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 27: Majin
Gohan:
Two feet landed firmly in the ring. It was hard to look at Goku himself as he lay there. It was like looking at a corpse, and a very familiar one. Every muscle in Gohan's body urged him forward, even damaged ones ceased protesting. The body which lay there looked pale, dead, and unmoving. Kneeling down next to the orange clad body, Gohan pulled him up into his arms, looking over him.
Everything about the scene reminded him of how he'd tried to save Turles, and failed. Only Goku wasn't responsive, he wasn't speaking of past glories, there was no exchange of words. All it was, was him holding onto the body of a man left to be the victim of two men, by his own friend. The Namek was going to pay for this, as was the Mohawk. The Red one was still in the ring, Kibito.
Looking up, Gohan saw Chi-Chi already running towards them, tears in her eyes as she did.
"Goku!"
"If you will give me a moment, I will restore-" Kibito started, but stopped with the look Gohan gave him, stepping back hesitantly.
"You get the Hell back," Gohan snapped immediately, just as his mother arrived at his side.
"My Goku! What have they done to you?" she choked.
"Dad!" Goten's voice cut through the air as the child flew from the crowd with reckless abandon, aiming his relatively small body towards the ring like a missile.
Too many people, all of them trying to get too close to a downed fighter. It was hard to know who was friend or foe beyond Chi-Chi and the brat either. The Namekian had betrayed him. It was hard to imagine that Piccolo of all people was somehow in on all this. Withholding Krillin from interfering wasn't outright odd, as the human was a weakling, but the reasons for it and not intervening himself were too suspicious.
That didn't even begin to scratch the surface of his distrust of the others. All of them stood back and just watched, because some pushy little purple man said so? That wasn't how this was supposed to go down, not at all. They responded like someone being beaten or killed in front of Lord Cooler. How many of his own men had he killed? How many fighters had Lord Cooler killed, who were in the very Planet Trade itself, right in front of him and he'd done nothing?
It was the same way they all acted, even himself, while he watched that Videl women getting beaten to death. No one thought to step in this time save for Goku's midget friend. So now he was just supposed to let anyone get close to here while the old man was dying? Like Hell he was going to just let anyone in reach.
Almost the moment Goten zipped past him, grabbing at his father's body along with his mother, trying to see if there was any response, the Mohawk appeared again. Tattered clothing hung over his form, and scrapes were apparent across his cheek and visible skin. The look of pure annoyance was also plastered across his features as well.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" he snapped. "All of the work we have worked towards, thrown away because you couldn't control your temper."
Walking out from behind him, Piccolo stepped forward, a purple bruise having formed next to the left side of his lip. The man he'd trained with all the way up to this damned tournament. Behind him yet still, was Trunks now coming towards the ring. This was very bad and Gohan knew it.
Turning his head, Gohan looked directly towards the wreckage that was Goku, swallowing as he did. The old man was still unmoving as he struggled to breath. Thankfully he was breathing. Senzu bean, that was what would remedy the situation as quickly as possible. Where the Hell would he get one in a quick period of time?
Without being able to keep his track of mind off the purple squirt any longer, Gohan turned to address him.
"Any idea what I've done? You just tried to leave Kakarot over here to die, and you ask me what the Hell I've done? You're lucky I didn't blow your head off for that you little shit!"
A frustrated sneer came over Shin's face in response, anger boiling over as he lashed out.
"Goku will be fine! Especially if you let Kibito heal him!" he shouted.
Let Kibito heal him? After Kibito had just stood by? Eyes quickly traced over everyone in front of him, before narrowing on Trunks. They quickly turned to Piccolo, seeing the Namekian taking another cautious step forward. It was glaringly apparent to Gohan that they intended to rush him now. Right now, fighting against Piccolo, Trunks, this Shin character, and Kibito seemed to be a near hopeless adventure. What else could he do?
Pain flared in his left arm and shoulder as he transformed, his right leg and abdominal muscles following in lock step seemingly. Unconditionally, his fingers on his left hand began to twitch, unable to fully discern the signals that were coming from the brain. In only a few short hours, he was becoming nothing but some... cripple. It was humiliating, not a day earlier anyone would have proclaimed him the strongest fighter on Earth, if not the galaxy. Now for all his strength, he didn't even know if he could protect the body of a fallen warrior from a pack of vultures.
It was impossible to block out all the pain, so Gohan just grit his teeth.
"We allowed Yamu and Spopovich to take Goku's energy, because they were going to take it back to their master, Babidi, who was going to try to use it to awaken an ancient evil named Majin Buu! We have-"
The rest of the words became almost a haze to Gohan as he started to try and recognize if this were real, or fake. Babidi? Majin Buu? But worst of all, giving away the exact thing your enemy wanted, so you could follow them, and let them have it? Blinking away some of the pain, Gohan snarled almost in response.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," he fired back. "Even if you didn't know where they were, why would you give them what they wanted? With no guarantee of some kind of ability to stop them? What the Hell kind of idiot do you think I am?! No one is that stupid!"
