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 21: The World Martial Arts Tournament

Gohan:

So, this was the day of this supposedly big tournament. It was really only going to be made big by the fact Kakarot, Piccolo and Vegeta were going to show up. Every other competitor was going to be utterly incapable of harming any of them in the ring. This was the event that Piccolo had been training for however, so it was Gohan's business to remain at least someone informed as to what was going on. Right now, if he were to guess, he would presume Kakarot... or Goku, as Piccolo kept referring to him as, would win today's tournament. The Namek was strong, very strong, and very smart, but for all that he knew Kakarot was stronger.

They'd finished the last morning of training together hadn't been overly eventful, other then showing him just how far Piccolo had pushed himself for this event. It seemed important to him, which in some way seemed to make it significant to Gohan as well. The idea that Piccolo seemed eager to fight Kakarot of all people was utterly confusing to him. It wasn't training either, this fight could prove to be brutal, really anything short of killing the other. It seemed almost like something driven by honour, and respect. It was something Gohan couldn't understand. Fighting had never been something he drew joy from. Sometimes he drew malicious entertainment from it, but only when it was no longer a fight, and those days had long since passed as an example of how he should behave. It was something he didn't understand.

With his feet still bare, finding fighting in primitive human footwear to be more bothersome then helpful, Gohan sat on the edge of the Lookout, looking down at the planet below. Everything had changed so much, and nothing was what he ever imagined his life to have ended up like. Living on a backwards world, being utterly unimportant, just surviving and making it through every day, it all would have been almost repulsive to him before. Instead, the only thing he held in his life was emptiness. The holes his previous life had kept covered were now exposed for all the world to see. He was an empty creature with little purpose. Now years after leaving his old life kicking and screaming, he was being subject to the nightmares he'd created for others.

Sleep was now his enemy more then anything else, because when he shut his eyes he had no idea what would come. Billions of victims had yet to take their toll on him. The people he'd killed for his own gain, for his own survival, were intent in his dreams to show him the same mercy he showed them. In other words, no mercy at all.

Standing behind him, he sensed the Namekian standing there.

"You should join the tournament as well," Piccolo said bluntly. "Or at the very least you should come to watch."

It confused him why the Namek was always so intent on giving him advice, or trying to him him. It baffled him as to why anyone on this world was like this. They all seemed so selfless, and it wasn't just a cover for ulterior motives. Everyone he met seemed to want to help one another, save for criminal elements. Even Piccolo was trying to help him. But what did he gain from it? How did it help him? Was it because he now had a superior training partner? But he'd helped him for much longer then it was logical if that were the case. This Namekian, this individual named Piccolo, had tried to help him indirectly a dozen times, and directly more then once. It wasn't the same soft kind of help Kakarot or Chi-Chi offered either. It was all rough, direct, and very abrasively delivered. There was no denying it was there however.

Even now, wanting him to go to the tournament, trying to encourage him, was for reasons clearly Piccolo would think were good. Instead of being annoyed or hostile, Gohan just quietly turned his head to the Namekian.

"Why do you keep trying to help me?" he asked honestly. "You never seem to give up on me. You don't know what I've done. Everyone on this planet is so quick to forget what I've done and just smile at me and try to get along with me. Vegeta is the only one knows what I've done, and rightfully seems to despise me over it. I'm not just a killer, I'm a traitor. I've even betrayed all of you for my own gain. If it wasn't for Vegeta I-"

"You would likely have killed Vegeta, and then accidentally left the planet to die at the hands of Turles. Don't worry, I was filled in on what really happened," Piccolo interjected. "I'm very aware of everything, but I'm also aware that you went through one of the most intense battles this planet's seen in years. Then after the fact, you were willing to die rather then be healed because you couldn't bear to live with what you'd done."

When Piccolo sat down next to him on the edge, lacking his weighted clothing, he just turned his head and looked seriously at Gohan.

"When pressed Gohan, you've made the right decisions. You are very much your father's son. One of the main reasons why I haven't 'given up' on you, is because your father didn't give up on me."

Kakarot, it all kept coming back to him didn't it? Somehow the one he thought of as soft minded and weak years ago was the one who really saved him from himself. The man had even saved his life, even after he betrayed all of them. Even after, all he'd wanted was to get to know him and he'd just pushed him away. It seemed pathetic, here he was sitting on the edge of a giant palace in clouds of this world, next to a Namekian who was almost always there to bail him out. The most frustrating part of being around Piccolo was he always seemed to be right.

But what had he meant that Goku hadn't given up on him?

"Kakarot didn't give up on you?" Gohan asked, looking over seriously.

"Goku didn't give up on me, yes. I'll try to give you the short version because we don't have all day. Before you were abducted, I was Demon King Piccolo. The evil half of a once good Namekian on Earth," Piccolo said quietly. "I slaughtered and killed in my previous life until Goku killed my father's form, in essence me, before he placed his life form into an egg and spat it out, creating the body you see before you. Goku and I fought, viciously, many times. When Raditz came to the Earth, Goku and I teamed up to fight him. Even though we didn't win, Goku thanked me for helping him. I hadn't gone there to help Goku, but he treated it as if I had come there of the good in my heart to help him."

"Well, after we defeated Frieza-"

"You guys defeated Frieza then? I should have known. I never really enquired about that."

"Yea, we beat Frieza. But after we did, I was still intent on going back to my old plans of dominion over the world. It was a combination of Frieza's return to the Earth, and the arrival of a Time Traveller named Trunks that changed all that. I knew I needed to get stronger to face coming threats. I started to train with Goku, and the entire time he showed me what it was really like to have a friend," Piccolo said with a smile.

So, it wasn't just with him. Kakarot always believed in the good of everyone it seemed, and brought out the best in people.

"I'm not as blind as Goku can be sometimes. Taking one look at you I knew exactly what kind of trouble you could be. Anyone who knows Goku would know how he took your loss. Everything Goku ever attempted, he succeeded in, except finding you. Even when he gave up on you during our first training session, I knew he was really terrified of what you'd become. I knew you were utterly ruthless and willing to kill any of us at a moment's notice myself," Piccolo admitted. "But I also saw the same darkness I'd once combated in you. It never fully goes away. But I knew if Goku hadn't given up on me, there was no reason to give up on his son. There still isn't any reason to do so either."

With a smile, Piccolo placed his hand on Gohan's shoulder.

"Get ready for the tournament, you're going."

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Papaya Island: The World Martial Arts Tournament

Videl:

This was it.

Frustrated was best used to describe how Videl felt. Ideally she wanted to come here alone, and not have Pan tag along, but there were multiple problems with that idea. The first one was that she wouldn't have a proper sitter for the day, but more then that, tonight was a full moon. Any night there was a full moon she was now always with Pan, regardless of how much she wanted to train or handle any situation. That just meant that she needed to bring her daughter with her. Thankfully there were two familiar figures who were going to be in the stands.

The last time Pan had transformed, she nearly destroyed the house. Videl had no idea how to stop it even, except to keep Pan indoors and not let her anywhere near outside.

