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 42: See the Future
Gohan:
The world passed under him as nothing but a blur. It didn't feel real, and it was eerie. Everything he moved past was just empty space to him, all of it just an obstacle, preventing him from getting where he needed to be. He couldn't sneakily approach this time, he needed to be there. As soon as he felt Garlic's energy, and as soon as he realized where it was, his mind lost all focus on anything else except the race. It was a race to get there before anything happened. He couldn't imagine that anything could happen.
It only took minutes for the world to turn beneath him far enough, that he was passing over familiar trees and rivers. This was the place he'd made his home, if only for a few months. This was where he'd taken care of Pan. This was where he'd constantly had to deal with Videl. This was the dysfunctional wreck he'd made. It was misery and it was pain, but it was... it was... apart of him. It was the legacy of his mistakes, and it was the thing he'd wanted to fix, but never could. Only a day ago, he thought it'd left its last mark on him, tracing over the scar he'd been given as a boy. Even now it was still hot and itchy, the skin around the area raw. It was the beginning of his life, and the end of the last bits of that life.
At least, it had been, until now.
Perhaps he'd been too late by mere seconds, or perhaps this had all happened over the course of ten minutes or more. But all Gohan saw when he made landfall, was a single wall, surrounded by burning wreckage. Immediately his breathing hitched, before his heart started racing. It was already accelerated before, but now all he could do was search with almost frenzied eyes. His legs wouldn't move at first when he took it all in. He could see the half burnt, shattered remnant of Pan's room, with blood smeared on the wall.
Perhaps the cruelest thing of all, was he could already imagined what'd happened, because it was something he'd done to thousands. Screams and cries for mercy echoed through his ears, mixing with his panic. Pan's cries mixed in with all the other voices of all the people he'd murdered so personally. He could already imagine how brutal it was, just by focusing on how violent the blood spread was. It was only after a few moments then he could finally start stepping forward, his legs felt numb while he walked, moving over what was familiar, muddy ground. Half broken trees from when Videl would break and bust them in her training were littered across his path, but it didn't matter. Every slow step he took, made it all seem less and less fake.
And that was why his panic turned into terror.
A few drops of rain started to fall from the sky, striking Gohan's shoulders first, but it was the sound of the tiny raindrops striking the leaves and ground all around him that began to drown out everything else. The only thing he heard hear now beyond the rain, was his own racing heartbeat. Finally, his open thoughts cut into the noise, telling him something he already knew to be true.
I fucked up.
Arriving at the only standing wall, moving through dying embers, Gohan placed his hand on the wall, just looking at it with strained eyes. There were no bodies, yet. But that didn't mean anything, they could have been blasted away into dust or vapour after this. He already knew Videl would have struggled and fought, and Pan would have run. The image of the little girl running from monsters as her mother died behind her immediately came to the fore of his mind as he felt his stomach twist. Without even realizing it, his arm started to tremble as it rested against the now exposed wallpaper of her room. It was already damp from the air and fraying and torn from what had just taken place.
Slowly, Gohan walked around the side of the wall, looking for anyt-
Instantly he froze, his jaw dropping slightly and his eyes widened.
Arms were splayed out, reaching out as far as they could, and legs were crossed over one another. Against the wall, Gohan saw the woman who'd wounded him almost two days earlier. Her hands had spikes, forged from pieces of the house, driven through her palms, mounting her against the wall. There was a bandage wrapped around her eyes, with blood leaking out from under it. It looked as if she was weeping tears of blood. Of course, Gohan knew right away what it really was. They'd cut her eyes out.
Without a word, Gohan approached the grim piece, his head half inclined. If anyone didn't deserve this, it was Videl. For all of her being a crazy bitch, she'd been driven to that by the world around her. A world he'd help make. Reaching over, he placed his hand on the side of her blood stained shirt. He didn't expect the body to feel cold yet. He'd have to get her down from-
Her head turned up slightly, making a long, pained, hoarse noise. It nearly made Gohan jump back. They didn't kill her? They just did this to her?
... She's alive?
There was a strangled noise a moment later as she tried to talk.
"Nnn... nn..." it all just seemed to start breaking down into some kind of sob a second later.
Urgency followed. Moving up, Gohan pulled the wooden spikes out of her hands, before easing her down from the wall as best he could. Her legs were broken, and her ribs were probably broken as well.
"Videl? Can you hear me?" it was strange he felt this concerned, but he knew she needed medical help immediately.
Her body was so frail, and without realizing it, he held on to her with a delicate touch. If he made a wrong move, he could make it all the worse. For a brief second he even forgot about Pan, only concerning himself with the familiar turned unfamiliar. When his voice hit her, he saw her visibly tremble.
