The Horse with No Name


Chapter Forty-Three

The Unearthed


The Estate, the Realm of the Almighty

Another bookcase crashes. It's the fifth one and books strew everywhere with flapping paper wings. They fly and land upon his upturned desk, his computer, and spread in ruined collections across the floor. He would have cared before. Now, he'd set them alight to off-set this… this fury.

He clenches at the wall, crunching the stone into finite pieces. His dark albeit stained clothes are discarded somewhere in the mess, his skin is a patch work of virgin cleanliness and smattered blood from both his father and Rixas. Gohan stinks of it, blood.

What he'd do for a hard drink, but he can't. Gohan is training in clean ki. Not so much a drop should pass his lips. His body needs to be pure, his mind sharp, his wits unshaken, yet he's aware to red clouding over his eyes. It makes him pant. The room is trashed because of it. It also has him fall against the wall, sliding down; his four- star dragon ball in hand a reminder of today's victory.

Someone knocked at his door earlier. It can't have been Quell because he's above the courtesy. He's also elsewhere, off-planet, doing what he needs to – leaving Gohan, alone.

Gohan looks around his sty. He pulls his legs up close.

Alone.

Alone and angry but…

Victorious.

Despite himself, he smiles. The churning fury within fills his throat with bile and still he smiles. He's drawing ever closer to Revelation. Alone.

By himself. Without family. No Piccolo. No father. Not even Rixas.

Only Quell.

Is that enough?

That voice that's not quite Gohan's but so similarly close whispers in mind. It's also smiling, words joyful through teeth. 'Our duty is awaiting us. We must be the difference,' it says. It's said it before. Gohan remembers.

"I have six dragon balls. I am… stronger."

'Pitiful, that is what you are,' it repeats from long once ago, 'But worry not for this state is not permanent, it is but a growing pain for us until we reach our most powerful form yet.'

"I need to be... stronger... If my father..."

It can't happen again.

Gohan pulls the ball up. The reflection in orange is not kind. He's pallid, vulnerable looking as though he's just been crying, crying like an infant because his friend wouldn't join him and hold his hand. Is he a baby? Why should he be upset?

What Gohan needs to be more concerned about is his father's sudden spike in power.

He rakes his hands through his hair, breathing out a laugh. How does the man do it? Every time. Goku Son manages to soar above the other mortals. In the last fight… Gohan, he… he'd needed to…

It hadn't been an easy win. It should have been. It would have been if Rixas hadn't trained him.

Yes, I see what you did, you fucking traitor.

'Power' that voice says in his ear, molten like melted chocolate, warm and sweet.

"Power," Gohan agrees.


Earth, the Lookout

He has to wear sunglasses.

As Goku lies on the Lookout's tiles, the beautiful, flaming sun above offers her rays generously. It's spectacular, amazing; bright. But apparently it's dangerous as it threatens to bruise Goku's eyes after suffering Luxun's Domain for as long as he did. The greyscale horizon just doesn't match the real thing. How he wants nothing more than to rip these things from his face.

"No, leave them on, Goku," Shin taps his hand down. "And stay still. You're not a very well man right now."

Kibito's hands lay inches above his stomach, sending creepy crawlies all the way to Goku's bellybutton. That tart, hardened face is pinched in concentration as he tries his best to heal Goku. It's been fifteen minutes already and yet Goku still can't move his legs. He's almost starting to get worried.

"I'm not gonna' need a wheelchair, am I?"

Kibito spares him an irritated glance.

"Just let Kibito heal you effectively," Shin says, "I'm sure you'll be as good as new soon enough, perhaps after resting a short time."

That's what Rixas is doing right now. He'd begrudgingly let Kibito give him five minutes of attention before shirking him off, dolloping half a bucket of Amber Salve on himself and crashing on to one of the beds here. Meanwhile, Piccolo hadn't needed longer than a few seconds. He's now standing on the Lookout's edge, brooding.

Poor guy…

"Eh, ow, ow, ow." Kibito has flipped him onto his stomach. "Some warning, eh?"

It goes ignored, even Shin doesn't acknowledge him. "Lord Mori has six of the dragon balls once again…" he mumbles to himself, "The odds are truly not in our favour. Soon, he will come for the last. I suppose I'll have to… yes…"

Goku's cheek presses against the tile. He's not used to losing this often, this badly. One after the other, each battle – each subsequent moment recently – has been full of loss. He's never had to push himself up after a fight this much, not since he'd been a kid.

And who is the winner of Luxun's Domain? Not you…

I saw you crying, Gohan.

Whatever lies Gohan tells himself or anyone else, there's no fooling his dad. It's bittersweet, and whilst it makes Goku feel like an awful person, he can't help but recognize that the only times he gets the upper hand against Gohan is when he targets what makes Gohan, well, Gohan.

Time and time again, Goku has now thrown himself in death's hands just for Gohan to rip him free.

That makes Gohan vulnerable. And, boy, does he know it.

"Maybe I will let Quell do it."

It's understandable. Goku's pushed him, and now Gohan is in a corner with nowhere to go. He's desperate for the control Goku's stripped him of. Each time he's acted the damsel, it's forced Gohan to be the begrudging hero. It's almost comical. Gohan's never let him down. His family loves him as much as he loves them, perhaps that'd been an oversight when Mori had planned his silly reincarnation nonsense.

"You say he's your son, right? This is him. This is all of him," Rixas had said in the Room of Spirit and Time. "Take him or leave him. I accepted Gohan and so you should accept Mori."

After witnessing the sharp edged mutation of his son first hand, it's hard to get on board. There's no blurring of the lines. Gohan and Mori are two different breeds. Gohan… he…

He'd looked so sad, weeping over the dragon ball.

"I…I don't know what to do…"

"I do not expect you to," Shin consoles, "I am sure you must be having a time most difficult with it all. Still, there is a potential plan in the works but I am still working out the kinks. Let us not lose hope just yet."

Goku nods, though he can't help but feel rotten. Even when he starts to feel tingling in his toes, dread still consumes him.

Shin tells him that Luxun's Domain has indeed been closed off to visitors until further notice, likely because of what happened with all that ki-use against Gohan. Lingering at the back of his mind, he can't help but think of all those stuck there with the Ghost and all those crazy strict rules. There'd been that nice inn lady and that little girl. They're innocent. Will the Ghost consume them? Did Goku make it worse for them?

He stares at his green band. It's loose now. If he wanted to he could remove it. Rixas had torn his off the moment they'd crawled out of that hellhole.

Shin had been disturbed at their wrecked appearance, but no less disturbed than at the lack of a dragon ball.

