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 20: Shadows of Life
Four Years Five Months Earlier: Satan City
Slowly, eyelids began to drag themselves upward. It was almost impossible to move in that moment. Warm blankets wrapped around her frame as she tried to move. Every muscle protested violently, immediately causing her to cease her attempt to even move. In the bed, all she could do was feel herself begin to tremble. Where was she? What was going on? Why did everything hurt so much? Videl's eyes shut again tightly as she turned into the pillow her head rested on.
This wasn't her room. What happened?
"The fight is over, I won."
The words slowly ran through her mind in the familiar voice of the Saiyan from the night before. She'd been trying to stop criminals, and then he showed up. Someone who crushed everyone in his vicinity, and stopped her without any effort at all. Someone who could fly through the air and cracked the ground beneath his feet. It was the same man she fought on the rooftop last night. She remembered feeling completely helpless, no matter she did, he just seemed more and more amused. Then...
Oh... oh no.
Memories flooded into her mind finally. What had she done? Why? Did she lead him on somehow? She remembered when he grabbed her, she could barely move. She'd been in control so long not having any was terrifying. Then he stopped, and then what? She'd been so afraid, she could barely move or even speak. There was always a choice though, and she took it. It was her choice, it had to have been. She gave away her first time with anyone last night to a boy she'd never met before. It wasn't anger she felt, but shame. She just... let him.
Quietly, Videl's face contorted into a shamed cringe, before her features started to contract. Hot tears formed in her eyes before she sobbed, almost uncontrollably. It was everything she had even to keep as composed as she was, which was to say not composed at all. A long, pained sob escaped her again as she began to choke back on the breath coming in and out of her lungs.
What was wrong with me?
Finally able to move her head around, sniffling hard and her eyes still welled with tears, Videl began to look for the savaged wreckage of her clothes.
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Thank god.
Thank god her dad wasn't home. It was embarrassing enough trying to get anywhere with her short torn to shreds when she left the hotel. By the time she found a cab it was a relief only one person was going to see her like that. The drive home had been numbing. Buildings passed her view, but it all felt empty. Everything felt shallow to her. It was all just a surface, and behind it all was just nothing. Occasionally, she felt herself almost want to throw up as the drive continued, but she'd held firm, keeping herself in place.
When the nightmarish drive finally ended outside her father's mansion, she quickly gave over her card and was charged. Without another word she had bolted inside. Now here she was, alone, and in a large empty house. She knew the first thing she had to do. Running to the bathroom, Videl immediately turned on a hot shower. Stepping inside as quickly as she could, the water almost scolded her but she didn't care. It was impossible to feel clean right now. Standing in the water as she tried desperately to clean herself from the taint of everything from the last evening. From the Saiyans advances, to her own stupid decisions. Despite how the hot water almost burned her skin, it didn't work. No matter how much soap and shampoo she used, it all felt useless. Even after nearly thirty minutes in the blistering shower, her skin raw, Videl finally climbed.
Looking in the mirror, her stomach coiled instinctively, repulsed by what she saw. Looking back at her was the girl who was so weak that last night she slept with a boy she didn't even know. She was so weak she was afraid of him even. Her first time had been with someone she didn't even know. What kind of slut was she? How could she have picked to go along with any of it?
Quietly, her arm started to tremble, before it began to vibrate through her body. Walking towards the mirror shakily Videl stopped only inches away, looking into her own eyes, trying to find reason inside the chaos that wouldn't leave her. All she wanted to do was just hide from herself and the world. It was another minute before she could pull herself together enough even to look away, before leaving the bathroom to find herself new clothes. The old ones were already thrown away by this point. She never wanted to see any of it ever again. Right now she didn't even want to see her own reflection in a mirror again.
It was at least a relief to get on the new clothes, covering the bruises she'd earned last night. It felt safer being home now, and being in new clothes. Even if she didn't feel entirely clean yet, and even if she was in a hopeless despair, she was finally away from it. But she wasn't really away from it, because inside she was still trapped in last night. Trapped in a hotel room with someone who was touching her when she didn't want to be. The noises were still there, she could still see it behind her eyes. Every moment of her life right now felt like a surrender. It all felt like it was her fault because she didn't stop him.
"Stop."
Without realizing it, she was trembling again. Her own voice from the night before having halted the entire situation, until he looked at her for some kind of consent. Closing her eyes tightly, she remembered how afraid she was, how she didn't know what was going to happen. She was always so in control, and then and there she'd decided to be in control. It was the nod of her head that she knew condemned her. Even though she didn't want him touching her, and didn't want everything, she'd just given it away.
Before she could shed fresh tears, Videl heard the door finally, ripping her back to reality. Standing in her room, instead of living in the night before, Videl heard her father's rather loud entrance. He was saying his last goodbyes to a large number of reporters.
"Don't worry! In my next fight, you'll all get to see Mister Satan in his finest form!" her father declared, before the door slammed shut, and the noise of the crowd was dulled.
Her father was home. The strongest man on Earth had come back and the world felt better almost instantly. Her first instinct was to try and come down and tell her father about the Saiyan, but she shied away from the idea almost immediately. He'd find out what just happened if she told him. It was her father, so it shouldn't matter. For some reason however the fact it was her father, her dad, made it all the worse. It was almost crippling by the time she reached the stairs to greet him. All prospect of telling him dropped from her mind by the time her eyes fell on him.
It was her job to hunt down this alien and beat him herself. She hadn't been strong enough, but she would get strong enough. There was no excuse for losing, ever, and especially now. Looking at her father, the grand champion of the world walk up the stairs, she knew that she'd never, ever lose again.
But when his eyes looked up to her, Videl felt something click. He looked angry?
"Where the Hell were you last night Videl?" Mark Hercule Satan demanded. "You don't show up all night, you don't show up all morning, and you even miss my big fight today. No one has a clue where you are at all. Until I got a police report saying you fought some crazies outside an office building. Now this kind of stuff has to stop! Do you know what it looks like? The daughter of the great Mister Satan off fighting as a vigilante? Without my express permission or endorsement?"
It took several seconds for what her father was saying to sink in.
"What do you have to say for yourself? Because I've been bombarded by questions on what you were doing last night. I even heard rumour you were with a boy. Now you tell me right now what happened."
Videl had trouble even looking at her father right now. There was no big smile and hug, but just angry disappointment from him. So, she'd not only failed herself, but she'd failed her father as well.
"Nothing happened. I was out late and-"
"That is not going to happen again, do you hear me? Now, you've been running around fighting criminals for some time now, and I, as your father, am telling you enough is enough. I don't want to catch you out there with those kinds of violent psychopaths anymore, understand?" Mr. Satan more demanded then questioned.
Quietly, unable to find it within herself to resist, especially after what had just happened, Videl nodded painfully.