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Videl:
Helpless screams bombarded her as she hung there for what seemed like an eternity. Perhaps it was thirty minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. Her arms were broken, her legs were broken, some of her ribs were fractures and others were broken, bruises covered her and cuts bled through into her clothes. The world was dark as well, and dark forever. The last image she'd seen was when the demon stabbed his two claws into her eyes themselves.
But it was the screams she remembered as Pan cried out desperately behind her. It was more raw then anything else. Even as it started to drizzle, she just limply hung there. Her body was going to start to shut down soon, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered except that she'd failed Pan. She'd give up her eyes, her limbs, her life, just knowing her daughter was alright. She'd failed her daughter so many times, and in so many ways, but her final failure was here. She couldn't protect Pan. The thing she'd wanted to do since she was born, the reason for all her training, it was all just... hollow. They took her daughter from her.
"I think the girl belongs to me now," the imp's voice rang through her mind, causing Videl to shiver at the words of the beast. If she could struggle any further she would. "I think your body will be a good enough message for Son Gohan... oh, and take away her eyes. I don't like the look she gave me."
Something forced the spikes out of her arms a second later, making her fall forward helplessly before she was caught carefully. Someone... someone was there?
The holes in her hands stung at the open air, her arms cried out in pain from moving after having been fractured and broken. When she felt arms supporting her, slowly taking her to a laying position, all she could do was contain her pain. Her legs ached from the motion, her ribs cried out and shifted, and she felt disoriented from moving without any sight. It was a struggle to even realize what was happening. The only thing that grounded her in reality and stopped the screaming was a voice she'd never wanted to hear again.
"Videl? Can you hear me?"
Gohan.
It was hatred, relief, fear, grief, and a thousand other feelings that rushed into her. She couldn't find the will or strength to say a word as she started to tremble, unable to do anything else. The pain from even that was excruciating, it made her want to twist up and pull herself together, but even that was impossible. She wanted to cry, but all that happened was a choked sob, her 'eyes' unable to do anything but bleed. She could feel the gentle trickle of blood.
"Listen," Gohan's voice cut through it all. "I'm going to get you somewhere safe, and then I'm going to find Pan."
Even after the night where they'd fought, where she'd cut him, and where he'd told her that if she killed herself he wouldn't bother to help, Gohan was there. He was going to try and save her. It didn't change the nightmares he'd brought on her, it didn't change all of the hurt he'd done, or how he'd ruined so much of her life, but it did spark something in her that she never thought she'd have. She was grateful that Gohan was here, because he was going to save Pan.
Her heartbeat started to slow as she managed to weakly smile through the pain, turning her head towards his voice, unable to see him with her eyes.
"No," she finally responded, her voice weak. "... they took Pan. You need to find her."
There was only silence on the other side as she felt herself being lifted into the air along with him. He was wasting time. She was going to die, and even if she lived, she'd live the rest of her life blind, and maybe crippled. What really mattered was Pan.
"... I'm dying," she confided, but stated the obvious. "I can feel it. Please... leave me."
Her heart felt as if it was beating more and more slowly, and she was losing more and more energy.
"No," was the only reply she heard. Suddenly there was a burst of energy around her, she could feel it.
Air swept over her as she began to feel her body going limp, going cold. If her vision were still there, it'd be going black. She managed to make a soft noise, trying to speak as she felt herself beginning to slip. And then it was suddenly warm. Her heart began to beat, steady and evenly, her muscles, though hurt, felt something new. It was like she was being infused with energy.
Unable to move still, and now flying through the air, she felt her head fall to one side, against Gohan's arm, feeling the energy inside of it. He was giving her some of his power, she could feel it now. It didn't make any sense at all to her. She didn't want to die... but she didn't know why Gohan was doing this. He needed to save Pan. She knew he could. For all the vitriol they'd shared, she knew he was the only hope for her daughter. Every second he wasted with her, was a second stolen from Pan.
"Why?" she finally managed, before feeling the wind accelerate, and almost feeling the change in pressure as they began to descend.
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Pan:
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop herself from sobbing. Her arms wrapped around herself, and then moved to her eyes as she was wracked with each hick-up, and each sob. It was impossible to get it out of her mind. She'd cried out for her mother when they grabbed her. She'd screamed and thrashed as much as she could, but they wouldn't stop hurting her mom. Then they stabbed out her eyes. All she remembered doing was going completely stiff when it happened, before she was forced to watch them nail her mother to a wall.
When they finished, all she could do was stare at it, unable to speak, unable to move, as the last of her mother's protests died. The red eyed monsters all around her just dragged her with them into a dark place, and then she opened her eyes again and was here.
"So we're going to kill the kid now, right? She's friggin' annoying," Mustard muttered, before Spice turned to look at him sharply, criticizing his comment with a glance rather then words.
"I think not," Garlic remarked. "I have special plans for her."
Walking in front of her, the tiny figure was little bigger then she was. All of this pain, all of it, came from this little... monster.
