Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.
The Catalyst
Chapter 43: The Edge
Cooler:
Another Saiyan, and this one wasn't like anything the other Catalysts had shown him. It was painfully obvious he was wearing the Saiyan Goku's clothing, but this was not Goku. The fact he was protecting the boy, and knew his name, began to decipher at least something of his origins.
Trunks comes from a future destroyed by those ridiculous looking androids...
To Cooler it was a reference back to everything he'd viewed with the Catalysts. There wasn't supposed to be any kinds of surprises like this. Whatever had gone wrong he'd deal with it later, but for the time being he would have to deal with this... problem. It was Frieza's way to hold back a significant amount of power over a long battle. Cooler may have toyed with his prey as well, but he hardly let his enemy think they had a chance.
"There will be only one survivor. That's my master and best friend Gohan. He narrowly escapes from that battle, but then thirteen years later, they finally get him."
Trunks words echoed through Cooler's mind as he stared down the Super Saiyan before him. The golden aura pulsed and hummed around the confident, and serious looking warrior. Behind his armoured mask, Cooler smirked. Knowing what you were up against was always vital to any battle, and he was guessing he'd found out exactly who he was dealing with. This wasn't Goku, not by any means, this was just his pitiful brat son. Somehow he'd travelled through time to come here, to this location. By what means he didn't know, given only Trunks should have arrived.
Relaxing his own stance, Cooler started to chuckle as he looked down towards his newly found nemesis. It was time to test the hypothesis.
"Gohan."
The red orbs Cooler possessed for eyes, looked for any sign of a reaction, any kind of give away that he was right, and with the slight change in his enemy's features, trying to mask surprise, he knew full well that he was right. This was Goku's son. Obviously he was more powerful then the waste Vegeta's offspring was. But confirming what he suspected was vital to winning this engagement. Bringing up any important information the boy would be involved in would be-
"Gohan?... I've heard that name before," Frieza cut in, interfering with Cooler's train of thought. "That's... that's the monkey's bastard kid! But how!? How could he have developed this much?!"
Frieza's presence was not exactly helpful, and his questions weren't important either. Turning angrily towards him, Cooler's huge form shifted.
"Go hide behind father, Frieza! You're understanding of what is going on here is irrelevant-!"
Pain exploded in the side of his head, and Cooler learned one thing about Gohan in that moment. The Saiyan was less interested in a challenge as his father was, he fought to win. It'd been a kick which had impacted him in the side of the head, catching him off guard as he'd focused on Frieza. Cooler's feet tore up the rock below them as he skid back dozens of meters. The pain from the blow was enough to snap him back into focus, turning his head forward just in time to see the Saiyan was at him still. It was just in time as well.
Raising his arm, the huge white armoured gauntlet intercepted the Saiyan's next attack, shoving a punch away that would have sent him reeling. In a lightning quick motion he found his other arm moving to intercept the Saiyan's next attack. Each successful block so far had forced the large Arcosian back further. It was hard to anticipate where the next strike would come, so Cooler moved to act himself. His tail swung behind him, before violently throwing itself forward and towards Gohan. The appendage ripped the ground up beneath them, only to find air as Gohan slipped to the side. But it did give Cooler a perfect opportunity to strike back. Distracted and listing to the side, Gohan didn't have a chance to response before the Arcosian took advantage.
With lightning speed, and herculean strength, Cooler violently slammed his fist into the Saiyan's cheek, sending him flying through the air. This was the time to take advantage and deliver a crippling blow. Taking off after his counterpart, Cooler roared before swinging both arms down in an axe handle smash, intent on sending the monkey through the planet itself if he had to. Instead, his arms passed through the very image of the Saiyan. Stopping himself mid flight, Cooler hung in the air as he sought to reacquire his target.
Below, he saw the boy, his stance prepared for battle, glaring up at him.
"Well, you certainly are more of a challenge then the last Super Saiyan I crushed, Gohan," Cooler chuckled. "I may actually break a sweat fighting you."
"You'll break more then that fighting me," Gohan responded. "I don't know how you know as much as you do, but you're finished. After all the people you've killed? After what you did to my friend? I'm going to stop you once and for all."