Mercenary Tao, as well as the Crane Master Shen were going to be watching today. Certainly there were high expectations on their part. The Crane Master had informed her that it was her obligation to come to the tournament the next time was hosted, in order to in essence win and redeem the honour of his school. It wasn't something that Videl could disagree with, these people had taught her how to be strong enough to not only defeat her father, but anyone else.

Still, the crowds of people were something her daughter had never seen before. This many people in one place seemed to almost mesmerize her.

"There are so many people," Pan just announced in awe, stating the obvious as her eyes traced around the open space around them. The side markets, selling food and assorted memorabilia were just packed with people. This one event probably had ten times the number of people in it then Pan had seen in her entire life.

"I know, just stay close to me, okay?" Videl said, looking down at her daughter with a smile. "I don't want you talking with strangers unless I'm there."

There was a brief nod from Pan, acknowledging her mother's orders. Pan wasn't always well behaved, but hopefully she'd listen for once to her. It wasn't exactly every day they were around thousands of people. It was time to find the Crane Master and finish her entrance into the tournament. Maybe after she defeated her father, his ego would be humbled enough that she could actually tolerate being around him.

Out of the corner of her eye however, she did see a blue haired staring at her and Pan, standing in a line for food along with a man in a casual yellow suit. For several moments the two of them stared at one another. Both of them averted their eyes after a moment. Almost dragging her forward with excitement and energy, Pan started to try and run towards what appeared to be an interesting display from a street performer breathing fire. Inside her own head however, Videl was wondering why that woman was staring at them? Did she know them? Or was it just her staring at her daughter's... deformity, the monkey's tail that frantically twitched behind her with excitement.

It didn't matter now anyway. Let the blue haired women and everyone stare, what did it matter to them anyway? Everyone would cease even noticing once she won the tournament.

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Vegeta:

"Are you ready boy?" Vegeta asked with a smirk written across his face, regarding his future offspring.

The training they'd gone through on the way to the tournament had been intense, it almost reminded him of their time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. The only breaks that appeared in their training were when Trunks had decided to see Bulma and the others. Weaker emotions apparently could still prevail inside his son's mind. Then there was one other break that occurred, when he insisted that they train at a lower intensity so that his son, the one born from his Bulma, could participate with them.

It was deeply upsetting to Vegeta of course, that he'd failed as a father in some ways because the boy he was raising, despite being a Super Saiyan, was so ill equipped to train with him. Some would argue of course that Trunks was a boy, a mere 11 years old, but that wasn't relevant. When he was a boy of that age he had already surpassed his own father's strength. It wasn't even that which he was asking of the boy. But regardless, he was his son, and Vegeta was very keenly aware that his son was likely stronger then Kakarot's younger boy. There was to be a junior tournament, and it was a tournament that Trunks was going to win.

"Of course dad," both Trunks responded at the same time.

It was a very carefully managed exterior that prevented Vegeta from frowning at his younger Trunks. Really, he should have known however. The Future Trunks had come from a world of constant strife, of constant struggle, just as he had. Where as the boy he had made in this world was spoiled beyond all comprehension. He wanted for nothing and his mother coddled him at every step. Perhaps it was something he would fix, if he had the willingness to fight the boy's mother over it. What other choice would he have of course? Bulma was far from timid or tame when it came to conversations like this. But what kind of warrior would his son be if he didn't understand how brutal the world could be? There was no savagery in his fighting.

"Kakarot and his little clan will be here soon. I wonder if he'll drag the Namek along. I could use a warmup round," Vegeta chuckled to himself, before noting the figure of a very upset looking Bulma approaching him.

Rapidly.

Clearly, as usual, she'd found something to be upset with him over. What was strange was she looked very upset. In fact, the closer she got, the more distraught, angry, and sad she looked. This was something serious. But what could it be? Their girl was fine, their sons were fine, he was going to win the tournament. Kakarot was alright. Even that fool Yamcha, who was currently with her looked absolutely fine. Was she upset with something he did to break her human traditions again? But what?

When she stopped in front of him, her could see the blazing, angry, and hurt blue eyes stare into his head.

"Mom?" the younger Trunks asked, completely being ignored.

Then Vegeta felt it. He'd been too bewildered to notice her move her hand out towards him quickly. The slap echoed out across the people filled space, forcing Vegeta's head shift to one side. Two black eyes blinked in surprise as the sensation in his cheek. Turning his head back to Bulma, Vegeta's surprise quickly turned to an indigent anger.

"Care to explain yourself?" Vegeta sneered.

"You bastard. I should have known. I gave you everything for thirteen years Vegeta. Thirteen years I put up with you being angry, pushing, unhelpful, and insulting. I always thought you really cared about me but I guess I was wrong. Is it because she was younger? Is that it? Did I get too old for you, mister Prince of all Saiyans?"

The emotion and anger in her voice was very, very real. Each word sounded like it'd been tempted in a flame born of real, true pain. Her voice was angry, but inside that anger was pain. It sounded like a betrayal. But what had he done to warrant such an attack he didn't fully understand.

"What are you babbling about woman? Make sense," Vegeta demanded. "I have no time for your foolishness. Either state the problem openly or for once in your life act rationally and with some sense!"

It was humiliating, being assaulted and barked at by the woman in front of his son, present and future.

"What do I mean? You don't care to explain how you fucked around on me? My god that kid is older then Bulla... you bastard."

She? Bulla? What was she... She was claiming he fathered a child? From someone else? But why?

"Bulma, I don't know what you are talking about. Now stop making a fool of yourself, and calm-"

"No, no I've made a fool of myself for years, so why stop now?! So what are you going to tell me, that the little girl running around with a tail is Goku's? I've known Goku my whole life, and he'd never even think of that. You know what that leaves? That leaves you, Vegeta. Didn't I give you enough? Is that it? Was I somehow not enough anymore?!"

A child with a tail? It didn't matter anymore. What did matter was she thought so little of him, and his dignity and pride that he'd have slept with another woman, because she thought too highly of Kakarot. Worse, she'd waged her war of words in public, in front of their sons and one of her friends. Had she not given enough? This mudball had little to offer him at all, and one of the few reasons he stayed here was for her. He'd even lowered himself for her, and fathered now two children by her. Other then Bulma he'd never touched a human woman. It was all the more insulting as a result. How dare this human strike out at him for acts he'd never even committed? Just how much could she trust him if this was her first presumption?!

"You stupid woman," Vegeta snapped back sharply. "Confronting me with this trash, as if it holds any weight. So you see a girl with a tail and immediately assume it is me? How dare you? Because that precious friend of yours, Kakarot, is so purehearted it couldn't be him? I am the Prince of the Saiyans, and would sully my bloodline further with anymore human women. Apparently I don't even know the viper which I've decided to lay with."

There was a cold air immediately between the two of them as angry tears welled in Bulma's eyes.

"How dare I!? I'm not the one whose got explaining to do! How dare you throw this back at me?! I love you Vegeta! But that just doesn't mean anything to you does it? It's always about you! That's why you never help with anything. I'm just some object for you aren't I?! Well fuck you Vegeta! You can-"

Vegeta was so angry at this point he grabbed her wrist, staring with burning intensity towards her. Immediately the elder Trunks placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Father, please, I'm sure there is an explanation for all this. There is no need to-"

"Silence boy," Vegeta immediately remarked.

