The Horse with No Name


Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zealous Intentions


Over a year ago, Gohan had left Haed's lair feeling a weight on his shoulders that didn't exist before crossing the threshold. His head had vibrated with static noise; with responsibility that he would not fully understand until some time to come, over a year later after being faced with his stay on Earth in fact. Perhaps Haed had known then; the weight. At the time, the opposing god had been shrouded in the darkness of his dense, dim dungeon, harnessing the bitterest touch to match. Icicle fingers had pressed the prize into Gohan's hands, stealing warmth from the touch instantly.

"Consider it yours," Haed had whispered.

Behind the fog of breath, Gohan's eyes had grown thrice the size.

"But, the Gods of Revelation already—"

"Consider it yours."

Haed hadn't rushed to take it back, so Gohan had eventually clenched his fingers around it. It'd been only for him. With ultimate caution, he'd nodded.

The journey back had been longer than necessary just so he could clear his head.

Alone and wracked with a lack of patience suited to him, Quell had been anxiously anticipating Gohan outside. He'd jostled on over, cape swooping and hands reaching as cold hues coloured him blue.

"What took you so long? I have suffered an age."

Gohan hadn't known how to reply. "Haed sure is… something."

There'd been a huff. "Yes, but do not let him bother you too much. The deed is done and I am thankful that we needn't worry about keeping his company a moment longer."

"Is he really so dangerous?"

"The kais would have us believe that."

"Do you believe that?"

Quell had lost some of his confident polish. "Haed is a threat to our collective; this much is true, which, is enough to have me untrusting of him in any capacity. He is an individual without an anchor or heart or whatever else you would romantically want to call it." His hands had pressed into each shoulder. "Mori, let us always run cautious around those who have little to exploit. A wintery heart has nothing to stand for and nothing to protect. His sort of strength is difficult to combat, especially considering he is also tied into the power of the Almighty. This marks us as connected, I hope you understand."

Gohan had shirked him away. "Being devoid of love isn't strength."

"Oh ho-ho, that's right. You've devolved into such a sweetheart now, I remember. Tch, mortality indeed. Perhaps you'll learn such a lesson in due time." But as soon as the amusement had come it had died. "Don't think me cold. I understand that you and Rixas are my soft underbelly. Famis being stolen weakened me so. Haed… does not have this. Haed does not have any weakness, or fondness."

"Perhaps," Gohan had hummed, "Instead of seeing your affection for Rixas and me as a weakness, you should see it as an asset. You should trust us."

"I trusted you today."

Gohan had smiled. "And so you were rewarded with not seeing Haed's dead-eyed face gormlessly staring back." There'd been a laugh. "Perhaps, you should change your outlook."

"Believe this, Mori, you'll realize one day that the love you feel for others will inhibit your ambitions. Whilst you may remain proud of your affections, don't forget the true burden they anchor you with."

Never before has Gohan truly come to understand Quell's words until today. He flies, feeling his body ache under the powdery hell slicing against his skin. Snow, in varying irate forms, clusters his flight path as he carves against the screeching billows Storm Ashnah wails, her melody angry. Gohan's ears burn with arctic agony but he still soars onwards as he presses closer toward that familiar ki signature miles into the distance. His anxiety settles. He complies with the discomfort in his chest.

Gohan's steely acceptance will be his strength.

It's over. Quell is on Earth.

But, for what reason is he even here, now? Are the Zealites present? Does he know Gohan is here? Time is of the essence as his brother is not known to suffer fools, and any mortal would be considered as much. The guy's patience is as thin as the brittle ice, and his impatience runs so fiery hot that heads always roll. Quell has killed mortals for lesser offenses than harbouring his brother.

There would be no chance that Quell would be here without purpose. He doesn't do social visits.

Despite his body's desperate plea for rest, Gohan races towards the mountain area; towards where he feels his father and Quell reach one another, and towards the inevitable altercation.

The anchors cannot clash.


Goku puts his chills down to the weather and not the colossal goliath of power simmering in a trench of snow only feet away. Whilst Goku is dressed for the occasion; heavy, fur-lined clothes and waterproof boots, Quell is not. He's wearing a cloak like the one Goku had seen him in on Geo; all fancy and expensive-looking and not at all suitable for 439 Mountain Area weather. Sleek purple fabric flutters manically in the wind, battering about dramatically beneath a stream of blonde; Quell remains unbothered by this however, upholding boredom despite the weather. His golden attention barely even settles on Goku.

Whoooosh.

A whistle of snow passes between them.

The bite of ice is enough to make Goku's bones ache yet Quell doesn't even shiver. As Goku lands as to try his best in being a good host of Earth, he comes to understand the god's secret; heated soft waves of energy spew outwards from him, gently cooking the small radius around his space and forcing the snow to wilt. Welcome breaths of heat gust over Goku as he approaches with his ginger step, it momentarily pausing his shivers until the storm reminds them of her presence. She strikes with her frosted hand.

He sure picked a bad time to come 'round this neck of the words.

Yet, that fire-kissed energy fights back so effortlessly. Surrounding snow melts and Quell appears none the tired for it, glowing in fact. This is his ki, he realizes, almost jealously; the same raw power that had Goku bow under his pressure. No storm will stop him. Earth will not stop him.

Goku steps forward, rubbing his arms.

A gloved hand strikes forward, palm flat, in aim of halting Goku's course. The strange language follows.

"Erm, I'm sorry. I don't speak, uh… that, whatever it is?"

"Be quiet. Take several steps back before I make you unable to even perform such a thing."

