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 31: Waiting on The Dragon
Gohan:
Where was he?
Everything felt light, as if it were weightless. Even the dirt under his back felt like it was floating along with him. The light piercing through dispersed clouds above was bright, almost too bright. For a moment Gohan thought to raise his arm to block it, but he couldn't even find the energy to move. Despite how the world felt so light, his arm felt as if it weighed a million tons. Even attempting to move it made every fibre of his muscles scream for mercy. Instead, Gohan just continued to lay there, feeling his chest struggle to rise and fall with every series of breaths he took.
Gently, a breeze blew past him, sweeping up dust and dried dirt from the ground beneath him. It was almost enough to make him cough when it entered his nostrils, instead he turned his head to the side. Part of him was still not there, still wasn't conscious or aware of anything around him. A dazed glance into the distance, towards the utterly ruined wreck of a city to his side, left him still in an oblivious moment.
It was only when he saw people moving out of the wreckage in the distance, far beyond the truly barren wasteland the climax of the battle had left behind, that Gohan began to realize where he was. Slowly, the world started to have a dull pain, nearly everywhere. When he tried to sit up, the response was immediate. Dull pain turned into shooting pain, sending spasms up his lower back, legs, and even his arms and shoulders. Almost immediately Gohan stopped his attempt to rise.
The sun was hot, pelting his skin from above with waves of radiation. However long he'd been laying there, it was long enough for the clouds and rains to disappear from his battle with Broly. All he could see when he looked up was the star of the solar system. Even as his muscles ached, and were left barely to move, he couldn't help but feel some relief from the warmth of the star. Quietly, he just listened to the sound of his own breathing, and the beating of his heart. It was all he really could do.
When a shadow slowly came over him, he struggled to turn his head again, before seeing what it was. It was a group of people. They were dressed in torn, ragged clothing, and their faces were those of the distressed and distraught. They were the faces he'd seen so many times, he could never count them. Often he saw them in the light of burning worlds, or frozen forever in the faces of corpses half laying in the mud. Slowly, he turned his head away, not able to look at them. The sound of different people sobbing in the crowd of people made the moment come all the more alive. They were grieving their loved ones, the majority of the city that met a miserable end, dying in the path of a monster, or in the crossfire of its defeat.
When he felt someone grab his arm, Gohan almost instinctively pulled his arm away, or even lashed out. Instead, he looked over, seeing a tired man looking him over a moment, before motioning to two others.
"We've got you," the man remarked, smiling to him sadly, if not reassuringly.
Carefully, they pulled him from the ground, hoisting the Saiyan up onto his feet, before two men, including the first one to look over him, supported him on their shoulders. When he turned to look at the survivors, Gohan saw them looking at him... thankfully?
It all was so strange, so quiet at first. Some of them were still crying, but many just were looking at him, trying to hold back their emotions. When the two men started guiding him over towards the real ruins, carefully keeping him up and letting his feet barely keep up with them, there was suddenly clapping from the hundred or so people who'd come to collect him. It was almost surreal, the very idea that they were celebrating him. Every time he saw people wrapped in such misery, it was because he was destroying their lives.
"This time, you saved their lives, Gohan," his father's voice echoed in his head, as if having listened to his idle thoughts.
It was the truth, and the Saiyan still wrestled with it in his own way. A small piece of him felt itself mend though when he knew that he'd done the right thing. He'd not just stopped Broly for the living, he'd stopped him for the dead as well. He could only hope that they too felt at peace with the monster's destruction. It did nothing to turn back time on his own crimes, the people he killed, he could never repay. The only thing he could do for them, is do the best he could now, and hope they forgave him.
Because there was much to forgive.
Looking to the man who'd come to him first, checking him over, Gohan just stared a moment at the middle aged human.
"You don't have to do this," he reasoned. "Things will be back to what they were soon, very soon, and-"
"My daughter, and my wife, died," the man told him, trying to hold back his own emotions and tears. This had been hard on thousands, perhaps millions of others. "And you stopped that... thing from hurting anyone else. I don't know what you are, and I don't know how you stopped it, but you're the hero for this city."
