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 15: Loyalty

It was always hard to find worlds as lush, and full of life as the Planet Earth. He'd 'fed' on three worlds just like it, and his power had only increased more dramatically.

Several of the Crushers walked around the deck of the ship, preparing it for landing. Two onyx eyes stared ahead at the blue and green globe they approached. So far they'd detected a half dozen incredibly high power levels, one of them so high it shorted out the ship's main scouter. However, there was no reason to be concerned, so far there was nothing in the universe that he knew of that could challenge his Might.

With a curve to his smile, Turles turned his head to Raisin.

"Make sure you take us down near the populated areas. I want to make sure we engage and destroy the defenders as quickly as possible," the Saiyan ordered, his tanned head turning back towards the main screen.

Years had passed since he'd awaken amongst the ruins of a world destroyed by Lord Slug, years since he found himself freed from the Planet Trade. It was the same world where he found a miracle beyond the power of eternal youth, he found the seeds from the Tree of Might. From that moment on, his existence changed, especially after discovering a craft to escape the dead world. From then on it had been nothing but power and glory. Recruiting his team, he now had the power to run over anyone who challenged him across the galaxy.

The Arcosian, Cooler, was nothing compared to him now. It wouldn't be long before he made his own presence on the galactic stage known. Then of course, he could also recover the only other Saiyan alive. The boy he'd tutored and protected for all those years, the one with the very strange name, Gohan.

It'd been a relief when he found Slug's body, instead of Gohan's. The boy would undoubtedly have gotten a promotion for surviving such an encounter, specially with the pod's recordings of any fight that could have happened. Revenge and hate, two excellent allies in any fight, probably fuelled Gohan's victory over the Namekian scum. His own pride was bolstered when he realized all the effort he'd put into making the boy a proper Saiyan had paid off.

None of that really mattered right now however, right now he had a planet to crush, and life energy to consume through the Tree of Might. Perhaps he'd actually get a work out for once? That seemed unlikely however. After all, what could challenge the might of a Super Saiyan?

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The Hyperbolic Time Chamber:

Breathing heavily, Gohan felt himself on his ass, looking up towards the barely sweating Kakarot. It'd been weeks of this now, but it didn't seem to matter. Gohan felt stronger than ever, but for every step he made in strength, it didn't seem to make an kind of noticeable difference when sparring with Kakarot. The younger Saiyan had even gone as far as to take some of Kakarot's advice, and it didn't seem to matter at all.

Snarling as he brought himself back to his feet, he glared at Kakarot.

"You know, you aren't going to get a hold of how to do this in one day Gohan. You've got to relax. Channel your energy, right now you just shove it forward, that's not helpful at all. Calm down, feel the energy and let it guide you," Kakarot advised. "If you just push ahead with your energy violently for everything, you'll wear out too quickly. You need stamina, and it'll help you focus your power later for when you need to ascend."

Ascendency, to move beyond just a Super Saiyan, or even an Ultra Super Saiyan. It was the level Kakarot and Vegeta had achieved. Having fought it himself now, and having seen it in action, Gohan knew it was a form he had to achieve for himself. But there was no way to obtain it for him. Every time Kakarot spoke to him of 'mastering' his energy, he didn't understand what he meant. He was already the master of his energy, and it was a ridiculous idea that he'd somehow be more of a master of it if he listened to Kakarot.

Power exploded around him as he scowled at the older Saiyan.

The look he got in response was of real, genuine disappointment.

"No, that's not quite it," Kakarot responded. "What I meant was that you need to-"

The words were cut off as Gohan appeared in front of him, his power propelling him into his assault. Moving around his attacks almost effortlessly, Kakarot finally drove his knee into his stomach. It halted Gohan's attack dead in its tracks as the younger Saiyan gasped for air, his mouth agape.

"-do is focus that energy Gohan. You're not letting it guide you. You really need to keep a more level head."