"That is the Supreme Kai you are talking to," Kibito immediately said, sounding gruff and annoyed. "You will show him respect."
With teeth grinding against one another from the pain and anger of it all, Gohan turned to Kibito for a moment, before sharply turning back to the others, truly surrounded on all sides. The question became attack, or defence as far as Gohan was concerned. Talking this out didn't process for him at all, if only because of the nature of the betrayal. The worst offender of all was the green bastard in front of him. What if it'd been him in that ring? Piccolo would have just stood by and let whatever happen, happen as well, and for what? For some pathetic little creature's irrational plan? He threw the tournament for that as well? For some greater good he couldn't quantify? Piccolo wasn't just supposed to be Goku's friend, he was his friend as well. Even if Gohan would hate to admit anything of that nature, it was true.
"Gohan," the Namekian then said. "Calm down. Let Kibito heal Goku and we can explain everything. It's not what it looks like."
Like Hell.
"Explain now, and don't feed me that Babidi bullshit either. I've never heard of Babidi or Buu. I don't even know why I care about Babidi or Buu! So start fucking explaining, now."
Prepared to fight, scowling at the others, it was the voice from behind him that caused him to take pause. Of all the people to speak up, why her?
"Gohan," Chi-Chi's voice said, her voice strained. "Let them help your father."
Closing his fists angrily, Gohan felt the pain screeching across his left arm just from flexing the tendons. After a few seconds the tremble in his arm was unmistakeable, giving away his affliction. For all his power, he couldn't protect anyone, not really, and he couldn't stop the pain in his arm. Hell, he couldn't even stop the pain in his personal life.
"I trust Piccolo," she then added. "Please Gohan."
Glaring resentfully towards the Namekian, Gohan stepped aside.
"If he dies," Gohan warned. "He'll not die alone."
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Babidi:
Tiny legs paced about the bridge of the ship, turning his large eyes every few moments to the image to his left. Everything was unfolding much differently then he imagined. Yamu and Spopovich had been killed in a massive explosion of energy, likely the very energy they gathered. Then there was the fact that right now, he could look to see inside a ring, and what was there pleased him immensely. Inside the ring was the key to unleashing Majin Buu. There were a half dozen creatures there with immense amounts of energy, all of which could be dedicated to the unlocking of the greatest destroyer in the history of the universe.
Looking briefly towards the huge pod they'd retrieved weeks earlier, Babidi felt excitement rush through his veins. It was almost enough to make him hop and dance about the ship, but instead he kept his hands at his back as he stared intently into the image before him. There was so much potential inside the ring as well. There was darkness in the hearts of most of the cadre of fighters the Supreme Kai had surrounded himself with.
Pui Pui and Yakkon were not match for these kinds of fighters, only Dabura could really be a contest for them, even he could see that with so many of them reading so high on the Killi chart. That meant either using his two most powerful fighters almost immediately, or turning one or more of these fools against one another. The Super Saiyan glow he witnessed on one of the fighters told him all too much about these creatures power levels, and which ones were Saiyans.
If he didn't know better, he'd have said there were at least four Saiyans there, one child and four adults. With a burst of quickly placed thought, a plan came to mind for him. It was time to bring these Saiyans to their new battlefield.
"Dabura," Babidi said as a slick smile appeared across his lips. "What does it look like the Supreme Kai has for fodder in his quest right now?"
The large red demon stepped to his side, before looking into the image himself for several moments. A long, almost lizard-like smile crept across his face a few moments later. The smile was replicated on Babidi's lips as well when he noticed it.
"They have a Super Saiyan, and several other Saiyans as well," Dabura commented.
"Very good," Babidi responded. "I would like it if you prepared our Saiyan to fight against these ones. Just in the instance that my plans should fall through. With any luck, we'll be adding four Saiyans to our ranks."
"Of course, Master," Dabura responded. "I will see to it that he is ready."
"Oh and Dabura, after he's ready, prepare to greet our guests. I want the weaker ones out of the way."
"With pleasure, Master Babidi."
Raising his hands to his front, and locking them together in front of his face with anticipation, the tiny, yellow alien slowly started to chuckle at what was presented before him. Oh this would be delightful, this would be the beginning of the rule of the all powerful Babidi. No one would be able to stop his rise, not the Supreme Kai, not these Saiyans, or any other force in the universe. Soon, all there would be was his power, and the power of Majin Buu. He was so close he could taste it.
Unable to hold back his joy, or his excitement, Babidi began to cackle.
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Gohan:
There was a sense of relief, which he by no means demonstrated, when Goku's body slowly began to move after the red freak, Kibito, placed his hand on him. Alright, so that did prove at least they weren't a threat. Staring over to the purple midget, and then to Piccolo, Gohan slowly let his Super Saiyan power flee from him. Black hair replaced gold, and his aura faded as well.
This had better have been good.