"I'm not a hero," Gohan was quick to answer.
"Well, then as I said, whatever you are," the other man carrying his weight forward cut in. "We're going to help you anyway."
In the distance, a golden figure flew through the air. The energy was familiar, but the people all began to look terrified, screaming in fear at one point before it landed in front of all of them. Standing there, golden hair blowing in the gentle breeze, was a boy.
Trunks had survived.
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Goku:
Even across reality, Goku had felt the final encounter between his son and the man who'd killed him. It was faint, but the power was incredibly real. Right now Goku had never been more proud of his son. Even when Gohan had fought and defeated Turles before, it was for wholly different reasons. Perhaps now his son could finally find some peace, or at least peace with himself. It was the only thing he could hope for now. Already he knew about the plans with the Namekians to wish them back, and he couldn't wait to see Gohan.
There were other things he'd have to sort out. Looking to Goten, he knew where most of his attention was going to have to be focused. Even Goku knew that his son had felt neglected before, but now, he could see what death at the hands of Broly had done to his son's psyche. He was quiet, and seemed almost lethargic. Even mentioning Gohan had been met with a contempt filled stare, something he never expected to see from the son he'd raised. It wasn't a matter of making Goten like Gohan, or anything like that. It was at the very least trying to let his son know that he had people who cared about him. Whatever problems Gohan still had, he'd want to take care of them himself, it was Goten who was going to need help now.
Before they were wished back however, there was one more problem to deal with. A problem standing on King Kai's planet, his dangerous eyes looming over the vast yellow clouds rolling into the distance. Standing there was the man who raised Gohan, and even if he did care about his son, was a dangerous monster who couldn't just be left to his own devices. As soon as Broly was defeated, his 'brother' who sadly took much more after Raditz then anyone. When he'd first arrived on Earth, he was an unstoppable beast, having absorbed the life energy of countless worlds. Now? He was still a very powerful enemy, but he would have lagged behind him in his training.
Standing there, looking down at his son, Turles was exchanging a cool look with his youngest son. It was an eerie sight to see.
"So Kakarot," his look alike remarked, his voice sounding calculating. "I suppose you're going to manage to escape this plain of existence with help from the outside?"
It was obvious Turles knew about the Dragon Balls, given that his time in Hell had likely seen him mingle with Frieza, Cell, Bojack, and countless others. The way the remarks were delivered, made Goku all the more convinced Turles was plotting something.
"Yes, my son and I will be going back to the Earth," Goku responded. "And you'll be going back to Hell."
Golden light burst around Turles's form, revealing a sight all too familiar. Standing there was an ascended Super Saiyan. Narrowing his own vision, Goku braced himself, feeling his own pour rising to the surface. Golden energy wrapped itself around him as well as he gave a steeled look to his double.
"BAH! Not here!" King Kai shouted from behind.
"Don't worry about it King Kai, I'll take care of this," Goku said, turning his head and smiling reassuringly to his former mentor.
"Oh? Have you got the time, Kakarot, before those fools wish to back?" Turles asked, his smile creeping up his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be free of that wretched realm below those clouds. With my power, there is no being in this pitiful realm who would be able to stop me... and you've only seen the edge of what I can now do-"
Bragging arrogantly was something Goku never understood. Disappearing in a blur of motion, Goku reached out, grabbing Turles's armoured shoulder before grinning at his brother with a broad, friendly smile.
"-... Really Kakarot?" Turles asked, his voice dismissive, noting no attack coming from Goku himself. "Are you really so stupid that you think grabbing my shoulder is going to-"
Goku of course, instant transmissioned them to an all too familiar place. All around the the environment changed, from King Kai's pleasant home, to the fluctuating, bleak realm of Hell. Blackened dust rolled off the ground as Goku released his hand from Turles's shoulder. Stepping back immediately he saw his double look around them, as where they were settled in.
