Videl hurried to school, having overslept a little bit. She barely had time to even get lunch that someone had made for her and a quick good morning to her dad. Honestly not that it matter too much, she knew Gohana would share with her some food.
Landing her jet as usual, she hopped out and put it away. She was starting to wish people did know she could fly so she wouldn't have to keep doing this. But she wanted to talk with her dad first. And Gohana. Maybe after today? Gohana deserved to know from her father directly. She also felt her deserved to find out from her. They'd all find out later today.
Heading on over to where she usually meet up with everyone, she noticed they were all already there. She must really have been running late if even Lime and Gohana were already there!
She hurried up and they all waved her over. Videl immediately noticed Gohana still had her hair braided! Videl tried to stiffle a blush, she wasn't sure how they'd react if they knew they were dating. She wasn't sure if Gohana had told them yet either. Not that she was opposed to them finding out though.
"Hey Videl, you made it before the first bell." Erasa energetically greeted her.
"Yeah, I almost didn't though. I kinda overslept a bit." Videl admitted
"Wow, even when you get a crime free morning, you oversleep."
"Hey, I had a lot in my mind!" Videl defended herself.
"Hey dont take it personally V." Sharpener spoke up.
Videl caught herself and just appologized. One of the side benefits of Gohana teaching her to meditate was she had become a lot more in control of her emotions. At least in regular day to day stuff. She was far more aware during fights though.
"Hey Videl, we still hanging out after school?" Gohana asked.
"Yeah, my dad even made sure to have the time afterwards. I didn't tell him what about though just yet."
"Oh, you're finally gonna ask him?" Sharpner asked surprised.
"Yeah, im kinda surprised. What made you finally decide to confront him?" Lime asked, all of them knowing how badly Videl wanted to confront him.
They all imagined once Videl learned the truth she would want to even more. And even more so once she could use ki.
"Well, Im just finally going to ask. It just feels right " Videl answered honestly.
"How come Gohana is invited then?" Sharpner asked confused.
Erasa elbowed him hard in the gut, thinking that after all the training Gohana's put him through it would be just a mild tap to him. Sharpner suddenly double over in pain from the sidden impact, Erasa so jumping from the surprise of it actually hurting him.
"It...doesn't matter. It's Videls decision." Erasa followed up.
"Okay, okay. I wasn't saying that to complain or anything. I just assumed Videl would want to privately discuss it with him. And you didn't have to hit me so hard." Sharpner rubbed where she elbowed him.
"To be honest I was surprised she asked me as well." Gohana spoke up trying to make Sharpner feel better.
"Honestly..." Videl started bit stopped looking up towards Gohana whobwas nervously scratching her cheek.
"Well..." Videl blushed harder, Gohana as well.
"Oh my gosh! Really!?" Erasa blurted out.
Gohana nervously rubber nlher neck as Videl just fiddled with her fingers. Lime didnt look as shocked but still surprised at how quickly it happened. Erasa having only found out a few days prior was really shocked. Sharpener, however, just looked cluelessly betwen the three of them.
"Can someone fill me in?" he asked feeling left out and realizing everyone else knew but him.
"Viedel and I...are...dating." Gohana said thenalst word rather softly as she blushed hard, but he could still hear her.
"What, no way are you serious!" Sharpner was in total shock. he knew Videl wasn't a typical girl, bit they all assumed she would fall for a guy.
"Just keep it to yourself for now!" Videl demanded as she was beat red.
Sharpner just nodded. He was at least glad in his shock he didnt say anything that would make it obvious to anyone outside. Gohana and Videl at the moment were also glad of that.
"Okay, well I guess that answers why Gohana gets to be there." Sharpner replied after a few moments of silence.
"Sorry, its not that I wont tell you all either. Its just...I finally feel i can ask. And seeing as it directly involves Gohana I feel she deserves to know from him as well." Videl defended her solution.
"Hey, you don't have to exain yourself there Videl! Honestly I think its only right Gohana is there. Speaking of, what are you going to do about it?" he asked, looking at Gohana.
