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 40: You Should Be

Garlic junior.: Twenty Years Ago

Invincible, undying, indestructible, they were all traits he could claim. But the most significant of them was simple... immortal. Every moment of the battle had been exhilarating, not only because of his immense strength, but because of how they'd all been completely helpless to harm him. Every blow hurt, but every blow was simply a speedbump, and little else. Kami had been nothing to him but a pitiful old man, trying to relive his glory days long past his prime. Even as Piccolo and Goku bombarded him with a flurry of blows, and sent him into his castle by a burning beam of high powered ki energy, from below the only thing which was harmed truly was his pride.

He'd felt his skin melt from his bones, and his muscle burn at the energy in the open air, before the explosion split and tore his flesh and bones in a hundred directions. The Dragon's wish however, proved true. Flesh slowly knit itself back together, and bits which had been turned to ash, mysteriously just were brought back into existence. Bruises and burns mended and his body was soon hole again. Lying beneath the shattered remnants his great tower, Garlic jr. felt his rage slowly manifest itself. They thought he, the future ruler of the universe, could be felled by their pitiful attacks? They felt they were doing anything other then annoying him?

These useless creatures were arrogant enough to believe him vulnerable, and worse, they believed they could simply defeat him and go home, as if he'd never been there. Even now he could sense Piccolo and Goku about to square off against one another in some pathetic, ego stroking encounter. They hadn't the slightest clue that he'd not been felled, because they were simple minded brutes, far too basic to understand his brilliant mind and cunning. They didn't deserve to just be killed by him, they deserved to die alone, in a cold empty darkness just as his father had been forced to live through.

But they also needed to realize just what they'd one. They'd awakened the demon!

Exploding from the rubble, Garlic roared into the air, saliva dripping from his fangs as he sneered hatefully at the lesser creatures.

"FOOLS! I told you!... I can never die!"

The world around him twisted and distorted as he opened the mouth to a Hell of infinite darkness. The world began to swirl as well as reality itself twisted down into the void he'd torn open. It was the bleak oblivion at the end of all existence. It was the Dead Zone, his ultimate act of revenge against Kami and all the others who would defy him.

A field of golden energy emerged around his very skin as he chuckled to himself. Slowly the castle around them began to crumble into nothing but debris. It didn't matter anymore, he'd see the entirety of this realm sucked into the gaping maw of the Dead Zone before allowing it to be further desecrated by the scum who'd come to challenge him. Soon this world would exist solely for demons, and would see all of the pitiful creatures on its surface bow to their will or face the same nightmare his foes currently faced.

All of his concentration poured into it as he opened the great black hole even further. Not even light escaped.

"Gohan!" Goku shouted as he grasped on to a pillar desperately, holding Piccolo's leg.

A stray energy bolt was launched towards him seconds later, bouncing off his energy aura as if it were nothing as Piccolo repositioned himself onto a pillar.

It was all so simple. He couldn't be more pleased. There they all were, at his mercy. They would all be sucked into the void one by one as their strength waxed and waned, and inevitably failed them. It was his ultimate prize. Soon after this battle was done, he would rule the universe. First the Earth would fall to the dark reign of millions of demons, all of them lurking in the shadows waiting for their time in the sun. Then they would reach out across the heavens and take the whole of creation into their palms.

And of course, all of it would congeal into his power, as he was the one true leader the universe had been waiting for. The soon to be immortal emperor.

A deep cackle emerged from Garlic's throat.

"You cannot stop the Dead Zone, you fools! All of you will be sealed away in a black oblivion, forced to live out the rest of your lives in total darkness, just as my father was!"

More of the castle was torn away, slipping into the air before being sucked into the portal behind him. The warriors who challenged him all slipped further and further towards the hole, before finally the cries of a child broke through all of the the terrible suction which the Dead Zone created. It didn't make any sense, how could a child's cries break through all of this?

Not far into the distance, a collapse segment of castle which had yet to be drawn into the Dead Zone itself, exploded in a massive show of force. Immediately he could sense something deep and powerful. It was like a vast ocean spanning across the entirety of the battlefield around them. His own power surpassed that of Goku and Piccolo's. This power seemed to be as far beyond his own, as his was beyond the two warriors now clinging for their lives. He was obviously mistaken, as he was the strongest being in the universe.