A trembling rage slowly began to overtake his double, before Goku looked around himself, seeing villains from the past beginning to emerge from the shadows. Frieza's red eyes, along with his father's, emerged first. The next to reveal himself was Cell, as well as Doctor Gero and Android 19. The huge blue brute with orange hair, Bojack, and his entire gang came from another shadow.
"Goku," Bojack uttered first, a scowl overtaking him as his skin turned green in a blinding flash.
"Goku," Frieza then added, his own features turning into a glaring scowl.
"Goku," Cell then added, crossing his arms. Unlike the others, Cell looked confident and amused to see him.
With a smile of his own forming, Goku looked around, before looking back to Turles, whose features were now contorted to match the furious realization he now had.
"Kakarot!" Turles spat, his aura flaring, preparing to strike.
Then there was another massive wave of energy that rolled over all of them, in the distance Goku could see it himself, before smiling.
"Have fun Turles," Goku said, unable to hide a smirk of his own. Placing his two fingers to his own forehead, Goku concentrated, before disappearing in an instant.
Just as he did, he saw Broly's raging form rushing towards them, a scowl written over his features.
"KAKAROT!"
It was unfortunate for Turles, that he looked identical to him.
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Chi-Chi:
The world suddenly felt light again. Everything had been so heavy and stiff, before the world itself seemingly turned into a blank. The memories of the big monster spitting on her, and then her body slowly turning into stone, were still alive and vivid in her mind. Unconsciously, her hands tried to brush off where she'd been spat on. When it wasn't there, she stopped herself, blinking several times before looking up. Where the strange cylindrical tube had been, once leading into a supposed spaceship, there was no a scorched, burnt crater.
For a moment, she almost swore she saw a red clothed, red skinned man with white hair, but he disappeared into nothingness only a second later.
Confusion had been the overriding emotion she felt when first coming alive again, but now it shifted into something else. Fear wrapped around her insides as she anxiously trembled, trying to discover what had happened. The sky had become black with night, which meant time had passed since she'd been turned to stone? Stepping forward, her hands moving over her heart, trying to stop it from beating so loudly, she felt her mouth go dry as she called out for the first time.
"Goku?" her voice rasped over empty space.
The lack of response from seemingly anyone, made the world feel bizarrely empty. Goku hadn't always been there. When he was killed by the monster that took their son away, when he went to Namek to bring their friends back, and when he trained obsessively to meet the Androids. But it was always something terrible that got between them, it was never Goku not wanting to be there for her. But she could already feel that something terrible had happened.
"Gohan? Goten?" she then whispered, her eyes scanning the barren desert around them, before she heard something.
Immediately her heart jumped when she turned her head, looking for any sign of her sons or her husband. Instead, it was the family friend, Krillin. It was a relief in its own right to see anyone familiar. The black haired fighter was sitting on his ass, looking around in confusion.
"Krillin! Where is Goku?" Chi-Chi demanded.
Even amidst tragedy, there was only so much someone could change. It was natural to demand things from people, but especially of Krillin. Unlike the usual complaints she knew were uttered about her being domineering, everyone bossed Krillin around... except Goku.
Blinking, looking around a second later, Krillin looked back at her, confused himself.
"I... uhm... Chi-Chi don't hit me, but I don't know."
A frustrated growl rumbled from her chest before she made her approach. If he didn't know, then they'd find someone who did know.
"I don't feel any of them," Tien's voice then cut in.
Turning to the three eyed warrior, Chi-Chi felt her blood turn cold at his remark. He didn't feel any of them? What did that mean?
You know exactly what it means.
They were dead. All of them were dead and-
Suddenly Tien and Krillin's faces turned into ones of shock, before staring at one another.
