Chapter 21: In which no ass-whooping is spared.

*author's note below*

/

The only thing that our current location spelled for us was serious trouble… With thousands of people sectioned off around the ring… if a fight broke out now…

'Everyone here… no—everyone on this island could die!' My respiration was deep and controlled; an attempt to calm my nerves as my eyes scanned the crowds. But, an acute pain of sudden remembrance shot through my heart, and I gasped. 'Bulma!'

And the others..! And the boys, and—my son…

Through the mildly buzzing masses it was difficult to search for their energies. I couldn't even sense Goten or Trunks… weren't they here?

The announcer's voice, hesitant and confused, snagged my attention. "Ex-cuse me gentlemen, the… championship has already been concluded!"

I hadn't noticed them at first, but both he and Mr. Satan were in the ring, just behind Vegeta.

"You all look very strong, but there's always next year!"

My brother's expression remained sinister, voice matching. "We're just here for a little—exhibition match…"

Little…

My lower eyelids inched upward as a dreadful feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

The host's demeanor then brightened as he looked past me. "Ahhh! Goku, I didn't see you back there! Welcome!" He exclaimed joyfully as he moved forward, completely unaware of the danger.

I faced the announcer as he approached me, raising a hand in caution. "Hold on—"

But without any hint, Vegeta burst into golden flame, crying out angrily. A strong pulse of energy followed, causing me to lean forward in an attempt to make myself heavier.

The announcer, who was not nearly strong enough to defend himself, was thrown into the air as a result of the prince's outburst. Hercule was also cast out of the ring, his body smashing into the nearby stadium wall.

Luckily, Gohan caught the unsuspecting host midair as an uproar of appalled exclamations surrounding us succeeded the split-second occurrence.

I bared my teeth in anger, rounding on my brother.

He wore a deep frown, his scrunched eyebrows and wrinkles around his nose speaking his annoyance for him. "I won't!" He randomly shouted. "My goal is to fight Kakarot! The—the others are nothing!" He exclaimed in a strained voice.

My demeanor softened out of pure disappointment.

He was talking to Babidi… but how could he say something like that?

Or… had Babidi just commanded Vegeta to attack the rest of us..? Should I have been grateful for his response?

Perhaps not too grateful... because Vegeta then took a side stance, turning to face Goku with a finger pointed directly at the shocked saiyan.

"It's time, Kakarot!" He announced in a finalizing manner, his devious smirk returned. The prince's wrist then flexed upward, each finger rising as he folded his thumb in over his palm.

Goku's eyes bulged at his rival's gesture "VEGETA, NO!" before the prince fired directly at him.

I gasped fearfully, my heart nearly jumping into my throat as the energy beam hit him. The only thing Goku could do was block the wave with his forearms as he was forcibly pushed across the tile.

I knew Goku could handle his own—could get around something like that without any help. But… seeing the cruel look on Vegeta's face caused something in me to snap— my heart to pound and an eye to twitch.

"VEGETA!" I knew I must've looked like a wild woman as I lunged at my brother. "STOP IT!"

In hindsight… it wasn't the best decision…

All at once I seized his wrist—jerked it upwards—causing the energy wave to swerve and Goku to be launched into the air as the blast continued unhindered. When Vegeta turned his livid gaze unto me—

BOOM!

Screams of the dying, injured, and hysterical erupted as Vegeta raised his other fist in a backhand motion—

"Ugh!" I nearly spun around when he struck my left cheek, but something kept me from falling— "Agh!" —something yanked me back as my head spun from pain; pain in my face, neck, and lower back.

Slack-jawed and nearly panting, I fell hard to my knees as a spark of pain shot up my back. "V-Vegeta..!" I began to feel incredibly weak… and it was all I could do to keep myself up on my arms, knees already folded beneath me.

It was then that I lifted my heavy head and saw the gaping hole in the center bleachers… revealing a large portion of the island, destroyed…

'What is wrong with him?' I already knew the answer, but… 'He showed that he was able to keep some control over his mind… so how could he let this happen..?'

Twisting around to look at my brother, my weary eyes spotted just how tightly he was gripping my tail. It was no wonder I was feeling so weak, even after all the strengthening exercises I'd done over the last few years; he'd wrapped up the end of my tail like bandages around his right hand and was gripping the middle of my tail with his left hand… All that was in between was twisted tightly like he was wringing out a towel…

And so there I was on my knees at his feet like a dog on a shortened leash... in front of everyone I cared about… and thousands more.

My face burned with discomfort and humiliation. "Let… go of me, Vegeta…" I demanded as strongly as my weakened state would allow.

Much to my surprise he tossed my appendage to the side, resulting in an immediate loss of stiffness and pain.

Goku then landed back in the ring while his son rushed to my side, helping me up by the arms and pulling me away from Vegeta.

"I'm okay, Gohan…" I mumbled, standing straight as he moved behind me, his hands remaining on my shoulders cautiously. We then watched silently as Goku finally faced Vegeta.

"Shame on you…" The taller saiyan uttered with an austerity I was not familiar with in him. "The Vegeta I know would never have done this."

His words caused my heart to momentarily ache and I cast my eyes to the floor, away from Goku's glare and Vegeta's perverse grin.

It was then, during their tense stare-down, that people in the audience began to call on Mr. Satan to take action.

I glimpsed nervously to where Hercule and the announcer were. It didn't seem like Hercule was anywhere near willing to intervene…

Good thinking on his part…

But, with the urging of his fans, Mr. Satan eventually put on a brave face, edging carefully around Vegeta. "HEY, MANIAC!"

I cringed. 'Not good thinking…'

"I'M AFRAID I CAN'T ALLOW YOU TO MOVE ANOTHER INCH!" He bellowed, pointing a finger at the prince while slowly angling around him clockwise. "YOUR CRIME SPREE WILL END AT MY GLORIOUS FISTS!"

I glanced back and forth between the two engaged saiyans and Hercule, shaking my head in a stunned manner. 'That man's going to get us killed…'

Even Gohan gulped nervously.

"YOU'VE COME HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, BIG GUY!"

At that Vegeta began laughing, more openly and amused than I'd seen in a while. However, his intense gaze remained on Goku…

Having been put-off by the prince's laughter, Hercule decided to change his strategy. "On second thought, fighting you amateurs would be too much of a joke!" He wagged his finger at Vegeta. "So—here's what I think we should do! You seem to have unresolved issues—"

If somebody didn't shut this fool up…

"I say you two fight for an exhausting amount of time, and then I'll take on what's left—"

"QUIET!" Vegeta barked, expression briefly irritated and successfully silencing Hercule. His smirk then returned. "How 'bout it? Shall we commence?"

