"There. That should do it."
Starswirl wipes his brow as he huffs having undone the damage to the arena and even heal both of his students as well as fix their clothes. The Announcer shakes his hand with a grateful yet nervous cadence.
"Y-Your magic is pretty helpful, sir! Thank you very much!"
"Just continue your good work on the microphone and we'll count it even, okay?"
"I can manage that...! Speaking of which."
He clears his throat as the wizard hops off the stage and climb back into crowd. Starswirl readies himself to watch this next match with interest, but notices something that unnerves him. There were cameramen around, that much has been the case since the device was invented, but there are more here now then the prior matches. Most notably were the dark expression on their faces. Simple yet eerie smiles, calm with an underlying darkness.
He would read the minds of the most troubling looking ones and saw them all in a group just before the Budokai Tenkaichi started. Together, listening to a radio, they followed orders to record the fights of Gebo and Bikini exclusively. Through their memories he found the Red Ribbon insignia. Unfortunately, they were given only that order, revealing them to be no more than low ranking scouts.
Starswirl huffs and shakes his head.
"This is most troublesome... Why would they be here? There's nothing else to do for now but watch..."
Launch pokes his cheek repeatedly scowling.
"Hey, why the long face, geezer?"
His tired face turns to a stoic deadpan before pushing her hand away.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. I get it, but something afoul is afoot, and I am certain it will happen here... I just don't know what."
Launch scoffs and shoves a handful of fries she stole from the passing food vendor in his mouth.
"Agh! Shut up with your wise crap and just watch the fights! Speaking of, who do y'think is gonna watch this one? Hate to do it to him, but I'm bettin' on old Chun instead of Krillin. This sucks! Never in my life have I wanted to lose money until now...!"
The wizard silently rolls his eyes as he chews on the fries.
Krillin and Jackie Chun meet at the center of the arena with the crowd already loudly cheering. Jackie gestures to them with a hand and smiles.
"Seems they expect a match on par with the last... Think we can show them some spectacle?"
Krillin shakes his head giving an honest grin as he shakes idly, knowing this man to be far more than he could imagine.
"Sorry... I don't know how to fire my own Kamehameha yet."
Jackie chuckles at the answer.
"You've grown a bit more honest, young man. I'm sure your master is proud of you, whether you win this or not, always remember to train not just your body... But your mind and soul. Now then..."
The two enter their stances as the Announcer raises his hand. He brings it down shouting out!
"BEGIN!"
At a place far above Earth, where only the clouds are visible within the blue sky, a pair of eyes watches on with a smirk.
"My, my... I see that things are moving along rather interestingly..."
His fond smile fades then as his gaze moves elsewhere, beyond the mortal confines the Earth, yet still physically connected to it. A giant furnace burns an enormous fire in this otherworldly realm, an old and weakening furnace keeping hold of a terrible evil, an evil that threatens to escape at a moment's notice.
"But can they be ready for what may come... The Hakke-ro can't contain him for much longer... We must prepare."
A cold shiver runs down the spine of the deity as his all-seeing gaze meets the furious eye of evil that is the source of the flames inside the furnace. The two share a silent moment as centuries of history between them speaks all the words they have for each other...
He looks away from this devil and back to the tournament in time for the results of the match.
"It's Over! That's the count! Krillin is down and out!"
Krillin lays on the ground unconscious as an out of breath Jackie Chun makes his way to the fighter's lobby.
Mark runs a hand through his hair as he huffs between his teeth.
"That was a crazy match...! But he ended it almost like he did with me. That Jackie Chun is no joke."
Yamcha scoffs at his fellow fighter.
"That kid lasted longer than you did if we're being honest. He even fought him rather evenly! Certainly a more impressive match!"
Mark snaps at Yamcha with a snarl.
"Shut up! You got knocked out in one move, wolf chump!"
Yamcha barks back fiercely.
"You wanna go, you walking commercial!?"
The two butt heads until a golden wall forms between them. Bikini scolds them both as she steps in place of the wall.
"No fighting in the lobby! At least take it elsewhere if you have to beat on each other."
Goku carries Krillin back from the arena and hands him off to the tournament attendants. Jackie is there with them.
"He'll live. It'll just be a few hours before he wakes up."
He looks to Goku and nods to the arena.
"You have a match to fight yourself now, don't you?"
Goku looks to the arena eagerly. His opponent is already there waiting for him. He walks out to meet Gebo.
"I've been waiting for this, big guy."
Gebo stares back looking unsure. The Announcer raises his hand readying the fight.
"We've got two impressive fighters here, folks! Gebo the Inhuman Wall and Goku of the Turtle School! Are the two ready to begin?!"
Goku immediately enters his stance, and to the surprise of the fighters watching on, so too does Gebo. The Announcer himself unable to not commentate on an observation.
"A-Ah! Gebo is certainly taking this seriously! He's brought up his left arm in a stance!"