"At least you escaped," he'd said. "We avoided the worst case scenario."

It's still losing, though; just less.

What a kick in the teeth. They'd been so close.

Under strict orders from Kibito, Goku skips dinner. In fact, he doesn't eat for the rest of the day, which is fine by him because for the first time in a long time Goku has no appetite whatsoever. Mister Popo just gives him a pat on the shoulder before taking away Rixas' untouched food. Equally dissonant, Rixas doesn't even acknowledge him. Just like Piccolo, he's been weird since they got back. They're both tight-lipped and foggy-eyed; staring out over the Lookout's skyline and leaving Goku to go crazy with his own thoughts.

Jeez…

Gohan's done a number on all of them.

At one point, Goten just appears – out of nowhere – as though he'd been here all along. Thankfully, Mister Popo catches him before Goten catches Goku. He tells him that everyone is very tired, that he needs to come back later and to go home and wait for Goku. Of course, Goku listens in to all this, hiding behind one of the pillars like a coward, holding his breath.

How can he face Goten after everything?

It's a tense moment. Goten appears to think.

Please…

The released sigh is sweet when Goten nods. His son goes to jump from the edge, but not without looking back for a very long time, and oddly enough at the Room of Spirit and Time at that.

Why, though? There's nothing in there for him.

Goku hums, now laying in a bed not his own and staring out into the night sky. He's thankful for the stars and their bright shine, and he'll be even more thankful for the next day to come, for the morning sun. After dawn, they'll be cleared to go and then he can make his way home. Maybe he'll call Chi-Chi, Goten too when he feels ready, because, really, somewhere like Luxun's Domain is enough to make any man appreciate what's important.

But then… what will he do?

Sit there until Gohan turns up for the last ball?

Goku's brow tightens, his eyes close.

What's going on in your head, Gohan? What're you gonna' do next?

The knock at his door spooks him. Goku jostles, sitting up.

"Y-Yeah. Come in."

Behind the creak of wood, Rixas looks about as rough as Goku feels. "Sorry, man. Did I wake you?"

"Oh, no. I can't sleep. You'd think being up for two days straight would make you exhausted but, um, nope. Apparently not."

Rixas takes the chair opposite the bed. "Yeah, I tried earlier but only ended up staring at the back of my eyelids for the better part of an hour."

"Heh. Well, I guess we both had our power naps when Gohan knocked us out. Maybe that's why we can't sleep now."

There's a snort. "Yeah. Y'know, I did ask for some hard liquor but it turns out your genie buddy is a total square. He takes orders from the kais. The one that looks like an angry chilli pepper told me not to touch any alcohol for three days. Imagine that."

"…You really don't like the kais, huh?" Goku can't help but remember Gohan's attitude in regards to Kibito. He'd called him a dog. Never before has Goku heard Gohan talk about anyone like that. "Kibitio is just following orders, and Shin's a good guy. You can trust him."

"Shin actively concealed my brother's death, Goku. It's not so simple as being good or nice. C'mon, use your head a bit. Besides, I don't hate all kais, I just hate the Kai. Like, the embodiment of their… their… structure-thing; their society. I've had friends who were kais. Eyrelle worked at the estate for years. We never begrudged her. It's just all…"

"Complicated?"

"Yeah." He groans, raking a hand through his rag of blonde. "Anyway, look, I didn't come in here to talk about that. I'm here, 'cause, look, I've been thinking… I wanted to say… uh…" His mouth hangs in loss. "Ah… Damn it. Sorry, it's just, today's been a real shit day."

"Rixas?"

"My head got scrambled again," he continues, lips twitching in dark amusement, "First with Majin and now the Ghost. The Ghost… I wasn't entirely honest, that thing, it…"

"Oh." Goku watches Rixas twist in discomfort. "You don't gotta' say anything you don't want."

Rixas coughs, dedicated. "No. I want to. You asked me what happened when it tried to consume me back there with the fever 'n all and I just… You need to understand that the Ghost is made in heaven's image, and a part what makes that up is its judgement system. In the Ghost's light, I… I kinda' revisited a lot of memories I'd buried deep. Majin ones, too. I didn't like what I saw." Rixas rolls his hands together, intensely staring at the knot of fingers going around and around. "Y'know, Mori thinks I'm callous, and I think… he's right? I don't know. I care and shit, just, I mean, after being around for as long as I have, I've kinda' hardened to it. I don't wanna' force myself to get sad at every little thing, at every little death…"

"Empathy's a good thing."

"I know that. I don't want you mortals to suffer. That's why I'm helping, but maybe… I've just been ignoring other things I shouldn't have been, or maybe… I'm too cold? I don't know. When Roarg died I vowed to try and be better. I've been pretty lousy as a god. I should have cared more. I shouldn't have disconnected as much as I did."

"But now you can see that, you can change. And I know you will. You're not a bad person. I can tell."

Rixas barks a laugh. "Your taste accounts for shit. You think Mori is as sweet as they come."

"Well, I'm so not sure… after today," Goku admits. He's seen a new side to his son. That lid is firmly off the box. "He was real nasty with you. I'm not so happy about that."

"Oh, yeah? Well, he's always had a silver-tongue with me. Don't think on it too much. We're just a bit rough with each other; it's how brothers show love, y'know?" Before all this, never in a million years had Gohan been anything but gentle and nurturing with Goten. "Another thing," Rixas continues, appearing less sure, "I've decided that I'm gonna' help a bit more with Hezk and all the memory stuff about Mori."

Goku whips his head, eyes widening. "For real?"

"Yeah. From watching Mori today with Piccolo, I realized how important it is for us all to understand what we're up against. If there's a chance we can talk Mori down then I think that's our best chance at stopping Revelation. It's just… Goku, I didn't wanna' go around blurting about Mori's past vulnerabilities. The kid's had his fair share of issues and it shouldn't just be gossip over tea."

"It won't be like that."

"Good." Rixas slaps his knees, signalling it time to go. "Oh!" He stops mid-way standing. "That's right. I also wanted to say… next time, don't play with him."

"Ah?"

"Mori. You should have powered up to that blue form of yours right away instead of seeing what he can do. What did I tell you back in that room? You need to beat him fast. If you'd transformed at the start then maybe we would be celebrating a win right now instead of licking our wounds."

Goku swallows. It's not something he hadn't already considered. "I know," he mutters, "I just—"

"Goku, look, I know how saiyans are. I get it. I'm similar to you guys. I enjoy the thrill of a fight too, but you've gotta' understand when it's time to focus on what's important. You didn't even get chance to power up to max."