"Stop that!" Chi-Chi shouted. "What does that mean?! What's going on!? Where is-"
"Gohan," Krillin then said, his eyes wide before staring towards mountains far in the distance. "It's incredible, I don't think I've ever felt anything like that before! And the other one is gigantic, it's huge! Just what the-"
The world itself seemed to rumble for a moment, before in the distance what could only be said to be a blue sunrise came in the distance. Chi-Chi wasn't oblivious to ki, even if she couldn't detect it. Even then she felt it in the air, it was incredible. The sky had been dark until moments ago, and now the bright blue light turned it into day, with a streak of energy trailing across the sky. The mountains it passed over rumbled, rocks and peaks collapsing violently under the stress of the force blasting through the sky. It would be almost thirty seconds, before the beam trailed into the heavens beyond, leaving the world to slowly return to darkness.
She already knew the source of it.
It'd been Gohan. Whatever happened, he'd been the source of the light, and he was alive. Relief washed over her as she wished she could reach out for her eldest son. She knew whatever obstacle was placed in front of him, that he'd win. The first time she met Gohan... met him again, she knew he was a survivor. Even if it hurt her to admit what he was capable of , she knew Gohan would do whatever he had to do, to survive.
Suddenly though, the relief in her chest was stripped away as her heart emptied in a single heartbeat.
Her husband, and her youngest son, were gone. That was what Krillin and Tien were saying before that. They were dead.
"I need to see my son," she rasped quickly, trying to keep herself contained. "Now."
"Chi-Chi, I'm not sure it's safe. Why don't Tien and I go check it out first and-"
Immediately Chi-Chi grabbed Krillin by the front of his red shirt, pulling him towards her with a furious snarl overtaking her features.
"I said, take me to my son! NOW!"
The immediate look on Krillin's face, let her know she'd won already. She couldn't think about Goku or Goten right now. The first thing she had to do was make sure her only son left was alright. After that, she could let what happened... settle in.
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Bulma:
The look on Yamcha's face had said it all. They were all gone. Worse, because they'd already used the Dragon Balls to bring Goku and Vegeta back before, that meant that they were dead. There was no coming back for them, because they'd been murdered by some monster who then showed up and destroyed millions more lives.
They'd never left the arena, instead trying to help with the panic after Gohan and Piccolo blew up part of the arena.
The idea that her son had died a miserable lonely death as well, had left Bulma a wreck for hours. She'd cried for how quickly she'd lost half her family. She cried for Goku, and for his sons. What had she done to deserve this happening? What had the Earth done to deserve another maniac slaughtering people without mercy? When was it ever enough?
For Goku, she'd known him longer then anyone else in her life. He was one of her best friends, and they'd been adventures for most of their lives. From confronting Emperor Pilaf, to trying to stop the Androids, they'd done it all. She was there for his wedding, she'd met Gohan before the... incident, and she'd been there as fast as she could when Goten was born.
For Vegeta? She loved Vegeta, even if he was arrogant, hard headed, sometimes violent, and obsessive. Sometimes she didn't understand him, but she knew no matter what happened, he cared about her, and their children. He never told her that he loved her, but she knew he did. Behind it all, Vegeta was the greatest man she'd ever met. Even if Goku had been her longest friend, Vegeta was just more then that.
And now he, and her son, were just stripped away from her and she didn't know why.
But there was no room for whining, or complaining. Which was why despite all the pain, she'd pulled herself together. When Trunks got back... both of them, she'd need to be there for them. She had to be strong for Bulla, and she'd have to prepare herself to tell her why her father wasn't coming home.
"I don't believe it," Yamcha said, looking into the distance, past the dimming sun. "He did it."
Looking towards her ex-boyfriend, a confused look came across her features, looking at the shock-struck Yamcha. Who did it? She thought everyone was dead? Yamcha had gone off into his own little world for almost an hour now.
"Gohan did it," Eighteen remarked from a hallway, walking into view with her unnaturally lifeless eyes looking ahead. "Not that it will bring back anyone important."