Those last words had been directed at his rival…

The look on Goku's face was deeply disconcerted. "Now's not the time, Vegeta…"

"You'll fight with me, Kakarot… Unless, of course, you'd like more bodies to pile up on your conscience!"

My sharp gaze shot back to Vegeta, eyebrows meeting in a furrow.

And Goku seemed to be catching on to the inkling suspicion I had… "Vegeta… certainly you didn't…" He trailed off seriously, the prince laughing in response. "ANSWER ME—VEGETA! DO YOU LET YOURSELF BE A SLAVE?!"

As Gohan hissed for his father not to egg Vegeta on, I inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath.

It was becoming clear that maybe… Vegeta had let Babidi control him for the sake of becoming stronger… and fighting Goku…

Without a word Vegeta raised his hand again, aimed to his right, and fired another blast into the stadium.

Clenching my fists tightly, I turned away and closed my eyes as debris from the explosion made its way onto the ring.

I couldn't look as more smoke and flames burned through the frantic screams of the remaining onlookers. I couldn't; not when I knew Bulma and the others were most likely out there… and most likely wouldn't have survived.

"TELL ME—" Vegeta's voice rose over the commotion. "IS IT SLAVERY WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT?"

Gohan gasped, his hands slowly falling away from my shoulders. But then I heard his quick footsteps as he ran in front of me. "Stop it! You don't know what you're doing!"

I opened my eyes just as Vegeta growled angrily, swiping his left arm through the air and knocking Gohan onto his butt with an invisible force.

"STAND ASIDE!" He shouted, partially slumped forward. "THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU! IT'S BETWEEN ME AND YOUR CIRCUS CLOWN OF A FATHER!"

This time I stepped forward to help usher Gohan away, closer to his father and the hushed Kai.

"Circus clown…" Goku repeated dryly, "Well… that's a new one…" He then rose to the challenge presented, transforming into a super saiyan.

No sooner did the short god rush to stand between the two super saiyans, facing the taller. "No, Goku, you mustn't!" His normally narrow eyes were wide with emphasis. "If you fight him here, you will be doing precisely what Babidi wishes!" The Supreme Kai then reiterated how the damage received from fighting Vegeta would be sent back to the ship as energy to revive Majin Buu.

But Goku remained unmoved, as did I. 'There is no way around it now,' I thought gravely. 'Since Vegeta is against us… he's not going to back down just because we ask him to.'

And of course that meant that Goku had to fight Vegeta… or else…

"Tell me, Vegeta…" Goku spoke up. "With that stamp on your head I know Babidi's been giving you orders… Is this one of them?!"

My brother remained silent, his cocky expression unwavering.

Goku's glare darkened. "Are you trying to fight me because of him? Or is this the same old story between you and me?" He then demanded "WHICH ONE?!"

Gohan looked over incredulously. "Does it really matter?!"

In a manner that almost sounded as if he were himself again, Vegeta answered "Not to you, Gohan, but to a warrior it matters greatly!" His tone then changed for the more intense. "And you know this as well as I do, Kakarot: In a day you'll be back to the dead! And I will not miss this opportunity!"

And there it was…

The Supreme Kai gaped indignantly. "Who are you people?!" He held a hand up. "Don't you see the universe matters more than your meaningless squabble?!"

I knew, even before Vegeta's anger exploded, that that wording would strike a nerve in the prince.

"MEANINGLESS, HUH?! WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF MEANINGLESS?!"

Vegeta was so offended by the Kai's remarks that he began dispensing more surges of energy over us, kicking up chalky dust and making me cover my face. I squinted through the debris as he began yelling angrily.

"SPEND MOST OF YOUR LIFE RULED BY ANOTHER—WATCH YOUR RACE DWINDLE TO A HANDFUL—" He then pointed a daring finger at the god. "AND THEN, TELL ME WHAT HAS MORE MEANING THAN YOUR OWN STRENGTH!"

Vegeta's monologue took a turn down memory lane; of the struggles he dealt with having to watch Goku surpass him for all the years they'd know each other. But my thoughts were still wrapped around his previous words. They sat with me, cold like an ice pack on my heart, because… I knew exactly how he felt…

I couldn't tell… Maybe it was the sibling bond again… or maybe it was because I'd experienced such similar trials growing up… but his words continued to sit heavily on me, almost sapping me of my strength. If the occurring circumstances were different… I might have taken his side…

Goku suddenly looked up. "Babidi—transport us to a place away from people!" His words caused me to stiffen and the Supreme Kai to gasp in fright. "If you give me that, then I will fight Vegeta!"

My demeanor hardened as Gohan shifted nervously beside me.

It was time.

But… the Supreme Kai had other ideas. Holding his arms up and taking a sturdier stance between the super saiyans, he exclaimed "So be it!" His resolve was much more rigid than before. "If you truly believe this is the right decision, then you will have to get around me to do it!"

So when Goku raised a hand to the Supreme Kai, light blue energy pooling in his palm, even Vegeta was surprised.

The deceased super saiyan kept his hand level, resolve unwavering as the Kai stared back in shock.

'He won't stand there forever…' I shook my head ever so slightly, eyes narrowing. 'He knows this can't be stopped now, and he's not strong enough to stop it either…'

And as I'd thought, the petite deity eventually lowered his arms, head bowing as well.

"I'm sorry, Supreme Kai…" Goku said quietly.

"Yes… so am I…"

Much faster than all the previous times, our surroundings transitioned from the abandoned tournament to barren desert.

Lips parting slightly, I inhaled the warm air, letting it sit in my lungs for a moment before exhaling. My brow then furrowed as Vegeta said, "I trust you'll have no more excuses." and my heartbeat began picking up speed…

"None," Goku answered firmly.

Gohan shouted one more protest, but the Supreme Kai intervened with surprisingly stronger, more positive words. As the god approached the opening in the ground that lead back into the space ship, he explained in a lighter manner that the three of us would pick up where our original mission had left off; to prevent Majin Buu's revival before the amount of energy needed was gained.

"After all the time I've spent tracking Majin Buu…" He trailed off briefly, a determined smile present. "I will avert him with my own hands!"

Alright.

Moving forward, I was ready to follow the Kai down into the depths when my brother began hollering in pain. Startled, my heels kicked up gravel and dust as I whipped around to the right to see the prince down on his knees.

His hands were gripping his head again… It was Babidi…

"I REFUSE!" Vegeta exclaimed, the M on his forehead glowing red. He rose to stand slowly, grunting. "Your business with the Kai… it means nothing to me!"

And of course, he let us (and Babidi) know that Goku was his only objective… Words that would undoubtedly cause the wizard to redouble his efforts of making Vegeta obey him… Efforts that left the prince stumbling as he fought off what was going on in his head.