Standing there in front of him, was the kid his minions had abducted, and there was a look of feral rage on his face. He was standing there, resisting the pull of the Dead Zone as no other, save himself, had. Even as rocks and ruins sailed past the child, it didn't faze the boy at all.

"What is this?" Garlic asked allowed, looking directly at the boy in a small sense of aw himself. "How can he just stand there?"

Snarling like a starved wolf, the boy just glared back at him.

"I knew there was something unique about this boy. His strength..."

With a furious sneer, Garlic thrust his hand forward, sending out a wave of force that collided with the boy, before pumping more of his own power into opening the Dead Zone's mouth even more. The child struggled to hold his ground, and began to slip. It showed Garlic everything he needed to see. The brat was all flash, he had no mastery of his strength, and much of his strength was nothing but a front. An untrained power without any guidance, was no power at all. Gritting his teeth from the exertion of all the power, Garlic pulled on the dark fabric of space and time behind him, drawing in everything he could with all of his might.

All around him the world was pulled in.

This was his moment of victory, a final victory and a perfect revenge.

Not only did the world begin to slip past him, slipping into the darkness, Piccolo, Kami, Goku, and the bald warrior were all finally succumbing to his power. Despite his strained snarl of effort, internally Garlic grinned as broadly as he could.

But something went horribly wrong. He could only hear a distant cry inside the overwhelming noise of the Dead Zone's vortex.

"Gohan!"

Gohan. The boy?

Turning his attention back to the child, he saw something further change. The angry little monster, pulling back against his power, was replaced by something even more terrifying. It wasn't just a monster, it was a demon. Something completely overcame all the barriers the child had placed around himself, and suddenly there was a brilliant blue glow of raw energy. The vortex itself howled in protest behind him as the boy sent waves of force rolling off of him.

Sweat beaded on Garlic's skin as he froze in place, looking not at just some untrained child, but at something he couldn't even imagine. It wasn't the boy, it was the power. The power owned the child, not the other way around.

"DADDY!"

The horrible voice thundered past the world around it before the blue glow pulsed several times, and expanded in a blinding explosion of expanding energy. All Garlic could do was hold his energy in place, feeling his own power burning around him. It was his last attempt to overcoming this beast. But when the energy hit him, it was as if he were a pebble in a landslide, all of his protests meant nothing. A terrified cry escaped his lips as he was blasted back, and sent into the mouth of the Hell his father had invented.

As soon as he passed the event horizon, the world changed from one of light and noise, to one of darkness and silence. Panic swept of him as he saw the light he'd once been bathed in, the light he'd wanted to quash, slipping into oblivion before his eyes.

"NO! They haven't beaten me! I've been given immortality!"

It was cry of futility, dying along with the light beyond as he was sealed away into the darkness.

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Garlic junior.:

Two red eyes stared into the bleak realm outside of his castle. This splinter dimension sectioned away by the Kai had harboured him for months, but its use to him was finally coming to a close. Even as he was plagued by his only true failing, Garlic could feel the coming of his vindication. He'd spent years which warped between centuries and minutes, inside of the nightmare of his own construction. The Dead Zone had been the ultimate prison he'd wanted to throw his enemies into, a place to find only a cold, suffering death. Instead he'd found himself suffering in the darkness. Every moment had been an agony, trapped utterly alone in the void. He shifted between the seas of madness and sanity a thousand times.

Hallucinations and delusions plagued him so often that even when he'd broken free from the Dead Zone itself, he thought it was just another fantasy dredged up from the depths of his mind. It took him weeks to discover he was indeed alive. It was strange for an immortal to think of himself as being dead, but life inside the zone wasn't life at all. It was the worst kind of purgatory. But now, now the realm listened to his whims. He was confident enough in his own abilities, he'd conquered his fear of the dimension which had trapped him for years. His immortality, at least in his mind, had been restored the day he used the Dead Zone as a method of moving from one place, to another. It'd been a short cut through space and time, but at the risk of eternal imprisonment.

Even without the Makyo Star, he was now strong enough, and his connection to the realm was deep enough, he could simply pass through the barrier as needed. It allowed him to conceal his own power, it allowed him to conceal his movements, and it allowed him to be almost anywhere he needed to be in an instant in time. That was his method to appear so close to Gohan's apartment, and disappear so rapidly. It allowed him to appear in the Capsule Corporation without any warning. And today, it would allow him to travel to anywhere on Earth, with the Dragon Balls, to summon Shenron once more and acquire his wish.