Yamcha scoffs at that with a scowl.
"I thought that thing was broken or something..."
Mark however shakes his head growing pale by the minute.
"Nuh-uh. If anything... I bet he's actually left handed. This ain't a jab at you Yamcha, but I saw this guy fight in the preliminaries, and he only used his right arm until now to win."
Goku eyes that arm as he remembers their first fight. His fist had connected with it and the pain was terrible. However, something else is on his mind, as both he and Gebo shoot the Announcer a look.
"Are you gonna let us fight or what?"
"Yes. We can not start until you call."
The poor blonde chuckles nervously. He had been caught in the whirlwind of their fighting spirits clashing. Never has he ever felt frozen in such a mix of fear and excitement. With a clear of his throat, the Announcer brings his hand down, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"BEGIN!"
Goku near vanishes from sight like before, only to stumble backwards as blood flies from his nose, as Gebo stops his advancement fast with a jab of his left arm.
"I have gotten stronger same as you."
Goku blinks dazed until he wipes the blood away with his tail.
"Heh...! I can tell! But I won't let you have it as easy as last time."
Gebo narrows his glare at Goku and yet soon finds himself sent to the ground with a sore jaw.
The Ox King gasps upon seeing yet another familiar technique.
"Th-That's the Afterimage Technique! That boy can move that fast already?!"
Gero sits there stunned as he sees a clone of Goku in the arena before the original fades away.
"A-Afterimage...? Are you saying he is moving so fast that he can leave behind an illusion?!"
The Announcer shouts quite excitedly into his microphone.
"Goku has used his full speed to trick Gebo into lowering his guard and deliver a kick to the jaw! The giant is down but not out! Let me tell you folks, that blow hit so hard I got a headache, but Gebo is already back on his feet!"
The redheaded giant merely rubs his jaw watching Goku carefully. Goku vanishes again but appears as Gebo raises his fist behind him, blocking Goku's next kick, and soon the two begin to exchange blows.
A series of punches, feints, and counters ensue. Within receiving and dodging three blinding strikes from Gebo, Goku grabs his wrist and leaps with the pull to land an elbow on Gebo's nose, the monkey boy snickers as Gebo stumbles back with an audible groan. He can hurt him. All this time thinking back to their last fight Goku had wondered, was this man invincible? Now he has his answer.
They clash yet again. Whenever Gebo aims low, Goku jumps to hit high, and his opponent responds in kind with a counter to send him back below. Time and time again, Goku is knocked down with increasing ferocity, but he smiles all the same. Once more, Gebo sends a fist after Goku dodged a kick, yet Goku not only catches the fist but uses the arm like a platform. His hands on the wrist as he swings his lower body up and over, taking full advantage of the height and range difference, and landing a kick on the redhead yet again!
Now stunned and open for attack, Goku sends a relentless barrage to Gebo's gut and chest, forcing him to double over and send an uppercut to his chin. Goku would leap with this attack and send another combination attack on the giant's face.
The Announcer voices his thrills upon seeing this turn around.
"What looked to be a reality crushing round turns into a retelling of David and Goliath, everyone! Goku is cleaning house with Gebo right now! Is this the end already!?"
Gebo interrupts the assault with a headbutting to push one of Goku's punches away. Distracted and with his rhythm cut off, Goku is struck by an uppercut to his stomach, followed up with another uppercut to chin. Goku is then seized by the same hand that just struck him, the wrist spinning around separately to disorient him. With Goku now in his hold, he holds him high before swinging him down into ground, over and over again. A loud crash sounds as Goku's body begins to break the arena apart.
Krillin, having awakened early, and Bikini shout out together as they watch eagerly.
"Get out of there! C'mon don't just let him swing you around!"
"Goku! Remember your instincts! Bite him! That's totally within the rules!"
"Wha-!?"
Krillin looks at her slightly disgusted but Goku bites down hard on the hand, yet found his teeth grinding against what felt like steel, and opts to use his tail to swipe at Gebo's face.
"I have you now!"
Gebo shouts as his right hand blurs to catch the tail. Goku grows numb as he falls off of Gebo's arm and hangs in the air by his tail. Gebo glares down at him with his more powerful fist raised and ready.
"I would like to throw you out the ring now instead of what comes next. Unfortunately, I must be thorough in my execution."
Goku opens his mouth to speak, but Gebo strikes him in the gut with a stupendous amount of speed and strength, the fist bulging out from Goku's back.
Bulma watches with her hands over her mouth in disgust at the sight.
"Was t-that his hand coming out...?!"
Another savage blow is dealt to Goku's head garnering a gasp from Launch.
"D-Damn...! If only he didn't know about that tail before...! C'mon Goku! Get over that weakness and hit him back already!"
Tights looks on with a pale face as Goku's cries become too much for her to hear.