The urge to tell my brother to fight had left me, as it was very clear now that Vegeta had gotten himself possessed on purpose. Instead I clenched my teeth and fists as his voice began to rise.

"It will take more than head games to stop me! You may have invaded my mind and my body—BUT THERE'S ONE THING A SAIYAN ALWAYS KEEPS—" Standing fully straight then, veins bulging on his forehead and teeth bared, Vegeta suddenly threw his head back. "HIS PRIIIIIDE!" He exploded with golden light, excessive energy disbursements manifesting like small, fleeing apparitions.

Rocks spewed and parts of mountains crumbled in his wake. I had to close my eyes again.

But Vegeta's outburst seemed to have stopped Babidi… and after a few more tense moments, it was silently decided that we had to move ahead.

Gohan turned to his father, somewhat hesitant. "Alright, dad… I guess I'm off…"

Serious expression softening, Goku smirked at his son. "Take care, Gohan. I don't have to tell you there's a lot riding on this… so do your best…" He then maneuvered his fingers under his belt, pulling out the small pouch holding the senzu beans. "Here… We've got two senzu beans left. I want you to take one. You'll need to be at full strength for whatever happens down there." Goku tossed the small bean to his son, who caught it.

The teenager thanked his father, eating the bean right away.

"Don't worry, son," Goku added. "You've got all the power you need to beat these guys, just remember how to fight with your feelings like you did against Cell."

Despite facing away from Goku, his gentler tones pulled my head back his way somewhat. And even though his words were directed at his son, they were having a calming effect on me too.

"Just remember about all the people you're fighting for, and how much you care about them… and let that be your weapon."

Gohan's eyebrows scrunched a bit as a sad smile took his lips. "I've… I've missed hearing you, dad…"

He wasn't the only one…

The seventeen year-old then turned slightly more towards the floor entrance. "It's a shame this one day for you to be back had to get so screwed up, but I'm glad that you're here…"

And after another moment the teenager jumped into the shaft, the Supreme Kai following. I tensed to jump in after them, but Goku's voice stopped me.

"Midori…"

I looked over at him, arms slightly bent and lips parted.

"I know you'll have each other's backs if things get rough down there."

Sighing quietly, tension slightly eased, I nodded. "Of course." I then decided to look Vegeta in the eye one last time, my gaze low-lidded. "I hope your newly acquired strength is worth it…" And not waiting for any sign of recognition or answer, I hopped down into the dark tunnel.

Gohan's apprehension had built to immense levels during their way down the space ship; a sick feeling that affected his confidence and riddled his brain with dangerous what-ifs.

'At least I'm not alone…' Gohan thought, forcing a smile as he glanced around him. After all, he was being escorted by a powerful god and even more powerful princess of saiyans… 'But I can do this! My dad was right, I have everything I need!' The teen's resolve hardened and he even smirked, nodding to himself.

After a little while longer the three touched down on a floor that was dimly lit, and with a collective round of gasps they realized they were at their destination.

On the other side of the large room sat a gigantic pink ball, pulsing with enormous vein-like structures that were loud enough to create an audible heartbeat. Some intense inner energy was making it glow dully; it was the room's light source.

Midori grunted softly, expression disconcerted at the sight. "Is this the slumbering creature?"

"Yes…" The Supreme Kai replied in a wavering voice. Even after so many years, the god was intimidated. "This is what we're here to find…"

Gohan couldn't tear his eyes away from the glowing cocoon; a cocoon that resembled a more spherical walnut.

"We must act quickly," The Kai continued in a steadier voice. "I doubt Babidi and Dabura will leave it unguarded for long."

As the Supreme Kai theorized that the three of them could destroy Buu before hatching, Gohan tried his best to maintain a calm façade.

'It's terrible…' He thought, 'I've never sensed anything like this… So cold… and empty.' The teenager then blinked, easing up some when a hand grasped his shoulder.

Midori looked up at him, briefly smiling that calm smile of hers before turning back to the task at hand. "I'll let you redeem yourself, if you want."

Gohan stood straighter, eyes widening a tad. "Huh..?"

"I agree with your father…" she elaborated softly. "The strength is there, you just have to tap into it, Gohan."

He smiled appreciatively at the older woman, nodding.

"And I'll be right next to you…" Midori trailed off, removing her hand.

Gohan nodded once more, "Mm—" when a familiar voice—Babidi's voice—entered the room.

"Welcome, friends…" The tiny wizard stepped out from behind the gigantic pod, Dabura on the other side. "I'm glad you could join us… especially you, Supreme Kai…" He greeted slyly, a small chuckle following.

"We've come to stop you… Babidi," the petite deity answered resolutely.

Babidi shot back with "Like you did my father?" causing the Kai's eyes to narrow.

"I will not let you resurrect Majin Buu." The god's voice remained steady and stern.

"That's too bad, I'm sure Dabura won't like that one bit! He was so looking forward to meeting Buu today and you know…" The wizard trailed off, tone turning into a foreboding whisper. "I really hate to see him upset."

Dabura smirked at those words.

"Let's hurry!" The Supreme Kai reiterated to the two saiyans. "We haven't much time. Every second we allow to pass brings Majin Buu one step closer to his full power."

"Right." Gohan took a more prepared stance.

Midori turned her body to the side, a fist held at waist level. "Ready."

Since Babidi and Dabura were standing a decent distance from them (and cackling) the Supreme Kai was able to speak to his comrades in a lower voice. "Together—on my mark!" He hissed to Gohan and Midori. "Hold nothing back! This creature must never see the light of day! The fate of your world depends on it!"

And just as the three tensed to attack—

"Wait, Kai… let's take this outside. It seems a bit cramped in here, doesn't it?" Babidi smiled deviously at their obviously bated breathing. "Yes, and when Buu wakes up, I have a feeling he'll agree… I'd hate to think what would happen if we were trapped with him in this cozy little place…"

"Wizard…" The Supreme Kai spat. "You need not worry what your monster will do to you—not when you still have me to contend with…"

With another high pitched laugh, Babidi then held his hands out, green waves of energy emitting from them. "PA-PARA –PA-PA!"

They were suddenly outside. The sky had darkened drastically and thunder rumbled in the distance. It were as if the planet knew what it was harboring.

Gohan gasped quietly as Midori's keen eyes shifted left and right.

They'd been transported to right below where Piccolo and Krillin were turned into statues; seeing them again turned the teenager's stomach. He began tuning out the back and forth sniping between the god and wizard until a loud exclamation from Midori made him jump.

When Gohan looked to his left, a spark of energy caused him to flinch from the close proximity; she'd powered up, her white aura pushing against him while she took a forward lunge position, hands raised.