Even better of course, was the fact the Dragon now provided two wishes.

Grinning to himself as he turned from the castle window, the would-be ruler of the Earth, and one day the conqueror of the universe, slowly grinned to himself and seemingly no one else. Yes, this was going to be the perfect time to move. Chaos was what he would thrive on, and right now there was more then enough on the planet. At least in regards who to mattered. Vegeta and Gohan were his primary concerns, with Piccolo being a mild irritation in the background. Certainly they were much more powerful then he was now, but that would change very, very soon.

That was in fact, going to change today.

The barriers around the dimension he existed in, in thanks to his friend Abaddon, had done their job well enough. Little did the Kai understand what he was unleashing on the universe. The Eternal Dragon, Shenron, was going to be summoned by him once again. Consuming this planet in darkness and allowing demons to take their rightful place as rulers of this miserable rock, seemed so close he could taste it.

Across the whole of the universe I'll be known.

Excitement rushed through his blood at the idea that he was to become the most important creature that had ever lived. Far more important then any Gods or Kais that thought themselves his betters.

Walking towards the doors out of his den of evil, he stepped into the main hall of his castle. Inside it revealed the full extent of his minions. Hundreds of demons turned and stared back, along with the Four Kings. They were themselves all waiting in anticipation for their moment, for their cue to act. They could all sense the moment was right, any demon could have. Spice, the most powerful of his lieutenants, slowly smirked.

"All hail Garlic junior! Future Ruler of the Universe!" he declared.

The chorus from his followers rung out throughout the secluded castle, which made Garlic smile arrogantly. Approaching the steps before his throne, Garlic saw the seven Dragon Balls all waiting at the base. He didn't need the Kai's help to remove his castle from this dimension, given he'd had plans of his own to do that regardless.

"Who is prepared to restore our glory?" Garlic asked, looking out across the sea of red eyes.

White teeth appeared in broad grins across the crowd of monsters below, showing how receptive his minions were to his words. They were canon fodder of course, but it was better to have inspired canon fodder, then reluctant incompetents who would turn on you in a heartbeat if given the chance. They belonged to him, and would fight to the bitter end for his glory. Their spitefulness and hatred towards the humans, and by extension the Saiyans, was delicious as well. His own father commanded an army of demons under the Makyo Star, and failed because they hadn't realized the depths of the Namekian's powers. He had no intention of making the same mistake.

He might allow Piccolo to live long enough to watch the world Kami loved so greatly, die, so a new one could be reborn in his own image.

Shifting his two small arms out to his side, and slowly motioning them up, Garlic tapped into the fabric of space and time around them. The castle rumbled violently as the walls around this hidden universe began to wax and wane under pressure. An inky black energy seemed to melt off the walls of the building, and slowly swept across Garlic himself as well. Light seemed to be sucked out of the room itself, as all sources of light disappeared into the black.

When the light came back, the world outside was very different. The orange-red hue of light beamed all around them from the sun reaching the edge of the horizon, and reflecting off clouds in the distance. The sound of wind against the mountains whistled through the castle as fresh air arrived for the first time in months. Immediately, the Dragon Balls began to glow together, humming at the return to reality, and the planet of their birth. With the edges of his lips curling up, Garlic just stared at the thrumming set of orbs.

"Get the Dragon Balls to the balcony," he ordered, brushing his cape to the side and beginning to walk down the steps. "We have to act. Now."

With every step, his senses returned, letting him sense all of the great powers across the planet. Even keeping their energies suppressed would only buy them a few minutes. But it was very obvious who was where, and he could sense Vegeta's energy, as angry as before, and it wasn't far away.

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Vegeta:

It'd been weeks.

Weeks of trying to find a midget who was daring to hide like a coward after nearly killing his children and wife. His son had tried to defend their home, and failed. His mother-in-law was dead by the little beast's hands, and despite finding the woman annoying, it'd brought no end to the anguish his wife had felt over the entire incident. The worst part was the fact he'd failed to protect them, and had yet to avenge them or redeem himself. Instead, he was made the fool, searching this planet for the creature. He'd even tried searching through segments of the Earth's crust, trying to find the little monster, but it was all for nothing.