"Uh, right. Sure."

Behind, Goku feels several others, one by one, land nearby, likely under the protection of snow-lumbered trees. Vegeta surprisingly came along with Trunks, which makes Goku wonder if Goten and Gohan will be much further behind. Neither of them is here yet. Piccolo, being one of the first arrivals, flies over to Goku's side as Krillin and Yamcha descend into the thick forest.

Green skin runs lighter in the snow. Piccolo looks immensely unhappy. Even with the amount of training they have been doing together in the blizzard, neither enjoy the conditions.

"Lord Quell," he says, "The Supreme Kai did not tell us of—"

"Truly, be quiet. Such retched whiny voices really do try my patience." Quell spares each of them that piercing, heavy stare, "Should I have wanted a welcoming party then I would have asked for as much. Yet, here you all are, like petty thieves to crown jewels."

Goku doesn't stop himself. "We could sense your—"

He's punished for it when that dreaded pressure returns. His cheek slaps snow, burning him cold.

Luckily for them, Shin is the next to arrive. With the help of Kibito, he flickers into existence only steps away from where Goku tastes dirt, not even realizing he's there and almost tripping over him upon noticing Quell. Kibito gives him a look of pity.

"Oh, I see Goku has… um." Shin offers equal sympathy but says little else on the matter, instead requesting Kibito to suit and boot them up for such hazardous weather. In a glittery flash, traditional garbs are overlaid with bulky fabrics; shiny, blue and shimmery as expected of Kai custom while also looking completely appropriate for the climate. Meanwhile, Goku breathes in the chill of frozen grass.

"I do apologize for the delay, Lord Quell," the Supreme Kai offers, "I could not come into contact with any council members for one reason or another. Perhaps they have an emergency meeting. I usually attend but I feel that without my overseeing here on Earth the Earthlings might…" Shin's attention shifts downwards, awkward, "Not respond with the decorum you expect."

"Kais organizing a last-minute meeting? How unusual." Quell's sarcasm even isn't lost on Goku. "And your flowery words do nothing for my ego; I'm afraid. Really, how the mortals react isn't of any importance to me. They are the same everywhere. Stupid ones, ignorant ones…" He breaks, contemplative, "Still, I find the situation here on this planet curious. Have you an attachment to these mortals? Would it mean a great deal to you, Supreme Kai, should these ones remain unharmed?"

"Yes," Shin admits.

Quell hums, smirking. The pressure lifts and Goku wastes no time getting up.

"Thank you, my lord."

"I suppose I have never understood your taste in company and that still stands." Open disgust transcends.

"Understandable, my lord."

"Honestly, so many mutilated saiyans these days," Quell next notices, finger to chin, "You, tell me, is it a trend to remove body parts?"

Goku doesn't get it. "What?"

"Your tail. The one over there does not have one either. Don't think I had not noticed that he is a saiyan. His angry, unpleasant troll face does little to shield those unfortunate dominant saiyan genetics." He turns to Shin with pained exasperation. "I was under the impression that this race had been eliminated. Just how many am I to come across on this planet?"

"As far as we're aware, Goku and Vegeta are the only known full-blooded saiyans left."

"No hidden colonies then?" For a moment, Quell looks relieved. "Good. I do not want to be swatting platoons of super saiyan gods back to the squalors. Such effort."

"Goku is the only one to achieve the form."

"Then let us keep it that way."

Gohan should reach it. Vegeta, too. Gosh, he's not gonna' be happy if he's told he isn't allowed.

Shin changes the tide of conversation, deliberate, "But to the matter at hand… The relic found lays just north of this mountain range, perhaps a minute flight away."

"Wait, another relic has been found here?"

"That's right, Goku."

"What kind of thing are we talking about here? A sword?"

"An orb, actually. It is one of Majin origins; vastly dangerous and likely planted millennia ago along with Majin Buu himself. The Orb of Permanence had been a creation used to stabilize the erratic nature of Majin magic, channelling the branch into performing exceedingly high, demanding and near impossible feats. Imagine yourself a stabilizer, one powerful, which enables the castor to achieve what it would take thousands of individuals to realize. Truly, a fine invention, but it had been lost to time. Long forgotten, it'd laid buried deep into the Earth's core. According to my informants, it has been unearthed so very recently and that is only likely due to Zealite activity."

Quell clicks his tongue. "Majin magic… I am forever cleaning up such messes."

"Oh, that's right. Lord Famis, he had been the initial creator of…" Shin coughs, "Yes."

Dread chills Goku more than the weather. He recalls the true reason behind Famis' death, the scheme he has caught himself up in.

"So, we wait for the Zealites to come after the Orb of Permanence. It's very much a desired treasure. Should they get it then it would be a true loss to the kais."

"Uh, then why don't you just take it with you now if it so important?"

There's a snort from Quell. "Because, mortal, they will not get their hands on such a thing as I am here this time. No Zealite shall cross me. The obvious aim is to attract them to this point so I can rip them limb from limb."

Piccolo adds, "We want the Zealites to attempt to take the orb. Then, we ambush them."

"Oh, like the tournament!"

Shin nods. "Yes, Goku, like the tournament, but this time, we are better prepared."

"I don't see Brutil or Eyrelle. Beerus isn't here either…"

"Lord Beerus has other duties alongside what we are trying to achieve right now. He is out of the universe at the moment and trying to calm anxieties about what is transpiring here. As for Brutil and Eyrelle, I remain unsure of their whereabouts."

Out of… the universe?!