Of course the child wasn't Kakarot's. How could it be? He was hardly smart enough to understand what sex was, and was likely not smart enough to understand you could have it with more then one person. But there was another Saiyan on Earth. Still, his thoughts tried their best to stay there, rather then with how angry he was at the woman at this time. It actually hurt that she thought so little of him, but it was something he could never express openly.

"The girl with a tail likely belongs not to Kakarot, but to his eldest brat, the Commander," Vegeta snarled at her. "Gohan is not the shining example of purity you always hold Kakarot up as. But of course you don't even ask me about it. Clearly you didn't, because that would require you to come down from your pathetic moral high ground. You assume the worst of me when I've been nothing buy loyal."

Releasing her hand angrily, Vegeta just stared down at her coldly.

It took several seconds for it all to sink in for Bulma, her face shifting from angry and outraged, perhaps mixed with fear, to a remorseful shock. Right now he didn't even want to hear another word from her.

"Vegeta I-"

"Don't speak to me right now woman. I don't have time for you."

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Goku:

It was in a blurred flash that the three figures appeared. Standing to one side was of course, the relatively relieved Goku. It'd been months since they'd received the money, but he was still relieved. It meant lots of things to him. The biggest one was that he wasn't going to have to fight in this tournament with a figurative gun to his head. Now it was about what it really needed to be about, fighting to see who the strongest fighter in the world was. It was all about the challenge.

It'd been so long since he'd felt like this, it was like things were before. Right now, he knew Piccolo and Vegeta were joining, that meant he may even have a chance to square off against both of them. It was exciting to say the least. It'd been years since he did anything more then train against Piccolo, and this was going to be a real fight.

Behind all those thoughts however, was the idea that maybe, just maybe Gohan would be here. Fighting Gohan in the tournament would be something he'd want, just to test his son and see how much stronger they'd both become. But the other reason he wanted to see Gohan was to thank him. His son had saved his home, and maybe, just maybe he could finally talk to him. Gohan wasn't a boy anymore, he wasn't even a teenager, Gohan was a full grown man and he barely knew him. It was obvious that Gohan cared a lot about Chi-Chi, but as for him? Well, something told him he cared.

It wasn't hard to say that he wasn't exactly the brightest, and sometimes he didn't catch on to things, Goku could admit to all that. But one thing he always saw in Gohan was the struggle inside all the time. But it was there even more when he was around. It told him that Gohan really did care about him, or at least he liked to think that's what it meant.

Looking over to Chi-Chi, he could see the hope in her eyes as well. It was a small chance that Gohan would end up here, very small, but it was high enough to have both of them very anxious. Goten had been right, after they got the money from Gohan, that it somehow made the old emotional wounds even worse. They were separate from their son again, almost as seemingly far away as when he'd first been taken from them by his 'brother'. But now, maybe now he could finally at least see him without being threatened again, or having it end in a cold staring contest or a shouting match. Maybe, just maybe if they were lucky, Gohan had found just enough of himself that they could talk.

"Well, time to go find the fighter registry," Goku said, smiling in his usual fashion.

"Race you there dad!" Goten said quickly, preparing to run ahead to beat his father.

Before Goku could take off, he sensed a series of powers approaching. The first ones he felt, due to close proximity, were Tien and Chiaotzu. A smile stretched across his face, wondering if Tien was going to enter again. It was true that he was nowhere near as strong as Vegeta or Piccolo, not even close, but it'd be interesting to see how much his friend had learned in all his training. The next energy source he felt was one he couldn't miss, Piccolo. It was like a whale moving through the ocean, making waves around it as he flew towards the area. It was likely he'd arrive soon.

But next to that energy signature, he felt one much more muted, but now just as familiar. Goku felt himself fidget almost nervously for a moment, trying to determine what to even say. That was Gohan. For a few moments Goku's mouth cracked into an increasingly nervous smile, but his eyes were widened with excitement. As good as it was going to be to see Piccolo again, the new fact that Gohan was coming to the tournament made his day complete. It was in his nature to have high hopes, and always hope for the best. Right now all the thoughts he had of Gohan further rejecting him just seemed to wash away.

There was nothing he could do about Gohan acting that way if he did, but it was always Goku's job to try his best.

"Goku? What is it?" Chi-Chi asked, looking over at him from the side. She clearly saw that he was sensing something.

"I can sense a bunch of others here. Vegeta, Trunks... Trunks? Oh neat, Trunks is back. Anyway, Vegeta, Trunks, older Trunks, Yamcha, they've all already made it. But I can sense Tien and Chiaotzu coming as well. Oh! Krillin is on his way, which means 18 probably is too! But I also sensed Piccolo. I expected him to be on the way already. But I think Gohan is coming with him."

Goku noticed the reaction from Chi-Chi was immediate. Her body seemed to stiffen and her eye widened with surprise, and was quickly followed by relief.

"Let me talk to him first," she said quickly. "Please, I haven't spoken to him in years and I want to see him before he decides to run off again."

Clearly, expectations weren't exactly high on Chi-Chi's part, but who could blame her? She knew if Gohan got here, he'd at least talk to her for a minute. Which was a sad stating of fact that when he talked with Gohan, it never ended well. From the fights they'd had multiple times, to just hostile arguments, to threats from Gohan.

Behind her however, Goku caught the image of the extremely disappointed looking Goten, clearly having wanted to race, rather then embrace his brother when he got there. It was hard for Goku to understand why Goten was always so wary of Gohan. They'd been waiting for him for so long, and hoping, and worrying for so long that anyone not just wanting Gohan to be there seemed... off. But Goku tried to understand at the very least why his younger son was so hesitant, and he always tried to go out of his way to make him feel special and wanted. But it didn't seem to ever really effect how he viewed his older brother.

"How about that race, hey Goten?" Goku asked, looking past Chi-Chi, trying to get his younger son to smile.

Chi-Chi just sighed, looking off towards the tournament, before Goten's face brightened up almost immediately.

"Bet I make it there first!"

Goku already decided, he was going to let Goten win the race.

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Gohan:

Two figures soared through the air at high speeds. Gohan's body pulsed with purple energy as he flew. Inside his mind he wasn't thinking of any fights he would be experiencing. There was no fighting challenge for him where he was going. The only challenge he faced was the challenge of his family. It was the challenge of seeing his family again, of being there with them and having nothing to say. Any words he let loose would just further condemn him. Piccolo had been right before when he said all foregoing seeing them would do was make him look all the more foolish. It wasn't a matter of just looking foolish and stupid anymore, he felt it.

The worst part of all of it, was that he saw how the human families operated on this planet now. He saw people so close to one another, and he didn't understand it. But the worst part was he was jealous of it. Parents watched over their kids and embraced them. His own parents had tried to be that way with him and he couldn't understand it, or understand the point behind it. When he first arrived here, he just saw it as weak. But to measure his own happiness to these other people's? They were largely, though not uniformly, happy with their parents or children. Happiness was something that had eluded him for much of his life. There were some brief moments of understanding and happiness with Turles, but as a whole he'd been miserable. That misery was concealed through devotion to his job, of making others suffer and die.