"It's time, Gohan!"

His eyes widened before he snapped his gaze forward, glaring. But there was still something intangible lingering at his feet, keeping him in place. 'Come on, Gohan, snap out of it!' He thought in frustration. 'You shouldn't be afraid of these guys! What's holding you back?!'

Goku's last words echoed through his head; the words of encouragement that had momentarily inflated his sense of confidence now lacked luster, and the teenager was struggling to reclaim that old feeling.

The ferocity he'd unleashed against Cell…

'I'm trying, dad! I'm trying to remember!' As Gohan's energy began slowly climbing, electricity crackled around his fists. 'But… but the fight with Cell… that was so long ago!' His hair began moving with invisible currents of super saiyan ki, energy sparking around his entire body as he glowered into Dabura's yellow eyes.

'I have to do this… I… can do this!' His golden aura engulfed him then as he fully transformed, successfully intimidating the tiny wizard, though not the henchman…

And after a sharp breath's intake, the two saiyans dashed forward, Babidi recoiling at their approach, Dabura grinning evilly.

But the object of their aim started pulsating louder, its inner glow becoming darker. The needle on the meter of the cocoon was jerking frantically… at the full line…

Midori and Gohan skidded to a halt, their hearts dropping in unison.

As Babidi faced his monster's pod, flabbergasted, the Supreme Kai ran to the wary boy and woman. The god's eyes were wide with fear.

Gohan whispered dejectedly "No… we're too late…"

And with the realization fully setting in that Bibidi's creation of terror was about to awaken, Babidi threw his hands up in giddy abandon. "MAJIN BUU IS AT FULL POWER! AHAHAHAHA! HIS FULL POWER!" Cracks of lightning punctuated the wizard's exclamations. "IT'S REALLY HAPPENING! BUU IS COMING BACK TO LIIIFE!"

The sky was nearly pitch black. Someone more knowledgeable might have mistaken the phenomena for Shenron being summoned.

But what awaited them was no genie dragon…

Sweat trickled down the Supreme Kai's face as he stared in horror. "I-I don't understand! It's too soon! Goku's damage energy alone certainly couldn't have been enough to—"

Midori jerked her head down to the side, cursing. "That's exactly what it is! Those two fighting in the state they are..!"

The petite deity looked over at her in confusion.

"That's right!" Gohan exclaimed. "Dad's been fighting at a level beyond a super saiyan—dad and Vegeta both!"

And when two powers like that collided, with as much energy as they were putting out, the damage would be nothing short of enormous…

As the Supreme Kai began lamenting over all of his mistakes and miscalculations, Majin Buu's pod pulsated with more vigor, causing Midori to glare and Gohan to gulp nervously. And, without warning, loud jets of steam began shooting from the base of the veined pod.

"Gohan!" Midori raised her fists again. "Be on guard!"

"Right!"

"Too late!" The Supreme Kai yelled frantically. "We must retreat—and quickly!"

Both saiyans looked at him in surprise.

"WE'VE NO CHOICE! RUN WHEN I SIGNAL!"

"Wait!" Gohan turned at the god's receding movements. "We've gotta try and stop this thing before it hatches and starts hurting people!"

"I agree!" Midori yelled over the steam vents. "Leaving now isn't going to stop it from destroying our planet! We have to kill it now!"

"There must be a way!" Gohan added. "I mean, you are the Supreme Kai for goodness sakes!"

The Kai whipped around to the protesting teenager. "YES, AND UNLIKE YOU, I'VE SEEN WHAT BUU IS CAPABLE OF, AND IT'S MORE THAN OUR PRESENT STATE CAN HANDLE!" His eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets. "THIS IS A TIME FOR STRATEGY, NOT BLIND HEROICS! WE MUST REGROUP AND WAIT FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY! WE HAVE TO WAIT!"

Gohan turned briefly, meeting Midori's darkened gaze with his own frustrated expression. He then faced the god again. "I'm sorry, but we have to try!"

And despite the loud objections of the Supreme Kai, both Midori and Gohan took wider-footed, sturdy stances and lifted their arms up.

"HAAAAAAA!" The female saiyan jerked her arms down to her sides, gray flame and white sparks circulating around her.

Gohan kept his fists high, "—AAAAAAHHHHH!" continuing to increase his energy until both of their powers combined seeped into the stratosphere, banishing the ominous clouds and deadly lightning strikes to reveal a clear, blue sky.

Their display silenced the Kai, and ripped Babidi and Dabura from their joyous celebrations; they could feel the tremble of their reverberating energies beneath their feet.

In unison, Gohan bent his knees lower and cupped his hands at waist level as Midori raised her hands above her head.

"KAAA-ME—"

"CHIAKHO—"

"HAA-ME—"

"HAAAAAAA!"

"HAAAAAAAAAA!"

The bright rays tore across the remaining space between them and the ball, centimeters apart, and hit it dead on, the contact causing the energy waves to flash and flicker brighter as their owners struggled behind them.

The pod merely teetered under their efforts, and the wizard was laughing manically in the background at the perceived futility.

"MORE, GOHAN!" Midori shouted over their screeching-ly loud attacks.

"HAAAAAAA!" Gohan's beam increased in strength as Midori poured more energy into hers.

The Supreme Kai's arms shot up to protect his face as the two differently colored energy waves seemed to meld into one white beam, flashing painfully bright; he couldn't even see Majin Buu's pod!

CRACK

The petite deity gasped dramatically, arms dropping to his sides as Babidi's laughter immediately ceased.

The energy beam created by the two saiyans shot clear through Majin Buu's cocoon, perpendicular to the shell's naturally perforated midline.

Gohan couldn't stop an amazed gasp as he lowered his arms. "…Look..!"

The pod splintered, falling open and emitting a huge bout of pink smoke… and nothing else.

The shell was completely empty.

Straightening up, Midori watched with narrowed eyes as the smoke rose above them and into the sky. "I can't sense anything…" She murmured, turning back to Gohan. "But that creature did leave a lingering… feeling…" Her lip curled in annoyance and one eye narrowed slightly at her lack of a better word.

'She's right about that…' Gohan had felt it too, and nodded subtly.

And as Babidi's awestruck behavior turned into gradually growing hysterics, the Supreme Kai also straightened, beginning to laugh at the turn of events. "All your efforts for nothing!" The god called across to the wizard victoriously. "You've made a fatal mistake, Babidi—just like your father! Fooled by overconfidence… underestimated your opponents! And so these Earthlings have destroyed your sacred Buu!"

Gohan's eyebrows lowered at the Supreme Kai's triumphant words; the seventeen year-old knew something was off… but couldn't say just what…

He faced Midori then, who offered him a tiny smirk at first glance and then a more sober expression when she did a double-take.