"To be honest, I just want to know really. In a way it was a blessing he took the attention. I was in no mental shape to remotely handle that attention until recently to be honest. Even when I know, he can keep pretending." Gohana answered.
Sharpner just nodded, deciding to play along no matter what. Ever since he saw Gohana rescue Erasa that day skydiving. he knew Hercle had been lying, especially since he himself could fly and shoot ki. But he grew up with being around him as the three if them basically grew up together. He knew Hercule was a really caring guy and really did try to help. There just had to be a reason.
"Do you think you'll tell him as well?" Lime asked Videl, but also Gohana in a way.
"Huh, what would Videl have to tell him?" Sharpner asked having seen Lime looking at both Gohana and Videl.
Videl and Gohana blushed pretty hard now, Gohana nervously just rubber her neck. Though they both were pretty shy, they both had a goofy smile on their face.
"Videl and I..."
"Sharpner, keep it to yourself. But were sorta...dating "
Sharpners jaw nearly hit the floor when he hard that. He had never excepted this! Well if he was honest he never expected Videl to am for anyone, at least not until she was older! He just stuttered a bit but managed to not scream so the whole school heard.
"Just dont go blabbing about it!" Videl blushed harder!
"Bout time. So who said it first?" Lime pipes up.
"Me, on Friday." Gohana nervously raised her hand.
"Friday? Oh thats right! Just what was that back there?" Lime suddenly remembered feeling Gohana's ki that day.
Videl and Gohana both looked a bit less goofy and more serious knowing what she meant.
"I...I was almost killed. Some dude wearing green and a stupid bird hat and people he trained in ki. Until Gohana...well...I couldn't see straight but...she..." Videl struggled, Gohana lightly tensed at the discription of Shen.
"Well ive never felt her ki like that, thats for sure. Ive watched you and Vegeta spar with you going all out in Super Saiyan 2. That ki must have been at least double, or even more than that! Just what happened?"
Gohana's face sunk a bit. Lime immediately noticed the look of regret and sorrow in Gohana's eyes. She didnt have to ask anymore, she knew about Gohana's potential rage.
"Okay okay, forget I asked." Lime said, not pushing the matter.
"I confessed to her after she healed up. I barely got her to Dende in time."
"Who's Dende?" Erasa asked.
"Oh, Dende is the guardian of Earth! He has healing powers too, so he could heal the damage on Videl."
Erasa just took this as is and didnt question that. With everything she knew about Gohana, that wasn't actually that weird.
"So what's he like? I'll bet as the guardian he's gotta be massive! And pretty powerful!" Sharpner asked.
"Oh well Dende isnt a warrior Namekian, so he doesn't fight actually. But he is responsbile for the Dragon Balls."
"Namekian, like your teacher Piccolo?" Erasa asked.
"Yup, Krillin and I saved him when we went to Namek. And when Kami, the old guardian, remerged with Piccolo, we needed a new Guardian. So my dad went to Namek right before the Cell Games and Dande became the new Guardian."
"Wait, how did he get to another planet so fast? I didnt think we have space craft that can even leave...oh, right never mind." Erasa stopped herself, remembering Goahana's story about when they went to Namek.
"Actually my dad knew a technique called instant transmission. It's basically teleportation."
"No way, really? He could teleport?! Can you do that?"
"No, dad never really taught me that. At least not fully. He learned it on another planet. But when we were preparing for the Android attack, dad explained to Piccolo and I what he called spirit control. Has to do with the technique, or at least it was required before you could even learn instant transmission. Even other stuff dad didnt learn requires it. So even if we wanted to learn to teleport, we never knew the next step."
"But you know the first step?" Lime asked surprised, having now for the first time learning about this aspect of it.
"A bit. Piccolo seemed to understand it a bit better. And we sorta just took what dad said and been figuring it out on our own the last few years. Its honestly been really useful, and weve even been able to control our ki far better and gotten a lot stronger!
"Teleportation huh? What else did your dad know?" Videl asked now curious! She wanted to know what she could learn. To her understanding everything Gohana and her family could do she could as well, minus Saiyan specific stuff.