It was typical. The heroic little bug wanting to build himself up, by trying to tear him down. These supposed Heroes never understood their place in life, and they never understood their 'evil' adversaries. The people who died under his management, or suffered as the previous Saiyan had, needed to suffer and die because it further his agenda. That agenda, was clearly more important than their lives, or anything there in. How was this such a hard concept for warriors like this to understand?
Bringing more of his power to the surface, rocks began to rip up from the ground below him. Fragments of the debris rose all around Gohan as Cooler prepared himself for his own turn at taking the initiative. It was all about planning his own attack, and his enemy's response. Already Cooler could make out five steps into the future, and braced himself. When his eyes made contact with the Saiyan's once again, he knew it was almost time. A purple aura flickered violently around him as he started to chuckle.
"Well Saiyan, your limits are going to become very clear, very quickly," Cooler chuckled, bolts of black electricity beginning to rippling off his form, shredding the ground further beneath them. "And if I know Goku, I know your pitiful excuse for a father will not come to your aid until it's too late."
There was no response from Gohan, nor did Cooler intend to give him the proper time to give one. In a blinding blur of pure speed, Cooler shot towards Gohan as a purple bolt of energy, blasting past all the debris his power had pulled into the air. The very earth waxed and waned around them as rocks tore apart just from Cooler's very motions and energy. The golden aura around the Saiyan even seemed to be repelled before Cooler's hand plunged into Gohan's stomach. Muscles distorted around the blow before Cooler shot forward, Gohan hanging over his arm. Using all his momentum, Cooler drove forward with him, picking up more and more speed.
Massive pillars of rock collapsed as Cooler drove Gohan through them, leaving a massive and deep line of destruction in their wake, before shoving forward his hand, sending the Saiyan through yet more of the planet's rocky surface. Layers upon layers of ancient stone collapsed and broke from the impacts of the orange clad warrior.
Watching Gohan still moving in the distance, Cooler raised his hand and opened his palm, pointing it after the monkey who would be the saviour of this world. It was a favour really, sending this monkey to be with the rest of his kind in the Hell beyond this world.
Light seemed to dim all around him, before a massive orb of purple energy formed. It pulsed, and with each pulse grew dramatically in size. The small purple sun sent shockwaves around from its very existence, ripping down yet more of the cliffs and rocky terrain around the battlefield. What had once been a rough, cliff like terrain, had collapsed into rubble all around him. Pointing his finger forward, the massive orb shot out, following the path Gohan's body had laid out for it.
In the distance, there was a great sunrise in the darkness. Purple light illuminated the world itself as Cooler stood in the glow. Waves of force crashed over him, as the world itself seemed to quake. The purple dome of the explosion rose in the air before a deafening roar exploded around them, the sound of the explosion echoing well past just the mountains. Massive boulders broke free from their formations and scattered into the new wind as shrapnel, further destroying the landscape.
The light finally faded, allowing the sun to show through once again. Where there had once been cliffs and rock, now stood only Cooler. Ahead of him, only destruction. In the heart of that destruction lay a massive crater, so massive it looked as if someone had reached down and simply scooped up a piece of the Earth. Inside the crater, billowing black smoke poured into the air as random patches of fire burned. The heat so intense from the blast that the rocks and sand had caught fire.
And now, monkey, you understand true power.
There was no chuckle to escape him however, as Cooler simply crossed his arms. His mask came down a moment later as his smirk appeared to the world for the first time in minutes. The sound of two huge feet came crashing down behind him, as well as two much smaller ones.
"Cooler, I must say, I am impressed," his father said from behind, but even Cooler could tell he was glowing in his praise. "Another legendary Super Saiyan defeated."
The frustration from Frieza could almost be tasted in the air, and it caused Cooler to only grin further.
"Tell me brother, on Namek, wasn't the Super Saiyan even weaker then these two? You've really lost your edge. Being at the top made you lazy and arrogant," Cooler remarked offhandedly. "Were you as dedicated as I had to be, perhaps it would be you standing over the corpses of these monkeys, and not me."
A sneer could be felt by him a moment later.
"You're certainly cocky for someone whose not even won their fight yet," Frieza snapped.