"What is it?" She whispered under the Supreme Kai's winning speech and Babidi's retaliating words.

"You don't feel that?" Gohan whispered back.

Eyebrows rising, a small breath escaped her lips as she shrugged. "…Yeah… something… cold… But isn't it just… residual energy?"

"I dunno, Midori…"

"Alright you two!" The Supreme Kai directed at them. "Let's work together and put an end to this entire ordeal—as quickly as we can!"

And while Midori replied in affirmative, Gohan kept silent, not being able to shake the feeling that was hovering over them…

"We're only one battle away from bringing everything back to normal!" The god continued.

Gohan raised his fists then, anxious eyes studying them closely. "No… Supreme Kai, we're not!" He then glared ahead of him. "I don't think that attack was strong enough to destroy the energy I felt in there!"

Midori watched the teen with a grim expression while the Supreme Kai's demeanor slowly reverted back to his previously terror-stricken state.

Gohan's heart began pounding, and he realized with a start— "There's something—" The teenager then whipped his head up, seeing high above them the pink vapor that had escaped just a minute before.

As the Supreme Kai voiced worriedly that he couldn't sense anything, Midori followed the seventeen year-old's gaze.

"All I know is something did come outta that shell and it's up there now!" The teen exclaimed.

Midori froze at the sight of the toiling cotton candy-esque clouds, eyes growing large. "…What?!"

Everyone was craning their necks back to look at the pink phenomena. It was beginning to contort; its shape changed from a bubbling pool of smoke to something more rounded and condensed…

Dread filling the teenager, Gohan cried out in astonishment as the cloud formation began to take the shape of something with a head and limbs.

And with a loud pop, not a second later, the guest of honor had arrived—

"BUUUUUUU!"

—voice high-pitched and baby-like to go with a large, bulbous body and similarly childish attire.

Entire geographic formations had been altered in the wake of Vegeta and Goku's fight; from mountain ranges to underground caverns. And as the two stood panting, bloody and bruised, their intense gazes penetrating one another, something nabbed Goku's senses.

His eyes widened as Vegeta charged for him, and he immediately shot a hand up to halt the prince's actions. "HEY! WAIT A SECOND!"

Surprisingly, Vegeta put the brakes on midflight, energy still crackling around him.

"I just felt a tremendous surge of energy!" Goku's apprehensive gaze was focused to the east. "While we've been fighting each other that Buu creature must've been hatched!"

The prince glared in the same direction, not uttering a word on the matter. The mere act of mentioning anything other than what pertained to their fight was enough to make his blood boil anew.

And so Vegeta charged his rival again, bringing his bone-splintering punches, energy blasts and kicks, receiving just the same from Goku.

Each impact left the earth around them cracked and crumbling, and every time the deceased saiyan opened his mouth to mention Majin Buu it only fueled Vegeta to fight harder, the land around them being the price to pay.

But Goku was showing less offense and more defense, at times flying away from Vegeta. The prince caught up to his rival, throwing one punch—caught by Goku—then another—also caught.

"WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIME FOR THIS NOW, VEGETA!" Goku exclaimed, struggling to keep the prince's gloved fists detained, sweat and blood working against his grip. "WE'RE THE ONES WHO LET BUU OUT OF HIS SHELL—IT'S BECAUSE OF US!"

Breathing heavily, Vegeta growled "Buu is just a side show! You are my only concern!"

"EVERYONE ON EARTH WILL BE KILLED!" The orange-clad saiyan shouted. "YOU HEAR ME?! BULMA, TRUNKS AND MIDORI—EVERYONE!"

Hearing those names ignited a furious fire in the prince's chest and caused his eyes to twitch. "SHUT UP!" He ripped his arms back, pulling Goku in to slam his knee into the deceased hero's gut. "SHUT—UP!" Blood flew when the prince slammed his elbow into Goku's face a moment later.

And as Goku stumbled backwards, Vegeta was already coming after him.

"REMEMBER I'VE SOLD MY SOUL TO BABIDI—I KEEP NO LOYALTIES!" The shorter saiyan screamed, throwing fist after fist and missing each time. "I HAVE A SAIYAN HEART THAT DEPENDS ON STRENGTH ALONE—"

Vegeta paused, pulling his fist farther back "THEY'RE NOTHING TO ME!" and then shooting it forward, only to have Goku catch his hand again.

Goku glared darkly at Vegeta then, baring his teeth as a similar flame burned around his heart. "LIAR!" Cocking his fist back, he yanked Vegeta forward "I DON'T—BUY IT!" and smashed it into the prince's left cheek, knocking him to the ground hard enough to make an indentation.

To hear Vegeta say that the three closest people to him—people that Goku himself considered important—didn't matter was beyond outrageous; insulting even.

So as Vegeta sat up slowly, glaring daggers while pebbles fell from his shoulders, Goku stared down at him sternly.

"Talk all you want, Vegeta, but you better convince yourself of it first!"

The prince rose to his feet, turning his head calmly to spit some of the accumulated blood out of his mouth. The back of his glove was used to wipe away the rest on his lips.

Paused with his hand still up, Vegeta studied his panting rival through sharp, calculating eyes, his mind working. "…Fine…" He finally replied quietly. "You win…"

All it took was Vegeta to announce in a well-sporting voice that their battle was postponed for Goku's demeanor to drastically brighten.

Goku blinked, smiling in relief. "Vegeta…"

"Well, don't just stand there. Get out your senzu beans!" The prince replied, approaching with a hand out. "We should be at full power when we face him…" His smirk spoke of good-willed rivalry truces, but the second Goku turned his back on him to search for the beans, Vegeta's smirk gave way to a hateful glare…

The deceased super saiyan was twisted around, fishing for the small sack that was tucked into the side of his belt. "With all of us working together, I'm sure we can beat this guy!" He had no idea that Vegeta was standing just behind him, hands interlocked above his head.

The blow echoed through the gorge and across cliffs, Vegeta's eyes narrowed in concentration as a tiny gasp escaped Goku's lips.

Earth's hero dropped like a brick, his super saiyan energy disappearing before his face met the rocky ground with a loud thud and he no longer moved.

Vegeta straightened himself then, staring somberly for a moment. Sure that his rival was down for the count, he made his way around to the fallen saiyan's side. "So, Kakarot… even you can prove helpless when you drop your guard…" The prince reached down to grab the single senzu bean that had escaped the small pouch, bringing it to his face and inspecting it for a few seconds.

With another glance at his stilled rival, Vegeta popped the bean into his mouth. Its effects were immediate, and when he briefly powered up his aura sparked with renewal and blew small, unanchored objects away.