"Yes, father."
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Four Weeks Later:
School had turned into her only escape, at first. Everyone seemed so normal there. It sat uncomfortably with Videl every moment she was there, with her friends or even just in class. How could everyone just act so normally? Sometimes it was hard to keep her grip on what was going on. So far it'd been four weeks, only a few days from a month since everything had happened.
The worst part was finding out that everyone had heard about the fight with the alien worshipping cultists. That was the one part that stuck out most of all. The great Videl Satan, daughter of the strongest fighter in the world, was losing to a bunch of maniacs, and had to be bailed out by a mysterious boy, who was rumoured to have flown off with her.
Right now, she was experiencing the worst fate of all. Dealing with another dreamy eyed idiot. Ever since everyone found out some of the details of what happened with the crazies, some of the girls at school kept asking her what it was like to be saved by such a 'cute' or 'sexy' boy. Whoever it was to her, didn't look, or act very cute. Her stomach rarely could tolerate it. It was something she was perpetually fighting to forget, to leave in the past, and people seemed to idolize it. What was she supposed to say in response though? Admit that she got pushed around and then fucked by some alien?
"Hey Videl," Angela started, her big purple eyes brimming with an inquisitive nature.
It was able to be seen from a mile away. At least it wasn't as bad as when Erasa had asked her. Of all the people she'd not wanted to answer it was her best friend. Everyone just seemed to want to get lost in some romantic story. The rumour was that this alien, who none of them ever yet, was supposedly sweet and wonderful. Who the Hell spread rumours like this? Who dreamed of that? The only thing she felt was fear by the end of their encounter, and suddenly everyone else thinks she'd met some brilliant lover? Just what the fuck was wrong with people?
"Hey Angela," Videl responded, trying to sound normal. "What's up?"
Please don't ask that question, please?
"Well, I was just wondering. I know it's going to sound weird, but how often does someone just come down from the sky and rescue someone, you know? I uhm... well... Everyone is talking about how he must have been. I just wanted to know was he as cute in person as everyone's making him out to be in the video? I mean he was just dreamy looking. I can't believe how lucky you were."
Inside, Videl felt dead as she started emptily back towards Angela. The red head had almost broken something in his brain as she tried to reconcile the ridiculous image of what she was portraying, with the Saiyan who'd brutally beaten a dozen people, and then fought her in the freezing rain for several hours, before taking her back to a hotel room and... and...
Raping me.
There was finally the admission in her mind, taking it past one step and into the other. Videl realized she was still in public, still outside her locker, still looking at Angelica who was expecting some kind of answer. There was no way she could have some kind of breakdown right now. She had to stay strong. One day she'd be stronger then that alien as well, one day soon.
"Hello? Earth to Videl?" Angela asked, her features eagerly hunting for the answers to some fantasy she'd made in her own mind. "Well?"
Forcing a smile, Videl managed to stare back.
"Oh you know, he just picked me up. He seemed like the quiet type, they never have a lot to say."
Angela seemed to swoon.
"Oh wow, the quiet type? He's even dreamier then I thought. Strong and silent." she said. "Thanks a bunch Videl! I'll see you later!"
With that, the brief nightmare for Videl was over. The redhead ran past her down the hallway, trying to catch up with other friends. Left behind was a shaken Videl, staring back after her with a disbelieving face.
How could anyone think that monster was dreamy?
Standing there feeling uncomfortable, Videl shook it off before beginning to walk towards the end of the hall. After a few steps, she felt even more awkward then before. The world began to tilt almost, before her stomach began to try and reject something. Almost seizing, Videl felt helpless as she dry heaved once. Looking around in a panic, she saw next to the stairs the familiar salvation of the girls washroom. Without a moment to spare she ran, before shoving past two boys before plunging into the nearest stall. Helplessly, Videl felt hot liquid and half digested food expunge themselves from her stomach. It was after three or four lurches that she finally stopped, almost collapsing her head against the toilet bowel.
Breathing, she was able to ignore the vile smell now rising from the bowl in front of her. What the fuck was that all about? Was she sick? There was no way she'd be able to finish today after this. Not after having to deal with everyone acting the way they were as well. If she had the stomach flu, that just meant it was time to go to the doctor to get checked out.
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Twelve Days Later:
It was the third time she'd gone to Doctor Pille's office. She was of course the doctor Videl had been seeing for years now, ever since she seriously got involved with martial arts. One of the best in the city, and thanks to her dad, her doctor. Walking into the office, Videl knew she was a few minutes early for her appointment.
"Please just have a seat Ms. Satan," the receptionist responded, smiling cheerily.
Even while sitting down, Videl was just quiet and felt nervous. The last two visits they hadn't come up with anything. It was now almost two weeks and she still wasn't better. What could it be? Dread was settling in as she tried to get a hold of herself. She could be really, really sick. Maybe the alien had infected her with something even.
The idea began to make her feel even more nauseous then she was a moment earlier. For a moment she almost thought she'd throw up again until the receptionist's head perked up.
"Doctor Pille will see you now Videl."
Videl couldn't move fast enough into the office, sitting down in front of her doctor in rapid order, looking up as if waiting for a miraculous answer from her. The brunette across from her however, stood there with a folder, reading over notes. She looked up at Videl several times before walking over.
"Head up," she ordered.
Videl felt her doctor feel her glands again, before checking her temperature.
"You are still experiencing nausea?" came the blunt enquiry.
"Yes," Videl answered, almost breathlessly. "It's unbearable, I never know when it's going to happen."
Doctor Pille nodded.
"Well Videl, we've checked, you don't have a virus, you don't have an infection. You aren't displaying any signs of being sick beyond nausea. Have you had your period?"
It was then that Videl froze. Time slowed to a crawl as her eyes looked ahead, feeling as if they were staring into nothingness. Instead, they were staring at the place she was over a month ago. In a hotel room. Her period was late. But that could be caused by anything.
Including vomiting?
Suddenly Videl felt panic. It was visible on her face as well. This couldn't be happening to her. It just wasn't possible. That monster had infected her with something. But he was an alien. How could an alien get her pregnant? That didn't make any sense?
Pregnant.
Inhaling sharply, she looked at her Doctor, who just seemed to smile at her.
"Well, the question becomes have you been sexually active over the last-"
"Yes," Videl cut in. "Yes, I have."
There was no way she was going to just admit in front of anyone that she was so weak that she was overtaken by anyone. Because that's not how this should have happened. She wasn't just some defenceless girl. She didn't want anyone's pity. Instinctively and without even realizing it, one hand rested on her abdomen.
"We can test here if you'd like," Doctor Pille said professionally.
"Yes," Videl answered shortly, standing up and not saying another word.
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So, what did she say now?