Quell scoffs. "How disorganized. No matter. I have my own forces stationed here. They shall see to any disturbances."

Shin's dark reaction to that does not make Goku feel better.

As Goku and Piccolo are gestured back towards the others, Kibito follows and whispers a warning for Goku to be on his best behaviour. He looks equally perturbed about Quell's forces. Whatever they are seems to have wobbled both he and Shin, and as a result, Goku's previous anxiety begins to resurface. A good fight is well and good and all but if there are more politics to come then he's going to need some help.

Luckily for him, Shin stays and keeps conversation with Quell. He's good at keeping characters like him tempered. He'd been helpful with Beerus and he seems to know how to keep Quell unoffended for so long. Just how many minefields is he avoiding in simple conversation? Goku knows that he wouldn't last ten minutes. The only reason he's alive now is due to others stepping in. Shin has begged numerous times, Goku imagines, for him and the rest of the gang to remain truly unharmed, and that's not even considering all those meetings he goes to. Goten had jumped in to spare him from Beerus during their fight, and then Gohan had done the same thing, proving that winning in a situation does not equate to winning a fight.

Goku still has so much to learn, even from his boys.

Under the protection of the trees, the wind isn't as turbulent. The snowfall subsides.

"You must all remain cooperative," Kibito instructs to the group, particularly lingering on Vegeta (Who is dressed in his usual wear. Apparently he's so tough that snow doesn't bother him). "We will follow Lord Quell's lead on this. He does not take prisoners so do not give him reason for dissatisfaction. Unlike Lord Beerus, Lord Quell cannot be charmed."

Trunks splutters. "Beerus had been charmed? In what world?"

"You are still alive, you insolent boy."

"So, Quell can't be bought over with confectionary. That's what I'm hearing."

"Lord Beerus wasn't bought over with confec—"

"Pretty sure he and that blue guy raided an ice-cream van before deciding to go on their merry—"

"Trunks, knock it off," Piccolo snaps, "Can't you feel Lord Quell's ki? If you think making jokes is appropriate right now then you need to go home. I don't know why you bothered to come in the first place anyway. You haven't trained since Buu."

Vegeta barks, derisive. "Exactly as I said."

"You dragged me here."

"So you can see what we have to face! Perhaps, then, you will finally put some effort into becoming stronger! You're about as useful as them." A finger is thrown in Krillin and Yamcha's direction.

"So we're just supposed to sit back and do nothing?" Yamcha returns from under his bundle of layers. "This is our planet too."

"Even if we can't do much, we should at least try," the lump of clothes concealing Krillin adds, "We hadn't been far away anyway. What excuse would we have to go and hide?"

"Speaking of which, where are your boys, Kakarot? I see neither the dead nor the weakling."

Trunks pulls his scarf lower. "Jeez, Dad, who pissed on your chips today?"

"Be quiet, boy."

"Gohan; I felt coming earlier but…" Goku hums, now feeling nothing in the way of his son's energy.

Goten participating after everything that's happened makes Goku super itchy all of a sudden. Unlike Vegeta, he hasn't and would never force Goten to face this. In fact, it would be a blessing if Goten just chose to stay home as Quell, like Beerus had been, is an intimidating force; something Goten just isn't ready to face. Even Goku feels uncomfortable. Gohan would fare better but, honestly, the fear of something happening to him again has Goku accepting the distance, relieved even. If neither turn up then that would be fine, too. Until Gohan becomes a super saiyan god then he should just leave this to his dad.

"Trunks, maybe you should go home," Goku advises.

"Shut up. Parent your own disappointing offspring, not mine," Vegeta says in turn, "This will be good for the boy to see."

"You don't know what we're dealing with."

"I know exactly what we're dealing with. I'd tried warning you with Lord Beerus and still you went in like the clown you are. You nearly doomed us all."

Yamcha awkwardly manoeuvres the snow. It swallows him up to his knees. "Wh-What can we do about gods? Gods. Fighting Frieza or Cell was one thing. Buu completely wiped us out. Now we have to deal with this? What can we even face after these guys?"

"We're not facing them," Piccolo insists, "They're helping us with the Zealites."

Trunks snorts and goes to speak. Vegeta's quick slap to the back of the head puts a stop to that.

"If you do as ordered then you will be fine," Kibito reminds. "The Supreme Kai knows what he is doing."

Goku has confidence in Shin's skill but the tide of luck isn't on their side.

"We don't have dragon balls," Yamcha continues, thinking similarly, "Namek doesn't have dragon balls. If we bite it, we're done. No redoes."

The kai loyalist doesn't budge. "Lord Beerus is also on hand. Lord Quell is powerful and there are other gods that we can reach out to. Stop doubting our strength when you know little of it, human."

"All we can do is put our faith in Goku and the gods," Krillin eventually adds, muffled and quiet.

"I'm no cheerleader! When I achieve the god form then I shall grow to be of even greater strength than Kakarot."

"Actually, Vegeta, Quell had just said that—"

There's then a quick rush of wind, unnatural and laden with ki. It's not the blizzard. Goten flies against the storm, ragged, and landing without grace, stumbling with speed and rushing until he comes to a stop at Goku's boots. His cheeks are bright red, painfully so, and his skin is cracked from the harshness of the journey, dry but threatening to change as eyes above prick with tears.

"Goten, what's wrong?"

Laboured breathing follows.