"Explain," Gohan demanded, looking at the 'mohawk' in front of him. "And make it quick."
The battle scarred Saiyan still felt a dull ache in his arm from the transformation.
"Wow, what happened?" Goku asked as he slowly got up, Chi-Chi already clutching to him along with Goten. "Uhm-"
"Quiet," Gohan ordered. "The mohawk has some explaining to do, now."
In truth, Gohan almost wanted to turn around and embrace Goku as well. The fact he'd nearly died back there was deeply unsettling. Only moments earlier, he'd promised himself he'd a least kill the Kai and his brute of a body guard. If Piccolo complained, he'd have been next. It was odd to admit it, but after all the kindness, patience, and help that Goku had given him after their first engagement, he couldn't stop himself from feeling attached. Even after betraying him, Goku had still come to defend him against Turles, and was still always reaching out to him.
It even made him feel guilty that he didn't call him father. The truth of it was, was that beyond biology he wasn't Goku's son. Hell, in truth he wasn't even really Chi-Chi's son. The reason he called her mother was from his own want to have one, something he'd been denied most of his life, and something he always imagined as having. He'd already had a father figure. He was born in the fires of dying worlds, and not in this paradise. Everything he touched on this planet seemed to wither as well, as if tainted by him. In his thoughts, if only for a few seconds, he could even understand why Trunks hated him.
It was only when the little shit of a god began to speak, that Gohan snapped out of it.
"Majin Buu is an ancient terror which destroyed much of the known universe. He is a being of pure evil and destruction, who was created by a terrible wizard named Bibidi. His son, Babidi, has come to this planet to find Buu, and then harvest enough energy to awaken him."
Everyone seemed to buy it, except for perhaps Vegeta. While he looked around the growing collection of warriors, he sighed, suspending disbelief for a moment.
"And so you decided to let them have a big pile of energy? To what? Track them? You realize that we could just sweep this planet several times until someone found them. Worst case scenario they could have used this planet's dragon balls to find him."
The air around them seemed to grow quiet as the other warriors all stared at the Supreme Kai, who looked about nervously for a moment. He regained his composure quickly enough and prepared himself to respond.
"Some things can't be factored into any equation and-"
"You're making excuses," Gohan shot back immediately. "You didn't think this plan of your through at all, and you call yourself a god? Anyone who wants to find this 'supposed' Babidi, line up with me. We'll get the Dragon Balls and deal with him that way-"
"Wait!" Shin shouted. "You have no idea the dark power you're about to face, Babidi is a wizard of incredible power, and you'll need-"
"Blah. Blah. Blah," Gohan responded, rolling his eyes. "What exactly can this guy do? Is he going to shout some magical phrase, and lock us all away?"
The complete disregard for the Kai seemed warranted, as far as Gohan was concerned. He was just a scheming joke of a figure, how did he command any respect at-
A warm, dusty wind blew past him a moment later as his eyes quickly scanned what had once been the arena. The sun was hotter, and beat down on his skin within seconds. It was almost dizzying in how rapidly everything had changed. It took several seconds for Gohan to restore his balance, his bare feet pressing into soft, hot sand. Each grain of the crushed rock slid under his feet as a smooth powder. The land around them was empty, and hot. When another strong wind picked up, it swept up the top lair of stand, bristling it through the air around them as a hot, fine dust.
Looking to the others, Gohan saw similar reactions from everyone else, all of them scrambling for what had just happened.
"Goku," Chi-Chi murmured, her eyes looking around quietly. "Where are we?"
By the time the question was finished, the sound of a powerful lift could be heard, as a long cylindrical pot lifted from the ground. With a hiss the tall, sleek door attached to it shifted open.
"Well, it looks as though this wizard cast his first spell," Vegeta remarked, crossing his arms, staring towards the newly emerging figures with near disinterest.
Even if Gohan hated Vegeta, and his brat kid, present and future, even he could see what had just happened. They'd just been teleported to... where ever this was. Which meant they were in immediate danger. Turning his head sharply to the now rising Goku, his eyes widened when he realized Goten and Chi-Chi were here.
"Hey, brats and mom need to go," he quickly warned.
"I agree," the older Trunks then said.
Before any further consensus could be reached, the tiny yellow figure made his appearance, alongside a giant red monster.
"D-Dabura," Kibito said, his eyes widened in complete terror.
Immediately, Gohan made eye contact with the big red monster, the slit eyes meeting his pupils. There was a moment where Gohan tried to determine intention, before sensing and seeing it in the creature's eyes. It was the look of someone preparing the kill.
"But Goku, where would we-"
"Now!" Gohan shouted, turning his head towards them. His face contorted into one of concern and anger even, not even realizing the blue clad monster behind him had disappeared in a blur of motion.