All she wished right now was that she'd run into her mother's arms and hugged her. She'd not said a word to her until it was too late. She was angry that she'd forced Mister Gohan away, but she still loved her mom. She just wanted everything to get better and for everyone to get along. She wanted everything to be normal and it couldn't. Now she couldn't stop hearing her mom scream as they nailed her to the only wall left in their home. She was dead and now she was all alone.
She couldn't bear to even look at the thing in front of her. She managed to keep her head turned away as she sobbed again, her eyes shut tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Why did they take her? They never said why at all.
"Well, you're the little Saiyan girl I've been watching from afar. I must admit that I am surprised that you haven't been discovered by the others yet. Of course a great deal of that must have to do with your father concealing you, and your lack of training," he observed. "I must say, it is interesting that Son Gohan went to such great lengths to conceal you. I wonder why?"
The question was directed to her, but she froze up. She didn't know why Gohan would do any of that, and she didn't know her father.
"I asked you a question," his voice cut in. "And you will look at me and address me as your Master, Garlic jr."
Reddened, tear soaked eyes forced themselves up, as she half looked up to him, her head still half down, attempting to hide from him. The look of pure fear on her own features fed into his ego and joy. A long, drawn out smile appeared on his features a second later. It was dark, and ugly, and filled with the urge to cause pain to someone.
"M-Mr. Garlic-"
Before she could say another word, a force came bearing down on her. When it impacted Pan, it felt like someone had just dropped a pile of stones on her. Immediately she went sprawling to the ground, whimpering as she tried to understand what had just happened.
"Get. Up."
Struggling, Pan pulled her hands up to the floor and started to get up. Something kicked in behind it all. She needed to survive, she needed to make it through all of this. She strangled back another sob and tried to cast aside the images of her mother being killed. She failed, but she managed to get her lip to stop trembling as she slowly got up.
"You will call me master, not mister," she was corrected by the creature.
"M-master Garlic," she started again, wanting to "I-I don't know why Mister Gohan wanted-"
"Call him by his appropriate title," Garlic cut in. "You don't know why your father wanted?"
The words made her pause as she stared back at the midget, seeing the sinister smile on his face deepen. Why did he want her to refer to Mister Gohan as her father? She didn't understand. Mister Gohan was just... a Saiyan... like he said she was. With another choking noise as she struggled to hold back her grief, Pan just stared back at Garlic jr. with a confused and sad look.
"But Mister Gohan is-"
"Your father," Garlic chuckled. "Which is why you are here. You see, when your father was very young, he interfered with my plans. It's something I take very personally you see, and as a reprisal for doing so, I have decided to take you into my care, and dispatch that annoying mother of yours."
She was trying to catch up to what was being said. He was reaffirming that Gohan was her dad? But how was that even possible? Why wouldn't he have told her? Why wouldn't have her mother told her? Why? Why keep everything in the dark? It didn't make sense.
"Oh? They didn't tell you? Well isn't that delightful! I was hoping to be the one to break the news to you. You see I've been following your father for some time. Ever since I met him again at the World Martial Arts Tournmanet," he explained. "I've spent... years... researching him. From his actions on this world, to the brutal path of destruction he carved throughout space. He's killed billions, upon billions you know. Whole worlds have burned in his wake. I dare say that he has impressed me greatly."
Killed? Gohan always seemed to be cold, and sometimes distant from other people, or short and direct, but she couldn't imagine he slaughtering billions of people. But... her mom... knew him from before, didn't she? She immediately attacked him the first time Pan met him at the same tournament in question, and seemed utterly terrified.
"B-But Mister-" Pan's words were cut off as if she wasn't speaking when the gremlin continued.
"I think the most amusing part is, that he forced your mother to have you. I thought I was the most evil being in the universe, but your father at the very least has made me question if I'm the most vile," he chuckled. "He forced himself on your mother, after failing to kill everyone on this planet. Did you ever wonder why she seemed to despise Son Gohan so much? In fact, were it not for the might of Goku, he most definitely would have slaughtered every living thing on this planet."
It couldn't be true. None of it could be true! Why? Why was this happening?
Now pacing past her, "Master" Garlic walked towards his throne atop a series of steps.
"Don't believe me? Just watch. You are the engine of his demise. Because Son Gohan will come here for you. You're the most valuable thing in the world to him, his daughter," Garlic said though his sadistic grin. "And once he comes here, I intend to kill him in front of you. But don't worry, girl. As a symbol of my victory, I intend to take you in and give you a proper education."
"For all the chaos and destruction your father brought across the galaxy, he has weakly come to regret it. Well, how fitting is it if you carried on his legacy, but in my name?" he asked, before bursting into a maddened cackle.