"D-Dad," he starts, grasping at the coat, "Dad, it's Gohan. He… There's…"


Earlier

Condensation creeps along the window, framing the white backdrop behind as the sky whirls between violet and grey. The people of Fire Mountain are hidden in modest homes, smoke creeping into the air until being picked up by Ashnah where the black is consumed instantly. Her furious singing follows and Goten slams the window shut when it pulls open.

In his room, he sits with two hot water bottles because this old wreck of a place doesn't do heating. There are fireplaces but his sanctum does not offer such a commodity, and with the choice between frosting over in his room or listen to his mother give the local kids another piano lesson downstairs, he'll always choose the former.

Disappointed, he gazes towards his nearly incapacitated phone. Limited Service. The signal is bad enough in this area without the storm. He sighs, planting his cheek on his desk, skewing his homework and sending multiple pens to their tumbling journey to the floor. It's not as if he's using them anyway. Whilst there is a storm outside, brain fog reigns supreme within. Goten can barely concentrate at all. The conversation from yesterday has been going over and over in his head. His brother had been so frustrated. Those never before seen cracks still unsettle Goten.

"I didn't! I didn't do it! Is that what you want to hear? I didn't kill myself!"

"Gohan…" he mumbles, lost.

It's not right. How can he expect Goten to keep something like this to himself?

Goten hasn't even told Trunks and he pretty much tells him everything. If not Trunks, he would have told Videl but Gohan has pretty much stolen her off of him now. It's just him.

For now, he reminds himself. Gohan will tell them. He's going to tell them and then he's going to have his body healed by the angel. Gohan said so himself.

So why am I so worried?

He squeezes the hot water bottle on his lap for comfort, listening to the wind.

That's when he feels it. That horrid energy.

Goten sucks in dry air. It's like being smacked with a boulder; the compression pressing him lower into the polished wood of his desk. He's never felt anything like this. Even Lord Beerus hadn't offloaded such terrible, churning energy. The might of it has Goten spiralling, his heart heavy with beats, chest thin with air. Fear wracks him.

Not again. They can't go through this again.

So he doesn't move for a great while. He breathes into his scrunched up Science homework, pretending that none of this is happening and praying that the ki would just up and disappear. The longer he sits there, the longer he knows this not to be the case. Several familiar energies are departing towards it, including Trunks'. Does… Does that mean he needs to go, too?

But Goten had helped at the tournament. His natural reaction had been to rush and help, but with this distance, Goten feels the opportunity to be less helpful. The space allows him to rethink his involvement. That ki – that awful ki – cements him in place, makes him question why bother with anything.

He feels his brows scrunch. Think, he instructs himself. Think.

Perhaps the energy is of a helpful, good person, he reflects in a bout of hopeful wonder. Lord Beerus' monumental energy had felt equally impactful, and according to Dad, he just wants to help Earth. Maybe… maybe this other person does, too.

Or maybe it's the Zealites.

Oxygen is vacuumed from Goten's lungs.

They've already taken the dragon balls.

Someone killed Gohan…

I could be next.

In the wayward distance, Goten feels his brother on his way too. Nothing stops him, it seems, death included.

Just as Goten considers crawling into his bed and sleeping the situation away, his phone begins to chime. The noise is loud. It startles him and he barely catches his phone when he grasps at it from the desk.

Videl?

He answers. "H-Hello?"

"Oh thank God, he's answered, Haruto. Goten, can you hear me? I've tried, like, three times to get through."

"Uhh, y-yeah. What's up?"

"Are you with Gohan?"

"No, he's just left yours, right? I can feel him flying—"

"Listen, he doesn't sound right. He just jumped out of the window and he's talking real funny. I don't know what's going on but I don't like how he left things. It all sounded pretty final."

"I mean," He swallows, "There's this power – huge – in the distance, and, uh, it's really scary and strong and he's definitely flying towards it."

"I don't want to freak you out, Goten, but Gohan just said goodbye to us and it sounded like it was for good."

Goten's heart stops.

"Goten?"

The letter. He remembers it from yesterday, being stashed somewhere not for him to see. The secretive sneaking, the strange expressions, the pained thoughts… Gohan hasn't been right for a while.

"He… he sounded funny yesterday too. I… he… he told me some stuff but…"

"What kind of stuff?"

"Gohan wrote a letter."

There's a pause, and then an exertion of breath. She sounds shaky. "Did you read it?"

"No. He hid it at Dad's."

"Shit."

"He's flying towards the power along with Vegeta, Piccolo, Dad and others. I swear it, Videl. I don't think Gohan's gonna' do anything stupid. He… he told me a bit about the night he died and well, uh… Trust me, it'll be fine." It's like he's comforting himself, something short lived when she pops his balloon with what she next says.

"He said that he'll see us on the other side. Just how does that sound?"

He whines, rubbing his hand along his face.

"By the sound of it, Gohan doesn't plan on coming back. I'm sorry. I shouldn't lay this on you, but I need you to understand the situation." There's breathless panic. "Are you going over to meet with the others? You need to tell your dad."

Well, I'm going to have to go now.

Phone resting under his cheek, Goten starts layering up and preparing for a biting flight, hat, scarf, jacket and snow boots following as Videl details Gohan's odd behaviour at her place. His gloves shakily shield each hand.

"What did he tell you about his death?" she demands of him.

He never gets to reply as, luckily for him, his service dies.

The phone is now all but useful and Goten doesn't see a point in taking it where he's going. He throws it onto the pile of covers atop his bed, before turning to scribble a note just in case someone comes to check on him.

'Going to Dad's.'

It's kind of true.