"I was about—"

"But it was too late." Rixas hovers by the door. "If you were anyone else he would have finished you off."

Goku recalls Gohan leaning over him, contemplating on whether or not to leave him to bleed out.

"Don't dick about next time."

He nods, grimacing. "Saiyan God Ascended as soon as possible. Got it."

"Good."

Rixas goes to bed shortly thereafter. Whether or not he gets to sleep at a reasonable time, Goku's unsure, but he's not up when Goku rises the next day.

As he remembered, the glow of dawn is beautiful. The morning sun has never looked so glorious. His legs feel pretty good today, too. Kibito did a grand old job, though Goku suspects his recovery time has improved mostly because of his and Rixas' training in the Time Chamber.

Goku stretches, admiring how stunning the daytime looks. He can't stop drinking it up. There're no ghosts, no whispers; nothing, only sun. However bad everything is he can still appreciate this, so much so that he chooses to fly home instead of using Instant Transmission.

Well, he would have if not for the sudden commotion.

There's a bang, thrusting him into fight mode. It's so loud the entire Lookout seems to vibrate. He dashes over to the tumult to find both Mister Popo and Piccolo already positioned outside the Room of Spirit and Time, equally as perplexed. The door is then slammed open and out charges Trunks, furious.

Except, this Trunks doesn't look much like the one Goku'd last seen before setting out for Luxun's Domain. This one has long hair pulled into a small plait, and is about five inches taller.

"I'm sick of it! I'm DONE!"

The door slams open once more.

"Ehhhhh?" Goku nearly falls. "Vegeta?! You're supposed to be with Beerus!"

They're both fairly roughed up, with Trunks looking particularly black and blue; he's matted in dried blood and whatever other substances. The worst thing about Vegeta, however, is that sneer stretched across his face. Paired with his noticeably flaming red tipped hair, he's quite the visage of heat.

"Oh, is that supposed to be Super Saiyan God? Why are only the ends of your hair red?"

Mister Popo, conversely, is aghast. "How long have you been in the chamber?!"

"This is why you'll always be weak!" Vegeta shouts at his son, blanking all else. "You're giving up before you're done, again. Remember; you wanted this!

"Fuck you! I got more done in that room before you barged in. I wanted to do this my way! But as usual—"

"As usual, you weren't pushing yourself nearly as hard as you should've been!"

Mister Popo raises a finger."Er… excuse me—"

"Have you not thought that maybe you're the problem?" Trunks returns, "That's you're just some angry little man with a complex that—"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"

"Please, gentlemen, if we—"

"What are you compensating for, Dad?"

Ohh. Oh no.

The bull has seen red and Vegeta already has him by the front of his tattered shirt before Trunks even realizes what's going on. At the same time, both Goku and Piccolo charge forward, forcing themselves between them. Goku peels Trunks out of Vegeta's vice grip whilst Piccolo has the other side, attempting to talk sense.

"Knock it off," he barks, looking between them but especially settling on Vegeta, "Have some respect for where you are. This bickering is ridiculous!"

With Trunks being barely shorter than Goku now, he easily glares over Goku's shoulder. Vegeta watches with similar vehemence. Cracks in the tiles prickle.

"Ahhh?" Goku turns back to Vegeta. He's at a loss. Last he'd known, Vegeta was off-planet. "You guys were in there? What? Why?"

"Please! You cannot enter the Room of Spirit and Time without informing me." Mister Popo is utterly flabbergasted, hands pulling at his cheeks. "The dangers of such a perilous place – my goodness – think of what could have gone wrong!"

"Blame the boy," Vegeta hisses. He snatches himself away from Piccolo. "He thought himself big and clever, see, by sneaking in while everyone was busy being useful. Meanwhile—"

Piccolo looks about ready to be sick. "You snuck in by yourself? Wait, where's Goten? You didn't…"

Goku doesn't know what's worse; Trunks going in by himself or dragging in a ki-stunted Goten.

Trunks flinches, snagging away, eyes avert and full of uncertainty that tells Goku that something's definitely happened between the two. He recalls Goten's uncertainty yesterday. He'd known something. He'd been looking at the Room of Spirit and Time.

"What happened? You didn't take Goten in there, did—?"

"I went in by myself!" And then he's off. The Lookout becomes a launching pad, tiles spitting when Trunks pushes past and takes to the sky. The draft left in his wake is hot and angry. Goku still feels the sizzle.

"Oh, wow… He isn't happy."

Powering down from the strange variation of Super Saiyan God, Vegeta looks equally testy.

"No ball, then," he says. It's not a question, it's an accusation. "Tch. I guess that rotten son of yours will come for the last soon enough."

"Why aren't you with Beerus?"

"Why don't you mind you own business, namek?"

Vegeta takes flight next and in the opposite way away from Trunks, which is for the best. They probably shouldn't be near each other for a while. Talk about a blow up. Mister Popo is already by the chamber and checking within at the state of things, mumbling to himself.

Ah, man, Goku feels their pain with the father-son stuff. Witnessing that kind of conflict brings on some touchy feelings of his own, especially considering how raw it all is with Gohan. Heck, it's not even that great between him and Goten. Are saiyans just meant to suck at parenting stuff? Because, honestly, it seems to all be going wrong right now. It's like all three boys have suddenly hit a limit with them or something. Now, even Trunks is being weird; he'd never been interested in training before. Why now? What gives?

And what is with that Super Saiyan God form?

What's been going on since they'd been gone?

After the drama on the Lookout, Goku decides that he'll ask Goten about what's been going on. First, however, he fancies himself five minutes of peace and quiet in the comfort of his own home. The flight feels longer than normal; he's tired, his own bed is calling him. And sure, whilst the Lookout is hospitable, it's not quite home.

The house comes into focus through its usual framing of trees and shrubs, and with it comes a warm safe feeling that Goku cherishes. Perhaps he'll call Chi-Chi when he gets inside, just to listen to her voice, and maybe, if he's strong enough to admit it, tell her some snippets about Gohan. It could come a time when they'll need her if this battle is going to be won with more than just fists.

He kicks his boots off at the door and shirks off his jacket. The gi beneath is a fresh one they'd given him back at the Lookout but the jacket is the grimy thing he'd taken with him and so, consequently, is smothered in blood and gunk. It's probably best for the bin. Though, for now, Goku's not going to worry about tidying up, he's just going to snag himself one of his nourishment drinks, sit down for five minutes, do some stretches, and when Rixas wakes up and gets back here, talk about what's going to happen next.

When Goku opens his living room door, the nourishment drink drops to the floor. His veins turn to ice.

