance had been 'off' before, Gohan had been severely punished.

It was great to see Piccolo take the bait. Thinking that he was making an overextended attack, the Namek already moved in for the kill. What he received as he appeared to make the attack, was a stiff knee to the gut, Gohan adjusting himself just in time to counter the Namek. In a blur of motion, Gohan landed a further punch to the face to the green warrior, before striding into him with a brutal kick in the ribs.

Having sent Piccolo rolling back along the floor of the chamber, Gohan prepped his stance once again, before hearing a faint chuckle from the Namek. Rising to his feet, Piccolo was smiling, he wiped from spit from his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Yea, that's more like it."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Slowly, the door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber opened, two figures standing in the light.

Stepping forward, Gohan felt lighter than he'd felt in his entire life seemingly. He felt stronger than he'd felt in his life. But inside the chamber, he'd still not matched Piccolo, move for move. Which meant he wasn't strong enough yet. Piccolo couldn't go in for another day, he'd already been there a day before. That meant going back in alone, or going back in with... Kakarot.

Quietly, he turned his head towards Piccolo.

"Think they'll notice?"

"You grew and inch, and your clothes wreak of sweat. I think they'll notice," Piccolo deadpanned. "Go in with your father Gohan, you won't regret it."

A year in there with Kakarot. Kakarot, the man who nearly killed him. Kakarot, the father he wished wasn't his still, deep down. Kakarot, the one he knew would want to get to know him. Kakarot, the one who'd be disappointed with what he found.

"Sometimes," Piccolo said, walking in front of Gohan briefly, turning his head towards him. "You've got to face your fears. You don't have to like Goku, but you should at least learn about him. What's the worst that will happen?"

I don't know.

The real fear came to the surface at that moment, Gohan closing his fists.

"Yea, you're right."

A purple aura appeared around Gohan seconds later, before he took off.

It was time to go home. And tomorrow? He'd have to talk to Kakarot.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Sorry for the long time to update. This was a really hard chapter to write. Next chapter will be up not this Sunday, but the Sunday after.

This Sunday expect the next instalment of my other side story. The Perfect Monster.

Reviewers:

Wild Dog84: Expect to see Gohan and Videl meet up again. Not sure what's going to happen with Satan, but if something does happen, I doubt I'll disappoint you XD

Ky111: Thanks for the review, as always. Expect more from Chapter 11 :)

low on inspiration: I cried a bit while writing them. Don't tell anyway. Wait a second... this is public, and in written format... hmmm...

Eveline: I hope you enjoy the Vegeta fight, just two more chapters away :)

KaosMoshpit: I hadn't though that out. Likely another Z Warrior Survived and trained him.

Luke: He's got a lot of issues with Goku, and he's a coward. But don't worry, the coward part is starting to get better XD

Full Power: Goku and Vegeta, if anything, are just as close if not a bit closer.

Sirius Potter2: I concur. I hope it goes over well.