Where ever this Garlic jr. was, he wasn't here any longer. The Namekian didn't think he was on the planet anymore either. Vegeta knew full well that humans didn't have the ability to just move between planets without extremely sophisticated infrastructure or technology, and he doubted this little creature did either. It made his extended disappearance not only infuriating, but impossible. Who would help a nobody like this? Given the description he'd been given of the monster before his appearance, he was a pathetic little goblin, and was weaker then Raditz.

Now he sudden appears out of nowhere, supposedly defeats Kakarot, attacks Gohan, nearly kills his son Trunks in combat, and can disappear without any kind of trace. None of it made any sense, and Vegeta was in no mood to consider the deeper meaning of it. It just built on his fury. Even now as he floated in the air, his Super Saiyan eyes cast over seemingly an endless expanse of the planet, his lip had been permanently curved into a sneer.

Everything opened old scars for him. It was another humiliation he couldn't avenge. It was like looking into Frieza's eyes and seeing that smug little bastard giving him orders after having slaughtered his home planet. It was like being toyed with by Cell and being just smirked down at, and being told he was just "Warming Up". It was like when Turles defeated him without any real effort, and then just unleashed Gohan on him as a test of loyalty. When he died at the hands of Broly came to the fore of his mind.

All he ever ended up being was helpless, and he couldn't handle it anymore. That was why he had obsessively looked for the midget more and more. The slight against his family was the final straw for him. He would avenge himself, and his family. The supposed immortal being who had been hiding like a coward this whole time, would suffer at his hands, and then they'd test just how immortal he was. He was Prince Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans, and he was not to be simply discarded again.

Golden energy burned at the edge of his frame as he grit his teeth, almost stuck in his own thoughts as he slowly growled in anger.

But what pulled him out was something familiar. The sky went from its nitrogen rich blue, to a magic inspired black. This was something Vegeta had seen a handful of times, but knew it all too well. Behind all the darkness, he could sense the barest hint of energy as well, and it was familiar. This was the same energy which had done battle with Trunks.

And the Eternal Dragon was hanging in the sky off in the distance, seemingly as smell as a small green worm hanging off the edge of the surface.

Without a second thought, Vegeta twisted his body in the air before blasting forward in a massive wave of energy. The air around him distorted for miles, ploughing everything out of his way, from clouds, to rock formations dozens of kilometres below. Dragon or no dragon, he was going to finally recapture his honour, and exercise his revenge.

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Garlic junior:

The seven glowing balls stared back at him, as they did twenty years ago. It was a fantastic rush of adrenaline and endorphins to see them assembled again, and brimming with life. With his minions standing all around him, he just slowly started to grin. They were going to bear witness to the greatest feat to be performed on the Earth, the summoning of the Eternal Dragon. Then they would bear witness to the ultimate ascension in the history of the universe. Already he could taste his supreme dominance, and it only further fuelled his excitement.

"I'm almost shaking," Garlic chuckled, before casting his hands up, brushing his cape behind him. "Now that we are returned to this world, and that the assembly of the Dragon Balls are complete, I can have my wishes granted."

As he had before, Garlic repeated what had been said once before.

"Eternal Dragon!"

The sky grew dark, as the once white clouds were replaced by black ones. The whole world seemingly was cast into the darkness Garlic could only wish was permanent. The only source of light around them now, was the glowing orbs set before them. Golden electricity crackled from them once again, and lightning exploded from the sky, descending downward and striking the legendary artifacts. Once it did, a great winding spiral of energy tore out from the source, the Dragon Balls, and swiftly rose into the sky. The power of it was as overwhelming as always as it stretched and grew before him. Every second he stared at it, Garlic's heart raced faster and faster, as he waited for the Dragon itself to finally emerge.

It took almost a minute for the Dragon's energy to finally take on its true form. The air around him seemed to rumble with the very existence of the beast. The deep breath of the monster was overwhelming, and it was remarkable to see it take on its true form once more. Colossal in its size, and gargantuan in its presence, all the demons below could do, Garlic among them, was stare up in aw at their summoned beast. Finally the beginning of the end could start. His shackles would be cast off, and he would be liberated from his pitiful condition.

"You who have awakened the Dragon, will be granted two wishes. Choose whatever you desire."

Finally finding his voice, a grin appearing across his face, Garlic raised his hands in excitement once more.

"Great Dragon! I wish to be the most powerful being in the universe!"

The beast coiled back slightly, his huge red eyes glowing, before it made a small, growling sound.

"That wish is beyond my power," it rumbled back.