It was hard to react in time, no one seemed prepared for any sudden assault by the red creature. Turning just in time, Gohan only had time to see a red wave of energy blast Kibito into ash before the Kai's guardian could respond. The big red beast was too fast in this state to do much about him. Surging forward all his power as quickly as he could, Gohan felt pain explode in his arm again. Old wounds and synthetic muscles protested as they had earlier, if not worse. It was paralysing as he transformed, leaving him to collapse to one knee as his hair turned gold. It was impossible to not raise his hand to his shoulder in agony.
"Gohan!" his mother shouted, breaking away from Goku to rush towards him.
No, get back.
Before he could make his comment into words, what appeared to be spit impacted her chest. Looking around, another two were hit by it, the three eyed freak and the midget. Why would he spit on them? Disrespect?
"Very good. Dabura, dealing with the trash first is the best route," the small yellow creature chuckled.
Every process in Gohan's brain was on fire as he tried to figure out what was going on, amidst the excruciating pain in his arm. It was when his eyes caught sight of his mother's face shifting into one of horror that he took pause. The terrified scream that followed was enough to make him realize something involving the spit was significant. The pain in his arm and shoulder seemed to disappear as he found a way to rise to his feet, adrenaline fuelling his rush. Running to her side, he witnessed the horror that was to come.
"Help!" Chi-Chi shrieked, before her body and clothes shifted into stone.
The disease of rock seemed to spread over her body inch by inch, leading to more terrified noises and attempts to move, to somehow get it off her. Each moment of struggle was pointless.
"Chi-Chi!" Goku shouted.
"Mom!" a younger voice chimed in.
"Mom? Hold on," Gohan urged. "We'll fix this, just-"
The words were empty, by the time he finished them, all that remained of Chi-Chi was a horrified statue. Pain, fear, and confusion were etched into her features. In the seconds it took for her to solidify into this new state, she'd experienced a terror which Gohan had seen a million times. This was far worse then any of his memories. Any of the jobs he'd done before could never measure to this, as this was his family, his mother, who suffered. There she was, frozen in place, her last moments forever trapped and locked in stone.
She was dead.
Just standing there as some frozen statue, locked in place. It was worse then if she'd been blown apart, of vaporized, because if that happened she wouldn't have that look carved into her features, staring back at him with terror. It was a cruelty he'd visited on so many he couldn't count them, but when he'd slaughtered people in front of their parents or children, that hadn't been immortalized. And none of those people had been his mother.
"Chi-Chi!" Goku called again, arriving at her side. "Oh no."
The laughter from the yellow creature behind them was... painful to hear. His own heartbeat was painful to experience. Of everyone he knew, they had to do this to her. She couldn't harm them at all. Why not attack him? Or Goku? Or Piccolo? Or anyone? Tien and Krillin didn't even factor into his thoughts, the only thing that could was Chi-Chi.
They'd just killed his mother.
"Gohan," Shin's voice warned. "We can fix this, we just need to-"
Everything else he heard seemed to just become mumbles, the world became deaf to him. The only thing Gohan could hear now was his heartbeat, and each beat was more painful to hear then the last. Every moment was excruciating. The world was empty except for him and this damned statue.
"Babidi," Gohan managed to say, his eyes looking past the statue before he turned around.
The red freak was there, standing next to his master.
"Gohan! Listen! They're trying to draw you in!" Shin shouted, but Gohan couldn't hear him.
"You think you can just get away with this?!" exploded from Gohan's lungs.
Next to him, Gohan could sense his father's transformation.
"Goku! Please! The two of you need to calm down!" Shin pleaded.
Taking off into the air, Gohan placed his hands at his sides, ignoring the pain, zeroing in on the people he intended to kill. Tears brimmed on the edges of his eyes as memories flooded to him. Memories of the first person who seemed to express any kindness to him in a gentle way. The woman who'd fed him even when he'd been terrible to her. She'd stayed at his side no matter what he'd done. They'd just killed her for nothing.
There was a puzzled look on the yellow creature's face, and a moment of understanding flashed over Dabura's.
"Dabura, what's he-"
Forming the Calamity Blaster, Gohan felt rage pushing him forward. That was his mother down there, dead, because these two idiots thought she was 'trash'. She wasn't any threat to them, and they killed her anyway. Every second he charged the attack, Gohan imagined what he'd done to his two counterparts below. He'd rip off the big one's arm, and beat him to death with it. The little one he was going to listen to Turles's advice on what to do with people you wanted to torment to death...
That was his fucking mother down there!
A feral cry of pure fury escaped him as he threw his hands down towards the two. It was the look on the big one's face that said it all, as he realized what was coming. Grabbing the midget's hand, at the last moment the two blurred out of view before the purple orb struck the ground above the space ship.
The ground domed upwards before a massive purple tinted blast exploded into the air. Shock-waves thundered out across the landscape as rows of random blasts echoed out across the outskirts of the explosion. The purple tinted light which filled the air quickly turned to a red-orange fury of a raging inferno. Fire burst uncontrollably from the pit the attack had burrowed into the ground, clearly having made some contact with the Majin ship below.