Krillin was dead too, and she'd forgotten. Yamcha had felt him and Tien just... disappear. They were the first to die out of all of them. Krillin and Tien were her friends, and she'd just forgotten that they'd die, because she'd been too wrapped up in what happened to her husband, children, and Goku. It broke her own heart a little more to realize Maron would grow up without a father as well.
"Eighteen, listen... I'm so sorry," Bulma tried her best to console as she looked at the blonde haired woman. "Krillin was one of my best friends and-"
The other woman was already ignoring her, walking ahead with a cold demeanour.
"We need to go to where the fight happened. Some may just be injured, and not dead," she said, her voice as empty as ever, but somehow hiding some real, sincere sadness.
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Gohan:
It was hardly a pleasant environment. He was propped up against a ruined wall, and most of his open surface wounds were taped up with electrical tape. Of a city of countless thousands, only a few people could be seen in what was left of the city itself. The humans had tried their best to care for him in the meantime. A few aircraft had flown overhead, including helicopters. He knew full well that he'd been filmed at least once during his battle with Broly. In other words, he couldn't pass off the publicity to some human, like Mister Satan.
Looking over, he could see the tall man with a thick moustache and ridiculous haircut. It was utterly bizarre that this was his daughter's grandfather. It was awkward to say the least, especially considering how he'd choked the man not even a full day ago.
Something touched his left arm a second later, leading him to shift his vision to the young, purple haired warrior who'd been lucky enough to survive the confrontation with Broly.
"... My dad always said you were a dishonourable jerk," Trunks admitted to him a moment later.
"I know, you told me before," Gohan responded, before half smiling up to the kid.
It was a weird sensation to know that the only reason why Trunks was alive was because he saved him. Hell, in the middle of a fight as well. Letting the kid get squashed wouldn't have hurt him, at all, but he saved him all the same. He still didn't like what a preachy douchebag his older self was, but this kid was alright... at least so far. Not only that, but the little prince was also his brother's best friend. His relationship with Goten was so toxic most of the time, he barely remembered that Vegeta's kid, was a friend of the family.
Of course, his almost equally toxic relationship with Vegeta, didn't help either. In fact, he had a terrible relationship with almost every fighter on the planet except his father, and Piccolo. The last thought made him almost laugh out loud at the fact he cared about the last little piece of information, namely because he didn't care.
"Well, I think my dad's wrong," Trunks finally said, his chest puffing up bravely. "And I think Goten is wrong too. You're a lot better then everyone says. Thanks for saving me."
It was impossible for Gohan to hide his tired smile as the son of Vegeta. Letting his head move back against the broken concrete wall behind him, Gohan let his eyes close a moment later.
"Don't mention it kid," he responded, motioning his arm to inform Trunks to leave him. "Just don't go spreading that around. The last thing I need is everyone thinking I'm soft."
It was a somewhat true remark. In truth a lot of the time he really wanted to be left alone, if everyone started trying to cling on to him like Goku did, or even showed up to pester him like Piccolo, he'd never have any peace. It would only be worse after he started to tackle all the other problems he had.
Problems like the little girl back on that obscure island where there was the tournament.
"But-"
Before Trunks could continue, the loud sound of jets engines could be heard from a VTOL aircraft landing in front of them. The large Capsule Corporation Logo could be seen across the side of the hull. Immediately Gohan was able to identify the pilot. It was Vegeta's wife, Bulma?
"Heh, I think it's for you," Gohan urged, nodding to the boy who was left standing there, trembling at the sight of her.
"Mom," Trunks breathed, his voice trembling with all the emotions he'd kept repressed.
As soon as the door to the craft opened, the boy broke into a run, before running and jumping into his mother's arms. Even Gohan would admit it was... difficult to watch, and not because the sight was so ugly either. It was the image of a boy embracing his mother, with tears in his eyes. Despite the fact that Trunks could kill everyone he served with in the Planet Trade, he was still just a kid. He was a kid who'd watched his father die in front of him, and his best friend. After all that, he still went out to fight a monster he knew he had no chance of beating.