Downstairs, he hears the thud of a dead note from the piano followed by the laughter from young children. The lessons continue and so he decides to just leave well enough alone. There's no use in distressing his mother; it'll worry her endlessly and Goten doesn't need an earful before bouncing off into – he shudders – battle. With a final glance around his room, he takes a leaf from his brother's book by wedging the window open and flying free into the unknown.

The weather is a beast its own. Goten is swept into the current of chill; ice and snow and everything in between carrying him along and into a dense sheet of white. He can't see, can't hear; with everything going on, he can barely sense anything, which just adds to the chaos of mapping out his journey, and as a result, his hat is an unsuspecting victim of the bedlam. Goten feels it liberate itself when the going gets tough, something especially annoying considering how much he'd spent on it in the first place.

Whoooosh!

"Urghhh…"

The snowfall parries against Goten's ki, burning up like it would when he and Trunks would singe it away at Fire Mountain. Instead of townspeople cheering, the screeching calls to him with the aim of bursting his eardrums. It comes at him with vengeance, stinging his cheeks and now his ears as he soars, his reading of his brother's energy barely legible as he reaches the mountain district.

Or at least, he thinks it's the mountain district. His only visible clue is the foggy rockery below, white clouds indiscriminate in where they rage as they offer hints of grey.

Goten stops when Gohan's ki seems to dwindle.

"G-G-Gohan…" he manages through chattering teeth. He must be around here by now… "Gohan!" His throat hurts but he still must try. "Gohan! Gohan, where are you?"

Whoooosh!

Over in the distance, that colossal energy still awaits him.

Desperately, he tries again. And again.

The last time Goten had felt Gohan's energy he'd been coming this way. Really, he should be passing through here. Why isn't he here?

"Gohan!"

Where the hell is he?!

"By the sounds of it, Gohan doesn't plan on coming back."

He's fine. Gohan's fine… Right?

Goten whimpers, voice breaking.

Did you lie to me?

There's a final intake of breath.

Whoooosh!

"GOHAAAAN!"

This time, the call is answered but not by his brother.

There's a snag of his jacket, and then black.

He thinks he's about to pass out until he notices the smoke encircling the area. Very much still awake and with little semblance of control, panic sets in. Goten knows that it's too late to escape. He tries to yank himself free, squirming against his captor, thrashing despite the hold of his scruff being far too firm.

It's a Zealite – they've come for him – they're going to kill him like they've already done Gohan!

"Ged'off me! Get off!"

He's spun around briskly. Instead of the usual black the Zealites shield themselves with; the face is covered by one of those traditional Kabuki masks Goten sees in the summer festivals. Mostly red, with black beneath the eyes, its contrast against the surrounding darkness makes it glow.

And even worse, those eyes…

They're…

Gold has him transfixed.

Goten freezes when a gloved hand takes a hold of him by the cheeks. They squeeze.

"G…Ge'off," he repeats, weaker, still ensnared by the gaze.

The squeezing worsens as if to spite him and Goten flails as he's twisted, chin angled left and then right.

There's a breathy utterance of something foreign.

What?

He's going to kill him. Goten's sure of it. This guy is going to snap his neck. He'll pop Goten's head right off. He'll squeeze until there's nothing left. He'll… He'll… Goten swallows. His chest bounces as the man (?) stares and does little more for the time being. Tears threaten despite how much Goten wills them away.

"G-Ge' offa' 'e, 'lease."

"Such resemblance…" the (definite) man mutters. His voice is distorted.

Heart in his throat, Goten doesn't even know what to say to that. Resemblance to what? To who? To Gohan? Gohan? Has he already killed him?

Gohan!

His kneejerk reaction is to do something reckless. He powers up, rapid. A flash of vivid gold snaps the black away like the sun meeting the night. The man's eyes, equally as royally brilliant, shine with surprise beneath the mask; surprise but not concern; Goten's transformation into Super Saiyan means very little when the power balance is already so askew.

Goten still tries his best. He won't go down without a fight. The hands that had been originally scampering at the man's arms now throw swings. One after the other, Goten tries for the guy's face, frustrated when he either misses or simply cannot reach.

"What did you do to my brother?" Goten demands, flailing and managing to free his cheeks. He is held gruffly by his jacket instead. "Where is he?"

"Your brother?" repeats the man.

"Where's Gohan?!"

The man's fingers press tightly into the jacket and the flesh behind. "So he is here."

Goten flinches. It hurts, quite a bit. "You did something to him, r-right?"

"He is on Earth, now?" The question sounds warped. "That… That…" Cotton twists in his hold. "I'll kill him!"

He runs cold. Something in Goten's chest dies. This… Is this the person who… Gohan… Where is Gohan?

Goten strikes and somehow lands the blow. His fist curls behind the mask and against fiery skin yet it manages to do little else. The head doesn't budge. His fist awkwardly lingers there, feeling as if it'd just come into contact with stone. At least three fingers had crunched.

There is some reaction from the man however. He takes a hold of Goten's arm and twists.

"Where did you see him last?" Gold flashes dangerously. "Tell me."

Goten groans, feeling increasingly more pathetic as he drops out of Super Saiyan.

"Tell me."

"Ughhhh…"

As a last-ditch effort, Goten kicks his legs out, with the reward being his arm being twisted further. He yelps, the tears hot in the icy wind as they trail his face. There's nothing he can do. He's weak. He's weak and he's going to die.

Dad…

He sniffles.

Whoooosh!

The next sub-zero breeze doesn't strike alone. In line with the snowfall, a blur cascades, an avalanche all its own and with a speed Goten could never dream to achieve, and connects with the man containing him. Instantly, the grip releases and Goten pulls free.