"Oh, how the prodigal king returns."

It's Quell… in Goku's living room.

"Ah?!"

Quell doesn't even bother turning to face Goku. He's looking at the wall above the fireplace, admiring the collage of photographs Chi-Chi'd displayed there. "I hate to be kept waiting," he drawls, as if he'd just suffered the worst sort of audacity. "Tsk, tsk… Dark mortal eyes are so unremarkable. He looks positively absurd wearing them. Mm… He could have inherited worse seed, I suppose. You and the woman pictured here are not entirely hideous."

Goku slowly enters the room. "How did you find my house?"

"Don't be ridiculous, mortal. This place is hardly difficult to find." Quell's already on his way to taking a frame off the wall. "I came for the dragon ball. It just so happens that your dwelling is unfortunately a part of such an expedition when the ball remained unfound. I cannot proclaim surprise at the Supreme Kai having done a reasonable job in hiding the blasted thing as he is not wholly useless. Naturally, I am unable to source it with all his tricks and Kai magic thwarting me."

Quell admires the picture in hand, holding it up to the sunlight as all Goku can do is gawk. Rixas had said that Quell is able to bypass all the barriers Shin and the other kais had put in place, but Goku hadn't expected this.

"By your apparent despair, I assume you unsuccessful in your acquisition of the four star ball?" Quell's flow of hair trickles down behind him when he tilts his head. "Oh. Most upsetting. Did Mori give you a bad time in the domain?"

Goku clenches his fists.

"That puts our six dragon balls against your one," Quell continues, "I haven't had the chance to speak with him yet to share my congratulations. You see, I have been here for the duration of his voyage, on this rock, attempting to break the protection measures the Kai put in place. But, alas, I have to admit their infamously stubborn magic superior. There is no seeking the ball out so simply so it seems, so, I thought I'd come to you directly."

Goku's stomach knots. He's been here on Earth this entire time.

"I'm never gonna' hand it over. And you won't find it."

"Pity." Quell hums, turning to finally consider Goku. The picture frame is waved. "But expected. You must love drawing out the process. Does standing in the way of divinity provide you a sick thrill, Goku Son? Or perhaps, it's your biologically fuelled mortal shackles that have you want to chase around Mori like an emotionally unequipped whelp. Are you trying to stay relevant to him? Do you want to keep your baby? Mm?" There's a cruel smile. "Well, here I thought that the Saiyan species ate their own young, yet you're just as easy to exploit as any other emotional creature. Look at how angry you are already, how weak minded you are."

Goku swallows his heat. "Gohan's my son. There's nothing you can say or do that'll change that, even if you're feeling threatened—"

"By you?"

"Look, if…If you truly care about Gohan then you'd stop trying to divide us. Rixas told me how much you were against him coming back to Earth. Can't you see how broken he is? He needs—"

"Do not lecture me, mortal. Once he has his Revelation then he'll be satiated, not that that's any concern of yours."

Goku's aghast at the indifference. "His Revelation? You don't care about Revelation, or ki – you don't even care about mortals, do you?"

"Heavens, no." Quell drops the frame to the floor, stepping on it as he walks closer. There's a crunch of glass. "But I don't like to be made a fool of," he tells, low, "And the Kai stripped away one of my own. For that, they'll suffer, and any and all who join them may potentially face a most excruciating death regardless of what sweet, simpering tears Mori may shed."

Good thing Quell hasn't had chance to speak with Gohan yet, with how broken up Gohan had been about the whole letting Goku die thing. It may have just saved his life.

"Two days," Quell breathes, inches away. "I want the final dragon ball then. Present it to me without any fight and your planet and all those here shall be spared my wrath. This kindness is on a time limit basis, do you understand?"

Goku keeps his chin high.

How can Gohan team up with someone so unpleasant? Whilst Vegeta and Piccolo have their bad days, Quell seems irredeemable – the blasé lack of care for anyone outside of himself and his collective starkly opposes both Gohan and Rixas, who are both good in different ways. Just what does Gohan see in this guy?

There's the ironic thought that Quell must be wondering the same thing about him.

"If you want the dragon ball then you can ask Gohan to come himself," Goku tells him, brows pressed. "It's his Revelation, right?"

Quell smiles, a lion eyeing the sheep. "Mori will indeed come. In fact, we'll make an outing of it."

"Huh." Goku's grimace turns into a mirroring smile. He can't help it; "Oh, man. You really can't stand me. You scared I'm gonna' steal away your lil' brother, huh? You're freaking out, aren't you?"

"What did you just say to me?"

"Yeah. I can see a big worry-line going down your forehead."

A hand reaches up to the hairline. "W-What?"

"Heh."

"Y-You decrepit mortal! How dare you talk to me in such a manner?!" The house rumbles. Quell's pressure lashes out but Goku's above it now. His achieved power marks him as more than some nobody the gods can ignore, and that alone winds Quell up even more. "I will tear you to pieces, worm."

Goku steps backwards, hardening his stance and preparing for the worse.

Suddenly, the living room door slams open. It's all so fast. Rixas rushes in, panting like a dog, haggard. A bookshelf falls in the chaos and he's in between the two of them in a heartbeat, shoving Goku so hard that he's nearly pushed through the plastering of the wall.

Quell's fist pauses an inch from Rixas' nose.

"S-Stop." Rixas moves the hand aside. "Brother."

"Well, well, well. Here you are, Rixas." Quell stares up at Rixas. He smirks, manoeuvring the fist into a fond pat against his brother's chest. "This saves me the journey in finding you."

"Quell…"

"Fly all this way just for me, did you? What? Are you ready to finally leave?"

Rixas is still sweating. Goku can't imagine the speed barriers broken getting here, especially since Goku'd left him snoring away.

"I'm not going back with you."

Quell's expression is almost comical. Exasperation swells. "Really? Must you insist being this difficult? You have thrown Mori for an absolute loop with your antics. Come home this instance."

"Not until you denounce Revelation."

"Tsk. We have had this conversation before—"

"I wasn't playing. I'm not gonna' change my mind. This isn't some phase that you think I'm suffering," Rixas snaps, "So understand this; Goku Son isn't to be harmed, not just by Mori's mandate, but now my own. The Earth is not yours to destroy should the whim take you. This is my boundary."

"Oh, really! Does Goku Son have some sort of magical charm on you both? Is he a siren? What a farce this entire situation is." Goku forces himself still when gold flashes at him. A wave of pressure curls under his toes, but he's stronger now. It won't knock him down. "You are a hindrance; a bug on a windshield that smears and ruins everything in which it comes into contact with. Such validation an insect like you must feel for having several divine beings slobbering over you. First Mori, then Beerus, the lout, and now Rixas… What sort of songs are you singing them, Goku Son?"