An angry fist balled tightly in his hand as he pushed himself harder, swooped down closer to the waves if only to watch as the water parted below him.

Following him a moment later, Piccolo looked over to him seriously. Gohan knew his features and demeanour had betrayed him and what he was feeling. Great, the last thing he needed was to talk to Piccolo about his anxieties and fears before he even got to face them at that damn tournament. Silently, Gohan just ignored Piccolo, who was flying to the right of him. Every second of silence was a relief. Maybe he hadn't come down here to check on him? That was even worse. It meant he was totally alone. Anger turned to humiliation after several minutes, realizing he didn't even know what to feel anymore.

"Why is everything on this planet so complicated?" Gohan finally asked, turning his head to Piccolo as they flew.

There was a genuine smile from Piccolo in response, his green head shifting towards Gohan. "I couldn't tell you honestly Gohan. You'll find this planet has a lot of surprises, and some of them good, and some of them bad."

Looking ahead after the exchange, Gohan felt himself steel his resolve. Things didn't have to be bad. It didn't have to be so constrained. On this planet, the most frightening thing he had ever experienced was real choice. It wasn't like back in space amongst planetary pirates. There was choice there, live or die, and how to do your job, but that was it. Sure, there were smaller decisions to be made, but all the choices were made under the duress of potential violence.

Every choice he made had consequences. Right now, he had to decide on what he was going to say. But overwhelming, behind his eyes, despite his pride, he wanted to just give his mom a hug when he saw her, and to perhaps even... talk... with Kakarot.

"What do I say?" Gohan finally asked, almost more to himself then to Piccolo.

The Namek's head turned to him once more, giving a half smile.

"It depends on what your intention is. If you're intending to push them away still, say nothing. If you finally want to grow up, then say anything."

Say anything?

Looking ahead, his eyes staring at the island that now approached rapidly. This was where the tournament would take place, he could already feel multiple great powers there, including Vegeta and Goku.

It was ridiculous, but right now Gohan was afraid.

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Trunks:

It was that energy again. It'd been years since he'd sensed anything like it.

Blue eyes looked towards the sky as Trunks felt himself tense. But it was too soon. Everyone knew that there was a small threat coming to the Earth in four years. The day he told them about the vicious monster who came from the stars to destroy the Earth. Just another beast like the Androids, slaughtering people for their own amusement. Three cities of innocent people wiped out in the blink of an eye, all for what?

Closing his fist angrily, Trunks felt himself tense.

Everything else seemed to pass through his senses as he zeroed in on what he knew was coming.

"Boy?" Vegeta asked from the side, looking the time traveller seriously. "What has you so distracted?"

It was stunning that his father was still paying so much attention after the fallout with his mother. Turning his head quickly, Trunks spoke the truth.

"We've got a very, very serious threat here. On its way now. I have to warn Goku."

Immediately Trunks began to sense out Goku's energy, knowing he was nearby. The Saiyan's energy was even greater then in his own timeline. His coming back here must have altered the course of events for him to arrive sooner. With any luck he couldn't transform, but even if he could they could stop him. At the very least he could, but Goku and the others still had to know.

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"Tien! Chiaotzu! Good to see you guys!" Goku proclaimed with a broad smile.

Gohan was getting closer, which meant any second he'd be here. But it was still goo to see his old friends again. Krillin and 18 would hopefully be here soon as well.

"Great to see you Goku. I see you brought Goten and Chi-Chi along," Tien responded with a smile.

"Good to see you, Goku!" Chiaotzu immediately chimed in, a bright smile appearing across the small, pale skinned boy's face.

There was a smile on Goku's face, but behind it he was still nervous. Gohan would be here any moment, and he wasn't sure how any of this would go.

"Tien, this may sound crazy, but that power you feel with Piccolo is actually Gohan. If he acts aggressive, just follow my lead, alright? I should be able to take care of this," Goku assured. "Goten, I want you to stay near your mom, alright?"

It was ridiculous that he had to prepare like this. This was supposed to be his son. But the truth was that he had no idea in any way what Gohan would do. Now of course Piccolo was coming with him, but that didn't stop him from worrying.

"Goku, I think you're overreacting," Chi-Chi urged. "I'm sure-"

"Please Chi-Chi, I just want to be sure. You weren't there for our last two talks. I'm sure everything will be fine, but I don't want to see either you or Goten hurt."

Nodding towards Tien and Chiaotzu, Goku turned his attention to the sky for a moment, before two aura saturated figures landed in front of them. One, of course, was Piccolo, standing as he always did with his arms crossed.

But next to him was a figure he recognized immediately. Standing there in the same ridged, hard stance he usually took was the son he never saw, the son he lost years ago, and then lost again years later. Wearing a pair of black pants which hung down to his heels, loose foot and clearly meant to be moved in, and literally nothing else save for a white tank top, Gohan stared at him. It was a cold look, the same one he always gave when appraising a situation.

Everyone tensed, even Piccolo. Behind him Goku could almost feel Goten take Chi-Chi's hand. This was it, this was the moment he'd been waiting for. In front of him stood the son he never even got to know, but the son he always placed so much hope in. All of his dreams and nightmares seemed to stand there waiting for him to make a move. Who would it be standing in front of him? Would it be the angry, scarred young man who killed the man who raised him? Or for the first time, even if the angry young man was there, would he see a glimmer of the son he once had?

The standoff lasted for an eternity, nobody even making a move. It grated his nerves and Goku almost couldn't take it. His inherently outgoing attitude wanted for him to give a big grin and walk over with open arms, but that just didn't work with Gohan.

Think Goku, what to do?

"Gohan... is that you?"

The words weren't his. From behind him, he heard the calm, but longing words of his wife, Chi-Chi.

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Gohan:

When his feet touched the ground, Gohan knew who was already waiting to see him. They'd intentionally landed here after all. There was no time for him to back out, or avoid them, because they were right here. In front of him stood the family he'd avoided so long, as well as a pale skinned midget and a three eyed man. The latter two were easy enough to ignore. It wasn't those two who made him almost unable to move.

Everything inside of him was ripping at the fabric of his emotions. But most of all, it was pride which was doing battle with regret and affection. Pride had never been his strongest trait, even before coming to Earth, his pride was put on a sacrificial alter at every chance in order to survive or thrive. Ruthlessness had been his watch word before coming to this planet. But pride had become a bigger and bigger part of himself as the stress of immediate death or dishonour was removed from him. Now the beast which he'd been feeding for so long screamed in protest to him breaking his oath. Even now he couldn't find words to break himself from the trance he was in.

It wasn't Kakarot he then looked at, but the woman standing behind him to his right by perhaps a metre. Her hand was holding onto that of his younger brother's. Standing there was his mother, and he could see in her eyes just how happy she was to see him. Even after everything that had happened, all she wanted to do was see him. Any last bits of pride holding him back were violently expunged from him, but he still felt as if he couldn't move. It wasn't until he heard her speak that he was able to move.

"Gohan... is that you?"

The question caused his head to slowly shift up, as if somehow paying further attention at the use of his name. Unable to hold back his own motion, Gohan took a step forward. Clearly his facial features had betrayed him by softening with her words, only for once he did care.