In front of the throne, an image was conjured in mid air, showing an image of Son Gohan wearing strange clothes and what looked to be armour, floating above a city that was alight in flames, with a half dozen other 'soldiers' all around him. The look on his face was one of a grim person. She'd seen how strong Mister Gohan was, and she knew what the scene looked like. It looked like he was killing an entire city.
The image had to be fake.
And before she could scrutinize anything further, a figure walked into the throne room from the side.
"Oh look, a Saiyan."
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Gohan:
It was probably born of some sense of obligation, but he wasn't going to just let Videl die out there. Part of it was that he wouldn't let Pan come back to nothing, of course. But another part was the fact that this only happened to Videl because he'd been involved in her life. All of the pain in her life seemed to come from him in some way or another. Though he was often unsympathetic towards it, that was before everything flew apart. That was before he found her nailed to a wall, broken and bloody. No matter what he'd ever done to Videl in the past, he'd never imagined her as helpless, at least not so profoundly.
Turning his head down and looking at her, he thought of himself looking into her eyes as she lay there with the bloody bandage around her face. A life without eyes, a life with crippled limbs, was something he couldn't imagine. Part of her had to ask to be allowed to die, because she was afraid of what her life would be after this.
"Why?"
There it was. A question, and one he didn't want to answer. All he could do was walk with her in his arms towards the hospital in front of him. He'd landed in East City only moments earlier, but it wasn't raining here, and the sun was warm on their skin. The sounds of traffic and the bustle of people was around them. The noises left Videl's head turning from side to side, trying to track anything around them.
He'd provided her with as much energy as her body could withstand, he'd strengthened her as best he could. It was the only chance she'd have to survive, even once the doctors started to work on her. She'd lost too much blood and he knew it. But there was one thing that could fix all this, well, one thing he knew for sure. The second Senzu Bean Piccolo had.
The emergency room of East City General grew closer and closer. Each step Gohan took made him want to say something, anything in response. He didn't want Videl to be left in the dark, at least not now, not over this. He wanted to tell her that he was saving her because he didn't want Pan to lose her mom. Or he wanted to tell her that he wanted to somehow... make up... for everything. But the words wouldn't come out, they couldn't.
The only thing he could do as they approached the hospital, was speak what came to mind.
"Because you're not a perfect person," Gohan said, looking towards the emergency. "Because you always fight so hard for everything. Because Pan deserves to have you. And because you're a better person then you give yourself credit for."
And because I ruined you.
"I'm a terrible mother," Videl murmured. "... I'm so tired of fighting everything. I'm so tired..."
Her voice drifted before she tilted her head up towards him, her eyebrows moving back as she just looked as if she could melt through his arms and fall into a lifeless puddle on the ground. It was only when his heart sank, that Gohan came to the terrible realization in his chest. Every beat of his heart told him something horrible. He'd slept with her at her home because he did want more. They fought all the time, but some of that was enjoyable. He was always there, watching her drive herself despite the odds, trying to improve her strength even when told it was hopeless. He remembered the way she felt in his arms when they slept.
And he knew that he'd fucked her life up so badly, that it didn't matter what he felt. But there was a tiny voice in his mind, telling him the obvious.
I loved her. And I know I've... ruined, her ability to love me, or probably anyone else.
"You're not a bad mother," he lied, trying to keep her focused and awake.
There was a small noise of disbelief in response, especially considering the last time they spoke. He'd called her a shitty parent himself, and he wasn't wrong, or at least he wasn't wrong in the context that he'd meant it. Everything Videl did, she did for Pan, even if it was often misguided.
When he stepped through the sliding doors to the medical facility, staff immediately took notice of him walking in with an almost-corpse in his arms. This was going to be the last time they met, and it was strangely just as painful as only a few nights earlier. He needed to make this all dead to him, but the only way to do that was to make sure everyone was alive, and safe. He needed to make sure Videl was alright, and that Pan was brought out of the jaws of the monsters which stole her.
Resting her down on a bench as doctor's came rushing over, Gohan knew this was the last chance to say anything, anything at all.
"Videl," he finally said, taking her hand as his voice. He felt her softly and weakly grip him back. "I brought you to the hospital, they're going to take care of you here."
"I'm going to bring Pan back to you, no matter what it takes. I'm going to do whatever I can to fix this. But I need you to hold on for Pan. I know that you've given a lot, and I know you're tired. But you've got a lot left in you. Don't let what I've done drag you down Videl," he finally said, before brushing her cheek, pushing away some of the blood streaks with his thumb. "The woman I hurt is still in there. You may hate it, but I believe in you. You'll get through this."
He couldn't tell if she'd passed out or not, but he didn't care. While she lay there, just as the doctors came to his side, he said the last thing he needed to, if only for himself.
"And when you do, you can find the life you deserve, Videl."
A life without me in it.