"That guy mentioned execution... H-He does know killing is against the rules, right?!"
Panchy holds onto her husband dearly.
"T-This competition was all fun and impressive before, but isn't this too much?"
"This is torture... How could he be so calculating and precise in his fight with that young man from before yet so cruel now?!"
Gero is the only one in the crowd smiling as his son pounds Goku into a pulp. Each swing sounds off a crunchy impact, each strike leaves a deeper bruise than the last, and Gebo even starts to swing him against the arena ground again.
The Announcer watches on cringing at each attack Goku endures.
"G-Goku... Goku is... Goku, is unable to overcome his glaring weakness! Gebo is relentless in his resolve to do untold damage to our youngest fighter! No-no... No Mercy here, folks! If Goku were to surrender or start crying now that would be the end of th-"
"SHUT YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH!"
Launch bellows at him as both Starswirl and Oolong try to hold her back from climbing the stone fence.
"Goku ain't gonna do either of those things, y'hear me you brat!? Wake the Hell up and crush this gooner already!"
Even the fighters watching on are tense seeing this frightening power gap. Krillin gulps as Jackie Chun strokes his beard.
"I-Is this the end for Goku...?"
The old veteran mumbles under his breath.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have entered you all. Never could I imagine someone as powerful as that."
Mark and Yamcha wince as Goku shrieks in agony as he is slammed against the ground again.
"T-That ginger giant bastard is just toying with him! I oughta go in there right now-!"
"Hey, I wanna rematch with that chump myself, but we can't interfere until the match is called... Why is he giving Goku all this crap though?"
Bikini looks on quivering as she watches Goku, someone she sees as unyielding, be reduced to a wailing abused child. Her horn flares up time and time again as she holds herself back from aiding him in anyway she can. All she can do is shout.
"GOKU! DON'T YOU DARE LOSE! DON'T FORGET YOUR PROMISE!"
Gebo holds Goku up by his tail yet again and sends a final punch to send him out of the ring.
"I will finish you here after you fall out the ring. Farewell-?!"
To his shock, Goku not only blocks the punch, but uses the force behind it to push himself up in a full swing, coming back down and headbutting Gebo hard enough to draw blood from where Yamcha had cut him.
Yamcha gasps seeing this.
"I-I didn't think he'd take advantage of that...! Go get him, Goku!"
Gebo releases him with a groan of his own as he holds his head. Goku however, recovers quickly rolling past him through between his legs, Goku sweeps at Gebo's ankles to send him falling. As he falls backwards unable to catch himself in time, Goku sends a shattering uppercut right for Gebo's back, sending him skyward.
The Announcer shoots a fist in the air with Goku cheering the fight on with renewed hope!
"What an amazing comeback! Goku using his own enemy's momentum against him, not only manages to escape the hold on his tail, but even turn the tables by returning an incredible offense! That uppercut sent Gebo clear into the sky!"
Goku then gathers his power as Gebo starts to fall.
"Kamehameha!"
His eyes widen as he's stricken with fear upon seeing Gebo recover fast in the air. With only one arm, Gebo thrusts his hands out and fires a blazing yellow beam to meet Goku's own blast.
"Devil's Breath!"
The two beams clash and struggle against each other. Gebo is kept suspended in the air as if balancing on his beam, but Goku must carry the weight of both beams above him, both maintaining the struggle with clenched jaws.
Despite all of his progress and all his training, the feeling is the same, the feeling of immense danger of when they first met. The feeling of fear. Goku closes his eyes trying to think then, how can he beat this man this time, he has to be able to! Right?!
He thinks back to his lessons yet little to anything comes to mind! That is until he thinks about this feeling more, then about feelings themselves, and what both his masters had to say...
"Emotion? Feelings?"
Goku tilts his head along with Krillin. Bikini raises her hand just as confused.
"I have to also ask, what does that have to do with anything?"
Roshi chuckles as he Starswirl exchange a glance
"You've been meditating lately, right? I imagine it's a calming sensation that feels great, especially when you're able to bring out your inner power, yes?"
The trio nods. Starswirl then sits on the soft grass gesturing for them to do the same.
"In this lesson you will learn the struggles of maintaining that focus and the importance of your mentality. Your emotions can influence your thoughts and thus your mental flow. If you are distracted then you cut yourself off from your power, weakening yourself instead of becoming stronger. Please, meditate with me."
The students follow suit and for the moment all is well. That is until Goku feels something sharp slowly pressing against him. He then jumps to his feet sweating as he looks around fearfully.
"N-N-NEEDLE! THERE WAS A NEEDLE HERE!"
Roshi chuckles as he holds up a thumbtack.
"Oho!~ A fear of needles, hm? Look here, Krillin, Bikini. See that mark on Goku's arm?"
The trio all notice a small bruise on Goku's arm which surprises them greatly. Especially Bikini.