Narrowing his eyes and turning his head, Cooler scowled himself, seeing Frieza standing there, his own face twisted with fury. Surprise edged over his father's face as well, turning to look at Frieza.
"Oh? Do tell how the Saiyan would survive such an attack, Frieza?" Cold enquired, his eyeridge rising questioningly.
The elder of the two brothers just scoffed, of course.
"I thought I had defeated the monkey on Namek a dozen times. Each time he came back, further willing to fight. You're clearly so much stronger then the purple haired one, that you simply overwhelmed him. This other one is different though, isn't he? He was just as strong as you. Which means he's still out there, waiting for you to make a mistake!"
Clearly, Frieza had been so traumatized by his battle with Goku, that he no longer understood the dynamics of a real battle. This was not Namek, and he himself was more then capable of dealing with... with...
Cooler's train of thought was broken, as he felt a power at the back of his mind. The energy sensing powers he'd developed with the Catalysts began to detect something which just couldn't be. Turning his body back towards the crater, Cooler looked on, trying to hide his disbelief. The familiar shrieking sound of the Super Saiyan's aura began to become audible. A few short moments later, the familiar golden glow became visible.
How? How could he have survived that?
Closing his fist furiously, Cooler saw Gohan step through the smoke. The Saiyan's body looked a bit scuffed, and his clothes had a few tears in it... but he was otherwise fine. This complicated things significantly. His survival was by no means as damning as Trunks survival against Frieza, but it did show Cooler something.
This is extremely disappointing.
Separating his own legs, and positioning his arms at his sides, Cooler stood there, his tail flicking at his back. Behind that, he knew his father was horrified. The only one among them not... surprised, was Frieza. The little brother who failed to deal with the Super Saiyan before. The one who had disgraced their family.
"Surprised to see me?"
The words vomited from the Saiyan's mouth, leading to Cooler to let his armoured mask rise again, locking in place.
"I'd be lying if I said no," Cooler responded, his voice grating. "But don't worry, Saiyan, I won't make the same mistake twice."
In quick order, Cold and Frieza took flight, moving to get distance. There was something reassuring about all this, Gohan had no real capable backup. If things began to turn against him, he was sure he could wear down Gohan enough so that his family could finish the job. Once he was out of the way, the three of them working together could still easily deal with Goku.
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Raditz:
It'd been a terrifying spectacle to watch. Frieza's confrontation with the mysterious youth, and then the purple skinned monstrous beast which took a Super Saiyan apart right in front of them. Now there was another Super Saiyan they'd never seen before, dressed like Goku, fighting the devils across a once rocky, and now increasingly flat or cratered, landscape. It'd been hard enough to keep their nerve before, and now as the world rumbled and rocked with the clash happening in the distance, the fighters who'd been to the side, were slowly encroaching.
Raditz wasn't the first to land near the dying youth. It was... shocking to see a Super Saiyan, one even stronger then Kakarot on Namek, be destroyed like that. Now there was a bloody mess who would be making his way to the afterlife, and soon.
It'd been Piccolo who landed next to the Saiyan first, looking down at him for a moment before kneeling. The human warriors were the next to make their way towards him, along with his nephew. The three Saiyans however, Raditz among them, kept back. The kid was dead, and his usefulness to the battle was over. There were no magical beans, and there was no Namekian kid to save the day this time, but Raditz knew that his nephew and Kakarot's friends would try. It was pitiable to watch the young man struggle to survive in front of them.
But finally, Raditz landed next to the others.
"Try to hold this down," Yamcha said, keeping pressure on a terrible leg wound, while the two midgets, Krillin and the pale child-thing, tied a piece of torn clothing around another terrible slash across the youth's arm.
"The boy is finished," Vegeta remarked, walking over and looking down at him, looking uncomfortable at the very sight of a fallen Super Saiyan.
Even if Raditz agreed with the sentiment, he could tell Vegeta was incredibly uncomfortable. Normally it would be something the eldest Saiyan would relish, but for now he shared in Vegeta's concern. Any hope they had on influencing this battle was decreasing. They needed Kakarrot, and soon. Even Turles was going to be bale to have very little effect on what was happening.