The masked man and his dark aura aerially skid backwards and down towards the mountain top.

Goten is still shaking and not from the cold. "G-Gohan," he realises.

His brother is barely holding on, panting, ghost-white and leaking blood from both his mouth and nose. His legs dangle loosely below. Goten can't see but after breaking his fingers on the guy's face, he can only imagine how Gohan's legs must feel after kicking him. Still, he spares a smile for his little brother.

"Gohan, I thought you… I thought…" He hiccoughs as his fingers grapple along Gohan's thin jumper. "You're still…"

Gohan pulls away, stroking Goten's hair back. "Did he hurt you?"

"N-No. I, uh, I think I broke my hand when I punched him." Goten swallows, looking down into the mist. "We should go. Now."

But Gohan doesn't move. His eyes are firm with determination as he lowers a hand to Goten's cheek. "Go to Dad."

"What? Yes, let's g—"

Goten tries to pull him but Gohan doesn't budge once again. "Go to Dad."

"Without you?"

"Yes, and don't come back here."

"What?"

"Do not come back, Goten."

"B-But, that guy—"

Gohan coughs, pulling back and spluttering into his hand. Goten notices it return wet with red. "Gohan?"

Gohan averts his gaze, and slowly and surely that's when Goten realizes that he'd never planned on having the angel heal him. Anger summons from deep within. It rages like the storm so much so that Goten doesn't know what to do with the energy. Regardless of crushed fingers, he raises his hands, bringing them down against the asshole's chest. He beats an irate melody. One after another, he strikes. Goten is spitting. He wants to punch him. He wants to throttle him. He wants to… Ugh!

Gohan lied. Gohan had lied to him. Gohan – he…!

A long wail emerges from the back of his throat, tarry. "No…"

"I'm sorry."

"No…!"

"You need to go, Goten."

"I'm not leaving you!" He drums his fists against hollowness. "You're not leaving me!"

Gohan catches the hands. "I'm not asking. You need to go to Dad."

"We can stop that guy! You don't need to—"

"Goten."

"Please."

Gohan has never looked so serious. He releases Goten and pushes him away. "Go."

"I… I can't." Numbly, he reaches out. Gohan can't do this. Not again. Gohan can't leave again. "Please don't go. Please. I'll be better. I know I'm a shit brother but I can be better—"

Behind the expanse of snow, worry lines part Gohan's face. Yet there's a smile.

"I love you."

God, he's not even going to deny it.

Gohan's really going to let this happen.

"You promised me that it'll be all right," Goten just about manages, "Y-Yesterday, you s-said…"

"The letter is in your room," Gohan says by matter of fact. "It's under your mattress, near the bottom."

"Shut up! I don't care about that! I won't read it!" Goten takes him by the arm. "…You can't do this!"

Gohan, despite being at death's door, easily shirks him off. A flickering white aura grows around him, humming, casting the snow asunder.

"We don't have time. I need to go. I'm sorry."

And so, he hasn't a choice.

"I'll go to Dad," he says, choking, "I'll go. I'll go now."

He'll save you.

His brother nods, turning a shoulder. "Stay out of sight."

"I'll go."

Whoooosh!

Gohan moves forward, slow, as if he wants to turn around again but he never does. He descends into the white and after that guy. The flimsy cotton of his clothes is carried so easily by the wind that pale, white flesh can be seen beneath as he goes. Against the dark of his hair and eyes, Gohan looks like a dead man walking already, bloodied and exhausted and in no way ready to face that masked guy.

Had he been looking for Gohan?

Gohan hadn't seemed surprised. He'd just…

God, he's really going to go through with this.

Goten can't bear it a moment longer. He hastens into the sky, flying so fast that he feels vomit start to rise up; his chest constricts, his breath is stolen, and by the time he reaches his father and the others, there's barely anything left. He doesn't even register the looming power nearby.

He lumbers forward.

"D-Dad. Dad, it's Gohan. He… There's…"


Gohan lowers into the gorge with practiced caution. He's running off pure adrenaline now. The body will most certainly reach the end of its lifespan today and if that were to be witnessed by Goten then he would never be able to forgive himself.

The wind is worsening and it's a struggle to retain balance. He sways when he lands atop the horizontally inclined ledge where the masked idiot awaits him, tapping down into numerous inches of snow. His feet sink, instantly going numb (A relief considering that both ankles have been reduced to mush).

It'd definitely been worth it however.

Gohan drags his head back, lip pulled. "Feel good about shaking down a kid?"

Whoooosh!

Black disperses and Rixas wastes no time in dispelling his mask. The bounce of blonde is washed out against the snow but those eyes simmer; after so long without looking at the golden stare of a god, Gohan realises what he's missed. The nostalgia for his brothers knocks him in waves and it would have been nice to see Rixas… if not for the contortion of antagonism opposing Gohan right now. Rixas has never looked more distant. The coolness is so unashamed in its honesty.

Gohan prepares himself for it.

"You have been here all along?" Rixas gets out from between gritted teeth. "On Earth?"

The tone rattles him. "And so what if I have?"

"So you've known about everything going on with the Zealites," he bites, "You've been just hanging about as all this shit started going down and you still didn't think about come home? You've been here to, what, reunite with friends lost?"

"It's not like that."

Rixas bares his teeth in disgust. "And just what is that thing you're in? That lump of flesh isn't your real form, is it? Eugh, it's falling to pieces and not only that, it's so young looking and… fragile."