"W-What!? How could a thumbtack hurt Goku? H-He's tough enough to shrug off Ms. Launch's bullets without even trying!"
Roshi nods knowingly.
"We've all seen it when she's in her blonde form, for now Goku can safely approach Launch despite any weapons she may sneak on her, however that very same strength can work against you. As you all witnessed, Goku tried to draw out his inner power, but when he felt fear he actually became weaker than ever before in a split moment."
Starswirl follows up still meditating himself.
"Even if it is only for a moment, there are enemies that can and will take advantage of this weakness, all due to the emotion of fear. There are other emotions as well, but for now we'll focus on this one. The first step is to steady your breathing, know your fear, and then endure the feeling to gauge it before using your mind to overcome it. Once you overcome your fear you will have eliminated your weakness."
Roshi gestures to a river not too far away.
"Think of it as pushing against the stream. When you are scared, you may slip and get swept away by the current, so you must be firm and stand against your fear to push past the current. To push past your limit."
Goku shuts his eyes tight and relaxes. He steadies his breathing and comes to a rest. Gebo's attack begins to overtake the Kamehameha. Krillin watches with growing anxiety as the blazing beam slowly pushes down on Goku's own attack.
"W-What is Goku doing?! Is he giving up!?"
Jackie shakes his head watching with sparkles in his eyes as he can sense the power rise in Goku.
"No... He is overcoming his fear."
Goku opens his eyes then and with a primal scream, gives his attack everything he has, unleashing the true power within and allowing the Kamehameha to practically burrow through the Devil's Breath. Gebo lets out a scream himself before a near blinding explosion silences him.
Goku pants trying to catch his breath from using all he had then for this attack. The Announcer cheers with the crowd.
"What spectacular display of sheer willpower and strength! No one could ever suspect a technique rivaling the fabled Kamehameha! Despite a startling struggle, Goku comes in clutch with a final push, however if Gebo is dead then that is a disqualifications, folks!"
Goku looks up at the cloud slowly gathering his bearings.
"I hope he isn't dead... But I couldn't afford to hold back either! I don't know why he wants to kill me so badly but-"
Goku is cut off as Gebo falls out of the smoke cloud above and slams his fist into Goku's face, sending and pinning him down into the arena floor, leaving a deep indent in the ground. Sparks fly as Gebo's left arm, the arm pinning Goku down, is revealed in it's true form. A cybernetic prosthetic that has taken most of the damage for him. Despite this, Gebo still suffers serious wounds from the initial explosion, just as breathless as Goku.
"This match is not over...!"
With both arms, Gebo pounds away at a weak Goku, the monkey boy only able to use his arms to soften the crushing blows hurtling down on him like meteors. The Announcer looks between these two in frightened awe.
"G-Goku... After successfully dealing some heavy damage on Gebo, has been met with a skull-shattering response, and the giant is on one knee pounding away at him! I-I can't even start the count yet since Goku puts up a decent defense! Neither are quite out of this fight yet!"
Goku waits for his real fist to come down to bite down on it.
"AGH!"
Gebo cringes as Goku's teeth sinks into his skin. He pulls his arm back and sends his robotic fist down, but Goku narrowly dodges it with a lean to the aide, lifting his lower body to kick Gebo in the torso and send him away.
Gebo finds himself down one leg and forced to rest on his knee with his right arm losing feeling as well. His body as a whole was spared the wrath of the Kamehameha, but damage is still done, and his reserves are running low. His only reprieve is seeing Goku unable to sit up.
The young boy tries desperately to push himself from his back and to his feet, but can only lean forward, before falling back moaning. The Announcer brings his hand up.
"T-There it is! Goku is down and it looks like he's out! I can see him still clinging on but it won't matter if he can't beat the count! And One! Two! T-"
"WAIT A MINUTE!"
Bulma shouts with Launch. The teenager pointing to Gebo with fury in her eyes.
"Are you saying that you're going to allow that guy to get away with a fake arm?!"
Launch herself pulls out a pistol aiming right for the poor Announcer.
"If y'don't disqualify that piece of crap right now for breakin' th' rules then so help me...!"
Starswirl snatches the gun out of Launch's grasp and turns it into an apple that he hands to Oolong, who stares at it bewildered before taking a satisfying bite out of it.
"Don't threaten his life! Let the man explain himself first!"
Launch snarls pointing at Gebo as she lets out an exasperated shout.
"That redheaded bastard is tryin' to kill our Goku, you old goat! You want me to jus' sit here and watch!?"
Gero intercepts with a smug smirk.
"Besides, he is following the rules. That is a medical prosthetic from a wound he suffered years ago! It neither enhances nor hinders his fighting performance and was sanctioned before he even signed up! That arm of his is within the guidelines of the Budokai Tenkaichi, just like that boy's tail!"
The Announcer clears his throat as he does his best to ignore the bickering happening and continues his count from the start. Dr. Briefs looks to Starswirl with pity in his voice for Goku.