Snarling again, Gohan could barely control his anger enough to stop himself from lunging into Goku once again. Something had to be true of what Kakarot was saying, anything. Every moment they fought, he learned to respect Kakarot's power and abilities more and more. It wasn't any great care for the man he was developing, but it was an understanding of how he fought. Kakarot fought like a master, someone perfectly adept in any form, someone perfectly honed.

Reluctantly, Gohan depowered his form, returning to his normal state.

"Aw, c'mon Gohan, don't give up!" Kakarot pleaded, wanting to continue the training.

Meeting his eyes a few seconds later, the still angry Saiyan reluctantly spoke.

"No Kakarot, I'm not giving up. I want you to... teach me about how to channel this power."

The surprised look on Kakarot's face turned into a bright smile. It was still unnatural to imagine Turles grinning like such a fool.

"I thought you'd never ask!"

This is going to be agony, isn't it?

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Several of the signals went offline for the Crusher Corps. To Turles it was obvious that they'd been killed by the regional powers. Unlike his minions, he'd learned to detect energy signals, and he'd felt two very impressive powers now. Both of them were now approaching him. Well, this planet was going to be a more interesting little spec of dust than he originally thought.

In a flash of golden energy, Turles eyed a Super Saiyan.

The two floated across from one another, eyeing one another in mild disbelief.

"Kakarot?"

Kakarot? Where had he heard that name before? It was familiar somehow, as if it was someone he should know. But, it also implied that there was another Saiyan on this planet. Imagining the golden haired Saiyan's hair to be black, instead of Gold, Turles discovered who this challenger was. The one Frieza supposedly killed on Planet Namek, Prince Vegeta.

Nodding his head with real respect, Turles looked up towards the Prince.

"Prince Vegeta, it is an honour to be in your presence," Turles offered.

The other Saiyan looked guarded still, not deescalating his form. It was clear Vegeta hadn't liked his minions very much, it was understandable really. Turles didn't like them much either. Despite Vegeta being a Super Saiyan, Turles was hardly intimidated as of right now. The only reason this hadn't already turned into a battle was the fact he was another Saiyan. Until moments ago, he'd been the last of their kind. Now they were two.

"Who are you, and why do you look like Kakarot?"

Kakarot... Raditz's brother, which meant his twin brother. Freezing in space, suddenly blocks fell into place. With a devilish smile, Turles looked at Vegeta.

"I'm Kakarot's brother. You commanded Raditz, I looked into the files on all of you after you were unfortunately listed as... killed in action," Turles explained. "My name is Turles, and it's very fortunate I met you. I was worried I was the last of my kind. Now we can get back to what our kind does best, the conquest of the Galaxy."

Spitting to the side, Vegeta prepared his fighting stance with an arrogant grin.

"Conquering the Galaxy? I have no interest any longer in such a pathetic feat. I strive to be the strongest in the universe, and I have nearly met my goal. Now leave this planet while I still let you," Vegeta boasted.

That would be the Prince's last mistake. His smile not changing, Turles allowed himself to reach his next stage. Energy swirled around him until a golden aura burst from his own body. His hair shot upwards and turned gold, and his eyes turned blue. Vegeta was still smiling. Turles decided to wipe that smile off his face, as he pushed himself to the next level. His hair grew more jagged, electricity swirled around him, and a wave of energy pulsed off his body.

Immediately the Prince's aura changed, electricity rippling around him as well, and the once confident smile was gone. Turles knew full well why of course.

He was much stronger than Vegeta.

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The Hyperbolic Time Chamber:

It was quiet, so very quiet.

Not even trying to concentrate as he sat, his power swirling around him, he tried to feel where his energy, his ki, was guiding him. It was somehow almost a peaceful process. It'd been days now, days of trying to perfect this technique. Each minute he felt himself getting closer. It infuriated him to admit it, but not only would he not even know what channelling his energy like this was, but he'd never be able to do it himself.

"Very good Gohan, you're a natural at this."

Breaking off his concentration, Gohan let his energy settle once again. Still in his Super Saiyan form, he breathed out. Kakarot had told him he needed to become accustomed to being a Super Saiyan at all times. Moving back to his feet, Gohan looked Kakarot in the eyes seriously.