"W-What have you done?" Shin demanded, running to his side. "You could wake Buu with this kind of-"
Grabbing him by the tunic, Gohan pulled the Supreme Kai in front of him, making eye contact.
"I don't give a shit if there is a Majin Buu down there, nor do I give a shit if there is Babidi, or Dabura, or anyone. You'll get the fuck out of my way, and I'm going to kill anyone who gets in my way," Gohan sneered, before tossing the short god into the sand next to them.
With that, Gohan jumped into the flames, before landing on a hardened floor.
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Goku:
The explosion in the background felt hollow as Gohan was left staring at the horrified last moments, cemented in his wife's eyes. When he looked up from there, his best friend, Krillin, was left in the same state. Completely frozen and horrified, he stood next to another good friend, Tien. To his side, Tien was flanked by Mirai Trunks, who looked shocked at his master's fate. To Goku it was all the same, it was all pain from having failed to defend his friends.
Piccolo, Vegeta, Goten, Trunks, and Mirai Trunks were all still here. No matter what happened, they'd find a way to stop whatever this was, but right now Goku couldn't conceal his own anger. All around him was his failure to save the people who he cared about, and all because he wasn't ready for battle. It'd been Gohan who saw it coming, and even he failed to stop it.
"Mom!" Goten sobbed as he flew towards them, moving to grab the stone. Only at the last moment did Goku realize what this could cause. Grabbing Goten's shoulder, he held his son in place.
Behind them, the Supreme Kai was tossed into the sand by Gohan, something Goku barely noticed as he trembled with his own anger. It was everything in him not to blow up the ship himself, heeding the call of the Kai.
"Goku," the Supreme Kai said, finding his feet. "Please, we have to stop Gohan before he awakens Buu!"
Standing there, Goku only felt his grip tighten on his already sobbing child's shoulder. They still had the Dragon Balls, they could still fix all of them. Kneeling down a moment later, he turned his son to look at him, still see the reddened, pained, desperate, tear filled eyes of a child. Even if they fixed this, it would be something his son would live with his entire life.
"Goku," Piccolo then said, walking towards them from the side. "We have to get moving now to stop Gohan."
The entire ground rumbled around them, no doubt from his eldest son's fury being unleashed on the occupants within the ship.
"Goten," Goku said finally after a moment. "I need you to go to Capsule Corporation, and wait for us there with Trunks."
The little boy's misery turned to anger.
"But they hurt mom!" he shouted, anger spitting in his voice as hot tears spilled down his cheeks again.
For a brief moment, his younger son seemed to remind him of Gohan. Angry, wanting to lash out at anyone responsible for his grief. Even Goku felt that way right now, he could hardly fully blame his son for it.
"Goten, this is too dangerous for you," Goku said, before his own features turned deadly serious. "I've already lost your mother. I don't want to lose you too. We'll use the Dragon Balls to fix all this, but for now you have to go."
Standing up at his full height, he looked towards Piccolo, nodding.
Turning his head to the side, he looked towards Vegeta and his future son.
"Vegeta, we'll need you as well."
The Prince just seemed to look towards him. There was an understanding recognized by his old rival at that point. The fights they'd had, the competition they had for who would be the strongest did create a bond between the two of them, even if Vegeta often found him annoying, or too moral. Right now though, Goku needed Vegeta's help, and Vegeta would want a fight regardless.
"Well, then we'd best get moving now," Vegeta commented. "Though I am willing to bet by the time we get there, Gohan will have already turned anyone this supposed Supreme Kai sees as a threat, into poorly cooked meat."
Turning his head to the Kai a second later, Goku just looked at him questioningly.
"Gohan will awaken Buu at this rate, we need him to calm down," Shin insisted. "If we can stop Dabura, that will also free all of your friends from the stone, so we must move now."
With one last warning look towards Goten, Goku was ready to move. On his knees, his son was still sobbing in front of the statue that was his mother.
Chi-Chi, I'll take care of this. Then we'll get everything else settled, I promise.
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Babidi:
"That damned Saiyan! He nearly killed me back there!" Babidi snarled angrily as he and Dabura made their way down yet another level. "I left Pui Pui and Yakkon to distract him until we made it back to the bridge."
So far, things hadn't been going as expected. Teleporting all of their enemies there had seemed like a wise idea at the time. He knew the Kai would offer caution to the others, of the fear that Buu would be awakened. However, the scarred Saiyan a few levels above them, was hardly in a mood for caution it seemed.
"BABIDI!"
The voice echoed through the ship as it rumbled again, undoubtedly more of his minions had met their fate, but that wasn't necessarily-
The door above them dented inward in a brutal motion, the horrified and agonized head of Pui-Pui indenting into the door, likely being lodged inside of it. It was enough to make the wizard jump back in horror, his heart racing. He already knew Pui Pui was no match, but it was clear the Saiyan wasn't even being slowed down. Sweat beaded on the little monster's head before he looked at Dabura.
"He'll be through that door in only a minute," Dabura cautioned. "I can fight him, but I cannot stop all of them."