Vegeta then frowned, eyes set on the horizon. 'I'll take care of this Buu myself.' He knew Goku's son was out there, no match for what he'd felt. He knew his sister was there, and questioned her capabilities. But he was also aware that with the new level both he and Goku had reached, that they would be the only ones capable of taking control of the situation. 'The last thing I need is for this clown to play hero again and dangle it over my head!'

And so Vegeta stepped away from where Goku lay, expression still hard. "We'll finish this fight when I return, Kakarot… Enjoy your sleep." He spared one more glimpse at the unconscious hero. "And should your time run out before I'm done… heheh…"

Vegeta smirked. "Then we'll have to continue this another day… when I see you in hell."

It wasn't until Majin Buu had incapacitated Dabura with one hit did I begin to grasp just how dangerous the situation had become…

'This is bad…' A cold sweat was beginning to take me. 'This is ridiculous..!' My fists curled in tightly, jaw clenching.

But the irony! Watching the pink creature in his diaper-like pants and purple cape frolic around us, laughing like a small, carefree child… it was too much…

Eyes still set wide, I stared in shock as the rubble toppled over Dabura, burying him; he was most likely dead… and from one effortless kick.

Even Gohan was beginning to see that we had no business being here, despite our strength and outnumbering the creature. But he was still holding up hope that we could make a difference... and when the Supreme Kai suddenly spoke as if we wouldn't make it out alive, Gohan grew indignant once more.

They argued lowly, but I couldn't pay attention to what they were saying as the wizard and his creature turned to us, sinister and too confident for my liking.

In that one previous display I had felt an energy from Majin Buu like no other; a surge to immense heights, but with such little effort!

'That's why we need to get out of here before it's too late… find Goku and Vegeta…' I thought nervously, agreeing with the one thing I'd happened to catch from their dispute.

"YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!" Babidi called across the field with a finger pointing at us. "HERE'S MY FIRST COMMAND… KILL THOSE THREE IDIOTS!"

All three of us physically reacted to Babidi's callous command and the high-pitched battle cry of his pink monster.

Gohan spun around to me— "Midori!" before quickly turning and snatching up the Supreme Kai's wrist. "C'mon!"

Heart nearly skipping a beat, I ran with Gohan a few steps away before we both blasted off, away from Majin Buu and his master.

The wind was as sharp as a whip, and sand clouds stung my eyes, but we had so much more to worry about… We had to find the others… immediately.

Gohan spared a look back as we jetted across the desert. "Well it looks like no one's behind us yet!"

"Come here!" I called, reaching out to the teenager. "Let me use my in—"

There was suddenly something blocking our way, and we screeched to a halt midair.

My eyes bulged to the size of saucers, heart pounding as Gohan gasped loudly next to me.

It was… Majin Buu… staring at us through his heavily squinted eyes and grinning a huge, toothy grin.

"YOU DROP DEAD!" were his babyish words as he lifted an arm and my breath hitched—

"AGH!" Gohan went careening to the ground with one swift knock to the head, almost as fast as the gasp that escaped my lips.

The resounding crash caused me to flinch, and as I opened my mouth to scream—it was too fast—the large, gloved fist that—

CRASH!

… … …

… …

…

'…Ugh god…' My mind's voice whimpered as my fingers scraped the dirt beneath me. The pain was near unbearable, radiating across my entirely pinned body.

With several pitiful noises I managed to push the boulders off of me, realizing I was at the center of a shallow crater. Once freed I came to a stand, pausing to catch my breath while leaning my forehead against the inclined earth. The heavy respiration from my parted lips produced more sandy smoke from the dirt wall, causing me to cough from the deep inhalation.

"Damn-it…" I whispered shakily, despite having worked through the worst of the pain.

…I had to go back up there… There was no running from that thing…

I could sense that Gohan was… alright… as was the Supreme Kai…

Rising into the air slowly I peeked over the edge of the crater, spotting Gohan not too far off. He was just emerging from beneath his own wreckage… but didn't seem nearly as together as I'd hoped, visibly shaking, wheezing and dragging himself on all fours…

"HAAAAAA!"

I blinked, whipping my head up to spot the Supreme Kai with his hand out from attacking.

And Majin Buu was merely leaned back from the inadequate blow, a few measly feet from the deity… He leaned forward again, more than necessary, and suddenly clapped his hands together with a resounding SMACK (my mouth fell open in horror), the Supreme Kai's head wedged in between the gigantic yellow gloves.

And for one spare moment I glimpsed the assaulted god's face, bloody and slightly contorted, before Majin Buu brought his arm down like a hammer to his head.

I didn't even have time to look down in the split second that the Supreme Kai's body was sent crashing to the rocks.

But… he was up again! Right in Majin Buu's face, the Kai jutted both hands forward and blasted him with all the force he could muster—a blast that enveloped the monster in a bright ball of energy, surely eating away at it… causing serious damage…

But no… when the flashing lights faded, Majin Buu appeared completely unscathed…

… Shit.

Slipping my fingers under my bangs I was instantly next to Gohan, who nearly fell onto his back from my sudden appearance. "Gohan—get up, we have to do something now..!" I urged quietly, grabbing his right arm and attempting to pull him up.

He got up onto his knees with some effort, wheezing out "Urg-S-Supreme—Kai…" Another explosion then caused us to still, breath bated as we saw where the god had taken another, more serious fall. "He's getting butchered…"

"I know…" If we weren't careful we'd be in the same boat… "We have to work this together, Gohan…"

In response the teenager bowed his head, expression pained; he was trying to power up, the process stalled due to injury as an inner glow momentarily darkened his skin.

I promptly stood and took a few steps back, allowing him a burst of energy. He got to his feet with that power, but wasn't nearly as ready as I needed him to be.

Up in the sky, facing away from us, Majin Buu's sing-songy chants could be heard. "YOU BROKEN, DROP DEAD~ NYA NYA—BUU HAVE WIN! POW POW POW POW!" He then landed, on the other side of some rocks, out of site.

I felt a renewed sense of dread for the Supreme Kai, but with Buu distracted and Babidi not in the close vicinity…

"We need to intervene. Now." I turned my sharp eyes onto the exhausted teen. He took a one weak step forward, then another, causing me to frown. "Gohan, we just have to get that monster down long enough for me to use my instant transmission, I promise."

"I know…" he answered unsteadily. "I'm not… letting you guys down…"

My eyebrows lowered gravely. I couldn't say anything else to him. It was do or die and he knew that.

So I powered up, then pushed my energy higher—to ground-carving and sparking heights, hair flowing upwards. "On my mark..!" I slid one foot forward— "Go!" then took off, Gohan right behind me.

As we raced over the jagged rocks Majin Buu came into sight, hovering ominously over the Supreme Kai's body, Babidi observing.