Immediately Garlic's eyes widened in horror. The Dragon had a limitation on what it could grant? But it'd made him immortal before! That was impossible! His heart was rushing still, though now his lungs were desperately searching for air as he tried to keep himself from panic. He could sense Vegeta. At most he only had minutes to spare before the Saiyan arrived. If he got there now, without what he needed, Garlic would be doomed.

He needed to think. He needed time.

"Spice! Take fifteen warriors and go obstruct, Vegeta!" Garlic barked, his eyes widened still with panic.

"But Lord Garlic-"

"NOW!"

It was simple. Either Spice would die by Vegeta's hands, or his. The Monarch would do his duty, and he would have time to sort out how to deal with the Dragon.

Immediately turning about, Garlic looked up at the Dragon.

"Shenron! I demand that you increase my power to its fullest extent! Multiply it as far as you possibly can!"

With its eyes once more glowing, Shenron rumbled in the air before beginning to unleash his wish upon him, and the world. A dark red aura brimmed around the tiny blue demon as he felt his body infused with new power. Then the pain of such growth, so rapidly, fell upon him. Within a few of his rapid heartbeats, Garlic roared into the air, reborn for the second time in his existence with the help of the Eternal Dragon.

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Vegeta:

Every moment of flight allowed Vegeta to see the Dragon grow bigger and bigger. It was immense, and its voice boomed out across the world seemingly. It was obvious what the little demon's first wish was. Ultimate power to rule over the universe, and as soon as Vegeta understood that he spat in disgust. He spat because he knew such a wish would be impossible for the Eternal Dragon to provide. It would have been impossible for the Namekian dragon to provide, let alone Earth's. That meant the fool had expended any chance he had of winning, and it meant he was so pathetic he couldn't even gather enough strength on his own to challenge him, or anyone.

What could he wish for now, that the Dragon could provide, that would save him from his wrath? The sneer Vegeta wore turned into a confident smirk, even as he heard the Dragon rumble in the distance. Even as Garlic's power grew, and grew immensely, it was still pathetic. Obviously he'd asked the Dragon for all the power he could. Were this on Namek, or perhaps when Frieza arrived on Earth, Garlic's power would have been immense. He was now easily stronger then Kakarot when he faced off against Frieza, and perhaps as strong as he was when he sparred with Trunks after Frieza's death.

But he was an enemy of a time almost forgotten. He was no Cell, Turles, or Broly. All he was, was a coward desperately attempting to make himself relevant, and Vegeta was going to enjoy finally taking his revenge on him.

In the distance however, he saw a dozen or so figures, trailing sets of light, take off and flying towards him. They were nothing but ants to him, and they must have known it. It was pathetic to even imagine that they were loyal to the creature down there, begging the Eternal Dragon for power.

"Die!" one shouted as he came close, veering towards him.

The body shooting towards him almost crumbled as soon as he hit Vegeta's aura, let alone his body. Time slowed down as Vegeta watched his pitiful enemy warp in the air, looking as though he'd just hit a steel wall at high speed. Flipping around him, Vegeta simply pointed his hand towards him as soon as he flew past, and fired a single energy bolt.

The wave shot into the creature's back, and in a flash he was gone. There wasn't even enough time for the demon to scream. When he looked forward the others had already established a battle line.

"Lord Garlic jr. has ordered us to halt this Saiyan! Remember his kind are nothing but the remnants of a dead race! He cannot-"

The tall, pointy haired one wasn't going to waste any of his time with this pitiful back and forth. If they wanted to fight the Prince of all Saiyans, they were going to see what a Super Saiyan could do. In a blur of motion, the last Saiyan from his namesake, appeared next to the first of his victims, chopping him down with a single chop. The blue skinned monster separated at the neck, through to his pelvis. Blood stretched out between the slowly splitting form as its mouth opened in pain to scream, but nothing came out.

Immediately the others recoiled, trying to hold on to their situation, but Vegeta knew full well just how doomed they all were. Pointing his hand out at others, a glowing blue orb formed in his hand.

"Pathetic."

The wave of light which exploded out of his palm a second later, engulfed two more of the wretches in a single moment as the others scattered, even their leader. They had enough time to scream, as their pained cries echoed out across the sky.

"Tell me, demon, who is nothing but a remnant? I'm going to slaughter ever single one of you, and when I'm done with your pitiful midget of a leader, I'm going to go out of my way to destroy every last trace of your disgusting kind across the face of this planet!"