So far she'd not told anyone what happened, but here she was. Now it was all coming to the fore and she was utterly helpless. If she said nothing, then she'd still be discovered in a few months. The second she'd learned, she knew she was going to keep the child. It wasn't out of any great moral reason however. It was the realization that she had been weak. It was a reminder that she'd never be this weak again. This condition was just a consequence of that weakness. There wasn't a counter argument in her own mind, because it was plainly true.
But now she was standing in front of her father, who was sitting there with a cigar in his hand and a glass of rum in his hand. Smoke trailed from the cigar as he stared up at his daughter, his eyes widened with surprise.
"Hey there sweet pea, uhm, you're kinda in the way of the television," Hercule said, now trying to look past her.
The World Champion's reaction to the news was going to be, well, it was going to be something definitely. Her father rarely got mad in truth, he was usually more then willing to let her do just about anything. The only exceptions came when she was seemingly in danger, or she could harm his image somehow. The last time he'd put his foot down had been a combination of the two. If she had beaten those cultists, if she'd been stronger, he wouldn't have forbidden her from doing vigilante work anymore.
"I know I'm in the way dad, but I've... I've got to tell you something," Videl said very quietly, trying to earn up the courage to say the next words.
The disinterested body language of her father didn't go away for several seconds as he continued to try and look around her further, before it was clear that he noticed just how tense she was. Making eye contact, the two placed their own positions in mind. It was almost impossible for her to even say anything as she looked at her father.
"There... there was a thing that happened," she started, before just tossing away all pretences of trying to explain it. "Dad, I'm pregnant."
Pausing, Videl studied his face for his reaction. It took several seconds to sink in. Shock slowly began to overwhelm his features before the World Champion stood on his two feet, looking at his daughter.
"Pregnant?" he asked, looking absolutely unable to grasp what was going on. "My little girl is pregnant? But... but..."
"Dad I-"
"What am I going to tell the media? Didn't I tell you not to hang around with boys?! This is going to look terrible! The world champion's daughter, a teenager, pregnant by some pencil neck from her school?"
The words slowly sank into Videl's mind as she looked at her father, and felt herself steel. She'd wanted support, maybe some comfort. Her father had always been so supportive before, before he got big and rich from the Cell Games. Everything had slowly become about him, and his image. Everything she did reflected on him somehow. There was no question as to how she got that way, he just assumed it was some pencil neck. There was one truth, he was right, it would look terrible for him to have a daughter who got pregnant, and was single, or with some other kid from her school. A bitter look past her features as she stared back at him.
This was her burden alone now.
"Of course, it's all about you isn't it?" Videl responded, her eyes now blazing with anger.
Almost immediately her father froze, looking back towards her with shocked eyes.
"You don't even care how it happened, all you care about is how it affects you. I just wanted to talk to you because I'm scared, alright? I'm scared and alone and everything's been getting worse. Nothing is working out, and I just wanted my dad to actually show some interest and maybe help me. Instead, all you are doing is exactly what you've done all the time since Cell. It's all about you. Well fine dad."
Turning quickly, Videl turned to leave the room only to find her father had grabbed her arm.
"Videl, sweep pea. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. Please don't be mad. I was just... I shouldn't have thought that way and I-"
"You always do," Videl said, ripping her arm from her father's grip as tears brimmed in her eyes. "And you're not sorry. If you were you'd change for once."
There wasn't another word that could leave her without a breakdown. Without letting anything else pass, Videl stiffly walked out of the room and up the stairs. Suddenly she felt trapped, not just in the hotel room, but in her very home. She was trapped at school, she was trapped here, and she was trapped in the room where this all happened. There was no escape for her anymore. She was now inside a nightmare that she'd not be able to wake up from.
With each step up the stairs, Videl quietly built resolve. This life was increasingly over for her, increasingly redundant. There needed to be an escape, and there needed to be a chance to become something more, something stronger then she was.
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Three Months Later:
The world came to life in an abrupt flash. Sitting up in bed quickly, Videl's breathing laboured as she tried to bring herself under control. Sweat trickled down her skin and she realized she was in a cold sweat. She was there again, there inside that room with him. The nightmares had haunted her every since it happened. Even now, months after everything, she couldn't even sleep in peace. At school everyone stared now, knowing her condition, it was plainly visible.
Her father had tried to be supportive, but it always felt hollow. It was always wrapped in his real lust for his own personal standing, rather then her well being. The situation had become increasingly unbearable. Carefully pulling herself from bed, Videl winced as she started to stand up, her back aching. Every night she woke up from the nightmares, she promised herself she'd just... run, run away from this place as fast as she could and never come back.
Every time the familiar setting kept her in place. Something felt different tonight. The moon was out and it was full. Something was almost drawing her towards it even. Ignoring the sensation, Videl went into the bathroom, dousing herself with cold water as she began trying to pull herself together to go back to sleep.
When her eyes came up into the mirror, she saw two faces staring back at her. One was proud and angry, trying to tell her it was time to leave. The other was meek and afraid, warning her she couldn't just leave. There was still school to consider. But her marks had already begun to slip, and her classmates had already become distant. In four months she'd have a child as well.
A child. What the Hell am I going to do with a baby?
The volume of that thought always seemed to lose it's meaning as the thought exited her mind. It didn't seem real yet, except that she couldn't train anymore. Her body was getting even weaker then it was before, which meant she'd have to train even harder once this was all over.
There was one click somewhere in her mind finally however. Placing her hand on the mirror, she knew that she had to escape. Somewhere, anywhere from where she was.
The next few moments were almost frantic, a case being filled with clothes and small valuables. Everything she left behind would be left in the past, and maybe she could somehow move forward with her life.
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Three and a Half Months Later: New East City
It wasn't comfortable. At least it wasn't comfortable the way things were back at her old home. To say her new home, an apartment, was modest, would be a kind way of saying relatively poor. The night she'd left had been liberating in a way words couldn't describe. The weight of the world felt like it was finally off her shoulders. In her escape, she'd wired a sum of money from her father's account into one of her own. But the thing was, of course, that money had to last. School had disappeared for her. What mattered was taking care of herself, and then training as soon as she could.
While idle, she'd begun to look into the people who participated in the Cell Games along side her father. The men who could fly and use special powers like Cell. Or as her father, used tricks like Cell used. What had come of it was weeks of fact finding. She ordered books and old newspapers, trying to follow anything about any of these warriors.
The three most famous of them were Son Goku, the warrior Tien Shinhan, and the Demon King Piccolo. It was stunning to her that this hadn't been made more obvious. Son Goku and Demon King Piccolo had destroyed the ring of the old World Martial Arts Tournament. Tien Shinhan had been a world champion as well, and fought against both Son Goku and King Piccolo. These were not people performing tricks, these were people who had mastered the same thing the Saiyan had. Her father must have been just incredibly physically powerful to have defeated anyone even like these men without their special powers.