So, the Supreme Kai thought he could just unleash these Saiyans on them, and expect him to fold under the pressure? Well he'd show him just what happened to those who dared to challenge Babidi, sooner to be ruler of the entire-
The alien almost jumped out of his skin as another head was imbedded in the ceiling entrance, this time it was Yakkon's.
"Go!" Babidi ordered Dabura. "You've already got the monster out of his cage, get him ready to be on the next level."
Internally, he grinned to himself as he jumped down another level.
Yes, this would be suburb, and easy enough to manipulate. There was so much anger and hostility in this one, he'd be easy to turn. Then he could simply focus on the others, while his own monster was brought into the mix. Then Majin Buu would be unleashed upon his enemies from the power he secured from the confrontation.
With the damage already done to his ship, it wouldn't be able to fly for months. These Saiyans and the Kai were going to pay for that.
But all the same, when there was another explosion only a level above him, the tiny alien felt his heart race again. They had to work quickly, before that psychopath made it to him next.
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Gohan:
"BABIDI!"
The shout range out again as Gohan plunged his fist through the door. It was heavier then the last, with the two Alien's heads he'd lodged into the frame.
The little imp thought he could just attack and then run? Leading people through some damn maze? A dark look crossed Gohan's face as he stood back, pointing his hand at the door. His chest was still heaving angrily before he pointed his hand out towards the door, gathering dark purple energy into it.
"Gohan!" a voice called out from the levels above. Ignoring it all the same, Gohan unleashed the wave.
Another blast rocked the ship as the two bodies and the door were washed away in a ray of purple light, and a fiery blast. It was nothing to Gohan. There were still dead bodies strewn about the room, mainly Babidi's weaker minions. Bodies lay torn in two, some missing their heads, and others burned in a terrible array of parts and pieces. None of this had any influence on Gohan right now. It didn't matter how many of these things had to die. They'd killed his mother up there.
The reminder caused his lip to sneer upwards as he made his way towards the next level.
I'll kill them all.
The pain in his shoulder seemed to recede, not because his muscles were strained, but because his body had been flooded with so much adrenaline that he thought his heart would explode. Stepping towards the hole, he finally felt a hand grab his shoulder.
Turning his head, Gohan looked squarely into the eyes of Goku, Kakarot, his father, whatever he was going to call him today. The look was as serious as ever though.
"Slow down," Goku said finally, his voice somehow stern, but still easing. "Killing all of these people isn't going to solve anything."
There was a sneer in response to the remark as Gohan tore his shoulder away.
"These people don't deserve any mercy," Gohan snapped back.
It changed everything. The second they killed his mother up there, he didn't care anymore about not wanting to fight, it all didn't matter. He'd kill everyone who he held at fault for it.
"It won't bring her back," Goku's voice intruded, as if reading what he was thinking. "I'm in pain too Gohan, but there is a better way then this."
Of course it wouldn't bring her back. Nothing could change what just happened. This wasn't about reversing what just happened, it was about revenge, which was something Gohan was very well versed in. It was teaching these people that they fucked with the wrong people. They couldn't understand reason, they'd only understand fear, and violence. For every heartbeat his mother suffered, they'd wish they'd died a thousand deaths.
Kicking the half destory corpse of Pui Pui aside, Gohan took a step towards the gaping hole in the floor.
"Gohan," Goku repeated, this time Piccolo stepping forward as well. "You need to calm down. Fighting like this won't help anyone. You'll just play into their hands."
"He's right Gohan," Piccolo added. "Right now our best chance is to get to the bridge, find Majin Buu's essence and lock that away. We can deal with Babidi and Dabura after that."
Everyone had to have their input, all for the greater good. Turning to look at them again, he could almost spit. The five coming along with him were all a bunch of wimps. The only one there who might have the balls to do something about all this was... was...
There was a burning feeling inside his mind a few seconds later. Without any ability to stop it, Gohan grabbed his head a moment later.
"Wh?... Ahhh... AHHHH!"
A few moments later, Piccolo and Vegeta both fell victim to this as well.
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Babidi:
This was perfect, watching the three would be saviours clutching at their heads, trying to keep him out. Standing before his crystal ball, all Babidi could do was grin, while Dabura stood behind him watching eagerly.
"Soon, our newest fighters will be matched against their counterparts. Who would have guessed so many of these fools have evil imbedded in their hearts. That Supreme Kai is a fool for letting them even think about joining his little cadre."
Below, he could feel the three of them resisting, he could taste their power. The little Kai seemed to be begging and pleading with the three of them, but that didn't matter, it was too late for all of them. Then it would be half of the Supreme Kai's warriors, fighting against him and his only remaining, loyal fighters. Never before had things played out so well.
Not only would he have Dabura, but he'd have an army of Super Saiyans as well, a Super Namekian, and Majin Buu. Universal conquest seemed more and more on his side. Oh how tremendous it would be to become the sole ruler of all of creation.
"That's right, give in."