"As much as that poor boy tried, I am glad that this fight will soon end. He took a far worse beating than the fight with Bikini. I certainly wasn't feeling it here..."
Starswirl nods looking weary. His brow layered in sweat trickling down his face as he notices something frightful just overhead.
"Y-Yes... Hopefully this fight will end soon. I'm frightened of what is in the sky..."
Gero stops his arguing to address the good wizard.
"The sky? What are you on about?"
Starswirl begins to shake as he dreadfully prays internally that Goku keeps his eyes closed.
"The moon... The full moon... It's out."
Gero merely raises a brow, but Bulma grows pale along with Oolong, both look to the arena when Goku sits up abruptly at the count of nine.
"W-Wait... No! T-The moon shouldn't be out yet! Just what time is it?!"
"You gotta be kidding me! W-Why now!? Why today!? All these stupid fights took too damn long and now...!"
Mark and Bikini both quiver in utter terror as they hear an all too familiar heartbeat echoing from Goku.
"H-Hey! Hey, Bikini, can't you stop him from going King Kong again!?"
"I-I'm trying but it isn't working this time! I-I... I don't even know what I did last time! I just need to focus...!"
The Announcer enters the ring to check on Goku.
"C-Can you continue the match? Hu-Huh...?! What the-!?"
He stumbles back as Goku snarls with elongated canines and blood red eyes. His hair stands on end with his muscles rippling through his damaged gi. Gebo has seen this, so too has Gero, and the old man shouts out for his son.
"GEBO! KILL HIM NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!"
Fighting through the pain and exhaustion, brought back to life through a second wind due to severe trauma, Gebo near flies across the arena with one arm sending the Announcer away and his bad leg sending a devastating knee to cave Goku's face in.
Unfortunately, as a terrible sound rings out followed by a painfully wretched scream, Goku punches Gebo's knee backwards. As the giant falls, Goku stands tall, growing in size as fur grows all over his body. The Announcer sits up from being thrown into the stone fence and stumbles over his words.
"U-Unbelievable! O-Out of the blue...! G-Goku, this s-small boy barely up to our thighs, he's changed entirely! He's transformed into some sort of giant ape!"
The Great Ape releases an ear deafening roar before throwing a fist for the tournament building. Debris flies throughout the area as his tail sends furious winds from lashing about. Every movement threatens all the lives present and they know this. Gebo, even with one leg down, lunges for the tail and uses his remaining strength to squeeze down on it.
The Great Ape struggles to stand then, only able to flail it's arms around violently until it looks back at Gebo, a flash in those crimson eyes are all the warning there is before Gebo is sent into the floor of the arena as the tail whips against the ground.
"DIE YOU FILTHY BEAST! YOU WON'T TAKE MY SON FROM ME TOO!"
Gero bellows as he pounds on his legs. The two limbs hiss and reveal to be also mechanical replacements, lifting up by the control of a button layout on his armrest, a conjoined weapon in the shape of a large double barrel laser that fires an intense wave of energy. Enough power to completely cover the upper body of the Great Ape.
The Ox King holds ChiChi and Puar in his arms to keep them safe but can't help but watch.
"N-No way! Where did he get all that energy from...?!"
Dr. Briefs can't keep his eyes off either even as he holds his family close.
"Gero... I think I finally understand now... But is that much power really necessary!? If he aimed any lower he could have destroyed part of the city on this island!"
The monster is frozen under the attack, and yet once it dies down all could barely believe their eyes, as the Great Ape's fur isn't even singed from the heat of the attack. Gero watches as all of his confidence vanishes.
"I-Impossible... That was supposed to completely eradicate you... I-I did so much research and it didn't even scratch you?!"
The Great Ape only roars in response and holds the maw open towards the crowd. A bright violet light begins to form. Bulma shouts out to the wizard.
"Mr. Starswirl! Don't you have an answer or some spell, something to fix this, anything at all!?"
Starswirl grabs his heart as a flood of terrible memories come to the surface of his mind. If that beam fires, everyone here will die, and yet the spell he crafted many centuries ago would kill Goku. He wishes it were an easy decision, for were it any other Saiyan he would gladly end their lives, but Goku... Goku is far different. Far better, pure of heart and full of life, even a form of love he has rarely seen amongst his own kind. To kill someone he has essentially raised, even for a such a short time, it's too much to ask of him so abruptly.
"I... I can't... As he is now, he isn't Goku at all, I have to do... Something...!"
Time is ticking and the beam is soon ready to fire. That is until the Great Ape is frozen in a golden aura. A battered Gebo falls to the ground barely able to push himself up finds himself at the feet of Bikini, the young Unicorn stands before the Great Ape at the center of the arena holds her arms out, her horn humming with great power.
"G-Goku...! I know you're in there...! Somewhere deep inside! You're still in there, Goku! You're not a mindless monster-!"