"Well, obviously the kamehameha wave, solar flare which is like a flash grenade. And he knew a technique called Kaio ken."
"What's the Kaioken?" Videl asked.
"Basically it multiplies the users strength and abilities."
"Multiplier? Like Super Saiyan?!" Videl asked.
"No its not really like Super Saiyan. It's a technique so technically anyone can learn it.
"Do you know it?" Videl asked excitedly.
Gohana knew where this was going for her.
"Well, he explained the theory and the basic premise but i haven't ever tried it."
Videl looked a little defeated at that, but the bell ringing suddenly brought her out of it.
"Come on love birds. Time for class." Lime said as started heading to class with Erasa and Sharpner.
Videl and Gohana spent the entire day close to one another. Though they weren't too obvious about it, they didn't really hide it too much. Although Lime and Erasa both did tease them a little bit here and there. Though honeslty neither of them minded. They were just enjoying being in each others company.
Eventually the final bell rang. Most students and some teachers, were quick to head on out. But Videl was lagging behind a bit. She still hadn't figured out how to confront her dad. And now that Gohana was going to be a part or it she felt she couldn't postpone it any longer.
"Hey, you ready to go? Gohana asked as she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, just...a bit nervous is all."
"Well you confessed to me, so how hard could confronting your dad be?" Gohana tried to help out, Videl just laughing a bit.
"Yeah, but now its just...so real. About to happen after all these years."
"We can do it another time if you want?"
"No, I'm going to ask him. And I want you there with me."
"Alright, should we go then?" Gohana asked.
They headed towards Videl's house, though slowly. Videl was still trying to figure out how to ask. Though knowing her, she would just figure it out on the spot. That's usually how things worked for her after all.
What would typically take maybe twenty minutes at most to walk took them half an hour Gohana going at Videl's pace, and just letting her think. Once outside, Videl took a deep breath, and stalled on the exhale. Gohana noticing she was doing the breathing meditation technique she had taught her to calm her nerves.
Gohana gently reached over at took Videl's hand and very gently squeezed it, letting her know she wasnt alone. Videl returned it, though not realizing she was almost tensing as hard as she could. Gohana noticed the pressure but it barely phased her, and just smiled a bit.
"Remember, I'm right here." Gohana said and smiled softly, Videl looking up at her and softly nodded.
Hercule was looking over a few papers May had handed her. It was just the typical overview of the month so nothing special.
"Everything looks good May, thank you. While I was out did I get any messages?"
"No sir, not yet. bit its only the afternoon. I'm sure they'll get back to you soon. Id imagine they are a bit more over theoon and barely able to believe you chose them for the new dojo." she replied.
"Ah, I see. Yeah in the end, I'm just glad my Videl talked some sence into me! It was hard deciding between the three of them. And it didn't gelp they were all friends. Im just glad everyone wins!"
May took the papers out and bowed.
"If you'll excuse me sir, I need to leave early today."
"Early, thats rather rare. Is she okay?" he asked worried.
"My daughters just going in for a basic check up, nothing serious. They just asked if I could come in earlier than planned is all."
"Oh yes, please do!"
May bowed and headed toward the door, bit it opened and Videl and Gohana walked in.
"Oh, May sorry I didnt mean to almost hit you!" Videl appologized when she saw she barely missed her.
"Oh no worries at all Videl. Just headed out actually. I'll see you tomorow."
"You're leaving early?" Videl asked surpised as she rarely left early, or even on time.
"Yes I have to be somewhere."
"Before you go, could you ask the entire staff to leave?" Videl requested.
"Everyone to leave? Is something wrong?" Hercule was a bit worried.
May looked down at Videl and noticed the look on her face, and then over at Hercule, then back.
"Videl, I can't just ask everyone to miss work." May tried to reason with her.
"Everyone will be getting paid for the entire day. Now ask everyone to leave." Videl repeated, not removing her gaze from her father, mostly so she didn't chicken out.