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Gohan:
Everything urged him to somehow surrender, and he didn't even know to what. Something dark came roaring out of the pit of his soul as he heard pleas from the Mohawk and his father in the background. It all seemed meaningless, pointless.
They want to stop your bloodlust because they fear you. They fear you becoming what you were always meant to be.
The voice in his head was soothing and consoling, telling him that he should just let this all happen. Power could flow through his veins as never before. Somehow, it even seemed to assure him that his body would be restored. It would let him become what he was before he came to this planet again. It would let him dash his cares, concerns, and conscience on the rocks. It was an escape, there was only one cost.
Just give up. Serve, serve your new master.
For a moment he almost reached out and took it. His legs collapsed beneath him as he fell to his knees. He could have everything he desired, if only at the cost of his freedom.
Memories churned in his mind, remembering the life he had before Earth. The power over life and death, respect, and his strength. But it was all false, it was all weak. Behind it all was fear, fear of himself and fear of his master. Inside of every action was just a boy trying to cover up his own flaws, his own weaknesses. It wasn't the life he wanted anymore.
Serve your new master, Babidi!
Pain scorched through his body as he felt his insides almost light on fire. Gohan screamed in pain as red lightning shot around him, trying to feed off of every negative emotion he felt. It tried to open up feelings long since locked away. But it wasn't just that anymore. It was asking him to serve Babidi.
The only image in his mind now was the image of his mother, turned to stone. The look of terror and fear carved in stone across her face.
Serve your-
Get the Hell out of my mind!
Old reserves of strength swelled beneath him as Gohan pressed one foot against the ground, pushing back against gravity, and the force in his mind. So he was to become a slave? A slave to the man who just turned his mother into a rock? For no reason at all? How was this any kind of choice? Any choice there was, was indeed the only thing Gohan dashed against the rocks. Fury rose up instead, pushing him forward through clenched teeth.
"Babidi!"
Flexing his body as he pulled himself up, the red lightning was sent scattering to the power around him. A furious scowl written across his face.
"Gohan," Goku said to him, looking on in almost shock. "Is that you? Are you alright?"
"I'm going to kill Babidi," Gohan snarled in response, turning towards the hole in the ground, preparing to jump down.
It was then that Vegeta's screaming ceased. Turning his head over, Vegeta was already in Super Saiyan form.
"Father?" Trunks asked, moving to help him up.
"Get away from me, boy," Vegeta sneered before looking ahead. "I'm no one's slave."
"Then let's get going," Gohan snapped.
Before he could jump into the hole, he felt energy spiking nearby, and something hit. The beam blasted into his exposed back, sending him down the hole on his own, hitting the ground with a dull thud. The pain was there, but not significant. When the two feet landed near him, he looked up to see a green figure.
There was a black mark on his forehead, and before Gohan could even move, he was kicked against the side of the ship.
Piccolo.
The others quickly landed all around him.
"Piccolo," Goku said, looking over to the Namek with serious eyes. "Don't be Babidi's slave, we can still fix all of this."
The room started to rumble as black energy began to influx into the Namekian.
Finally gaining his bearings, Gohan managed to pull himself from the dent in the wall. The only one on this planet who he could even say approached a friend to him, the man who'd betrayed him a few hours ago, and his father, for the purple little shit that lead them into all this trouble, was channelling dark powers all around him. The only thing Gohan couldn't understand was why. How was it that the Namekian was the one who fell to the spell. Even Gohan understood somewhat of what had happened, Babidi had tried to control their minds.
This was the consequence of submission?
"Why, Piccolo?" Gohan asked, glaring at the first person on this planet to really tutor him. The only one who he let look after him, after Turles, was now standing there with black energy swirling around him.
Inside that darkness, Gohan could feel the ever growing power.
"Because I was once the strongest being on this planet, and I used to matter. I was the Guardian of the Earth, I was the scourge of the planet, I was a great defender, and now I'm nothing. At best I look after the children of men stronger then me. I cover for everyone else's mistakes. I even follow orders from Gods who I used to think knew what they were doing."
With a dark smile, Piccolo looked ahead.
"But I think I'm done with that. I'm done being weaker then the rest of you, always left behind. For all your strength, none of you have any real skill. I can finally let my real self out. I can finally be who I was before Goku came along. I can be great again."
It was the same offer he'd received, and Gohan suspect the same offer Vegeta had obtained. Unlike Vegeta, what did Piccolo have to show for everything? He was hardly the strongest, he had no ties other than his friendship to the Sons, and the Earth was defended by others. Stepping forward, moving up to hold the aching arm hanging on his left side, Gohan narrowed his eyes.
"You're in the way, Piccolo," he pointed out.
"Good," came the quick response. "Which one of you thinks you can do something about it?"
Everyone in the room stepped forward, save the Supreme Kai. It was then however, that the side doors opened. Another tall figure stepped forward in the light, black hair spiked upward on his head, and he held several features Gohan knew he could recognize.