She whimpers as the Great Ape thrashes about wildly, barely able to fire out the mouth beam towards a mountain far from town, yet the resulting blast could be seen even from there. The dark sky near turned bright from the light of the explosion that wipes the mountain from the face of the planet. Seeing this, Bikini cast aside her reluctance and forcefully uses her full magical might to bind the Great Ape, reinforcing the aura around it as they take the shape of holy chains.
"GOKU! I WON'T LET YOU HURT ANYONE, NOT EVEN YOURSELF! YOU MAY BE MY BODYGUARD BUT YOU'RE ALSO MY FRIEND... THAT'S WHY, I NEED YOU TO STOP, I NEED YOU TO REMEMBER WHO YOU REALLY ARE!"
Her horn glows brighter and brighter until no one but Starswirl can see what happens next. He could feel through his own horn alone what she's done. Her magic took hold of the entire planet and the moon, and spun it around the Sun, accelerating our orbit! There's a sigh of relief that comes from him as he looks on knowing that the Great Ape transformation can't last during the day...
However, he noticed that it is still dark. So dark that it resembles night, and so he looks to the sky once more and moans in hopeless dread. He looks to the winded Bikini that is on her hands and knees, shouting with all his might.
"No... N-No, no, how could this be...!? BIKINI! YOU MAY HAVE TURNED IT INTO DAY AGAIN, BUT YOU MOVED THE MOON IN FRONT OF THE SUN, A SOLAR ECLIPSE HAS THE SAME EFFECT AS A FULL MOON!"
Her head snaps to him full of fear before looking up at the Great Ape struggling still. Link by link it breaks the magical chains binding it down, until it rips itself free with another powerful roar. The wind from it's voice bends the palm trees and forces people into each other in the crowd. Bikini can only sit in despair as she watches a tearful Great Ape raise it's foot to stomp down on her.
"NGH!"
Instead of being turned to paste, Gebo uses his one good leg and one good arm to hold up the impossible weight of the Great Ape, shouting at her.
"You can use magic to move the moon, can you not...?! Then do it already, please!"
"B-But I'm too weak! I-I can't even lift anything with my horn right now... I... I failed..."
Gebo sweats as the foot slowly lowers over them both.
"I too failed... I failed not just my father and my mother... I failed everyone... To think, this is the end..."
"Not quite yet."
Jackie Chun stands by Bikini's side with a hand on her shoulder.
"Failure is the greatest lesson of the Turtle School. It's through failure that we find improvement... I've given you some of my energy so keep that monkey still!"
Bikini looks up to him with tears in her wide eyes. She can feel herself renewed with power and summons her magic to hold Goku still yet again. Gebo falls back panting as even his mechanical limb shows damage. Bikini then shouts out.
"N-Now what!?"
Starswirl answers her then as he holds his staff out, two auras wrapping around the Great Ape that barely keep it still.
"Together we can keep him still just long enough for Mr. Chun to enact his plan! Y-You do have a plan, right?!"
Jackie nods as he looks up to the Great Ape and noticing it's tears.
"My, my... I think your words got to him, young lady. He might even be holding back. Good! Keep him nice and still while I prepare this!"
He then flexes with a shout as he removes his gi to reveal an unreal physique. A build that surpasses even Gebo in structure and size, Jackie Chun enters the stance for the Kamehameha, his aim directed to the sky.
"I have heard of a creature like this before! He has no true control over his own mind! It is the power of the light of a full moon, a light granted by the Sun, that forces him to be like this... Therefore the solution is simple. I Must Destroy The Moon."
Starswirl snaps at Jackie with a terrified shriek.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, YOU REPROBATE!?"
"KAMEHAMEHA!"
Jackie Chun fires a Full-Power Kamehameha right at the black sphere in the sky. Another blinding explosion occurs with silence being all that remains. When things become visible again, the Great Ape can be seen shrinking in size, Goku reverting back to normal... Wounded, yet alive, on the ground. It's only a few seconds as he stands up.
"What... What happened...?"
Bikini lunges at Goku and hugs him tightly.
"You're back to normal! I'm so glad! Y-You transformed into a monster again and I... I really messed up trying to save you."
"But I heard you this time! It was like a nightmare... I couldn't move and all I saw was red, but I heard you calling out to me!"
Gebo limps over holding his his side with one eye open. He looks to Goku needing to know one thing.
"Son Goku. Is it true? Is it true that you have no control or recollection of your actions when you are like that?"
Goku gives an earnest nod and looks around with a frown.
"I must have caused a mess... This isn't how things were supposed to go down at all! I honestly never knew I turned into a monster until my friends told me. I wish there was a way to stop me from transforming ever again."
Jackie holds up a peace sign and confidently huffs.
"I took care of that. No one needs to thank me!~ I-"
The Announcer, along with many other spectators, all shout and boo Jackie Chun.