"I'm just trying to protect those I care about."

"Tch! Do you hear this, Rixas? You're assisting a simpleton."

"You should go," Rixas says. "Brother. Not here. Please."

Quell steals all the oxygen from the room with that expression. If looks could kill then the Earth would already be long since lost.

"Two days," he breathes a fraction away from Rixas. "Sunset." Goku's given a last look. "I'll find you."

It's a gift that Quell takes the door because he'd looked more tempted to blow a hole through the house.

Goku scratches the back of his head, feeling the violent crackle of energy disappear. "Jeez, he's somethin' else. Uh… you okay?"

Even a good thirty seconds after he's gone, Rixas is still stood in the same position, chest inflated with unsaid grievances. The breath stutters out, slow.

"Damn it, Goku. I thought you were a goner."

"I'm not afraid of him."

"Maybe you ought to be."

Goku pats his friend's shoulder and then chucks him one of the nourishment drinks. Before finally taking that deserved seat Goku scoops up the broken frame and peels the picture free. It's one of the rare ones of him and Gohan before the Cell Games, blonde and grinning in their newly acquired forms.

It feels like an eternity ago.

"Two days, huh?" Goku lounges back, still admiring the picture. "I guess we gotta' get Hezk here ASAP. What do you say, Rixas? Ready to be the underdog?"

Rixas has already downed the nourishment drink.

"Let's do it."


Earth, Fire Mountain

This shouldn't be his job.

Why the heck is he being bounced from one mental case to another? Gohan is a mess. His dad is being a stubborn jerk with that usual hero complex of his, Trunks too is suddenly being an asshole, and now he has to deal with this catastrophe.

There's a great, manly sniffle.

Grandpa and Mum sit opposite in the drawing room, hunkered together on one of the plush couches and looking worse for wear. They're both ghostly white despite the hearth's generous fire. Orange dances but there is no joy. Neither looks to have believed a single word of Goten's tale.

He coughs and sips at his lemonade. He didn't want to be the bad guy here. This should have been Dad's job to tell them everything. He knows more. "It's true," he cements quietly. "I'm sorry."

Grandpa manages to find his voice first. "…W-Well, Gohan's alive at least."

"Mum?"

"Just give her a second, son. I, uh, th-think it's a bit of a shock."

That's the understatement of the century. Dark, unfocused eyes stare through Goten as though Gohan might very well be standing right behind him. She's barely breathing. Her jaw swings.

"Mum, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Goten," Grandpa says. He'd probably have taken Goten's hand if he wasn't supporting Goten's mother. "It's just… uh… Y'know, I think Gohan's just all confused. Isn't that right, sweetie?"

Gohan isn't confused. He's never seemed so certain about something in his life.

"Chi-Chi?"

Mum isn't crying, though Goten isn't sure if that's a good sign or not. Should he get the smelling salts? Should he try calling Dad? God, why isn't she saying anything, or doing anything?

"There, there, Chi'. It'll be all right," Grandpa consoles. He rubs her back stiffly, like she might snap in two should he push too hard.

Still, she still doesn't move, not for a long time. Just in case, Goten is already up and on his way to get the smelling salts, and that's when she reaches out for him. A clammy hand catches his arm, halting him. The grip is fiercely tight.

"Mum?"

Contrastingly, how she tugs at him is so weak, pathetic even, and Goten finds himself without a choice but to sit beside her. There's something so fragile about her. Why does she suddenly look so small? She holds his hand, keeping him there for fifteen minutes at least without another word before eventually letting him go.

Whatever she has to say to Grandpa isn't for his ears and so she sees him off with a firm kiss to the forehead.

"I love you, baby," she says stickily.

"I… love you, too?"

"Thank you for telling me."

It's eerie how calm she was about it all, he thinks later. Something must have finally snapped because Goten's never seen her act that way. She's broken. Gohan has broken her. Dad pushed her away and Gohan kicked her whilst she was down.

Fire Mountain becomes insufferable soon enough. Grandpa doesn't check on him even though he isn't with Mum, who has locked herself up in his room like she always does when things get too much. Unlike the norm however, there are no muffled cries from the other side. And by the time he does see Grandpa again, this time outside in the courtyard, he looks forty years older, weathered and just a little bit sickly. Goten manages to stay out his eye-line. Several guards see him out, watching as he takes to the skies.

Dad and Rixas are back. He'd caught a glimpse of them as they emerged onto the Lookout, looking categorically terrible. They'd been at death's door. There'd been so much blood.

Did Gohan do that?

Goten had been there long before Dad and the others arrived, he'd been with Trunks for hours, dragged there under the guise of just getting out of the house. Though, it'd been about something much more than that. Trunks had apparently been waiting for an opportunity of sorts for days apparently, something Goten'd realized as soon as they found themselves outside the Room of Spirit and Time after Mister Popo left for a visit to Korin's.

Trunks had been jittery and a bit of a shithead, on and off for days. Goten should have seen this coming.

"You're joking," he'd said the moment Trunks had gestured to the Room of Spirit and Time.

"Don't be such a chicken shit. Let's see if we can get your ki back."

"Trunks—"

"We can try Fusion again."

"Don't be stupid."

The way Trunks had looked in that moment – all sharp edges – Goten felt like he was about to be on the receiving end of a roundhouse. "Well, should we just sit by and do nothing?" he'd snapped, throwing arms high. "Are you really giving up so easily? Should we just stand around like weaklings?"

"Eh? What—? Did what Rixas say bother you? Trunks, he was just trying to wind you up."

"Yeah, well, he's right. I am a weakling, but I want to change. If we go in here then maybe we can—"

But Goten had tried to shut it down hard and fast. "There is nothing for me in there. There is nothing I can do to fix what happened to my power—"

"You're not even trying!"

And what would they even be able to do? If Goten could transform into a super saiyan there is no way he'd be able to match Gohan. So Goten'd said as much, frustrated but oddly enough, not as frustrated as Trunks. "They're stupid strong!" he'd snapped in his best friend's face, "They're like ten times your dad, at least. You think you can just catch up? What the hell has gotten into your head? You've never wanted to train before. What gives?"

It's as if Goten had caught Trunks swallowing a secret. There'd been the usual puffed cheeks; that snotty, bratty attitude only suited to a spoiled rich boy.

"What is it…? Trunks?"