It didn't matter however, as she wasn't looking into who defeated Cell. She was looking into who trained these people.
Sitting down at her wooden table, and looking out her apartment window, Videl sighed. She'd barely met anyone out here yet, and she was constantly afraid they'd recognize her anyway. So far all her efforts to find the Turtle Master had failed. Which had made her begin her search for the next alternative. Someone by the name of Crane Master Shen. If she could find this man, then perhaps she could convince him to teach her what she wished to know.
There was a sharp pain in her abdomen as she felt the child still inside her kick. Wincing, Videl placed her hand over her abdomen. Only a few more weeks and this would be over. It was frustrating feeling so helpless. The fact she was planning all this training meant she would need to figure out what she was going to have done with the child. The offspring which was coming to her because of her own weakness. So far she'd felt... close... to whatever was growing inside of her. The doctor she'd found in East City had so far been helpful, and told her so far the baby looked healthy. It was a relief of course. It was hers however, and not in any way the father's child. There was no reason for whoever this was to ever even know what kind of monster had a hand in their creation.
After she found either the Turtle Master, or the Crane Master, or even one of the fighters that took place in the Cell Games, she would train and become proficient enough that she would find the Saiyan who did this, the one who so casually threatened the Earth itself, and make him pay for all of this. Then, she would defeat her father, and be the strongest in the world. As the strongest, no one could ever hurt her again, especially not in the way she'd been hurt so far.
The nightmares still followed her. Even now they still followed her. Being alone, helpless, entirely at the mercy of that beast. The look in his eyes while he stared through her was unbearable, but those eyes haunted her.
Looking ahead for a moment, Videl just breathed in and then out. She was strong. One day, she'd be able to show the world just how strong.
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Two Weeks Later:
It was unbearable.
Another painful contraction overtook her and Videl felt like she was about to collapse into herself. She had no composure left. Her head threw back as she almost screamed.
"You're doing fine, it won't be long now. Just push Videl," the doctor advised. "Breathe in, get ready, and start pushing again. We're all here for you Videl."
The hospital lights bothered her eyes after being here for hours. Everything about this place made her want to die, and the fact she was here all alone, except for hospital staff, was telling. There was no Erasa or Sharpener, her father wasn't here, it was just her, and her alone.
Within the next few minutes however, her ordeal ended. There was crying within seconds. Videl was so oblivious of the world around her she could barely concentrate. Everything became a haze as the doctor loomed over her.
"You did very well Videl, it looks a baby girl. Congratulations."
A baby girl, and she was hers.
"I want to name her Pan."
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One Year Later:
The crying was unbearable. Every time she was away, Pan would cry. It was impossible to train. She found herself in need of moving almost immediately after the birth, now to the countryside. Thankfully the property had come cheap enough, but it was all overwhelming. How could she get stronger while constantly having to tend to Pan? It was so hard to cope sometimes she didn't know if she could do it. But somehow, at least in her own eyes, she managed it. Pan was hers. She loved her daughter, she really did. It was true she was a burden however, but it was also true she was a burden she willingly took on.
It was necessary to remind her of how vulnerable she'd been, of how weak she was. It was her job now to be strong, not just to defend herself, but to defend her daughter. She was actively looking for someone to take care of Pan over the next two weeks, just because she was going to have to make a journey to the Crane Dojo as soon as she could. After that, who knew where things would take her? But what what really important was strength. Even now she was trying her best to remind herself not to be upset that Pan was crying.
Outside of her small dome house, Pan sighed, looking towards the building which contained the crying child. With hesitation, she finally answered her daughter's calls. She wished more then anything she could somehow reason with the baby. Of course that was a pipe dream and she knew it. Moving into the house, Videl walked into her daughter's room, finding the crying child in her crib. Reaching down, she pulled up the adorable little girl a second later.
"Shhhh, cut that out," she urged as the child began to slowly cease her cries.
It was a call for attention, and it made Videl almost groan. Kids were so needy. It was a responsibility she had placed on herself, of course, but that didn't stop her from wishing it weren't the case. Now that she was here, the second she left Pan would start to cry again. Looking towards the window, Videl idly wondered just how things were going to go once she left for the dojo.
Whatever the cost, Pan would have to cope without her with the guardians until she could sort that out. She needed to find out how these fighters and aliens did what they did.
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"And who are you?" the old man questioned, his eye hidden by sunglasses.
This was clearly him, he didn't look a day older from over twenty years ago, but this was the man known as the Crane Master, also known as Shen. He stood there with his arms behind his back, and his body at a complete calm.
It'd taken days, by foot, to find her way here from the local village. The Crane School was located in a remote area of the mountains. It was surprisingly... hard... to leave Pan with Sharpener and Erasa. A lot of the time she found herself climbing through rocks and trekking through the forest, Videl couldn't help but let her mind wander to her daughter. It was something she never expected to plague her so. Every time she felt the urge to turn around, she needed to remind herself that it absolutely necessary to do this. Pan was a complex conundrum. She couldn't afford the time to really care for her, and deep down she knew it, but she also could never give her up.
"I am Videl Satan, and I am here to learn the martial arts from the Crane Master," Videl said, looking stern despite her short height and seemingly light frame.
A small smile crept across the old man's face, clearly not taking her seriously.
"And why should I allow you to train in my school? What would you sacrifice for power?"
"Anything," Videl quickly responded.
A terrible glint reflected off his sunglasses, before he nodded.
"Very well, welcome to the Crane School."
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Thirteen Months Later:
What was supposed to have taken a few weeks to a month, turned into over a year. The training had been intense. Everything she'd learned about fighting seemingly had to be relearned, including the unlocking of the power, the 'ki' inside of her. It was gruelling, and at times almost overwhelming. Master Crane was far from a kind master, and it was made clear to her he would call upon her one day as a means to his own ends. That was the price she had to pay, she was indebted to him. But that debt was easily worth what she had learned.
Focusing her energy to increase her strength, focusing her energy to defy gravity, performing great leaps or even flight, and even focusing that energy into a devastating series of energy waves. It was remarkable to her just how lost she was under her father's tutelage. Her strikes even needed work, everything about her own form was flawed, it all needed to be relearned. Now however, now she was reborn. The old, weak Videl who had let that Saiyan do what he did? That Videl was gone, replaced by a superior being. As soon as she could find him, she would make him pay for all the things he'd done to others.
But for now? Now she was back in East City, heading towards her friend Erasa's house. Erasa, the friend she'd not contacted in almost thirteen months. Erasa, the woman who was supposed to care for her daughter for at most a month. It was the price for power though. There was no opportunity to turn back. It was something she realized as soon as her training had begun, which meant that everything else needed to be a secondary priority, even Pan.