"H-How are we supposed to enjoy our romantic dinners?!"
"Or full moon night star gazing?!"
"What about people that use the moon for fortune telling?! Now what am I supposed to do!?"
"Am I the only one worried about the tides...?"
Jackie lowers his head in defeat while Starswirl clears his throat after hopping onto the mostly broken arena.
"I'll bring the moon back. My magic is more fitted for aid and creation than it is destruction or offense. It's why I couldn't do much to stop the Great Ape... Before that though, we have a match to finish, no?"
He fixes Goku's clothes, but not heal him, but before he can leave with the rest; Gebo speaks.
"Son Goku... If I may. I would like to tell you a story before our match reaches it's conclusion."
Goku looks him up and down before tilting his head.
"You sure you can go on...? That left leg of yours looks pretty bad."
"It hurts. I can tell though that you aren't faring much better either."
Goku grins reaching to rub hid head but it hurts just to move.
"You caught me! Anyways, I'll hear you out."
"Thank you... It starts on Mount Paozu. My mother was sick and we were searching for the Dragon Balls many years ago out of desperation. In truth, she had accepted her fate, merely wanting to travel the world with my father and I as her last wish. However, both myself and father were adamant to find any cure, and that is when we would meet Son Gohan."
Goku leans forward shocked to hear this.
"You met my grandpa!?"
Gebo nods and continues.
"He saw potential in me, and though I truthfully loathe violence, he and my mother encouraged me to indulge him in some training. It was only for a few hours... But he would change my life forever, as would you. He would give us the Four Star Dragon Ball upon the setting Sun, and grew worried about you, in which we volunteered to search for you... That night, my mother would find you first and shriek, as you were turning into that monster."
A heavy silence fills the air as Goku listens intently, the pieces starting to fit together for him at last, and Gebo himself visibly clenching his robotic fist tight.
"She would die that night... The illness pushed her to her limit. The shock of your transformation on her already fragile condition proved too much. We would try to retrieve her body to save her, and in the process I would lose my arm, my father his legs... And Son Gohan, his life."
Goku looks down at his feet and for a split moment he could see it. An old man he sees from the audience under one foot, a red haired woman in one of his hands, and dangling from his left arm is Gebo in his other hand. Before him is his beloved Grandfather readying the Kamehameha.
He blinks and the vision vanishes as he looks up to Gebo.
"Wait! We could use the Dragon Balls to fix everything! I know they work!"
Starswirl shakes his head quick to correct him.
"They're not only still inert, but his mother would not be able to be returned to the land of the living. The Dragon Balls cannot revive someone from the dead if they have been dead for over a year, died twice, or of natural causes... If the illness is what truly took her life then there is no returning her to this world."
He looks to a seething Gero who glares right at him trying to hold his own tears back. The wizard can only lower his head.
"Though your limbs could be returned to you... That is all they could do now."
Goku feels a pit in his stomach. He had learned the death of his closest family was at his hand, but the hope of ever seeing his grandfather now were gone. Gebo notices this and finishes his tale.
"Son Gohan would use the last of his power to send you into a mountain, and his last words to ask of our forgiveness for you on his behalf, something that has confused me for several years... Until today. I realize now, despite all that power you hold, you truly are as much a victim of it as we were, and most of all... You are still a child. Therefore-!"
Gebo grabs the shoulder of his prosthetic and with a thunderous roar, rips it right off of his body, causing Gero to panic in the audience.
"Gebo! Wha-What do you think you are doing!?"
"I must fight him, Father... But I no longer hold any ill will nor do I wish his death... And I believe Mother would be of the same mind. This arm was made to kill Son Goku and so I cast it away... I will defeat him, on my terms, not for vendetta but as a fellow fighter of this tournament!"
The crowd watches on with a mixed view. Goku himself leans back from the fierce determination Gebo displays. Starswirl then speaks up.
"Goku... The moon will come back, but there is a way to secure that you will never transform again, at a great cost."
Goku's eyes light up as everyone in the area wishes to hear. Those afraid of Goku, those who support him, and those just engaged in the show playing out before them.
"Huh!? There is?! Why didn't you tell me sooner, Old Beard?!"
"Because the cost of this security is that you will never be strongest on Earth."
"Huh...?"
Goku looks at his mentor blankly as he processes this. Starswirl sighs and points to his tail.
"The true source of your power is the power inside of you, but a majority of it comes from your tail as well, and it is in fact your tail that is connected to the transformation. If we remove it, you will never have to worry about being made powerless again, at the cost of half your strength being gone forever. You wished to be the strongest with all your heart and so I hid this from you until now... I-"
He is stopped by grunting and groaning before a pop sounds. Starswirl steps back as Goku tosses his tail to the ground, having pulled it out himself, he pants with a victorious smile.