Rising from the bench, he stepped away as he heard a soft voice from behind him, and felt himself stop for a brief moment. There was no malice, or disdain in it, and certainly not the shreds of civility they'd showed one another for the months they lived together. Instead, it was soft. There was an understanding in it, and it was almost soothing. If it was the final thing to be said between them, then it'd be good enough.
"Goodbye, Gohan."
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Garlic jr.:
So, he had the girl, and he'd seen the other one dispatched. Even now he could sense Gohan's energy, and he could almost taste the anger coming off of it. It was going to be very good to see him again, as well as his old enemy Piccolo. There would be a legion of his minions here to greet them first, before they acquired the opportunity to see him in person. He had little doubt that they would dispatch most of his minions, save the Monarchs, with little effort. It would all coalesce here, where it'd all started decades ago. In this, the ruins of his castle, his enemies would die where they should have.
His mouth salivated at the opportunity to kill Son Gohan with his own bare hands though. It would be his ultimate victory, not just slaying him in life, but distorting all that remained. Gohan had been changed by his journey to space. From what Garlic had determined from information from spying on Goku and his friends, Abaddon, and other, darker sources, the demon had pieced together the story of Son Gohan's fall to become Executive-Commander Gohan of the Planet Trade. His uncle had abducted him, and brutalized him first. Then he was handed over to another Saiyan named "Paragus" who was a slave of Frieza's elder brother, Cooler. Then it was over to the Saiyan Turles, after Paragus was slain.
It didn't wholly matter. What evolved from that was one of the most violent killers in the history of the galaxy. The "Super Saiyan", or "Cooler's Attack Saiyan", were some of the running titles. Planets which didn't pay their protection, or were slated for a purge, trembled if they knew that Cooler had issued for his most ruthless killer to take to a planet.
Well, now he was going to build his own attack-dog. All he wanted was for Gohan to die, seeing his daughter, and knowing that she was going to be broken and moulded into his minion. He would see to it that the Saiyan exterminated even more planets then her father had before. It would condemn the Saiyan girl to a miserable afterlife in Hell, but that would only make things all the better. He would force her to walk down the path her father had trekked before, and it would all be to serve his interests, and his revenge.
I cannot wait to see the tormented look on Gohan's face when he realizes what I have in store. The last moments of fury and pain will be extravagant. At last I will have my revenge!
Without even realizing it, he came through with another cackle from his throne, overjoyed by his own successes to come.
"About the Saiyan," Abaddon chimed in, looking towards the girl. "We should kill it, now."
The Kai and his plan to exterminate all the Saiyans was beginning to truly annoy him. After all, he'd served his purposes easily enough.
"I decide when the Saiyans die," Garlic pointed out.
"That wasn't a part of our deal, demon."
Turning his eyes to sharply gaze at the black and goal clad kai, Garlic just slowly started to glare.
"Your minion failed to kill any Saiyans, not even their children. You failed to kill Vegeta. And now you're failing to kill a defenceless child!"
What? I failed to kill Vegeta?... how?
Reaching out with his power, Garlic could sense the remnants of Vegeta's energy, which had since recovered. Piccolo was nearby. Where they were exactly was hard to pin point, but he could most definitely detect it. His lip curled into a sneer before turning back towards his lieutenants.
"Get a dozen of my soldiers to track down Son Gohan and delay him. We will deal with Vegeta and Piccolo first," Garlic snapped. "And set guards across the ruins. I don't want anyone entering from the ground, or from the air."
He knew full well everyone would be converging on him. It was apart of the plan, but Vegeta's survival had been considered impossible until just now.
Of course, the Kai wasn't impressed by being ignored.
"I should have chosen more wisely then a washed up, stupid demon like yourself. You clearly have no ability to perform even the simplest- hgh!"
Vinegar had grabbed the little rodent's neck, lifting him in the air a moment later.
"Unless you want to lose that arm," he warned with a rasped anger.
"Release him," Garlic ordered, walking down the steps towards the Kai with a glint of amusement in his eye.
Of course, he always knew that this relationship would be short lived. After all, what did he need him for now? He was nothing but a waste. He could see into the future, as far as he was concerned. Existence was just a state of being that he could manipulate... or destroy at a whim now.
He could feel the very essence of the Makyo Star beneath his skin, radiating outwards. He was immortal, he would live forever. He'd stared into the void as he tumbled helplessly through the deadzone, and watched it stare back at him. Who was this... little Kai to mock him?
As soon as Abaddon dropped to the ground as Vinegar released him, Garlic loomed over him dangerously.
"I think you fail to understand something, Abaddon. You see, I'm now the most dangerous creature in the universe. I am now the ruler of all reality. I decide what agreements to keep, and which ones not to keep. It is not that I am stupid. It is that I used you," Garlic explained, staring into the indigent eyes of the Kai. "Do you understand that now, you wretched Kai?"