But now she was back, and now she could start getting back to her normal life. Standing outside of Erasa's townhouse door, Videl knocked on the white front door, waiting for her friend to open it. Inside she could hear voices.
"Who is that?" Sharpener asked.
"I don't know, just have Pan ready for when we're going out today. Remember, her grandpa wants to see her this week for the first time. With Videl gone, she's best in his hands anyway," Erasa said, opening the door a second later.
The two women stared at one another. Videl passively, with almost a judging stare, and Erasa in shock.
"Videl?" she whispered before the realization hit her. "Oh my god! You're alive!"
Well of course she was alive. Why wouldn't she have been?
"Of course, what did you think?" Videl asked, sounding annoyed.
"What did I think?" Erasa asked in response, looking like she was restraining herself. "What did I think? Videl, you've been gone for over a year. You came by and dropped off Pan for a 'few weeks' and then you are gone, without a word?! Are you completely crazy? What the Hell happened?! We've been taking care of Pan this whole time not sure what the Hell we were supposed to do! We thought you were dead!"
It wasn't a profound realization of wrongdoing that Videl felt, or shame that she'd left her daughter in the care of friends for such an extended period. What Videl felt in those moments of accusation, was anger. It was an anger at the fact that her friend would speak to her this way, when she was trying to do something incredibly important. Sometimes people had to make sacrifices. How dare she judge her?
"I am here for Pan," Videl responded icily. "Not to be attacked for taking a little longer when I was-"
"It's been over a year!-"
"Not to be attacked for training to protect my daughter! Don't you get it? Don't you know about the freaks and monsters out there? They can fly, and shoot energy out of their hands Erasa! Just what the Hell was I supposed to do?" Videl demanded. "I had to learn, I had to get stronger. If I didn't it could happen again. I'm never going to be weak again. Now I'm here for Pan."
Erasa gave her friend a sad look.
"Flying? Throwing energy? Videl... are you alright? Everyone knows those kinds of things are tricks. Look, we're taking Pan to her grandfather's. I don't even know what's wrong with you, but you need help Videl. Maybe instead of going on some journey to find yourself, you should have raised your daughter. You know, the daughter everyone asked you if you really wanted. She's not even seen you half her life Videl! I don't even know if I want to see you again after all of this. Get. Help," Erasa urged.
She thinks I'm crazy.
It was impossible to hold back. A blue-white aura began to run off her body, licking off her skin and twisting up almost like a smokey light. Stepping towards her friend defiantly, Videl locked her gaze on Erasa. The former friend looked utterly lost at what she was seeing.
"I am not crazy," Videl announced, before looking up. "Now where is my daughter?"
Erasa looked at her, now beginning to appear fearful, her eyes looking towards the steps behind her.
"Videl don't do-"
Without another word, Videl shoved past her.
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Two Years Later:
Distressed, laboured breathing wracked Videl's sleeping form. Sweat beaded on her skin as she tossed and turned from side to side. A struggled, desperately fearful noise escaped a moment later. It was only when the door nob twisted open and a voice entered the real world, did Videl escape her nightmares.
"Mommy?"
Eyes shot open as Videl sat up abruptly, her eyes looking everywhere desperately. Trembles couldn't stop as she let out shaky breaths. It was impossible to keep it all back. She didn't have pleasant dreams anymore. She seemed to have nights void of dreams, or wracked with nightmares. Her nightmares were all the same however, always on top of a roof, or in a hotel room, trapped in there with the man she was powerless against. For the first time in her life, she hadn't had any control at all.
Looking at the clock as she started to snap out of it, Videl saw it was 1:30 am. Inside she just did her best to remind herself she was in her home. As soon as that realization began to sink in, the urge to train was overwhelming. It was the only thing for her after the nightmares. It was the only way she could feel like she was doing something to combat her weakness. But it was then that she heard the tiny void again from the crack in her door.
"Mommy?"
Pan.
Turning her heard towards her daughter, the little girl in her pyjamas walked towards the bed cautiously. Her face was written with sadness.
"Mommy I had a bad dream."
The words were heavy on Videl as she looked at her little girl. The brown fuzzy tail flicking behind her with a sense of stress and anxiety. Slowly getting out of bed, Videl made her way towards Pan, meeting her halfway between the bed and door. Picking up the four year old, she held the little girl with well toned arms, before beginning to walk out of her own room, and towards Pan's.
"It's alright, everything is okay honey," Videl sighed. "Dreams can't hurt you."
It was painful to lie to her daughter like that. But it was better to lie to her right now and get her back to sleep. After that, all Videl knew she could do was go outside and train until she couldn't stand. After that, she could maybe find some slumber again. Sweet, dreamless slumber without an hint of her life or memories in it.
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Two Months Later:
It was finally announced. Her father had purposely postponed the tournament for years now. Clearly he felt the time was now to make his triumphant return to the ring in order to not only defend his title, but obtain publicity.
It was a bitter taste that came to her mouth as she listened to the radio. Her father was a fraud. Not only was he obsessed with his career, but there was no way he could have defeated Cell. Master Shen, the Crane Master, had told her himself. Now understanding the power in her very fingertips, she knew how right he was. Her father was a skilled warrior, but she was easily five, perhaps ten times his superior. The Saiyan she'd fought almost five years ago was likely, at that time, ten times stronger then she was. After all, he'd mastered flight and energy projection.
There wasn't a hope fighting against a beast like that unless you had the same kind of power. Her father clearly took the credit from the world's greatest hero, Goku. The man who had defeated King Piccolo at the World Martial Arts Tournament.
Another nightmare had woken her up, and now she was preparing to train outside once again. Walking over, she turned off the radio before walking outside. She would have to train harder then she ever had to increase her strength enough to prepare herself for the coming tournament. She had no idea who would be there. Goku, the saviour of the world could even appear. It wasn't just a matter of defeating her father, it was a matter of winning. The nightmares wouldn't stop until she knew she was the strongest in the world.
Once outside, Videl breathed in the cold night air and just sighed, looking up towards the full moon. The body which orbited the Earth radiated light down, reflected from the sun. Breathing in and out several times, Videl prepared herself, bringing her energy near the surface, tensing her toned muscles. The forest and trees around her would be the ones who were punished.
"Mommy?"
Turning her head, Videl looked towards her daughter walking out of the home. It was becoming increasingly hard to not get mad when Pan interrupted her. It was hard to explain to a four year old why she needed peace and quiet to do what she did. How could she concentrate with Pan constantly around? It would be great once she could fend for herself more. It was probably the strange 'moon sickness' her daughter suffered from. On nights with the full moon, Pan always felt unwell. The only reason she even knew was because Videl had just traced the days where Pan got like this.