"Does it not piss you off?" he'd muttered. "All this decision making without any regard for us? How, like, your dad and my dad just make choices for everyone else without asking anyone?"

The way he'd said it had left Goten with an unsettling, bubbling feeling in his core. "What do you mean?" he'd asked, meek, not liking the way Trunks was sneering towards the sky. "Did your dad do something again?"

"Think about it, bonehead. If you don't have any of your powers, where does that leave Earth?"

"Huh?"

"It'll be me," he'd stressed, "When our dads bite it after some big, idiotic fight then it'll only be me to protect the Earth. I'm the next generation. I'm the one who has to stop future Majin Buus and creepy gods. I'm the one who'll inherit this bullshit – alone!"

Goten had never even thought of it. "I, uh—"

"It'll be just me! I won't let Bulla fight. Never her." Fists had clenched. "Tch, sure, maybe Piccolo too for a while until he dies but…" True desperation had contorted him in a way Goten's never seen. "I'll be the one Earth turns to… and I don't want it. But if Gohan wins this thing then… then I won't need to step up. Goten, If Gohan eradicates ki then I'll be free. I won't have to protect Earth."

The shock had stolen his breath.

"I want to be stronger," Trunks'd continued. "I want to help Gohan."

"What? N-No… Trunks, you've not seen him. He's—" He'd wanted to throw up. What the actual hell? "My ki is gone and it's something I'd never wish on anyone! You don't understand what it—"

"Why should I have to do this?" Trunks has bitten out, "Why should I have to throw my life away?"

"No-one's asking you to do that!"

"If I don't do it then who will?" There'd been a dark, bubbling laugh. "You're just pissy that I agree with your brother. You won't understand even though this would be good for you, too. Gohan's doing the right thing and nobody realizes because they're so far up their own asses on this, including you. No, especially you. Every time he's tried to help you you've thrown it back in his face." Before Goten could speak, Trunks shoves at his shoulder. "Ugh! You make me so angry! I'd kill to have what you have. I'd kill to have a brother who gives a shit about not only me but everyone else."

Goten had pushed back with equal vigour. "You don't know what you're talking about! You don't know anything!"

"I know that you can't think beyond yourself," he'd spat. "You don't think about anyone else because you're immature, Goten. You swallowed that orb and didn't give a rat's ass what that meant for us! You think everything Gohan does is something personal against you! You now don't give a shit that I'll have to work twice as hard because you fucked up and became a weakling! You're a self-centred, narrow-minded asshole!"

There'd been instant rage. Instinct had Goten barrel forward but Trunks hadn't even bothered to move, pushing Goten and kicking him to the tiles. There'd been no matching him, not with power lost. By the time Goten had collected himself, Trunks had already made his way to the door of the Time Chamber.

"Trunks!" Goten had called out, "It's dangerous in there! Don't—!"

The slam had been resounding.

Goten had deliberated for the first hour (What's that in there? Two weeks?) about who to talk to. Dad and Rixas were gone. Vegeta was with Beerus. Mister Popo still hadn't returned. Another hour passed until he decided to seek out Bulma. He'd still been mad at Trunks but the Room of Spirit and Time is treacherous and anything could happen in there. Dad had said nobody should really be in there alone for too long. And now Goten had let Trunks be in there by himself for an entire month.

When he'd finally called Bulma she'd became quiet for a very long time. But soon enough, a series of forbidden words screamed out from the speaker of his phone, ordering him to open that fucking door. Of course, Goten couldn't open it. It'd been bolted or something. Trunks wouldn't make it that easy.

Somehow, things got worse.

When Vegeta had turned up, Goten accepted that his friendship with Trunks as good as over.

"I'm really sorry," he'd apologized, trailing clumsily after the man. "I tried to—"

"How long has he been in there?"

"Two and a half hours—"

"You idiot," he'd seethed, "And only now—"

"I'm sorry! I didn't wanna' get him in trouble!"

"It's a bit late for that!" Vegeta had nearly ripped the door from its hinges. There'd been a hungry, maniacal glint to his expression, marking a man in the midst of pleasure. "Well, if that brat is set on training then who am I to get in the way of that?"

"He wants to help Goh—"

"Shut up. I know what he wants. Go home, Goten."

"Please!"

"You're done here."

The door had slammed a second time that day, filling Goten with dread. Trunks will never forgive him. He'd ratted him out to his dad. Even though Trunks said some nasty stuff he still wouldn't want him locked in a room with Vegeta of all people.

Goten had stewed in his anxiety for hours, flustering between anger at what Trunks had said and concern. One really could kill the other.

At some point, Mister Popo had returned but Goten'd managed to stay hidden well enough, only being stumbled across hours later long after his dad and Rixas had returned from the domain. He'd flown home and barely slept that night, worrying – and for the first time in a long time, not about Gohan.

"You don't think about anyone else because you're immature, Goten."

How long had Trunks been holding that one in?

It's with great relief that that morning Goten felt both Vegeta and Trunks' energies explode into opposite directions of the Lookout. Dad's had dawdled home, followed by Rixas, and then all had gone quiet once more.

Later, Goten's unsure of what exactly inspired him to tell his mum the truth about Gohan. Maybe he's feeling spiteful. Maybe he just wants to ruin Gohan in the eyes of their mother because he'd somehow stolen Trunks from him. God, maybe… Who knows? Maybe Goten is just an immature asshole like Trunks had said. However, Goten likes to think that he did it because someone needed to tell her. Dad still hadn't and things were getting crazier and crazier. What's going to happen when his brother turns up for the dragon ball? What would happen if Mum tried to talk to him?

What would happen?

It's not just a question going through his mind but also that of the Supreme Kai's.

Goten flies to his dad's place to find it a full house. He'd hoped to talk with his dad about the situation but this might be even more informative. Peeking through the window, he sees the small living room congested. There's Shin and Kibito on the sofa, Piccolo leaning against the far wall, and Dad on the armchair with Rixas positioned on the arm beside him, one leg on the coffee table. If Mum could see she'd have a field day.

There's another person, one Goten's only seen once before and very briefly at that. Doctor Hezk. She's back and as meek as ever, sitting on one of the chairs from the dining room, and poised in the middle as though held captive. The wind is a bit gusty today so Goten can't hear anything at all from inside; but mouths are moving, hands are motioning, and Rixas looks particularly grouchy with whatever the Supreme Kai is saying.

Then, the expected happens. He's spotted, and Goten knows it because Kibito's mouth puckers unhappily, even when Goten dives into the bush. From his hiding spot, he hears the door open and then approaching steps in the grass.