"When will I be able to transform into the an Ascended Saiyan?"

Immediately his supposed father looked uncomfortable, his form shifted, as if preparing to look away. At the last moment however, Kakarot closed his eyes and sighed, clearly not willing to turn away. Looking back towards Gohan, he smiled, but it was shallow.

"I can't teach you that Gohan."

Immediately Gohan sneered, stepping forward aggressively to assert his own position. So he was teaching him to channel for what? He'd mentioned before it was important for transformation, but it turns out it was for nothing? It was infuriating. What was this, an exercise in stupidity?!

"So that's it? You won't teach me?" Gohan snapped. "You're afraid of-!"

Shaking his head before Gohan could even finish his angry remark, Kakarot raised his hand to silence Gohan. Much to the younger Saiyan's resentment, it worked.

"I can't teach that to you Gohan, because it is different for everyone. For Vegeta it was much different than for myself. It will be just as different for you, Gohan. I know when I achieved this form, it was from a built up emotion, a sense of loss, and emptiness. It came to me... It came to me when I was beaten."

Blinking, Gohan felt himself examining Kakarot for a moment. He was beaten? That didn't even seem possible.

"There were always more monsters, the biggest threat of them all had been Cell. But after Cell came another, with his minions. His name was Bojack. He hurt thousands, and nearly killed Vegeta, Trunks, not the Trunks you know, Piccolo, and my other friends," Kakarot explained. "I was bleeding out. He was pretty good at fighting, probably as good as Cell even. When I was laying in the ruins of a building, all I could think of was how I'd failed again."

It was so strange, hearing the most powerful being he'd ever known, talk about failure. Gohan listened, trying to garner what had been the trigger for his transformation.

"I remembered the day I fought Raditz with Piccolo. I remembered how hard we struggled, and how it just wasn't enough. I remember laying there, dying as I looked at the pod flying away, leaving me behind. I remembered not just losing my life, or my pride... I remembered the feeling I had when I lost my son."

With that, Kakarot's body exploded into the golden aura, greater than that of a Super Saiyan. The electricity rippling around him sparked off the floor of the Time Chamber. Just mentioning the event seemed to be enough to cause Kakarot to call forward this form. It was the raw emotion that drew it out, much as raw emotion had drawn out Gohan's own transformation into a Super Saiyan, for him it was the will to live.

But now he at least understood it. Perhaps he even understood why Kakarot had tried to kill him, and now tried to bond with him. He was his greatest failing. This fact didn't make Kakarot somehow his father, nor did it make him his ally or anything else. But it did open a crack of understanding for him.

There was a compulsion on his own part to somehow divulge something in return. It was strange to be told such a story. Without thinking much, Gohan spoke.

"Turles was the greatest man I'd ever known," Gohan admitted, looking towards Kakarot and answering the question he'd posed to him months earlier. "He was the man who kept me alive. He trained me. It was through him that I learned what it was to be a Saiyan, he was my guide. I've never seen someone fight like him since the last time we fought together."

Listening intently, Kakarot just seemed to stare back at him, waiting for Gohan to continue. It was uncomfortable to say the least. This kind of discussion, this kind of sharing, wasn't done by Saiyans.

"Turles raised me as if I was his own," Gohan admitted. "He was almost... he was a father to me. I realize that now. He died because I wasn't strong enough to help him defeat a Namekian named Slug. As you noticed my immediate hostility to Piccolo, you can now see where that came from. I know he wouldn't have died were I not there, needing his protection. I allowed him to die."

The last words left Gohan's lips with an almost hoarse noise for a moment. Quickly, Gohan straightened himself out, clearing his throat and putting on an imposing face. There was no need for them to share any more emotions, or talk.

But even as he straightened himself out, he could see the look on Kakarot's face. The other Saiyan seemed somehow... crushed, by his words. The revelation that he'd shared a bond with another Saiyan, viewing Turles as a father figure, perhaps. It was likely a reminder of lost time. It was also a weakness Saiyans should not feel. Saiyan father's never raised their sons anyway. They only cared for what their children turned out to be. They cared only if they were strong, or weak.