"I'll be a little weaker, so what? I've hurt people around me for a long time because of that thing. If I can stop that from happening and still fight, then I don't see anything wrong here!"
Utterly baffled, Starswirl waves a finger in Goku's face, scolding him quite loudly.
"You idiot! D-Didn't you hear me?! That's half of your strength you'll never get back!"
Keeping his smile, Goku raises his voice, almost laughing as he happily shouts back.
"I don't need it right now anyways! If I need to turn into a monster to get what I want then I'll just find another way to get it or find something else to want! Either way it's a win for me!~"
Gebo laughs at Goku's response. The usually silent and emotionless giant gives a mirthful laugh as he enters a one armed stance.
"You really are a carefree creature, are you not? I find you fascinating more than ever now. We are both on our last legs... So we shall finish this in one last attack. Does that sound good to you?"
Goku nods entering his stance. Launch drags a stupefied Starswirl back to the crowd as Bikini and Jackie Chun return to the fighter's lobby. The only ones in the arena now are the two fighters and the Announcer himself.
"You bet! I'll give you all I've got left to give! So dodge it or take it, either way I'm coming at you, Gebo!"
The Announcer, though he already has started the match, can't help himself and brings his hand up as he watches them.
"Then on my mark you two, we'll see the end of this match together, and what a journey it has been folks! Why don't we all count down together!"
With renewed vigor and everyone now clamoring for their favored fighter, the slate clean and all sides heard, in unison the entire town and those around the world watching from the cameras shout!
"One!"
Dr. Briefs, Bulma, Panchy and Tights throw their hands in the air, with Bulma tossing a reluctant Oolong along as well.
"Two!"
Yamcha and Mark practically become brothers after this near-death experience as they and Krillin shout loud as they can with Bikini.
"THREE!"
The Announcer with all the might in his strained vocal chords brings his hand down in a dramatic fashion.
"BEGIN!"
Goku and Gebo lunge at each other, each having to know the other far more than just weakness or strengths in their fight, but their character. Their minds. They have grown a shared respect that is rare amongst those of close colleagues. Goku actively aims high to avoid Gebo's bad knee, and Gebo puts all his faith in one punch, the two connecting at once! Goku slams his foot in Gebo's face as Gebo swings his fist into Goku's jaw. The both of them fall over on the cracked and rigid arena floor. The Announcer being the last man standing throws his hands in the air caught in the hype.
"WE HAVE A DOUBLE KNOCK OUT! However both contestants are STILL awake! Whoever can stand first and announce their victory is the winner! Who will it be if either of them at all?!"
Gero, in spite all things, cheers for his son regardless of his feelings for Goku. Though silent for the countdown as he was deep in thought, one thing is certain for him, and that is his love for his family.
"GEBO! STAND UP! YOU ARE NEARLY THERE! GET UP, MY SON!"
Bulma and Tights cheer as hard as they can for Goku.
"YOU STILL GOT BOTH YOUR LEGS, GOKU!"
"C'MON MONKEY BOY!~"
Starswirl and Launch cheer him on as well, the latter swinging Oolong around by his ears.
"Goku! Just a little further! You can surpass your limits still!"
"HELL YEAH!~ GOKU! Y'GOT THIS, KID! NOW STAND UP!"
The Ox King and ChiChi even call out together.
"GO GOKU! YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!"
"GOKU! YOU CAN'T GIVE UP NOW! NOT WHEN YOU'RE SO CLOSE!"
As the crowd goes wild, the Announcer starts his count!
"ONE!"
Goku leans his head up smiling deliriously.
"TWO!"
As he looks ahead of him at Gebo, he can see two more people are in the ring with them.
"THREE!"
A red haired woman of great beauty kneels down at Gebo's side with a hand on his head smiling proudly.
"FOUR!"
A familiar old man stand right by Goku's side with his hands behind his back with the same loving smile.
"FIVE!"
Gebo also sees them, and reaches up for his mother's face, only for her to vanish as in a blink.
"SIX!"
He sits up before Goku, who can only move his head, the two stare at each other almost knowingly.
"SEVEN!"
Goku gives Gebo a hopeful smile and the redheaded giant sees it. Her smile on his face.
"EIGHT!"
Goku closes his eyes and falls out of consciousness. Leaving Gebo the lone fighter still awake.
"NINE...!"
Gebo can't help but shake his head... How could such a terrible and unforgiving monster hide within someone so wonderfully pure? How could he let him and his father fall so low as to desire to kill someone like Goku? As far as this battle went in his mind, Gebo concedes to Goku, to him that boy is the greatest champion he has ever faced.
With that, he too gives himself to his body, and passes out.
"TEN! THAT'S IT! THAT'S THE MATCH EVERYONE! A DOUBLE ELIMINATION FROM THE STARS OF TODAY'S SHOW! THE END OF THIS MATCH MARKS THE END OF THE 22ND WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT! THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!~"