Gohan looks down at the meat sack, arms thrown in defeat. "It's a replica of my old body. Once I disconnect from it my soul will return back to the Almighty so stop bitching. It's not permanent."

"Old body? You really did crawl back to papa, didn't you? Have you been playing house all this time?"

"Why the hell are you being an asshole?" Gohan stumbles forward. "You—"

"You're the one who left!"

"Quell told me to!"

"Not to come here!"

"I didn't choose to come here!"

"Oh, and you just tripped, fell and landed right into your old body? Is that it, right here on Earth?"

Gohan closes his eyes, voice rising. "I didn't choose it!" One minute in and he already wants to lump the moron. "Instead of jumping down my neck why don't you just let me explain? Or is that just too much common sense for you to comprehend? Perhaps you should go batter my little brother around for a while longer until you feel like having an adult conversation—"

"Do not start your shit, Mori. That kid is not your brother anymore. I thought we got past all that—"

"Got past what? I may have accepted my place amongst you but I never denounced my family."

"We're your family!"

"Then stop being a dick," he retorts, fast. His mouth is tangy with the taste of blood. All this frustration is only going to kill him quicker yet he finds it impossible to step down. "What's your problem? What's your real problem, Rixas? You wouldn't have given a shit if I came to Earth before. You would have just told me to not tell Que—"

Rixas advances. "You said to me that you were not up to anything. You promised. I asked you that night right after you blew up at Quell and you fucking promised me that you would keep me in the loop. Yet…" He laughs, sardonic, "Here we are, yet again, you didn't tell me anything about your plan to hide out on Earth as all this crap with the Zealites and the kais and whoever else goes down."

Shame creeps up, just a little, somewhere under the anger. "I swear it, Rixas, I didn't mean for this to happen. I wouldn't go without telling you."

"Bullshit." He presses a finger into Gohan's chest. There's definitely a bruise already. "I thought you really had changed and that you were trying to be a bit more open—"

"I'm telling you the truth!"

"You're playing dress up as a mortal, Mori! You're running around with your kid brother whilst Quell and I are out actually trying to figure out what happened to Famis!"

His stomach clenches. There is a time and a place, he tells himself, to reveal Famis' fate, and here is not it.

"You," Rixas continues, prodding with each beat of his words, "Lied to me. You lied."

Gohan swallows, lips dry. "I have so much to tell you. It's been more than just a vacation. I swear I didn't—"

"Stop it." There's a click of the tongue. "And by the Almighty, can't you get out of that ridiculous body? I can't take you seriously in it."

"It has to die."

"Then die."

Gohan breathes. "Look, I got summoned here by my friends and family—"

"Impossible. Even I know you can't just summon a God of Revelation to every party, event, ritual or whatever bash you feel the need to excuse. The caller must be—"

"— Incredibly powerful to call a divine soul; yes. Just listen —"

But Rixas is working himself up. "You lie and lie and lie. Have you not once thought about those who care about you? I have been beside myself waiting for you. Roarg is worried. Myra has been asking me daily for any news—"

"I'm sorry but—"

The voice rises to a shout. "You chose the mortals. You lied." Rixas brings his mask up, shielding the stubborn fury. "At least own it." The sound is warped. "Mori, you're going home."

"Oh." The abrupt command has Gohan astonished, anger momentarily broken. He snorts. "And who do you think you are…? Quell? Sending me home and to bed without supper? Don't be so audacious."

"You ungrateful punk." Gohan doesn't flinch when Rixas takes him by the collar. "Just what do you think he'll say when he finds out you've been loitering here? He already wants to kill your old man, you know; 'can't stand him."

Dark eyes become steel. "He's not going to do that."

"Don't be so sure. I've been keeping him sweet for you all this time but maybe I shouldn't considering how you're such an entitled brat. Maybe I should just let him be done with it. No doubt you'd stop being such an idiot without the distraction. Next time, I'll just tell him to do it—"

Gohan knees him in the gut as hard as his knee allows. Leg cartilage rips and the bones rupture to dust. More blood spews forward from his mouth and nose yet all Rixas suffers is dark amusement, not even recoiling from the shower of red.

"I bet that cleared your sinuses."

Gohan tries again because the bastard is well and truly under his skin. Just as he propels his arm back to build a ki blast, Rixas wastes no time in catching the hand and snapping the respective joint. It'd been like breaking a twig.

Gohan hisses, recoiling. The ki dies.

"Well, that was silly, wasn't it? Are you done?"

"Don't... touch my… dad."

"Good luck telling Quell that, 'cause I'm done." The grip tightens. "I've had your back this entire time and you've thrown it in my face because you only give a shit about yourself."

It stings. Where the hell does Rixas get off acting high and mighty?

"And you're a beacon of morality? Don't preach. It just comes across that you're desperate to remain relevant."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Does it bother you, brother, that you're not always in the loop? You just can't keep up with everything going on, be it politics, training or ki, can you?" He croons. "Are you jealous? Are you lonely?"

"M—"

Gohan spits, "Honestly, it's not mine or Quell's fault that you're so fucking inept."

The grip escalates when Rixas takes his throat. "You – You—!"

They both pause. Gohan dangles, eyes wide, as he feels the encroachment of two familial ki energies nearing them. The fog of snow and chill hides so much but soon they'll birth from it, wrought with fear, jumping to help Gohan from the jaws of this beast, when really, there's nothing they can do.

"Gohan! Gohan!"

It's Goten. For God's sake, why did he come back?

Gohan swears under his breath.