Turles had only taken the role, because they were the last of their kind, and any sane man would say Turles would likely die before himself. Someone had to carry on the legacy of their people.

"If you cannot teach me anything further to allow me to change, I must find something else to do. I don't want to waste anymore time."

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Anxiety ran through Dende's blood as he looked down at the scene from up high. Below, on the planet he was Guardian of, he could see the terrible events unfolding. The outcome of the battle was almost predetermined. There was no pay Vegeta, or even Piccolo, or even Vegeta working with Piccolo were going to overcome this Saiyan. The unnatural resemblance to Goku was unnerving.

Quickly turning, the Guardian ran along with Mister Popo towards the entrance of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. They'd not been in there the full day, but that didn't matter anymore. 18 hours would have to be enough time for whatever they were doing. The world needed Goku.

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Slamming against the ground violently, causing the street they were fighting on to crack, the Namekian spat up purple blood.

There was a particular level of disdain for Namekians in Turles's eyes. The day that idiot Slug had nearly killed him would certainly live on in his memories. Now, Turles was more than happy to repay another one of these green fools for what their counterpart had done. Grabbing Piccolo by his and the back of his head, he immediately felt the Namekian squirm. Ripping back violently, Turles tore the head free from its body. A fountain of purple blood spewed from the head and body. Getting a good, firm hold of the decapitated head, Turles grinned at Vegeta.

The Saiyan Prince had found himself back on his feet after their last exchange. His armour was fractured and damaged, and blood trickled down from his hairline, forehead, and lip. Still, the battered Prince had little intention of surrender, that much was obvious to Turles. Whatever he fought for, it didn't matter. How could Vegeta of all people forgotten what it was to be a Saiyan Warrior?

"Let's see if you still don't mind getting your hands dirty, Vegeta," with those words, Turles hurled the Namekian head directly at the Saiyan, hitting him square in the chest.

Instinctively Vegeta's arms came up around the head and his body slid back several meters. Before he could recover any further, Turles pointed both his hands forward as a purple pulse of energy thrummed through them.

"Good catch, catch this one."

A horrific wave of purple light appeared from his fingertips and palm. The Calamity Blastertore through the air, hitting Vegeta and Piccolo head on, seemingly washing away the two in a wave of devastation that tore through South City. Cars were blown over, as buildings crumbled and collapsed around them.

Standing amongst this destruction, Turles just grinned, feeling Vegeta's power still in the rubble. It was on a steep decline.

"That can't be all Vegeta," he chuckled to himself, slowly starting to walk towards his soon to be vanquished opponent.

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"Gohan, you get bummed out way too easily," Goku laughed. "You should lighten up, you're always scowling and being so serious."

Scowling from his position on the ground, inferior to Kakarot's place floating in the air above him. There had been no great emotional upheaval for him, even when he tried to force it. It wasn't just a matter of that as well, it was despite the emotional intent, one had to keep their energy under control until a breaking point came. Neither of these had been particularly easy to understand or do. Firstly, despite the emotional pains of his own life, there were so many of them. A tough leathery hide had formed around his experiences in his life.

"You know, if you give me one more damn pep talk about lightening up, I'm going to kill myself to escape this place," Gohan responded angrily.

Blinking, Goku just looked confused. "But why kill yourself when I just want to help brighten up your mood?"

I hate this place, and I hate how stupid Kakarot is. What ever made me think this guy was smart?

Standing up, Gohan prepared himself, wanting to channel his energy before coming at Kakarot again.

It was then that the door burst open behind them.

Turning his head, Gohan narrowed his eyes on the irrelevant Guardian of the Earth. It didn't feel like a year had passed yet, what was he doing here? Was it yet more complaints from the little Namekian bastard? Strangely, now he was defensive over the idea of leaving the Time Chamber early. Not because he wanted to share time with Kakarot, certainly not, never. It was the fact he was learning, which was very, very important. Even if he was learning from Kakarot, it was still worth it. Right now his fighting talents had been honed and sharpened to an extent they'd never been before. Better yet, he'd never felt so connected to the energy inside his body.