Once he moved into the regular light of the room, wearing one of Babidi's soldier's uniforms, was a tall, lean muscled man, with a long brown tail flicking behind him. This was a Saiyan?
The figure stood there, almost impassively, a calm look placed across his features. It wasn't until he looked at Goku that his eyes intensified with something, perhaps hatred. It was only when the wave of golden energy exploded around him, and his hair spiked up, that Gohan even began to understand who this could be.
A golden aura hummed around him as his muscles pushed outward, his entire body seemed to brim with power. It was like he was almost born to be a Super Saiyan. The M tattooed across his forehead gave away his loyalties even more then the armour. This was another one of Babidi's slaves. There was more to him however...
His eyes.
His eyes were like... Paragus.
The name on the edge of his mind finally came up as the warrior looked ahead with deadly eyes.
Broly.
Stepping back in almost fear and shock, he felt the chill of Paragus's words whisper through his mind. Words of his son, the chosen one... the true Super Saiyan.
Darkly, the figure only said one thing, one thing Gohan couldn't even grasp that this monster knew.
"Kakarot."
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Author's Notes:
Well, I'm certainly glad I finally got this chapter done. It was a lot of work, and I even changed a lot of what I originally had planned, I just let the writing take me where I wanted it to go. So yea, surprise! Majin Piccolo, and Broly. As if things couldn't get teh crazier, right?
... Things might get crazier! Next chapter is a super important one, lots of things start going down. The plot is in full speed mode now, nothing can stop it! Lol
If anyone was wondering, the part with Broly was always planned.
Also, expect a lot more Pan and Videl after this part ends. And Goten gets a pretty big role over the next chapter as well!
I just hope I have time to write it and do it justice. Big plans folks.
Reviewers:
Pyromania101:
Cooler is coming to Earth? That's news to me. I think you may have mistaken who was being referenced in that "unknown" part. Spoiler: It's not Cooler.
Assweetlilpixie:
Vegeta and Goku hover around where Gohan is in power. If Gohan goes full ballistic rage, he'll be stronger, but otherwise Goku and Vegeta are around the same power. And see above, as that's not Cooler.
ShadowLDrago:
Gohan would kill them again if he had to. This chapter has really put him in a strange place, but a bloodthirsty one.
Guest1:
Thanks.
Dbz fan the first:
It was hard to write this chapter. But I hope you enjoy it.
Lil dynamic:
Well, the only reason I didn't follow that part of the plot, is there is no way Gohan would have tolerated that, especially after what happened to Videl. So yea, he killed them... Yep.
Eveline:
The new foe wasn't Broly, by the way. But on a bright note, Gohan isn't as evil as he used to be, but he is pretty far from reformed. He doesn't like fighting and killing, but he can be set off by things, as demonstrated this chapter.
Maesde:
I wasn't saying you specifically were being sexist, but I've gotten a lot of comments which were. Don't get me wrong, Videl isn't going to be a top tier fighter in this, but I've gotten a lot of reviews from people saying things like- "Don't you dare make Videl tough" or whatever, and it just leaves me annoyed. That and the constant rape denial remarks from people.
Guest2:
If she gets a chance to.
Hinata-Hime-Starz:
Answered this one via PM.
XxxPossessedforlifexx:
Babidi helped him with that XD
Guest3:
Well, I don't give people attacks to make them sexy, nor does it matter. Video will get attacks that fit Videl.
Guest4:
Thanks. And as I said, its not all Maesde, I'm just making a comment towards that kind of language in general.
Guest5:
Ah power levels, and how they don't really matter XD
Red Hunter87:
He kicked him on the side. More like a swipe of his leg, then a boot to the gut. Also, Gohan cares a lot more about people then he wants to admit.
Heseltine:
This'll be more intense. :)
Brelic:
Mysterious being? Not Cooler.
CharlietheTurdil:
Answered this very chapter!
The Void Fox:
I do too.
Aqua Roxas:
And the mysterious figure? Not Cooler ;)
Request:
No. I don't read other people's fanfics to influence my own ideas. Most of The Long Road is planned, plotted, and even estimated. Right now I suspect that the story will be 60 chapters long. And it's all planned.
Guest:6
Gohan should do that, but won't.
And Cooler being overpowered? Who said Cooler was going to even show up again?
Guest7:
Videl is too ashamed to ever admit that openly to others, at least right now. I wouldn't consider that a big problem... at the moment.
Chemistry-deaf:
Yep!
Super Spoiler:
Who cares?
RoxaShadow:
Behold! Babidi's plans unfolding!
Guest8:
No.
R:
Thanks! :D
Infidel94:
That's just not part of the story as it was planned sadly.
RedEyes-Fallen:
UPDATED!
Guest8:
Why would have Gohan raped Bulma, an old woman? In fact, he was there to kill everyone. Gohan didn't think humans and Saiyans could even mix. Gohan didn't even realize he was half human until Piccolo pointed out that Chi-Chi was a human, not a Saiyan.