Now, the kid was finally somewhere where he felt safe, he was just a kid again. Hearing him sob several times, Gohan averted his eyes finally from the scene.
"Mom," Trunks choked. "Mom I'm sorry, I tried! I really tried! ... And I... and I... couldn't stop him..."
"I know," Bulma responded, tears glistering in her eyes. "I'm so glad you're alright. I know you tried, it'll all be okay."
The breaking up of her own voice, told Gohan otherwise. Instead of cutting in however, he knew it wasn't his business. It was still sad to even hear. He remembered when he went through the same thing, after the battle with Slug. He remembered how much pain was there when the man who raised him 'died'. He could remember it even more vividly, when he killed him himself.
But the first time, he was so powerless.
"I flew as fast as I could," Trunks sobbed again. "I had dad in my arms! He didn't make it. It's all my fault."
Gohan would give anything to not be there right at that exact moment.
"It's alright Trunks," her voice said, strained as before. "We'll work everything out."
Before it could unfold further, Gohan felt several new energy signatures, just as a man in a yellow suit approached him. Yamcha was his name.
"Hey, man, did I mention how much you look like Goku. Except the scars, you definitely look more like me in the scar department."
A disinterested look settled over Gohan's features as he looked at the human. When the two the two white bolts of energy collided with the ground behind him, and the craft, Gohan felt relief, if they were some of Babidi's henchmen, at least he could die rather then be put through anymore turmoil, or this yellow suit wearing moron-
"Mom?" Gohan breathed himself, not even realizing how much his voice sounded like Trunks in that moment.
She was being held by the three eyed warrior, before turning towards him with eyes filled with a kind of sad happiness. Immediately she broke away from Tien, before almost charging towards him. If he could get up under his own power, he would have, but even now his muscles were so strained he knew if he tried, he'd just fall forward.
When she reached him, she knelt down in front of him, before pulling him into a painful hug.
"You're alive," she managed, breathing heavily as she spoke. "When they told me I knew you'd be alright. Out of all of it... Gohan... I... I knew you'd-"
He knew she was crying. It was impossible for him to restrain his own tears, even if his voice managed to keep steady.
"Dad and Goten, mom," Gohan said. If anyone was going to tell her, it was him.
Ignoring the hot feeling of water sliding down his cheeks, he moved his arm up with a herculean effort, holding her shoulder, making a small grunt of discomfort as he did.
"I know," his mother admitted. "When... when... when we got out of the stone, they told me they couldn't feel anyone."
When she pulled back to look at him, pain running through her eyes, he felt his own pain amplify. There they were, sitting together with tears in their eyes, both of them trying not to show how much pain they were in. It came from the same place as well. They needed to be strong for other people, funnily enough, this time, each other.
His mother took his hand from her shoulder, before holding it, just staring back at him quietly, unable to form the words he knew she was trying to say. Just holding his hand, told him more then enough of what she meant.
Smiling barely in response, Gohan did tell her what he knew would perhaps, bring her some peace.
"They're all coming back," he promised. "Piccolo mentioned something about Dragon Balls on Namek and how they asked them to... to-"
Slowly, the world around them began to shift and change. Vast wastelands of destroyed Earth and cityworks, buildings and forest, all fazed into existence in the blink of an eye. The once ruined road they were on, now suddenly became pristine, as did the city itself.
Then, in a terrifying moment for Gohan, suddenly there were voices. There were voices everywhere. Looking around him, he saw people materializing back into existence, all of them looking shocked. Some of them screamed, looking around as if it'd been there last few moments on Earth. Others looked around sheepishly, terrified, having no idea what just occurred.
But Gohan and the others knew. Looking over to Krillin, who was hugging his wife and daughter, he heard the little man say what was obvious.
"Alright! They used the Dragon!"
Suddenly there was a blur in front of all of them, as Goku, Piccolo, Goten, the elder Trunks and Vegeta materialized in front of them, likely from Instant Transmission.
"Hey everyone!" Goku greeted brightly.