"Mom?"

Quickly, Chi-Chi ran past Goku and immediately ploughed into him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. All the tension in his body seemed to almost bleed away, his own hands moving out and wrapping around Chi-Chi in the unfamiliar embrace. He felt warm tears on his chest and arm and blinked several times himself. It was so awkward to feel this welcome by anyone. The sad part of course was despite how awkward it felt, Gohan felt like a huge weight was finally lifted from his shoulders.

"I missed you so much, Gohan," Chi-Chi choked. "I just wanted you to come home and-"

Gohan shook his head to her when her face turned up to him finally, her eyes red and puffy from tears.

"It doesn't matter," Gohan said quietly. "Let's not talk about it."

A second later, a hand landed on his right shoulder. Turning his head quickly, Gohan saw the Kakarot, grinning at him like an idiot. For once, he couldn't bring himself to drag up a snide remark. Even if Kakarot was annoying at times, and drove him crazy, it was painfully obvious he cared about him. Even the face he wore right now concealed the deeply seated fear of another rejection, Gohan could see it.

The man wasn't his father, but begrudgingly, Gohan had to admit he was at the very least worthy of his respect. After all the sacrifice Kakarot had put himself through for him, after all the forgiveness, even after his own betrayal of Kakarot, he was still here waiting. Kakarot was waiting for him with that same, stupid, childish smile, but waiting all the same. There was something Gohan could do for him, even if the word was almost painful to slip from his mouth.

"Goku," Gohan acknowledged, using his father's Earth name.

It was strange even thinking of him in terms of Goku. What was a Goku? Hell, his own name had been a mystery to him. Turles had even tried to rename him to Brass more then once, a proper Saiyan name at the very least. Referring to Kakarot by his preferred name was the best he could do the older Saiyan for the time being.

Reaching out his own hand, he placed it on Goku's shoulder, before giving him a reluctant, rare half smile.

"Mind taking your hand off my shoulder, by the way?" Gohan added, his smile growing slightly.

There was a moment of real shock on Goku's face, and for some reason that was satisfying to Gohan. For once Goku seemed speechless. It made his own smile grow ever further when he realized he'd completely shocked his elder counterpart. Somehow, all the years of being away was just an illusion, somehow all the pain he'd left for himself and everyone else was, even if it was just for a brief second, unreal.

This was all that was real, and this was actually happening. It wasn't a moment he was chasing in a dream. It wasn't a nightmare making him scream as he awakened from it. It wasn't an old memory of a time long since passed. This was here, this was now. Something caught in his throat at the realization.

Finally, Goku's hand left his shoulder, and Gohan could swear he saw tears in his eyes.

"Tien, Chiaotzu, this is... this is my son, Gohan."

Finally his mother moved away from him, but was still smiling proudly. Turning his head, Gohan looked at the three eyed man, and the little white mime creature thing. They were clearly Goku's friends. Behind all this was Goten, staring at them with a dejected look. Obviously, things needed to be worked on with the kid still.

"Good to meet you Gohan, my name is Tien," the taller of the two said.

"And I'm Chiaotzu!"

... The short one was either going to be hilarious, or annoying as Hell, or both.

Turning his head to Piccolo, Gohan continued smile.

"I hate it when you're right," the Saiyan remarked finally.

The Namek just smirked and kept his arms crossed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Piccolo responded simply.

Suddenly however, there was a disruption. Turning his head quickly, Gohan felt a serious power nearby, and it was very, very hostile, flaring even.

"Everyone stand back," the familiar purple haired figure said, his eyes intensely set on him. Trunks was a hell of a lot older then he should have been in fact. "He's extremely dangerous."

Extremely dangerous?

What the Hell was going on here?

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Videl:

"You should be more then sufficient to defeat Goku and most of his friends," Mercenary Tao remarked, his mechanical hands behind his back. "Having fought them before, I can say with relative confidence that you have not only surpassed me, but them."

Standing in front of the two Crane Masters, Videl felt herself nod towards the two of them. It'd not been easy to get this strong, nor had it been exactly easy to get their training in the isolated location where their school was situated. Losing in this tournament wouldn't just be a disappointment for her, but a disappointment for the two that had agreed to train her. It would mean that all of her training had been for nothing.

It couldn't be allowed to happen no matter the risk.

"I won't disappoint either of you. I've continued to train harder then I ever have since my time at the school ended," Videl said confidently. "I am sure that I am the strongest one here, by a fair margin."

"Even if Goku or his friends are here, they have grown old since the last tournament. Goku would be 40 now, and the others would be yet older. Their fighting talents, even if they have increased, have been degraded by age as well," The Crane Master said, nodding his head. "It will be a great pleasure to watch you dissect these pitiful fools and restore the name of the Crane School."

Videl had always known that the Crane Master had a near obsession with destroying the Turtle School of Martial Arts since she began training with them. There was apparently several humiliations long ago, and he wanted revenge. It was something she could understand as well. The idea of being helpless and weak in comparison to someone else, and wanting to take revenge on them was easily identifiable to her. By teaching her his arts, she could take revenge herself. In turn, at this tournament, she would vindicate him of his past students defeats and weaknesses. It was a fair trade, and would provide an equal level of satisfaction to both of them.

"If they are anything like what I've seen in the records, they'll be difficult to defeat, but I will win," she assured. "I've not seen any of them at this event so far however. Perhaps they won't come?"

Videl could see Master Shen immediately tense at the remark, his fists closing. With a slight tweak to his features, he still smiled.

"If that is the case, then the school can claim the uncontested World Championship, and they will show up in the next event in order to take it from us."

"Mommy?" Pan asked from behind suddenly, interjecting in the seriously conversation, her hand grabbing at the side of Videl's shirt. Pausing, Videl turned her head and looked down at her daughter. It was highly inconvenient that she had to being Pan.

"I need to use the bathroom."

Looking towards her two masters, Videl just sighed.

"I'll be back."

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Gohan:

"Trunks, I don't think you understand," Piccolo cut in, turning his head towards the time traveller. "This is-"

"A monster, someone who slaughters people without a second thought. I know all too well what he is. He's even worse then the Androids. At least they left people alive. I felt him annihilate three cities and for what? All those lives just... gone."

So this was how it was then?

Looking over at the purple haired youth, Gohan just stared him down. It was Trunks, but older? It didn't make any sense, at all.

"Well that's what happens to lives when you end them, they are just gone," Gohan shot back immediately. "Now you entitled little shit, I've got better things to do then get bothered by some silver spoon, royal runt. I didn't kill anyone on this planet yet, there aren't any cities burning. How DARE you come down here like this, making accusations towards me?!" Gohan's anger rose with ever word, now stepping forward, barring his teeth. "If you want to make something of it, do it. Or shut the Hell-"

"Hold on, wait," Piccolo quickly cut in once again. "This is Trunks from a Future Timeline. He came into the past to warn us about two terrible catastrophes. One of them was was that a series of Androids, including Cell, would eventually kill all of the warriors on this planet and terrorize the population. He also warned us about a Saiyan who would appear in 18 years. A Saiyan who destroyed three cities and nearly destroyed West City-"

"If my Mentor Tien Shinhan didn't sacrifice himself to at least try and stop you. All of that pain and suffering for what? And now you're here again. You're worse then any Android I ever met. I remember every moment you mocked him before you killed him. There is no way you changed. I saw when you cut his hands and feet off! You made me watch the whole thing! For what?! What did you accomplish!?"