Hercule just looked worried as Videl was serious. He knew she wanted to talk in private. But what could she want to talk about that required everyone to leave.
They waited about fifteen minutes as May had instructed everyone to head home, herself leaving shortly after telling everyone to do so. Hercule and Videl were both growing more and more nervous as the time passed, though for different reasons. Gohana just leaned against the wall as she felt out the entire house.
"Okay, feels like everyone left." She finally said as she felt the last ki signatures leave the house.
Hercule looked so cofnused by this statement. Although now he was wondering why Gohana was there to begin with.
"Dad, Im going to ask you again. What happened at the Cell Games." Videl blurted out almost immediately after Gohana gave them the all clear, throwing Hercule off.
He glanced over to Gohana and then back to his daughter.
"What, this again? I told you so many times."
"And this time I want the truth!" Videl demanded, though trying to keel her temper in check.
Hercule was a tad nervous. Not so kuch about this conversation again, but because someone else was here. But why was she even bringing this up again in the first place?
"Its just like I always told you sweetpea. That stupid light show-"
"Enough with the bullshit lies!" Videl raised her voice and stomped her foot, catching both Hercule and Gohana's attention, whoch both of them could feel the vibrations. Hercule more surprised than Gohana.
"I know you are lying, and you know ive always felt that. Now tell me the truth."
Gohana wanted to try to signal for Videl to calm down as she felt her ki flairing a little bit. Though it was only noticeable to her as it wasnt physialy manifested yet.
"Look sweety, Im telling you the truth! Those stupid posers and their light show, i had enough so I just finished him and thoae people thanked me." he nervously said as she grabbed his mug of coffee.
"After all these years you couldn't not once tell me the truth, when I begged you. When i asked when we visited mom. Why cant you just tell me the truth! I know you lied!"
Hercule nervously put the mug back down and was looking very nervously, and then looked at Gohana.
"Gohana was it? Im sorry but were having a provate moment. Could I ask you to give us some privacy."
"Gohana stays!" Videl demanded, and Gohana just nodded and stayed put.
Hercule was getting a tad more nervous now. He didn't know what to say, or what he could say. He didn't want his daughter to think less of him, and he certianly didnt want someone else to hear it!
"Sweety i swear on anything you want, I ain't lying." He tried to reason with her.
"Really..."Videl was visibly trembling at this point. "Then swear on moms grave that you didn't lie." Even Gohana thought this was a bit too far, but this clearly wasn't the first time this conversation has happened so stayed quiet.
Hercule hesitated. Why was she being so forceful with this? And what brought this up anyway?
"Sweety I...s-s-s wear..." Hercule was very nervously stuttering and hesitant to say it.
Videl's eyes widened in anger as her aura flared up around her. Aiming directly at the mug sitting on the table, she shot a ki blast that not only shattered the mug, but shot through the table and destroyed the marble floor it hit.
Hercule looked in total shock at what just happened. Videl didnt realize just how quickly she moved in front of him. Aura still visible, she grabbed her dad by the collar of his shirt and effortlessly pulled him from the couch.
"Enough of the fucking lies! Now fucking tell me why you stole my girlfriends credit for killing Cell!" Videl screamed at the top of her lungs with slight tears in her eyes as her aura didnt go away.
Hercule wasnt sure at this point what was more shocking. The fact his daughter knew these tricks? His lie was up. Or that she had a-
"G...girlfriened?" Hercule looked surprised.
Videl blushed having not meant to blurt that out but let him go and tried to calm herself down. Gohana stood there shocked and very shy, though more so because now she had to be more involved than she expected.
Videl took a few deep breaths as her ki calmed down. Goahana was now next to her and gently placed and hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, you going to be okay?" Gohana asked, still blushing as she glanced over at HeHercule who was looking in total shock. He was stuttering and couldnt speak straight.
"Dad. I'll ask you one final time. Gohana killed Cell! You stole the credit froman eleven year old little girl who lost..." she caught herself and stoped from going there.
"I can use the same thing that you call light shows and tricks. Now tell me right now! Why did you lie." Videl was holding back a bit of tears at this point.