I made an abrupt swerve to the right, Gohan continuing head on, and when the teenager slammed his foot into the monster's face—sending him flying in my direction—I landed on the rocks, boots almost losing traction as I interlocked my hands.

Tapping into my acquired electrical abilities, my hands began buzzing loudly as I swung them forward—directly into Majin Buu's head—

CRACK—

—the electricity popping like a gunshot on contact and emitting small bolts as I sent the monster rocketing away from me.

But I nearly stumbled forward from the exertion behind the swing, gasping in disbelief.

Hitting Majin Buu had been like hitting… silly putty… there was no skull, and my hands sunk into him, making him feel almost too heavy to hit with his momentum…

But I couldn't waste another second brooding over such oddities; we had to get the hell out.

Using my instant transmission, I brought myself back to Gohan. He was already grabbing onto the (severely beaten) Supreme Kai as I knelt down and grasped Gohan's other wrist.

Then rising from the ground, as if our attacks had just been child's play, Majin Buu proceeded to cartwheel towards us. Half a football field's worth of cartwheeling.

I swore under my breath at the spectacle, briefly clenching my eyes shut tight, desperately searching for Goku's ki signature.

Gohan whispered my name nervously.

Damn-it!

'Goku, where are you?!' My eyes snapped open and I shot to my feet in alarm as Majin Buu stopped just in front of us.

Heart pounding in my throat and sweat trickling down my neck, I held a threatening fist up at the overly pudgy creature. "YOU WANT SOME MORE?!" I bellowed in challenge, my natural instincts to appear more intimidating kicking in—from my bared canines to my flaring aura, to the hair on my tail standing on end.

With a child-like smile Majin Buu stood straight, the dented spots on his cheek and head filling in with a light pop… as if we'd never touched him.

I struggled to keep a menacing façade, my mind screaming incredulous obscenities as Gohan rose with an equally disturbed expression.

My left eye twitched in response to the pink being's sudden laughter; laughter that was comparable only to a high-pitched Santa Clause.

I then growled through gritted teeth "Fine!" before disappearing from my spot.

A second later his nonexistent nose was bashed in, my knee implanted into his rubbery face before I pulled back to land a solid kick to the side of his head. And, as Buu's bulbous body skidded across the ground (not as far as I'd hoped), I lifted both hands to unleash a volley of ki blasts onto the creature.

I could hear Babidi screaming desperately for his creature in the background, and as the first few shots hit, Majin Buu's arms and legs flailed like an infant's Moro reflex.

But… smoke was beginning to conceal my target, and soon us as the ground shook from my closely-ranged, bombing assault.

So with narrowed eyes I lowered my hands into ready fists, waiting for the visibility to increase.

Through the thick dust Majin Buu could be seen sitting up slowly (my nose scrunched in disgust as Babidi cheered somewhere behind us), then standing normally as the smoke subsided. His clothes were dirtied and skin smoking, but Babidi's monster was, for all intents and purposes, fine.

Just fine while he stared at me with an exaggerated frown and suddenly open, heavily slanted eyes, his pupils beady and… creepy.

Glaring back at Majin Buu I began rubbing my hands together, feeling the low, buzzing energy of electricity forming underneath my skin. The more friction created, the more tangible it became, making my hands glow and arm hairs stand from static.

'You just keep standing there like that...' My gaze darkened as Majin Buu began making babyish, frustrated noises.

And without any further delay I took to one knee, slapping my palms onto the rocky floor where visible streams of electricity bolted towards my target.

And before he could react, Majin Buu was a screaming, convulsing pink mass before the high voltage blew him off of his feet and even farther back.

I leaped into the air then, streaking across the battle field before his body hit the ground and ramming my knee into his back, sending him further up (I grunted at his cape whipping my face).

Not a second later a loud blow echoed across the vicinity; my foot planted firmly into his left cheek—

"Ugh!" I was moving down from the momentum of the kick, but something was wrong... I shouldn't have been sailing down with him!

My eyes widened drastically.

My foot?! It had sunken into his face all the way to the ankle..!

Gasping frightfully I brought my arms up to shield my face as we crashed together, rocks spewing out from underneath Majin Buu, my body jerking with the painful jolt of the fall. I was practically kneeling on top of the monster's chest when my nerves reminded me of the perilous situation at hand.

Immediately I tried to fly away, but my right foot refused to budge an inch from his pink skin. I was ultimately dragging him along.

"Guh—let... GO!" The more I struggled, the angrier Majin Buu's expression became. And I was beginning to lose my cool being trapped so close to something so deadly...

But Majin Buu had decided he didn't like being pulled around and held steadfast on his knees, eventually getting to his feet. All the while I hovered on my side, struggling.

Frustrated noises arose from his throat as I began to panic, jerking my leg madly in an my futile attempts to escape.

"LET GO OF ME!"

"Midori!" Gohan was racing towards us, causing Majin Buu to face the young half-saiyan as I was swung around helplessly.

My lungs filled with the air sucked in from a long, high-pitched gasp as Babidi cackled evilly, and the Supreme Kai screamed out of nowhere—

"WATCH OUT FOR HIS BLAST!"

But the light was already searing my eyes. Already tearing into Gohan. Already sweeping the screaming teenager up and away from us faster than I could screech his name.

The blast exploded in the distance, a minuscule twinkle before Gohan's energy signal vanished.

My heart seemed to stop before resuscitating itself with an excruciating squeeze.

Tears brimming my eyes, "AAAAAAGGHHHH!" I'd already lunged forward, grabbing the fiend's face with both of my hands and blasting him without restraint.

His shrill cries were not nearly enough to soothe me, but as Majin Buu disappeared behind the bright energy the pressure around my ankle loosened enough for me to break free.

Feet finally making contact with the ground, I winced at the the shot of pain that traveled up my right ankle; most likely an affect of the violent twisting.

My Capsule Corp. boot was also missing... and sock slightly singed at the toes.

Looking up, I was met with the long path I'd carved out of the desert floor; so long I had to squint to see the end.

And there Majin Buu was, flat on his back. When I hovered to get a better layout of the situation, what I saw caused me to gasp.

"Uh—I-I did it..!" Blinking my enlarged eyes, I continued to stare down at where Babidi's monster lay motionless, head hanging distorted, puddle-like, from its shoulders. 'Speaking of Babidi...' My eyes briefly glanced to the side.

Babidi was hysterically calling for Majin Buu to get up, even cursing me for hurting him. But, as his rant continued his words became less intelligible to me; just gibberish as I let the empty win sink in...

...Eyelids low... lips parted... a small sniffle... a cold hand clutching my heart.