"Pan, go back inside," Videl responded. "I'm very busy right now."
"Will you read me a story?" her daughter requested.
"No Pan, go back to bed. I'm busy right now, you'll have to wait," Videl quickly reprimanded. "Just go to sleep, I don't see why that is so hard to do."
The crushing disappointment on her daughter's face was hard for her to ignore. It didn't move her enough however, to change her position. Pan always wanted bedtime stories, and all this attention, it was hard to get anything else done. She fed her, she kept a roof over her head, why the Hell did they always want more?
A second later, Videl noticed her daughter sniffle several times.
"You're mean," Pan finally accused.
Anger was what Videl felt next. She was mean? Mean for what? Making sure she was strong enough to protect her? Mean for making sure she was taken care of? No, she was mean because she didn't want to get dragged away, again, from something important. With her patience stretched to the limit, Videl hardened her look at her daughter.
"Pan, go to bed now."
"No!"
So, that was it? The sudden hostility wasn't something Videl could understand. But it was reality, and she could clearly see it staring back at her. Now showing her own anger, Videl turned to Pan.
"I'm not going to tell you again Pan, go back inside, and go to bed!"
This time Pan didn't respond, her eyes looking towards the sky, absolutely mesmerized by it, her features seemingly being drawn into the moon itself. Videl didn't know what was wrong until Pan didn't seem to move at all.
"Pan? I was talking to you."
Still nothing.
A moment later, Videl's heart began to race as she froze in place.
The furious, inhuman snarl that echoed out over the remote area which she lived, began one of the most terrifying moments of her life.
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Gohan:
Where am I?
The void was dark all around Gohan, before slowly a light began to illuminate the world around him. What was revealed was an empty street inside the city known as "West City". Buildings were badly damaged and left in complete ruin. Whatever hit this place was no natural disaster. It was likely caused by energy attacks, or primitive munitions. Looking down, he saw his feet, clad in Saiyan boots. Gloved hands moved up a moment later as he appraised his attire. It was the same familiar armour he wore to this world. It was great to have his armour again.
Looking ahead, Gohan started to walk down the barren street. Inside of every shadow around him however, he began to hear whispers. Inside each whisper was something he couldn't describe. They were all talking about him. Every time he turned his head towards a ruined structure, looking into the shadows, the noises stopped. It was unnerving to feel like he was surrounded. The only thing keeping all those voices and from descending on him was the light in the sky, lighting up this wrecked battlefield.
It just meant he had to keep walking towards the light, that's all.
"The rest of them are cowards," an all too familiar voice sounded. "Too afraid to come out of the shadows to face their killer. But rejoice Gohan, for your end is soon at hand."
Footsteps ceased at the words as Gohan turned towards the place of origin of the sound. It was a voice he'd not heard in years. The last time he'd heard it, it was a voice screaming in agony as he tore his throat out. Standing next to one of the ruins in his Saiyan Armour, Gohan looked into the eyes of the man who helped him purge his first world, the man who told him he was 'chosen' to replace his son. It was Paragus.
Narrowing his eyes, Gohan just turned his body to face him.
"So all those voices are afraid of me? I can't say I'm saddened by being feared. And if you thought you were safe from me Paragus, I'm about to prove you very, very wrong."
The shadows in the ruins around them seemed to twist and spike for a moment, expanding over more and more of the world. It was quick and dramatic, giving Gohan a moment of hesitation as he looked around with his eyes only, carefully trying to gauge the threat that these whispering shadows may be. Everything about them suddenly unsettled him. It was like the dark recesses of his mind, pouring out into the open for him to see and hear.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. You were great once. You could have been a true legend, and now instead you are regulated to this pathetic existence. Look at you on this world. Afraid to even confront those two pathetic creatures who dare to claim to be your parents," Paragus mocked. "Our revenge will be upon you soon. You can feel it, can't you? You know it's coming and it will be remarkable. If only I could have lived long enough to see the day of your fall, and the fall of everything you care about. Your many betrayals will have a reckoning, and there is nothing you can do about it."
What revenge could Paragus even be talking about? Gohan felt no fear from the pathetic wretch with a power level of less then 10,000.
"Hah, I'm hardly intimidated by the likes of you, Paragus," Gohan retorted bluntly. "Things have changed a great deal since we last met."
The Saiyan staring back at him just began to smile however, looking pleased with himself. Closing his eyes a moment later, Paragus confidently just started to chuckle.
"Do you really think that my revenge against you is so weak? The repayment for your sins, for your betrayals Gohan, will be paid by everyone on this world and a thousand beyond it. Because he is coming."
There was a moment where Gohan felt himself wonder if this was all just a dream, or some kind of premonition. Even just staring at the typically smug Paragus, Gohan could only stand in wonder as the shadows slowly began to dominate the buildings. Even the light in the distance could do nothing to halt their movement.
"You are a failure Gohan. You always have been. But I was a fool to think I even needed you. Legends do not die. Legends do not need to be avenged. They are unstoppable, invincible, and make echoes throughout space and time. Soon Gohan, you will face what you could have been were you not a scared, foolish child! You should feel honoured you will get the dignity of a death at the hands of a god."
Suddenly, the black inky shadows came into contact with his feet. Gohan felt himself try to move but his body wouldn't respond. Slowly he felt himself beginning to sink into the shadows as the whispers began to loudly reappear in his mind. He could finally hear them. It wasn't one thing being spoken, but millions. It was pain, grief, fear, anger, and outrage. They were the voices of billions of people, of thousands of languages, all wrapped together and crying out at once. They were condemning him with their voices.
"Soon they will do more then just condemn you with words Gohan," Paragus laughed. "Soon you will understand the pain and betrayal we felt. You will be given no peace... and then after all that you will die."
"I'll kill you again if I have to!" Gohan shouted furiously as he continued to sink into the inky darkness. The light above the ruined city began to dim however, the further he sank into the paralysing shadow.
Then the world was nothing but darkness. There was nothing in it. Gohan couldn't move, but he couldn't see anything either, not even himself. It felt like thousands of fingers were being drawn over him as the whispers grew only worse, until he started to pick out individual voices.
"Please! Please don't kill me!"
"My family, please don't kill my family!"
"Anything, I'll do anything, just don't do this to us!"
"Why?! Why are you doing this?!"
Millions of others began to swarm in. They were the cries of his victims beginning for mercy. Suddenly his body began to get pulled violently through the ocean of darkness, pulling him further down, and further down. He felt like he was drowning. Suddenly, he realized he was drowning.
"You monster! Don't you care that was my family you just killed?!"
"You... you killed my son! WHY?! How?!"
"Commander Gohan, please, I couldn't finish the job because-"
"All we want is to be left alone!"