Scowling back at him, the pale green figure narrowed his eyes.

"Once Lord Garlic's plans are realized, you're dead. Maybe I'll even have a hand in that death!"

"Well, we'll have to see, now won't we?" Vegeta asked, his smile only growing.

This was going to be easy.

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Garlic junior:

It wasn't enough. Even if he threw all of his power at Vegeta as he was, it would only halt the Saiyan for a moment before he was overwhelmed. The Dragon had stretched itself to the limits of his power to even give him this increase, it would not be able to give him anymore. Immortality could only be so useful, and it would be completely without use in the wake of Vegeta's rage, beyond prolonging his own suffering to an undetermined length.

Looking nervously in the sky, flashes of light, and the booms of combat echoed. Vegeta would land here, and vanquish him and his allies.

"If you are done wishing, you could just wish for me to go away and be done with it!"

Shenron looked impatient, and irritable, and the demon wanted nothing more for the beast to cease complaining and help him figure out what to wish for. He couldn't let everything unravel now, not when he was so close to victory. All he needed to do was find out what to wish for. Make Vegeta weaker? That could be an excellent idea, except he could already feel Gohan and Piccolo across the planet making their way there as well. The Dragon was unlikely to make all three of them pathetic, just for him. That would need three wishes, and he only had one.

"Lord Garlic, I think-" Vinegar tried to cut into his thoughts, and for his trouble Garlic cast him a hateful glance.

"Quiet! I need to think!"

"Think faster," Shenron complained. "Make up your mind."

"None of this would be happening if that cursed Namekian hadn't blown up the Makyo Star!" Garlic seethed.

If he had the Makyo Star, his power would multiple to the point where he could crush Vegeta, and anyone else-

The Makyo Star. He could wish it back! That would give him all the power he needed! Then with that-... Piccolo had destroyed the Makyo Star before, and Vegeta would obviously do so again if he discovered the nature of his power. But then how could he resolve all of this? The key was somehow multiplying his power, without asking the Dragon to just make him more powerful.

There was another boom in the sky, and Garlic turned his head, only to watch Spice hit the ground in front of him, quivering and burnt. Looking up, Garlic only saw a flash of energy before the last of the minions he'd sent to stall Vegeta disappeared. Twisting his head towards the Dragon, Garlic knew what to wish for.

"Dragon! Grant me-"

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Vegeta:

The last of the chaff that were sent in front of him, were finished.

Below there were dozens more, but they were all clearly terrified. He'd spent more then a few moments ensuring that he made the last few suffer. Killing one by ripping off his arm and decapitating him with it, had certainly been a good way to send a message. The leader of the little group had been able to survive one of his blasts as well, though he was now hardly in a position to do much. He'd die along with all the others once he landed.

Looking below, he could see Garlic staring up at him with wide eyes, even from the distance he was at. Diving down to the ground, Vegeta landed with both boots next to him, in front of the dragon. His minions immediately backed away, most of them trembling in fright. Demons were supposed to be intimidating monsters which inspired fire, and it was a humorous irony that he was clearly beating them at their own game. Still holding the gore soaked arm of his last victim, Vegeta tossed it to Garlic's feet, who stared down at it.

The second his eyes moved, Vegeta appeared in front of him, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him into the air with deadly eyes. His power brimmed around him as he filled the air with his aura, violently shoving back the closest onlookers, knocking several of the armour clad demons to the ground. In a moment he would unleash a wave of his energy in all directions, and rid the world of all these vile snakes. Then he would have time to show this little beast what it was to be powerless. This time, he was going to be the one stop the supposed threat.

He was going to stop this monster, not Kakarot, and not Gohan. He was the one who was most wronged after all.

"Tell me, demon, are you afraid?"

Looking frightfully back at him, the tiny monster looked up at the dragon a second later, as if waiting for something.

"It shall be done!"

Narrowing his eyes, Vegeta saw the grin immediately appear on the immortal's face, before he looked back at him. Even with his fingers around his throat, the blue tinted demon seemed to not care in the slightest.

Something changed in the air. Where his aura had been overwhelming dominant a second earlier, suddenly there was power pushing against it. A red energy briefly seemed to be circling around Garlic as well, before humming around his frame. When it ceased, there was still a strange sense of energy in the air.