"Ehh, Goten, I don't know why you bother. You're not as sneaky as you think." Goten begrudgingly leaves his nestle of leaves and drags himself over to the door. Dad sighs. He comes close enough to pluck stray twigs from out of Goten's hair. "Y'know, you don't need to hole yourself up in the garden."

Goten shrugs, eyes averted.

"I was gonna' invite you, I swear. I called Fire Mountain but no-one picked up." That might have something to do with Mum and Grandpa being essentially traumatized, though Goten doesn't tell him that just yet. "Hey, Goten, look at me."

He does.

Dad looks exhausted.

"I'm real happy to see you," he tells Goten, his smile waned. Goten tries to return it but it feels even more forced than the one mirrored back. "I'm sorry I didn't come by yesterday. My head has been kinda' messed up with everything. The domain was, well… Yeah. It's just…" There's a vulnerability Goten can't look away from. It's strange to watch, like witnessing a dog walk on hind legs. "Hey, kiddo… can I have a hug?"

It catches Goten off guard. But he doesn't withhold it, and Dad soaks it up like a man dying of thirst. He hugs Goten so tightly that it leads him to believe that whatever happened between him and Gohan can't have been good. "Are you okay, Dad?"

There's a deep breath. "Heh, yeah… I'm fine. I'm just willing myself to deal with this Hezk lady. I think I've gotta' keep an eye on Rixas because he ain't too happy to be talking to her."

Goten pulls back and stares back through the window. Speak of the devil – Rixas is gesturing them both inside.

"What happened in Luxun's Domain? You didn't get the ball, did you?"

Dad ruffles Goten's hair, grimacing. "Nope, I'm sorry. Gohan got it. He's tricky."

"What happened?"

"Come inside. We've got a lot to talk about."

Rixas surprises Goten by being the one to lay out some ground rules. Goten takes Dad's seat in the armchair as the god looks around their makeshift circle. "I ain't going too in depth on some of the grittier details with a kid here. Mori wouldn't want me to do that and to be honest, I don't wanna' do it either. Hezk, I ask you to at least respect that much."

"Of c-course, my lord."

"And if I say I'm done on a topic, I mean it. Don't push me, none of you. You too, Goku. No, actually, you especially, Goku."

Dad holds his hands up. "We're following your lead."

"Goten," the Supreme Kai says, soft, "If things become too difficult please do not feel it impossible to leave. Some of the topics broached may not be of easy listening."

"I'm fine," Goten bites back.

"Don't be rude," Piccolo chides, beating Kibito to it. "And if we tell you to go, you do it. Got it?"

Dad squeezes Goten's shoulder. "He knows, Piccolo."

"I might have insight too, y'know," Goten feels the need to defend.

The Supreme Kai smiles kindly at that. "Yes. That is why you are welcome. And what of his mother, Goku? Are you inviting her?"

"How about Videl?" Rixas asks, smirking.

Goten doesn't like that look, whatever it is. Piccolo reproaches first. "This isn't a social gathering, Rixas. Besides, she hardly took any of this well the first time."

Dad nods. "Yeah, and, uh, I couldn't get Chi-Chi to her when I tried calling. I could pop on over with Instant Transmission but she never likes—"

"No. Not Mum," Goten interrupts. "I told her and she's not doing too well."

"Ehhh? You told her?!"

"Well, you weren't going to any time soon!"

"Yeah, I was!"

"C'mon, you were never—mpphh!—"

There's a shrill whistle, followed by a clicking of fingers. Both Dad and Piccolo flinch and Rixas slaps a hand over Goten's mouth. "Shut up. It's story time now." Gold turns to him. "Just so you know, this is your final warning. It ain't a pretty tale, sweetheart. You sure you wanna hear this?"

Goten nods behind the hand. Rixas glowers over at Hezk first for good measure and then, finally, tells his story. He talks of a history going back millions of years, of four brothers born to serve the Almighty, and of one who died, and then of another – Mori – who also died, this time a fake death, just to return to them as the Gohan Goten remembers. It's like something out of one of Goten's fantasy books. There's magic stranger than what he's witnessed, there's religion and divinity he doesn't quite understand. When Rixas mentions reincarnation, Hezk excitedly tries to say something but is ultimately shot down, which disappoints Goten a little because he really can't get his head around it all. Before this, however, Rixas mentions of Quell's favouritism of Mori and also of the strange antagonism that had blossomed between them once Famis had been murdered. When Rixas tells of Mori's assassination attempt against Quell, Goten looks to his father to see no surprise, only a thin smile of reassurance aimed at him.

The story slows when they reach the point of Gohan's reluctant acceptance of his identity – and that's where Hezk is finally allowed to speak.

"That's when she fucked him up with the candle," Rixas says as a sort of introductory.

Goten doesn't know what sort of candle they're talking about but it must be something important because Hezk is immediately defensive. "Lord Quell was demanding progression, my lord. By what choice did I have?"

"Anyway, it worked," Rixas elaborates, "Mori started remembering more and more of himself."

"But he did not like what he remembered," Hezk continues, "Lord Mori was… very, uh, to…" She itches at her own arms when Rixas turns to her. "I don't mean to be r-rude, my lord, it's just…"

"Lord Mori was very sensitive as Gohan Son," the Supreme Kai supplies for her. "You can say as much. We all knew him well enough. He was a kind boy with a pure heart."

"Y-Yes."

"And immature," Rixas instead offers, "Naïve, too. Weak. A bit of a scaredy-cat sometimes—"

"Rixas," Dad warns.

"But very sweet." His stare become distant, as though he's looking far back into fond memories. The smile reaches his eyes. "Yes. I think I liked this new him straight away."

"But he started to redevelop old habits soon enough," Hezk says, popping that bubble. She seems to change as she reflects over the experience. There's excited professionalism. "You must understand, reincarnation has a symbiotic nature. That means the previous state's more prevalent behaviours will slowly over time reattach to the newer existence, melding the being into a person of two, or more depending on how many incarnations there are." Several blank expressions face back so she reconsiders her words. "Lord Mori is some of the building blocks of what makes up Gohan Son. He will forever be a defining part of Gohan because that is, simply, what his foundation is; Lord Mori. My work with, at the time, Gohan Son just helped him reunite with such behaviours and traits at a faster rate."

"Right. Mori has some quirks," Rixas off-hands, "And I could see them coming back. I was pretty relieved, to be honest."

"Like what?" Piccolo asks.

"His mood swings, for one."

"And his love to drink, I'm guessing, 'cause I found like fifteen bottles of something in his room," Goten feels the need to add.

Rixas grins. "That's a family trait."