So now this dwarf wanted to step in again.

For a brief moment, Gohan considered levelling his arm on him, and blasting the little urchin into the next life. However, Kakarot and his feelings were something to take into consideration, and by feelings he really meant raw power.

"Goku! The Earth is under attack! Piccolo and Vegeta weren't able to stop whatever it was! I just felt both their powers take an immense dive! We have no idea whose doing it, only he looks like you!"

He looks like Kakarot?

Suddenly, something itched in the back of Gohan's head as he stared at the little green idiot.

"We have to go, now," Gohan said immediately, much to the surprise of both Kakarot and Dende.

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Six Years Earlier:

In the dim embers of fire of a dead world, scorched by energy waves and advanced weaponry, two figures sat outside their pods. Every awakening was always dramatic. They'd been sent out on a mission to clear out over 8 planets before returning to base. This was planet 6 so far. The local inhabitants had been a much stranger breed than usual, naked savages who used their local forests, which were poisonous in the extreme, as weapons. It meant that not only did the occupants need to die, the forests did as well.

It lowered the price of the planet significantly.

Ripping at a piece of meat from one of the locals, Gohan eagerly ate down the flesh of his victims, if only to satiate his hunger. They were tough and chewy, but they were out of rations which meant this was as good as it got.

"When does it stop?" Gohan asked quietly, looking over to his superior.

Blinking for a moment as he finished tearing a piece of meat off a bone, Turles looked back towards his charge and narrowed his eyes. Vague questions always irritated Turles, Gohan knew that, but he didn't know any other entry into the conversation.

"You know better than you ask me a question with no clear answer. I'll let that one slide. What is it?"

Relieved, Gohan looked up towards Turles. It had been a very painful lesson to learn the first time, very painful. Looking out across the burning, ruined world they'd left in their wake, Gohan couldn't help but listen to the quiet, dying flames of an entire people and planet, extinguished before their assault. Every single one of them were dead and gone, cast into the winds along with the forests they'd used to protect themselves.

Gohan felt no grief, or at least nothing Gohan would recognize as grief. Instead there was only an empty feeling. There was no joy, no hate, no pleasure or pain, it was just an empty void. Every world so far just seemed like another step through life, without any feeling of being alive.

"When do we stop destroying worlds?"

The answer he received first came in a small smile from his overlord, who looked now like he was patiently dealing with an ignorant child, than being annoyed at an incomplete question. Motioning to Gohan to move closer, Turles didn't start until the boy followed the direction of the hand gesture.

"We are Saiyans, Gohan. We are warriors feared throughout the galaxy as the most dangerous killers alive, save for a few Arcosians above us," Turles said seriously. "We will stop destroying worlds, when there are no adversaries left to fight."

Lowering his eyes quietly, Gohan just looked towards the fire the two had built, which they were using to cook the inhabitants of this world. There was something upsetting about that, in a strange way. As if noticing it, Turles gave a half smirk.

"The only alternative to that, is to become the strongest being alive. To fight until you achieve strength beyond measure. Then your destiny can be your own. There would be no rules restricting you. There would be no warriors to challenge you. To become the mightiest warrior, one must throw themselves into battle with passion, and with the desire to be the strongest, to be the best."

The words left Turles's mouth as he himself stared out across the burnt forests and vanquished enemies. Gohan's own eyes turned up towards the older Saiyan, feeling the pride emanating off of him. There was a confidence there, a sense of destiny.

In that moment, in this small slice of time, Gohan knew that Turles would achieve what he desired. He would be the strongest being in the universe, he would surpass anyone they ever came across, and he would be free.

Quietly, the boy resolved himself as well. In order to be free, there had to be no more reservations, no more holding back, no more containing himself. In order to be free, and to be the strongest being alive, he would have to throw himself into every battle, every mission, every event, as if it were his last. It didn't matter how many battles it took, or how many lives it would take.