Desperately Gohan tried to throw his head in the direction of each word as he was assailed by thousands of voices all at once, as more and more voiced their grievances, more and more heaping onto him. He couldn't breath, he couldn't speak. Desperately he tried to make out who it was speaking to him in the darkness. Everything was overwhelming. What could he say to them? What would possibly change anything? Why feel bad if there was nothing you could do?
Make it stop.
His own thoughts finally rolled through his mind, trying to get the voices to stop, trying to cease the agony of what he was feeling. The agony of guilt. Something he'd avoided for so much, for so long, was finally coming to him.
In a climatic moment, the whispers stopped finally as Gohan's arms finally gave in to his commands, reaching to his head and face and holding his head, trying to cope with the turmoil within. Painful moments flashed before his eyes still. No long reliving these moments in whispers and words, but in flashes of light and noise.
Worlds burned, bodies broke, and all Gohan could do was watch himself commit these atrocities in brief moments.
It was all necessary, all of it was for his own survival. Survival was the most important thing in the universe. But was his survival worth all the pain and suffering he'd inflicted on others? Was it worth everyone he'd betrayed and killed? Why was he so important?
Increasingly he admitted that his survival wasn't so important. If anything, all his survival did was perpetuate more misery, even to those who he didn't kill.
There was one last whisper before the darkness began to drag him back into the darkness.
"Finish it, Gohan."
Without any control over the pain, Gohan screamed out, desperately trying to cling to anything as the darkness began to overwhelm him from the inside out, the whispers from the dead and damned becoming foul shrieks and furious cries of vengeful anger as they began to dig into his body.
Without able to help it, Gohan almost began to flail, before something reached into the darkness, grabbing his hand firmly.
"Gohan."
With a desperate gasp for air, his lungs feeling ragged and worn, Gohan's eyes shot open as Piccolo pulled him up from where he was laying on his couch.
"Piccolo?"
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It was something Piccolo had felt was his duty since it was announced earlier in the day. In several months time, there would be a World Martial Arts Tournament for the first time in years. The main attraction wasn't any prize money, or facing the 'world champion', but it was to test everything he'd become in a real battle against his friend Goku. What that did mean however, was over the coming weeks, he'd have to train harder then he had in the preceding years. Fortunately, there was one fighter he knew of who had not only ample time, but ample room to train. Training with Goku would be counter productive, as he was preparing to face his old rival, and he wanted to give him at least one or two surprises. Training with Gohan however would push him to his very limit, and give him a chance to develop new techniques.
Flying over North City, Piccolo noted the full moon in the sky, his black eyes locking onto it. Something felt strange about tonight's moon. It was probably just him feeling strange for no reason. Even while approaching the apartment which Gohan resided in however, Piccolo heard something akin to struggling breaths. It was when the scream echoed through the air that Piccolo became concerned. A white aura burning around him, Piccolo shot towards the residence, white cape fluttering behind him.
Looks like training won't get started until tomorrow, if at all at this rate.
When Piccolo touched down on the balcony, he looked past the screen door to see Gohan laying on the couch, his hands on his head as he withered helplessly on the couch. Walking inside, suddenly Gohan began to cry out in what was a mix of agony and terror. It was unnerving to even hear. Without a second thought, Piccolo reached down, grabbing Gohan's hand and forearm firmly.
"Gohan," The Namek said in a straight forward tone, pulling him forward.
Limply the body pulled up, breathing heavily. Gohan's eyes opened after several pained moments.
"Piccolo?" Gohan asked, sounding almost weak.
Piccolo didn't answer, instead releasing Gohan's hand. Looking down at him, the Namekian tried his best to just try and understand what Gohan must have been going through to make screams like that. Whatever it was, it was clearly something deeply troubling. Piccolo only ever had one answer for that, which was the reason he came here, training. But the main problem was that answer didn't seem like it was actually the answer this time.
Blinking, Piccolo almost couldn't believe as Gohan started to tremble. It looked entirely involuntary.
"I-w..." Gohan even struggled for a moment to speak, looking distressed, his features tightening as he tried to get a hold of himself.
"Are you alright Gohan?" Piccolo asked reluctantly.
It was the worst question he could ask Gohan. Firstly, the Saiyan would just further try to conceal his wounds. Instead of being outwardly dismissive, Gohan looked almost as if he wasn't there. Something had truly almost attacked him in his slumber.
"No," Gohan finally answered, still trembling as he looked up at Piccolo. "I... They... I didn't..."
Once again Gohan couldn't form words, leaving Piccolo to try and guess internally what was even happening.
"I came here to see if you wanted to train kid, that's it. Take a minute, get yourself together, and then we'll go. It'll take your mind off whatever just happened-"
"I killed them," Gohan interjected quickly, looking at Piccolo with widened eyes. "I killed all of them. I heard them. They were all out there, screaming for mercy and demanding revenge. They are all waiting to judge me."
Unable to continue looking towards him, the young Saiyan turned his head away.
So, that was it. The ex-planet trade officer looked spooked still, still trembling. There was a real fear of what he would face the day he died. Piccolo knew that fear all too well himself, given that the spirit of his father King Piccolo still resided within him. But for him, those fears had been long alleviated. For Gohan, they could never be washed away. Gohan had caused so much pain and death there was unlikely any was for him to escape the judgement he clearly feared. It wasn't the truth he could tell him right now.
"What matters Gohan, is not how they'll judge you when it happens," Piccolo said seriously. "It's what you can do in the meantime. You can't do anything for all the people you've killed, they are dead and gone. What you can do is live, and fight for those who are still alive. You may never find absolution, but you can live with honour knowing that you did everything within your power to make a real difference."
Slowly, Gohan stopped trembling at the words. Quietly standing next to him still, Piccolo could only observe as Gohan almost seemed to escape back inside himself.
"I don't think I can train tonight, Piccolo," he answered quietly. "But thank you for coming."
It was utterly bizarre to receive a thank you from Gohan, which made Piccolo further concerned.
"Well, you won't be thanking me soon. Pack your bags, even if we don't train tonight, I need someone to spar with for a few months," Piccolo remarked. "I need to be ready to face off against Goku, and probably Vegeta."
There was almost no response from Gohan, but he nodded. Somewhere, Piccolo felt some level of relief that the younger warrior was agreeing to come with him. It wasn't the training he was concerned over anymore, but Gohan's mental well being if nothing else.
"I don't want to be in this apartment anymore anyway," Gohan answered quietly. "Fine, sure. Where are we going?"
"The Lookout."
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Outside East City:
Thundering booms echoed throughout the forest as a massive brown furred beast stomped over the woods, howling out as it ruthlessly smashed and destroyed everything in its path.