Hercule looked in shock, back and forth between Gohana and Videl, unable to even say anythng. Mainly because he was trying to process what just happened.
"Im going to get us something to drink." Gohana tried to nervous excuse herself for a few moments.
The three of them just sat there, none of them saying a word. Hercule juat sat there in shame. He didnt know what to say. Gohana was nervously sipping from the water bottle she had grabbed as she sat next to Videl, across from her dad. Videl just glarred daggers at him. None wanted to break the tension.
"So...are you...really...her?" Hercule finally nervously asked Gohana.
Gohana noded, knowing what he was asking. And knowing it would be hard for him to process much right now mentally, she transformed.
Hercule watched as her hair changed from black to blond, and stood up wildly with 2 strands hanging in front of her face, just like that little girl. Minus the braid, it was obviously her.
Hercule looked back down as he gripped his sweatpants, not daring to say another word.
"You lied to the world. You lied to me when all i ever wanted to know was the truth, and was still willing to keep it a secret."
"Im sorry...sweetpea. I never though...never knew it would come this far."
"So tell me, what happened when Gohana and Cell finished their kamehameha struggle." Videl asked, knowing what happeend already but wanted to see how honest be would be now.
"Their..kame what now?" Hercule asked actually confused.
"That blue light beam against each other."
"Oh. Cell was gone. And all those people left. She...her Gohana here looked beaten to hell. But everyone left. Except that blond one in the orange outfit."
"Thats because he died sacrificing himself. And Gohana blames herself for it." Videl spoke up, wanting to have her father feel as horrible as possible right now. But she woud make sure this stayed between just the three of them.
"Can you tell me why you lied?"
"It's a long story..."
"Well sum it up." Videl demanded.
"The black hand. They..."
"Wait, what about them?" Videl immediately interrupted him. The mental wound still to fresh from her encounter just a few days ago with them.
"You know they...your mother. I tried to keep you safe afterwards. But they gave me an ultimaum." Tears fell onto his sweatpants, Gohana and Videl both suddenly noticing this and surprised.
"Pay them...or they'd hurt you worse. They told me right after I said I killed Cell. That green dude that was there, he said i could say i killed Cell. And after that, they kept blackmailing me until i paid everything off a year later. I couldn't let them do anything to you. And I couldn't come to tell the truth afterwards."
Videl was in shock now. The black hand wanted her dead, she thought it was all beause of her. But they had it out for her even before she started causing them problems?
"Gohana." Hercule slid off the couch and got down on his hands and knees and started bowing.
"Im so sorry, but i would do anything to keep my little girl safe! I dont regret what i did but i am sorry!"
Gohana was now very nervous.
"Could you please stand up! I dont like it when people bow like that!"
Hercule listened and got back up onto the couch.
"So what exactly did you do while at the Cell Games after Cell swatted you off the ring?" Videl asked.
"Well, I watched while Cell was fighting her father, and then her. At the time it was my ego that made me make up stuff to justifying what was happening. I just couldn't accept it. I was scared out of my mind i was trying so hard not to be trembling."
"I can't believe you would do something like that. But still, why did you even stay? what were you thinking? What if you died? What would have happened to me?" Videl asked.
"Im so sorry, I wanted to leave so badly. We were actually about to, until this...I guess person asked me to throw him towards Cell and her."
"Wait, you were the one who threw 16!" Gohana asked in total surpise.
"What? 16? I dont know, the...head with the orange Mohawk and wires sticking out of his neck?"
Gohana just stared at him, and then looked down at the ground as her mind drifted back. What 16 had said.
"Gohana, is everything alright?" Videl shifted her worry towards Gohana as she noticed this effected her.
"Hercule, why did you put your life at risk to throw him?" Gohana asked.
"Why? Well, honestly we were about to run. But something he said, it was almost like...like I wasnt afriad for a moment. All I knew was as a grown man i was trembling as a little...as you were fighting that monster. I was the Earths champion, i had to do something, I had to step up. I cant explain it, just his words hit me."