Without even realizing it, Gohan's pain slowly started to evaporate, as he looked up at his father, brother, and their comrades. Gohan did something his father was much more familiar with.
He smiled.
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Author's Notes:
Sorry for the delay. Life's been busy, and it's been too hot to write when its not been busy. I tend to write more when it's colder. My wrists have also sucked lately.
I may be working on The Catalyst next, though I'm going to try and have the next update for The Long Road up sooner. As I said, chapters are going to be shorter for a little bit, until things start ramping up again. It's always hard to continue off of a big climax chapter.
Next chapter, expect to see people trying to normalize their lives a bit. The next two chapters after that are almost wholly unrelated to one another, but are going to be pretty important in story advancement. I hope everyone is stoked for the next 3 chapters coming up.
There will be more action down the road as well, but I wouldn't expect tons of it right now. However, I will say that this Saga's fight is already planned out in my head, and it's going to be glorious... Glorious I tell you!
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Reviewers:
I may change this response system soon, but for the time being things are going to be as they are.
The Ghost Who Walks: I actually kinda feel bad that you missed your train because of me. Sorry dude. :(
KaosMoshpit: How am I going to top myself? With my maddened vision for the future! This Saga is probably my favourite out of all the ones I've planned out. You guys are going to love it.
Heseltine: I really felt that the last chapter, and Saga, were kind of the closing of the book on a lot of Gohan's pain and life back in the Planet Trade. That was why I brought Turles in as well. It's definitely a closing of the records for all of it. This Saga deals with the past as well... but a different past. O.O
Eveline: I updated as soon as I could. :(
Pyromania101: Why build a new group of Z-fighters? Especially considering Gohan kinda hates that whole scene. Really, he's going to try and rebuild his life. The first half of this Saga is really going to be about Gohan building a life for himself, a real one. Not one just in some empty apartment without any kind of depth.
Guest1: Thanks. :)
Guest2: I'm glad you were looking forward to this chapter.
Mizz-Madam: I've actually gotten a few comments similar to this lately. It's really gratifying, and honestly really unexpected. But to everyone who says they're inspired with Dragon Ball again because of my story, that's incredible. I appreciate the sentiment a thousand fold over.
Runtu: ... Uhm... that's. That's definitely a Thing.
Lourdes-Sunrise-Princess: Some of it definitely was intentional, but consider that more of a homage. Future Gohan has a bit more in common with TLR Gohan overall, but I don't think TLR Gohan is going to evolve into Future Gohan, or any other Gohan. His life's been too different to do anything like that.
Sekhelmet: Wait no longer, friend!
MasenkoX: Well, poor Turles is going to be left holding the bag after his cheerleading career. I have a feeling he'll wish he had cheerleaders, and so will all the other denizens of Hell, lol.
Guest3: You sir guessed correctly!
Guest4: Nope. Power levels were literally invented, and they are always changed to meet whatever the author wanted to tell. They are only there as fluff and little else.
VuvuzelaHero: It'd been in the planning stages since I wrote the Turles battle to be honest. I knew the direction I wanted the battle to go from the start, but it was a really tough go writing it, especially after the giant chapters before it. I'm glad the next few chapters are... more quiet.
Guest5: The battle between Broly and Gohan was sensed by others, but you may not need to look across the galaxy to find who was interested...
Johnny Spectre: It should be an Epic Rap Battle of History! Lol
Victor Taram: Thanks!
LincDawg: Responded by PM!
Daughter of Vegeta: I'm always terrified to give advice on other people's stories. In truth, in my own writing method, I avoid even reading other people's stories about the same characters as I'm writing, as I fear it'll pollute the end product. But if you are in need of advice, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do. No promises though, I get busy a fair bit.
MrMcDonald3000: This story doesn't really go into GT, because it's so different from the Canon. There may be a few GT characters around, eventually, but I wouldn't expect to see plots unfold like in the canon. It's all original more or less from here on out.