Slowly, the Kai stepped back, his blue skin contorting across his face as he sneered back down at him. Immediately the creature looked to his henchmen, who also seemed to approach. Turning his eyes back down to him with a cold look of disgust, the celestial being just gave a revolted curl to his lip.
"I understand perfectly now," Abaddon remarked, before staring at the Saiyan child in the room with a long, cold gaze. "That I was a fool to have invested any of my resources into you. Your arrogance is far too deep, and you are careless. The Saiyans will consume you, just as they consumed Frieza, and just as they consumed the artificial creatures that this planet made, and just as they consumed Babidi and his minions."
It was such an unfortunate way to end such a great working relationship, of course.
Red energy began to gather in Garlic's right hand as he snarled for several seconds, before letting it drift back into a confident smirk.
"Oh, but you forget something Abaddon. Unlike Frieza, the Androids, Babidi, the Saiyans Turles and Broly... I am immortal. I can never die," he boasted, feeling his courage and enthusiasm increase with every word. "And I will do as I please! If I want this Saiyan to be my weapon, then I will! If I want to have another one incinerated, I will. I don't need you to do anything. In fact... I don't need you at all."
Red energy crackled around his hand now before he pointed it up towards his intended target, but before he could discharge it, the Kai disappeared in a blink of light. Leaving behind only a voice.
"Be glad that I am invested in you killing the monkeys which are coming to kill you Garlic. I will keep the Namekian Dragon Ball out of their hands. But despite that... I suspect you have failed. But I will leave you with an opportunity to succeed."
Staring up into the air, looking in all directions for the source of the voice, Garlic just gave a sneer.
"Prove me wrong, demon. But either way, I now get what I want. Either you destroy the Saiyans, and I achieve my objective. Or they destroy you, and I get to watch as you are punished for your arrogance and stupidity."
Inside of Garlic's red eye, he could see beyond the words of the Kai. They were false, that much was true. The main focus in it all was not the destruction of the Saiyan Race, though their deaths would be necessary. His first priority beyond anything else was the destruction of one Saiyan. He'd worked years to discover everything about him. He'd worked for months to harass him and force his life down the path it was now on. He gave him as little peace as he could. He attacked his family with his minions if only to create a window for him to kill his sexual-partner, and stole his daughter.
In the distance, he now felt Gohan's power finish its detour.
At last, the final act could begin.
Walking up the stairs to his throne, Garlic sat down and just grinned again, before turning his head towards Pan.
"Be glad, girl. That I have decided to keep you alive," he commented.
The child was clearly terrified, and that was good. It would make things all the more interesting when her father, haggard by stress and strain, arrived to fight him. It was a battle Garlic was destined to win.
After all, he was immortal... and even if he was weaker then Son Gohan, he would wear him down and crush him with the fact he would never tire. He would never succumb to injury. He would fight through the pain of the battle that was to come, for the sweet ecstasy of his victory.
After all, he could see the future. Because there was one thing he could always promise.
Everyone dies.
Except him.
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Gohan:
So, this was what it was going to be, wasn't it? This was what his life was going to have to devolve to every time. It was so different when he was on the other side. When you were the monster everyone was afraid of, you didn't have worries or concerns. If someone was hurt or killed, that was their problem. Only the closest of kin dying mattered, everyone else was just chaff. In this new life, in this second chance, no matter how stronger you were, you were prey. They would strike out at any vulnerabilities they could find.
The hospital doors closed behind him as he looked around the street around him at all the humans. They were a microcosm of the galaxy themselves. Most of them were just trying to get by, but even among them there were predators, seeking to kill or bully for their own gain. There was no peace, was there? There was always going to be bullshit. It seemed inescapable. But right now it was just the back of his mind talking.
As he stood there, breathing in calmly, his mind raced through everything. Everything that was being inflicted. It was a battle to restrain himself and keep calm.
His dad was gone. Not even dead, there was no sign of him from anywhere. It was like he was just erased from existence. His mom was left to raise a daughter and son without Goku around. He was left without some of his father's advice, something he'd come to rely on more and more. It hurt to imagine that he'd never get to see him again, especially when he really did need his help. Right now he prayed to whatever gods there were, that wherever his father was, he could help him through this.
His home was annihilated. It'd taken him so long to find somewhere he actually wanted to live. It took him a while to form any kind of connection to this planet, let alone a connection to a space to sleep. It'd been comfortable, and maybe he'd actually felt at home, somewhere outside of his parents property. Now it was a building set for demolition.
His family was in constant distress. Attacks on his father's friends and his little brother and mom were not far from his mind, especially after they happened. Striking from the shadows like cowards, attacking literally women and children. It was terror. It was designed to leave him on edge, and he knew all about it. He'd used the same tactic dozens of times on planets that were 'tough nuts to crack'. It was right out of his old playbook, and he understood it. Having it used against him however... it was... eye opening.