"P-p-plea-lease," the Saiyan youth struggled, just trembling as the humans tried to help him.
"Look, you're going to be alright, friend," Krillin tried to assure. "We'll get you-"
It was then that Raditz realized the purple haired boy was just staring at Vegeta, before looking towards their newest arrival, Turles.
"G-...G...Goku, I'm sorry," he mumbled, before beginning to slip into unconsciousness. It was obvious he was going to be slipping in and out of that particular state, at least to Raditz.
"He's not got long," Piccolo observed. "Bulma, stay with him. Everyone else, we need a plan, and we need one now."
There were no plans that came obviously to Raditz's mind. Especially as the world rumbled again.
"That monster crushed a Super Saiyan, what difference can we make?" Vegeta asked, his voice sounding hollow and bitter.
It was the same Vegeta he always expected to see when things became like this, but now wasn't the time for that, not at all. Now was the time to find out what difference they could make, and drive towards it. Their entire race was at stake, and all Vegeta could do was whine.
"The only difference we can make," Piccolo quick cut in, sounding irritated. "What we need to do-"
"Is kill Frieza," Turles cut in, his eyes peeled towards the battlefield in the distance, before casting his eyes towards everyone else. "We can't fight the big purple ones, but I promise you if we can seperate Frieza from the others, we can kill him."
Immediately, the three eyed warrior nodded his head, looking serious.
"We've only got one shot," Tien added.
"Then we'd better make it count," Raditz said, before looking down towards the dying Super Saiyan, and then back up to Turles. In the distance, there was another thundering boom as the other, stronger Super Saiyan, clashed with whoever this Frieza like creature was again.
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Future Gohan:
A close call didn't even begin to describe how close to death Gohan had been only moments earlier. When the blast had gone off, he'd barely had enough time to manage a defence before the world had shifted colours, now he was here ramming his head into a wall again fighting this beast. Right now, he needed to focus on keeping Frieza's big brother off his game. Words weren't going to do it, so he was going to have to mix up how he fought him.
Gohan was never, and would never, be as creative as his father when it came to being a combatant, but he was hardly stupid. Standing there opposite to Cooler, his mind raced through the best course of action, bracing his stance as he did. A warm breeze blew past the two of them as Gohan's mind put together where things could go over the next few moments.
It was obvious Cooler was conceding the first step to him, which meant he had plans of his own. That was fine. Even with Cooler's last attack, he was not as dangerous as the Androids. His family all combined wouldn't be as dangerous as the Androids. It didn't mean however, that he was going to win, because simply put, Gohan couldn't beat the Androids.
Right now what mattered most, if he could win at all, was winning quickly. If he didn't, Trunks was finished.
Dad, please, just come here and transform and help me!
Anger boiled over for Gohan, his muscles flexing as he poised himself to attack. Energy crackled around his knuckles before golden energy exploded into his palms. The two golden spheres sparked with Super Saiyan power all around them, each arch of energy scorching the earth beneath them as Gohan focused his energy. First things first? Distract the enemy.
Throwing his hands forward, the two bolts launched from his hands, aimed straight for Cooler in a direct assault. The two beams of golden energy arched through the air with lightning speed as the huge purple Arcosian just watched them approach him. In a blur of motion, he easily dodged around them, not even looking as though he moved.
In that blink, in that brief second however, it gave Gohan his opportunity. Blurring from sight himself, the time traveller quickly gained an altitude advantage, before blasting off towards Cooler himself. It was only at the last moment that the killer turned towards his Saiyan adversary, and it was a second too late. Throwing his fist out ahead of his advance, Gohan's knuckles connected with the armoured plating around Cooler's mouth. The head moved in almost slow motion as time slowed down for Gohan. Keeping up his momentum, twisting in the air once, Gohan collided with Cooler's midsection.
Suddenly the two were in a gold and purple descent to the Earth before. Vapour began trailing from the two as they burst through the air, descending towards the ground at increasing speed.
"Rotten little Saiyan!" Cooler roared from his half broken mouth guard, before the two collided with the ground.
The impact shattered the world seemingly.