He was a Saiyan Warrior, and he would survive this life. And the only way to survive was through the power Turles spoke of. If he became the strongest being alive, or became so strong that it didn't matter if he was the strongest being anymore or not, his struggles would end. Then, perhaps he could find himself away from dismal, pitiful scenes such as this.

In its own strange way, it almost sounded like what Paragus spoke of. Power would be his salvation, and it would be built off the corpses of the weak.

He was left sitting here with another warrior, deprived of real battle, left only to slaughter those who were weaker. It was idolized, but what else could a child do other than cling to a fantasy?

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Two determined eyes looked forward as he prepared to fly off the edge of the lookout, feeling the powerful energy in the distance. Gohan felt his heart racing. It didn't matter if he'd not showered yet, or gotten new clothes. There were so few possibilities as to who this warrior was, and he had to see it for his own two eyes. For him it'd been six years, six years since Turles died.

Looking behind him quickly, his chest heaving, Gohan stared angrily at Goku, who wasn't running immediately after him.

"Are you coming or not?" Gohan almost ordered, just as he would have ordered a subordinate back in his old life.

Moving over quickly, Goku shook his head.

"We don't need to fly there Gohan, remember?"

What was he blathering about? This was important! Why-

Instant Transmission.

Perhaps Kakarot would be useful to have around, but only this once. Once they were down there, he had serious business to take care of. Either it was a threat, in which case he and Kakarot would have to do battle with it, something he didn't enjoy the idea of.

Or...

Or it was the man who gave his life for him, fighting Lord Slug. The man who'd kept him alive for most of his time in the Planet Trade Organization. The one who showed him the value of his strength.

When Kakarot's hand was placed on his shoulder, he felt himself blur out of existence seemingly, before appearing in the midst of a ruined city. It was a familiar setting for Gohan, strangely comforting in some ways. There was suddenly a sickening sound to his left. The noise was almost like the sound of meat being thrown into a concrete wall. In fact, that wasn't far from what it was.

Vegeta, his hair now black, slammed into the wall next to them, labouring with a wheeze. One eye was too badly damaged and remained closed, the other barely hung open as the Saiyan desperately tried to gain more air.

"Well Vegeta, it looks like you have some friends," an all too familiar voice echoed out.

Landing not more then a few meters away, Gohan saw the all too familiar figure of Turles. There were no words he could express as to how he felt in that moment. Elation ran through him like never before. A smile stretched across his lips as he looked at the older Saiyan. The two shared a moment as their eyes met, blue facing blue.

Words couldn't express this reunion. It was clear it took Turles several seconds to identify him, but once they did, there was an understanding between the two almost immediately. After years of being apart, their familiarity with one another hadn't diminished. It was like a son coming home after a long journey to see his father.

Kakarot's power was beginning to simmer, preparing to rise. That couldn't be allowed, not now.

"This one is mine," Gohan announced openly, stepping to Kakarot's right, preparing to move past.

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With a slick motion, his knee arching up, Turles drove his knee into Vegeta's sternum, sending the Saiyan Prince flying back, breaking through several walls and then slamming into the remnants of another.

The battle had been a challenge, at least at first. But it was all just a game to him. There was no way that Vegeta would have been able to match him. After the Namek got involved, and quickly got uninvolved, it was only a quicker slide down the side of the mountain. There he was, left as a pitiful wreck. There was no new reserves of strength for Vegeta to call off of. The only question now, was to kill Vegeta, one of the last of their kind? Or was it to allow him to live? Both decisions had repercussions of course.

But Turles had no time to decide, when two energy signatures appeared, both very large. One was certainly more intimidating than the other. The one who was stronger looked just like him. It was like a pale version of himself. The figure had yet to turn to him, but already Turles knew he was detected. This must have been Kakarot.

"Well Vegeta, it looks like you have some friends," Turles announced.