But of course, the worst was what he'd just seen. It was hard to assign what he should call Videl, but seeing her mounted on a wall like some trophy, or grim totem, brought out the worst in him. The woman he'd fought with all the time didn't deserve to be hurt, just for being around him, especially given their... status, with one another. No one deserved to be tortured and brutalized just for knowing him. No one deserved it for sharing his blood. And after all that had happened with Videl, she deserved it least of all.
Pan.
Pan was now somewhere, with a monster at her side. The monster who brutalized her mother in front of her, no doubt, now had her dangling like some piece of meat. She was the only thing he didn't regret, from before the his first time in the Time Chamber. He regretted the night that made Pan, most certainly, but he didn't regret having met her, getting to know her. All she was, was a sweet kid who just wanted to have friends and be recognized. She just wanted something normal, just like he did. He'd never wanted kids, ever, and it was hard to think of Pan as his daughter sometimes, even though he'd spent months with her, trying to improve her life... but he wanted her to have a better life then he had.
And now, she'd just watched her mother get cut up, broken, and stapled to a wall.
She was somewhere with monsters holding her hostage because of him.
And he was going to kill everyone who got in his way to getting her out of there.
Behind him, someone began to approach him, he could hear the footsteps.
"Sir, I apologize, but we have some papers you need to fill-"
The words were just noise. Gohan didn't care at all. The humans could handle their own affairs and just help keep Videl alive. He didn't have any time for this. But he'd let his concentration slip. Immediately his hair turned gold as his aura burst around him. His teeth clenched as his hands formed fists. The sidewalk around him cracked, sending fractures all along the pavement for dozens of metres, and even cut into the road.
"Fix her," he ordered, his voice commanding and cold, before he flexed his muscles one way, and then the other.
Garlic. You're dead.
When his body took off, the ground beneath him caved in, unable to withstand the force of his launch as energy was cast down to propel him. Air was caught around him and his aura, and boomed across the city as his speed increased. With eyes peeled ahead, he flew towards the energy he knew to be Garlics. He would fly to the ends of the universe if he had to.
Supposedly Garlic jr. was immortal. He was going to put that to the test.
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Author's Notes: Super Long, Sorry!
Rapid update to make up for my inactivity lately.
I'd had this chapter planned out for a while. I thought about graphically documenting Videl getting the hell kicked out of her, but it really just didn't jive with me after I wrote a page or two. I thought it was much "better" for Gohan to just stumble across the aftermath. I really also wanted to show how people evolve, things aren't set in stone, people don't stay angry forever. A few days ago, Gohan could have killed Videl, but he's been out for a few days, and she wasn't crucified to a wall at the time. The situation changed, his feelings changed. Monoliths don't change, people do.
Of course, I very much doubt there could be a romantic relationship between the two of them, honestly. But there could be forgiveness at some point, perhaps sooner then later. But situations change, so who knows?
I'm excited for the chapters to come. The Saga is slated to go until Chapter 46. I'm pretty stoked to get this content up. The chapter should be relatively short, it's the final buildup chapter. Then you can expect two chapters after that, for the climax of the Saga. How it all gets coordinated, well, that's gonna be the challenging part. I've got so many plans, so many scenes. I can say, from the standpoint of how the story comes together, this is my favourite Saga, and the climax, if I'm competent, will blow everyone away.
On a bright note, I wrote the bottom end of this chapter with the song "Every Day is Exactly the Same" by Nine Inch Nails in mind.
I'm hoping I can have the next chapter up within 2 weeks.
Also, I'm going to run a little segment here that may take a bit of space, called 'let's do math!'. Firstly, I want to start with that I don't like power levels. I know tons of you guys obsess over them, but I see Battle Values as a real limitation on creativity. But I've gotten tons of flak for how Garlic has gotten stronger. I did some math with some buddies over at Neo Z Fighters while we were talking the other day, and I just felt I'd share it.
Let's Do Math!
(AKA: Have an honest conversation about power levels)
Garlic Junior in the first movie, would most definitely have a power level over 450, but he's still clearly weaker then Raditz. So I pegged him at a power rating of around 700, in his super form.
In the Garlic Jr. Saga, while in proximity of the Makyo Star, he was strong enough to compete with Piccolo post-Nail fusion and Post-Frieza battle. In terms of raw power, he was somewhere between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it's 1,500,000. Thats a battle rating modifier of 2142.85. So, basically, the Makyo Star multiplied his power by 2142.
Now, the Dragon in my story, couldn't make him stronger then any of the major characters, not by a logn shot. At best he had a power level of an early Androids Saga villain, after his power boost. So somewhere between Frieza and Imperfect Cell. But you know what, we'll do Frieza, just to show even on the weaker side of things, we can still make this happen. Frieza's power level was around 120,000,000.