The only thing Gohan could even know what to do was drive. It was to keep driving further and further down, shoving Cooler deeper into the Earth itself. Now it was only a matter of keeping him off his feet, keeping him out of his balance, and then plunging him into the Earth's molten insides. It was quick, and -
Before he could think another thought, the mighty tail of Frieza's elder brother wrapped around his neck, yanking him back. The force was strong enough, and with an explosion of ki from his body, the two stopped in their journey to the centre of the Earth. When the Arcosian pointed his hands out and deadly energy began to form around them, Gohan's eyes widened for a moment before he threw the tail off his neck. When the world turned white, he raised his defences again just in time.
The entire corridor the two bodies had formed ruptured into a mighty explosion. Rock debris was sent flying for thousands of kilometres around the centre of the blast, as a huge swath of land began to sink into the Earth itself. In the heart of it all, Gohan felt Cooler move away, flying rapidly to escape the bowels of the Earth. With a rapid motion, he could even feel the separation of the air and rock around him that the larger body made. Following him at high speed, the Super Saiyan knew he'd been given another opportunity. This time to give the bastard a taste of his own tactics.
Zipping into the air, Cooler stopped himself, not even realizing that Gohan had already zipped past him as well.
"There, that should finish that."
There was no need to mention anything. Instead, Gohan raised his hands in the air above his head, locking them together before golden and pink energy crackled in his hands. Without even having time to turn, he knew Cooler would hear exactly what he had to say.
"Masenko-HA!"
The blast scorched into the monster's back, sending him down back into the rubble he'd escaped in a cascading wall of light and energy. The world seemed to glow with the power from the blast, before it impacted the debris filled sink hole below. For the second time in as many moments, the ground below exploded in a mighty blast. This time a golden burning wave and balloon warped out, consuming and melting all the rock around it. It rose into the air as a great monument to the power of the Super Saiyan.
Breathing heavily in the air, it didn't surprise Gohan to feel Cooler's power still. In a flash of motion, suddenly Gohan blocked a fist as Cooler reemerged, the light still fading behind them. Shock-waves boomed out across the wasteland, before the two figuratively locked horns once again. As blows were exchanged across the sky, there was one thing that Gohan could feel, encouraging every blow.
He could feel the hand of destiny.
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Frieza:
In the near distance, it was very, very obvious that the battle was hardly decided. It looked as though it had more in common with his own battle with that wretched monkey "Goku" then anything. The only thing that mattered now however, was his own position. The Super Saiyan would be exhausted after his battle with Cooler if he won, which would make him easy pickings. However, if his dear older brother won, it created bigger problems then if the Saiyan won.
If Cooler came out of this battle alive, then for the first time since they were children, he would be playing the role of the weaker of the two brothers. So much of his authority and prestige would be stripped away from him. Worse, his position within the Planet Trade could become compromised. Even now, in these last few minutes, their father had seemingly completely changed on his feelings in regards to Cooler.
Another wave of force blasted out in the distance as the two figures met in another violent clash. Narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms, Frieza felt himself bitterly frown. It was impossible to hide his disappointment. Not only was he weaker then these... Super Saiyans, but he was weaker then his brother as well. Everyone he was once able to say he was greater than, was rising above him. They were rising above him, Lord Frieza. One year ago he was the most powerful being in the universe.
Now what was he?
The bitter frown began to twist into an angry snarl as he looked at the two warriors in the distance. Every second his blackened heart beat, it pumped further anger through his veins. The image of that wretched creature Goku was still in his mind's eye. That was the first one to come forward and truly usurped him. It was clear now that he was the... inferior in the confrontation. Soon his fist closed so tightly he drew blood from his fingers digging into his palm. Purple fluid dripped from his hand as he felt his own muscles twitching in furious anticipation.
I am Lord Frieza, master of all within my reach.
Whatever "Form" Cooler had unlocked, he wanted for himself. If that weakling could do it, why couldn't he? As soon as he found a way to step past that barrier and unlock that power, he could become what he always was before... the most powerful being alive.
"You know," his father then remarked, standing next to him with his arms crossed. "Your brother certainly knows how to impress. I'd never expected this from Cooler before. He was always such a... disappointment."