A young man stood next to him in torn fighting attire. There was something oddly familiar about it. The tail wrapped around his waist immediately told him of their shared species of course. But it was when the two turned to look at him, and he saw the scar over the young man's left eye, that Turles froze. It was something he never expected to see on such a backwater. That was Gohan, there was no questioning it upon further appraisal. The boy had become a man.

Scars still showed through, marks of the battles he'd waged. But they were scars obtained in the pursuit of Saiyan power, and Saiyan pride. It'd been impossible to not hear of Gohan as Cooler's lieutenant, something which Turles had to admit was a source of pride for him. But this was totally unexpected. It was a great gift however. Something felt oddly right about seeing the boy again. Of all of his accomplishments in life, of all of the things he did in the universe so far, the only thing which was a true lasting legacy of his was the boy. The successor to him.

The successor was no longer required. His own power was now immense, much larger than anything he'd dreamed of for himself years ago. Perhaps he was even the strongest being alive now. Standing across from him was the inferior double, and the successor. But he knew only one of them was his foe. Gohan's eyes told him more about his intentions than anything. When his body moved up to the side of Kakarot's, he half smiled.

"This one is mine," Gohan said.

Those words were not meant for Kakarot, they were meant for him. It was a clear indicator that Gohan was going to take out Kakarot there, and then. The half smile quickly evolved into a full one.

"Wow, this guy looks just like me," Kakarot observed, his voice almost child-like.

"I dunno, I've tried to avoid thinking about how much you look like Turles."

Kakarot's face seemed to opened up with shock, turning his head sharply to Gohan.

"Turl-?"

With his bulged, Super Saiyan muscles, Gohan channelled all his power into one blow, swinging his elbow around and cracking it across Kakarot's temple before the question could even be asked. Knees hit the road under them, before the entire body flopped forward helplessly, unconsciously. There was a gruff sound of disgust from Vegeta's direction, but it didn't matter.

"Gohan, its been too long," Turles said, walking towards the boy, now man, with a broad smile and an open hand.

The two clasped their hands together, locking forearms.

"Turles, you have no idea how good it is to see you again. No idea."

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A/N: I wonder what people will think at this outcome! I hope you guys are digging this so far :)

I realized in order to have a sensible release schedule, that I'd have to release this chapter this week, as The Catalyst isn't switching its release schedule until next week. So let me go over how this will now go.

This week, I'm updating both The Catalyst, and The Long Road. Next week, only The Catalyst, and the week after that, only The Long Road.

Next chapter is Chapter 16, I still haven't decided if it's being broken into two yet or not. People gotta let me know if they want it in one 22,000 word lump, or two parts. I've gotten a bit of feedback but please lemme know what you think. If there is enough support for things one way, I'll probably release it that way, but so far I'm still torn as to how to release it. Please lemme know, this is your last chance to give me feedback!

Reviewers:

0Jordinio0: I read the same way, but I've realized I'm an anomaly. I however, honestly would like to thank you for the feedback :)

fernadtoussiant: I think I've thrown a bit of a twist in here for people. I hope you like the change XD

Ky111: As you can see, chip away as he lies, some loyalties are stronger than others.

Ness Frost: I agree it's a bad idea. XD

I wanted to write Goku as true to the character as I could, but also giving him the change in his circumstance. I feel bad for Goku in this story a lot, but it's in Goku's nature to always bounce back. What else can he do but smile and take on the world?

Eveline: Bit of a shocker of a plot twist eh? Also, thank you very much for the input on the release Eveline. I appreciate it.

Guest1: It was a big changing point, but as one can see, change still takes time :(

DarkVoid116: Wait no further!... well, wait 2 weeks now XD

dbzfan: I've already started on Chapter 17, I write ahead! XD

Guest2: I think their bonds are still developing. Just as Goku is probably developing a concussion XD

Guest3: Because I am mortal.

Carlos Diaz: Thank you Carlos. Here is your update :)

low on inspiration: Everyone lucked out that a glitch in my schedule means the 2 week waiting period was cut short. :)