Then he gained the same energy as the Makyo Star, increasing his power, and the power of his minions. Also remember, the closer the Makyo Star got, the stronger Garlic got. Being in proximity to Garlic, is like being on the surface of the Makyo Star right now. This includes increasing the the strength of his minions. Now, I'm not increasing this modifier, I'm just using the same one.
120,000,00 x 2142.
257,040,000,000
Now, let me start by saying this isn't the case. Because I don't use Power Levels in that context, and I think that Battle Ratings are flawed and are shallow representations of fighting strength. What I'm doing is, pointing out, that numbers can mean anything you want them to. Multipliers can mean what you want them to.
What's Gohan's power level right now? I honestly don't know, because I've not factored it into things. What I can say, is I place characters powers, when I write, in where they relate to one another in the system. But this is just all statistics and numbers. I've tried my best to make my stories internally consistent.
A lot of people seem to get really, really defensive about power ratings. To those people, I just honestly wanna say relax. This is just a story, its just fantasy, it's not canon. If you think I'm some kind of Dragon Ball heretic, that's fine. But if you're wondering why I deflect on power ratings reviews, and why I blow off people who are critical of different heroes and villains power levels, its because of how I approach the story itself.
I also, know for a fact I've lost readers because Garlic has been the main villain of this saga. Some have told me through PM's and some have hinted it through reviews. I just want to say that it's fine. If you're unhappy with the choices in the story, that's totally cool. I can list off a dozen stories I stopped reading for things far more petty. But if you want my opinion, I think that the ending of this particular saga is going to be the best ending of any sagas in the story. Especially given how this saga was originally, before I redesigned some of the story, going to be the last saga of the story. Of course, if viewership dramatically drops, this may be the last saga in the story, so who knows? Lol
Remember, more reviews will also lead to a quicker turnaround on a new chapter coming out, even if it seems like a long time. The more people who want to see content coming out, means that I'll find more time to write.
But! I apologize for such a super long Author's Notes. I just wanted to get a few things out there, and because I've felt I've had to repeat myself on criticisms involving power levels, a lot.
Reviewers:
Perfect Carnage: Thanks for the offer. Piccolo's yet to have a first round against them, but don't worry... Piccolo and Vegeta are the main focus on Chapter 44. And it'll be amazing. I won't spoil anything.
DarkKnightShiva: Amazing Cliffhanger! What're you talking about?!
Pyromania101: Indeed sir! You will continue to see the chapters roll out, hopefully to a high standard.
Guest1: I agree.
MasenkoX: Thanks a bunch. It definitely took me long enough to write Chapter 41.
KaosMoshPit: Abaddon was one of the Kais born to replace those slain by Majin Buu... but Abaddon rejected his place among the Kais. More will be explained about his origins, and his tie-ins with the story as the story rolls forward.
Guest2: Have you actually read what I put? I pointed out, during the WMAT, Videl wasn't as strong as she is now. She was around as strong as Goku before his battle with Piccolo in Dragon Ball. Clearly you didn't read the chapter, because its in there.
Sekhelmet: Thanks a lot dude.
Guest3: See above in terms of Garlic's "Power".
Guest4: Goten can't maintain that form right now, but he has broken past the barrier. He didn't even kill Salt with an attack, he killed Salt by waking up.
Nephal Fox: Yea, that was a pretty poop message for Gohan.
Daughter of Vegeta: Gohan's apparently bad with timing on his rescues.
MaxPain32: I'm gonna try to get back on track for updates, but no promises.
Brelic: Goku plays a serious role in all this. Expect Goku Time!
DBZ Fan the First: It's coming right now! :O
Guest5: I actually get this a lot. No, I'm not a Vegeta hater. I just take Vegeta for what he is. I don't have a romanticized vision of him. I enjoy the character.
XXXTITANIA SCARLETXXX: Goten is going to play a massive role in this story, post Garlic. In fact, there will be at least one whole Saga that focuses mainly on 'him'. There are plans in the work! Goten is a key, and important character. If let me post stories with the full list of main characters, he'd be the fifth main character.
Mizz-Madam: I super appreciate the review, and of course your concerns for my well-being. I write things because people enjoy reading them, and the fact that people enjoy it, makes me happy. But at the end of the day this is still my vision for the story. This isn't a populist story. If it was, Gohan would be a Super Saiyan III, and he'd be married to Videl right now, lol.
SeanHicks4: Well, I doubt that Gohan will. And if he did, I don't imagine it'd go well for the psychologist, lol.
VuvuzelaHero: Go team Goten!
FireFnBrimstone: And Garlic nailed Videl to her house! :D... I mean :(
Random Reader: In general, I try to avoid cheap payoffs. I work for my moments in my stories.
Guest 1: I had hoped everyone would have been mature about the stuff involving Gohan's sexual assault. I was wrong. So, in the A/N and PM's I've had to change how its talked about. It sucks people can't act mature or decently sometimes.