"No, Vegeta, I'm not afraid at all," he shot back at him. "But you should be."

Sneering, Vegeta pushed his energy to the surface, preparing to unleash it in a radius. But something caught his attention, he felt energy rising all around him. He felt Garlic's energy as well. It was like being next to a volcano, waiting to erupt. Demons nearby fell to their knees screaming in agony a second later, holding their sides and trembling. Auras flourished all around them, red, black, and purple all seemed to catch fire in the air around them as the screams of the demons became overwhelming. The world began to become a spinning swirl of colour, and Vegeta felt almost overwhelmed.

"You see Vegeta," Garlic said, his voice deepening as every word came out. "The energy from our home star, increases our power the closer are to it."

His fingers found the neck he once grabbed, impossible to hold as it thickened, before finally the power broke not only in front of him, but all around him. An immense power blasted him back , sending his feet sliding against the stone of the castle. The castle itself was shaking to pieces, as it felt like the whole Earth was.

And Garlic's frame exploded into a hulking monster, his power expanding along with it. Minutes ago, Garlic couldn't have dreamed to harm him. Seconds ago, Garlic could have annoyed him. Now? Garlic's power rivalled his own. Garlic's minions power were maddening as well, spiking higher and higher themselves.

"I asked the Dragon to let my body emit the same energy the Makyo Star once did. And given the proximity, my subjects and I are receiving more power than the Star could ever provide for us."

Rising all in front of him in almost a wave, Vegeta saw bulging demons, all of them vastly improved. None of them were a match for him individually, but they were an ocean of power together, and with the giant blue brute at their fore, Vegeta felt himself step back in aw at what he was seeing. The lieutenant he'd burnt half to death even rose, his own body huge and imposing, and his energy and body restored.

"I told you Saiyan," Spice breathed. "I would have a hand in your death."

Before he could make another move, Garlic thrust his now massive, dark blue hand out, and so did his army.

"Go to Hell, Vegeta."

The light that appeared a second later was overwhelming. It was like the world had disappeared around him, and had only been replaced by light and noise. The fabric of his armour caught fire as he stood in the ray of light. He felt the forcewave of the energy roll over him, pushing his skin back as it burned. Bits of skin flicked off of his face before burning away in the energy surrounding him. He was utterly lost, unable to know if he was standing, or if he was moving. The edge of his hair caught fire as well as he felt his muscles almost beginning to disintegrate in the wave.

With the last of his energy, Vegeta tried to raise a shield, before the light completely overwhelmed him. Not even realizing it, he gave out only an agonized cry as the beam carried him further and further away, leaving him to burn as it took him towards the stars. In the light, tumbling helplessly without any sense, Vegeta could only feel one thing, and it wasn't even pain.

All he could feel was failure.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Author's Notes:

The first thing I must say, and I'm going to SPOIL this because I know a lot of people will be mad if I don't. Vegeta isn't dead, and still plays a big role in this saga. He's got one major chapter left, and plays a significant role in how the ending unfolds. I'm putting this up to preemptively answer a ton of people asking about it.

I apologize for the late update, but I've been working overtime most of this month, and a lot through November, I've not really been up to much outside of work. It's just that time of year. If this chapter has some grammar errors, I do apologize, I did proof it, but I'm terrible at that and usually need to proof something three or four times. Just no time, and I don't want to leave you guys without an update until after Christmas.

Also, Chapter 41 will be a major point in the story. Chaos, combat, confusion, sacrifice, compassion, and all that fun stuff.

Now then, for something I've been itching to get to.

Reviewers:

XXXTITANIA SCARLETXXX: I don't think Videl and Gohan are going to live happily ever after, but that doesn't mean they will be unhappy. It really depends. Though I can confirm that not everyone will be a wreck at the end. I just won't say who. It may surprise some people.

Pyromania101: This was probably among the nicer reviews I got this chapter, so thanks a bunch. I really spent a lot of time on 39, trying to get it perfect. I really thought I'd made the chapter I wanted. Which I still think I did.

RoxaShadow: Answered by PM.

Silverhawk88: If she gets the chance.

MaxPain32: Well, literally everything dies. I just won't speculate on when.

Heseltine: If Chi-Chi can find out where they are. And if Videl wants anything to do with any of the Sons after all she's been through.