It was the angry cries of a wounded man, directed towards him. It wasn't the first time he'd seen this. A thousand times before Gohan had been confronted by grieving or furious people denouncing him. They even denounced him in his dreams, telling him they'd drag him down to Hell. But at least before it was over things he actually did.

Turning his head for a moment, Gohan saw only the horrified look on his mother's face, looking at him. Everything this little rat was saying was having an effect, not just on him, but on his family. Finally he got the courage to come back to them, to see them, and this wretch was spoiling it all. Spoiling it all for something he didn't even do. Any compassion, which was already non-existent, Gohan could have felt for him was now fully worn away.

Turning his eyes forward again, Gohan's eyes locked on with very little mercy.

"Gohan, Trunks, everyone calm down. Listen, I can explain everything," Goku started. "Trunks, you see what happened in our world is-"

Gohan didn't care for Goku to explain. That explanation would do nothing anyway, at least nothing for him.

"If all I accomplished in your world is killing a few pitiful cities, and killing a weakling like three eyes over there, then clearly I didn't accomplish much at all."

There wasn't another moment of discussion. With only a howl of fury, the purple haired man charged into him, slamming into his chest and abdomen with his shoulder, bringing them both to the ground. It was exactly what they both wanted. Angry blows were exchanged as the two locked into combat on the ground. It wasn't more then a second however that Gohan felt hands grabbing him, and seeing them grab his purple haired counterpart as well.

"Gohan! That's enough!" Goku shouted, pulling him back to his feet, but locking his hands behind his back.

"Is it!? I finally come to see you guys, and Vegeta's brat thinks he can come here throwing accusations at me. I didn't even fucking kill anyone on this miserable rock! The only man I killed was someone I didn't even want to! Let go of me! I'll add him to the fucking list! I said let go!"

It was almost all anger and instinct Gohan was running on, he thrashed violently against his father's hold, and much to his own surprise he couldn't break free. Across from him, Tien and Piccolo restrained Trunks, who did seem to calm down more quickly then Gohan to say the least.

The worst part of all of this was that Gohan had only killed one man on this planet. The only one he killed was Turles, and he very, very much didn't want to do it. It wasn't just an insult to him over his family being interrupted, it was an insult to all his senses now. Of course it was Vegeta's time travelling little shit that had to set him off as well.

"Trunks, it's not him. This is Goku's son," Tien said. "Whatever he was in your time, he's not like that here. He's like Android 18, he's reformed. Gohan even saved the Earth according to Dende."

Right now Gohan didn't care about anything he'd supposedly done for the Earth. This wasn't about the Earth at all.

When Vegeta finally arrived, a smug look across his face, Gohan just glared, tensing against his father's grip.

"Well, it would appear the mystery Saiyan which attacked the Earth in the future is solved. I can't say I'm surprised, but I'm certainly disappointed. I'd kept on hoping he wasn't as pathetic a creature as you, Gohan."

With an angry motion, Gohan finally tore his arm free from Goku.

"That's enough," Gohan hissed, looking at Goku. "I'll leave Vegeta's precious brat alone."

Right now wasn't the time to beat the little bastard. The damage was already done, it was now another thing hanging over his family's head. Was it so much to ask that things just went normally for once?

Turning his head towards Vegeta and Trunks, who was now being released as well. "Make no mistake, when I get to you two in the tournament, I'm going to enjoy beating you both to within an inch of your lives."

With a sharp twist, he looked back towards Goku, Chi-Chi, and Goten.

"Sigh up for the tournament. I'd rather be away from the royal family right now."

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Pan:

Today had been an incredible day so far. Pan had never seen so many people, and all different heights, colours, and tons of other things about them. Some of them were even animal people, they looked like a dog-person or a pig-person. Deep down, every moment she was here, constantly at her mother's side, Pan had hoped there would be someone like her there.

It wasn't hard for her, even as a child, to discover she was very different from other people. Adults always talked about her tail, and the other kids she ever met always would grab it, or look at her funny. It was terrible sometimes. Right now it wasn't so bad, trailing behind her mother, and often holding her hand. But there was something that caught her eye, something she'd been looking for all day. Of all the people they saw, the thousands and thousands of people, Pan had hoped to see a tail. A tail just like hers, that someone else had. After all, out of so many people there had to be another person with a tail just like her. Someone who wouldn't pull her tail, or look at it strangely, other then her mom of course. Only her mom didn't have a tail.

They'd been here now an hour, and despite seeing so many different people, including the two weird men her mom seemed intent on leaving her with, Pan hadn't seen anyone like herself. It somehow made her feel more alone then ever. Even among all these people, more people then she'd ever seen in her entire life, there wasn't anyone out there with a tail like hers. So often her mom would tell her it made her special, but all it made her was lonely.

Finally, there was a glimpse of something in the child's eye. A familiar brown appendage, hanging in the air attached to a body. It moved in the air with agitation, like her own moved when she was upset, or mad. Every time it happened to her, she'd grab her tail and try to calm down. Her thoughts snapped out of her own behaviour, and realized that standing what seemed like miles away, was someone who had the same thing she had.

"Mommy," she said quickly. "Mommy over there!"

"Not now Pan, we're going to the sign-up," Videl responded quickly. "I need to check over whose here. So not now."

"But mommy-"

"Pan, that's enough."

It was always this way. Her mom always just... tried to keep her quiet, and tried to ignore her. It wasn't all the times. Sometimes at night, when she woke up, her mommy would hug her and tell her how much she loved her, but other times she could tell she wished she wasn't there. Right now, she knew she was being more of a bother then anything else. It always made her feel bad. She never knew sometimes if her mom loved her, or just wished she was someone else's problem.

Looking through the crowd at the tailed man, still seemingly worlds away, Pan began to make a choice. It was the choice to just listen and follow her mother, or to take the risk, break from her mother's side, and go to the tailed man's side. It was somewhere her mother wouldn't take her, and she knew that. With one last ounce of curiosity and yearning, the little girl broke ranks from her mother's side, shifting into the crowd at waist height, and moving towards the man she saw.

Breaching through the crowd, Pan felt her heart beating with anxiety and excitement. The prize in sight, Pan reached out her hand, grasping the furred appendage, almost as if to see it was real. When she realized the texture of the fur was almost exactly as her own, she realized in her own strange way, that she'd found someone like her.

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Gohan:

So, there was Vegeta's brat, only worse then he was before. At least the midget version of him seemed uncomfortable or afraid around him most of the time. This one wanted to rip his head off, and he was bitter about things he wasn't even involved in. What a ridiculous situation. First he comes to the tournament, already nervous to reunite with his family. Then, just as he's trying to talk with them, this jumped up little rat stepped in with his angry attitude. Even though he'd been far from killing anyone for years, in that moment he would have killed Trunks were it not for Goku and Piccolo being there he was certain.