Gohana leaned back into the sofa and looked deep in thought. She always did wonder how 16 got between them. If it wasn't for what 16 had told her, everyone would be dead. She only unlocked that power to save Earth because of 16s words and his last request. And she only unlocked that power because Hercule intervened.
"Yeah, i know. I only managed to beat Cell because of what 16 told me. I was too scared to fight fully, I didnt want to. But because of his words I was able to unlock this power."
"Wait, so in a way my dad did help defeat Cell?" Videl interjected after a few moments of silence.
"Well, yeah i guess."
Hercule still couldn't look either of them in the face at the moment. It did feel a bit easier now compared to earlier, but it was still too much tension.
"Dad, why couldn't you tell me the truth at least even after I asked?"
"Honestly, I was too deep in my own lie. And I wanted to keep you safe."
"I fight crime multiple times a week." Videl tried to point out.
"Hercule, you make a fortune because the world thinks you beat Cell, right?" Gohana started.
Hercule didn't like where this was headed. But at this point he couldn't fight it any longer. He literally couldn't fight her anyway.
"I imagine you want it? You technically deserve it."
"Oh trust me I dont need the money." Gohana immediately waved it off.
"Huh, then why did you ask?" Hercule asked confused.
"Well, you also do a ton of charity work and donate a huge amount of it for good causes, right? Why spend so much to help others?"
"Huh, what type of question is that? Yeah, I mean I keep enough so my Videl can lead the best possible life in every way, but...Deep down, it makes me feel like I really am making a difference. Unlike with Cell."
"Gohana, why did you ask that?" Videl asked, confused where she was going with that.
"Hercule, you lied to keep your daughter safe. You use your fame and fortune to help others less fortunate than you. Even when you were terrified for your life, you still risked it to help a little girl against a monster. And honestly you diverting that attention towards yourself helped me."
Hercule was finally able to look Gohana in the face, although he was confused about where this was going, as was Videl.
""I forgive you for taking my credit for killing Cell. In fact I'm actually very grateful. And thanks to you, I was able to meet Videl. Id hate to think what else they'd have done to her if you hadn't kept her safe."
Videl knew what she meant, but Hercule was still unaware the events that happened just days prior.
"Im so sorry, I'll do whatever you ask." Hercule said, trying to make things right.
"Just keep doing the same. Can you just ease back a little on bashing me and my family? Even Videl here can use ki." Gohana requested.
Hercule just nodded confused and surprised thats all she asked of him.
"You're really okay with it?" Videl asked worried.
"I don't even want the attention as a Princess to a small kingdom. What makes you think I'd want the worlds attention as its hero?" Gohana waved Videls worry off.
"Huh, you're a Princess? They're not many places with a monarchy left."
"Well technically yeah. Though its my Grampa, he's the King of Fire Mountian." Gohana answered a bit nervously.
"I have to say, you seem rather, okay with what I did." Hercule said.
"Honestly I couldn't handle the media attention, and even now I dont want the world to know I beat Cell anyway. I want you to keep it up. Again, just ease off bashing my family."
"Oh, yes of course."
Videl just looked between Gohana and her dad. She was honestly glad to finally have the answer. Though she never imagined her dad directly helped in any way, it did help to know Gohana is okay with everything.
"Im still mad at you ya know." Videl reminded him.
"Im so sorry sweetpea."
"Well, I had to force it out of you, but I finally got the truth. And honestly thats all i needed. But you can do something else as well for lying to me."
Gohana and Hercule both looked at her wondering what she had in mind.
"You're going to have a little sparring match with Gohana."
Hercule and Gohana both looked at her completely confused.
"You've always said whoever I date has to beat you in a sparring match. I want you to know just how powerless you really are. How i felt when i found out, so you truely know the gap in power so you never have to worry about me and know im safe."
Deep down, Videl knew the only reason for that stupid rule was because how protective her father was. He just wanted to know she would be safe. This would not only let him have peace of mind knowing she is safe, but she really wanted to knock him down a peg!