'I'm sorry I couldn't act faster...' My shoulders sunk then, fists clenching. 'Gohan...' I let out a shaky breath before reopening my eyes and facing the wizard.

It was time to finish it.

... Huh..?

At the shuffling noises I whipped back around. "WHAT?!"

Majin Buu was back on his feet, the stretched out... flesh... contorting and twisting... until his face was as good as new.

My eyebrows met in a furrow as I shook my head slowly. 'There's no way...'

But Majin Buu was stomping towards me, arms flapping and steam spouting from the holes in his head. "YOU NOT NICE TO BUU! BUU MAKE YOU HURT!"

My eyes twitched, jaw falling slack.

How was I supposed to fight this thing..?

Babidi's sadistic cackling suddenly caught my ear. "YES, BUU! MAKE THAT WENCH SUFFER!" He hollered from behind me. "SHE KNOWS SHE'S NO MATCH FOR YOU—LOOK AT HER! HER TAIL'S BETWEEN HER LEGS!"

I blinked my narrowed eyes, sweat dripping over my brow as I felt that, yes, my tail was hanging straight down, the end curved forward between my legs... slightly quivering... like my hands.

One more shuddering breath left my nostrils as I pursed my lips, glaring at the oncoming threat.

Majin Buu then giggled something fit for a doll-ridden horror movie; high and sinister as his squinted eyes opened up again for me to see the tiny black marbles they held.

But before I could fit into a proper stance he was before me—I gasped—barely jumped out of the way of his over-sized fist.

He came at me faster than my next breath, fists like a yellow flurry that was millimeters from striking me as I dodged as fast as I could.

To and fro we went; Majin Buu wouldn't let up... but I couldn't let him lay a finger on me..!

'—There!' Within fractions of a second, one of his large fists sailed over my shoulder, and I retaliated by smacking my right palm onto the center of his chest and blasting him point blank. 'If the head didn't work then maybe I can hit some type of hear—'

But from behind the flashing energy one of his hands gripped my extended wrist, causing me to shriek—my attack to vanish.

Intense trepidation became me...

The look on that monster's face was almost enough to send me into cardiac arrest, but instead ripped an involuntary whimper from my lips.

He had me...

I could only yelp in pain as I was abruptly yanked up and—

WAM!

Small flecks of imprinted sediment fell from my face while a throaty, agonized cry escaped m—

CRASH

Pink and white swam in my vision. I was being lifted from the ground again. My mouth hung open, head rolled back.

Blood and rocks... Blood on the rocks... Hanging limply by my raised arm...

'He's gonna kill me...' And I was so very tired... so very weak... my entire body aching. Should't my body have reacted by now? Had I outgrown Broly's curse? 'Let me just close my eyes... and be able to see... my son... and Goku... when I open them...'

... ...

My brow lowered at the absence of movement. Slowly, excruciatingly, I lifted my neck to look up at my captor.

'What... is that?' Slowly my vision came into focus. 'A spear..?'

Through Majin Buu's belly...

My wrist suddenly slipped from his grasp, and down I went, onto my stomach, face first into the dirt. It was then, head thankfully facing away, that I registered Babidi's screaming... and the deep voice that belonged to Dabura...

Dabura?

But my eyelids were growing increasingly heavy. It was becoming a task in itself just to keep them open.

A few energy sparks and small explosions kept me from falling completely under; small jolts to my heart, but soon even those startling noises weren't enough...

'I can't take it anymore...' A concussion, most likely the culprit, was pulling me deeper in... So I closed my eyes in resignation, barely acknowledging what had happened... Dabura being eaten...

...

KA-BOOM!

Heart nearly bursting from my chest, I jolted awake, eyes popping open and broken wrist jerking painfully. Smoke swept over me, the smell of burning fuel filling my lungs as I inhaled sharply, squeezing my eyes shut and turning my face into the ground.

Small pieces of both rock and metal rained over my back, meanwhile Babidi was in a rage over what turned out to be his spaceship destroyed.

"Toma..."

Kais...

My good hand clenched into a fist as my eyebrows turned upwards in realization, eyes quickly becoming misty.

With a weak noise, I turned my head to the right. Never had I been so relieved to see a pair of boots in my life. "V...geta..." I couldn't conjure the strength to look up, but all the anger I'd felt for him before... was gone.

I knew he was here to help.

But Babidi obviously felt no such good will towards the prince. "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO BLEW UP MY SPACE SHIP?!" He demanded from across the battle field.

"That's right," Vegeta replied in a cocky manner. "It was a little messy, but it was the quickest way to get the job done!"

The wizard went into a rant, but Vegeta quickly interrupted with "I assume that ugly blob there is Majin Buu!" His tone then changed for the serious. "If so... you're the one that killed Gohan!"

Gohan...

If my brother knew, then why wasn't Goku here as well? Did Vegeta—

"Take yourself to Kakarot right away, Toma."

With a pained grunt I managed to get up onto my good elbow. "What?"

I could finally see his face; a dark look, as if the weight of the situation was finally a reality to him. "You'll only get in my way. Leave this place. Now."

I stared hard at my brother for a moment. "This creature's on a totally different level, Vegeta..."

Vegeta merely blinked, staring at the villains behind me. Finally, "Search to the west."

I sighed quietly, briefly glancing away from his roughed-up form, but did as told. Finally feeling something, something faint, I asked suspiciously "What did you do to him?"

"Go. Now."

It was difficult (and painful) trying to get into a sitting position. But I managed, finding out along the way that I had a dislocated shoulder. Panting from the effort (bad arm limp across my lap) I eventually lifted two fingers to my forehead. "Just..." I brought my eyes back up to his tense gaze. "Be careful..."

The prince vanished from my sight, and I found myself sitting on a battlefield that had seen much more violence...

I stared at the craters surrounding me, suddenly feel very woozy... 'They... did all this..?' I fell back on my good elbow and slowly turned my head to the left.

Goku... just beside me... a faintly pained expression on his face as he lay motionless.

But the more I studied him, the blurrier he became. It was disorienting, and caused me to squint an eye. My arm began to shake soon after. I quickly found myself on my stomach, left arm trapped awkwardly underneath me, right arm—trembling—splayed out beside me... and my left cheek having found the comfort of Goku's right shoulder.

"We—could really..." I paused, grimacing in pain. "Use your help... Go—urg..." My injuries were catching up to me, sparks of searing pain causing me to squeeze my eyes shut tight.

'Please... wake up...'

/

A/N:

-Yelling at me to update doesn't make me update faster, lol. Just sayin. Nice seein the review count go up tho *thumbs up* I appreciate all reviews! c:

-Also, if it was unclear Majin Buu was pretty much swinging her around like a rag doll, beating her into the ground.