Still, removing himself from the situation for now was the best idea. The purple haired Saiyan was going to be fighting in the tournament he was certain. Gohan knew for a fact he would enjoy making him suffer. Part of him however, was almost resistant to the idea. What was more violence going to bring by beating that pathetic rat to the brink of his life?

It'll make me feel better.

The argument inside himself was seemingly ended at that moment. Stopping in front of a concession stand, Gohan began to look over potential drinks to procure. Now he had another thing hanging over his head when he saw Goku, Goten, and Chi-Chi again. Given they knew the time traveller, his ramblings undoubtedly had an impact on them. One step forward, one step back, just like it always was.

"What' can we do for you today, sir?" the keep asked, looking at Gohan from seemingly behind a gigantic moustache.

Before Gohan could answer, something grasped his tail.

Instantly his entire body went ridged and nearly froze in place. Without being able to move for a moment, he almost expected a harsh yank for being careless enough to allow his tail to unfurl from his waist. But it didn't come, instead the hand which grasped it, which seemed small, just held in place.

Cautiously, he turned his head, Gohan saw what he at the very least hoped. It was only a child. The look on her face was one of complete fascination, mixed with relief? Why relief? There was no reason to be relieved from grabbing his tail. Given his understanding of human growth patterns, he was guessing the child was five, perhaps on its way to being five years old. The little blue eyed girl looked up at him, staring right back at him.

With a cheery grin, she seemed excited.

"You have a tail!"

Preparing to yank his tail away coldly, Gohan began to shift his body before the little girl continued.

"Just like mine!"

Before Gohan could do anything else, his eyebrows knit together and traced towards the furry brown appendage swaying behind the little girl. It wasn't the grip on his tail that made him unable to move anymore.

That was a Saiyan tail.

But there was no way that was a Saiyan tail. Vegeta had that purple haired brat, Goku had Goten, and that was it. He would have heard from Goku and Chi-Chi if they'd had another one. Was this the future Trunk's kid? But she didn't look anything like him, and the hair was all wrong. Questions ran through Gohan's mind at a thousand miles a minute as he looked at the girl with shocked eyes.

"My name's Pan! What's yours?" She asked eagerly, her smile growing as she stood there, her fist still holding his tail.

For a moment the question didn't feel like it registered. This felt unreal somehow. Something fell into his pit of his stomach as he tried to bring himself to answer after several seconds.

"Kid, where are your parents?" Gohan asked, his eyes immediately shifting and looking up.

"I just have my mom," Pan responded quickly, clearly used to answering questions like this. "But she's great!... Heeey... I told you my name, you have to tell me yours, or we're strangers, and I can't talk to strangers."

The logic coming from the child's mind was dubious at best. Carefully, Gohan let his tail slip from her grasp. Kneeling down in front of her, he tried to decide on what to do. Find out more? Or abandon this situation as quickly as he came into it. Right now however, his curiosity was peaked. Without letting anything slip from behind his idle mask, Gohan responded.

"Oh? Well my name is Gohan," he said in a very straight forward manner. He wasn't used to children at all. "Where is your mom then? We'll get you back to her."

Shepherding some unknown kid to her mother was hardly Gohan's idea of a good time, but at the very least he'd learn more about the origins of this very clearly Saiyan child. Vegeta and Goku weren't exactly around, which meant he was the only one to handle this. He certainly wasn't taking her back there without any answers first.

The child looked irritated by the question however, very irritated.

"She's in the stupid fights," she remarked, probably referring to the tournament. "All she cares about is fighting. I don't wanna go back yet."

So, whoever was the mother was a fighter. Was Vegeta's woman a fighter? Well this was easy enough to answer. The simple thing to do was to ask her about her biological father. The odds of the mother being the Saiyan was excessively remote.

"Where is your father? Do you know where he is, or what happened to him?"

"Mommy says I don't have one and don't need one," Pan responded, looking a bit depressed by the remark. After a few seconds she brightened up again however, giving him a big smile. "But we can talk about other stuff! I wanna know why you have a tail! I have a tail too!"

You mentioned.

"I have a tail because I'm a Saiyan," Gohan responded. "But that's a long story. How about I tell you what a Saiyan is, but after you show me where your mom went?"

Thank the Kais this kid wasn't his. There was no way he could keep up these kinds of questions or interactions for long without getting irritated. The last thing he needed was a scene with the kid freaking out when he bluntly demanded answers from her. Piccolo informing him all those years ago that he was compatible with the humans definitely set him straight. These humans raised their offspring in a weak way. It was comfortable, but it still shielded them far too much from the reality of life. Then there was the fact that he didn't want something like a kid being a burden on him for any reason.

Pan looked almost defeated a second later though.

"You promise?"

"I promise," Gohan said, standing his full height. There was no smile on his face, just as there hadn't been the entire conversation. "Now let's go find that parent of yours, alright?"

There were only three options he could come to for her parentage. The first one, and most obvious one, was Vegeta. The Prince of All Saiyans seemed likely because he'd been on this planet the second longest. Then there was the fact that Vegeta seemed to be bluntly, a bigger asshole then Goku.

Goku would be the second candidate. Just the thought made his blood boil. If Goku was the father, that meant that he'd cheated on Chi-Chi. If that were the case, Gohan, now visibly mad as he walked next to the little girl, would kill him.

And he'd deserve it too.

Moving into the crowd and towards the registration area, Gohan heard Pan call out.

"Mommy!"

There were too many people, bustling around them for him to tell if anyone noticed.

However, the last option was that this was Turles's offspring. As far as he knew, Turles was only on Earth for two days at most. But that didn't mean that he was unable to produce the child. It would most certainly be surprising, given Turles was more intent on destroying the Earth then finding sexual contact with the local wild life.

Pausing in his thoughts, he saw the little girl begin to look worried.

"Mommy!" she called out again.

Great, now the kid was going to start freaking out, he already got that vibe. Sadly, he could also see it because he'd made a fair number of children go searching for their parents with seemingly no chance of finding them.

"Mommy!"

It was after the third cry that Gohan felt something. It was insignificant compared to any of the other fighters he saw his father associating with, but it was there. It was an idle distraction in the background as he looked about for someone to look like they were responding to the child's call.

Suddenly, the power spiked, reaching its dismal limit. Someone must be fighting, ore preparing to fight.

Before he could look towards the source of the energy, something hard crashed into his cheek. It was a blow he was completely unprepared for. His own power was suppressed right now, he was currently trying to watch a little girl look for her mother, and he was concerned with who the father could be. Legs sloppily tried to recover the shift in his balance but couldn't, and Gohan twisted once before falling onto his side, head bouncing off the cement clad ground beneath him. It was hardly an injury at all. He was more dazed then anything.

There was the brief sound of struggle with the little girl for a moment, before he reared his head up.

"Mommy! He's my friend, his-"

"Be quiet, Pan!" the woman ordered, standing in front of Pan with her guard up.

Piercing blue eyes stared at him with a mixture of anger and well concealed fright. This wasn't normal human behaviour by any means. Narrowing his eyes on her, Gohan brought enough of his power to the surface to... repel, any future aggression. Something was familiar about her. Those eyes reminded him of someone, but at the same time they didn't. Standing up to his full height, Gohan cracked his neck from side to side.