"I know father," Frieza responded, his tone grating.
"But look at him now. I must say I'm delighted to see him finally amount to something."
Anger bubbled up once again. It was too much to hold back and just as Frieza turned his head to make a rather rude remark to his father, his red eye caught several familiar figures to his left. Freezing in place, Lord Frieza felt himself stop as he began to identify the head of the pack.
Vegeta...
Slowly, turning himself to face them, all the anxiety and angst Frieza felt began to melt away. Even if he couldn't defeat a Super Saiyan, he could crush these pitiful warriors. The Namekian was there, along with the weakling Raditz, as well as the little brat child of Goku, and several other figures he didn't recognize. Red eyes narrowed on the bald Earthling he blew up for fun as well. This was going to be a great form of stress relief.
"Whatever is it son?... Oh... we have more guests," King Cold said, turning his own head towards the fighters.
"Indeed father," Frieza chuckled, smiling self confidently. "These are some of the Saiyan's friends. I don't think introductions will be necessary however. Though you might hear them scream one another's names while I peel the skin from their pitiful, weak bodies."
"Well, that certainly sounds delightful. Do try to keep the noise down however son," King Cold chuckled, before smiling darkly at the new arrivals.
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Author's Notes:
I was originally going to put the whole fight in here, but I've suffered from some writer's block, so we'll be making this battle two chapters long. Expect the next chapter to be longer. I just wanted to give you guys something to read in the meantime. The logistics of the remains of the battle are just really hard to determine.
Reviewers:
Peter1398:
No need to apologize for long reviews, that was awesome. Right now I'm really excited to finish up this battle and getting on to three-four chapters of a really exciting 3 Years peroid. The best part will be the new Saga I add in. So many conflicts will finally get an outlet!
XxxpossessedforlifexxX:
Nope. Just another timeline. There is going to be a lot of reprocussions for the timeline getting this fucked up. The Cell Saga is going to be one hell of a ride.
Mr. E:
He's got both arms :D
Annime93:
Thanks. I'm trying to produce more content, but my wrists don't entirely permit it. My work schedule did get a bit easier thankfully, so I do have a bit more time.
Super Mystic Gohan:
Absolutely they are there. Tien is going to get a good moment in the battle with Frieza as well.
Simgr101:
Worry not. Things will continue to accelerate moving forward. Cooler's role in the story will be very interesting, I promise.
Tomorrow4Eva:
One thing that's hard to write about the story is the immense cast. Thankfully, focus will tighten on Goku, Vegeta, Turles, and Raditz in the coming saga, so that makes things easier.
The Third Saiyan from Earth:
The end of this current "Saga" and the next one, I hope, will only further improve your opinion on my "outside the box" thinking.
Jason9000:
Thanks
fightingchampion:
Glad you enjoyed it, Champ.
Demod20:
Long live Prince Trunks!
trunks dies
Uhm... Long live... erm... Lord Cooler!
Asweetlilpixie:
There are going to be near unlimited timelines.
LILFOC:
I can't wait for that as well :D
Sarah:
Thank you for reviewing.
gda:
Because I'm not a very good writer, lol
Mangahero1:
I try man. I try.
TheRiversWoman:
Wow! What a great review! Thank you! I'm glad you noticed all the stuff I've been working on in this story. :D
In Regards to Power Levels:
Now, I apologize for the extra long notes, but I think this important to finally make clear.
Alright, so I'm going to give you guys some power levels really to put some of this to bed. Most of you guys need to understand, as I've repeated now, I don't accept the official power levels.
I know that's really shocking, and it's yet more shocking that I repeat this again. I also need to mention that I don't think Power Levels are really relevant. I actually came up with these only in the last few hours, based off what I thought was reasonable, honestly.
So, let's get started:
Super Saiyan Goku: 250,000,000
Cooler: 240,000,000
Future Super Saiyan Gohan: 239,890,000
Future Super Saiyan Trunks: 175,000,000
King Cold: 140,000,000
Frieza: 125,000,000
Turles: 38,000,000 (Unchanged)
Vegeta: 10,000,000
Piccolo: 4,000,000
Raditz: 1,800,000
Gohan (calm): 800,000