Bigblukrew: Oh don't worry, this Saga is probably rock bottom for Gohan. This was originally going to be the end of the story, this Saga that is, so expect a lot of crazy things, and expect a lot from Gohan and everyone else. :)

masaede: Forecast for the next five chapters? Feces with light piss. Hope you got your raincoats and your nose plugs XD

RedHunter87: Answered by PM, though I am going to leave a note for everyone regarding this.

Gohan got cut by the knife for two reasons. The first one is Videl filled the knife with her ki, and the second one is because he's an arrogant jackass, and wasn't keeping his ki as high as he should have. Gohan suffers from hubris. This is a part of his character.

4LeafClover: Gohan wants more from Videl, he wants more from life, and in a lot of ways he wants what he feels he can't or won't have.

DarkKnightShiva: Thanks :)

Guest1: Thanks

DaughterofVegeta: I think Chi-Chi might, but it's not about that. Gohan wants to be involved with his daughter, he's just totally fucked up the situation. He probably cares about Pan more then anyone except maybe Chi-Chi.

Brelic: Garlic enjoys Gohan suffering. He wants him to suffer as much as possible before he provides him with the mercy of death. And thanks by the way :)

VuvuzelaHero: Sometimes people appreciate the little things in life, hehehe. But yea, this chapter is rock bottom for Gohan's personal life, there is no doubt about it.

Aqua Roxas: Hopefully you got a slight notch of respect for Garlic this chapter, but his real moment to shine is to come. If it comes together as I plan, it will be glorious.

Perfect Carnage: One continuous piece. It just makes more sense to me that way.

Puppet Master: Pan's story is going to have highs and lows as anyone else, but this Chapter has a lot in it for Pan, and a lot for having her come into her own. Pan is a big mover in this saga and story. When Pan makes a ripple in a pond, Gohan sees tidal waves.

Guest2: Uhm. Okay?

OpenSourceArtist: I hope I can get more content out by January.

Guest3: A lot of the emotions Gohan uses when he's fighting, are still negative in their origin. He's really shifted gears as a character, but he's fuelled by regret, misery, and anger a lot of the time too.

Dkwolverine12: I have been hoping people find it interesting. But thank you for letting me know :)

Morisako83: Yea... I was on the edge writing it, trying to think of how it'd all go down. But Gohan wasn't just going to let Videl kill herself. In a way, he traded Pan for her life, which is why he left. It shows he does care about Videl, but the problem is there is just too much damage done.

Sid89: Gohan can barely admit his mistakes to himself, let alone Videl. Though one day that will happen. It's a big point for the future of the story.

Guest4: Depends on the context. Gohan saw a lot of prostitutes before coming to Earth. Some people consider that rape. Most creatures Gohan killed for the Planet Trade, weren't Saiyanoids. The only reason he slept with Videl was because she looked like a Saiyan. So I think you've exaggerated things a bit in your own mind. Unless it's written, don't go crazy over some stuff.

Masenko56: I dunno if they're fucked or not. Depends on a lot.

Tomorrow4eva: I'll contradict whatever I want! ;)

Thanks though, lol

Cold Relief: I've really tried hard to create a unique story, not for the sake of uniqueness, but for the sake of something people don't expect. It's not just about surprising people, it's about giving people something different, fresh, and new. It's also because I want to explore these characters, and give them the chance to be flawed, imperfect, but still struggling for something more. I don't want any of my story to come off as flat. I may fail at certain points, but that's the struggle I face.

Flyboy12: I can't wait to deliver it.

FDA: See answer to RedHunter87. Though as for the Senzu? They're there, but does he think to go get one? He doesn't have the mindset to just go grab beans. Also, Piccolo has them, and does he want to admit to Piccolo he needs a valuable asset because the woman he was sleeping with just cut his face? There is more to it then that right now.

XXXpossessedforelifeXXX: Videl's power is actually quite a lot higher then at the WMAT right now. Her power would probably be somewhere between Raditz and Nappa.

Demod20: I would be surprised if Pan became a prostitute and Chi-Chi died young of a heart attack. Let me start by saying that none of those kinds of things are on the table. Right now, as I think I'm gonna let my fingers fall off at this point explaining, this chapter is rock bottom for Gohan. This is the collapse of his personal life, and confronting the first thing he'd ever really harmed. The story is not dark, for the sake of dark, and won't continue to be. This Saga is just the bottom of the pit.

Things get better moving forward.

Final Note:

The Theme Song for this Saga is "Touched" by VAST.