Floating in the air a hundred metres away, Videl breathed in with exhaustion. It took her everything she had to lure Pan away from the city, even the rural outskirts which they lived in. It seemed unreal. The rampaging monster, something seemingly as tall as a mountain, was her daughter. A news helicopter had almost been shot down when it got too close, because her daughter fired a giant death ray from her mouth.
Even in the forest, there was too much damage she could do. The idea of hurting Pan, even like this, was something Videl wasn't comfortable with. But the biggest question of all was how did it come to this? How did her daughter, seemingly for no reason on a full moon, turning into a giant monster? This must have been something her Saiyan father was responsible for. But it didn't tell her how it would stop. Did it go away when the moon went down?
It didn't matter.
With another roar, the beast fired another random bolt of hostile energy towards what seemed to be nothing, just for the sake of destruction. This couldn't go on. Right now, all she hoped was that she was strong enough to stop this, but weak enough to not hurt Pan. Flying towards the beast as fast as she could, Videl slammed her elbow into it's stomach. The thundering crack of the impact from where she'd focused her energy left the beast utterly still. With a long, drawn out groan, it fell to its knees, trembling. What came next through its massive nostrils sounded almost like crying, like a child who had accidentally hurt themselves in the middle of a game.
"I'm sorry," Videl whispered, before flying back in, and punching the huge beast across the jaw.
With her head falling back. Pan's entire body slipped back, sliding against the dirt below before the huge frame collapsed on a set of innocent trees which had yet to be destroyed. Two huge arms now lay sprawled out to her sides. Videl landed beside the giant beast, breathing in calmly. Much stronger then anything she'd ever faced before, but still no match for her training. What kind of horror could a fully mature Saiyan do like that?
Still, all she could do was wait here, hoping that no one else came looking this close to the pathway of destruction until morning broke. In the morning, she could only hope that her daughter would awaken as she was, with the full moon no longer in the sky. Sitting down and resting her back against Pan, Videl just felt herself frown and let her own head fall back. There was a sudden, and brief want for a life that was normal. Maybe even a life where she didn't have Pan.
Silently, looking up at the full moon herself, Videl just wished everything would somehow be fixed by the arrival of morning.
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A/N: Those of you familiar with my other story, The Catalyst, wll know that over December there is very unlikely to be any updates. There is a chance that I will update The Long Road during December, but if so it will only be once. It is the busiest time of year for me, so I am unlikely to get you guys many updates during that time :(
So lemme know what you think of the story so far, because likely this will be it until the New Year, barring a breakthrough where I get like... 8 chapters done over the next 3 weeks, lol
Writer's Message:
Given I may not be able to update during December, I just wanted to leave a message for everyone regarding my stories.
I think it's appropriate that I put this in here, because I want people to know how I write. My stories are planned very thoroughly, to the point where my planning notes are often longer then chapters. I've written and discussed literally thousands of pages for this story and The Catalyst so far. These stories are designed in such a way to tell the story they are being written for. So I want anyone to know who reads this, this story has a beginning, and an ending. It is just a matter of my writing it all out. Some things change a little along the way, but there will be a conclusion to this story if I can but write to it. My stories are not just going to be written to appeal to everyone, or to just keep on going.
There will be an ending eventually.
Eventually, the cast will finish their journey down the Long Road. I am just glad you guys are wanting to take the ride along with them on the journey, and I as the author am happy that you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoy writing it. I still have dozens of chapters to write. I just want everyone to know that I don't do this just as some kind of fan-service, or to make some people happy, even reviewers. I write it for lots of reasons, but I try to at least hope that I have demonstrated integrity to make this story believable, and intriguing to read.
I would like to say though, the fact you all enjoy it only inspires me to write it more, and push further ahead. So even though I write this story to complete it, the support you've shown me does make writing each chapter a bit more of a joy. But I did want people to know that there is a plan, and that I have a story, from beginning to end, to tell. The story won't be prolonged just to draw things out. It will be what it needs to be. It will tell the story I want it to tell.
Thank you so far for all your interest.
Reviewers:
ShMikeX: That'll get revealed over the coming chapters. :)
Eveline: I don't think Goten understanding Gohan would change a lot of his feelings, and at the end of the day, Gohan was still a monster. Just because he's remorseful, we can't forget he's slaughtered billions of sentient creatures for his own gain, and in many cases with a vicious kind of saddism. Yes, the environment is to blame, but it doesn't stop what Gohan kinda was, and in some ways still is.
Aoj95: Well, I think this chapter answered that question. Rape doesn't need to be violent. Gohan certainly did exploit Videl, and forced her essentially into having sex with him through intimidation. That is, well, rape.
Deflow: Wonder no more! XD
Perfect Carnage: The left side of the PC line? I don't understand. -_-
Maesde: You got it right! :D
xdevil-childx: Wait no longer! Wait a second... wait again! Because now you must wait for Chapter 21! lol
RedHunter87: Don't worry, everything I've got coming up will surprise the shit out of you, and hopefully everyone else. With what I've got planned, I really hope people are blind sided by the next 3 sagas, lol
dbzfan the first: I'll try.
Epanapa: Google translate is awesome-
¡Muchas gracias!
OpenSourceArtist: I fixed that one, but thanks for letting me know. I hate the fact Gohan and Goku have such similiar names! XD
Ness Frost: Piccolo is the best babysitter. As if your kid is an asshole, you know he'll be lost alone in the woods somewhere, lol
Jarno: The Ox King's Mountain was destroyed by Master Roshi, and in the anime Chi-Chi is desperate for Goku or Gohan to win the WMAT, because of needing the money to continue to raise her children.
Guest1: Scary, I know right? Lol
Guest2: Thanks! I'll do my best! :)
Guest3: I can't reveal that yet! :P
Guest4: Don't worry, there are still many mountains to climb while the heroes walk down The Long Road... There are going to be more then a few surprises coming up, I promise. I've got plans for Seven major "Sagas". If I can get through all of them, I'll be very proud of myself. But worry not, there are plenty of... interesting developments.
IK: I don't see any reason to include sex scenes.
Guest5: No, it's not okay, as I am unlikely to have the desire to write a story like that.
Dances in the Twilight: I do my best to update frequently. :)
iHeartGohan: I think I may have responded by PM. Sadly, I am a terrible artist. I'd love to draw TLR Gohan, but I am honestly not really able to do so :(
SSJ Pikachu: I did too :)
fal: I pointed out that Goku is too kind and often gave too much away, and Chi-Chi is the princess of rubble. :(
Re fal: Don't worry, I can respond to critics, and answer questions. The question of Goku's and Chi-Chi's wealth is valid, and I think that I've come to a reasonable scenario. I'm glad you like the story enough to defend it.
RoxaShadow: Yea, I thought that part was classic as well. Piccolo is easily my favourite character to write so far.
Daughter of Vegeta: I certainly hope it is! I put a lot of effort into this! XD