"Anything else, aside from alcoholism?" Piccolo asks, unimpressed.

"Well, that's just it..." Rixas sighs. He turns to Goten, contemplative, unwilling to part with any words until; "Get out."

Goten jostles. "What? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"This isn't for you to hear. I don't even wanna' tell—"

"It's fine," Dad says, "Goten is a part of this too."

Rixas purses his lips. "Goku, this really isn't kid-friendly. Mori wouldn't want him knowing, either."

Whatever it is, Goten has to know now. "Did he do something bad?"

"If it gets too much I'll take Goten outside myself."

Goten shoots his dad a look. Over his dead body is he missing this.

Rixas takes a deep breath, resigning himself to Dad's will. The story continues. Where Goten had expected a story of Mori's evil whims taking over Gohan in slew of a parasitic worm, he finds the alternative much… sadder. Going from the reaction, Dad doesn't know this part either; his body grows very still as Rixas talks of Gohan's decent into binge drinking and, God, drugs. It doesn't make sense. Goten can't put two and two together because the person that came back to Earth had been normal by most accounts.

"Lord Mori became reliant on substance for escape," Hezk adds, "He avoided most of our meetings during this time and became determined to halt progression in matters of reconnecting with his previous life."

"But we still trained, a lot. He grew pretty strong pretty fast." Rixas drums his fingers on the back of the armchair. "He got on with it all, trying to forget you guys, avoiding Quell, partying… meeting new people."

Quell then got involved, he tells, and that's when Gohan apparently calmed down a lot. But by looking at Hezk and the Supreme Kai's less than relieved expressions, Goten doubts that.

"Mori trained under Quell from then on out, and started going to meetings and stuff. He helped with a few duties. But more noticeably, he started cleaning the universe."

Piccolo looks uncomfortable. "…Cleaning?"

"The trash."

That's when the Supreme Kai bounces. "Oh! OH! This makes sense!"

"Supreme Kai?"

"Kibito, do you not remember? For so long there had been a force ridding the universe of undesirables, of the warlords conquering!" Something clicks for Kibito. His hands clap together and he gasps. "Yes, I remember this. I remember one of the other Kai bringing this to attention during a meeting. One such warlord cut down had been managing a crime syndicate in the Eastern most region. His death brought upon a scramble of conflicting powers. What a headache that was."

Piccolo sighs. "Gohan was playing superhero…"

"This explains so much," the Supreme Kai breathes out, "I see! From the collected numbers, if I recall correctly, Lord Mori must have brought down 44 of these infamous undesirables in one year alone."

"So he was a bounty hunter," Goten says, "That's kinda' cool, I guess…"

"It's not like the movies, kid," Rixas says. "And wipe that smile off of your face, Goku. It wasn't a good thing he was doing this."

"Lord Mori stopped seeing me by this point," Hezk quietly adds, "But I can imagine that this is a time he would have most needed psychological assistance. There is a conflict of identity. Gohan Son is a mortal not suited to handle divinity without the aid of professionals, and that is my qualified opinion after having worked with him. He was too young for this."

"Mori is older than you—"

"Gohan isn't," Piccolo says, "I agree. He's too immature for this role. Even now, he's still a kid."

Rixas scoffs but Hezk is in agreement with them. "Has Lord Mori exhibited any signs of trauma?"

"What difference would that make?"

"Reincarnation is symbiotic. It attaches itself around what is already there." Her dark brows are pinched. "If Gohan Son is unequipped to handle Mori of Revelation's mantle then that would manifest into destructive behaviours."

"This intermingled with Revelation is dangerous business," Shin agrees.

"Mori isn't just acting out."

Hezk leans forward. "Lord Rixas, is there anything stand out about Lord Mori's behaviour you can remember?"

He complains of Gohan's snarky attitude before being interrupted. Hezk asks for something deeper, something that might feel prickly to recall.

And then, finally, there's a hum, discomfort. Golden almonds close and Goten sees that he has indeed remembered something. Whatever it is has the mood change. Rixas becomes morose.

"What is it?"

Rixas takes a single deep breath, holding it for the longest time. "Well," he says on the release, "There's been a few times he's come home worse for wear… But there was once this particular night where he just seemed to… kind of disconnect from everything. I just found him sitting on the steps outside the estate – a mess, covered in blood, as always – just staring into the garden. He'd obviously just gotten home from one of his adventures. I'd been happy, actually. I'd not seen him for a couple of weeks so I went over to chat to him, maybe invite him for a round with the swords or for a beer with me and Roarg, I can't remember, but he just seemed so out of it…"

"Did he say anything?"

"Not for a while." Rixas runs a hand through his hair, unsure. "There'd been a few times like this but this was the worst… When I asked him the problem, he just… I don't know, he just became super vague. He did say something that stuck with me, though. He said he'd just cremated some kids. It sounds bad, I know. He's done stuff like that before but… this time it just seemed like… something was haunting him. The next day, I asked him more about it and he didn't even remember the conversation he had with me. Ugh, it still gives me the chills."

"Dissociation," Hezk mumbles.

No one knows what to say. They're not sure what even happened.

"This was just his day to day, normal life. He was always out—"

"Killing people," Piccolo finishes, "Serving justice…"

"That's Mori for you."

The Supreme Kai looks into the void. "What Lord Mori… No, what Gohan must have seen during those times…"

Hezk nods. "That, alongside the unmonitored reincarnation process, the on-going brain development of a minor—"

"—and everything that happened on Earth…" Dad surprisingly adds.

"The clash of all these circumstances has helped water the sapling of what is Revelation," the Supreme Kai finishes, "With Gohan Son and Mori of Revelation as one, with mortality and divinity spliced, unhinged dangers lie in wait for all of mortals, Kai and gods alike. Perhaps the true danger does not simply just sit with Revelation but with Lord Mori himself."

An uneasy silence follows.


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I thought I'd get this out much faster. Sorry! Everything wrong that could wrong in real life did. Trying to move house, job, county, and soon to be country... and then another lockdown. These curve balls are nasty. Anyway, I got the bloody chapter done. **jazz hands**

C44 is very much underway. I don't want to jinx it and see expect it within the week (considering my luck) but it's coming together nicely. I'm writing it right now. Thanks for all your lovely comments so far! Honestly, the praise has all coy like. Also, as always, thanks to my beta, Kags, for her hand in this one. As we draw closer to the end these chapters become more difficult to thread together. I have to write some of them together as to make sure the story all connects nicely (as much as it can).

Aight. Please drop us your thoughts and feels should you have any! Catch you on the next one~