ShadowLDrago: It was all about Gohan confronting what he used to be. When he confronted Turles, it was different. He confronted Turles largely to defend Chi-Chi, if she hadn't been a factor, he'd have never even fought him. With this, it really is about Gohan fighting against something evil because it's done evil, because it will do evil, and because he's not afraid of confronting things 'stronger' then him anymore.
ParagradeN7: Gohan's character continues to evolve throughout the story. It's all about reaching his destiny, and the journey down The Long Road he needs to take to get there. :)
Maesde: Trust me, you won't be disappointed going forward.
Anonymi: I've been told I have a very cinematic way of thinking of things.
DarkKnightShiva: I tried to update soon. looks guilty
Aqua Roxas: Buu will play a very large role, but what kind of role is the question. Trust me, not this Saga, but the one after, has a lot to do with Buu.
The Void Fox: I try to deliver complete fights, from start to finish.
R: Thanks man. :)
MaxPain32: Right now, my big hurdle is figuring out how I want to frame Chapter 32. I know where I want to go, I just don't know how to get there. I'm like a lost tourist. Lol
Perfect Carnage: Thank you sir!
Guest6: I can't either, just the question is, can my wrist's wait for more? Probably, lol.
Lil Dynamic: I don't do sequels. If I have more to write, it goes into this story, into this section. Right now, I've got plans for, including this saga, four more sagas. The story does have a solid, real ending in mind. I'm not going to keep a story going that's reached where it needs to go. However, I may do some oneshots after the finale, which take place in the same 'universe' and would be posted, post-epilogue, but we're a long way from there.
Chemestry-Deaf: Gohan, Pan, and Videl are the central players this Saga. Expect some fucked up stuff, and expect the unexpected. :O
Brelic: I'll not comment on how good my story is compared to other's, but I will say that I'm trying to drive this story with character development, so I hope that people enjoy it. But Super Saiyan 3 is coming eventually!... Just don't expect it where you think :)
Brograham18: Yea, that chapter was super hard on me to write. Just massive.
xdevil-childx: I can't wait to get to chapter 33 personally. It's going to be very different then every other chapter in the story, and I think it'll be very unique compared to what you see in most DBZ fics. It doesn't even focus on any of the current cast members, but has a big impact for the future of the story, past this saga.
Sid89: I didn't realize the site was in trouble! Get out the defibrillators! I approach every story I write seriously, and I learned a decade ago (man I'm old) that self-insertions are really terrible. This is a story about Gohan, and Gohan if he was brought up under different circumstances. It's about how he travels The Long Road. :)
Courtney: Yep! There will be a third Son brother. He's not the focus of the story by any means, but yea, Chi-Chi and Goku are going to try and win Round 3 of parenthood, lol
RoxaShadow: No Shenron required when you've got Porunga! Lol
Moriksako83: Your flattery is criminal sir! My ego cannot take such bombardments for long.
XXXposssessedforlifeXXX: You'll have to read to see if Buu gets revealed or not ;)
ffsds: There was still Trunks! Android 18 and of course... Yamcha! Lol
Vile Twitch: Thanks. :)
assweetlilpixie: Buu plays a bit role in the Saga after this one, but it's a surprise, so I won't spoil. I will say that the next Saga is going to be very fun to write :)
Guest7: This is a common request. Let me state honestly, that I may imply to sex, but don't expect descriptive sex scenes. I've joked around a few times with people pretending to not know what they mean, but I'm not writing this story for erotic purposes.
Guest8: To answer your number 1 question, no, she won't be able to do that. She's in a hospital far away right now.
Ki Ai Sky: Thank you sir! Expect the unexpected over the next few Sagas. This story is about Gohan and his struggles, but it doesn't always mean he's King of the Hill either. In other words, good stuff to come :)
Guest9: Nope, not a Trunks hater. And Trunks isn't dead in The Catalyst, he's just been mortally wounded, lol.
Kakarot the Fairy King: All hail the Fairy King!
Guest10: O.o?