The hand holding him shakes. Rixas doesn't know what to do next, but the rage still burns. Better than Rixas knows himself, Gohan senses the inevitable.

"Don't do it," he growls, "Not in front of them."

Whoooosh!

The fresh blast pours his father and brother out as an offering. Gohan can only imagine how all this looks to them. Gohan, flailing and drenched in his own blood as the gold-eyed monster bellow corners its prey, intent obvious.

"Don't," Gohan whispers.

The snow catches on Rixas' hand. White on black; it bleeds away. Time seems to otherwise stop.

"Gohan!" Dad cries, reaching out, charging but hopelessly, not fast enough.

"Don't do this in front of them," he pleas, hushed, "Rixas."

"Home time," Rixas finally tells, in Lanit-Tongue, sealing Gohan's fate.

The sharp burn through his chest is instantaneous. Rixas' hand still resides where it'd had plunged, hot and sticky with Gohan's insides, twitching between the important organs working overtime and unabashed to the damage done. Heat flows free and Gohan buckles over the arm. As quick as it'd happened, it's over, and Gohan knows the body to be dead. He feels the pent up pressure within seep through the wound in a bid for freedom, inch-by-inch escaping and returning to the place from whence Gohan came. Storm Ashnah conveys him with welcome iciness.

As little as it'd hurt physically, he can still recall the abject horror in his father's face, the fledging trauma in Goten's. It'll never leave him.

In the shadows, the image ingrains; Goten's terrified, dark eyes, wide and forever changed. They look at him, betrayed. They are full of questions, full of fear, but never full of surprise. This hadn't shocked him.

It hasn't shocked Gohan either. He's enraged.

Gohan breathes.

He breathes again, hollowed. There's a cough, and another with more following until he's on all four and hacking up absolutely nothing; spittle splashes against marble but little else expels. Laboured, he pushes himself up, still swelled with rage, wobbling with fury – Gohan wants to gut that bastard.

He's going to kill him.

The hallways of the estate breeze by as he climbs down the stairs and away from Quell's quarters. It must have placed him exactly where he'd been pulled from otherwise he would have woken up either in his own quarters or at the Spire, hooked up to a hospital machine like last time, not that Gohan understands entirely how this all works. Whis had been the one to stupidly strip him from the estate. Maybe he can explain it to Gohan some time.

He thunders into the foyer, cape chasing.

When he gets back to Earth he's going to rip that idiot's head from his body, and if Quell gets in the way then he'll just stuff the decapitated head down his neck. The bastards. Gohan won't let them hurt his family.

A door flies from its hinges when he emerges into the entryway. Unfortunate for her, Gohan dons it bad timing when Myra patters up to him.

"My lord! You are here!"

She looks even smaller than he remembers. Everything looks smaller – or is he just taller? Broader, yes, he knows as much because he just bumped two doorways coming out.

"Where have you been?" she squeaks, irate, "I have been awaiting at least a slither of news and yet you have left me without even so much as a—"

"Not now, Myra. I'm going to Earth."

"E-Earth?"

"Yes. Quell is there. Rixas, too." Darkly, he adds with fists clenched, "That's where he's going to be buried. Now, if you excuse me—"

"L-Lord Mori, wait! You must wait!"

He strides.

"Please, sir!" She stumbles as she tries to keep pace; clip-clopping in ridiculous heals. "There's someone here. They want an audience with you."

"I haven't the time."

"They said you'd be angry. What happened? Why give him warning and not me? I could have—"

"What? What are you saying? No. Never mind. I don't care. I'm going." She has to jog to block him, arms stretched. "Move, Myra."

She doesn't and so he just shifts her aside as gently as his rage allows. The door out slams open with a wave of ki and he treads through it, already equipped with his warping stone to take him to Earth. He races along with speed she'd never contend with, only to stop.

In the lone streak of moonlight, there is a person seemingly waiting for him.

Gohan slows his pace.

Who's this now?

The incense dies so very quickly.

The figure kneels, uniformed in entirely black and doused in smoke. No face can be seen, no energy can be sensed. There is nothing to give this person away.

Gohan recognizes him as a Zealite immediately.

Where Gohan should attack or apprehend, he doesn't. Sick curiosity stills him. The faceless person turns up to him, still low, with shoulders tucked and neck bent; ultimately submissive. Gohan finds himself paralyzed.

Finally, their hands rise. The palms are empty but not for long. Black labours from them, amplifying and manifesting into shape; stretching long and growing far further than where the hands sit. It almost glows in its darkness.

What is this?

Cool shades tease first, birthing edges, offering unnatural outlines. Soon, the shadow clears entirely.

Gohan catches his breath.

"Master," the Zealite says, "For you, I finally offer the Z Sword."


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I have waited so long for this point. In my best Sirius Black voice; "I've done my waiting… 28 chapters of it!"

Alrighty then. First, sorry, I'd planned on getting this out last week but the chapter needed to be split into two parts as both parts have a lot going on, which meant re-plotting and restructuring. Then life happened and Covid decided that China needed the virus expansion pack of Omicron to take a visit. My job had a panic and stopped me travelling as is in its power in this… protective country. Lovely. Well, more time to write, I guess, haha. Chapter 29 should be out before Feb!

Anyway, please do let me know your thoughts after this reveal. I'mintrigued. It's been a long time coming and there's an odd sense of loss now that it's out.

Thanks to Kags for beta-ing and helping this story grow, and thanks to you for sticking with me this long. Reviews and messages are always appreciated, of course. Cheers and happy New Year. I'll catch you on the next one.