"I can see that trying to help a little girl find her mother is criminal activity in your world," Gohan said calmly. "Do you strike anyone who gets close to your daughter, or did I earn special accommodation?"

The woman's eyes just intensified on him after he spoke. It wasn't hard to see it was all she had not to come at him like a ravenous animal. This was very personal for her. Even her arms trembled at her restraint. As if to test it, he took a step towards the pair, ignoring the crowd that was forming around them. Almost immediately her arm flinched and her feet slid back, keeping distance. Incredibly jumpy as well.

"Stay the Hell away from us!" Videl snapped. "Haven't you done enough already?"

This was something much different then just protecting her daughter. Those eyes kept locked onto him, and the nagging sensation that he'd met her continued to haunt him.

"And who are you exactly? Who are you that I've done so much to?"

There was a pause from her. The woman looked at him in complete disbelief. Then anger surged through her, almost completely unrestrained. If Gohan didn't know better, he would have sworn she breathed fire.

"Who am I!? Who the Hell am I? You fucking bastard!" she shouted, taking a step towards him instead, and her arms tightening while preparing to attack. "I live with you in my nightmares every day after what you did to me! Now here you are, pretending like you can't even remember!"

Pretending like he couldn't even remember? Memories began to piece themselves together out of jagged moments and sensations. Pig tails and an eager spirit were the first things that came to mind, what followed was the image of a woman younger then who stood before him. It was of a proud girl who fought him until she couldn't stand anymore. He couldn't say he even got her name.

What that girl evolved into was the fragile warrior in front of him. Certainly there was a boast of power even in how she held herself. The hair was now very shortly cut, clearly doing away with the pig tails of old. Her body looked worn, clearly from intensive training, muscles were larger, but still tight. Her stance was that of a fighter with severe confidence issues, and anger. But the things that he noticed most, were the sharp differences in her eyes. Those eyes seemed incredibly... lighter, before. Now it looked as if the hope and determination had been sucked away and replaced with anger and grief.

Looking behind her, Gohan saw the little girl looking uncertain and afraid.

But if that's the girl from... but...

It took several seconds for his brain to pull that into the scope of reality that he could accept. This wasn't Goku's daughter, or Vegeta's, or Turles's. Suddenly his stomach twisted violently, looking at the girl with widened eyes.

No, no this can't be happening.

But it was. Standing behind the woman was something he'd wanted to avoid once he found out about the problems of being with Earth women. Standing there, in defiance to his wishes, was his daughter. It was something he never thought he'd ever meet, and really didn't want to meet. The idea of having children was never at the top of his priorities list, nor was the idea of having them with a woman who clearly hated him. Suddenly his heart began to race, before looking back at Videl.

The two didn't need to say anything. The information was exchanged through nothing but their looks. She now knew, that he knew. This only further added to the disaster unfolding around him.

How the Hell do I explain this? Shit, I don't even know this girl's name. Clearly she's not my biggest fan either.

"I recognize you now," Gohan said, easing his own posture. "You are much stronger then I remember."

What else was he going to say? Well, it's a shame you're not very happy with me, enjoy the kid, see you later?

She didn't respond to his comment however, instead just holding up her stance, still intent on defending herself.

"Look, lady, I've been through a lot since I ended up here. I really don't need to get into another big fight, especially with the kid so close to us right now. I'm signing up for the tournament. You wanna fight me? Fight me there. I don't intend to get disqualified by all the nuts who try to attack me on my way in, understand?"

There was a furious scowl from her, but he turned away all the same. She literally couldn't harm him right now.

There were no more words to give anyway.

"I'll be the one to beat you," she swore.

Something told him that she was right, somehow. But strangest of all, his heart was still racing, almost in a panic. Beginning to walk, he tried to gain a hold of his thoughts. Those thoughts weren't of a fatherly nature, but a frantic, selfish panic. There was an obligation to help your offspring, your family, it was something he couldn't even fault Goku on. But most offspring or family weren't born as a result of a one night event, with a woman you didn't know. Worse, they didn't usually meet their children for the first time when they were five years old. Worse still, they didn't usually have the mother intensely furious with them. To say the situation was good... well...

... I... I have a kid. Fuck!... FUCK! What the Hell am I supposed to do about this? Shit! What the Hell do I do now?

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Author's Notes:

This is going to be the only update for the month of December. Expect to see Chapter 22 of The Long Road pick back up in the second or third week of January!

Thanks again everyone, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If anyone has any questions in their reviews, I will respond via Private Message if at all possible, rather then my normal format of answering everything in the chapter, if only because of the prolonged distance between chapter releases.

Also, before the break because of the Holidays, I want to put out two very special thank-yous.

The first one is to Ness Frost, Ultimate Black Ace, and Roseblade22. They've let me bounce ideas off of them for both my stories. I also wholeheartedly recommend reading their work as well. A lot of my stories wouldn't be possible, or at least emotional elements of them, without having first consulted others and debated what was the right course of action.

The second one of course, is to the people who enjoy the story. Thanks so much for reading it, and enjoying it. :)

I hope everyone enjoys the season. Have a happy new year.

Reviewers:

Perfect Carnage: I think it would be more epic if Gohan didn't epic fail so badly in his personal life, lol

Thanks for the review though.

Maesde: Well, you got to see Gohan meet his daughter. I don't think he's exactly father of the year material at this point.

Reven228: Well, they definitely met. Moving forward expect to see a great deal of Videl as well. You'll notice a common trend eventually as well. It's probably a bad thing. Lol

Daughter of Vegeta: I hope I outdid myself again. :P

The Ghost Who Walks: Thanks. :)

RoxaShadow: Well, you probably loved this chapter then.

Dakota66: That's been a really complicated thing to go over even in how the story develops. Obviously I also can't spoil anything.

Ultimate Black Ace: Let's be real as well, his guilt isn't entirely born of his conscience, but fear as well. Yes, some of it is seeing how peaceful people live, not surrounded by conflict, and realizing he ruined that for billions, but there is also a selfish element to it. Judgement for what he's done, generating a fear, and that fear manifesting itself as a guilt. He's wounded himself as much as he's wounded those people... it's a guilt over what he's done to himself, as much as it is a guilt of killing all those people.

Deflow: I think you missed the passage where I point out that Pan had a tail. No worries though. I hope you enjoyed the chapter otherwise. :)

Guest1: ... If only you knew what dastardly things I had planned. Lol

Dr. Blue22: I'm of course, very happy to hear that this is becoming a favourite of yours. Unfortunately the next wait is sadly longer, but this was the least I could do.

The Void Fox: Hopefully as much as I enjoyed writing it. :)

Ness Frost: So what you're saying is that I should forward you the whole chapter first? XD

Guest2: You are going to get to see almost all of those things answered at some point in the story. Lol

Eveline: I can't answer if Majin Buu is going to be the next enemy or not. Lol

What I can say is that things won't go as people expect. But I'll leave it at that.

XXXpossessedforlifeXXX: Wait no longer!

Violet Ace: Videl is... complicated, not a villain. XD

Gohan: Sadly, this won't be a two chapter update. But this chapter is real big!

: Your hopes have been vindicated! :)